* * *

Standing beneath the relentless stream of water that stung his skin, Junhee scrubbed his face vigorously.

He opened his mouth wide, rinsing the inside thoroughly, as if trying to wash away the lingering sensation of Taeryu’s touch on his lips.

Though some of the day’s accumulated fatigue seemed to wash away, the vivid memory of Taeryu’s hand on him refused to fade.

As clarity returned, regret crept in. Why am I even here?

The words of Hong Young-kyung surfaced in his mind: ‘Didn’t you know? I own that hotel you’ve been frequenting like it’s your second home.’

No doubt today’s events would reach his ears as well. Suppressing his unease, Junhee turned off the faucet and stepped out, towel-drying his hair.

He picked up his shirt, noticing the faint stain left behind by spilled cocktails, and gave it a sniff.

The scent of fabric softener mingled with a trace of sweat made him hesitate before opting for a soft, hotel-provided robe instead.

Taeryu must have been using the other bathroom since he was nowhere to be seen.

Seizing the opportunity, Junhee slipped into bed, burrowing beneath the plush covers.

The sensation was like hugging a giant marshmallow.

For a fleeting moment, he considered buying such luxurious bedding himself but quickly shook the thought away.

‘No, I need a new phone first.’

Spending more than 50,000 won on a pillow-and-blanket set felt excessive.

With payday and the maturity of his savings account around the corner, his plan was simple: buy a phone, reinvest the matured funds into another deposit.

‘Better to set aside an emergency fund, just in case.’

He couldn’t predict when he might be forced to leave his job.

Keeping a few months’ worth of living expenses tucked away was a prudent move.

‘…Quit my job?’

The thought startled him.

Never in his years at the company had he seriously considered resigning.

The pay raises were consistent, meals were provided, and the benefits were substantial.

With his high school diploma, finding a better job was out of the question.

Survival had meant clinging on, day by day.

But lately, a storm cloud of anxiety hovered over him, seeded by names that echoed in his mind—Baek Seunggyo, Kang Heesung, Moon Doyoung.

These were ticking time bombs, each poised to explode.

And the one person who understood Junhee’s precarious situation and could potentially help him was, ironically, Taeryu.

The absurdity of it drew a bitter laugh.

Unknowingly, Junhee had boarded the same sinking ship as Taeryu.

If one bomb detonated, the ensuing chain reaction would spell disaster for them both.

While Taeryu had the safety net of his influential family, Junhee would find himself sinking alone, burdened by debt, with no escape.

“Junhee.”

The voice startled him, and he jolted upright as Taeryu entered, leaning casually against the doorframe, droplets of water still clinging to his skin.

“You’ve got a knack for making yourself comfortable,” Taeryu remarked, eyes drifting down to where the robe grazed Junhee’s calves.

That gaze—calm but inherently impure—prompted Junhee to take a cautious step back.

“…I spilled cocktails earlier, and I sweat a lot today. I’ll sleep on the couch.”

“The bed’s big enough for two. Why bother?”

As Taeryu’s strides closed the distance, Junhee instinctively backed up, only to find the bed’s edge blocking his retreat.

In his flustered state, he blurted out, “Will you keep quiet about Cha Yoonjae?”

“Why would I go blabbing about that?”

“Aren’t you close friends with Dr. Kim?”

“We’re just doctor and patient. Whether they fight or… tangle in other ways, I couldn’t care less.”

Taeryu’s hand tilted Junhee’s chin upward, his thumb brushing over his bottom lip.

A dangerous glint in his eye heightened the tension in the room.

“Have you thought it over?” Taeryu’s head tilted, his gaze narrowing.

“Thought… about what?”

“What you can offer me.”

“Isn’t arranging a marriage with an Omega in three months enough?” Junhee stammered.

“Two months now,” Taeryu corrected.

The shorter deadline wasn’t the most pressing concern—Taeryu’s intoxicating scent was.

Sweet, almost overpoweringly so, it filled Junhee’s lungs, clouding his thoughts.

When had his scent changed?

Why?

Junhee suddenly realized that failing to meet Taeryu’s demands would render him disposable.

Fear gripped him as he considered the harsh truth: could he fend off the wolves circling him without Taeryu’s aid?

He needed a monster to fight monsters.

Yet the cost of keeping one close was steep, and the weight of his dependence grew heavier.

Every fiber of his being warned that this precarious alliance would only deepen his despair.

But he had no other choice.

The only thing Junhee could offer was simple yet binding—’a relationship with a submissive Omega.’

The reason didn’t matter, nor was there a need to know.

“I don’t have much to offer you, but…”

His fingers grazed my lips, making them tingle.

Junhee pressed them together briefly before continuing.

“If there’s something you’d like me to do, please let me know. I’ll do my best, as long as it’s within my power.”

“Then kiss me.”

“…”

What could he possibly gain from kissing him?
‘
Why does he keep staring at my lips like that, licking his own as though savoring the thought? And why can’t he keep his hands off me at every opportunity?’

Junhee knew for sure—it wasn’t because Ki Taeryu genuinely desired him.

‘Could it be he’s after my body? No, that didn’t add up either. He despised physical intimacy so much he’d rather endure a miserable rut cycle than give in to it.’

Maybe he just enjoys teasing someone as inexperienced as him, finding satisfaction in watching him squirm.

Having experienced it a few times, he wasn’t even surprised anymore.

It’s not like he was going to wear out from it, as some might say.

Once he made up his mind, there was no hesitation.

Junhee reached out, grabbing the back of Ki Taeryu’s neck and pulling him close.

When he saw his eyes widen slightly in surprise, a strange thrill coursed through him.

As his gaze steadied, Junhee pressed our lips together.

The warmth between their lips sparked, and a sweet intensity began to bloom.

Junhee moved cautiously, his lips trembling, only for his jaw to be seized in a firm grip.

“Mm…”

A forceful surge swept through his parted lips, overwhelming like a relentless tide.

It was neither gentle nor teasing like before.

It felt like he was intent on devouring everything inside him, rough and unrelenting.

As their tongues intertwined, boundaries blurred, leaving him unable to tell where he ended, and he began.

Junhee’s head spun with the sheer force of it all.

Desperate, Junhee pushed against Ki Taeryu’s chest, but he didn’t budge.

If anything, he pulled Junhee even closer, until their bodies were flush.

And finally…

With a thud, Junhee fell backward, his soft hair splaying out on the pristine white sheets.

For a moment, their lips parted as if to take a breath.

But Taeryu’s tongue traced the trail of saliva left along the corner of his mouth, savoring it before diving in again.

Each time their lips separated, wet sounds echoed through the room, mixing with Junhee’s ragged breathing.

Taeryu gripped Junhee’s hair, holding him in place, as the relentless assault continued.

It wasn’t just a kiss anymore—it felt like a storm had struck, leaving chaos in its wake.

Was this how kissing was supposed to be?

Was this the proper way to do it?

Fear crept in, wondering if his lips might end up bruised and torn from Taeryu’s roughness.

In his mind’s eye, he saw flashes of red, tangled and impossible to untangle, like a ‘match_with’ icon blinking ominously.

“Stop…”

Junhee gasped between breaths, barely managing to force the word out before it was swallowed up again.

Junhee turned his head away, clamping his lips shut.

But his scalp burned as Taeryu’s grip tightened, and he forced his tongue inside, dragging it along the roof of my mouth.

A shiver ran down Junhee’s spine as Taeryu’s hand slipped inside my robe, tracing along the dip of his lower back.

Goosebumps prickled his skin as tremors rippled through him.

All the while, Taeryu pressed kisses onto his trembling eyelids, muttering softly.

“Now, stop…”

“You said you’d do your best. Is this really your best?”

His swollen, saliva-slick lips hovered in front of him.

Even a stray tear, which he hadn’t noticed sliding down, was caught by his greedy mouth.

Watching that, Junhee clutched the sheets, a distant look of disbelief on his face.

How naïve and arrogant he’d been to think a kiss was something trivial.

Before he knew it, the belt of his robe slipped loose.

* * *