Me and Thee & Calm down Mr Rome Special.

Wake Up Call Special #6

Peach didn't hear a word of the conversation downstairs. By the time he led Thee up to the second floor of the shop, the space was empty, unused, quiet, and free from prying eyes. The moment they reached the top, he turned to face Thee, ready to speak. But before a single word could leave his lips, strong arms pulled him in, and a firm mouth pressed against his.

 

The kiss was desperate, consuming, like a man starved. It was deep and relentless, claiming every inch of him without hesitation, like Thee was determined to own every thought, every breath, every flicker of resistance. And yet, beneath that raw hunger, there was something else. Something achingly gentle, like he was afraid Peach might shatter in his hands.

 

It was a kiss full of longing. Full of love, of restraint stretched to its limit, of emotions so overwhelming that they had nowhere else to go. Thee kissed him over and over, refusing to pull away, until Peach was flushed and breathless. With what little strength he had left, he pushed at the man's broad shoulders, trying to put some space between them. Thee finally reluctantly let him go, though not before pressing a few lingering kisses, his lips brushing against Peach's in slow, teasing bites.

 

"Kian, that's enough. We need to talk first." Peach managed, voice hoarse and unsteady. His words were firm, but his body betrayed him, with a slight tremor and an uneven breath. If he weren't careful, things would spiral out of control right here, right now.

 

"Sorry," Thee murmured, exhaling a heavy breath. “I just... I missed you too damn much."

Before Peach could say anything, he was pulled into a crushing embrace. Thee held him like he never wanted to let go, as if he could keep him safe from the entire world just by holding him close enough. But instead of feeling suffocated, Peach felt at peace. It was the kind of warmth that made him want to close his eyes, sink into it, and forget everything else. Because when Thee held him like this, it felt like nothing could ever touch him.

 

A quiet sigh escaped him as he buried his face against Thee's chest, his fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. "I missed you, too."

Thee broke into a wide, satisfied grin, about to bask in the victory of hearing those words. But before he could even savour it, Peach suddenly pulled away, fixing him with a sharp, no-nonsense glare.

 

"But, Kian," he said, tone firm. "You can't tell anyone here that we're together."

 

"Why?" Thee's brows knitted together, his expression darkening in an instant. Even his arms tightened around Peach, as if refusing to let him slip away. "Are you trying to keep me a secret? To hide me away like some forbidden lover? You've got some nerve!"

 

Peach remained deadpan, utterly unimpressed by the dramatic outburst. "What is this? A soap opera? Didn't you tell me you stopped watching those?"

 

"Just a few dramas here and there," Thee looked away, clearing his throat. He muttered before getting back to the point. "But why hide it? We're married. Even if you regret it later or change your mind, I won't let you."

 

He exhaled heavily before reaching out, cupping Peach's face in his hands. He pulled him down, pressing a series of short, deliberate kisses against his lips, almost like punishment for making him sulk. Thee might have been startled at first, his eyes widening slightly, but he still responded with shameless enthusiasm.

 

"I never said I didn't want to marry you," Peach sighed when he finally pulled back. His tone was tired but patient. "I just want to prove myself first."

 

Thee ran his tongue lightly over his lower lip, as if savouring the taste, clearly dissatisfied with how brief their kiss had been. Still, he begrudgingly played along with the conversation. "Prove what? You don't have to prove anything to anyone."

 

Peach met his gaze, those deep, smoky grey eyes that always seemed to see right through him. His own expression was steady, unwavering.

 

"I want the first thing people call me to be 'photographer,' not just 'Mr Thee's lover.’

 

He didn't resent being known as Thee's husband. He wasn't ashamed of it, nor did he have any desire to step into Thee's world of power and influence. Peach was perfectly happy being just an ordinary photographer, and he took pride in being loved by the man who now stood before him. But he had ambitions of his own. He wanted to be recognised for his own talent, his own work. When people spoke his name, he wanted it to mean something more than just being tied to Thee's reputation.

 

"And if I want to be an internationally recognised photographer," he continued, "then my work needs to stand on its own first."

 

"By letting those people treat you like you're beneath them?" Thee scoffed. His voice cut through the air, cold and sharp, like he was ready to kill someone if they were standing in front of him. But despite the seething rage simmering beneath the surface, he fought to rein it in with everything he had. He couldn't afford to let his temper scare Peach, not when he knew all too well how deep those nightmares ran.

 

Peach only smiled slightly, unsurprised that Thee knew about it. The man had already warned him that he'd assigned bodyguards to watch over him from a distance to ensure his safety without intruding on his daily life. It was a precaution, nothing more. Even though Thee wasn't officially the head of any organisation, life in the mafia world was never truly safe.

 

Back then, Thee had been a nervous wreck, terrified that Peach would see it as some cage, a way to control him, to take away his freedom. He had feared almost to the point of paranoia that they would end up fighting, that Peach would cry, scream at him in anguish, maybe even slap him. That Thee would be left with no choice but to kiss him silent, forcing away his protests with sheer desperation.

 

Unfortunately for Thee, Peach had only nodded in understanding, smiling without a hint of worry. He never complained about the bodyguards, never seemed the least bit uncomfortable. And that, for some reason, had left Thee a little heartbroken. Peach had once wanted to ask exactly what Thee was so disappointed about, but in the end he decided it was better not to know.

 

The photographer shrugged lightly, saying, "In their eyes, I'm just some nobody with no real achievements. Then out of nowhere, I show up, acting like I have the authority to call the shots. Of course, they're going to be hostile. It's normal."

 

"They still have no damn right to talk down to anyone." Thee's voice remained icy, a stark contrast to the warmth of his calloused fingers as they cupped Peach's cheek with the gentleness of a man holding the most precious thing in his world. "Especially to you, my love."

 

Peach tilted his head slightly, leaning into the touch. His cheek pressed into Thee's palm, rubbing against it in a slow, lazy motion, like a cat basking in attention. Thee swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing as he struggled to keep his composure. Sometimes, all a person needed was someone who would indulge them without question-to reassure them, to give them strength to keep moving forward.

 

"I'm fine," Peach said, tilting his head as he pressed a firm kiss to the broad palm in front of him. Then he flashed a wide smile, his tone relaxed. "Kian, you're the fifth guest, right? How did you even manage to get that Simon guy to agree?"

 

"Their family used to do business with ours, so we ran into each other a few times when we were kids. Later on, we became business partners. We still talk occasionally about work, so I had a way in," Theerakit explained, his eyes locked onto Peach's lips like he had no intention of looking away. "At first, I turned it down since this kind of thing isn't really my scene, but if you're the one taking the photos, I'd be more than happy to do it."

 

"So you just decided to shove yourself into this without even giving me a heads-up, huh?" Peach huffed, scooting away with a deep frown. "Do you have any idea how worried I was when I couldn't reach you? Were you trying to give me a heart attack or something?"

 

"I'm sorry," Thee murmured, unable to resist pressing another kiss-soft but insistent-against Peach's lips, his voice laced with undeniable affection. "I just really wanted to see you as soon as possible. I didn't think to tell you; I figured a surprise would be better. I didn't mean to make you worry."

 

"Enough already! How much longer are you planning to keep this up?" Peach huffed, pushing a hand against Thee's mouth to stop him from going any further. His cheeks were burning red, and he couldn't help but glare at him one more time. "And what about the kids? Who's looking after them?"

 

"I already talked to those two, and my mom happened to be flying to Thailand, so she offered to watch them," Thee said before kissing Peach's palm again, then gently pulling his hand into his own. "Let's pick out some gifts for them later, yeah?"

 

Peach pressed his lips into a thin line, eyes meeting those smoke-grey ones that practically overflowed with love. His heart melted right then, and then, there was no way he could stay mad. Well, what could he do? He loved Kian way too much. Every second apart had left him aching and lonely.

 

"Fine," Peach sighed dramatically, making a show of how reluctant he was, even though he wasn't. "Let's finish the job first. We'll talk about everything else later."

 

Thee's grin spread wide in an instant, his entire expression lighting up with delight so much so that Peach could practically imagine a wagging tail behind him. He trailed after Peach without a single protest as they made their way back down the stairs. Alright. First, they'd deal with work. Everything else could wait.

 

By the time Peach made his way back downstairs, Ivano Simon had already arrived and was deep in conversation with Rome. From the way they talked, it was clear that the Simon and Arseny families weren't just business partners; they were much closer than Peach had initially thought.

 

Ivano Simon was a broad-shouldered man, slightly shorter than Thee and Rome, but his build was nearly twice as wide. His muscles were thick and solid, emphasised even more now that he had slung his suit jacket over his shoulder, leaving only a crisp white dress shirt hugging his frame. His face carried the distinguished handsomeness of an older man's deep-set eyes, which made his striking blue irises stand out even more against a well-groomed dark brown moustache.

 

At first glance, he seemed like a good-natured, middle-aged man, but Peach had a feeling that was only because he was around Thee and Rome. Theerakit strode toward the group, while Peach made a beeline for his camera equipment, his tools of the trade that kept getting pricier thanks to a certain someone who had an unshakable habit of surprising him with the latest camera models. At least he hadn't gone so far as to buy an entire camera company. Yet.

 

As Peach busied himself adjusting his camera settings, making sure everything was ready, he caught a glimpse of someone approaching from the corner of his eye. Looking up, his face immediately lit up with a warm smile when he recognised the newcomer. "Mok! Hey, it's been a while. How've you been?"

 

"I've been well," Mok replied with a small nod, his usual cold, detached demeanour softened by the warmth in his gaze. "And you? No trouble with Thee, I hope?"

 

Having been Thee's trusted secretary in the past, Mok had a keen sense that Peach's life was probably a whirlwind of chaos daily. But because it was Peach, he figured things were still under control.

 

"No trouble at all," Peach chuckled, easily guessing what Mok was getting at. "Though I've started learning Chinese recently, and let's just say it's been a bit... confusing."

 

He had been picking up Chinese by watching dramas again, but somehow the phrases he retained most often were the Thai subtitles rather than the actual Mandarin dialogue.

 

"What about you, Mok? How's life treating you?" Peach asked before subtly nodding toward Rome. "And how did you two end up here?"

 

Rome was now the head of the Arseny family, overseeing the Russian mafia side of their operations. Though he had a bit of a short fuse, he wasn't the type to waste time on pointless outings. He was serious about his work, so seeing him here, seemingly just hanging out, was definitely unexpected.

 

"Rome had some business negotiations with Arseny's European branch. When he heard Thee was coming, he insisted on tagging along." Mok explained with a weary sigh. "But don't worry. He's not here as the head of Arseny; he's just playing bodyguard for Thee this time. I'll make sure he doesn't interfere with your work."

 

Peach offered him a sympathetic smile and patted his shoulder lightly. "Sounds like you've got your hands full."

 

Mok didn't say anything in response. He gave a small smile, his eyes curving slightly at the corners with a rare hint of amusement. There was still a glint of sharpness in them, though, one that never quite faded, no matter how at ease he seemed

 

"By the way, can I ask you something, Mok?" Peach lowered his gaze to the camera in his hands, his voice dropping slightly. It wasn't loud, but still clear enough for the former secretary to catch every word. "Do you happen to know someone named Neera?"

 

Mok furrowed his brows slightly. "Neera? You mean Neera Pierce?"

 

So he really does know her. For a split second, Peach's heart seemed to slow before beating normally again. He wasn't exactly devastated or heartbroken, nothing like that. Everyone has a past, a mix of good and bad experiences that shape who they are. But what he couldn't wrap his head around was why that person had suddenly shown up, introducing herself as his boyfriend's ex.' What exactly was she after?

 

Peach was about to ask more, hoping to get some insight into what had happened between them. But before he could get another word out, a dark shadow loomed over them. Both Arseny's in-laws turned their heads in unison, only to see the man they had been gossiping about just moments ago standing there, arms crossed, eyes narrowed with suspicion. His sharp gaze scanned them both thoroughly, as if sizing them up.

 

"What are you two talking about? Plotting something?" Rome asked gruffly, arms still folded, eyes flicking between the two of them. 

 

"Or did Peach run into some problem, and now you're meddling in things that don't concern you again?"

 

The two men blinked at him, momentarily thrown off. They couldn't help but wonder just what kind of people these two brothers thought they were.

 

"Nothing like that," Mok replied evenly. "Peach was just asking why you're here." His voice remained calm, unaffected by the brash attitude and accusing tone, almost as if he was used to it by now.

 

"What, am I not allowed to follow you?" Rome shot back, his tone sharp, but his eyes twinkled mischievously, brimming with amusement. 

 

"With all the excitement happening here, you think I'd just go back and sit this one out?"

 

"Exciting? What part of this mess is supposed to be fun?" Peach let out a long sigh. Everyone around him seemed to do whatever the hell they wanted, all the time.

 

"Relax, I'm just here to make sure my brother stays safe," Rome declared confidently, standing firm with his arms still crossed. His lover, however, barely spared him a glance before responding in a flat, deadpan tone.

 

"You being here only makes things riskier. And even more complicated."

 

"Mok!" The head of the Arseny family called out, his voice thick with pain, his eyes looking up at his former secretary with an almost heartbreaking plea. Peach glanced over and couldn't help but chuckle, his eyes curving into a bright, amused smile. Rome always joked that Thee picked up dramatic lines from soap operas, probably because their mother made them watch when they were kids. But truth be told, Rome had his own fair share of dramatic tendencies. Maybe it ran in the blood.

 

Mok, however, was unfazed. Ignoring the theatrics, he turned to the photographer and spoke with quiet certainty. "Peach, you don't have to worry about Rome or Thee. My team and I will handle everything. I'll make sure they don't cause any trouble."

 

Peach let out a soft laugh at Rome's pitifully exaggerated expression before nodding. 

 

"Thanks, Mok. I'll leave them in your hands."

 

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" Rome shot back at his boyfriend, eyes filled with mock betrayal, his voice laced with playful protest. But Mok, pretending not to hear, merely lifted the corner of his lips in the faintest smile, just a little smirk, subtle yet unmistakably there. His eyes, however, gleamed with amusement.

 

Peach laughed again, but then his gaze drifted across the room, meeting Thee's. Thee had been watching him from a distance, quiet as always. Peach's lips curled into a soft, radiant smile, one full of warmth, deep and genuine.

This was his family. No matter how far apart they were, they would always be family. Just like Thee had promised him on the very first day they became one.