Teo wrapped his arms around Josh's neck, pulling him closer, not knowing why he was being so bold and challenging when he was spitting fire not long ago, or maybe he suspected why he was so worked up and that could be the reason as to why he was being so straightforward with his actions now.
Josh's arms laced themselves around his waist, moving to the small of his back almost as if securing the boy in his arms, not really knowing where it would lead to.
"Did I say I don't?… that and anything else you want to gimme"
Josh's raspy voice lowered a little as he rubbed their noses together.
Teo poked his nose and put some distance, still keeping one hand around his neck, grinning brightly.
"That depends if I like the answers you're gonna give. Deal?"
Josh lifted an eyebrow as he did not expect there would be wrong answers for a simple question.
Teo pinched his nose to keep his strategy ongoing; however his reaction made him giggle a little, his fingers around his neck, roaming around almost distracting the older as the trapped male focused on his gaze on the younger's lips now.
"Who called you just now?"
The blonde's voice was firm yet his eyes were soft and his touch was tickling the older using the hand around his neck.
"My lawyer"
Josh was distracted by the boy's touch; he could not lie even if he wanted, his skin hot under those playful fingers.
"Why did he call?"
Teo drew a circle with his index finger over Josh's cheek, eyes on him all the time, gripping the back of his hair with his right hand ever so slightly.
"He called me back because I dialed his number before the phone slipped from my fingers when a tiger cub pounced on me"
Josh's eyes were on Teo's as if he were all he could see, his playful touch was making it hard to breathe though.
"Who was the guy who talked to you when my brother called me?"
Now Teo's eyes became serious, a light blue flame dancing in them as his grip on the back of Josh's hair tightened a little, a finger under his chin.
Josh swallowed a groan from escaping, his whole body up in flames.
"Jake Lee, the son of my parents' business partner"
Josh's voice did not waver, however now Teo knew the name of the man who was engaged to his– the man in front of him.
"What is he to you?"
This was the question which was disturbing his peace so he grabbed Josh's chin between his thumb and index finger, lips pressed together in a tight line, observing him carefully, seeking for hesitation.
"I just met the guy at my birthday party, we barely crossed some words on the sailing ship. He seemed fine"
He wasn't lying, but Teo found it difficult to believe as they sounded close through the phone.
"You're lying"
Teo retorted, letting go of his chin, pulling his face away, a deep frown between his thick eyebrows, displaying how annoyed he was with the answer.
"I'm not. Why would I lie?"
Teo pulled himself out of his hold when the older got distracted defending himself.
"'Cause you'd hid the fact he's your fiancé. Maybe that's why you would?"
Josh quickly grabbed Teo's hand before he were to walk away, as he was surely going to when he started to step backwards.
"Where did you get that idea? Last night I was clear that I'm not tied up to anyone. I have no reasons to lie to you."
The older's words were steady, but fast, which gave Teo the wrong impression.
"There you go! Over explaining yourself again. It's clear you're lying!"
Teo swat his hand away, eyes narrowed dangerously, jaw clenching.
"And you're overthinking"
Josh did not have enough time to reformulate that within his brain as he fought back to clean his name, a hand came flying towards his face yet he caught it on time, pulling him closer by his arm.
"Do we really need to do this?"
The dark-haired grip held Teo in place even if he was fighting back to break free, "I'm not overthinking. But I don't believe you're single with no one after you"
Josh smiled and let go his grip, "I'm alone by choice, not like no one is after me. I told ya last night I'm not looking for someone and if I were to be with someone then I wouldn't hide it. I'd be proud of 'im"
He let out a sigh as Teo pursued his lips, a harsh gaze boring holes into his skull.
"What about the engagement thing? I'm not deaf. I heard what he said: 'our parents settled the date for the wedding', you even said you'd work on it"
Josh coughed to keep to himself the laugh almost escaped, which almost caused Teo to punch him across the face with that tough glare he was sending his way.
"Our parents… well, I don't know how far they went, but knowing my mother they would never set me up with a man, if anything it coulda been his sister. But trust me. I'm not interested at all. She's not my type"
Teo was still a bit suspicious so he asked another question, "if this were you engaged with the boy you'd agree?"
Josh shook his head, "Nope. But knowing my mom she'd go to any length to get what she wants to and if I would've been in the ship until the announcement were done then I'd have been stuck with a bigger problem"
Josh clarified the misunderstanding whilst Teo's blood drained off his face in shame, he just did a whole scene for nothing, most likely giving himself away.
"... so your mom was going to–"
Teo was trying to get the words out of his mouth, still not understanding how a parent could do that to their children.
"I saved your life that night, but trust me, you gave me the freedom I've always wanted, so, technically, you're the one who saved my life that night giving me a new chance without even knowing."
Josh spoke at heart and Teo cried his heart out, not considering how terrible marrying by force could be, he could never, thanking heaven his brother would never sell him even if they were in debt.
Yet here was a fully grown ass man standing in front of him with his whole life settled down for him with not many choices prone to be forced to follow his parents wishes, and for what? For the vile metal. They did not love him enough if they were to plan something of such immense magnitude without consulting him.
Josh pulled Teo into his arms, patting his back, whilst the younger buried his face into his chest feeling sorry for the broad-shouldered male.
"I apologize for assuming… it was wrong of me–" Teo sobbed into his arms feeling sorry and guilty for thinking too deep into it
"Crying wasn't one of the prices you promised to me, was it?"
Josh pecked the top of his head, his voice as gentle as his touch trying to sooth the boy who was most likely pitying his misfortune.
"Nope, it wasn't…" Teo replied, trying to defend himself yet felt the older's pain as his own.
Yet he was sort of glad he was neither engaged, nor married which caused the blonde male pushing his walls down, including his shyness and wariness.
The blonde pushed his head away from his broad, manly and toned chest, his hands moving from the back of the older's waist to his chest.
"Will I get my price?"
Josh grinned as the boy didn't seem angry nor sad anymore, if anything there was something which made him unreadable.
The younger's hand slithered from his ripped chest up to his thick neck, causing the older to take in a deep sharp breath, closing his eyes for a brief second.
When Josh opened his eyes the younger's face was coming closer and so they met halfway.
Teo's lips trapped the older's, a hand on his cheek and the other on his chest feeling how firm it was, his heart spiked up, almost bursting out of his chest.
Josh sensed how the blonde gripped his shirt, as it was so tight to his body it was like feeling his fingers grasping his pecs, his lips a bit hesitant above his own, maybe trying to restrain himself or he wasn't used to it yet.
Yet he couldn't help but wanting to feel more of him even if it was by first and last time, his hands around the boy's waist roamed down his buttock to lift him off the ground to wrap his legs around his waist which the younger did reflexively.
Teo pulled away to take some air before diving in for another taste, wanting as much as he could take, tracing his lips with his playful tongue.