Strategic Mating Partner Chapter 0 - Prologue

Twenty-two, Twenty-eight, Spring 20°C

“Are you really sure about this? If you’re having second thoughts, you can back out now.”

The words Taehyun let out, laced with a sigh, carried a tone of persuasion. Though they sounded like a suggestion, they were closer to an attempt to convince. Is this really okay? Should this even be happening? A vague sense of guilt, like a safety pin not fully removed, weighed heavily on his chest. He wished he hadn’t done something so unlike himself. Regret surged belatedly, but the person in front of him gazed back with a resolute expression, showing no sign of changing their mind.

“It’s fine. I won’t go back on my word later, so you don’t need to worry.”

The firm response made Taehyun sigh again as he climbed onto the bed, pulling his knees up. The gaze that meticulously scanned his now-naked body sent an involuntary heat pooling below. The sensation of something slick trickling between the smooth, firm curves of his hips suggested that his body was already aroused, purely from the pheromones alone.

‘How did I end up with this guy…?’

No matter how many warning bells rang in his head, it was far too late to turn back now. Taehyun needed an alpha right now, and the other person needed an omega, which is why they were here. Besides, there was no guarantee that doing this once would achieve either of their goals. Would one time wear him out or kill him? Closing his eyes tightly, Taehyun flopped back onto the bed, and an awkward silence hung in the air. Do something, anything. When Taehyun gestured with his chin at the other person, who was just standing there staring blankly, the alpha in front of him nodded abruptly and climbed onto the bed where Taehyun lay.

Looks like he’s just as desperate down there. Glancing down, Taehyun noticed the other’s lower half, already visibly aroused, the bulge unmistakable. On top of that, the dense pheromones the alpha had been releasing for a while now filled the air. If this were an ordinary alpha, they would’ve already pounced on the omega in front of them. Yet, this guy just stared at Taehyun with an intense gaze, like a dog waiting for a “go” signal, refraining from touching him first. That restraint only fueled Taehyun’s strange suspicion that the alpha was reluctantly engaging in something he didn’t want to do.

‘What’s with this guy, seriously?’

Sure, he’d always been a bit eccentric and odd, but Taehyun hadn’t expected him to be so inscrutable even in a situation like this. Finally, swallowing his embarrassment four or five times over, Taehyun slowly spread his legs, exposing his aroused center. The alpha flinched, his shoulders tensing visibly. See? Even if an omega doesn’t look stereotypically omega-like, it’s tough in reality, isn’t it? Taehyun, with a self-deprecating thought, waited for a reaction. Contrary to his expectation of a response like, “I can’t do this after all,” the words that came out of the alpha’s mouth were entirely unexpected.

“…Can I touch it once?”

What the hell is that supposed to mean? In this situation, what did that even imply, and what exactly did he want to touch? Taehyun, utterly baffled and unable to guess, felt even more flustered. Touch my body? Can you even have sex without touching? Did he think a mating partner meant just thrusting without so much as a finger’s contact? Taehyun frowned, unable to fathom the alpha’s intentions, and the guy, flustered, added something equally absurd.

“No, I mean, I wasn’t sure if I could just touch you like that…”

His face flushed an uncharacteristic bright red, and he stumbled over his words, seemingly unaware of how nonsensical he sounded. Was seeing someone naked really that shocking? But in a consensual situation where they’d agreed to be intimate, how could not undressing be an option? Taehyun, at a loss for words, stared at the alpha with a dumbfounded expression before asking, “This is your first time, isn’t it?”

At that, the alpha whipped his head away, hiding his face, and responded in a voice brimming with frustration, “That’s not what’s important.”

The fact that he couldn’t outright deny it confirmed he was a virgin. Taehyun had suspected as much, but he hadn’t anticipated the guy would be so stiff and awkward, like a scarecrow propped up in place. His head throbbed.

“Ha…”

Taehyun let out another long sigh, clutching his forehead. The alpha, equally flustered, seemed to deflate, as if invisible ears atop his head had drooped. What now? Taehyun hadn’t imagined that whoever he’d meet today, even if inexperienced, would be this much of a blank slate. Feeling utterly disconcerted, he slowly sat up, leaning against the headboard, and spoke.

“So, what do you want to do?”

If they were just following raw instinct, he’d probably want to go in quick, rub, thrust, and finish. But asking if he could touch suggested desires Taehyun couldn’t quite decipher. When Taehyun pressed, the alpha hesitated before responding, “…I want to touch… and see.”

“See what?”

When Taehyun didn’t back down and asked again, the alpha’s ears turned bright red as he answered, “There…”

“Where’s ‘there’?”

The alpha looked visibly startled, as if he hadn’t expected Taehyun to press so persistently. Where was that earlier resolve? To be this embarrassed over something so trivial? Taehyun nearly let out a incredulous laugh when the alpha, head bowed to hide his face, finally mumbled, “Your dick.”

He acted as if he’d said something unspeakable, squirming in embarrassment, making it seem like Taehyun was the one bullying him. If “dick” was too embarrassing, why not just say “pecker”? Was he worried that sounded too childish? Honestly, the pheromones the alpha had been exuding earlier, which had set Taehyun’s body ablaze, seemed to calm instantly.

To be clear, younger partners weren’t Taehyun’s type. Most of the lovers he’d had were either his age or slightly older, not by deliberate preference but because he liked people who didn’t come with baggage or clinginess. He preferred those he could casually date, enjoy, and part with coolly. His close friends often teased him about having a Hollywood vibe, but while he wasn’t indiscriminate, he avoided heavy relationships whenever possible. Growing up, he’d seen enough to make him dread taking on more responsibility. The idea of disappointing someone or being disappointed by them suffocated him. So, naturally, a situation like this was something Taehyun wanted to avoid.

‘How did it come to this…?’

Should he just call it off now? They hadn’t done anything significant yet, and this guy didn’t seem like the type to spread weird rumors, so it was still possible to stop. But the words to end it didn’t come easily…

‘Is this the pheromones’ fault too?’

It was probably because he didn’t want to hurt the other person, who wore such a desperately earnest expression.

“You’re still such a weird guy.”

What’s even weirder is that, despite his clueless fumbling, this alpha’s lower half stood rigidly at attention, and yet Taehyun couldn’t bring himself to kick him out with some excuse. Swallowing a bitter smile, Taehyun raised his knees and moved closer to the alpha.

“Do whatever you want. As you can see, I’ve got a body sturdy enough to handle it.”

At Taehyun’s calm response, the alpha extended his hand stiffly, like a clunky robot. As the distance between them closed, the faint pheromone scent that had faded suddenly tickled Taehyun’s nose again. When the alpha’s cautious, almost reverent hand grasped his softened center, Taehyun swallowed a laugh and said, “Not so gently. Do you do it that lightly when you’re alone?”

At Taehyun’s playful remark, the alpha’s lower half, already pressing against him, seemed to swell even more. “No, I just thought… it might be uncomfortable…”

The discomfort was already inherent in this situation, so it couldn’t be helped. Taehyun swallowed the words he wouldn’t voice and let out a low groan as the hand gripping his cock tightened slightly. Given his athletic build, Taehyun had never felt inadequate in size, but the alpha’s massive hand made his dick look almost average. If his hand was this big, what about down there? Taehyun’s gaze inadvertently drifted to the alpha’s lower half, which boasted a blatant, swollen outline.

“Ah…”

As the alpha’s pale, slender hand stroked his cock a few times, it began to stiffen again, and the tight entrance below grew slick with arousal. Would asking him to touch there instead send him into a flustered panic? Taehyun, now pressed close to the alpha’s body heat, rested his chin on the alpha’s shoulder and closed his eyes.

This awkward encounter had begun about thirty minutes ago, when Taehyun reunited with someone from years past in a hotel room.