* * *
When I inhaled, the scent of rosewood seeped deep into my lungs.
My whole body was screaming at me to rush into his arms.
I managed to hold on to a shred of reason and retreated further, but it was only a matter of time before instinct took over.
My fingers twitched; I was fighting the urge to grab him and kiss him.
“I only went because I had an appointment…”
“An appointment with who?”
Goddammit, what am I supposed to say to that?
I went to see your ex and have beef together… Yeah, that sounds suspicious as hell.
Just as that thought crossed my mind, I froze.
At the same time, Doha grabbed me by the waist and lifted me in one swift motion.
Startled, I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck and stared dumbly at him.
“Just… a business associate.”
“Man or woman?”
“Man.”
“So you traveled all that way to meet another guy.”
The heavy scent of his pheromones was making me lightheaded.
I clamped my hands over my mouth, stuttering.
“It was just… a meeting, that’s all… no other intentions, I swear…”
“You agonize over whether to have a meal with me, but when it comes to that bastard, you wag your tail and go without a second thought.”
“I didn’t wag my… ugh…!”
I ended up perched on the cold marble kitchen counter, and Doha pressed forward, slotting himself between my legs.
The chill of the stone seeped through my thin shirt, sending a shiver up my spine.
I tried to push him away, but his large hands held me firm. He leaned in so close that our lips were practically touching.
He was going to kiss me.
I knew exactly where this was heading next.
Another round of losing control, giving in.
I squeezed my eyes shut, drawing my lips inward.
No matter how hard I tried to avoid breathing in his scent, pheromones didn’t work that way.
They clung to the skin, seeping into my system.
Heat was already pooling low in my abdomen.
Suddenly, a buzzing vibration sounded near my thigh.
It was coming from Doha’s pocket, cutting through the rising tension.
Doha hesitated but tried to move closer again.
The vibration persisted, as if determined to make him answer the call.
“Y-you should take that.”
“Ignore it.”
The buzzing paused momentarily, then started again, relentless.
With a muttered curse, Doha pulled back slightly, exasperated.
He fished his phone out of his pocket, checked the name, and sighed before accepting the call.
With him finally stepping away, I managed to close my legs and stand on my own.
The heady scent in the air seemed to dissipate as Doha reined in his pheromones.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to shake off the lingering arousal.
Jesus, Allah, Ahura Mazda, Buddha, Zeus, Hwanung—what else is there?
The Three Goddesses of Creation, all of them.
Thank you.
If there’s a god of timing, I’ll make an offering every year.
Thank you, really, thank you.
I silently prayed in gratitude, hands clasped, before sneaking a glance at Doha, who was on the phone with one hand on his hip.
I started inching away, crab-walking to put more distance between us.
“No, it’s not that.”
The voice on the other end sounded delicate and soft.
I couldn’t make out what they were saying, but they spoke calmly and quietly.
Whoever they were, I was grateful.
Picking up my fallen jacket, I clutched it to my chest.
“Come here.”
“Shit, isn’t this person supposed to be important? Why are you even calling me over?” I straightened up from bending over as Doha gestured for me to come.
What, does he think I’m some obedient dog that comes when called?
But my body, thoroughly corrupted by capitalism, automatically moved in his direction.
Even though I walked slowly, the distance between me and Doha gradually closed.
As I got close, just one step away, he reached out and grabbed my waist.
“Ugh…!”
“You’re not seriously telling me to go all the way there at this late hour, are you?”
Doha pulled me close, pressing his chin against the top of my head while sighing.
Our bodies fit perfectly together, his warmth seeping into me.
I instinctively halted when I was about to hug him, my fingers fidgeting awkwardly before I finally stood still.
Resting my face against his chest, I breathed in his familiar scent—a mix of his usual cologne and a faint trace of rosewood tickling my nose.
The only thing surrounding me was that familiar aroma.
No matter how hard I tried, my pheromones showed no sign of stirring.
Honestly, the classes I took were just basic education for regular people, and even then, they only covered alpha-related content.
Looking back, I should’ve taken some omega-related courses too.
Who knows how many times I’ve regretted that already. I really need to look it up properly someday.
“I’m not your damn pet. I don’t just come running when you call, and after staying so quiet, why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”
Hmm… yeah, that’s true.
Doha wasn’t the type to come running when called.
The obedient one was me.
Or maybe a real dog like Dduki and Ddolboki.
Nodding slightly, I silently waited for him to finish his call.
“…Together? You know quite a bit, even though you’ve been cooped up in that tiny villa.”
I tried to back away, but he held onto my shoulder firmly, forcing me to stay put.
Doha slowly stroked my shoulder with his palm and sighed again.
“You know there are only two chances left, right? If we use one now, it’ll be the last. There’s no attachment between us anyway. Besides, everything’s already in my name, so I don’t have anything to lose.”
Doha let out another deep sigh, gently running his fingers through the hair at the back of my head.
Every time his fingertips grazed my scalp, an odd chill ran through me.
“Yes. Understood.” He answered quietly, then shoved his phone into his pocket and ran a hand through his hair.
Suddenly, he came out with the most random question.
“Yula.”
“…Yeah.”
“Ever been to a valley?”
I had, but only once or twice when I was really young.
Even then, the memories were so faint that I wasn’t sure if I should say I’d been there or not.
After thinking it over, I shook my head slightly.
Doha kissed my forehead and hugged me even tighter around the waist.
“Let’s go together. We’ll take the morning off tomorrow.”
“…Now?”
“Now.”
“…I want to work—or, I mean, I’d like to work?”
Old habits die hard, and changing the way I spoke overnight wasn’t easy.
I almost used formal language out of reflex, but seeing his eyebrows arch in discomfort, I quickly switched to informal speech.
Even then, he didn’t seem satisfied with my response.
His hand, which had been stroking the back of my head, slowly drifted downward, making me glance around nervously.
“I guess I’ll have to keep going with what I was doing earlier.”
I hurriedly pushed him away from his chest, threw on my jacket, and practically flew over to grab the vest and blazer Doha had tossed on the floor, chucking them onto a nearby sofa.
Then, I dashed to the wardrobe at the end of the first floor and picked out a comfortable coat.
“Let’s go.”
Breathing heavily, I saw Doha burst into a bright laugh as he gently took the coat from my hands and moved in close.
I backed up, thinking he was getting way too close, until my back hit the wall.
With nowhere left to go, I awkwardly pressed my hands against his chest, trying to push him away.
I tried desperately to cling to the wall as his thigh pressed between my legs.
This was too close. Come on, back off, please.
“Now that I think about it, I feel a bit cheated letting this slide.”
He bent down slightly, kissed my cheek, and cupped the space where my neck met my jaw, tapping my lips with his thumb.
“What do you think I need to feel better about it?”
“…Water?”
I answered, genuinely hoping he’d take it as a hint to cool down.
Doha, however, replied generously.
“A kiss.”
What, was he obsessed with kissing or something?
Always asking for kisses at every opportunity. If this was just about calming his pheromones, wasn’t this a bit too much?
Pushing myself as far back as I could, I firmly rejected.
“No.”
“No?”
“No.”
I had to stay strong and not fall for that pitiful look.
Turning my head away, I repeated my refusal.
“No.”
“No?”
“No—mmph!”
He caught my chin and kissed me right as I was saying no.
His actions interrupted my words.
“You just said yes.”
‘No, I didn’t!’
About to protest, I opened my mouth, but his warm lips captured mine, silencing any rebuttal.
It was so intense, it practically made me forget myself.
Damn it, if nothing else, he really knew how to kiss.
I slowly opened my eyes.
The space around me was eerily quiet and dark, and I tried to gather my scattered thoughts.
I must’ve fallen asleep for a bit.
The last thing I remembered was passing a highway tollgate…
How did I end up sleeping so deeply in this uncomfortable car?
Maybe it was because I hadn’t gotten any real rest these past few days.
No wonder I was completely out of it.
Considering how energetic this guy was, it was a miracle he hadn’t worn himself out sooner.
Every night, I found myself clinging to him, practically begging for a break.
At least I wasn’t having pheromone issues, which was a relief…
Not that it was all bad.
Trying to wake myself up, I flexed my fingers and turned my head, finding Doha leaning on the steering wheel, watching me.
When our eyes met, his gaze softened, and a gentle smile played at the corners of his eyes.
As much as I hated to admit it, he really was handsome.
Or maybe he just had a nice facade.
* * *
🫠
Yey
Oh my