BAD DESIRE

=================

Don't try to look away when we're face to face. I see your face, that animal emotion. You don't have to set your tender trap. It's in those eyes. It's gonna happen anyway.

Moving to the rhythm of your heartbeat. Yeah, I'm wanting, willing, touching you. We'll be moving to the rhythm of your heartbeat. Oh babe, when you get that rhythm, gonna move into your room.

Tonight, give me love with no disguise. Tonight, I see the fire in your eyes. Tonight, so right, this night, could it be dynamite? Wait and see. If it pleases you, it pleases me. ~~ “Tonight” by Def Leppard

“I'm going to wash up and get ready for bed. Good night. Bye.”

Jungwon closed out of the live, out of Weverse on his phone and sat back with a sigh. Took a moment to gather himself. Step one: put away what was left of his very late dinner. Step two: head to the bathroom to wash up, shower. Step three: put on pajamas and crawl under the covers.

He'd spent most of the live focusing on eating and talking about how much fun he'd had so far during their stay in Mexico, shared a couple of funny TMIs... and doing his best to ignore the amount of hate comments. Death threats.

But he'd noticed. Of course he had.

Right now? He was so, so very tired.

But part of his job as leader meant he couldn't let the exhaustion, the stress show. Had to make decisions that affected the whole band. Take the heat of the fandom wrath.

Sometimes, like now, over the past few days, it was too much. Felt like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Someone had asked during the live where Jay was, and Jungwon had answered honestly: probably out eating, but he didn't know where.

Jungwon pushed away from the table, cleared his plate and glass with the leftover food and drink. The remains of the hamburger were put away in a small container and set in the hotel room's mini-fridge—he could always finish it tomorrow. Maybe.

Then he padded into the bathroom, washed his hands, brushed his teeth, rinsed his face. Dragged his palms down over his eyes and cheeks.

It had only been a couple hours since he'd last seen him, maybe less than that, but gods he missed his mate. Wanted Jongseong back here in the room with him.

The Amur leopardess that lived within him wanted it, too.

Jungwon turned the water on as hot as he could stand it, stripped out of his clothes as he waited for it to heat up. He didn't have the energy for his usual skin-care routine, not tonight. So a quick rinse and shower it was, then, to rid himself of the grime and sweat.

At last, he stepped into the shower and under the spray, closed his eyes and sighed in a mixture of relief, exhaustion, and contentment as the heat soaked through his skin and hair, seeped down into his muscles. His leopard made a low rumbling noise that resembled a purr.

He was so engrossed in relaxing, in the steam and warmth, that he missed hearing the beep and click of the hotel room door opening. Missed the soft pad of footsteps, the bathroom door opening, clothes hitting the floor.

Warm hands found his waist, and a familiar scent enveloped him.

“Mmmm. I knew you always wanted me, Sunghoon-hyung.”

“I might have to kill him for that.” Jay's low voice rumbled next to his ear. He nuzzled a kiss along Jungwon's shoulder. “But that would just upset Sunoo-ah and Jake-ah, and we absolutely cannot have that, can we?”

“No.”

“Exactly.” Jay's hands glided across wet skin, spread across Jungwon's toned stomach. The touch wasn't sexual, exactly, but deeply intimate—and Jungwon wanted more. “Missed me already, Jungwon-ah?”

“Yes.” Jungwon opened his eyes, turned in Jay's arms to look at his mate. “Always.”

The teasing look in Jay's dark eyes vanished; was replaced by concern. “I'm listening. Talk to me.”

Because of course Jongseong had probably been watching his live while out eating, had seen the comments. It was something he would do—had done in the past, going so far as to sneak into the HYBE building to check on his leader due to sasaengs lurking around.

Even if he hadn't, he knew Jungwon so well that he could tell something was wrong. But then, they'd been that way with each other even before Jungwon found out that Jay was wereleopard, that he was wereleopard; before Jay claimed him.

Here, alone with his most cherished hyung and life-mate, he could finally unload some of his stress. Knew the reason Jay had spoken up during their concert earlier was to show his support, that all of ENHYPEN were behind him for clarifying the new lineup after Heeseung's departure four months ago.

And still, there were those among their fanbase who couldn't accept it.

Which was what led to several of the comments he'd seen during his Weverse live.

Gods, he was so, so fucking exhausted from all of it.

“What did we do to deserve all this, hyung?” It slipped out before Jungwon could stop it, his tone more defeated than angry. Bone tired. Fingers curled into loose fists against Jay's chest; his head dropped down onto Jay's shoulder. Hot water poured over them both. “We've all tried so hard to keep the group together, move forward, but—”

“Jungwon-ah.” Hands glided up his spine, rested at the nape of his neck. “We've all spoken up more than once. If they can't accept it, that's their problem—and they're not ENGENE.” A faint snarl crept into Jay's voice: “Not if they're sending you hate and death threats when all you did was set boundaries.”

So Jay had seen at least part of his live, and the comments left there. Jungwon lifted his head, saw that Jay's dark brown eyes had gone gold with slit pupils: the eyes of his leopard. He swallowed. When Jay's eyes went like that, usually...

Usually it meant he was pissed, losing control of his cat...

…or Jungwon was about to be completely, thoroughly fucked.

Sometimes it was a combination of all three.

This time, though... it was just because Jay was pissed on his behalf.

Probably.

And Jungwon had to admit, it felt wonderful knowing he had his group's support for speaking up, that Jay was shouldering the burden alongside him. Still...

“I'm—” he started.

“No. Don't you dare say you're sorry.” Jay's eyes softened, some of the gold fading to his human self's dark brown. “You have nothing to apologize for, Won-ah.” His nails gently scraped at the nape of Jungwon's neck and then lifted off. Jungwon didn't have to look behind him to know Jay was reaching for the shampoo bottle. “You were going to shower, yeah? Let me help you.”

It was quick, even with the occasional stealing of kisses. Both of them were too tired to get up to anything frisky in the shower, and Jungwon didn't want to risk injuries from a fall.

Once the water was shut off and they were toweling off, Jungwon wrapped the towel around his waist and started to step out into the main room. Jay's fingers closing around his wrist stopped him. Puzzled, unsure where Jay was going with this, Jungwon looked back.

Jay's touch on his skin was feather-light, pads of his fingertips gently brushing over his inner wrist, and a shiver ran down Jungwon's spine. His leopardess stirred, suddenly alert—and ready for her mate.

Right, as tired as his human self was, Amur leopards were more active at night. And Jungwon's leopardess was definitely feeling amorous at the moment—even if she wasn't currently in heat. Nearly four months since he'd discovered he was wereleopard to begin with (let alone that his leopard counterpart was female), and it was still enough to make Jungwon's head spin.

“Jay-hyung?”

Jay stepped closer, too close, intense heat radiating from his body. Jungwon met his eyes—and then looked away, not ready to deal with what he saw there. “I want to take care of you, Won-ah.” His other hand came up, rested on Jungwon's bare chest just over his heart. The organ skipped a couple of beats at the touch—and then thundered so loud Jungwon felt the pulse beating in his ears. “Show you how much you're loved.” The deep rasp in his voice—lower than normal, the way Jay sounded whenever he just woke up from a deep sleep—instantly had Jungwon's blood heating with arousal. “May I?”

He wanted that. By the gods, he hadn't realized just how much he needed it until Jay said it aloud. Unable to speak, throat choked with emotion, Jungwon swallowed hard and nodded his consent. <Yes.> Without thinking, he switched to the intimate, private thought-speak that was there between bonded mates, in leopard form or not. <Show me. Take me.>

Jay's hands changed positions: one still holding Jungwon's wrist, the other sliding down his chest to his waist, resting just above the towel hanging low on his hips. Nudging the door open with his body, Jay led Jungwon into the main area of the hotel room in a three-beat waltz, stopping at the foot of the bed.

Despite himself, Jungwon smiled. “Surely you can't be serious.”

“I am serious,” Jay deadpanned in English, “and don't call me Shirley.”

Huh? Jungwon blinked, confused—was that a reference to something? wordplay?—but a small laugh left him regardless.

Jay had that ability, that gift—to lighten up the mood of the room, the group—and at times like this, Jungwon was grateful for it.

A smile played at Jay's mouth; his eyebrows shot up and down in that way he spared only for his leader. “There it is,” he murmured, slowly and carefully maneuvering Jungwon onto his back on the duvet. “Your laugh. I've missed it.”

Oh so slowly, his fingers worked at the towel tied around Jungwon's waist, letting it fall away to the side and splay over the duvet. He hummed something as he worked—a song Jungwon didn't recognize—and then sang the lyrics pianissimo: “There's nothing I can say; It's no mystery. It's in your eyes, those eyes are where I wanted them. So give me heart and soul, I lose control. Can't stop my eyes from falling into fantasy. ...”

Jungwon's breath caught in his throat. “Hyung—”

Jay's eyes flicked up to his face as he withdrew one hand to undo his own towel, let it fall from his body to the floor. Then he crawled over his dongsaeng, drawing Jungwon's right leg up as he did so. He paused for a moment, pressed a chaste kiss to Jungwon's foot—then his knee.

Higher then, right over Jungwon's womb (thanks to his leopardess)—but still not touching where Jungwon suddenly desperately wanted him to. He shifted, spread his legs, trying to draw Jay in closer—and stopped at the look in Jay's eyes.

Not just loving. Reverent, almost.

“...Jay-hyung...?” For a second, Jungwon hated that he couldn't keep the questioning lilt from his voice.Because even here, on one of his most intimate areas, the kiss Jay had just given him didn't feel sexual. It felt—

Like he was something to be worshiped.

Jay moved higher, brushing yet another kiss on his bare chest, and the feeling that this was ritualistic, almost, didn't go away—it strengthened.

Then...

Jay was there, directly over him, face-to-face. Eyes on his. Fingers gently trailed along his jawline. “Jungwon-ah,” he rasped—and gods, that should be illegal, the way Jay said his name. Arousal pooled low in his gut; had his cock hardening and slick gathering between his thighs. Jongseong said something in English, something Jungwon didn't quite catch over the blood roaring in his ears—and then finally (finally) lowered his mouth to Jungwon's.

This particular kiss started out chaste... and then deepened on a low groan from Jay's throat. Jungwon couldn't help returning it, tasting the spearmint of toothpaste on his mate's tongue, bringing his hands up to tangle his fingers in Jay's hair.

“I know we don't hunt,” Jay whispered, breaking the kiss to press his forehead against Jungwon's, “but if we did... I would lay all my kills at your paws.”

Leopards were ambush predators, usually leaving their prey high up in trees to protect the carcass from scavengers or other predators, but it was the sentiment that—ridiculously—touched Jungwon more than anything else. He chuffed—the vocalization all female leopard, expressing his pleasure—and tilted his chin up to steal another kiss.

Jay gave it to him, drew back enough to grab one of Jungwon's hands in his own and lower it. He kissed the palm of Jungwon's hand, rasped his tongue over Jungwon's inner wrist. At the contact, butterflies took flight in Jungwon's stomach. Electricity thrummed through his veins.

So... that's how this was going to be. Slow. Loving. Gentle. Not at all like their usual wild, animalistic lovemaking.

“You're so very good, Jungwonnie.” The husky rasp in Jay's deep voice had Jungwon squirming slightly. “Such an amazing leader-nim. So fucking perfect and brave, standing up for us.”

Everything in Jungwon went warm at the praise, a flush stealing up his neck. “You did the same for me tonight,” he managed to say.

“Because you don't deserve any of the hate. We're mates, Won-ah. Paired for life. Anyone who attacks you has to go through me as well. You are not alone, mi amor.”

They'd all learned enough basic Spanish for the Latin American leg of the tour that Jungwon understood that last part: My love.

Jay lowered his head to Jungwon's chest, kissed his collarbone. Lower. Stopped, looked up. “You're my lifeline, my life's mate. Bound to me for eternity. We don't abandon our mates, Jungwon. If you left... I don't know if I could handle it.”

Jungwon frowned slightly, concerned. “I'm not planning on leaving the group, Jay-hyung.”

Jay shook his head. “I don't mean the way... he did.” Even now, four months later, it still hurt that they couldn't legally mention Heeseung in public. In private... well. Being reminded of it every single time they went live on Weverse or fancalls or during the last few stops on their tour was enough.

“Then what do you mean, hyung?”

Jay looked up, eyes dark and serious with worry. “Jonghyun-sunbaenim.”

Jungwon's heart plummeted down into his stomach. That was a name he hadn't seriously thought of in years, but— “Oh, gods, hyung. No. No. Never. That never even— No.” Suddenly frantic to reassure Jay, he ran his fingers through his mate's hair, down his face, cupped his chin. “I've never thought about it. Not once. I'm not leaving you, Jongseong-hyung.”

Relief edged out the worry in Jongseong's eyes. “Okay. Good. Okay.” Air left his lungs in an explosive sigh, breath warm on Jungwon's skin. “I was so—”

“Jay-hyung.” Jungwon's voice was firm now, cutting through the beginnings of the mental spiral. “I'm here. With you, with the team. We chose this. And you have all of me.”

For a second, the way Jay was staring at him—desperate, hungry—Jungwon thought he was going to kiss him again. Instead, Jay groaned low in his throat and trailed kisses down Jungwon's chest, his stomach. “I need to touch you, taste you. Please, Jungwonnie.”

Jungwon's heart turned over. “Whatever you need from me, hyung.”

That earned him a smile—one that didn't quite reach Jay's eyes. “Gonna make you feel so fucking good, Jungwon.” The words were barely audible, but his enhanced hearing caught them anyway. “It's what you deserve.”

He was already hard, but Jay's hand wrapping around the base of his cock and stroking had Jungwon's hips jolting up briefly in surprise. That... hadn't been what he'd expected. He'd thought Jay was going to lap at his cunt, drawing out all the slick honey that belonged to him, eat him out like a cat starved. Instead...

“What are you—?” he gasped out, fingers curling into the duvet beneath him as Jay's thumb swiped over the slit at the head of his cock, wiping at the bead of pre-cum already forming.

Jay's only answer was a smirk before he swirled his tongue over the broad head and then swallowed Jungwon whole.

He fought to stay still, to not buck his hips up, but it was extremely difficult when the next thing he knew, his cock was down Jay's throat and his mate's fingers were fondling his sac.

<Would it be wrong to say I'm admiring you? The balls you have, Wonnie—truly impressive.> Jay's mental voice was definitely smug, along with something else Jungwon didn't have the capacity to identify at the moment.

“Oh, fuck.” Jungwon didn't have to look in a mirror to know he was blushing: the warmth on his face, his neck was evidence enough. <Metaphorically, right?> he asked in thought-speak. <Right?>

<Why would I answer that?> Jay slowly lifted his head, started a slow rhythm. Took care to make sure his teeth didn't catch the sensitive skin.

Jungwon's laugh quickly trailed off into a moan. <I cannot believe you just said that.>

<Why? It's true.>

He wasn't going anywhere near that. Not right now. But it had lightened up the mood from earlier. Mostly.

And still, even now... Jay took his time. Made sure that Jungwon felt nothing but pleasure.

The feeling that Jongseong was worshiping him had never really left, and now it returned threefold. Every brush of his tongue, the fluttering of throat muscles around Jungwon's cock, the care that went into even this...

It was dizzying. Maddening.

And the sheer amount of love Jungwon felt through Jay's thought-speak was nearly overwhelming.

<You are so beautiful, so precious, Jungwonnie. Leader-nim. Orange kitty leader Yang Jungwon, you're doing so well. So very good for me.>

It was hearing his nickname, the praise, more than anything else right now that got to him. Jungwon moaned, right hand flying to Jay's head, fingers curling into claws in his midnight-black hair. He hadn't heard that kitty nickname in so long, and hearing the incredibly long Australian puppy nickname Jay had come up with on the spot for Jake months ago... jealousy had flared, vicious and ugly. It was only right that he have Jay's full attention like this, the way it should be.

Jongseong belonged to him, just as much as he did to Jay.

<When you're ready, let it go. Give it all to me, Jungwon-ah. “So swallow your frown, my love, and follow me down, my love.” I want to taste all of you, drink down every last drop.>

Part of that had been in English, was obviously a song—one Jungwon wasn't familiar with—but he didn't have any time to think on it further: Jay's thumb brushed his sac; two of his fingers moved down, slipped between slick, hot folds, curled, and—

The orgasm caught him, quaked through him, had white flashing behind his eyes. Jungwon cried out, arched his back, grip tightening in Jay's hair and legs falling open.

His seed shot from him, spilled into Jay's mouth and throat. His hyung's muscles flexed around his cock as he worked to swallow it all down without spilling a drop.

When the storm raging through his body finally subsided, Jungwon could only lay there pliant and boneless. Jay's mouth lifted off him with a wet sound, and then his mate was again positioning himself, lifting one of Jungwon's legs.

Brown eyes met Jungwon's, showing this was all Jay and not his leopard. He paused with the tip of his own cock not quite at Jungwon's entrance. “Is this okay?”

Jungwon swallowed, nodded. “Yeah. Please. I need you inside me.”

Jay nodded, turned his head, pressed a soft kiss to the inside of Jungwon's thigh. Then he slowly pushed inside, inch by inch, bottomed out with a faint growl. Jungwon didn't think—just grabbed for him, pulled him closer, ran his nails through Jay's hair and down the nape of his neck and across his broad shoulders. Dug into naturally tan skin.

For a moment, Jay didn't move. Allowed Jungwon's body to adjust to his size and length. “This, here, with you,” he murmured against Jungwon's ear, “is my heaven. My paradise.”

Emotion choked him—because how was he supposed to respond to that? “Hyung—”

Then Jay began to move—slow, deep, languid strokes—and whatever Jungwon had been about to say trailed off on a moan. “You're safe, Won-ah.” Lips brushed his ear, his neck, shoulder. Teeth grazed his skin. “Protected. They can't get to you.”

There was always a risk of obsessive sasaengs tracking them down—they knew that; had a terrifying encounter in their dorm just the year before—but for now, at least, Jay's voice rang with truth. Jungwon raked his nails gently up and down Jay's shoulders, groaned, tilted his head back. “I know. Gods, Jay, you feel so...”

“So what?”

“So fucking good. So big, so deep. I can—I can feel you against my womb, hyung, and I—”

“Jungwon-ah.” There was a mild reproach in his tone. “We agreed: No cubs, not yet. Besides, you're not in heat.”

True female Amur leopards could get pregnant at any time, heat cycle or not, but neither of them were true leopards. Nor were they fully human. And Jungwon being a male shapeshifter with a female leopard was so rare that they didn't know what his chances of conception were in diestrus—or if he could only conceive when his leopardess was in heat. Most methods of birth control didn't work on their species to begin with, partly due to hormones and heat cycles in female wereleopards and partly due to sex in either form usually being incredibly wild and rough.

Besides, with how busy their schedules had been the past few months, they hadn't really had time or many chances to be together—the exception after Jay had claimed Jungwon being when Jungwon's leopard finally emerged during her first heat cycle.

Now, Jungwon shivered at the reminder. “Yeah, but I've seen you looking, Jay-hyung. You want it.” He dragged one heel up along Jay's calf; hooked his ankles up over Jay's lower back. “And I want you to come inside me.”

As much as this was about Jay worshiping him, showing him how much he was loved, Jungwon knew that Jay could never deny him anything.

But for this, he didn't even have to play his leader, lifeline, or mate cards: he knew how much Jay loved coming inside him. Needed it as much as Jungwon did.

Jongseong growled softly. “Jungwon. Jungwonnie.”

Jungwon smiled, laughed. “You are way too easy to rile up, hyung. Yet you take it so well.”

There was a light nip of teeth in his shoulder, and Jungwon hissed.

“Sorry.” Jay didn't sound at all sorry. “But I could say that for you right now: You're taking me so very well.”

“Mmm.” Jungwon stretched beneath him, timing the movement with Jay's thrusts. “Only because you always take such good care of me.”

Truthfully, Jay had even before claiming him, ever since their trainee days. It was instinctive by now.

Jungwon wouldn't have it any other way, even as he looked after his hyung in his own fashion. He angled his hips up now, ran the pads of his fingertips over Jay's shoulders and back, nuzzled as best he could into the crook of Jay's shoulder. “I know you want this to be about me, my pleasure, but... Jongseong.” He all but purred Jay's Korean name. I want it to be good for you, too. “You're the best hyung I could have, the best mate by my side.” His arms tightened their hold around Jay's body, just a little. He was serious now, all prior hints of teasing gone. “Supporting me like that, shielding me... I love you even more for it.”

“Jungwon-ah...” Jay groaned, sheathed himself to the hilt in one final thrust as his release finally spilled from him.

Jungwon rode it out with him, nuzzled him, pulled him in as close as possible with a purr rumbling in his chest.

Oh yes, this had definitely worked, distracting him from earlier tonight. And he felt...

Warm. Safe. Deeply loved.

Even more in love with his Jay-hyung than he'd thought possible, fated mates or not.

Jongseong holding him, touching him, treating him as if he were something sacred... how could he not be affected by that?

Now, lying together, bodies joined and a tangle of limbs, in the quiet he could feel and hear Jay's heartbeat pounding against his own. It was... oddly soothing.

He could probably fall asleep just like this.

Dimly, he became aware that Jay was quietly humming something—the same melody he'd been humming, briefly singing earlier.

Just as Jungwon was drifting off to sleep, the English lyrics became clearer:

=================

Through the veil between worlds, Jungwon watched as Park Jongseong made his way down the aisle toward the man he was marrying: Lee Heeseung.

The jeoseung saja grit his teeth. Ever since he escorted Jongseong back to the human realm after a near-fatal accident two years earlier (nearly breaking his cover as a K-pop idol in the process), Jungwon realized that he'd been in love with his bandmate for years.

Jongseong belonged to him, not Heeseung.

While posing as a human, Jungwon regressed to the age he'd pretended to be: initially sixteen, and now... twenty-five? Twenty-six? Time didn't mean the same thing for him as it did for humans, being immortal.

But this?

Jungwon couldn't bear it any longer, watching Jay walk down the aisle to another man. As much as he liked and respected Heeseung...

This wouldn't do. He would not stand by and watch as the human he loved became chained to someone else.

Jongseong had reached Heeseung and the priest now. The crowd was seated, the grooms-to-be were facing each other—

—and Jungwon made his move.

Clad in the traditional black outfit worn by his kind, the jeoseung saja parted the veil between the underworld and the mortal plane and stepped through. There was a murmur of surprise from the crowd: he knew it had to have looked like he'd appeared out of thin air.

Both Heeseung and Jay turned, eyes widening in a mixture of shock and confusion.

With a wave of his hand, Jungwon froze the venue in time. Music began to play: a grim, brooding three-beat waltz. The only ones he left unfrozen were Heeseung and Jongseong.

Jungwon studied them both with cool dark brown eyes and then strode up the aisle. He stopped halfway, gestured toward Jongseong with a simple crook of his fingers.

As if being pulled by an invisible string, Jongseong stepped forward, toward Jungwon. Circled him once, twice, expression questioning: What's going on? Why have you shown up now?

“Jungwon-ah?” It was Heeseung. “What are you doing? And why are you dressed like...?”

Jungwon ignored him, gave a sharp wave of his hand. Heeseung fell silent instantly. He tried once more to speak, but no sound came out. Eyes wide with shock, the group's eldest closed his mouth and watched as Jungwon released his telekinetic hold on Jongseong.

Jay stepped back—as if he were going to move to Heeseung—and then paused as Jungwon studied them both with his head tilted to the side in a very cat-like gesture.

A sharp, mirthless smile tugged at Jungwon's mouth. “It's an old theme, but new for me,” he crooned. “Two with the same beloved—namely, you.” Dark brown eyes held Jay's. “You've decided; I have missed you. At your wedding, I'm just the guest.”

Jungwon slowly moved toward Jay, circled around him as much as the venue would allow—and Jay backed up even closer to Heeseung, who wrapped an arm around his shoulders as soon as Jongseong was within range. Heeseung's eyes narrowed at Jungwon in a mixture of confusion, disbelief, and growing suspicion.

The jeoseung saja smirked wickedly, his eyes never leaving Jongseong's. “You have given up—but just for show. You want him to be true, yet you invite me. Still in his arms, you're smiling at me—and where this will lead, you know, too.”

“Jay-ah? Jongseong-ah?” Heeseung finally found his voice, gently turned Jay's head to face him. “What's Jungwon-ah talking about?”

A rattling hiss of fury escaped Jungwon's lungs at the sight of Heeseung touching his Jay. He darted forward, lunging with panther-like grace, and tore Jongseong from Heeseung's grasp. One hand instantly grasped Jongseong's waist; the other held his hand in the traditional form for ballroom dancing—or a waltz. “The last dance, the last dance, you have to dance with me!” He took the lead, moving their bodies back—and then dropped contact as he stepped a few paces away, sang solely for Jongseong. “The last dance, the last dance, eventually with me!”

Jay's eyes were wide with shock, and yet... there was something else there. Lingering guilt. Desire. Jungwon sensed it.

Besides, everything he was saying was perfectly true: No matter what, Jongseong eventually would have the final dance of death with him. Jungwon would make certain that he would be the one to collect Jongseong's soul.

But right now? This was his way of making sure Jay chose him—Jungwon—over Heeseung.

He had to.

Before the vows were said, when all the questions had been asked, the chances gone away, the borders drawn.

The media vultures were the last of a world that delayed thinking of its own—

Ah, but he was getting ahead of himself.

Jungwon turned away, turned his back on them both. “Time grows old and tired; wine grows stale. The air is sweltry and stuffy in the mirror-hall. Invisible eyes are watching us two; all await our rendezvous!”

He turned back to Jongseong now, black hanbok streaming out behind him, his strides long and catlike: a predator stalking prey. This time, Jungwon made sure to pull Jongseong into a dance with him, bodies close together, pulling Jay even further away from Heeseung. “The last dance, the last dance belongs to me alone! The last dance, the last dance, I dance only with you!”

A quick shove of his hips had Jay unbalancing, but Jungwon grasped his arm and leg, guided him carefully to the floor. “You'll fall into deep darkness. Silently, secretly, gradually to me!”

Dark brown eyes flared gold. Even as shock flared in Jay's eyes, Jungwon leaned in closer. Caressed his face, his body—focused entirely on Jongseong and thoroughly ignoring the presence of Jay's husband-to-be. The whole song was a warning—a promise—and he needed Jongseong to know it.

“The last dance, the last dance, you have to dance with me. The last dance, the last dance eventually with me. The final dance, the final dance belongs to me alone. The final dance, the final dance, I dance only with you!”

Jungwon broke off, rested his forehead against Jay's; cupped his face with both hands. “Jongseong-hyung,” he whispered, voice dark and desperate with longing. His body quivered with his desire. Never before had he felt this way for a human—a mortal—and Jungwon knew he never would again. Where the mood in his song earlier had been nearly demanding, frantic with energy, he now shifted to something quieter, more gently coaxing: “You need me. Yes, you need me. Just admit that you love me more than the man at your side. Although you seemingly give him more, you're dragging him into the night.”

Jay's legs had fallen open at some point, Jungwon's body slotting perfectly between them. And Jay... His breath hitched in his throat. Exhaled on a jagged note as his hands came up, fingers curling into Jungwon's hair. “What are you doing, Jungwon-ah?”

“Isn't it obvious?” Jungwon pulled back slightly, let his golden eyes meet Jay's dark brown ones. “This is me objecting to you marrying Heeseung-hyung. Although I'm not lying when I say that you will have your last dance with me. Marry me, Jay-hyung.”

“You're not joking?”

Jungwon shook his head. “I'm deadly serious. About all of it.”

Please. Please. Say yes. Marry me, marry me, marry me. Jongseong-hyung... “I'll only dance the final dance with you. It belongs to you alone.” He slid the fingers of one hand under Jay's sharp jawline, lifted his chin, leaned in. Hovered just close enough for a kiss yet not allowing himself to touch Jongseong's lips. “I love you,” he breathed.

He was so close, so tantalizingly close...

And right now, it really was just the two of them. Alone, cut off from the rest of the world. Heeseung was forgotten.

It would be so easy to shift them both to another plane between dream and reality, to truly make Jongseong his, and yet...

“Jungwon.” A tremor raced through Jay's body. He groaned softly. “I'm marrying Heeseung today.”

Jungwon's golden eyes blazed, sharpened. “And yet you invited me, searched for me even before I showed up, smiled at me when you were in his arms. So which of us do you really want to marry, Jongseong?”

Again, another rattling breath as Jongseong drew air into his lungs. When it came, the response was so soft that Jungwon almost missed it: “You.”

Jungwon's answering smile was a predatory flash of too-sharp teeth. He didn't wait.

Closing his mouth over Jongseong's, he slipped them both between planes of reality and let time resume.

Let everyone else wonder where they'd gone.