TBITW Chapter 23

(M) Chapter 23 – A Leech

Main Story 2, Prelude

Novel Title: 獣はかくして交わる (The Beasts Intertwine This Way)

Author：沙野 風結子 (Fuyuko Sano)

Illustrator：小山田 あみ (Oyamada Ami)

Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)

Protagonists: 鹿倉 陣也 (Kagura Jinya -MC) & ゼロ (Zero -ML)

*Please read at knoxt.space, the original site of translation. TQ*

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A warmth spread across the back of his neck. The heat travelled in waves throughout his body, ebbing and flowing, gradually pooling as a dull ache deep in his core.

The ache sharpened his dazed consciousness, and Kagura roughly pushed away the man whose mouth was latched onto his neck, almost striking him in the process.

Rubbing his saliva-streaked neck with his hand, Kagura glared at the man through half-lidded eyes.

“Are you a leech?”

The man let out a low laugh, his dark gaze intensifying like the colour of thickened darkness.

“Should I drain every drop of your bodily fluids?”

Kagura considered what exactly that phrase might entail, and the mere thought made the ache in his abdomen throb even more. Lowering the corners of his mouth in irritation, he sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed.

“Leaving already?”

Ignoring the question, Kagura hastily reached out to gather the scattered clothes that had been tossed aside in their rush. Looking down at himself, he let out a wry smile.

His body was covered in marks from where he’d been sucked on. And as if to underscore his situation, his arousal was already stirring to life.

As he crouched in an awkward position, a strong arm suddenly wrapped around his waist, pulling him backward. He landed back on the bed with a soft bounce.

“Stay the night.”

The man’s low whisper against his ear sent a shiver from his neck down to his chest as he was held tightly from behind.

Kagura’s smirk deepened.

“Spare me from the idea of waking up next to you in the morning.”

“I could make you pass out again.”

Zero’s tone was threatening, and he latched onto Kagura’s neck once more. It was the same spot as before, right at the edge of his collar―――a place barely concealed by his shirt.

“I told you not to leave marks there.”

Kagura tried to push his head away, but Zero only tightened his grip, sucking even harder. All the while, Zero’s broad shoulders shook with laughter.

Following Zero’s gaze, Kagura looked down to see―――

“…!”

<Click here to read the rest of the Mature Chapter on my blog in order to adhere to knoxt.space’s rules.>

Finally, Zero’s warm lips detached from his neck and brushed softly against his cheek.

“…”

With a furrowed brow, Kagura turned his head away. He then bit down on Zero’s lips without hesitation, before jabbing his elbow firmly into the man’s muscular abdomen.

Zero’s body flopped onto its back on the bed.

Ignoring him, Kagura stood up, this time collecting his scattered clothes and leaving the bedroom. He headed for the shower, rinsing away the residue of both of their fluids clinging to his body. Drying himself quickly, he slipped on his dress shirt. Casually glancing at the mirror in the washroom, he froze.

The man reflected there was indeed Kagura Jinya, yet it was a different face from the one he had seen for the past thirty years.

His face looked bitter, but his eyes were moist, and his cheeks were flushed.

―――Did I show him a face like this?

A sense of anger tinged more with humiliation than shame welled up inside him.

Trying to counter it, he forced himself to recall Zero’s expression during their encounter.

But comparing himself, still unused to such acts and easily overwhelmed, to Zero, who was fully savouring the pleasure, only highlighted the disparity between them.

He splashed cold water onto his face repeatedly, managing to reclaim his usual composure as Kagura Jinya.

As he reached to button up his shirt, he noticed a broad red mark across the right side of his neck. The collar wouldn’t be enough to conceal it.

“That damned leech…”

Clicking his tongue, he felt the phantom sensation of Zero’s mouth sucking hard on his neck, causing a faint, unstable tightening deep in his abdomen.

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Next update: 2025.09.26

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☝🏻Translation: The Beasts Devour This Way