Strategic Mating Partner Chapter 9

What the hell? The only reason Sejin could think of was that Taehyun wanted to try it with an omega. He couldn’t just outright ask him that. His mouth dry, he gripped and released the steering wheel as they neared Sejin’s drop-off point. This silent torture will be over soon. Taehyun sighed in relief as the GPS announced their arrival. The soft sound drew Sejin’s gaze.

“You can drop me off over there, right?”

Taehyun pointed to a suitable side street. Sejin nodded silently. Taehyun smoothly turned the wheel and parked. The click of a seatbelt buckle followed, then the passenger door opened and closed. Sejin bowed his head. Taehyun rolled down the window.

“Well… I didn’t expect to see you like this. It’s good to see you after so long. I’m glad you’re doing well.”

As Taehyun rambled, mentally censoring himself, Sejin’s expression remained neutral. He looked at Taehyun, whose face seemed to spell out “awkward,” and replied curtly,

“Yes. See you next time. I’ll contact you.”

With that, he turned and strode away, disappearing down the alley. Taehyun was dumbfounded. What the hell? See you next time? Who said I’d meet him again? He gaped at Sejin’s audacity, then flinched as a car horn blared behind him. I’m parked close to the edge, it’s not blocking anything. What a jerk. Taehyun swallowed his sharper-than-usual retort, shifted gears, and pulled away.

Even though Sejin was gone, Taehyun’s heart pounded like he’d had too much coffee. It wasn’t a pleasant flutter, but an uncomfortable feeling stemming from a vague fear and anxiety. It was similar to the feeling of going down the wrong path.

The reason for Taehyun’s persistent unease was simple. Not only had he attempted something that could ruin his carefully cultivated image of diligence and propriety, but the person he’d encountered in that hotel room wasn’t just some acquaintance; it was the kid he’d taken care of four years ago.

There were already plenty of people trying to use Sejin. Did he have to be one of them? Even disregarding the age difference, now that Sejin was an adult, it didn’t sit right with him. Would it be better if it were a straightforward, Sure, hyung will give you one! kind of exchange, a mutually beneficial experience? But Taehyun knew he wasn’t that kind of person.

“Ha….”

Lost in thought at a red light, Taehyun didn’t notice the signal change. A loud horn blared from behind his small SUV. It hasn’t even been that long. Taehyun glared at the driver of the foreign car, who continued to honk aggressively, and accelerated. So many people have a problem with small cars. I need to get a new one soon, just to spite them. He clicked his tongue as his car picked up speed, arriving home before he knew it.

Silence descended again as he entered his surprisingly tidy apartment for a single man. With minimal furniture—a bed, desk, sofa, TV, and dining table—the space felt much larger than it was. Taehyun shed his jacket, tossed it into the closet, and plopped down on the sofa. Then, he bolted upright, needing to check the results of his impulsive actions. He rummaged through his bag, pulled out a portable pheromone testing kit, and the familiar needle appeared.

Hmm…

Honestly, he didn’t expect much of a difference. He swabbed his finger with an alcohol wipe, pricked it, and a tiny bead of blood welled up. He dropped it onto the test strip, inserted the cartridge, and a two-digit number appeared on the digital display.

[26]

“…….”

Taehyun was speechless. He hadn’t expected much, even though this was his last straw. Generally, a reading above 180 indicated sexual arousal, while anything below 45 meant no pheromonal interference in daily life. Below 30, even those with presented traits wouldn’t notice each other’s pheromones unless they were practically kissing. The maximum allowed for official competitions was 20.

Taehyun’s reading before leaving for the hotel had been 34. It had likely risen in the hotel room, but now, away from Sejin, it was lower. There was only one explanation: the mechanism used in mating partnerships had worked as intended. Even though they hadn’t actually done anything, just a simple pheromone exchange, the effect was significant. He wondered what level he could expect if they actually had sex. Maybe he wouldn’t need suppressants anymore.

But with him? Taehyun immediately shook his head. He knew he wasn’t in a position to be picky. He also knew he wasn’t in a position to lecture himself about how wrong this was. But the fact that his accomplice in this dubious act was Joo Sejin was still hard to swallow. He collapsed back onto the sofa, replaying the events in the hotel room. He remembered the feeling of Sejin’s hand on his cock, the hard length pressing against his lower abdomen. They hadn’t finished. Unfulfilled desire tightened his lower belly.

Ah, shit…

He felt the familiar twitch of his entrance, already softening in anticipation. But Taehyun, you’re a human being, not some animal who jumps on any alpha. Taehyun, please. He chastised himself and headed to the bathroom. Aiming at the toilet, he quickly stroked himself to climax. Looking at his flushed hand and cock, his backside unused yet aching, he felt a wave of self-disgust.

The unsatisfying release left him frustrated. It wasn’t like he hadn’t had sex with alphas before, so why was he like this? With a sigh, he splashed cold water on his face. Get a grip. Another sigh escaped him.

🤺

Meanwhile, after being dropped off, Sejin walked briskly uphill, then stopped where the road overlooked the city. He watched until Taehyun’s car disappeared, shrinking to a dot before vanishing completely. Only then did he continue walking.

The unfamiliar mansion was unnecessarily large. His uncles had protested his and his mother’s move, but she had insisted. She said it would make her feel like she’d truly returned to Korea. He didn’t see the point, since she had to go back to France for work, but his grandfather seemed to have a different perspective.

‘It’ll be good for Sejin to live there, he’ll be getting married soon and bringing his wife home.

What nonsense, talking about marriage when his grandson was only twenty-two. But imagining Taehyun in this house, casually eating fruit on his bed like he used to in their shared apartment, Sejin blushed, covering his face with his hand. His heart pounded at the overly stimulating fantasy, even though the object of his desire wasn’t reciprocating.

Seeing Taehyun again was something he’d longed for, but he couldn’t rush things. Pushing too hard would only give a wary target a chance to escape. Patience and calculated moves were Sejin’s forte.

“…….”