Go Hoon furrowed his brows, staring at him. He was confused. Why? Why did it feel like this man was desperately trying to hold onto him?
Was it really just about the contract? Was he willing to do whatever it took to keep this relationship going? The thought tangled his mind into a knot. And in that moment, Hoon made a mistake.
“Do you like me?”
The words left his mouth—and he immediately regretted it. Bae Jung-yoon paused for a moment, then let out a soft laugh.
“Is that what you wanted to hear?”
“……”
“Hoon.”
His voice, calling his name, was incredibly gentle—yet strangely, it only made Hoon’s heart freeze even more.
“I like you.”
His lips brushed Hoon’s ear as he spoke, the words skating over the curve of his ear.
“I like you, Hoon.”
The whisper was thick with sugar. But anyone with a shred of sense could see right through it—it wasn’t sincere.
Hoon, frozen for just a few seconds, managed to pull himself together. He raised a trembling hand and pushed against Bae Jung-yoon’s chest. But the solid, rock-like body didn’t budge.
“Bae Jung-yoon, don’t screw around.”
Go Hoon gritted his teeth and warned him. But it had no effect.
“I’m not screwing around. I have feelings for you. I guess you just didn’t realize it until now.”
It was clear now—Bae Jung-yoon had made his move. Without a hint of hesitation, he went straight for the vulnerable spot.
“I’m yours. Take me. But don’t ever look at anyone else.”
He whispered low.
“Because if you do, Hoon… I think I’ll want to gouge your eyes out.”
His voice was soaked in honey, syrupy and smooth. But buried beneath it was a terrifying threat. Hoon’s heart thudded in his chest. He didn’t know if he was trembling because he’d fallen for the fake confession—or simply out of fear.
To hide his unease, Go Hoon glared at him. Bae Jung-yoon had already regained full composure. Smiling softly, he cupped Hoon’s cheek and gently stroked it.
“Why are you looking at me like that, Hoon? I’m saying exactly what you wanted to hear.”
Had he ever said he wanted to hear those words? No. Not once. So why hadn’t he seen this coming? He wanted to click his tongue at his own foolishness.
And yet, he must’ve had some faint hope—hope that Bae Jung-yoon would take his feelings seriously. But that hope had been crushed mercilessly. Regret surged through him. He should never have opened up.
“Let go.”
He twisted his arm, trying to break free, but—just like everything else—it didn’t go his way. Without warning, Bae Jung-yoon shoved him down onto the bed.
Caught off guard, Hoon lost his balance and fell backward. By the time he came to, the springy mattress was pressing against his back. Instinctively, he tried to bounce back up, but Bae Jung-yoon was faster.
Dragging his body toward the center of the bed, Bae Jung-yoon pinned both wrists down with firm hands. A heavy weight pressed down on Hoon’s waist.
He couldn’t overcome the difference in size and strength. No matter how hard he flailed his arms and legs, it did nothing. Bae Jung-yoon didn’t even budge.
After struggling for a while, Go Hoon eventually gave up. He realized it was pointless—Bae Jung-yoon wasn’t going to move, and he was only tiring himself out.
Panting, he looked up at the man straddling him. In his eyes, there was nothing but raw, naked desire. And he could feel the hard bulge of Bae Jung-yoon’s erection pressing against him. He glanced downward and saw the thick outline of it straining visibly against his pants.
Go Hoon scowled. When had he even gotten that hard? And more importantly, what in this situation had turned him on? No—he didn’t want to know. He’d probably just end up learning something disturbing about the man’s tastes.
“Get off.”
He hissed the words through clenched teeth, glaring up at him. Those pitch-black eyes, like the ocean’s depths, stared back without a flicker. The setting sun on the right side of the room cast shadows over his face, making him look especially eerie tonight. Goosebumps rose along Hoon’s neck, and he felt the fine hairs stand on end.
“You said you liked me, Hoon.”
The distance between them closed, and hot breath brushed against Hoon’s lips.
“You’re the one who said it first. So take responsibility. Don’t abandon me.”
Even the whisper sent a chill down his spine.
But there was something strange in his words—Don’t abandon me. It didn’t make sense. Go Hoon had never tried to abandon him.
No—how could you talk about being abandoned when you were never mine to begin with? You don’t get to say that when nothing was ever given. The urge to argue rose in his chest, but before he could speak, Bae Jung-yoon murmured again.
“Answer me. Will you still love me no matter what I do?”
That watchful gaze landed on him, studying his every move. Bae Jung-yoon’s eyes shifted slowly, almost cautiously, as if he were searching for something in Hoon’s reaction. There was a strange flicker of hope in them—or something close to it. Maybe he was imagining it, but that’s how it felt.
His gaze dropped to Hoon’s lips, then slowly traced its way upward, as if he were memorizing every detail of his face.
And still, Go Hoon couldn’t answer.
No matter what I do. That part stuck in his mind like a thorn.
Could he really go on loving Bae Jung-yoon, no matter what he did? Just thinking about it sent a parade of Bae Jung-yoon’s past inhuman actions flashing back through his mind—one by one.
Bae Jung-yoon was clearly someone who existed a few steps outside the bounds of common sense. And yet, what Go Hoon couldn’t understand—what truly unsettled him—was how he still reacted to him. Even now, as their eyes met, a storm of conflicting emotions stirred inside him.
It felt dangerous to put these jumbled thoughts into words. While he hesitated, unsure how to respond, it seemed Bae Jung-yoon had already come to his own conclusion.
The flicker of anticipation in those dark eyes vanished in an instant. And yet, Bae Jung-yoon still smiled, as if he’d never truly expected an answer in the first place.
His gaze fixed on Hoon’s face as he reached out and wrapped his hand around his throat. One of Hoon’s arms was now free, but he didn’t dare move. He had no idea when that grip around his neck might suddenly tighten.
At that moment, he remembered a dream he’d had a few days ago—Jung-yoon looming over him, fingers curled around his throat as he lay on the sofa. Back then, he’d brushed it off as nonsense, just some meaningless nightmare. But now, thinking back, maybe it hadn’t been a dream at all. The realization left his mouth dry.
“You did something like this a few days ago, didn’t you?”
Go Hoon asked in a calm tone. Bae Jung-yoon let out a quiet laugh.
“Yeah. But you still slept like a baby.”
His reply was casual, completely unfazed. As he trailed his fingers along Hoon’s throat, he smiled, clearly satisfied.
“You know, you really do look better like this.”
The random comment made Hoon’s eyebrows draw together. But the one responsible for that reaction just kept talking, ignoring the expression on his face.
“I’ve always thought so. You’re best viewed from this angle.”
“…Are you insane?”
Go Hoon asked, his expression turning serious. Jung-yoon was more unpredictable than usual today. Was this the consequence of carelessly mentioning breaking the contract?
“Yeah. I guess I am.”
Bae Jung-yoon agreed easily, as if Hoon’s unease had nothing to do with him. Then his hand slid lower. His fingertips grazed Hoon’s collarbone and came to rest on his chest.
“When I look at you, I feel this tingling here. Not just here—down to my fingertips and toes.”
He spread his palm and pressed it over the left side of his chest. Thump, thump—he exhaled slowly, almost savoring the dull rhythm of his heartbeat, and spoke in a calm, husky voice.
“I’ve wanted to fuck you for a long time, Hoon. Like a goddamn mutt in heat.”
The words didn’t even seem to register—they bounced right off his eardrums. Hoon’s entire body went stiff.
Could he really leave Bae Jung-yoon unchecked like this? This wasn’t right. He’d definitely regret it later. He knew that—but still, he couldn’t bring himself to push him away.
How had things gotten to this point? That question tore through his confused mind, but he couldn’t act on it. It felt like his brain had gone white, frozen. He stared up at the man on top of him.
And then—Bae Jung-yoon’s lips touched his.
Hoon’s eyes widened.
Soft flesh pressed against him, and then the damp brush of a tongue followed. He could feel it—his lower lip being sucked in. The wet tongue moved slowly, like someone savoring a lollipop.
The teasing sensation worked its way into his gut, tingling and electric. A shaky breath slipped out through clenched teeth before he even realized it.
What had begun as a cautious, almost exploratory taste—like someone trying a dish for the first time—quickly grew bolder. Their lips pressed fully together. A hot tongue forced its way into his mouth.
Jung-yoon didn’t hesitate. He seized Hoon’s retreating tongue and sucked on it hard. Their tongues tangled like mating snakes, twisted and messy.
Go Hoon’s neck tensed. There was no room to escape, but his muscles clenched instinctively. One hand grabbed Jung-yoon’s shoulder—but that was all. He couldn’t bring himself to force him away.
Their mingled saliva made a sticky, obscene sound. The fingers gripping his shoulder tightened, wrinkling what had once been a perfectly smooth shirt.
It was a fierce, consuming first kiss. It felt like being devoured alive. Fear and pleasure clashed, and Go Hoon felt an overwhelming, almost terrifying wave of euphoria crash down on him.
As Bae Jung-yoon ravaged his mouth, Hoon found it harder and harder to breathe. His breath kept slipping away. At this rate, he’d pass out. With both hands, he shoved hard—and finally managed to push him back.
“Haaah… haah…”
He sucked in air, panting heavily. Even then, those long fingers didn’t stop. They toyed impatiently with his wet, swollen lips.
“Was that your first kiss?”
Bae Jung-yoon murmured, his voice low and quiet as he watched him.
