[BL] Dear Hushand, I want divorce-Chapter 104: Can I have a hug?

Ash stared at him, stunned. He hadn’t expected Elijah to be so direct about it, and yet here he was, admitting it without hesitation.

"I don’t like seeing you so close to him," Elijah said, his voice firm but laced with vulnerability. "I don’t like seeing you smile at him when you can’t even look me in the eye. It bothers me."

Ash was at a loss for words. He hadn’t thought that Elijah would care—no, he hadn’t thought that Elijah would even notice. But seeing the frustration and jealousy on Elijah’s face stirred something inside of him. He kind of felt amused and satisfied.

"Look, Kian is just a friend," Ash said, trying to ease the tension though his heart fluttered. Elijah was jealous, and because of him. "He’s naive and pure. He’s been helping me a lot here, that’s all."

Elijah’s gaze didn’t waver. "It doesn’t matter what kind of person he is," he said, his voice low. "What matters is how you act around him. How you smile at him when you won’t even smile at me."

Ash shook his head, feeling guilty. "Elijah, it’s not like that..."

"Then introduce him to me next time," Elijah said, cutting him off. "I want to meet him."

Ash nodded slowly. "I will."

The tension in the room gradually began to ease, but Elijah’s jealousy still lingered in the air. Despite everything, Ash couldn’t help but feel a pang of warmth knowing that Elijah cared enough to be jealous. Maybe it was silly, but in that moment, he realised that Elijah’s feelings for him hadn’t changed.

As Ash stood there, holding the basket of fruit, he glanced over at Elijah, who was still watching him with that same intensity.

"I’m sorry," Ash said quietly, "for making you feel that way."

Elijah’s expression softened just a fraction, and he reached out, gently taking Ash’s hand in his. "Don’t apologise. Just...care for me too."

Ash felt his heart ache as he nodded.

Elijah watched Ash with a tenderness as his heart filled with love with this little human Elijah’s heart ached, and he swallowed thickly, trying to find the right words. His eyes softened as he looked at Ash, who stood there, still hesitant and awkward.

"Ash," Elijah’s voice was low, almost pleading, "could you...hug me?"

Ash blinked, a bit taken aback by the request. His heart fluttered in his chest, and for a moment, he wasn’t sure if he could. He hadn’t been this close to Elijah for so long, and the thought of sharing that intimacy again frightened him. But there was something in Elijah’s voice that made him pause.

Elijah’s eyes didn’t leave him, filled with longing and sadness. "It’s been so long since I’ve felt you close to me. I miss your warmth, the way your heart beats against mine. I miss...us. Please, just for a moment."

Slowly, he exhaled and began to take small, tentative steps toward Elijah. His feet felt heavy as if the distance between them had become insurmountable over the years of separation, but he pressed on, drawn by something deep inside him.

As he reached the bed, Elijah’s arms opened slightly, inviting him closer. Ash hesitated for just a moment longer, then leaned down, allowing Elijah to pull him into an embrace.

The warmth of Elijah’s body pressed against his own created a surge of longing and familiarity within Ash. With arms wrapped tightly around him, Elijah held on as if he were afraid that Ash would disappear if he let go. His embrace was secure and gentle to keep Ash close.

Elijah rested his cheek against Ash’s chest, absorbing the scent of him, cherishing every moment. The steady beat of Elijah’s heart mirrored Ash’s own, a rhythm that brought back memories from their past but also felt foreign after so much time apart. A small smile crept onto Elijah’s lips as he closed his eyes and relished in the peace of the moment.

At first, Ash remained tense and uncertain in Elijah’s embrace, unsure of how to react after all this time. But gradually, he allowed himself to relax into the hug, feeling the comfort and security it provided. His hands hovered hesitantly before settling gently on Elijah’s back, holding onto him in a way that felt both comforting and strange at the same time.

Neither of them spoke for a while, the silence between them filled with the quiet hum of emotions they didn’t know how to express. Elijah squeezed Ash a little tighter.

"Do you still feel it?" Elijah asked softly, his breath warm against Ash’s skin. "That connection between us...Do you still feel it, Ash?"

Ash didn’t answer right away, his throat tightening with the weight of Elijah’s words. The truth was, he did feel it—he had always felt it, even when he had tried to run away. But admitting it now felt too overwhelming.

Instead, Ash closed his eyes and just let himself feel the warmth of Elijah’s body against his, the way their breaths seemed to fall into rhythm with each other. He didn’t need to answer out loud because, in that moment, his presence was enough to answer.

Elijah smiled softly into Ash’s chest, his fingers curling into the fabric of Ash’s shirt. "I’ve missed this so much," he murmured, his voice laced with both relief and sorrow. "I’ve missed you."

Ash felt a pang in his chest at Elijah’s words. He couldn’t bring himself to say he had missed Elijah too—not yet—but he let his actions speak for him, gently stroking Elijah’s hair as he held him close.

For a while, they stayed like that, wrapped up in each other, letting the silence speak for them.

After a long pause, Elijah broke the quiet with a small, hesitant request. "Ash...can you smile at me? Just once?"

Ash’s breath hitched at the question, and he felt his heart twist painfully in his chest. He wanted to smile at Elijah, he really did, but the weight of everything they had been through made it hard to show that simple gesture of happiness. Instead, he hummed softly, his fingers still threading through Elijah’s hair.

Elijah sighed softly, feeling the soothing touch of Ash’s hand against his scalp. It wasn’t the smile he had asked for, but that was enough for now.

"I’ll wait," Elijah whispered, his voice tender yet filled with hope. "I’ll wait as long as it takes this time. I’m in no hurry."

Ash swallowed hard but he didn’t respond. He simply kept holding Elijah, their shared warmth and heartbeat the only communication they needed for now.

And for the first time in a long while, even with all the uncertainty, Ash felt like he was exactly where he needed to be.