Desire Me If You Can [Novel] - Chapter 51

It was a question that, by now, was far too late to ask, but he couldn’t help it. Joshua, despite thinking the same, readily answered.
•
Of course. Do you think I suddenly called you to make some silly joke?
That’s true. Dane reluctantly agreed, though his face twisted in displeasure.
“Are you out of your mind?”
On the other end, Joshua burst into laughter. The clear sound of his laughter would have been an irresistible temptation to anyone listening, but, unfortunately for Dane, it didn’t work. Still scowling, Dane heard Joshua’s voice, still tinged with humor.
⚫ I’d like to say I’m in my right mind, but who knows, maybe you’re right.
Dane didn’t respond to the vague joke. The idea of getting rid of the troublemaker, who was bound to become an issue, right before him was an extremely tempting suggestion. Joshua would handle things neatly, and he wasn’t the type to jump into risky situations recklessly, so there would be no danger. There was even a promise that Dane wouldn’t be harmed, and the payment was guaranteed. It was a proposal that only offered benefits, with no downside.
The problem was the person in question.
The biggest obstacle was the fact that it was Grayson Miller. Dane could barely say he knew him, but his instincts told him this: it was best not to get involved with that guy. Grayson would be the type to chase you down for revenge for even the smallest grudge, and he’d make your life a complete headache. Dane didn’t know why Chase Miller would do this to his brother, but one thing was certain: Grayson Miller wouldn’t just take it lying down. And now, to get involved with him like this?
“I’m good, I’m not doing it.”
• What?
Joshua’s voice, full of surprise, came through, but Dane remained unmoved.
“I’m not interested. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone about this.”
Dane had long since repaid the debt he owed Joshua for saving his life. He remembered how grateful he was for that. If Joshua had asked him to repay that debt now, he probably wouldn’t have been able to refuse.
Joshua would regret wasting that one chance.
• Dane, just think about it one more time.
“No, I’m out.”
As expected, Joshua didn’t give up and tried to convince him again, but Dane immediately backed off.
“Let the Millers handle their own business. I don’t want to get involved.”
Joshua was silent for a moment, as if he were contemplating. It couldn’t have been easy for him to make such a suggestion. Dane thought. He must have put a lot of thought into choosing this ally, so it must have been awkward to be immediately rejected.
Even so, I have no reason to get involved in this.
Fortunately, the silence didn’t last long. Joshua seemed to come up with something to say and, after a brief sigh, spoke again.
• Alright. Take care, Dane.
“You too.”
After a brief exchange, Dane hung up the phone. It stung a little that Darling’s health check-up was ruined, but there was nothing to be done about it. He had done the right thing. Getting involved in that mess would only lead to trouble.
<Abuse? Me? Was I really…?>
Suddenly, memories resurfaced. Grayson Miller’s face, who seemed like he couldn’t really understand.
Dane stood still for a moment, lost in thought. After a few seconds of silence, he tilted his head back and let out a short sigh, then walked away with long strides as if nothing had happened.
It was already past one o’clock. He had missed his bedtime by quite a bit. He put the beer he had been about to drink back in the fridge and headed toward the bedroom, with Darling following him around his legs.
A year goes by quickly, it’s okay.
Thinking that, he picked up the cat and lay down on the bed. The cat in his arms purred, curling up closer. Feeling the warmth, Dane soon drifted to sleep.
Grayson thought to himself as he drove towards his house. It hadn’t been long enough for the pheromones to build up. A few months would be fine.
He realized, for the first time, that having sex when he wasn’t interested at all was torture. He remembered Keith, who once said, “I’m sick of sex.” Keith had explained that when pheromones built up, it drove you mad or caused brain damage, so you had no choice but to do it. He had been married with two kids for a long time.
Even more surprisingly, despite his reckless lifestyle before marriage, Keith was now incredibly loyal, keeping his trust and faith in his partner. At first, people thought it would be just a phase, but when it lasted for a year, then two, and eventually several years, they began to  wonder just what kind of person Keith’s partner must be for him to remain so committed, so steadily immersed.
But Grayson’s thoughts were different. That wild Keith Pitman had undoubtedly turned into a disciplined man because Yeonwoo was his one and only destiny. Keith had always mocked Grayson for believing in fate, but in truth, Keith had shown that very thing through his actions. And Keith would eventually acknowledge that all of his previous reckless lifestyle was just a wandering phase to meet Yeonwoo. Even though he had laughed at Grayson for believing in destiny.
Now, Keith didn’t even have to attend pheromone parties, so it must have been very comfortable for him. Grayson scoffed to himself and increased his speed. He had completely forgotten that becoming a firefighter was his way of looking for someone destined for him.
<You little bitch!>
Suddenly, the shout that Frankie had let out came back to him. With a scowl, he looked down at his thigh. Still, it was calm. It’s ridiculous to think he’s impotent. Just a few weeks ago, he’d had no problem sleeping with women.
“Damn it.”
He cursed as he slammed the steering wheel. It must be just a phase. Grayson tried to brush it off lightly. It was just a minor issue. Once he found the right partner, he, like Keith, would stop these pointless releases, and everything would return to normal.
He thought to himself.
Yeah, once I find them.
Perhaps, he thought pessimistically, this thing might not react until he finds that person.
… Or maybe it was nonsense.
Grayson stared blankly at the back of the man on the ladder, placing a new birdhouse.
“Hey, Dane! Wait, you need to move it more to the right!”
Ezra, standing a few steps away from Grayson, yelled. Dane clicked his tongue and moved the birdhouse to the
right.
“Is this good?”
“More, more!”
As Ezra shouted, Dane muttered something under his breath but moved the birdhouse further to the right.
“Alright, that’s it!”
As Ezra spoke, another guy came up to him and mumbled while stroking his chin.
“Isn’t it too far?”
“Shh, be quiet. Dane might throw the birdhouse at your head.”
Ignoring the quiet muttering, Grayson watched Dane. The handsome man with red hair was fixing the birdhouse to the tree, wearing a firefighter t-shirt and uniform pants.
Each time he moved his arms, the shirt tightened against his broad back, revealing the muscles beneath. Every time this happened, Grayson involuntarily held his breath. Despite his broad shoulders, his narrow waist was clad in those damn loose uniform pants, which, because of the design, had to be held up with suspenders. The pants were so loose that they barely showed any shape, yet Grayson kept glancing at his ass.
“Unbelievable.”
Grayson muttered to himself. How is it that I’m standing here, staring at a man’s back like this?
“Hey, Miller.”
Ezra, who had been watching Dane, glanced at Grayson by accident, his eyes widening in shock. His gaze was fixed on Grayson’s thigh. Grayson knew exactly what had happened. Even without looking, he could feel the
weight of it.
Damn, did I just get hard?
“Uh, I don’t think I saw that right…”
Ezra tried to say something, but Grayson was too embarrassed to even shout. How is it that I got turned on just looking at the back of a guy wearing these loose pants? Yesterday, I was fine even after being covered in pheromones while holding an omega in my arms. What the hell is wrong with me?
Of course, he absurdly thought of his member as “Virginia.” It’s ridiculous, especially considering how worn out it
is.
If others knew, they’d definitely consider Grayson crazy, but frankly, he didn’t care. Right now, his “Virginia” was throbbing painfully.