This is the seventeenth door.

The seventeenth door I wait in front of.

The seventeenth door I stare at and wonder will this be the one?

I have been early for all of them. Each time finding myself standing alone, prepared to be disappointed. Again.

Xiongzhang says I shouldn't be so picky. He says a coat of paint will brighten things up and new furniture will make it feel like home.

He says, "Nothing's perfect."

What's wrong with wanting something to be perfect? To be a place I can come home to and relax the first day it's mine without having to do work or spending money to make it suit my taste? Why do I have to fix someone else's bad judgment of color or poor excuse for interior design?

I sigh.

I'm tired.

I want to go home.

But home isn't where my job is. Not anymore.

It's my own fault. I agreed to take the position at our company's new location here in Chongqing. The city is growing at a fast rate and my uncle wants to establish our family's construction business to take advantage of the increasing need for commercial properties.

So, here I am.

I glance at my watch.

Five thirty pm.

A half hour after the scheduled time.

I want to walk away.

But something keeps my feet from moving.

I don't have anywhere I need to be. My hotel room is small and not in the best part of the city. That's the last time I let Su She handle travel arrangements.

I hear the seconds tick by on my expensive watch. My brother gifted it to me for my twenty-first birthday. He had it custom made. The green face is the color of deep summer maple leaves. A single exquisitely cut peridot stone sits at the twelve position, its sparkle eye-catching.

I only wear it for business meetings. People see the wealth resting around my wrist and feel reassured that their company is in good hands when they hire us.

But it's only for show.

I'm a simple man with simple needs.

So why can't I find a simple place to live to satisfy those needs?

Every realtor I've met (and I've met with 17 of them) has tried to sell me condos that have every modern convenience, every updated security system, every upgrade known to man in order to get me to sign my name on the line next to "buyer".

Five more minutes have passed.

My eyes stare at the polished silver numbers on the door.

1005

I take a deep breath and let it out in a defeated sigh. Maybe it wasn't meant to be. Maybe I should just choose from one of the dozen condos I've already seen. It's not like there was anything wrong with any of them. I just didn't feel like I belonged in any of them.

I didn't feel at home in them.

Maybe nothing ever will feel like home.

Even though uncle and I don't always see eye to eye, he's always been there for me. He raised me and Xichen when our mother died and father left. No one asked him to. He just did it. Looking back, I realize he had no idea what he was doing. Hell, if two kids were thrust into my life, I'd have no idea either. So I don't blame him for not being the perfect parent.

What parent is?

Xiongzhang is now living with his fiance, Nie Mingjue. He moved out six months ago. We used to be so close. But over the past few years, there's been a distance between us.

I know it's my fault. I see him with someone he loves and wonder if I'll ever find something like that. Find someone who loves me for who I am and accepts all my imperfections.

I understand people are put off by my lack of conversation. I've always been a man of few words. Why waste energy and oxygen talking about mundane things that have no meaning or purpose?

I tried it once. It was exhausting. Forcing a smile to make someone else happy is work. Pretending to be interested in something I don't give two shits about is pointless. It feels like lying. And uncle always taught us not to lie.

So, instead of lying to myself that I care about where I live in a city filled with strangers, I turn to walk away.

And that's when I see him.

Expressive eyes that hold infinite galaxies of stars within them enchant me until they are the only thing I see. A smile as bright as the summer sun warms me until my body is consumed by a fever that has no cure. He speaks to me with a voice that is filled with the innocence of a child yet is tinged with the seduction of a demon.

My cock twitches in my pants.

"I'm so sorry I'm late," the beautiful angel says.

I want to say something but my mind is busy imagining this gorgeous specimen of a man using his mouth for something other than speaking.

"I'm Wei Ying."

"Lan Zhan."

What the hell?!

Why would I give him my birth name? I NEVER tell anyone. Everyone knows me as Lan Wangji.

He's not everyone.

No he's not.

"I hope you weren't waiting long."

"No."

"Oh good! The client before you had the most unreasonable demands that I finally had to tell her the house she was looking for didn't exist. My brother is going to kill me for telling her off but...UGH! She's living in a fantasy world! What she wants isn't in her price range. I don't care what her mother told her."

The idea of harm coming to this alluring creature talking to me as if I was an average person is an abhorrent thought. The urge to protect this man is overwhelming, my body ready to fight heaven and hell to ensure his heart continues beating.

"It's fine."

"Okay, cool! Alright, let me show you this place. The previous owners broke up and left everything. So whatever is in here, is yours if you buy it. I really love this property. If I had the money, I'd buy it myself. The location is perfect. There are small shops up and down this street that have everything you need. I love that. Some of the best restaurants are within walking distance. And I don't mean the chain ones. I mean the ones that offer you recipes passed down through generations of their family. There's a few I recommend for their spicy dishes. Chongqing is known for its spice. Do you like hot dishes?"

You're a dish of spice I'd like to try.

"I don't like spicy food. I'm a vegetarian."

Wei Ying cocks his head at me. "Just because you're a vegetarian doesn't mean you can't spice things up."

His eyes twinkle temptingly as he unlocks the door. A heat settles in my lower region.

"Okay, let me show you around."

I follow him through the door, the view of his perfectly rounded ass cheeks moving under his illegally tight pants sending currents of electricity through my veins. My right hand almost reaches out in curiosity before my left hand pulls it back from making a stupid mistake. I stick them in my pockets for fear of not being able to stop myself again.

Down boy.

"Now, I know your uncle gave our office specifics of what amenities you requested. However, I did a little research on my own. I wanted to know you. I often find that families project their own needs onto my client's."

Wei Ying turns around to look at me as we enter the condo. His smile is more of a lopsided grin. One filled with a challenge and something I can't quite place. But it makes something rustle in my heart. Something I've never felt before.

It tickles.

It burns.

It hungers.

"What do I need?"

My eyes darken.

My mouth waters.

Wei Ying walks backwards through the entryway. His eyes never leave mine.

It is a challenge. And one I gladly accept.

"You're private." Wei Ying states. "You don't go out to parties. You're rarely photographed even though your brother is famous for giving interviews about your company. You prefer quiet. I suspect you like to read. How am I doing so far?"

"Music."

He gives me a questioning look. Yet his eyes are glowing with curiosity.

"I compose music."

Wei Ying smiles with a softness that makes me want to take him in my arms and never let him go.

"Will you play for me sometime?"

It's a question embedded in a promise. A promise to see me again.

"Mn."

We pass through the foyer and enter the living room.

"I know it's not much but, considering you like your privacy, I didn't think you'd be entertaining much. It's comfortable without being too small."

The walls are a pale blue, the ceiling a pristine white color. The dark gray leather furniture is simple yet elegant. There's a coffee table made from the deepest shade of walnut with side tables to match.

"Imagine yourself coming home after a long day of work and resting on this beautiful couch with your feet up."

I'd rather lay you down on that couch and kiss you until neither one of us can breathe.

Images of Wei Ying's body under mine, his face flushed with the heat of want, flood my mind.

This time, my cock does more than just twitch. It jumps and I have to take my hands out of my pockets so I don't expose my inappropriate appendage.

Wei Ying walks past me on his way to the kitchen. I catch his scent and my body floods with a heat that settles deep in my bones. The aroma of lotus flowers mixes with the sandalwood fragrance I'm so fond of. It's an intoxicating mixture.

I see his pupils dilate and hear the air pass through his lips as he breathes deeply. My need deepens. Every cell in my body pushes me to claim him. But I hesitate.

I'm afraid of my feelings for this man with mercurial eyes that seem to see through my curtain of indifference. I follow him, hypnotized by the light of his smile. Unable to accept the fact that after tonight I may never see him again, I linger as close to him as I can.

Instead of backing away from my coldness, Wei Ying is daring me to act on dormant emotions that have awakened in a wildfire of desire.

"The kitchen is pretty basic. Stove, refrigerator, microwave, and sink. Do you cook?"

I run my hands over the counter. His eyes watch my fingers as they caress the cold black quartz. My dick hardens as I follow the slow bob of his Adam's apple up and down his long neck.

I will bend you over this counter every night. I will run my hands over your ass crack and tease your hole until your legs shake and you beg me to take you.

"I do. Would you like me to cook for you?"

It's not my intention to sound like I want to eat him, but I have no control over my inner demons. The smirk that lifts one corner of my lips is an unspoken threat. My stare intensifies as I watch the rise and fall of his chest suddenly quicken.

"I would. But I have to warn you. I like my food hot. And I eat meat."

My groin clenches at the thought of his mouth around my cock. The fantasy of those full lips sliding their way down my length has me swallowing hard. And he sees it.

Lust blackens those diamond eyes as Wei Ying makes his way down the hallway. As we make our way through the tight space, my hand gently touches his lower back. Shivers course through him and I secretly gloat at his response to such a simple touch.

"In here," he says, his voice deeper than before. "You have your bathroom. Again, the layout is simple. However, there is a jacuzzi tub which most condos don't have. This one was added by the previous owner's wife."

The room is extremely small because of the added addition. Our bodies are so close I can feel the heat emanating off Wei Ying's body. And what a body it is!

His deep red button down shirt doesn't leave much to the imagination. Beneath it is a body that is lean yet muscular. Every time he bends his elbow I can see his bicep flex under the thin fabric. The buttons in the front are barely holding his shirt together, the material pulling at each junction.  Black pants that look like they were painted on his skin are molded to his thighs and ass.

"I've always wanted a soaking tub. Mine at home is too shallow. Even if I lay down, the water still doesn't cover me."

My legs almost give out under me. I have to close my eyes and force the images of a naked Wei Ying lying in a tub to leave my dirty mind. But it's a hopeless effort.

I can't stop thinking about running my desperate hands over his heated skin, slick with soap. My ears hear his moans as I wrap my large hand over his erection and stroke him with forceful twists. The imaginary taste of his skin has me salivating to leave marks on that flawless canvas, claiming him as mine, challenging anyone to take him away from me.

My body presses against him in the small space we're trapped in. I run a hand over his ass, a heavy weight filling my cock as it yearns to bury itself inside the man leaning into me.

"I've always wondered what it would feel like to make love in a hot bath."

The words fall from my lips before I know what I'm saying. My hips thrust forward, the hardness between my legs undeniably evident as it brushes against his clenching buttocks. A soft whimper escapes his lips and I'm lost to the spell he's cast over me.

Wei Ying turns. There's no space between us. Our breaths mix. Our heartbeats synchronize.

He licks his lips before biting down on the bottom piece of flesh that barely hides the tempting mole below it. My eyes lock onto that particular beauty mark, the need to take it between my teeth unbearable.

"Would you like to see the bedroom?" he whispers. His eyelids are heavy with lust.

"Show me."

I run a finger up his chest, tracing an invisible trail across his neck until I caress the silky skin of his cheek. His eyes close and I feel myself thirsting to kiss that cashmere flesh. When I palm his angelic face in my large hand, he nuzzles into my touch.

And I am lost.

Lost to my desire to feel him squirming under me.

Lost to my need to possess his gorgeous body.

Lost to my hunger to make him mine.

But before I can act on my carnal instinct, he leaves the room.

My body follows him, drawn to him like a moth to a flame.

"I had them replace the mattress with a pillow top one. It's like sleeping on a cloud."

He shifts his body until he's facing me and I enter the bedroom with him leading me with a look of uncontrollable obsession. There's no way I can resist his captivating smile, his bewitching eyes.

"Would you like to lie down and try it out?" he asks temptingly.

I want to fuck you on this bed. Every night. Multiple times until you're unable to walk. I want to make you scream my name and beg for more. I will make you forget your name. I want you. Only you.

Led by blind infatuation, I wrap my right arm around his waist and lift him off the floor with my left one. The tiny squeal that slips between his full lips only serves to feed the flames under my skin. In less than a heartbeat, I throw him onto the bed and pounce like a starving predator.

"Lan Zhan."

His voice is raspy and rough with desire. He exposes his neck to me, a sacrifice waiting to be taken.

My teeth nip their way down the tender flesh, my lips returning to ease the pain in their wake. I taste his sweet skin, a need awakening inside me I never knew existed. There is nothing else except Wei Ying. My universe is lying beneath me, urging me to give in to my mania.

Strong arms wrap around my shoulders, pulling me closer. I bury my face into the crook of his neck and breathe in his intoxicating scent. I'm delirious with the urgency to bury myself inside Wei Ying. I don't think I could stop even if I wanted to.

Thankfully, Wei Ying doesn't want me to stop. His hands are all over me. When they slide lower and grab my ass, I moan into his open mouth. Our tongues duel for control. His taste floods my senses. I harden until I whimper at the uncomfortable pain.

"Wei Ying. What are we doing?"

"Not enough," he answers.

Suddenly, I find myself on my back. Wei Ying tears open my shirt, the buttons flying in retreat at his aggressive attack. Lips as hot as a branding iron kiss their way down my stomach. Adept fingers undo my belt and slide the zipper of my pants down. The heat of his mouth gliding down my dick steals my breath away.

"Oh FUCK!!!"

My fingers bury into his thick mane of hair. The red ribbon holding his unruly strands at bay falls away and I feel the tickle of his fine hairs brushing against my hips. With every suck and pull on my cock, I feel my restraint crumbling.

I'm convinced this must be a dream. A very wet dream in which I will have to do laundry first thing after waking from it. There's no way this is real.

But Wei Ying's teeth grazing against my straining member forces me to accept that what's happening is very real. The feel of my dick at the back of his throat makes me realize that I'm letting a complete stranger suck me off in a condo that's not mine. Yet.

Wet sounds of Wei Ying's lips popping off the tip of my erection fill the bedroom. The feel of his tongue licking my balls has my toes curling and my legs straightening. My hands clench in the generic comforter, my moans of pleasure only feeding Wei Ying's need to suck harder.

I feel myself losing control. There's something inside me trying to break free of its cage. But I'm afraid of what will happen if it escapes. Who will I be? My life has been one of restraint. Without it, I fear I won't be able to stop.

But I want him.

Then take him.

He wants you.

I want him.

Then make him yours.

With a force I never knew I possessed, I flip our positions. Wei Ying's wide eyes are shocked but not scared. I pause, waiting for permission. I won't take what's not mine. No matter how much I want him.

"Yes."

It's only one word, but the meaning behind it is undeniable.

I attack with a ferocity that was buried under years of rules and manners. The beast within me, finally free of its restraints, devours the man under me.

Wei Ying writhes wildly, my hands and body holding him down so I can consume every inch of his delicious skin. His breaths deepen and become chaotic. Every little sound that slips through his full lips is music to my ears. It's a song that can't be played on any instrument. Yet one I will commit to memory forever.

My hands strip him of his clothes. They caress his chest, tweaking the tiny buds on the darkened circles of his prominent muscles. His back arches into my touch and I tear up at the beauty of the man surrendering himself to me. He chants my name so I worship him in every way I know how to.

When those silver eyes finally open and look at me, I know.

I strip myself of my pants. Wei Ying's follow immediately afterwards. There's a brief moment when our hardened shafts rub against each other and we both growl at the delicious friction.

"Take me now," he begs.

He doesn't have to tell me twice. However, neither one of us has lube. How could we have known this was going to happen?

A thought passes through my mind.

"Don't move," I order him.

Rushing into the bathroom, I search the cabinets. The previous owners might not be living here anymore, but Wei Ying did say they left everything behind. There's a chance what I'm looking for is in here. Somewhere.

I open every drawer under the sink and in the closet. Of course, it's the last one where I find the treasure I've been searching for. Taking the small bottle in my hand, I head back to the bedroom.

As I cross the threshold, I freeze.

Wei Ying is lying there. Completely naked. His entire body is on display for my hungry eyes. My cock taps against my stomach. I have never seen a more beautiful being.

"Wei Ying."

His lips turn up at the corners. "You told me not to move. Can you forgive me?"

I stride towards him without hesitation. He trembles as I kneel between his legs and push his legs open. My hand shakes as I apply a copious amount of lubricant to my two fingers. Unable to hold myself back, I thrust both long digits into his hole, moaning as he accepts them greedily.

With gentle yet forceful movements, I caress his insides. He's so tight. There's no way I'll last long once I push my dick inside him. So I'll have to take my time. I slow my pace, searching for the tiny spot within him that will give him the most pleasure.

It doesn't take me long to find it. Not that I could have missed it the way he raises his hips off the bed chasing my touch. I'm fascinated by the way his face tightens in ecstasy. His jaw drops open in rapture as I curl my fingers to stroke his g-spot.

"You're so beautiful," I say to him with complete honesty.

Wei Ying chuckles but it's cut off by a sharp inhale as I press against his prostate with my middle finger.

Impatiently, I insert a third finger expecting him to recoil at the larger intrusion. Instead, he slides down the bed, too eager for my touch.

With that single motion, I am forever lost.

Forever his.

I remove my fingers and apply lube to my aching cock. I lean down and whisper in his ear, "Are you sure?"

Pulling back, I find myself ensnared by two eyes blazing like living sparklers that are begging me to let go of every restraint chaining my desires.

"If you don't fuck me now, I'll never move in with you."

It takes a second for the meaning behind Wei Ying's words to sink into my lust hazed mind.

"Move in?"

"Well, I don't just randomly fuck strange men. Only ones I want to have a future with."

My brows furrow in confusion. "Future?"

Wei Ying's smile is so big his eyes squint into crescents. "Don't you feel like we've known each other before? Nothing that feels this right could possibly be wrong, right?"

The truth of what he's said slams into me. I look down at him. My heart knows this soul staring back at me with familiarity.

Somehow...somewhere...at some point in time...we have been lovers before. I don't understand how I know this. I just do.

We kiss. Our lips follow the steps of a dance we mastered in a previous life.

I enter him with one long, slow thrust. Both of us release a breath of comfort. This feeling of oneness is like coming home. I bury myself deep inside him. And he reciprocates with a loving clenching of his soft walls.

Setting the pace, we fall into a rhythm that matches our heartbeats. I watch his body rock back and forth as I penetrate him repeatedly. It's hypnotic. The knowledge that I am his and he is mine send me spiraling towards my climax.

"Lan Zhan."

"Wei Ying."

All reason leaves me. My mind has stopped working. My entire being is centered on pleasuring the man beneath me.

Every push into the heaven that is Wei Ying deepens the bliss my soul has yearned for. I refuse to blink as I watch him orgasm, his body flushing from the heat of our passion. Before I realize what's happening, I follow him, my essence spilling out of me.

Collapsing on top of his sweaty, cum-covered body, I wonder how I ever lived without this. Without him.

I nuzzle into his neck, breathing in his scent now drenched in the smell of our love making. My lips place light kisses onto his skin, my hands tracing the shells of his ears.

"I accept," he murmurs drunkenly.

For the first time since my mother died, I truly smile. This one is not forced or fake because this one comes from my heart.

And it feels good. It feels right.

"I'll do the cooking." I say contentedly.

"I'll clean."

I hum. "Will you wear a maid's uniform?"

He grins against my cheek. "Only if you promise me to wear an apron when you cook."

"Of course."

"And nothing else."

"I think I can handle that arrangement."

"Then we have a deal?"

"Where do I sign?"

And they lived happily ever after.