NO ONE POV :

Vegas Theerapanyakul paced his living room, frustration etched across his face. His father, Kan, had crossed a line.

"You're meeting her this Saturday," Kan had said with finality. "Enough of your games, Vegas. It's time you settled down."

Vegas's sharp eyes darted to his bodyguard, Nop, who stood by the door, as silent and steady as ever.

"Nop," Vegas said, stopping abruptly.

"Yes, sir?"

"You're going to be my boyfriend."

Nop blinked, clearly taken aback. "I beg your pardon?"

Vegas's lips curled into a smirk. "My father won't push this stupid date if he thinks I'm already in a relationship. So, you'll pretend to be my boyfriend."

Nop crossed his arms. "With all due respect, sir, I don't think-"

"It's not up for debate," Vegas interrupted. He stepped closer, his tone softer but no less commanding. "I need someone I can trust, and that's you. Just until my father drops this nonsense."

After a moment's hesitation, Nop nodded. "As you wish, sir."

The restaurant was all polished wood and crystal chandeliers, its elegance perfectly suited to Kan's taste. Vegas entered with Nop beside him, their fingers loosely intertwined.

Kan was already seated, his gaze sharp as a blade as it landed on them.

"Why did you bring him?" Kan asked, his voice clipped.

Vegas leaned into Nop, a casual smirk playing on his lips. "This is Nop, as you know, my boyfriend."

Kan's eyebrows shot up. "Boyfriend? Since when?"

Nop, ever the professional, spoke smoothly. "A few months now, sir. Vegas wanted to keep it private until he was sure."

Vegas tightened his grip on Nop's hand, shooting him a quick glance of approval.

Kan studied them for a moment before leaning back in his chair. "If this is true, then you won't mind proving it."

Vegas raised an eyebrow. "Prove it, how?"

Kan's smile was sly. "Marry him."

Vegas froze, his usual composure slipping. "Marry? Father, that's-"

Kan cut him off with a wave of his hand. "You claim this relationship is serious. Show me how serious."

The wedding was a blur, but the aftermath was starkly clear.

Vegas tossed his jacket onto the bed of their shared room, glaring at Nop. "This is ridiculous. My father's gone too far."

Nop calmly removed his tie. "You're the one who started this, sir."

Vegas shot him a look. "Don't remind me."

The first night was awkward. Vegas sprawled across the bed, leaving Nop to sleep on the couch. By the third night, however, Nop had claimed his half of the bed, much to Vegas's annoyance.

"You're taking up too much space," Vegas grumbled, shoving Nop with his foot.

"You're the one who keeps rolling onto my side," Nop countered, not even opening his eyes.

Despite their bickering, a strange rhythm developed between them. Nop, ever attentive, ensured Vegas's coffee was prepared exactly how he liked it in the mornings. Vegas, in turn, found himself waiting for Nop to finish his evening workouts, pretending he wasn't impressed by the sight of his bodyguard's toned arms.

One evening, Vegas returned from a meeting to find Nop in the kitchen, cooking. The sight was so domestic that it made Vegas pause.

"You cook now?" Vegas teased, leaning against the counter.

Nop glanced at him. "I thought you'd be hungry. Sit."

Vegas obeyed, though he couldn't help but smirk. "Careful, Nop. You're starting to act like a real husband."

Nop's lips twitched into a rare smile. "And you're starting to act like you enjoy it."

The charade grew more complicated as their interactions deepened. Vegas began to notice the little things about Nop-the way his eyes softened when he smiled, the quiet strength in his presence.

One evening, Vegas found himself lingering in the doorway of their shared room, watching as Nop meticulously cleaned his gun.

"Do you ever take a break?" Vegas asked, his voice softer than usual.

Nop looked up, surprised by the tone. "I don't need one."

Vegas stepped closer, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Maybe you should. You've been stuck with me for weeks. That's punishment enough."

Nop's gaze held his for a moment before he spoke. "It's not punishment, sir. I don't mind being here."

Something in Nop's tone made Vegas's chest tighten.

It was during a storm that the truth finally came out.

Vegas stood by the window, watching the rain lash against the glass. "This was supposed to be fake," he said quietly.

Nop, seated on the bed, looked up. "And now?"

Vegas turned to face him, his usual smirk replaced by something raw. "Now I don't know. It doesn't feel fake anymore."

Nop's expression softened. "It hasn't felt fake for a while."

Vegas crossed the room in a few quick strides, standing in front of Nop. "Then why didn't you say anything?"

Nop stood, his height putting him slightly above Vegas. "Because I didn't know if you felt the same."

For a moment, neither spoke. Then Vegas reached up, cupping Nop's face in his hands. "I do," he murmured.

Their kiss was slow at first, a tentative exploration. But as Vegas pulled Nop closer, it deepened, their emotions spilling over.

Clothes were shed, and for the first time, they weren't pretending. Their touches were both tender and desperate, a culmination of weeks of unspoken feelings. . . . .

YEAR LATER :

Vegas was used to control. It was his weapon, his armor. But something about the way Nop carried himself-the quiet confidence - the unwavering gaze-made Vegas falter tonight.

He barely had time to sit down when the bedroom door flew open, and Nop stormed out, his face a thundercloud of restrained anger.

"Do you even realize what you've done?" Nop's voice was sharp, cutting through the room like a whip.

Vegas glanced up lazily, his smirk widening. "Good evening to you too, husband."

Nop wasn't having it. He marched over, grabbed Vegas by the arm, and hauled him to his feet. "Don't you dare try to brush this off. You went in alone without backup without a plan. Do you think you're invincible?"

Vegas tried to pull free, his usual bravado faltering under Nop's intense gaze. "I handled it, didn't I? I'm fine."

"No, you're not fine!" Nop snapped, his grip tightening. "Do you have any idea what it felt like, hearing over the comms that you'd gone off-script? Seeing you come back like this?" He gestured to the blood on Vegas's shirt.

Vegas opened his mouth to respond, but Nop cut him off. "You think I'll just stand by and let you throw yourself into danger like that? Not anymore."

Vegas's eyes widened slightly. He'd seen Nop angry before, but this was different-this was personal.

"I'm not some fragile thing you need to protect," Vegas said, his voice quieter now.

Nop stepped closer, his voice dropping to a low, commanding tone. "And I'm not just your bodyguard anymore. I'm your husband. That means I have a right to be angry when you risk your life without thinking."

Vegas looked away, but Nop grabbed his chin, forcing him to meet his eyes. "You're not doing this again, Vegas. If you can't think about yourself, then think about me. About us. Because every time you pull a stunt like this, you're not the only one who suffers."

The weight of Nop's words hit Vegas harder than he expected. His smirk was long gone, replaced by a rare flicker of vulnerability.

"I didn't mean to-" Vegas started, but Nop didn't let him finish.

"I know you didn't," Nop said, his voice softening but still firm. "But you need to understand something. You're mine, Vegas. And I won't let you destroy yourself, no matter how reckless you think you need to be."

For the first time in years, Vegas felt small-not in a bad way, but in a way that made him feel seen, cared for.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, the words foreign on his tongue.

Nop released his grip, his expression softening as he cupped Vegas's face. "Just promise me you'll think before you act next time. I don't want to lose you."

Vegas leaned into Nop's touch, his smirk returning, though it was gentler this time. "You really are the boss in this marriage, aren't you?"

Nop smiled faintly. "You're just realizing that now?"

Vegas chuckled, pulling Nop into a kiss-slow, tender, and full of unspoken promises. For once, he didn't mind surrendering control.

Vegas was still breathless from the kiss, his head spinning, not from the intimacy but from the way Nop took the control. He had never seen Nop like this before. Dominated, and it's thrill down his spine.

But before he could make a cocky remark, Nop back slightly, looking him deadly.

" I'm going to teach you a lesson ," Nop said in his deep, dark voice, which gives goosebumps .

Vegas felt throats go dry.

Before he could react, Nop pulled him and threw him on the bed. Vegas could resist. He could pull back .. but he can't . He let himself pull and take by Nop.

Vegas barely had a second to process it before he was pushed onto the bed, Nop straddling him, pinning his wrists above his head,

"You think you can do whatever you want, hm?" Nop murmured, leaning down sontheir lips were barely apart. "Risking your life like you don't belong to someone?"

Vegas swallowed hard, his smirk wavering. "Shut up."

Vegas exhaled sharply as Nop's grip tightened.

"You're mine, Vegas," Nop whispered against his ear, the words sending a shiver down Vegas's spine. "And l'm going to make sure you never forget it."

Nop's lips crashed against his again, but this time, it wasn't just a kiss-it was claiming, and for the first time in his life, Vegas was perfectly fine with surrendering.

Later, when Vegas lay tangled in the sheets, his body still warm from Nop's touch, he turned his head and smirked

"So, I take it you're still mad?"

Nop scoffed, running a hand through Vegas's messy hair. "Next time you pull a stunt like that, I won't be so gentle"

Vegas chuckled, pressing a lazy kiss against Nop's jaw. "Damn. Lucky me."

Nop shook his head but pulled him closer anyway. "Sleep," he murmured.

Vegas sighed, feeling a warmth he wasn't used to, maybe, just maybe,' didn't mind being tamed-at least, not by Nop

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