Help! I Became A Guy In A BL Novel!

But was this small setback of almost dying gonna stop Riven? Nuh uh.

Fine. If Ronan was determined to ignore him, he would escalate. He could tell his body was fine, so... That's all that mattered.

He let his head fall back onto Ronan's shoulder, tilting so his hair brushed Ronan's cheek. He stayed there for a moment, then nuzzled lightly against his neck.

Ronan's pen paused for exactly one second. Then it resumed moving.

Riven fought the urge to huff.

He tried another tactic: he stretched both arms up over his head, making a show of the movement, and shifted in Ronan's lap again.

This time Ronan's other hand came up to steady him, sliding over his stomach with casual possessiveness.

"You better stop moving," Ronan rumbled, voice quiet but not even slightly bothered.

"Riven," Ronan growled into his ear.

"Mmm?"

"You are making it very difficult to focus."

"That sounds like a you problem," he murmured, wiggling again.

A deep, frustrated rumble vibrated through Ronan's chest, but he didn't push him away. If anything, his hold only grew more possessive, his palm pressing flat over Riven's stomach.

For a long moment, they were quiet. The only sounds were the scratching of Ronan's quill and the steady, racing beat of their hearts.

But eventually, even Riven's relentless need for attention couldn't overpower the sheer dullness of paperwork. He let out a long, dramatic sigh, slumping back against Ronan like a rag doll.

"You're no fun today," he pouted.

Ronan kissed the top of his ear. "I know you think you know your body well, but I know it better. You need rest."

He waited exactly two heartbeats before huffing again. "Fine, I will go find someone fun."

He was already halfway to the door, smirking over his shoulder. He expected to get a reaction from Ronan, but he did not seem bothered by the fact that he was about to seek out Soren! Did he not love him anymore?! WAAAHHH

Ronan did not worry because he and Soren had already come to an understanding. That man was just as worried about losing Riven. He would not touch him.

Riven only pouted at Ronan's lack of reaction, time to pounce on Soren.

Soren was never too busy to spar with him, tease him, or kiss him senseless. Right?

Riven padded down the hall with all the self-satisfied grace of a cat who'd just knocked a priceless vase off a shelf. His hair was still slightly tousled from Ronan's hands, and the small, smug smile on his face suggested he had no regrets about the trouble he'd caused.

Riven's thoughts scattered when he rounded the corner and nearly collided with Xavier.

Xavier froze when he saw Riven, his eyes flicking up, down, then away with an expression halfway between dread and something softer, he immediately tried to smother.

"Riven," Xavier said carefully, as if speaking too loud might startle him into pouncing, "good morning."

"Morning," Riven purred, sidling closer. He tipped his head, trying to peek at the topmost page. "What's this? Reports?"

Xavier's arms tensed around the stack. "For Soren. They're—very important."

"Oh?" Riven leaned in more, until the tips of his silver wolf ears brushed under Xavier's jaw.

Xavier nearly dropped everything.

The sensation—soft fur ghosting along the sensitive skin of his throat—sent a violent shiver up his spine. He clamped his teeth shut, stepping sideways in a desperate attempt to create space.

Riven followed him.

"You always smell nice," Riven said lightly, ignoring the way Xavier's throat bobbed. "Like cedar and ink."

He was teasing, of course. Maybe. Probably. But he also remembered vividly—too vividly—the one night... Weeks ago... When Riven went into heat.

"Please," Xavier muttered, his voice pitched low and tight, "don't do that."

"Do what?" Riven's green eyes went wide, all innocence. He rose up on tiptoe to sniff delicately at the collar of Xavier's shirt, ears flicking against the line of his throat again.

Xavier let out a noise that was almost a strangled whimper. His cheeks were red, his jaw tense.

Riven grinned. He couldn't help it. He liked poking at people's composure—especially when he knew exactly what buttons to press.

Xavier shifted the stack of papers higher to hide his face, then walked faster, practically speed-walking down the hall.

Riven matched his pace effortlessly. "You're going to drop all of that," he observed cheerfully.

"I will not. I am used to this," He said in a forced neutral tone before heading towards Soren's room.

"You should stop this." Xavier gestured helplessly, as if that explained everything. "Being… Like this with me. You're—"

"Taken?" Riven finished. He arched a brow, the amusement slipping just a fraction.

"Yes," Xavier said. His voice was gentle, but his hands tightened on the papers. "And you know very well what my position is."

Riven's grin softened, the mischief draining away into something smaller, something a little sad. "I know," he murmured.

It wasn't that he meant anything serious by teasing. But he also remembered how Xavier was into it.

"Remember when you-" Riven was cut off before he could even bring up that one incident.

Xavier shot him a look that was part pleading, part warning. "Riven."

"What?"

"You should stop," he did not stop walking, he made sure to tell Riven to stop.

But how could Riven stop being a hoe? He already was a full-blown hoe! A proud hoe! Riven took pride in that. But still, he could understand Xavier's position, especially with how possessive Soren was.

"Don't worry," Riven said, stepping back at last. "I'm just… Annoying. You know that."

Xavier let out a long breath he'd clearly been holding. Some of the tension left his shoulders, though his face was still red. "You're not annoying," he said, softer.

Riven shrugged, flicking one ear dismissively. "Depends on who you ask."

A small, reluctant smile tugged at Xavier's lips. He shifted the documents again, as if he finally dared to meet Riven's gaze without combusting on the spot. "You're going to see Soren?"

"Mhm."

"Should I stay away?" Xavier asked with a raised eyebrow.

Riven blinked and then understood. With a sneaky smile, he nodded. The stuff he wanted to do... Should not have spectators.