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chapter 21
“Mm.”
It happened so suddenly that I had no time to react. It was as if someone had shoved a sweet piece of candy into my mouth without permission and rolled it around.
“If the bond isn’t forming properly, it’ll show soon enough. After all, too many eyes are watching….”
After stirring things up inside and then pulling away, he lifted the corners of his mouth casually. The mischief glinting in his eyes was raw.
“Haa….”
I tried to suppress the surge of excitement, but trembling breaths escaped past my lips, betraying me completely.
The faint scent clinging to Do-heon tickled my nerves. I could almost see the skin I had glimpsed in the dark, the muscles that flexed tautly every time he held me.
Yeon-seo rubbed the tips of her fingernails together, struggling to distract herself with other thoughts.
“We’re here. Get out.”
The low whisper snapped her back to reality.
They were already in front of Myeongseon-jae. The dim garden was bathed in soft lighting.
Do-heon had already set Yeon-seo down and stepped out of the car. Though she had run frantically after him only moments ago, he was already beyond the entrance to the house.
Watching his retreating back as he entered Myeongseon-jae, Yeon-seo suddenly felt the urge to stop him.
“Do-heon!”
He paused and turned around. He had done nothing but look back, yet it felt like a scene from a film.
“Shall we walk around a little before going inside?”
Yeon-seo tugged gently on the sleeve of his shirt. She wanted to breathe in the scent of the garden grass just a little longer.
And she wanted him by her side while doing so.
But soon she worried—he might be tired. She let go of his collar, stepped back, and quickly corrected herself.
“If you’re tired… you should go in first. I’ll come in a little later.”
Without a word, he stepped closer and took her hand.
Coolness of winter, freshness of summer—the beauty of every season seemed to rest within him. Perhaps it was enough, just to hold such beauty for even a short while.
Late at night, in the empty garden of Myeongseon-jae, the chirping of insects swelled and faded away.
“Kiss me… again.”
The words burst out before Yeon-seo realized it, and she froze in embarrassment.
They had been caught in her throat the entire time. No matter how hard she tried to look away, her eyes kept drifting to his lips.
“Ah.”
“……”
“N-no, never mind. I’m sorry.”
Flustered by her own words, Yeon-seo mumbled.
Their eyes met and tangled. With a teasing smile, he leaned close.
His long fingers gently cradled her chin.
“If you ask me, Yeon-seo, I’ll do it anytime.”
If she could desire him whenever she wished… his lips brushed softly against hers, then withdrew, drawing out a faint gasp.
“Haaah.”
“Will that do?”
His eyes sparkled like those of a mischievous boy.
A sweet taste flickered across her tongue and vanished. It was like biting into a perfectly ripe fruit for a fleeting moment.
A breeze cooled the humid heat between them, tangling her hair until he reached out to smooth it back.
His touch was so gentle, as though she were a fragile glass figurine that might shatter.
Yeon-seo only ached for more.
“…No.”
Clutching his neck, she rose on tiptoe and pressed her lips to his. Startled by her sudden move, he stiffened briefly, then bent down to meet her halfway.
His strong hands wrapped tenderly around her back.
“Mmm.”
Her reddened lips were sweet and refreshing, like a summer apple, the kind of taste one could never tire of.
Their breaths grew wild and uneven. As the insect song surged and faded again and again, they did not stop. The more their heated skin slid against each other, the higher their body temperatures climbed without relief.
Do-heon finally pulled back, gazing into her eyes.
Yeon-seo was nervous, afraid her racing heartbeat might be audible to his ears.
This moment would remain etched in her memory—the most vivid hue of summer’s palette.
The living room was quiet, lit only by warm, yellow lamps. Hand in hand, they walked straight to their bedroom.
Do-heon pulled Yeon-seo close by the waist. The warmth of his lips brushed her nape.
The zipper of her dress slid down, bit by bit.
Before long, there was no place on her back untouched by him. The clasp at her back snapped open with a soft sound.
“Haaah.”
Her full curves trembled wildly beneath his hands. Though his touch had been absent for some time, each caress reignited memories of the previous night.
Heat spread through every corner of her body.
“Let’s shower together.”
Even the last layer of her undergarments was easily stripped away by Do-heon. His desire-filled eyes devoured her.
He stepped into the bathroom, loosening his tie with one hand as he turned the faucet of the tub. Hot water gushed forth.
Returning to the bedroom, he swept Yeon-seo—who stood frozen and unsure—into his arms and carried her to the tub.
She had no chance to resist before being lowered into the steaming water. The musk fragrance of bath salts rose with the steam, tickling her nose.
The warmth seeped into her, dissolving the tension of the day.
But he did not climb in immediately. He sat at the edge of the tub, tie undone.
“Why… aren’t you coming in?”
The bubbles had risen to her belly button. Self-conscious, Yeon-seo tried to cover her exposed body with her hands.
Without answering, he dipped his hand into the water, gathering a handful of froth.
“I wanted to wash you.”
He lathered her pale skin with bubbles from her neck down to her stomach. Even though she was already immersed in hot water, her body flushed hotter.
One by one, he undid the buttons of his shirt.
His firm chest came into view. Yeon-seo bit her lower lip, stealing glances at him.
When he finally stepped into the tub, the bubbles spilled over the edge.
“Come closer.”
At his whisper, she drifted into his embrace.
Soon she was nestled against him. The now-familiar sensation pressed between her legs. His heated lips swallowed hers hungrily.
Steam filled the bathroom completely.
“Haaah.”
Was this what it meant to lose reason? She couldn’t stop the sounds escaping her lips as she clung to him. He handled her with more tenderness than ever before.
Even after leaving the bathroom, they didn’t part. Like moths to a flame, they wanted and wanted again. Beneath the white goose-down duvet, damp with sweat, they continued until neither could go further.
When dawn light crept through the curtains, they finally let each other go.
After perhaps two hours of shallow sleep, Yeon-seo woke to the sound of an alarm. It felt as if she had closed her eyes only to open them again immediately.
Do-heon was no longer beside her. He must have already gone to work. It felt like a dream—one that vanished the instant she tried to hold on, like a butterfly flitting out of reach.
Between the dense forest of skyscrapers, the logo of Seoguk gleamed.
Yeon-seo tilted her head back to look up. The high-rise glass building shimmered with reflected sunlight.
People clutching iced Americanos and wearing neat employee badges streamed into the Seoguk headquarters.
Just fifty meters away stood Seoguk Bio, a rival in the same industry, and across from it, Seoguk Construction. Most office workers passing through this area probably belonged to one of the Seoguk branches.
Though Chairman Seo had offered to send her in via chauffeur, Yeon-seo insisted on taking the subway. It was her first day, and given that she had essentially been parachuted into the company, she didn’t want to attract undue attention.
Her steps were stiff as she entered the building. The first-floor lobby housed various popular franchises—cafés, bakeries, and more. Admiring the pleasant interior, she scanned her pass and entered, using the access card Do-heon had given her.
‘I wonder what Do-heon looks like when he’s working.’
The thought of seeing him more often filled her with both excitement and nerves.
When she finally entered the Executive Director’s office—
“Hello.”
She greeted politely.
Stacks of approval documents covered his desk. Wearing glasses, unlike his usual appearance, Do-heon seemed completely absorbed, not even noticing her voice.
“I’m here.”
She spoke again, louder this time. He glanced at her briefly, then returned to his documents.
“Okay.”
The warmth from the night before was nowhere to be found.
At the office, he was a completely different person.
Yeon-seo’s eyelids trembled faintly.
