The way his fingers roughly massaged through his hair made it look incredibly refreshing. As he finished lathering the shampoo and leaned forward under the shower stream to rinse, there was something inexplicably sexy about it. The hot water cascaded down his muscular body, emphasizing every contour as it flowed downward, exuding an almost primal allure.
“Ah…!”
Just as Choi Sang-hyuk finished rinsing his hair and turned to grab the shower towel, Kim Min-seok let out a startled gasp. Hearing the sound, Choi Sang-hyuk glanced over his shoulder with his back still turned. Kim Min-seok, wide-eyed, had both hands over his mouth. His gaze was fixated on Choi Sang-hyuk’s muscular back and shoulders, which were covered in deep, red scratches—like they had been clawed at wildly by an animal.
“Wait… Did I do that?”
Kim Min-seok’s voice trembled slightly as he asked. Choi Sang-hyuk let out a smirk. The scratches had to sting under the hot water, yet he showed no sign of pain—if anything, he looked completely unbothered.
“Oh no. I’m so sorry… That must hurt so much…”
Kim Min-seok winced, staring at the mess he had made of Sang-hyuk’s back, feeling genuinely guilty.
“It’s fine.”
Choi Sang-hyuk brushed off the apology with ease, then, without hesitation, rubbed the shower towel over the scratches. A faint trail of blood seeped out as the fabric scraped against the wounds. Kim Min-seok silently gasped, watching the thin rivulets of red mix with the running water. He felt awful.
When Choi Sang-hyuk finished his shower and stepped out, he walked over with steady, confident strides. His wet, naked body was a sight to behold—every muscle sculpted to perfection, his physique boasting an almost unreal symmetry. The thought that he had just spent the night engaging in wild, animalistic sex with a man this stunning made Kim Min-seok’s heart pound. His gaze instinctively flickered downward—to the thick, impressive presence standing tall within the damp forest between Sang-hyuk’s legs.
“What? You want another round?”
Choi Sang-hyuk, toweling himself off, caught Kim Min-seok’s wandering eyes and asked with a teasing chuckle.
“N-no! That’s not it!”
Kim Min-seok shouted in a flustered panic, like a thief caught in the act. But the mere suggestion sent a shiver deep inside him, making something ache with need. His body was, without a doubt, hopelessly lewd.
After applying body lotion, Choi Sang-hyuk effortlessly scooped Kim Min-seok into his arms and carried him to the bed. They lay side by side, fresh from the shower, their skin still warm. The heat radiating from Sang-hyuk’s body felt comforting, so Kim Min-seok instinctively snuggled against his side, pressing into his firm muscles and soaking in the warmth.
Sang-hyuk reached for the blankets, which were messily tossed to the side, and carefully pulled them up, tucking Min-seok in.
A heavy exhaustion settled over Kim Min-seok, unlike anything he had ever felt before. It was likely the aftereffects of the lingering drugs wearing off. Waves of nameless dread and an eerie, sinking feeling rushed over him—but every time he became aware of the solid presence beside him, the fear faded away. He clung tightly to Choi Sang-hyuk, as if the man’s steady weight was the only thing anchoring him.
“Close your eyes and get some sleep.”
Sang-hyuk murmured in a low voice. Kim Min-seok obeyed, shutting his eyes—only to open them again moments later.
“I’m scared.”
It was a vague, open-ended statement, but Choi Sang-hyuk didn’t chastise him for it. Instead, he suddenly reached out, effortlessly lifting Kim Min-seok and positioning him so that he lay sprawled across Sang-hyuk’s chest. Their bodies pressed tightly together, leaving no space between them.
One might expect lying on top of another person to be uncomfortable, but it wasn’t. On the contrary, the broad, firm chest beneath him felt solid and reassuring.
“Does this help?”
Choi Sang-hyuk’s voice rumbled through his chest, the vibrations traveling straight into Kim Min-seok’s body. A small, involuntary smile tugged at his lips. He closed his eyes, feeling completely enveloped by Sang-hyuk. The fear that had gripped him just moments ago melted away.
“You’ll stay like this, right?”
Kim Min-seok knew full well that he might be heavy, that he was burdening Sang-hyuk, but he couldn’t help asking. Right now, selfishly, he didn’t want to lose this sense of comfort.
“Yeah. Now, get some sleep. I’ll still be here when you wake up.”
At those words, a deep sense of relief settled in him. With his eyes still closed, Min-seok reached out, his fingers tracing along Sang-hyuk’s neck and shoulders. The solid muscle and strong bone structure beneath his fingertips felt satisfying. Suddenly, an overwhelming desire surged inside him. He wanted to make this man completely his.
‘Could you love me instead of Seo Ha-yoon?’
He wanted to ask. But he was too afraid of the answer.
Maybe this—just this—was all he could have. Choi Sang-hyuk wasn’t a fool, and yet he willingly let himself be played by Seo Ha-yoon. That could only mean his feelings for Ha-yoon ran deep. No matter how much Min-seok wanted more, all he might ever receive was cold rejection. And that was something he wasn’t sure he could endure.
“…Seo Chang-seop…”
The name slipped from his lips as an unbidden thought surfaced in his mind.
“Stop overthinking. Just sleep for now. Worry about it when you wake up.”
Choi Sang-hyuk’s large hand gently patted Min-seok’s back. His words felt absolute, as if there was no room for argument. Kim Min-seok, still sprawled across Sang-hyuk’s chest, let go of his fears and sank into sleep.
***
“Choi Sang-hyuk… Choi Sang-hyuk!”
Seo Ha-yoon’s irritated voice rang out as he snatched the phone out of Sang-hyuk’s hand.
“What the hell? Give it back.”
Choi Sang-hyuk, who had been in the middle of an important call, frowned and reached out. But Seo Ha-yoon ignored him, shutting off the phone and tossing it to the side of the sofa. Then, without hesitation, he climbed onto Sang-hyuk’s lap, straddling him. Wrapping both arms tightly around Sang-hyuk’s neck, he locked himself in place to prevent being pushed away.
“Seo Ha-yoon. Do you have any idea how important that call was?”
“Of course I do. How could I not? Every call Director Choi Sang-hyuk takes is so unbelievably important. Which is why I should never interrupt, right?”
Seo Ha-yoon’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
Choi Sang-hyuk shot him a brief glare, then sighed in resignation and wrapped an arm around Ha-yoon’s slender waist. His voice lowered.
“What is it this time? What do you want?”
At that, Seo Ha-yoon exploded.
“What the hell? Do you think I only come to you when I need something?!”
“Then what now?”
Choi Sang-hyuk’s expression clearly told Seo Ha-yoon to hurry up and get to the point. In response, Ha-yoon mischievously ran his hands through Sang-hyuk’s neatly styled hair, deliberately messing it up.
“Shouldn’t you spend some time with me instead of working all the time? Are you just going to leave me neglected like this?”
“Do I look like someone who can just sit around at home doing nothing? Do you think money just magically appears out of the ground? Cut it out with the whining, Seo Ha-yoon.”
“I don’t want to. If you keep ignoring me like this, I might start thinking about other options. Doesn’t it make you anxious, leaving someone like me at home while you’re always busy working?”
“Should I be anxious?”
Choi Sang-hyuk’s gaze turned sharp, a silent warning.
“Of course, you should be. Who wouldn’t be worried about having a lover like me?” Ha-yoon smirked arrogantly, lifting his chin.
“So, are you taking back what you said before? You told me not to tie you down, and I’ve been respecting your wishes.”
“I told you not to control me, not to ignore me! Besides, you work too damn much. What kind of low-tier gangster is so dedicated that he works from morning till night?”
“I told you, I’m not a gangster.”
“A loan shark is basically a gangster. What, do you think you’re some kind of real financial businessman?”
Seo Ha-yoon grumbled, and for a brief moment, Choi Sang-hyuk’s eyes narrowed dangerously. Realizing he might’ve pushed too far, Ha-yoon quickly softened, playfully swinging his arms around Sang-hyuk’s neck in a childish show of affection.
“Don’t work today. Spend time with me instead. Let’s go shopping.”
“I’m busy. I already gave you a credit card. Go by yourself. Or do you want me to send Kim Sil-jang with you?”
“I don’t need that. I said I want to shop with you, not Kim Sil-jang. …Fine then, take some time off soon and go on a trip with me. I want to go abroad. You have plenty of money. Let’s go to Hawaii, lie around in a luxury resort, sip cocktails, and surf in the ocean. Sounds good, right?”
“Haa…”
Choi Sang-hyuk let out a deep sigh, clearly feeling the headache coming on. Seo Ha-yoon, watching him, bit his lower lip.
“Don’t bite your lip. It’ll crack.”
Choi Sang-hyuk gently ran his thumb over Ha-yoon’s lips, smoothing them out.
“I have too much going on right now to take a long break. I can’t be away for too long, but I can set aside three or four days. Not enough for a long trip… but how about Okinawa?”
“…Really?! Seriously?!”
Seo Ha-yoon’s face lit up with excitement, his voice practically vibrating with joy.
“Yeah. So now, give me back my phone.”
Seo Ha-yoon quickly retrieved the phone he had tossed aside and placed it back into Sang-hyuk’s hand. Then, wrapping his arms around Sang-hyuk’s neck, he pressed several deep, lingering kisses against his lips.
“You really are the best, Choi Sang-hyuk.”
With a playful smirk, Ha-yoon nipped at his earlobe before whispering into it. Choi Sang-hyuk chuckled, pinching Ha-yoon’s cheek once before pressing the call button on his phone.
Seo Ha-yoon watched him for a moment as he resumed his serious phone conversation. Then, suddenly struck by the realization that he needed to pack, he mumbled to himself about getting his luggage ready and dashed into the dressing room.
