* * *
Even though he was completely baffled, Wonho still stepped toward Haebom, who flinched despite being the one to demand the hug.
Up until now, guiding had always been something Haebom had to initiate, barely managing to coax Wonho into it.
But now that Wonho was approaching him first, Haebom couldn’t help but tense up. His body instinctively leaned backward.
Watching him recoil despite being the one to order the hug, Wonho raised an eyebrow.
Thud—
“What are you doing?”
Haebom had leaned back so far that his back finally hit the bed.
He was lying down now.
“Oh? Uh, I was just… gonna guide you like this. It’s more comfortable, you know.”
To be honest, even Haebom wasn’t sure what he was saying at this point.
Two guys lying down on a bed, hugging to do a guiding session?
Even someone who wasn’t Wonho—the guy who had been actively avoiding guiding—would probably be disgusted by that idea.
But what truly caught Haebom off guard was Wonho’s reaction.
Instead of backing away in distaste, he moved over him, bracing himself on his arms so that Haebom wasn’t crushed underneath him.
It looked almost like he was doing a plank.
“You said we’d do it lying down. So, are you doing it or not?”
Others don’t seem to have any problem doing this…
Wonho swallowed the words before they left his mouth.
Of course, since he had been the one avoiding it, he couldn’t exactly blame Haebom for not wanting to do it.
But still, he couldn’t shake the irritation bubbling inside him.
“I-I will. I’ll do it.”
“Then hurry up. Don’t waste time.”
Haebom knew it too.
That he was reacting too strongly to Wonho.
But if he didn’t focus, he was afraid something unfiltered might slip out of his mouth.
Muttering complaints under his breath at how Wonho was acting like he was owed something, Haebom finally wrapped his arms around Wonho’s chest.
His broad, solid frame filled his arms.
He had hugged him once before, but that was on the couch, with his arms around Wonho’s neck.
He had never felt him this closely before.
His heart started to race.
Why?
For the first time, a thought crossed his mind.
Had he… always liked men?
He had never considered it before.
He had simply assumed he liked women because he was born a man.
But now that he thought about it, he had never really liked anyone—man or woman.
He had never even dated before.
With a head full of confusion, Haebom sent his guiding energy into Wonho.
“Hngh… Ugh…”
His mind was so preoccupied that he unconsciously released a surge of guiding energy all at once.
A low, stifled groan escaped from above him.
Startled, Haebom looked up and saw Wonho’s face contorted, his teeth clenched, his cheeks flushed red.
Guiding energy could be condensed into a single burst or spread out gently.
Haebom had been praised by his instructors for his ability to manipulate his energy freely.
Normally, he would take extra care to make sure the process wasn’t painful for Wonho, who always found guiding uncomfortable.
But today, his mind had been too distracted.
He had lost control.
“Are you okay? Does it hurt?”
He knew Wonho was particularly sensitive to his guiding energy.
Seeing his twisted expression, Haebom suddenly worried—was he experiencing the same pain as with other guides?
Panicked, he abruptly cut off the flow of energy.
The change in Wonho’s expression was instant.
Especially in his eyes…
They looked like those of a predator that had just had its meal stolen.
His pupils burned red, making the resemblance even stronger.
Haebom, who had been completely focused on worrying about Wonho, froze when he met that gaze.
“…Haa… Who told you to stop?”
“Huh? You made a noise, so I thought… Weren’t you in pain?”
Up until now, Wonho had always run away the moment his body reacted.
Haebom had assumed today would be no different.
But more than a minute had passed, and instead of running, all Wonho did was let out strained groans.
There was no way not to be concerned.
“Fuck, it’s not that. Just keep going. Don’t stop until I say so.”
His voice was tight, like he was barely holding himself together.
Haebom wasn’t sure if that was a good sign.
Even so, he didn’t pull away.
If Wonho was finally willing to accept guidance, then Haebom was going to see it through—until all of Wonho’s resistance was broken down.
And for that, he needed something… deeper.
Not that it would ever happen. Wonho would never accept it, and Haebom himself was terrified of the idea.
In training, they had been taught how to guide male Espers as male Guides.
They hadn’t demonstrated it in person, of course—just showed them 3D simulations.
But even so, it had been enough to make Haebom uneasy.
For now, he just needed to hold him and lower his resistance as much as possible.
Glancing at Wonho, Haebom sent his guiding energy into him again, carefully controlling the flow.
This time, he made sure it was gentle.
But it was too late.
Wonho had already been hit with a direct burst of guiding energy, and now his body was burning.
He clenched his teeth, trying to endure, but there was no stopping it.
His lower half grew hard.
He tried to lift his hips, keeping himself from pressing against Haebom, but even that had its limits.
He wanted to touch him.
All of him.
Not just touch—he wanted to rub against him, press into him, let himself go completely.
What the hell is wrong with me?
The thought barely even lasted before it dissolved into nothing.
Wonho’s gaze drifted downward—from Haebom’s light brown hair, down to his pale face.
Those clear, transparent eyes were filled with worry.
They had only known each other for two weeks, and yet, Haebom always looked at him like that.
Why?
He didn’t understand.
No.
He didn’t want to understand.
But he liked it.
He liked that Haebom worried about him.
Why?
A warning siren blared in his head.
And then, Wonho couldn’t hold back anymore.
No, he didn’t want to.
He lifted one hand from the bed and grasped Haebom’s chin.
Tilting it upward, he lowered his head.
Haebom, eyes wide, barely even had time to blink.
Until Wonho’s lips crashed against his.
Haebom let out a startled gasp as something soft pressed against his lips—Wonho’s lips.
The real problem was that, in that very moment, a hot mass of flesh invaded his mouth.
How many times had he already kissed Wonho by now?
Even though Wonho was a man, just like him, and even though his tongue was now exploring the inside of his mouth, Haebom felt no aversion.
That was the strange part.
“Ah! Don’t bite….”
The sudden pain from having his tongue nipped made him let out an involuntary whimper.
Wonho, who had bitten down, felt his body heat up even more at Haebom’s reaction and sucked on his tongue as if he were trying to pull it right out.
If he could, he would have chewed up and swallowed this sweet thing whole.
He had never known he had such a desire before.
The problem was, this wasn’t enough to satisfy him.
It wasn’t like he could actually rip out this delicious flesh and eat it, but even if he could, he had a feeling that wouldn’t quench this hunger.
* * *
