Underpainting Chapter 6.1 - Chiaroscuro (1)

For the next few days, Taehan was busy implementing his new plan. He was pouring the resources he had accumulated to seize control of the organization into the exact opposite endeavor.

“Director Ryu, Director Kang from Myeongdong says he’ll accept the revised contract terms. And he seems interested in trading SeoChang Liquor stocks as well.”

Taehan, who had been busy reviewing documents, smirked at Gwangwoo’s report.

“It’s under a false name, but he sure has a nose for money. There’s no reason not to sell if the conditions are right. Tell him to make an offer.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll contact him.”

“Did you deliver the item to Prosecutor Shin?”

“Yes, sir. His wife was very pleased. Apparently, it was a limited edition she’d been searching for but couldn’t find.”

“Good. And you’re maintaining the life signs of the missing persons?”

“Of course. By the way, Director, about CEO Seo…”

At the mention of Seo Gihyuk’s name, Taehan looked up and listened more attentively. Since that day, Seo Gihyuk hadn’t contacted him at all.

This was a complete change from his usual behavior. Ever since Taehan had become his right-hand man and secretary, Seo Gihyuk had relied on him for everything from important business decisions to trivial matters like dinner menus.

Taehan had anticipated this, even if they hadn’t argued about Dawon. His influence within the organization had grown excessively.

Seo Gihyuk had left Taehan alone partly because he was careless, but also because Taehan had been extremely cautious around him. That precarious balance had now been broken.

‘He fancies himself Chairman Seo’s son, after all. He knows when to step on someone.’

Other members of the organization seemed to have noticed the rift between Seo Gihyuk and Taehan. The executives who coveted Taehan’s position and Choi Beomsik, suddenly acting as if he were Seo Gihyuk’s confidant, were surely clinging to Seo Gihyuk and egging him on.

If Taehan had contacted Seo Gihyuk first and submitted, he could have slowed the spread of the rift, but he didn’t want to. Not only did he not have the time to care, but all of Seo Gihyuk’s activities were being reported to him through his network of informants.

According to the reports, Seo Gihyuk was strangely involved in the painting business transfer process. He was reviewing the relevant documents and even personally inspecting the new workshop, something he wouldn’t normally do unless pressured by Chairman Seo.

He was probably exaggerating his actions to provoke Taehan, wanting to flaunt his control over the matters Taehan had opposed.

‘It doesn’t matter. As long as he doesn’t take the kid away immediately.’

Fortunately, he had arranged with the doctor to exaggerate the extent of Dawon’s injuries. There was still time left on the eight-week timeframe. But he couldn’t afford to be complacent. Seo Gihyuk was unpredictable, so he had to finish his preparations as soon as possible.

“He’s coming here today. Regarding the painting business transfer.”

Lost in thought, Taehan was startled by Gwangwoo’s next words.

“Seo Gihyuk? Coming here?”

“No, to the house across the street. I heard they’re moving the necessary items to headquarters.”

The fear that gripped his heart eased slightly, but the news wasn’t welcome. Once they had a fully equipped workshop at SeoChang Construction, they could take Dawon away at any time.

“…I see. I should go there too, then.”

Although uninvited, this was right next to Taehan’s territory. It wasn’t like a gangster to sit idly by while bothersome people prowled around his doorstep.

The quiet street in front of the house became noisy in the afternoon. Several large trucks and a group of men filled the yard of Dawon’s house. At the forefront were Seo Gihyuk, strutting around like a king on inspection, and Choi Beomsik, clinging to his side and chattering.

“I heard it was run-down, but it’s larger than I expected.”

“Oh, of course, CEO. The house is old, but the paintings created here would easily fill an entire art museum. Shall we look at the paintings first? The studio supplies are somewhat organized, but the paintings are large and valuable, so moving them takes time.”

“Shall we? Then where…”

“The paintings are stored on the second floor. Isn’t that right, President Choi?”

Seo Gihyuk and Choi Beomsik, who had been chatting and laughing, turned their heads in surprise at Taehan’s sudden interruption. Choi Beomsik’s expression stiffened, and Seo Gihyuk openly frowned in displeasure.

“Taehan, what are you doing here? I thought you were dead somewhere since you haven’t shown your face.”

Though it was likely meant as a harsh remark, Taehan simply smiled, as if hearing a dog bark.

“I can’t die so easily after Chairman Seo saved my life. I’m always busy.”

With Taehan’s brazen intrusion, Seo Gihyuk, though displeased, missed the opportunity to openly dismiss him. He seemed to have forgotten his posturing, preoccupied with showing off as Choi Beomsik presented the collection of unsold paintings from the second-floor storage room.

Meanwhile, Taehan surveyed the surroundings. Two men he had seen around before were carrying paints, art supplies, and several easels into the hallway. They were the “uncles” Dawon had mentioned. Seeing how carefully they had sealed the toxic materials only fueled his anger.

The men Seo Gihyuk had brought began to handle the already roughly organized items with rough hands. True to their nature, they smoked cigarettes and stomped across the wooden floors with their boots, a disrespectful display.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Big Brother himself.”

As Taehan frowned, a sneering voice reached his ears. He turned to see the youngest of his men, the one he had dismissed and sent to SeoChang Construction headquarters, standing with a cigarette pack in his hand, his posture defiant.

Considering that this man had gone to Seo Gihyuk with Choi Beomsik and caused everything to go awry, Taehan had every reason to be furious. Yet, he showed no reaction.

The youngest was likely resentful for being dismissed without a clear reason. The Taehan of the past wouldn’t have handled the situation in a way that left such lingering resentment. Things had started going wrong long before Choi Beomsik and Seo Gihyuk met.

“To what do we owe the honor of your presence? Your ears must have been itching so badly you thought you’d die. Rumors are spreading that our Big Brother is now a nobody.”

The mocking words made even the men who had accompanied Seo Gihyuk look uncomfortable. Even though the relationship between Seo Gihyuk and Taehan wasn’t what it used to be, the youngest was in no position to treat Taehan so disrespectfully.

“Thanks to Big Brother’s warm consideration, I’ve been doing well. The people at headquarters are all generous, not petty like some people… Ow! Hot, hot!”

The youngest, oblivious to the warning glances from those around him, excitedly rambled on until someone bumped his elbow from behind, making him stumble and nearly burn himself with his cigarette.

“Damn it, watch where you’re… ”

“Hey, youngest. Long time no see.”

The youngest, who had turned around with a growl, stopped short upon seeing Gwangwoo staring at him with a grim expression. Intimidated by the murderous look in his eyes, he muttered something inaudible and hid among the other men.

“Director, should I kill that bastard?” Gwangwoo approached Taehan and asked respectfully in a low voice.

Taehan replied coldly, his voice devoid of anger, “No. Even a guy like that has his uses.”

When it was time to move the paintings, Seo Gihyuk and Choi Beomsik began to nag the men with irritable instructions. Taking advantage of the distraction, Taehan moved towards the right side of the storage room, to the end of the hallway. Based on the layout, there should be a room there. The room where Dawon had watched him from the window.

‘Is it behind this wall?’

As he paced in front of the suspicious-looking wooden wall, someone appeared and blocked his path.

“T-There’s nothing here,” the man stammered.

Taehan looked up sharply. The stooped, gaunt man stood his ground in front of the wooden wall, sweat dripping down his face.

‘Who is this guy?’

He was one of the men who had been coming and going from this house. The older of the two besides Choi Beomsik. Taehan had noticed his shabby appearance but hadn’t considered him important.

Even now, the man’s dirty clothes and hunched posture were repulsive, but he didn’t appear threatening. Yet, Taehan found the man’s presence irritating, like a splinter under his fingernail. He soon realized the reason for his instinctive aversion.

‘He’s an Alpha.’

Although encountering unfamiliar Alphas was a common occurrence, Taehan found this one particularly infuriating. The reason was clear. This man was connected to Dawon.

He had been around Dawon for a long time before Dawon came to Taehan, and now he was standing in Taehan’s way, as if guarding the space beyond the wooden wall, the space where Dawon had stayed.

‘Who does he think he is, blocking my way?’

The frightened man’s ragged breathing only intensified Taehan’s disgust. The thought of what this filthy man might have seen, touched, and imagined enraged him.

Taehan narrowed his eyes, searching his memory. Had he ever smelled this disgusting scent on Dawon? On the day they first met, had there been even a hint of it?

Taehan clenched his fist, his eyes blazing with fury, radiating a menacing aura that threatened to tear the man before him apart. Sensing the dangerous atmosphere, Gwangwoo approached Taehan.

“Director, I think they’re almost finished.”

Taehan turned to see the men carrying the last remaining painting and Seo Gihyuk and Choi Beomsik preparing to leave. He turned away from the man with a cold, mask-like expression, but his jaw remained clenched.

“CEO Seo, I’ll be going now. See you next time.”

Taehan offered a perfunctory farewell and left the house. Standing at his own gate, he smoked a cigarette and watched Seo Gihyuk and his cronies disappear down the alley. When they were finally gone, Taehan gave his next order to Gwangwoo in a low voice.

“Remember I told you to regularly make phone calls and bank transactions for the people buried in the yard?”

“Yes. Would you like to check the records?”

“No. Stop one of them today. A few days apart for each.”

“Understood.”

“And…”

Taehan stubbed out his cigarette in the portable ashtray, his fingertips still trembling with unresolved anger.

“Investigate that stuttering bastard from earlier. Find out everything about him.”

He had once painted goldfish. Six bright red goldfish in a cylindrical fishbowl. Dawon, who had never seen such creatures before, asked his uncles what those red, elongated things were.

“<You don’t even know this? What do you know? It’s a goldfish, a goldfish. Come to think of it, they’re kind of like you, you idiot. Empty-headed, sprawled out in a room, just gobbling down the food we give you.>”

His youngest uncle had chuckled while showing him a video of swimming goldfish, but even to young Dawon, it didn’t quite make sense. Unless those goldfish in the fishbowl were churning out gold nuggets at the cost of their lives, their situation couldn’t be the same as his.

‘…Now I’m kind of like a goldfish.’

Many years later, confined to his room, his days consisting of eating and sleeping, Dawon stretched out on the bed in the afternoon languor. His pale limbs, thinner than before, felt like fins.

‘April 18th.’

It had been over two weeks since he had been confined to this room. Fearing that his mind would become as empty as a goldfish’s, Dawon recited the date like a mantra.

When he was being overworked in the studio across the street, he at least had a short walk once a day. Now, the furthest he went was the bathroom across the hall. He couldn’t help but feel stifled, but there was no one to blame.

He wasn’t even sure if Taehan’s order to stay on the second floor was still in effect. But after the heat, fear had taken hold, and even when curiosity about the outside world tugged at him, he would retreat back to the safety of his room.

‘Do I still smell? I think it’s okay now.’

Dawon buried his nose in the back of his hand and inhaled. He hadn’t fully mastered how to conceal his pheromones yet, but the scent wasn’t as strong as it had been right after his first heat. All he could smell was the faint lingering scent of Taehan.

For the past few days, Taehan seemed busy again. As if afraid Dawon would catch him, he disappeared every morning while Dawon was still asleep. Left alone in the room, questions bubbled up like water droplets. What was Taehan so busy with? When would he return? How long would this vague and ambiguous situation continue?

Dawon looked out the window. The blue sky was as calm as the water in a fish tank, but the two-story house across the street seemed unusually bleak today. A strange premonition made Dawon watch the house, holding their breath.

‘I heard a car this morning. It sounded like Big Uncle’s car. I haven’t seen him lately, what’s going on…? Huh?’

Just then, a flurry of activity shattered the afternoon quiet. The garden of the house across the street suddenly filled with several cars and people. Dawon pressed their forehead against the window, observing this strange, unfamiliar scene.

Most of the people were strangers, but a few familiar faces were mixed in. Dawon spotted Big Uncle bowing and scraping next to someone. A little further away stood the Youngest Uncle, but none of the other gang members Dawon knew were visible. And then…

‘It’s Mister.’

The moment he appeared in the garden, Dawon recognized Taehan at a glance. With long strides, Taehan went straight to Big Uncle and the unpleasant-looking man standing next to him.

Dawon narrowed their eyes to get a better look at Taehan. The three men exchanged a few words, but Dawon couldn’t hear what they were saying from such a distance. All they could see were expressions that seemed like smiles, though whether they were sneers or friendly, it was impossible to tell.

As the three men led the way into the house, the rest of the people streamed in after them. No matter how hard they tried, Dawon couldn’t figure out what was going on. While still bewildered, something even stranger happened.

‘Those are my canvases. And my gesso and oils too.’

Men in black suits formed a line and started carrying things out of the two-story house. At first, it was Dawon’s art supplies, but then even the paintings from the storage room were carried out one by one.

It was confusing to see the things that had occupied all of their time just a month ago being piled up in a truck. This situation didn’t seem like a good thing for Dawon.

As Dawon expected, Big Uncle didn’t seem to be quitting painting. If he were, he would just sell the remaining paintings; there would be no need to spend time and effort moving his art supplies.

‘He’s moving his studio. And Mister is watching all of this.’

Confusion was followed by anxiety. Looking down at the house across the street, Dawon was startled to see a familiar face. Among the people milling around the garden, now that most of the belongings had been removed, was Second Uncle.

From above, his shoulders looked even more stooped and small, but the mere sight of his silhouette made Dawon’s heart sink. As they stumbled backward, Second Uncle suddenly looked up and across the alley. As if he knew Dawon was watching him from there.

“Gasp.”

It felt like their eyes met, even though it must have been a delusion. A chill ran down Dawon’s spine at the sight of those dark, damp eyes. The memory of Second Uncle sneaking into the dark studio and sniffing Dawon’s scent when they were younger came vividly back to life.

Dawon ducked below the windowsill, curling up and burrowing under the covers. Their limbs trembled, and their pheromones, which had been stable for a while, began to churn.

The more their scent wavered, the more agitated they became. This wasn’t the time for this. They needed to think about what the scene they had just witnessed meant and what they should do now. But their instinctive aversion and fear wouldn’t let them think straight.

Even though it was impossible, Dawon couldn’t shake the feeling that Second Uncle, having caught their scent, would come looking for them any minute.

‘No. Absolutely not. Never.’

Was their nature really this terrifying and absolute? After shivering for a long time, Dawon suddenly realized what they needed to escape this fear.

‘Mister’s scent.’

They felt like everything would be alright if they could smell Taehan. The moment they realized this, Dawon felt an unbearable craving. As if something essential was missing from their body, they desperately wanted to inhale Taehan’s sweet, heavy, sharp scent.

The lingering scent on the bedding wasn’t enough. Just as they were thinking of retrieving Taehan’s clothes from the closet, they heard footsteps approaching from afar.

Their heart began to pound painfully hard. Wanting to greet him as soon as possible, Dawon rolled out from under the covers and onto the floor.

“Mister!”

As soon as the door opened, Dawon went straight to Taehan. Their hurried gait was noticeably awkward with their limp, but they didn’t have time to care. Desperate, they clutched his arm and pressed their face against his chest, inhaling deeply.

But for some reason, they couldn’t smell even a hint of Taehan’s scent. It was as if he had tightly locked the pathway for his pheromones. Parched, Dawon whined and looked up.

“Mister, I, there…”

But the moment they met Taehan’s gaze, Dawon’s wavering eyes filled with terror. Taehan’s expression was furious. His eyes were cold and frozen, his lips pressed tightly together.

“Th-there.”

Dawon couldn’t understand why Taehan was angry. Whether he was angry at them or something else. Knowing that it was better to stay quiet in these situations, they hesitated for a moment, wondering if they should back away.

But their anxiety wouldn’t subside. Something that had started creaking the moment they saw Second Uncle’s face was now swelling enormously. Consumed by the desire for Taehan’s scent, they couldn’t think of anything else.

Driven by instinct, Dawon released their own scent thickly. Not knowing any other way to receive the other person’s pheromones, they even put on a blatantly seductive expression.

“Mister…”

“What? Are you in heat again?”

Taehan replied coldly. Seeing his face reminded Dawon of the first time they met. They had momentarily forgotten that Taehan’s natural expression was this cold and emotionless.

Taehan grabbed Dawon’s frozen wrist and dragged them to the bed. Their frail body was tossed carelessly onto the mattress. Before they could regain their composure, Taehan’s knee wedged itself between Dawon’s weak knees.

“Baby, isn’t this a bit too much, anytime, anywhere? Fuck, I guess after tasting dick, your ass can’t stand being empty, huh?”

Taking a deep breath, Taehan sneered again, seemingly even angrier at Dawon’s cloying scent.

“And that smell… Baby, how did you live when there was no one to fuck you? Or was there someone stuffing you back then too?”

I didn’t know how to react. I felt fear and disgust, but at the same time, I hated myself for being acutely aware of whether the man’s knee, which had come close to my groin, would touch me.

“Ah, no… Huh!”

The moment I tried to shake my head, Taehan yanked down the front of Dawon’s pants. A place that had never been touched was already fully erect. His underwear was bulging so much that it had a damp stain.

Tsk. Clicking his tongue disapprovingly, Taehan’s eyes were filled with deep disgust. As if touching something repulsive, he tapped Dawon’s wet underwear.

“Why are you already pissing yourself?”

“Uh, uh…”

“What do you want me to do? If you want me to fuck you, you should at least make me feel like it.”

Dawon, unable to close or further spread his thighs, was subjected to Taehan’s oppressive gaze. Watching Dawon tremble and gasp, Taehan said spitefully,

“If you’re going to be like this, just do it yourself. I’m not in the mood.”

Taehan’s careless hand pulled Dawon’s underwear down further. Dawon looked up at Taehan with startled eyes, but Taehan simply added sarcastically,

“Go ahead, do it yourself. Do you even know how to masturbate?”

Even without any experience, Dawon knew this was a humiliating situation. To masturbate in front of a man who was watching with an indifferent gaze, with only his lower body exposed. Dawon answered in a barely audible, trembling voice,

“I know.”

At those words, Taehan’s eyes grew colder. His mocking voice now held a growl.

“Ha, really? Then go ahead and do it.”

Dawon thought it would be better to just do it. If he just did as he was told, this situation would eventually end. He didn’t understand why Taehan was making such a strange demand, but Dawon was far more accustomed to being humiliated than praised.

Verbal and physical abuse were practically his daily life, so Dawon wasn’t fazed by most forms of harassment. The day he first met Taehan, when Taehan suddenly grabbed his face painfully hard, Dawon had trembled inwardly, but still spoke his mind.

‘Okay. I can do it. I can do it, but why…’

But now, both his body and mind were frozen, refusing to obey. Feelings of resentment and regret, luxurious emotions he had never known his whole life, welled up inside him. Words that wouldn’t have bothered him if they came from someone else, the indifference he had felt at their first meeting, now every single thing hurt.

Dawon, holding back his tears, studied Taehan’s face. The unconcealed anger in his expression was frightening. He felt that if he continued to hesitate, he would hear worse things.

He managed to bring his hand between his legs, but the penis that had been hard a moment ago had gone limp. Even then, his hand trembled, only fumbling awkwardly, unable to do anything properly.

“You little shit, you know how to do that too?”

Perhaps because Dawon’s movements were unsatisfactory, Taehan muttered in a still-angry tone.

“Huh? How do you know? Did someone teach you?”

When Dawon avoided his gaze, Taehan suddenly reached out and grabbed his chin. Taehan’s burning gaze seemed to pierce through Dawon’s eyes.

“I’m asking you. Who taught you this kind of thing?”

He seemed determined to keep asking until he got an answer. Though he didn’t want to revisit the memory, Dawon forced himself to speak.

“Th-there was an older brother who I used to draw with. At the house.”

“…”

“He lived there since I first arrived… He taught me how to draw and use the materials. We drew all day. He didn’t know how to do anything but draw. Actually, neither did I.”

The moment he started speaking, his heart felt like it was tearing apart. He thought it might be better to stop talking and just get hit, but the words, once they started flowing, wouldn’t stop.

“I-it was when I was fourteen. I woke up from a dream and my body felt strange. It was hot and hard down there… I kept tossing and turning, so he couldn’t sleep either. It was a problem because we had to wake up early. We had a lot of drawings to do the next day.”

“…”

“He must have been frustrated with me groaning, so he came over and told me. He said if I touched myself there and let it out, I could go back to sleep. After I learned it once, there were times I had to take care of it that way. Not often though. Usually, after finishing work, I didn’t have the energy.”

He had given Taehan the answer he wanted. There was no reason to continue speaking. Yet, Dawon continued to dredge up stories from the past. Without even knowing why he was telling Taehan these things at a time like this.

“H-his name was Jaeuk hyung, but I didn’t know his age. We lived like that for almost ten years, but I didn’t know his age. He didn’t talk much. There was no time to talk. But still, he was there. He was there with me.”

Tears were streaming down Dawon’s face. It had been so long since he had said Jaeuk hyung’s name out loud. After he disappeared, neither his uncles nor Dawon talked about him. As if he had never existed.

So Dawon hadn’t realized he had tears to shed for him. A mixture of sadness, fear, and guilt flowed down his cheeks.

“He was a bit strange from the beginning. My uncles always called him a retard and a moron. But I was okay with it. I was okay with it at first, but later, he really broke down.”

“…”

“He didn’t even recognize me, and he seemed like he didn’t know who he was. Later, he just sat there all day like a crazy person, and my uncles said he was useless now.”

“…Baby.”

Then, Taehan softly called Dawon. Dawon, who hadn’t yet poured out all his emotions, was afraid that Taehan would stop him. Anxious, Dawon cried harder and rambled incoherently.

“So, eventually, my uncles took him out of the house. H-he went along obediently, not even knowing where he was going. I just kept drawing without saying anything. I drew more than usual that day.”

“…”

“I thought I might be dragged away too if I didn’t draw. So I didn’t stop them, even though I knew what my uncles would do to him. He was there and only I knew, but I, I…”

“Baby.”

Calling Dawon again, Taehan reached out and tightly gripped his arm. While the grip was still firm, a warm heat emanated from his large palm.

Taehan’s contorted face had changed somehow. The expression filled with anger now seemed almost sorrowful. Startled by this unfamiliar expression, Dawon paused.

Meanwhile, Taehan wrapped his hand around the back of Dawon’s neck and lifted him up. Taehan’s hot lips touched Dawon’s forehead, who was now in an awkward, half-sitting position.

“It’s okay. I… Ha…”

“…”

“Anyway, it’s not your fault. You don’t have to say any more.”

Just a moment ago, Dawon had been gasping for breath, wanting to spill everything, but he couldn’t understand why being told he didn’t have to say more felt so comforting.

“Huu, huh, huuh…”

The emotions he hadn’t been able to fully express slowly leaked out between Dawon’s lips. He couldn’t remember the last time he had cried like this. For Dawon, tears were something to be wiped away quickly, even if they flowed for a moment, and the feeling of being allowed to cry was never permitted.

The gentle kisses and whispering voice seemed to melt his heart. Because Taehan said it was okay, Dawon felt, for no reason, that it would be okay. Perhaps it was because this was the first time someone had told him it was okay.

While Dawon sniffled, Taehan held him tightly and released a soothing, cool pheromone. As the scent he had longed for enveloped him, his fear and confusion vanished like a lie. It felt like he had been submerged deep underwater without gills and had finally surfaced.

“Mister.”

As his tears subsided, Dawon called him in a faint voice. He buried his nose in Taehan’s collarbone, taking a deep breath and unconsciously nuzzling his nose against it. He felt the throbbing of a bulging vein.

“Done crying?”

Taehan’s thumb gently wiped away the redness around Dawon’s eyes. Dawon stared at him, wishing he would continue to touch him like that. The caressing fingertips lingered for a moment before moving away.

“You should eat something. You must be exhausted from crying.”

Taehan grasped Dawon’s shoulders, pulled him away, and tried to get out of bed. Although his actions weren’t unkind, Dawon felt a pang of regret and disappointment at being separated from his embrace. Unconsciously, he grabbed the hem of Taehan’s shirt as he turned away, and Taehan looked back with surprise.

“D-don’t go.”

What should he say at a time like this? Unable to choose a single phrase from the multitude of words overflowing in his heart, Dawon simply cupped Taehan’s cheeks. Even with his weakened grip, Taehan yielded. Dawon’s tear-stained lips pressed against Taehan’s.

Perhaps it was because his heart had softened, but the mere touch of their lips sent a tingling sensation through his chest. He tilted his head, gently rubbing his lips against Taehan’s, and a pleasant moan escaped him involuntarily.

“Mmm…”

Whenever he touched Taehan, Dawon always felt a mixture of pleasure and unfamiliarity, and as much as he felt pleasure, he also felt a heart-wrenching fear. But not now. Dawon’s body was filled only with warmth and a tingling buoyancy.

He wasn’t in heat, and even though he was feeling a bit aroused, his pheromones were under control. It was simply that Dawon’s heart yearned for a deeper connection with Taehan.

Trying to mimic Taehan’s previous kiss, Dawon extended his tongue and licked his lower lip, but Taehan only inhaled sharply, refusing to open his lips. After a while of just licking his closed lips, Dawon called him quizzically.

“Mister.”

A sweet, sticky scent was overflowing from Dawon’s body again. Taehan’s face seemed flushed, but at the same time, he appeared perplexed by Dawon’s persistent requests for a kiss, fiddling with the skin around his eyes.

“Baby, your eyes are so puffy. Hmm?”

What did puffy eyes have to do with anything? Dawon frowned in thought for a moment before asking,

“Because my eyes are puffy, am I not… good enough?”

“…”

“Are you not in the mood?”

When Dawon echoed the words Taehan had sneered earlier, Taehan’s brow furrowed again. This was another expression Dawon had never seen before. A mixture of slight sadness, anger, and an indefinable, soft vulnerability flowed towards him. Even though vulnerability was a word that didn’t suit Taehan at all.

Dawon was momentarily afraid that he would get angry again, but Taehan simply took off his jacket and threw it on the floor without saying anything. He just pulled Dawon close, their bodies pressed together, so that the sound of his heart beating rapidly could be felt through his thin shirt.

Holding him close, Taehan touched the skin around Dawon’s eyes even more gently than before. His fingertips, as if drawing soft lines, traced down Dawon’s cheek and gently cupped his chin.

When their eyes met, Dawon couldn’t bear the shyness and the ticklish feeling. The moment he involuntarily closed his eyes, Taehan’s lips touched his.

Taehan’s tongue slipped between his naturally parted lips. Had kissing always felt like this? A dreamy, warm, and moist sensation enveloped Dawon, caressing him and delving deeper.

“Hng, mmm…”

A languid sound escaped from deep within him. Even as their tongues intertwined, Taehan’s gentle hand caressed Dawon’s earlobe and chin. He felt as if he had melted into jelly, swaying atop Taehan’s tongue.

He felt like he could stay like this, exchanging kisses, forever. Lost in the unfamiliar ecstasy, Dawon only belatedly realized that he was now lying on the bed.

When he came to his senses, he realized that Taehan’s weight and warmth were pressing down on him, not oppressively, but comfortingly. The feeling of being enveloped in pheromones was like being wrapped in a cloud.

While gazing at Dawon with an intense gaze that seemed to pierce through him, Taehan didn’t rush. He slowly unbuttoned his pajama top, caressing the exposed white skin. His touch was as smooth as the feel of silk against his skin.

Every time Taehan teased and touched him, an electric current flowed from the point of contact up to Dawon’s heart. A wave-like, gentle sensation began to wash over him.

“Uh, hah…”

The moment their lips parted, a sweet sound escaped from Dawon’s mouth. He was already feeling a surge of excitement, as if he were about to climax.

‘Strange. Why am I so sensitive today?’

It was just a slightly longer kiss, they hadn’t even touched his lower body, just caressed his flat stomach and chest, and yet he was so aroused. He couldn’t understand it.

Worried that Taehan would notice how quickly he got excited if their eyes met, Dawon kept his eyes tightly shut and turned his head halfway even after the kiss ended.

“Baby.”

Perhaps it was because he was already aroused by the slightest touch, but the nickname, which he must have heard hundreds of times by now, suddenly felt embarrassing. When Dawon didn’t respond, Taehan hesitantly fiddled with his earlobe and asked an unexpected question.

“Are you uncomfortable? Are you not in the mood?”

Taehan, who seemed overly proficient in bedding omegas, appeared to be asking such a question for the first time. Unlike the considerate content, his voice was stiff and awkward.

Yet, the heat seething within him was undeniably clear, as if he were desperately suppressing a passion on the verge of exploding. Perhaps that was why the blunt question sounded incredibly gentle to Dawon.

“N-no. Please… continue.”

Dawon averted his gaze slightly, answering honestly in a barely audible voice. At that moment, a thick, heady scent emanated from Taehan. His eyes burned as if he were about to devour Dawon whole.

Feeling both anticipation and nervousness at Taehan’s fierce approach, Dawon closed his eyes again and surrendered himself to his touch.

“Ah, hng, mm.”

However, instead of immediately spreading his legs, Taehan began to kiss Dawon’s small body everywhere. His delicate shoulders, his blossoming neck, his heaving chest, and his dry fingertips.

The relentless kisses, as gentle as spring rain, felt unfamiliar. Hands that would have usually thrust into his hole were now gently caressing his knees and the tops of his feet. Strange whimpering sounds kept escaping Dawon’s lips.

“Uh, mmn.”

In his hazy state, Dawon realized that he wasn’t the only one acting strangely today. Perhaps Taehan was acting even stranger than him.

It wasn’t just that the foreplay was unusually long or that he was kissing places he hadn’t before. Taehan was touching him with a cautious tenderness, as if caressing a mirage that would disappear if he blinked.

As if his insignificant, humble body, which Taehan had already bedded several times and knew better than Dawon himself, was somehow precious and important.

A word he had heard many times, and seen in the dictionary, but had dismissed as completely irrelevant to himself, finally came to mind. Taehan was treating him preciously.

‘No, it must be my imagination.’

Startled by his own thoughts, Dawon tried to bury them quickly, but the mere thought had already ignited a fire within him. He felt even more embarrassed than the first time he had shown his naked body to Taehan, or the first time he had climaxed in his hands, yet he was also uncontrollably aroused.

Dawon’s cock was standing at attention, pressed against his lower abdomen. It had started hardening again from the moment they began kissing, and was already wet. Perhaps the strange thoughts were also due to his excessive arousal.

Thinking that he would feel better if he just came quickly, Dawon reached between his legs to take care of the urgent need himself. However, as always, Taehan was one step ahead.

Taehan, who had been nuzzling his lips against the soft skin around Dawon’s navel, lowered his head and moved between his legs. The moment Dawon’s twitching cock brushed against his cheek, Taehan, far from being disgusted, immediately grasped it in his hand.

“Mister, I, I can…”

Dawon reached out in a fluster to stop him, but it was no use. As if he couldn’t hear anything, Taehan stroked the swollen flesh with his palm and then secured his hand around the base.

As Taehan licked his own lips, a strange premonition washed over Dawon. Sure enough, he then brought his parted lips to Dawon’s cock.

“Ah, no, what, now, hng, mm!”

While Dawon was floundering, Taehan pushed it straight into his mouth. Surprised, Dawon froze. An unfamiliar, erotic sensation touched his sensitive skin.

The slippery feeling of wet mucous membranes, the sensation of Taehan’s tongue gently wrapping around his shaft, were all new and thrilling, but what truly shocked Dawon was the very fact that Taehan was doing this.

Taehan was a man who couldn’t stand it if everything wasn’t perfectly neat and organized, and he abhorred anything unclean. He was the kind of man who would click his tongue in annoyance at the slightest speck of dust on his shoes.

For him to put an omega’s cock in his mouth without hesitation, and not only that, to suck on it with audible smacking sounds as if savoring a delicious meal, was unbelievable.

Dawon stared blankly at the man who had buried his face in his groin. The moment Taehan opened his jaw wider and lowered his head further, even his shocked thoughts ceased.

“Aah, uh, hahh, hiii…!”

Taehan sucked, hollowing his cheeks to create suction. Dawon’s cock, flushed red, swelled further in his mouth. Every time he moved his head, the sensitive tip was scraped against the strange ridges of his palate, and his wide, flat tongue clung to the shaft.

The tingling sensation sent shivers down his spine. Only the flesh between his legs was being sucked, but it felt as though his entire body had become a sexual organ, leaking fluids and being drawn into Taehan.

When Taehan rubbed his hardened tongue against his urethra, Dawon’s breath hitched. He thrashed, overwhelmed by the rising sensation of impending orgasm.

“Ah, Mister, st-stop.”

Dawon’s face was contorted, but it was more from the overwhelming pleasure than from aversion. Glancing up to check Dawon’s expression, Taehan returned his focus to sucking his cock.

Even shaking his head and waving his hands didn’t work. Taehan only became more persistent in tormenting the object in his mouth. Dawon’s small feet curled inwards and then forcibly straightened, pushing against the bed repeatedly.

“Ah, aaah, uh, hng, st-stop, ahhh.”

His thoughts stopped as if his mind had melted. Dawon whimpered without even knowing what sounds he was making. He tried desperately to hold back, but this wasn’t a climax he could control.

As he reached his limit, Dawon tried to pull his hips back. He wanted to avoid cumming in Taehan’s mouth, but Taehan’s hands held his pelvis firmly in place, refusing to budge.

“Nn, hng, hahh…”

Finally, with a whimper, Dawon came in Taehan’s mouth. Hot semen erupted from the tip of his hardened cock and spilled into Taehan’s mouth.

A wave of shame washed over Dawon, as intense as the dizzying pleasure. He wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear, but his oblivious lower body continued to spurt for a while longer. It had been a while since he’d come like this, not since their heat had ended, leaving him worn out.

“Hah…”

Unlike Dawon, who was flustered, Taehan seemed unfazed as he spat the semen from his mouth into his palm. The sheer volume, its unusual thickness, and the way it stretched in a long, sticky thread between Taehan’s lips and palm was embarrassing.

“I… I told you to stop…”

Taehan stared at the liquid in his hand before glancing up at Dawon. Even though he was fiercely aroused, a faint smile played on his lips as if he was amused by Dawon’s flushed cheeks.

“You seemed to like it.”

Annoyed by his words, Dawon narrowed his eyes and glared at Taehan. It was hardly intimidating, and Taehan only smiled wider.

Taehan’s smiling eyes were unusually clear and bright. Now that Dawon looked closer, it seemed Taehan wasn’t amused, but rather, fond.

Once again, it was Dawon who looked away first. Shyly lowering his eyes, he instinctively released his scent towards the man touching him. Taehan’s hand, resting on Dawon’s hip, momentarily tightened, but he quickly suppressed his arousal.

Taehan’s fingertips slowly trailed down between Dawon’s buttocks. The moment his semen-covered fingers touched Dawon’s entrance, a thick stream of pre-come gushed out. The mingled scent of their fluids hung heavy in the air.

“Haa…”

Two thick fingers slid inside without resistance. Dawon’s insides, as if anticipating the alpha’s intrusion, twitched and quivered impatiently.

In contrast, Taehan’s hand moved leisurely. His deliberate movements, as if to stretch Dawon open, were gentle yet frustrating. The moment his probing fingers hit a sensitive spot, Dawon bucked his hips.

“Ha, ahhh…”

Dawon responded just as Taehan had trained him. Pleasure welled up from within, tightening his chest. As if forgetting he had just climaxed, Dawon’s body quickly heated up again.

Wondering if he was the only one impatient, he glanced down to see Taehan gritting his teeth, eyes blazing. His panting breaths were ragged, and the front of his pants strained against his erection.

Realizing that Taehan was just as aroused, Dawon’s already thin patience snapped.

“Haa, ah, fuck. Stop this now. Hmm…?”

Whining, Dawon lifted his left leg and rubbed it against Taehan’s thigh. He wanted to wrap his leg around Taehan’s hip, pull him closer, and grind against his groin, but his legs trembled with excitement, and his body wouldn’t obey.

“I need to prepare you so it won’t hurt.”

Taehan seemed to have reached his limit as well. He grumbled in disapproval as he pulled his fingers out. His lips pressed together, and his eyes were half-lidded.

Dawon expected him to just pull down his pants and thrust in, but instead, Taehan began to unbutton his own shirt. Dawon felt a fresh wave of impatience, like his blood was boiling.

He was about to complain when he stopped himself. The sight of Taehan’s veined hand undoing the buttons transfixed him. Dawon watched intently, his eyes glued to Taehan.

The movement of each button being undone, one after the other, was agonizingly slow and beautiful. As the white shirt opened, revealing Taehan’s firm, heated chest, Dawon’s breath hitched.

It wasn’t the first time he’d seen Taehan’s naked body, but the smooth skin and well-defined muscles were captivating. He wanted to touch them, to taste them. He swallowed hard, his throat dry.

‘I want to feel you. Faster, faster…’

Dawon, dazed, finally snapped out of it when Taehan pulled off his pants and reached for a condom on the side table. Dawon’s pajamas were still half-undressed. He realized he needed to take them off too.

Eagerness overriding any embarrassment, Dawon kicked off the tangled pajama pants and underwear from his right ankle. Next was his shirt, which was only unbuttoned.

As Dawon fumbled with his shirt, Taehan, now completely naked, approached him. The heat radiating from his bare skin was intense.

Thump, thump. Dawon couldn’t tell if the pounding heartbeat was his or Taehan’s. When Taehan’s large hands slipped the pajama top off Dawon’s shoulders, a rush of heat surged through him.

The slightest brush of their knees, their fingertips, their shoulders, sent shivers down his spine. Dawon no longer wanted to hide his excitement or his trembling. It would be a waste to avoid Taehan’s gaze in this moment, just because of embarrassment.

“Kid.”

Perhaps it was just Dawon’s imagination, but Taehan’s voice sounded strained as he spoke. He gently pushed Dawon’s shoulders down onto the bed and placed a thin pillow under his neck.

“Tell me if it hurts. Okay?”

Despite his fiercely aroused expression, as if he wouldn’t stop even if Dawon cried out in pain, he forced out words of concern that didn’t quite suit him. Dawon, not wanting him to stop for even a second, simply nodded.

Taehan’s hands, cupping Dawon’s thighs, were hot, but his movements were far more careful than before. When his hard cock touched Dawon’s wet folds, a thrill shot through him.

“Ah, uh…”

Even though he’d been aching for this, the feeling of that thick, fist-like length pushing inside was still overwhelming. Dawon instinctively held his breath.

Taehan frowned at the tightness. Normally, he would have grabbed Dawon’s hair and growled at him to relax. But today was different. He cradled the back of Dawon’s head and nuzzled his forehead against his.

“Ah, Mister.”

“Breathe, deeply.”

Taehan whispered softly as he pushed his way inside Dawon. Whimpering from the stretching pain, Dawon, once again forgetting his embarrassment, urged Taehan on.

“Just, move. Hngh. That’s better…”

Taehan captured Dawon’s tear-filled lips with his own, breathing his scent into him. The familiar, comforting pheromones eased the tension in Dawon’s body slightly.