Random Musings

Y/N flushed scarlet. She hadn’t her brothers best friend in two years and that’s the first thing out of his mouth? Moving back in with her brother and Jae was gonna be tough.

“You’re one to talk,” she mumbled, trying to look away.

But he stepped closer, eyes locked on hers, smirk playing on his lips. “Say that again, angel. I liked how that sounded.”

She scurried off, cheeks burning.

It only got worse after that.

Every time they crossed paths—Jaehyun alone in the hallway, shirtless in the kitchen, sprawled on the couch with that stupid smug smile—he’d say something.

“You know your skirt’s riding up, right?”

“Careful looking at me like that, baby. Someone might think you want something.”

“You keep biting your lip like that and I’m gonna start wondering what else that mouth’s good for.”

Each time, her throat dried, her heart raced, and her body responded way too fast.

But Jaehyun never touched her. Never crossed the line. He'd crowd her into a wall, whisper things into her ear, and back off with a lazy wink—just enough to ruin her for the rest of the day.

And she kept letting him. Kept loving it.

The Party

She wasn’t even supposed to be going. Johnny had said it was mostly older friends, college guys, exes—“boring,” he’d told her.

But when she heard Jaehyun would be there, Y/N made a choice.

A tight black dress. Strapless. Short. Paired with heels and gloss and a teasing perfume she hoped he’d notice. The moment she walked into the apartment, she saw the way heads turned—and more importantly, she felt his eyes on her.

Jaehyun was leaning against the wall with a drink in hand, laughing with someone. But the second he saw her, his jaw went slack. His gaze dragged over her—slow, dark, deliberate.

And he didn’t look away.

He didn’t approach her all night. He didn’t say anything. But she felt him everywhere—watching, pacing like a predator, drinking her in from across the room.

And finally, when she slipped into the kitchen for air, he followed.

“You wore that dress for me.”

Y/N spun around. Jaehyun stood in the doorway, shirt open at the collar, hair wild like he’d run his hand through it too many times. His voice was low, rough, already half-wrecked with frustration.

“Don’t flatter yourself,” she whispered, clutching her cup.

He stalked closer. “You knew I’d be here. You knew what that dress would do to me.”

“I didn’t think you’d even notice.”

“Bullshit.” His eyes dragged down her body again. “You wanted me to notice. You want me to look at you and forget all the reasons I shouldn’t bend you over this counter right now.”

She swallowed, heart hammering. “We’re not doing this.”

His jaw ticked. “You think I want to want you?” He stepped closer. “You think this is easy for me? Knowing every inch of you is off-limits? Knowing I can’t fucking touch you because your brother would bury me alive?”

Y/N gasped as his hand flattened on the counter beside her hip, boxing her in without touching.

“You walk around like you don’t know what you’re doing,” Jaehyun growled. “Like you don’t see how I stare at your legs. Your lips. How I can’t stop thinking about the sounds you’d make if I had my mouth between your thighs.”

“Stop,” she whispered.

“Why?” His face was inches from hers now, voice ragged. “Because if I say one more filthy thing, you’re gonna let me pull that dress up and show you exactly how long I’ve been waiting to fuck you?”

“Jaehyun—”

“You want me to stop?” he asked, chest rising and falling fast. “Say it. Say you don’t think about it too. Say you haven’t imagined me fucking you so hard you forget your own name.”

She couldn’t speak. Her body was shaking.

But then she whispered, “We can’t…”

His forehead touched hers for a second, hot and desperate.

“I know we can’t,” he breathed. “But don’t lie to me, baby. Don’t lie to yourself.”

A pause. Their lips almost brushed. So close it hurt.

“I want you,” she admitted, barely audible. “So fucking bad.”

He let out a rough, broken sound—half a groan, half a curse—and stepped back like it physically hurt to leave her.

“Yeah,” he muttered. “Me too.”

Another beat of silence. Then he looked her over one last time, hunger still sharp in his eyes.

“This tension’s gonna kill us.”

She nodded. “I know.”

They didn’t kiss. They didn’t touch.

They just stood there, burning alive, trying not to destroy everything.

Later that night...

Jaehyun hadn’t moved in twenty minutes.

He leaned back in a chair on the balcony, nursing the same drink while the rest of the guys hollered over some drinking game inside. His jaw was tight. His eyes tracked every shadow that passed near the kitchen—her. He hadn’t seen Y/N since she slipped out, cheeks flushed and lips parted like she wanted him to ruin her right there.

And fuck, he wanted to.

But he couldn’t.

“Bro,” one of the guys nudged him. “You good?”

“Hm?” Jaehyun looked up.

“You haven’t flirted with anyone all night. Usually by now you’re halfway into someone’s pants.”

Jaehyun gave a lazy smirk. “Guess I’m just not in the mood.”

But his voice lacked its usual cocky bite. His mind was still in that kitchen—her body inches from his, breath catching when he told her how much he wanted her.

“Not like you,” the guy muttered, squinting at him. “You’re not sulking over a girl, are you?”

Jaehyun rolled his eyes. “Relax.”

But the guy didn’t drop it. “Wait... are you—”

A sudden commotion cut him off.

Shouting. From the front lawn.

Voices raised, sharp. A girl’s voice.

Jaehyun was already standing before the others processed what was happening. He recognized it immediately—her voice. Her angry voice.

By the time he pushed through the door and onto the porch, a small crowd had already formed near the edge of the lawn.

There she was—Y/N, flushed and furious, backing away from some drunk asshole with slick hair and a cocky stance.

“I said no,” she snapped, voice shaking. “Don’t touch me.”

“Come on,” the guy slurred. “You’ve been giving me looks all night.”

Jaehyun didn’t hesitate.

He was down the steps in two strides, pushing through the crowd, voice sharp and deadly.

“She said no. Back the fuck off.”

The guy blinked at him, confused. “Who the hell are you?”

Jaehyun stepped between them, towering over him now. “The last person you want to piss off tonight.”

The guy scoffed, tried to square up—drunk and dumb.

And Jaehyun didn’t give him the chance.

He punched him—clean, hard, right in the face.

The guy hit the ground like a sack of bricks, groaning, hands clutching his nose.

The crowd gasped. Someone laughed. Someone cheered. And Jaehyun just stood there, chest heaving, teeth clenched, fists still curled like he wanted to throw another.

Y/N stared at him, breathless. Eyes wide. Lips parted. She grabbed his hand and he unclenched his fists and gave her a soft look.

Johnny came out seconds later, saw the scene, and rushed over, both of them quickly letting go.

“What the hell happened?”

Jaehyun didn’t even look at him. “Your sister was dealing with some creep who didn’t know what no meant.”

Johnny looked between the guy on the ground and Y/N—who was visibly shaken—and then back at Jaehyun.

His expression softened.

“Thanks for stepping in, man,” Johnny said, clapping a hand on Jaehyun’s shoulder. “Seriously.”

Jaehyun nodded once, barely. “Anytime.”

But he wasn’t thinking about the fight anymore.

He was thinking about the way Y/N looked at him just now—like she wanted to fall into his arms and never come out.

Later That Night – Jaehyun’s Room

It was quiet.

The party had died down. Most people had left. Johnny was still out back finishing drinks with a few stragglers.

Jaehyun lay on his bed, shirt off, muscles tense, replaying that moment over and over. Her voice. The way her eyes had found his. The heat still thrumming in his chest.

Then a soft knock.

He sat up fast. “Yeah?”

The door cracked open. Y/N slipped in.

Short shorts. A thin tank top. No bra. Hair down. Barefoot.

Every nerve in Jaehyun’s body snapped awake.

“I… just wanted to thank you,” she whispered, stepping in and closing the door behind her. “For earlier.”

He swallowed hard, trying to keep his eyes on hers. “He shouldn’t have touched you.”

“I was handling it,” she said, a smile playing on her lips.

“Not fast enough.”

They both laughed softly. The air between them buzzed.

Then she walked closer.

So close.

He sat on the edge of the bed, and she stopped in front of him. Her fingers brushed his knuckles—light, unsure. Then her other hand cupped his cheek, gently, tenderly.

Her lips pressed against his cheek. A soft kiss. A thank-you.

But then she lingered. Just a second too long.

And when she pulled back, their lips brushed.

Soft. Barely-there. But real.

Jaehyun didn’t move.

Neither did she.

Her breath trembled. “Jae…”

Then—

SLAM.

The front door opened. Johnny’s voice echoed through the house.

“Yo! Anyone still awake?”

They froze.

Y/N stepped back quickly, cheeks flushed, heart pounding.

Jaehyun stood too, tension radiating off him in waves.

“We shouldn’t…”

“No,” he agreed, voice tight. “We shouldn’t.”

But their eyes said everything else.

She slipped out of the room a second later, heartbeat still in her throat.

And Jaehyun sat back down, fists clenched in his lap, jaw tight, cursing every goddamn reason he couldn’t have her.

The Next Day

The backyard smelled like grilled meat, sunscreen, and summer sweat. The gang was loud—music playing, beers clinking, people laughing too hard at nothing. Y/N sat on a bench under the umbrella, trying to pretend she was listening to Johnny talk about some dumb lawn game.

But she couldn’t focus. Not with him there.

Jaehyun.

Laid back in a white tank top that clung to his chest, golden skin glowing under the sun, hair pushed back lazily as he nursed a beer. He looked like sin in human form. And every time he glanced at her—every slow drag of his eyes—her thighs pressed tighter together under the table.

He hadn’t said a word to her all afternoon.

Not a single filthy whisper. Not a single cocky smirk.

Which made her want it more.

And he knew it.

Later, she slipped inside to grab napkins from the kitchen—and the second the screen door shut behind her, she felt it.

His presence.

She turned, startled, just as Jaehyun’s hand shot out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her down the hallway.

“Jae—what are you—”

“Shhh,” he muttered, glancing over his shoulder. No one noticed.

And then they were in the narrow hallway, alone, hidden from the windows.

He backed her into the wall—crowding her in. One hand on the wall beside her head, the other gripping her chin, thumb grazing her lower lip.

“Wearing those little shorts again,” he murmured, voice low and deadly. “Trying to make me lose my mind in front of all our friends?”

Y/N couldn’t breathe.

“You haven’t even looked at me all day,” she whispered.

His eyes darkened. “Because if I looked at you too long, I’d drag you inside and make you scream my name.”

Her knees buckled.

“You want that, don’t you?” he murmured, leaning closer—his breath hot on her ear. “You want me to take you right here. Up against this wall. My hand over your mouth so they don’t hear you moan.”

Y/N whimpered.

Jaehyun groaned, deep in his throat. “You’d be so fucking loud for me.”

Before she could stop herself, her hands slid up his chest. Her thighs pressed together. And then she ground herself on his leg—slow, needy, shameless.

“Fuck, baby…” he hissed, thigh flexing under her. “You’re dripping for me, aren’t you?”

Her fingers gripped his shirt. Her hips kept moving, grinding up the length of his thigh like she couldn’t help herself.

His forehead touched hers. Their lips brushed.

Barely.

She let out a breathy, desperate moan straight into his mouth.

And Jaehyun snapped.

Not all the way.

But enough to shove his hand over her mouth, breathing hard as he held her there, both of them trembling.

“Stop,” he panted. “Y/N, stop—fuck—”

She slowed.

But she didn’t back away. Her eyes were glassy. Her cheeks flushed. Her body buzzed with the tension still thick between them.

He leaned in, whispering against her ear again, voice wrecked. “You do that again and I won’t stop next time.”

A beat passed. Her thighs clenched.

Then—voices.

“Where’s Y/N?” “Didn’t she go inside?” “Yo, Jae! You seen her?”

They froze.

Jaehyun exhaled sharply, composed himself. Dropped his hand from her mouth. Straightened his shirt. Ran a hand through his hair.

Y/N looked equally wrecked.

They took a breath.

And then they walked out together—calm, casual, like nothing had happened.

“Oh,” Jaehyun said easily, slinging an arm around Y/N’s shoulders. “She spilled juice in the kitchen. We were cleaning it up.”

Johnny blinked. “You cleaned a spill?”

Jaehyun smiled lazily. “What can I say? I’m helpful.”

Y/N laughed—too high-pitched. “So helpful.”

And no one questioned it.

But under the table, Jaehyun’s hand brushed her thigh. Just once.

A silent promise.

When they had a moment alone later Jaehyun thought it over. They can't keep going like this. He was too attracted to her and it wouldn't end well. Even a little bit isn't enough. He had to cut her off.

"We can't be friends." Jae said guiltily when they were alone.

"What?" Y/n looked in shock.

"I can't be your friend. Because I'll never think of you or see you as my friend. And every time we have a normal interaction I'm just thinking about everything I wanna do to you and how your brother would kill me if he found out."

Y/n scoffed offended. "You don't even wanna be friends? That's a lame excuse Jae, even from you. But fine. You got it, we're no longer friends."

Over the next few days tensions grew with their constant bickering and y/n wearing more revealing clothing around the house.

It started with another fight.

Jaehyun had been moody all day—gruff responses, tense jaw, barely speaking to anyone. Y/N finally snapped after he gave her yet another cold stare when she passed him in the hallway.

“What the hell is your problem?” she hissed, arms crossed tight.

“You,” he bit out. “You’re my fucking problem.”

Her heart stuttered.

“You don’t want me. You don’t want to be friends. So what do you want from me, Jaehyun? We both live in this house so suck it up.”

“I want to stop thinking about you every time you breathe in the same damn room!” His voice cracked. “I can’t—fuck—I can’t pretend this is normal. I can’t act like I’m not dying to touch you every second.”

Y/N stared at him, chest heaving. Her cheeks burned with anger and something else. “Fine,” she snapped, voice cold. “You don’t want to deal with me? Then don’t.”

That night, she went on a date with someone else.

Later That Night

The restaurant was awful. The guy was worse. He talked over her, laughed at nothing, stared at her chest the entire time.

And when he leaned in, trying to kiss her outside by her Uber, she shoved him away and ran.

Tears burned in her eyes as she called the only person she knew would come.

“Jae…” she whispered when he answered. “Can you… can you pick me up?”

He didn’t hesitate. He picked her up and drove her back to their place, the car ride thick with silence. 

It was pouring.

The sky cracked open above them, rain spilling like it had been waiting for this moment—just like them.

Y/N got out of the car and stood at the edge of the driveway, soaked and seething, arms crossed under her chest as thunder rolled in the distance. Her white tank clung to her breasts like second skin, completely see-through, nipples clearly visible. Her tiny denim skirt was soaked and hitched up high, the hot pink waistband of her panties teasing just above the fabric.

And Jaehyun—black shirt plastered to his chest, cargo pants hugging his hips, tattoos glistening in the storm—stood there with his jaw clenched, looking like he was on the verge of tearing something apart.

He was.

“What the hell are you doing calling me?” he snapped, stepping into the rain. “Didn’t you run off to your perfect little date?”

She spun around, drenched hair whipping over her shoulder. “Don’t start.”

“Don’t fucking start?” His laugh was humorless. “You go out, dressed like that, trying to pretend I don’t exist, then cry for me to come save you like I’m still the good guy?”

“I called you because it's your fucking fault I went on that date in the first place. I didn’t know who else to—!”

“No,” he growled, stepping closer, “you called me because even when you’re pissed at me, you still want me.”

Her breath caught.

Jaehyun's eyes dragged down her body, tongue darting out over his bottom lip. “You really think I didn’t notice that tiny little skirt, that wet tank, those bright fucking panties begging to be pulled down?”

Her eyes widened, but he wasn’t done.

“You walk around dripping wet, tits out, skirt barely covering your ass—and I’m supposed to keep pretending I don’t want to bend you over every surface I see?”

Y/N’s lips parted in shock.

“You think I haven’t pictured it?” he hissed. “Your legs spread in my backseat, you wrapped around me while my tongue is down your throat? Or your mouth gagged on my cock, crying while I throat fuck every thought of every other guy out of your head?”

Her knees buckled slightly. He saw it—and grinned. Dark. Filthy.

She shoved at his chest. “You're such a—”

But he grabbed her.

Fisted her skirt and panties, yanking her flush against him. Her gasp was swallowed by the sound of rain, her breath catching when she felt how hard he was through his pants.

“I’ve had enough of pretending,” he rasped. His lips brushed hers. “I’m fucking done.”

Then his voice dropped, hot and filthy against her mouth:

“Fuck it.”

And then he took her mouth.

It was wild. Open. Tongues colliding. His lips crushed hers, tongue shoving into her mouth like he was claiming it—like he’d been waiting years to taste her. His hand stayed tight on her panties, holding her body against his while he devoured her, spit and rain mixing between them.

Y/N moaned into it—helplessly—gripping his shirt like she needed something to hang on to.

Jaehyun groaned, deep and rough, sucking on her tongue before biting her bottom lip just to hear her whimper.

“You feel that?” he growled between kisses, grinding into her soaked skirt. “That’s what you fucking do to me.”

She was panting, dazed, lips swollen.

And he wasn’t done.

“I swear to god, if Johnny wasn’t your brother—” he shoved her back against the wall of the house, kissing her again, even harder this time— “I’d have fucked you right here. In the rain. With your panties still on.”

When they finally broke apart, both wrecked and breathless, her voice trembled.

“I want you.”

He wiped the rain from her cheek, staring at her like she was his breaking point and salvation at once.

“You’ve got me,” he whispered. “Now I’m done hiding it.”

The kiss didn’t stop.

Even as Jaehyun dragged her back into the house, their mouths stayed fused—wet, frantic, tongues tangling while their soaked bodies bumped into walls and doorframes. His hand stayed tight on her waist, the other sliding up under her clingy, dripping tank, fingers kneading over bare, slick skin.

He kicked his bedroom door shut and slammed her against it, lips pressing into her jaw, her throat, her collarbone. He groaned when he felt the heat of her body through the thin fabric, both of them soaked to the bone and breathless.

“Clothes,” he growled against her mouth, tugging hard at the hem of her top. “Off. Now.”

She whimpered as he peeled the wet fabric off her—tank top first, tossed somewhere on the floor. Her skirt followed with a harsh tug, panties bunched with it. His black shirt clung to his abs, tattoos snaking over soaked muscle as he pulled it off over his head.

She barely had a second to breathe before his lips were on her again—hot, hungry, starved—pushing her backward until her thighs hit the edge of his shower.

Jaehyun spun the handle.

Steam rushed out as hot water poured down from above.

He walked her straight into it, fully naked, his mouth still locked on hers. Their bodies collided under the stream, her back hitting the tile wall with a wet slap.

He didn’t let up.

His hands roamed—fisting her ass, dragging her against his thick length, sliding over her hips and ribs and chest, palms rough and greedy. His mouth dipped to her neck, sucking hard enough to leave marks, biting just below her jaw before kissing her again—deep and messy, with his tongue shoved so far into her mouth she could barely breathe.

“You feel that?” he growled, grinding into her under the water. “That’s what I’ve been hiding. Every night. Every time you walked past me looking like a fucking dream.”

“Jae—” she gasped, nails digging into his back.

“You don’t even know what you’ve done to me,” he snarled, grabbing her thighs. “But I’m about to show you.”

Then he lifted her.

Y/N yelped, arms wrapping around his shoulders as he pinned her back to the wall, her legs hooked around his waist. His cock pressed hot and hard between them, and then—with one deep thrust—he was inside her.

She cried out, head snapping back.

Jaehyun moaned—a filthy, guttural sound—his forehead resting against hers as he started to move, slow at first, then harder, faster, relentless.

“You’re so tight,” he groaned, biting her bottom lip. “So fucking perfect. You were made for this. For me.”

Water rushed around them. Their skin slapped wetly with every thrust. She clung to him, moaning into his mouth, and he kissed her through all of it—tongue tangled with hers, hand gripping her ass as he pounded into her.

“You wanted this too,” he panted against her lips. “You’ve been teasing me, dressing like that, looking at me like you needed me to ruin you.”

And god, he was ruining her—completely.

When they came, they came together—loud, messy, full-body shudders against the tile wall, mouths fused as they moaned into each other’s throats.

But Jaehyun wasn’t done.

Still breathing heavy, he set her down gently, kissing her temple as her legs shook. She barely had time to process the comedown before he dropped to his knees.

“Jae—” she gasped, wide-eyed.

“Don’t stop me,” he said darkly, voice hoarse with want. “You think I’m done tasting you?”

Then he spread her thighs, still trembling, and buried his face between them.

Y/N nearly screamed—clamping her own hand over her mouth just in time.

His tongue was ruthless. Flicking, sucking, dragging through her slick folds like he couldn’t get enough. The water poured down around them, hot and pounding, but all she could feel was his mouth—his filthy, expert mouth—and the way he groaned like he was addicted to the taste of her.

“Keep that hand there,” he muttered against her, tongue dragging up again. “You don’t want Johnny hearing how much you love this.”

And she couldn’t even reply.

Because her body was already shaking again—under the water, on the wall, around Jaehyun’s mouth.

Want the rest? Subscribe to my patron here or view this full story. Or if you'd like to give a lil tip, do so here!

Sneak peak below of what comes next:

Johnny wandered in, sipping coffee, squinting at him.

Jaehyun raised a brow. “What?”

Johnny gestured at his chest. “You’ve got scratches. Everywhere.”

Jae froze mid-bite. “Huh?”

“And hickeys,” Johnny added casually. “Neck. Collarbone. Even your ribs, bro. Who the hell were you with last night?”

Jaehyun choked—literally—on the toast.

Coughing violently, he reached for his water. “I—uh—just… a girl. From the party. I don’t… remember her name.”

____

It had been two days since your fight and you finally had enough.

If Jaehyun didn’t want to apologize, then you would make him.

“Can you help me?”

Jaehyun entered the bedroom in a swift second. Perhaps, since you initiated this conversation, he was  hoping to finally make up with you again. Of course, you wanted that too by now, but it wasn’t going to be so easy for him.

“What is-”

The words got stuck in his throat when he spotted you, and he needed a moment to process the sight of you wearing a light, revealing negligee that only ended shortly beneath your bum. The fact that you weren’t wearing something underneath didn’t need to be spoken out, because it was Jaehyun’s favorite.

“What are you doing?” he asked carefully.

“I need help changing the sheets. Here.”

You threw a sweet, partially wicked smile at him while simultaneously handing the sheet over to him, and then shifted around - but not without shaking your bum a bit too obviously and throwing your hair over your shoulder a bit too enthusiastically. 

Jaehyun dropped the sheets almost immediately and had you in his grip within an instant, embracing you tightly from behind with one hand beneath your breasts and the other between your thighs, squeezing into the flesh. It hadn’t taken much effort or time, you had known it would work. After all, it worked all the time. 

You suppressed a giggle and stiffened your body in resistance while he sank his mouth in the side of your neck and started nibbling on the skin.

“I’m still mad,” you complained.

“I don’t care.”

Skillfully, he pulled away, then turned you in his grip so that a moment later, you were pressed into his chest and both his hands were grabbing your ass cheeks now, massaging them thoroughly. You cursed under your breath, he knew very well that you loved this too much, and you were asking yourself who was playing with who now and whether this had been his plan all along.

You weren’t able to say a word anymore though. Forgotten was the fact that you were still mad at him when shortly later, Jaehyun was lying underneath you on the mattress and stripped of all his clothes. With your finger tips, you traced along the lines of his abs while you simultaneously felt his length trying to pave its way past your thighs and into you. But you wouldn’t let him yet.

“Apologize,” you demanded, pressing his upper back down when he tried to brace his elbows against the mattress. 

“What?”

It took you much self-control with him twitching right at your entrance, but your ego was stronger than your desire. Or that was what you thought. “Apologize now. Otherwise I won’t continue.”

Saliva had collected in your mouth, and you swallowed it all down. Admittedly, this was the hardest position you had ever been in, because the desire your head and your core expressed at the same time couldn’t be more far off from each other and not align. You didn’t know who to listen to at his point, and Jaehyun’s turned on gaze didn’t help at all.

Suddenly, he chuckled. He stretched out his hand to caress your hidden nipple under the thin fabric of the lingerie and a deep sigh escaped your lips. “But we’re already there, didn’t you notice?”

Somewhere, between your thoughts and sighs, he had slipped all the way in already, and considering how wet you had already gotten from all the teasing and foreplay, it had been so very easy for him to do so. You arched your back when Jaehyun bucked his hips up, penetrating you deep inside.

“You like it? I can see that you like it.”

“No!” you lied, and he grinned even wider. 

The way your head lolled back and your thighs clenched around his groin to control the angle he was pushing into you, let him know that indeed, you were enjoying this very much. You always enjoyed whenever he did that. Only for a few moments, you let that happen. 

You then heaved up your hips and came down to him, matching his rhythm and now making him moan in return. It grew pleasantly wet where your bodies were connected, adding to the sensation so that not much later, you were feeling every fiber in your body tugging on a nearing orgasm.

But you wouldn’t lose, not when you were this close, and reading Jaehyun’s expression, he was even closer. Suddenly, you halted. But as to not let all the work go to vain, you settled on his hips and just slowly slid yours back and forth, creating only enough friction to keep you both on your nearing orgasms.

“Say… it,” you repeated, your breathing coming in hitches, “apo… logize.”

“Are you being for real right now?” Shock mixed with realization on Jaehyun’s face when it dawned on him that there was probably no way for you to let him release otherwise.

“Yes.”

To prove to him how serious you were, you lifted up your hip and came slamming down on him, making him gasp the moment your bodies crashed together. And then again, and again, pushing him closer to his release… and then stopped.

Jaehyun looked at you through fluttered lids, eyes heavy and lips dry. But he didn’t say a word. Fine. You bent forward and pressed your palms against his abs, angling your spine. Then again, you heaved up your hip, this time a bit higher, and as he feared you might let him out all the way, you slowly sank down on him again. Jaehyun hated this, and you knew. He draped his forearm over his face and cursed,

“Shitshitshitshitshitshit”,

but you didn’t stop. Only when you felt the onset of his pulsing motions from within, then you rested on top of him again. Even though it was hard for you too, you could keep this going.

“FINE!”

You widened your eyes, almost not believing what you had just heard. But you had no time to rise all the way up and watch him say it to your face as Jaehyun suddenly pulled you down to lie on top of his chest with his arms wrapped around your back, and whispered into your ear,

“I’m so sorry.”

“Very well.”

Only using your hips now, you remained in this position and picked up your movements without a break. You heard Jaehyun whimpering into your ear, begging for you to go faster until his grip around you got so tight, your breath nearly caught.

“I’m cumming,” he said after not too long and eventually did so in long spurts inside of you.

When he had made you cum too, all over his hands with your teasing lingerie all gone so that he was able to use his hands exploring and triggering all sensitive spots on your body, you were lying side by side on the bed, out of breath, but thoroughly happy.

“Please,” Jaehyun then said, “let’s never argue for this long again.”

“Hm. I don’t know. I think it has quite the benefits.”

Y/N had been up since early morning.

She moved quietly around the house, still in her pajamas, hair tied up messily as she worked. First came the balloons—red, pink, and white—tied carefully to chairs, door handles, and the staircase railing. Then the streamers, the fairy lights, the little heart-shaped confetti she sprinkled on the table.

By late morning, the kitchen smelled like vanilla and sugar.

She stood in front of the oven, nervously checking the cake for the third time, apron dusted with flour. Baking from scratch had taken longer than she expected, but when she finally pulled out the heart-shaped cake, perfectly golden, she beamed.

“Okay,” she whispered to herself. “Worth it.”

After frosting it and decorating it with tiny red hearts, she set it on the counter to cool. Then she grabbed her phone and connected it to the speaker, scrolling through her playlists until she found the one she’d been secretly building for weeks—songs he loved, songs that reminded her of him, songs from late-night drives and quiet mornings together.

She pressed play.

Soft music filled the house.

Y/N glanced around, heart fluttering. Everything was ready.

Just as she was fixing the ribbon on the gift box, she heard it.

Keys.

The familiar sound of the front door unlocking.

Her eyes widened.

“He’s home.”

She dropped what she was holding and ran.

Barefoot, she rushed down the hallway, barely slowing before turning the corner—

And there he was.

Jaehyun stood in the doorway, still in his uniform, shoulders slightly slumped from exhaustion. His hair was a little messy in the way she loved. In one hand, he held a bouquet of red roses.

And on his face—

That tired, gentle smile that only ever appeared when he saw her.

“Hey,” he said softly.

She didn’t even reply.

With a small gasp, Y/N ran straight into his arms, jumping up and wrapping her legs around his waist. He instinctively caught her, arms tightening around her as he laughed.

“Woah—hey,” he chuckled. “I missed you too.”

“I missed you more,” she said immediately, burying her face in his neck.

She pulled back just enough to look at him, hands framing his face, and kissed him.

Hard.

Passionate.

Like she’d been waiting all day for it.

He kissed her back without hesitation, dropping the roses for a moment just to hold her closer. When she finally pulled away, slightly breathless, she rested her forehead against his.

“Hi,” she whispered with a smile.

His lips curved up. “Hi.”

He picked up the bouquet and held it out to her.

“For you,” he said gently. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

Her eyes softened instantly. She took the flowers, hugging them to her chest.

“They’re beautiful,” she murmured. “Thank you.”

Then she looked back at him, gaze full of love, hands sliding to his cheeks.

“Happy birthday, baby.”

Jaehyun’s smile grew wider.

And in that moment, exhaustion didn’t matter anymore.

All that mattered was her.

Jaehyun finally steps fully inside, closing the door behind him.

And then he really looks.

The balloons floating near the ceiling. The soft lights. The table covered in food. The neatly arranged plates. The heart-shaped cake sitting proudly in the center.

All of it.

For him.

He turns slowly, eyes wide, taking everything in like he’s afraid it might disappear if he blinks.

“Y/N…” he breathes.

She stands there nervously, hands clasped together. “Do you like it?”

Instead of answering, he walks straight to her and pulls her into his arms, wrapping her up against his chest.

“Did you do all this for me, baby?” he murmurs into her hair.

She nods. “Of course I did.”

He lets out a soft laugh, full of disbelief and warmth. “I’m so lucky,” he says quietly.

Then he tilts her chin up and kisses her again—slow this time, lingering, full of gratitude and love.

She melts into it instantly.

When he finally pulls back, she stays tucked against him, arms wrapped around his waist, cheek pressed to his chest. Her hands slide up his arms without thinking, fingers squeezing his biceps.

She hums softly.

“…You’re bulkier,” she says with a grin.

He looks down at her, amused. “Oh yeah?”

She squeezes again. “Yeah. Definitely.”

He gives her that lazy, confident smile.

The one that always makes her heart race. The one that always makes her feel warm and flustered.

Her stomach flips immediately.

He notices, of course.

He always does.

“So,” he asks casually, arms still around her, “when is everyone else coming?”

“In a few hours,” she replies. “I wanted you to have time to rest first. Shower, relax… before your birthday party.”

His expression softens even more.

“You really thought of everything,” he says.

He leans down and presses a gentle kiss to her lips, then another to her forehead.

'I'm gonna take a shower,' he murmured, his voice low and warm. He leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek, his lips brushing her skin just a little longer than necessary. 'Maybe you should join me,' he added, his breath warm against her ear, sending a subtle heat blooming through her body.

Y/N felt that familiar warmth spread, her cheeks flushing as she met his gaze. Without a word, she stood, her hand finding his, and they moved toward the bathroom together, the air between them charged with anticipation.

As soon as the door clicked shut, Jaehyun turned to her, his hands cupping her face as he captured her lips in a deep, hungry kiss. 

It started slow, but quickly deepened, his tongue tracing hers with a desperation that spoke of how much he'd missed this closeness.

His fingers trembled slightly as they slid down her sides, tugging at the hem of her shirt, pulling it up and over her head. 

She mirrored him, her hands exploring the familiar planes of his chest, unbuttoning his shirt with deliberate care. Piece by piece, their clothes fell away—her bra unclasped, his pants discarded—until they stood bare before each other, skin flushed and hearts racing. 

Jaehyun's touches grew more urgent, his palms gliding over her back, pulling her flush against him, as if he couldn't bear even a whisper of space between them. 

He kissed her neck, her collarbone, murmuring against her skin how he'd craved her touch, how empty the days without her had felt.

Finally, he stepped toward the shower, twisting the knob to let the water cascade down in a steady, soothing rhythm. 

Steam began to fill the room as he glanced back at her, his eyes searching. 'Is the temperature okay?' he asked softly, his voice laced with care.

She nodded, a small smile curving her lips, and he drew her under the spray with him. The warm water enveloped them, rivulets tracing paths down their bodies as their mouths met again, kisses turning fervent yet tender. 

Jaehyun's hands found her hips, lifting her effortlessly, and she wrapped her legs around his waist, her ankles locking behind him. 

The water made their skin slick, heightening every sensation as he positioned himself, entering her slowly, inch by inch, with a reverence that made her breath catch.

Y/N gasped, her hands slipping from his shoulders down his arms, fingers digging into the taut muscles there as she adjusted to the fullness of him. 

His cock filled her completely, the connection igniting a fire that was both gentle and consuming. 

Jaehyun groaned softly, his forehead resting against hers, water dripping from his lashes. 

'I missed you,' he whispered, his voice breaking with emotion as he began to move, slow thrusts that built a rhythm of pure intimacy. 'Missed this... missed us.'

She clung to him, her body responding in kind, rocking with his movements as the steam swirled around them. Each slide in and out was deliberate, drawing out the pleasure, their breaths mingling in the humid air. 

'I missed you too,' she breathed, her lips brushing his jaw, her heart swelling with the depth of their reunion. His hands supported her firmly, one at her back, the other cradling her thigh, as if she were the most precious thing in his world.

The pace remained unhurried, every motion laced with love—his hips rolling to meet hers, her nails grazing his skin in silent encouragement. 

He repeated the words like a mantra, 'Missed you... so much,' punctuating each thrust with a kiss, his eyes locked on hers, conveying everything words couldn't. 

The tension built gradually, a shared wave cresting higher with each connected heartbeat, until it shattered over them both. 

They came together, her gasp turning into a soft cry against his shoulder, his body shuddering as he held her close, spilling into her with a final, deep press.

In the aftermath, they stayed entwined under the water, breaths slowing as Jaehyun lowered her gently, his arms never leaving her waist. 

He kissed her temple, the water washing away the intensity, leaving only the warmth of their bond.

-----------------

After their shower, Jaehyun comes out looking refreshed—hair still slightly damp, hoodie swapped for a soft sweater, shoulders relaxed for the first time all day.

And just in time.

The doorbell rings.

Then again.

And again.

One by one, the members of 127 start arriving, filling the house with laughter and familiar voices.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”

“Bro, we missed you.”

“Finally a day off, huh?”

They pull Jaehyun into hugs, clap him on the back, tease him about looking too comfortable already, and place their wrapped gifts carefully on the growing pile on the table.

Meanwhile, Y/N is in the kitchen, focused, sleeves rolled up, moving between pots and trays.

From the living room, Jaehyun hears them talking.

“This place looks amazing,” Johnny says, looking around. “You went all out.”

Jaehyun grins proudly.

“That was all Y/N,” he replies immediately. “Every single thing.”

The members exchange knowing looks.

“Of course it was,” Doyoung laughs.

Music starts playing. Conversations overlap. Someone turns up the volume just a little. Members and friends settle on the couch, on chairs, on the floor.

It feels like home.

By the time dinner is ready, Y/N is constantly moving—bringing out dishes, refilling drinks, checking if anyone needs anything, running back into the kitchen.

Jaehyun notices.

Every time.

She barely sits down.

He’s laughing, joking, enjoying himself—but his eyes keep drifting to her.

Working. Again.

After dinner, everyone spreads out, full and comfortable.

Jaehyun ends up on the couch beside Johnny, talking about work, schedules, and how weird it feels to actually have a birthday off.

He’s smiling.

But then—

He sees her.

Y/N is leaning against the wall near the hallway, talking quietly with Yuta, laughing softly at something he says. One hand holds a glass, the other still has a dish towel draped over it.

She still hasn’t rested.

Jaehyun watches her for a few seconds. Then, without saying anything, he pats his lap.

A silent signal.

She looks over.

Then she smiles.

Immediately, she excuses herself.

“Sorry, hold on,” she tells Yuta softly. She walks straight over.

Johnny notices and smirks.

She stops in front of Jaehyun. “Yes, sir?”

He raises an eyebrow. “Come here.”

She doesn’t argue.

Y/N turns and settles onto his lap easily, one arm slipping around his shoulders as she gets comfortable. Jaehyun’s arms come around her without thinking, hands resting securely at her waist.

Finally.

She relaxes.

Johnny chuckles. “There she is. We were wondering when you’d steal her.”

Jaehyun shrugs. “She’s been working all day.”

Y/N smiles into his shoulder. “I’m fine, baby.”

“I know,” he murmurs near her ear. “But now you’re resting.”

She tilts her head to look at him. “Bossy on your birthday, huh?”

“Always,” he replies with a lazy grin.

She laughs softly and stays right where she is.

And for the rest of the night, no matter how loud the music gets or how many people talk at once—

Jaehyun doesn’t let her go.

At some point in the middle of Johnny’s story, Y/N stops responding.

Her fingers, which had been lazily tracing circles on Jaehyun’s arm, go still.

Her breathing evens out.

Her head sinks fully against his chest.

Jaehyun notices first.

He looks down.

And smiles.

She’s asleep.

Curled up on his lap, cheek pressed to his hoodie, arms loosely wrapped around him like she’s afraid he might disappear.

He carefully adjusts his hold, one arm tightening slightly around her back, the other resting protectively over her waist.

“Out cold,” he murmurs.

Beside him, Johnny laughs quietly. “She worked herself into a coma for you.”

Jaehyun shakes his head fondly. “She didn’t sit down once.”

“She loves you,” Johnny says simply.

Jaehyun looks down at her again.

“I know.”

For the next hour, he barely moves.

He talks quietly with Johnny and a few of the others, always keeping his voice low, always making sure she’s comfortable.

Eventually, the night winds down.

One by one, the members of 127 start gathering their things.

Before leaving, they help clean—stacking plates, throwing out trash, folding blankets, wiping counters.

“Happy birthday, man,” Mark says, clapping his shoulder.

“Take care of her,” Jungwoo adds with a grin.

Jaehyun just nods. “Always.”

When the door finally closes and the house goes quiet, it’s just the two of them.

Soft lights.

Faint music still playing. And her, asleep on him.

Carefully, slowly, he slides his arms under her legs and back.

Lifts her.

She stirs immediately.

“M—mm?” she mumbles, eyes fluttering open. “What… what happened?”

“It’s okay,” Jaehyun whispers, kissing her temple. “Everyone went home.”

She blinks sleepily. “Did I… fall asleep?”

“Yeah, baby,” he smiles. “Hard.”

“Sorry,” she murmurs automatically.

He shakes his head. “Don’t apologize.”

He carries her into the bedroom and gently lays her down on the bed. When she tries to sit up again, still half-asleep, he places a hand on her shoulder.

“Hey,” he says softly. “Relax. It’s okay.”

She sighs and lets herself sink back into the pillows.

Jaehyun kicks off his shoes, turns off the light, and slides in beside her, pulling her close until she’s tucked against his chest again.

Right where she belongs.

She curls into him without even thinking.

“Today…” he murmurs after a moment, voice low and sincere, “was so special.”

She hums sleepily. “Yeah?”

“All because of you,” he says. “Everything. The house. The food. The party. How loved I felt.”

He presses his lips to her hair.

“I love you so much.”

Her eyes stay closed, but her arms tighten around him.

“I love you too,” she whispers.

The room is quiet. Just the soft hum of the heater and their breathing.

Y/N lies curled against Jung Jaehyun’s chest, fingers lightly tracing the fabric of his shirt.

For a while, neither of them speaks.

Then, softly—

“…Can I tell you something?”

He tightens his arms around her a little. “Always.”

She hesitates, then exhales.

“It’s been hard,” she admits quietly. “When you’re gone.”

His chest rises slowly beneath her cheek.

“I know you’re doing something important. I know it’s temporary. I know I’m supposed to be strong,” she continues. “But… I miss you. All the time.”

He tilts his head slightly, listening.

“I’m someone who needs physical presence,” she says. “I need your touch. Your warmth. Falling asleep with you. Waking up next to you. Just… knowing you’re here.”

Her voice wavers.

“And sometimes, when you’re away, it feels like something’s missing.”

He lifts his head a little so he can look at her.

She meets his eyes.

“But,” she adds quickly, a small smile forming, “this is your last birthday in the military.”

His brows lift slightly.

“You’re getting discharged soon,” she whispers. “And that makes me really happy. Because it means… we’re almost done with this part.”

He looks at her for a long moment.

Then his hand comes up.

Gently.

He cups her face, thumb brushing under her eye, holding her like she’s the most precious thing in the world.

“Thank you,” he says quietly.

She blinks. “For what?”

“For staying,” he replies. “For sticking around while I finish my service. For being patient. For not giving up on us.”

Her throat tightens.

“I know it hasn’t been easy,” he continues. “It wasn’t easy for me either. Being away from you… thinking about you every night and not being able to hold you.”

He presses his forehead to hers.

“But I never doubted us,” he murmurs. “Not once.”

She feels her eyes sting.

“I know we’re meant to be,” he says firmly. “And this time apart? It’s nothing. Nothing compared to all the years we’re going to spend together.”

Her lips tremble.

“Living together. Traveling. Growing old. Making memories. Waking up next to each other every day,” he whispers. “This is just… a small chapter.”

A tear slips down her cheek.

He wipes it away immediately.

“Hey,” he murmurs. “Don’t cry.”

“I’m not—” she laughs softly through it. “I’m just… emotional.”

He smiles. “I know.”

She cups his face this time.

And kisses him.

Slow.

Deep.

Full of everything she couldn’t put into words.

He kisses her back just as tenderly, holding her closer like he never wants to let go.

When they finally pull away, she rests her forehead against his.

“I’m so proud of you,” she whispers.

“And I’m so lucky,” he replies. “To have you.”

They curl back into each other, hearts full, futures clear—

Knowing that soon, the waiting will be over.

And they’ll have forever.

----------------

you knew how to get under jaehyun’s skin. well, not on purpose, but he sure as hell was sending daggers in your direction as he saw you all cozied up with a tall blond-haired guy at his frat party. jaehyun scoffed as he took a sip out of the red cup in his hand. how dare you bring a boy into his house in the first place.

jaehyun’s gaze never left you as you laughed at something the french fry guy said. “bet it’s not even funny.” he muttered to himself, rolling his eyes as you placed your hand on the guy’s arm.

“dude, what is the matter with you?” mark pulled him out of his trance, hitting him lightly on the arm. his best friend followed his gaze and smirked when he figured out what he was so worked up about. “isn’t that y/n? didn’t you use to date her?”

“we did not date.” jaehyun moved his sight to glare at the younger boy instead. “i could care less about her.”

“couldn’t.” mark corrected him with a cheeky smile, “but you already knew that, so i’m guessing you do care a tiny bit.”

you and jaehyun met at university when you were freshmen. you accidentally walked into the wrong room at your first college party when a certain someone was changing out his clothes and flashed you with his penis on your first week. you screamed and ran as fast as you could. moments later, mystery penis guy found you amidst the crowd and apologized profoundly, which left you confused because you were so sure you should be the one apologizing. nonetheless, you both decided to put it behind you and start fresh.

“jaehyun.” mystery penis guy introduced himself to you while handing you a red cup that was most likely filled with booze.

“y/n.” you accepted his cup, inspecting it. “you’re not trying to drug me because i saw your dick, right?”

jaehyun laughed, and you smiled as he shook his head. that was the beginning of a new friendship.

until during your sophomore year, you were drunk crying over your ex, and you had jaehyun over because you needed a friend. he was awkwardly trying to pat your back while trying to keep a distance between the two of you. don’t get him wrong, he found you attractive as fuck, and he would fuck you the moment you let him. but he was somehow scared to ruin the year-long friendship between the two of you, so he never acted on what his dick and heart told him to.

this night was different, though; you were vulnerable and needed to feel better about yourself. “he said i couldn’t suck dick properly!” you whined, which made jaehyun freeze. “who breaks up with someone over that!”

jaehyun had to fight every bone in his body not to jump on you and kiss the living hell out of you. he felt apologetic that you were crying over a dumbass, but he couldn’t help but find you cute. your cheeks flushed, makeup messy with tears. you looked perfect. “i think that’s what they call an ick.” he tried lightening up the mood, but this just made you glare at him.

“i’ll bite your dick off.” you punched his arm, which did little to no damage.

“ouch, is that what you did while you were sucking his?” he rubbed his arm, but had the biggest smile on his face.

“you’re not helping!” you covered your face with your hands.

jaehyun didn’t know what possessed him then; he spoke without thinking about his words. “i could teach you a thing or two about giving…” he immediately regretted what he was offering. he coughed before ending his sentence, looking everywhere around the room but at you. he let his dick do the talking as if you were stupid enough to agree–

“teach me.”

needless to say, you knew how to suck dick (even a few pointers on how to kiss and fuck) that night.

jaehyun tried to pull his eyes away from you as you whispered something in the guy’s ear before disappearing into the crowd and heading upstairs. now he was frustrated. you ended your year-long arrangement just merely two weeks ago, and you have already found someone new? you just moved on and had enough. god, he sounded so pathetic; he got it bad.

- 

you lay in bed that night, chewing on your lip as you scrolled through your phone. you just left the party an hour ago after sleeping with another man. you felt weird. like what you did was wrong, but you couldn’t exactly point out why.

as if the universe decided to play tricks on you, your phone vibrated in your hand. the contact “PLS DONT ANSWER” on full display. you glanced at the time to see it was 2 am. you ran your fingers through your hair and sighed. closing your eyes, your finger swiped to answer the call.

“you answered?” his voice echoing through the phone, surprised you picked up the phone.

“don’t make me regret it.”

“i saw you today.”

“… okay?” you knew he saw you. in fact, you made sure he saw you with jungwoo, aka the guy you fucked an hour ago.

“with another guy.” mission success. you were being petty, but you were doing it for a reason (so you convinced yourself).

the very reason you broke off your arrangement with jaehyun was because you saw him with another girl’s tongue down his throat in a not-very-discrete section in the library two weeks ago. you could tell he enjoyed it by the way his hands were firmly gripping her ass. the sight made you sick to your stomach.

your agreement was strictly for physical reasons — you fucked, nothing more and nothing less. you were good friends who were having fantastic sex.

you don't know why the thought of him sleeping with other girls upset you. you both agreed to keep it physical. no strings attached, especially since you're both juniors and have to focus on finishing your degrees. yet why did it bother you he was out kissing girls?

“congrats, you can see.” you cringed at your attempt to seem like a cool girl.

“cut the bullshit, y/n.” jaehyun rolled his eyes even though you couldn’t see him. “you broke up with me, then you slept with somebody else just two weeks after?”

“i wasn’t aware we had a relationship that even allowed us to break up.” you opened your eyes. realizing how long you last talked to jaehyun, you hated to admit that you missed the sound of his voice.

“called it off, ghosted—whatever you call it! you know what i mean.”

“i did not ghost you.” practically mumbling against the phone.

“a text saying “let's stop this” is not an explanation, y/n. plus, that's besides that point!”

“i really don't want to talk about this right now, jaehyun.”

“fine. meet me tomorrow at the café you like at 2 pm.” and with that, he hung up on you.

- 

jaehyun sat in an easy-to-spot area at the café you loved. how did he know? because you used to have little study dates in this very coffee shop (if you could even call it a date). his heart was beating out of his chest. he didn’t know why his heart was beating so fast while he anticipated your presence. maybe he drank too much caffeine? he shook his head in an attempt to clear his mind. he wanted to believe that was the reason why he could not sit still.

the tiny bell at the front door rang, indicating a new customer. the sound made jaehyun whip his head up. there you were. a brown coat hugging your body, your hair in one of those clamps that held it up neatly. you were in the most basic clothes, yet you looked so beautiful. jaehyun smiled at the sight of you until he saw a dozen roses you had in your hands, the smile was replaced with a slight frown.

“hi, jae.” you breathed out, taking a seat on the empty spot in front of him. placing your belongings on the table, which included the bouquet that jaehyun was glaring at.

“aww, y/n, you didn’t have to.” jaehyun took the bouquet from the table to inspect it, trying to catch a glimpse of a card with the sender's name on it.

“shut up.” you mumbled, snatching it from him. cheeks heating up, you avoided his gaze.

“i’m assuming it's from lover boy last night?” jaehyun huffed, crossing his arms across his chest. he looked absolutely silly right now.

“it’s none of your business.” you fought back. leaning against your seat, “why’d you want to see me anyway?” 

“i didn’t.” he lied through his teeth, but you didn’t know that. “i just think i deserve some kind of explanation as to why our,” he paused to think how he would label your relationship, “friendship ended.”

“you’re so annoying.” glaring at him, you contemplated why you even showed up in the first place.

“you love me.” he grinned at you, flashing his damned dimples, to which you let out a snort. “was he better than me?”

“very much.” you smiled as he lost his grin. “bigger too.”

“we’re telling lies now?” jaehyun raised his eyebrow. “you said your shit ex had a big dick, too, so i don't really trust your judgment.” you chewed your lip in annoyance, wanting to slap his irritatingly beautiful face.

“asshole.”

- 

it had been a week since your last interaction with jaehyun.  your little café meet-up didn’t lead to anything as you still refused to tell him why you no longer wanted to see him. you would be lying if you said you had not thought of him at all. you missed him.

in the midst of doing your university work, your phone buzzed, a text message popping up on the screen.

PLS DONT ANSWER: are u awake

you stared at the message, with no intention of replying.

PLS DONT ANSWER: busy fucking french fry boy?

PLS DONT ANSWER: what position he got u in

you rolled your eyes at his last message. truth be told, jungwoo gave you the flowers as an apology. he apologized for sleeping with you that day, telling you how he was drunk and not over his ex, and he hoped that you would not take it the wrong way. you felt incredibly stupid and annoyed at how even in your attempt to forget jaehyun, you still failed.

the phone rang a few seconds later, but this time, you didn’t pick up. not knowing what to say to him. missing the call, he didn’t send anything after, making your heart sink.

you knew what you signed up for when you agreed to keep things physical between the two of you. although there were moments when it would seem like you two were a couple, you knew he would never like you like that. he was jeong fucking jaehyun for fucks sake. he could have any girl he looked at if he wanted to. you hear how women talk about him in the bathrooms, most of them very lewd. everyone wanted a taste of him. you couldn't blame them, even after having a taste of him, you still craved and came back for more.

a knock on your apartment door pulled you out of your trance. curious, you stood up to open it. there at your door was one very soaked jaehyun with a flower–that looked like it was picked out of a bush–in hand. his white shirt sticking to his chest, giving you a very slight peek of his toned body which gave you flashbacks to the nights you would spend together.

“jaehyun,” raising a brow, “why are you soaking wet?” you were sure there was not any weather forecast about rain tonight.

“it was raining and–” jaehyun let out, catching his breath, “wanted to see you.” pushing what looked like a rose in your direction. “here.”

eyeing the rose, you carefully scanned his face as you took it from his hand. you stepped aside to let him in your apartment. he stepped inside, careful of spreading rainwater all over your place. “stay here, i’ll get you something dry.” turning away from him, you walked towards your bedroom with your thoughts all over the place. why was he here? what was this rose about? and why did he look so fucking hot?

with a clean sweatshirt (that you were pretty sure was his) in hand, you walked back into the living room where you were greeted by jaehyun’s bare back faced to you as he looked at the pictures you had hung around. you bit your lip at the sight. feeling sparks shoot throughout your body.

you cleared your throat, which made jaehyun spin around to face you, shooting you a smile. you extended your arm to hand him the sweater, but he grabbed your arm instead and pulled your body against his. he was hugging you. you froze in place as he nuzzled his head into the crook of your neck, feeling him inhale against your skin.

“missed you.” feeling him mumble against your skin, “it was killing me knowing there’s someone out there buying you roses.”

“jaehyun, are you drunk?” placing your hands against his bare chest to push him away and look him in the eyes.

he shook his head, “i’m not. i’m serious, y/n.” he took a step closer to you, “why do you not want me anymore?” his breath fanning on you, lips dangerously close to yours, making you feel hazy.

“you know that’s not true.” your voice was so tiny he barely heard what you said. his hands landed on your waist, rubbing on it softly.

“tell me what i did wrong, please.” his voice soft.

“jaehyun..” you warned, feeling him close the gap between the two of you, to which you shut your eyes as you waited for the soft feeling of his lips. but it never came, so you opened your eyes to see him staring at you with a teasing smile on his lips. you glared at him, scoffing. you pushed him away, chucking the sweater at him before retreating and heading to your bedroom.

you heard him call out for you. feeling your cheeks burn from embarrassment. you were about to slam the door behind you, but his strength prevented you from doing so.

“go home, jaehyun.” you sternly said, wanting to bury yourself under the covers. you walked towards the bed, sitting on the edge.

“if you wanted a kiss that bad, you could have just asked.” jaehyun welcomed himself into your room. standing a few feet away from you, this time with the sweater you gave him on your body. he has been in your room plenty of times, so he has grown very familiar with where you keep everything.

“maybe i’ll ask jungwoo instead.” lie. but he doesn’t know that. crossing your arms against your chest. not missing the way his eyes fell on your exposed chest. you were wearing a tiny tank top and lounge shorts since you were just planning on studying all night.

“not fucking funny.” he walked over to you, stopping in between your legs before cupping your face with his hand. “maybe i should remind you who you belong to.” his words making you dizzy.

“i don’t belong to anyone.” you reminded him which made his eyes turn dark; he licked his lips, scanning your face. a sadistic grin forming on his face. he could tell you were trying to convince yourself of what you said, too.

“i thought you were supposed to be smart, princess.” he said, leaning down and planting his lips on yours. the kiss was hungry with the intention of reminding you of what you have been missing. you reciprocated his passion, arms flying to wrap around his neck. his tongue glided over your bottom lip before pushing it into your mouth, exploring your mouth, making you moan lightly. his other hand sneaked down to your clothed core and cupped it, which made you gasp and pull away from the kiss. “look at you, already so wet, and i haven’t even done anything.”

“yeah, and if you don’t do anything about it soon, you know who i’ll call.” teasing him, but he wasn’t having any of it. he grabbed you by your thighs, which you instinctively wrapped around his waist. he laid you down on the bed, your head against your pillows. in a swift motion, your shirt and shorts were pulled away from your body and discarded somewhere in the room.

“I can’t believe you let that asshole touch what’s mine.” jaehyun groaned once he took in the mouthwatering sight in front of him. his intense gaze made you lose all your tough facade, wanting nothing more than to be engulfed by him. he climbed in between your legs, leaning down to kiss you once again, but this time, it was more passion than hunger, savoring your taste.

“i’m not yours.” you whispered against his lips, and you could tell he had enough of your teasing.

“i’ll make you want to be mine.” kissing your jaw, leading down to your neck (making sure to suck on the spot he knew you loved), your chest before engulfing your nipple with his mouth. you whimpered as he sucked on the sensitive bud, his other hand circling the other nub with his thumb and index finger. his tongue exploring every inch of your tits, making you squirm under his touch. your hand flew up to his hair, lightly tugging on it, feeling the slickness from the rain. he pulled away from your chest after flicking his tongue against your nipple one last time. he sat up, grabbing the hem of his sweater and pulling it off him.

you bit your lip at the sight of his toned chest that you absolutely loved. you loved that he took care of himself in every way, especially his body. catching your gaze, he smirked. he, too, loved his own body.

jaehyun pressed a quick kiss on your lips before he went down on your body. your pussy in his face, he wrapped his arms around your thighs, pressing soft wet kisses against your skin. “god, you smell fucking amazing.”

“jaehyun.” you cried out as he licked your wet folds. your hips thrusting, trying to get more, but his arms held you down. pressing a tiny kiss on your clit, his tongue darted out, licking your entrance, lapping around the area. moans spilling from your lips as he fucked you with his tongue. his hand sneaking around to rub your clit, which made you curse his name. “oh my god!” arching your back at the sudden sensation.

“mine.” jaehyun grunted against your pussy, retracting his arm from your thigh, circling around to glide his fingers up and down your folds. “my pussy.” he said before inserting two fingers into your hole, making you gasp. his fingers easily slide in and out of you due to your wetness. the entire room fills up with the sounds of your pussy squelching as he continued to finger you, curling his fingers ever so often, which drove you insane. he attached his lips to your clit, sucking on the sensitive nerve as he continued the motions with his fingers.

“fuck, jaehyun, i can’t–” you barely got the words out as he inserted a third finger, making you gasp, and grip the sheets beneath you. your legs attempted to close but his grip on it prevented you from doing so. you felt the familiar coil gather in your stomach.

“say it, say you’re mine, then i’ll let you cum.” his breath fanning against you, fastening his pace as he fucks you with his fingers.

“mhm, fuck! i’m yours, jae.” your hips bucked upwards as you felt your orgasm coming. “please, let me cum.”

“see, was that so hard?” jaehyun rubbed your clit with his thumb, pushing you over the edge. you screamed out his name, body trembling as you came hard on his fingers. the sight of you arching your back went directly to his dick, hardening against his pants. he pulled his fingers out easily, covered in your cum. he sat up, bringing his fingers to his mouth. “so sweet, so pretty.” licking his creamy fingers clean.

chest heaving as you tried to recover from your high. you met jaehyun’s gaze, seeing him already staring at you. your eyes darted down, seeing his cock begging to be free from his jeans. arm extending, you palmed him through his jeans, hips bucking to meet your touch. “take it off.”

“eager to finally get good dick?” jaehyun smirked, undoing the buttons of his pants.

“get out.”

“taking my pants off right now.” he slid out of his jeans and boxers, cock springing out and bouncing off his stomach. your mouth watering at the sight. your hand reached out to grab his shaft, pumping it before gliding your fingers over the slit, spreading the precum that was leaking out. “fuck, baby.” he moaned, rutting his hips to meet your hand. “you look so good holding my cock.”

“i’d look even better when you finally fuck me with it.” frustration crept up your voice which made him chuckle. he grabbed hold of your hand, holding your wrists above your head while his other hand guided his cock towards your entrance.

“no one will fuck you as good as i do.” ramming his cock into you without warning. the sudden contact made you yelp, wanting to grab hold of him, but his grip on your wrist prevented your movement. “what a dirty little slut. remember, this fucking pussy is mine.” his thrusts were intense, his words laced with venom as he relentlessly fucked your cunt. you could barely let out your words as your breath kept getting knocked out of you.

“o-oh god, jae.” jaehyun was absolutely losing it at the sight of you crumbling beneath him. the pretty noises that were coming out of your mouth were like music to him. sweat trickled down your body as he increased his pace. he let go of your wrists, and your hands flew to grip his shoulders. he grabbed your thighs, pushing them close to your chest. his cock perfectly hitting your sweet spot with every thrust.

“you feel so fucking good.” his hands reached out to pinch your nipples, making you curse out his name.  “you take my cock so fucking well.” you rolled your hips out to meet his pace, leggings shaking from him as he hit all the right spots. your reactions were fueling him even more; he pulled his cock out entirely before slamming it back into your pussy. he gripped your waist as your back arched from the intense sensation, moans getting louder. “you like that, huh? remember who owns you, pretty girl. not that fucking jungwoo, me.”

tears sprang to your eyes from the immense pleasure. not being able to speak coherently, you nodded at his words. nails digging into his shoulder blades as you felt your second orgasm forming in your abdomen. he leaned down, burying his head in your neck, placing kisses on your skin as he continued to rock his hips into you. “i’m so close.” you managed to moan out, legs wrapping around his waist, wanting to be as close to him as possible.

“shit,” jaehyun pulled away from your neck, watching as your tits bounce from his trust, his hand snaked up your clit, rubbing it which built up the pressure in your stomach even more. “cum for me, baby.” his thrusts getting sloppy as he felt his own orgasm creep up.

“oh my god!” you cried out as your insides exploded from pleasure, your walls clenching around his cock as you came.

the feeling of your pussy tightening around his cock brought his orgasm out. his warm cum leaking inside you. “so fucking beautiful.” he groaned, pulling his cock out. your mixed cum spilling out of you. he collapsed beside you.

breaths heavy, you closed your eyelids, wanting to doze off for the night, feeling jaehyun’s arms wrap around you. peeking at him, but his eyes were already trained on you.

“hi.” you whispered.

“be mine.” he mumbled, pulling your body close to him.

“what?” looking at him in disbelief.

“be mine, y/n, be my girlfriend.” he nuzzled his head into the crook of your neck. you knew jaehyun was not one to do relationships. this was one of the reasons why you agreed to keep it physical in the first place. hearing the word girlfriend from his mouth was indeed a new experience, especially since he was saying it to you.

“is my pussy that good?” you giggled.

“yes.” he placed a kiss on your forehead, “and i want to be yours. only yours, and i want you to only be mine.”

“will you stop making out with other girls in the library if i say yes?”

“in the libra–? is that why you left!” he looked at you in shock, “i’m so sorry, i didn’t know you saw that. i promise you she meant nothing to me. i don’t even know her name.”

“wow, that makes me feel so better.” sarcasm rolling off your tongue.

“what about you and that blond bitch! who does he think he is giving you flowers. i fucking hate him.” he sulked, making you snort and laugh. “not funny. i cried, true story.”

“hey y/n, nervous?,” he walks in the set, dimples on display.

“a little bit,” you confess, “but i trust you.”

he responds with a soft smile, giving you a small nod, “let’s do our best today.”

today was the scene — the scene where your characters come together for the first time, finally letting go of all the built up tension between them. a white button up polo and a black tight skirt hugs your body meanwhile jaehyun was dressed in a black suit. the office set ready to go.

setting - office. everyone else has gone home leaving your two characters, alone, in the night.

3, 2, 1, lights, camera…ACTION!

you walk over to jaehyun’s character sitting on his computer chair, lazily leaned back, legs wide open, his back to his desk. he watches you intently with a dark gaze in his eyes as you inch closer and closer to his face, teasing him.

“kiss me,” jaehyun says, sticking to the script.

“if i kiss you, i win,” you taunt, character teasing his.

“you win,” he agrees, whispering against your lips, earning a smirk of victory from you.

finally, you connect the space in between you, lips landing on his, before quickly pulling away. soft gazes interlocked, dramatic pause. jaehyun’s hand gently makes its way to the back of your head, pulling you in again as he takes the lead, deepening the kiss.

just as practiced, his hands go to your hips, pulling you down on to him as you rested your knees on his sides, capturing him in between your thighs, fitting in the small office chair. the make out session grows heavier and heavier, tongues battling — combination of spearmint and cherry chapstick making you addicted.

he slowly starts unbuttoning your top, lacy black bra coming into view, as his lips connected with your collarbones, gently sucking. “you don’t know how long i've been wanting to do this,” he says, the line coming out perfectly as he completely discards your shirt, leaving kisses on the top of your breasts.

your body responds to his actions, instinctively grinding down on him, clothed core coming into contact with his hard length, stomach tingling with arousal. jaehyun can’t help but release a strangled groan at your unexpected movement, the noise going straight to your head. this was not part of the script but he doesn’t break, he’ll play along with your improvisation. his large hands immediately go to your ass, cupping them with a light squeeze, cold fingertips making you whine against his ear, cock twitching in response.

as scripted, he picks you up carefully, lips messily clashing back together, before turning around and placing you on the computer desk, his body tucked in between your hips. you briefly pull away as he yanks his black tie off of his neck, your hand quickly unbuttoning his shirt and dropping it to the floor. your characters share a cheeky smile as you grab his trousers, pulling him towards you.

you unzip his pants, making it fall to the bottom of his legs, boxers soon to follow, leaving jaehyun standing there, naked, a piece of tiny cloth covering his large member, the camera angling right behind him now, a perfect shot of his ass into view, your legs wrapped around him, skirt hitched up.

and just like what you practiced, the choreography starts coming to life, jaehyun pulls down your panties, leaving you in the tiny cloth that covers your cunt before “thrusting” into you, his hands roughly grabbing your hips, as you release fake grunts and moans.

it was all an act, yet it was hard to ignore his rock hard boner and the cloth that was starting to stick to your cunt, pooling with your arousal, as you continued to dry hump your co-star.

“you. feel. so. good,” jaehyun grunts with each thrust. that was not a line in the script but at this point, who gives a fuck.

his lips were back on yours as you swallowed each other’s moans, sucking noises and teeth clashing accompanied with your heavy breathing was the only thing that could be heard throughout the set, the crew watching attentively, focused on the intense scene.

the table below you starts squeaking from the movement, moans becoming more real with every second that passes.

you grab onto jaehyun’s shoulders pulling him even closer to you, body heat radiating onto you as his thrusts get messier and messier. deep grunts resonating in your ear as you feel your arousal stain the cloths in between you.

“f-fuck i’m gonna cum,” jaehyun grunts, his body shaking, his grip on your hips tightening and then you feel it…the wetness of his release sticking in between your thighs. he actually came.

jaehyun quickly pulls away, eyes in quiet shock at his own actions as you both try to calm your composure, breathing heavily, now very much aware of the crowd around you.

he tries moving away but you keep him in place, afraid that the crew behind him would see the mess he has left behind. your eyes subtly dart down to your discarded clothing, silently communicating with him.

“okay, CUT!,” the director yells, snapping you both into place as jaehyun quickly removes himself from your space, gently pulling your skirt back down as you swiftly cross your legs together.

he quickly pulls his pants back up, before facing the crew, hoping that no one could see the wet spot that has tainted his protection cloth and is now dripping down his leg. handing you back your shirt, you cover yourself up, standing next to him, thighs sticking together, awaiting further instructions.

“i yelled cut 10 minutes ago but you guys didn’t hear me,” the director chuckled as the both of you stood there, ears bright red, smiling sheepishly, “amazing job, that felt really real, we’ll use that one” she says, clapping. the entire crew cheering at the one shot one take – it was very real, but only you and jaehyun knew that.

“that’s a wrap for today,” she ends the scene as you and jaehyun walk off the set quietly, the sexual tension in the air lingering.

once you were out of earshot, jaehyun pulled you to the side, “sorry about that, i got too caught up i guess,” he apologizes, ears burning red, refusing to make eye contact.

“it's okay,” you reassured him, “i didn’t let you do anything that i didn’t want to do,” you quietly responded, your answer giving him back his confidence.

“oh, really?,” he teases, dimples coming out to play.

“really…i-i liked it,” you confess, making him grin even wider as he took a step towards you, figure completely towering over you, before whispering, “how about i return the favor in my dressing room and make you cum, pretty girl?,” your breath hitches in your throat, the stickiness in your thighs becoming very evident as the excitement bubbles through you again.

“would you like that, pretty?,” he whispers, landing a soft kiss on your neck. you grab on to his hand, leading him to the direction of his trailer, a deep chuckle coming from the boy next to you.

jaehyun immediately gets to work as soon as you were in the safety of his room, locking the door and pushing you up against the wall, lips quickly back in yours, “you taste so good, i fucking love kissing scenes with you,” he confesses, earning a whine of approval from you.

“jump,” he orders. you jump, wrapping your legs around his torso as he picks you up, placing you on his table, getting on his knees, face finding his spot in between your legs. he pushes your skirt back up and finally takes off the barrier, the cold air hitting your pussy before his tongue swipes through your folds, making you sigh in pleasure.

“so fucking wet,” he moans against your pussy, “is this all for me, pretty?,” he teases, lapping up your juices.

“a-all for you, jaehyun,” you whine, hips desperately arching up to meet his lips. he furiously licks your folds, moving his face up and down, sharp nose rubbing on your clit.

“just like that jaehyun, please don't stop,” you cry out in a whine, the pleasure building in your stomach, hands harshly gripping his hair making him moan, the vibration sending tingles all throughout your body.

he continues licking up and down your folds, tongue going in and out of your hole, swirling and sucking around your sensitive bud again and again.

the lewd noises turns him on, his own hand immediately going straight to his hard cock, pumping himself to your whiny moans that were filling up the room.

your breathing becomes heavier and heavier, messily thrusting your hips up to his face, desperate for release as he pumps his cock faster and faster, matching the rhythm of his tongue against your pussy.

“i’m cumming, i’m cumming,” you repeat like it was a mantra, eyes closing, head falling back against his dressing mirror. jaehyun quickened the pace on his dick, pumping harshly, wanting to come with you. your body goes slack as your release takes over, body shaking with pleasure.

jaehyun’s free hand goes straight to your thigh keeping you open for him as he continues to collect your juices, making sure he cleans up every drop. your pussy stifling his groans as he cums in his pants once again.

you push him away, the overstimulation getting to you and he makes his way back to your lips, kissing you slowly. you taste yourself on his tongue. his fingers filled with his juices come in contact with your lips and you don’t waste a second licking it off of him, gently sucking on his fingertips.

“all that, and you haven’t even touched me yet, god, you drive me crazy, pretty girl” he confesses, kissing you once again, carefully pulling your skirt back down to cover you.

“i want to touch you,” you plead, pulling his trousers towards you again, just like the scene but he steps away before you can pull it off him, clicking his tongue, head shaking no.

“how about you let me take you out on a real date first, pretty girl?,” he asks, a playful smirk on his lips and your heart swoons, a soft smile growing on your features.

he was a gentleman after all and you weren’t the only one crushin’ on him.

“i would love that,” you agree, pulling him towards you for another kiss.

“hey y/n, nervous?,” he walks in the set, dimples on display.

“a little bit,” you confess, “but i trust you.”

he responds with a soft smile, giving you a small nod, “let’s do our best today.”

today was the scene — the scene where your characters come together for the first time, finally letting go of all the built up tension between them. a white button up polo and a black tight skirt hugs your body meanwhile jaehyun was dressed in a black suit. the office set ready to go.

setting - office. everyone else has gone home leaving your two characters, alone, in the night.

3, 2, 1, lights, camera…ACTION!

you walk over to jaehyun’s character sitting on his computer chair, lazily leaned back, legs wide open, his back to his desk. he watches you intently with a dark gaze in his eyes as you inch closer and closer to his face, teasing him.

“kiss me,” jaehyun says, sticking to the script.

“if i kiss you, i win,” you taunt, character teasing his.

“you win,” he agrees, whispering against your lips, earning a smirk of victory from you.

finally, you connect the space in between you, lips landing on his, before quickly pulling away. soft gazes interlocked, dramatic pause. jaehyun’s hand gently makes its way to the back of your head, pulling you in again as he takes the lead, deepening the kiss.

just as practiced, his hands go to your hips, pulling you down on to him as you rested your knees on his sides, capturing him in between your thighs, fitting in the small office chair. the make out session grows heavier and heavier, tongues battling — combination of spearmint and cherry chapstick making you addicted.

he slowly starts unbuttoning your top, lacy black bra coming into view, as his lips connected with your collarbones, gently sucking. “you don’t know how long i've been wanting to do this,” he says, the line coming out perfectly as he completely discards your shirt, leaving kisses on the top of your breasts.

your body responds to his actions, instinctively grinding down on him, clothed core coming into contact with his hard length, stomach tingling with arousal. jaehyun can’t help but release a strangled groan at your unexpected movement, the noise going straight to your head. this was not part of the script but he doesn’t break, he’ll play along with your improvisation. his large hands immediately go to your ass, cupping them with a light squeeze, cold fingertips making you whine against his ear, cock twitching in response.

as scripted, he picks you up carefully, lips messily clashing back together, before turning around and placing you on the computer desk, his body tucked in between your hips. you briefly pull away as he yanks his black tie off of his neck, your hand quickly unbuttoning his shirt and dropping it to the floor. your characters share a cheeky smile as you grab his trousers, pulling him towards you.

you unzip his pants, making it fall to the bottom of his legs, boxers soon to follow, leaving jaehyun standing there, naked, a piece of tiny cloth covering his large member, the camera angling right behind him now, a perfect shot of his ass into view, your legs wrapped around him, skirt hitched up.

and just like what you practiced, the choreography starts coming to life, jaehyun pulls down your panties, leaving you in the tiny cloth that covers your cunt before “thrusting” into you, his hands roughly grabbing your hips, as you release fake grunts and moans.

it was all an act, yet it was hard to ignore his rock hard boner and the cloth that was starting to stick to your cunt, pooling with your arousal, as you continued to dry hump your co-star.

“you. feel. so. good,” jaehyun grunts with each thrust. that was not a line in the script but at this point, who gives a fuck.

his lips were back on yours as you swallowed each other’s moans, sucking noises and teeth clashing accompanied with your heavy breathing was the only thing that could be heard throughout the set, the crew watching attentively, focused on the intense scene.

the table below you starts squeaking from the movement, moans becoming more real with every second that passes.

you grab onto jaehyun’s shoulders pulling him even closer to you, body heat radiating onto you as his thrusts get messier and messier. deep grunts resonating in your ear as you feel your arousal stain the cloths in between you.

“f-fuck i’m gonna cum,” jaehyun grunts, his body shaking, his grip on your hips tightening and then you feel it…the wetness of his release sticking in between your thighs. he actually came.

jaehyun quickly pulls away, eyes in quiet shock at his own actions as you both try to calm your composure, breathing heavily, now very much aware of the crowd around you.

he tries moving away but you keep him in place, afraid that the crew behind him would see the mess he has left behind. your eyes subtly dart down to your discarded clothing, silently communicating with him.

“okay, CUT!,” the director yells, snapping you both into place as jaehyun quickly removes himself from your space, gently pulling your skirt back down as you swiftly cross your legs together.

he quickly pulls his pants back up, before facing the crew, hoping that no one could see the wet spot that has tainted his protection cloth and is now dripping down his leg. handing you back your shirt, you cover yourself up, standing next to him, thighs sticking together, awaiting further instructions.

“i yelled cut 10 minutes ago but you guys didn’t hear me,” the director chuckled as the both of you stood there, ears bright red, smiling sheepishly, “amazing job, that felt really real, we’ll use that one” she says, clapping. the entire crew cheering at the one shot one take – it was very real, but only you and jaehyun knew that.

“that’s a wrap for today,” she ends the scene as you and jaehyun walk off the set quietly, the sexual tension in the air lingering.

once you were out of earshot, jaehyun pulled you to the side, “sorry about that, i got too caught up i guess,” he apologizes, ears burning red, refusing to make eye contact.

“it's okay,” you reassured him, “i didn’t let you do anything that i didn’t want to do,” you quietly responded, your answer giving him back his confidence.

“oh, really?,” he teases, dimples coming out to play.

“really…i-i liked it,” you confess, making him grin even wider as he took a step towards you, figure completely towering over you, before whispering, “how about i return the favor in my dressing room and make you cum, pretty girl?,” your breath hitches in your throat, the stickiness in your thighs becoming very evident as the excitement bubbles through you again.

“would you like that, pretty?,” he whispers, landing a soft kiss on your neck. you grab on to his hand, leading him to the direction of his trailer, a deep chuckle coming from the boy next to you.

jaehyun immediately gets to work as soon as you were in the safety of his room, locking the door and pushing you up against the wall, lips quickly back in yours, “you taste so good, i fucking love kissing scenes with you,” he confesses, earning a whine of approval from you.

“jump,” he orders. you jump, wrapping your legs around his torso as he picks you up, placing you on his table, getting on his knees, face finding his spot in between your legs. he pushes your skirt back up and finally takes off the barrier, the cold air hitting your pussy before his tongue swipes through your folds, making you sigh in pleasure.

“so fucking wet,” he moans against your pussy, “is this all for me, pretty?,” he teases, lapping up your juices.

“a-all for you, jaehyun,” you whine, hips desperately arching up to meet his lips. he furiously licks your folds, moving his face up and down, sharp nose rubbing on your clit.

“just like that jaehyun, please don't stop,” you cry out in a whine, the pleasure building in your stomach, hands harshly gripping his hair making him moan, the vibration sending tingles all throughout your body.

he continues licking up and down your folds, tongue going in and out of your hole, swirling and sucking around your sensitive bud again and again.

the lewd noises turns him on, his own hand immediately going straight to his hard cock, pumping himself to your whiny moans that were filling up the room.

your breathing becomes heavier and heavier, messily thrusting your hips up to his face, desperate for release as he pumps his cock faster and faster, matching the rhythm of his tongue against your pussy.

“i’m cumming, i’m cumming,” you repeat like it was a mantra, eyes closing, head falling back against his dressing mirror. jaehyun quickened the pace on his dick, pumping harshly, wanting to come with you. your body goes slack as your release takes over, body shaking with pleasure.

jaehyun’s free hand goes straight to your thigh keeping you open for him as he continues to collect your juices, making sure he cleans up every drop. your pussy stifling his groans as he cums in his pants once again.

you push him away, the overstimulation getting to you and he makes his way back to your lips, kissing you slowly. you taste yourself on his tongue. his fingers filled with his juices come in contact with your lips and you don’t waste a second licking it off of him, gently sucking on his fingertips.

“all that, and you haven’t even touched me yet, god, you drive me crazy, pretty girl” he confesses, kissing you once again, carefully pulling your skirt back down to cover you.

“i want to touch you,” you plead, pulling his trousers towards you again, just like the scene but he steps away before you can pull it off him, clicking his tongue, head shaking no.

“how about you let me take you out on a real date first, pretty girl?,” he asks, a playful smirk on his lips and your heart swoons, a soft smile growing on your features.

he was a gentleman after all and you weren’t the only one crushin’ on him.

“i would love that,” you agree, pulling him towards you for another kiss.

----------

Jaehyun’s fists clenched and unclenched as he walked off the training field, sweat still cooling on his skin. He could deal with drills, with barked orders, with sore muscles that screamed for rest. But what he couldn’t deal with—what pushed him right to the edge—was her.

Y/N was leaning casually against the mess hall wall, legs bare in shorts that were far too small to be decent, her smile lazy and teasing as she aimed it at two of the younger privates carrying trays inside. A tilt of her head, a brush of her hand against one of their arms, and suddenly she had an extra carton of juice tucked under her arm like it was the easiest thing in the world.

Jaehyun looked away sharply, irritation spiking. The commander’s daughter, getting whatever she wanted with a flutter of lashes. No discipline, no respect.

As he headed for the showers, he caught a murmur of voices behind him. Two soldiers leaned against the lockers, smirking.

“She’s hot as hell, though.” “Yeah, but don’t waste your time. She never sleeps with anyone on base. Just teases.” “Figures. Still—worth a shot, right?”

Jaehyun’s jaw locked so tight it hurt. He hated how casually they spoke about her, hated that part of him almost agreed with them.

By the time the evening bell rang and his duty officially ended, he was already in a foul mood. The commander’s words echoed in his head—you’ll stay in her room from nineteen hundred until zero six thirty. Teach her respect if you can.

Jaehyun sighed heavily as he reached the door. Babysitting duty. Of all punishments, he had to get this.

He pushed it open and found her exactly as he expected: sprawled on her bed, PJ shorts riding up her thighs, one of her father’s old military shirts hanging loose on her frame, a book balanced in her lap. She didn’t even glance up.

“Oh,” she drawled, flipping a page, “you must be the new babysitter.”

Jaehyun’s teeth ground together. Exactly what he expected.

“I’m not your babysitter,” he muttered, his voice low, controlled. “This is my punishment. I take my job very seriously.”

“Maybe if you took it seriously,” she replied without missing a beat, eyes still on her book, “you would’ve brought the right uniform to practice.”

Jaehyun’s eye twitched. She didn’t even look at him, too absorbed in her page, dismissing him as if he weren’t worth the space he stood in.

This was going to be a long summer.

Jaehyun set his duffel down by the spare cot and straightened his shoulders, the way he did before reciting orders on the training field.

“Ground rules,” he said flatly.

That finally got her to look up. Y/N cocked a brow, book sliding down onto her lap as if this might be entertaining.

“You’re in this room from nineteen hundred until zero six thirty. No sneaking out. No yelling down the hall. No harassing the soldiers. And you—” he jabbed a finger at her “—show me some basic respect.”

She blinked once, then slowly leaned back against her pillows. “Cute speech,” she said, a lazy roll of her eyes following the words. “But you can try all you want, Jaehyun. I’ll still do whatever I want.”

The groan that left him was heavy, dragged straight from his chest. She was stubborn to her bones, every word from her mouth a challenge. He tugged at the collar of his uniform, feeling the sticky heat of summer clinging to his skin. With an aggravated sigh, he shrugged off his military jacket and tossed it onto the cot.

The thin white tank top underneath clung to his torso, exposing his broad chest and the curve of his biceps as he reached up to run a hand through his hair. He didn’t notice her stare at first—not until he caught the subtle bite of her lip, her gaze tracking the muscles in his arms before lifting to meet his eyes.

And then—she smiled. Sweet. Innocent. Deceptive.

“Nice,” she murmured, winking as if she hadn’t just crossed ten lines at once.

Jaehyun stared at her, tongue pushing against his cheek, disbelief prickling hot under his skin. How could someone be so shameless?

“I’m going to shower,” he muttered, his voice low and sharp as he turned away, because if he kept standing there, she’d see exactly how much she was getting under his skin.

When Jaehyun came back, his hair was still damp, leaving faint droplets down his neck and the chain of his dog tags glinting under the room’s light. He looked calm, collected, already stripped down to a clean shirt and joggers, the picture of someone who didn’t intend to waste another second on her nonsense.

But Y/N wasn’t about to let him off easy. She sat upright in her bed, hugging her knees, eyes fixed on him as he sat on the edge of his cot and ran a towel over his hair.

“So… you have a girlfriend?” she asked, tone casual but her gaze sharp, watching for the smallest flicker in his expression.

Jaehyun ignored her.

“Oh,” she tried again, tilting her head like she was genuinely curious. “Boyfriend?”

For the first time all night, he cracked. Just a fraction, the corner of his mouth tugging upward in something that almost resembled a smirk.

Y/N gasped, pointing like she’d just spotted a rare animal. “Oh my God. He smiles?”

Jaehyun finally looked at her, his expression flat but his eyes carrying the faintest gleam of amusement. She leaned into the moment, lashes batting, voice softening with a practiced innocence.

“Listen, why don’t we just make this easy? I’ll leave you alone, you can leave me alone, and we can just live our lives in peace?”

For a moment, it looked like he was considering it. His brows pinched slightly, his jaw tight, as though he might actually let her talk her way out of this.

Then his voice came, low and steady. “That would make your life really easy, wouldn’t it? I bet any other guy would buy this little innocent act. But this is the military, and I’m a soldier. Which means I follow my orders.” His gaze locked on hers, unwavering. “And mine were to teach you discipline and ensure you follow your father’s rules. So no. We have no deal.”

With that, he clicked the light off, the room slipping into shadows. He stretched out on his cot like the conversation was finished, utterly unbothered.

Y/N’s jaw dropped in disbelief, her mouth parting as though she couldn’t remember the last time anyone had told her no—and meant it.

------------

At exactly 6:30 a.m., Jaehyun’s alarm went off. He was up on the dot, movements precise, as though his body was programmed for military time. Across the room, Y/N groaned, dragging a pillow over her head.

“Five more minutes,” she mumbled.

Jaehyun considered yanking the blanket right off her, forcing her awake, but he stopped himself. He didn’t need the image of her bare legs first thing in the morning—he saw them enough every night before falling asleep. With a muttered curse under his breath, he grabbed his boots and left.

The day was brutal. The commander was in a foul mood, barking orders until Jaehyun’s throat burned and his muscles screamed. Extra drills, extra push-ups, running laps until his body felt like it would collapse. By the time evening rolled around, Jaehyun was wound tight, aching for a moment of peace.

He opened the door to the room, sighing in relief—only for the breath to catch in his chest.

Y/N was sprawled across his bed, a book open in her hands. Her hair was loose, her legs curled comfortably under her as though she belonged there.

“What the hell are you doing?” he demanded, dropping his bag louder than necessary.

She blinked innocently, looking around as though genuinely confused. “Oh, is this not my bed? Summer heat must be getting to me,” she said sweetly, slipping out of his sheets with deliberate slowness before dropping onto her own bed. A little smile tugged at her lips, the kind that told him she knew exactly what she was doing.

Jaehyun walked closer, his nose wrinkling as he realized his bed now smelled like her—warm, feminine, distracting. It made his chest tighten.

“I’m gonna take a shower,” he muttered, more to himself than to her, before leaving the room quickly.

Behind him, Y/N giggled into her book, smug. He was a man, after all.

But her smile faltered the moment he came back.

This time, Jaehyun hadn’t bothered dressing in the bathroom. His hair was still wet, dark strands dripping over his temples as water tracked down his chest. He was shirtless, only a towel slung around his neck, his joggers hanging low enough to reveal the sharp line of his v-cut. His dog tags swung lightly with each movement, catching the dim light.

He didn’t spare her a glance, just scrubbed the towel over his head like it was any other night. But Y/N found herself frozen, book forgotten in her lap, her throat suddenly dry.

For the first time, she didn’t have a witty comment ready.

Y/N told herself she didn’t care. There were plenty of soldiers on base who were just as hot as Jaehyun—hotter, even. At least that’s what she lied to herself. She didn’t need the man assigned to be her babysitter. And besides, she had rules: she never slept with anyone under her father’s command. No, she snuck out when she needed release. She’d find someone outside the walls, at a party, someone who wouldn’t end up tangled with her father’s shadow. Maybe tonight would be the night.

She waited for Jaehyun’s breathing to even out, but it never came. He shifted in his bed, restless, her scent clinging to his sheets, seeping into his skin. And she grew restless too.

Finally, Y/N slipped out of bed, pulling on a cardigan over her tank top and shorts. “I need some air,” she muttered, not caring if he heard. She padded outside and sat on the wooden steps, curling her legs to her chest, the night air cool against her skin. The crickets sang in the distance, and for the first time all day, she felt like she could breathe.

The wood creaked behind her. She turned quickly, heart stuttering, only to see Jaehyun leaning against the support beam, arms folded, gaze tipped upward toward the stars.

“Can’t sleep?” he asked casually.

“It’s hard to sleep when a stranger is in your room,” Y/N shot back, her tone sharp.

For once, Jaehyun smiled. “I think this is the first time you’ve been honest with me.”

She scoffed, looking back out at the dark horizon.

“You know,” he said as he pushed off the beam and sat beside her, his voice quieter now, “if you behaved, your father wouldn’t have assigned a babysitter in the first place.”

Y/N stiffened. He was too close, his warmth brushing her side, the faint musky scent of his body lotion threading through the night air.

“Yeah, I’m sure my dad would love that,” she snapped. “If I obeyed his every word, like one of his precious soldiers. Like you. But you wouldn’t get it.”

Jaehyun studied her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. “You’re right. I never thought about it like that.” His voice had lost its edge. “He treats you like a soldier, not his daughter… that must be hard.”

Y/N’s chest tightened, caught off guard by the way his words slipped under her skin. She turned, looking at him properly, his profile sharp in the moonlight, eyes fixed on the sky. It unsettled her, how genuine he sounded.

She stood abruptly, brushing off her cardigan. “I’m going back to bed,” she muttered, refusing to let the softness linger.

And without waiting for him to answer, she disappeared inside, leaving him on the steps, still staring at the stars.

----------

For the next few days, Y/N avoided Jaehyun like the plague. She didn’t linger in the hallways, didn’t bother picking little fights with him, didn’t even look his way unless she absolutely had to. She’d slip into their shared room around nine each night, crawl straight into bed, and turn her back to him without so much as a word.

It bothered him more than he wanted to admit. The silence should’ve been a relief—she wasn’t sneaking out, she wasn’t running her mouth, she wasn’t making his punishment harder than it already was. But Jaehyun found himself listening for her voice, her snark, her laughter. And when it didn’t come, he told himself he didn’t care. As long as she was behaving, that’s all that mattered.

At least, that’s what he repeated like a mantra.

Until he saw her again.

She was back to her old tricks, leaning against the counter of the mess hall with that saccharine smile, flirting with whoever was on serving duty that day. Jaehyun watched her slip an extra pastry onto her tray with a triumphant grin, her laugh carrying over the din of the hall.

The tables were packed, the only open seats clustered around where Jaehyun and his bandmates sat. Y/N hesitated for half a second before sliding into a spot a couple of chairs away from him. Not next to him, never next to him.

She dove straight into conversation with the soldiers around her, teasing, bantering, her eyes bright with mischief. She had them hooked in minutes—Jaehyun couldn’t deny that. There was something magnetic about her, and it made his jaw clench.

But the strangest part? She wasn’t the only one pulling attention. He felt it too, the way the group’s energy kept circling back to him. His friends leaned in when he spoke, hung on to his words like every offhand joke was the funniest thing they’d ever heard. Jaehyun didn’t even have to try; the easy charm, the natural pull, it just happened.

Y/N noticed. Of course she did. She sat there, stabbing at the meat on her tray harder than necessary, sneaking glances she immediately regretted. Jaehyun had that boyish grin on, the kind of smile that softened all his sharp edges and made people want to keep looking. She could only imagine what he was like outside the base—probably popular with every woman in a ten-mile radius, soaking up attention without even asking for it.

She shook her head, stabbing again at the unyielding hunk of food. None of her business. She didn’t care.

No, what she needed was to get laid before this tension drove her insane.

Y/N had decided—if she wanted Jaehyun out of her room, if she wanted her freedom back, she’d have to drive him crazy. Make him so uncomfortable he’d be begging her father to put someone else on night duty. Someone who didn’t get under her skin the way he did.

That night, the room was quiet. She sat cross-legged on her bed with a book propped open, pretending to be absorbed in the lines, though she was very aware of Jaehyun stretched out on the single bed across from her, scrolling silently through his phone.

Her lips curved. Time to test him.

“It’s too hot,” she announced casually, slipping a finger under the hem of her shirt. “I need to change.”

Jaehyun didn’t even glance up, just hummed in acknowledgment, scrolling on. That only spurred her on.

She stood, turned deliberately away from him, and peeled the shirt over her head. No bra underneath.

She heard rather than saw his reaction—the sharp intake of breath, the faint rustle as he flinched back like he’d been struck.

“What the hell are you doing?” His voice cracked with disbelief, the kind of tone he usually reserved for soldiers screwing up drills.

Y/N turned halfway, letting him catch the outline of her bare shoulders and breast, the subtle smirk on her face. “What? It’s hot. I told you I was changing.”

“You could’ve asked me to leave the room.” He’d whipped around by now, staring stubbornly at the wall, ears tinged red.

She bit her lip, suppressing a laugh. “Why? It’s not like you haven’t seen a girl without a shirt before.”

“That’s not the point,” Jaehyun growled, his knuckles white around his phone as if it were the only thing tethering him to control. “You don’t just—” He cut himself off, jaw tightening. “Just put another shirt on.”

Y/N slipped leisurely into a fresh tank top, enjoying every second of his discomfort. Oh, this was going to be fun.

“It’s my room,” Y/N announced with a little huff, standing in the doorway like she owned the place. “I shouldn’t need to ask you to do anything—you should just read my mind and do it.”

Jae turned his head slowly, blinking at her like she’d grown a second head. “You’ve lost it,” he muttered.

But she only smiled sweetly, taking her time crossing the room. She perched herself right on the edge of his bed, the mattress dipping under her weight.

“Y/N.” His voice dropped, firm, warning. “Off. Get off my bed and go to your own.”

She tilted her head, looking far too innocent. “I just have one question, and then I’ll leave you alone.”

Jae exhaled, shoulders sinking. “Fine. What?”

Her lashes lowered, and her lips curved with mischief. “Am I your type?”

For a second, he just stared. His jaw actually dropped. “What—what normal person asks that?”

“I think we both know I’m far from normal,” she said lightly, her smile sharper now. “That’s what growing up on a base with limited human interaction does to a young woman. So…” She leaned in, eyes catching his. “Am I your type?”

He stuttered, words tangling. “Go—go to bed. Now, Y/N.”

Her laugh was soft, airy, sliding under his skin like a taunt. She placed one delicate hand on his chest, batting her lashes up at him. “But just so you know…” Her voice dipped, teasing. “…you’re exactly my type.”

Jae’s reaction was immediate. He shot to his feet, gripping her wrist, and tugged her off his bed with a force that made her stumble. He dragged her across the room, depositing her onto her own mattress. The blankets came down hard around her as he tucked them in roughly, trapping her beneath the weight so she couldn’t spring back up.

“Stop fucking with me and go to bed,” he bit out, voice rougher than he intended.

Y/N only giggled, wriggling under the cocoon he’d made. The sound was soft, knowing—she’d gotten under his skin, and she knew it.

-------------

Later that night, Y/N slipped out with the kind of practiced ease that only came from years of doing the exact same thing. Her movements were quiet, precise—door latch eased open, boots carried in one hand, tube top and skirt pulled from their hiding spot beneath her bed. She’d been sneaking off base since she was sixteen, meeting friends, sneaking into parties, kissing boys behind buildings. Jaehyun being in her room now didn’t change the fact that she knew every shadow and blind spot like the back of her hand.

Once outside, she ducked behind the barracks, pulling on her shoes and touching up with concealer, a hint of blush, mascara. The mirror on her phone was enough; she knew how to make herself look alive again after the monotony of base life.

Her best friend MJ was waiting by the old truck that always coughed before it started. “Finally,” MJ grinned, tugging her close in a quick hug. “Thought lover boy had you on lockdown.”

“Please,” Y/N scoffed, climbing in. “He was dead asleep before I even finished changing. Military robot through and through.”

They drove off into the night, music blasting low through the speakers, until they hit the little off-base dive where everyone their age seemed to end up eventually. Inside, the place was hazy, lit up by neon signs, a dance floor packed with bodies. Y/N and MJ moved together easily, laughing, their arms swinging as they lost themselves in the beat.

Halfway through, Y/N leaned close, her lips brushing MJ’s ear over the music. “The new soldier watching after me? He’s so hot. Like… unfairly hot. I swear, I need to get laid.”

MJ threw her head back with a laugh. “So do it. Screw that stupid rule of yours about not hooking up with base guys. If it’s just a one-time thing, who cares?”

Y/N wrinkled her nose, shaking her head. “Too messy. Last thing I need is him catching hell because of me. I don’t want him in trouble just for… y’know.”

“For rearranging your spine?” MJ teased, making Y/N smack her arm.

“Shut up,” she giggled, taking another sip of her drink.

Still, as the night wore on, her eyes wandered. She flirted with a couple guys at the bar, exchanged easy smiles on the dance floor, but none of them gave her that spark. None of them made her feel that magnetic pull she hated herself for associating with Jaehyun.

By the time MJ offered her a ride back, Y/N didn’t protest. She slipped back through the gates as dawn started to gray the horizon, the adrenaline of her secret night buzzing in her veins. She’d gotten away with it again.

Y/N slipped back into the room at six, thirty minutes before Jaehyun’s alarm usually went off. Her heart was racing as she shut the door softly, already peeling off her clothes and changing into her sleep shirt. The rush of the night was still in her veins—the music, the dancing, the flirting—but she moved with quiet precision, slipping beneath the blankets and exhaling when her head hit the pillow. She’d made it.

Or so she thought.

“Had fun?”

Her entire body jolted, a sharp gasp escaping her lips. She sat up instantly, eyes snapping toward the corner of the room where Jaehyun’s voice came from. He was standing by his bed, already awake, arms crossed loosely over his chest like he’d been waiting.

“I—” Y/N forced a laugh, waving her hand like he was ridiculous. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, yeah?” Jaehyun’s tone was low, steady, and far too calm. He walked toward her slowly, every step deliberate, until he was towering over her. She was still half-tucked into the blankets, her head tilted back on the pillow to look up at him, and the way his shadow fell over her made her throat tighten.

He crouched slightly, his hand coming up before she could move. Warm, calloused fingers cupped her cheek, tilting her face toward him. His thumb dragged across her bottom lip—slow, unhurried, almost sensual. His eyes stayed locked on hers, sharp and unreadable.

“You wear lipstick to bed every night?” His grin curved, amused but edged with something darker.

Her breath caught. Heat rushed to her cheeks as she slapped his hand away, scowling. “You’re delusional.”

Jaehyun only leaned closer, his mouth brushing the shell of her ear. His voice dropped into a husky whisper that sent a shiver running straight down her spine.

“I hope you had fun, sweetheart. Because that’s the last time you’re ever sneaking out.”

When he pulled back, she was still frozen, the air around her charged, her body betraying her with a trembling she couldn’t stop.

----------

The soldiers’ boots pounded against the dirt, circling the lake in unison, morning air still damp and heavy with mist. Jaehyun’s chest rose and fell in steady rhythm, sweat already clinging to his skin, his muscles burning but his pace strong.

At the water’s edge sat Y/N, legs dangling in the cool lake, her toes breaking the glassy surface. She looked unbothered, content, her lips curved in a little smile as she watched him from afar. Jaehyun’s jaw tightened—she was too damn carefree.

“Dismissed!” the commander barked. The soldiers slowed, catching their breath as they began dispersing toward the mess hall.

“Except you, Jaehyun.”

He stopped mid-step, turning back to face the older man. His pulse picked up, not from exertion but from the sharp look the commander gave him.

“The entire point of you staying with Y/N,” the commander said lowly, “is so she doesn’t sneak out. And yet… seems like she managed to last night.”

Jaehyun’s stomach sank, though his face stayed neutral. “I already spoke to her about it. It won’t happen again.”

The commander studied him for a moment, then gave a curt nod. “Very well. Three extra laps around the lake for the slip-up. Don’t let it happen twice.”

“Yes, sir.” Jaehyun gritted his teeth and set off again, legs already heavy but determination carrying him forward. He kept his eyes on the path ahead, until movement by the shore pulled his focus.

Y/N.

He blinked, thrown off stride. Her top and shorts were folded in a heap at the edge of the bank, and there she was in the water—no straps, no fabric, just her bare shoulders breaking the surface as she treaded lazily.

Jaehyun froze for half a second, heart lurching into his throat. She was skinny dipping. In broad daylight.

He darted a glance around—mess hall was full, drills were over. It was just the two of them.

“Unbelievable,” he muttered under his breath, forcing himself forward again. He needed to focus, to get through his punishment, not her antics. He pushed harder into his run, the steady rhythm of his breathing the only thing keeping his thoughts in check.

Then it came.

A sharp splash, followed by Y/N’s voice cutting across the lake.

“Jaehyun! Help!”

His head snapped to the water, blood running cold as he saw her struggling, her arms flailing before she disappeared under the surface.

The panic in her voice cut through Jaehyun like a blade. His body moved before thought—jacket stripped and tossed to the ground, boots kicking up dirt as he dove headfirst into the lake. The cold swallowed him whole, but he didn’t care.

His arms cut through the water in strong strokes until he reached her, catching her just as she went under again. Y/N gasped when he wrapped her securely in his arms, lifting her bridal style against his chest.

“I’ve got you,” he muttered, his voice low but firm, steady even as his heart thundered.

She clung to him, fingers digging into his shoulders as he swam back, every motion powerful and controlled. When his feet finally touched the sandy bottom near the shore, he carried her through the shallows, water dripping off them both.

By the time he laid her down gently on the grass, Jaehyun was breathless—not from the swim, but from the rush of adrenaline still coursing through him. He grabbed his discarded jacket, thick and warm, and draped it firmly over her trembling body.

“What’s wrong?” he demanded, crouching over her, sincerity etched in every line of his face.

Y/N winced, clutching her thigh. “I—I got a cramp in my leg. Couldn’t… couldn’t move.”

His gaze softened, jaw tight as he nodded. Without hesitation, his hands moved to her leg, sliding the jacket down just enough to press his palm against the tense muscle, beginning to knead.

“Point your toes toward you,” he instructed, voice calm, controlled, though his fingertips burned against her damp skin. “Breathe through it. I’ve got you.”

Y/N tried to obey, wincing again, the jacket slipping down her shoulder just slightly, exposing damp skin glistening in the sun. Jaehyun quickly looked away, focusing harder on massaging the cramp out, but the image seared into his mind.

Her breathing slowly steadied, the tightness in her leg easing under his touch. She blinked up at him, wet lashes sticking together, lips parted.

“You saved me,” she whispered.

Jaehyun’s throat bobbed. “You scared the shit out of me.”

The heavy thud of boots pounded against the earth, and within seconds, her father came rushing up the path, his voice sharp with panic.

“What’s wrong? What happened?”

Before Jaehyun could answer, Y/N beat him to it, sitting half-wrapped in his jacket, damp hair clinging to her cheeks. “It’s fine, Dad. I just—I got a cramp while swimming. Jaehyun pulled me out.”

Jaehyun kept his arm firm around her shoulders, tugging his jacket tighter to keep her warm and unexposed. He didn’t miss the way her father’s chest lifted with relief before his expression hardened again.

“I’m glad you’re alright,” her father said, his tone brisk but thick with something gentler beneath. “And you should be thanking Jaehyun. You’re lucky he was here. Though you wouldn’t have needed saving if you hadn’t been sneaking off and disobeying orders in the first place. You can’t just do whatever you want here, Y/N. This is a military base.”

Y/N rolled her eyes, her voice sharp, defensive. “I know, Dad. I’m a prisoner here, remember?”

Her father stilled, eyes softening at her words. The lines in his face deepened, and his voice dropped. “I’m sorry you feel that way. But this… this is my job. And I’m sorry if this is the only life I can give you.”

Y/N’s chest squeezed painfully. She tried to push herself up, the apology catching on her lips. “Dad, wait—I didn’t mean it like that—”

But her leg gave out, and Jaehyun was still holding her firmly in place, his jacket locked around her trembling frame.

“Shh, easy,” he murmured, steady as ever.

Her throat tightened, a tear slipping down her cheek before she could stop it. She turned toward Jaehyun, desperate, her voice breaking. “Jaehyun, I didn’t mean it like that. You know that, right?”

He caught her gaze, calm and unwavering, his hand squeezing her shoulder. His voice was low, soothing, like steel wrapped in velvet.

“Hey, hey. Just calm down for a second. He knows. I know. It’s alright. Just take it easy.”

Her lip wobbled, but the steadiness in his tone grounded her. She sank back against his jacket, letting herself breathe again, even as her father stood silently, the air thick with words none of them knew how to say.

Jaehyun carried her all the way back to her room, her arms looped around his shoulders, face pressed into the soaked fabric of his chest. The scent of lake water clung to both of them, mingling with the faint musk of his skin. He set her down gently on the edge of the bed, his voice low, practical, even though his pulse was still racing.

“You should shower first,” he murmured. “I’ll put the hot water on.”

But when he tried to ease her away, her arms only clung tighter, refusing to let go. The warmth of her pressed against him, her breath feathering his skin, made something in him tighten. His hand hesitated, then carefully moved her wet hair out of her face. For a heartbeat, their eyes met—faces closer than they had ever been.

Jaehyun’s throat worked as if he had something to say, but he swallowed it back, forcing himself to pull away. He turned sharply, walking into the bathroom to turn on the water.

A knock came at the door. Y/N’s father stood there, arms full of fresh clothes still warm from the dryer. He set them down on the bed with quiet efficiency.

“Dad,” Y/N blurted, her voice small, thick with guilt. “I didn’t mean what I said earlier.”

Her father softened, giving her the kind of smile only a parent could. “I know, sweetheart. But I do wish I could give you a better life than this.”

Tears pricked her eyes as she shook her head. “No, my life is perfect. I’m well fed, I have friends here, I have a lot of free time for my hobbies… I promise I’m happy. You’ve given me everything and more.”

His jaw tightened as if holding back more emotion than he wanted to show. He bent down and pressed a kiss to the top of her damp hair, then turned and quietly walked out, muttering how he's glad she's okay.

When Jaehyun came back in, he didn’t say a word about what he might have overheard. He just crouched down, steady hands helping her to her feet. He guided her to the bathroom door, then stopped, lingering only a second too long before forcing himself to let go.

“Shower. Get warm,” he said, voice a little rougher than usual.

She gave the faintest nod and slipped inside. The door clicked against the frame but didn’t close all the way, left slightly ajar. Jaehyun turned to leave, but his eyes flickered without meaning to.

Just for a moment, he caught a glimpse—her fingers sliding his heavy jacket off her shoulders, the fabric sliding down to reveal bare skin, delicate collarbones, the curve of her back. Heat slammed through him.

He spun his head away so fast it almost hurt, cursing himself under his breath. He was a soldier. She was the commander’s daughter. He needed to get a fucking grip.

-----------

Jaehyun woke up the next morning to find Y/N sitting on the side of his bed. He shot upright so fast his head nearly collided with hers.

“What are you doing? Why are you sitting on my bed?” he demanded, voice groggy but sharp with surprise.

“Why did you save me?” Y/N asked, tilting her head.

“What do you mean? Wouldn’t you if you saw someone drowning?”

“Okay, relax. I wasn’t drowning. I could’ve saved myself.”

“Yeah, I’m sure. That’s why you were screaming my name,” Jaehyun shot back, smirking.

Y/N let out a small smirk of her own. “Do not make a dirty joke right now.”

Before he could, she leaned in slowly and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. “Well… thanks for saving me then.”

Jaehyun knew she was being sincere—her eyes gave that away—but he also knew Y/N was deliberately trying to drive him crazy. And the worst part was… it was working.

“So…” Y/N started slowly, drawing the word out as she tilted her head, studying his face like she was looking for cracks in his armor. “You never answered my girlfriend question before.”

Jaehyun cracked one eye open, his voice still husky from sleep. “I don’t answer personal questions.”

She gasped dramatically, hand flying to her chest. “That’s not personal. That’s basic. Like—are you seeing anyone? Married with three secret kids? Engaged to the sea or something?”

He shut his eyes again, shifting to lie back down, his arm folding under his head. “Engaged to the sea sounds more realistic than me having kids.”

Y/N bit her lip to hide her grin. “Fine. If you won’t tell me that, when was the last time you had sex?”

Both of his eyes snapped open this time. He turned his head to stare at her like she’d grown another head. “There’s something wrong with you. You know that, right?”

“Oh, come on,” she teased, nudging his shoulder. “It’s just a question. People talk about this stuff all the time.”

“Not at six in the morning.” His voice was flat, but the corner of his mouth twitched.

“Fine, we’ll reschedule. I’ll ask again at lunch.”

He groaned, dragging his hand down his face. “You’re unbelievable.”

“And you’re avoiding.” She leaned closer, eyes glinting with mischief. “Was it months ago? Years? Are you secretly a monk?”

Jaehyun let out a short laugh, shaking his head. “You think you’re funny, don’t you?”

“I know I’m funny.” She smirked. “And if you weren’t so busy pretending to be mysterious, you’d admit I’m right.”

He rolled onto his side to face her, one brow arched, his smirk mirroring hers. “What you really want to know is if I’m sleeping with anyone right now.”

Her throat tightened, but she forced her expression to stay cool. “Well, if you’re offering that information, I won’t stop you.”

“Nice try,” he said, amused.

Y/N tilted her chin. “Well, I could be sleeping with someone right now.”

Jaehyun’s smirk deepened, lazy and cutting. “You wouldn’t be so jumpy and high-strung if you were.”

Her mouth fell open. She smacked his chest, scandalized. “You’re such an ass.”

He chuckled, the sound low in his throat, and leaned back, folding his arm under his head again. “And you’re too easy to rile up.”

She wanted to argue, but his alarm went off, blaring through the room. Jaehyun sighed, reaching over to silence it, then swung his legs off the bed. On his way up, he placed a hand on her arm to ease her off the mattress, the gesture so casual it almost didn’t register.

Almost.

Because the moment his hand left her skin, Y/N felt the phantom of it lingering, her whole body humming from the simple touch. She tried to act unaffected, swinging her legs idly, but her pulse betrayed her.

Jaehyun stretched, running a hand through his messy hair like he hadn’t just driven her insane without even trying. “You’re trouble,” he muttered, mostly to himself, but she caught it.

And smiled.

------------

The commander called Jaehyun into his office early that morning, his expression as stiff as ever.

“Escort Y/N off base. She’s got an eye appointment in town,” he ordered, handing him the papers.

“Yes, sir,” Jaehyun replied, keeping his voice neutral even though he already knew what this meant—hours of wrangling her through distractions.

Sure enough, the second they left the base and Y/N saw the little coffee shop on the corner, her whole body lit up like a child in a toy store.

“Oh my god, look at that place! We have to stop—please?” she begged, tugging at his sleeve before he could even protest.

“We’re going to be late,” Jaehyun said flatly, already seeing her eyes glaze over at the display of pastries in the window.

“It’ll only take five minutes,” she promised, pressing her hands together in mock prayer.

Five minutes turned into fifteen, with Y/N sipping happily from an iced latte while Jaehyun stood by the door like a statue. By the time she started lingering over the shelves of coffee beans and trinkets, he’d had enough. With a sharp exhale, he caught her arm, steering her firmly out of the shop.

“Hey—!” she started, but the look he shot her had her snapping her mouth shut.

They made it to the doctor just in time, and Y/N breezed through her appointment, chatting away as though she hadn’t nearly made them late. On their way out, the sun hit hard overhead, and she immediately wilted with a dramatic sigh.

“It’s too hot. We’re getting ice cream,” she declared, as if it were an order.

“Y/N—” Jaehyun pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Pleaseee?” she pouted up at him, tugging his sleeve again.

He blew out a heavy sigh. “Fine.”

Moments later, they were inside a tiny ice cream parlor, the old fan in the corner doing little to fight the heat. Y/N all but skipped to the counter, her eyes sparkling as she chose a strawberry cone. Jaehyun ordered vanilla without a word.

When she reached into her purse to pay, his hand shot out faster, dropping the bills on the counter before she could.

“Hey!” she protested, glaring at him.

“The girl never pays,” Jaehyun said firmly, shoving his wallet back into his pocket. “What do you take me as?”

Y/N blinked, then smirked slowly as she took her first lick of strawberry. “Pretty sure that only applies on a date.”

Jaehyun froze, cone halfway to his lips. His eyes flicked to hers, narrowing, but the tips of his ears gave him away.

“Who said this was a date?” he asked, voice steady but tight.

“You just did,” she shot back, smug as ever, tongue curling around her ice cream as if to taunt him.

“That’s not what I meant,” he muttered, finally taking a bite of his vanilla like it could cool his blood.

“Uh-huh. Sure.” Y/N’s grin was wicked, her eyes sparkling with triumph.

Behind the counter, the shop owner chuckled quietly to herself, wiping down the counter as she watched them bicker. To her, it looked exactly like a young couple in the middle of their first summer together—him stiff and flustered, her teasing and relentless.

Jaehyun caught the shop owner’s knowing smile and felt his jaw tighten. He turned back to Y/N, who was clearly enjoying every second of his discomfort, and muttered under his breath, “You’re impossible.”

“And you like it,” she replied sweetly, licking her cone.

Outside the shop, Y/N was practically skipping, strawberry cone in hand, while Jaehyun followed beside her, stiff as ever.

She took a playful bite, then tilted her head. “Want a lick?”

He shot her a look. “No.”

“C’mon,” she sing-songed, holding the cone closer to him. “You should at least try it—sharing is caring.”

Jaehyun leaned away like it was a weapon. “You’re ridiculous.”

Y/N only grinned, batting her lashes. “Fine. Then let me try yours.”

Before he could react, she leaned in, stealing a small lick from the top of his vanilla cone. She let her tongue linger a little too long before pulling back with a mischievous smile. “Mmm. Not bad.”

Jaehyun just stared at her, frozen, ears burning. She knew she’d gotten to him—the way he cleared his throat and refused to meet her eyes was enough proof.

By the time they reached the subway, rush hour had flooded the platform. The train car they stepped into was packed wall to wall, bodies pressed together.

Y/N stiffened instantly, her smile faltering as people jostled her shoulders and elbows. She pressed back against the wall of the car, her strawberry cone long gone, eyes darting everywhere like she was trying to pretend it didn’t bother her.

Jaehyun noticed right away. He frowned, shifting so he stood directly in front of her. Then, without a word, he lifted both arms and planted his hands firmly against the wall on either side of her head.

Boxing her in.

Creating a barrier no one else could breach.

Y/N blinked up at him, wide-eyed, her lips parting in surprise. The press of strangers didn’t feel so suffocating now—not with him shielding her. She slowly exhaled, her shoulders relaxing.

Her hands lifted almost without thought, fingers brushing against the hard lines of his forearms. The muscles tensed under her touch, and she felt her pulse race at the intimacy of it.

She tilted her chin, meeting his gaze. Their bodies were so close now, his chest just inches from hers.

“I can breathe a little easier like this,” she admitted softly.

Jaehyun swallowed, his jaw tight, his eyes flickering from her lips back up to her eyes. “Good,” he muttered, though his voice came out lower than he meant it to.

Y/N’s heart was pounding so loud she was sure he could hear it. Being surrounded by people should’ve been overwhelming—but with his arms caging her in like that, the only thing she could feel was him.

-------------

They stood by the gate after their day out, the base lights throwing long shadows across the pavement. The air smelled faintly of dust and cut grass; somewhere behind them someone was laughing, the sound swallowed by the evening. Y/N stopped dead, shoulders sagging as she looked in at the place that had shaped her whole life. She sighed, a soft, private sound.

“You gonna go in?” Jaehyun asked, hands shoved into his pockets, trying to keep his voice even.

She didn’t turn. “I wish I could have more days like this,” she said, voice small. “Days that aren’t just…this.” She gestured, helpless, at the base—the rules, the routine, the life she’d never chosen.

“You’ll have plenty,” Jaehyun said, the words slipping out because they were the easiest, safest thing to offer.

“No.” Her answer was immediate, a hard little break in the softness. “I won’t. This is my life.” She let the words hang between them. “You’ve only got three months left. Then you’re discharged. You’ll go back to your career, meet a girl, fall in love… and I’ll still be here. Stuck. You’ll forget. You’ll—” Her voice caught. “You’ll forget all about me.”

The image hit him like a physical thing—her, small and fierce and terrified of being left behind—and it landed in him with a weight that had nothing to do with the uniform he still wore.

“I could never forget about you.” The words came out before he had time to think, raw and immediate, louder than he’d intended.

Y/N’s shoulders stilled. She turned finally, slow, as if moving through water, and looked at him. For once there was no flippant retort on her lips, no teasing deflection—only something raw and astonished in her gaze.

He hadn’t meant to say it. He did mean it. And then, beneath the rush and the heat of the moment, another thought unfurled through him so quietly it felt like it belonged to someone else: I might already be in love with you.

The thought shocked him more than the confession. It sat there, undeniable and terrible in its tenderness. He almost swallowed it back. He almost pretended it had never happened.

Instead, he let himself stand in that half-second of honesty. His mouth opened as if to take the thought back, then closed. The glow from the gate lights picked out the line of his jaw, the tension there.

Y/N’s lip trembled—was that a laugh or a sob?—and for a breathless moment they both just looked at each other, the summer heat and the late-hour quiet making everything feel more fragile.

“Jaehyun…” she breathed, the name a question, an accusation, a dare.

He should have lied and said something safe. He should have told her it was nonsense, a soldier’s obligation twisted into an accidental vow. But the truth had already slipped free, and he found he couldn’t pack it back in his chest.

“I—” He swallowed, the word losing its shape. “I don’t know what will happen after three months,” he said finally, steadier than he felt. “But I do know this: I don’t want to forget you. Not ever.”

Her eyes searched his face, trying to read the man who slept in the cot across from her every night, and maybe, too, the man who had just saved her life. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, the hard line around her mouth softened.

They stood like that a long time—two people poised on the edge of something that had been building for weeks, held together by a thread as thin and stubborn as truth. In the end, neither of them moved to break it; neither of them offered the next step. Instead they turned and walked back through the gate together, shoulders almost touching, the silence between them fuller now, charged in a way that made every small sound – the scrape of their boots, the rustle of his uniform – feel like the beginning of a confession.

--------------

Wanna read the rest (smut/fluff)? Subscribe to my nct patreon here or access the full story here!

sneak peak of the next part:

“You’re making me sound like I’m some lovesick, desperate girl who can’t find love and is throwing herself at the soldier babysitter who’s forced to stay in her room.” Her throat bobbed as she swallowed hard, her shoulders rigid. “I’m not saying it again, Jaehyun. Forget about it.”

The silence that followed was deafening. His chest tightened, the sting of her words hitting harder than he expected. Babysitter. Forced. She couldn’t really believe that, could she?

Slowly, Jaehyun rose from his cot. His bare feet pressed against the cool floor as he stood tall, staring at her across the dim room. His jaw clenched.

“Don’t ever say that again,” he said low, the weight in his voice leaving no room for argument.

Y/n froze, her lips parting, but no sound came out. The only light between them was the silver moon glow, and in it, she could see his eyes—hard, unwavering, but beneath it all, something burning.

Her chest heaved, her hands shaking at her sides. She couldn’t take it anymore. Every time she opened up to him, every time she let herself think maybe this time he’ll prove me wrong, he built another wall higher than the last.

“You don’t care about me,” she spat, though her voice wavered, betraying how much it hurt her to even say the words out loud. “So stop pretending like you do.”

It was all because a stupid dare, you were never even the type to date, imagine dating the most popular guys in college, them being best friends, behind each other's back, you never even thought they were gonna say yes.

It all started at a party your friends dragged you to, you were that girl that would rather study than go to parties, your phone was filled with professors numbers and photos of classes you took instead of boys, you were the type to stay home watch movie rather than going out, but it just happened, mid Term was over and it was first day of your break, there was nothing better to do, your roommate lending you a nice dress from hers and helped you with makeup and doing your hair before leaving.

Walking into the loud house, couples making out in every corner, people drunk and high off their asses, your friends start ordering drinks, you were never the one to drink so obviously you got drunk quickly before they decided to play a game of truth or dare.

“Truth or dare?” Giselle asks

“Dare” you say the alcohol makes you bolder.

“hmm I dare you to flirt with jaehyun and johnny individually and ask them both out” she dares, johnny and jaehyun..these two names were familiar to your ears, they'd get mentioned a lot by your friends or some girls–boys even when you're eavesdropping, you didn't know any of them, you never even talked to them before, but from what you heard, they were both athletic, smart and charming you must say, jaehyun was more quiet, keeps to himself, doesn't talk much but he was pretty popular around campus for his looks and how smart and well spoken.

Johnny on the other hand was more extroverted, opening conversations with people he has never talked to before, super friendly and the sole of the party, never getting tired of talking, he was also as handsome as the other man and just as smart but was more interested in sports, especially basketball, you couldn't even care less, these were just some random guys at campus, what could be so special about them? Whatever, you decide to talk to them individually, to introduce yourself to them, flirt a bit and leave, I mean you'd technically win the dare, you decide to go talk to jaehyun, he was gonna probably be harder to talk to than johnny, he doesn't seem very friendly you think , he was sitting alone on one of the couches, scrolling through his phone, so you go sit next to him, trying to act nonchalant.

“the music is nice here” you say trying to get his attention while popping your head to the music, you can feel your friends watching you from not very far away, he looks up from his phone and nods slightly mumbling a quick yeah before looking back at his phone, this is gonna be hard,huh.

“So uh what's your name?” You ask batting your eyelashes

“Jaehyun” he says his eyes not leaving the screen

“Well that's a nice name for a handsome guy" you say and scoot closer to him, he looks up at you before closing the phone

“And what's yours?” He asks raising an eyebrow, you tell him your name

“That's a cute name” he says so nonchalantly, you wanted to jump and slap him or something.

“Thanks” you smile, he smiles back, his dimples showing

“You got a very pretty smile, you know?” You say suddenly

“Oh thank you” he says and smirks slightly

“So can I get your number?” You ask, it was stupid, you just met the man, he'll probably laugh in your face now, you feel heat up your face from embarrassment

“Oh yeah sure” he shrugs, you smile and hand him your phone, internally trying to calm down from the embarrassment, he hands you the phone again.

“Text me later ‘Kay?” He asks and you nod, His ass would probably ghost you in few days anyways, you thought, you say your goodbyes and go back to your friends

“I got his number” you say, Ninging hands you a cup filled with some cheap beer

“Time for the next one” she says teasingly.

Johnny was obviously gonna be easier to talk to, he is the life of the party and talks to everyone and is very friendly, he was sitting at the bar, talking to his friends, you walk up to him and smile sweetly

“Hi handsome” you say tapping his shoulder , your voice a bit sultry

He turns around and looks at you up and down and smiles

“Hello beautiful” he turns fully to you and leans closer

“You're very cute, can I get your number?” you ask batting your lashes slightly

“Of course pretty” he say and pulls his phone out of his pocket and Handing it to you for you to put your number, you put your number and hand him his phone again

“What's your name?” he asks and you tell him your name and wrap up the conversation before leaving him and his friends alone.

Coming back to now, you absolutely fucked up, you thought it'd be just hooking up , hooking up with popular guys doesn't hurt anyone right? They don't get attached right? You saw it in every movie, but you were obviously wrong,they both asked you to be their girlfriend on the same day. It was a lot to take in. What type of situation is this for God's sake? And to make things worst you said yes to both of them, telling them to keep the relationship a secret even their closest dearest friends don't know, they both found it very weird, you felt guilt, seeing them together made you feel like you're ruining a friendship but none of them would know about this, right? It had its pros too honestly, you get fucked good, you get double presents on valentine and birthdays, you felt spoiled, you don't even know if you wanna tell them about it, how to even say it, they were both very jealous very obsessive and possessive, which made matters worst, whenever you hear them talk about how they're burn a man alive if he even looked at you, you'd shiver slightly, because they were probably serious about it too, t's Obvious you're so fucking wrong for this, this wasn't just a mistake it was a huge one too, you said you'll tell them you swore, but It has been months since then…

you and jaehyun hanging out in his apartment cuddling while watching a movie while discussing what to order for dinner

“Let's Order pizza” he suggests

“We order this everytime I'm here aren't you bored of pizza” you say jokingly, he laughs softly, his voice deep and rich

“Okay okay fair enough, How about fried chicken?” He suggests

“Yeah let's eat fried chicken” you say and nod

After ordering from the food app, he pulls you onto his lap

“Anyways how have you been doing baby?” He asks while kissing your neck, you shiver slightly from the feeling of his lips on your neck

“I missed you” you say and press your lips against his in a slow passionate kiss, he slides his tongue inside your mouth, his hands roaming over your body holding you down against his boner grinding against you but you do not waste a second before humping against him, he cups your breasts through your hoodie, his fingers brushing against your nipples purposely, making you moan and bury your face against his shoulder, you were so close to your orgasm, you could have swore You felt his dick twitching in his pants against your clothed core.

Your heated session was interrupted by the bell ring, you both freeze before you huff and get off his lap, so he can go answer the door and if was the goddammit delivery Guy

“The food is here!” He says excitedly.

Johnny takes you on a dates few days later, to a fancy restaurant as usual, johnny always makes sure to spoil you crazy, whether it was gifts or dates or affection or even in the bedroom, he makes sure to treat you good, you wear the dress you got you on your birthday

“Looking very good tonight my lady” he takes your hand and kiss it making you giggle

“Well you do too, gentleman” you say, earning a chuckle from him, you two get placed at a table near the huge windows giving you a great view, you both order your food and eat while chatting about everything and anything.

“baby, you seriously look so good today, so gorgeous, can't belive all of you is mine” little did he know, you think to yourself

“Thank you very much handsome” you say and wink.

“you know I'm really craving something Sweet” he says

“Oh I'm not sure they got dessert here” you say look at the menu again

“Oh I know baby, let's get out of here” he say and calls The waitress over for The check to pay, after paying he pulls you to his car.

“You're very eager for that dessert huh?” You say and Chuckle, he huns as he drives to his apartment

When you step into the apartment, he carries you to his bedroom

“Time for the real dessert baby” he says, pulling your legs apart before diving in, pulling your panties to the side, his tongue taking a long slide against your clit, he flicks his tongue against your entrance, making you arch your back, gripping the sheets and Moaning loudly

His grip on thighs gets painfully tight as he tries to dive deeper into your pussy groaning against you, the vibrations making You unable to think straight, your eyes rolling back as you come all over his face, he pulls back, his face smudged with your wetness and saliva as he lies on top of you and buries His face in your neck.

Halloween was around the corner, everyone setting up decorations and discussing costumes and which parties to attend, obviously johnny and jaehyun will throw and you are obviously invited, you didn't know what both of them were going as, you thought they both were planning on making it a surprise, you were too busy planning with your friends anyways, although You would loved to match with any of them or something, but both were being suspiciously secretive.

You decide to go as a cat. As your friends recommended, the costume Was pretty revealing, obviously, you never was the one to celebrate Halloween, you'd just watch a scary movie while eating dinner or something but this year you just decided to go for the sake of your your friends, planning to celebrate with your them and maybe look for johnny or jaehyun if you didn't drink your ass off.

The day of the party comes, you were at your friends’ dorm to help them get ready so you can all go together, when you arrive, the music was loud everyone in costumes, whether it was weird, scary or slutty, you just headed straight for the drinks while your friends go on to flirt with some guys or dance.

You were already already in for your fifth drink when you feel a gaze watching you, you look around nervously, trying to tell yourself it's just because of the booze, but your eyes land on two figures hiding under their Ghostface costumes hiding their faces and bodies, you just assume they're some creeps or maybe they're not even looking at you and turn back around to get another drink, but you can feel them getting closer you could swear, but honestly you're too drunk to even care, the worst they can do is try to talk to you or something.

But you knew you were wrong when you felt a sharp object pressing against your back, you freeze in your place, one of the guys presses his hand against your mouth, you prayed someone would see you, but everyone was busy getting drunk or making out, they take you to one of the rooms and the guy muffling you throws you onto the bed, it was surprisingly turning you on.

“Who are you—do I know you?” You ask raising an eyebrow and standing up to leave but one of them pulls you back by pulling your hair, making you wince

“What the fuck is your problem?” You say as he throws you back onto the bed.

“Take off your masks weirdo” you say and scoff, they look at each other for few seconds before taking off their masks, you freeze in shock when you see both your boyfriends standing right infront of you.

“Oh- hey” you say awkwardly, their expressions are clearly angry

“Listen I know you're mad but I can explai-” you were shut down quickly with a slap across your face.

“What the hell were you thinking getting dressed up in these fucking slutty clothes? Who the fuck are you trying to play with too?” Johnny asks roughly, he sounded angry but obviously jealous, you were frozen, your hand on your cheek, your head down, you can't even face any of them.

“You really think this act will make us feel bad for you? Sweetie, you literally played with us both…that's why you tried keeping our relationship a secret huh?” Jaehyun say and scoffs,there was a hint of jealousy in his voice, johnny pulls your head up

“Look at me you fucking bitch, speak up” he says his face so close to you.

You start explaining everything to them

“Listen I was gonna tell you but I really couldn't— I was scared to tell you okay?” You say as you start crying, they stare at you, their expressions as cold as ever

“What to do with her jae, what do we do?” Johnny asks, they start whispering to each other while you continue crying when your face is suddenly pushed into the mattress, your head get pull up, to get you on all fours, your panties peeking from under the black mini skirt, you hear the sound of clothes ruffling and suddenly your panties are pushed to the side and you feel something against your entrance, you turn your head slightly to see johnny pushing inside you, making you moan weakly, he pushes completely inside you before pounding into you roughly, you turn into a moaning mess but that doesn't last long when jaehyun pushes inside your mouth, filling you up from both ends.

“Fuck I really missed this mouth” jaehyun says as He leads your head up and down his length

“Too bad she's a fucking slut” johnny say and spanks you lightly, making you whimper, but you choke on jaehyun's length, he tries to adjust his length in your mouth, but johnny pounding into you roughly from behind makes it harder not to choke onjaehyun's length, you feel yourself getting closer, your pussy gripping onto johnny's length desperately, but he pulls out of you before slamming back into you, pounding into you so roughly, while jaehyun comes in your mouth, groaning slightly as he empties himself in your mouth and pulls out to make sure you swallow all of it, while johnny comes in your pussy before pulling out, not making you come obviously.

“Should we let her come?” Jaehyun asks, smirking slightly

“No I don't think she deserves it” Johnny says and Chuckles.

“Please johnny, jaehyun please” you beg, your voice coming out embarrassingly high pitched and whiney

“Oh you Wanna come this bad?” Jaehyun asks mockingly and presses his tip against your entrance and pushes inside you but obviously johnny pushes Inside your mouth before you're even able to make any noise both violently pounding into you, you finally feel yourself close again, your eyes rolling back as you come, moaning against your Johnny's cock.

Jaehyun pulls out of you, the sudden emptiness makes you whimper in desperation. Before thrusting into you roughly, pounding into you at a faster And roughly pace, it's almost like he's angry.

And dangerous—whether she liked it or not.

Johnny stood at the center of it all like a king without a crown, broad shoulders relaxed, grin sharp and easy as he spoke with the guys. His gang wasn’t just a gang—they were stitched together by scraped knuckles, shared wins, and the unspoken rule that if one of them fell, they all did.

Which was exactly why the police were circling like vultures.

Y/N didn’t know all the details, but she’d heard enough. Whispers about stolen cars. Organized hits. A “ring” operating under the city’s nose. She also knew Johnny—too well to believe he’d cross certain lines, too realistically to deny that the lines around him were already blurred.

She exhaled slowly, pushing the thoughts away just as Johnny clapped his hands together.

“Alright, listen up,” he called. “Got someone new joining us tonight.”

That alone was enough to draw attention.

New blood didn’t come around often. Trust was earned here, not offered.

Y/N straightened slightly as Johnny stepped aside—and that was when she saw him.

He stood half a step behind Johnny, hands tucked casually into the pockets of his jacket, posture easy but alert. Dark hair fell neatly across his forehead, not careless, not overly styled. His face was unfairly handsome in a quiet way—sharp jaw, full lips set in something between a smile and restraint, eyes dark and observant.

Too observant.

Y/N felt it immediately—the instinctive flicker of awareness low in her stomach, the kind she hated acknowledging. The kind that came with trouble wrapped in good looks.

Great, she thought. Just what this place needs.

“This is Jaehyun,” Johnny said, clapping a hand on the guy’s shoulder. “Solid driver. Even better with an engine. He’s gonna be running with us for a bit.”

Jaehyun dipped his head politely, a respectful gesture that earned a few nods but plenty of assessing stares. His gaze swept the group—not lingering, not missing anything either.

Then, briefly, his eyes flicked to her.

It was barely a second.

But it was enough.

Y/N felt it like a brush of heat across her skin. She swallowed before she could stop herself, chin lifting almost defensively as their eyes met.

Something unreadable crossed his expression—interest, maybe, quickly smothered. His gaze slid away just as smoothly as it had landed.

Focus, Jaehyun told himself sharply.

He’d been trained better than this. Faces were just faces. People were pieces of a puzzle. He wasn’t here to notice the way her eyes caught the light or how her presence felt quieter than the rest of the chaos.

He was here to do a job.

Undercover assignments required discipline. Distance. Emotional detachment.

And yet—his lungs pulled in a deeper breath than necessary.

Johnny gestured toward her. “And this is my sister.”

Y/N gave Johnny a look. “You don’t have to announce it like I’m an exhibit.”

A few people laughed.

Jaehyun’s mouth twitched before he could stop it.

“She keeps us all in line,” Johnny added fondly. “More than I do, honestly.”

Y/N rolled her eyes but didn’t deny it. Instead, she extended a hand toward Jaehyun, expression neutral, guarded.

“Y/N,” she said. “Nice to meet you.”

Her palm was warm against his. Calloused—someone who worked with her hands, he noted automatically. Not soft. Not delicate.

Interesting.

“Jaehyun,” he replied. His voice was low, steady. Controlled.

Their hands separated.

The space between them felt…charged. Unsettled. Like static before a storm.

Y/N stepped back first, shoving her hands into the pockets of her jacket as if grounding herself.

Don’t be stupid, she reminded herself firmly. He’s in the gang. That’s the rule.

She’d learned the hard way that men like this—men wrapped up in engines, adrenaline, and ego—didn’t make room for anything real. They burned bright and selfish and left wreckage behind.

Not worth it.

Jaehyun, meanwhile, turned his attention back to Johnny as the group resumed its usual noise. He listened carefully, filed away names, dynamics, glances. He watched who stood close to whom, who laughed easily, who stayed quiet.

And yet—his awareness kept drifting back to her.

To the way she watched everything with sharp intelligence. To how she didn’t cling to her brother’s side but still clearly belonged. 

Y/N felt his gaze again—not directly this time, but present. She shifted her weight, heart thudding annoyingly fast, and told herself it was nothing.

Just another pretty face passing through Johnny’s world.

Still, when an engine roared to life and headlights flared across the lot, she caught Jaehyun inhaling deeply, jaw tightening—just for a moment.

And when he glanced her way again, slower this time, their eyes locked in something unspoken.

A warning. A curiosity. A spark neither of them were prepared for.

Above them, the city hummed on, unaware that something had already begun—quietly, dangerously—right there under the glow of streetlights and secrets.

And neither of them noticed the way fate had already taken a seat in the passenger side.

--------------

Later that night Y/N’s car cut through the street like a blade, tires screaming as she took the corner just a second later than she should have.

Adrenaline flooded her veins, laughter already bubbling up her throat even before the race ended.

She crossed the informal finish first, headlights flashing once in triumph before she eased off the accelerator and pulled over. Her friend skidded in beside her a heartbeat later, both engines ticking hot and loud in the sudden quiet.

They climbed out of their cars almost at the same time, hair wind-tossed, cheeks flushed, breathless with giddy energy.

“Next time,” her friend laughed, bumping her shoulder, “I’ve got you. I swear.”

Y/N grinned wide, unable to stop herself. “You say that every time.”

Johnny was already walking toward them, arms crossed but smile proud and unmistakable. No matter how hard he tried to play the unbothered leader, he never could hide how much he loved watching his sister drive.

“Show-off,” he muttered fondly. “You trying to steal my rep now?”

“Too late,” someone called from the group. “She already did.”

Johnny shook his head, then clapped his hands together. “Alright. Since we’re all still alive and no cops are breathing down our necks—let’s take this back to the house. Welcome party for Jae. My place.”

A cheer rippled through the group.

Jaehyun stood a little apart, leaning against a car, arms crossed loosely as he watched the scene unfold. His eyes followed Y/N without meaning to—how she laughed freely now, how alive she looked after racing, like the road belonged to her.

She caught him looking and lifted a brow, half-smiling.

He looked away immediately.

The Seo house was already warm with noise by the time everyone piled in.

Music thumped through the living room, bass rattling the walls. Someone set bottles on the counter, others took over the couch, laughter layering over itself until it filled every corner. The smell of fried food and alcohol mixed with motor oil that never quite left the place.

Jaehyun found himself pulled into conversation almost effortlessly.

Doyoung was sharp, observant—asking questions that felt casual but tested. Johnny hovered nearby, relaxed but watchful, clearly liking what he saw. Jaehyun played his part well. Easy smiles. Self-deprecating humor. Just enough confidence to fit in without threatening anyone.

He was good at this.

Still, every so often, his gaze drifted.

Y/N lingered near the edge of the room, drink untouched in her hand, eyes following conversations instead of joining them. At some point, she slipped away entirely, unnoticed by most.

Not by him.

Jaehyun hesitated only a second before grabbing two beers from the kitchen counter.

The garage was quieter, lit by harsh white overhead lights that reflected off metal and concrete. Y/N stood bent slightly over her open hood, jacket discarded on a chair, dark hair falling forward as she studied the engine.

She wore a simple tank top and a short skirt, grease smudged faintly on her fingers. Spread across the workbench were a few pages of hand-drawn designs—precise lines, annotations scribbled in the margins.

She heard footsteps and startled, gasping as she spun around.

“Oh—!”

“Sorry,” Jaehyun said quickly, lifting both hands. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”

He held out one of the beers. “I saw you come out here. Thought you might want this.”

Her heartbeat slowed as she took it. “Thanks.”

Their fingers brushed. Again—that brief, charged contact.

He leaned slightly to look past her at the designs. “These yours?”

She nodded, suddenly self-conscious. “Yeah. Just ideas.”

“They’re really cool,” he said, genuinely impressed. “You’ve got a good eye. And your driving earlier… I liked watching that.”

Something warm flickered in her chest despite herself.

“Maybe you could teach me something,” he added lightly.

She laughed, a soft sound that echoed off the garage walls. “If Johnny accepted you, you must already be good.”

“Good doesn’t mean I can’t learn,” Jaehyun replied.

They stood closer than necessary now, the air thick with something neither named.

She took a sip of her beer, then glanced up at him. “So what about you? What were you doing before this? And why now?”

The question landed gently—but it hit hard.

Jaehyun’s smile didn’t falter, but something inside him tightened. He gave her the story he’d rehearsed a hundred times. Different city. Fell out with the wrong people. Needed a fresh start. Racing had always been his thing.

It sounded believable.

He almost wished it weren’t.

For a moment, he wondered what it would feel like to tell her the truth. To watch her expression shift. To see disappointment—or worse.

Instead, he took another sip.

“Guess I just ended up in the right place,” he finished.

She studied him for a second longer than comfortable, as if she sensed the gaps he’d carefully hidden.

“Maybe,” she said finally.

They smiled at each other—easy, teasing, a little too aware.

“Well,” she said, stepping back toward her car, “I should get back to this before Johnny starts asking questions.”

Jaehyun nodded, already missing the quiet. “Yeah. I should probably head back in.”

They walked toward opposite doors, then paused at the same time.

“Hey,” he said.

She turned.

“Nice race,” he added.

Her lips curved. “Welcome to the family.”

He watched her turn back to her engine, watched the way she fit into that space so naturally, and felt something twist low in his chest.

As he stepped back into the noise of the house, beer warm in his hand, Jaehyun reminded himself—again—why he was here.

But for the first time since taking the assignment, the lie felt heavier than the badge he wasn’t wearing.

-------------------

Sunlight spilled through the kitchen windows of the Seo household, catching dust motes in the air and warming the hum of voices that filled every corner. The smell of coffee, butter, and sugar wrapped itself around the room like a familiar blanket.

Y/N stood at the stove, flipping pancakes with practiced ease, her hair tied back messily, sleeves pushed up. Johnny hovered beside her, cracking eggs with one hand and seasoning them like it was second nature.

The gang filtered in slowly, still half-asleep but smiling, drawn by food and routine.

This—this was theirs.

“Okay, okay,” Johnny announced once everything was plated, “everyone sit before Jungwoo eats half the stack.”

Too late.

Jungwoo and Yuta were already piling pancakes onto their plates, stacking them so high it looked borderline structural. Syrup followed generously.

Y/N laughed, setting down the last plate as everyone squeezed around the table. Jaehyun ended up beside her without either of them quite acknowledging how it happened.

When Johnny reached out his hand, the others followed instinctively. Fingers linked around the table, casual and reverent all at once.

Y/N hesitated for only a fraction of a second before taking the hands on either side of her.

Jaehyun’s palm was warm. Steady.

The buzz sparked instantly—quiet but undeniable. She focused on the table, on her breathing, on anything but the awareness curling low in her stomach.

Johnny gave thanks, voice easy, grateful—not for safety or success, but for family. For another morning together.

Jaehyun bowed his head with the rest, something tightening unexpectedly in his chest.

They ate like they hadn’t eaten in days.

“This is insane,” Jungwoo said through a mouthful of pancakes, eyes lighting up. “Y/N, these are so good.”

Yuta nodded vigorously. “Seriously. You trying to ruin us for all other breakfasts?”

Johnny scoffed. “Wow. Okay. What about the eggs?”

“No one appreciates art,” he added dramatically.

Haechan looked up, cheeks full, and grinned. “I love the eggs.”

Everyone burst out laughing.

Jaehyun watched it all quietly, amusement softening into something heavier. This wasn’t just a group of racers or mechanics or guys looking for adrenaline. This was real. Loud, messy, affectionate.

A family.

And the thought settled uneasily in his gut.

If this crew was responsible for the car thefts—if Johnny was—then this assignment wouldn’t just end careers. It would destroy something fragile and rare.

He really, really hoped they weren’t.

“So, Jaehyun,” Mark said suddenly, leaning back in his chair. “What’s your favorite car to drive?”

Jaehyun didn’t hesitate. “Nissan Skyline R34.”

A murmur of approval rippled around the table.

“That’s a good one,” Yuta said.

“Solid choice,” Doyoung added.

Y/N glanced at him sideways, something like surprise flickering across her face before she masked it.

When the plates were empty and the last of the coffee was drained, the boys drifted toward the living room, energy shifting toward engines and plans for the day.

Y/N stayed behind, turning to the sink to start on the dishes.

Doyoung paused, noticing. “Hey, I’ll help—”

“I’ve got it,” Jaehyun said, already stepping forward.

Doyoung blinked, then shrugged. “Alright. Don’t break anything.”

Johnny watched from the doorway, arms crossed, curiosity sharpening his gaze as Jaehyun joined his sister at the sink.

Without asking, Jaehyun reached past her, gently taking the sponge and a plate from her hands.

“You know,” he said casually, “if you cook, you’re not supposed to do the dishes.”

Y/N looked up at him, lips curving. “Oh yeah? Where’d you learn that?”

“My mom,” he replied.

They both chuckled softly.

“Well,” she said, watching him rinse the plate, “she was right.”

The moment stretched—quiet, domestic, intimate in a way that caught her off guard.

“You look good today,” Jaehyun added, like it was nothing.

Y/N swallowed, heat creeping up her neck. “Thanks.”

Their eyes met.

Held.

Too long.

The kitchen suddenly felt smaller, the air heavier. Y/N took a slow, steady breath, forcing herself back into herself—back behind her rules.

“I’ll be in the garage,” she said lightly, stepping away before her resolve could crack.

Jaehyun watched her go, the echo of her presence lingering like warmth on his skin.

Johnny’s gaze followed him as he stood there a moment longer.

And somewhere between Jaehyun realized—this job wasn’t just dangerous anymore.

It was personal.

------------------

The garage was already alive when Jaehyun stepped inside.

Engines idled low, tools clinked, voices overlapped in easy familiarity. The boys clustered around cars like it was second nature—hands moving confidently, bodies relaxed in a space that belonged to them.

Johnny glanced up and jerked his chin toward Y/N. “Hey. Show him around. Let him get familiar with how we do things.”

Y/N nodded. “Yeah. Come on.”

Jaehyun followed her, falling into step beside her as she walked deeper into the garage. The space was massive—multiple bays, lifts, shelves stacked with parts labeled in her neat handwriting. She gestured as she talked, confidence clear in every movement.

“This side’s mostly tuning and diagnostics,” she explained. “We rotate who works where, but some stuff needs a more… delicate touch.”

Her eyes flicked to him briefly. “That’s where your mechanic expertise might come in handy.”

He smiled slightly. “Good to know I won’t be useless.”

They reached the far end of the garage, where a single car sat beneath a heavy black cover. It stood apart from everything else, almost reverent in its isolation.

Y/N slowed, her tone shifting. “That one—don’t touch it. Ever. Don’t lift the cover. Don’t even joke about it.”

Jaehyun laughed softly. “Johnny’s baby?”

“Johnny’s soul,” she corrected. “Touch it and you’ll die.”

He lifted his hands in surrender. “Noted.”

She turned to face him. “Any questions?”

Jaehyun hesitated, then asked lightly, “How’d everyone end up here? I mean… you guys feel tight.”

Y/N smiled faintly. “Most of them? Childhood friends. Grew up together. Went through stuff together. Yuta just showed up one day and never left.”

“That tracks,” he said.

A beat passed. Then, as casually as he could manage, “You ever… date anyone in the crew?”

Her face scrunched up instantly. “Um—no. Absolutely not.”

He raised his brows, waiting.

“I don’t date anyone in the crew,” she continued. “Especially these guys. They’re like my family now.”

Jaehyun nodded, like he understood. Like it didn’t matter.

But his eyes stayed on her.

Too steady. Too intent.

Y/N inhaled slowly, nerves buzzing under her skin. “Okay,” she said suddenly, stopping in her tracks. “You need to stop looking at me like that.”

Jaehyun tilted his head, a slow smirk tugging at his lips. “Like what?”

“Like you want me in your bed,” she shot back, meeting his gaze head-on. There was a smirk on her mouth too—but her pulse betrayed her. “Just knock it off. It’s not gonna happen.”

For a second, he just looked at her.

Then he smiled—easy, confident, dangerous.

“We’ll see.”

And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing there, mouth open, heart racing far harder than she wanted to admit.

Jaehyun slipped back into the noise of the garage, expression unreadable.

He was here to do a job. To observe. To report.

But if he saw something he liked—he’d always gone for it.

And if getting close to Y/N blurred lines, stirred tension, made her let her guard down?

Well.

That might just help the mission after all.

--------------

The police break room was sterile in a way Jaehyun hated.

White walls. A metal table. Two people sitting across from him with files open and expressions unreadable. No engines. No laughter. No warmth.

Just work. His actual work, he reminded himself.

“It’s going well,” Jaehyun said evenly. “They trust me. Johnny especially. I’m fully integrated—racing, mechanical work, social side.”

One of the supervisors nodded, jotting something down. “Any indication yet that they’re involved in the thefts?”

“Not yet,” Jaehyun replied. “If they are, they’re careful. Or they’re clean.”

A pause.

“Anyone you’re particularly close with?” the other asked.

Jaehyun shook his head without hesitation. “No.”

They exchanged a glance.

“What about the sister?” one of them suggested. “Y/N. She’d know personal details about Johnny. His habits. His blind spots.”

Jaehyun’s jaw tightened before he could stop it.

“Noted,” he said shortly.

He didn’t add anything else. Didn’t explain the sharp twist in his chest at the thought of using her like that. Didn’t admit how wrong it felt.

When the meeting ended, he left with his shoulders tense and his thoughts louder than any engine.

Later the night air buzzed with electricity.

Another race. Another crowd. Neon lights streaked across polished metal as engines revved, the familiar chaos settling into Jaehyun’s bones like muscle memory.

“Jae—you’re up,” Johnny called, clapping him on the shoulder.

Jaehyun slid into the driver’s seat, hands steady, heart calm.

The race was effortless.

He cut corners clean, pushed just hard enough, felt the car respond like an extension of his body. When he crossed the line first, a grin broke across his face—real, unguarded.

Cheers erupted.

Two girls approached almost immediately, smiling bright, bodies leaning in.

“That was amazing,” one said. “You’re insane.”

Jaehyun laughed lightly. “Thanks.”

His eyes flicked across the crowd—and found Y/N.

She stood a little apart, arms folded, expression unreadable as she looked away. Something about the sight tightened his chest.

He stepped past the girls without another word and walked straight to Johnny.

Y/N noticed. And that unsettled her even more.

She hated the feeling curling in her stomach—sharp, uncomfortable, unfamiliar. She’d watched men flirt at races her entire life and never cared.

So why now?

Later, the noise had dulled into background hum as Johnny and Jaehyun worked side by side under the hood of a car back in the Seo garage. Tools passed between them easily, the rhythm natural.

Johnny broke the silence casually. “You got a girlfriend?”

Jaehyun didn’t look up. “No.”

Johnny hummed. A beat passed.

“You play for the other team?”

Jaehyun froze.

He straightened slowly, brows knitting together. “Did you just ask me if I’m gay?”

Johnny shrugged, unfazed. “Yeah. You don’t have to tell me. Just figured I should know—no one here would ever judge.”

Jaehyun stared at him for a second—then laughed, shaking his head. “That’s… good to know. But no. I’m not.”

Johnny exhaled, nodding to himself. Then, like he’d solved a simple equation, he said, “Oh. So you’re into my sister then.”

Jaehyun’s world stopped.

“What?” he said, too fast.

Johnny finally looked up, meeting his eyes squarely. “You don’t have a girlfriend. You’re not into guys. And I see you ignoring every girl at every race.” He tilted his head. “So I’m guessing you’re into my sister. Correct?”

Jaehyun swallowed.

“…Yeah,” he admitted. “You’d be correct.”

Johnny studied him for a long moment. Then he nodded once.

“My sister is free to see whoever the hell she wants,” he said calmly. “But as her big brother, I gotta tell you—I will personally go after anyone who does her dirty.”

He turned back to the engine. “Just a friendly warning.”

Jaehyun let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding, a small smile tugging at his lips as he rubbed the back of his neck.

“Fair enough,” he said.

Permission—or something dangerously close to it—settled in his chest.

And somewhere across the garage, Y/N laughed at something Jungwoo said, unaware that the lines around her were already shifting.

Jaehyun watched her for a moment too long.

This job was getting complicated.

And for the first time, he wasn’t sure he wanted it any other way.

-------------

Sleep refused to come.

Y/N stared at the ceiling for a while, listening to the quiet hum of the house settling, until restlessness finally won. She swung her legs out of bed, tugged on a cropped cardigan, and decided her shorts were fine—it was still summer, even if the 3am night air carried a chill.

The garage would warm her up anyway.

She slipped outside, the world hushed and blue under the moonlight. The garage lights flicked on with a soft buzz as she lifted the hood of her car, hands moving automatically, comfortingly. This was where her thoughts slowed. Where everything made sense.

She leaned in, adjusting a few things—

—and turned sharply, colliding with something solid.

“Oh—!” she gasped, heart leaping straight into her throat.

Strong hands caught her at the waist before she could stumble back.

“Sorry—sorry,” Jaehyun said quickly. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I was working late on one of the cars. Didn’t think anyone else would be here.”

Her pulse thundered as she exhaled. “It’s fine. You just… surprised me.” She glanced at him, then at the car. “I wasn’t expecting anyone either.”

He nodded, stepping back, hands dropping—reluctantly. His eyes flicked over her outfit before he looked away, jaw tightening slightly.

“I’ll let you get back to it,” he said, already retreating. “See you tomorrow.”

She nodded, turning back to the engine.

A minute passed.

Then another.

“…Actually,” she said, without turning around, “could you help me with something?”

He stopped.

“Yeah,” he replied, almost too fast. “Of course.”

He came back to her side, leaning over the engine bay. Their hands worked together in easy rhythm—passing tools, pointing, adjusting. Every so often, their fingers brushed. Every time, it sent a small, electric jolt through her that she pretended not to notice.

When they finally stepped back, Jaehyun wiped his hands on a rag. “We should test it.”

She blinked at him. “Now?”

He shrugged, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “You got somewhere else to be at this time?”

She shook her head, laughing quietly as she climbed into the driver’s seat. He settled into the passenger side, picking up one of her design pages as she pulled out.

They drove for a bit, the city quiet around them.

“Doesn’t feel totally smooth,” she said, frowning slightly as she slowed.

“Yeah,” he agreed. “Same.”

They pulled over, stepping out to take another look. That’s when she noticed them—guys across the street, voices loud, eyes lingering.

And suddenly she was acutely aware of her outfit. The bare skin. The thin cardigan.

Jaehyun noticed too.

“Let’s take it back to the garage,” he said quickly, closing the hood and—without thinking—opening the passenger door for her this time.

She raised a brow but slid in anyway.

On the way back, they stopped at a drive-through, laughing quietly over melting ice cream as they sat in the empty parking lot, night stretching around them.

Jaehyun glanced at her. “Is this your dream? Cars, racing… all of it? Or did you ever want something else when you were little?”

She thought for a moment, spoon tapping against the cup. “I don’t think I ever knew anything else,” she admitted. “This was just… always there.”

He nodded, studying her with something thoughtful in his eyes.

The silence that followed wasn’t awkward.

It was heavy. Comfortable. Dangerous.

And as they headed back to the garage, both of them knew—whatever this was, it was no longer just coincidence.

Back in the garage, the quiet returned slowly.

Y/N shut the hood of her car with a soft thud and rolled her shoulders. “I’m tired,” she said, voice gentle. “I’ll work on it tomorrow.”

Jaehyun nodded immediately, like he’d been waiting for permission to step back. “Yeah. That’s probably smart.” He wiped his hands and gave her a small smile. “Goodnight.”

She turned to leave—then stopped.

“Wait.”

She caught his hand.

Jaehyun turned, heart stuttering as he looked at her, hope flaring before he could stop it.

She hesitated, lips parting… then closed them again. “Never mind,” she said quietly. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She let go.

And he stood there longer than he should have, watching her disappear into the house, wondering why almost hurt more than rejection.

--------------

The next day, the garage buzzed with energy.

Tools clanged. Engines roared to life and cut out again. Sweat, music and laughter filled the air as the crew worked side by side.

Johnny walked in, clapping his hands together. “Alright—listen up. There’s a street race tonight. Winner takes a solid cash prize.”

Excitement rippled instantly.

“Hell yeah.”

“About time.”

“Let’s go.”

Jaehyun found himself back at Y/N’s car, crouched beside her as he worked through some intricate wiring. She hovered close, watching carefully, occasionally pointing something out.

Haechan leaned against a tool cabinet, smirking. “You two gonna get any closer or should we leave you alone?”

“Shut up,” Y/N shot back, rolling her eyes.

Jaehyun laughed under his breath, warmth settling in his chest as he watched them bicker—comfortable, familiar, like siblings who’d grown up together.

One by one, the others drifted outside for air, voices fading.

The garage fell quiet.

Y/N cleared her throat. “So…” She shifted her weight. “Are you not into me anymore?”

Jaehyun blinked. “What?”

It was officially the second time a Seo sibling had caught him completely off guard.

“Well,” she said, shrugging, pretending nonchalance, “you just don’t seem into me anymore. So I was just asking.”

He straightened slowly, a lazy smile spreading across his face. “You’re the one who told me to knock it off,” he reminded her. “Said you don’t date anyone in your brother’s crew.”

“Yeah,” she said, snapping the hood shut. “Well, the fact you actually listened is kind of lame.” She glanced back at him. “Thought you were the kind of person who went after what he wanted. Oh well.”

She turned away.

He didn’t think.

He just moved.

Jaehyun grabbed her hand, yanked her back, and crashed his lips into hers—hard, desperate, like he’d been holding his breath for days and finally let himself breathe.

She froze for half a second.

Then her hands came up, cupping his face, pulling him closer as she kissed him back—deeper, surer.

When he finally pulled away, foreheads resting together, both of them smiling like they’d won something already—

“Finally,” she murmured.

His grin was slow and dangerous. “Let’s go win a race.”

And for the first time since he went undercover, Jaehyun wasn’t thinking about the mission.

He was thinking about the finish line.

She didn’t give him time to think.

Y/N grabbed him by the collar and yanked him down, lips crashing into his again—slower this time, deeper. The garage felt suddenly too small, the air thick as they melted into each other, hands finding familiar places like they’d done this before in another life.

Jaehyun’s palm slid to her waist, steadying her as he kissed her back with quiet intensity, like he was savoring every second.

A voice echoed from outside.

“Ugh, I’m starving—why does nobody feed me in this family?”

They broke apart instantly.

Jungwoo.

Y/N burst out laughing, forehead dropping briefly to Jaehyun’s chest. He laughed too, breathless, shaking his head.

“Terrible timing,” he muttered.

She smiled up at him, eyes bright. “Come on. Lunch before Jungwoo starts a riot.”

They walked out together, shoulders brushing, something unspoken but very real settling between them.

Night fell fast.

The race was bigger this time—more cars, more money, more tension humming beneath the excitement. The rules were simple: three racers per team. Fastest accumulated time wins.

Johnny went first. Clean. Aggressive. Perfect.

Y/N followed, focused and fearless, her car slicing through the course like it belonged there. When she crossed the line, her time solid, she flashed a grin that made Jaehyun’s chest tighten.

That left him.

He climbed into the driver’s seat calm, centered. They’d already given him a cushion—now he just had to secure it.

And he did.

He pushed hard but smart, took corners tight, instincts sharp. Victory was within reach—

Until his opponent swerved.

Metal screamed. Impact rattled his skull as his head slammed against the window. Pain flared white-hot.

He still crossed the line first.

When Jaehyun stepped out of the car, blood trickled from his temple.

Y/N gasped, rushing to him instantly. “Jae—are you okay?”

She tilted his face gently, eyes scanning him with barely contained panic.

“I’m fine,” he said quickly. “Really.”

Johnny, meanwhile, was already storming toward the other driver, fury radiating off him. Voices rose. No one ever hurt someone in Johnny’s crew and walked away clean—everyone there knew that.

Back at the garage, the adrenaline faded into something quieter.

Y/N stood close, fingers careful as she cleaned and bandaged Jaehyun’s wound. Her hands were steady, her face inches from his, lashes casting shadows on her cheeks.

Jaehyun barely felt the sting.

He just watched her.

The way her lips pressed together in concentration. The way she softened when she realized he was really okay.

When she finished, he caught her wrist gently and pressed a kiss there.

“Thank you,” he said softly.

Her breath hitched—just a little.

He hesitated, then asked, almost shy, “Wanna come back to my place?”

She smiled slowly, something warm and sure in her eyes.

She nodded.

And before he could overthink it, she kissed him—sweet, promising, electric.

Outside, engines cooled.

Inside, something else had just begun.

--------------

The rain pattered against the windows of Jaehyun's house as Y/N stepped inside, shaking off the damp from her jacket. The air between them had been thick with unspoken want for weeks—stolen glances, lingering touches that promised more. 

Jaehyun closed the door behind her, his eyes dark and intent as he watched her peel off the wet layers.

"Drink?" he asked, voice low, already heading to the kitchen without waiting for an answer. 

She nodded, murmuring a soft 'sure,' and followed him, the tension coiling tighter with every step.

He handed her a glass of water, their fingers brushing just long enough to send sparks up her arm. 

They settled on the couch, close enough that their knees touched, talking about nothing and everything—the storm outside, work stress, the way the city lights blurred in the downpour. 

But the words felt like foreplay, each laugh and shared look stripping away the pretence.

Five minutes in, the space between them vanished. 

Y/N shifted, and suddenly she was straddling his lap, her hands framing his face as their mouths met in a hungry clash. 

Lips parted, tongues sliding together, the kiss deep and demanding. Jaehyun's hands gripped her hips, pulling her flush against him, the heat of his body seeping through their clothes.

His fingers trailed up her sides, slow and deliberate, hooking under the hem of her top. He broke the kiss just enough to tug it over her head, exposing her bare skin to the cool air. 

She shivered, but not from the chill—his gaze raked over her like fire. In response, she shoved his jacket off his shoulders, her palms gliding over the hard lines of his arms, feeling the muscle tense under her touch.

Jaehyun surged up, capturing her mouth again as he stood, lifting her effortlessly with her legs wrapped around his waist. Their kiss didn't falter, messy and urgent, as he carried her upstairs. 

His foot kicked the bedroom door open, then slammed it shut behind them with a thud that echoed the thunder outside.

He lowered her onto the bed, the mattress dipping under their weight. Y/N's breath came in short gasps, her body arching toward him as he knelt between her legs. 

His hands hooked into the waistband of her pants and panties, dragging them down in one smooth motion, baring her completely. She kicked them off, legs parting instinctively.

Jaehyun leaned in, lips brushing her throat first—soft kisses turning to nips that made her pulse race. He trailed lower, tongue flicking over her collarbone, then down the plane of her stomach, tasting the salt of her skin. 

Finally, he settled at her center, breath hot against her folds. His tongue dragged up her slit in one long, deliberate stroke, parting her wetness.

Y/N gasped sharply, hips bucking as pleasure shot through her. Jaehyun's hands found hers, lacing their fingers together, pinning them to the bed as he dove in. 

His mouth worked her relentlessly—tongue circling her clit, then plunging inside, sucking and licking with focused hunger. She moaned, loud and unrestrained, back arching off the sheets, thighs trembling around his head.

The build was swift, tension coiling tight until it snapped. Y/N cried out, her body convulsing as she came, waves of release crashing over her. 

Her fingers yanked at his hair, pulling him up from between her legs. Jaehyun rose, lips glistening, and captured her mouth in a deep kiss. She tasted herself on his tongue—salty, musky—and moaned into it.

"Can you taste yourself?" he murmured against her lips, voice rough with need.

Another moan escaped her as she flipped them over, straddling him once more. Her hands fumbled with his belt, shoving his pants down just enough to free his cock—thick and hard, throbbing in her grip. 

She positioned herself above him, sinking down slowly, inch by inch, until he filled her completely. The stretch burned so good, her eyes rolling back as she moaned, head tipping forward.

Jaehyun's hands gripped her thighs, thumbs digging in. "I've been waiting to do this," he whispered, voice strained, eyes locked on where they joined.

Y/N started riding him, hips rolling in a steady rhythm, chasing the friction. But after a few minutes, her pace faltered, legs shaking from the intensity. 

Jaehyun didn't hesitate—he flipped them again, pinning her beneath him, her wrists caught in one of his hands above her head.

He snapped his hips forward, thrusting deep and hard, setting a brutal pace. 

Y/N cried out, the sound breaking into a sob as tears pricked her eyes—not from pain, but from how overwhelming it felt, pleasure bordering on too much. 

"It feels so good," she gasped, nails scraping his back.

Jaehyun dropped his head, kissing her fiercely, swallowing her moans as he drove into her. Their bodies moved in sync, slick and urgent, the room filled with the slap of skin and their ragged breaths. 

He angled his hips just right, hitting that spot inside her over and over, until the edge rushed up on them both.

They came together, her walls clenching around him as he spilled inside her, groans mingling in the air. Jaehyun collapsed beside her, pulling her into his chest. 

They cuddled close, breaths evening out, limbs tangled in the afterglow, the storm outside fading to a distant rumble.

The adrenaline from the race still buzzed in their veins, sweat clinging to their skin, bodies spent but hearts racing. Jaehyun propped himself up on an elbow, gazing at Y/N with a lazy smile, his fingers tracing idle patterns along her arm.

'We should shower,' he murmured, voice husky from exertion. 'Especially after tonight. Can't have you all sticky.'

She hummed in agreement, too blissed out to argue. Jaehyun slipped from the sheets first, padding to the bathroom. The sound of running water soon filled the air—he adjusted the faucet until steam began to rise, the room warming with promise.

'Come on,' he called softly, returning to the doorway. His hand extended, coaxing her gently. Y/N stretched, then took it, letting him pull her up and lead her into the misty space.

They stepped under the spray together for a quick rinse, water cascading over their joined forms. 

Jaehyun soaped her back with efficient strokes, his touch lingering just enough to reignite sparks, while she lathered his chest, thumbs brushing over the ridges of his abs.

The tub filled steadily behind the curtain, bubbles forming from the bath salts he'd tossed in.

Clean and rinsed, they shut off the shower. Jaehyun stepped out first, testing the bathwater with his hand before easing into the deep tub. 

The heat enveloped him up to his chest, drawing a contented sigh. 'Your turn,' he said, holding out his arms.

Y/N climbed in after, settling between his legs with her back to his chest. His arms wrapped around her waist, fingers linking with hers over her stomach. 

They both exhaled deeply, the warmth seeping into sore muscles, the steam curling lazily around them like a veil.

She tilted her head back, seeking his lips. Jaehyun met her halfway, the kiss soft and unhurried, a contrast to their earlier frenzy. 

But the pull was there—Y/N shifted, turning in the water to straddle him face-to-face, her knees bracketing his hips.

He groaned low in his throat, hands settling on her thighs. 'You're dangerous, you know that?'

A playful smile curved her lips as she leaned in, capturing his mouth again. 'You knew what you were signing up for,' she whispered against him, her arms looping around his neck.

Her hand dipped below the surface, guiding his hardening cock to her entrance. She sank down slowly, the water easing the way as he filled her inch by inch. 

A shared breath escaped them, her walls adjusting to the stretch, his length throbbing inside her.

This time, it was languid—her hips rocking in gentle waves, the water sloshing softly with each movement. Steam swirled thicker now, blurring the edges of the world to just them. 

Their eyes drifted shut, kisses deepening, tongues sliding in tandem with the slow drag of their bodies. Every stroke built sensation without rush, just the intimate press of skin, the shared heat.

Jaehyun's hand ventured lower, fingers finding her clit beneath the ripples. He stroked it in unhurried circles, drawing a sharp gasp from her. The sound made him smile against her neck, his touch quickening, pressing firmer.

Her rhythm faltered, hips stuttering as pleasure coiled tight. 'You get so tight when you're about to cum,' he breathed, voice rough with awe, before claiming her mouth in a filthy kiss—open and devouring, teeth grazing her lower lip.

Y/N moaned into him, the vibration humming through his chest as her body clenched, release washing over her in shuddering waves. 

The grip pulled him under too—he thrust up once, twice, spilling deep inside her with a muffled groan.

He kissed her temple, then her forehead, fingers combing wet strands from her face. 'Fuck,' he whispered, the word laced with wonder.

She smiled lazily, eyes fluttering shut as she nestled closer, head on his shoulder. In that moment, surrounded by warmth and her, Jaehyun knew—he'd fallen for her, completely and without reservation.

---------------

Morning came softly.

Sunlight spilled through the windshield as they pulled up outside the Seo house, the quiet hum of the engine filling the space between them. Everything felt different—lighter, warmer—like the world had shifted just enough to make room for them.

Jaehyun cut the engine and glanced over at her, fingers still loosely intertwined with hers.

“Hey,” he said casually, like he wasn’t about to say something that mattered. “By the way—I have no interest in keeping us a secret.”

Y/N smiled immediately, warmth blooming in her chest. “Me too.”

She lifted his hand, pressing a kiss to his knuckles before lacing their fingers together again.

They walked inside hand in hand.

The kitchen was already full—everyone seated around the table, mid-breakfast, conversations overlapping. The moment they stepped in together, the room went quiet.

Then—

“I knew it,” Doyoung said smugly.

A chorus of groans followed as a few of the guys reached into their pockets, sliding cash across the table.

“Unbelievable.”

“I told you it wouldn’t take a month.”

Y/N stopped short. “What the hell?” she demanded, looking around. “Why is there money involved?”

Johnny leaned back in his chair, grin wide and entirely too pleased. “We had a bet. We all knew you two were gonna get together—just didn’t know how long it’d take.”

He tapped the small pile of cash. “Anyone who guessed after two weeks pays up.”

Y/N stared at him. “My own flesh and blood,” she muttered.

Jaehyun laughed, leaning down to kiss her cheek before sitting and effortlessly pulling her onto his lap like it was the most natural thing in the world. She didn’t even protest—just leaned into him, stealing a piece of toast.

Haechan gagged dramatically. “Oh, gross. We’re gonna have to see this all the time now?”

“Get used to it,” Johnny said, amused.

Jaehyun smiled, arm settling securely around Y/N’s waist as the noise and laughter returned.

For the first time since joining them, he didn’t feel like he was standing on the edge of something temporary.

He felt like he belonged.

And sitting there—surrounded by teasing, love, and a family that accepted him without question—Jaehyun wondered how a mission meant to expose the truth had somehow led him straight into it.

------------

The police break room felt smaller every time he came back.

Same table. Same files. Same tired looks.

Jaehyun sat across from his supervisors again, hands folded neatly, face composed even as something heavy pressed against his ribs.

“There’s no evidence,” he said firmly. “None that ties Johnny or his crew to the car thefts.”

One of them leaned back, exhaling slowly. “You’re sure?”

“I’m sure,” Jaehyun replied. “Their money comes from street racing. I’ve watched it. I’ve checked accounts, side hustles. I’ve even been in the garage alone at night—no stolen parts, no VIN swaps, nothing illegal.”

It was the truth. Every word of it.

The supervisor sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “Alright. A few more weeks, then we’ll move on to another angle.”

Relief flickered—brief, fragile.

“But,” he continued, “we still want more background on Johnny. His family. History. Anything that might explain how they operate.”

Jaehyun nodded automatically.

“Understood.”

But unease followed him out of the room, settling deep in his chest. They’d let him into their home. Their lives. Their jokes and grief and quiet mornings.

And now there were feelings involved.

That made everything messy.

That evening, the Seo house glowed warm and familiar.

Y/N sat curled on Jaehyun’s lap on the couch, one leg draped over his, attention half on the TV as he fed her strawberries from a bowl balanced on his thigh. She bit into one, juice staining her lips, and he smiled without thinking.

Comfort had crept in quietly.

“So,” he said after a moment, casual on the surface, careful underneath, “I’ve been meaning to ask—how did your family get into racing?”

She paused, chewing slowly.

“Our parents,” she said. “They were both into it. That’s how they met.” Her voice softened. “Our dad… he passed away in a racing accident when we were kids.”

Jaehyun’s chest tightened.

“And our mom,” Y/N continued, eyes unfocused now, “she was so broken after that. She just… left. We haven’t seen her in years. It’s just been me and Johnny since.”

Jaehyun took her hand gently, lifting it to his lips. “I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I didn’t know.”

She smiled faintly. “I know you didn’t.”

She shifted then, turning in his lap to face him, and reached for the remote—clicking the TV off. The room fell quiet, intimate.

“What about you?” she asked softly. “I feel like I know nothing about your life before you got here.”

His heart sank.

He gave her the lies easily—moving around a lot, nothing stable, not much worth telling. He’d told them so many times they almost felt real.

Almost.

But something in her eyes—open, trusting—made his throat tighten.

He sighed.

“My mom passed away when I was young,” he admitted, voice lower now. “She… had a lot of mental health issues. Her demons got to her one day.”

Y/N’s expression softened instantly. She leaned forward, kissing his chest gently, like it was instinct.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

He rubbed her back slowly, grounding himself. “And,” he added after a beat, “I always wanted a sibling. Didn’t matter—brother or sister. I just wanted one so bad.”

She smiled at him then, warm and sure. “Well,” she said, kissing his cheek, “now you’ve got a ton of brothers.”

He smiled back.

“Yeah,” he said quietly. “I do.”

But deep down, he knew the truth.

This family wasn’t his.

And if this all went the wrong way—he’d be the reason it broke.

--------------

Jaehyun barely recognized the man in the mirror.

He stared at his reflection for a long moment, hands braced against the sink, jaw tight. The truth sat heavy in his chest—because parts of what he’d told Y/N were real. His mother. Wanting siblings. The loneliness.

But wrapped around those truths were lies. Intentions that had started professional and had twisted into something else entirely.

Was anything he did around them clean anymore?

He exhaled slowly, scrubbing his face with cold water, trying to wash the guilt off his skin.

Just a few more weeks, he told himself. Then they’ll move me to another case.

And maybe—maybe—he could still show up at the garage sometimes. Laugh. Eat breakfast with them. Like nothing happened.

Like he hadn’t been watching. Listening. Reporting.

He crawled into bed, exhausted, and turned onto his side. The pillow still smelled like Y/N—sweet, familiar, grounding.

A smile tugged at his lips before he could stop it.

The banging came hard and fast.

“Jaehyun—get up!”

He jolted awake, heart slamming against his ribs. He didn’t need to look through the peephole to know who it was.

He threw on clothes, fingers moving on instinct, adrenaline already spiking. Badge. Jacket. Keys.

The door flew open and his squad was already moving. “We’ve got a live pursuit,” someone said. “Car theft in progress. Let’s go.”

The city blurred past as they drove.

Jaehyun’s pulse thundered as they approached the location, dread creeping in despite himself. A thousand thoughts collided in his head—faces, names, engines.

Please don’t be them.

Please.

-------------

“You must be overjoyed. Your ceremony is soon approaching.”

Sookyung grins at you through the mirror, brushing out the tangles in your hair. She runs her fingers through your scalp soothingly, despite her verbal reminder cutting and exposing your skin like an open wound.

You display a rehearsed smile. “Yes, it will be a momentous occasion.”

“We wait in the thrill for our next alpha,” she says in a repeated line most of the household have been trained to squawk at you.

After dressing you for the night, she exits your bedroom, allowing you the reprieve to breathe by yourself. You lay in your bed, eyes shutting tightly in the hopes of driving away the clouding thoughts of your ceremony.

The ceremony was an ancient ritual upheld in your community to secure the success for future lines for centuries to come. It was developed after a war decades ago between humans and wolves that nearly wiped out both populations, resulting in a tepid agreement to separate both species for the greater good. The violence decimated hundreds of werewolf communities, including most of the ancestors of your own line. Since then, the elders of every succeeding generation have been strict in their ways of treating the new alphas and omegas born from the surviving families.

Every year on the evening of the harvest moon, alphas and omegas who have come of age gather in the town square to be shipped away until the end of winter to locate a suitable match. Born an only child, your pairing with a prosperous alpha was critical to the future success of your family. Your mother and the beta staff of your household raised you to be the picture perfect omega for the ideal alpha you would one day marry.

Months ago, your resolve had weakened towards rebelling against your parents before you succumbed to their wishes. Initially, you believed the ceremony to be a backwards ritual that practically enslaved you to a stranger. You couldn’t put up much of a fight, however, when the struggle of your family’s finances grew heavier with each passing day.

It’s why when Sookyung finally dresses you for your ceremony and walks with you to the town square, you don’t make a scene. You keep your head down as your mother taught you, hands folded on your stomach as you step in line with the other omegas. Sookyung smiles at you when she sets down your packed suitcase, filled with every item deemed necessary by the elders to prepare you for the ceremony.

You always envied your handmaiden for the ease she carried herself with as a beta. Sookyung would never have to worry about bringing her family honor by marrying a strong-willed alpha. All betas were employed as working staff for the communities, keeping the background alive while the alphas took care of the pressing matters in the forefront. Omegas, on the other hand, were seen as nothing but breeding ovens that needed to deliver. When you were younger, before you presented as an omega, you silently prayed that the universe would assign you as a beta instead.

Unfortunately, your prayers were never answered.

“I will see you in a few months,” Sookyung murmurs happily, tapping at your cheeks affectionately. “The staff waits patiently for the arrival of our new alpha.”

Once your ceremony is finished and you are granted permission to return home, your household merges with your alpha’s in accordance with the law. Every staff member under your father’s umbrella becomes a diligent worker for your new alpha. You know Sookyung and the others not only pray that a kind alpha chooses you, but that his fortune is large enough so they do not have to part with any of the current workforce.

She grants you a small kiss on the cheek for good luck before parting, and you watch her tiny figure disappear behind the tree line. You take a small glance at the other omegas surrounding you, also bidding their farewells to their beta handmaidens. Some look like they’re about to cry in fear while others possess a determined expression you know you could never tackle yourself.

The boisterous chatter of the alphas fill your ears, and you straighten your posture and dart your eyes back towards the floor. It’s been years since your mother has allowed you to interact with an alpha. She feared it would accidentally pair you to someone who wouldn’t become your future mate, tainting your reputation in the community as used goods. This will be the first time you encounter another alpha as an adult, and it has your body tingling from head to toe.

The scent of the alphas makes the situation all too real, throwing you in the sudden clarity that in a few months, you will be mated to another alpha and most likely be pregnant with his child. You try to focus on the black leather shoes Sookyung dressed you in that morning, a new pair the elders gifted to your family for the ceremony. You don’t dare look up even after the smell of the alphas grows stronger, indicating their close proximity.

An elder claps her hands to gain your attention. “Very well then, looks like we have everyone. I hope you are all prepared for the next few months of the harsh winter. This will be the time where we expect you to gather together, keeping each other warm as you discover the alpha or omega you will be bonded to for life. I am certain your parents have already stressed the importance of this ritual to you all, so I won’t dawdle on the basics.” The elder’s feet pass by your line of vision but you continue to stare down. “No one may speak with a wolf not mated to you unless supervised, no alphas may claim an omega outside of the moon ceremony, and every alpha and omega must emerge from the winter bonded to another. Any disobedience according to the law is punished by exile. Is that clear?”

A chorus of agreement erupts from every single person standing in the square. The elder offers a hum of satisfaction before instructing you all to follow her to the bus that will transport you to the ceremony lodgings. Alphas are quick to take the omegas’ belongings with them, showcasing their ability to care and provide. An alpha’s hand wraps around the handle of your suitcase and tugs it alongside his. You don’t utter a word, giving a simple nod of gratitude without looking at him.

The ride to the lodgings is filled with anticipation. The elders divide the front of the bus for the omegas and the back for the alphas. The omega seated next to you grins from ear to ear.

“I’ve been waiting for this day since my sixteenth namesake!” She giggles happily. You throw her a polite smile. “They say the lodgings are filled with decadent food and a luxury most of us couldn’t imagine. It might be the only time we get to experience something like this.”

Details of the ceremony are kept secret from the omegas who have yet experienced it. Your mother told you as much as the law allowed her, warning you how difficult the winter can be without a willing alpha to keep you warm and forming alliances with other omegas can be tricky unless you play your cards right.

This isn’t a teenage getaway — it’s a competition. An omega you befriend could be useful to you for a short period, but soon enough, they would become another pawn rivaling your claim on an alpha. It’s much safer to tread by yourself so no one could betray you.

As soon as you arrive at the lodgings, a vast area of land covered in wooden cabins and surrounded by trees, the elder chaperones designate the areas assigned to the alphas and omegas. You are separated into opposite ends of the land, with omegas seeking shelter in the larger homes and alphas pushed into the smaller living areas.

Each omega is granted their own room, which you are grateful for. A handful of years ago, omegas used to share until fights broke out over claims on alphas. The elders became more strategic after the exile of a few unruly omegas, now giving each their own privacy to avoid confrontations.

You had counted the number of omegas on the bus, a total of fourteen rivaling the alpha count of twenty. You knew it was a safety measure the elders took as sometimes two alphas claimed one omega or disobedience of stubborn alphas forced the elders to send them to exile. An omega was more difficult to come by, but alphas were a dime a dozen.

Still, the idea of two alphas claiming you sent a shudder down your spine. You’re not even sure if you would be okay with one, let alone two commanding your every move.

“Dinner is at six,” an elder tells you as she shows you your room. “All omegas are expected to be seated before the alphas.”

You nod, about to thank her before a rumbling of footsteps barrel down the hallway.

“Sorry, Elder Kim. Forgot to hand this omega her belongings.”

You’re too late to dart your gaze away from the incoming alpha, but your breath catches in your throat when you realize who it is. Jeong Jaehyun has his fingers wrapped around the handle of your suitcase, wheeling it inside your room.

Jaehyun is the son of the head alpha of your community. The Jeong family are respected by all across the nation, descending from the ancestors that fought for the wolves’ rights in the war against humans. Every alpha son from their line has ascended to greatness, and with Jaehyun being the current oldest son of the family, he is the most valuable pick of the ceremony season.

The elder’s voice is stern, scolding him. “Next time, you will alert another elder of this omega’s belongings instead of encroaching on her space like this. I won’t tolerate disobedience simply because of your last name, Jaehyun.”

“Yes, Elder Kim,” he replies obediently.

You briefly meet eyes before you avert your gaze, silently reprimanding yourself for indulging in a look. You hear his footsteps slowly fade away.

“That boy,” Elder Kim sighs, shaking her head. She throws you a stern expression. “Dinner at six. We will escort you to the main hall.”

“Thank you,” you say, bowing respectfully.

Elder Kim closes your door and you slacken your shoulders, wrapped in the comfort of being alone. You work at unpacking your suitcase, filled with sweaters and thick coats to protect you from the cold. You find one of the dresses Sookyung bought for you, a long smock ending at your ankles that properly concealed whatever the elders deemed too precious to be seen before the moon ceremony. You throw it on and clean yourself up before Elder Kim knocks on the door again for supper.

You inhale, taking a long look in the mirror.

You can do this.

—

Elder Choi sits you in between Jaehyun and Doyoung, and the other omegas snarl at you over the coveted spot.

Doyoung’s family is right hand to Jaehyun’s, holding nearly as much power as the head alpha. Either one of them would be considered a suitable match for any omega, but you set your sights on an easier catch like Doyoung.

Bonding with an alpha that possesses as much power as Jaehyun is almost impossible for an omega of your status, lowborn with a fortune running thin.

A group of betas begin to serve dinner as you tell Doyoung, “It’s an honor to meet you, Alpha Kim. My family is grateful for your ancestors’ sacrifice during the war.”

It is a sign of recognition to acknowledge an alpha’s successful lineage, a tactic your mother drilled into you from a young age. She taught you as much as she knew about the eligible bachelors of your season, so you know a few characteristics about Doyoung. He’s the youngest in his family but exhibits the traits of an eldest son — steel demeanor, unforgiving rulings, and no room for a silly thing such as love. He’s exactly what you’re searching for in this time of desperation.

“I thank you for the credit,” he replies, offering you a nod. “Are you familiar with the household duties assigned to an omega like yourself?”

Therein lies the unwavering stony demeanor of the infamous Kim Doyoung.

“Yes, I am,” you say meekly. You shyly take a bite of the steak in front of you. “Embroidery and reading are my favorite pastimes, Alpha Kim.”

He hums in approval. “Any books caught your eye recently?”

“The Omega’s Guide to Painting has been very entertaining,” you say, lying through your teeth. It’s considered reckless for omegas to consume any piece of media outside of their class, leaving you with nothing but novels surrounding the fascination of cleaning and cooking. Sometimes you sneak a book out of your father’s library containing details about the late war, but you wouldn’t dare speak that outloud. “I am also fond of The Handbook for Dressmaking.”

“A good read,” he murmurs. “And children? Is that something you’re contemplating?”

You keep your best smile painted on your face. “Yes, Alpha Kim. As many as the moon will grant me.”

The rest of the dinner passes smoothly, and you barely scrape the fork on your plate in fear of seeming too greedy. The other omegas at the table obtain the same values as you, their food nearly untouched. Your stomach growls in discontent when a member of the beta staff eventually takes your meal away from you to clean up.

Following traditional customs, you separate from the alphas when the table is cleared and retreat back to your room. You try your best to tuck yourself into bed and fall asleep, but your growing hunger screams at you. You tiptoe out of bed carefully, checking the hallway for any elders lurking before proceeding back to the main hall. The cabin is dark, all lights shut off as you quietly move into the kitchen. The betas have already cleared the countertops of any remaining food so you check the fridge, the halo illuminating your face.

“You silly omegas.”

You jump nearly three feet in the air, gasping and holding your hand to your chest. You swivel around to see Jaehyun standing behind you, arms crossed and eyebrows raised in amusement.

“A-Alpha Jeong,” you stutter, bowing your head. “I apologize, I wasn’t aware-“

“You omegas are always starving yourselves in front of us. When are you going to realize alphas are never settled when our omegas aren’t taken care of?” He questions, stepping beside you and taking out the leftover steak in the fridge.

You keep your eyes planted to the ground as he moves around you, heating up the meal on the stove.

“Alpha Jeong, you don’t have to-“

“Just call me Jaehyun,” he interrupts gruffly. “Alpha Jeong this, Alpha Kim that- all the rules get so tedious.”

You flush in embarrassment. “We shouldn’t be alone together without an elder present.”

“Another rule,” he sighs, using two fingers to lift your chin up. You meet his gaze head on. “I won’t tell if you won’t.”

You swallow, blinking slowly at him. Being this close to an alpha while unmated is against all commands of the elders and betrays every ounce of your omega training, but you nod and say, “Okay.”

“Besides, the elders sleep like they’re dead anyways,” he says with familiarity, which makes you realize that Jaehyun’s grown up around all the elders who have accompanied you to the ceremony because he’s next in line to become head alpha. He steps back from you and resumes cooking at the stove. “So,” he starts, humming. “The Handbook for Dressmaking is a riveting thriller, isn’t it?” He asks you with a smirk playing at the edge of his lips.

“Oh,” you mumble, wringing your hands nervously. “Yes, I believe it was the top book for the omegas in our district.”

He chuckles. “What’s your actual favorite book? Be honest.” He takes out a cutting board and slowly starts peeling the skin of one of the apples on the counter.

“Um- t-that is my favorite book, Alpha-“ you stop and clear your throat, correcting yourself. “Jaehyun.”

“You omegas,” he repeats with a shake of his head. “Always lying, trying to say what you think is the right thing. I don’t want to hear the dictation from your mother’s handbook. I want to hear your real opinion.”

Your heart beats rapidly in your chest. You’ve never told another being about straying away from the traditional omega values. Jaehyun looks at you with an impatient expression, however, and you can’t bring yourself to lie to the next head alpha.

“History retellings about the war are my favorite,” you confess in a gentle voice. His eyebrows raise in surprise. “They provide me with a picture of what we needed to do to succeed as the dominant species.”

It’s not ladylike in the slightest to assimilate oneself to such acts of violence, and you’re certain this would be the final nail in the coffin to ward Jaehyun far from you. Instead, he smiles.

“That’s a new one,” he laughs. “And the children? As many as the moon grants you?”

It’s no secret that after the war, many omegas don’t find it as easy to give birth as they used to. The lingering chemicals and difficult winters led to harsher environments for omegas to successfully carry a pup to term. Nowadays, omegas who strive for more than four children sign their own death sentence. Regardless of the staggering data, the elders teach all omegas that they must give birth to as many pups as the moon will grant them.

“Two,” you whisper, shifting your stare from him and towards the wall. “Just two would satisfy me.”

He hums again, but makes no effort to scold you for your admission. You expect the son of the head alpha to be more strict on the nation’s laws surrounding omega submission, but Jaehyun breaks out of the mold you initially assumed of him.

He slides a warm plate on the counter, filled with the delicious food you resisted eating hours ago.

“Eat well, omega. I thank you for your honesty.”

When he exits the kitchen, your mind reels over the thought that not all alphas are as bad as you believed them to be.

—

“Look at them out there!”

Omegas rush to crowd the window, gawking over the beefy alphas outside. A month has passed since you arrived for the ceremony, and yesterday, the first snowfall made an appearance. The alphas are currently gathering firewood outside in a clear demonstration of power play. Each wolf challenges the next as they collect stacks upon stacks of firewood in their arms, flexing their muscles for the omegas watching to squeal at.

“Jaehyun is so strong,” Doyeon sighs wistfully, nose glued to the glass. “He’s going to be a perfect match for you, Joohyun.”

You learned pretty quickly that the omegas arranged themselves into a pecking order after your first few weeks here. Joohyun was a beautiful girl from the rural village who was nearly guaranteed a good match because of her visuals, and most of the omegas echoed how perfect she would be for Jaehyun.

You, on the other hand, were at the bottom of the food chain. You hadn’t made companions out of any of the other omegas and you never told a soul about the night Jaehyun heated up your meal while unchaperoned. You kept to yourself, occupying your days with the activities the elders laid out for you, such as embroidery and dressmaking.

“It’s not certain yet,” Joohyun dismisses with a giggle. “He won’t even give me the time of day.”

“He’s just nervous!” Yerim insists, laughing with her. “It’s honestly really cute. You’re going to be the perfect omega queen for us.”

You keep your lips pursed, refusing to voice your displeasure at the constant chatter encircling Jaehyun and Joohyun. You hate to admit you think about that night with Jaehyun more often than you would like, sometimes imagining what your life could be if he chose you as his mate. You admonish yourself for feeding into your desires, knowing that they could never come true.

The front door bursts open and the alphas come piling in, throwing firewood down on the living room rug despite the protests of the elders. You carry on reading the novel seated in your lap, refusing to engage in the delighted cries of the omegas praising their alpha’s strength.

“It really wasn’t that hard,” Mingyu laughs, puffing out his chest for Chaeyeon, the omega he’s clearly courting. “Alphas like us are born to carry much heavier loads than that.”

Just as you’re turning the next page of your book, a voice above you asks, “What have you got there, omega?”

Your eyes flit upwards to catch Jaehyun’s, a familiar playful smirk dancing across his lips. You swallow nervously and dart your eyes away from his.

“Embroidery and Embellishments, Alpha Jeong.”

He clicks his tongue. “Fascinating read, I’m sure.”

You smile bashfully at the jest before Joohyun clears her throat, taking the lounge chair across from you.

“Alpha Jeong, I thank you graciously for providing the firewood we omegas need for the incoming frosty weather,” Joohyun says with batted eyelashes.

He brushes her off with a wave of his hand. “No thanks necessary. Alphas are always happy to provide for our omegas.” He takes another glance down at you but you keep your eyes trained on your book, afraid of angering Joohyun’s clear attempt to claim him. “I hope you enjoy your book, omega.”

“Thank you, Alpha Jeong.”

The alphas exit shortly after the elders light the fire, returning to their own cabins. The elders begin to assign you household tasks to keep the lodgings prepared in case of a severe storm. Elder Lee delegates you to shovel snow from the driveway in fear of another omega accidentally slipping on the ice. You bundle up as best as you can, wrapping yourself in a puffy coat and shoving your hands into a pair of warm gloves.

You don’t comment on the fact that some of the more desired omegas, such as Joohyun and Doyeon, were only given the tasks of watching the fire to ensure the light doesn’t flicker out. You suppose even the elders were convinced they would be married to good pairings and soon enough, they would be listening to Joohyun’s orders if she mated the head alpha.

You sigh as you work at shoveling the snow, testing your balance as you plant yourself upright and continue to dig.

“So we’re back to Alpha Jeong, hm?”

You almost scream, turning around to see the source of the sudden voice. Your frantic actions cause you to slip on the ice and you gasp as you feel yourself falling backwards. A pair of arms catch you, encircling your waist and pulling you tight against a warm frame.

Your eyes slowly wobble up to meet with Jaehyun’s.

“You need to be more careful with yourself, omega,” he chuckles, breath fanning over your face. “Can’t have you injuring yourself whilst on duty.”

You scramble to balance on your own two feet as Jaehyun watches you, thoroughly entertained. He gently takes the shovel from your hands and begins to dig.

“Alpha Jeong, you don’t have to-“

He clicks his tongue in disapproval. “The elders shouldn’t have an omega out here, shoveling snow without supervision. If I wasn’t around and you fell, you could be seriously injured.”

You chew on your lower lip, afraid to tell him that the elders will definitely scold you for letting an alpha complete your work. You observe as the muscles ripple down his back and through his arms, showcasing them properly as he dons a sleeveless shirt.

Alphas’ bodies were designed to withstand temperatures like this, even as the wind nips at your face and sends shivers down your spine. Their figures were meant to be warm enough to protect their families during winter, and your heart aches to be clung to his chest again and feel the heat pressed against your skin.

“We used to play together as pups, you know.”

The statement has you reeling, your mind searching for glimpses of a tiny Jaehyun running circles around you. He laughs at your bewildered expression.

“It was before your mother took you away to become a proper omega,” he elaborates, lips curled in distaste towards the end of his sentence. “You used to shove me down and tell me I kept arranging my mudcastles all wrong.”

You briefly recall a rebellious younger version of yourself, ruling the rest of the children on the playground with an iron fist. It was before all of you understood the differences between omegas and alphas, and before your family was sequestered into the lowborn category. Your life as a child was filled with merriment and fun, and it would make sense that you didn’t think twice about pushing around the future head alpha.

“I apologize for my behavior,” you say shyly.

He frowns. “Why would you need to apologize? We were young — that’s what we’re meant to do.”

“Still,” you reply, swallowing your nerves. “An omega of my status should not have been acting in such an unruly manner, Alpha Jeong.”

“Jaehyun,” he corrects. “And stop apologizing. I don’t want to hear you ever say sorry again for behaving in a completely acceptable manner, okay?”

You blink at him, taken aback by his command. “Y-Yes, Jaehyun.”

He gives you a long look before returning to shoveling the snow, the driveway now almost clear from his efforts. The front door to the cabin creaks open and Elder Kim hobbles outside, gasping when she sees the sight of the alpha.

You open your mouth to explain, but she’s reprimanding you before you can get a word out.

“What do you think you’re doing? Allowing an alpha to complete your task whilst unsupervised?”

This is it, you think. This is the moment that she sentences you to exile, forcing you to leave the ceremony lodgings and fend for yourself in the woods alone. You think of your mother and Sookyung, who tried so hard to mold you into a perfect omega who would bring back an alpha they could be proud of. How would they take care of themselves with you gone?

Before you can spiral into the endless possibilities of your demise, the alpha beside you speaks up in your defense.

“And what do you think you’re doing, Elder Kim?” Jaehyun bites back with a scathing tone. “Letting an omega shovel snow on her own knowing she could fall and injure herself. Omegas are sacred in our district, I’m sure you’re well aware. Leaving one unsupervised by any of the elders could bring lasting damage to our community.”

Elder Kim’s face flushes red with anger from being challenged and humiliated by an alpha younger than her. She glances behind her, ensuring the door is closed for no other ears to eavesdrop on your conversation.

“Jeong Jaehyun, you will go back to your cabin and speak of this no further. I will reassign the omega’s duties accordingly.”

“I’m not leaving until this omega is warm by the fire and fed properly,” he says sternly, eyes narrowed.

You squirm, attempting to make yourself smaller to avoid the heated stare of Elder Kim. She barks at you, “Get inside and stay by the fire.”

You shuffle quickly into the cabin, throwing one last look at Jaehyun before you go. He smiles at you before shifting back to his grim countenance at Elder Kim. When you shut the door, the elder’s voice rises.

“If you know what’s best for you, you’ll stay far away from that omega. You know that’s not the one your father approved of you mating with.”

“I didn’t think you amused yourself with such idle gossip, Elder Kim,” he replies mockingly.

“Jaehyun,” Elder Kim scolds. “That omega is not fit for an alpha of your status. She will not be able to lead the omegas who come next in line.”

“You don’t know what she can do,” he hisses, and your heart beats rapidly in your chest. Is he implying that he’s considering you as a potential mate? “All of the elders focus only on themselves instead of the good nature of omegas like her. Isn’t the point of the ceremony to nurture and bond them to an alpha? I don’t see how that’s being accomplished when you have one of them at the risk of catching hypothermia.”

Elder Kim sighs loudly. “Just go back to your lodgings, Jaehyun. And think about if the decisions you’re making are that of a leader.”

“I want her to be looked after more carefully.”

“That is for us elders to determine. You’re not the head alpha yet, don’t start acting like one.”

You saunter off to the living room before you can hear any more, taking a seat on one of the recliners and wrapping yourself in a blanket. Joohyun and Doyeon are painting their nails on the couch adjacent to you, eyebrows raised at the sight of your presence.

“Shouldn’t you be finishing your chore outside?”

You grab your book from the table and prop it open.

“Alpha Jeong did it for me.”

And you finish your book with a smile, ignoring their blatant shock when Elder Choi sets down a warm plate of food next to you.

—

As the wind grows stronger, the elders begin to initiate more intimate activities between you and the alphas.

One of them is a form of speed dating, where an alpha visits you in your room for a few minutes unsupervised while the elders lurk outside the door. You make your best attempt at pushing your discomfort away at a stranger invading your space, especially so close to your nest. Most of the alphas are polite towards you and ask you a few questions before departing to the next room. It’s clear they’ve made their initial claims towards other omegas, as they display no interest in your life beyond childbirth.

“This is a beautiful pillow,” Doyoung says when it’s his turn, picking up one of the cushions you’ve laid in your nest. Your eye twitches slightly at the action. Any courteous alpha should know it’s disrespectful to touch an omega’s nest without permission.

Despite this, you offer him a small smile. “Thank you, Alpha Kim. I made it myself.”

He hums in approval. “Your room is more bare than the other omegas,” he notes, drinking in your empty walls.

“I don’t have much,” you confess. The other omegas were given various presents to celebrate their ceremony by their parents or beta handmaidens, but you were only handed enough sheets and blankets to cover the bed.

He nods again. “I hope you understand I’m searching for an omega who can lead my household without instruction. I’ll be occupied during the hours in the day working for my father and brother, so I need my pack to be organized without the requirement of my presence.”

“Yes, Alpha Kim,” you say meekly. “I am very efficient in handling my own tasks and duties. My mother raised me in accordance with the laws of the ancestors.”

A knock on the door interrupts you, and Elder Lee steps in. “Time’s up,” she says, balancing herself on her cane. “The last alpha is here.”

Doyoung bows in courtesy to you and you return the gesture.

“It was lovely speaking with you. Thank you for your time, omega.”

“I appreciate your attention to detail, Alpha Kim.”

Elder Lee escorts Doyoung into the next room before Jaehyun pokes his head in.

“May I come in, omega?”

Your heartbeat thumps in your ears. “Of course, Jaehyun.”

He grins at the familiar calling of his name before walking in and shutting the door. You blink softly at him, butterflies swarming your stomach at the sight of him in your room. He looks so big compared to your tiny cabin lodge, and the omega inside of you screams to invite him into your nest and make him comfortable.

“Beautiful nest, omega,” he compliments, gazing at the circle of blankets and pillows you’ve built on the mattress.

You smile bashfully. None of the other alphas even bothered to comment on it.

“Thank you.” You suddenly think back to the night in the driveway, and Elder Kim’s words throttle inside of your head. “Have any omegas caught your eye?”

He frowns at the shift in the conversation. “Why would you ask me that?”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you-“

“Don’t apologize,” he sighs, suddenly exasperated. “I told you that you don’t need to apologize for silly things like this. Just-“ he swallows, crossing his arms over his chest. “Have the elders been talking to you?”

Since that night, you noticed the elders have been treating you slightly differently. You are no longer assigned the more grueling tasks fit for an omega and your portions at mealtime have grown larger. Joohyun has been staring at you with envy, and you know the other omegas have been whispering about you behind your back.

“N-No,” you deny, shaking your head. “I just thought- um, I thought Joohyun was starting to show an interest in you.”

He shakes his head dismissively. “I don’t care about her. She’s not the right omega for me.” He glances at the clock hanging above the door, and you realize you only have a few seconds left together. “Meet me in the main hall tonight. I want to speak longer with you.”

“But-“

“Time to go,” Elder Choi says, opening the door and throwing Jaehyun a stern look. He follows her obediently, not wanting to stir up any more trouble, leaving you all by yourself again.

You thought you would be relieved by the time the speed dating session was over, but instead, you find yourself coveting more minutes with Jaehyun without having to sneak around. You keep yourself occupied until the late night rolls over the sky. The elders decided to separate you from the alphas for meal time tonight considering there was already sufficient interaction between you today. You eat dinner by yourself in your room instead of joining the omegas at the table, counting down the minutes until everyone is tucked away in bed.

You have enough time to mull over the consequences of your decisions — getting caught with Jaehyun after hours is one thing, but if the elders discover that it was pre-planned and intentional, it would evolve into an entire mess. Nothing would probably happen to Jaehyun, he would most likely get a slap on the wrist and a scolding from his father. You, on the other hand, would be sent to exile and your family would be disgraced by the community for their omega daughter seducing the future head alpha.

Still, you can’t help but disregard all of the red flags waving in front of you. The omega inside of you demands to be near Jaehyun, to talk to him, to let him hold you until the storm passes. It’s a carnal feeling you’re not sure you’ve ever felt before.

You’re light on your feet as you make your way to the main cabin, the wind outside nipping at your cheeks forcefully. You slip into the kitchen without making a sound, afraid of waking any of the beta staff sleeping upstairs.

“There you are,” Jaehyun whispers when you enter, and you squeak. “Oh fuck,” he curses when he sees you shivering. As if on instinct, he crosses the room and pulls you into his arms. “I forgot about the snow outside, I’m so sorry, omega.”

You smile at him. “You said not to apologize for silly things.”

The concern in his eyes is replaced with something softer, and the corners of his lips lift upwards. “I did, didn’t I? Thanks for reminding me.” He doesn’t move an inch, rubbing his hands up and down your arms to seek warmth. “And thank you for meeting me so late. I hope you’re still getting enough sleep.”

Your chest blooms at his constant fretting over you. “I’m doing well, thank you, Jaehyun.”

“I-I wanted to speak with you about what you said earlier,” he mumbles, hand stroking your hair gently. You lean into his touch, almost mewling at how perfect he feels against you. “I hate that you’re thinking about me with other omegas. Truthfully, I don’t want any of them. My alpha’s been calling me to you.”

You freeze in his hold. You take a step back from him and he frowns at you. “Is this some kind of rebellious act?” You question. “I should be your last pick as an omega, Jaehyun. Elder Kim said so herself.”

“So you have been listening to them,” he says under his breath, shaking his head. He pinches the bridge of his nose in exasperation. “I don’t care what everyone thinks they know about me. I-I like you. I’ve liked you since we were pups and I can’t imagine myself being mated to anyone else.”

His words cut through you sharply and you struggle to catch your breath. You’re convinced that Jaehyun doesn’t quite understand the weight behind his words and how much this could alter both of your lives permanently. He’s an alpha destined for greatness and you’re an omega fallen from grace. You can’t possibly work out in the long run.

“I don’t think-“

The sound of light footsteps interrupts you, and both of your eyes widen before he’s pulling you into the corner of the room, concealing your bodies behind the tall refrigerator. You keep your lips sealed shut, body pressed against his warmly. A beta worker steps into the kitchen, frowning when she sees no presence of another wolf before flicking the lights off. After thoroughly checking the living room as well, she treads back up to her bed.

You exhale when she finally disappears before you feel a hand ghost over your cheek. Your eyes lock with Jaehyun’s, who looks at you like no one’s ever looked at you before. There’s an affection in gaze that draws you in, tugging at your heartstrings and begging for you to make room for him. He cages you against the wall, molding his frame against yours. His breath hits your skin before you’re suddenly reminded of where you are.

“Jaehyun, the staff-“

“Please let me kiss you.”

You swallow before you nod, and his lips descend on yours desperately. A burst of light explodes throughout your body, desire swelling deep inside of you. He feels so soft against you and it makes you want to kiss him all day. Your hand reaches to pull at the hairs on the nape of his neck, causing him to groan into your mouth.

You’re not sure if it’s from your incoming heat for the moon ceremony, but you’ve never been this wet before. Slick runs down your thighs and you shamefully whimper, rubbing them together to seek friction. It’s clear Jaehyun can smell your arousal, his moans shifting into growls as his fingers dig into your hips. His lips trace your jaw and he starts to lift up your dress, running against the flesh of your thighs.

“Jaehyun,” you gasp, pushing him away. “We can’t.”

He pants, clearly frustrated. You try to ignore the swell of his hard member straining in his trousers. “It’s not fair. I’m the next head alpha — I should get to choose the queen who will sit beside me.”

You shake your head. “I-I’m sorry, but I think you know it’s best for you to mate with Joohyun and I with Doyoung.”

“Doyoung,” he scoffs, tangling his fingers through his hair. “Doyoung would ignore you at a moment’s notice in favor of chasing the tail of his father. He’s a good soldier, I’ll admit, but he’ll be half the husband I could be for you.”

“He’s safe,” you argue. “He’s a perfectly safe choice for an omega like me. He won’t stir up any trouble and he’ll provide for our pups as needed.”

A snarl erupts from him. “You will never have any wolf’s pups except mine.”

His vocal abhorrence is what stirs another beta worker from their bed, and you pause when you hear the creaking of the wood upstairs. You shuffle away from Jaehyun and he looks at you solemnly.

“I can’t do this with you, alpha. It’s dangerous and I-I just can’t. Please find it in your heart to choose Joohyun instead.”

You slip out of the kitchen and trudge back to your cabin with Jaehyun’s heart crushed between your fingers.

—

“There is a prediction that tomorrow’s weather will be the coldest night of the year, with temperatures dropping below freezing,” Elder Choi says, staring at the handful of omegas before her. They have gathered you in the common space, hands folded on your stomachs obediently. “We are allowing the alphas to choose an omega to keep warm throughout the night. They will enter your rooms after supper tomorrow, and we all gently remind you that no claims are allowed to be made outside of the moon ceremony.”

You glance down bashfully at her words. The omegas surrounding you rejoice happily, squealing to one another at the thought of an alpha’s body wrapped around theirs while the wind cries. You, on the other hand, picture an icy night with Doyoung, who would likely rather curl up on his side of the bed than touch you.

Doyeon raises her hand before Elder Kim calls on her. “And how will you determine the order of the alphas? What if multiple alphas are vying after one omega?”

“We have discussed this with the alphas to ensure they speak to one another before making a decision,” Elder Lee replies. “And the order will go according to status of house, with Jeong being first.”

Every omega turns to Joohyun and giggles except you. You haven’t spoken to Jaehyun in weeks despite his attempts to sit near you during meals or help you with your assigned chores. He has been talking more to Joohyun like you requested, and you hate how your gut stirs with jealousy every time you see them together.

The following night, during supper, you sit in between Doyoung and Chaeyeon. You smile at the alpha sitting beside you. “The weather is taking a turn for the worst. I hope you are able to keep yourself warm, Alpha Kim.” You hand him a basket of bread as he nods.

“Yes, we alphas are not affected by a simple dip in the weather like omegas are. My wish is for you to shield yourself from harm’s way.”

You smile politely at him and bob your head in thanks. Your eyes lift to catch Jaehyun’s across the table, where he is seated in between Joohyun and Doyeon. His fingers are tightened steadfastly around his fork, glaring at you and Doyoung. You swallow and realign your gaze to your meal.

“And what order have you been assigned for tonight’s activity?” You ask Doyoung, ignoring Jaehyun’s blatant stare.

“Second,” he replies. “Your omega will not have to wait long.”

“I appreciate your concern, Alpha Kim.”

You burrow yourself underneath a handful of blankets that night, although it does little to protect you from the howling wind. Your teeth chatter as you curl yourself into a ball, praying for the storm to pass. Your door creaks open and you furrow your eyebrows.

It’s too early for Doyoung to be here. The sun has only just fallen over the horizon, so it couldn’t possibly be him unless-

“May I come into your nest, omega?”

Your head pokes out from underneath the covers to see Jaehyun hovering over you, smiling softly at your shivering form. Your eyes dart between him and the door frantically.

“Jaehyun, you shouldn’t be here-“

“Why? My omega is cold and I’m here to keep her warm,” he murmurs. “Now may I come into your nest?”

You have half a mind to tell him to leave this room and find Joohyun’s, but instead, you lift up the covers so he can climb in. His hands immediately wrap around your waist and he pulls your backside against his front. Your body relaxes in his hold, protected by the heat of his frame.

“Did Doyoung-“

“Don’t say his name,” he growls in your ear. He presses closer against you. “I put him in his place. He knows now not to come near you.”

“Jaehyun,” you hiss angrily. “That was not your decision to make.”

“I can’t stand the thought of him in this room, invading your nest and keeping you warm,” he says through gritted teeth. His hand moves to tangle with yours and your heartbeat picks up its pace. “I’m the only alpha who can keep you safe.”

You sigh, tears threatening to spill over your eye line. “I can’t be the omega they want me to be,” you confess in a small voice.

He kisses your neck softly. “You already are the strongest omega I’ve ever seen. That power, that confidence — it’s hidden underneath the foolish rules your mother taught you to be a ‘good’ omega. You just need to be yourself.”

You bury your face into the pillow, allowing the tears to fall. “I don’t remember who that is.”

He turns you over, wiping your tears away gently. “Let me show you then.” He kisses down your neck, lifting the hem of your sweater to nudge his nose against your stomach.

Your eyes flit over to the door again, fear settling in. “We shouldn't-“

“It’s okay,” he soothes you, tugging your sweatpants down your legs. You gasp at the chill hitting your thighs, goosebumps spreading across your skin. “You just have to be quiet for me, omega.”

“The moon will know of our sin,” you exhale, reciting the words of the elders.

He rolls his eyes, nose nudging against your core. “The moon doesn’t know shit.” You squeak when he sucks lewdly through your underwear, slick coating his tongue. “What I know is my omega’s pussy needs attention and I’m happy to provide.”

He rolls down the fabric until your bare folds hit the freezing air. Jaehyun is quick to lap at the slick dripping down your thighs, coating the bed as your head tilts in embarrassment. His fingers reach to cup your cheeks, shifting your focus on him.

“Don’t look away from me, omega,” he commands in a gruff voice. “Let me see that confidence as I eat this pretty cunt.”

You keep your eyes locked on him as he laps at your core, tongue tracing your pulsing folds. You chew on your bottom lip, fearful of allowing any stray whimpers to fall and risk one of the elders overhearing you. He flicks his tongue over your clit, teasing the nub. Your fingers tangle through his hair, gripping the strands to pull him closer to you. He smiles at your display of dominance, allowing you to use his face as your personal toy.

All etiquette training flies out the window as your hips roll against his tongue, slick continuing to spill from you and into Jaehyun’s waiting mouth. You chase your impending orgasm, riding his face until the band in your stomach snaps. He quickly shoves three fingers into your mouth to muffle your moans. You whine against his digits as he laps at your cunt, grinning vulgarly.

“Such a good omega,” he praises, your legs still shaking from the intense orgasm. He kisses his way back up to your face, removing his hand from your mouth so he can swirl his tongue with yours. You whimper when you taste the remnants of your orgasm on him. “Have the elders been making you take your suppressants?”

Since your first night at the cabins, the elders required all alphas and omegas to take suppressant pills to ward off their incoming ruts and heats. The goal was to ensure you were all ripe and ready for the moon ceremony, which was now fast approaching. They would begin to wean you off of the suppressants in the coming weeks to correctly sync all of you to the ceremony. It was the best way to guarantee pregnancy for the omegas on the first night.

At your nod, Jaehyun sighs. “It’s ridiculous. I should be able to breed my omega whenever I please.” You moan at the thought. He flips you over so that you’re on top, straddling his torso. “Go ahead and claim what’s yours, omega. Show me the omega queen you’re going to be.”

You shakily fumble with his briefs, pulling them down until his cock slaps up against his stomach. Your eyes widen at the length of him, long and thick. You heard rumors that a head alpha’s cock was bigger than most, but you genuinely weren’t expecting this.

“I-Is that supposed to fit inside me?” You squeal, frightened by the idea.

He chuckles, rubbing his thumb against your hip soothingly. “It’ll fit, omega. Why don’t you play with it a little? I promise you it’s not that scary.”

You hesitantly wrap your hand around his base, squeezing gently while he groans. You move your palm up to the tip, catching the falling beads of precum leaking from him and using it as a lubricant. You continue to stroke him, marveling at how his cock throbs and manages to keep expanding at your touch. How is it possible for him to grow any bigger?

“Come on, omega,” he encourages you through bated breaths. He lifts your hips up until your core is hovering over his member. “Take your time, okay? It’ll fit, trust me, your pussy was made for me.”

“Okay,” you whisper, balancing one hand on his abdomen as you slowly sink down. You throw your head back, whining at the stretch until his fingers slip into your mouth again to silence you. You’re not even halfway there yet you feel so full, stuffed to the brim with his cock.

You’re not certain you can go any further until Jaehyun shushes you calmly, brushing off the stray tears you don’t realize have fallen. “Take your time,” he reiterates. “It’s not a race, omega. I’ll be here all night, waiting for you.”

You nod, fluttering your eyes shut before you exhale. You gradually press down until he’s seated all the way inside of you, balls snug against your ass. Slick races down your core to coat both you and him, making the glide easier for you when you start to move.

“That’s it,” he encourages. “What else do you need, omega? Don’t be shy about it, an omega queen never is.”

You duck down to seal your lips together, effectively connecting you to him as your hips swivel around his cock. He grunts into your mouth, spanking you lightly with his fingers that are still smeared with your saliva.

“I need your knot, alpha,” you mutter against his lips. You’ve never taken an alpha’s knot before and you want nothing more than to feel Jaehyun’s cock swell inside of you, stretching you open until ropes of his cum cover your walls.

“Let me feel you first, omega,” he hums, using his hands to guide your movements as you bounce on him.

You rock back on him as the euphoric sensation spreads throughout your body, driving your pleasure to new heights. His cock is big enough to rub against all of the right spots, nudging you closer to your climax. You rut frantically on him until fireworks explode behind your eyelids.

You don’t realize you’ve squirted everywhere until you float back down, blinking to clear the haze in your vision. Jaehyun has one hand covering your mouth and you give him a confused expression.

“You were screaming,” he explains in a fond voice, stroking your hair back. His eyes are sparkling and you glance down, shocked by the amount of slick covering his stomach and the bedsheets. “Messy omega.”

He gently rolls you over so your head hits the pillows, switching positions with you as he slowly slides back into your cunt.

“Want your knot, Jaehyun,” you pant, the last orgasm driving you to exhaustion.

“I’m going to give it to you, omega,” he says, pumping into you desperately. Your wetness is causing a slight smacking sound to fill the room every time his thighs hit yours, which he tries to quiet as much as possible. “My knot’s only for you, my omega. It’ll only ever be for you.”

He buries his head between your collarbones when his knot begins to swell. His teeth sink into your neck, forcing a gasp from your throat. He doesn’t claim your mating gland yet, favoring the spot next to it. You feel like you’re being split open as the base of his cock inflates and tears fall down your cheeks at the mix of pain and pleasure.

And when Jaehyun cums, he cums a lot. So much that it spills out of your pussy and onto the mattress. His knot plugs his cum deep inside, ensuring most of it fills your womb.

He kisses you once more, cupping your cheeks softly. “My omega,” he whispers again, nose brushing against yours. “You’re going to be a wonderful queen. The community will thrive under our rule.”

“You promise?” You question shyly, intertwining your fingers together.

“I promise. It’s just you and me, omega.”

—

“You’re a lucky girl.”

Elder Kim brushes the hair away from your face, applying moisturizing cream to your cheeks gently. She sprinkles flecks of gold across your eyes and sprays hints of jasmine around your neck, and you don’t comment on how Jaehyun would hate it if he couldn’t smell your natural scent under the perfume.

It’s the night of the moon ceremony and you’re more nervous than you’ve ever been.

The last few weeks have been indescribable with Jaehyun, save for the haughty nature from the rest of the omegas. Ever since he publicly displayed his affection by choosing you on the coldest night, the others have declared you the enemy. Joohyun apparently cried the entire evening, sleeping next to a rigid Doyoung who showed no interest in helping her stay warm. She singled you out as a traitor for seducing her alpha and the rest of her army followed suit in the accusations against you.

“It’s not everyday the head alpha chooses an omega of your liking,” Elder Kim says with a sigh. “Jaehyun’s a stubborn one, always has been since he was a pup.”

You smile thinking about your alpha. The time together before your moon ceremony has only made the two of you more insatiable, occupying any unsupervised time with your hands all over each other. You’ve nearly gotten caught a couple of times, but as the suppressants wear off and your heat starts to itch at your skin, you fail to stave off your desire.

“He’ll be a strong head alpha,” you say as Elder Kim pulls your ceremony dress over your head. “Our district is lucky to have him.”

She regards you carefully. “I admit, I initially mistook your subservience for weakness. But I can see now why Jaehyun is so enamored by you. There’s a strength inside of you that I haven’t seen with the other omegas. It rings cause for a great leader, and I’m happy to see it reveal itself more these past few weeks.”

“Thank you, Elder Kim,” you say, offering her a thankful bow.

“Don’t thank me yet,” she murmurs jokingly. “It is said that a head alpha’s children are just as stubborn as the alpha, making them the most difficult pups to raise. Jaehyun was an unruly little boy, and I have no doubt his pups will take after their father.”

You briefly glance down at your stomach. Unbeknownst to her, your belly is already blossoming with Jaehyun’s child after many nights of sneaking around together. When you eventually appear back home, you know a few eyebrows will raise at the timeline of your pregnancy. You hold no care for idle gossip now, however, simply happy by your current state of life.

A warmth burns in your chest and you clear your throat. “Elder Kim, does it always feel this-“

“Strong?” She finishes for you, smiling when you nod. She turns you to face the mirror in the corner of the room and you finally take a look at yourself. Your skin is flushed and your eyes are dilated, making you appear more feral than you’ve ever seen yourself. “You haven’t experienced your heat in months. Tonight you will feel the after effects of the suppressants wearing off.”

A frantic knocking comes at your door and Elder Kim frowns, shouting for the person to enter. Elder Choi comes in, eyes wide in alarm.

“We have an issue.”

“What-“

“I want to see my omega now! Fuck your moronic ceremony!” Jaehyun’s booming voice shakes the entire cabin and you gasp, the sound of him being enough to send a river of slick down your core.

Elder Kim sighs, guiding you by the shoulders until you’re sitting at the edge of your bed. “Stay here while I handle your rowdy alpha.”

You clench your thighs together and lay back on the mattress, the ache of your heat spreading throughout your body. It dawns on you that if your heat was affecting you this much, Jaehyun must be loathing the intensity of his rut hitting him all at once.

The scent of your alpha wraps around you, growing stronger when you faintly hear Elder Kim shouting, “Jeong Jaehyun! That omega is not yours to claim until the moon has risen!”

Then you feel a pair of rough hands flipping you over, pulling your ass into the air and mounting you properly. It takes the strength of all the elders and the swatting of their canes to rip Jaehyun away from you, his teeth bared as he snarls in their hold. You’ve succumbed to the instincts of your heat, whining for your alpha and begging to be stuffed full of his knot.

“Get the other omegas out in the field now,” Elder Choi commands, pulling at Jaehyun’s arms as hard as she can.

“But the moon-“

“If we don’t let this alpha claim his omega in the next few minutes, he’ll kill us all.”

Elder Kim finds a way to convince your alpha to wait while Elder Lee rushes to gather the rest of the omegas outside. You feel the hands of Elder Choi lift you up gently and help you on your feet, readjusting your dress as she walks you out of your room and down the stairs.

You’re still completely out of it, murmuring Jaehyun’s name until Elder Choi soothes you, “We’re almost there, omega.” She leads you to the open field outside, where the snow is just starting to melt on the grass.

All the omegas have huddled around in a half-circle, glaring at you once they catch a whiff of Jaehyun’s scent. Soon after, the alphas filter out of their cabin one-by-one, looking just as jaded as your alpha. It’s clear all of you are reaching your limit in terms of the length of this ceremony. Elder Lee instructs them to stand on the opposite ends of the omegas, effectively completing the circle. Elder Kim is still holding Jaehyun back by his arms as he thrashes and growls from the restraint. You know he could easily break both of Elder Kim’s arms if he wanted, but he prevents himself from taking it too far. Your omega preens at the self-control of your alpha.

“Alright, status of house will decide the order,” Elder Lee says exhaustedly from the middle of the formation, her body weary from fighting Jaehyun off. “We will begin with the blood sharing ritual, and I request for Jeong Jaehyun to demonstrate it for us accordingly.”

Jaehyun easily slips out of Elder Kim’s hold and trots up to Elder Lee, taking the dagger out of her hand. He comes up to you without hesitation and Elder Choi, who is still holding you, prods you forward carefully. Jaehyun takes you into his arms, pressing kisses down the side of your face to ease the unsettled nature of your omega.

“Jaehyun,” Elder Lee reminds him in a stern voice. “The blood ritual.”

Although the omegas have been kept in the dark concerning the ins and outs of the moon ceremony, the alphas were taught at a very young age what would be expected of them when called forward. It’s why you glance warily at the dagger in Jaehyun’s hand while he shushes you softly.

“Not going to hurt you, omega,” he assures.

He takes the blade to his skin, slicing his palm open. You whine at the injury, but become perplexed when he raises his hand to your mouth. He gives you a small nod, urging you to press your lips to the skin. You hesitantly run your tongue over the wound as droplets of his blood cascade down your throat.

“The alpha and omega have become one through the blood ritual,” Elder Lee announces and the rest of the alphas and omegas clap begrudgingly.

Jaehyun cups his hand over your cheek, pulling you away from his cut and molding his lips over yours. Elder Lee clicks her tongue in disapproval but you’re lost in the world of your alpha, fists tangling in the fabric of his thin shirt to pull him closer to you. He ruts against you, his cock already fully hard.

“Jaehyun,” Elder Lee warns. Your alpha ignores her, favoring bunching up your dress in his hands instead. “Jaehyun!”

Elder Kim pushes against his back. “In the circle. You can claim your omega, but you know you must do it in the circle.”

With permission from the elders, Jaehyun leads you into the overarching trees while you stumble through the discarded branches. “Where are we going?” You question, your fingers aching to be wrapped around his cock.

“Where the moon is supposed to bless us, omega.”

You uncover a field in the middle of the woods, looking like the season has suddenly shifted into spring. The grass is clear of any evidence of snow and the birds chirp above you, highlighting the blooming flowers rupturing from the ground. Jaehyun lays you in the middle, and you bring your hand over to shield your eyes from the sudden burst of sunlight.

“W-Where are we?” You ask shakily, taken aback by the change in your surroundings.

“The moon’s circle,” he answers quietly, pulling your dress over your head to see you. His lips immediately latch onto your left nipple, grazing the peak with his teeth while you squeal. “The moon is meant to rise over us and bless us with a child.”

“Oh,” you say, furrowing your eyebrows. “But I’m pregnant with your pup already.”

“That you are, my pretty omega,” he hums, kissing down your stomach. “We didn’t need the silly moon, did we? Just you and me.”

When his tongue laps at your folds, you whine. “Jaehyun, want your knot,” you say, tugging at the strands of his hair.

“Let me get a taste of you first, greedy little thing.”

He cleans up the slick coating your thighs, lapping at your wetness even as you continue to drip into his mouth. Mewls spill out of you as you beg for Jaehyun to grant you some mercy. His tongue and his fingers won’t be able to satisfy you when you’re this deep into your heat, you need his knot, and you need it now.

“Jaehyun,” you whine again. “Please, alpha. I can’t wait any longer.”

“My poor omega,” he coos when he parts from your cunt, making his way back up to your lips. “Need your alpha’s knot? Need to be stuffed full until my cum is leaking out of you, hm?”

You whimper and nod. “Please, please, alpha. Want it so bad.”

He flips you onto your stomach, adjusting you into the same position he had you in when you were in your room. He mounts you like before, taking his cock out and slapping it against your pussy. When he pushes the tip in, your head collapses against the grass as the heat in your belly finally begins to subside.

He’s bigger than he’s ever been, and you’re not certain if it’s from his rut or being able to claim you properly or a combination of both. You scream when he stretches you out regardless, your cunt weeping from his cock splitting you in half. He doesn’t show any mercy on your shaking form, jackhammering into you roughly.

You hear a scoff above you, and your eyes lift to search for the source of the noise. You’re surprised to see Joohyun five feet away from you, arms crossed against her chest as she sneers down at you. Doyoung stands right beside her, averting his gaze from your whining form.

Jaehyun’s hand pushes roughly against your scalp. He leans down to whisper in your ear, “They’re here to watch the head alpha claim his queen, my omega.”

You assume it’s another twisted part of this morbid ceremony — for the alphas and omegas of age to watch their leader degrade his prized mate. You moan louder, putting on a show for them as you grind your hips back onto his cock. Since Jaehyun already knows what it takes to push you over the edge, he wraps his fingers around your throat, pulling your back to his front as he thrusts in deeper.

He exposes your neck for all to see, his fingers hovering over your thrumming mating gland. “Please, alpha,” you whimper. “Please, want to be your omega.”

“Say it,” Jaehyun hisses in your ear. “Say it for all of them to hear.”

“Want you to stuff me full, want to be bred with your pups,” you say without hesitation. Your eyes lock with each of the omegas surrounding you and you smile with pride. “Want you to show them how you’re mine.”

Then his teeth sink into your neck, displaying his claim for your audience to watch. Each alpha growls, their patience running thin to stake a claim on their own omegas. Jaehyun raises his head to snarl at them, effectively silencing their complaints. You shudder as you spasm around him, squeezing onto him for dear life.

“Gonna breed you,” he grunts into your ear, landing a few swats against your ass. “My pretty omega, full of my pups and begging to be stuffed full. I love you, omega, and I’m going to show you just how much.”

The first spurt of cum lurches you forward as his knot expands inside of you. He holds your body steady against his, moaning loudly as he plugs his cum into you. Like the first time, it seems as if he has endless amounts of cum to give you, most of it spilling out of your core.

“Love you, love you, love you,” he whispers into your ear the entire time before turning your head to plant his lips against yours.

A few minutes pass in silence with Jaehyun still cumming into you before Elder Lee clears her throat.

“…Well then, let us leave the future head alpha and the omega queen to their own. Now that the demonstration is over, we will complete the blood rituals and finish the ceremony for the rest of you.”

They slowly filter out of the moon’s circle while Jaehyun’s mouth continues to press against yours, gently lowering the both of you onto the grass. You barely register that they’ve all left, your focus drawn to the fact that your alpha is still rutting into you despite his swollen knot sitting at your entrance making it difficult for him to move very far.

All it takes is a few spankings to your clit for you to clench tightly around him again, gushing over his cock.

“They’re going to have to tear me away to make me stop,” he sighs, biting down on your mating gland once more. “I can’t get enough of you, omega.”

“Don’t stop, alpha, please.”

You don’t separate from Jaehyun that night until Elder Choi comes to collect you, insisting you both wash up and have something to eat in your room. Your alpha slowly fucks you in the shower before feeding you a few apple slices Elder Kim lays at your door. He then takes you again on your bed, against the wall, and on the floor.

Your heat doesn’t subside for a few days, and the elders have to force you and Jaehyun to eat and drink to stay alive. Apparently, you were the only wolves left who weren’t satisfied enough, with everyone else’s heats or ruts wearing off after a day or two.

It’s in the middle of day five when Elder Lee bursts through your door while Jaehyun is eating you out, two fingers deep into your cunt. She clears her throat but is drowned out by your moans.

“Excuse me… Jaehyun… Jeong Jaehyun!”

Jaehyun parts himself from your folds, mouth sticky and dripping from your juices.

He blinks twice before glaring at Elder Lee. “What?”

“Why I’ve never,” she mutters under her breath before tapping her cane on the wooden floors. “The ceremony has been over for days now. Your father has instructed us to return to the district.”

“Okay, have fun.”

He wraps his lips around your clit, sucking at the nub roughly until you’re shaking and squirting for him.

“Jaehyun! You and the omega queen must come with us. You will be crowned head alpha as soon as we return.”

“Then my first order as head alpha is for you to leave me alone with my omega,” he says, rising to his knees and pressing his cock against your entrance. Your eyes are fluttered shut, face down in the pillows while your alpha claims you again.

“We leave tonight. If you are not on that bus, trust me, we will leave you to face the wrath of your father alone.”

The door slams shut as Jaehyun knots you for what feels like the millionth time. As his cum drifts down your thighs, he lays on top of you, being mindful of his weight against your back.

“W-What did Elder Lee say?” You ask, floating on cloud nine.

“She wants us to leave tonight,” he replies while pressing kisses against your shoulder.

“I don’t want to leave,” you whine.

You admit that you despised the ceremony when you first arrived and longed for nothing more than to be back home. Now, however, you have an alpha bonded to you and his pup growing inside of your stomach. You feel like your life has finally fallen into place, and you loathe the idea of someone bursting the happy bubble you’ve created with Jaehyun.

“I don’t either, omega,” he sighs into your skin. “But we have to go home sometime.”

A smile tugs at the corner of your lips. “We have a home together, alpha,” you say, giggling and kicking your feet.

He grins, biting your ear playfully. “Yes we do, my sweet omega. A home for you and me.”

—

The first step off the bus is painful.

The wind whips at your face, causing your eyes to water. Jaehyun pulls you closer to his side, rubbing his arms over your exposed skin for warmth. You first catch sight of Sookyung, her bright smile shining through the crowd of people. Then you notice the rest of the community, some of them greeting their children and welcoming the new additions to their home. The others stare blatantly at you and Jaehyun, whispering to one another with wary expressions.

Your insecurity grows tenfold before you see your mother running to you, enveloping you into her arms as she cries gently.

“You did so well,” she mumbles into your ear. “You’ve made us so proud.”

When you offer your father and Sookyung your greetings, they part to make room for Jaehyun’s family to step forward. Jaehyun’s father looks like an identical copy of him, the only difference being the gray streaks in his hair and the wrinkles near his eyes. His mother is the type of omega the elders desired for you to mold yourself after, her gaze averted to the floor and her hands folded neatly across her stomach. His brother, Sungchan, is only a few years younger but it’s clear he’s a Jeong from the way he stands tall and confidently looks at you.

“Father,” Jaehyun gruffly greets him, intertwining his hand with yours. “This is my omega.”

“Alpha Jeong,” you say courteously, offering a polite bow.

Jaehyun’s father gives you a hurried look before narrowing his eyes. “The elders informed me they had to make verbal threats in order to get you two out of bed.”

You glance down bashfully as Jaehyun smirks. “A ceremony for a head alpha is more intense than any other wolf, I’m sure you remember.”

“You’re not head alpha yet,” his father bites back in a stern tone. He scans the area to ensure no one else heard his outburst. “We will return home and discuss this matter privately.”

You give Jaehyun a worried look but he simply smiles, leaning over to kiss you reassuringly. He holds your hand the entire walk back to his house, a grand estate gifted to the head alpha’s family that stretched for acres and acres of unoccupied land. Sookyung’s eyes nearly pop out of her head when you arrive.

Numerous beta staff greet you at the entrance, taking the bags from your arms and rushing to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

“My office,” Jaehyun’s father barks at your alpha.

Jaehyun presses another kiss to your forehead. “I’ll be fine, omega. You go ahead and wait in our room for me.”

Jaehyun’s mother smiles at you when Jaehyun disappears upstairs, offering to show your family to your new living quarters. She leads you into a master bedroom on the top floor, the interior covered wall to wall in artwork that looked like it was taken out of a museum. A king sized bed sits in the middle of the floor, clothed with luxurious silk sheets and more pillows than you’ve ever seen in your life.

“We had it remodeled in preparation for your arrival,” Jaehyun’s mother shares, her obedient smile never wavering.

“I am honored by your hospitality, my queen,” you thank her, mesmerized by the state of your new room.

Jaehyun’s mother nods politely before she and your parents slip away to find their own rooms. Sookyung squeals in excitement at the size of the closet, chatting about all of the new dresses she plans on purchasing for you with your newly acquired wealth.

“I’m going to use the bathroom,” you say to Sookyung, who is wrapped up in the various perfumes spread out on your vanity mirror.

She waves you off and you sneak down the hallway, searching for the office belonging to Jaehyun’s father. You come across a small room near the staircase, and your heart jumps when you hear yelling from the other side of the closed door.

“-Shame to our family! Can you imagine what your mother and I thought when Elder Kim reported back that you chose some lowborn omega as the future matriarch of this household?”

Glass smashes against the wall and you almost gasp in surprise. “Talk about my omega like that one more time and I will rip you in half,” Jaehyun snarls.

“You are a child,” his father’s voice seethes. “We have spoiled you for far too long and I will not tolerate it any further. I was already hesitant when you began this schoolyard crush on her but I should’ve known well enough that you would see it the whole way through. I have half a mind to name Sungchan as head alpha instead.”

“Go ahead,” Jaehyun scoffs. Your hand trembles at the firmness in his tone. “Your threats mean nothing to me. It won’t change the fact that I love the omega I’ve bonded with, and I will love our child more than you ever loved me.”

“…You’ve already impregnated her?”

“Yes, father,” Jaehyun replies, and you can hear the smirk in his voice. “We didn’t leave the bed for days, remember?”

Guilt sinks deep into your bones and you unsteadily hobble back to your room. Sookyung’s admiring the silk sheets laid over your new bed, but she frowns when she sees you. She rushes to your side, helping you sit down on the edge of the mattress.

“Are you alright?” She questions, raising the back of her hand to your forehead to check for a fever.

“I-I’m just a little nauseous.”

“Oh, that’s a wonderful sign!” She giggles, clapping her hands together excitedly. “Nausea is one of the first signs of pregnancy. Allow me a moment, I will request for the cooks to make a recipe one of the elders taught me to soothe your stomach.”

She rushes out the door and you sigh, resting your hands over the top of your stomach. Tears well in your eyes, fear sinking in that your presence has only made Jaehyun’s life worse. You knew this would happen from the moment he pursued you yet you allowed it to continue regardless of the consequences.

Hands rest on your thighs and soft kisses press against your face while you sob. “My pretty omega,” Jaehyun says, voice strained. “What’s wrong? Do you not like the room? Do you need to make a new nest?”

“Your family hates me,” you reply, shaking your head. “I’m a burden to you.”

“Stop that,” he growls, wiping the tears falling down your cheeks. “I never want to hear you say that again.”

“It’s true. You shouldn’t have chosen me as your omega. I knew it well enough but I disobeyed the elders and now your father threatens to take away your leadership as head alpha.”

He rests his forehead against yours. “Please, omega. You and our pup mean everything to me. I never want you to think you’re not good enough. I thought we left all of that nonsense behind at the ceremony?”

“Jaehyun,” you say, still sobbing furiously. “What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to shower my omega with the love she deserves until she realizes she’s more than enough for me.”

He envelops you into his arms and lays the both of you against the pillows, licking your tears away. His hand rests protectively over your stomach. Your cries turn into giggles when he continues to pepper kisses all over your face.

“My sweet omega,” he coos. “Never want to see you cry again. It breaks my heart.”

You sniffle and nod. “I just don’t want to crush your dreams.”

“My dream was always you, omega. Being head alpha means nothing to me if I don’t have you. And you mustn’t worry about my father, his words have always been empty threats.”

“You promise?”

“I promise.”

He’s proven right when Jaehyun is crowned head alpha the next day. From dusk until dawn, the community celebrates the rise of their new leader, accompanied by mountains of food and the elders dancing happily in a circle until their feet have blisters. Jaehyun keeps you by his side as each member comes up to you, congratulating Jaehyun as the new head alpha and you as the new omega queen. Your alpha is particularly chuffed when one certain couple approaches you.

“My queen,” Joohyun says with a polite bow, curling her hands into fists. “We pray to the moon to grant you and the head alpha a happy coupling.”

“May the moon bless you with many pups,” Doyoung echoes next to her, keeping his stare far away from you.

Jaehyun narrows his eyes at him and smirks. “Yes, we do hope for another pup to add to the household,” he says before his hand curls softly around your stomach. “They would make a great sibling to this one.”

“Y-You’re already pregnant?” Joohyun gapes, jaw dropping open.

You smile and rest your hand on top of Jaehyun’s. “Yes, we have been expecting for quite a while now.”

You watch her mind run through the timeline before she smiles tightly.

“May the moon bless this pup and more to come, my queen.”

The night ends with Jaehyun claiming you in your new bed, hips snapping roughly as he molds his lips over yours. “My omega,” he whispers into your mouth. “All mine, right? No one else?”

“Just you,” you pant, whimpering when his thrusts pick up speed. “Only want you, Jaehyun.”

“And you’ll only ever have me, omega.”

As he fucks you until the sun rises over the horizon, you wonder if this is what heaven feels like.

—

You’re six months into your pregnancy and your hormones are running wild.

Sookyung dotes on you hand and foot when Jaehyun isn’t around. As head alpha, he’s normally gone during the day to train new wolves and ensure the community is stable. He doesn’t float back into your shared bed until after the moon rises. You don’t complain much since you understand his duties are crucial to the heart of your district, but you still long for him when he’s away.

Before he leaves every morning, he checks your nest to secure all of the blankets holding the walls up and offers you his shirt from the night before to ease your omega with his scent. You spend the majority of the morning curled up in your nest with his shirt tucked under your chin, breathing in his scent and quelling your nerves.

One particular day, however, has your emotions darting all over the place.

Sookyung tells you later that you were inconsolable, crying for your alpha and refusing to speak with anyone who wasn’t him. You turned down all of the meals the staff offered you and growled at them when they drew anywhere near your nest. Your feral behavior forced Sookyung to fetch Jaehyun from the training grounds, bringing him back to your whimpering form as you curled into a ball in the middle of the bed.

“My poor omega,” he murmurs as he climbs into your nest, pulling your back to his chest. “What’s wrong?”

“You’re always gone,” you say in a small voice, and Jaehyun swears his heart shatters into two. “You’re always leaving me and you don’t love me anymore.”

The reasonable part of your brain echoes that your over dramatics is a result of the next head alpha growing inside of you. Elder Kim warned you when she visited you a week prior, taking a glance at your struggling figure as you shakily rose from the couch to greet her.

“That pup inside of you will be a strong one, my queen,” she said to you with a stern tapping of her cane. “I was with Jaehyun’s mother when she first got pregnant with him. That pup nearly drove her from a graceful queen into a feral mutt.”

You think back on her words now, as you thrash against Jaehyun’s hold in an attempt to get him far away from you.

His voice sounds utterly heartbroken. “My omega, how could you ever think that? You’re my whole world, all I want to do is occupy every minute of every day with you. I love you more than anything else.”

“Then why are you always spending every waking second away from me?” You hiss back at him.

He growls at your bratty behavior. “Omega, you know I have responsibilities to the community. I would much rather be with you than be out there training those unruly pups, you know that.”

You huff, telling him he’s making excuses as you continue to face away from him. You feel one hand grip the inside of your thigh roughly before he’s propping it against his hip. His cock grinds into your clothed puffy folds until you whine.

“I know what you need,” he says into your ear, your wetness spilling out of your underwear and coating his tip. “My baby omega needs her alpha to give her his knot, hm? Show her how much he loves her with his seed?”

You bite down on your hand to prevent a moan from spilling from your lips. Jaehyun has learned that your sudden bouts of arousal was another side effect from your pregnancy, with you sometimes interrupting his council meetings just so he could mount you against the dirt floor outside. Often when you get needy like this, he knows it’s because you want his cock to stuff you full.

He rips your underwear off before pressing his tip against your entrance. “Tell me you know how much your alpha loves you, omega, or you won’t get my knot today.”

“I-I know,” you blubber, pushing back on him. “I know, alpha. You love me so much.”

“Yes, I do,” he hums as his cock stretches you open. “I love you and our pup in your belly more than any of these other fucking wolves. It pisses me off, knowing that I spend more time with them than you.”

The reminder springs tears in your eyes again. In the span of a few minutes, you shift from rage to lust to sorrow.

“I wish you were here all the time.”

He gently flips you on your back, hovering over your frame and leaning down to kiss you. You know your words cut through him like a knife. You’ve learned after months of being mated to Jaehyun that he didn’t care much for other people’s opinions except for you. When his father screamed at him for impregnating a lowborn omega, Jaehyun sent him off to live at the furthest end of the estate so that you wouldn’t have to hear his insults. When the elders complained about you not stepping up to your duties as omega queen by teaching the younger omegas how to clean and cook, Jaehyun threatened to exile them from the community for speaking down at you. But when you confronted your alpha about the beta staff in your household not being paid their correct dues, he signed off on raises for every working member without question.

It scares you sometimes how much power you hold over him.

It’s why you know your accusations of him abandoning you cut deep, but the words fall from your mouth without a filter.

“I’m going to figure out a way to be here more often, my omega,” he whispers into your skin. “I promise I’m not going to let you feel this way again.”

Minutes pass before you’re clenching down on him and he’s spilling inside of you, the base of his knot swelling as he pumps his seed deep inside your womb. He holds you in his arms when he’s finished, stroking your hair gently.

“I’m sorry I said all of that,” you say shyly. “I didn’t mean it. I understand you have to handle the future of our district.”

“Omega, don’t apologize for silly things. I’m the one who’s sorry for ever making you feel this way. I will speak to the elders tomorrow about carving out more time in my day for you and our pup.”

“You don’t have to-“

“I want to, omega.”

“I hope this pup isn’t as stubborn as you are,” you grumble, glancing down at your bulging stomach.

He smiles, dimples peeking out. “I hope they’re just like their pretty mama.”

—

“Be careful, Seojeong. You don’t want to injure Hyojung permanently, do you?”

The younger girl frowns and pouts, apologizing to her comrade and laying down her sword. You smile gently and offer her a nod of appreciation, your hands resting over your protruding bump.

“Please take a seat, my queen. I’m certain your feet are tired from standing all day.”

You shake your head at Elder Choi. “I’m doing perfectly fine. I want to be here when they learn this.”

Shortly after your hormonal blubbering to Jaehyun, he passed a new rule within the community wherein the younger omegas would be taught by the omega queen in the same training grounds as the younger alphas. It was initially met with pushback, as the elders deemed it unseemly for omegas to be practicing sparring in any format and with the alphas in proximity, of all people. Jaehyun, however, understood how important it was for omegas to learn combat if they ever faced any real danger.

You also know he developed the law so he could get to spend more time with you.

You look across the yard to watch him presiding over the alphas, eyes surveying them as they spar one another. His gaze lifts up and locks on you, and a smile stretches over his face. Eventually, he’s jogging over to your form, one hand cupped over your stomach while he kisses your lips. The other omegas coo at the sight of their head alpha and omega queen displaying such affection.

“How are you?” He mumbles softly. “Are you feeling okay?”

Last week, the community unfortunately lost an omega during childbirth, the pup being her third son. The newborn baby made it out safely but the mother passed away due to complications from the delivery. Since then, everyone has been on their toes around you, worried about the birth of the next head alpha as you near your nine-month mark. Jaehyun especially indulged you, never drawing his attention away from you for too long.

“I’m doing just fine, alpha,” you giggle, stroking his cheek fondly.

“The omega queen is teaching the others very well,” Elder Kim says to Jaehyun from her spot in her chair. She pauses knitting the scarf in her lap. “They have made good progress, alpha.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” he says, scanning the vicinity to see a myriad of wolves improving their battle skills. It filled his alpha with pride to watch the community flourish under his rule. He nudges his nose against your cheek. “Maybe we should retire for the day, my omega.”

“Jaehyun, I’m fine-”

A sharp pain in your abdomen causes you to gasp and double over. The yard falls into complete silence before the elders are scrambling, multiple hands grabbing your arms and propping you against them. Yelling ensues, the majority of it coming from your alpha barking orders.

“Fetch the midwives now!”

“If I see one bead of sweat fall from her perfect face, I’ll break your fucking limbs.”

“Everyone clear the fucking area! Go home and pray to the moon you worship so much!”

“Jaehyun,” you manage to choke out while Elder Lee is throwing your arm over her shoulder. The alpha turns back to you, a terrified look in his eyes. You smile and brush his hair back with your fingers. “Please shut up.”

Jaehyun keeps his lips sealed shut while the elders and nearby omegas help you into the nearest home. They bang the door open, and you hear a few surprised screams fill the air.

“W-What’s the meaning of this?”

You look up to see Joohyun and her beta handmaiden on the couch of her living room.

“Clear the room,” Elder Choi instructs in a stern tone. “The queen has gone into labor.”

There’s a mix of shuffling before you’re gently being laid down on the floor, surrounded by piles and piles of blankets as more omegas emerge through the door to bring their offerings. It was custom for all omegas to be present during the birth of the next head alpha, bearing gifts of pillows and comforters to ensure the omega queen’s relief during birth.

Jaehyun holds your hand tightly next to you, propping up your head on one of the pillows and staring down at you with concern. You smile and squeeze his hand to relieve his stress. You look to the other side of you to see Joohyun hovering warily, startled by the unanticipated presence of nearly every omega in the community filling her home.

“I’m sorry,” you murmur quietly to her through the chaos. The midwives have finally arrived and are instructing the rest of the group how to position themselves. “I didn’t mean to burden you like this.”

“You didn’t burden me, my queen,” Joohyun replies obediently. “It is an honor to be able to accept the birth of the next head alpha into my home.”

“Don’t lie,” you say, patting her hand softly. “It’s unbecoming of you.”

The corner of her lips quirk up in amusement.

One of the midwives lays a damp cloth over your forehead. She checks your pulse before preparing your lower half for the delivery. You keep your eyes on Jaehyun the entire time, who frantically darts his gaze back and forth between the multiple midwives discussing the best practices.

“My alpha,” you murmur, tucking loose strands of his hair behind his ear. He offers you a wide eyed look and you laugh. “I’d like to hear your voice now.”

“You’re doing so good for me, my omega,” he says, pressing his forehead against yours. “Going to give birth to such a beautiful pup.”

“Alpha Jeong, you must leave us. It is custom for the head alpha to wait outside while the pup is born.”

A whine escapes your throat at the same time Jaehyun’s head snaps to Elder Kim, baring his teeth and growling. The room grows quiet at their head alpha’s displeasure.

“I am not leaving my omega here alone, is that understood?”

You witness a crowd of tentative nods before the most excruciating pain of your life rips through you. Your back bends off the floor as you scream in agony, and another hand grasps onto you for dear life. You blink twice before Sookyung’s blurry figure comes into vision. She nods happily at you, tears streaming down her cheeks. You know she’s waited longer than you for this day to finally arrive.

You give birth to a healthy pup after hours of intense contractions and moans of discomfort. Jaehyun stays by your side through all of it, gripping your hand and kissing your face lovingly.

As you complete your last push and your baby’s cries fill the air, you’re shocked when the midwife shakily says, “It’s a girl.”

The omegas in the room gasp. Every single one of them thought you were due to have an alpha male from how strong your pregnancy had been. The midwife hands Jaehyun your pup and he looks down at her with warmth filling his gaze.

He says with tears spilling over his eye line, “Praise for the next head alpha.”

—

“Mama, mama!”

You grunt as your youngest daughter rams into the back of your leg. You turn to pick her up, ceasing your watch from the omegas on the training yard. The sun beats down on all of your figures and you wipe the sweat from your brow.

“What is it, my little troublemaker?”

Then, your oldest daughter also collides into your stomach, pointing at your youngest accusingly.

“She’s lying!”

“No, I’m not!”

“Yes, you are!”

“I haven’t even said anything!”

“Girls,” you say, giving them both a cross look. “One at a time.”

Your youngest pipes up first. “She threw mud into Jihoon’s face!”

“She’s lying!”

“Am not!”

“Am too!”

“Alright,” Jaehyun sighs, approaching you after watching you struggle to hold in your laugh. “What’s going on here?”

“Your daughter threw mud into Doyoung’s son’s face,” you summarize, one eyebrow raised at him. He snickers into his palm and you elbow him. “Jaehyun.”

He fixes his expression, staring at your oldest with a stern look. “Is that the proper behavior of the next head alpha?”

Your oldest daughter hangs her head sullenly. “No,” she grumbles.

He crouches down and plays with the ten-year-old’s pigtails. “You can throw all the mud you want when you’re the next head alpha, sweetheart, but only to people who deserve it,” he says with a fond smile.

“Jaehyun,” you hiss as you kick him lightly.

“But he did deserve it, daddy! He was telling me how cute I am. I am not cute!”

Your alpha’s face shifts into one of a protective father. “And where is this boy?”

“Jaehyun,” you sigh one last time. You place your youngest on the ground and stare at your oldest in disapproval. “I won’t have any more reports of disobedience from you. You’re going to be a good little wolf and apologize to that boy.”

“Yes, mama.”

The two children take off running down the yard, holding hands like they never fought in the first place. You stare at your alpha, arms crossed over your chest. He’s still looking after your girls with a frown on his face.

“I don’t want you finding that boy and scolding him, Jaehyun.”

“She’s too young for suitors,” your alpha exhales, running his fingers through his hair.

“I remember a much younger version of myself pushing around the man who would become my bonded mate too,” you say, stepping forward and kissing him softly.

He huffs. “That’s not going to happen for her any time soon.”

“You have to let them grow up, alpha,” you say affectionately, nuzzling your head into his neck. “Maybe I can help you take your mind off it.”

Your hand slithers down his chest and he growls when you get dangerously close to his stiffened cock. He leans over to nip at your ear.

“And how did I get stuck with such a little minx for an omega?”

When asked about the new single Model Cowboy, y/n noted, “It’s about going back to your roots and finding that cowboy, blue-collar man. I think the trades are kind of in vogue right now, for all of the best reasons. We want salt of the earth, we want a man who will provide and take care of us- not everything is luxury and partying. There’s such peace in stability, and I want to honor the simplicity of good relationships, which we all deserve to experience.”

Despite all of this, when our reporters enquired about Jaehyun as the star of the music video, who, to us and many fans on social media, doesn’t scream ‘salt of the earth, cowboy, or stability’ our singer simply responded with “No comment.”

Yikes.

However, there may be hope for this fan-favorite couple yet. When Jaehyun was asked about his role in the music video at a recent film premiere for his new action movie ‘Home Grown’ he had this to say: “I did a few music videos in my early twenties, but never with anyone I really knew or admired. I’ve been focused on movies and fashion recently, but I’m excited to do a shorter-form art piece. y/n and her team are very creative, and I can’t wait to see the finished result.” 

I can safely say that we can’t wait either.

Back when y/n was just eighteen, putting out her first album, there was one song that everyone thought she wrote about Jaehyun. We couldn’t help but bring this up to the actor. When questioned if he’d inspired y/n’s first hit single, ‘Forget About Him’, Jaehyun said, “That’s not for me to say, you’ll have to ask her.” This response revived years of conspiracy on social media, and we’re all still itching for the truth.

Production for Model Cowboy is set for the end of the month, and permits have been granted for shooting in California’s Joshua Tree National Park. We’ll all be on the edge of our seats waiting for promo pictures and behind-the-scenes photos. 

Stay tuned for all things celebrity drama and news on our website, or follow us on Instagram and Snapchat for daily updates. 

One:

You’re in your trailer with your assistant, Mark, waiting for your call time, and you can’t help the irritation that’s filling you. It’s the first day of shooting for Model Cowboy, and every other time you’ve filmed a music video, you’ve been excited about the creative journey of turning a song into a visual expression- but not today, and there’s one huge reason for your angst.

“I still can’t believe this is happening,” you groan. “Jaehyun wasn’t my first choice for this, and he’ll never be my first choice for this- it takes away from the meaning of the song to have him starring with me!”

Mark frowns. “I mean, he’s not exactly a model cowboy-”

“More like a model pretending to be a cowboy,” you scoff. 

Your assistant sighs. “Management just wants you two to do this, fake date for a while, promote your music and his upcoming projects, draw intrigue-”

“I know it’s what management wants, I was forced to sign the contract,” you snap. Then you release a breath, getting control of yourself. This isn’t Mark’s fault, in fact, he argued your side in the meeting about this two months ago. “I just… I’m not a huge fan of Jaehyun.”

“You always said he was the most overly confident, smug, pretty boy that came out of your kids’ show,” Mark nods. He’s very good at summing up your difficulties, as he’s your most trusted confidant. You’d never dream of being vocal about your personal opinions of Jaehyun to anyone else, your PR training has taught you not to be fully honest, to prioritize your reputation as a ‘good girl’- but Mark, he gets you. 

“At the end of the day,” you sigh, “sure, Jae might be a better actor, but I’m the better singer.”

“I know you won’t want to hear this-”

“Then don’t say it.”

Mark sends you a pointed look. “He did do that cover of ‘I Like Me Better When I’m With You,’ and everyone loved it.”

“Well, Jaehyun doesn’t have three albums and a Grammy. He did a cover. It’s not like that’s difficult.” 

Before Mark can say anything else, there’s a knock on your trailer. You jump up, ready to start the day of shooting, but when you open your door, it’s not a PA standing there to take you to location, it’s Jaehyun.

He’s dressed in a cowboy-style outfit, however, it’s more runway than practical, and he’s also wearing the same smug smile he always used to have on when you were working together as kids and young adults.

“Long time no see,” Jaehyun muses. 

You roll your eyes. “Don’t pretend you’re happy to see me.”

You know your dislike for Jaehyun is shared with his own disdain for you, and you’d noted that to your managers. How are either of you going to pretend to be in love when this general dissatisfaction with each other is evident every time you’re in the same room?

“Thought I’d come to discuss the whole fake dating script with you, you know, kind of like running lines.”

“There aren’t any lines for our fake dating scenario yet, it’s improv,” you remind him.

“Then, how about boundaries?”

You release a groan. “Fuck it, let’s go find my PA, get in a car to go to location, and we can talk during the drive.”

Two:

There’s a tension in the SUV. With you on his left, your assistant behind you, and Jaehyun’s own manager, Johnny, behind him, everything anyone says will be noted. In fact, Jaehyun’s been listening to Johnny argue on the phone about a brand deal for the past ten minutes.

You’d said you’d discuss the whole fake dating thing, but instead, your eyes are glued to your iPad as you look over the music video notes. 

Jaehyun has always found you to be a very focused woman, he might go so far as to say you have a stick up your ass. Your rigidity is a stark contrast to his own ‘go with the flow’ type of way of doing things, and it’s one of the reasons you’d never gotten along well on sets.

When he’d come to your trailer to discuss PR lines, it had been because he was trying to meet you where you’re at. He thought you’d want to plan. In fact, he’d found it almost laughable when you’d told him it would be improv because out of the two of you, he’s the one that’s always excelled in that area. 

You have this face you put on for others, but Jaehyun’s always seen through it. You lack confidence in yourself, and that’s why you overcompensate by being anal about details, about practicing so you never fail when the time comes. 

Jaehyun leans closer to you, getting a look at the music video notes. The aesthetic board is very desert, horses, sand, sparkles, disco balls, and mirrors- for someone who said Model Cowboy was about finding someone who wasn’t all luxury, there are definitely luxury items in the music video notes. 

“So… tell me again what the song’s about?” Jaehyun asks.

You sigh. “Mark sent you a sound clip, didn’t he? Did you even bother to listen to the song?”

“Yeah,” Jaehyun shrugs, “but I wanted to hear the details from you.”

You take an exasperated deep breath, putting your iPad down on your lap. “It’s about falling in love with someone who’s very salt of the Earth-”

“What do you mean by that?”

Your lips part in shock and annoyance. “It means a man who’s salt of the Earth.” 

“Yeah, you said that, but like…” Jaehyun lets out a small laugh at how bad you’re fumbling this, “what does that mean, to you.” 

Mark shifts in the seat behind you, leaning forward to join the conversation. “It means someone who is honest, and reasonable. Someone who doesn’t think they’re special or better than others.”

You flash Jaehyun a pointed look. “So basically, not you.” 

Jaehyun chuckles. “Baby, neither of us are salt of the earth if that’s your definition.” 

He can see how annoyed you are, can pick up the micro movements, the way your fingers are tapping on the edge of the iPad. It’s a rhythmic thing, something you do to calm yourself, and he’d noticed that pattern in you when you were much younger. 

“This whole fake dating thing was not my idea,” you snap finally.

“Yeah, wasn’t mine either. We both have PR managers.”

You roll your eyes, letting out another exasperated sound of annoyance. 

Jaehyun kind of likes poking at you like this. He’d been worried that you’d be super anal about this whole project, and while you’re definitely fighting for control, he likes to jab you where your guard is down. It feels like a win to him, and deep in Jaehyun’s core, he knows it’s not a nice thing to do, but he simply can’t help himself.

You have a history, years of interactions and bickering- he hasn’t seen you in a long time, but getting on your nerves is as easy as it’s always been, and that schoolboy enjoyment from picking on you is as potent as it ever was. 

Three:

You’re a couple of hours into your day, and you’re doing some shots with horses now. You’d chosen Hwasa as your director, she’s a visionary in the type of aesthetic you want, and you’ve worked with her numerous times before. She’s very girl power, which is what you love, and you also enjoy the fact that she sees this as a collaboration.

You’ve worked with male directors in the past who think your music video is about showing their vision, and in your early days as a teen, you hadn’t been able to find your voice. Now, as an adult, you have the final say on everything, and Hwasa is the best partner you could think of for a project like this.

The two of you are by the cameras, making sure the shot will be good. The horses are just hanging out with their trainers, and Jaehyun’s a few meters away under the sun tent, waiting for direction.

“So… I’m thinking…” you look at Jaehyun, then at the saddles on the horses, “What if we try a shot with bareback.”

Hwasa casts you a sideways glance. “I mean… visually, I think that would be nicer, it would encapsulate freedom, but at the same time… is Jaehyun skilled enough to mount while bareback?”

“He’s an actor isn’t he?” You turn to look at Jaehyun. God, you can’t wait for him to fall off the horse and eat shit. “Jae!”

He’s sitting in a chair, his head tipped back, cowboy hat obscuring his face. The sound of your voice makes him sit up, his fingers pushing the rim of the hat up so he can look at you.

“Come over here!” Hwasa calls.

He nods, standing then swaggering over to you. He’s having way too much fun in his little cowboy outfit for your liking. “What’s up?”

“How do you feel about trying this scene on bareback?” Hwasa asks.

Jaehyun looks at the two of you, then over at the horse. “We can give it a go.”

You try to hide your smile, God, this is going to be so satisfying.

Hwasa goes to consult with the safety guys and trainers, who take off the saddle, then talk Jaehyun through how to mount a horse without the aid of stirrups. He nods nonchalantly, as smug as ever.

The scene gets ready, with you and Hwasa behind the camera. “Action!” she calls.

Jaehyun approaches the horse. He stops next to it, stroking it’s hair. You watch him get a gentle grip, and then, in one fluid motion, he hoists himself up, swinging his leg over the horse’s back before steadying himself into a seated position. He guides the horse by its hair to make a neat circle, looking like the most skilled cowboy ever, then he turns and flashes you that smug smile of his as Hwasa yells “cut!”

“That was amazing,” Hwasa tells you. “God, Jaehyun was such a good choice for this.”

“Really? How so?” you ask.

“Just, I know he’s not a stereotypical salt of the earth man. He’s not all American, he’s not a cowboy with a five o'clock shadow- this… dichotomy of visuals versus lyrical interpretation, how any man can be the right man if given the chance, despite all these stereotypes-” 

You can feel your expression fall. Sometimes you hate how artsy Hwasa is, with her bachelor's in English and her way with words and interpretations. You can’t argue with her analysis, because if that’s what she gets out of the visual of Jaehyun flawlessly mounting a horse bareback, then that’s her view of it. 

“Do you want to try to mount bareback too?” Hwasa asks, drawing herself out of her musings to focus on the scenes she wants in the time allotted. 

You release a sigh. “I guess we can give it a try.”

“If it’s too dangerous-”

“If Jae can do it, I can too,” you insist, not wanting to be one-upped by him. 

You’re in a long flowy silver dress with a slit up the thigh, and you remove your white overcoat. Jenni, your makeup artist double-checks you, and you’re handed your flashy disco-ball-styled cowboy hat. 

The safety team and trainers give you a talk about how to mount the horse, and after listening carefully, you feel ready to take on the task. 

Your horse is black, and your outfit is meant to be a contrast. It’s a beautiful horse, and when Hwasa calls ‘Action!’ you approach it carefully. You can feel your heart racing in your chest, and you stop next to the large animal, stroking it for a moment while you gain the courage to try to mount it.

As you make the leap, hoisting yourself up- Jaehyun calls out, “Don’t slip!”

And of course, that’s exactly what happens. Your leg can’t get a grip over the horse, you trip up a little with the silky material of your dress, and just like that, you’re back on the ground with two feet, sending a death glare over your shoulder at Jaehyun.

“It was a nice effort!” Hwasa encourages you. 

“Not many people get it on their first try,” a trainer agrees.

You watch Jaehyun smile smugly, and an annoyance unlike any you’ve ever experienced fills you as he meticulously watches you try to complete the scene. 

Four: 

It’s near the end of your first day of filming. Hwasa had decided on a one day permit for the horses in the desert, opting to get all the scenes involving the large, beautiful animals done in one big go, and now, she’s explaining the final shots she needs to you and Jaehyun.

“So, we’re skipping through the linear timeline a little right now,” your director explains. “This is one of the final shots of the music video, so we’re going to imagine that at this point, the two of you are completely in love.” You and Jaehyun exchange a look. “You’re riding on horseback in the desert. We want bliss, joy, a comfortable kind of peace that comes when you can truly be yourself with another person, a freedom.”

She gazes pointedly at you and Jaehyun.

“I think we can manage,” you scene partner says, but there’s an edge of hesitation in his voice.

“We’re thinking ‘Ride’ by Lana Del Rey, but instead of motorcycles, you’re on horses. Think about how effortless she looked, how devil-may-care,” Hwasa, ever the Lana Del Rey enthusiast, explains. “You know her song ‘Young and Beautiful?’ There’s a line, ‘Hot summer nights, mid July, when you and I were forever wild.’ Do you guys have that?” 

You love that Hwasa enjoys poetic music, it’s one of the reasons you’d been so drawn to her when you wanted to shift out of your role as a child star turned pop icon. Hwasa had been adamant about the Lana Del Rey stylings that she wanted to influence ‘Model Cowboy,’ the American Dream, wild and poetic love. 

However, with all that said, you’d never imagined Lana Del Rey would be tainted by the imaginings of Jaehyun as your lover, and it leaves a sour taste in your mouth. 

You’ve already gone over blocking, and Hwasa’s explained the drones and cameras set up to take the shots, so now, all that’s left to do, is get through the day.

Jaehyun can tell you’re lost in thought, he can see the dissatisfied look on your face, but before he can call you on it, Johnny pulls him to the side.

“Good luck with this one,” Johnny muses, patting him on the shoulder. “And don’t fall off your horse, you’ve got to be in Milan in a couple of days for the big Prada show.” 

“Yeah, yeah,” Jaehyun brushes his manager off. “I’ve got this.”

“That’s my little go-getter actor,” Johnny grins, having scored a goldmine when he landed Jaehyun as his client, despite being a very young and new manager in the industry. “Be the Model Cowboy you always wanted to be.”

Jaehyun takes a deep breath before joining you. “You ready?” he asks.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” you sigh. 

“Okay guys, we’re in love!” Hwasa bellows. “We’ve got this! And… action!”

Your expression immediately changes, suddenly, you’re grinning, in fact, you’re glowing. It takes a second for Jaehyun to follow your lead, but then, the two of you are playfighting and tickling, laughing like young lovers who are tasting what it feels like to have found their soulmate for the very first time. 

Jaehyun knows the blocking, he knows when to wrap his arms around you after a few feet of chasing, when to lift you up and spin you as you laugh and gently kick. He knows when to set you down, going in for a kiss only for you to break free and dart to your horse, effortlessly swinging yourself up onto the black stallion and taking off.

Jaehyun is right behind you, mounting his own white horse and following.

He does his best to keep an easy going, loving expression, and at first, it’s a little difficult. But, as more seconds of the two of you riding through the desert go by, Jaehyun remembers the way he felt about you when you first met.

You’d been just kids then. Two young teens still growing into your bodies, into your personalities. He remembers how beautiful you’d been, even then, how your smile had lit up the room, as it does now when you turn your head to look over your shoulder at him, making sure the distance between you is still correct.

Of course it’s correct, if you want to be anal, Jaehyun can be anal too, and he’s not going to give you any reason to nitpick after the day he’s had. 

No, Jaehyun’s an actor. He’s a professional.

In fact, he’s a Model Cowboy as he chases you through the desert on horseback. 

God, the way you’re looking back at him- you’ve really grown into your looks, and Jaehyun’s not making things up when he says you’re glowing. The golden hour sun is hitting you just right, and suddenly, Jaehyun’s heart is racing. He feels alive, he feels- as if this whole thing is real. He forgets the cameras for just a few moments, getting lost in the experience of being young, wild, and free, with you. 

Something shifts inside of him, although, Jaehyun’s so enthralled with you that he can’t quite pin what’s just taken place.

The scene is over all too quickly, the two of you making your blocking mark at the bottom of one of the rocky cliff faces that litter Joshua Tree National Park. You slow your horse, coming to a stop, your expression falling.

Jaehyun feels his own smile drop as he stops next to you. He swallows thickly, not knowing quite what to say, so, he decides to note, “Wow, your acting has really improved!”

He means it as a compliment, but your expression turns even more sour, and he knows he’s messed up.

“Well that’s a back handed compliment if I’ve ever heard one,” you scowl.

“I-” Jaehyun’s words get caught in his throat, and he has to swallow a lump just to continue, “I meant it in a good way, I was trying to be nice.” 

“If that was you trying to be nice, it makes sense why you can’t keep a girlfriend for more than a month or so,” you snap.

Jaehyun’s chest hurts, and he stares at you in shock. It’s all the more painful, because in some ways, what you’ve just said is true. He’s used to only dating models, people in the industry who aren’t as successful as he is. He’s only ever entered relationships where there’s a power imbalance, and he supposes in a situation like that, any negative feedback could be biting- yet, it’s different with you.

You’re the one with the power here, and it’s clear you won’t take any criticisms from him. You stand up for yourself, in a way no woman ever has around Jaehyun.

As he watches you lead your horse away, signaling the end of the interaction, Jaehyun realizes maybe he kind of likes that you’re very powerful in your own right. Maybe he likes a woman who can defend herself and doesn’t just take what the world throws at her.

Maybe… just maybe, after all this time, he likes you. 

Five: 

The locations crew had found a really cool oldstyle cowboy motel for everyone to stay at. It had been relatively inexpensive compared to other filming location lodgings in the past, and renting the whole place, including the mess hall, for four days had been the obvious choice.

You’re sitting with Mark and Hwasa, all three of you have trays of food from the buffet, but none of you are focused on eating. Hwasa has her iPad out, and she’s going through the shots of the day with Mark. You remind yourself when you peak at the screen that there’s still a lot of editing to do, but so far, it’s looking quite good. 

Your stylist, Jenni, is also with you, and she’s capturing the majority of your attention as she shows you pictures of the costumes set for tomorrow. Your long silver dress is being swapped out for a pink palette upscale cowgirl aesthetic, with Jaehyun in creams and blues to match the lighter blush colours. 

You notice Jaehyun walk into the large dining area. He and his manager, Johnny, head straight for the food, and they tilt their heads together, thick as thieves out of ear shot.

When they’re done filling their trays, they begin to head to a table, and that’s when Hwasa calls them over. “Rough shots,” she explains. “Jae, you sit next to y/n and I’ll show you both some of the details.”

You flash Jenni a look, hating that she has to move over for the model to sit.

Jaehyun is awkward as he does so, apologizing to Jenni, which is his only saving grace.

When he settles, your shoulders are touching, and he leans closer to get a look at the iPad that Hwasa is holding. Hwasa doesn’t show all the shots, just her favourites, and you have to admit, the visuals are stunning even before any editing for light and colour.

Then, Hwasa shows you all the footage from the last scene you’d shot, the one with you and Jaehyun playfighting then leaping on horses.

“This is so good,” Hwasa tells you. “You both look so natural on horses, the drone shots are perfect, and the golden hour? Stunning.” 

While all of that is true, you’re more focused on how in love you and Jaehyun look. It’s weird to be seeing you and Jaehyun like this. It’s almost out of body, or doppleganger realm, because how the heck did you manage to look so happy and in love with Jeong Jaehyun of all people?

You feel the actor shift next to you, and you get the sense that he’s uncomfortable with it as well… however, out of the two of you, he has way more experience on screen. You guess you shouldn’t be shocked that he looks very much in love, he gets paid big money to sell those emotions.

“Anyways,” Hwasa sighs, “y/n, tomorrow morning, we shoot sunrise and into the afternoon, then Jaehyun, the latter half of the day is us at the ranch for some more ‘classic’ cowboy scenes.”

“Sounds good,” Jaehyun mumbles. With one last nod of appreciation, he stands up, and it’s as if he can’t get to another table fast enough. 

Six: 

They’ve been shooting Jaehyun’s cowboy scenes for a couple of hours when he notices your arrival on set. You’re not in the pink costume he’d heard about you wearing this morning, and you’re not all dolled up either.

You’re in a light jacket and jean shorts, a more relaxed look, and yet, you’re still stunning.

You’re next to Hwasa, looking at camera angles and shots, and while you seem to be making a few notes to the director, Jaehyun appreciates that you aren’t trying to micromanage him yourself. 

Shooting continues for another hour, and Hwasa calls a short break so she can figure out what else needs to be done today while they have the ranch.

At first, Jaehyun just goes and grabs a water. Johnny is hyping him up, but the actor is hardly paying attention, his gaze focused on you instead. 

Jaehyun can’t help himself, he walks over to you. You look up from Hwasa like a deer in headlights, and something about it is very endearing. “Can I help you?”

“Yeah, can I uh… talk to you for a sec?” Jaehyun asks.

“You know what? Yeah, that’s a good idea,” you nod, “come with me.”

You grab his arm, dragging him away. Jaehyun’s a little confused as to where you’re taking him, and when he finds himself in the privacy of a secluded location behind his trailer, he’s even more confounded. 

“Uh….” he starts, wetting his lips.

“What did you need?”

“I was just… guess I was wondering what you were doing here? Didn’t your shoot finish a couple of hours ago? Figured you’d be getting some rest at the motel.”

“It’s my music video,” you remind him. “Also… management thought it would be good to let tabloids get some shots of us shooting today, that’s why I pulled you over here, we allowed them the field of view to your trailer.”

“So that’s why you took me to such a secluded spot,” Jaehyun grins. 

“It’s the only reason I touched your arm,” you retort.

“Careful, don’t look so angry,” Jaehyun warns you, his hands reaching out to grab your hips and pull you closer. “Wouldn’t want to mess up your tabloid shots.”

You roll your eyes. “Tabloid won’t be on the property till after your last take in an hour or so. Don’t jump the gun, cowboy. After your next scene, you can be as much of a little model slut as you’d like.”

“You think I’m a slut?” Jaehyun asks, shocked that you’re talking to him in this way.

“Am I wrong?”

Jaehyun stands there for a moment, and then, he releases his grip on your hips. “Guess not.”

“So, after you’re done the next scene, we come here, and see if we can pretend to like each other,” you instruct. 

“We just have to be as convincing as we were yesterday,” Jaehyun muses.

You open your mouth to respond, but then you shut it, and Jaehyun’s left wondering what you would have said for the next hour.

He wonders how far you’ll let him take things, and part of him wishes you’d answered his question about boundaries yesterday. This feels like uncharted waters, and his heart is racing when he finally meets you behind his trailer again. 

“Okay,” you sigh. “Do your worst.”

Jaehyun feels himself begin to salivate, and he swallows thickly. There’s no way he’ll do his worst. His worst, would be throwing you against the trailer and having his way with you right here and now- asserting his dominance and seeing if you push back in any way- he suspects you like him more than you let on, after all, Jaehyun’s never met a girl he couldn’t tame.

Life’s hard when you have a stunning face and a hot body to match. 

Jaehyun reaches for your hips, pulling you closer. His skin is tingling with excitement. “I’m going to say something funny, and you should laugh,” he whispers.

You grin broadly, but the expression doesn’t meet your eyes. “Depends on if what you say is funny or not,” you counter. 

Jaehyun’s mind suddenly goes blank. His pick-up lines, his jokes- they all fly out the proverbial window. He doesn’t know what to say, so instead, he begins to lean in-

You turn your head at the last second and Jaehyun’s lips graze past your cheek. He’s a little taken aback at first, but he leans into it, reminding himself that you’d told him to improv. “Is this okay?” he whispers in your ear, still wanting to double-check with you although every fiber of his being is telling him to just do what he wants.

“It’s okay,” you respond, wrapping your arms loosely around the back of his neck. “You’re the actor.”

For some reason, it feels like a compliment that you’re making the distinction between the two of you. You’re right, he’s the actor, and you’re the Grammy award-winning singer.

His lips continue softly on your cheek, and then he adjusts, pressing kisses down to your throat. You shift in his embrace, tilting your head to the side to give him more access.

“Jae-” you warn.

“Just a few more, for the tabloids,” he whispers, nuzzling into your neck moreso than kissing now.

You release a sigh, and with your chests pressed together, Jaehyun can feel your heart racing.

He wonders if you can feel his going a mile a minute too. 

Seven: 

You eat in your room with Mark, too shaken up by your interaction with Jaehyun earlier to dare enter the mess hall yourself. 

“So, I was just sent the tabloid pictures for final approval,” Mark sighs, joining you on the bed so you can see his phone. “They’ll be up in the morning.”

“Just choose your favourites,” you murmur.

“Uh…” Mark blinks at you. “I really think you should look at them with me.”

You take a deep breath. “Fine.” 

Shifting your gaze to Mark’s phone, he scrolls through the shots, and you hate how natural they look. You and Jaehyun just look good together, and it sets your teeth on edge.

“The cheek kissing is cute,” Mark says thoughtfully. “The way you’re holding each other looks real.” 

It looks too real, in fact.

“I’m just happy we have opposing shoot schedules tomorrow,” you admit with another deep breath. You can see Mark side-eying you, and you hold up a hand before he can respond. “Don’t say a word.” 

“It’s just…” Mark struggles at times to surpass your commands. He’s your assistant first and foremost, but your company also expects him to have somewhat of a managerial role over you, and you know it’s a fight for him to find balance at times. “Everyone has shipped the two of you since you were younger. People say it’s like Britney and Justin in the Mickey Mouse Club House show- then you were teenagers, and you went different directions-” 

“Well, Britney and Justin didn’t end up together, did they?” It’s a rhetorical question, and from the way Mark sighs, he knows it.

“You’re missing the point,” he struggles.

You turn your gaze to him. “Am I?”

Mark releases a breath, dropping the issue. You feel bad shutting him down like this, but at the same time, you don’t want to open the can of ‘Jaehyun’ worms, if you will. No, you’d much rather ignore it for right now.

You’re filming a music video for your new album, and you have much bigger fish to fry. 

Eight: 

If Jaehyun wasn’t needed for business calls with Johnny today, he might be on set watching you, and Jaehyun can’t get it out of his head as he chills in his motel room and listens to his manager working.

It’s three hours into calls and details before Johnny is able to take a break, and he sets down his phone with a pointed look on his face. “You’re being weird.”

“Am I?” Jaehyun lets out a small laugh, but there’s little humor in it.

“Talk to me,” Johnny says lightly, giving an air of friendship despite the fact that he’s still in his role as manager. “Talk to me about this whole PR, fake dating thing.” 

Jaehyun shrugs. “What’s there to talk about?”

“Those fake tabloid pictures of you and y/n from yesterday on set dropped an hour ago, they’re trending on Twitter,” Johnny points out.

“It’s called ‘X’ now, actually.” 

Johnny narrows his eyes. “I’m never going to call it ‘X.’ It’s fucking Twitter.” 

Jaehyun can’t help but laugh, for real this time. He loves Johnny, loves him for all of his little millennial quirks.

“Honestly?” Jaehyun sighs, feeling his energy sift again. “Y/N’s super uptight, but… she can act like she’s not, and that’s a different side of her that I wasn’t really expecting.” 

Johnny is quiet for a few moments. “Can I ask you something?”

“Go for it.”

“That song from her first album, ‘Forget About Him,’ was that written about you? Is there a past here?”

“Nah, it wasn’t about me,” Jaehyun assures his manager. “As far as I know, she’s never been interested in me like that. We had this other costar, Haechan-”

“Lee Donghyuck?”

“Yeah, him. They uh, I think there was something there between them, for a little while at least.”

Jaehyun can feel Johnny’s assessing gaze, and he averts his own eyes. 

“It almost seems like you’re jealous, Jae.”

“Yeah, well, Haechan never went on to become a brand ambassador for Prada or star in movies, he was just some little child star.” Jaehyun can taste the bitterness in his words, but he can’t help himself. 

“You know who’s not just a child star?” Johnny asks. “Y/N. You two are, without argument, the most successful people to come out of the show you were in when you were younger.”

“We’re both very driven,” Jaehyun admits. “I do admire that about her, she has a Grammy for fucks sake.”  

“What I’m getting from this,” Johnny concludes, “is that you’re completely fine with this whole fake dating arrangement.”

“Well, as my manager, you should know I’m a good actor,” Jaehyun counters.

Johnny laughs. “Sure you are. Tomorrow is the last day of shooting, you’ve got that big kissing scene, I guess we’ll all see how good of an actor you are then.” 

Nine: 

There’s something comical about the fact that both you and Jaehyun are chewing gum in preparation for your kissing scene. Together, you’re with Hwasa as she goes over the vision for the shot. 

“So, we’re thinking Jae’s going to grab your neck,” Hwasa starts, “gently, of course. More of a cupping the nape of your neck than a grab, actually. It’s going to be slow, a slow exploration of moving closer. Lots of close-ups of the two of you gazing into each other’s eyes. It’s about breaking the distance, about two worlds colliding and connecting in a way that feels natural, unrushed, and just, electric.” 

Jaehyun nods, looking at you. “We can do this.” You wish you were as sure as he sounds right now.

Jaehyun takes out a tissue, and the two of you spit out your gum, disposing the trash before moving into position.

The shot is on the edge of a cliff, with the desert and sunset stretching out like a vast, yellowy-orange ocean behind you. 

It’s as you approach your marked spot that you remember something. “Jae,” you ask softly, “are you still afraid of heights?” 

You watch him take a deep breath, and he nods, standing a few feet from the drop-off. You notice he’s looking everywhere but down, and something inside of you softens for him.

Here you are, worried about the kiss, and here this man is, worried about falling off the edge of a cliff and dying. 

“We’ve got some space between us and the edge,” you tell him, stepping closer. “Here, grab my hips, we’re both steady, we’re not going to fall.”

Jaehyun’s lips part, and you can see the confusion on his face.

You suppose you’ve never been nurturing to him, but you can’t help yourself with this. You don’t mean to be a bitch, in fact, you’d argue adamantly that you’re not a malicious person. Jaehyun just pisses you off a lot, and his behavior generally merits a reaction- but right now, he deserves a bit of peace of mind, and you can see him relax a little as his hands grab your waist.

“Feels more steady?” you double-check.

“Yeah.” He swallows thickly, nodding. 

“We’ve got this,” you assure him.

“Are we ready!?” Hwasa calls.

You flash a thumbs up, turning your attention back to Jaehyun.

“And… action!”

The two of you simply stare at each other for a moment. Hwasa had said she wanted this to be slow. You’re shocked at how exposed you feel looking up into Jaehyun’s eyes. He really is a very handsome man, and he looks so extremely vulnerable right now.

His gaze shifts to your lips, and you allow him to take the lead. One of his hands moves up your body, cupping the back of your neck gently. You can smell the spearmint on his breath, as he moves closer.

You maintain eye contact until the moment your lips meet, and then, you do your best to just relax, to forget about the cameras pointed at you. You allow yourself to melt into the kiss, following Jaehyun’s motions, following the gentle notes that soon become more heated.

His tongue swipes against your bottom lip, and on instinct, you open your mouth for him, wrapping your arms around the back of his neck to pull him closer. 

You try to convince yourself that you’re leaning into this for the sake of the scene, that you’re just being good actors together, but there’s something underneath it all. There’s a desperation. You can almost taste it below the spearmint on his tongue. 

It feels good to be kissing Jaehyun, and the realization makes you break the kiss, opening your eyes and blinking in an effort to get yourself out of the daze that’s come over you. 

“That was amazing!” Hwasa’s voice is like a slap. “I’ve got some shots, but I’ll need you guys to do it one more time.”

Jesus. 

“You good?” Jaehyun asks.

You nod, swallowing thickly. “Let’s just go again.”

You’re kissing him again all too soon, and this time, it’s like fireworks. Your heart is racing in your chest, your skin electrified as you cling to Jaehyun, diving deeper into the feeling of him.

This time, he’s the one to break the kiss, and he looks away immediately. You notice him breathing heavily, but before you can say anything, Hwasa’s approaching again.

“Okay, that was amazing, and I hate to be that person, but I’ve decided I want drone shots too, so… third time is the charm?” She looks between you and Jaehyun and both of you are quick to nod, although, neither of you has yet found your voice.

“You good?” you ask him as Hwasa goes back to her spot, her main drone lifting into the sky with an electric thrum.

“Yeah, just one more,” Jaehyun says, voice wavering.

The two of you get back into position, and you study Jaehyun carefully. You’re looking at him, truly looking at him, and he’s looking at you with the same fierceness. You can tell something has shifted between the two of you, but at this time, you’re unsure how deep it really is.

He kisses you again on Hwasa’s direction, and you wonder how normal it is to feel this way during a kissing scene with a fellow acting partner.

You’ve never had to do this before, but you know Jaehyun has. He’s been in two or three rom-coms, there must be a way to stay professional after kissing a costar, right? 

But God, he still feels so good.

You’d thought - or maybe hoped - that the first kiss would be a one-off. That the second wouldn’t be as great, and by now, maybe the butterflies would have escaped the cage in your tummy, but no, the feeling surging through you is as powerful and electric as it had been with the first meeting of your lips. 

He leaves you breathless.

Standing on the edge of the cliff with Jaehyun, you realize you’re in deep shit. 

Ten: 

Jaehyun notices you in the mess hall. You’re looking over food, plating up your dinner, and he decides now is as good a time as any to talk to you. 

He doesn’t mean to be a quiet, sneaky sort of guy, but he can’t help the lightness of his walk. When he goes to stand next to you, saying “Hi,” you practically jump, your food stray scrambling a little as you compose yourself.

“Jesus,” you cuss. “You scared me!”

“Sorry,” he apologizes sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. “So… uh, the shoot is over, I head to Milan tomorrow-”

“Yup, I know your schedule,” you nod, sighing. “It’s in our contract that I come to your show and be front row to watch you, remember?”

“Right, yeah.” Jaehyun swallows thickly. “So… reporters are going to be asking a lot of questions about us.”

“Uh huh, that was the point of the paparazzi pics.” You continue filling your tray with food, so unbothered and cool in your movements that it makes Jaehyun’s heart beat faster. Are you unaffected by your kiss from earlier? Because Jaehyun can’t get the feeling of your lips out of his mind. 

“I just uh, wanted to say, you can trust me to give the right answers and stuff. I’m PR trained.”

God, Jaehyun wants to strangle himself. He feels so nervous, and the look you give him tells him that you think he’s being a dork. He’s definitely being a dork-

“Okay?” you laugh. “I’m PR trained too, we both took classes when we were kids, remember?” 

“Right,” he’s such an idiot, “yeah. Anyways, I guess… I guess I’ll see you in Milan in a couple of days.” 

“Sounds good.”

With one final nod, Jaehyun leaves you be, and he beats himself up about the awkwardness of the conversation for the rest of the night. 

Eleven:

In this week's news, our favourite kids’ show alumni were spotted getting close on set. y/n’s new music video, Model Cowboy, is set to be one of the videos of the summer, starring Prada ambassador Jung Jaehyun. The two have a long history, and while there have been rumors about their romantic connection in the past, nothing has ever been confirmed… until now.

TMZ dropped a photo of the two embracing outside Jaehyun’s trailer, and the internet officially broke. #modelcowboy has been going absolutely wild on X. One user wrote: “all my dreams are finally coming true! Thank you mama e papa!” While another took to X to say this: “At first, I didn’t love Jaehyun as the whole ‘model cowboy’ trope. He just doesn’t fit it for me. But I don’t know, something about the pictures of him and y/n just feels right- guess you don’t need a history as a rancher to be a cowboy, he’s definitely lassoed my heart.“

So far, the general consensus around our new ‘It Couple’ is that it’s been a long time coming. While there’s no official confirmation about their relationship, one of our reporters caught Jaehyun after a show in Milan last night. When asked about their time shooting the music video together, the actor/Prada ambassador had this to say about y/n: “She was amazing. The whole experience [filming Model Cowboy] went without a hitch. She’s super talented, one of the most driven women I know, and I can’t wait to see how this music video pans out for her.”

When asked about the pictures of the two of them that have been trending, Jaehyun said: “I mean, she’s beautiful, she’s an icon- who wouldn’t want a chance with her?” When the reporter clarified by asking if they’re dating, Jaehyun noted, “You’ll have to ask y/n, I’d never be ‘that’ guy who would speak for a powerful woman like her.” 

All we can say is damn, that’s a green flag if we’ve ever seen one. 

Stay tuned for all things celebrity drama and news on our website, or follow us on Instagram and Snapchat for daily updates. 

Twelve: 

There’s nothing like the closing night of a show. Jaehyun feels elated, he feels on the top of his game, like nothing could bring him down. 

“You were amazing,” another model tells him, fluffing her hair up with her hand as the two of them decompress backstage. 

“You were amazing, Vivienne,” he retorts, never feeling more giddy and boyish than he does now. 

“I’m good, but I’m not model of the year good,” she grins. 

“You’re still new,” Jaehyun assures her, although, pride is swelling through him.

He sees her skin flush, her eye lashes fluttering at him-

“Jae?” your voice draws him out of his assessment of Vivienne, and he turns in shock to find you standing there.

You look stunning, your stylist team has really outdone themselves with your looks for the past couple of days- but there’s a sour set to your lips that immediately tells him something is wrong.

“Y/N?” he asks.

“Am I… interrupting something?” your gaze shifts to Vivienne, and Jaehyun immediately understands what’s going on.

“Excuse us,” he says to Vivienne, grabbing your hand to tug you a few feet away. His voice lowers when he asks, “Are you jealous right now?”

“No,” you retort immediately. “What reason would I have to be jealous?”

You’re making a big show about the notion of jealousy being ridiculous, but Jaehyun knows he’s hit the nail on the head. 

“No reason at all,” Jaehyun assures you, and he truly means it. He knows this whole dating this is a PR move, but he hasn’t been able to get you out of his head all week. Every time he’s walked past you sitting front row at the shows- well, he’s been feeling butterflies in a way that he’s hardly been able to admit to himself. “Hey, listen-”

“No, you listen,” you cut him off. “Your show is over, we both fly different places tomorrow morning, management will set our schedules to keep up this whole fake dating thing, I just wanted to say goodbye before I go back to my hotel.” 

“Oh, right.” Jaehyun can feel his heart sink in his chest. “Uh… where are you staying?”

“I’m at the Four Seasons.”

“Do you maybe want to get drinks later or something?” he asks.

“I’m sure you have after parties to go to with your… model friends.” Your gaze shifts to Vivienne again, and that same sour twist to your lips appears.

Jaehyun wants to reassure you, but- the words just aren’t coming. Besides, what would he even say? We’re fake dating but I’ve been rethinking our entire dynamic since we kissed and now I’m not so sure I want it to be fake, because I’m actually really into you, and all of our bickering in the past has been because I’m jealous of your driven nature and I’ve seen you as competition but now I see that we can do more together than apart?

It feels like a lot of word vomit, and Jaehyun’s not about to projectile all of that at you right now. He doesn’t want to look stupid again, doesn’t want to feel like an idiot. He’s scared of rejection, in a way he’s never been scared of it before. 

Instead, dejected, he just nods. “Yeah, I guess.”

“Okay, so you go have fun, I’m going back to my hotel, and like I said, I’ll see you when I see you.”

Jaehyun watches you leave, and suddenly, the high from the fashion show has depleted. No one has ever had this kind of hold on his emotions before, and Jaehyun knows he’s going to have to do something about it, he just doesn’t know what. 

Thirteen: 

“Jeeze, Mark, I told you, I’m going to bed-” Your words cut off as you open your hotel door and find Jaehyun, not Mark, standing there.

“Uh… Hi?” Jaehyun smile sheepishly, and you look him up and down.

He’s in a form fitting suit, but it looks somewhat ragged. His shirt is unbuttoned haphazardly, his hair a little fussed, and his cheeks are flushed pink. 

“What are you doing here?” you ask.

“Well, I went to the afterparty, like you told me to, but… I don’t know, I just felt bad about how we left things.”

You’re shocked at how candid he’s being, and you don’t see a hint of dishonestly in his body language. “Have… have you been drinking?” you question next.

“Just a little,” he admits. “Can I…” Jaehyun looks around the hallway outside. “Can I come in?”

“I should really be going to sleep soon-”

“Yeah, I heard, Mark’s been on your ass,” Jaehyun nods, swallowing, “but uh…” he leans forward, voice lowering, “What’s that pipsqueak going to do about you staying up just a little later? I mean, you can sleep on your flight tomorrow, can’t you?” 

Yeah, Jaehyun is drunk. “Did you just call Mark a pipsqueak?” you ask in shock.

“So what if I did?” He grins lazily. 

“Jae-”

“y/n.”

You sigh. “Come in, sit down, and let me grab you some water.”

“Yes, ma’am.” His smile is much too large for your liking as he enters your hotel room, going to the couch like a good boy. 

You can feel his eyes on you as you get him a bottle of water from the fridge, moving to join him. “Here.”

“Thanks.” He unscrews the cap as you sit down, taking a large gulp.

“So… what’s this about?”

He’s still drinking the water, like a child after a marathon, just drinking and drinking with small stops to gasp for air- you can’t help but laugh a little, watching with amusement.

Jaehyun finishes the entire bottle. “So-” He takes a deep breath. “I wanted to apologize.”

“For what?”

“Making you jealous earlier.”

“What?” You’re in shock. “I was not jealous.” 

“You were, and it’s okay.” He places his hand on your knee and you look down at it then up at him questioningly. “I was jealous of you and Haechan back in the day, but the difference is, I wasn’t hitting on Vivienne, I was just trying to be nice to her, you know, as male model of the year and everything.”

“Jae-”

“I wasn’t hitting on her,” he says again, expression turning firm. “You’re my girlfriend and I’d never, ever do that to you.”

“I’m not your girlfriend.”

“Contractually, you are,” Jaehyun insists. “I can be a good boyfriend to you, if you let me try.”

He’s leaning in now, and you grab a pillow, haphazardly shoving it between the two of you so he can kiss that instead.

“Jae!” You hop off of the couch, heart racing.

“Shit, sorry, you’re just- God, have I ever told you that you glow?” Jaehyun looks up at you with an expression you’ve never seen on him, it’s almost like admiration.

“What are you even saying?”

“You glow. You light up the room. You just- you sparkle, even without disco balls and diamonds.”

You wrap your silky night robe tighter around your body, feeling self conscious. “I don’t glow.”

“You do,” he insists. “Even when we were younger. I think- I think part of me always worried your glow would diminish mine, if that makes sense- but, but after seeing some of the footage from the music video, I see that, now that we’re older, when we do stuff together, when we’re not competing, we can glow together.”

So he’s like… very drunk.

But… haven’t you always heard that drunk words are sober thoughts?

You look down at him, and it feels like you’re seeing him in a new light. 

“Jae?” you question.

“Yes?”

“What’s going on?”

“When we kissed that day on set, I felt something.”

“Are you… not used to feeling things?” you ask.

“Not feeling things like that,” Jaehyun corrects. “I mean, butterflies, sparks, you know, corny rom com shit.”

Your stomach flips, heart beginning to beat faster in your chest- so he’d felt the connection too.

“Look, okay, this is going to be embarrassing if you reject me, but, fuck it, I want to get this all off my chest.” Jaehyun takes a deep breath, running his fingers through his silky hair to steady himself. “I like you. I think, a part of me has always liked you, but, I also used to see you as competition. Now that we’re older, now that we’re both successful, I don’t see you that way anymore- and before you think that’s another backhanded compliment, I just mean, you’ve won Grammys. You’re- a fucking star. And I think… maybe I’ve grown to the point where I can accept other people’s successes without seeing it as a diminishment on my own.”

You’re surprised he can speak this well and use big words while clearly feeling the effects of alcohol, and even more than that, you’re surprised by the context of what he’s saying. 

Jeong Jaehyun thinks you’re a star. He recognizes your hard work and your success. He’s not just some smug asshole looking down at you, he’s actually seeing you, and maybe… maybe you’re beginning to see him. 

“I appreciate the compliment of what you’re saying,” you tell him, picking your own words carefully. 

“There’s that PR training,” Jaehyun winks. “You’re cute. Glowy, little, cute, superstar. Maybe that’s what I should call you, my little superstar, the media would eat it up.”

“That’s your PR training,” you laugh. 

“We can’t help it,” he smiles up at you.

“Can I say something without you getting upset?”

“I’ll do my best,” Jaehyun promises solemnly.

“I want to start by saying this isn’t a rejection,” you clarify, “I just wish you would have told me all of this while sober, instead of showing up at my apartment near midnight before we both fly out of town in the morning.”

“I can see that,” Jaehyun nods. “I guess, you kind of scare me.”

“I scare you?” you laugh. 

“Uh huh.” He swallows thickly. “Like heights.”

He’s so adorably dorky for a famous actor and Prada brand ambassador.

“But- on that cliff that day, when we kissed, and you reassured me, and you let me hold your hips- I don’t know, it was nice. I- thanks, thanks for doing that.”

“I can be quite nurturing if I think someone deserves it,” you tell him. “Which, speaking of, you’re still drunk, and you downed that whole bottle of water, I think I should get you another, and maybe we can move somewhere more comfortable.”

“Like.. the bedroom?” There’s a glint in his eye, and it makes you scoff.

“Get your mind out of the gutter Jae, you can stay on this couch for all I care.”

“I’ll be good,” he promises, crossing his heart haphazardly.

“Come on.” You hold your hand out for him and Jaehyun takes it, allowing you to help him to his feet. You go get another bottle of water and the two of you move to the bedroom. The mattress is substantially more comfortable than the couch, and Jaehyun releases an audible moan as he clammers down onto it.

You get situated, moing under the covers so you feel less exposed.

“I like it when you’re nice like this,” Jaehyun sighs.

“I’d be nicer if you didn’t always tease me.”

“You like it when I tease.”

“I actually hated it when you told me not to slip as I was getting onto the horse during the shoot, and it completely made me mess up and slip,” you point out, still irritated by that ordeal.

“Okay, to be fair, yes, I’m sorry, but also, your dress was silky as fuck, you were going to slip even if I didn’t say anything, and that’s not your fault, it’s Jenni’s for not giving you better clothes to actually ride a horse with.”

He has a point there.

“So…” Jaehyun switches topic, his demeanor getting more anxious, “back on the couch, you said you weren’t rejecting me… can you… can you explain what that meant.”

“It meant I’m not rejecting you.”

“And salt of the earth means salt of the earth,” Jaehyun retorts, rolling his eyes. “Can you give me a Mark style explanation on what you meant.”

“I meant…” you think about it for a second. “I like you too, I think you might be more into me than I’m into you at the moment-”

“Oh yeah?” he counters, crossing his arms over his chest and getting pouty.

“Yeah,” you laugh.

“Fine, okay, maybe,” Jaehyun concedes. “But?”

“But… I’m willing to explore something with you.”

“Yeah?” His expression brightens. “Really?”

“We’d just have to sort out details, you know- we’re on contract for three or so months, so, if we gave it a real go, and things ended before our contract, how would that even work? There are limitations to having a relationship with someone you work with.”

Jaehyun looks down at the water bottle in his hands, clearly thinking it through. “We can… take it slow? I mean, we’d have to, since we both have different schedules and will be in different countries tomorrow.”

“Slow could work,” you agree. 

The two of you stare at each other for a moment, and you almost think he’s going to lean in for a kiss again, and then he asks, “What did happen with you and Haechan? Your first single was about him, right?”

You release a laugh, if this is really a can of worms he wants to open, then you suppose you can let him open it.

You begin to explain to him your history with Haechan, and Jaehyun listens intently. Somehow, he gets the ball rolling on your recent relationship with Lee Jeno, and before you know it, two hours have passed with the two of you just discussing past relationships.

Jaehyun tells you about his own ex’s, about his lack of accountability and emotional maturity. He gives voice to all the trouble spots you’ve identified about him in the past, and clarity on his hopes for being better in the future.

He also noticeably sobers up, which makes you feel a lot better about having this sort of intimate conversation with him.

Soon, you’re both just laying in bed facing each other, talking about everything and anything. “Do you remember that time the catering company on set changed?” Jaehyun asks.

“Oh my god, yeah, when the higher ups wanted more vegan and vegetarian options, and it was just like, raw fruit and veggies with store bought hummus?”

“Jaemin wasn’t used to eating anything that wasn’t carbs or meat and in the middle of a take he had to run to the bathroom?” Jaehyun adds.

“Shat his pants and everything, pissed wardrobe off in a way I’ve never seen,” you giggle. “What ever happened to him?”

“I don’t keep up with many of our old castmates,” Jaehyun admits. “But I think he’s some radio show host or something now, has a segment about embarrassing first dates and stuff.”

“He always loved messy gossip,” you sigh, happy to be reminiscing in this way.

There are only a handful of people who can understand what it was like to be on a kids show in your early teens, only a few others in the world you could possibly have this conversation with.

Despite your differences, you and Jaehyun come from the same place, and it makes it easy to talk to him.

Jaehyun’s staring at you, and he pushes a strand of hair out of your face. “Should I let you sleep?” he asks. “It’s two AM.”

You’re hardly tired at this point, and now that Jae’s sober… and in your bed… your own mind has found its way into the gutter, and you’re not quite sure what to do about that.

“Can I be honest with you?” you ask.

“Always.”

“I haven’t gotten laid in a long time,” you sigh. “And… we’re flying to different places tomorrow, so maybe it’s not the best idea I’ve ever had-”

“It is,” Jaehyun interrupts you. “The best idea you’ve ever had.” You shoot him a look and Jaehyun laughs, back tracking. “I mean, your lyrics and albums are great ideas too- but I just mean… If you’re horny, then you’re horny, and I’m, well, here.” 

“I just don’t want you to feel taken advantage of.”

“Even if you’d tried to fuck me when I first walked in here, all drunk and being stupid, it still wouldn’t have been taking advantage of me.”

“I think fucking someone while they’re drunk is one of the most obvious scenarios of taking advantage of someone,” you counter.

“Okay, true, but- you know what I’m saying.” Jaehyun flashes you a knowing look. “If you want me to fuck you, I’ll fuck you.”

“That’s so romantic,” you roll your eyes. 

Jaehyun laughs, and then he sits up, looking down at you. “If you want romance, we can go shower together or something. I could… romantically wash your body, and tell you how perfect you are-”

“It’s two am, fuck that. Just kiss me.”

Jaehyun grins, then he leans over you, staring into your eyes. He’s moving slower than you thought he would, and part of you wishes he’d just ravage you like some primal animal- but no, he’s acting like he did in your music video. You can practically see adoration in his eyes, and his hand comes up to cup your cheek in a way that’s almost loving. 

“I meant it when I said that you glow,” Jaehyun says softly.

“I know you did,” you breathe, grabbing the back of his neck to draw his lips to yours.

It’s odd how familiar the two of you already are. The kiss isn’t awkward at all, but then again, your first kiss hadn’t been either.

Neither of you are trying to dominate it, you’re moving slowly, reading each other’s body language and cues. 

When his tongue gently licks your lip, you open your mouth for him, drawing him closer as the kiss deepens. 

Jaehyun shifts in your embrace, and then he’s moving to be between your legs, which spread for him. He’s on top of you now, elbows digging into the pillows while you make out like teenagers in love for the first time.

He just feels so good. 

For a long time, you’ve felt like an anxious person. You have a lot of weight on your shoulders, but when you’re kissing Jaehyun, that pressure feels lifted. Your mind goes blank as the two of you make out, your body at the forefront instead of your thoughts. 

Jaehyun slowly begins to grind down against you, and the gentle pressure on your clit has you groaning against his lips.

You feel him smirk, and then he begins to kiss down your throat, taking his time to suck gently on your skin.

One of his hands slides up your thigh, teasing the waistband of your sleeping shorts before moving back down again. He’s so warm, and you hips push up for more stimulus.

“Jae-” you whimper, threading your fingers in his hair.

“Slow, or fast?” he asks, pulling away from your throat to look down at you.

“A bit of both.”

He cocks his head to the side.

“Fast to get my clothes off, slow to explore, then make me cum,” you clarify.

Jaehyun laughs. “Whatever you want, superstar.”

Your skin tingles at the nickname, and your pussy throbs as Jaehyun begins to remove his clothes. Each button feels like an eternity to get undone, but when he slips the fabric off, you find yourself practically drooling.

He has such a perfect body, not too lean, not too muscled, just perfect. 

Then, Jaehyun begins to take off your robe and you sit up to help him. Soon, your shirt is being tugged over your head, and your nipples immediately pebble at the cool air of your hotel room.

You lay back down, staring up at him while Jaehyun takes in your body.

“Glowing,” he whispers, cupping your breast and rubbing his thumb across your nipple. 

You whimper at the sensation, and his eyes move up to your face. He’s grinning at you. “Sensitive?” he asks, gently pinching the bud.

You groan, shifting against the bed. “Yeah.”

“I’ll take care of you,” Jaehyun promises, leaning down to kiss you again.

He begins to descend to your throat again, but this time, he goes even farther down, making it to your chest. The first flick of his tongue against your nipple has you whining, and you thread your fingers through his hair again, closing your eyes to enjoy the sensation.

He continues to suck on your breasts, paying attention to both nipples. You can feel yourself getting wetter and wetter by the second, and you’re torn between loving the feeling of this and wanting something more.

It’s as if he reads you, because he pulls away from your chest, hooking his fingers in your shorts. You both adjust to allow him to get you fully naked, and then he lays down between your legs. He presses kisses along the sensitive flesh of your thighs, looking up at you.

There’d been a time in your life when you hadn’t loved eye contact during pussy eating, but there’s something so erotic about the way Jaehyun’s watching you as he brings his mouth to your core.

He kisses your clit gently, and you watch as his eyes close, his tongue swiping up your folds to taste the wet that has accumulated there.

He groans, delving deeper with his tongue, his large hands grabbing your thighs as an anchor as he begins to devour you. 

Has anyone ever eaten you out like this? Jeno wasn’t much of a giver unfortunately, and it feels like forever since you’ve had someone doing to you what Jaehyun is currently doing.

Your entire body feels alive, with each flick and suck- You’re clutching at the blankets now, moaning desperately as he works you up faster than any man before him ever has.

You guess you hadn’t put a time limit on making you cum. You’d told him fast to undress, which he did, slow to explore, which he also did- and now, it seems he’s intent on making you cum on his tongue, which is something you have no issues with.

“Jae-” you whimper, reaching down to tangle your fingers in his hair.

He looks up at you and you begin to move your hips, riding his face. He stays still, letting you use him, and you can tell from the groan he releases that he kind of likes you taking control in this way.

“I’m close,” you tell him. “Please make me cum.”

Jaehyun’s fingers dig into your thighs, and then he’s back at it. He takes lead again, sucking your clit into his mouth while you cry out and grab the sheets with your free hand.

Your eyes close, your back arching a little as he works you closer and closer to the edge.

It’s a steady build of pleasure, and then, you’re tipping over. You release a strangled gasp as ecstasy courses through you like electric shocks from the tip of your head down to your toes and fingers.

You can feel your pussy contracting with pleasure, a steady rhythm that prolongs the sensation. Jaehyun continues to suck on your clit, helping you through everything until you’re a gasping mess.

He relents, and you can hear him sit up. Your eyes are still closed, one hand now haphazardly thrown across your eyes as you try to catch your breath.

The sound of Jaehyun’s pants hitting the floor draws your attention, and you look up to find Jaehyun standing there in all his glory.

“Still want to do this?” he asks.

“Get over here,” you command, opening your arms for him.

Jaehyun flashes you a grin, then he rejoins you on the bed.

Your lips are meeting a moment later. It’s not a gentle slow exploration anymore, but a hungry, lust fuelled haze. You can taste yourself on his tongue and it turns you even more. You wrap your legs around his hips, tugging him closer.

His cock rubs between your pussy lips and you whimper, reaching between yourselves to line him up- Jaehyun takes your hand, moving it aside. Then, two fingers enter your soaked core and you groan against his lips.

“Gotta prep you,” Jaehyun muses. “You said you haven’t been fucked in a while.” 

“Don’t tease though,” you warn gently, looking up at him.

“Never.” He kisses you again, drowning out the anxious thoughts as he finger fucks you, spreading his fingers and working you open in preparation for his cock.

Jaehyun begins to curl his digits, hitting the sensitive spot inside of you that has you groaning. You break the kiss to burrow your face against his throat, panting as he draws more and more pleasure out of your already exhausted body.

You feel something drip on your upper thigh, and you look down to see the precum leaking out of Jaehyun’s tip. “Sorry,” he groans, “I’m just, super turned on right now.”

“Then fuck me,” you insist, biting at his earlobe. “I’m prepped now.”

“You sure?”

“We’re both dripping, Jae, just fuck me.”

“You got it, superstar.” Jaehyun grins as he kisses you. He finger fucks you a little more and then he pulls his digits out of your wet core. You watch him sit up, licking his fingers clean, then he grabs the base of his cock.

He presses the tip into you, looking up to watch your reaction. When you release a moan, Jaehyun grins. He steadies over you again, his biceps bulging as his lips meet your own. He pushes deeper inside of you, taking it slow until his hips are flush against yours.

You both groan at the feeling.

“See?” you gasp. “Told you I could take you.”

“Taking me so well,” Jaehyun agrees, his breath hot against your throat as he begins to pepper your skin with kisses.

Jaehyun’s hips start to move, and he fucks you gently at first, allowing your inner walls to get used to the size of him. His kisses distract you as he opens you up, his pace increasing.

You release a loud moan when the tip of his cock hits a deep spot inside of you, and you can feel Jaehyun grin against your throat. “Right there?” he asks, doing the motion again. “Is that the place?”

“Yeah,” you whimper, nodding. “Right there.”

Jaehyun brings his lips to your own, and he kisses you deeply as he continues to abuse that special spot. Your arms wrap around his shoulders, keeping him close as he fucks you. God, you’re so lost in him, in the best possible way.

You never miss out on beauty sleep, but Jaehyun is more than worth it.

“Superstar?”

“Yeah?” you ask, half delirious.

“Would it be bad if I asked you to ride me?” 

“Huh?”

“I just- I could still fuck up into you, but I don’t know, I kind of want to see you on top.”

“Really?” you look up at him in shock. “You strike me as a man who likes to have control.”

“Says the woman who likes to have control,” he counters with a grin. “Or… do you just want to be my pillow princess?”

You consider it for a moment. “You know what, yeah, let me get on top, I want to watch you when you cum.”

Jaehyun physically shivers from your words, and you watch his pupils dilate with interest. “Fuck,” he groans. “Yeah, get on top.”

It’s a quick adjustment, with Jaehyun dragging you onto his lap. You sit down on his cock and both of you groan at the feeling. He’s completely inside of you like this, and you press your hands to his chest, steadying yourself for a moment.

Then, you begin to bounce.

Jaehyun throws his head back against the pillows, moaning deeply.

Fuck, he’s so hot like this.

There’s something so erotic about being on top, on knowing that you’re going to be riding him when he cums.

Your whole relationship has been about competing for power, and now, in the midst of one of the most vulnerable exchanges of power, Jaehyun had stopped from his position on top to give you the opportunity to be in control.

You like that. You like it a lot. 

It shows he hadn’t been lying when he’d talked about the two of you glowing together, and it gives you a newfound kind of hope for whatever relationship is budding between the two of you.

You ride him harder at the thought, and his hands find your hips, helping you bounce.

“Fuck, fuck-” Jaehyun groans, his fingers digging into your skin. “Feels so good.”

In all honesty, the first position had felt better for you, when he was doing all the work, but you’d never admit that to him, especially not while deep in the throes of passion like this. He’d already made you cum, and now, you want to return the favour.

You ignore the burning in your thighs, fucking Jaehyun in a way you’ve never fucked a man before. You can feel the power of it bubbling inside of you, and you focus on his expression, on the pleasure that’s written all over him.

“Jae,” you groan, “want you to cum for me.”

“Don’t-” he swallows thickly. “Don’t you want me to hold out a little longer?”

“It’s our first time, we have flights tomorrow,” you retort. “Just let go, I wanna feel it.”

“You and your scheduling,” Jaehyun laughs, but it quickly turns into a groan, his eyes closing again. “Fuck, okay, but you have to let me make it up to you sometime.”

“Next time we see each other we can spend hours fucking,” you tell him.

“Promise?”

“I promise, now be good and cum for me, yeah?”

Jaehyun shivers again, and there’s a slight look of confusion on his face. You get the sense that he’s not used to being talked down to like this- but it’s clear it turns him on in a new, foreign sort of way.

“Okay, yeah.” Jaehyun anchors himself against the bed, and then he begins fucking up into you, his muscles rippling under his perfect skin. “Shit, fuck-”

You watch the pleasure build in him, until he reaches his peak. The tension clearly snaps, and he lets out a deep groan that goes straight to your core.

You continue to ride him, intent on helping him through it-

Jaehyun grabs you and pulls you down to his chest, holding you still as he shoots his load deep in your pussy. He’s groaning in your ear, hips twitching-

God, you love the way you’re pinned like this, the way he’s cumming so hard he needed you to just stop. 

You allow him to finish, and his grip slowly lets up on you. He’s no longer using his strength to keep you still, he’s just holding you, the two of you panting desperately.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Yeah,” you mumble.

“That day, behind my trailer, the first time I held you,” Jaehyun clears his throat, “could you feel my heart racing the way it is now?”

“I was more focused on my own heart,” you admit.

“Yeah?”

“It was going pretty fast.”

Jaehyun releases a laugh, holding you tighter. “Guess we were both in for it, huh?”

“Guess so.” 

Jaehyun holds you a little while longer, and then he sighs. “I should let you get your beauty sleep.”

“Yeah, but you can stay over if you want.”

“Really?”

“Could you imagine how much people would react if the paparazzi got a picture of you leaving my hotel tomorrow morning?”

Another chuckle escapes him. “You and your PR training.”

“You love it,” you insist.

Jaehyun releases a sigh, burying his face closer to your throat. “I do love it.” 

You’re from the same world, the same industry, and no one has ever understood you or your job the way Jaehyun does.

Wrapped in his arms, the two of you set to fly to different countries in just a couple of hours, something about him just feels so right.

You’ve spent your whole life trying to be someone else for other people, for your management team, for your fans- but with Jaehyun, maybe you can just be exactly who you are, professional obligations and all.

He’d said it himself, he’d seen your glow from the moment you met, even as awkward kids on a tv show trying to make names for yourself. He’d seen your sparkle before you’d even seen it in yourself, and now, maybe he’s right. Maybe you can learn to glow together.

☀️ mlist + an. thank you for reading! I kind of loved working on this au, I know it's not classical 'he's an actual cowboy' but I really loved working with Jae as this character

🍭 support me by. sending a tip here or here - or become a patron to access monthly bonus content and extensions for fics like this one :) find the Patreon teaser below! 

🔮 preview. You’ve been in love before, but it was always different. You were always with men who saw you as a prize. They put you on a pedestal, and it was often one sided with genuine empathy. You were a support in their lives, as opposed to a form of mutual understanding.But Jaehyun understands you, so you can confidently say he’s the sweetest love you’ve had.

cw/ tw. Unprotected sex, worship kink, substantial foreplay/prep, fingering, squirting, multiple reader orgasms, overstim, dirty talk, praise, man handling, anal (thumb in the butt), etc…   I petnames. (hers) superstar. 

👹 rating. 18+ explicit I wc. 2.4k I teaser wc. 180

🌙 starring. Jaehyun x afab!Reader

bonus

“Wow,” you breathe, staring out at the crowd as you clutch the Grammy in your hand. “I can honestly say, I never expected this award. To win Best Music Video, I just- I’m in shock. I want to thank my parents, my label, my team of wonderful people, production, styling, Hwasa, who directed the video, and Mark, my manager. I want to thank my fans especially, I wouldn’t be anywhere without you. And, I also want to thank my amazing scene partner, Jaehyun. I know a lot of people were confused about Jae being the Model Cowboy, but he showed up to set, and something just clicked. We made magic with this one, and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Thanks again, wow, thanks.” 

You’re practically shaking as you make your way off the stage to go rejoin your group of people in the audience. Hwasa and Mark both give you a hug, and Johnny pats you on the back. When you reach Jaehyun, he wraps his arms around you, holding you tight as he presses kisses along your face.

☀️ to read the full fic AND 2.4k bonus NOW, subscribe to my Patreon, then click here

👹 or check out what else is on my patreon here

🔮if nothing strikes your fancy, check out my m.list

general taglist

@gotshinct - @subhyuck - @fraechan - @learnthisfeeling

@runahways - @d-abin - @milkteade - @woogyuhae 

@anothershorthuman - @nihxxy - @vantxx95 - @bangshii

@poutypoutybin - @notbeforelong - @creepybakeoven

@ninetechculture - @yungiland - @suhsfam - @binchangf

@chogiwapadada - @librarian-stacks - @meowniee

@learnthisfeeling - @gigilame - @cumtrov3rsy

@mocha000 - @darthlunaa​ - @just-here-to-read-01​ - @shiningnono

@lovelyhan - @grilledbananas - @sourkimchi

svt taglist

@candidupped - @cheolussy - @aaniag - @imprettyweird

@xcynthiaaa

thanks to those who interacted with the teaser! 37

@lostmembrane - @tarap97 - @jaeymark - @mingcouper

@va1entinesday - @froggyforhyuck - @bobathi - @btsreadss

When asked about the new single Model Cowboy, y/n noted, “It’s about going back to your roots and finding that cowboy, blue-collar man. I think the trades are kind of in vogue right now, for all of the best reasons. We want salt of the earth, we want a man who will provide and take care of us- not everything is luxury and partying. There’s such peace in stability, and I want to honor the simplicity of good relationships, which we all deserve to experience.”

Despite all of this, when our reporters enquired about Jaehyun as the star of the music video, who, to us and many fans on social media, doesn’t scream ‘salt of the earth, cowboy, or stability’ our singer simply responded with “No comment.”

Yikes.

However, there may be hope for this fan-favorite couple yet. When Jaehyun was asked about his role in the music video at a recent film premiere for his new action movie ‘Home Grown’ he had this to say: “I did a few music videos in my early twenties, but never with anyone I really knew or admired. I’ve been focused on movies and fashion recently, but I’m excited to do a shorter-form art piece. y/n and her team are very creative, and I can’t wait to see the finished result.” 

I can safely say that we can’t wait either.

Back when y/n was just eighteen, putting out her first album, there was one song that everyone thought she wrote about Jaehyun. We couldn’t help but bring this up to the actor. When questioned if he’d inspired y/n’s first hit single, ‘Forget About Him’, Jaehyun said, “That’s not for me to say, you’ll have to ask her.” This response revived years of conspiracy on social media, and we’re all still itching for the truth.

Production for Model Cowboy is set for the end of the month, and permits have been granted for shooting in California’s Joshua Tree National Park. We’ll all be on the edge of our seats waiting for promo pictures and behind-the-scenes photos. 

Stay tuned for all things celebrity drama and news on our website, or follow us on Instagram and Snapchat for daily updates. 

One:

You’re in your trailer with your assistant, Mark, waiting for your call time, and you can’t help the irritation that’s filling you. It’s the first day of shooting for Model Cowboy, and every other time you’ve filmed a music video, you’ve been excited about the creative journey of turning a song into a visual expression- but not today, and there’s one huge reason for your angst.

“I still can’t believe this is happening,” you groan. “Jaehyun wasn’t my first choice for this, and he’ll never be my first choice for this- it takes away from the meaning of the song to have him starring with me!”

Mark frowns. “I mean, he’s not exactly a model cowboy-”

“More like a model pretending to be a cowboy,” you scoff. 

Your assistant sighs. “Management just wants you two to do this, fake date for a while, promote your music and his upcoming projects, draw intrigue-”

“I know it’s what management wants, I was forced to sign the contract,” you snap. Then you release a breath, getting control of yourself. This isn’t Mark’s fault, in fact, he argued your side in the meeting about this two months ago. “I just… I’m not a huge fan of Jaehyun.”

“You always said he was the most overly confident, smug, pretty boy that came out of your kids’ show,” Mark nods. He’s very good at summing up your difficulties, as he’s your most trusted confidant. You’d never dream of being vocal about your personal opinions of Jaehyun to anyone else, your PR training has taught you not to be fully honest, to prioritize your reputation as a ‘good girl’- but Mark, he gets you. 

“At the end of the day,” you sigh, “sure, Jae might be a better actor, but I’m the better singer.”

“I know you won’t want to hear this-”

“Then don’t say it.”

Mark sends you a pointed look. “He did do that cover of ‘I Like Me Better When I’m With You,’ and everyone loved it.”

“Well, Jaehyun doesn’t have three albums and a Grammy. He did a cover. It’s not like that’s difficult.” 

Before Mark can say anything else, there’s a knock on your trailer. You jump up, ready to start the day of shooting, but when you open your door, it’s not a PA standing there to take you to location, it’s Jaehyun.

He’s dressed in a cowboy-style outfit, however, it’s more runway than practical, and he’s also wearing the same smug smile he always used to have on when you were working together as kids and young adults.

“Long time no see,” Jaehyun muses. 

You roll your eyes. “Don’t pretend you’re happy to see me.”

You know your dislike for Jaehyun is shared with his own disdain for you, and you’d noted that to your managers. How are either of you going to pretend to be in love when this general dissatisfaction with each other is evident every time you’re in the same room?

“Thought I’d come to discuss the whole fake dating script with you, you know, kind of like running lines.”

“There aren’t any lines for our fake dating scenario yet, it’s improv,” you remind him.

“Then, how about boundaries?”

You release a groan. “Fuck it, let’s go find my PA, get in a car to go to location, and we can talk during the drive.”

Two:

There’s a tension in the SUV. With you on his left, your assistant behind you, and Jaehyun’s own manager, Johnny, behind him, everything anyone says will be noted. In fact, Jaehyun’s been listening to Johnny argue on the phone about a brand deal for the past ten minutes.

You’d said you’d discuss the whole fake dating thing, but instead, your eyes are glued to your iPad as you look over the music video notes. 

Jaehyun has always found you to be a very focused woman, he might go so far as to say you have a stick up your ass. Your rigidity is a stark contrast to his own ‘go with the flow’ type of way of doing things, and it’s one of the reasons you’d never gotten along well on sets.

When he’d come to your trailer to discuss PR lines, it had been because he was trying to meet you where you’re at. He thought you’d want to plan. In fact, he’d found it almost laughable when you’d told him it would be improv because out of the two of you, he’s the one that’s always excelled in that area. 

You have this face you put on for others, but Jaehyun’s always seen through it. You lack confidence in yourself, and that’s why you overcompensate by being anal about details, about practicing so you never fail when the time comes. 

Jaehyun leans closer to you, getting a look at the music video notes. The aesthetic board is very desert, horses, sand, sparkles, disco balls, and mirrors- for someone who said Model Cowboy was about finding someone who wasn’t all luxury, there are definitely luxury items in the music video notes. 

“So… tell me again what the song’s about?” Jaehyun asks.

You sigh. “Mark sent you a sound clip, didn’t he? Did you even bother to listen to the song?”

“Yeah,” Jaehyun shrugs, “but I wanted to hear the details from you.”

You take an exasperated deep breath, putting your iPad down on your lap. “It’s about falling in love with someone who’s very salt of the Earth-”

“What do you mean by that?”

Your lips part in shock and annoyance. “It means a man who’s salt of the Earth.” 

“Yeah, you said that, but like…” Jaehyun lets out a small laugh at how bad you’re fumbling this, “what does that mean, to you.” 

Mark shifts in the seat behind you, leaning forward to join the conversation. “It means someone who is honest, and reasonable. Someone who doesn’t think they’re special or better than others.”

You flash Jaehyun a pointed look. “So basically, not you.” 

Jaehyun chuckles. “Baby, neither of us are salt of the earth if that’s your definition.” 

He can see how annoyed you are, can pick up the micro movements, the way your fingers are tapping on the edge of the iPad. It’s a rhythmic thing, something you do to calm yourself, and he’d noticed that pattern in you when you were much younger. 

“This whole fake dating thing was not my idea,” you snap finally.

“Yeah, wasn’t mine either. We both have PR managers.”

You roll your eyes, letting out another exasperated sound of annoyance. 

Jaehyun kind of likes poking at you like this. He’d been worried that you’d be super anal about this whole project, and while you’re definitely fighting for control, he likes to jab you where your guard is down. It feels like a win to him, and deep in Jaehyun’s core, he knows it’s not a nice thing to do, but he simply can’t help himself.

You have a history, years of interactions and bickering- he hasn’t seen you in a long time, but getting on your nerves is as easy as it’s always been, and that schoolboy enjoyment from picking on you is as potent as it ever was. 

Three:

You’re a couple of hours into your day, and you’re doing some shots with horses now. You’d chosen Hwasa as your director, she’s a visionary in the type of aesthetic you want, and you’ve worked with her numerous times before. She’s very girl power, which is what you love, and you also enjoy the fact that she sees this as a collaboration.

You’ve worked with male directors in the past who think your music video is about showing their vision, and in your early days as a teen, you hadn’t been able to find your voice. Now, as an adult, you have the final say on everything, and Hwasa is the best partner you could think of for a project like this.

The two of you are by the cameras, making sure the shot will be good. The horses are just hanging out with their trainers, and Jaehyun’s a few meters away under the sun tent, waiting for direction.

“So… I’m thinking…” you look at Jaehyun, then at the saddles on the horses, “What if we try a shot with bareback.”

Hwasa casts you a sideways glance. “I mean… visually, I think that would be nicer, it would encapsulate freedom, but at the same time… is Jaehyun skilled enough to mount while bareback?”

“He’s an actor isn’t he?” You turn to look at Jaehyun. God, you can’t wait for him to fall off the horse and eat shit. “Jae!”

He’s sitting in a chair, his head tipped back, cowboy hat obscuring his face. The sound of your voice makes him sit up, his fingers pushing the rim of the hat up so he can look at you.

“Come over here!” Hwasa calls.

He nods, standing then swaggering over to you. He’s having way too much fun in his little cowboy outfit for your liking. “What’s up?”

“How do you feel about trying this scene on bareback?” Hwasa asks.

Jaehyun looks at the two of you, then over at the horse. “We can give it a go.”

You try to hide your smile, God, this is going to be so satisfying.

Hwasa goes to consult with the safety guys and trainers, who take off the saddle, then talk Jaehyun through how to mount a horse without the aid of stirrups. He nods nonchalantly, as smug as ever.

The scene gets ready, with you and Hwasa behind the camera. “Action!” she calls.

Jaehyun approaches the horse. He stops next to it, stroking it’s hair. You watch him get a gentle grip, and then, in one fluid motion, he hoists himself up, swinging his leg over the horse’s back before steadying himself into a seated position. He guides the horse by its hair to make a neat circle, looking like the most skilled cowboy ever, then he turns and flashes you that smug smile of his as Hwasa yells “cut!”

“That was amazing,” Hwasa tells you. “God, Jaehyun was such a good choice for this.”

“Really? How so?” you ask.

“Just, I know he’s not a stereotypical salt of the earth man. He’s not all American, he’s not a cowboy with a five o'clock shadow- this… dichotomy of visuals versus lyrical interpretation, how any man can be the right man if given the chance, despite all these stereotypes-” 

You can feel your expression fall. Sometimes you hate how artsy Hwasa is, with her bachelor's in English and her way with words and interpretations. You can’t argue with her analysis, because if that’s what she gets out of the visual of Jaehyun flawlessly mounting a horse bareback, then that’s her view of it. 

“Do you want to try to mount bareback too?” Hwasa asks, drawing herself out of her musings to focus on the scenes she wants in the time allotted. 

You release a sigh. “I guess we can give it a try.”

“If it’s too dangerous-”

“If Jae can do it, I can too,” you insist, not wanting to be one-upped by him. 

You’re in a long flowy silver dress with a slit up the thigh, and you remove your white overcoat. Jenni, your makeup artist double-checks you, and you’re handed your flashy disco-ball-styled cowboy hat. 

The safety team and trainers give you a talk about how to mount the horse, and after listening carefully, you feel ready to take on the task. 

Your horse is black, and your outfit is meant to be a contrast. It’s a beautiful horse, and when Hwasa calls ‘Action!’ you approach it carefully. You can feel your heart racing in your chest, and you stop next to the large animal, stroking it for a moment while you gain the courage to try to mount it.

As you make the leap, hoisting yourself up- Jaehyun calls out, “Don’t slip!”

And of course, that’s exactly what happens. Your leg can’t get a grip over the horse, you trip up a little with the silky material of your dress, and just like that, you’re back on the ground with two feet, sending a death glare over your shoulder at Jaehyun.

“It was a nice effort!” Hwasa encourages you. 

“Not many people get it on their first try,” a trainer agrees.

You watch Jaehyun smile smugly, and an annoyance unlike any you’ve ever experienced fills you as he meticulously watches you try to complete the scene. 

Four: 

It’s near the end of your first day of filming. Hwasa had decided on a one day permit for the horses in the desert, opting to get all the scenes involving the large, beautiful animals done in one big go, and now, she’s explaining the final shots she needs to you and Jaehyun.

“So, we’re skipping through the linear timeline a little right now,” your director explains. “This is one of the final shots of the music video, so we’re going to imagine that at this point, the two of you are completely in love.” You and Jaehyun exchange a look. “You’re riding on horseback in the desert. We want bliss, joy, a comfortable kind of peace that comes when you can truly be yourself with another person, a freedom.”

She gazes pointedly at you and Jaehyun.

“I think we can manage,” you scene partner says, but there’s an edge of hesitation in his voice.

“We’re thinking ‘Ride’ by Lana Del Rey, but instead of motorcycles, you’re on horses. Think about how effortless she looked, how devil-may-care,” Hwasa, ever the Lana Del Rey enthusiast, explains. “You know her song ‘Young and Beautiful?’ There’s a line, ‘Hot summer nights, mid July, when you and I were forever wild.’ Do you guys have that?” 

You love that Hwasa enjoys poetic music, it’s one of the reasons you’d been so drawn to her when you wanted to shift out of your role as a child star turned pop icon. Hwasa had been adamant about the Lana Del Rey stylings that she wanted to influence ‘Model Cowboy,’ the American Dream, wild and poetic love. 

However, with all that said, you’d never imagined Lana Del Rey would be tainted by the imaginings of Jaehyun as your lover, and it leaves a sour taste in your mouth. 

You’ve already gone over blocking, and Hwasa’s explained the drones and cameras set up to take the shots, so now, all that’s left to do, is get through the day.

Jaehyun can tell you’re lost in thought, he can see the dissatisfied look on your face, but before he can call you on it, Johnny pulls him to the side.

“Good luck with this one,” Johnny muses, patting him on the shoulder. “And don’t fall off your horse, you’ve got to be in Milan in a couple of days for the big Prada show.” 

“Yeah, yeah,” Jaehyun brushes his manager off. “I’ve got this.”

“That’s my little go-getter actor,” Johnny grins, having scored a goldmine when he landed Jaehyun as his client, despite being a very young and new manager in the industry. “Be the Model Cowboy you always wanted to be.”

Jaehyun takes a deep breath before joining you. “You ready?” he asks.

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” you sigh. 

“Okay guys, we’re in love!” Hwasa bellows. “We’ve got this! And… action!”

Your expression immediately changes, suddenly, you’re grinning, in fact, you’re glowing. It takes a second for Jaehyun to follow your lead, but then, the two of you are playfighting and tickling, laughing like young lovers who are tasting what it feels like to have found their soulmate for the very first time. 

Jaehyun knows the blocking, he knows when to wrap his arms around you after a few feet of chasing, when to lift you up and spin you as you laugh and gently kick. He knows when to set you down, going in for a kiss only for you to break free and dart to your horse, effortlessly swinging yourself up onto the black stallion and taking off.

Jaehyun is right behind you, mounting his own white horse and following.

He does his best to keep an easy going, loving expression, and at first, it’s a little difficult. But, as more seconds of the two of you riding through the desert go by, Jaehyun remembers the way he felt about you when you first met.

You’d been just kids then. Two young teens still growing into your bodies, into your personalities. He remembers how beautiful you’d been, even then, how your smile had lit up the room, as it does now when you turn your head to look over your shoulder at him, making sure the distance between you is still correct.

Of course it’s correct, if you want to be anal, Jaehyun can be anal too, and he’s not going to give you any reason to nitpick after the day he’s had. 

No, Jaehyun’s an actor. He’s a professional.

In fact, he’s a Model Cowboy as he chases you through the desert on horseback. 

God, the way you’re looking back at him- you’ve really grown into your looks, and Jaehyun’s not making things up when he says you’re glowing. The golden hour sun is hitting you just right, and suddenly, Jaehyun’s heart is racing. He feels alive, he feels- as if this whole thing is real. He forgets the cameras for just a few moments, getting lost in the experience of being young, wild, and free, with you. 

Something shifts inside of him, although, Jaehyun’s so enthralled with you that he can’t quite pin what’s just taken place.

The scene is over all too quickly, the two of you making your blocking mark at the bottom of one of the rocky cliff faces that litter Joshua Tree National Park. You slow your horse, coming to a stop, your expression falling.

Jaehyun feels his own smile drop as he stops next to you. He swallows thickly, not knowing quite what to say, so, he decides to note, “Wow, your acting has really improved!”

He means it as a compliment, but your expression turns even more sour, and he knows he’s messed up.

“Well that’s a back handed compliment if I’ve ever heard one,” you scowl.

“I-” Jaehyun’s words get caught in his throat, and he has to swallow a lump just to continue, “I meant it in a good way, I was trying to be nice.” 

“If that was you trying to be nice, it makes sense why you can’t keep a girlfriend for more than a month or so,” you snap.

Jaehyun’s chest hurts, and he stares at you in shock. It’s all the more painful, because in some ways, what you’ve just said is true. He’s used to only dating models, people in the industry who aren’t as successful as he is. He’s only ever entered relationships where there’s a power imbalance, and he supposes in a situation like that, any negative feedback could be biting- yet, it’s different with you.

You’re the one with the power here, and it’s clear you won’t take any criticisms from him. You stand up for yourself, in a way no woman ever has around Jaehyun.

As he watches you lead your horse away, signaling the end of the interaction, Jaehyun realizes maybe he kind of likes that you’re very powerful in your own right. Maybe he likes a woman who can defend herself and doesn’t just take what the world throws at her.

Maybe… just maybe, after all this time, he likes you. 

Five: 

The locations crew had found a really cool oldstyle cowboy motel for everyone to stay at. It had been relatively inexpensive compared to other filming location lodgings in the past, and renting the whole place, including the mess hall, for four days had been the obvious choice.

You’re sitting with Mark and Hwasa, all three of you have trays of food from the buffet, but none of you are focused on eating. Hwasa has her iPad out, and she’s going through the shots of the day with Mark. You remind yourself when you peak at the screen that there’s still a lot of editing to do, but so far, it’s looking quite good. 

Your stylist, Jenni, is also with you, and she’s capturing the majority of your attention as she shows you pictures of the costumes set for tomorrow. Your long silver dress is being swapped out for a pink palette upscale cowgirl aesthetic, with Jaehyun in creams and blues to match the lighter blush colours. 

You notice Jaehyun walk into the large dining area. He and his manager, Johnny, head straight for the food, and they tilt their heads together, thick as thieves out of ear shot.

When they’re done filling their trays, they begin to head to a table, and that’s when Hwasa calls them over. “Rough shots,” she explains. “Jae, you sit next to y/n and I’ll show you both some of the details.”

You flash Jenni a look, hating that she has to move over for the model to sit.

Jaehyun is awkward as he does so, apologizing to Jenni, which is his only saving grace.

When he settles, your shoulders are touching, and he leans closer to get a look at the iPad that Hwasa is holding. Hwasa doesn’t show all the shots, just her favourites, and you have to admit, the visuals are stunning even before any editing for light and colour.

Then, Hwasa shows you all the footage from the last scene you’d shot, the one with you and Jaehyun playfighting then leaping on horses.

“This is so good,” Hwasa tells you. “You both look so natural on horses, the drone shots are perfect, and the golden hour? Stunning.” 

While all of that is true, you’re more focused on how in love you and Jaehyun look. It’s weird to be seeing you and Jaehyun like this. It’s almost out of body, or doppleganger realm, because how the heck did you manage to look so happy and in love with Jeong Jaehyun of all people?

You feel the actor shift next to you, and you get the sense that he’s uncomfortable with it as well… however, out of the two of you, he has way more experience on screen. You guess you shouldn’t be shocked that he looks very much in love, he gets paid big money to sell those emotions.

“Anyways,” Hwasa sighs, “y/n, tomorrow morning, we shoot sunrise and into the afternoon, then Jaehyun, the latter half of the day is us at the ranch for some more ‘classic’ cowboy scenes.”

“Sounds good,” Jaehyun mumbles. With one last nod of appreciation, he stands up, and it’s as if he can’t get to another table fast enough. 

Six: 

They’ve been shooting Jaehyun’s cowboy scenes for a couple of hours when he notices your arrival on set. You’re not in the pink costume he’d heard about you wearing this morning, and you’re not all dolled up either.

You’re in a light jacket and jean shorts, a more relaxed look, and yet, you’re still stunning.

You’re next to Hwasa, looking at camera angles and shots, and while you seem to be making a few notes to the director, Jaehyun appreciates that you aren’t trying to micromanage him yourself. 

Shooting continues for another hour, and Hwasa calls a short break so she can figure out what else needs to be done today while they have the ranch.

At first, Jaehyun just goes and grabs a water. Johnny is hyping him up, but the actor is hardly paying attention, his gaze focused on you instead. 

Jaehyun can’t help himself, he walks over to you. You look up from Hwasa like a deer in headlights, and something about it is very endearing. “Can I help you?”

“Yeah, can I uh… talk to you for a sec?” Jaehyun asks.

“You know what? Yeah, that’s a good idea,” you nod, “come with me.”

You grab his arm, dragging him away. Jaehyun’s a little confused as to where you’re taking him, and when he finds himself in the privacy of a secluded location behind his trailer, he’s even more confounded. 

“Uh….” he starts, wetting his lips.

“What did you need?”

“I was just… guess I was wondering what you were doing here? Didn’t your shoot finish a couple of hours ago? Figured you’d be getting some rest at the motel.”

“It’s my music video,” you remind him. “Also… management thought it would be good to let tabloids get some shots of us shooting today, that’s why I pulled you over here, we allowed them the field of view to your trailer.”

“So that’s why you took me to such a secluded spot,” Jaehyun grins. 

“It’s the only reason I touched your arm,” you retort.

“Careful, don’t look so angry,” Jaehyun warns you, his hands reaching out to grab your hips and pull you closer. “Wouldn’t want to mess up your tabloid shots.”

You roll your eyes. “Tabloid won’t be on the property till after your last take in an hour or so. Don’t jump the gun, cowboy. After your next scene, you can be as much of a little model slut as you’d like.”

“You think I’m a slut?” Jaehyun asks, shocked that you’re talking to him in this way.

“Am I wrong?”

Jaehyun stands there for a moment, and then, he releases his grip on your hips. “Guess not.”

“So, after you’re done the next scene, we come here, and see if we can pretend to like each other,” you instruct. 

“We just have to be as convincing as we were yesterday,” Jaehyun muses.

You open your mouth to respond, but then you shut it, and Jaehyun’s left wondering what you would have said for the next hour.

He wonders how far you’ll let him take things, and part of him wishes you’d answered his question about boundaries yesterday. This feels like uncharted waters, and his heart is racing when he finally meets you behind his trailer again. 

“Okay,” you sigh. “Do your worst.”

Jaehyun feels himself begin to salivate, and he swallows thickly. There’s no way he’ll do his worst. His worst, would be throwing you against the trailer and having his way with you right here and now- asserting his dominance and seeing if you push back in any way- he suspects you like him more than you let on, after all, Jaehyun’s never met a girl he couldn’t tame.

Life’s hard when you have a stunning face and a hot body to match. 

Jaehyun reaches for your hips, pulling you closer. His skin is tingling with excitement. “I’m going to say something funny, and you should laugh,” he whispers.

You grin broadly, but the expression doesn’t meet your eyes. “Depends on if what you say is funny or not,” you counter. 

Jaehyun’s mind suddenly goes blank. His pick-up lines, his jokes- they all fly out the proverbial window. He doesn’t know what to say, so instead, he begins to lean in-

You turn your head at the last second and Jaehyun’s lips graze past your cheek. He’s a little taken aback at first, but he leans into it, reminding himself that you’d told him to improv. “Is this okay?” he whispers in your ear, still wanting to double-check with you although every fiber of his being is telling him to just do what he wants.

“It’s okay,” you respond, wrapping your arms loosely around the back of his neck. “You’re the actor.”

For some reason, it feels like a compliment that you’re making the distinction between the two of you. You’re right, he’s the actor, and you’re the Grammy award-winning singer.

His lips continue softly on your cheek, and then he adjusts, pressing kisses down to your throat. You shift in his embrace, tilting your head to the side to give him more access.

“Jae-” you warn.

“Just a few more, for the tabloids,” he whispers, nuzzling into your neck moreso than kissing now.

You release a sigh, and with your chests pressed together, Jaehyun can feel your heart racing.

He wonders if you can feel his going a mile a minute too. 

Seven: 

You eat in your room with Mark, too shaken up by your interaction with Jaehyun earlier to dare enter the mess hall yourself. 

“So, I was just sent the tabloid pictures for final approval,” Mark sighs, joining you on the bed so you can see his phone. “They’ll be up in the morning.”

“Just choose your favourites,” you murmur.

“Uh…” Mark blinks at you. “I really think you should look at them with me.”

You take a deep breath. “Fine.” 

Shifting your gaze to Mark’s phone, he scrolls through the shots, and you hate how natural they look. You and Jaehyun just look good together, and it sets your teeth on edge.

“The cheek kissing is cute,” Mark says thoughtfully. “The way you’re holding each other looks real.” 

It looks too real, in fact.

“I’m just happy we have opposing shoot schedules tomorrow,” you admit with another deep breath. You can see Mark side-eying you, and you hold up a hand before he can respond. “Don’t say a word.” 

“It’s just…” Mark struggles at times to surpass your commands. He’s your assistant first and foremost, but your company also expects him to have somewhat of a managerial role over you, and you know it’s a fight for him to find balance at times. “Everyone has shipped the two of you since you were younger. People say it’s like Britney and Justin in the Mickey Mouse Club House show- then you were teenagers, and you went different directions-” 

“Well, Britney and Justin didn’t end up together, did they?” It’s a rhetorical question, and from the way Mark sighs, he knows it.

“You’re missing the point,” he struggles.

You turn your gaze to him. “Am I?”

Mark releases a breath, dropping the issue. You feel bad shutting him down like this, but at the same time, you don’t want to open the can of ‘Jaehyun’ worms, if you will. No, you’d much rather ignore it for right now.

You’re filming a music video for your new album, and you have much bigger fish to fry. 

Eight: 

If Jaehyun wasn’t needed for business calls with Johnny today, he might be on set watching you, and Jaehyun can’t get it out of his head as he chills in his motel room and listens to his manager working.

It’s three hours into calls and details before Johnny is able to take a break, and he sets down his phone with a pointed look on his face. “You’re being weird.”

“Am I?” Jaehyun lets out a small laugh, but there’s little humor in it.

“Talk to me,” Johnny says lightly, giving an air of friendship despite the fact that he’s still in his role as manager. “Talk to me about this whole PR, fake dating thing.” 

Jaehyun shrugs. “What’s there to talk about?”

“Those fake tabloid pictures of you and y/n from yesterday on set dropped an hour ago, they’re trending on Twitter,” Johnny points out.

“It’s called ‘X’ now, actually.” 

Johnny narrows his eyes. “I’m never going to call it ‘X.’ It’s fucking Twitter.” 

Jaehyun can’t help but laugh, for real this time. He loves Johnny, loves him for all of his little millennial quirks.

“Honestly?” Jaehyun sighs, feeling his energy sift again. “Y/N’s super uptight, but… she can act like she’s not, and that’s a different side of her that I wasn’t really expecting.” 

Johnny is quiet for a few moments. “Can I ask you something?”

“Go for it.”

“That song from her first album, ‘Forget About Him,’ was that written about you? Is there a past here?”

“Nah, it wasn’t about me,” Jaehyun assures his manager. “As far as I know, she’s never been interested in me like that. We had this other costar, Haechan-”

“Lee Donghyuck?”

“Yeah, him. They uh, I think there was something there between them, for a little while at least.”

Jaehyun can feel Johnny’s assessing gaze, and he averts his own eyes. 

“It almost seems like you’re jealous, Jae.”

“Yeah, well, Haechan never went on to become a brand ambassador for Prada or star in movies, he was just some little child star.” Jaehyun can taste the bitterness in his words, but he can’t help himself. 

“You know who’s not just a child star?” Johnny asks. “Y/N. You two are, without argument, the most successful people to come out of the show you were in when you were younger.”

“We’re both very driven,” Jaehyun admits. “I do admire that about her, she has a Grammy for fucks sake.”  

“What I’m getting from this,” Johnny concludes, “is that you’re completely fine with this whole fake dating arrangement.”

“Well, as my manager, you should know I’m a good actor,” Jaehyun counters.

Johnny laughs. “Sure you are. Tomorrow is the last day of shooting, you’ve got that big kissing scene, I guess we’ll all see how good of an actor you are then.” 

Nine: 

There’s something comical about the fact that both you and Jaehyun are chewing gum in preparation for your kissing scene. Together, you’re with Hwasa as she goes over the vision for the shot. 

“So, we’re thinking Jae’s going to grab your neck,” Hwasa starts, “gently, of course. More of a cupping the nape of your neck than a grab, actually. It’s going to be slow, a slow exploration of moving closer. Lots of close-ups of the two of you gazing into each other’s eyes. It’s about breaking the distance, about two worlds colliding and connecting in a way that feels natural, unrushed, and just, electric.” 

Jaehyun nods, looking at you. “We can do this.” You wish you were as sure as he sounds right now.

Jaehyun takes out a tissue, and the two of you spit out your gum, disposing the trash before moving into position.

The shot is on the edge of a cliff, with the desert and sunset stretching out like a vast, yellowy-orange ocean behind you. 

It’s as you approach your marked spot that you remember something. “Jae,” you ask softly, “are you still afraid of heights?” 

You watch him take a deep breath, and he nods, standing a few feet from the drop-off. You notice he’s looking everywhere but down, and something inside of you softens for him.

Here you are, worried about the kiss, and here this man is, worried about falling off the edge of a cliff and dying. 

“We’ve got some space between us and the edge,” you tell him, stepping closer. “Here, grab my hips, we’re both steady, we’re not going to fall.”

Jaehyun’s lips part, and you can see the confusion on his face.

You suppose you’ve never been nurturing to him, but you can’t help yourself with this. You don’t mean to be a bitch, in fact, you’d argue adamantly that you’re not a malicious person. Jaehyun just pisses you off a lot, and his behavior generally merits a reaction- but right now, he deserves a bit of peace of mind, and you can see him relax a little as his hands grab your waist.

“Feels more steady?” you double-check.

“Yeah.” He swallows thickly, nodding. 

“We’ve got this,” you assure him.

“Are we ready!?” Hwasa calls.

You flash a thumbs up, turning your attention back to Jaehyun.

“And… action!”

The two of you simply stare at each other for a moment. Hwasa had said she wanted this to be slow. You’re shocked at how exposed you feel looking up into Jaehyun’s eyes. He really is a very handsome man, and he looks so extremely vulnerable right now.

His gaze shifts to your lips, and you allow him to take the lead. One of his hands moves up your body, cupping the back of your neck gently. You can smell the spearmint on his breath, as he moves closer.

You maintain eye contact until the moment your lips meet, and then, you do your best to just relax, to forget about the cameras pointed at you. You allow yourself to melt into the kiss, following Jaehyun’s motions, following the gentle notes that soon become more heated.

His tongue swipes against your bottom lip, and on instinct, you open your mouth for him, wrapping your arms around the back of his neck to pull him closer. 

You try to convince yourself that you’re leaning into this for the sake of the scene, that you’re just being good actors together, but there’s something underneath it all. There’s a desperation. You can almost taste it below the spearmint on his tongue. 

It feels good to be kissing Jaehyun, and the realization makes you break the kiss, opening your eyes and blinking in an effort to get yourself out of the daze that’s come over you. 

“That was amazing!” Hwasa’s voice is like a slap. “I’ve got some shots, but I’ll need you guys to do it one more time.”

Jesus. 

“You good?” Jaehyun asks.

You nod, swallowing thickly. “Let’s just go again.”

You’re kissing him again all too soon, and this time, it’s like fireworks. Your heart is racing in your chest, your skin electrified as you cling to Jaehyun, diving deeper into the feeling of him.

This time, he’s the one to break the kiss, and he looks away immediately. You notice him breathing heavily, but before you can say anything, Hwasa’s approaching again.

“Okay, that was amazing, and I hate to be that person, but I’ve decided I want drone shots too, so… third time is the charm?” She looks between you and Jaehyun and both of you are quick to nod, although, neither of you has yet found your voice.

“You good?” you ask him as Hwasa goes back to her spot, her main drone lifting into the sky with an electric thrum.

“Yeah, just one more,” Jaehyun says, voice wavering.

The two of you get back into position, and you study Jaehyun carefully. You’re looking at him, truly looking at him, and he’s looking at you with the same fierceness. You can tell something has shifted between the two of you, but at this time, you’re unsure how deep it really is.

He kisses you again on Hwasa’s direction, and you wonder how normal it is to feel this way during a kissing scene with a fellow acting partner.

You’ve never had to do this before, but you know Jaehyun has. He’s been in two or three rom-coms, there must be a way to stay professional after kissing a costar, right? 

But God, he still feels so good.

You’d thought - or maybe hoped - that the first kiss would be a one-off. That the second wouldn’t be as great, and by now, maybe the butterflies would have escaped the cage in your tummy, but no, the feeling surging through you is as powerful and electric as it had been with the first meeting of your lips. 

He leaves you breathless.

Standing on the edge of the cliff with Jaehyun, you realize you’re in deep shit. 

Ten: 

Jaehyun notices you in the mess hall. You’re looking over food, plating up your dinner, and he decides now is as good a time as any to talk to you. 

He doesn’t mean to be a quiet, sneaky sort of guy, but he can’t help the lightness of his walk. When he goes to stand next to you, saying “Hi,” you practically jump, your food stray scrambling a little as you compose yourself.

“Jesus,” you cuss. “You scared me!”

“Sorry,” he apologizes sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. “So… uh, the shoot is over, I head to Milan tomorrow-”

“Yup, I know your schedule,” you nod, sighing. “It’s in our contract that I come to your show and be front row to watch you, remember?”

“Right, yeah.” Jaehyun swallows thickly. “So… reporters are going to be asking a lot of questions about us.”

“Uh huh, that was the point of the paparazzi pics.” You continue filling your tray with food, so unbothered and cool in your movements that it makes Jaehyun’s heart beat faster. Are you unaffected by your kiss from earlier? Because Jaehyun can’t get the feeling of your lips out of his mind. 

“I just uh, wanted to say, you can trust me to give the right answers and stuff. I’m PR trained.”

God, Jaehyun wants to strangle himself. He feels so nervous, and the look you give him tells him that you think he’s being a dork. He’s definitely being a dork-

“Okay?” you laugh. “I’m PR trained too, we both took classes when we were kids, remember?” 

“Right,” he’s such an idiot, “yeah. Anyways, I guess… I guess I’ll see you in Milan in a couple of days.” 

“Sounds good.”

With one final nod, Jaehyun leaves you be, and he beats himself up about the awkwardness of the conversation for the rest of the night. 

Eleven:

In this week's news, our favourite kids’ show alumni were spotted getting close on set. y/n’s new music video, Model Cowboy, is set to be one of the videos of the summer, starring Prada ambassador Jung Jaehyun. The two have a long history, and while there have been rumors about their romantic connection in the past, nothing has ever been confirmed… until now.

TMZ dropped a photo of the two embracing outside Jaehyun’s trailer, and the internet officially broke. #modelcowboy has been going absolutely wild on X. One user wrote: “all my dreams are finally coming true! Thank you mama e papa!” While another took to X to say this: “At first, I didn’t love Jaehyun as the whole ‘model cowboy’ trope. He just doesn’t fit it for me. But I don’t know, something about the pictures of him and y/n just feels right- guess you don’t need a history as a rancher to be a cowboy, he’s definitely lassoed my heart.“

So far, the general consensus around our new ‘It Couple’ is that it’s been a long time coming. While there’s no official confirmation about their relationship, one of our reporters caught Jaehyun after a show in Milan last night. When asked about their time shooting the music video together, the actor/Prada ambassador had this to say about y/n: “She was amazing. The whole experience [filming Model Cowboy] went without a hitch. She’s super talented, one of the most driven women I know, and I can’t wait to see how this music video pans out for her.”

When asked about the pictures of the two of them that have been trending, Jaehyun said: “I mean, she’s beautiful, she’s an icon- who wouldn’t want a chance with her?” When the reporter clarified by asking if they’re dating, Jaehyun noted, “You’ll have to ask y/n, I’d never be ‘that’ guy who would speak for a powerful woman like her.” 

All we can say is damn, that’s a green flag if we’ve ever seen one. 

Stay tuned for all things celebrity drama and news on our website, or follow us on Instagram and Snapchat for daily updates. 

Twelve: 

There’s nothing like the closing night of a show. Jaehyun feels elated, he feels on the top of his game, like nothing could bring him down. 

“You were amazing,” another model tells him, fluffing her hair up with her hand as the two of them decompress backstage. 

“You were amazing, Vivienne,” he retorts, never feeling more giddy and boyish than he does now. 

“I’m good, but I’m not model of the year good,” she grins. 

“You’re still new,” Jaehyun assures her, although, pride is swelling through him.

He sees her skin flush, her eye lashes fluttering at him-

“Jae?” your voice draws him out of his assessment of Vivienne, and he turns in shock to find you standing there.

You look stunning, your stylist team has really outdone themselves with your looks for the past couple of days- but there’s a sour set to your lips that immediately tells him something is wrong.

“Y/N?” he asks.

“Am I… interrupting something?” your gaze shifts to Vivienne, and Jaehyun immediately understands what’s going on.

“Excuse us,” he says to Vivienne, grabbing your hand to tug you a few feet away. His voice lowers when he asks, “Are you jealous right now?”

“No,” you retort immediately. “What reason would I have to be jealous?”

You’re making a big show about the notion of jealousy being ridiculous, but Jaehyun knows he’s hit the nail on the head. 

“No reason at all,” Jaehyun assures you, and he truly means it. He knows this whole dating this is a PR move, but he hasn’t been able to get you out of his head all week. Every time he’s walked past you sitting front row at the shows- well, he’s been feeling butterflies in a way that he’s hardly been able to admit to himself. “Hey, listen-”

“No, you listen,” you cut him off. “Your show is over, we both fly different places tomorrow morning, management will set our schedules to keep up this whole fake dating thing, I just wanted to say goodbye before I go back to my hotel.” 

“Oh, right.” Jaehyun can feel his heart sink in his chest. “Uh… where are you staying?”

“I’m at the Four Seasons.”

“Do you maybe want to get drinks later or something?” he asks.

“I’m sure you have after parties to go to with your… model friends.” Your gaze shifts to Vivienne again, and that same sour twist to your lips appears.

Jaehyun wants to reassure you, but- the words just aren’t coming. Besides, what would he even say? We’re fake dating but I’ve been rethinking our entire dynamic since we kissed and now I’m not so sure I want it to be fake, because I’m actually really into you, and all of our bickering in the past has been because I’m jealous of your driven nature and I’ve seen you as competition but now I see that we can do more together than apart?

It feels like a lot of word vomit, and Jaehyun’s not about to projectile all of that at you right now. He doesn’t want to look stupid again, doesn’t want to feel like an idiot. He’s scared of rejection, in a way he’s never been scared of it before. 

Instead, dejected, he just nods. “Yeah, I guess.”

“Okay, so you go have fun, I’m going back to my hotel, and like I said, I’ll see you when I see you.”

Jaehyun watches you leave, and suddenly, the high from the fashion show has depleted. No one has ever had this kind of hold on his emotions before, and Jaehyun knows he’s going to have to do something about it, he just doesn’t know what. 

Thirteen: 

“Jeeze, Mark, I told you, I’m going to bed-” Your words cut off as you open your hotel door and find Jaehyun, not Mark, standing there.

“Uh… Hi?” Jaehyun smile sheepishly, and you look him up and down.

He’s in a form fitting suit, but it looks somewhat ragged. His shirt is unbuttoned haphazardly, his hair a little fussed, and his cheeks are flushed pink. 

“What are you doing here?” you ask.

“Well, I went to the afterparty, like you told me to, but… I don’t know, I just felt bad about how we left things.”

You’re shocked at how candid he’s being, and you don’t see a hint of dishonestly in his body language. “Have… have you been drinking?” you question next.

“Just a little,” he admits. “Can I…” Jaehyun looks around the hallway outside. “Can I come in?”

“I should really be going to sleep soon-”

“Yeah, I heard, Mark’s been on your ass,” Jaehyun nods, swallowing, “but uh…” he leans forward, voice lowering, “What’s that pipsqueak going to do about you staying up just a little later? I mean, you can sleep on your flight tomorrow, can’t you?” 

Yeah, Jaehyun is drunk. “Did you just call Mark a pipsqueak?” you ask in shock.

“So what if I did?” He grins lazily. 

“Jae-”

“y/n.”

You sigh. “Come in, sit down, and let me grab you some water.”

“Yes, ma’am.” His smile is much too large for your liking as he enters your hotel room, going to the couch like a good boy. 

You can feel his eyes on you as you get him a bottle of water from the fridge, moving to join him. “Here.”

“Thanks.” He unscrews the cap as you sit down, taking a large gulp.

“So… what’s this about?”

He’s still drinking the water, like a child after a marathon, just drinking and drinking with small stops to gasp for air- you can’t help but laugh a little, watching with amusement.

Jaehyun finishes the entire bottle. “So-” He takes a deep breath. “I wanted to apologize.”

“For what?”

“Making you jealous earlier.”

“What?” You’re in shock. “I was not jealous.” 

“You were, and it’s okay.” He places his hand on your knee and you look down at it then up at him questioningly. “I was jealous of you and Haechan back in the day, but the difference is, I wasn’t hitting on Vivienne, I was just trying to be nice to her, you know, as male model of the year and everything.”

“Jae-”

“I wasn’t hitting on her,” he says again, expression turning firm. “You’re my girlfriend and I’d never, ever do that to you.”

“I’m not your girlfriend.”

“Contractually, you are,” Jaehyun insists. “I can be a good boyfriend to you, if you let me try.”

He’s leaning in now, and you grab a pillow, haphazardly shoving it between the two of you so he can kiss that instead.

“Jae!” You hop off of the couch, heart racing.

“Shit, sorry, you’re just- God, have I ever told you that you glow?” Jaehyun looks up at you with an expression you’ve never seen on him, it’s almost like admiration.

“What are you even saying?”

“You glow. You light up the room. You just- you sparkle, even without disco balls and diamonds.”

You wrap your silky night robe tighter around your body, feeling self conscious. “I don’t glow.”

“You do,” he insists. “Even when we were younger. I think- I think part of me always worried your glow would diminish mine, if that makes sense- but, but after seeing some of the footage from the music video, I see that, now that we’re older, when we do stuff together, when we’re not competing, we can glow together.”

So he’s like… very drunk.

But… haven’t you always heard that drunk words are sober thoughts?

You look down at him, and it feels like you’re seeing him in a new light. 

“Jae?” you question.

“Yes?”

“What’s going on?”

“When we kissed that day on set, I felt something.”

“Are you… not used to feeling things?” you ask.

“Not feeling things like that,” Jaehyun corrects. “I mean, butterflies, sparks, you know, corny rom com shit.”

Your stomach flips, heart beginning to beat faster in your chest- so he’d felt the connection too.

“Look, okay, this is going to be embarrassing if you reject me, but, fuck it, I want to get this all off my chest.” Jaehyun takes a deep breath, running his fingers through his silky hair to steady himself. “I like you. I think, a part of me has always liked you, but, I also used to see you as competition. Now that we’re older, now that we’re both successful, I don’t see you that way anymore- and before you think that’s another backhanded compliment, I just mean, you’ve won Grammys. You’re- a fucking star. And I think… maybe I’ve grown to the point where I can accept other people’s successes without seeing it as a diminishment on my own.”