The city had already fallen into night by the time Joon-Won left the office. The last of the fluorescent lights faded behind him as he strode past the glass doors, tie loosened, shoulders slightly slumped not with exhaustion alone, but with the relief of finally being done. For weeks, the grind had felt endless, every negotiation, every phone call, every careful maneuver reminding him of the life he was about to leave behind.
But today, he had finally found the lawyer. He had made the call, secured the appointment. It wasn't just a step, it was a confirmation of everything he and Tae-hyun had confessed, everything they were daring to risk. There was a pulse of triumph beneath his fatigue, a slow-burning satisfaction that warmed him as he drove back to the hotel.
By the time he arrived, the streetlights reflected gold across the rain-slick sidewalks, the air crisp but faintly carrying the scent of jasmine from nearby planters. He paused at the hotel doors, inhaling slowly. The stillness inside hit him like a gentle exhale, the quiet that always seemed to welcome him when he was near Tae-hyun.
For a moment, he just let himself stand there, loosening his tie further, sliding the jacket from his shoulders. Relief and anticipation twisted together in his chest. Tonight, he thought, maybe he could finally let some of the tension bleed out. Maybe he could just *be* with Tae-hyun without the outside world gnawing at them.
And then he heard it a soft, amused laugh, floating faintly from somewhere deep in the suite.
Joon-Won froze, eyes narrowing as he followed the sound, careful, deliberate, scanning the room. There it was: Tae-hyun. Bathtub. Bubble bath. Head back, eyes half-closed, that faint, teasing smile that made his heart thud in a way he hadn't expected after a day like today.
He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, taking in the sight. The dim light shimmered across Tae-hyun's wet skin, droplets sliding along his shoulders, chest rising gently with each lazy breath. Even after hours at work, the pull of Tae-hyun was immediate, physical. He let himself just watch, letting the tension coil in his chest, feeling the ache of restraint even as he reminded himself he had *finally* escaped the office.
"You came back late," Tae-hyun murmured, voice soft, languid, teasing.
"Traffic," Joon-Won said lightly, but there was no hiding the undercurrent of desire in his tone. "And meetings. Endless meetings. Finally done, though." He let the words settle between them, eyes tracking the subtle rise of Tae-hyun's chest, the gentle movement of his fingers through the bubbles.
Tae-hyun tilted his head, dark eyes glimmering, lips curving. "Meetings… or something more interesting?"
Joon-Won's lips twitched, half smile, half restraint. "Definitely something more interesting."
A pause, soft, pregnant with unspoken thought. Tae-hyun leaned slightly forward, just enough to let the curve of his back catch the light, fingertips trailing along the bubbles, teasing. "Mmm… you're holding back, aren't you?"
"I'm… trying," Joon-Won admitted, voice low, almost growling with the effort. His fingers itched to reach out, to close the distance, but he stayed leaning against the frame, letting the sight of Tae-hyun pull him in without acting too quickly.
"Trying?" Tae-hyun's voice dropped another notch, slow and intimate. He shifted under the water, reaching for a small bottle at the far edge of the tub, sliding onto all fours in a deliberate stretch. Joon-Won's breath caught as he saw Tae-hyun's hips tilt, ass rising slightly above the bubbles. And then unexpected a single, soft gasp slipped past Tae-hyun's lips. Just one, sharp, fleeting, catching Joon-Won entirely off guard.
Joon-Won's eyes widened slightly, pulse jumping. His hands gripped the doorframe tighter, jaw tightening. That gasp, it was effortless, teasing, and it left him trembling in ways he hadn't expected. Tae-hyun straightened slowly, spinning back around, as if nothing had happened.
"Did I scare you?" Tae-hyun murmured, lips curved, eyes locking with Joon-Won's.
"You…" Joon-Won swallowed hard, voice low. "…a little."
A smirk tugged at Tae-hyun's lips. He lifted one leg from the tub, running it slowly along the edge, deliberately arching his back as his hands traced over the water, lingering. Soft, shaky breaths escaped him, punctuated with subtle groans that felt like a direct challenge. His eyes never left Joon-Won's.
"Do you want me to… say what I'm thinking?" Tae-hyun asked, voice thick, teasing. "Or… do you want to guess?"
"Tell me," Joon-Won replied firmly, swallowing the sharp edge of his desire. He could feel the heat pooling low in his stomach, the ache of wanting more, but he stayed, grounding himself against the frame.
Tae-hyun leaned closer to the tub's edge, letting his hands slide along the rim, brushing over his collarbone and chest, tracing the curves of his body under the water. "Hmm… maybe I'll need you to… say some things first." His voice dropped low, intimate. "Say… names. Pet names."
Joon-Won's chest tightened. "…Pet names?"
"Yes," Tae-hyun said slowly, letting the syllables linger. "Say them… one by one. I want to hear *you* say them." His hand drifted lower, fingers brushing through the water in a deliberate rhythm, teasing, dragging slow circles along himself under the surface.
Joon-Won's eyes darkened. He straightened, letting his tie loosen further, feeling the tug of control in his chest. "Baby," he said first, voice steady but low, a growl threading through it.
Tae-hyun's hand moved faster under the water, eyes glimmering. "Mmm…," he murmured, voice velvet, breath shaky, teasing him. "Next."
"Love," Joon-Won said, more firmly, his body pressing slightly harder against the doorframe, chest rising, pulse loud.
Tae-hyun's back arched again, water spilling gently over the edge, his breaths shallow, soft groans threading through each word, every reaction coaxing him faster. "Good… now…" he whispered, tilting his head, lips parted, eyes dark and hungry. "More. Don't hold back."
"Darling," Joon-Won said, confidence growing with every syllable, voice low, deliberate, letting the growl curl at the edges as he noticed Tae-hyun's hand moving faster under the water, responding to his words. That when he even realized that Tae-hyun was stroking himself.
Tae-hyun moaned softly, body shifting subtly, wet hair clinging to his neck, eyes locked on Joon-Won. "Hmm… I might… break if you say another one," he murmured, voice shaking, breath catching, back arching, hips lifting just slightly as he reacted to Joon-Won's steady rhythm.
After a beat of silence, a low growl came out of Joon, "Sweetheart."
Tae-hyun's lips curved, his gaze sharp, playful, hungry. "Hmm… yes. Very good. But what about… more daring? Something that feels… ours?" He shifted slightly under the water, letting a subtle gasp escape as his hand dipped lower toward his hole, moving in deliberate, teasing circles over it for a moment. The sound was soft but enough to tighten Joon-Won's grip on his tie, fingers brushing the knot, heart hammering.
Joon-Won's chest rose fast. His tie was the first victim, hands moved deliberately, almost mechanically, undoing the knot, loosening the restraint, all while his eyes never left Tae-hyun. Every word Tae-hyun whispered, every slight arch, every breathy laugh or soft murmur, drew him closer to losing all control.
"You like watching me, don't you?" Tae-hyun teased, voice thick, warm, playful. "You like how I move… how I sound… how I make you wait?" His leg arched slowly out of the tub again, hand trailing down along it as if washing, fingers lingering deliberately over the sensitive curve of his thigh. He let a soft, shaky breath escape, eyes locking on Joon-Won's, voice low, intimate.
"Yes…" Joon-Won admitted, swallowing, loosening his shirt next, buttons coming undone slowly, almost savoring the torment of watching Tae-hyun. "Yes… I like it. I like… you."
Tae-hyun's leg rose again, sliding along the tub's edge, hands moving up his chest toward his neck as he throws his head back, water rippling around him. "Keep going," he murmured, voice raw now, chest heaving softly, gaze locked on Joon-Won. "Say more… I want it."
Joon-Won's lips curved, growling each name as he pulled his shirt fully open, watching Tae-hyun writhe subtly, teasing, reaction escalating with each syllable, the tension, the desire, and the intimacy building to a nearly unbearable point.
Every word, every glance, every deliberate motion in the water drew them closer, not physically yet, but the air between them trembled with anticipation, a delicious, heated thread that neither could ignore.
.
.
.
.
The night had long since deepened by the time the steam in the bathroom settled and their breathing slowed after Joon made sure to knock the breath out of Tae for teasing him like that. The city beyond the windows was a wash of blue and gold, skyscrapers glittering like constellations pressed against the glass.
Now Joon-Won stood barefoot near the floor-to-ceiling windows, a hotel towel slung low around his waist, droplets of bathwater still clinging to the hard lines of his back and shoulders. The reflection of Seoul shimmered faintly over his skin. His hair, still damp, fell messily over his forehead, soft in a way Tae-hyun rarely saw.
Tae-hyun padded quietly from the kitchenette, also in a towel, the scent of freshly brewed hotel coffee trailing behind him like a warm curl of comfort. He held one mug with both hands, fingers wrapped around the heat as if grounding himself in it.
Joon didn't turn around; he seemed lost in the view, lost in thought until Tae stopped at his side and gently pressed the mug against his arm.
"Here," Tae murmured.
Joon's eyes flicked down, then to Tae-hyun's face. Something softened immediately. He accepted the cup, fingers brushing Tae's, lingering just a little too long.
"Thank you," Joon said quietly, voice low and warm from the residual heat of the bath. "Smells good."
Tae-hyun nodded, looking out the window instead of at him. "Thought you might need something to… settle you."
A faint smile. "I'm already settled."
That sentence was light, careless, confident—made Tae's jaw tighten almost imperceptibly.
He sipped his own coffee slowly, staring at the skyline. The comfortable silence stretched for a moment, until Tae finally asked, barely above a breath:
"…Did you really do it?"
Joon's brow shifted. "Do what?"
Tae swallowed. "Find the lawyer."
Joon-Won turned his head fully now, eyes locking onto Tae-hyun's. There was no hesitation in his gaze, no flicker of doubt. "Yes. I did."
Tae-hyun breathed out shakily, but it wasn't the relief Joon expected. It was… something heavier. Something that trembled.
"And… it's really happening?" Tae pressed, fingers tightening around the mug. "You're actually… going through with the divorce?"
"Yes." Joon's voice was steady. Too steady. "I told you I would."
Tae exhaled softly, but the tension in his shoulders didn't ease. He turned slightly away.
Joon watched him for a long moment. "Tae," he murmured, "what's going through your head?"
Tae looked down at the carpet, at his own feet, at anything except Joon-Won's certainty. His voice trembled just a little when he finally answered.
"…I'm scared."
Joon's expression shifted, softened, concern tightening the lines around his eyes. "Of what?"
Tae-hyun let out a brittle laugh, he's repeating his words out of fear still. "Joon… she's Ha-eun. You know what she's like. she'll destroy everything. she'll tell everyone, she'll drag both of us through hell. She'll make sure I lose everything I've ever built."
His breaths came faster, shallower. "And you're just—you're standing there… calm."
Joon's jaw tightened.. not in anger, but in frustration at himself, at the situation. "I'm calm because I've already made my decision," he said firmly. "I'm not backing out of it. I'm not second-guessing it. I—"
"You're not scared," Tae cut in sharply, voice cracking. "You're not the one who has everything to lose."
Joon's head snapped slightly. "Tae—"
"You have money, connections, a powerful family. Even if everything explodes, you'll land on your feet. You always do." Tae's voice wavered, raw. "I won't."
Joon's shoulders tensed. "That's not fair."
"It's true."
"No," Joon said, stepping closer, calm no longer steady now heated, controlled, frustrated. "You think I'm calm because it doesn't matter to me? I'm calm because I don't want you to feel like the ground is collapsing under you. I'm calm because one of us has to be."
Tae swallowed hard, chest rising and falling too fast. "And what if Ha-eun makes everything worse? What if she ruins my job? What if—"
"Tae." Joon put his coffee cup aside on the window ledge and took Tae's cup from his hands, placing it gently beside his. "Look at me."
Tae shook his head once, jaw tight, refusing.
"Tae-hyun." Joon's voice dropped, firm, low, commanding in a way that instantly stilled him. "Look at me."
Tae's eyes finally lifted.
He hated how gentle Joon looked. It made everything hurt more.
"I'm not calm because I'm not scared," Joon said quietly. "I'm calm because I've already chosen you. And once I choose something—once I commit—I don't waver."
Tae's lips trembled. "But I do."
A beat. A long, aching beat.
Joon sucked in a slow breath, the muscle in his jaw ticking once. "I know. And I'm not angry at you for it."
Tae's fingers curled at his sides. "But you're annoyed."
"No." Joon stepped closer, close enough their towels nearly brushed. "I'm worried."
Tae blinked, thrown off.
"I'm worried," Joon repeated softly, "that you think you're doing this alone. That you think I'd let Ha-eun hurt you. That you think I'd just watch it happen."
Tae-hyun's voice lowered to a fragile whisper. "She's capable of anything."
"So am I," Joon murmured, stepping even closer, chest nearly brushing Tae's. "Especially when it comes to protecting you."
Tae's breath caught.
Joon reached up slowly and brushed his thumb across the tense line of Tae's jaw, tilting his face gently upward.
"But you need to tell me," Joon whispered, "what exactly you're scared of. Not the general fear. The real one."
Tae hesitated.
Then his voice fell apart.
"…I'm scared that one day you'll regret choosing me."
Joon closed his eyes once slow, pained before opening them again with something fierce, almost wounded.
"Tae-hyun," he breathed, stepping fully into his space, hand cupping his face, the city lights framing them like a halo of gold. "I didn't risk my entire life… just to walk away from you."
Tae sucked in a deep breath and took Joon's hand away from his face. He clearly didn't believe it.
The argument had been simmering for ten minutes now, low-voiced, tense, sharp in the way only two people who are way too emotionally involved can get.
Not yelling.
But cold.
Precise.
Each word landing like pressure on the other's neck.
Joon-won stood by the window still, body half-lit by the city lights below, his jaw flexing every few seconds like he was physically holding himself back from saying something he shouldn't.
Tae-hyun stood a few steps away, arms crossed over the front of his open bathrobe, damp hair dripping onto his collarbones. The robe hung loose on his frame, the tie barely secured at the waist, leaving smooth skin and a faint trail of water exposed. He wasn't trying to be seductive, this was just the way he looked when angry, when flushed, when tired…
soft, pretty, unguarded.
Maybe that was part of why it pissed Joon-won off without him knowing how to articulate it.
"If you have something to say," Tae finally muttered, voice low and tight, "say it. Don't just glare at the window."
Joon-won didn't move.
He swallowed once.
Hard.
"You really don't get it," he said.
Tae scoffed. "No, you're right. I don't. You're the one acting like—"
A sharp knock.
Both froze.
Three slow, deliberate knocks, the kind done by people who expect obedience and a tip.
The hotel staff.
The tension thinned instantly, but didn't disappear, it merely shifted, becoming something colder.
Tae exhaled, dropped his arms, and walked toward the door.
"I'll get it," he said quietly.
Joon didn't stop him, but his eyes followed him like a predator watching something too pretty wander too close to danger.
Tae walked to the door, robe opening slightly with each step, exposing more smooth skin, the line of his thigh, the faint sheen of leftover shower droplets catching the light.
Tae opened the door.
The staff member was attractive. tall, broad-shouldered, with the polished charm hotels trained into their best employees. But his eyes weren't the eyes of a professional.
They were hungry.
He took in Tae's wet hair.
The robe.
The bare collarbones.
The smooth chest peeking through.
He smiled slow, appreciative, bold.
"Good evening, sir. Complimentary cocktails for your suite."
Tae smiled back, soft and polite.
"That's really nice, thank you."
He chuckled lightly. "We weren't expecting anything."
The man shifted his stance subtly, leaning his weight to one hip.
"Not everyone gets them," he said. "Just the guests we…notice."
Tae blinked, confused but still polite.
"Notice?"
The staff member nodded, eyes dragging down his body again.
"You're…hard to miss."
Tae laughed under his breath, embarrassed. "I'm literally half-dressed—"
"Exactly," the man murmured.
Tae's cheeks warmed. He still didn't fully register the flirt — or maybe he didn't want to acknowledge it.
But Joon-won heard every word.
His shoulders went rigid.
His eyes darkened.
His breathing slowed in that slow, frighteningly controlled way.
He started walking toward them.
The man's voice dipped lower, more flirtatious:
"If you need anything else delivered to your room tonight…anything at all…just call."
Tae cleared his throat awkwardly. "Uh—thank you, but I think we're all set—"
"Are you?"
The man's eyebrow lifted.
"You look like someone who deserves a little more…attention."
Tae chuckled nervously, scratching his neck with a slight flush to his cheeks.
"I—I think I'm okay, really—"
Then Joon-won arrived behind him.
He didn't touch Tae.
He didn't need to.
He just stood close enough that Tae could feel his body heat at his back. Joon braced one hand on the wall next to the door, leaning in with a calm, terrifyingly controlled presence.
The staff member's smile flickered when Joon stepped into view naked, towel low on his hips, water still dripping down his torso.
The air changed.
Joon's voice was soft.
Too soft.
"Is there a problem?"
The man straightened, clearing his throat. "No, sir. Just offering service."
Joon-won smiled politely, the smile that meant danger.
"Service?"
He tilted his head.
"At the door. For an awfully long time."
The staff member swallowed but didn't retreat.
He gave Tae another look.. lingering, blatant.
And before he stepped back, he leaned in slightly toward Tae, not enough for Joon to claim inappropriate conduct, but enough for Tae to feel it and said quietly, just loud enough,
"*If the gentleman behind you gives you trouble…
you can always call the lobby.
I take care of my guests.*"
Tae froze.
His eyes widened.
That was bold..
Too bold.
So bold it sent heat right through his stomach.
Joon-won didn't speak.
He just stared at the man with a look that could've stopped a heartbeat.
The staff member matched it with a small, daring smirk.
And then,
Joon leaned forward slightly, almost amused, voice honey-sweet and ice-cold.
"*…He's already taken care of.*"
Tae's breath hitched.
The staff member's smile dropped just a fraction, not fear, not apology but the first hint of realization that he'd crossed a line.
He nodded, stepping back.
"Enjoy your evening, gentlemen."
When the door clicked shut, Tae was still frozen, heart pounding, robe half-open.
He turned slowly toward Joon…
But Joon was already looking down at him with that quiet, unreadable jealousy he almost never revealed.