These Golden Days
Chapter 5- Undisclosed Desires
The next morning, Shen Qingqiu left early for his trip to Bailu Forest. He had tossed and turned the night before in anticipation of this day.
Luckily, the day was sunny and the temperature was not too hot. The sky was clear and it looked like there was no chance of rain. He had picked the perfect day for a picnic. He could not wait to see Gongyi Xiao.
'Airplane Bro was right. I am head over heels for him. I never felt this way about anyone else before.' he thought, as he made his way through the forest to the small clearing.
The spot was open enough to have a picnic, yet still private. There were beautiful flowers of many kinds that grew there. He was glad that he had discovered it. It was the perfect spot for he and Gongyi to have a picnic and their private time together.
He stopped in his tracks when he noticed a dashing figure standing near the trees.
It was Gongyi Xiao.
He was a sight to behold in his gold robes. He stood tall and graceful. His long black hair was pulled back in a low ponytail. He had a handsome face with delicate features. Shen Qingqiu felt his pulse quicken as he realized how lucky he was to have someone like him in his life.
Gongyi finally saw him and a radiant smile spread over his face, and he walked towards him until they were standing in front of each other.
Shen Qingqiu put the blankets and basket down so he could greet him properly.
Once he looked into his dark brown eyes... he felt like he never wanted to look away again.
They both stared at each other until he reached out and pulled the younger man into his arms. They had only been apart for a little over a day and that felt too long.
"I am glad you were able to meet me." he said softly.
"Elder Shen, I would never miss a chance to see you." Gongyi responded and looked at him with intensity.
In his eyes, there was an unspoken plea of 'Kiss me.'
Shen Qingqiu held his gaze as he gently cupped the sides of the younger man's face, then bent down and kissed him passionately.
XX
The kiss was so intense that Gongyi felt like his knees would buckle. Shen Qingqiu's lips were soft against his own and their tongues danced. He knew that he never wanted to kiss anyone else like this but him.
Reluctantly they broke apart, both of them breathless. Shen Qingqiu's face was flushed and he began to fan himself.
"I suppose we should move to our spot where we can have our privacy." he said, and bent down to pick up the picnic basket.
"Let me help you." Gongyi offered as he grabbed the pillow and the blankets, then followed the older man to their special spot in the woods.
Once there, they shook out the blankets and spread one out over the ground. Then they put the pillow and blanket to the side. Gongyi noticed the extra bedding and his heart pounded. He had decided that he wanted to be even closer to Elder Shen if things progressed in that direction.
He suddenly thought of the Palace Master giving him the ultimatum to marry his daughter or be sent away.
The only choice he felt had was to agree to marry Palace Mistress. He would lose everything he loved if he was banished.
He could not bear the thought of not being near Elder Shen.
"Gongyi, is everything alright?"
He snapped out of his thoughts to see Shen Qingqiu looking at him in concern. He knew he was going to have to tell him about his upcoming betrothal, but right now he wanted to enjoy his time with him.
He tried to give the older man what he hoped was a reassuring smile.
"I am fine because I am here with you, Elder Shen."
Shen Qingqiu's eyes searched his as though he knew there was something he was holding back.
Gongyi thought he might question him more, but instead he smiled back at him, sat down and patted a place on the blanket.
"Please come and sit next to me," the older man offered.
He immediately walked over and sat down beside Elder Shen who handed him a jug of wine.
"Today is a good day for us to relax, drink wine, and eat good food, but most importantly spend time with each other." Shen Qingqiu said.
"I agree, Elder Shen."
I thought we might need another blanket in case it turned chilly out."
"That was a good idea."
They began to unpack the food. There were cheeses of different kinds, fruit, fresh bread and meat buns. Gongyi had not eaten last night and this food was much appreciated. They ate, then enjoyed talking, laughing and just being together.
After a while though, Gongyi could not concentrate on anything except his growing desire for Shen Qingqiu. 'This may be the last time that I can show Elder Shen how much he means to me' he thought.
As the older man talked to him, his attention was laser- focused on his lips.
Gongyi knew that he was going to do something very bold. He knew it was out of his character, but he felt he could not control himself.
He surprised Shen Qingqiu by crushing his lips to his. He tasted the sweetness of the wine on his lips. He surged forward, inadvertently pushing the older man back unto the blanket. They kissed desperately as Gongyi gently shifted his body on top.
Gongyi grabbed Shen Qingqiu's hands as he took charge and pressed his body against the peak lords.
He could not believe that he was being so forward, as he continued to press his hardness against Shen Qingqiu. He slid one hand under his robes. He wanted to feel the smooth and warm skin underneath.
XX
'He really is daring today! I like it." Shen Qingqiu thought as a usually well-behaved Gongyi was on top of him and kissing him passionately. He let the younger man take charge.
As they kissed, he felt himself stiffen with desire, as the younger man pressed against his groin. Even through his robes, he could feel the younger man's erection.
The desire he felt was sweet torture. He wanted to flip the younger man over and pin him down.
But Shen Yuan had never done this sort of thing before...
He broke the kiss and gently put his hands against the younger mans's chest.
"Elder Shen?" Gongyi gasped. A blush quickly spread across his face. "Forgive me. I have acted too rashly." he said, as he gently shifted off of him.
Then he sat beside him as Shen Qingqiu sat up and pulled his robe together.
"There is nothing to ask forgiveness for. I only wanted to make sure that you are certain that you want to move this fast?"
"Do you?" Gongyi asked in return.
Shen Qingqiu reached out and lifted the younger man's chin and looked into his eyes.
"Yes, I do. Have you ever been with another man before?" he felt his face flush as he asked such a direct and personal question.
The younger man blushed a deeper shade of red at this question. He met his eyes as he said "No, I have never been with anyone. I wanted to wait until I found my one special love..." His voice trailed off for a moment.
Shen Qingqiu's heart began to race as Gongyi looked at him and admitted "Elder Shen. I am in love with you."
'He really does loves me.' the peak lord thought in relief and happiness.
"That makes me so happy. I love you as well." he responded softly, as he stroked the side of the younger man's face.
"Have you ever been with another person intimately?" Gongyi asked, expecting the answer to be yes since he was older than him.
Shen Qingqiu answered truthfully. "I haven't been with anyone before. I was waiting the one I love. That is you."
His chest lifted as he sucked in a swift breath as he reached for the younger man.
"Please do not hold back, Elder Shen." he whispered.
Shen Qingqiu reached out and gently grabbed the younger man's low ponytail, and pulled the band off. His hair spilled over his shoulders and down his back. He slipped his hands up under the curtain of hair and cupped the other man's face. He then kissed his eyelids, then rained soft kisses all over his soft skin. He pressed his lips against Gongyi's. The tender, yet passionate kiss continued on past the point where they usually broke off.
When they did part, he gasped as the older man continued to trail a line of fiery kisses down his neck.
"My sweet Gongyi." he whispered, as his usually thin and embarrassed face disappeared.
"Elder Shen..." The younger man gasped in return.
Shen Qingqiu whispered. "Call me Shen Yuan, please."
"Yes, Elde...Shen Yuan." the younger man said carefully, as his hands pulled at the older man's robes.
Their kisses were hot and passionate as they undressed each other. Both men explored, kissed and stroked each other's bodies. They experienced feelings and sensations they had never felt before as both of them reached ecstasy.
Their hearts melded together under the bright sunshine...
XX
It was nearing dusk when Shen Qingqiu opened his eyes and found that the younger man was nestled against him. They were both undressed and wrapped up in the blanket.
He gently kissed the younger man's forehead. "Shen Yuan..." Gongyi murmured, then slowly opened his eyes to see the older man as he looked down at him tenderly.
He reached out to gently stroke Shen Qingqiu's face.
"Being here with you like this feels like a dream." Gongyi said softly.
In response, the peak lord slid down next to him and took him in his arms. They shared a gentle kiss. Though they did not go all the way, the intimate act of touching and stroking made them feel closer than ever.
Gongyi clung to Shen Qingqiu, who cradled him.
"I can tell something is wrong..." he murmured as his fingers caressed Gongyi's temple
"I know I should have told you this sooner, but I wanted to be with you. I wanted to show you how much I love and want you..." the younger man's voice faltered.
"Do not be afraid. You can tell me anything." Shen Qingqiu said softly and stroked his lover's chest.
Gongyi then took a deep breath and said "Palace Master has given me no choice but to become betrothed to his daughter or banish me. I could not bear the thought of being sent away from you, so I agreed. I do not love her and I decided that I am NOT going to marry her. I only want to be with you, Elder Shen."
Shen Qingqiu felt shocked by the revelations. He had originally wanted to take it slower with Gongyi due to his own inexperience... but the passion between them had changed his mind. He felt conflicted.
He could feel the younger man's eyes on him.
"Elder Shen? Please say something..."
"Why did you not tell me this as soon as we met today?" he asked.
Gongyi was silent for a moment. "Like I said, I wanted you to know how much I love you so you would never forget. I do not regret being with you."
"We both got carried away. This would have eventually been the natural progression of our relationship, but if I had known you were going to get married...I would not have gone so far with you this fast." Shen Qingqiu responded.
Gongyi looked over at him. "Do you regret what we did?" he asked carefully.
"No, I do not regret it. I am just surprised by your revelation, that's all."
"I do not love the Palace Mistress. I only agreed because I do not want to leave my home and lose the chance of being near you." Gongyi repeated his decision.
"You agreed to marry her. Do you think that the Palace Master would just let you back out again?" Shen Qingqiu asked.
Gongyi looked down.
"I know he will not, but I will not be forced." he replied firmly.
XX
They both silently cleaned up and got dressed.
Shen Yuan was upset at himself. He was angry at not slowing down the physical and romantic elements of their relationship. He worried that he was leading them both into a hopeless romance.
How could they could stay together? What about their love in the future? There was many threats ahead that were going to destroy everything. They weren't going to be allowed to be happy when the system and Luo Binghe entered his life again.
In the original story, Gongyi was banished. He wondered if there was no one to stop that plot point of Airplane from coming to fruition.
It was happening faster because he had meddled in Gongyi Xiao's life.
Unintentionally, they fell in love and entered into a same-sex romance, which somehow the Palace Mistress found out about. Then to save face and not wanting to be embarrassed, she must have told her father, who now was forcing the younger man's hand.
Luo Binghe was suffering in the abyss. Gongyi Xiao had fell in love with him and had to suffer to marry someone he didn't love.
He had ruined two young men's lives he thought as he silently packed up everything.
He saw Gongyi to the side of him, completely dressed and looked somber.
"I am sorry. This is not your fault. I should have had more control over my desires." Shen Qingqqiu said gently.
XX
"We both just admitted we loved each other, Elder Shen." Gongyi feeling insecure, reverted back to calling him by the more formal name. He was not sure where their relationship stood now.
He felt his stomach flip as he thought of being intimate with Elder Shen. The feel of his kisses on his skin, the fiery touches, the passion they had for each other as they touched and stroked each other. The indescribable feelings caused by the man he loved.
He craved his touch right now as he looked at the elegant man.
"Elder Shen, may we see each other again?" he asked, as he tried to keep his voice from shaking.
Suddenly he pulled Gongyi against him and they held each other tight.
"I want to see you again. Like you said, we love each other. There are going to be so many obstacles in our way just to be able to be together. Palace Master has already forced your hand. It is just going to become harder in the future for us." Shen Qingqiu said.
"Elder Shen, I am a fighter. If I have to fight the devil himself to be with you, then I am up for the challenge." he promised.
XX
Shen Qingqiu knew that Gongyi had no idea that he may very well have to fight a devil in the future.
Who knew what Luo Binghe would do when he returned from the abyss?
But that was still two years away. Now he needed to see if he could somehow talk to Palace Master.
Chapter 6-