#92
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Befitting a massive castle, the central hall had an extremely high ceiling. The somewhat rugged interior with stone walls on all sides was dramatically transformed thanks to elaborate tapestries and long curtains that hung from the ceiling. Perhaps it was due to the candlelight, but it felt like stepping back in time.
Despite being called a small gathering, a performance was being held for them in the hall. The musicians in tailcoats stood like decorations, as if the guests were invisible, continuing their gentle performance.
A long table was set up in a sunken space a few steps down. The table filled with candles and fresh flower decorations, along with the large brick fireplace beside it, caught Eunhong’s attention.
“Shall we go in?”
Jaeha asked awkwardly, scratching his eyebrow. Eunhong’s heart was racing, as this was the first time meeting someone Jaeha knew that he didn’t know.
Mr. Greco, who had invited Jaeha, was said to be in trade. They had connected during the early days when Jaeha started running his company, and since he had a great interest in Korea, they often met beyond business when coming and going. The other members at the dinner table were similar people. Though varied in age, they all welcomed Eunhong with polite smiles.
“It’s been a while. Thank you for accepting my sudden invitation.”
“The pleasure is mine. I hope you’ll forgive me for planning to just work and leave after coming all this way.”
An elderly gentleman with a beard came out of the dining room to greet Jaeha. One could tell at a glance that he was the host of this gathering. He exchanged greetings with Eunhong and embraced Jaeha. Despite his advanced age, as expected of an Alpha, the subtle pheromones surrounding him were intimidating.
“Is this person your partner?”
“Hmm…”
Though it was in Italian, Eunhong could tell he was asking about him. Eunhong met Jaeha’s eyes as he turned to look at him. Jaeha smiled, wrinkling his nose, then gave a brief answer.
“Oh!”
Whatever Jaeha’s answer meant, the man looked at Eunhong with sparkling, surprised eyes. He kindly led Eunhong to his seat with an attitude that seemed innate from birth.
The dinner was a pleasant and warm atmosphere. Although Eunhong understood less than a third of the conversation, it was also a great pleasure to have Jaeha, seated beside him, subtly whispering translations. In truth, more than the content of the conversation itself, it was the ticklish breath against his ear and the affection displayed as if showing off in an open place that was enjoyable.
Contrary to the worries Eunhong had when setting out in clothes that didn’t fit properly, he blended in quite well. By the time the dinner was in full swing, he had become familiar enough with the language to respond to brief jokes. Jaeha observed Eunhong with deep eyes throughout, leading the atmosphere.
After the main dish ended and dessert had made its round, the lively party atmosphere calmed down. Jaeha, with two large wine glasses wedged between his fingers, stood Eunhong up. Then he briefly asked Mr. Greco for permission.
“Would it be alright if I took him around the castle for a tour?”
“By all means. Enjoy it as if it were your own home.”
So the two left the hall adjoining the dining room and entered a narrow corridor. After walking through a dark corridor for a while, turning twice, they headed upward via a spiral staircase. On the narrow staircase, just wide enough for one person, Jaeha held Eunhong’s hand and led him.
As they spiraled up for quite some time, the air gradually became colder. Finally leaving the dark staircase, following a faint light, they emerged into the open outdoors. Beyond the illuminated castle walls, a pitch-black plain stretched out.
“Wow…”
It was truly an otherworldly night view. Yellow lights occasionally floated like lost stars over the black sea. In the distance, the dome of an unnamed temple could be seen round. Eunhong honestly exclaimed in admiration as he enjoyed the scenery.
When a hand covered his shoulder, he turned his head to find Jaeha smiling at him. Eunhong took a wine glass from him and clinked it lightly. Whether it was the wine aroma brushing past his nose or the pheromones carried on the wind from Jaeha, in any case, perhaps because he was in a good mood, intoxication rose in one breath.
“This is why I come to Greco’s castle. Also because of that drink you’re holding.”
Jaeha glanced at Eunhong’s now-empty glass and chuckled, then handed over his own glass as well.
“Whenever I attend gatherings, the topic inevitably turns to manifestation matching or marriage, so I usually avoid them if possible. I’m not interested, and it’s not a place for me to fit in. Today was different though.”
“What do you mean it’s not a place for you to fit in? You were the most impressive one in there.”
“You think so?”
Even objectively speaking, not just because this perfect man was hers, it was an absurd statement. Eunhong raised an eyebrow.
“Of course. Everyone in there… they’re not even half of what you are.”
“Hmm.” Jaeha narrowed his eyes, looking down at Eunhong, then lowered his head and rested his forehead on Eunhong’s shoulder.
“You’re the most handsome person I know. Your personality might be a bit stubborn, but everyone has aspects like that… You’re kind and smart. Also sex… y, and strong, and have a beautiful body…”
Jaeha’s shoulders shook as he burst into laughter. Raising his head, as if he couldn’t resist, he kissed Eunhong’s cheek.
“You’re the best.”
“…Mmm.”
Having listed these things in excitement, Eunhong’s face grew hot from the embarrassingly intimate content. Holding both wine glasses in one hand, he wiped his face with the other. He leaned slightly against the castle wall to cool himself in the breeze.
“Honestly, with a body as good as yours, if you went around self-deprecating, how would other people live? Watch what you say. You’ll get cursed at. It’s only because it’s me that I listen to you.”
Mumbling, Eunhong noticed Jaeha had grown quiet and turned his head to meet his eyes. The yellow light from the halogen lamps illuminating the castle wall was bathing Jaeha in a golden glow. His gaze was so deep that Eunhong stopped talking and swallowed.
Tension rose as Jaeha looked at Eunhong’s face as if seeing someone for the first time. His hand holding the glasses seemed to be getting sweaty, requiring conscious effort to maintain his grip.
The pheromones rising from Jaeha’s body grew increasingly intense. The scent resembling a dawn forest approached with form, as if embracing Eunhong. Eunhong turned slightly to face him. Bringing his face close to Jaeha’s embrace felt like suffocating in the fragrance.
“Earlier, what did you say?”
“Earlier?”
Jaeha pretended not to know, but immediately understood what was being asked. He pressed his body close to Eunhong, who tilted his head slightly to listen. He brought his lips to Eunhong’s reddened ear. When warm breath touched the frozen ear, Eunhong’s shoulders trembled.
“Tesoro.”
Perhaps because of the foreign language Jaeha whispered in his ear, Eunhong had the illusion of pressing bodies with a stranger. Cheek brushed against cheek, and the high bridge of the nose drew a horizontal line across Eunhong’s face. By the time the breath mixed with fragrance approached his lips, Eunhong felt he knew what the word meant without being told.
Their lips rubbed together lightly, and soon a subtle weight pressed against him. Eunhong’s teeth, stiff from tension, scraped against Jaeha’s lips. Unconcerned, Jaeha sucked him in as if to devour him. He nibbled on the tender flesh inside the lips, then sucked in the entire saliva-coated tongue. He attacked like someone wanting to take everything—the wet flesh mixed with pheromone-laden saliva, even the fragrant breath.
Feeling as if the ground was collapsing beneath him, Eunhong’s shoulders curved inward. When he suddenly opened his eyes, stars were falling from the pitch-black night sky. Eunhong had to try extremely hard not to drop the wine glasses. After enduring and enduring, when he finally staggered, Jaeha grabbed and lifted him strongly. The sound of his low throat-rumbling laughter was so good to hear it made Eunhong’s chest ache.
A hand that had entered inside the open jacket caressed the shirt that was tailored to fit the body perfectly. Eunhong trembled at the hot body temperature sliding over the cold fabric. The hand that caressed his waist gradually moved upward, grabbed his chest, and found and teased his nipples. Eunhong let out a moan through their pressed lips at the touch kneading the sensitive area.
“…Hic.”
“You got like this so quickly. Did you know you learn these things fast despite being clumsy?”
“Why do you… only talk like this at times like this…”
Eunhong bit his lower lip and bowed his head deeply. When Jaeha gripped and twisted his chest strongly, Eunhong’s body contracted with a tingling sensation. His lower abdomen tightened, and his pheromones rose sharply as if ignited.
“It’s because you’re seductive. It’s your fault.”
“Ah… hah…!”
As if waiting for Eunhong to burst into rapid breaths, Jaeha kissed him deeply again. The act of pushing his tongue in deep enough to touch the uvula evoked intercourse. Pheromones inducing heat stirred throughout his mouth, making the deep vessels under his skin sizzle.
Jaeha’s hands grew increasingly bold. The hand that had been encircling his waist repeatedly stroked his back gently, then moved down to grip his buttocks firmly. It seemed like he might invade the pants tightly bound with a belt at any moment. When the hands touching his buttocks dug deeper and deeper between them, it became difficult to stand properly.
“Hic…”
Jaeha thrust his thigh between Eunhong’s staggering legs. As his lower body rubbed against the firm leg, Eunhong separated his lips as if escaping and gasped for breath. The wine glasses that fell from his weakened hands shattered with a loud noise.