The room was still thick with the lazy scent of sweat and skin. Joon-ho stood by the doorway, rolling up his sleeves, a faint smile on his lips as he spoke.
"I'll get the bath running. You two can gossip without me for a bit."
Madam Seo let out a light, throaty laugh."Oh, don't flatter yourself. We'll only talk about how average you are."
But Joon-ho just raised a brow and gave a knowing look, then disappeared down the hall. The door clicked shut behind him.
Madam Seo stretched out luxuriously on the sheets, tugging the thin coverlet just over her hips. Harin sat near the edge of the bed, still wrapped in the afterglow, her hair messy and cheeks flushed. Her thighs pressed together, trying to hide how she still felt achy and tingly deep inside.
"So…" Madam Seo began, her lips curling around her vape as she drew in a slow breath. "You know you're special to him, right?"
Harin blinked. "W-what? What do you mean?"
"Oh come on." Madam Seo exhaled a thin wisp of vapor, eyes glinting with amused mischief. "I've known Joon-ho longer than most of the other women who come here. I know how he treats us — and I know how he treats you."
She tilted her head, watching Harin squirm under the weight of her gaze.
"Don't get me wrong. I adore the man. Best friend I've ever had, who also happens to fuck me stupid. But we have… boundaries. A playful sort of arrangement. No real claim."
She reached out, brushed a lock of hair behind Harin's ear with surprisingly gentle fingers."You though… he lets you into his private space. You sleep in his bed. He holds you after. That's not something he does for just any aching housewife or lonely exec."
Harin's eyes went wide. Her lips parted, but no words came out — only a soft, embarrassed giggle."Is it really that obvious?"
"Painfully." Madam Seo smiled, then took another slow draw from her vape. "So don't be shy. Or worse — don't let him slip away. Good men who know how to handle a woman's body and still treat her like a delicate, treasured thing? That's rare as diamonds."
Harin pressed her hands to her warm cheeks. Her heart squeezed so tight it almost hurt.
It felt silly, maybe even naive, to be so fluttery over hearing it from Madam Seo. But it made her chest fizz with something giddy and hopeful all the same.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Madam Seo just gave a knowing little grin."Mm. Don't thank me yet. Just promise to enjoy him enough for the rest of us."
A moment later, the door swung open again. Joon-ho leaned in, sleeves now damp from testing the water, droplets clinging to his forearms.
"Alright, it's ready," he said. "Come on before it loses the heat."
Madam Seo didn't need to be told twice. She slipped off the bed in a slow, graceful stretch, utterly unabashed about her nudity as she sauntered toward the bathroom.
Harin made to stand but her legs wobbled dangerously, her thighs still quivering from earlier. Joon-ho caught it instantly, his brow lifting.
"Still weak?"
She squeaked, half-embarrassed, half-thrilled."…Maybe a little."
Without a word, he leaned down and scooped her up into a warm, solid princess carry. Harin gasped, her arms flying around his neck, face burning. She could hear Madam Seo's low chuckle from ahead in the hall.
"You two are disgustingly cute," Madam Seo drawled, tossing a glance over her shoulder.
The bathroom was a soft misty haven, warm steam curling up from the sunken tub. The water glistened, scattered with pale flower petals and a faint herbal scent.
The tub itself was oversized, built for luxury — easily fitting four if they wanted. Madam Seo had already sunk down with a sigh of bliss, reclining back against the smooth tile.
Joon-ho stepped in with Harin still in his arms, lowering both of them into the water. The heat enveloped her at once, making her shiver and then melt, her muscles relaxing almost immediately.
She ended up nestled partly in Joon-ho's lap, his arms still around her, while Madam Seo stretched out opposite them with a languid, contented look.
They all soaked in silence for a few moments, just the sound of slow breathing and little ripples of water lapping at their skin. Harin leaned her head against Joon-ho's chest, his heartbeat steady under her ear.
For the first time in forever, everything felt soft. Safe. Like maybe this twisted little arrangement was exactly what she needed.