Leon's hand stilled on Lucien's waist. "Is that so?"

Lucien nodded frantically, trying to look serious despite his racing heart. "Absolutely. It keeps things fresh."

Leon didn't argue. He didn't even touch Lucien during the drive back, his expression an unreadable mask.

Once they stepped inside the apartment, Leon dropped his keys on the counter. "Fine. Let's try it. One night of total separation".

Lucien blinked, his amber-gray eyes wide with shock. The wolf was actually giving up meat? "Deal!" he chirped, already imagining a night without being pinned down by a wall of muscle.

Lucien retreated to the master bedroom while Leon grabbed a duvet and headed for the small guest room. It was the first time they had slept apart since the manor. Lucien sprawled out on the massive mattress, feeling like a single grain of rice in a giant bowl. No furnace-like heat beside him. No heavy arm acting as a possessive anchor.

He stared at the ceiling, counting imaginary sheep. One lamb, two lambs, three lambs... By the time he reached a thousand, he was still wide awake. The silence of the apartment felt heavy and unnatural. Then, he heard it—the faint, metallic click of the door handle turning.

Lucien squeezed his eyes shut, forcing his breathing to level out. A shadow fell over the bed. The mattress dipped under a familiar, predatory weight. A large, hot hand covered Lucien's mouth before he could even inhale for a gasp.

"Shh," Leon rasped against his ear, his breath smelling faintly of the mint tea they'd had earlier. "Keep it down, baby. Your husband is sleeping in the next room".

Lucien's heart did a frantic somersault against his ribs. Another game? He opened his eyes, meeting Leon's steel-gray gaze in the dark. He reached up, pulling Leon's hand away just enough to whisper. "Then you should be quiet, too. Get in the bed".

Leon didn't move. He leaned down, his lips brushing the shell of Lucien's ear. "I'm not your husband tonight, remember? I'm just the man who broke in."

He hooked an arm under Lucien's knees and hoisted him out of the duvet like a sack of flour.

Lucien's head spun as Leon carried him toward the door. He expected to be taken to the guest room, but Leon stopped in the pitch-black hallway, pinning him against the doorframe of the very room Leon was supposed to be sleeping in.

"Be careful," Leon commanded, his hand sliding under Lucien's silk sleep shorts with terrifying precision. "If you make a sound, he might wake up and catch us".

Lucien bit his lip until he tasted copper, his fingers digging into Leon's shoulders. The tension of the thin door behind them made every muffled moan feel like a siren.

"If he catches us," Leon whispered, his movements becoming relentless, "what will you say to him?".

Lucien's voice was a broken, breathless ruin. "I'll tell him... husband... join us. You're thin enough. There's room for both of you".

Afternoon light was filtering through the curtains when Lucien finally stirred the next day. He felt like he'd been put through an industrial blender. Leon was already awake, propped up on one elbow, watching him with a look of smug, dark satisfaction.

"Get out," Lucien croaked, his throat raw from the night's "separation." Leon laughed, pulling the "sticky rice ball" back into his chest for a crushing hug. "You were right, baby. Occasional separation really is a thrill. When can we do it again?".