* * *
The moment they stepped into the house, their lips collided again.
The sound of their mouths rubbing and sliding against each other echoed vividly in the air.
When a soft, pliant tongue finally pushed its way in, Wookyung’s eyelids fluttered.
But he opened his mouth wider and willingly accepted Saheon’s tongue.
A large hand brushed the back of his head, gently caressing the nape of his neck.
Then it firmly cradled his entire head.
Wookyung, not wanting to let go either, clung tightly to Saheon’s shoulders.
‘Smooch. Smack, smooch.’
Their kiss, which had started just after passing the inner doors, had carried them all the way to the living room.
Their breathing had turned ragged, chests heaving.
Though their lips parted and met again multiple times, they never fully pulled away.
“Ha, hng, mmm…”
The sensation of a tongue gliding over his teeth drew out involuntary, aching moans.
Embarrassed, Wookyung’s cheeks turned red.
Even his fingers gripping Saheon’s shoulders trembled slightly.
Saheon must have noticed—he chuckled softly in his ear.
“Haa… ha… why, hng… why are you laughing…”
He wanted to ask why, but his breath wouldn’t let him.
Instead, Wookyung shot him a mildly reproachful look.
“Because you’re beautiful.”
Saheon had a talent for saying such ticklish things as if they were the most natural in the world.
Wookyung, flustered all over again, brought his lips back to Saheon’s.
This time, it was Wookyung’s tongue that caught Saheon’s.
“Mmm.”
Hearing that low sound escape from him felt incredibly satisfying.
Wookyung tilted his head, driven by a desire to go deeper, to explore more.
Their heated tongues intertwined even more densely, more obscenely than before.
The wet, sticky sounds teased at their ears.
A refreshing yet pleasant scent spread softly through the air.
Wookyung’s lips curled faintly.
He figured Saheon must have worn cologne, knowing Wookyung would be coming.
He hadn’t noticed it at first—too absorbed in their kiss the moment he walked in—but now it seemed to make sense.
“The scent… ha… it’s nice.”
Wookyung murmured with a hint of a laugh as their lips finally parted again.
Peck, peck.
The sweet contact continued, and the words slipped out on their own.
“Scent?”
Saheon tilted his head.
His nose twitched slightly, then his eyes widened just a bit.
His gaze on Wookyung held tension—and something like expectation.
“You can smell this?”
Why is he looking at me like that?
“Yes. It’s faint, but… I can.”
Wookyung nodded honestly, even though he was puzzled.
He sniffed again—yep, still that clean scent.
If this is pheromones, it’s not overwhelming.
It’s not like that harsh, crass kind he once smelled from some Alpha.
‘Wait?’
What did I just say?
Wookyung froze, startled by the memory that had floated to the surface.
He’d just spoken like someone who had sensed pheromones before.
“That can’t be right…”
Strange.
Even if he had manifested, his pheromone glands were underdeveloped—he couldn’t perceive pheromones, let alone emit them.
So how could he possibly detect an Alpha’s scent?
‘Ah… did I read about this in a book?’
That could be it.
He’d been so engrossed in that novel, after all.
Lost in thought, Wookyung didn’t even realize he’d said something aloud.
Saheon watched him carefully.
“Wookyung.”
“…Ah.”
The sound of his name snapped him out of it.
Saheon, observing every little detail, asked cautiously.
“Can you still smell it now?”
He subtly released more of his pheromones into the air, never taking his eyes off Wookyung’s reaction.
He saw Wookyung glance aside, then nod.
At that moment, Saheon felt like his breath caught in his throat.
His heart throbbed painfully.
Then he withdrew the pheromones completely.
The faint scent lingering in the air disappeared.
“Huh?”
Wookyung must have noticed, too.
He looked around in confusion, sensing the subtle shift.
Saheon stayed quiet and watched him.
Eventually, Wookyung’s bewildered gaze returned to him.
He opened his mouth as if to say something, but closed it again.
“I… I’m not sure if I imagined it or not. I mean, it’s just…”
Even through his hesitance, the confusion in Wookyung’s heart came through clearly.
Saheon waited patiently, giving him space to collect himself.
That was all he could do right now.
“Could it really be… pheromones?”
And finally, the question he’d been hoping for arrived.
Saheon exhaled a long, heavy breath.
Only then did he realize he’d been holding it the entire time, watching Wookyung anxiously.
He didn’t answer with words.
Instead, the refreshing and pleasant scent filled the air again.
Wookyung swallowed something that had risen in his throat.
“…Haa.”
How had he ever mistaken this for cologne?
The sensation was completely different.
“How is it, Wookyung?”
Wookyung looked up at the Alpha in front of him.
He looked just as nervous as Wookyung felt.
Which was odd, really—why would he be nervous?
But strangely…
Seeing how much Saheon cared—how closely he was paying attention—soothed him.
The tightness in his chest began to ease.
“It’s nice.”
“Haa…”
When Wookyung admitted, even indirectly, that he could now sense pheromones, Saheon let out a long sigh of relief.
Wookyung smiled faintly, moved by the sight.
He inhaled again, letting the scent surround him.
It felt as if he were in a forest—cool, refreshing, and calming.
“We’ll need to go to a hospital to be sure… but for now, it’s good news.”
Whether his pheromone glands were really beginning to function properly was a question for later.
“So… shall we just go to bed now?”
It was getting late.
They had to wake up early the next day—there was a flight to catch.
He was just being practical.
“…Ah.”
But Saheon sighed as if genuinely disappointed.
Wookyung’s lips twitched in amusement.
Eventually, Saheon chuckled too.
“Well, can’t be helped. It’s a shame, but rest comes first. We’ve got a schedule tomorrow.”
With an exaggerated sigh, he wrapped an arm around Wookyung’s waist.
Wookyung paused for a second, then casually matched his stride.
The room they arrived in was spacious.
Familiar scents and atmosphere made Wookyung’s cheeks warm.
“The bathroom’s over there.”
Whether he noticed the fluster or not, Saheon pointed out the layout calmly.
Wookyung didn’t bother mentioning that he already knew.
Because doing so would only make all those steamy memories from before feel more vivid.
‘Haa…’
No, in truth, they were already bubbling up.
And not just the memories—his body was reacting as well.
“I’ll use the one in the living room. You go ahead and use this one.”
Still seemingly unaware of Wookyung’s inner thoughts, Saheon spoke gently.
Then he leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on his forehead.
Just that small touch, yet it sent a jolt to somewhere intimate.
Wookyung bit the inside of his cheek and quickly headed toward the bathroom.
So focused on himself, he didn’t even notice the way Saheon’s eyes followed his retreating figure, silently.
Click.
He closed the door.
Just in case, he locked it, too.
Then he perked up his ears.
Not that he could actually sense anything from the person outside, but he still stood frozen for several seconds.
“Haaa…”
He let out a long breath and turned his body.
He squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them again. With a conflicted look, he glanced downward.
At a glance, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
“God, this is driving me crazy.”
But so what?
He could unmistakably feel something slowly leaking out down there.
Wookyung buried his face in both hands.
His cheeks, ears, even the back of his neck were flushed with heat.
Could Saheon really have not noticed?
“He must’ve pretended not to.”
It was maddening.
Wookyung shuddered with frustration and lifted his head.
To be honest, he’d already showered at home, so he didn’t really need to wash up again.
Still, he had run off because he felt like if he stayed near him any longer, he’d lose control.
Besides, there were things he couldn’t possibly tell Saheon.
He glanced at the closed door again.
Once he confirmed it was safe, he slowly lowered his pants.
After hesitating, he cautiously reached behind himself.
His fingertips came back wet.
“Ha…”
Another long sigh escaped.
A bulge in front was one thing, but the dampness in back… that was just too much.
Wookyung swallowed dryly and turned his gaze away.
Then, he caught sight of himself in the mirror.
His entire face was flushed crimson—anyone could see he was clearly aroused.
* * *
