Page 64 of Villain

Sayda Sang had been the Royal portrait artist for two generations. She’d started at a young age, brought into the palace at twelve after the death of her predecessor. Every portrait drawn of the Imperial family and their branches since had been done by her hands. Even Lake’s which was supposedly hanging in the Right Wing, would have been her work.

Yejun didn’t just come from Royalty in the sense of blood or their ties to Club Essential. He came from artistic royalty. No wonder he took this so seriously and was so passionate. If Nix had been following in the footsteps of creative geniuses, he’d do the same.

“What about yours?” Yejun asked then. “What do your parents do?”

Nix watched him apply a few more strokes to the sketch pad. “They’re typical office workers. Nothing special.”

“What offices?”

“Braxton and Wilde,” Nix said.

“They work together?”

“They met there.”

“Cute. Office romance.” He flipped to another fresh page. “Braxton and Wilde? Never heard of it. What do they do?”

“It’s a law firm.”

That got his attention and he momentarily looked up, blinking at Nix. “Lawyers?”

“Yup.”

“And they’re okay with their one and only son wanting to be a game developer?”

Nix shrugged. “Not at first.”

“Ah, wore them down.” Yejun smiled and started drawing again. “Good for you.”

It’d been tough to convince them, had taken a while, but eventually they’d realized he wasn’t going to change his mind. It’d been harder for them to argue when Nix had earned himself a full scholarship to Hyacinth University, something he’d successfully maintained throughout all four years.

That was another reason they’d been so against him transferring. He’d given up his full ride at the final hour, and they couldn’t fully comprehend why. Branwen was the only reason they hadn’t fought him on it.

“You’ve got a fantastic body, Firebird,” Yejun said, and the note was different, less conversational and more…suggestive. But when Nix searched his face, his expression was still focused on his drawing.

“Thanks?”

“Do you work out?”

“Not really.” He used to make himself hit the gym for at least an hour every other day, mostly because most of his time otherwise was spent studying. Travel to and from classes had helped keep him lean though, since he hadn’t had a car at his old school.

“West will be disappointed to hear that,” Yejun told him. “Watching your muscles bunch and seeing you covered in sweat will turn him on.”

Nix swallowed and licked his lips, going still when Yejun’s gaze shot to his mouth and lingered.

“Lake’s birthday is in a couple of weeks,” Yejun stated, the change of subject momentarily confusing Nix. “I just came up with an idea of what to get him.” He stood with a flourish and then motioned at Nix to stand.

He hesitated but eventually did as instructed, covering himself at the last second.

Yejun grunted at him. “Don’t bother, Firebird. I’ve seen something once and I’ve got it memorized forever.” He tapped the side of his head and then swirled that same finger in the air. “Now, turn around.”

Nix slowly did, giving the other man his back.

“You’ve got a great ass. Round but firm.” Yejun paused and Nix felt his gaze practically searing into him. “Put your hands on the stool.”

He glanced over his shoulder at the Demon. “What?”

“You heard me. Bend over and put your hands on the stool. Do you need me to come over and help you?”

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