"Aren't you almost done, P'No?" Can calls from where he lounges on the patio chair, feet propped up on the table in front of him. "It's been an hour! I thought stir fry was supposed to be quick."

"It has not!" Type protests from the kitchen, shouting loud enough that Kengkla can hear him clearly through the screen door that separates the dining room and kitchen from the porch. "It's barely been thirty minutes. Be patient, Ai' Can!"

Can huffs and reaches over to Good sitting across from him, waving his hand in front of Good's phone in the others hands. "Ai' Good, let's go another round," Can tells him, reaching for his own phone and setting on on the table. But Good doesn't answer vocally, nodding instead, and leans over the table to stare down at their phone screens.

Kengkla's gaze jumps from Can to Type on the other side of the porch where the senior rests in a lounge chair next to Champ. The sunglasses on his face mask his expression, but the smile gives away his amusement of the situation. Champ seems disinterested, eyes closed, while he listens to music through one earbud. He wears almost the same expression as Technic sitting adjacent to Kengkla on a patio couch. His chin is tipped down, staring at his phone, and ignoring Kengkla. After finding out they had to share a bed in the same room as Can and Good, Technic bribed Kengkla to add another night to his stay at the resort.

But so far, Kengkla hasn't gained anything from the trip beyond learning Techno is good at secretly good at cooking and will accept snacks as a gift. Kengkla's frowning as he pulls his phone from his pocket, squinting to read the screen in the sun and types a message to Technic.

Kengkla: i'm going to go check on p'no. distract p'type if he tries to come in

He waits a second then glances up at Technic who looks in his direction, nodding. Instead of waiting for a reply, Kengkla puts the phone back in his pocket and stands up, straightening his shirt. Trying to walk quietly, he moves past Can's table and makes it almost to the door before Type asks, "Where are you going?" When Kengkla turns to him, Type is staring at him with his sunglasses pushed onto his head, sitting up a bit. Champ has an eye cracked open too, watching them.

"I was going to see if P'No needed help," Kengkla tells him, reaching out to grab the handle on the sliding door. "Did you need something, P'Type?"

Type considers him for a moment. Kengkla can see Technic stirring in his periphery, can hear the sounds from Can and Good's phones. For a moment, for these few brief heartbeats, he's not sure what to do if Type finds him suspicious.

"No, just make sure he doesn't hurt himself," Type says suddenly before pulling the glasses back over his eyes and tilting his head back. Champ does the same, and Kengkla knows he doesn't have anything to worry about. He spares a quick glance at Technic, who rolls his eyes and waves him on, before pulling the door open and stepping inside.

He takes a breath in relief at the cool air hitting his skin then shuts the door close behind him with a click.

...

It takes Kengkla maybe a few seconds to walk through the dining room to the doorway connecting it to the kitchen. He hasn't had much time to explore the house or find where Techno will be sleeping, but it's obvious the house is well-maintained and expansive. Even the dining room could be mistaken for his own with a large wooden table and expensive chairs that could sit ten. The decorations don't give much away about the owner, but Kengkla figures it's split ownership, which is common for upper-middle-class people. The kitchen is as expansive as the dining room with a large cooking area, middle island, and two bar stools. But it's small compared to Kengkla's home kitchen.

Through the doorway, Kengkla can see where Techno stands with his profile to him at the counter next to the oven. He's cutting up vegetables while something else simmers in a pan on the stove, and there's a white apron wrapped around his waist. It's a sight to behold. Kengkla can feel his heart skid faster in his chest; affection, adoration, and arousal tangled together at the sight.

His hands are almost shaking when he slips the phone from his pocket, holding it up in front of him to frame Techno and opens the camera app. It's on silent, and he manages to take a picture without alerting the other. Grinning uncontrollably, Kengkla snaps a few more before putting it back in his pocket to add to his collection. He's surprised the other doesn't see him, but Techno looks busy, staring down at the board while he cuts.

There's steam rising off the oven, curling into the air and flushing Techno's cheeks to color. As Techno gathers up the chopped food in his hands and drops it in the pan, Kengkla can smell the aroma of stir fry from across the room. He can't help himself any longer and strides across the kitchen until he's only a few feet from Techno. "P'No," He breaths, and Techno jumps, almost dropping the utensil in his hand. But he manages to recover it, stirring the food in the pan.

When Techno looks up at him, his eyes are wide as if he's shocked or surprised as he always is, and Kengkla smiles fondly. "Do you need any help?" Kengkla asks.

"Ai' Kla," Techno addresses him after clearing his throat. "Thanks, but I'm okay. You should just rest outside until I'm done. I need another set of eyes on Ai' Can and Ai' Type." Then, he turns away before Kengkla can see the expression on his face, but there's laughter in his voice. "Don't worry about P'." He reaches for the cutting board and shoves it into the sink, and it makes a loud noise.

Kengkla briefly wonders if it was purposeful, but he's never seen Techno act anything but pleasant and happy. He considers whether the noise was enough for the others to come inside, and a tremor runs down his spine, a moment of adrenaline. It's not or never, he tells himself and reaches out to grab Techno by the waist.

Techno lets out a gasp when Kengkla turns him around, shocked into stillness just by the touch. Kengkla's fingers curl in a tight hold in the fabric of Techno's shirt, and he only moves in closer when the elder steps back against the counter. "Ai' Kla," Techno lets out in a rushed breath and reaches up to put a hand on Kengkla's chest, shoving at him. "What are you doing?

"P'No," Kengkla says, drawing the other's name out slow on his tongue. "I want a taste."

"Oh," Techno chuckles, panic dissipating into amusement by the smile on his face. "Why didn't you say? Fine, I can sneak you a taste before everyone else. Just don't tell Ai' Can." He tries to pull from Kengkla's hold, but Kengkla doesn't let go, keeping Techno firmly in place by tightening his grip. Though Techno could shove him off if he wanted, he doesn't, staring up at Kengkla with a frown. "I thought you wanted a taste? What're you doing, Ai' Kla?"

Techno's eyebrows pull together in confusion, and he tips his head down, blinks innocently at Kengkla. When Techno licks his lower lip, Kengkla almost loses his composure, stepping closer to Techno until their thighs brush together.

"What--" Techno starts, and that's as far as he gets before Kengkla is reaching with his free hand to make a fist into light hair and drag Techno's mouth down against his. Techno makes a startled noise against Kengkla's mouth, but Kengkla doesn't pull away. Techno's lips are soft, the pressure of his mouth gentle, and he tastes like ginger and basil. He must've been tasting the ingredients, Kengkla thinks while he licks at Techno's lips that refuse to open. When he closes his eyes, Techno's are still wide open.

The hand on Kengkla's chest pushes, but Kengkla's hold at Techno's hair is going tighter to keep him still, so sharply it might be painful. It makes Techno open his mouth for a choked-off gasp of air, and Kengkla takes advantage of that moment to slip his tongue past Techno's lips, licking inside the other's mouth. The taste of food becomes overwhelming, and Kengkla almost pulls away when Techno's tongue flicks against his for almost a second.

It fuels Kengkla. His tongue laps at the top of Techno's mouth, along his teeth, and his hand is moving too, fingers at Techno's waist winding around the apron to tug and pull at the fabric. When he notices how hard Techno's heart is beating against the press of his chest, Kengkla feels a hand on the back of his shirt, resting there. It won't be long before Techno loses his patience.

But it feels good to have Techno like this, pressed into him and braced against the counter, away from Techno's friends and Type. How annoying they have been the entire trip, constantly in his way, touching Techno. He's mine, not theirs, his mind provides. A rising flood of possessive happiness floods in Kengkla's chest, and once the apron is undone, he moves his hand behind Techno, slides down and cups his cheeks. His fingers dig into the jean material around his ass, and his cock stir with the beginnings of interest inside his pants.

The adrenaline coiling at the pit of his belly tells him to keep going, but Techno begins pushing into him and thrusts his hand into Kengkla's chest with so much force that Kengkla slips his hand from Techno's hair, afraid he will actually hurt him. When he finally pulls away and steps back from Techno, Kengkla keeps a hand at Techno's waist, holding onto the tie of the apron in a loose clutch. His heart is pounding, his whole body tense on adrenaline while he stares up at Techno, blinking what he hopes looks innocent.

Techno's mouth is a little redder than usual, lips bruised into softness, but Kengkla is fairly confident no one other than him would notice the difference. "What the hell, Ai' Kla?" Techno gasps, but Kengla's focus clings to the other's flushed face for a moment before swinging up to meet his gaze. Techno's wide eyes are fixed on him, mouth drawn down into a frown at his lips.

There's the weight of silence between until Kengkla drops his hand from Techno and steps back farther. A little part of him is panicking. Maybe he pushed his prey a little too far this time. "You said we were dating," Kengkla says in a meek voice, shoulders tipping in to fit the tone of his words.

"Shit," Techno whispers, breaking his gaze with Kengkla to glance at the stove. "I did say that...I guess," He says under his breath and steps to the stove, using a utensil from the counter to stir the food. His free hand turns off the burner then shakes the pan. "But I don't know why you keep doing this."

His voice is under the noise from the oven like he doesn't want Kengkla to hear. With his back turned, it's impossible to make out Techno's expression when Kengkla says, "I wanted a taste of P'No." But he sees the way Techno stops stirring then begins again after a second or to.

Kengkla smiles and sneaks up behind the other, grabbing the ties of his apron in both hands. His hand brushes against Techno's waist, and Tecnho jumps from the contact, stumbling back into Kengkla. "Hey," Techno blurts, glancing over his shoulder to meet Kengkla's gaze while he steadies himself.

"I'm really sorry if I upset you, P'No. I just wanted to show you how much I liked you," Kengkla says so quietly it's almost a whisper while tying the apron strings into a loose knot. It rests perfectly on Techno's hips, and Kengkla's too busy staring at the curve in the other's backside that he doesn't look up until Techno clears his throat.

Techno's staring back at him, looking over his shoulder, with a frown. It takes all of Kengkla's willpower not to kiss him again, so he settles for tipping forward to rest his forehead against Techno's shoulder. Techno's shoulders tense, and his whole body goes taut for a moment. Then he sighs. "Okay, Ai" Kla." His voice is soft and warm, and Kengkla hides his smirk, inhaling Techno's scent. He can hear the deliberate breath Techno takes, can smell the others natural odor that has slowly captivated him over the past three years. It's addicting.

"Just- Do you have to like.." Techno fumbles through words then pauses. "Why do you have to do that? I mean..." He trails off, but Kengkla already knows what he is asking. Techno's never had a partner before - Kengkla's made sure of that -so he's inexperienced and likely confused when all of a sudden someone is declaring their affection for him and constantly all over him. But even though Kengkla knows all of this, it won't stop him.

"Do what, P'No?" Kengkla asks, and he's lifting his head up and stepping away from Techno. Techno doesn't answer for a moment while he shuts off the stove, pulls the pan off, and gathers plates from the cupboards. When he turns around, there's a red flush across his cheeks, and he's biting his lip.

Kengkla stares at Techno and shuffles his feet. "Do you want me to stop?" He asks carefully, slowly enough there's clear anxiety under the words. It's an act, Kengkla tells himself, but his chest goes tight, aching on a bitter pressure more familiar than he'd like to remember.

There's a pause, a moment of hesitation in the air between them, and Kengkla glances up, offering his most pathetic face. "Uh," Techno stutters, looking around the room on anywhere but Kengkla now. He leans back into the counter and begins flicking at his jeans, eyes cast down. "Do you like it?"

It wasn't quite what Kengkla expected Techno to ask, but he's delighted, lips curling up into a smile. "Yes," He says eagerly. "I like it a lot. I love the taste of P'No. I could eat it all day and -"

"Okay, I got it!" Techno cries out, cutting him off while he raises a hand in the air as if to stop him. Color beings to spread across Techno's cheeks and Kengkla stares at it with a grin, closing his mouth. "Um, why don't you head outside? Tell everyone it's ready?"

He nods his head. "Okay, P'No," Kengkla replies and turns to head out of the kitchen, walking slow enough to delay his departure. As Kengkla passes through the dining room, he hears the clattering of pots and pans and then a soft, "Fuck," from Techno's lips.

Kengkla's grin goes wider.

...End Chapter 7...

A/N: Thank you all for your patience

And in honor of 30k views/reads, I wil being doing a Q&A soon. Leave me your questions to answer! They can be about this story, other stories I have planned, or just me, 

<3 Thank you all!