"Ah..."
She finally came to her senses at the moan that escaped her lips without her knowing. Sahee twisted her head away and pushed Taeon back. As she looked around trembling, a firm arm wrapped around her waist.
"Mrs. Cheon, let's talk inside. Take your time with the cleaning."
"...Should we do that?"
"Yes, yes."
The whispers faded like wind past her ears. As if time had stopped, when she looked up, he lowered his head again. Sahee's shoulders jumped as if his lips might burn her. Taeon narrowed his eyes with displeasure. A profound silence fell.
With her shoulders pressed against the wall defensively, Taeon held her waist and slowly caressed downward, steadying her face that seemed unsure where to look.
The voices that had been there moments ago had vanished.
"Ms. Yeon Sahee."
"I... I should go now."
Min Yeojin had left, but the distance between them hadn't increased at all. Rather, they were pressed together without any gap, her slim stomach concave under the pressure.
The moment she became aware of this fact, Sahee's lips parted slightly. Being no child, she couldn't fail to understand what this meant.
Since when...
The heavy pressure was taut.
How could someone... a human...
As she looked up with fearful eyes, unable to believe it, Taeon showed not the slightest sign of agitation. His follow-up question was equally composed.
"You seemed to have trouble breathing."
"..."
"Is this your first time?"
His fingers traced her damp lips. If not for the increasing pressure below, it might have sounded like mockery. Yet while he appeared unbothered, she couldn't even pretend to be indifferent.
"That's... not possible."
"Oh, really?"
That makes me angry.
Her ears burned red at his emotionless voice.
Taeon pressed his thumb firmly against her lower lip.
"Ah..."
His finger slipped into the helplessly parted gap. A small sound escaped as he entered, casually exploring the soft flesh.
Saliva pooled in her mouth, making wet sounds that dizzy her ears. When his finger stroked her tongue tip and pushed deeper inside, her breath caught. Though her head felt like it might explode, his face remained coldly expressionless.
Saliva trickled down her chin. Just as tears welled up in her confused eyes, unable to understand his intentions, Taeon gave a crooked smirk.
"Want to open wider?"
At that moment, Sahee bit down hard on his finger. Her suppressed breath burst forth as she tasted blood.
The actual victim of the bite merely narrowed his brows, his lips curling up as if watching something amusing.
"You crazy bastard."
Taeon nodded as if in agreement to her sharp words. He seemed satisfied as he smeared the red blood onto her lips.
"You pervert..."
Even at her cutting criticism, he leaned down to kiss her chin where saliva had dripped.
At the same time, he grabbed her wrist. Taeon wrapped one of her arms around his neck as if for support and whispered like giving important advice:
"Don't bite the lips."
"..."
"My mother, whom you fear so much, is very perceptive."
After that was complete darkness. As if everything until now had been child's play, Sahee had to desperately cling to Taeon's shoulders during the rough kiss that felt like being devoured.
Though she hastily swallowed her faint cries, the man's presence, which grew clearer with every touch like sparks from flint striking steel, was difficult to erase.
* * *
"Please, leave."
Sahee turned around sharply and urged Taeon. She was the only one who had worried about being caught as he inevitably followed her to the small guest house.
Isn't following this far enough? As his shadow boldly invaded her space and Sahee bristled, Taeon extended his arm.
"Take it."
"...No thank you."
"Isn't this simpler than kissing in many ways?"
His face was shameless as he raised an eyebrow as if seeking agreement. It was absurd.
She had no energy left to wrestle with him. As Sahee sighed and turned away from him, he grabbed her arm. The sensation of her body hair standing on end at his touch felt strange.
"I said I'm fine..."
"Take it before I have to remove it myself."
With this terrible warning, his grip led her arm. Her hand rested on his arm. The arm beneath the soft white shirt was firm.
"Take your medicine properly."
His large hand cupped her cheek as he placed a brief kiss on her forehead.
"You're hot."
At his muttered words, as his fingers slipped across his shirt, he chuckled.
"Stop glaring."
"..."
"I'm going."
Sahee let go of Taeon's arm as if burned. She hurriedly removed her sneakers, hooking her fingers in the heels while sitting on the wooden floor. As she straightened her waist to stand up using her knees, her eyes met with Taeon who was still standing there.
For all his pestering about taking his arm and how it was easier than kissing, now he just stood watching without a word. Even when she gave him a contemptuous glance about his still-evident arousal, he just shrugged and smiled.
Bang!
Sahee entered the room and closed the door, letting out a rough breath. She didn't even have time to check outside. She collapsed onto the bed and buried her face in her hands.
Her cheeks were hot. Even her breathing was burning. Without needing to check her face in the mirror, she knew she must be as red as a ripe apple.
Though a single kiss couldn't have drastically changed their relationship, she felt dizzy as if a great upheaval had occurred.
It couldn't be helped. All of this was a first for her.
Sahee pressed her throbbing lips with the back of her hand. Even there, her pulse beat strongly.
* * *
When Taeon returned to the separate quarters, everything in sight had been neatly arranged.
He could sense the servant's awkward feelings as they cleaned, unsure what to do. The face that used to smile brightly whenever they met was gone, replaced by anxious vigilance, making him feel like a scoundrel.
It wasn't wrong though. What a mess just to have a meal.
Taeon frowned as he walked into the bedroom. A laugh escaped as he sank into the sofa beside the bed. His unfaded desire remained clear.
Taeon ran his tongue around the inside of his mouth and grimaced. He didn't even laugh as he unbuckled his pants and grabbed his cock.
He parted her lips and swallowed, the woman's feverishly throbbing pussy lips, and as if that weren't enough, he had enough to bring her to the edge.
He remembered the woman's small hand stroking up and down his erect penis. His breathing became ragged as he remembered the careful grip on his arm.
It was something he hadn't enjoyed, even as a horny boy. The thought of his classmates laughing at the rawness of his lustful behavior only made him want to spit in their faces.
It was already a desire without shame.
“Huh...”
Taeon sucked in a hot breath and tilted his head. He stared steadfastly at the wooden rafters that lined the ceiling and quickly quelled his desire.
I know this is not a momentary impulse. Even if it was just a vague memory tucked away in a cabinet, it would be an exception if it was a woman.
I feel like I'm still sitting in that car.
A cold winter. Snow-covered country roads. A girl bundled up on the side of the road.
A chubby, red-cheeked girl with dizzying fidgeting walks up the road. She leaned her head in close and knocked on the car window with a thud.
The window opened without resistance, and the girl's face turned into a blush and she shot him a disdainful glance.
“Ha.”
This... fuck.
He shot his load all over the girl's face, and it trickled down her lashes and soaked her cheeks. He brought his cockhead to Angdamun's lips, mashing and rubbing them until they were slick, and the last of his arousal spilled out.
Taeon swallowed hard and closed his eyes. The light spilling over his eyelids was bright. Even the wind chimes jangled in the breeze, and it was a clear midday.
* * *
Only after cooling off in cold water did he completely erase that inappropriate outburst.
Taeon languidly tilted his neck as he fastened his watch over his wrist. As he was leaving the dressing room to head to the study, someone knocked on the door handle with a thump-thump.
For a moment, his vision blurred from the hallucination of knocking on the car window, but his thoughts were soon interrupted by a clear call as the door opened.
"Director Jeong."
Hmm?
Min Yeo-jin, facing Taeon, tilted her head at his changed attire from the morning.
As they say clothes make the man, but her perfect creation never lost his shine no matter what fancy clothes he wore. Whatever he put on looked suitable - he wasn't picky or particularly demanding, earning endless praise from both personal shoppers and master tailors.
"Were the clothes uncomfortable?"
"I suppose so."
Taeon shrugged and gestured for Min Yeo-jin to take a seat. Taking the head seat, Min Yeo-jin frowned and clicked her tongue.
"'I suppose so'? What kind of vague answer is that?"
"Would you like some coffee?"
"Hah."
Min Yeo-jin pressed her hand against her forehead as she watched her son smile gently despite her criticism.
"Never mind the coffee. I'm busy, so I'll just say what I came to say. Sit down."
Min Yeo-jin gestured to the seat beside her with her chin. Taeon nodded briefly and sat down. As soon as their eyes met, Min Yeo-jin's eyes crinkled as she smiled warmly.
"Now you need to keep your promise, son?"
"Ah..."
"'Ah'? Hey!"
Anyone could tell he had forgotten. Typical.
Min Yeo-jin let out a deep sigh. But it wasn't like she had high expectations to begin with.
"It's next week. They said they'd accommodate our schedule as much as possible."
Min Yeo-jin took out a thin envelope from her bag and handed it over. Taeon slowly raised one eyebrow as he took the envelope and checked its contents.
Two photos and one profile sheet.
The other woman probably received similar documents. Whether it was this woman or that woman, it didn't matter who came - it was all meaningless ceremony.
"You know her, right? Jisoo. She's grown up to be quite pretty."
"Yes, Han."
Taeon put the documents back in the envelope and dropped it on the table with a thud.
Han Jisoo. Honestly, he didn't remember her well.
If they had met before, it must have been at some party on some day in the past. He was rather more interested in how much benefit the woman's background, briefly seen in the profile, would bring him.
"Jisoo is making time to come back to Korea just to meet you. Be polite. Even if you're not interested, at least read it once."
"Of course."
" Jeong Taeon."
"Yes, Mother."
"I've shortlisted a few more... but do you really want to meet more than twice?"
Taeon let out a dry laugh at her direct words.
"Hmm?"
"I'll take it under consideration."
"Since the Chairman seems to want this too, try to go along with it. Meeting more people will just create unnecessary rumors. Meeting through family introduction, love at first sight, marriage for love - doesn't that sound nice?"
Right? Min Yeo-jin got up from her seat with a gentle smile. She glanced at Taeon as he rose to follow and approached him with unhurried steps.
"Son."
Min Yeo-jin lightly patted his already impeccable tie and opened her arms to embrace her son. Taeon pulled his mother into his embrace with familiar ease.
"I'm so glad my son is Jeong Taeon. Actually, I didn't like your father when I first met him. I wanted to live with a more affectionate man."
"You're consistent."
"People don't change easily. Even now I'm not too fond of him, but if I could go back, I'd still marry your father. I had to meet my son after all."
Coming carefully out of Taeon's embrace, Min Yeo-jin studied his face for a while. Taeon met her gaze impassively.
Min Yeo-jin smiled brightly and patted Taeon's arm as if to say she'd be going now.
"I'm leaving. Make sure you read this. Actually, Jisoo is really looking forward to meeting you. She says you were her first love?"
Taeon smiled crookedly at this secret revelation shared with sparkling eyes meant to encourage expectations.
"I can't stand children."
"What?"
"I understand."
"I told you clearly! Don't be rude!"
Min Yeo-jin shouted a warning at Taeon as he turned away with a halfhearted shrug.