#75
The meal began. Idam, wearing nitrile gloves, inhaled the seasoned chicken. It was freshly made and warm, with a crispy coating and juicy meat.
Though less stimulating than store-bought chicken, it was no less delicious. He ate the chicken legs in one bite, stripping the meat off the bone. He didn’t even notice the sauce smeared all over his mouth.
For some reason, Taemin wasn’t eating. He was just watching Idam. Suddenly, Idam felt embarrassed, like he had become obsessed with food.
“Um… why aren’t you eating?”
Maybe I ate too messily? I should have been more careful.
“Just watching you eat makes me feel full.”
However, Taemin’s answer was romantic, contrary to Idam’s worry.
“Ah…”
His late mother used to buy seasoned chicken from the market sometimes, saying the same thing. He felt a lump in his throat, sensing a similar scent from Taemin as from his mother.
“Still, you should try it. It’s delicious. Just a moment.”
Idam stripped the meat off a chicken leg with his hands. He thought that the dignified Taemin wouldn’t eat it by holding it, but would cut it with a knife like a steak. He then held out the stripped meat towards Taemin’s lips. Suddenly feeling he might be too close, he tried to pull back, but Taemin quickly put it in his mouth. His elegant lips moved as he savored the taste.
Idam felt nervous, as if he was being evaluated, even though he hadn’t cooked the food.
“H-how is it?”
“Idam really likes sweet things, doesn’t he?”
There seemed to be a hint of disapproval in his words.
“Don’t you like it?”
“No, it’s delicious. Can I have more?”
Encouraged by Taemin’s gentle response, Idam felt his confidence surge. He diligently stripped more meat off the bone. He was confident in deboning chicken, as he loved and ate it often.
As they ate, the plate of seasoned chicken quickly emptied. They mixed the remaining sauce and meat bits with rice. Taemin seemed to prefer the chicken rice, eating it even faster. Idam’s cheeks were full as he ate the rice. Amidst all this, the sound of waves was peaceful.
* * *
After the meal, they walked along the beach to aid digestion. Even though the sun had fully set, it was bright due to the moonlight in the sky and the lighting surrounding the villa.
After walking for a while, Taemin’s phone vibrated. He checked the screen and then looked at Idam.
“Idam, shall we go back to the villa and rest?”
His expression was somewhat serious. It seemed to be a work-related call.
“Yes, alright.”
Idam felt disappointed, wanting to see more of the sea with Taemin. But he couldn’t interfere with work, so he headed towards the villa.
Taemin’s eyes, which had been as gentle as a prince on a white horse in front of Idam, sharpened. He answered the phone with a slightly irritated movement.
“Speak, Secretary Kang.”
[We’ve surrounded Han Jongcheol, including Kwon Gicheol.]
“That was quick.”
[Aren’t we professionals at finding people?]
Secretary Kang’s voice was full of confidence.
“Where did you catch Kwon Gicheol?”
[The employees stationed in front of Baren Capital just spotted him. It seems he had nowhere else to go and returned like a salmon.]
“Then, what about Han Jongcheol?”
[He was found dead not long after where you were. He had already sustained a head injury. It seems he died from excessive bleeding.]
“Ah…”
It seems the side mirror thrown at that time was the decisive blow. However, Taemin showed no sign of guilt or surprise. Rather, he seemed satisfied, as if he had properly dealt with a single bug.
“Handle Kwon Gicheol in the usual way. Now, let’s proceed with acquiring Baren Capital.”
[Understood. Also, the man driving the car was Han Jongcheol’s older brother. He’s currently hospitalized. How should we handle him?]
“See if there’s a place to sell his organs.”
[Understood.]
“But don’t tell Jang Hayun about this.”
[Pardon? Then…]
“I don’t intend to tell Yeo Idam either.”
A shadow of obsession fell heavily over Taemin’s eyes.
* * *
Idam’s steps towards the villa turned back to the sea. He felt reluctant to turn his back on the fairy-tale-like night sea. The sea that had been emerald during the day turned purple at night, with stars reflecting and sparkling brilliantly. It was like the universe.
Intoxicated by its beauty, Idam wanted to enter the sea. But since it was night, swimming seemed unwise, so he just wanted to dip his feet. Idam rolled up his pants. As it had gotten a bit chilly after sunset, he was wearing a long-sleeved shirt over a short-sleeved one and long pants. He carefully took off his sandals and entered the sea.
The water wasn’t as cold as he thought. When he reached the area where the moonlight shone, it felt even more like floating in space.
“Wow… amazing…”
Exclaiming in admiration, Idam took a few more steps. Soon he reached an area where the sand sank deeply, and he slipped and fell. His small body instantly plunged into the seawater, getting soaked all over.
“Ah… I don’t know…”
Idam, barely managing to get up, looked dejected. He thought he should quickly return to the villa and shower. Just as he was about to stretch his legs and stand up, a rough wave hit again. As Idam was about to lose his balance and slip again, a long arm suddenly reached out and wrapped around his waist.
It was a firm and stable sensation. Though he didn’t need to turn around to know it was Taemin, he turned his head, wanting to see his face up close.
“Why are you here instead of going inside? Did you want to swim?”
“No, I just… wanted to dip my feet in but I fell.”
“Oh no… How are your legs? Are you hurt?”
Taemin bent down and worriedly felt Idam’s ankles. As he did so, Taemin came into Idam’s view. He had rushed in to support Idam without rolling up his pants, so they were soaked.
“I’m fine. I’m okay! Look.”
Feeling guilty, Idam rotated both ankles this way and that to prove he was alright.
“That’s a relief.”
Taemin also sighed in relief as he straightened up. Thanks to his wet clothes, his broad shoulders, developed chest, and muscles were clearly visible. Feeling an intense sexual aroma, Idam felt his cheeks heat up and his stomach tingle.
“L-let’s get out now.”
Feeling awkward, Idam hurriedly tried to leave the sea, but Taemin grabbed his hand. Then he pulled Idam close and hugged him tightly. Once again, Idam’s body was trapped in Taemin’s embrace, and he could feel their rapidly beating hearts. Gradually, Idam’s cheeks turned bright red.
“Um… Mr. CEO…”
Idam cautiously raised his head. Their eyes met. The look in Taemin’s eyes reflected in Idam’s was like facing a flame. As if drawn by a magnet, Taemin’s lips met Idam’s, as if hunting them. Then he parted Idam’s lips with his thick tongue and pushed it in.
“Mmm…”
Idam moaned and accepted his tongue play. In an instant, saliva flowed in like waves, mixing in his mouth as he sucked desperately. Idam’s shoulders trembled at the sticky sensation. He couldn’t control his instincts because he liked Taemin’s kiss, because it was sweet. Pheromones leaked out as if celebrating a festival. Like a butterfly flapping its wings.
The vast sea seemed to be filled with the scent of Idam’s pheromones. Because of this, Taemin’s pupils dilated. He kissed more fiercely, curling his tongue around Idam’s like a hook and pulling it. After continuing the intense tongue play, Taemin soon put his hand into Idam’s pants and inserted his fingers between his buttocks.
“Ah!”
Startled, Idam hurriedly pulled his lips away from Taemin. He frantically looked around.
“M-Mr. CEO, what if someone sees us?”
“There’s no one here. Besides, it’s dark, so they can’t see.”
“B-but still…”
Idam mumbled, still feeling uneasy. No matter how much Taemin said it was fine, unexpected things could happen. However, Taemin didn’t give up and continued to caress Idam’s body. Idam, not knowing what to do, resisted by dodging here and there.
“Why are you squirming so much? It’s making me more excited.”
Taemin kissed Idam’s cheek as if to punish him. At the same time, more pheromones flowed from Idam’s body.
“Mr. CEO, let’s just… let’s do it inside. Let’s do it on the bed…”
If he had to mingle flesh with Taemin anyway, that would be much better. And Idam, too, wanted to accept Taemin’s body as he was aroused by the kiss.
“We’ve done it on the bed many times before. Since it’s come to this, shall we take everything off?”
“What? H-here?”
“Of course. There’s no one around, and no one will see anyway.”
“W-what…”
Idam became even more embarrassed by his proposal. Idam, for whom everything with Taemin was a first, was still too young and innocent to accept his proposal.
“I… I… that’s too embarrassing. I c-can’t do it!”
In the end, Idam broke away from Taemin and fled from the sea.
Then he saw employees standing at the entrance of the villa. What do you mean there’s no one around? There are eyes watching just a few steps away… Idam was dumbfounded by Taemin’s ridiculous proposal.
Soon after, Taemin also came out of the sea.
“Idam. No, honey. What’s so embarrassing?”
Taemin started using the term ‘honey’ again and smiled slyly. Idam shook his head more strictly.
“I can’t do it.”
At Idam’s firm refusal, Taemin pondered. He felt like he would go crazy with disappointment if he stopped now, with his member rising like a pillar of fire due to Idam’s pheromones. After thinking for a while, he made a proposal.
“Then shall we play hide and seek?”
“Hide and seek?”
“I’ll be it, and you run away. But if I catch you, I get to do as I please.”
Idam hesitated for a moment.
“Why are you going this far for this?”
“Why? Not confident? Then give up and get undressed.”
At Taemin’s provocation, Idam’s expression became upset.
“I’m really good at hide and seek. Even the friends I played with when I was young all acknowledged it.”
“Really? That’s interesting. Well, how well can you really hide?”
Taemin chuckled. He seemed to think Idam was just boasting.
Perhaps because of this, Idam’s eyes turned hard like pebbles.
“Alright. Let’s do it.”
“Good decision.”
Taemin raised the corners of his mouth. At the same time, he felt his heart strangely fluttering. Why was this happening? Even Idam’s resolute appearance just seemed pretty and cute to him.
