Lately, It's Winter Season.
Chapter 42 -
(Ah, Tul finally opened up to Mick's flirting, huh?)
“Yes, thanks to Nao,” I said proudly.
(You're really good, you're also a consultant these days.)
“Nuea’s student, and he’s always with North.” I smiled at the compliment. Mick and Tul were something to be proud of because I had helped them open up to each other. Finally, they were willing to talk openly.
“Hey, Nuea.”
(What?)
"Miss."
(Nuea?)
“Ger.”
(Well~) Nuea laughed teasingly, (Why don't you just tell him?)
“I told you, but I never got to see you.” I pouted, looking frustrated. Tiger hadn’t come to see me in over a week. I knew he was busy, but I missed him too. Even chatting or video calling couldn’t compare to seeing him in person. “Sigh, so lonely.”
(Lonely because the other person isn't by your side, that's what a lover is like~) Nuea smiled lightly, (Alright, let Nuea stay with Nao so he won't feel so lonely.)
“Um, that's great. What time is Nuea planning to study until?” I asked.
(It depends; if Nao were here, Nao would probably fall asleep first.)
“Um, okay, let’s study together.” It was around 10 pm now, and it was probably around 11 am at Nuea’s place. I might fall asleep before Nuea finishes studying.
“This Nuea.”
(What's wrong?)
“How did you deal with that person in the end? Did you really refuse?”
(Yeah, what's up?)
“Nothing, I just saw that person seemed nice. Even though Nao had never met him, he seemed like a nice person from what you said.” I spoke based on my feelings. That person was the latest person to flirt with Nuea. Before, I was quite reserved with Nuea, not wanting anyone to flirt with him. But over time, that possessiveness lessened; instead, I wanted Nuea to have someone by his side to take care of him. However, Nuea remained the same, rejecting everything without opening up.
“I really want to know. I wonder what kind of person Nuea's future lover will be.”
(Haha, Nuea doesn't really care either.)
“What kind of person would it be?” I said, thinking, looking for a book to read. “Maybe Nuea will meet him at work. But I can’t imagine what kind of person would make Nuea fall in love with.”
(That's right, Nuea wondered that too.) Nuea said without looking up, still focused on the book in front of him, (Maybe Nuea will be single for the rest of his life.)
“No, I'm sure one day you will meet that person.”
(Some people stay by their side for six years without ever realising it.) Nuea said in a meaningful tone. I unconsciously pursed my lips.
“Who knows, maybe that person was right next to him, but Nuea never paid attention.”
(I don't know.) Nuea replied. (Forget it, what's the point of thinking about the future? Worry about the exam next Monday.)
I almost blurted out that I was planning on going to Nuea, but I stopped myself. As you all know, I stream games and have saved up a decent amount of money—enough to fly to Boston to visit Nuea. I just haven’t had the time. Part of the reason I was able to save up so quickly was thanks to Guitar and… no, Tiger. They kept donating to me.
I planned to find Nuea after the end of my third year, which was a busy time. There would be a gap before the internship started, and I would use that gap to meet Nuea. The internship company was already set. North and I had been trying our best for a long time to get into that company—North’s husband’s company.
It was one of the top companies in the country, and students from any school wanted to intern and work there. I didn’t know if I could compete, but I had to try.
*******
(How is Nao? With his studies and exams.)
“Oh, it’s okay. No, I should say it’s really good. I didn’t expect you to do this well.” I told the truth,
“Look at Nao’s score, it’s really good. Even though it’s not at the top of the industry, it’s still something to be proud of.”
(That's really cool. Nuea feels strangely proud when he sees Nao's score. It's as if even without Nuea tutoring or reminding him of his studies, Nao still performed well. Good job, kid.)
“Huh, who’s a kid? I’m twenty-one.” I raised my eyebrows, “But Nao still feels like he’s not very mature, Nuea. When he was 16, he felt like a kid, and now he still feels like a kid.”
(It's always good to have a little child in you.) Nuea laughed.
“Oh yeah, Nuea remember North?”
(Still remember, why?)
“The other day, when we went drinking together, he challenged Nao to a drinking contest. Whoever lost would have their face rubbed with his foot.” I excitedly said, “The result was that Nao won. Let me send you a picture.”
Nao looked at the photo I sent and laughed.
(But Nao couldn't stand still; his friends had to support him.)
“But it's still a win, right? Because North fell first.”
(Haha, what a perfect match for friends. How adorable, these kids.) Nuea smiled fondly.
“You talk like I'm older.” I frowned, “I'm only a few minutes older than Nao and you act like I'm the older brother of the whole group.”
(It is really cute.)
“Okay, okay.”
*********
After that, we continued to video call and studied together until around midnight. I asked permission to go to bed first because I was so sleepy. After a few minutes of dozing off, a call came in. I immediately thought of North; he must not be able to sleep because he was afraid of ghosts again. I was about to pick up the phone to scold him, but Tiger's voice made me immediately shut up.
(Are you sleeping?)
I sat up straight in bed, my drowsiness gone.
“No, not yet. Studying.” I replied excitedly, “Why aren’t you asleep yet?”
(I'm coming to pick you up. Get ready.)
“Get ready? What do you mean? Are you taking me somewhere?”
(Let me tell you later.)
Then the person on the other end hung up. I was still confused, but got up to change. While I was packing my things and putting them in my bag, there was a knock on the door. I opened the door and saw Tiger in a black suit. I said he was coming to pick me up, but wasn't that too much? It wasn't even ten minutes. As soon as he saw me, he rushed in and hugged me tightly. I hugged him back, feeling overwhelmed with longing.
Haa… I miss you so much. It's only been a week, but it feels like a month.
The two hugged each other for a long time before letting go.
“Let's go.” He smiled, taking my hand.
“I haven't finished packing yet.”
“Oh, no need.” Tiger laughed, “Just telling me to prepare, right?”
“Uh… But you said you were taking me somewhere? Shouldn't I at least bring something?”
“No need, let’s go.” He pulled me gently, and I easily followed. Even though this wasn’t the first time I saw him in a suit, I had to admit—Tiger looked good in a suit.
Wow, what a handsome boyfriend.
There was a black luxury car parked below the dormitory. Tiger opened the door for me to get in. As the car started moving, I couldn't help but ask:
“Where are we going anyway?”
“A party to celebrate Sing’s official promotion to gang leader.” He replied, “This is an event that cannot be without the second wife.”
“…Huh?” I gasped, “Second wife? Why a second wife?”
“Because there is already Ben, Sing’s future wife, as the first lady.”
“Ah…” I was finally pushed into this title without any right to refuse. It had led me this far; there was no turning back. I was silent for a moment before suddenly remembering, “This must be a big event, right?”
“Yeah, many other guilds are participating, too.”
“…And yet you brought me along as the second wife?”
"YES."
“…That's not good. I'm just a normal person.”
“It’s better to debut first. One, no one will dare to touch me again, so that you can rest assured. Two, I want to go public to give the person I love a worthy title. Three, no one will dare to touch you again.”
"Who dares to touch me?"
“I don’t know, but just in case.” Tiger smiled contentedly. Seeing him so happy, I couldn’t bear to say anything more.
We got to the airport and boarded a private plane. When we landed, I was taken to pick out a suit to wear to the party, and Tiger had to change as well.
“Why do I have to change? I think this one looks good already.”
“There's some blood on it.” Tiger chuckled.
Ah, because it's a black vest, there's no blood stains...
After choosing our outfits, we continued to the car to another place. Before us lay a luxurious hotel with a red carpet stretching from the entrance. I got out of the car, unable to hide my excitement. I had never worn a suit in my life, but now I was both excited about the outfit and nervous about the party.
“What do I need to do?”
“Just stay by my side and don't get lost.”
Tiger held my hand tightly and led me inside. Along the way, many people in tuxedos bowed. When I entered the hall, I could see the grandeur of it all – an incredibly large hall. Everyone here was dressed neatly, just like a lavish party for the upper class, the kind I had only seen in movies. The only thing was, all of these people were members of mafia gangs. Thinking about this, I couldn't help but feel nervous.
“Don't be nervous, you're here with me.”
Oh yeah, Tiger is the host too… Phew. Calm down, Duen Nao. If you get so nervous that you trip… damn, I can't even imagine.
The hall was beautifully decorated but not too flashy. Soft music was playing, the atmosphere was comfortable, but there was still a bit of invisible pressure, probably because this was a mafia party. Before I could look around, someone approached Tiger and greeted him. He looked Chinese… because he spoke Chinese.
Of course, I didn't understand anything. Even though I had helped the lion dance team for a while, my Chinese was still zero.
I instinctively held Tiger's hand tighter because I was a little scared. A waiter walked by, so I took a drink from his tray. I didn't know what it was, but I just had a drink; it could help relieve some of the tension.
The rich aroma of alcohol wafted through the air; it seemed to be wine, and a high-quality one at that. I drained my glass and conveniently grabbed another one from another staff member's tray.
Damn… This is delicious.
“Do you like it?”
“Um… Are you done talking?” I asked in surprise. I was so engrossed in drinking wine that I didn’t notice that Tiger had finished talking with the other person.
“Yeah, if you like it, go ahead. This one is actually pretty good.” Tiger handed me another glass, “Try them all, you might like them all.”
“Okay, thanks a lot.” I smiled happily. I kept changing from one type to another, drinking and asking Tiger what kind of wine it was so I could remember. Who knows, maybe I’ll buy it later when I have money. But when he told me the price, I was immediately stunned. Oh well, I’ll drink at this party to make it worthwhile. “This is no different from a wine buffet, right?”
“Haha, I'm glad you like it. There's cake too.”
“Take it!”
“Then let's go over to the dessert area.”
When we got to the centre, there were tables full of pastries. Just looking at them made my heart melt. I quickly took a few bites and popped them into my mouth. The tension and anxiety melted away as the alcohol kicked in. Of course, I wasn’t drunk. I was so good at drinking that I once rubbed North’s face with my foot.
Because I had to hold the cake, I had to let go of Tiger's hand. One hand held a glass of wine, the other hand held the cake, following him. Tiger kept greeting people, or someone came to talk to him.
I only heard vaguely, mostly congratulating his brother on becoming the gang leader. But this is the mafia, who knows if their congratulations are real or fake. Tiger didn't care anyway. The smile he was using to talk was 100% fake.
Of course, only I, who had been with him for so long, could see that. Others probably wouldn't notice.
After no one else came to greet him, Tiger turned to look at me.
“Are you drunk?”
“Not yet. Just give me the whole barrel of wine.”
“Haha, do you want to go into the wine cellar?”
“It's great!” I replied excitedly, Pouring one glass at a time is never enough, I'll just drink the whole bottle!
“Want to take a break? Go out to the balcony and get some fresh air. I'll get you some more cookies. It's hard to walk around with this.”
“Whatever.” I nodded.
Tiger led me to an empty balcony. I put down the five glasses of wine I was holding on the table. Everyone looked at me along the way, but I didn't care. That's how drinkers are. Tiger looked at me fondly and called the waiter to bring me wine. Then he went to get me some cake. While waiting, I drank all the wine on the table.
“Wow, you like it this much?”
“It's so delicious. I just bragged to my group of friends in chat.”
“You're good, ever since you beat up North and rubbed his face with your foot, I'm even more proud of my boyfriend's drinking capacity.” He patted my head.
“Yes, thanks. Please give me more, a whole bottle. Don't pour me a glass, it's not that much.”
“People drink slowly, look, everyone is sipping and chatting. And you…”
“Haha, I thought it would be stressful and uncomfortable at first, but now it feels great. Thanks for bringing me here.”
“Because the wine is good?”
“The cakes are delicious too.”
“I'll buy you a lot. Which one do you like?”
“I can’t remember the name… This colour and this colour.” I pointed out, “But I actually like them all. It’s just that they’re so expensive that I’m going to drink them all at this party. Drink them until the other guests have nothing left to drink.”
“Haha, I bought it for you.”
“Really?”
"Real."
“What about you? Not drinking?”
“Let me finish it.”
“Oh… Is this what it means to ‘meet the second wife’?”
“That's right. Or do you want me to go on stage and announce it?”
“Okay, okay, this is fine,” I replied. But… Tiger introduced me as the second wife, and I kept gulping down my wine. That elegant image must have completely disappeared from everyone’s eyes. Now, everyone must think that the ‘second wife’ is a drunkard. But never mind, how could anyone resist such good wine?
“Damn, it's so delicious I want to go get my liver checked right now.”
I was about to have another drink, but this time, Tiger stopped me.
“You take a break.”
“Just one more glass.”
“A normal person would have collapsed long ago, but you really have a good alcohol tolerance.”
“Right?” I smiled, my eyes sparkling. It wasn’t because of anything; it was because I was starting to get drunk. My blood sugar was also rising. I leaned against the railing, temporarily ignoring the alcohol and taking in the scenery around me. “The air here is great, and the moon is beautiful too.”
“I think so too.”
“Hey, Ger.”
“What?”
“I miss you so much. It's been nine days since we've seen each other.”
“I miss you too, maybe I miss you even more.”
“Haha, you’re still competing with me.” I laughed, resting my chin on the railing and looking at the person across from me, “You’re really handsome.”
“You are very beautiful too.”
Tiger moved closer so that we were only a small distance apart. Under the gentle moonlight and the shimmering lights from inside the party, he and I gradually leaned closer and exchanged a gentle kiss. Our soft and warm lips touched each other, blending with the scent of each other's bodies and the gentle rhythm of their breathing. The warm tongue gradually crept in, and I opened my lips as a permission.
The scent of the wine I had drunk filled my mouth. I closed my eyes, letting it all happen naturally. Our tongues entwined, wet and hot. Tiger put his hand on the back of my neck, pulling me closer. Our bodies pressed together, our breaths intertwined.
It was my first kiss… Really.
“Mmm…” I unconsciously made a sound; my heart was beating so hard that I could hardly breathe. Before I could adjust, the kiss deepened and intensified. I could only use my little strength to push him away gently.
“W-Wait.”
“…”
“Move somewhere else.”
Tiger helped me up from the balcony because I was a bit drunk. We took the elevator to the upper floor and entered a luxurious room in the hotel. Before I could see clearly, he picked me up and put me on the bed.
"Thereto…"
He leaned down and kissed me again, this time more passionately and intensely than before. To the point that I started to wonder, is this really someone who has never kissed anyone before? I responded awkwardly, our bodies pressed even tighter together, entangled to the point that it felt like my stomach was twisting. Tiger pulled away from my lips, took off his jacket, and continued to kiss me again.
“Um…!”
He bit my upper and lower lips lightly as if he had been craving for a long time. My hands unconsciously placed on his chest, closing my eyes to let the passionate kiss continue. Our tongues entwined, wet tongues touching passionately. We kissed for a long time until Tiger pulled away. I realised my whole body was numb. I gasped and looked at him with shy, yet longing, eyes. Tiger also looked at me with the same eyes, his face and ears red. He gently brushed the stray hair away from my face.
“Are you… okay?”
“Um… It's fine.”
“So should I continue?”
“Um, let's do it.” I nodded slightly because I was mentally prepared.
The person above straightened his back and removed all his clothes, revealing his smooth, white skin and the tattoos hidden beneath the fabric. My heart beat even faster. Tiger reached out to help me take off my shirt, and I obediently cooperated. When my upper body was completely naked, I suddenly felt more embarrassed than ever. We had clearly seen each other shirtless many times before, but I didn't know why I felt so shy now.
Tiger started caressing my ear, nibbling it lightly. It tickled me a little, but the feeling quickly turned numb as he kissed down my shoulder. His high nose touched my skin as if my scent intoxicated him. Hot kisses fell from my collarbone to my nipple, and when his lips touched it, I couldn't help but stiffen. The warm tongue gently licked the top of his chest; the feeling was strange but so wonderful.
“Mmm…” I moaned unconsciously, the numb feeling spreading throughout my body to the point that I accidentally pushed his head closer. Tiger seemed to notice, so he licked and bit me even more, making me shiver. I unconsciously arched my chest, accepting the stimulation completely instinctively.
The other hand gently rubbed, while his thumb alternated up and down. Tiger was absorbed in my nipples until both were red. Only when he felt satisfied did he remove his lips, continuing to place kisses down my body.
The gnawing feeling in my stomach returned. My whole body tensed as my pants began to come undone. Tiger slowly pulled down the zipper, revealing my erect manhood. His large hands gently grasped it, rubbing the sensitive tip with his thumb. I flinched, letting out an unfamiliar moan. This was the first time anyone had touched me in this way. Tiger bent down, lightly touched the tip with his tongue, then swallowed it all into his mouth.
“Ah…!” But perhaps because I wasn’t used to it, his teeth accidentally scraped my sensitive part, “It hurts!”
“Sorry!” Tiger immediately removed his lips.
“No… It's okay. Actually, it's okay if you don't do it.” I said, confused.
“But I want to do it.”
“W-well… gently,” I mumbled. Tiger nodded and tried again. This time, he didn’t swallow it all, but instead licked the entire length with his tongue. I clenched my teeth to suppress the rising pleasure. Tiger dragged his tongue from the base to the tip, then pressed the tip of his tongue lightly against the most sensitive part before sucking on it with his mouth.
“Ah…! Ger…”
“What do you think?” he asked, still teasing me.
“Um… good…”
“So how about this?”
He held me with one hand, his mouth taking care of my upper body, his tongue constantly gliding across. His hand caressed my lower body rhythmically. I felt like I was going crazy; my breathing became heavy.
“Uh… um…” I bit my lip, grabbed his hair and pulled his head up as a sudden spurt of white liquid erupted, spraying all over my lower abdomen, “Did it get on you?”
"No problem."
“Gee…”
“What?” he gasped, too, his face red all the way to his ears.
“Want me to do it for you?”
“Huh? Ah…”
Without waiting for an answer, I pushed him down and started unzipping his pants. All the confidence I had in what I had learned earlier was fading away. However, I still wanted to do something for him. Tiger's manhood popped out of his white underwear, leaving me stunned by its size.
"…Uncle…?"
“…”
I bent down, gently touched his head with my tongue and tried to swallow it, although not all of it, because it was so big. Before I could continue, I felt his head touching my throat.
“Urk… Ger…”
“Are you okay?”
I couldn’t answer. I just tried to take him in my mouth and slowly move up and down. It was difficult at first, but when I heard his soft moans, I became more confident. I increased my speed, going faster. But maybe Tiger couldn’t take it anymore, so he pushed my head deeper. The tip rubbed against my throat, making me almost want to vomit. But I still endured…
I could smell his body scent clearly. I did that for so long that my mouth started to go numb. Before I could react, Tiger suddenly reached out and touched my back.
“Mmm…” I moaned in my throat. Tiger used the spilt liquid to lubricate my backside. The unfamiliar feeling made me flinch slightly. He kept circling his finger around until I relaxed, and then gently inserted his finger inside.
“Nao…” His voice was hoarse as he called me. I continued to use my mouth to caress him, while his finger slowly penetrated my body. The first feeling was discomfort because this was something foreign being pushed inside. Tiger carefully moved his finger in and out slowly. When he was released into my mouth, he seemed confused for a moment. But when he saw me swallow it all, his eyes widened in surprise.
I pulled my lips away from his, my mind completely focused on my behind. Tiger turned me over so that my back was facing him. His large hands held my sides, his thumbs pressing lightly to spread the area open. Then he leaned down, licking along that sensitive spot with his tongue. I let out a startled cry, although it felt uncomfortable at first, but gradually my body began to relax. When I was no longer tense, Tiger continued to insert his fingers.
“Ah… Aaa… Mmm…” He moved his fingers faster than before, his tongue still teasing me. As my body began to adapt, the number of fingers increased from two to three. Then, the fingers left, replaced by something else that was about to take their place.
I turned my head to see Tiger holding his manhood, moving it a few times before placing it right at my rear entrance. I closed my eyes, my heart pounding. I could feel it slowly coming in.
“Ugh… it hurts…” As soon as I cried out, Tiger immediately stopped, pulled out, and flipped me over on top instead of letting him take the initiative.
“I heard it hurts less this way.” His voice was hoarse with excitement. The look on his face made me want to follow suit. I slowly adjusted my position, placing it correctly, and then lowered it. But after a moment, I was already groaning in pain.
“It hurts again…!”
“If it doesn’t work, we can do it next time.” His voice was filled with worry. But it had come to this, so I gritted my teeth and endured the pain, continuing to lower my hips until the entire thing was inside.
“Cough… Ger…” I groaned in my throat. I don’t know when tears started falling. A feeling of pain and tightness spread throughout my body, as if my stomach was stuffed to the point where it couldn’t take it anymore. The pain was like tearing my body into pieces.
Tiger pulled me down to kiss him, trying to relax me. We locked in a deep kiss for a long time until my body began to adjust. I sat up straight, moving slowly. But soon, I felt it getting harder and harder. That made me uncomfortable again.
Tiger reached down and caressed my front. As the pleasure spread from front to back, I began to feel different. The pain was gradually replaced by pleasure. I moved my hips instinctively, but at that moment, Tiger flipped me over so that I was underneath him.
“Let me do it.” His voice was deep with lust. I didn't answer, just silently let him lead. When Tiger took the initiative, the feeling was completely different. The thrusts were strong, and the friction between our bodies grew increasingly intense.
“Aa… Ahh… Mmm…!” The increasing rhythm almost made me lose control. My heart was beating so fast that I couldn’t keep up with my breathing. The person in front of me was also flushed, breathing heavily, his low voice filled with pleasure.
When he hit my sensitive spot, I moaned even louder. Tiger noticed that and kept aiming for that spot.
His rough hands caressed my waist. The pleasure spread throughout my body, making me tremble. Finally, I reached my climax, releasing everything. Tiger followed soon after, leaving a white stream of liquid on the bed as he pulled out.
“Do you want to continue?”
“Want…” I nodded shyly, causing Tiger to smile brightly with joy.
We leaned in for another kiss. His hot hands caressed my body, each touch causing my heart to flutter violently. Tiger used his fingers to scoop out his own white liquid that was flooding inside me.
“Um…”
He pulled me onto his lap, using both hands to lift my hips and press down on his still erect cock. Thanks to the remaining lubricant, it didn't hurt as much as the first time. The pleasure surged so much that I had to press my fingertips down on his broad shoulders to release it. Tiger pressed lightly on the back of my neck and pulled me closer.
Our tongues entwined once more passionately, my hips being held tight to move up and down in rhythm. Our breathing synchronised, I began to lightly bite his lips, both top and bottom, in my own desire.
“Ah!” I screamed and pulled away from the kiss as Tiger bucked his hips up and pulled mine down.
“Deep… so deep… um…”
“All the better,” Tiger whispered in my ear, his voice hoarse.
I felt my lower abdomen tense up… Damn, wasn't it too long? And it was thrusting in and out like this without stopping… The numb and painful feeling almost made me faint.
“Um… um… Slow… slow… too deep… too deep…”
“…Ah, it feels so good… Ah…” Tiger moaned softly, his voice low.
“Ger… Ger… Ah! Um…”
“Nao Nao… I love you… love you…”
“I… I also… ah… love you too… Ư ưm…”
Tiger used more and more force until I was afraid I wouldn't be able to take it anymore. The deeper, the more tense, but at the same time, the more extremely stimulating. I couldn't control myself anymore; my hand unconsciously tightened around his arm. Tiger leaned down and sucked on my nipple, causing pleasure to spread throughout my body. Hot kisses swept over every inch of skin, leaving red marks.
“D-Don't do that… Um…”
“What? Don’t you like it?” Tiger asked, his tongue still playing around my nipple, which was red from over-stimulation.
“It… it tickles… Um…”
Tiger grabbed my waist tightly and lifted me. I was startled and quickly clung to him.
“What… are you doing?”
Because it was still deeply embedded inside, every step Tiger took felt like an even stronger click. Finally, he stopped at the wall near the bed.
“Hold on tight.”
My back was against the wall, my hands gripping his neck tightly for fear of falling. Before I could prepare myself, Tiger thrust in again. With this standing position, he could go much deeper than before.
“Ah! Ah! Ah…! Ger… Gently… Mmm…”
“It can't be any lighter.” Tiger's voice was hoarse, his face flushed as he looked down at where their bodies were joined. He thrust so hard that I almost went crazy and lost my consciousness.
The pleasure was so intense, far beyond the limit of what I could endure. Tiger's hips did not slow down; on the contrary, they went faster and stronger. The sound of skin slapping together echoed in an ambiguous rhythm. Those sounds had been going on for nearly forty minutes since we were in bed. My whole body trembled with each thrust, unable to resist. Finally, I released it once more. Three times in such a short period of time that I had almost no strength left.
Tiger looked up at me. We were both burning. When our eyes met, I saw a loving tenderness that warmed my chest. He thrust a few more times before the hot heat flooded inside me. Tiger slowly pulled out, leaving a white liquid running down my thigh. We gave each other a gentle kiss.
“Thank you… I love you so much.”
“I love you too.”
The last image I remember is Tiger carrying me into the warm bath, gently washing my body. I reached out to touch his cheek; his eyes filled with love, and then he fell asleep in my arms.