Finally, Zhenya stoped in front of a set of large double doors with hinges that hinted at the size of the room beyond.
As expected, when Zhenya swung them open, a spacious room unfolded before them. It was furnished with a large, comfortable sofa, a grand piano, and a minibar, indicating that it was a living area.
The ceiling fan buzzed softly above, and large windows lined the walls, giving the room a bright and open feel. For now, it was nighttime.
So there wasn't much to see outside, but in the daylight, the windows would no doubt offer an impressive view of the vast blue sea.
As they ventured further inside. Kwon Taekjoo noticed a dining table large enough to comfortably seat ten people.
The chandelier hanging from the ceiling swayed with the yacht's slightest movement, casting a dazzling array of crystal and metal reflections that nearly blinded him.
Shaking his head, Kwon Taekjoo moved forward, searching for the bedroom.
He had expected to reach the bedroom by now, but instead, they found themselves in a large chamber. One side led to the staircase, while the other opened onto an outdoor terrace.
Kwon Taekjoo looked at Zhenya in disbelief, but Zhenya merely shrugged and raised his eyebrow.
They headed up the staircase and finally reached the bedroom. Kwon Taekjoo stepped onto the last stair, a large window greeted him, along with a bed so enormous that even Zhenya could lie comfortably in it with room to spare.
Kwon Taekjoo was speechless.
The mattress, soft and plush, looked like a cloud of white cotton candy. Kwon Taekjoo's tired, wore-out body ached at the sight of it, drawn to the sweet temptation before him.
If it hasn't been someone else's bed, he might have been tempted to dive right in.
Kwon Taekjoo barely managed to locate the bathroom, and veered off toward it. The previous living area already had a large bathroom, but the one in front of him now was incomparable bigger.
The ceiling, floor, walls, sink, and even the bathtub were made out of pure marble. Warm, aromatic water shimmered in the spacious circular tub.
Next to it, a minibar offered drinks of water, and a door led a private terrace. Kwon Taekjoo couldn't help but feel a pang of discomfort as he wondered what price Zhenya had paid for such luxury.
"Hey…"
Kwon Taekjoo turned to Zhenya with an uncertain look, but Zhenya grabbed him roughly by his chin.
His hand slid down Kwon Taekjoo's neck across his shoulders, and down his arms before finally resting on his hands.
He spread his fingers over Kwon Taekjoo's palm, carefully inspecting each ten of his fingers as if checking to make sure they were all still there.
Kwon Taekjoo was already familiar with this routine, so he Zhenya touch him while pressing on with the question that had been gnawing at his mind.
"Are you sure the owner of this yacht is someone you can trust?"
"Hmm. 'Someone we can trust'… who, exactly, would you consider trustworthy?"
"It's impossible that you convinced him with loyalty or goodwill. The owner must have had something to gain by helping us."
Zhenya smirked at Kwon Taekjoo's comment, assumed by the suggestion that it was impossible for him to have made a "trustworthy" Friend or ally. He even nodded agreement.
"We made a deal. They are quite satisfied with what i offered them. As for whether I'll be happy with I got in return, only time will tell."
Zhenya said, crouching down to thoroughly examine Kwon Taekjoo's legs.
So Zhenya had struck some kind of deal with the yacht owner in exchange for ensuring Kwon Taekjoo's safety? Watching Zhenya smile as he hinted that he was still evaluating Kwon Taekjoo's worth was infuriating.
Annoyed, Kwon Taekjoo yanked his leg out of Zhenya's grasp.
"Isn't it risky to trust him so easily? He might be helping us now, but there's no guarantee he won't turn on us when given the chance.
If he willing to betray his own country for personal gain, what's to stop him from betraying us for a better deal?"
"Merchants naturally don't trust each other. They simply covet what the other has. Their greed is stronger than any kind of loyalty you'll find out there."
"So what, your implying that you're as much of a traitor as he is?"
"I'm just pointing out that not everyone shares your native patriotism."
"What did you say, you bastard?"
"There you go again, getting all worked up. Did I say something wrong? If you hadn't died fighting so valiantly out there tonight, your country wouldn't have even blinked. And your fellow countrymen? They don't even know u exist."
Zhenya said bluntly, staring directly at Kwon Taekjoo.
Then he crouched down and gently took hold of Kwon Taekjoo's leg carefully examining his swollen ankle. He even checked his chin, knee, and his hip.
"Don't worry, Taekjoo. I don't make deals that end in a lost."
A sharp pain flared from his wounds under Zhenya's persistent touch. When Zhenya pressed on a small cut, Kwon Taekjoo flinched reflexively. Zhenya's gaze locked onto Kwon Taekjoo, his hands freezing mid-motion as he watched his face.
Kwon Taekjoo felt an unexpected flutter in his stomach, seeing how gentle Zhenya was being with him, fully aware that he was more an capable of tearing someone apart if he felt like it.
"Enough. I'm not that hurt."
"Well, it's clear you don't have any broken bones, though you'll definitely need a few stitches here and there."
Zhenya nodded and stood up slowly, bringing his face right in front of Kwon Taekjoo's. Kwon Taekjoo could see his own stunned expression reflection in Zhenya's pale blue eyes.
Warm breath brushed against his lip. Was Zhenya going to kiss him? Just as Kwon Taekjoo was about to hold his breath, Zhenya noticed his expression and smiled, satisfied.
"Go wash up. Your filthy."
The fact that those words came from someone who had just seduced him with that pretty face a moment ago made Kwon Taekjoo feel like a target of a cruel joke.
In a burst of imagination, he pinched Zhenya's cheek. Zhenya raised his eyebrows as if surprised, but he Kwon Taekjoo shot him a disapproving glare and grabbed him by the back of the neck, pulling him in for a kiss.
His tongue ran across the dry surface Zhenya's lips before slipping inside, capturing Zhenya's tongue. His movements were desperate and rough, as if trying to quench a deep thirst.
Kwon Taekjoo didn't stop moving his tongue against Zhenya's, not even letting him adjust to the rhythm. Every time Zhenya tried to match his moving, Kwon Taekjoo would pull away and suck on his upper lip.
Zhenya would then try to bite his lower lip in response but Kwon Taekjoo stubborn plunged his tongue back inside.
Under the full-body assault from Kwon Taekjoo, Zhenya slowly retreated until he was forced to sit on a bench next to the bed.
Kwon Taekjoo straddled him and resumed their heated kiss with unwavering determination. Kwon Taekjoo's relentless lips drained Zhenya of every last breath, leaving his chin and upper lip numb,
their kiss carried the sweet taste of saliva mixed with a faint face of blood.
After what felt like a long time, their lips finally parted with a soft, wet sound the only thing filling their ears was the sound of their ragged breath.
"Haa… Taekjoo."
Zhenya chest rose and fell heavily, his eyes and lips flushed red. Small droplets clung to his long eyelashes, trembling as they blinked. Kwon Taekjoo remained perched on top of him, supporting himself with one arm as he looked down at him.
Suddenly Kwon Taekjoo flashed a smile. It was the triumphant smile of a winner.
"What are you going to do now? You're as filthy as I am."
"Hah?"
The corner of Zhenya's lips curved upwards as he cast Kwon Taekjoo a look of surprise. Still, his intense gaze swept over Kwon Taekjoo's features, as a waiting for something more.
Kwon Taekjoo stroked the edge of Zhenya's ear and leaned in for another kiss. This time, it was a gentle kiss, clearly different from the previous one.
He pressed his lip against Zhenya's before softly nibbling on his upper lip. The warmth of Zhenya's breath mixing with his own, their tongues brushing against each other, felt intimately soft and tender.
The tiny hairs on Zhenya's cheeks stood on the end in response.