OnlyMingyus

It’s late afternoon when the booming roll of thunder snaps your attention to the window, more alert now as you sit up from your chair where you’ve been reading your book. You love allowing yourself to get lost in the pages of your books, spending your days pouring over each and every title in your library. The spines are damaged, but well loved after many hours spent reading and re-reading.

Outside the window you watch the trees bend and wave with the wind. The sky is still that bright blue that you're used to, but the clouds are quickly rolling in and blocking out the sun. You can smell the storm coming. You can see it in the thick dark clouds, you can feel it in the way the wind picks up, and you can sense the static in the air signaling there’ll be lightning tonight.

You creak open the screen door and walk out onto the wood porch, narrowing your eyes as you scan the horizon line. The mountains in the distance hide your cabin from view, a spot that's nearly impossible to find by anyone who doesn't already know its location. Just how you like it. Far enough from town for privacy, and secluded enough to enjoy the beauty of nature right in your backyard.

The long grass whips at your ankles as you step off the porch, the soft earth giving way beneath the worn soles of your boots. Despite the wind and the cries of birds, the atmosphere is silent. There’s a strange mix of emotions in the air, simultaneously both comforting and uneasy. Living nearly alone out here on the ranch always brings up that unsettled feeling in the pit of your stomach.

You stare across the land for another moment as you watch the sky continue to darken with the imminent storm. It’s close to evening now, and you know you should go close the gate before it gets too dark out, but you can’t help staying a moment longer to watch the shifting skies.

The horizon has always drawn you in. The striking royal purples and pinks of a country sunset; the enchanting soft yellows and oranges of the dawn as the sun resumes its dutiful watch over the lands. This life is everything you’ve always known, and everything you’ve always wanted.

Out here, the quiet is usually a comfort.

Today, it feels like a curse.

Your eyes scan over the skyline one last time, squinting harder, as if that will make him appear. More than likely, he’s staying in town overnight until the storm passes. It’s not uncommon for days to pass before he comes home, renting a room at the inn on nights he’s got more work than he can handle. He makes good money working at the courthouse, but the long hours often means he spends most of his time away from the ranch.

You can't help but worry every time Wonwoo leaves, but you make your best efforts to push the feeling away and trust in his safe return. The journey into town is a long and tiring one, and while this routine is one you've grown used to over the years, the hours spent faithfully waiting for any news from him never gets easier.

But just as you're about to head back around the side of the house to finish your work, you see a tiny dark figure coming up over the hill, and you break into a smile. Despite all proof otherwise, you knew he’d come. 

You let out a sigh of relief, that warm feeling settling in your bones again as he rides closer. You want to run across the field to him, jump into his arms and kiss him all over, but you know he has responsibilities too. Lock up the horses in the barn, check the property one more time, make sure the garden is covered so it won’t flood. He’s still too far away to see you, so you don’t bother with waving either. You’ll greet him properly once he’s inside. He can make up for the lost time when he’s ready to settle in for the night, the same way you always do whenever he returns home.

The fresh, crisp scent of water fills your nose, and you realize the rain’s already started while you’ve been standing there staring. The deceptively soft pitter-patter of raindrops against the dirt path encourages you to hurry. The initial light sprinkling of rain never lasts long here, lulling newcomers into idleness before stranding them in a downpour that would make God’s floods seem like a lazy river in comparison.

You finish closing the gate and head back inside, leaving the screen door open. Through the cabin window, you watch his figure across the field as he slings himself off his horse, patting her mane to steady her as he leads her towards the barn. Storms make the old girl restless too, but Wonwoo’s soothing touch always calms her down. Of course, the same is true for yourself, but you won’t admit that to him.

You turn from the window and add another log to the fire. The crackling of sparks eases your mood, the room instantly brightening as the flames burn higher.

The door opens, and a blast of cold air whips through the cabin before it shuts again, whisking the room back into stillness. There he is, looking as gorgeous as ever, cheeks flushed from the wind and the cold as his boots clack against the floor.

“You’re here,” you breathe out, the words heavy on your tongue.

Wonwoo drags his hat off his head, tossing it onto the table by the door instead of hanging it up. His voice is deep, smooth and low the way you’re used to. “I am.”

He takes a step forward at the same time you take a step back, drawing him further into the center of the room. His hair is ruffled, windswept from the ride back to the ranch, short dark strands falling across his forehead.

“You were waiting for me?”

He already knows the answer to that question, but he likes to hear you say it anyway. He knows it can’t be easy, taking care of the house and the animals all by yourself most of the time, but you’ve never complained, at least when he can hear. Once he’s saved up enough money from working at the courthouse, he can afford to give you a baby like you’ve been talking about for years. Soon, but not yet.

“Of course,” comes your soft voice, barely audible over the rolling thunder outside. It’s louder than before. The storm is getting closer, but it’s the last thing on your mind right now.

His shirt is soaked from the rain, and the hems of his pants are covered in fresh mud from trekking across the fields. You give him a once-over, unable to keep your eyes away from the way his wet flannel clings to his front, giving you a detailed outline of his abs. 

You can see the reflection from the fireplace in his eyes, but the look held deep within them is dark and primal. It ignites something in you, and as if he can sense you staring, he crosses his arms to pull his shirt up and over his head before he drapes it over the back of a chair to dry.

“You should take a bath.” You gesture vaguely to his bare chest, tiny droplets of water forming from the contact with his wet clothes.

“You should take one with me,” he replies smoothly, not missing a beat. “But it can wait.”

You don’t need to be told twice to know what he’s implying. In the blink of an eye he’s standing in front of you, his watchful eyes gleaming as you slip out of your dress. It’s nowhere near as soaked as his own clothes, just a light sprinkle from before the downpour really started, but you don’t need an excuse to strip when he’s looking at you like that. The second it’s off, he grabs the cloth from your hands and throws it over his shoulder, his hands coming to rest on your waist with a playful squeeze.

Thunder cracks again and you startle, unconsciously moving closer into his arms. He pushes his body against yours, and your skin feels alight wherever he’s touching you. “Why don’t you warm up by the fire with me, darlin’?” 

You grab the quilt off your chair as he kneels down on the bear skin rug, propping himself up on his elbow as he lays on his side. He pulls you down to lay in front of him, closer to the fire, and he drapes the blanket over both your bodies. You’re surrounded by warmth on all sides as he spoons you, and it’s almost enough to make you forget about the storm completely.

It’s quiet for a long moment, with only the turbulent sounds of wind and rain as a soundtrack to your evening. You could stay like this forever, but you know that’s not his plan.

Wonwoo’s hands roam your body under the blanket, warm and appreciative, holding you close and caressing you in all the right places. Gradually he rolls you over until you’re lying on your back, his arms caging you in as he hovers above you.

“I want you right here,” he drawls in a low voice, “right now, right in front of the fire. Will you let me?”

You can’t help but groan at his words, arching your back to push your chest closer to him. His fingers easily find the hook at the back of your bra but he doesn’t make any moves yet, waiting patiently for your reply as he stares down at you with a look of pure unfiltered lust in his eyes.

With your eager nod of approval, it doesn’t take long for the both of you to strip off your remaining clothes, bodies intertwined but still hidden beneath the blanket. He presses his mouth against yours greedily, pushing into you at the exact moment he prods his tongue into your mouth so that he’s fully inside of you all in one smooth motion. Your lips go slack against his in a gasp, and your hands reaching up to hold onto his back for leverage.

Harsh rain continues to pelt against the walls of the cabin as he slowly begins to move, but the noise is drowned out by the quiet groans Wonwoo lets out under his breath. He curses as he rolls his hips against yours, picking up his pace to the exact speed he knows you like. After three years of marriage he’s well familiar with your body, every spot that makes you whimper like a newborn foal and every angle that makes you clench around him. The force of his thrusts sends you bouncing up and down against the rug, the soft fur tickling the bare skin of your back.

You whimper his name, and his calloused fingers tangle in your hair as he leans over to kiss you, holding you close to him. He's rough without trying to be, tugging just a little on your scalp to keep his grip and hold you in place, but the shakiness in his hands reveals to you that he's holding himself back. He's always as gentle with you as a man like him can be, but this storm has him wound up tight.

Lightning bursts in a streak of light outside the window and briefly illuminates the cabin, and you let out a startled moan. His hips falter for a moment and his eyes dart away from you for a split second to glance at your surroundings and then at his guns, still within reach sitting mounted above the stone fireplace, before he relaxes and resumes his pace. After too many run-ins with the wrong folks in town, he's gotten jumpy. He never lets his firearms out of his sight, even while he sleeps, so of course it's no exception now. He's trained himself to be ready for anything at a moment's notice, and bad weather has always made him especially nervous.

He leans down to kiss you again but this time it's a touch gentler, pressing his lips to yours and letting his tongue roam inside your mouth when you part your lips for him. His hand slips down to your waist, squeezing your soft skin as he buries himself deep inside you with each flick of his hips.

You slide your fingers over his skin as you cling to him, your nails digging into his back until he groans sharply against your lips. “Won—” you whisper in reply to his sounds, lifting your eyes to meet his. Your faces are just inches apart, and it takes all the strength you have to not immediately come undone when you see the burning fire trapped behind his eyes.

“Gonna let me feel you, angel?” he grunts as he continues to slam into you. “Can tell you're close, my sweet girl. You gonna let go for me now?”

You don't have the chance to reply before he slams one well-angled thrust into you that drops you over the edge, immediately sending you reeling. Your grip on his muscles tightens and you're seeing stars as you gasp and whine beneath him, but squirming is useless as he continues to fuck you through your release.

You can tell he knows the exact moment when you've reached your peak because his voice suddenly lowers to a deep timbre, the faintest hint of a smirk in his tone as he holds you tightly in his arms and pins you against the floorboards. “Yeah, right there. That's it, baby— that's a good girl for me…”

It doesn't take much longer for Wonwoo to follow you off that edge, his hips abruptly coming to a halt as he buries himself inside you one more time and you feel him pulsing against your walls. You let out a whine as the feeling floods through you, a satisfying feeling of warmth and fullness as you both lay panting, his cock still lodged inside and his cum already beginning to leak out.

He's still hovering above you, his eyes darting across your face looking for any signs from you, but when you just give him a dazed smile he leans down to kiss your forehead and wipe a sweaty strand of hair from your eyes. After a moment to catch his breath he slips from you and pulls himself to stand up, grabbing a worn cloth from the nearby table and carefully kneeling back down between your legs.

He captures your lips in another kiss, holding you still as he carefully cleans up his release from you. When he’s satisfied, he trails his lips down your body, kissing between your breasts, across your stomach, and finally down to your thighs before he sits up.

“Bath now?” he says, his voice rough but still hiding that softness you always crave from him. The smirk on his face is an invitation, a silent promise that you’re all too familiar with by now. “Or should I take you to bed and make love to you properly first?”

© junkissed 2025. do not repost or translate. ── ⊹ ˙ . 𖥻 want to be notified when i post new fics? join my taglist!

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No. It must be how well you slept. That happens sometimes. You wake up after a particularly good night’s rest and everything feels better. The sheets start to feel like satin under your bare skin. The mattress hugs you like a cloud, urging you to reach for your fiancé and curl yourself into his side. Only when you slide your hand along the sheets but that's all you feel. Ben got up before you and didn’t even say goodbye. 

Typical. 

Rolling towards the middle of the bed, you smile to yourself, feeling the sheets caress your lower back. God, it feels nice just to lie here. It feels nice to not rush yourself out of bed and back into another meaningless workday. There’s no telling how long you have before your alarm will go off… would it be so bad to just drift back off for a while? 

Another sigh leaves your lips and your brows furrow. How long had you drifted back off for? Your mouth feels like cotton and your stomach is beginning to complain for food. Reaching once more across the bed in search of Ben, your lips turn down.  

Things haven’t been perfect for you and your fiancé, but you do your best to make him happy. With that in mind, you finally pry your eyes open and whisper his name, only for the word to die on your lips as you notice where you are—where are you? 

The sheets undercovering your body aren’t your own. This bed isn’t yours. This bedroom isn’t yours. Panic begins to rush through you as you sit up in the bed and tug the sheet up to your chest, realizing you were feeling the sheets on your skin because you’re naked. Where are your clothes? 

“Ben?” Your voice echoes around the room and a feeling of dread settles in your chest. Looking around the room and towards the nightstand, your heart thumps loudly in your chest when you realize not only are you somewhere else but your phone isn’t next to you. In the place of your phone, you find a single red rose as if it were left for you to discover. 

Tears prick at your eyes even as you force yourself to tug the sheet from the bed and wrap it around you in an attempt to cover yourself. How could something like this happen? You rack your brain trying to remember the night before. 

Ben had to work late. You were upset with him, but you still made him dinner, promising to heat it up for him once he came home. You remember opening a bottle of wine. Was that the problem? You rarely drink but one glass of wine wouldn’t knock you out so heavily someone could come in and steal you straight from your bed. You couldn’t have been so drunk you’d sleep through someone taking you from your house, stripping you, and putting you in this bed. 

The tears sit on the rim of your eyes until you blink, causing them to spill over and run down your cheeks. You are trying to force yourself to think—to figure out what to do once you make it to the large black door across the room from you—when a knock sends a shiver down your spine. 

“Y/N? Are you awake?” 

Who is that? The voice is smooth and deep. It’s unfamiliar and yet he knows your name. Shaking your head, you scold yourself for caring if he knows your name. Of course your kidnapper would know your name. Is that what happened? You were kidnapped? 

Or is this something else? Have you finally snapped? Was the pressure of everything too much and now this is a delusion? Is the person behind that door a doctor? That could happen. Your fragile mind finally broke and this is a bougie hospital that your parents placed you in. 

Then again—why would they? It has been years since you spoke to your parents. You have separated yourself from their lives and sworn to become a better person. You had found a new home and a church where you felt comfortable. That was where you met Ben. You had fallen in love so quickly that you made yourself overlook all of your fiancé's questionable habits. You were—are going to get married in a year in the church that at first offered you safety and stability. 

“I know you’re awake. I’m going to open the door.” 

Taking a few steps back towards the bed, you feel your heart in your throat at the idea of whoever is on the other side of that door opening it. You only have a sheet to cover your body and you still have no idea who they are or where you are, but you only get a few seconds of panic before the door does open and a tall man steps through it. 

His eyes find you immediately and your breath gets caught in your throat. You had hoped for half a second that you’d know who it was. Maybe it was Ben forcing his voice lower, but that was a stupid wish because this man sounds nothing like Ben. Like his voice, his eyes are deep—so brown they almost seem black. You swallow hard and take another step back as he takes one towards you, letting the door shut behind him. 

“I know you’re confused.” 

That is an understatement. 

Whining under your breath, you stop walking backward when your butt knocks into the nightstand, causing the lamp to fall over behind you. “Wh—where am I?” Even your voice sounds different. It sounds strained and laced with fear. You swallow hard, trying to make more saliva to coat your overly dry tongue in hopes of sounding less small. “Who are you?”

The man smiles at you but it isn’t a normal polite smile. His lips form more of a smirk than a smile as he pushes his hand into the pocket of his black dress pants as he smooths his black button-down over his stomach. “You can call me Wonwoo.” 

That was one answer and yet not the one you desired more. Your eyes follow Wonwoo as he turns his eyes from you to glance around the room, his feet moving a few steps towards you until he sighs patiently. “As I said, you must be confused.” 

“Very. Tell me where I am. Why—did—did you kidnap me?” 

Smooth, Y/N. Like the kidnapper would just tell you if he did it. Cursing yourself under your breath, you hold the sheet tighter around your chest as you meet Wonwoo’s eyes once again. His laugh triggers a chill up your spine that has your skin erupting with chill bumps. He shakes his head and lifts the hand from his stomach to his head as he scratches his eyebrow, seeming to think carefully on his next words. 

“No, Darling. I simply collected what was mine.” 

Your pulse begins to beat loudly in your ears as your blood runs cold. Heat licks behind your eyes as you force yourself not to close them even as the world seems to spin in front of you. “Wh—what? I wanna go home…” You aren’t sure the words are spoken aloud. Finally closing your eyes, you whine at the sick feeling building in your stomach and rising up your throat as fear rips through your soul. 

Watching you start to sway, Wonwoo tilts his head and takes another step towards you. Humans are weak. There is no denying that. It doesn’t take much to see you are on the verge of passing out. There is sweat gathering on your temples and your skin has begun to take on an unnatural color when finally your legs give out. A rush of emotions pushes through Wonwoo as he closes the space between you and him just in time to sweep you from your unsteady legs and into his arms. 

You are so fragile. A mixture of intrigue and disgust worms its way through Wonwoo’s body before he turns to place you back on the bed, readjusting the black satin sheet around you so you are covered. The very act seems foreign to him. He has never attempted to protect anyone's modesty before and yet as he looks down on you now as your breathing begins to settle, Wonwoo finds himself not only keeping you covered but also pushing your hair back from your face. 

It’s just so he can look at you. At least that’s what he tells himself as his fingers stroke along your cheekbone down to your parted lips. The color has started to return to you; your lips, while cracked from dehydration, are the right color again. 

Settling onto the bed next to you, Wonwoo studies you silently. His eyes moving along every bit of you that is exposed to him. You are beautiful—so stunning that it makes him uncomfortable. Humans shouldn’t look like you. When God created all things—humans included—he attempted and failed at creating perfection with Adam and Eve. Their flaws… the free will that they were permitted left them scarred inside and out—but not you. If Wonwoo didn’t know better, if he couldn’t literally see your soul clinging to your body, he would think you were an angel like him. 

Fingers trail along your shoulder, causing you to sigh happily at the contact. It was a dream. Ben is home and you have been home this entire time. Turning towards the touch, your lips turn up in a small smile at the brush of soft lips against your neck.

“Mmm, I had such a weird dream.” Your smile pulls at your lips as the kisses walk the length of your neck to your jaw. The breath against your skin causes chill bumps to spread in anticipation. 

“Tell me about it…” The voice isn’t what you expected yet it keeps you calm as you lift your hand, running your fingers through soft hair. 

“I was taken.” Gasping into your words, you arch your back when teeth nip at your sensitive skin. “Mmm, taken to hell. I was there for weeks. I lost track of time.” 

A soft hum of understanding from the lips now brushing over the shell of your lips has you gripping at the hair under your fingers. You could open your eyes but something tells you to wait. This feels too good. “Yeah… There was a man. He watches me but…” Your voice lowers as the memories come back to you and you know who is kissing you. You should hate it. He took you from your home. He took you from your fiancé. He took you from Ben but he hasn’t told you why beyond saying he took what was his. 

“Wonwoo…” You whisper on a soft gasp, feeling his lips pull up in a smirk.  

“Yes, little angel. Keep telling me about this dream. Was it a bad dream?” 

Tears press behind your eyes as you keep them shut tightly, your hand starting to loosen in Wonwoo’s hair only for his hand to rest over yours, tightening your fingers once again. Using your hand, he tugs on his hair hard enough to make you wince before you arch against him, feeling his thigh press between your legs. 

“It—” You struggle to find your words, feeling not only confused but also aroused when you roll your hips over the hard thigh resting against your bare cunt. “Mm, I don’t know. I’m—please? I want to go home.” 

Your words say one thing but your body another as Wonwoo traces your jaw up to your ear with his tongue. He had done so well for weeks. He had barely touched you but he had waited long enough. “Home? Darling, you are home.” Hearing you whine his name, tears rolling down to his lips now at the corner of yours, Wonwoo rocks his thigh against you and hums in appreciation. “Do you want me to tell you the truth? You want me to break your little heart?” 

When you don’t answer with more than new tears for him to lick from your skin, Wonwoo growls low under his breath. You are stubborn and infuriating in ways he has never dealt with. Others pray to him. Some pray with hate in their hearts, others with devotion—yet you give him your sorrow. You pray for what you’ve lost. What you think was taken from you. 

“I’ll break your heart. I’ll watch it shatter and then, sweet little one… I will bind it to me.” Leaning back to look down at you, Wonwoo narrows his eyes as you keep your eyes shut tightly. “Look at me when I’m speaking to you, Y/N. Open your eyes and face the truth you so desperately want…” 

Forcing your eyes open, you blink through your tears to meet Wonwoo’s eyes. You know you should try to push him away. His words already make you feel like you want to die—but aren’t you dead already? You are in hell. That much you know to be true. You’ve been here for so long now that you can’t keep lying to yourself about that much. As for Wonwoo… you’ve figured him out too. The name Wonwoo is there to make you feel better about the situation, if that were even possible; the man, the being looming over you now, he’s not human. He’s something you’re terrified to even name in your own head because you know who he is. 

Watching you closely, Wonwoo hums under his breath, once again sliding his hand along your head so carefully that when you flinch, it causes his brows to furrow in pain. He deserves this reaction from you, but he also deserves the way your hips move over his thigh chasing pleasure as if you are trying to distract yourself from what truth he is going to ruin your life with.  Moving his eyes along your body, Wonwoo tilts his head and slides one of his hands over the sheet loosely draped over your waist, watching the silk slide from your skin as he speaks low and calm. “He sold you, Y/N. He had a choice and this is what he chose. The man you pretend to yearn for. Your precious fiancé. He wanted more than he could afford, yet instead of offering his own body and soul as payment, he gave me you.” 

Meeting your eyes, Wonwoo gauges your reaction before continuing as realization settles in your eyes. “He never loved you. He loved what you gave him. A doting woman who would look past all his sins as you prayed for them for him. Do you think my father heard your prayers, darling?” Shaking his head, Wonwoo sighs resolutely as he traces your belly button, feeling you suck in your stomach under his touch. “No, sweet girl. He doesn’t listen, but I do. So when Ben asked for too much, I came and I took.” 

The painful truth sends an ache through your body before resting over your heart. Closing your eyes as if you can make it go away, you stop moving completely and lift your hands to your face. You hope that Wonwoo will leave. You hope that he will let you suffer here in silence, but that doesn’t happen. 

Lips press to the back of your hands before he gently pulls them away and wipes your tears from your cheeks as he whispers close to your cheek. “I should have killed him instead, but humans, especially selfish ones like your fiancé, only learn through true pain. He will live out the rest of his years with the price in the forefront of his mind. He will think of you when he wakes up. He will dream of you. He will never find peace and when he dies, little angel, he will suffer at my hands further.” Wonwoo’s words should hurt you more, but instead you find yourself listening to each one as the pain in your heart shifts into something else. 

“I will tear his miserable skin from his body every single day for eternity. He will beg me to stop and to let him rest but there is no rest for the wicked, not even in hell. Every single moment he will feel the flames lick at his exposed muscles and tendons, only for the price he paid to remain in the forefront of his mind.” Smirking at his own words, Wonwoo laughs darkly as your eyes meet his once again and this time he sees understanding in them. “Yes, darling, he will think of you even in death. I will fuck you over his body, never letting him touch you. I’ll let him hear you scream my name in pleasure as pain overwhelms him.” 

The idea of Wonwoo’s plans for Ben should frighten you and perhaps deep down they do, but you feel a flutter in your chest—excitement. “Promise me.” 

Your voice is so quiet that Wonwoo furrows his brows in confusion before you repeat the same words louder this time. The demand goes straight to his cock before he rocks his hips towards you, feeling your wet pussy against his pants as you start to soak through the fabric. “I promise. I’ll give you anything you ask for.” The moment the words are out of his mouth, Wonwoo laughs as you start to speak, only for him to cut you off. “Except give you up and let you leave. You are mine, Y/N. I don’t abandon things that belong to me, especially something like you.” 

The finality in Wonwoo’s tone causes your heart and mind to race. Thoughts flood your mind along with pleasure when he rolls his hips towards yours once again. This is the first time he’s touched you like this in the many weeks since he took you. He watched you every single day. He’d sit by your bed and attempt to soothe you, but he never took from you—until now. But is that what he is doing? 

Pleasure jolts through you as his fingers slide to your hips, pulling your hips down over his thigh. This isn't taking; this is giving. More than you could ever say for Ben—for the man who sold you for his benefit. Lifting your hips into Wonwoo’s hands, you whine his name and relish in the feeling of your clit grazing the fabric covering his muscular thigh. You realize that you want this, perhaps more than you could have ever anticipated, but the look in Wonwoo’s eyes tells you his patience had been running thin. With one more content sigh slipping from your lips, he begins to take. 

Wonwoo’s kiss burns with his intensity. His hands dig into your hips as he lifts you from his thigh and fingers trail between your legs. With a growling breath, Wonwoo breaks the kiss to meet your eyes as his fingers slide between your wet lips and over your already throbbing clit. “You are mine. This—” He emphasizes his words with a pinch to your clit before his fingers slide to your waiting entrance, where he eases two fingers into you. “Is mine.” 

Your hands flail for a moment as pain mixes with your pleasure as Wonwoo’s fingers begin to stretch you. One of your hands finds Wonwoo’s wrist as the other grips the bedding under you in an attempt to ground yourself. He doesn’t wait for you to adjust; instead, Wonwoo curls his fingers inside of you and traces a circle over your clit, enjoying the feeling of your pussy tightening. 

Soft moans slip from between your lips only to be swallowed by Wonwoo as his tongue slides along yours. Even as you try to lift your hips, attempting to chase your pleasure, he easily pushes you back down on the bed, fucking you hard and fast on his fingers. You want more. You need more, but all of that fades to the background as your walls begin to clench down on his fingers and your orgasm rips through you like a tidal wave. 

A dark chuckle tickles your skin as Wonwoo’s lips work from your lips to your breasts. His eyes flick up to yours and for a brief moment they are completely black. Any trace of white around his dark irises seems to have been swallowed until he blinks and the color returns. 

“Wonwoo—” 

“Shh, little angel. I’m not done with you. You owe me so, so, so much more.” 

You start to speak, to form some retort to his claiming words, but then his lips find your clit even as his eyes stay fixed on you. Teeth tip at your soft skin and the throbbing bundle of nerves before he laughs again, leaning back enough to lick your cum from his lips and speak. “Beg me like a good girl to fuck him out of your mind. Your soul is mine, Y/N; now let me have the rest of you…” 

Sobbing in pleasure, you buck your hips towards Wonwoo’s waiting mouth, feeling his smile against your skin as you do just that. Numerous pleas leave your lips as you feel your mind, body, and soul latch on to the man, the devil between your legs binding you to him forever. 

you were there when mingyu was born.

everyone you knew was there, actually. the whole village made an event of it, a celebration worthy of a soon-to-be king. of course, when the ruling family of dragons has a son for the first time in thousands of years, people will want a glimpse. a chance to see the new prince with their own eyes is a currency that can't be replicated, and in this town, gossip is worth its weight in gold.

did you see his hair? such sharp teeth for a newborn! his family must be proud, for sure. those scales on his legs, so bright and colorful already… why, he'll grow up to be a fine king.

but even if you hadn't been interested in the chatter, an event like that isn't something you're permitted to miss. you weren't much older than him yourself when the announcement came that there would finally be an heir to the throne, but still you were grown enough to understand its significance. like him, this too is what you were born for. for centuries, it's been your family's duty to protect the royal bloodline, raising their children and teaching them about the world.

he may have been the first actual prince you'd ever met, but by the time mingyu was born your coven had already made sure you'd had plenty of experience in your role. this was your first real job, your chance to prove yourself and your magic skills to the rest of the family.

the hardest lesson you'd had to learn is that mingyu was not going to make that easy for you.

your sisters had tried to comfort you, remind you that it's his first life just like it is yours, and you'd be well off to permit him a little extra patience. but no matter what mingyu did, it only served to frustrate you. it was almost impressive, how quickly he picked up on the things that riled you up. without being a member of the royal family yourself, there was little you could do to get back at him.

which is why you took so much pleasure in nights like tonight.

"you like being treated like this, don't you?”

if he manages to say anything in reply the sound is lost over the roaring of the fireplace across the room, tendrils of flame licking at the metal bars that enclose the ever-burning coals.

"a prince — no, no, you're almost a king — getting on his knees for his servant. imagine the gossip if your elders could see you right now. oh, how the royal courts would talk."

reluctantly he nods, but despite his obedience you can sense the tension rising. the velvet bedspread must be soft against his naked back, but your harsh words are the opposite. his wrists are bound together by cuffs, thick strips of metal that would capture even the most hardened of criminals. you're still surprised he allowed you to do this, but it seems that every day you're discovering something new about the prince you've grown up with. drops of sweat trickle down his cheeks, or maybe those are tears. both are equally satisfying, so it makes no difference to you to find out which.

this arrangement had been his idea at first.

he'd looked at you differently after the first time you'd helped him transform into his human form. mingyu was never shy about the way his eyes lingered on your figure, never wasting an opportunity to stare at the curve of your ass hidden beneath your flowing robes or brush his fingers across the corset adorning your waist. the one with the red lace was his favorite, he made sure to remind you often.

he knew his behavior infuriated you, and you knew there was nothing you could do about it. really, deep down, you knew there was nothing you wanted to do about it. so when he'd suggested (really, more like begged) that you teach him other things you knew about… well, how could you resist?

he lets out a frustrated whimper, hips canting into the air as your hands trail ever so gently over the outside of his thighs. even after decades of practice there's still remnants of his nature whenever he changes form, but you don't mind. there's nothing you love more than tracing your nails over the scales on his thick thighs, only for the pleasure of watching him shiver.

"get up."

you don't have any authority to make demands of a prince, let alone any member of the royal family. but you both know it's not a request, and his immediate compliance is a powerful satisfaction more pleasing than anything you've ever known.

with hardly any effort at all he snaps the cuffs binding his wrists, barely pulling his arms apart to make the metal creak and groan before shattering into fragments across the floor.

for the sake of your sanity, you have to pretend that he isn't devastatingly attractive as stands to his full height. even the fireplace seems to crackle at his command, and you can practically feel the temperature in the room rising as he grows more and more annoyed with your teasing.

the image of him towering over you is reminiscent of every ancient king you've heard tales about, and you know then that he's truly the heir meant to rule these lands. the pure confidence radiating from his stance is intoxicating, and it takes all your strength not to kneel in front of him and beg him for mercy, but you're not done quite yet. it's true that standing before his imposing figure works magic on your insides, but you still have plenty of tricks up your sleeve to get him right where you want him.

"the village people are wrong to worship you. you're a pathetic creature. how can you lead our country, if you can't even lead in your own bedroom?"

a flash of something sparks inside mingyu's eyes, and you can tell you've hit a nerve, exactly as you meant to. his jaw ticks as he grinds his teeth together, and if you look close enough you can almost see the thin wisps of smoke trailing from his nose when he exhales.

"that's enough, witch." he growls in a way that sends a wave of supernatural heat straight through your core. "are you ever going to remember your place, or must i remind you again?"

"as your steward, i must advise you that such attitude is unbecoming of a ruler, your highness."

your tone is laced with obvious sarcasm. there's fire in the way the title falls from your mouth, a formality compelled by coven traditions that neither of you truly care to respect. at this moment in time, the only thing mingyu wants is to kiss that fucking smirk off your lips and have you moaning his name instead.

in the end it's all a game; you goad him with a sharp tongue, provoking until he grows tired of forgiveness. he'll evenly tolerate your snide comments, before he makes sure you're well aware that the power he possesses is not just from his birthright.

later you'll convince yourself that this was another test of his abilities: an exercise of restraint, a test of his patience in the face of tribulation. later you'll note, with almost a hint of endearment, how much he can take before he snaps.

these are traits a good king needs, after all. and your job is to raise him to be the best.

"i know what i'm doing, highness." that word again, ice cold like the kiss of a steel blade against his skin. "my family has been doing this for generations."

in one swift move he pins you down roughly against the bed, his hand wrapped around your neck with just enough pressure to make your lungs sting with each breath. his expression is ablaze with barely contained fire, so hot that you can feel his eyes burning into you like lasers, though he could never do any real damage to your flame resistant skin.

he looks furious. your thoughts drift, and it gives you an idea; maybe next time you'll press him harder, to see if he can still breathe fire while in his human form. an experiment— for scientific reasons, of course.

"did i ask to hear your judgements?" his voice snaps you out of your musings.

you try to swallow, but to no avail. "no—"

his fingers tighten. the flattened tips of his claws dig into your neck: a warning. not enough to draw blood. not unless you asked.

"—no, sir."

ever so slightly his grip releases, a sign that he's pleased with your quick obedience. even still, you can tell he's more than a little irritated. not enough to risk your position in the palace or get you in any kind of real trouble, but enough to make him rougher than usual. but you both know that's been your plan all along.

"then explain to me, why am i still listening to the sound of your voice?"

unlike with his natural-born dragon form, there's nothing flammable in his human anatomy, but his words burn like embers on your skin in spite of that fact. in this form his tongue may not be forked, but you still feel its sting as if he were running it along your body rather than speaking aloud.

you could come up with a retort, but you decide you've already pushed him enough tonight and you let it go without another word. he doesn't acknowledge your acceptance, but the grin that overtakes his features is more than enough indication that he's pleased. now the real fun can begin: his reward for putting up with your chastising.

at your silence he changes position, pushing your skirts up to your hips, and he's pleased to find you not wearing panties. you knew what was going to happen when he'd called you to his chambers at this hour, so you might as well save yourself the extra time.

mingyu forces your legs apart harshly, your lower half on full display, then bends down to press a hot kiss over your slit. your head rolls back at the intense warmth from his mouth, lips parted in a silent cry. you've gotten used to the feeling by now, but you look forward to it every time.

tonight, however, he doesn't waste any time between your legs. he stands up straight again, dragging you to the edge of the bed and tossing your ankles over his shoulders, and you tighten your abs in preparation for the stretch.

your corset suddenly erupts into flames, burning a line straight down the middle until it falls away, leaving your breasts exposed to more heat from his eager hands. most of the fabric is still intact, but burned enough for the garment to be irreparable, and you shoot him a fiery glare.

you know you probably deserved that. he always commissions the royal tailor make you a new one later, anyway.

he pushes into you when you least expect it, drawing a choked gasp from your lips. he loves that sound, that split second of vulnerability when he manages to catch you off guard and you're not pretending to loathe him. try as you might to convince him otherwise, he knows the truth: you like him, and you like doing this with him. you wouldn't keep bending to his will if you didn't.

he reaches up with one hand, pushing it back through his hair to move the long black locks out of his eyes. as he begins to pick up his pace he tears his gaze away from your chest, fixating on the talisman that dangles from your ankle, a thin piece of rope tied up with stones and intricate knots. he loves the way it sways with each movement, back and forth as he thrusts into you, a visible sign of how smoothly he fucks you.

he shifts his gaze back to your face as he leans in closer, nuzzling his cheek against your ankle, staring deeply into you without breaking eye contact. his breath is unnaturally hot against your skin; the sensation is not painful, yet the warmth stings deep as if he's kissing the insides of your veins with his fire.

his hand around your ankle tightens, drawing it closer to his mouth as he presses his lips against the top of your foot. the motion makes your hips arch higher off the bed, and he takes advantage of the angle to push deeper into you.

mingyu leans forward with your legs still around his shoulders, nearly folding you in half and pushing your knees closer and closer to your chest. this is the reason why you do everything that you do. no one else could ever fuck you like him, no one else could make you burn from the inside out the way he does, and he knows that just as well as you do.

it doesn't take much longer before you're crumbling beneath him, your release crashing into you with so much force that it knocks the breath out of you. if you could see straight right now, you know for a fact you'd see him grinning like a fool at the way you melt under his touch. this cocky, annoying, insufferable, beautiful man that knows how to play your body like the finest instrument.

your thighs tremble uncontrollably but in response he only grips your ankles harder, keeping your legs firmly in place over his shoulders as he buries his cock in you as deep as he can go. your walls clench around him and he lets out a hiss, sharp teeth visible in the dim firelight as he scrunches his nose in sensitivity. at the last possible second he pulls out, one large hand gripping his cock as his release paints white ropes across your pussy. your legs finally slip off his shoulders, falling open wide as you feel the blood rushing back into your feet from being held in the air for so long.

unlike full humans, he could easily go a second time right away, but he knows better than to press his luck when it comes to you. your consent to this arrangement is already more than he could've hoped for; you're both breaking an endless amount of rules simply by being together like this, but the thrill of your shared secrets keeps him coming back for more. he just hopes you still haven't caught on to the fact that he's had a hopeless crush on you since he was barely old enough to breathe fire.

in one smooth motion he slides onto the bed beside you, wrapping his arms around you and holding you close to his chest. there's a different kind of heat in his body now; no longer the harsh, biting flames of a powerful king, but now a content warmth, gently glowing like dying embers.

you start to pull away but he only holds you tighter, silently begging you to stay with him. the call of his arms is almost too much, even for your carefully mastered restraint.

one of these days, you'll let him keep you. but only when you deem him ready.

"worship me more," he purrs, a soothing sound drawn from so deep in his chest that you can feel it rumble through his body wherever your skin touches his. the melodic quality to his tone draws a smirk from you, knowing this trick is one he perfected only through your guidance. for now his influence can only go so far, but you look forward to the day he'll be even more powerful than you. "maybe it will save you. i can save you."

in a blink you vanish, slipping yourself from his grasp with hardly a lick of effort. at the sudden loss he sits up, and the flicker of confusion in his eyes reminds you faintly of a lost puppy. after a second of searching his gaze lands on you where you now stand across the room, fully dressed (although now wearing a different corset) and appearing exactly as put-together as you did before.

you hesitate for just a moment; it's enough to make sure he notices you, but it's no more than a single glimpse before your silhouette evaporates into a mist of sparkling particles. your essence quickly becomes indistinguishable from the smoke near the fireplace, fading into the dim light until mingyu knows he's alone in his chambers once more.

"i don't need saving."

© junkissed 2025. do not repost or translate. ── ⊹ ˙ . 𖥻 want to be notified when i post new fics? join my taglist!

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No. It must be how well you slept. That happens sometimes. You wake up after a particularly good night’s rest and everything feels better. The sheets start to feel like satin under your bare skin. The mattress hugs you like a cloud, urging you to reach for your fiancé and curl yourself into his side. Only when you slide your hand along the sheets but that's all you feel. Ben got up before you and didn’t even say goodbye. 

Typical. 

Rolling towards the middle of the bed, you smile to yourself, feeling the sheets caress your lower back. God, it feels nice just to lie here. It feels nice to not rush yourself out of bed and back into another meaningless workday. There’s no telling how long you have before your alarm will go off… would it be so bad to just drift back off for a while? 

Another sigh leaves your lips and your brows furrow. How long had you drifted back off for? Your mouth feels like cotton and your stomach is beginning to complain for food. Reaching once more across the bed in search of Ben, your lips turn down.  

Things haven’t been perfect for you and your fiancé, but you do your best to make him happy. With that in mind, you finally pry your eyes open and whisper his name, only for the word to die on your lips as you notice where you are—where are you? 

The sheets undercovering your body aren’t your own. This bed isn’t yours. This bedroom isn’t yours. Panic begins to rush through you as you sit up in the bed and tug the sheet up to your chest, realizing you were feeling the sheets on your skin because you’re naked. Where are your clothes? 

“Ben?” Your voice echoes around the room and a feeling of dread settles in your chest. Looking around the room and towards the nightstand, your heart thumps loudly in your chest when you realize not only are you somewhere else but your phone isn’t next to you. In the place of your phone, you find a single red rose as if it were left for you to discover. 

Tears prick at your eyes even as you force yourself to tug the sheet from the bed and wrap it around you in an attempt to cover yourself. How could something like this happen? You rack your brain trying to remember the night before. 

Ben had to work late. You were upset with him, but you still made him dinner, promising to heat it up for him once he came home. You remember opening a bottle of wine. Was that the problem? You rarely drink but one glass of wine wouldn’t knock you out so heavily someone could come in and steal you straight from your bed. You couldn’t have been so drunk you’d sleep through someone taking you from your house, stripping you, and putting you in this bed. 

The tears sit on the rim of your eyes until you blink, causing them to spill over and run down your cheeks. You are trying to force yourself to think—to figure out what to do once you make it to the large black door across the room from you—when a knock sends a shiver down your spine. 

“Y/N? Are you awake?” 

Who is that? The voice is smooth and deep. It’s unfamiliar and yet he knows your name. Shaking your head, you scold yourself for caring if he knows your name. Of course your kidnapper would know your name. Is that what happened? You were kidnapped? 

Or is this something else? Have you finally snapped? Was the pressure of everything too much and now this is a delusion? Is the person behind that door a doctor? That could happen. Your fragile mind finally broke and this is a bougie hospital that your parents placed you in. 

Then again—why would they? It has been years since you spoke to your parents. You have separated yourself from their lives and sworn to become a better person. You had found a new home and a church where you felt comfortable. That was where you met Ben. You had fallen in love so quickly that you made yourself overlook all of your fiancé's questionable habits. You were—are going to get married in a year in the church that at first offered you safety and stability. 

“I know you’re awake. I’m going to open the door.” 

Taking a few steps back towards the bed, you feel your heart in your throat at the idea of whoever is on the other side of that door opening it. You only have a sheet to cover your body and you still have no idea who they are or where you are, but you only get a few seconds of panic before the door does open and a tall man steps through it. 

His eyes find you immediately and your breath gets caught in your throat. You had hoped for half a second that you’d know who it was. Maybe it was Ben forcing his voice lower, but that was a stupid wish because this man sounds nothing like Ben. Like his voice, his eyes are deep—so brown they almost seem black. You swallow hard and take another step back as he takes one towards you, letting the door shut behind him. 

“I know you’re confused.” 

That is an understatement. 

Whining under your breath, you stop walking backward when your butt knocks into the nightstand, causing the lamp to fall over behind you. “Wh—where am I?” Even your voice sounds different. It sounds strained and laced with fear. You swallow hard, trying to make more saliva to coat your overly dry tongue in hopes of sounding less small. “Who are you?”

The man smiles at you but it isn’t a normal polite smile. His lips form more of a smirk than a smile as he pushes his hand into the pocket of his black dress pants as he smooths his black button-down over his stomach. “You can call me Wonwoo.” 

That was one answer and yet not the one you desired more. Your eyes follow Wonwoo as he turns his eyes from you to glance around the room, his feet moving a few steps towards you until he sighs patiently. “As I said, you must be confused.” 

“Very. Tell me where I am. Why—did—did you kidnap me?” 

Smooth, Y/N. Like the kidnapper would just tell you if he did it. Cursing yourself under your breath, you hold the sheet tighter around your chest as you meet Wonwoo’s eyes once again. His laugh triggers a chill up your spine that has your skin erupting with chill bumps. He shakes his head and lifts the hand from his stomach to his head as he scratches his eyebrow, seeming to think carefully on his next words. 

“No, Darling. I simply collected what was mine.” 

Your pulse begins to beat loudly in your ears as your blood runs cold. Heat licks behind your eyes as you force yourself not to close them even as the world seems to spin in front of you. “Wh—what? I wanna go home…” You aren’t sure the words are spoken aloud. Finally closing your eyes, you whine at the sick feeling building in your stomach and rising up your throat as fear rips through your soul. 

Watching you start to sway, Wonwoo tilts his head and takes another step towards you. Humans are weak. There is no denying that. It doesn’t take much to see you are on the verge of passing out. There is sweat gathering on your temples and your skin has begun to take on an unnatural color when finally your legs give out. A rush of emotions pushes through Wonwoo as he closes the space between you and him just in time to sweep you from your unsteady legs and into his arms. 

You are so fragile. A mixture of intrigue and disgust worms its way through Wonwoo’s body before he turns to place you back on the bed, readjusting the black satin sheet around you so you are covered. The very act seems foreign to him. He has never attempted to protect anyone's modesty before and yet as he looks down on you now as your breathing begins to settle, Wonwoo finds himself not only keeping you covered but also pushing your hair back from your face. 

It’s just so he can look at you. At least that’s what he tells himself as his fingers stroke along your cheekbone down to your parted lips. The color has started to return to you; your lips, while cracked from dehydration, are the right color again. 

Settling onto the bed next to you, Wonwoo studies you silently. His eyes moving along every bit of you that is exposed to him. You are beautiful—so stunning that it makes him uncomfortable. Humans shouldn’t look like you. When God created all things—humans included—he attempted and failed at creating perfection with Adam and Eve. Their flaws… the free will that they were permitted left them scarred inside and out—but not you. If Wonwoo didn’t know better, if he couldn’t literally see your soul clinging to your body, he would think you were an angel like him. 

Fingers trail along your shoulder, causing you to sigh happily at the contact. It was a dream. Ben is home and you have been home this entire time. Turning towards the touch, your lips turn up in a small smile at the brush of soft lips against your neck.

“Mmm, I had such a weird dream.” Your smile pulls at your lips as the kisses walk the length of your neck to your jaw. The breath against your skin causes chill bumps to spread in anticipation. 

“Tell me about it…” The voice isn’t what you expected yet it keeps you calm as you lift your hand, running your fingers through soft hair. 

“I was taken.” Gasping into your words, you arch your back when teeth nip at your sensitive skin. “Mmm, taken to hell. I was there for weeks. I lost track of time.” 

A soft hum of understanding from the lips now brushing over the shell of your lips has you gripping at the hair under your fingers. You could open your eyes but something tells you to wait. This feels too good. “Yeah… There was a man. He watches me but…” Your voice lowers as the memories come back to you and you know who is kissing you. You should hate it. He took you from your home. He took you from your fiancé. He took you from Ben but he hasn’t told you why beyond saying he took what was his. 

“Wonwoo…” You whisper on a soft gasp, feeling his lips pull up in a smirk.  

“Yes, little angel. Keep telling me about this dream. Was it a bad dream?” 

Tears press behind your eyes as you keep them shut tightly, your hand starting to loosen in Wonwoo’s hair only for his hand to rest over yours, tightening your fingers once again. Using your hand, he tugs on his hair hard enough to make you wince before you arch against him, feeling his thigh press between your legs. 

“It—” You struggle to find your words, feeling not only confused but also aroused when you roll your hips over the hard thigh resting against your bare cunt. “Mm, I don’t know. I’m—please? I want to go home.” 

Your words say one thing but your body another as Wonwoo traces your jaw up to your ear with his tongue. He had done so well for weeks. He had barely touched you but he had waited long enough. “Home? Darling, you are home.” Hearing you whine his name, tears rolling down to his lips now at the corner of yours, Wonwoo rocks his thigh against you and hums in appreciation. “Do you want me to tell you the truth? You want me to break your little heart?” 

When you don’t answer with more than new tears for him to lick from your skin, Wonwoo growls low under his breath. You are stubborn and infuriating in ways he has never dealt with. Others pray to him. Some pray with hate in their hearts, others with devotion—yet you give him your sorrow. You pray for what you’ve lost. What you think was taken from you. 

“I’ll break your heart. I’ll watch it shatter and then, sweet little one… I will bind it to me.” Leaning back to look down at you, Wonwoo narrows his eyes as you keep your eyes shut tightly. “Look at me when I’m speaking to you, Y/N. Open your eyes and face the truth you so desperately want…” 

Forcing your eyes open, you blink through your tears to meet Wonwoo’s eyes. You know you should try to push him away. His words already make you feel like you want to die—but aren’t you dead already? You are in hell. That much you know to be true. You’ve been here for so long now that you can’t keep lying to yourself about that much. As for Wonwoo… you’ve figured him out too. The name Wonwoo is there to make you feel better about the situation, if that were even possible; the man, the being looming over you now, he’s not human. He’s something you’re terrified to even name in your own head because you know who he is. 

Watching you closely, Wonwoo hums under his breath, once again sliding his hand along your head so carefully that when you flinch, it causes his brows to furrow in pain. He deserves this reaction from you, but he also deserves the way your hips move over his thigh chasing pleasure as if you are trying to distract yourself from what truth he is going to ruin your life with.  Moving his eyes along your body, Wonwoo tilts his head and slides one of his hands over the sheet loosely draped over your waist, watching the silk slide from your skin as he speaks low and calm. “He sold you, Y/N. He had a choice and this is what he chose. The man you pretend to yearn for. Your precious fiancé. He wanted more than he could afford, yet instead of offering his own body and soul as payment, he gave me you.” 

Meeting your eyes, Wonwoo gauges your reaction before continuing as realization settles in your eyes. “He never loved you. He loved what you gave him. A doting woman who would look past all his sins as you prayed for them for him. Do you think my father heard your prayers, darling?” Shaking his head, Wonwoo sighs resolutely as he traces your belly button, feeling you suck in your stomach under his touch. “No, sweet girl. He doesn’t listen, but I do. So when Ben asked for too much, I came and I took.” 

The painful truth sends an ache through your body before resting over your heart. Closing your eyes as if you can make it go away, you stop moving completely and lift your hands to your face. You hope that Wonwoo will leave. You hope that he will let you suffer here in silence, but that doesn’t happen. 

Lips press to the back of your hands before he gently pulls them away and wipes your tears from your cheeks as he whispers close to your cheek. “I should have killed him instead, but humans, especially selfish ones like your fiancé, only learn through true pain. He will live out the rest of his years with the price in the forefront of his mind. He will think of you when he wakes up. He will dream of you. He will never find peace and when he dies, little angel, he will suffer at my hands further.” Wonwoo’s words should hurt you more, but instead you find yourself listening to each one as the pain in your heart shifts into something else. 

“I will tear his miserable skin from his body every single day for eternity. He will beg me to stop and to let him rest but there is no rest for the wicked, not even in hell. Every single moment he will feel the flames lick at his exposed muscles and tendons, only for the price he paid to remain in the forefront of his mind.” Smirking at his own words, Wonwoo laughs darkly as your eyes meet his once again and this time he sees understanding in them. “Yes, darling, he will think of you even in death. I will fuck you over his body, never letting him touch you. I’ll let him hear you scream my name in pleasure as pain overwhelms him.” 

The idea of Wonwoo’s plans for Ben should frighten you and perhaps deep down they do, but you feel a flutter in your chest—excitement. “Promise me.” 

Your voice is so quiet that Wonwoo furrows his brows in confusion before you repeat the same words louder this time. The demand goes straight to his cock before he rocks his hips towards you, feeling your wet pussy against his pants as you start to soak through the fabric. “I promise. I’ll give you anything you ask for.” The moment the words are out of his mouth, Wonwoo laughs as you start to speak, only for him to cut you off. “Except give you up and let you leave. You are mine, Y/N. I don’t abandon things that belong to me, especially something like you.” 

The finality in Wonwoo’s tone causes your heart and mind to race. Thoughts flood your mind along with pleasure when he rolls his hips towards yours once again. This is the first time he’s touched you like this in the many weeks since he took you. He watched you every single day. He’d sit by your bed and attempt to soothe you, but he never took from you—until now. But is that what he is doing? 

Pleasure jolts through you as his fingers slide to your hips, pulling your hips down over his thigh. This isn't taking; this is giving. More than you could ever say for Ben—for the man who sold you for his benefit. Lifting your hips into Wonwoo’s hands, you whine his name and relish in the feeling of your clit grazing the fabric covering his muscular thigh. You realize that you want this, perhaps more than you could have ever anticipated, but the look in Wonwoo’s eyes tells you his patience had been running thin. With one more content sigh slipping from your lips, he begins to take. 

Wonwoo’s kiss burns with his intensity. His hands dig into your hips as he lifts you from his thigh and fingers trail between your legs. With a growling breath, Wonwoo breaks the kiss to meet your eyes as his fingers slide between your wet lips and over your already throbbing clit. “You are mine. This—” He emphasizes his words with a pinch to your clit before his fingers slide to your waiting entrance, where he eases two fingers into you. “Is mine.” 

Your hands flail for a moment as pain mixes with your pleasure as Wonwoo’s fingers begin to stretch you. One of your hands finds Wonwoo’s wrist as the other grips the bedding under you in an attempt to ground yourself. He doesn’t wait for you to adjust; instead, Wonwoo curls his fingers inside of you and traces a circle over your clit, enjoying the feeling of your pussy tightening. 

Soft moans slip from between your lips only to be swallowed by Wonwoo as his tongue slides along yours. Even as you try to lift your hips, attempting to chase your pleasure, he easily pushes you back down on the bed, fucking you hard and fast on his fingers. You want more. You need more, but all of that fades to the background as your walls begin to clench down on his fingers and your orgasm rips through you like a tidal wave. 

A dark chuckle tickles your skin as Wonwoo’s lips work from your lips to your breasts. His eyes flick up to yours and for a brief moment they are completely black. Any trace of white around his dark irises seems to have been swallowed until he blinks and the color returns. 

“Wonwoo—” 

“Shh, little angel. I’m not done with you. You owe me so, so, so much more.” 

You start to speak, to form some retort to his claiming words, but then his lips find your clit even as his eyes stay fixed on you. Teeth tip at your soft skin and the throbbing bundle of nerves before he laughs again, leaning back enough to lick your cum from his lips and speak. “Beg me like a good girl to fuck him out of your mind. Your soul is mine, Y/N; now let me have the rest of you…” 

Sobbing in pleasure, you buck your hips towards Wonwoo’s waiting mouth, feeling his smile against your skin as you do just that. Numerous pleas leave your lips as you feel your mind, body, and soul latch on to the man, the devil between your legs binding you to him forever. 

No. It must be how well you slept. That happens sometimes. You wake up after a particularly good night’s rest and everything feels better. The sheets start to feel like satin under your bare skin. The mattress hugs you like a cloud, urging you to reach for your fiancé and curl yourself into his side. Only when you slide your hand along the sheets but that's all you feel. Ben got up before you and didn’t even say goodbye. 

Typical. 

Rolling towards the middle of the bed, you smile to yourself, feeling the sheets caress your lower back. God, it feels nice just to lie here. It feels nice to not rush yourself out of bed and back into another meaningless workday. There’s no telling how long you have before your alarm will go off… would it be so bad to just drift back off for a while? 

Another sigh leaves your lips and your brows furrow. How long had you drifted back off for? Your mouth feels like cotton and your stomach is beginning to complain for food. Reaching once more across the bed in search of Ben, your lips turn down.  

Things haven’t been perfect for you and your fiancé, but you do your best to make him happy. With that in mind, you finally pry your eyes open and whisper his name, only for the word to die on your lips as you notice where you are—where are you? 

The sheets undercovering your body aren’t your own. This bed isn’t yours. This bedroom isn’t yours. Panic begins to rush through you as you sit up in the bed and tug the sheet up to your chest, realizing you were feeling the sheets on your skin because you’re naked. Where are your clothes? 

“Ben?” Your voice echoes around the room and a feeling of dread settles in your chest. Looking around the room and towards the nightstand, your heart thumps loudly in your chest when you realize not only are you somewhere else but your phone isn’t next to you. In the place of your phone, you find a single red rose as if it were left for you to discover. 

Tears prick at your eyes even as you force yourself to tug the sheet from the bed and wrap it around you in an attempt to cover yourself. How could something like this happen? You rack your brain trying to remember the night before. 

Ben had to work late. You were upset with him, but you still made him dinner, promising to heat it up for him once he came home. You remember opening a bottle of wine. Was that the problem? You rarely drink but one glass of wine wouldn’t knock you out so heavily someone could come in and steal you straight from your bed. You couldn’t have been so drunk you’d sleep through someone taking you from your house, stripping you, and putting you in this bed. 

The tears sit on the rim of your eyes until you blink, causing them to spill over and run down your cheeks. You are trying to force yourself to think—to figure out what to do once you make it to the large black door across the room from you—when a knock sends a shiver down your spine. 

“Y/N? Are you awake?” 

Who is that? The voice is smooth and deep. It’s unfamiliar and yet he knows your name. Shaking your head, you scold yourself for caring if he knows your name. Of course your kidnapper would know your name. Is that what happened? You were kidnapped? 

Or is this something else? Have you finally snapped? Was the pressure of everything too much and now this is a delusion? Is the person behind that door a doctor? That could happen. Your fragile mind finally broke and this is a bougie hospital that your parents placed you in. 

Then again—why would they? It has been years since you spoke to your parents. You have separated yourself from their lives and sworn to become a better person. You had found a new home and a church where you felt comfortable. That was where you met Ben. You had fallen in love so quickly that you made yourself overlook all of your fiancé's questionable habits. You were—are going to get married in a year in the church that at first offered you safety and stability. 

“I know you’re awake. I’m going to open the door.” 

Taking a few steps back towards the bed, you feel your heart in your throat at the idea of whoever is on the other side of that door opening it. You only have a sheet to cover your body and you still have no idea who they are or where you are, but you only get a few seconds of panic before the door does open and a tall man steps through it. 

His eyes find you immediately and your breath gets caught in your throat. You had hoped for half a second that you’d know who it was. Maybe it was Ben forcing his voice lower, but that was a stupid wish because this man sounds nothing like Ben. Like his voice, his eyes are deep—so brown they almost seem black. You swallow hard and take another step back as he takes one towards you, letting the door shut behind him. 

“I know you’re confused.” 

That is an understatement. 

Whining under your breath, you stop walking backward when your butt knocks into the nightstand, causing the lamp to fall over behind you. “Wh—where am I?” Even your voice sounds different. It sounds strained and laced with fear. You swallow hard, trying to make more saliva to coat your overly dry tongue in hopes of sounding less small. “Who are you?”

The man smiles at you but it isn’t a normal polite smile. His lips form more of a smirk than a smile as he pushes his hand into the pocket of his black dress pants as he smooths his black button-down over his stomach. “You can call me Wonwoo.” 

That was one answer and yet not the one you desired more. Your eyes follow Wonwoo as he turns his eyes from you to glance around the room, his feet moving a few steps towards you until he sighs patiently. “As I said, you must be confused.” 

“Very. Tell me where I am. Why—did—did you kidnap me?” 

Smooth, Y/N. Like the kidnapper would just tell you if he did it. Cursing yourself under your breath, you hold the sheet tighter around your chest as you meet Wonwoo’s eyes once again. His laugh triggers a chill up your spine that has your skin erupting with chill bumps. He shakes his head and lifts the hand from his stomach to his head as he scratches his eyebrow, seeming to think carefully on his next words. 

“No, Darling. I simply collected what was mine.” 

Your pulse begins to beat loudly in your ears as your blood runs cold. Heat licks behind your eyes as you force yourself not to close them even as the world seems to spin in front of you. “Wh—what? I wanna go home…” You aren’t sure the words are spoken aloud. Finally closing your eyes, you whine at the sick feeling building in your stomach and rising up your throat as fear rips through your soul. 

Watching you start to sway, Wonwoo tilts his head and takes another step towards you. Humans are weak. There is no denying that. It doesn’t take much to see you are on the verge of passing out. There is sweat gathering on your temples and your skin has begun to take on an unnatural color when finally your legs give out. A rush of emotions pushes through Wonwoo as he closes the space between you and him just in time to sweep you from your unsteady legs and into his arms. 

You are so fragile. A mixture of intrigue and disgust worms its way through Wonwoo’s body before he turns to place you back on the bed, readjusting the black satin sheet around you so you are covered. The very act seems foreign to him. He has never attempted to protect anyone's modesty before and yet as he looks down on you now as your breathing begins to settle, Wonwoo finds himself not only keeping you covered but also pushing your hair back from your face. 

It’s just so he can look at you. At least that’s what he tells himself as his fingers stroke along your cheekbone down to your parted lips. The color has started to return to you; your lips, while cracked from dehydration, are the right color again. 

Settling onto the bed next to you, Wonwoo studies you silently. His eyes moving along every bit of you that is exposed to him. You are beautiful—so stunning that it makes him uncomfortable. Humans shouldn’t look like you. When God created all things—humans included—he attempted and failed at creating perfection with Adam and Eve. Their flaws… the free will that they were permitted left them scarred inside and out—but not you. If Wonwoo didn’t know better, if he couldn’t literally see your soul clinging to your body, he would think you were an angel like him. 

Fingers trail along your shoulder, causing you to sigh happily at the contact. It was a dream. Ben is home and you have been home this entire time. Turning towards the touch, your lips turn up in a small smile at the brush of soft lips against your neck.

“Mmm, I had such a weird dream.” Your smile pulls at your lips as the kisses walk the length of your neck to your jaw. The breath against your skin causes chill bumps to spread in anticipation. 

“Tell me about it…” The voice isn’t what you expected yet it keeps you calm as you lift your hand, running your fingers through soft hair. 

“I was taken.” Gasping into your words, you arch your back when teeth nip at your sensitive skin. “Mmm, taken to hell. I was there for weeks. I lost track of time.” 

A soft hum of understanding from the lips now brushing over the shell of your lips has you gripping at the hair under your fingers. You could open your eyes but something tells you to wait. This feels too good. “Yeah… There was a man. He watches me but…” Your voice lowers as the memories come back to you and you know who is kissing you. You should hate it. He took you from your home. He took you from your fiancé. He took you from Ben but he hasn’t told you why beyond saying he took what was his. 

“Wonwoo…” You whisper on a soft gasp, feeling his lips pull up in a smirk.  

“Yes, little angel. Keep telling me about this dream. Was it a bad dream?” 

Tears press behind your eyes as you keep them shut tightly, your hand starting to loosen in Wonwoo’s hair only for his hand to rest over yours, tightening your fingers once again. Using your hand, he tugs on his hair hard enough to make you wince before you arch against him, feeling his thigh press between your legs. 

“It—” You struggle to find your words, feeling not only confused but also aroused when you roll your hips over the hard thigh resting against your bare cunt. “Mm, I don’t know. I’m—please? I want to go home.” 

Your words say one thing but your body another as Wonwoo traces your jaw up to your ear with his tongue. He had done so well for weeks. He had barely touched you but he had waited long enough. “Home? Darling, you are home.” Hearing you whine his name, tears rolling down to his lips now at the corner of yours, Wonwoo rocks his thigh against you and hums in appreciation. “Do you want me to tell you the truth? You want me to break your little heart?” 

When you don’t answer with more than new tears for him to lick from your skin, Wonwoo growls low under his breath. You are stubborn and infuriating in ways he has never dealt with. Others pray to him. Some pray with hate in their hearts, others with devotion—yet you give him your sorrow. You pray for what you’ve lost. What you think was taken from you. 

“I’ll break your heart. I’ll watch it shatter and then, sweet little one… I will bind it to me.” Leaning back to look down at you, Wonwoo narrows his eyes as you keep your eyes shut tightly. “Look at me when I’m speaking to you, Y/N. Open your eyes and face the truth you so desperately want…” 

Forcing your eyes open, you blink through your tears to meet Wonwoo’s eyes. You know you should try to push him away. His words already make you feel like you want to die—but aren’t you dead already? You are in hell. That much you know to be true. You’ve been here for so long now that you can’t keep lying to yourself about that much. As for Wonwoo… you’ve figured him out too. The name Wonwoo is there to make you feel better about the situation, if that were even possible; the man, the being looming over you now, he’s not human. He’s something you’re terrified to even name in your own head because you know who he is. 

Watching you closely, Wonwoo hums under his breath, once again sliding his hand along your head so carefully that when you flinch, it causes his brows to furrow in pain. He deserves this reaction from you, but he also deserves the way your hips move over his thigh chasing pleasure as if you are trying to distract yourself from what truth he is going to ruin your life with.  Moving his eyes along your body, Wonwoo tilts his head and slides one of his hands over the sheet loosely draped over your waist, watching the silk slide from your skin as he speaks low and calm. “He sold you, Y/N. He had a choice and this is what he chose. The man you pretend to yearn for. Your precious fiancé. He wanted more than he could afford, yet instead of offering his own body and soul as payment, he gave me you.” 

Meeting your eyes, Wonwoo gauges your reaction before continuing as realization settles in your eyes. “He never loved you. He loved what you gave him. A doting woman who would look past all his sins as you prayed for them for him. Do you think my father heard your prayers, darling?” Shaking his head, Wonwoo sighs resolutely as he traces your belly button, feeling you suck in your stomach under his touch. “No, sweet girl. He doesn’t listen, but I do. So when Ben asked for too much, I came and I took.” 

The painful truth sends an ache through your body before resting over your heart. Closing your eyes as if you can make it go away, you stop moving completely and lift your hands to your face. You hope that Wonwoo will leave. You hope that he will let you suffer here in silence, but that doesn’t happen. 

Lips press to the back of your hands before he gently pulls them away and wipes your tears from your cheeks as he whispers close to your cheek. “I should have killed him instead, but humans, especially selfish ones like your fiancé, only learn through true pain. He will live out the rest of his years with the price in the forefront of his mind. He will think of you when he wakes up. He will dream of you. He will never find peace and when he dies, little angel, he will suffer at my hands further.” Wonwoo’s words should hurt you more, but instead you find yourself listening to each one as the pain in your heart shifts into something else. 

“I will tear his miserable skin from his body every single day for eternity. He will beg me to stop and to let him rest but there is no rest for the wicked, not even in hell. Every single moment he will feel the flames lick at his exposed muscles and tendons, only for the price he paid to remain in the forefront of his mind.” Smirking at his own words, Wonwoo laughs darkly as your eyes meet his once again and this time he sees understanding in them. “Yes, darling, he will think of you even in death. I will fuck you over his body, never letting him touch you. I’ll let him hear you scream my name in pleasure as pain overwhelms him.” 

The idea of Wonwoo’s plans for Ben should frighten you and perhaps deep down they do, but you feel a flutter in your chest—excitement. “Promise me.” 

Your voice is so quiet that Wonwoo furrows his brows in confusion before you repeat the same words louder this time. The demand goes straight to his cock before he rocks his hips towards you, feeling your wet pussy against his pants as you start to soak through the fabric. “I promise. I’ll give you anything you ask for.” The moment the words are out of his mouth, Wonwoo laughs as you start to speak, only for him to cut you off. “Except give you up and let you leave. You are mine, Y/N. I don’t abandon things that belong to me, especially something like you.” 

The finality in Wonwoo’s tone causes your heart and mind to race. Thoughts flood your mind along with pleasure when he rolls his hips towards yours once again. This is the first time he’s touched you like this in the many weeks since he took you. He watched you every single day. He’d sit by your bed and attempt to soothe you, but he never took from you—until now. But is that what he is doing? 

Pleasure jolts through you as his fingers slide to your hips, pulling your hips down over his thigh. This isn't taking; this is giving. More than you could ever say for Ben—for the man who sold you for his benefit. Lifting your hips into Wonwoo’s hands, you whine his name and relish in the feeling of your clit grazing the fabric covering his muscular thigh. You realize that you want this, perhaps more than you could have ever anticipated, but the look in Wonwoo’s eyes tells you his patience had been running thin. With one more content sigh slipping from your lips, he begins to take. 

Wonwoo’s kiss burns with his intensity. His hands dig into your hips as he lifts you from his thigh and fingers trail between your legs. With a growling breath, Wonwoo breaks the kiss to meet your eyes as his fingers slide between your wet lips and over your already throbbing clit. “You are mine. This—” He emphasizes his words with a pinch to your clit before his fingers slide to your waiting entrance, where he eases two fingers into you. “Is mine.” 

Your hands flail for a moment as pain mixes with your pleasure as Wonwoo’s fingers begin to stretch you. One of your hands finds Wonwoo’s wrist as the other grips the bedding under you in an attempt to ground yourself. He doesn’t wait for you to adjust; instead, Wonwoo curls his fingers inside of you and traces a circle over your clit, enjoying the feeling of your pussy tightening. 

Soft moans slip from between your lips only to be swallowed by Wonwoo as his tongue slides along yours. Even as you try to lift your hips, attempting to chase your pleasure, he easily pushes you back down on the bed, fucking you hard and fast on his fingers. You want more. You need more, but all of that fades to the background as your walls begin to clench down on his fingers and your orgasm rips through you like a tidal wave. 

A dark chuckle tickles your skin as Wonwoo’s lips work from your lips to your breasts. His eyes flick up to yours and for a brief moment they are completely black. Any trace of white around his dark irises seems to have been swallowed until he blinks and the color returns. 

“Wonwoo—” 

“Shh, little angel. I’m not done with you. You owe me so, so, so much more.” 

You start to speak, to form some retort to his claiming words, but then his lips find your clit even as his eyes stay fixed on you. Teeth tip at your soft skin and the throbbing bundle of nerves before he laughs again, leaning back enough to lick your cum from his lips and speak. “Beg me like a good girl to fuck him out of your mind. Your soul is mine, Y/N; now let me have the rest of you…” 

Sobbing in pleasure, you buck your hips towards Wonwoo’s waiting mouth, feeling his smile against your skin as you do just that. Numerous pleas leave your lips as you feel your mind, body, and soul latch on to the man, the devil between your legs binding you to him forever. 

Jihoon hadn’t realized he had stopped walking or that he was staring. Even as Wonwoo spoke to him, the prince kept his eyes down on the ground. Jihoon was beginning to look ill. Over the past few months, the stress of everything around him had only made his usual ordeal all that much worse. Wonwoo knew and saw everything in the palace, but watching Jihoon now he could see his sunken cheeks and the dark circles under his eyes that were only highlighting how pale he had become. 

“Monseigneur? Prince Jihoon?” 

The droplets of blood were like a trail of guilt for Jihoon as he watched the girl’s body being taken from the courtyard. He could hear Wonwoo’s voice, but the blood rushing in his ears and the sound of his own heart beating rapidly were drowning it out until the moment that the Steward placed his hand on Jihoon’s shoulder. “What? What do—stop coddling me.” 

Lifting his shoulders to shrug the man’s hand from him, Jihoon swallows the bile from his throat and leans his head back towards the sky. It was a cloudy day in the Aetherial Grove. If Jihoon had to be out of the palace, these were the days he preferred. The sunshine hurt his sensitive eyes and reminded him that most nights he hadn’t slept as much as he or anyone else would have hoped he had. 

“My apologies, monseigneur. You just looked lost in your thoughts, I—” Wonwoo knew that he wasn’t fooling anyone, but especially not Jihoon. He could see the disdainful look on his face as he finally met his eyes. “I just wanted to bring you back to the present. Nothing here was worth your concern and your mother wanted to meet with you in the queen’s salon.” 

There was nothing else in the world that Jihoon would rather do less than speak with his mother after what had just occurred, and yet he knew—as always—he didn’t have a choice in the matter. “Ah, I see. Well, I won’t keep the queen waiting then. I’m present and accounted for, Wonwoo; you’ve done your job well, as always.” With a roll of his eyes, Jihoon sighs out the last of his words, turning on his heel and turning back up the steps towards the large front doors of the palace he had the unfortunate privilege to call home. Where others would steal, bargain, or kill to live the life that Jihoon had, he knew the truth. A charmed life was often a cursed one. 

“It’s entirely unfortunate. If they ask for a cause, we say what we always do—” 

“That she died of disease?” 

Jihoon’s mother was a beautiful woman. In her youth, the queen had been regarded as one of the most stunning women in any surrounding kingdom to Aetherial Grove, and that was what brought her here and to her husband. While age hadn’t taken her beauty, stress had begun to show around her eyes and lips as, with each backhand comment from Jihoon, she found a new line forming from frustration. 

“Yes, mon fils, because that is precisely what happened to that poor girl.”  

Of course it was. That was what had happened to every single ill-fated princess who had made her way into Jihoon’s life. Scoffing under his breath, Jihoon moves to the large windows, feeling his mother’s eyes linger on him for a moment longer. She was frustrated; her annoyance was palpable in the air. 

“We persevere and try aga—”

“You can’t be serious, maman. When is enough, enough?” Jihoon didn’t allow his mother time to answer his question as she shifted on her chair. He knew the right answer and the answer he would receive. “I’m done with this.” 

The air in the room had gone stagnant as the tension rose between them. There was only so much that she could handle before she would snap, and Jihoon was walking that line. “Well, darling, that isn’t a choice you simply get to make, is it?” In the queen’s mind, Jihoon might be struggling with the adjustments he was having to make, but his life—this life that they all lived—was worth all of it. It was worth a few mishaps. “This isn’t about you, Jihoon. Your father is struggling; don’t you care? It’s your job—no, it’s your duty to step up and accept your position, and you are acting like an insolent child because, why? A few girls we barely knew didn’t fit in.” There were more important things to be concerned about in his mother’s mind than things that were now part of the past. 

“Wonwoo, dear? Make sure that the room is in perfect condition for our beautiful new princess, won’t you?” 

The bile was back in Jihoon’s throat. He could hear the faint roaring of what could be mistaken as his blood in his ears once again, but he knew that wasn’t what it was. No, that rumble was too familiar and terrified him. He was angry, and he wasn’t the only one that was taking notice. Inside of Jihoon was his family's greatest tragedy and well-kept secret. While he had been told his entire life that it had never been his fault, every time that he woke up with blood on his hands and face, he would need to be convinced again. 

The great kingdom of Aetherial Grove was full of wealth and prosperity, not just for the royal family but their subjects. While those around them seemed to fall into debt and ruin over the years, Aetherial Grove seemed to have never faltered. That was far from the truth. Those who truly knew the history of the kingdom would know that Aetherial Grove grew from nothing and not without immense challenges. That was all until Jihoon’s family took the throne and suddenly the challenges were gone, seemingly bringing the kingdom into the sun and good fortune. 

What had really happened not only changed the lives of everyone in Aetherial Grove, but Jihoon’s life in particular. Jihoon’s father had been a young king with a barren wife. His kingdom had been on the brink of complete collapse when a beautiful man with a charming smile offered him a solution. He would grant the King everything he ever wanted if the King promised him a favor. It seemed simple, and it had been until Jihoon’s father let the wealth and power go to his head, and then the man had come back requesting his favor. 

“Such a pretty wife, Sire... and she’s with child? So far along. My blessings to you both.” 

The words had seemed like a threat more than anything. Where the man seemed to be offering his well wishes, the glint in his eye told Jihoon’s father there was something amiss. “She is, and we thank you.” 

“As you should. It was by my will that it came to be, and what was given can be taken away.” The beautiful man’s smile that had seemed charming at first now seemed so sinister. “I’ve come to collect my favor, Sire.” 

“I’m certain that you have, but I fear I have noth—” 

“You have more than enough. Look around you; all that I have helped you to attain. Yet you lie to me and say you have nothing? Are you attempting to renege on our agreement, Sire?” The man appeared more snakelike than human as his eyes moved along the pretty queen’s face and down to the swell of her stomach. “I wouldn’t suggest it. Allow me to stay in the palace until I wish to part. Be that in days, months, years, or until I die.”  

While the king knew in his heart that the man was right and that all that was around him was due in thanks to the deal he had made with the man, his pride couldn't allow him to admit it. How would he explain to his servants or subjects who this man was that he was allowing to walk around freely in his palace? What could this lithe man do to him? The king was a man of immense power and fortitude. So instead of folding and showing any respect to him, the king scoffed and held his queen closer. “I owe you nothing. You’ll leave us at once.”

“Is that so? Do you know what happens when you don’t keep your promises? What happens when you let your ego think for you?” While the man knew what the answer from the king would be, he took a step forward only to feel the guard’s weapon at his chest to keep him back. He knew that something that weak and simple wouldn’t stop him if he truly wanted to harm any of them, but for the sake of peace in the moment, he took no further steps and chose to speak instead. “You’d rather sacrifice something other than your pride? That’s fine. Act like a beast and receive one.” 

Before the king could even open his mouth to question what the man’s words meant, at his side the queen gasped in pain, feeling a cramp in her stomach. There had been no complications with her pregnancy, and the child had been a miracle—perhaps too much of one. "Darling, what’s wrong?” 

Taking a step back, the man smirks to himself as he watches the king move to his knee at the woman’s side as she sobs and shakes her head in confusion. “She will survive. Everyone will, for now. We will see if he harbors your pride, Sire. I have my doubts. I’ll take my leave.” 

The king wanted to question the man, have him detained, and get to the bottom of his words, but one more fearful scream from his wife had him terrified. Jihoon had been born a month early and thought to be stillborn for a full ten minutes until, by another miracle, he let out a frantic scream as if brought back from the dead. 

His mother’s voice had become ringing in his ears as Jihoon rested his head against his hand, attempting to force the roaring in his ears to stop. It wasn’t until she was on her feet and talking about moving out the previous girl’s things that Jihoon groaned under his breath, loudly bringing everyone’s attention back to him. “Isabelle. She has—had a name. They all have names, maman.” 

“Obviously, Jihoon. I’m aware she had—” 

“Isabelle, Lia, Haeun, Elise, Baili, Krista, Ara, Gret—” 

“Stop it!” 

While it was rare for Jihoon’s mother to raise her voice—to truly yell—today she had. She was tired of hearing the names. She didn’t need to hear their names again. Their names didn’t matter to her. “It’s all unfortunate, Jihoon; I’m aware! Mon fils…” Carefully lifting her hands, she cups Jihoon’s face and meets his eyes, seeing the pain behind them. That was why she pushed as hard as she did. He was always alone; not even her company would ever be enough, and eventually, like his father was now, she would die. How could she leave her son alone? How could she leave him alone with his secret? With their secret? “It’s not your fault.” 

The words he hated more than any others. That was the prettiest lie and the most frequent lie that his mother told him. She had told him that same one time and time again over the span of his life. Resting his hand on her arm, Jihoon closes his eyes and furrows his brows tightly to attempt to hide his frustration as he spoke through gritted teeth. “It is, so please, maman... Don’t make me try this again. I don’t need a wife.” 

“I’m sorry.” Jihoon’s tears trail over her fingers, and his mother’s heart breaks once again. She had lost count on how many times she had felt that feeling since the man who had cursed them had come into their house. While Jihoon’s curse was much worse, this was hers. She had to watch her son live in pain. “Your father is dying, Jihoon, and you need a queen.” 

2

You knew that one day someone would arrange for your hand and you would have to leave your family and your kingdom. However, the day that it happened, you weren’t sure you could have ever been prepared for it. A man had shown up at your family’s small palace in Thornwood, and you had never seen someone who looked more out of place. He had handed your father a letter, and you had watched pride and happiness wash over your father’s face before his eyes landed on you. That was the moment your life changed forever. 

Deep down, you knew that this arrangement was a good thing. Even in just the couple of weeks since your father had received the letter, things had changed dramatically, not just for your family but for your kingdom as a whole. Thornwood had been struggling. In your memory, you couldn’t remember a time when the kingdom hadn’t been in a time of suffering, but things had only gotten worse over the past few years. 

Waters once rich with fish were now seemingly empty and the crop fields were barren. There wasn’t enough money in the entire kingdom to make any changes that were deemed necessary, much less keep everyone fed, so that was why when the letter came, it had been to everyone else, a miracle. To you, it was your worst nightmare. You had to leave the kingdom you loved more than yourself and marry someone you didn’t know and that you didn’t love. The only thing that made the weight of the price worth it; it was the dowry already being spent towards the benefit of your kingdom. 

“That is what duty is, my love. Sacrifice is difficult, but the reward is great.” 

Your father’s words looped in your ear as you now stood in front of great golden gates in the Aetherial Grove. You had heard so much and yet so little about this kingdom and its prince. He was a mystery and their were horror stories to match the amount of fairytales that came from the forest that acted as a gate around the kingdom. While you didn’t heed much credit to gossip or tales, you couldn’t help but think of them now as the servants unloaded your luggage and the gates began to open on your future. 

“I’ve heard the prince is a cruel but handsome man.” 

“No way! He’s a prince; he has to be charming and kind.” 

“But dear, Y/N... stay out of the woods. Did you hear about the beast of Aetherial Grove? So many women have gone missing. Or at least that’s the story.” 

“Don’t listen to silly stories! Your prince will keep you safe. I mean, your king! Oh my goodness, Y/N, you’re going to be a queen!” 

Those had been the last things you had heard from your cousins, as they had helped you pack your things. You had never cared enough about wanting to be a queen of anywhere, not even of Thornwood and now you were being thrust into a completely new world and expected to rule. You could feel your breakfast churning in your stomach as the handsome butler ushered you forward and spoke, though you barely listened to what he said, your mind a whirl of anxiety. 

“Madame Y/N, we are so honored to have you here.” 

The man named Soonyoung kept speaking, explaining other servant’s names, but none of them stuck with you because you were unable to focus on anything the moment you stepped foot inside the palace. The room was massive; it felt like an echo chamber. Every spoken word reverberated back into your ears like a bomb that made you feel unsteady on your feet and no one seemed to notice at first until a kind hand rested on your forearm. 

“Madame… are you alright?” 

The color in your skin had gone wrong. Jieun could see the chillbumps rising on your arms as you swayed ever so slightly along with Soonyoung’s words. It wasn’t like her to act out of turn, but she was happy she had put her hand on you when she did and saw the discomfort in your eyes. 

“No. I feel like I’m going to be sick.” 

Those words got everyone in motion. You hadn’t wanted so much attention and yet at the mention of being ill, you found yourself on a sofa with your feet up and a wet cloth on your forehead as the pretty girl who had first spoken to you watched over you closely. 

“Perhaps we could let Madame rest? I can stay with her and we can finish the tour when she is feeling like herself again.” 

Soonyoung wanted to argue with Jieun and tell her that there wasn’t time for all of the drama, but one more look at you and the pitiful look on your face had him agreeing. “I will let the monseigneur know what’s happening. Find me as soon as she’s feeling better.” 

The silence that followed the moment that Soonyoung closed the door behind him left you with a sigh of relief and put a smile on Jieun’s face. “I’m sure that is a welcomed change, Madame. I apologize for overwhelming you. I’m sure between your travels and—” 

“I’m alright, I promise. Could—would it be wrong of me to ask you to just call me Y/N? Your name is Jieun, right?” 

The apprehension was clear on Jieun’s face, but there was something about you that made her agree. She knew that if the queen heard her call you anything other than a proper title, she would be reprimanded, but it was nice to be treated differently—similar to an equal—for once. 

“Yes, Mada—Y/N. That’s my name. I—I’m actually the monseigneur’s cousin.” A shy smile pulls at her lips and Jieun shifts closer to you to adjust the cloth on your forehead. “We will be family soon." You can’t help but notice how her brows furrow even slightly and how she swallows hard, using her thumb to keep the cloth from your eyes. “Hopefully. I—as long as you and the monseigneur find no disagreements with the arrangement, I mean.” 

It was such a peculiar choice of words for Jieun to use in your opinion, but instead of questioning her, you choose to offer her a smile and nod. “Oh, that’s lovely. I’m certain that as long as I meet his standards, we can move along with the marriage. They’ve already paid—” Pressing your lips together, realizing how crass you sound in your words, you wrinkle your nose and try again. “A generous dowry was offered and accepted. My kingdom is very appreciative of this arrangement. It’s a duty I’m happy to uphold.” 

Jieun knew how this worked. She had done this so many times, with so many other women and yet as she sat with you like this now, it was the first time it made her heart ache. You were too good for this. She feared for you. “I’m certain you are... I—however, I know this isn’t my place, mada—Y/N, but may I offer some advice as a resident of Aetherial Grove?” Giving a quick glance to the door before avoiding your eyes directly, Jieun speaks through a strained smile. “Keep your head down and please stay out of the forest. Don’t go out at night.” 

The warning seems genuine, perhaps a sweet word for someone who might be afraid of the dark until you laugh under your breath and Jieun’s gaze finally meets yours. You can see just how serious she is, how her nose flairs and how she looks from the door once again and back to you whispering please before adding once again, “Don’t go out at night, Y/N.” 

Jieun’s words, much like your father’s, were echoing in your mind as you finally were being led through the palace with the girl by your side. She had seemed so sincere, and yet the moment that Soonyoung had returned to check on you, a facade had gone back up. You were no longer Y/N; you were once again Madame and now you were being led to what would become your rooms. 

“Until the wedding and after the coronation, of course. I’m sure you understand. The rooms are a bit smaller than the queen’s, but I hope they will suit you.” 

You weren’t sure what Soonyoung thought you were used to as you looked around the spacious rooms. If you chose to, you wouldn’t have to see anyone else in the palace. You had an entire wing to yourself and servants that would answer directly to you, including Jieun. Of course, you knew that your choice wasn’t your own and there would be no staying in your rooms and being alone. 

“This is wonderful—more than I could possibly ever n—”

“Soonyoung!” 

The raised voice made your heart begin to race instantly. While there had been a lot of voices and too much commotion around your arrival, no one had raised their voice once since you had arrived—that was until this man. You watch as Soonyoung swallows hard and rubs his lips together as if to steady himself before he turns towards the open doors to your salon and towards a handsome man dressed only like who you could assume to be royalty. This couldn’t be—

“Monseigneur…” 

Too soon. You had arrived far too quickly for Jihoon’s liking. They had barely gotten Isabelle’s things out of this room before they were moving yours in. Jihoon’s head was busting, his stomach was in knots, and you looked like a fragile doll ready to be broken with eyes wide with fear. 

“Keep her away from me; is that understood?” 

While Jihoon was speaking much quieter now, you could still make out his words as Soonyoung shuffled closer to him. You could so clearly see that there was a disdain for you written on the prince’s face and yet he hadn’t said a word to you. This was the first time he had seen you. Did he even know your name? 

Stepping forward, you hear Jieun mutter madame under her breath as you clear your throat and offer Jihoon a soft smile. “No, it’s okay, Jieun. Monseigneur?” Ignored. Jihoon barely shifts his eyes towards you, tilting his head almost like a wounded animal when you take another step in his direction. “Prince Jihoon… I’m—” 

“Y/N Y/L/N, of the Kingdom of Thornwood. Yes, I’m aware of your name. I’m busy, as you can see, madame.” He knew he was being cruel from the getgo, but that look of shock in your eyes was better than seeing you dead on the forest ground. “Soonyoung, with me. I have things to do. Good day, Madame.” 

3

It had been two months since you had arrived in Thornwood. While others seemed overjoyed by this fact, you were growing more miserable every single day. There had been times when Jihoon had been forced to be in the same room with you or to be at events with you, but otherwise he had spoken no more than a dozen words since your arrival. 

Today was no different. Today was the official public announcement of your engagement to the prince. Apparently no flaws had been found in you—he had deemed you good enough and you would get to suffer by his side until you died. 

“You look beautiful, Y/N.” 

At least you had Jieun and moments of privacy where you had a bit of normalcy. Smiling at the girl in the mirror. You lift the bracelet from the vanity in front of you as Jieun adds finishing touches to your makeup. “I don’t feel beautiful, but thank you.” 

Jieun could see the changes that had been slowly occurring in you since your arrival. Your smile was different. Your light was different. You were becoming resigned to a life of loneliness and while it wasn’t fair... perhaps that was the sacrifice you and Jihoon would both have to make in order to make this marriage work. This was the farthest that any of the women had ever made it. Some had gotten scared off in hours, some injured in the matter of days, and others killed after a week. You were sad but alive after two months. That was a triumph to be celebrated. 

“Then I will work harder. Make sure you look even more gorgeous in your dress for the party. Your bracelet is a very good choice.” 

You admired Jieun’s resilience. She was easily your closet friend in the kingdom and to say that you valued her presence would be an understatement. Smiling at the piece of jewelry now around your wrist, you run your fingertips over the closed clasp and think back to the moment that it was given to you just days before you had left Thornwood. “Mm, it is beautiful. It was a gift from a dear friend. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss him.” There was something beautiful and gut wrenching about the twisted golden thorns circling your wrist. The design was so delicate and yet in it’s simplicity, you felt a pang of home sickness. 

“Oh? I—it wasn’t my place.” 

Lowering your arm into your lap, you smile at Jieun in the mirror as you shake your head. You knew it was a bold choice to wear the bracelet. It wasn’t a gift from your betrothed, and yet you hadn’t received a gift from Jihoon. You had little fear that he would even notice a bracelet on your wrist anymore than he would notice you in the room for longer than he had to. “It’s fine, Jieun. No harm done. I’ll have something to far outshine it soon enough, won’t I?” 

Your words seem to ease Jieun’s mind, but they only cause yourself to spiral. You can already feel the weight of the ring on your finger and wonder if that weight will be worth the price. 

In his own room, Jihoon was thinking much the same. He had already felt the weight of the box in his jacket pocket and it felt as if it weighed an impossible amount. It wasn’t his life that he felt that he was ruining, but yours. 

He had gone out of his way to avoid you over the past two months. It had been equally as difficult as it had been easy. His mother was furious with him and his behavior, and yet you were still breathing and now you were going to be officially named as his future queen. All that he had done had been for the sake of his kingdom and, in his own twisted way, for you. 

It wasn’t that Jihoon didn’t have a desire to know you. You were stunning. He had found many of the other women who had been brought to the palace beautiful, but the first day you had been brought in, he knew that he was in trouble. You were a breath of fresh air with how you lit up the room until he spoke you with such unkind words and he watched your smile fade. It was a hefty price to pay to keep you at a distance, but a distance was safe. At a distance, he could observe and yearn. There was no true danger in that as long as you followed the rules. 

You were as intelligent as you were beautiful. Jihoon knew about all of the books you were requesting in the palace library. If they happened to not be found, he made sure they were the next time you had them in your mind. He knew that you loved fresh air, and as terrified as that made him, as long as it was during the daylight hours, he would permit it. So one day you woke to learn that there were horses at your disposal in the palace stable. 

And yet, with all the things that Jihoon tried to provide for you, he watched your spirit diminish daily. You made friends with the staff easily, despite knowing that the queen wouldn’t like it. In that way, you were much like him and that made it even easier for him to learn about how truly depressed you were. 

Standing in front of the floor-length mirror, Jihoon stretches his arm out, allowing Soonyoung to adjust his sleeves as he listens to Junhui, the palace chef, explain the menu for the night’s event. 

“Duck confit served with roasted potatoes, cauliflower gratin—” 

“Tell me again what she said, Junhui.” 

This was the third time that Junhui had attempted to make his way through the entirety of the menu for the prince to interrupt him and want to talk about you. While he enjoyed having you in the palace and your frequent visits to his kitchen, at the moment he wished he had never divulged that information to Jihoon. Sighing into his words, Junhui lowers his head before lifting it once again to meet Jihoon’s eyes in the mirror. “Why are you obsessing over it?” 

“You know why.” Shaking out his hand, Jihoon scowls at Soonyoung and Junhui each as he turns from the mirror, deeming himself dressed. “I’m—this is happening tonight and then in less than a month she’ll be my wife. She hates me—” 

“Because you want her to, Jihoon.” It was Soonyoung who spoke up this time. He knew that if this were anyone else in the palace, they would be reprimanded for how they spoke to Jihoon, but he had been chosen to be his butler for a reason. He was the same age as the prince. They had grown up in the palace together, as close as brothers could be without sharing blood. He knew every detail of Jihoon’s secrets and regrets. “You purposely hurt her to keep her awa—” 

“And she’s alive! For fuck’s sake, Soonyoung. What would you have me do? Waltz into her salon and profess my affection? Tell her about what I am." Scoffing into his words, Jihoon tugs roughly on the lapels of his expensive jacket, feeling the threads shift at his strength. “My darling, Y/N... I regret to inform you of my terrible curse. I’ll never be able to show you true affection, dear, out of fear that I might remove your windpipe with my teeth.” 

With Jihoon’s words, you could have heard a pin drop at how silent the room had gone. He knew what Soonyoung and Junhui wanted to say to him—the same thing everyone always did; this wasn’t his fault. Jihoon knew all too well that it was his fault. He couldn’t control the beast and that was his fault. 

“Let’s get this over with.”

4

Your life was now one massive echo chamber. As you stood in the middle of the ballroom with people moving around you, it was as if nothing that was being said made it to your ears. Instead of intelligible words, you found muffled and warbling phrases muddling together as you nodded along. The only thing keeping you grounded to the marble under your heels was the champagne flute in your fingers that kept being refilled. 

“Such a handsome couple. Truly, we are blessed. Think of the children she will bless the kingdom with.” 

Jihoon couldn’t even find it in himself to force a fake smile as members of his extended family regarded you like well-kept livestock. He knew the duty to the kingdom. His was to become king and to take a queen, and that was why you were even in this room and near him in the first place, but the fact that they expected him to put a child in you. How was he going to be able to—The bile was sitting in his throat. It was too close to dark and Jihoon could feel the rumbling in his head as he dug his nails into his palm as you shifted closer to him to get out of someone’s way. 

“My apologies, monseigneur.” 

Your voice was so small that it made the hair on Jihoon’s neck stand up. He could smell the champagne on your breath and he couldn’t help how his eyes moved over your beautiful face and down your frame. Taking a calming breath, Jihoon shakes his head and carefully removes the flute from your fingers, placing it on a tray as a servant passes by. “Quite enough. They are trying to keep you inebriated and pliant. You’ll be sick in the morning.” 

Wrinkling your nose to Jihoon’s hushed words, you meet his eyes and barely hold back a scoff. You knew he wasn’t wrong, but you were four glasses of champagne in and it made the night feel less like hell. “As you wish.” The room was too loud without something in your hand, without your distraction. You could hear the gossip now. You could hear the compliments and their halfhearted meanings, but you were better at putting on a fake smile. “Mm, can—will you give me my ring now?” 

You just wanted to get this over with. Somehow that both broke Jihoon’s heart and brought him back to reality. He had made you this way. It was a fair question. You had endured a couple of hours of this and he had been watching the sun slowly fading behind the trees for the last half hour. “As you wish.” 

The sound of Jihoon clearing his throat brought a hush over the room. You watch as he puts on the first fake smile of the night while opening and closing his fist at his side out of nerves. “Thank you, each of you for spending the evening with us. On behalf of myself and Madame Y/N, we wanted to let you know how deeply grateful we are that you could share this important moment with us.” 

Jihoon was good at lying and yet as you watched him, transfixed on his frustratingly handsome face, you realized you knew he was lying through his teeth. There was something about his body language—the way his voice went up and down in octaves as he went through his well-practiced speech. He had planned places for people to laugh, for them to aww and coo; he was a puppet master working the strings so well, but you could see the strings for what they were just as well as you saw the pain in his eyes. 

“It’s an exciting day.” Smiling along with the happy laughter, Jihoon looks down at this jacket to find you watching him carefully. You are the only one who sees his facade break for a moment as he takes the ring box from his jacket and you are the only one who sees how his fingers tremble with fear as he removes the delicate ring. “A gi—gift for my beautiful betrothed...” 

The stuttering of his words is the first real indication to everyone in the room that Jihoon might be breaking and at the first sign of a muttered word, you aren’t sure why it puts you into motion, but it does. A wave of desire to protect the man in front of you from anything, including anxiety or embarrassment, puts a smile on your face and has your left hand lifted towards Jihoon’s hand. “And what a stunning gift it is, monseigneur. I’m truly honored that I’ll share my life with you.” 

You were a beautiful liar. Jihoon could see and almost smell the lie on you, but he was so thankful to you as he slid the diamond ring on to your finger. Your eyes kept him steadfast and calm as the rest of the room erupted in cheers. Not even the rumble in his ears and tingling at the back of his neck stood a chance in that moment as Jihoon leaned down to press a kiss to the back of your knuckles, keeping his eyes locked with yours. 

There was a shift in the air with that kiss. A breath of hope filled your lungs seeing the look in Jihoon’s eyes. Would things finally change? Could you find a way to love your new home and your soon-to-be husband? 

Fingers wrap around yours as Jihoon laughs under his breath, accepting well wishes for you both. You are thankful for him keeping you grounded, much like your champagne had once been. You find yourself even more thankful when he excuses you both under the excuse that you are tired and he must allow his beautiful fiancée to get her rest. 

“Oh, thank God. I felt like I was going to suffocate—” 

The moment the doors shut behind you and Jihoon, you feel his hand drop from yours, leaving you feeling confused and cold. You watch as he runs his fingers through his hair and rocks his head from left to right as if to release the tension in his neck before he turns his attention back to you with a now familiar disappointed look on his face. 

“Go to your room, Y/N. It’s going to be night soon.” 

This was all you were getting from Jihoon after such a touching moment? Where had the man who had slipped the ring on your finger and looked so deeply into your eyes gone? “I—I’m not tired, ye—” 

“And I don’t care. This isn’t about your ability to sleep. Do as you are told.” It was getting harder to keep himself calm as you scoffed at him. Jihoon could see your lips moving; he could hear the dull mumble of your words, but it was difficult to make out the words. Something else was talking over his senses and Jihoon knew that this wasn’t going to be a good night. “Shut up, for the love of God. I put that fucking ring on your finger so you will obey me! Go to your goddamn room and lock the door, Y/N!” 

Stunned by Jihoon’s outburst, you stumble back on your heels in an attempt to get away, only to feel your balance waver. Fingers wrap tightly around your wrist above your bracelet and you meet Jihoon’s angry eyes, noticing for the first time a slight shift in their color. His once dark brown eyes seem golden as he looks from your face down to the bracelet, his lips curling in anger. “I told you that you drank too much... And what the fuck is this?” 

“Leave me alone, Jihoon.” 

Once again, your voice was soft and too small, almost breaking Jihoon’s heart, but he wasn’t the one that you were dealing with anymore. The jealousy flaring in him wasn’t a normal occurrence; this side of him came with the predator that was ready to run free with the moon rising in the sky. 

“I’ll do what I want since you seem to do the same.” Using just the strength in his fingers, Jihoon breaks the fragile clasp of your bracelet, ignoring your sobbing pleas for him to stop. You both watch as the gold thorns slip from your wrist and clatter to the ground at Jihoon’s feet. “Now, obey me.” 

Tears streaked your cheeks and down your neck as you leaned against the door of your room. Clutching the broken bracelet to your chest, you sob openly, wondering if the sound you are hearing—the wailing growl—is coming from you or your imagination. By the time that you are calm enough to think clearly, the sound is gone. You find yourself alone and numb, with pieces of your home shattered in your hand, much like your heart inside your chest. 

5

It was too bright. There was the smell of copper in his nose and Jihoon’s body felt as if he had been trampled by a stampede of horses. Turning onto his back, he rests his forearm over his eyes and groans, the now too familiar feeling of the forest floor under his bare back. 

Everything had happened too quickly and Jihoon had barely made it off the palace grounds before his body had been torn apart by his curse. It hurt every single time, and every time he could remember it in detail. He supposed that was the point. A curse wasn’t meant to be pleasant. He was being punished. His family was being punished. That was why his muscles were torn fiber by fiber, his bones broken bit by bit, and his skin ripped until nothing human was left of him—only the beast. 

To anyone looking at him, unknowing what they were seeing, Jihoon would look like a bear. A great, large black bear with golden brown eyes that had tormented Aetherial Grove from the moment that he had reached puberty. His mother and father had thought that the man’s curse had been a lie. Perhaps his threat had been that Jihoon almost died during childbirth, but no, it was much worse. Instead, they had witnessed their precious son shifting into a monster and slaughtering half of their palace staff after becoming slightly upset. 

What was worse about Jihoon’s curse was the morning after the beast would take hold of him. Not only would his body feel as if it had been in fact torn apart at the very fiber, but he could remember down to the second what the beast had done. He could see every person he had killed or mauled but he had no way to prevent it. No matter how hard Jihoon tried, every single princess would wander out of the palace at night due to stupidity or curiosity and each time the beast would claim them. 

That was why Jihoon treated you the way he did. That was why he kept you at a distance and made you hate him. He couldn’t kill you if you were never around him. 

“Jihoon.” 

Wincing at Soonyoung’s voice, Jihoon turns on his side and pulls his legs up towards his stomach. Of course he would already be looking for him. He was grateful, but there were days when he wished everyone would just let him vanish or let him die. Was he worth this? 

“Come on. I have clothes... I—you need to come back quickly. Your father—” This wasn’t something that Soonyoung wanted to tell Jihoon. He could already see the realization in the prince’s eyes as he took the clothes from his hand and swallowed the air as if it were water. “I’m sorry. I—” 

“Stop. I don’t want—fuck.” Jihoon’s clothes felt foreign against his skin as he quickly dressed himself, hearing his heart in his ears. This was just one more thing that the curse was taking from him. “Is he—” 

“No. No, he’s just—the doctor says before the day is over. Your mother told me to find you as quickly as possible.”  

Jihoon didn’t need to hear anything else. He didn’t want to hear anything else. He was feeling far too many emotions at once while trying not to let a single one of them bubble to the surface as he walked quickly in front of Soonyoung towards the pair of waiting horses. 

On a good day, any of the palace horses would struggle to trust Jihoon; animals were smarter than normal humans by a long shot. Today was not a good day; every tug at the horses reigns had the animal fighting for control and more terrified of what was on her back. 

“Please… I’m trying!” Yelling wasn’t helping, but Jihoon was swallowing back the bile in his throat as he saw the palace come into view at the treeline. He was so close. He just needed the horse to push forward for a little while longer—and then it happened; perhaps Jihoon had been too sharp with his heel into her flank but the horse had enough and Jihoon felt the wind knocked out of his lungs as his back met the ground. 

You knew something was off at the palace. Everyone was on edge and yet no one would tell you anything. Something had gone from the moment that the engagement party had ended, and then when you had woken up, it was worse. 

You had heard loud yet hushed muttering from every corner that would silence the moment you came into few. You weren’t privy to a single thing and yet the ring on your finger told you that you should be. Weren’t you going to be important to them? Shouldn’t you already be important? 

Outside was better. The palace always felt suffocating to you. From the first day you had walked it, not only had it become your echo chamber—every word reverberating back a thousand times into your brain—but also it had sucked the air from your lungs. You knew that Jihoon preferred you to stay inside, even during the day, but today was one of the days when you didn’t feel much like doing anything he wanted. 

The palace gardens were filled with beautiful things. Flowers, vines, trees—anything you could think of you might find in front of you and yet it made you sad as you thought back to the shards of gold now laying on your vanity. You had tried to piece back together your treasured bracelet only to make it worse. The clasp had held the delicate overlapping thorns together and when Jihoon had broken it, there was nothing left to keep them from falling apart. That was much like your heart as you had sat in front of the vanity and struggled uselessly, watching the bracelet become unrecognizable. There was only the memory of when you had received it now and you would hold it close to your heart and cherish it forever. 

You hadn’t known many boys in Thornwood. Your father was a strict king when it came to his kingdom and his daughter. It had been in your early teenage years when you had finally met Kim Mingyu and he was the first boy your father hadn’t instantly run off. 

Mingyu was the son of a duke. In your father’s eyes, perhaps one day if nothing better came along that might be a suitable match, but it was more than that—you had been happy to just have a friend. It wasn’t until you were older, months before the letter came from Aetherial Grove, that you realized something different might come from your relationship with Mingyu. While you had never considered him in that light before, there was something about the possibility that made you take a step back and really picture it only to have the picture torn in front of your face by a royal letter. 

“So, don’t make fun of it... It’s not perfect; I’ve never done work with gold before.” You had fondly watched Mingyu as he fumbled slightly with the delicate clasp of the bracelet before finally managing to secure it on your wrist. “Maybe it’s not half bad. I just wanted you to have a little piece of home while you—I mean in your new home, Princess.” 

Your piece of home and piece of your best friend was now shattered by someone you were starting to despise. Trying your best to push the angry and painful thoughts from your mind, you walk closer to the edge of the garden, looking out towards the treeline. The forest was truly beautiful. You could understand the appeal and why many wanted to explore it, though you had been forbidden to do so, even on horseback—so why was it that someone was coming out of it now? 

Squinting slightly to the brightness of the morning sun, you tilt your head before shock registers within you as you watch the horse buck hard. Your eyes follow Jihoon as he falls backwards from the horse and lands in the tall grass hidden from your view, causing your heart to sink. “Oh my god, Jihoon!” 

By the time you make it on foot to Jihoon and Soonyoung, the butler is down from his horse and on his knee beside the prince. With your hand at your stomach and tears stinging your eyes, you quickly move to the other side of Jihoon and do the same without regard to your dress or your legs as the ground bites into your knees angrily. “Jihoon? What the hell happened, Soonyoung?” 

You were different than any other woman that had come to Aetherial Grove by far. Even as Soonyoung checked over Jihoon for injuries, being careful not to move him too quickly, he watched you curiously, surprised by your quick arrival. “I—the horse got spooked, I think. She threw him. He’s—there’s blood. Mons— Jihoon?” 

Anxiety and fear had your stomach in knots as you saw the blood from the back of Jihoon’s head on Soonyoung’s fingers. Wrapping your fingers around Jihoon's, you whine his name, watching his eyelids flutter for a moment before he groans in pain and slowly opens his eyes, starting to come to. 

“Fuck—” Attempting to sit up, Jihoon hisses in pain and tightens his fingers around yours before laying back down for a moment. “Stupid fucking mare..." Jihoon knew it wasn’t the horses fault, but the pain radiating through his back and his head made him want to lash out at something. “I need to get to the palace—Father.” 

Using your free hand, you put a light amount of pressure on Jihoon’s shoulder when he tries to sit back up. “Just wait, I—please? You can wait a moment. You are bleeding, Ji—” 

“St—stop coddling me. I’m fine.” Moving his hand to wrap it around your wrist where your bracelet had been the night before, Jihoon lightly draws a circle over your pulse point with his eyes still closed. “‘M fine. I have to get to the palace. Father needs me.” 

Nothing that Jihoon was saying made sense to you, but Soonyoung simply nodded along while gently moving your hand from Jihoon’s shoulder.

“I know. Perhaps—” Timidly meeting your eyes, Soonyoung almost winces before speaking. “I could put the prince on the horse with you. I’ve seen you ride... I think—” 

“Don’t be ridiculous, Soonyoung. I can do it alone.” 

“Of course.” 

When you and Jihoon speak up almost at the same time, Soonyoung looks taken aback, his eyes moving from one person to the other before he sighs and settles on the prince. “Let her help. She—Jihoon, she wants to help.” 

You shouldn’t have to help. You shouldn’t be seeing him like this, weak and flustered. He was going to be the king, your king. More importantly, as things were progressing, Jihoon was going to be your husband and now you were having to mother him already. Pathetic. Lee Jihoon was pathetic and unworthy of the throne and you. 

Without another word, Jihoon lets you and Soonyoung help him to his feet as he sways on his feet, unable to keep his balance. Lifting your hand, you carefully touch the back of his head furrowing your brows when Jihoon winces and jerks away from you in pain. “This looks—you should see the doctor, Monseigneur.” 

Your voice had started so strong and yet the more you spoke with Jihoon, your hand loosely in his, your confidence faltered. Sighing under his breath, Jihoon nods and glances towards you as you move to take the reigns of the horse that had bucked him off. With you next to her, there was a calm in the air. There was no fear in her eyes, almost as if she knew that you wouldn’t let anyone, beast or man, harm her. 

“Jihoon. Just—call me Jihoon. I don’t like when you call me Monseigneur in private. You—you’re going to be my wife. It seems odd.” 

While you agreed, you could also remember this same man reminding you that you would obey him. You offer him a gentle smile and a nod as you carefully slip your foot into the stirrup before hosting yourself into the saddle. “Of course—” Swallowing hard, you glance down at your hands on the horn of the saddle, the reigns loosely draped over your fingers. “Jihoon.” You had said his name many times, and even when you were terrified for his wellbeing, saying it now at his request felt different. 

Furrowing his brows tightly, Jihoon could feel the air around him shift. There was something about you. From the moment that you had stepped foot in Aetherial Grove, things were different. It wasn’t just that he was trying to distance himself from you; it was something else and he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

With a few muttered curses and a disgruntled groan, Jihoon finds himself seated behind you with his hands hovering over your waist. You could feel the warmth of them through the layers of your dress and even the boning in your corset, so much so that it was difficult to not let a small smirk pull at your lips when you urge the horse to take a step forward and feel Jihoon finally grab ahold of you for stability. 

“May I ask you something?” 

Despite your ability to keep the horse much steadier than he had, Jihoon still found himself wincing with each step. He almost felt every stone under the horse’s hooves as you carefully directed her towards the palace. Swallowing hard to your question and tone, Jihoon chews on his cheek before glancing back to where Soonyoung was following at a moderate distance—almost too far, leaving Jihoon to defend for himself with you. 

“I suppose. Is something wrong?” He knew that was the wrong question to ask the moment it left his mouth. Closing his eyes, Jihoon leans his head back towards the sky and listens to you take in a sharp breath as the horse shifts to the right and towards the palace stables. 

Did he really want to know? You had a laundry list of things that were wrong, but that wasn’t what you wanted to ask right now. “Um, it’s not—well, in a way. I don’t wish to seem unappreciative or spoiled, but—” Sighing under your breath, you furrow your brows, deciding to start over. “What I mean is, I am just wondering if there is something about me you find unpleasant. Perhaps you are unhappy with this arrangement? I’m not attractive or intelligent enough to be your queen and in which case, Monseigneur, perha—” 

“Stop it. What are you—” Unconsciously digging his fingers into your sides at your corset, Jihoon grits his teeth, feeling the frustration rising in him. He knew this was his fault and while he hadn’t planned on changing it, he also didn’t want you as miserable as you seemed right now. “You aren’t unpleasant. I don’t—you aren’t unpleasant to me, Y/N.” 

Straightening your back out of surprise, you take in a deeper breath at the strength of Jihoon’s grip. It wasn’t just that his touch had tightened; it was how he was speaking to you. There was a layer of desperation in his voice, as if he were begging you to understand without truly saying it. “O—okay. I just—” 

“No, just nothing. You are beautiful—the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. You are going to make a perfect queen, I have no doubt. I—” Stopping short, Jihoon removes his hands from your waist, realizing that you have brought the horse to a stop. There was no need for him to be touching you anymore, no need for all of the dramatics and yet he couldn’t help himself as you glanced back at him, your eyes low, causing your lashes to shield your gaze from him. Resting his index finger under your chin, Jihoon sighs softly and allows himself a moment to be a man who is truly engaged looking at his future bride. “You are incredible and I hate myself for making you feel so small. One day—” 

Every word was reaching your ears and yet your heart was beating so fast and hard in your chest that you were afraid you might fall from the saddle and perish on the ground. Jihoon’s simple touch had your skin on fire and something lit inside of you—a desire that you had never felt in your life. You had come close to what you suspected had been desire—a brush of lips across yours from Mingyu—but this, Jihoon’s thumb grazing your bottom lip and watching your lips part felt private and precious.  

"Perhaps one day you’ll learn why I am—why I have kept you—” Jihoon was struggling to find the right words and he could see Soonyoung’s panicked face as the man paced a few feet away. “I have to go, Madame. Remember the rules, please. That is all I ask of you.” 

You start to speak and to argue with Jihoon. You want him to finish explaining himself, but he jumps from one topic to the next and then suddenly the back of your knuckles are against his lips. You are left watching Soonyoung help him down from the horse and your eyes follow both until they disappear behind the palace walls. 

Every part of Jihoon’s body was aching. It always was after a night of shifting, but the fall from the horse had only served to make it worse. Brushing his fingers over the back of his head, he and Soonyoung moved through the halls. Jihoon winces in pain, though his mind lingers on you and the range of emotions he had just taken you through. None of this was fair to you. He hoped and prayed that one day he might be able to explain this to you and you understood. He wished with every fiber of his being that he would be able to keep you alive, but the more he started to feel something for you, a longing, the rumbling from the beast trapped inside of him grew louder and more angry with jealousy. 

6

“Mon amour…” 

It was difficult for Jihoon to watch his mother grieve while his father took his last breaths. He was expected to stay strong and on the surface he did. He showed little to no emotion. Jihoon was a rock for his family and especially his mother, but on the inside, the son that his father had raised was devastated as he watched his father pass. He wanted nothing more than to run from the room and lock himself away in his rooms to get rid of the pressure behind his eyes. 

“Come—come here, mon fils.” Beckoning Jihoon closer, his mother sobs softly through the words before taking his hand and bringing it to her heart, using him as the anchor he would have to be. “I—mon fils.” 

Jihoon knew without his mother even saying the words what she was thinking. He knew what came next. The mourning period. The funeral and the burial, but most importantly, he would sooner rather than later now go from crown prince to king. “I know, maman. I’ll take care of it all. You should—I’ll have Jieun help you to your roo—” 

“No! Not yet. I can’t leave him, Jihoon.” 

The tears that Jihoon was trying to keep at bay were harder to push back now as his mother pulled from him and clung to his father’s arm. He didn’t understand that sort of love, though he had witnessed it through them his entire life. He hoped for that sort of love. It made him think of you and how confused you must be not knowing what was truly happening in the palace. 

“Okay, I’m sorry, maman. I know…I won’t make you leave. I’m sorry.” Brushing his lips against the top of her head, Jihoon feels his mothers grief wash through him in how her body trembles. Leaning his head back towards the ceiling as he takes a deep breath to keep his emotions at bay, he nods once and finds Wonwoo by his father’s bed with a solemn look on his face. “Stay with her, please. Until she is ready to leave, you and Jieun. I need—I have to do something.” 

Even stepping out of the room and into the hall, Jihoon could feel a bit of the weight lifting from him but what replaced it was worse. Clenching his fist over his chest, he takes a deep breath as he leans against the wall hidden from prying eyes. Somehow the anger and disappointment that he felt every day were nothing compared to the feeling he was overwhelmed with now as Jihoon tried to force himself forward towards your room. 

Everything had gone deadly silent on the side of the palace where you resided. You knew that you were a bit of distance from the king’s rooms and Jihoon’s but usually you could hear servants in the hallways going about their tasks and tending to the queen, but today there was nothing. It was making your anxiety all that much worse after the morning and your interaction with Jihoon. 

The prince was truly an enigma to you. While you wanted to hate him, and in some ways perhaps you did resent him, you couldn’t find it in your heart to truly allow yourself in your heart to hate Jihoon. There was something inside of him that wanted to be close to you. You had sensed it more than once now and even if the other part of him was pushing you away, the man who had looked deeply into your eyes and taken your breath away with a simple touch had your mind spiraling. 

Sitting at your window, you lean your head back against the wall with a book in your lap. You had started to read it hours ago now, but every word led you back to where you were now—your eyes on the trees as their leaves moved with the wind as it picked up in speed. There was a storm coming. You hated storms. You always had, but back in Thornwood you had distractions and protection. You had run to your father or mother, who would keep you close. You had let Mingyu wrap his arm around you, shielding you from the sounds—as soon as Mingyu enters your mind again, you push him out. Since the previous day's incident with your bracelet, it seemed he wouldn’t leave your thoughts alone. 

The rain starts calm, with large drops that hit your window with dull thuds but quickly, but with the wind getting stronger so does the rain. Wincing, you close your book and recoil slightly from the sounds of the water assaulting your window when a knock at your door startles you even more, causing you to gasp in surprise. 

“Y/N?” 

Jihoon knew he should wait for you to answer the door or at least speak, but the sound of your fear takes away his logic. He had asked for you to lock your door but this was one time he was glad you rarely listened to him when his eyes scanned your parlor to find you with your hands over your head sitting by your window. The pain that he had been feeling from the loss of his father is shifted to the side in place of his concern for you as Jihoon mutters your name and quickly moves across the room and kneels by your side, timidly reaching for your hands. “What’s happened? Why—are you okay?” 

Embarrassment washes over you when you realize that Jihoon is in your room, seeing you cower from a few loud noises. You are certain this isn’t who he or anyone wants for the queen. Though no one truly looked to the queen in a time of perill, you still should be able to lead and command, and here you were meeting Jihoon’s eyes, attempting to feign courage. “O–of course. I’m—nothing happ—” 

Jihoon could tell you were lying as you spoke. He had seen the times you lied and thought to some people you were a decent liar; with him, he could see right through it. Starting to call you out on it to cut you off, he doesn’t have to at the first strike of lightning and boom of thunder. The act you are putting on shatters as Jihoon watches you tightly close your eyes and visibly shake as the sound reverberates around the room. 

Storms had never bothered Jihoon; in fact, in many ways he enjoyed them. The walls of the palace made the rain louder and the thunderclaps seem to last longer, which in turn drowned out the rumbling he heard constantly. Clearly, you didn’t feel the same way. You put on a good face; it was a beautiful one and a strong one, but deep down Jihoon could see how delicate and precious you were. 

“Mon ange…” Muttering under his breath, Jihoon moves his gaze from you to the window, watching the rain angrily coming down to the earth. “I didn’t know you were afraid of storms.” Speaking loud enough for you to hear him now, he slides his hand along the back of your arm towards your elbow, trying to get your attention on him fully. “But I—” 

“You don’t know anything about me, Jihoon.” You didn’t mean to lash out at Jihoon; however, in the moment you felt raw. His words felt like needles and his touch felt foreign, because it was. No matter how much you wanted to be close to him, it was difficult to rely on someone who had spent so long pushing you away and treating you like a virus. “Wha—why are you here?” 

Your reaction to him was valid. While it stung, Jihoon understood where it came from. If Soonyoung had been there, he would agree that he brought this upon himself. Nodding along with you, he sighs and closes his hand, removing it from your arm to give you a bit of space. “I know. I—I apologize for—there’s a lot that you just don't—" Leaning his head back, Jihoon feels your eyes follow him even as he closes his eyes and takes a calming breath, feeling the waves of emotions roll over him again. “I don’t deserve your kindness with how I have treated you. There is a reason behind my actions but it’s not something I can explain to—”  

“Jihoon! You’ve been cruel. You’ve banished me to—” Wincing to another boom of thunder, you whimper and slide from the window seat into the floor next to Jihoon, feeling him shift to sit next to you. It takes a moment for you to regain your composure but he never rushes you; instead, Jihoon stays close without crowding you. “All I know are these rooms and what I have been able to explore of the palace. You won’t let me off the grounds. I try to get close to you and you get angry at me. You—” 

Tears slip down your cheeks similarly to how the rain marks the glass of your window, and all Jihoon can do is watch and listen to you falter, finally speaking through your sobs. In his mind he knew why he had made you do all of these things and why he had pushed you away but to you it made no sense. It wasn’t fair to you, just like it wasn’t fair that you never knew anything that was happening in the palace you now called your home. “There is so much I need to—Y/N… It’s difficult, but please try to understand that I have been attempting to shield you and keep you safe. I know that I have gone about it in a strange way and it’s not fair—” 

“It’s—it’s not fair! What did I do to deserve this? Why did you make me come here, Jihoon? Why me?!” Finally pulling your legs up, you lean forward and rest your forearms on your knees burying your face against your arms, letting out sobs that only get louder with each deep rumble of thunder. 

Jihoon knew that he hadn’t been the one to make you come to Aetherial Grove but he felt responsible enough. You were breaking his heart as your body shook with grief and fear, something he understood all too well. Leaning his head back against the base of the window seat, Jihoon shifts his eyes down and to the side to keep an eye on you, not rushing you as you work through your emotions. Resting his arm over his chest, he carefully reaches for your fingers, circling his thumb over the diamond on your finger. “I’m sorry, Y/N. I—I wish I could fix it. I—my father, he—” Sighing, Jihoon looks away from you, feeling your fingers shift to hold on to him at another crash of thunder as he speaks. “He died a few hours ago. Everything is going to change now.” 

The weight of Jihoon’s words hit you even as the thunder shakes your windows and you lift your head to look at him. That was why everyone was quiet and where everyone had been. Why had no one told you? Were you not important enough to know that the king had passed away? As soon as the anger starts to sink in for you and you think to complain, it passes when you see the look on Jihoon’s face. Yes, you were still upset and a lot of your frustration was with him but he was in pain. How could he not be? Then it dawns on you; he is the prince and a son. He’s not allowed to mourn the same way around certain people. Those people wouldn’t be you. 

“Oh, Jihoon…” 

There is a soft compassion in your voice that almost instantly breaks Jihoon. It reminds him of how he had heard his mother speak to his father on so many occasions. Closing his eyes tightly, Jihoon tries to force himself not to let go, but when you turn towards him and lean against him, his resolve shatters. There were only a handful of times that Jihoon could even remember truly crying. He had been taught that this sort of emotion was weak and dangerous, but with you holding his hand, he didn’t feel like anything could hurt him as he felt it all for the first time that day in waves. 

7

Jihoon had been right; everything did change. There had been a few days of mourning and a moment to breathe before the air and ground had been ripped out from underneath you both. Suddenly your days were filled with wedding preparations and daily meetings with various members of Jihoon’s family as they helped walk you through not only expectations of your wedding but the coronation. 

You had found yourself on more than one occasion wanting to find time to spend with Jihoon only to be whisked away without more than a dozen words spoken between the two of you. Even without the time you wanted, you could still feel the difference after the storm and after you had shared your feelings with Jihoon. He was different. While you could almost see the stress as it surrounded him like a blanket, you could also see the tenderness in his gaze as he looked at you. You could feel the same each time he would lift your hand and kiss the back of your knuckles before apologizing for once again being pulled away to a meeting, leaving you to deal with the wedding on your own. 

“You’ve changed him.” 

There had been very few moments when you had spent an extended period of time alone with the queen, but today was one of them. The two of you watch as Jihoon once again excuses himself and with her words, your cheeks warm as they would be if you were standing too close to the fireplace. Pressing your lips together, you pick up the sample fabrics laid between the two of you when she smiles and reaches for your hand, taking your fingers into her own and squeezing them gently. 

“I don’t know how. And I know it’s been a difficult few months with us.” 

Hearing her voice break, you finally lift your head and meet Jihoon’s mother’s eyes with concern, sliding your hand into hers and offering her comfort. You watch as she smiles sadly and tilts her head, looking down at your hand as she adjusts the ring on your finger, remembering when Jihoon’s father had put it on her hand so many years ago. 

“He’s difficult, I know. We are difficult. I’m not proud of how—” Shaking her head, she sniffs back her tears along with her words, choosing not to go on with them. “I hope that you can grow to love him. That you will learn to love one another. He’s so special, Y/N. You are special; I feel it.” 

There was so much left unsaid. Not only from the queen but Jihoon. It seemed that almost everyone in the palace would skirt around things, keeping just enough information from you as if it would keep you pliant. Sighing, you tilt your head and smile at the woman watching her fingers adjust your ring with precision and care. “Thank you, Madame. I haven’t… I—well, if anything, I fear I’ve frustrated him more than anything. He just pushes—” Realizing that you are starting to complain about her son, your soon-to-be husband, and the soon-to-be king, you swallow hard and put a smile back on your face. “I will improve on my ability to adapt and obey my husband.” 

It wasn’t much of a secret—your discomfort and Jihoon’s seeming disinterest in you and your feelings. While Jihoon’s mother knew that most of what Jihoon had been doing had kept you healthy and alive, it still was a lot for you to handle. You had come from a completely different kingdom to a place where you were expected to follow a new set of rules, and you had your life turned upside down in the matter of days. Now just a few months later, it had happened again; you were being sent spiraling down the aisle. 

“Mm, and I’m sure over time things will get easier... for the both of you.” 

You wished that the queen would say more. It was always like she wanted to tell you something, give more advice, and yet she’d swallow it every single time before changing the subject back to the wedding or the coronation. You were left looking over the fabrics in your lap as she spoke softly enough for you to almost drown her out, leaving her voice a dull echo in the room as she planned much of it for you with Jieun. 

Jihoon was growing tired of meetings already and he knew for the rest of his life this is what he had to look forward to. Sitting at the head of the table, he let the paper rest between his fingers as he pretended to look over it as much as he pretended to be listening to his cousin speak about the same topic for the last twenty minutes. None of this was important. He had more important things—in his opinion—to be doing, and you had looked so disappointed when he had once again been pulled away from you and the wedding planning. 

It wasn’t as if he had wanted this. He didn’t want to be listening to budget adjustments and which kingdoms owed Aetherial Grove what. He knew most of them owed something, and to him it didn’t matter. Aetherial Grove had more than enough to endure for centuries at this point, and he knew why. He dealt with the backlash of that deal almost every night, and every night that he wasn’t getting his body torn apart, he was thrashing in his bed with nightmares. 

“So it might do us well to seek out some repayment from at least thirty percent of these—” 

“Why? Where did you find that number?” 

It seemed that others in the room found it surprising that Jihoon had actually been following along, with how he had seemed to be staring off into the table. When he spoke, it caused several of the men in the room to shift uncomfortably and to straighten their backs, realizing their crown prince, the man they would call king in just a matter of two weeks, was listening to every single word despite him wanting to or not. 

“I—from my research, Ji—Monseigneur. It would benefit us. There is a royal wedding in less than a week and a coronation. I—I’m not certain that you understand how expensive—”

“I understand that you all seem to think I’m an idiot. You think that because I am new to this particular station and not yet fully seated that you can get by with whatever you wish; that won’t happen.” Pushing the papers from in front of him, Jihoon moves to stand, watching many of the others in the room do the same, but mostly Soonyoung and Wonwoo, who are ready to do what he commands. “Leave the other kingdoms alone. If the wedding and coronation are so expensive that you have to find ways to subsidise the budget, we can cut back on both. There is no need for all the fanfare. I doubt Madame Y/N would much disagree with me on this. Neither of us need some grand affair—” 

“It’s for neither of you! It’s for your kingdom, Monseigneur!” Having kept quiet for most of the meeting, Jihoon’s eldest uncle finally leans forward and raises his voice, causing the rest of the room to fall silent. “As for what Madame Y/N wants, I don’t care and I doubt many others do either. We appreciate her presence and she is a requirement, but she doesn’t get a say in this. You barely get a say in this. You aren’t king yet. We might have money to make this all work, but you need to learn the ins and outs of your kingdom before you go about throwing around your ego and making big decisions.” 

The room suddenly felt smaller; too small, as Jihoon stared at the older man, feeling his chest tightening. He knew there would be push and pull as he took his rightful place as king and knew there would be those who would think to know better than him; he just hadn’t expected it to be those who had held his father in such high regard. “I care.” 

Jihoon’s voice is smaller than intended at first, causing his uncle to furrow his brows and lean forward to hear him better, but the second time that Jihoon speaks, he has the man and other’s sitting back in their seats. “I care, what Y/N wants! You can have your wedding and your coronations, but you will not speak about her like that again. You won’t speak to me like that. This meeting is over, gentlemen. I have a fiancée to see to.” 

8

There were only 36 hours left before you would officially be Jihoon’s wife. Invitations had been sent out and guests were beginning to arrive from surrounding kingdoms, including your own. You had been thrilled when your mother and father had arrived and you had been able to see the pride in their eyes as you walked them through your new home. 

It was easy to see that the benefit of your dowry was making a difference for them. You could see the difference mostly in your father. The stress that you had almost grown accustomed to seeing etched on his face was gone,replaced with happiness as he held your mother close and complimented every detail of the palace. You had felt the most sense of pride yourself when Jihoon had finally made time to meet your parents and put on his best face. 

Over the time since his father had passed away, Jihoon had changed dramatically. You could see it; everyone could, and yet there was still something so distant about him that you were trying to figure out. He still wouldn’t allow you the freedom you longed for and still kept you at a distance that left you cold and left your heart slowly splintering. 

“Of course you are welcome to visit Y/N, and she—perhaps she could visit you more often.” 

Jihoon’s words have your parent’s preening, your mother swooning over him and your father in awe, but to you, you can sense that he’s trying to get you out of the palace. You aren’t even sure how you know, but you do, and it’s even more obvious to you when Jihoon meets your eyes and stumbles over his words before dismissing himself to get back to important matters. 

“I—I’ll see you later for din—dinner.” The disappointment was evident in your eyes and Jihoon had to get away from it. You saw right through him and sometimes he was terrified that you saw more than he wanted. Did you know more than you let on? What if you knew about his curse? Would you hate him? Hate that you were marrying a murderer? Barely brushing his lips against your fingers, Jihoon blows out a panicked breath and slips out of the room. Meeting the eyes of a tall and broad man, he nods in his direction without asking who he is or why he is there. Instead, he moves quickly down the hall and out of sight, not hearing as Wonwoo announces the arrival of another guest. 

“Madame. Monsieur Kim Mingyu, Duke of Leressair, has arrived.” 

You aren’t sure why you hadn’t expected Mingyu to accept your invitation, but seeing him for the first time in so many months has your heart in your throat. Quickly standing, you smooth your dress and listen as your father greets Mingyu, ushering him into the room towards the sofas. 

“Thank you.” Unable to keep his smile from growing too wide as he looks at you, Mingyu takes in a deep breath and lets it out a bit unsteadily. He almost hadn’t accepted the invitation but the desire to see you at least one more time was too great and if it had to be like this, then so be it. “Madame—” 

“Stop it.” The playful smile on Mingyu’s lips as he uses your title makes your stomach tighten even as he reaches for your hand, bringing your knuckles to his lips and kissing them gently, managing to linger just a second too long. “Don’t call me that, please.” 

“Mm, fine. It’s wonderful to see you, Y/N. You look—” Mingyu lets out another breath, trying not to overstep but it had always been difficult when it came to you and he wasn’t sure if your prince was in the room or not. “Congratulations on your wedding. I’m glad you invited me. Care to, uh—wanna show me around?” 

It was a bold attempt at getting you alone so you could talk freely, but it worked. You knew that your parents trusted Mingyu and you had no reason not to, despite your own heart beating out of your chest as you looked at him now. Offering him your hand, you smile as Mingyu carefully guides it through his arm to rest on his forearm before letting you lead the way. 

The moment that you and Mingyu step out of the room, you know you aren’t alone. You can feel eyes behind you and hear the muffled steps drawing your eyes over your shoulder as you frown at Wonwoo. “I—Wonwoo… I’m fine. I am just showing him around the palace. I don’t need a sitter.” 

“Not my intention, Madame. Simply following protocol... You would rather I—” 

“I would rather you didn’t follow me. Please? I want to talk to my friend. If Jihoon needs me, I’m certain any one of you can find me. I am not difficult to find and Mingyu is very obvious.” 

It was clear that Wonwoo wasn’t sure about following your wishes, his eyes moving over Mingyu as the taller man offers him a simple smile, almost feigning innocence, letting you speak for him. “If that’s what you want, Madame...” Wonwoo had no reason not to like Kim Mingyu, but he already felt uneasy with him here. 

Sighing, clearly exasperated, you tug on Mingyu’s arm and lead him forward. Nodding at Wonwoo, you watch the steward stay where he is, though his eyes follow you until you are out of sight. 

“Is it always like this? You aren’t allowed to just—I don’t know, exist?” 

Finally, someone understood how you felt without you having to sit down and explain it to them. Pouting up at Mingyu, you turn towards the gardens and sigh under your breath. So often since you had arrived in Aetherial Grove, you had felt like a prisoner in a fancy cell and this was one of the only times you felt like you had a semblance of freedom. “You have no idea, Mingyu. I—I shouldn’t speak poorly of my new family.” 

“It’s between us, Y/N, as always. Your secrets are my secrets. That hasn’t changed, dove.” 

The pet name slipping from Mingyu’s lips not only has your cheeks burning but also a bit of shame and excitement rushing through you as you lead him further into the gardens away from the palace to enjoy the privacy. The name was nothing romantic or anything you should be ashamed of, but it could be misunderstood. It had come simply from your wish to be as free as a bird all of your life. You had sat in your window and Mingyu had caught you so many times staring off at the sky and daydreaming that the name had stuck when he had asked you if you were going to fly away like a dove. 

“No, perhaps not, but it feels like it’s been so long since I’ve seen you now. Things are complicated here.” Sliding your hand along Mingyu’s arm, your fingers catch his briefly, feeling him almost attempting to keep your hand in his before you find your hand back at your side. Looking down at the flowers, you sigh under your breath, feeling Mingyu’s eyes on you, forever patient as always, though his eyes move along your face and down your body, studying you. “I’m not allowed to leave the palace and there’s only so much I am able to do inside. It’s suffocating. I–” 

Mingyu watches you laugh; though he can tell the laugh is without humor, it’s almost sad, causing him to furrow his brows and move closer to you. Wrapping his fingers around your wrist where your bracelet once sat every day while you lived in Thornwood, he gently taps at your pulse point and smiles at you, almost feeling your stress flowing through your body as you stand amongst the various flowers. “You what? Seriously, tell me. I’m not going to run to the prince and tell him. I don’t even know what he looks like. I’ve only heard stories.” 

You had seen Jihoon look at Mingyu as he had walked in, but clearly they hadn’t been introduced; you’d have to fix that at some point. Mingyu was so important to you, and Jihoon was and would remain important. There was no ending marriage for someone like you. This was your one and only chance, and it terrified you to look at the person who you thought you were going to be spending that chance with, seeing the kindness in his eyes that you so rarely got from Jihoon. 

“I feel like a prisoner sometimes.” Grimacing, you whine and tug your wrist from Mingyu, almost hating that he’s touching you when you feel so gross about your own words. You shouldn’t feel that way about the people who were giving you so much and giving your kingdom even more. They were saving your people and they hadn’t truly done anything wrong to you. It was more about how you felt, about how your heart felt. “I’m awful.” 

“Stop, no, you not. You aren’t happy, Y/N. I could tell the moment I laid eyes on you.” Sliding his hands into yours, Mingyu turns you towards him and leans down to make you meet his eyes, watching you pout at him still. "Dove, you want me to steal you? I’ll do it. I’ll run away with you in a heartbeat.” 

It was a cute joke and a sweet dream. Laughing under your breath, you glance away from Mingyu even as your reaction makes his smile falter. He knew you wouldn’t accept it. You were a child of responsibility and duty. This marriage was your duty and you wouldn’t run away from it, no matter how much Mingyu tried to convince you otherwise. He wished with all of his heart that he had made you a ring instead of a bracelet and he wished even more right now that you were still wearing the bracelet. 

“Well, the offer stands. Forever.” Lifting your hand slightly to look at your ring, Mingyu tries to judge it harshly but even he has to admit its fitting for your beauty. At least Jihoon had done that right, even if he wasn’t keeping you happy. “I wish—it’s stupid of me, but I wish you were wearing your bracelet. I’m sure the prince won’t allow it though.” 

The mention of your bracelet causes even the slightest smile on your lips to fade quickly as you think about the shards of gold sitting on your vanity. Lowering your eyes to the ground, you shake your head and lick your lips before trying to think of the best lie you can, not wanting to hurt Mingyu anymore than you have to. “I—no. I’m sorry. It wouldn’t be appropriate.” 

Shivering in the cold, Jihoon narrows his eyes as he watches you move deeper into the garden on another man’s arm. Jihoon trusted you. There wasn’t really any reason for him to be concerned until this Kim Mingyu had shown up at the palace. The man hadn’t even been on his radar until Wonwoo had found him and let him know that you and Mingyu had decided to walk alone. That on its own didn’t have Jihoon where he was now, casually keeping his distance as he listened to you laugh softly at the man’s words and seemingly swoon over him; it was more how he was looking at you. 

You seemed oblivious to it while not immune to Mingyu’s charm. That wasn’t your fault; you were a woman whose betrothed had been pushing her away for months, and now a man you had known for years was showing you kindness and interest. The entire display was enough to make Jihoon’s stomach twist with something he wasn’t used to feeling on his own without the beast provoking it: jealousy. 

“No—I, Y/N… I completely understand. It really wouldn’t be. I just miss seeing it on your arm, though—” Laughing softly, Mingyu guides you by your wrist towards one of the concrete benches to sit down so he can do the same next to you, not realizing that Jihoon is watching so closely from the shadows. “It’s nothing compared to how pretty you are. It’s really wasn’t up to par with what I can make now. I’ve been practicing; in fact, I made you something. You know, as a wedding gift.” 

As always, Mingyu has your heart racing and your face on fire with his compliments. Shaking your head, you try to argue with him, but at the mention of a gift, you whine his name and draw your shoulders up towards your cheeks in an attempt to hide from his attention. 

“Now, why are you doing that? It’s nothing big, just a little thing, Dove. Here…”

Clenching his fist at his side, Jihoon watches Mingyu take the small bag from his jacket as he feels the hair at the back of his neck stand up much like the hackles of an animal sensing danger. He didn’t like this man. Mingyu didn’t know boundaries. Where did he get off calling you Dove and giving you gifts days before you were getting married? You were Jihoon's... Taking a deep breath and letting it out under his breath, it comes out more of a growl than a breath as he watches you take the necklace from the pouch. You liked it. Your heart was racing. Jihoon could hear it from here—the beast could hear it. It pissed Jihoon off just as much as it pissed off the beast. 

“Oh my god, Mingyu. It’s gorgeous. You really have gotten so good at this.” Tracing the golden bird in your palm, you frown slightly, feeling a pang of guilt over how much you like the necklace. You shouldn’t accept it, and yet it feels like a piece of home to replace the bracelet that Jihoon had ruined and taken from you. Taking a deep breath, you hold it for a second before nodding and letting it out sharply, making up your mind. You’d accept it and wear it. Jihoon didn’t have to know. “Will you put it on for me?” 

You were too naive, and it made Jihoon want to be sick as Mingyu grinned, taking the necklace from you to do as you asked. Of course he would put the necklace on for you. It didn’t mean the same thing to Mingyu as it did to you, but how could you know that? You were just a stupid little girl with her head in the clouds while Jihoon could read all the signs that Mingyu was throwing at you. 

“So beautiful and it looks perfect on you, Y/N.” Trailing his fingers along your neck even after he’s clasped the necklace, Mingyu leans his head around to look at you, watching you smile at his compliment. You were perfect and somehow you looked even more perfect with that necklace on. “Promise you’ll try to wear it whenever you can? Remember me just a little bit, even when you’re a fancy queen?” 

Leaning back slightly as you laugh, you roll your eyes to Mingyu’s teasing, trying to tell him you’d try only to stop laughing or smiling at all when he presses his lips to your cheek closer to your jaw. “I—yes. I—we should go inside, Mingyu.” 

The kiss was enough to make Jihoon move, his hands now securely in his pockets as he put on a fake friendly face, moving through the garden as if searching for you. “Oh, there you are, mon ange. That’s a pretty necklace.” Lifting his brow, Jihoon lets out a breath through his nose, meeting Mingyu’s eyes as he still speaks to you, watching you shift to sit on your own away from Mingyu. “Who’s this?” 

You hadn’t expected Jihoon to look for you. He never really had before and he had never, to your knowledge, called you anything other than your name or your title. Why was he calling you angel now? Putting your hand over the necklace in question, you feel your heart attempting to beat out of your chest as Mingyu smiles and half smirks up at Jihoon realizing who he is. “I—thank you. This is Kim Mingyu. He’s—” 

“Monseigneur, I presume? Kim Mingyu, Duke of Leressair. I’m an old friend—” 

“I see and you presume correctly, Monsieur.” Turning his attention from Mingyu, Jihoon presses his lips together before offering you his hand, waiting for you to take it. “We should prepare for dinner. Allow our guests time to do the same. I have something I want to speak to you about anyway.” 

Jihoon’s eyes never leave you, even as you seem to struggle with your decision. Finally watching you put your hand in his, his lips pull up into something that resembles the half smirk that Mingyu had given him before he takes a step back, helping you to your feet. “We will see you at dinner, Monsieur. Say goodbye, darling.” 

Between the feeling of Jihoon’s hand on yours and his intense gaze, you feel almost faint. This was different from what you were used to. You had never seen him act like this before, almost possessive over you—was that what this was? A show of dominance? Glancing back over your shoulder as Jihoon guides you away from Mingyu, you furrow your brows and whisper your goodbye to your friend as he offers you a soft smile and a nod. 

“I’ll see you at dinner, Y/N.” 

Once inside the palace, the feeling of Jihoon’s hand around yours causes your anxiety to spike even higher. You find your mind racing as he leads you silently down the hall towards your rooms before finally stopping to push the door open and leading you inside and dropping your hand. Glancing around the room, you avoid his eyes and move towards one of your sofas when he finally speaks, stopping you in your tracks. 

“Don’t go anywhere with him alone again, and I—” Struggling with what he knows he wants to say and what he has to say, Jihoon moves closer to you, carefully touching your arms, feeling you jump slightly. You were afraid of him. That was good and yet it still broke his heart. “You can’t wear this. Do you know how it would look?” Unable to see how your composure breaks, Jihoon carefully undoes your necklace, bringing the delicate chain into his hand along with the dove charm, leaving your neck bare. 

Twice now he had taken home away from you. Tears slowly slide down your cheeks as you watch Jihoon move towards your vanity to lay down the necklace near the broken bracelet. You watch as he takes in a deep breath, picking up a piece of gold furrowing his brows at it, though you don’t know what he is thinking; it just serves to anger you more. “Could you leave, please?” 

He deserved that. Your anger and the contempt in your voice. Gently putting the broken piece of the bracelet back with the others, Jihoon sighs and glances over his shoulder at you, seeing the tears drip from your face. Was this possibly worse than killing you? He hated both situations, but he also hated seeing that man’s hands on you and his lips against your skin. “No, not yet. I—” 

“Why not? There’s nothing to say or do, Jihoon. I just—please leave me alone.” 

The room seems too small as you close your eyes and wrap your arms around yourself, knowing that Jihoon is watching you so closely. You listen between your sobs to hear him leave the room but it never happens; instead, you open your eyes to find him sitting on the arm of your sofa, his eyes on his hands as he turns the ring on his index finger, slowly waiting for you to calm down. 

“Do you hate me?” 

Another valid question for you to ask and yet again it broke Jihoon’s heart. You were leaving jagged pieces in his heart with almost every word and all Jihoon could do was shake his head and hope for a way to make this better. “Of course not. Y/N, I—we are getting married; how could I hate you?” 

“Marriage and your ability to care about someone don’t go hand in hand, Jihoon. You could hate me and tolerate me as your wife.” Wiping your cheeks free of tears even as more fall, you move past him, feeling his eyes follow you. “As long as I can stand by your side as a decent queen and provide an heir, I’ve met my purpose. I just need to keep my mouth shut and my legs open, right? I’ve been told it enough tim—”

“Jesus, fucking Christ, Y/N! Who told you that? It wasn’t me.” Moving to his feet, Jihoon lifts his hands as you seem to recoil at his raised voice. He didn’t want to scare you again, but you were spiraling and going off on a tangent once again. “I have never once said—” 

“You told me to shut my mouth the night of our engagement party.” 

Jihoon’s brows furrow, his words dying in his mouth before he’s finished when you speak over him. He barely remembered that night at the party. He had made it out of the palace and off the grounds before shifting; he remembered more of what had happened in the forest and how the beast had killed every animal in its path. “What? I don’t—” 

“‘Shut your mouth, Y/N and obey me.’ You said that you put the ring on my finger and that I would obey you. Is that what you want from me now, Jihoon? Because that’s what everyone else seems to think I should do.” Looking down at the ring on your finger, you furrow your brows at it, having grown to hate it. “Provide you children and obey you, day in and day out. Even if you yell at me and tell me to lock myself in my rooms for the rest of my fucking life.” Sniffing back tears hard, you defiantly meet Jihoon’s eyes even as you see the shock and pain behind them as you speak. “I hope I never give you a child.” 

While he wasn’t going to say it to you now, Jihoon hoped the same. He was terrified that he would put something like himself inside of you. Not only would he curse another person by them being born like him, but he’d put that thing inside of you. But it wasn’t the fact that he agreed with you that it hurt Jihoon, but that you’d say it out of anger. You hated him that much. “Perhaps you won’t. Time will tell, won’t it?” Running his fingers through his hair, Jihoon shakes his head and glances towards your window, knowing it was getting closer to dinner time. He wanted dinner over and done with as soon as possible. Everyone tucked away safely in their beds. “Everything I do, I do it for you.” 

Wrapping your arms around you at Jihoon’s words, you tilt your head, feeling a pang of resentment towards the man in front of you. “So you say so very often with no explanation. Please… leave.” Your eyes follow Jihoon as he stands and moves towards you, stopping by your side to look at you, though you turn your head away, not wanting to look at him. You only feel his hand take yours and feel his lips brush over your knuckles as always before you head the door open and close to your room, leaving you alone. 

9

"Oh, terribly so. Until she was 10 years old, I believe.” 

Hiding your face with your hands, you whine as your father tells yet another story to embarrass you hearing Jihoon’s mother coo at how adorable you are. Across the table from you, Mingyu grins at your reaction, using his napkin to wipe his lips as he furrows his brows and nods along. 

“She’s still afraid of storms, Your Majesty. She may have hid it well, but up to the day she left for this—" Choosing his words wisely, Mingyu nods at the Queen, shooting her a bright smile. “Beautiful kingdom, she would tremble and simply shut down at the first rumble of thunder. I’m sure it hasn’t changed. You would have to wrap her up in a blanket and keep her sheltered until it passed or she’d suffer too much.” 

Mingyu was sharing too much. Shifting a bit uncomfortable in your chair, you reach for your wine once again when Jihoon takes it from you, taking a sip of his own and then offering it to you as he hums in appreciation. 

“Mm, Monsieur Mingyu is right. I found my darling Y/N during the most recent storm, after—” Furrowing his brows, Jihoon clears his throat and chooses not to talk about his father, instead he smiles and shakes his head, looking over at you. “Anyway, she made it through just fine with someone simply by her side. She’s much stronger than some give her credit for.” 

You didn’t need Jihoon to stick up for you. You couldn’t shake the feeling of him trying just a little too hard, asserting his dominance a bit too much. By the end of the dinner, you find yourself feeling drained between his need to hover and Mingyu’s need to meet him at every level. At the beginning of the afternoon you hadn’t noticed it, their preening, but it had become all too clear by dessert as you hoped and prayed for dinner to come to an end. 

Jihoon wanted nothing more than to walk you to your room for the night. He had watched you stare at your cake, your fork slicing off thin bits that you never ate until most of it lay in a pile on your plate while others laughed and drank around the table out of celebration. They were all distracted; well, most of them. He had noticed Mingyu watching you as well. He knew that the other man had realized how distracted you were and even now, as the dinner was wrapping up, he was lingering. 

“Y/N…” 

“Mon ange.” 

The two voices pull your attention from your destroyed dessert and up to where Jihoon stands to your right and Mingyu just a bit further to your left. When had everyone else left? Were you that distracted? Dropping your fork, you mutter your apologies, allowing the servant to take the plates from in front of you, meeting her worried look before you start to slide your chair back, feeling Jihoon ease it from you, making it easier to stand up. 

“Are you alright? I—perhaps we could take a walk?” 

Mingyu was being bold and right in front of Jihoon. You could feel the heat from Jihoon’s body as he steps closer to you, meeting the larger man’s eyes over your shoulder. Before he is able to speak, you remember what Jihoon said in your room, and you shake your head and offer Mingyu a sad, genuine smile. “I’m so tired. Rain check? I just want to go to bed.” 

“I’ll get you to your room, Y/N.”

The tension between you and Jihoon was evident even as he guided you out of the dining hall and deeper into the palace with his hand on your lower back. He felt too warm, too close. You were still angry at him and you didn’t want him to walk you anywhere. 

“I can make it the rest of the way myself.” 

Rolling his eyes, Jihoon sighs your name under his breath, grabbing your arm at your elbow when you try to walk away from him. This wasn’t the time to be frustrating him. It was too dark outside and though he could feel that he might not shift tonight, he was close. The beast was right under his skin, causing his emotions to be heightened. “I said I’d get you to your room. So, please... stop acting like this. Are you just trying to get away from me so you can run back to your friend?” The moment the words leave Jihoon’s mouth, he feels regret wash over him, especially when he sees the look on your face. “Shit, I—no, wait. I’m sorry, Y/N!” 

With Jihoon, he really did take one step forward and two steps back. With those words spoken aloud, he took five massive steps back and he might as well have punched you in the stomach. Tugging your arm free from his grip, feeling his fingers try to grip you tightly, possibly leaving a bruise, you find yourself not caring as you sniff back your tears and start walking quickly away from him as he tries to apologize. “Why? Why are you sorry? Because you said it, or because you think I—” Grimacing, unable to even say the words, you shake your head and throw up your hands out of anger. 

Jihoon finds himself walking behind you, his fingers working through his hair out of nerves as he tries to keep up and think of how to fix this. “No! Wait—I, yes! I’m sorry because I said it! I didn’t mean it!” Stopping quickly when he reaches your door to watch it be slammed in his face, Jihoon lets out a loud, frustrated breath as he leans his forehead against it and presses his palms next to his head. “I know you wouldn’t! Please let me in and talk to me. Don’t—come on! We are getting married in a day!” 

Resting your head back against the door, you feel fresh tears stream down your cheeks and along your neck as Jihoon knocks on your door, begging you to speak to him and to forgive him. You knew when you were getting married and you were beginning to wonder if you should take Mingyu’s proposal up and run away with him. As quickly as the thought passes through your mind, a wave of guilt rushes through you, pain hitting your chest and stomach and causing you to sob loud enough that Jihoon’s knocks stop. You wonder if he has left, but his soft voice a moment later tells you that he hasn’t. 

“Y/N… I hate myself for this. For—for making you feel like this. I’m a curse to everyone around me. D-do you—” Sliding down the door, Jihoon sits on the floor against it, knocking his head back against the wood before reaching up to rest his head in his hands. “If you want to leave me, I’d let you. I would tell them you—I don’t know. I’d make up something, if that’s what you want.” 

Silence. You aren’t even listening to him. Jihoon feels like a fool for even trying to speak to you. You clearly hate him more than anyone else in the world, but then that feels impossible because no one could hate him more than himself. Sitting in his own self-loathing, Jihoon pushes his thumb against his palm hard, wondering if he should give up when he hears the lock of your door turn and feels the surface behind him shift, leaving him sitting on his own as he looks up at you from the floor. 

“Y/N…” 

Taking a step back, you let Jihoon get to his feet, his hands quickly trying to wipe the dust from his pants so that he looks somewhat more presentable before he moves into the room once you let him. 

“We have a duty, Jihoon.” 

"No, I know th—” 

“Let me speak.” No other woman had ever spoken to Jihoon like you did or made him feel this way. You commanded the space, even with tears drying on your cheeks and a look of heartbreak in your eyes. “I came here for Thornwood and I’m not a coward. I said I would marry you and that’s what I intend on doing, but things have to change.”

Change terrified Jihoon. Swallowing hard, he tilts his head, watching you appraise him and his reaction. He wanted to give into you so easily and give you everything you wanted, but was it that easy? The beast would kill you the first chance it got. “Y/N…” 

“Things have to change, Jihoon! I’m not your prisoner. I’m not a doll that you can lock away in some room and play with when you see fit. I’m going to be the queen.” 

You were right; he knew that. Grimacing even as he nodded, Jihoon watches your expression soften. He wasn’t completely giving into this; there would still need to be some safe guards put up, but perhaps he could allow some changes for your happiness. “Okay, but we have to compromise. I still don’t want you going out at night, ever.” 

It takes everything in you not to lash out at Jihoon; it’s only the look in his eye—a genuine look of concern for you—that makes you even consider that he’s not just trying to keep some power over you. “I—fine. I don’t get it, but I won’t go outside after dark.” 

Relief washes over Jihoon and he nods along with your words, taking a step closer to you, happy when you don’t instantly move away from him. “There are things in the dark that you don’t understand, Y/N. I don’t want you hurt, or worse. So that’s the only thing I ask for right now.” 

To you, it sounded like ghost stories and fairy tales once again getting the best of the imaginations of the residents of Aetherial Grove; you just hadn’t expected it to be their prince who fell for them. You didn’t expect those stories to make him pale and to look sick to his stomach as he reached for your hands, wanting you close. “I—okay. They’re just stories, Jihoon, but I’ll stay inside at night. I said I would. Stop worrying so much. We have enough to worry about besides ghost stories.” 

Ghosts? If only that were the worst of Jihoon’s troubles. He had never seen a ghost in his life. He didn’t question their existence. Perhaps they did exist and wandered another realm, but in his world he had bigger things to worry about. Offering you a smile, Jihoon nods and lifts your hands bringing them to his lips kissing both of your hands and resting his lips against your left for a moment longer before taking a step back. “You’re right, darling.” 

10

You had always been told that dream weddings were made for princesses. So why was it on your own wedding day that you didn’t feel like it was your own wedding? You were in your dress, your flowers in your hand, as you stood next to your father in front of the large church doors, listening to the beautiful music, but it was as if you were watching someone else get married. 

“Ready, honey?” 

Had you said yes? You couldn’t remember, but it didn’t matter. You were putting on a smile and avoiding the eyes of everyone as you walked down the aisle, just attempting not to trip. One, two, three, four, five, six—by the time you reached the front of the church, you had counted 79 flower petals that had been dropped by one of your youngest cousins. They were very pretty petals. What did petals lining a wedding aisle mean again? Luck? Fertility? Transformation? A bond between families? 

“My wife and I.” 

Your father was speaking and offering your hand to someone else. You were getting married. Lifting your eyes, you meet Jihoon’s feeling, and your heart starts to beat frantically as it all seems to set in for you. The air settles around you and his hands on yours ground you bringing you back to reality. 

“You okay?” 

What did he want you to say? You could barely find words to speak so instead you smile and nod, watching him do the same as the priest continues the ceremony. You find yourself transfixed on the man in front of you, every piece of hair in place, his handsome smile, and his beautiful brown eyes. 

“Yes, I do.” 

He does? What does he—- 

“Madame Y/N Y/L/N of Thornwood, do you take this man, Monseigneur Lee Jihoon, to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

The room had become deathly silent. You could hear a pin drop as they waited for your answer and all you could truly hear was your heart and unsteady breath as Jihoon kept his eyes on you. The words sit on the tip of your tongue until Jihoon’s fingers gently squeeze yours, giving you the confidence you need to continue and gaining a happy whispered cheer from the audience watching. 

“Ye—yes, I do.” 

Blowing out a breath, playfully. Jihoon smiles when you finally do speak, feeling the tension release from your fingers. You were nervous and that was making him even more nervous. You seemed like you were in another world until he finally brought you back and now that he had you and the priest was delivering the last of his lines, Jihoon felt like he could either throw up or like his chest could explode from being overwhelmed. 

“I now pronounce you man and wife. Monseigneur, you may kiss your bride.” 

His bride. His. He had never kissed you before, no more than the back of your knuckles but that hadn’t meant that he hadn’t thought about it or dreamt of it. Swallowing hard, Jihoon nods and takes one hand from yours to cup your jaw gingerly as he leans forward, his lips resting mere centimeters from yours, letting you decide to do the rest. 

Why had he stopped? Whining under your breath, feeling Jihoon’s breath against your lips, you furrow your brows and close the distance, pressing your lips against his for the first time hearing the audience burst into a loud cheer seeing the first kiss shared by a husband and wife. You had shared a kiss with Mingyu before; it had been small, just his lips brushing against yours before you had pulled away, but this was different. You could feel Jihoon smile against your lips. You could almost taste him before he pulled away, leaving you breathless and stunned at the alter next to him. 

It shouldn’t surprise you or Jihoon that the rest of the reception would be a whirlwind of well wishes and unsolicited advice. You find that once again your only saving grace is the man standing beside you, his hand linked with yours and his thumb rubbing small circles on the inside of your wrist as he carries most of the conversations. 

“Mm, no. We won’t be going anywhere. We have the coronation set for the middle of next week and there is so much to be done here. I will enjoy my bride at home. I’m hoping to spend as much time with her as possible.” 

You find yourself wondering how much of Jihoon’s words are true. Would he spend extra time with you? What would tonight be like? The idea of your wedding night has your stomach in knots and Jihoon tugging you tighter to his side, feeling your fingers closing around his. 

“I—mm, no, thank you. We’re fine. Really, we won’t travel often. If Y/N wants to travel—” 

Why wouldn’t Jihoon travel? That had come up time and time again. He was ready to send you back home to visit your parents. You two would be going nowhere after your wedding and now he was offering to let you travel without him? Furrowing your brows, you look up at your husband finally meeting his eyes, making him laugh a bit awkwardly and excuse you both as he grabs two glasses of champagne, leading you towards one of the windows, letting you rest against the sill. 

“This is exhausting. Are you alright?” 

Gladly accepting the glass, you hum between sips before tilting your head and looking out over the crowd that was luckily getting smaller as the afternoon crept by. “Fine. Ready to be alone. This is just overwhelming.” 

Nodding into his own glass, Jihoon lets his eyes move around the room before they land on Mingyu, who nods in acknowledgement before looking away. He was ready for everyone to leave as well, ready for them to go back to where they belonged—especially Kim Mingyu. “It’ll be done soon and you can head to bed.” 

Pausing mid-drink, you glance up at Jihoon before lowering your glass. "Oh, and should I—” Taking a deep breath, you close your eyes, turning your head away, feeling awkward and uncertain about how to continue without sounding desperate. “Should I expect anyone to join me?” 

Jihoon had taken a drink and swallowed half of it when you finally got your words out. He wasn’t sure what he had expected, but it wasn’t that. He hadn’t meant to react the way he had, but being caught off guard and feeling the champagne take a sudden wrong turn, Jihoon finds himself coughing as he tries to calm himself down and avoid your eyes and others as they look at him concerned. “I’m fine… I—” Tilting his head and clearing his throat, Jihoon holds up his hand, keeping others from approaching him or you as he repeats that he doesn’t need help. “I’m fine, I promise.” 

“Was my question that shocking?” 

Jihoon watches your lips quiver slightly, only for you to hide your emotions by taking a sip of the drink in your hand. “No—I, yes. I won’t lie, yes, but also it shouldn’t have been. Y/N, I’m not meaning to upset you.” 

Shaking your head, you clear your throat, feeling your cheeks flair with warmth from embarrassment. You were such a fool for even considering that Jihoon would come to your room or want you like that even if you were his wife. “I’m not upset. I’m tired. I’m going to go ahead and call it an evening. Say goodbye to the guests, Jihoon.” Stepping away from him, you meet his eyes, feeling his fingers trail over yours. “And get a wonderful night’s sleep.” 

Pinching the bridge of his nose between his fingers, Jihoon groans in frustration at you and mostly himself as the door closes behind you, leaving him alone with the guests in the dining hall at the wedding reception. He had once again messed up and was left to clean up the mess. It wasn’t like he didn’t want to see you or be with you, but tonight was going to be a bad night. 

Some nights Jihoon couldn’t tell when he was going to shift, and others like tonight he could feel it from a mile away. Every inch of his body felt like it was on fire and the rumbling in his ears had been loud from the moment he had gotten up. He had barely made it through the wedding on sheer will, but now you had left him to the lions, and one in particular looked overly amused. 

Working his way through the remaining guests, bidding them a goodnight and explaining you had needed to go lay down with a headache, Jihoon felt his own headache growing with every single lie he told. It wasn’t until Mingyu had given him one more smirk and sipped at his whiskey that Jihoon cracked. “Something on your mind, Mingyu?” 

“Of course not, Monseigneur. Just awaiting my turn to give my well wishes to the beautiful couple before I retire for the night, but—oh, where is your bride, Monseigneur?” 

He was playing with fire and clearly drunk. Laughing under his breath, Jihoon nods and wipes his finger under his nose, moving closer to Mingyu. He could feel a subtle shift in the air, not realizing his eyes had already shifted in color from brown to gold. “Waiting for me in bed, like a good wife. Where she belongs.” 

Mingyu’s smile falters not only at Jihoon’s words but also at the change in his tone and the difference in Jihoon’s eye color. “Yeah, that so? She didn’t seem very happy earlier. So I figured you wouldn’t be satisfying her on her wedding night. Or at least that’s what her face was saying. I know her pretty well, you see.” 

Scoffing, Jihoon digs his nails into his palm, taking a step towards Mingyu, who doesn’t budge. “Do you know her pretty well? How well? Careful with your next words...” 

He had no reason to be afraid of Jihoon, and yet the air around Jihoon was causing Mingyu’s hair to stand on end. He could feel his heart rate starting to rise as he realized that the only people left in the room beside himself and Jihoon were servants. “I—yeah, I know—” 

“Monseigneur! It’s time for a night walk.” 

Time had gotten away from Soonyoung during the festivities. He hadn’t realized how dark it had gotten until he had seen Jihoon backing the larger man against a wall and he knew that could only mean one thing: Jihoon was shifting. “Apologies for taking away the monseigneur, but routines. Have a goodnight, Monsieur.” 

Left speechless, Mingyu is only able to take a full breath once Jihoon is ushered away from him and out the doors. “What the fuck—” His heart was slowly starting to calm down and the sense of danger seemed to dissipate the longer that he was away from Jihoon. There was something wrong with everything that had just happened. He was twice the size of Jihoon in most ways and yet the man had him almost trembling for a moment and quickly sobering up. Now the prince was going for a night walk? Where? You weren’t allowed to go out at night. That was one of the things you had told Mingyu. Now he was even more curious as to why. 

Guiding Jihoon towards the gates, Soonyoung grimaces, hearing the sounds of flesh starting to rip. This was closer than he wanted to be to a shift. It was dangerous and he had scars that he already bore from Jihoon and close calls. 

“Get away from me!” 

Trembling from the pain and fear of shifting, Jihoon growls out the words, glancing back at Soonyoung as he slams the gates shut in front of him, sealing him out for the night. The painful groaning roar that escapes Jihoon next almost breaks Soonyoung’s heart as he turns on his heels and runs back towards the palace, not seeing Mingyu lingering in the shadows near the gates watching Jihoon stumble and fall as he shifts into the beast. 

“Fuck—” There aren’t words to explain what Mingyu feels or the terror for you that runs through him as he watches the bear’s claws dig into the dirt as it runs for the forest snarling. There was no way he was going to let you stay here with that thing. He’d kill it before he’d let it hurt you. Without much thought, Mingyu heads back towards the palace and to his room to grab his knife before sneaking back out towards the forest in search of Jihoon, determined that only one of them would come back for you in the morning. 

11

The night had been too long and filled with strange and horrible dreams as you tossed and turned in your bed. You had hoped and prayed that Jihoon had been lying to you and that he would show up at your door, but instead you found yourself on your wedding night alone. You had been half tempted to go find Mingyu, but after sending Jieun to find him, she only found his room empty, confusing you more. 

You woke the next morning to terrified and frantic yelling that made your stomach twist instantly with nausea before your feet ever hit the floor. What was wrong? Why would anyone be that upset after the day of your wedding? 

Not caring about putting on more than a robe, you run through the halls and towards the commotion only to stop when Wonwoo wraps his arms around your waist, urging for you to wait. “No! What’s wrong? Let me go!” Tugging free from his grasp, you manage to move through the wall of people only to fall to your knees at the sight in front of you. 

When you hear the scream, you aren’t aware that it’s coming from you until your mother is holding you to her chest and rocking you back and forth, trying to calm you down. The sound is so gut wrenching and devastating that you can’t believe that you are making it, but the sight of Mingyu bloody and clinging for life in front of you was enough to make you learn that you could make such a sound. 

“He’s alive, but—barely. Jihoon found him in the forest this morning and brought him back. If it wasn’t for him...” 

Blinking through your tears, you search for Jihoon, who mutters something you can’t hear to Soonyoung before he disappears from your sight down the hall once again, leaving you essentially alone. You are left clinging to your mother as you watch the servants move Mingyu into another room where doctors begin their work to save your friend. 

Your sense of time gets lost as you sit outside of the room listening to the hushed voices of the doctors and the clanking of their tools. It’s only when someone kneels in front of you, putting a plate of food on your lap, that you seem to focus on the face in front of you, realizing that it’s Jihoon. Glancing down at the plate, you grimace and look away from it, feeling Jihoon’s palm against your cheek, turning your head back towards him. 

“You have to eat. You’ve been sitting here all day. It’s doing him no good.” Picking up the fork from the plate, Jihoon cuts into a piece of meat, lifting it for you and watching you furrow your brows as he tries to feed you. “Eat, please? How is not eating going to help the doctors save him?” 

The smell of the meat wasn’t appetizing. Nothing about the food in front of you made you want to eat it, but it was more Jihoon urging you to take a bite that had you leaning forward and accepting it. Chewing slowly, you lean your head back against the wall as he sighs, moving to sit in front of you, crossing his legs, and putting the plate in his own lap so he can gather more of the food waiting for you to finish the first bite. 

“Y/N—” 

“Where did you find him? Why were you outside, Jihoon?” 

Closing his eyes, Jihoon rests the fork on the plate and takes a deep breath to your questions as you cut him off before he can speak again. There was the truth and then there was what he and Soonyoung had come up with. Jihoon wasn’t sure which he was ready to tell you or if he was ready to tell you anything. 

He could remember Mingyu trying to attack him—the beast—in the forest. He could still see the anger on the man’s face as he tried to do anything with the useless knife in his hand, but like many others before him, Mingyu had found himself powerless against the beast. The thought of it made Jihoon feel sick to his stomach as he smelled the copper in the air even now as the doctors worked to repair what he had done to Mingyu. He wasn’t sure how he hadn’t killed him. Maybe it was seeing your face and the pain in it when he had taken the necklace from your neck, but he had managed to run away from Mingyu and then find him barely breathing once he was human again. 

“Please don’t do this to me.” 

Jihoon heard your tears before he saw them. He heard the desperation and despair in your voice as you sobbed, drawing his eyes back up to you. It had broken his heart before to see you upset but now you were his wife. It was his duty more than ever to take care of you and he was already fucking it up. “I—he was attacked by a mon—” 

“The monseigneur was out for a morning walk and heard him.” 

Gritting his teeth to Wonwoo’s voice, Jihoon lowers his head again and nods along with the story that he and Soonyoung had come up with. Of course others in the palace would know the story by now, and the steward would want to protect him—especially from himself. Jihoon wants to explain it all to you and make you understand, but the look on Wonwoo’s face makes him stay silent as you stare up at the tall man. 

“Do we know what attacked him?” Jihoon had started to say something. You could tell that he was keeping something else from you, that perhaps he had started to open up and then he was once again silenced. This had happened before—the same song and dance, but this was different for you. Your best friend was laying torn apart on a table fighting for his life and you weren’t just going to accept it and smile. “Jihoon said—”

“The monseigneur is tired, madame. You both are. You aren’t eating properly and the monseigneur is increasingly busy as the coronation approaches.” 

You were starting to hate Wonwoo. He kept secrets worse than Jihoon in some ways. He made you realize that Jihoon was as much, if not more, of a prisoner in this palace than you were. Shaking your head, you turn it away from both Wonwoo and Jihoon listening for the sounds of the doctors as they continue to work. “I want to be alone.” 

“Y/N, I can sit with you. I don’t have—” 

“Very well, madame. Monseigneur, you have a busy day. If you don’t mind to come with me?” 

Biting at his cheek, Jihoon lets his eyes move over your pretty face as fresh tears run down your cheeks untouched. He wanted to fix this, to make you feel better and yet he was once again being pulled away from you. “Fine… Here, please eat a bit more.” Putting the plate next to your leg, Jihoon watches your eyes move to it for a few seconds before you look away again, ignoring what he said. “I’ll check in when I can, darling.” 

You do your best to stay stoic even as the tears run down your face, but when Jihoon’s lips press to the side of your head, you can’t help how your body shakes with grief. You wanted him to stay with you and keep his vows to love and protect you. 

Keeping his eyes on you until it’s impossible to do so, Jihoon crosses his arms and scowls at the ground in front of him, knowing Wonwoo is just a few steps behind him. “This better be important. I should be back there with her.” 

“With all due respect, monseigneur I’m not sure being around madame Y/N is in your best interest when you are in the headspace you are currently in. You might make mistakes and put yourself or the kingdom at risk.” 

Jihoon felt like the air had been forcefully removed from his lungs as he came to a stop in the hallway. There wasn’t anything pressing to take care of; Wonwoo was just trying to keep him quiet. It made sense. He had heard some of what Jihoon had started to tell you, but it didn’t give him the right to dictate what he said or did. 

Even as Jihoon stood there seething, he knew that he was lying to himself. Of course Wonwoo could tell him what to do and how to do it. His allegiance was to the king and to the kingdom. Jihoon wasn’t yet king. Wonwoo was doing what he thought would protect the kingdom, and even Jihoon knew the man was right. If you knew everything about Jihoon, there was no way you would have married him. There was no way that you’d be his queen and there was no way he’d ever even have a chance of having an heir with you. 

“I know you are upset with me, Jihoon. Your father gave me very specific instructions before he passed away. I’m attempting to follow them to the letter. I want you to succeed. Stop attempting to self-sabotage yourself.” Watching Jihoon’s shoulders relax, Wonwoo lets out a breath and takes a step closer to the prince, tilting his head. “She’ll learn everything in time. It doesn’t have to be now and certainly not while he is on an operating table. Think about how she would react learning that—” 

“I get it. I was being weak. Thank you for stopping me, Wonwoo.” 

He was right; Jihoon knew it. You’d hate him. You might even try to do exactly what Mingyu had and he wouldn’t even blame you. 

12

Thorns dug into your feet. Bloody footprints marked every step you made as you ran through the dark forest away from the sounds of heavy breathing and snarls. You were terrified. Every beat of your heart could be felt in your throat as you tried to take in breaths to keep your energy up just enough to stay in front of whatever was chasing you. 

It didn’t seem to matter how hard you ran or what way you turned; you could almost feel the hot breath of it on your neck. Tears streamed down your face as you heard it growl your name; your eyes shut tightly as you begged for your life, only for your body to jerk awake as you hear your name once again. 

“Y/N… dear?” 

You weren’t in the forest and there was nothing chasing you. You were inside the palace but you had been moved from where you last remembered being. Shifting on the sofa, you whine, feeling your mother’s hand brush over your head as you try to sit up, feeling how stiff your body has become from sitting on the floor and sleeping on something that isn’t your bed. 

“Oh, darling. You look so weak. Couldn’t I take you to your bed?” 

Recoiling from her touch, you look around the room and towards the door, seeing that you weren’t moved far. The room where the doctors had been working on Mingyu was just across the hall. “No. Mingyu…” 

Brushing her fingers over your head, your mother nods and purses her lips when you refuse to leave. She knew you would. You were always stubborn and strong-willed. She wondered if your new husband had met this side of you and if he had known this side of you if he would have accepted the cost of your dowry. No doubt you were beautiful and lovely in many ways, but your stubbornness could cause issues in a marriage that your mother worried about. “Mingyu is out of surgery, Y/N. About an hour ago. He’s in his room, resting.” 

He had made it. Pushing her hand away, you sit up fully and try to slide from your mother, only to feel her hand wrap around your arm to stop you. “Mother, please. I want to go see him. I need to see him for myself.” 

“And I understand that, Y/N, but, I—I just, consider how this looks? I know that you two were close back home. Perhaps too close. Don’t make your husband regret his hospitality.” 

Shrugging her hand from your arm, you stand, giving her a look of contempt as she returns the look with more concern underlying. “I am checking on my friend. If Jihoon wants to be upset about that, so be it.” 

It was late afternoon now. You could feel the weight of the day resting on your shoulders as you made your way through the palace and towards Mingyu’s room. You knew your mother wasn’t wrong, but you hadn’t been lying. To you, there was nothing about what you were doing that was wrong. You had sat outside of the room where he had been in surgery most of the day until someone had moved you, so why would it be a shock to anyone that you would want to see him once he was out? 

Carefully pushing open his door, you glance around the dimly lit room as a frown quickly settles on your lips when you see Mingyu in his bed with the covers tucked under his arms. Bandages cover his chest and one of his shoulders, blood seeping through even as he sleeps with his brows furrowed so deeply. It broke you to see the man you knew to be so strong, so completely broken in front of you. 

You don’t worry about shutting the door all the way; instead, you move towards the bed and take Mingyu’s hand in yours, being careful not to jostle him in any way as new tears gather in your eyes and quickly fall on your cheeks. “I’m so sorry. I should have never asked you to come. You’d be safe and back home. I—” The words get caught in your throat on a sob as Mingyu’s nose wrinkles and he sighs in his sleep, giving you the first real sign that he is possibly going to be okay. 

Jihoon had finally found time to look for you again. He had found you sleeping against the wall after forcing himself to participate in a few meetings and decided to move you to the sofa, but now you weren’t there. He knew that Mingyu’s surgery had gone well; he was projected to recover to some degree, resembling being completely healed in a few months. Jihoon had been told that it was even possible that he would be well enough to travel in a week if his body took over healing as it should. 

Now Jihoon found himself in search of you, already knowing where you would be. He couldn’t blame you for wanting to see Mingyu. Even with as much as it made his chest feel heavy, he knew he would let you stay with him for as long as you wanted if that made you happy. Jihoon had done enough to disappoint you and to ruin your life in ways that you didn’t even understand yet. 

Hearing your sobs, Jihoon pauses outside of Mingyu’s door and looks down at the floor, watching the light shift on the floor in front of him through the cracked door. He hated that he was getting used to the sound of you crying. That wasn’t something anyone should grow accustomed to. 

“I hate this so much. Why were you even outside? You are so stupid, Mingyu.” You didn’t want to blame Mingyu or Jihoon for this. You wanted to blame whatever it was that attacked Mingyu and you wanted to blame yourself. “I’m so stupid.” 

"No, you aren’t.” 

You knew that Mingyu hadn’t spoken. The most he had done was sigh and shift some in his sleep. Furrowing your brows, you wipe your cheeks and turn towards the door, watching as Jihoon moves further into the room with a frown on his face. Perhaps your mother had been right. You shouldn’t have visited Mingyu; it had upset Jihoon. Whispering his name, you slide your hand from Mingyu’s and sniff back your tears, uncertain what to do as Jihoon gets closer, his eyes moving to the bed and over Mingyu before they move back to you. 

“I’m not here to rush you or make you leave, Y/N. I just—I was coming to check on you. You weren’t where I left you.” 

Letting out the breath you hadn’t realized you were even holding, you nod and settle back by Mingyu’s side, sliding your hand back into his as Jihoon wanders in the room near you. He had been the one to move you to the couch. You weren’t sure how that hadn’t dawned on you earlier. It makes sense. He had tried to feed you earlier; of course he’d want you somewhere at least a bit more comfortable. “I’m sorry, Jihoon.” 

“You don’t owe me anything. I wish you’d eat and rest, of course, but I won’t force it.” Quickly meeting your eyes before he moves to the window to look out over the courtyard as the sun starts to set, Jihoon takes a slow, deep breath and lets it out. “If—if you’d let me, I will get you something and bring it here even. Or if you will finally lay down, I’ll bring it to your room, or have it brought there so you don’t even have to see me.” Glancing over his shoulder at you, Jihoon sees Mingyu and the blood that is starting to stain the sheets draped over him and it’s a reminder that he did that. He’s the one who hurt your best friend. “I—I’m sorry this happened.” 

The way that Jihoon spoke made you feel like the tide was rising and that time was against him and you. It was as if you didn’t say something or save him that you might have to watch him drown as he swam out too far all while you watched from the shore. “It’s not your fault. You brought him back. You saved him—” 

“Y/N!” 

Sitting up straight, when Jihoon raises his voice, panic lacing it, you look from him to Mingyu as he winces in his sleep, causing you and Jihoon to pause until he settles once again. 

“I didn’t—’m sorry, fuck. I—I should just go.” 

The water was rising and you had a choice to make. You whine softly, closing your fingers tighter around Mingyu's. As you watch Jihoon walk towards the door, you suddenly stand up, dropping Mingyu’s hand and reaching for Jihoon's instead. Barely catching his fingers with yours, you once again whine Jihoon’s name. Coming to a stop, his head dropping as you take a step closer and sliding your hand fully into his. 

“I’ll eat in my room, but only if you join me.” You can see the apprehension in Jihoon’s eyes and how he glances towards the window, seeing how dark it’s gotten. “Please, Jihoon.” Wincing at your pleading, he meets your eyes and nods. 

“Okay.” Jihoon found it difficult to tell you no after disappointing you so often and seeing that heartbroken look in your eyes. The darkness terrified him, but there was no way to tell you that he was afraid to spend any time with you while the moon was in the sky. If he told you that he’d have to explain why, and then he would have to explain why Mingyu was laying in this bed still unconscious, so Jihoon didn’t tell you no. Instead, he let you lull him and the beast with your soft smile as he gave into his temptation and brushed his fingers over your cheek, feeling your warm skin under his touch. “I’ll be there soon.” 

You knew exactly why you had doubts about Jihoon keeping his promise to join you for dinner in your room, but as you sat at your window watching the moon rise, you tried not to let that doubt get the best of you. You were doing your very best not to let your mind wander back to Mingyu laying alone in his room covered in bandages and instead you did something you hadn’t done in a long time—you prayed. 

You weren’t even sure who you were praying to. There were many gods, goddesses, and deities in general that people believed in, but with your silent prayer for Mingyu’s recovery and Jihoon’s strength going forward, you send your words to whomever might be listening. You pray for yourself. Your own strength and ability to do what must be done as a wife and queen—that you might be worthy of Jihoon. 

“Are you sure?” 

Not dignifying Soonyoung’s question with an response, Jihoon shakes his head and gives one look to your door before meeting his butler’s eyes. He knew why Soonyoung was concerned. He wasn’t the only one sharing those concerns. Junhui had his own reservations when he was asked to prepare the late dinner. Wonwoo had shared gentle reminders of earlier conversations and his mother had simply given her blessing, hoping that the night might be fruitful. 

Fruitful. Jihoon knew what his mother meant, but how could she even be thinking of something like that right now? He wasn’t trying to bed you. That was the farthest thing from his mind at the moment. In fact, that was the farthest thing from his mind in general. It wasn’t that he didn’t see you in that manner. He’d be a fool to look at you and not lust after you. You were divine in his eyes and now you were his wife. It made it even harder not to give into lingering glances but today you were dealing with the stress of everything that had happened with Mingyu. Jihoon was going to your room to comfort you and to eat. Nothing more. 

The hushed voices and soft knock at your door bring you out of your whispered prayers and right back to the present. Jihoon had kept his promise. Why did that terrify you almost as much as him breaking it? Moving to your feet, you swallow hard, feeling your breath getting caught in your throat before clearing it so that you can finally speak, though it sounds strained. “Co—come in.” 

You had looked exactly the same before he had left you to get dinner ready, and yet you were taking Jihoon’s breath away as he stepped out of Soonyoung’s way, letting him push the tray into the room. Jihoon knew he was staring but at least your attention was taken up as you rushed forward, cooing over Soonyoung and the dinner. God, you really were too good for Jihoon. How he ever got lucky enough for you to end up in Aetherial Grove was a miracle. The idea of it made his stomach twist with anxiety even as butterflies overwhelmed him. He was so scared that he might hurt you in a way he wouldn’t be able to fix. 

“This looks delicious. It’s too much.” Sighing, you whine under your breath and reach for the tray as Soonyoung sighs at you, moving your hand away from it. “I can—” 

“Madame…” 

“Stop calling me that. You call him Jihoon. Do the same for me; call me by my name, please.” 

Lifting his eyes to Jihoon, Soonyoung watches the prince finally move into the room and towards the table as he places the dishes on it for you both to share. 

“If that’s what she wants, I’m okay with it, Soonyoung. We can handle the rest of this. Go rest.” 

The apprehension in Soonyoung’s eyes puzzles you at first. You wonder if he isn’t sure to take what Jihoon is saying seriously or if he isn’t sure if he wants to leave dinner alone without a servant present, but then the man puts on a dazzling smile and you can’t seem to figure out which one it was. You find yourself instead smiling back at him as he bows at the waist and hums softly, ready to excuse himself. 

“Alright. If either of you needs me or anyone else, you know how to get in touch. Goodnight, Y/N. Jihoon.” 

Nodding along with his words, Jihoon doesn’t pay anymore attention to Soonyoung as he leaves the room. His eyes are on you as you stand next to the table and he realizes this is his first dinner alone with you. If the circumstances were different, it might seem intimate or romantic, but tonight Jihoon pushes those thoughts aside and offers you a soft smile before moving to pull out your chair, letting you sit down first. “I’m happy that you decided to eat, Y/N and I—I’m glad you wanted me here.” 

Finding him to be forever the enigma, you smile along with Jihoon’s words, feeling your cheeks heating up. “I’m just glad you accepted. I honestly… Well, I just don’t think I want to be alone right now. I’d rather be with you.” 

Jihoon had been ready to move the last of the plates to the table when you had spoken, but he hadn’t been ready for your words. Letting out a breath, he smiles with his back turned to you, putting the plate back down on the tray to steady himself before trying again and this time moving it with ease to the middle of the table, still avoiding your eyes directly. “Then I—I’ll stay with you. However long you need me to tonight.” 

Two courses into the impromptu dinner, you pout into your wine glass as Jihoon leans back in his chair with his own wine glass resting on his fingers. It’s impossible for you not to admit to yourself that you have been struck with at least a bit of luck when it comes to your marriage. It might not be perfect, but you had seen worse pairings in arranged marriages before. Beautiful women paired with men their father’s age who expected them to be in bed ready for them every night. Handsome men who were stuck with wives who would sneak off with the stable boy not even after a year of marriage and yet you could look at Lee Jihoon for the rest of your life. 

“Why are you looking at me like that? Do I have—did I get something on my face?” Shifting in his chair, Jihoon lifts his free hand to rub at his lips, causing you to smile into a laugh that he finds infectious. “What? No, why are you laughing at me? Mon ange…” 

When had he started calling you that? Placing your fingers against your lips, you smile against them and turn your face away from Jihoon, trying to hide how shy he makes you feel. “Jihoon…” 

You were driving him crazy. No other woman had ever made Jihoon feel like this. Perhaps he could chalk it up to never getting the chance to know them, but even that didn’t feel like the answer. It all felt like it was leading up to you. You were made to be his. Some sort of cruel destiny where he might truly meet the love of his life and never fully get to love her the way he wanted to. “What is it?” 

This was insane; clearly you were insane or perhaps you had drank too much wine if the tension in the room had gotten so thick that you were once again looking at Jihoon with desire on your mind. So much had happened in just two days and it would be so selfish of you to attempt to act on your feelings while your best friend lay recovering in a room across the palace—and yet you find yourself staring at Jihoon, wondering if his promise was true. “I’m not laughing at you, I promise. I just—you are so handsome. It almost breaks my heart.” 

Run away. You should run away and never look back. Jihoon’s brain is screaming at him as he watches you from across the table, your eyes fixed on him in a way he’s never seen before. You didn’t know what you were saying. You were drinking and lost in the moment—or you were simply a woman in a room with her husband after her wedding. 

Letting out a deep breath at your compliment, Jihoon’s lips pull up slightly in a smile before he shakes his head. He wasn’t disagreeing with you, but he knew that there was a deeply ugly part of him that you had seen on more than one occasion and you had yet to meet it fully. He prayed you never would. If he had to confine himself to a cell, he would rather that be his life than you ever suffer that side of him. 

“I never want to break your heart, though I fear I have with my selfishness on many occasions already.” 

“It’s not important, Jiho—” 

“It is, Y/N. I’m sorry for my behavior. I’m incredibly lucky to have such a beautiful wife, and not only that, but a beautiful, caring, and understanding wife who wears her heart on her sleeve. You are stunning inside and out, darling.” 

Once again looking away from Jihoon, you look up at the ceiling, trying to keep the tears gathering on your eyes from falling. He wasn’t wrong about some of the things he had said. He had broken your heart many times already, but his words were doing a very good job at patching some of those cracks. 

The moment the first tear slips down your cheek, Jihoon whispers your name and slides from his chair so he can move around the table to kneel on one knee in front of your chair. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m so bad at this—at relationships. I’m sorry—” 

You had been kissed twice in your life. Once by Mingyu and then by Jihoon on your wedding day. Out of those two kisses, your wedding kiss had taken your breath away and made you realize that the one you and Mingyu shared had been between kids trying to figure out their way in the world. Your third kiss almost made you forget that you had ever kissed anyone besides Jihoon ever. You knew it was bold of you to kiss him and not let him have that opportunity, but between Jihoon’s words and having him in front of you, the moment had taken you over. 

Wrapping his fingers around your wrist as you rest your hand against his cheek, Jihoon furrows his brows tightly. He hadn’t expected you to kiss him, but he wasn’t going to pull away or push you away. At first he wasn’t sure what to do except return the kiss lightly, but then you sighed so softly and Jihoon’s mind almost exploded, sending a shiver through his body and right to his stomach, causing it to tighten as lust rushes through him. 

He knew that you didn’t know what you were doing to him. There was a chance that you didn’t know what you were doing at all. You were merely following your instincts, and there was no way that Jihoon was going to tell you they were wrong. He was fighting with himself to deepen the kiss, to let his teeth nip at your lips, to let his tongue taste your skin. You were set in front of him like a pure white rose and Jihoon felt like he needed to protect you and ruin you at the same time. “Shit—” Muttering against your lips, Jihoon tightens his grip on your wrist when you are the one who nips at his lips, sending another wave of lust through him. “Wait. Y/N…” 

You didn’t want to wait. This was what was supposed to happen on your wedding night. You had waited for Jihoon all night long until your body gave out and you had finally fallen asleep. Now you had him in front of you, your lips on his and he was telling you to wait? Whining on his lips, you grip at Jihoon’s shirt with your free hand, hearing him groan quietly, a sound that has you wanting to close your thighs tighter for any sense of release. “No, Jihoon. Please? Why?” 

Reaching for the arm of your chair, Jihoon misses the first time landing on your leg through your dress, sending panic through him when you smile against his lips. This was too much; he was barely holding himself back and now you were begging him. Tightening his fingers around the wooden arm of the chair, Jihoon groans again, tilting his head as he finally takes over the kiss, feeling your lips part so he can brush his tongue against yours. 

It felt like you were getting what you wanted. You had never kissed anyone like this before. You could taste Jihoon as his tongue glided along yours, his hand sliding from your wrist so he could cup your face, holding you in place. There was a familiar feeling between your thighs that you had only spoken to your married cousins and mother about. You weren’t completely naive. You knew what it felt like to be aroused, but you had never been this aroused in your entire life. You knew that if Jihoon reached between your legs, he would find you dripping from just his kiss. 

Groaning into the kiss, Jihoon’s hands shake slightly as he tries to keep himself in check. It would be so easy to pick you up and lay you on the ground under him. He could push your dress up and find what was his—pushing the thought from his head, Jihoon furrows his brows, slowly breaking the kiss, leaving gentle kisses on your cheeks. He was painfully hard in his pants but it wasn’t something that he would subject you to—his sweet, beautiful bride. 

“Wha—no. Jihoon?” Out of breath, you pout even as Jihoon presses his lips softly against your pout before leaning back on his knees to catch his own breath. It was clear he was done kissing you. Had you done something wrong? Did you not kiss well enough? Was it too obvious that you didn’t have as much experience? “What did I do wrong?” 

Closing his eyes to your question, Jihoon curses himself for letting the kiss go as far as it did. He wanted to give you what you so clearly wanted, but he also didn’t want you to hate him. Jihoon was terrified of what he might do to you if he let himself get in bed with you. He could already feel the hair standing up on the back of his neck, the beast curious with his current mood. The more awake the beast got, the more aggressive Jihoon was, and what if he couldn’t stop himself? The thought scared him more than you being a bit upset about not getting what you wanted. “Nothing, mon ange. You’re perfect. We have the rest of our lives; no need to rush.” 

Rush? Who was rushing what? You wouldn’t be fertile for the rest of your life. Jihoon knew that as well as you did. It wasn’t the main thing on your mind but the idea of not providing a royal heir loomed over your head like a waiting guillotine, knowing that the entire kingdom would be watching and waiting. “Oh, sure, but—” 

“We should get you to bed. It’s been a dreadfully long day for you.” Jihoon could almost see the gears turning in your head. He was afraid of what you were thinking about so he didn’t ask; instead, he moved to his feet and offered you his hand to lead you to your bedroom door. “Will you be okay?” 

What if you said no? Jihoon had promised to stay with you as long as you wanted. Furrowing your brows, you lift your fingers to your tingling lips, feeling confused by his actions and words after he had kissed you the way he had. “I suppose, but—” 

“Then I’ll leave you to sleep, darling.” Brushing his lips against the corner of your lips, Jihoon hums softly against your skin, squeezing your hand gently before letting go of you completely and turning away. “Goodnight.” 

Your eyes burn at Jihoon’s back the entire walk to your door. He knew you were upset. He had made a promise and in his own way he had broken it. Sighing as he leans against the door having a barrier between you and him, Jihoon closes his eyes and furrows his brow, feeling not only his cock throbbing in his pants but the rumble of the beast laughing at him inside of his head. 

13

“I’m fine, Y/N... Stop fretting over me. Seriously! I can lift a spoon.” 

It had been almost a week since Mingyu had been attacked in the forest. You had spent hours at a time every single day aiding in his recovery, watching him get stronger. Now you couldn’t stop the smile that sat on your lips as Mingyu scoffed at you, lifting his own spoon up to his lips as you sat on the end of his bed watching him eat. “You look so much better. Your color has returned and I thought I’d never see you smile again, Mingyu. I—I’m so sorry this happened.” 

Swallowing the bite of soup in his mouth, Mingyu furrows his brows and shakes his head at your words. You had said something similar, at least a dozen times every day over the week. It wasn’t your fault. He knew that much. He couldn’t remember all the details of his attack, but he knew that you hadn’t been there and you weren’t even remotely connected to it. “I swear to god, Y/N, if you don’t stop saying that to me, I’m going to pour my soup on you. I’m the one that went out in the forest.” 

Even though you know it’s an empty threat, you lift your hands to safe guard yourself from Mingyu’s soup, watching him smile as he takes another small bite before leaning back against the headboard of his bed. He was going back home soon. Your parents had already left a few days before and now Mingyu’s father was due to be at the palace in a day’s time to help Mingyu on his trip back to Leressair. You were going to miss him. You had enjoyed having a companion around, a piece of home. 

“It’s not like it’s your fault either. You didn’t attack yourself, but I still don’t understand why you went out there. Seems reckless, even for you.” 

Laughing, clearly unamused at your jab at his actions, Mingyu shakes his head and shrugs. “I don’t remember really. I mean bits and pieces, but not enough to really mean anything. Just that it was a bear and it was huge.” Seeing the concerned and terrified look on your face, Mingyu reaches to squeeze your fingers, rolling your eyes and adding. “And then your brave husband found me and saved my life. So now I am indebted to him for the rest of it, I suppose.” 

You did feel a sense of pride that Jihoon had been the one to find and rescue Mingyu. There had been a tension between the two of them that no longer seemed to exist after the incident and while you wished that it had never happened, you were much happier seeing them exist as something closer to acquaintances than enemies. “Oh, for the rest of this life and the next.” 

“I’ll accept this one. I don’t need anything after.” 

Taking a deep breath at hearing Jihoon’s voice, you watch Mingyu’s eyes shift towards his door before he lowers his head respectfully. 

“Monseigneur..” 

“How are you feeling today?” It was a question out of genuine concern. Jihoon had found himself almost as often as you watching Mingyu as he slept. He would watch the younger man’s chest rise and fall almost like a new father watching their child sleep, making sure that the next breath was coming. While neither you nor Mingyu knew his true reasoning, Jihoon’s regret for the situation was apparent in his actions. 

“Much better. I’m up often and many of the wounds are healing as the doctors hoped. Thank you for getting me to them so quickly, Monseigneur.” 

Lifting his hand, Jihoon dismisses Mingyu’s gratitude, not out of disrespect but because it’s not needed or wanted. He did what he had to. Not only as the soon-to-be crowned ruler of the kingdom, but also as the person responsible for Mingyu’s current condition. “Just pleased to see you looking healthier, and please just call me Jihoon.” 

You had tried to stay silent while Jihoon and Mingyu spoke but with Jihoon’s last request, you can’t stop the soft breath you release with a smile. That meant more to you than either one of them understood. 

“Uh, I understand that your father will be joining us here at the palace tomorrow. That is also the day of the coronation. I hope that you both will attend. Not for myself, but for Y/N.” 

Again, Jihoon had you speechless and staring at him with tears on the rims of your eyes. Did he know how much that gesture meant to you? Even if Mingyu said no, just the point that Jihoon had made that effort had your heart tight in your chest. 

“We would be honored, Monse—Jihoon. I’ve told her since she was young that she’d make one hell of a queen, so I would be a fool not to see the moment firsthand.” 

“Stop it…” Whining under your breath, without much thought, you push Mingyu’s arm, causing him to wince in pain. “Oh! Oh no!” Shifting on the bed, you carefully look over Mingyu’s bandages as he leans his head back, laughing. 

Jihoon moves closer, running his fingers through his hair and letting out a deep sigh. “If you live to see tomorrow.” Taking a step back as he teases you, Jihoon laughs when you whine his name, pouting up at him. “I’m sorry, darling. You are just too easy to tease. He’s fine.” 

14

You hadn’t thought that anything could possibly be more nervewracking than your wedding day, but that was until the day of the coronation. In reality, you didn’t matter nearly as much as Jihoon and yet you knew that there would be front and center with him accepting a duty that you would be expected to fulfill the rest of your life. 

Jihoon wasn’t faring much better and though he had been groomed for this day his entire life, he still felt like everyone was going to see through the mask. He had wondered multiple times throughout the morning if he was going to be able to handle the stress of the day. He could feel his anxiety rising in his chest, the roaring in his ears that told him that he wasn’t built for this—it all went silent when you said his name and took his hand. 

“Are you alright, Jihoon?” He had that same stoic look on his face and yet you could almost see the panic in his eyes as you stood behind Jihoon in the wings of the same church where the two of you had been married. There was a loud droning from the crowd of people waiting to see the new king be crowned, but it didn’t matter once you and Jihoon’s eyes met. 

“I—” Jihoon knew he could lie and tell you yes. He could put on a brave face even in front of you, but you were his wife and something in him told him that this was something he didn’t need to lie to you about. “Not really. I’m terrified, Y/N. I’m afraid I’m going to make a fool of myself, of you, and of my family.” 

That was unexpected. Though you and Jihoon had grown closer, he wasn’t an open book. He rarely shared his insecurities with you or showed any weakness at all. In this moment, he truly looked like your husband asking for help from his wife. “You aren’t going to make a fool out of anyone, Jihoon. You were born for this.” 

You can see Jihoon’s look of doubt and how he wants to argue with you but when you step in front of him, lifting your hand to brush his hair from his forehead, he stops. “It may not feel like it right now but you are a king and just because they are going to anoint you and add a crown doesn’t mean that you instantly are going to make a mistake.” 

You were good at this—making Jihoon feel less like a failure and like he was a real person. For his entire life, Jihoon had heard the same words that he was born for this but no one had truly expanded on it. You were the first person to make him actually feel like maybe those words were even close to true. “Maybe, but—but what if I do?” 

God, had you always been this beautiful? Of course you had; Jihoon knew that, but as you stood in front of him, your soft fingers moving to his jacket to smooth it down over his chest, he swore you really were an angel. Jihoon knew that any moment now the archbishop would begin the ceremony and you both would have to face the kingdom, but for now he was happy to just look at you, feeling his nerves settle. 

“Then we face it together.” 

It had just become another day when Jihoon was realizing how lucky he was to have you in his life. You didn’t seem real. He remembered every face and name of the women who had come to Aetherial Grove before you, but somehow you were making it better without even knowing it. Leaning to brush his lips against yours, Jihoon smiles at the small, surprised but happy sound you make before you return the kiss. He was falling in love with you more and more every day. 

“Pardon the intrusion, Monseigneur... Madame. It’s time.” 

You had felt anxious, afraid, and overwhelmed before the coronation had begun, but as you stood watching Jihoon being anointed and accepting his vows as king, you only felt pride. You had watched with stars in your eyes as the archbishop placed the crown on Jihoon’s head with a smile and spoke his final words, completing the ceremony.

“May the King live forever.” 

Jihoon felt the weight of the crown on his head. He had looked at it many times, be it sitting atop his father’s head or put away for safekeeping, but he never thought it would actually be where it sits now. Taking a deep breath, Jihoon closes his eyes, feeling the archbishop place one final kiss on the rings placed on his hand before his eyes turn to you. Your part of the ceremony was shorter and less significant, but to Jihoon it meant more. 

It was clear to those who knew you that you were nervous once again as the archbishop anointed you and guided you through your shorter vows. Jihoon tried to remain the stoic king he was supposed to be, but when the crown that his mother had worn for so many years was placed on your head, he felt such overwhelming pride. You were his wife and his queen. 

Taking your hand, Jihoon squeezes it gently, whispering his praises for how well you handled the ceremony before leading you to sit down in front of the congregation as the ceremony truly comes to an end. Not only does the weight of the coronation slowly start to ease from your body with each person leaving, but also when the crown is taken from your head and put away, reminding you that it isn’t something you have to bear every day. You would be the queen for the rest of your life but you wouldn’t be weighed down by that crown at every turn and you would have Jihoon by your side every step of the way. 

“Madame La Reine…” 

Narrowing your eyes at Mingyu’s voice, you can’t help how your smile pulls at your lips even as you try to look annoyed at his teasing. He looked even better than he had a day before, though he found himself leaning on his father more than he would have liked. 

“Stop that. I’m still me.” 

Mingyu’s grin makes you feel homesick for the briefest moment before you meet Jihoon’s eyes as he glances at you from over his mother’s shoulder. You were home and that man was your home. 

“Sorry, I can’t help it. You looked so regal with the crown and the jewels. I almost didn’t recognize you, Dove.” 

Mingyu’s father was slightly smaller than him, but his presence was always larger. He had been like a second father to you for almost your entire life from the moment that he and your father had become close friends. “Mingyu, manners. She may not want to be called her title, but perhaps the childhood names aren’t—” 

“It’s fine, I promise. I like the name. It reminds me that I’m the same girl from Thornwood no matter where I end up.” 

"Well, you’ll always be Dove to me.” 

You could see the sadness in Mingyu’s eyes. You weren’t sure what it was stemming from but it was clear as day as he shifted from one foot to the other with a soft sigh. 

“I—we’re leaving for Leressair. I just wanted to be able to congratulate you and say goodbye before we did.” 

There it was and now you felt the same sadness rush through you like a shockwave as you looked up at Mingyu. You knew he had to go. There were things to be done in Leressair just as there were things to be done in Aetherial Grove. Time didn’t stop just because you wanted it to. “Oh… So soon. I’ll miss you. Will you contact me? I want to know everything about how things are going and how you are feeling. Will you let me know if you need anything?” 

Mingyu knew this spiral. You would talk quicker and not let anyone else get a word in until the air in the room was all but used up. It was as if you thought if there was no space for anyone else to say that nothing could change or happen. You had done the same thing when you had left Thornwood. “Y/N… I’ll miss you too. May I hug you? Or would that be inappropriate?” 

There weren’t many people left in the church now and those who did remain knew who you were to Mingyu. They were the ones who lived in the palace and they were the ones who had helped care for him as he recovered over the last week. You didn’t care if they thought it was inappropriate or not as tears sat on the rims of your eyes and you stepped forward, wrapping your arms around Mingyu’s waist, resting your cheek on his chest, feeling his cheek against your head. 

“I’ll write as often as I can, but Y/N... I’m going to be fine. I’m stronger than you think.” 

Furrowing his brows, Jihoon sighs as his mother continues her conversation, noticing that her son had stopped really listening to her. He was paying more attention to what was happening behind her, which had her curious. Glancing behind her, Jihoon’s mother sighs under her breath as you step back from hugging Mingyu and wipe tears from your cheeks. You were too close to that man and Jihoon allowed it, though she knew why. He was feeling guilty for what had happened, though he shouldn’t. 

“Mon fils, are you listening to me? Would you rather see the duke off yourself? It seems your wife is doing a fine job of it.” 

Jihoon didn’t like the words that his mother was using as she spoke about you. You weren’t doing anything wrong. Jihoon wasn’t upset with you; he was concerned about you. Seeing you cry for any reason at all had Jihoon’s chest tightening and his stomach bubbling with anxiety. “What? No—no, maman. She’s—what are you talking about? She’s saying goodbye. Leave it alone. I don’t want to talk about this anymore anyway.” 

Of course he didn’t. Jihoon never wanted to talk about the difficult things and having an heir was a difficult thing. “I’m not doing anything to her, Jihoon, but this conversation can’t be over. You need to listen to me and seriously consider my words. You are king now and the kingdom is going to start speculating a due date for your queen. They don’t need a reason. They only need to know that you two were married to assume that you have made an heir.” 

That was a ridiculous notion. You weren’t pregnant. Jihoon hadn’t taken you to bed and it was no one's business—except it was. His mother was right. He was the king of Aetherial Grove and you were his queen. You had spoken to him about duty before and now his mother was doing the same. 

“Mon fils… I’m not trying to presume your—how you and Y/N spend your time, but we have to make sure that she is fertil—” 

“Maman! Enough. I’ll take care of it. I understand.”

15

“She insists, Y/N.” 

Sighing as you watch your things being packed up and moved out of your current rooms. Jieun was attempting to make the transition easier, but you had just gotten comfortable in your space and now Jihoon’s mother was adamant you were to take the proper room as queen. 

“You’ll be much more comfortable in a larger area, Y/N. I have so much less stuff now.” 

You hadn’t realized that she was in the room. You always tried to at least appear grateful or happy around Jihoon’s mother, but sometimes it was difficult. Forcing a bit of a smile, you turn towards her and take a steady breath before letting it out slowly into your words. “I only worry about your comfort, Mad—” 

“Please call me anything else. My name or maman, like Jihoon does. How will I stand it when you have children running about the palace and you are still calling me Madame?” 

Children. That had been on her mind often as of late. She had made it known just as often. Clearing your throat, you force a small laugh, lifting your hands as if to say she’s right, because she always was. “Of course, maman.” You choose the latter, to call her mother, hoping it might have the desired effect and it does. Jihoon’s mother’s face softens, a small coo slipping from her lips as she moves towards you, lifting her hands to cup your face. 

“Beautiful, sweet girl. I’m so very proud of you. Now… go. Get settled in your new rooms so that you can make yourself ready for your husband.” 

You knew that your face had gone hot under her hands, but you just laughed awkwardly before stepping back and looking down at your hands. It was clear to everyone in the room what she had meant but you had doubts that Jihoon would come to your room. It had been three weeks since you had gotten married and he had yet to show up for that reason. “Mm, yes. I’ll go... Do—do that. Have a good evening.” 

Jihoon’s heart was in his throat. He had put this off for as long as he could. He had listened to his mother’s nagging for weeks at this point, along with the constant questions at meetings as to if things had been “fruitful” with the queen. The word fruitful was beginning to lose its meaning. It was beginning to make Jihoon feel sick every time it was uttered. 

It wasn’t as if Jihoon had not found himself at your door more than once over the last few weeks. He had thought of you often—too often, hearing the sweet sounds you had made when he had just simply kissed you. Those memories led Jihoon right to your door, where he stood with his pants tight and his heart beating hard in his chest. Each and every time he would go back to his room out of fear of what might happen, but today the nagging had gotten to be too much. His mother had even moved you into the queen’s rooms, giving him fewer walls of separation between you and him. 

This was a horrible idea. Jihoon could almost always tell when he was getting close to shifting. It wasn’t going to happen tonight, but it was so close he could almost taste you in the air. Every sense was heightened and he felt on edge as he walked to your door, leaning his forehead against it before knocking. 

You were already dressed for sleep when you heard the knock at your door. The first instinct you have is that perhaps Jieun forgot to do something or to tell you something, but then Jihoon says your name. The floor is cold under your feet as you make your way to the door. Slipping your robe over your shoulders, you put your hand on your chest, feeling your heart beating so hard and loud that you are afraid that Jihoon might hear it. 

Cracking the door at first, you meet Jihoon’s eyes, a shy smile on your lips as you whisper a hello before pulling the door open so he can come in if he wants to. You don’t want to presume that you know why Jihoon is at your room after dark, but you have hope. “Do—do you want to come in?” 

Everything about you made Jihoon want to both run away and also stay exactly where he was. You were the picture of perfection in your white dressing gown and deep red robe hanging from one shoulder. Jihoon could see how nervous you were that he was there, but his own nerves matched, if not tenfold. “Um, yes, if you don’t mind.” 

Moving into your room, Jihoon sighs softly, glancing around. He had spent plenty of time in these rooms with his mother but they had looked completely different. You had managed to make the space your own and somehow that comforted Jihoon. Everything about you comforted him. 

“Is everything okay? You don’t normally visit me so lat—” 

“No, I know I don’t. I just—” His brows furrowing as he pushes his thumb into his palm, Jihoon scoffs, trying to think how to go about this. How did one approach bedding their wife when it was a duty to do so? Shaking the thought from his head, Jihoon smiles and meets your eyes, reaching for your hand and brushing his thumb along the back of your hand as you tilt your head curiously. “I’m not very good at this.” 

Your heart had been beating loudly before; now it was threatening to beat out of your chest as Jihoon looked at you the way he did and when he stepped towards you. This was happening? You were scared but excited. Even though you were inexperienced, you could still feel the arousal beginning to burn in your lower abdomen. You just hoped that you wouldn’t mess this up. 

Such a sweet and innocent look in your eyes that made Jihoon want to die on the spot. Someone like you shouldn’t be around him, especially when he wasn’t completely himself. When he was so close to shifting, his inhibitions were lower, he was more aggressive, and he found himself needing or at least wishing for someone in his bed. For the last year Jihoon had stopped giving into the beast and seeking out women he would never see again, but now you were standing in front of him with those doe-like eyes, not knowing your husband was a predator.  

“You are so beautiful, mon ange. Can I kiss you?” 

Jihoon had said he wasn’t very good at this, and yet you were practically whimpering as you told him yes to a simple kiss. You’d take anything because the heat of his eyes on you was like standing next to an open flame. You needed him to help you get through this and right now he looked like a lighthouse guiding you home. “Yes, please. Kiss me.” 

You shouldn’t sound so sweet and desperate. God, you really didn’t know what you were doing to him. Cupping your face in his hand, Jihoon brushes your cheek with his thumb before delicately placing a kiss on your pretty lips and listening to your whine. It wasn’t enough; he knew it wouldn’t be. It hadn’t been enough for him. “Shh—don’t talk right now.” 

The words confuse you, but you nod, feeling Jihoon’s lips find yours once more. Maybe this was how it went. You weren’t supposed to speak to your husband while you were in bed, but the deeper his kisses got, the more urgent they got, and you struggled to stay silent. Whines and half-spoken words slip from your breath as Jihoon’s hand finds your waist, pulling you close to him and letting you feel how warm his body had gotten. 

Jihoon almost felt as if he had a fever. He needed to get some of his clothes off; he could already feel his cock beginning to strain against his pants as you whined his name. Placing his finger against your lips, Jihoon meets your wide eyes as he uses his free hand to slide your robe down your arms, letting it fall to the ground at your feet. “Try not to talk, mon ange. I need you to listen to me.” Every time you spoke, it was like a red hot poker being stuck against his skin. The beast was very much awake and you had caught not only Jihoon’s interest but it’s interest as well. 

“‘M trying, Jihoon.” 

He knew you were. Your brows were knitted together so tightly and with every brush of his lips against bits of your exposed skin, you were almost choking on your moans to keep them silent. “I know. You’re doing well, baby. Come here.” 

A gasp slips from your lips when Jihoon’s hands slide over your backside and he squats down just enough to hoist you up. Surprised, you wrap your arms around his neck and cross your ankles around his back as he walks towards your bedroom door with his eyes fixed on yours. Not only had he shocked you by picking you up, but Jihoon had called you baby. He had your heart swooning and the butterflies in your stomach dancing by the time he laid you on your bed and laid over you, his lips finding yours again. 

Your lips were soft and even your muffled moans were like music to Jihoon’s ears as he nipped at your lips, feeling you arch your back, pushing your breasts towards him. Leaning back to look down at you, Jihoon smirks as he carefully unties the top of your dressing gown, watching you turn your head away from him shyly. Such a pure, perfect little flower he had under him—he had to keep himself in check. 

“Is this okay? If I see you?” 

Nodding with your head still off to the side, you whine when Jihoon’s thumb and forefinger grip your chin, gently turning your head back to the center so he can look at your face. 

“Don’t look away from me. You are so fucking beautiful, Y/N. You don’t have to hide anything that is mine.” 

That possessive nature wasn’t a natural thing for Jihoon. Of course he wanted you all to himself and he would fight for you, but he didn’t possess you. The beast brought something deep out of him and when he looked at you and smelled how sweet you were, it made Jihoon’s mouth water with desire. You were his—his wife.

“You are mine, right?” Gently tugging your gown down your arm, leaving just the top of your breasts exposed, Jihoon groans when you whine. “Aren’t you?” 

Warm breath fans over your neck and along the top of your chest before Jihoon’s lips walk in gentle kisses over every bit of your exposed skin as he waits for you to answer. Not wanting to break his rule about speaking, you nod as your fingers grip the blanket under you tightly, trying to keep yourself grounded. You had never felt like this in your life. No one had ever made you feel this desired or aroused until you met Lee Jihoon. 

Glancing up at you, Jihoon grins when you nod, staying silent. You were a good girl, trying to listen to what you were told and thank God for that. He was hanging on by a thread. “My pretty wife..." Muttering the words mostly to himself as he eases your gown further down your body, exposing more of your skin to him, Jihoon furrows his brows to just how perfect you are. Every curve, mole, scar, and blemish is like a work of art in front of him waiting to be explored. 

“Ah—Jihoon.” Pressing your head back against the blankets, you moan his name when Jihoon’s lips brush over your nipple, causing chillbumps to erupt along your skin. You hadn’t meant to speak but the feeling had surprised you so much that it had slipped from your lips before you realized. 

Nipping at the bud, Jihoon growls under his breath hearing you let out a choked sobbing moan as you try to pull back from his teeth. “Said to be quiet. I need for you to shu—” Stopping himself, Jihoon rests his forehead on your breast and takes a deep breath, bringing himself back down. “Please, baby? Try for me.”

Tears were sitting on the rims of your eyes out of fear of disappointing Jihoon. You were afraid he would leave you wanting because you couldn’t listen to him and follow one simple request, but again you nod as his thumb gently massages into your hips over your bunched-up gown.  

“Lift your hips. Good girl.” Jihoon felt as if he could grip the gown in his hands in half as he looked at you naked in front of him. He wanted to bury his cock inside of you so deep that you’d have an imprint of him left inside of you for weeks—that you’d crave him as much as he was craving you right now, but Jihoon wasn’t stupid and he wasn’t as much of an animal as the beast was trying to make him be. You truly seem as pure as he imagined as you shyly placed your hand over the center of your legs and bit your lip out of nerves. 

Sliding off the bed, Jihoon drops your gown to the floor and lets your watch as he rids himself of his shirt, letting your eyes slowly take in whats in front of you. “I am going to ask you a question and you can speak, okay, darling?” Waiting for you to nod, Jihoon sighs as he glances down at his pants undoing them, feeling your eyes on him still as he speaks. “I want the truth and I want you to know I won’t be upset or surprised either way you answer.” 

Fear makes its way through your mind as you wait for Jihoon’s question and as you watch him get undressed. You weren’t sure what was making you more nervous, not knowing what he might ask or seeing him completely. With your voice small, you nod and whisper, "Okay.” 

Jihoon knew the answer before he even asked it; his thumbs pushed into the top of his pants, but he needed to hear you say it. “Will I be your first?” There was a small nagging part of him that wondered if Mingyu had gotten to you first, if sometime in your past with him the man had managed to talk you into letting him— 

“Yes, Jihoon.” 

Of course you wouldn’t have let anyone talk you into anything. You were perfect. Sighing out a deep breath, Jihoon nods approvingly before pushing his pants down, letting them fall to the floor. Perhaps he should have gone slower and made sure you were ready, but Jihoon watches as your eyes widen before you turn your head away as if to give your husband privacy to be naked. 

“Mon ange… Look at me. I’m yours as much as you are mine.” 

It wasn’t that simple. You had seen Mingyu shirtless before and even that had sent your head into a tailspin, but seeing all of Jihoon and knowing that—that would be going inside of you—was almost too much to handle. Glancing towards him, you quickly look up at the ceiling as Jihoon laughs quietly, moving towards the bed, sliding his hand along your thigh, feeling the chillbumps once again covering your skin. 

“You are truly perfect. Here… move this.” Guiding your hand from between your legs, Jihoon groans under his breath, realizing it might have been a mistake. You were drenched with arousal and Jihoon could feel the hair beginning to stand up on the back of his neck even as he pressed a kiss to your fingertips, collecting the slick left on them before licking his lips clean. God, you tasted like a dream. He had to have you. He’d die if he didn’t. “Need you to stay quiet again for me, baby.” 

Why did you have to be quiet? How were you going to be quiet? Jihoon was kissing your leg and not just that; he was kissing the inside of your thigh, getting so close to your pussy—to where you needed him the most. Closing your fingers around the blanket, you point your toes and cry out in surprise when you feel Jihoon’s tongue run between your folds for the first time. You hadn’t meant to make a sound but the feeling had been so shocking and it had felt so good, you didn’t know what to do. 

Groaning to your taste, Jihoon pulls back from between your legs just enough to glance up at you, hearing your yelp. “Don’t.” He knew it was a lot to ask of you, especially when he buries his face right back into your pussy, letting his tongue circle your throbbing clit. He needed this to survive now, only this—only you and your body—that was what the beast was telling him as he growled loudly against your folds, his hands gripping your legs tightly, keeping you in place even as you squirmed. 

“Ah—” Gritting your teeth, you try even harder to stay quiet. You alternate between biting your cheeks to biting your lips to finally using your own hand to cover your mouth as you whine loudly behind it. There was a pressure building inside of you that you weren’t going to be able to stop and Jihoon didn’t seem to be stopping until he got what he wanted. Closing your thighs around Jihoon’s head, you lift your hips towards his mouth when you feel the pressure finally release. 

Easing your legs apart, Jihoon licks his lips, moving his eyes along your body as you try to calm down from your orgasm. He wasn’t done with you. He didn’t even want to take a break. Logic told him to take his time, to give you time, but animal instinct told him to take—and it was stronger than his logic as the moon shined high in the sky. 

“Taste so fucking good. Keep your legs open for me.” Using his thumbs to spread your folds, Jihoon spits onto them, watching you wiggle almost uncomfortably as he turns his right hand palm up before easing one finger into your tight hole, feeling you instantly clench down around it. 

You weren’t ready to keep going. You felt exhausted and your legs were shaking so hard that you felt like you wouldn’t even be able to walk if you wanted to. Whining Jihoon’s name and feeling his finger pushing into you, you reach for his wrist with one hand and grip the bedding under you with the other. “Wait—hurts.” 

Hearing you speak, Jihoon rolls his eyes and rests his head against your thigh, looking at your fingers resting on his wrist. He didn’t register what you had said, only that you were speaking— no, you were whining. “I told you not to speak. Didn’t I?” You push your feet down on the bed, a soft sob slipping from your lips and Jihoon eases a second finger into you, marvelling at how your pretty little pussy sucks him in. He can’t help but imagine it around his cock, feeling it throbbing against the bed, leaking profusely. 

It should feel good. That was what you had been told by every one of your cousins. Your husband should want to listen to how to make you feel good, especially the first time, so why was yours telling you to be quiet as his fingers painfully stretched you before you were ready? Tightening your hand around Jihoon’s wrist as tears run down your cheeks, you say his name louder, lifting your hips in an attempt to get away from him, only to feel him push you back down harshly. 

“What the fuck do you think—” With his thumb digging into your hip, Jihoon meets your eyes, seeing the fear and pain in them as tears drip off your cheeks. Carefully, he eases his fingers out of you and glances between your legs, making sure he hasn’t hurt you in any way, before sliding back on the bed, running his hand over his lips, shocked by himself. 

“I’m sorry, Jihoon. I just need a few minutes and then I can try again. It just felt—” 

“I need to go.” 

Sitting up in your bed, you watch horrified as Jihoon quickly pulls his clothes back on, keeping his eyes down from you. 

“What? No! Jihoon, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to mess it up. I don’t know what I’m doing. I’ve never done this before.” 

God, Jihoon hated himself. He hated himself more than he had ever hated anyone or anything hearing you struggle to speak through your sobs. He knew he was breaking your heart again, but to him, that was better than hurting you or forcing something on you. 

“It’s not that, Y/N! I just—I have to go!” 

What had you done that was so wrong that Jihoon couldn’t even look at you as he left your room? Had you messed up that badly? Falling back on the pillows, hearing the door to your room slam shut, you draw your legs up towards your stomach and let go, sobbing loudly, not caring who or what might hear you as grief rips through you. You had Jihoon. You finally felt like his wife. You felt desired by him and now you felt discarded and completely alone again. 

16

You had only fallen asleep due to exhaustion. Now you were wandering the palace, feeling like everyone’s eyes were on you. It was like everyone knew that you had failed to not only fulfill your duty as Jihoon’s wife but as queen. The only person you had yet to see was Jihoon. It was like he was avoiding you. Quickly, you find out that you weren’t wrong in your suspicions. 

“I don’t want to deal with this bullshit today, Soonyoung! Tell Wonwoo to cancel it. I’m not doin—” Staring at you in the doorway to his study, Jihoon cuts off his own words, swallowing hard at the look on your face. He could see how exhausted you seemed to be and how swollen your eyes were even from across the room. You had been crying again. He couldn’t do this. Not today. “I’m busy, Y/N.” 

“You’re always busy, but couldn’t I have—” 

“Must you always insert yourself where you aren’t wanted or needed?” 

Visibly taken aback by Jihoon’s words, you put your hand on your chest, feeling your heart shatter. “This isn’t fair.” Your words are quiet, matching the stillness of the room as Jihoon stares at you and Soonyoung stands uncomfortably by his desk, unsure what to say or do. “Please talk to me for five minutes, Jihoon. You owe me that.” 

Lifting his hand to dismiss Soonyoung, Jihoon leans back in his chair and runs his fingers through his hair, hearing the rumbling in his ears as you walk into the room past Soonyoung, letting him close the door behind him. It was a horrible idea for him to be alone with you. It was already later in the afternoon and Jihoon had already argued with nearly every single person he had come into contact with today. He didn’t need you to be another. “I really don’t have time for this today.” 

He never had time for you. That was what your brain and heart were telling you. This was how the rest of your life was going to be. Your life with Jihoon had been a series of extreme ups and downs and you were the lowest you had ever been at this moment. Wiping under your eyes, you nod, moving closer to his desk, knowing he would probably only give you exactly the five minutes you requested. “Then I thank you for your generosity in allowing me to speak to you. I just need you to explain to me what’s wrong with me, Jihoon. Why do I disgust you so much that you would treat me like you do and leave me like you did? I need to understand what I can do to change and be who you want me to be, because I fear you are stuck with me and all I can do is apologize for that.” 

Your words take the air from Jihoon’s lungs and leave him speechless at first. He knew you were unhappy and upset after what had happened last night, but the idea that you thought that he found you disgusting made Jihoon’s mouth feel dry like a desert that hadn’t seen rain in centuries. “You don’t have to change a thing. There’s nothing wrong with—” 

“That’s obviously not true. If that were true, you would have stayed last night, and we would have... Things would not have ended like they did. Jihoon, you wouldn’t even look at me when you left.” 

Jihoon could feel the frustration rising in him. It wasn’t your fault that he was so quick to anger but why couldn’t you just let this go? Why did you have to push this today? If you could give him just one more day to get this out of his system, he’d be calmer, but no, here you were cutting him off and raising your voice. “I’m not dealing with this shit today, Y/N. I don’t have to and I won’t.” 

Shocked by Jihoon’s response, you take a step closer to his desk, watching him recoil further into his chair. “Are you kidding me? You don’t think that you owe me—” 

“I don’t owe you anything! I–fuck! Go to your room. It’s getting late and you know the rules.” 

Surely Jihoon had to be kidding. There was no way that he thought that he could get away with talking to you like this today after everything the two of you had been through over the past few months. This sounded more like the Jihoon that had ruined your bracelet after your engagement party. “No! I don’t have to just obey when you speak, Jihoon!” 

Standing up quickly from his seat, Jihoon barely flinches when the wooden chair hits the wall with a crash that causes you to gasp and take a step back. “Yes, you do. Did you forget your vows, my sweet wife? To love, honor, and obey. So fucking obey and go to your goddamn room and lock the door for the night. I don’t want to see you until tomorrow.” 

When you don’t move quickly enough for Jihoon, your mouth opening and closing in disbelief, he sighs loudly, moving around his desk to grab your arm, feeling you struggle against his grip as he leads you towards the door opening as you protest. 

“Let me go, Jihoon! God, you are a monster!” 

Making you walk towards your room, Jihoon growls under his breath as his eyes start to shift to golden. “You have no fucking idea, darling.” Seething, Jihoon tugs open your door and pushes you inside, letting you stumble as you try to turn around to stop him before he slams the door in your face. “Lock it!” Standing still, Jihoon stares at your door until he hears the lock click into place and only then does he turn back down the hall towards the front of the palace, feeling the night calling to him.

You were confused and pissed off by how Jihoon had treated you. Rubbing your hand along your bicep, you wince in pain, feeling the bruise forming under the skin from how hard he had gripped your arm, forcing you into your room just a few short hours ago. Now the sun was setting and you were feeling less afraid and more annoyed. 

Fuck Jihoon. Fuck his stupid rules. The room felt small despite it’s size and you felt like you were suffocating. Looking at the door, you nod firmly as you make up your mind, turning the lock to disengage it before pulling the door open quickly, half expecting Jihoon to be angrily waiting on the other side. Instead, you find no one, just a dimly lit hallway like always. “He’s ridiculous.” 

It doesn’t cross your mind what had happened to Mingyu. None of the ghost stories or animal attacks so much as even visit your thoughts as you tug your robe around your dressing gown and walk confidently into the hall with one goal in mind—you were going to go outside. You were going to enjoy the night air for the first time in months. 

It had been so long since you had seen the stars from more than your bedroom window. Stepping out onto the courtyard, you smile up at the sky as you take in a deep breath of fresh air, taking a left into the gardens, intending to take a short walk. You were being rebellious but you weren’t planning on being recklessly stupid. You weren’t going to leave the palace grounds. 

The flowers and trees looked different under the moonlight. They felt different under your fingertips somehow too. Perhaps that was the subtle dew that was settling on them as the nightair shifted into something a bit colder, causing you to hold your robe a bit tighter around yourself. You loved how quiet it was out here. There were no echoing voices from the palace. You weren’t hearing Jihoon’s voice screaming in your head; instead, there was just the gentle sound of the wind and crickets. Or there had been crickets. 

Tilting your head, you try to strain your ears to listen for the sounds of the bugs when a sudden exhale from just outside the wall startles you, making you jump and cover your mouth to keep from screaming. It didn’t sound human, but it did sound large and it was moving. 

Keeping your body low, though you know whatever is on the other side of the wall can’t see you, you listen to the deep breaths of the creature and follow it along the line of the wall towards the large golden gate. You know you should stop where you are; logic is screaming for you to stay hidden but your curiosity takes over when you catch sight of the large bear just outside of the courtyard gates. 

You had never seen a bear so large in your life. Its fur was dark and the pattern was unusual to you for a bear. It didn’t seem like any sort of bear that you had ever read about or been told about—this was something new. Taking a step out towards the gate, you think the bear is far enough away from the gate that perhaps you can watch it head back towards the forest, but your shoe catches a pebble and its head turns, alarmed by the sound, and catches your eyes. Golden? You could see them from here almost clearly. You were transfixed and terrified, stuck in place until the bear rushed the gate, hitting it so hard that you realized what you were doing and took a step back with a gasp only to loose your footing and fall backwards on your butt.

“Oh my god…” 

When you speak, the bear seems to focus on your face, a look of recognition in it’s eyes before it growls, scratching at the ground near your leg through the gate. Kicking your legs to get away from the claws you whine when you feel your gown get tugged, pulling you back towards where you were trying to escape, drawing your eyes down to where the bear’s claws were digging into the ground and your gown. “No, no! Please!” 

Tears stream down your cheeks as you try to pull yourself free, but then searing pain tears through your thigh when the bear’s claws tear through your gown, skin, and muscle. Screaming out of fear and pain, you lay back on the ground, feeling hands on your waist as someone pulls you away from the gate until the snarling of the bear is so distant that you can barely hear it anymore. 

“Madame!” You looked pale, blood was seeping from the wound on your thigh quickly and Wonwoo was starting to panic. “Fuck!” Pulling you into his arms, the steward is able to get you inside the house and on to the same floor where they had laid Mingyu the morning Jihoon had found him. 

“What happened?!” 

“You know what happened! Look at her leg, Jieun. Soonyoung get the doctor, now!” 

17

Some nights that Jihoon would shift felt more like a nightmare than others. Last night had to be the worst nightmare of Jihoon’s life—except it hadn’t been a dream. Rubbing his fingers over the silk in his hand, Jihoon sits up in a panic, putting his free hand on his chest, struggling to breathe, remembering your frantic screams of pain as Wonwoo managed to get you away from him. What the fuck had he done? 

Jumping to his feet, Jihoon groans to the pain in his head and body as he pushes through it, starting the run back towards the palace, feeling the rocks biting into his feet. Normally he would wait for Soonyoung to find him and to give him clothes but he didn’t care today. You were hurt or possibly worse. Jihoon had to find you and make sure that you were okay. He had to fix this. How the fuck could he fix this? 

“Jihoon!” Sliding off the back of his horse, Soonyoung shakes his head, pulling the bundle of clothes from the back of the saddle, as he watches Jihoon run past him naked and panicking. He had seen all sides of his best friend before. The anger, the sadness, and the panic, but never had he seen him be willing to run through the forest completely naked. “Jihoon, stop!” 

Hearing Soonyoung’s voice, Jihoon turns back towards him and runs to him, grabbing his shirt as he tries to keep his emotions in check, quickly failing as the panic slips through. “Is she alive?” 

“Yes, yes! I’ll get you back to her, but put on some clothes first. You can’t just run to the palace like this. You—” Sighing seeing the desperate look in Jihoon’s eyes, Soonyoung grips Jihoon’s shoulder reassuringly. “You’re the king. Pull yourself together.” 

Jihoon wasn’t sure how he was supposed to keep himself together. The entire ride back to the palace Soonyoung reminded him to remain calm on multiple occasions until they reached the stable and he was able to go search for you. It was clear that the others in the palace were on high alert. This was different from any other time that Jihoon had attacked or killed anyone. It wasn’t even that it was you; it was that you were the queen. 

“Where is she?” 

Wonwoo knew that Jihoon would be back soon. He could see that the man looked worse for wear, but he always did after a night in the forest. He would prefer if he bathed and took care of himself before going to see you, but the look in Jihoon’s eyes told him that wasn’t going to happen. “In her room with the doctor. Sire!” When Jihoon doesn’t stop, his steps quick towards the hallway that would lead him to you, Wonwoo sighs, “Jihoon!” 

Tears were already sitting on the rims of Jihoon’s eyes when he turned around to meet Wonwoo. He didn’t want to talk to anyone else before he saw you. He needed to see you or else he was going to die right there on the spot. His heart would give out from guilt and grief. “What!” 

“She was asking for you all night. I told her that you were out. I couldn’t explain where.” 

Leaning his head back to try to keep the tears from spilling over, Jihoon nods and sniffs hard, knowing that he had hurt you in so many ways. He wasn’t even there when you needed him the most, when you were asking for him while you were scared and in pain. He was a failure and a monster. Just like you had called him.  

You had been in and out of consciousness over the last few hours since the attack. You weren’t feeling much of the pain from the medicine, which was also helping you to sleep. Even now as the doctor changed out your bandages, his brows furrowed at the deep gashes he had stitched closed, you barely flinched, and you didn’t notice Jihoon moving into the room, his eyes glossing over at the sight of you. 

“Is—will she be okay?” 

The doctor hadn’t expected anyone else to be in the room, so when Jihoon spoke, the older man sighs, lifting his hand to his chest to calm himself down before looking towards him and lowering his head in respect. “Yes, sire. The butler was able to get me to her quickly and I stopped the bleeding. There will be scarring, but the queen will be fine as long as we keep infection from settling in the wounds.” 

Nodding along with his words, Jihoon moves closer as the doctor finishes up his task, moving from your bedside, allowing Jihoon to take his place at your side. You looked so small and fragile as you slept. Jihoon felt like his heart was being crushed as he looked over your sweet face and then down at your thigh, where blood was already beginning to seep through the bandages that the doctor had just replaced. 

All of the emotions that Jihoon had been trying to keep at bay come to the surface with that blood, knowing that he did this to you. You were going to be in pain because of him. Tears stream down Jihoon’s face as he closes his eyes and rests his forehead against his hand, his elbow on his knee just letting you rest. He didn’t want to disturb you—he didn’t want to do anything to cause you discomfort ever again. 

“Jihoon?” 

Your voice brings Jihoon back to the moment and causes his shoulders to shake as he chokes back a sob hearing how weak you sound. Sniffing back his tears, Jihoon licks the tears from his lips and opens his eyes to meet yours before taking your hand and squeezing it gently, unsure what to even say. 

“Where were you? I—” Wincing as you try to move in the bed wanting to sit up, you fall back down on your pillows, feeling Jihoon helping you get back to where you were, his fingers brushing over your cheek. 

“I’m so sorry, Y/N. I—I don’t even…” How was he going to lie to you again? He couldn’t tell you that he did this. How could he? “I was called away last minute and I was out—” 

“What? That makes no sense.” Shaking your head, you sniff back your own tears, knowing he is lying to you. “Jihoon, I was alone and afraid. I just—please don’t lie to me.” 

Taking a deep breath, Jihoon tries to think of what to say next, his eyes moving from your face to your leg and back multiple times. You find yourself wondering if he is disgusted by it and what scars will remain. Reaching for the sheet near your leg, you pull it over your bandages and lower your head in shame, causing Jihoon’s resolve to break. 

“Fuck—Y/N. I—” Choking on his own sob, Jihoon shakes his head, moving to his feet even as you reach for him, starting to feel concerned and confused by his reaction. “I’m so sorry. I’ll never let something like this happen to you again. I swear.” 

“You couldn’t have prevented—” Watching Jihoon turn and move out of your bedroom, you force yourself to sit up despite the pain, wanting to stop him even though you are unable. “Jihoon!” 

Even hearing you yell his name sends Jihoon down a darker spiral, his fingers tugging at his hair as he leans against your closed door, the tears dripping off his cheeks and on to his shirt. 

“Sire?” 

Wonwoo… Closing his eyes at hearing Wonwoo’s voice, Jihoon knocks his head back against the wooden door as the thought comes to him of what he has to do and who would help him do it. If anyone in this palace would listen to him, it was Wonwoo. 

“I need you to help me with something.” 

“Okay, what—” 

“And Y/N… she doesn’t need to know.” 

18

It had been a week and a half since the attack and everyone in the palace was acting off. They were being too nice to you. You knew that you were queen, but this went beyond that. It went beyond being injured... something was wrong and Jihoon was nowhere to be found. 

“Wonwoo?” 

You were back again. Humming along with your questioning voice, Wonwoo gestures along with what he wants a few of the other servants to do, barely giving you a second glance even as you stand in front of him. 

“Where is he?” 

“I told you, Madame, he is away on business.” 

He had told you many times over the past week and every single time it smelled like shit. Jihoon didn’t go places. He didn’t do business outside of Aetherial Grove. 

“Which kingdom again?” 

“Multiple kingdoms, Madam. Is there anything else? Jieun can see to it. Excuse me.” 

All of Jihoon’s things were still in his room. How and why would he leave without a single item? There was something wrong and you weren’t going to just take this lying down. There was something you were missing; you just had to find it. 

There were so many places in the palace that you had yet to see that you discovered in your search for clues on where Jihoon had really gone. There were multiple staircases that you had yet to go up or down. Some led to rooms you had seen by other avenues and others took you by surprise when you discovered another study overlooking the garden. But it was the staircase that led down past the servants quarters that shocked you the most. 

From the outside, looking in, the palace of Aetherial Grove was grand and tall. It never dawned on you that anything menacing might lie inside the intricate golden gates and beneath her marble floors. What you found was dark and secluding as you stayed in the middle of the aisle among the empty cells of the dungeon. 

While it made you feel better that the dungeon wasn’t overflowing with people begging you to be freed, it still made you feel oppressed as you wrapped your arms around yourself, searching deeper and deeper and wondering who might have been there at one point. Thornwood did not have a dungeon; there had never been a need for one. Your mother had read you old stories of kingdom’s with dragons and princesses locked away in their dungeons, and now as you walked around one, you shuddered at the thought. 

It seemed to go on forever in the dim light. The cells as dark as the walls, you were about to give up and return to the upper floors of the palace when shuffling from a cell to your right startles you. It had to be a trick of your mind and nothing more, but as you got closer, you could hear panicked breaths behind the thick iron cell door.

“He—hello? Is there someone in there?” 

Covering his head with his hands, Jihoon knows he has to be imagining you. It wouldn’t be the first time since he had made Wonwoo put him in the dungeon that he had started to hallucinate. Shaking his head, muttering no, no, no, he laughs a bit manically under his breath as he glances up towards the small, barred window, seeing fingers gripping the iron. “Stop it…” 

Jihoon’s voice sends a shiver down your spine and for a moment you stare at the door in front of you like it’s not even there. It feels impossible to hear him in a place like this and not only that but to hear him sound like that—so weak and scared. “Oh my god! Jihoon?” 

Tugging at the handle of the cell door, you feel warm tears run down your cheeks when it won’t budge. Why was he locked inside of a cell? This was insane. He was the king of this palace for godsakes. “Jihoon! I can’t—the door won’t—it’s locked!” 

You were actually there? No, there was no way. Moving to his feet, Jihoon winces to the light through the bars when he sees your eyes as you rise to your toes, trying to see inside the cell. You were so beautiful. It was painful to see you. “Go away, Y/N.” 

Shaking your head, you tug at the door again in vain, not understanding Jihoon’s words. It didn’t make sense to you. “I—I don’t understand! I can’t go away. I won’t! I have to get someone to get you out of here. Who put you here?!” 

The laughter starts low and soft until finally Jihoon can’t hold it back. It was all ridiculous to him now. He hated himself so fucking much and he loved you just as much only to have a solid iron wall between the two of you now. That was the only way you were safe, and even then, Jihoon knew he could break it down if he tried hard enough—if the beast tried hard enough. “Who put you here?!” 

Taken aback when Jihoon mimics your words and the tone of your voice, you stare into his cell, trying to see him better. With limited light making it’s way into the cell, you could only see bits and pieces of him, but it was enough to tell he was naked and filthy. There was dirt and... was that blood? No, you were letting your fear get the better of you. 

“What’s wrong, Jihoon?” Pushing your fingers back through the bars, you sob out the words watching your husband move closer to the door, feeling a chill run down your spine seeing him closer. He didn’t look like himself at all. Jihoon was always well put together, but now his hair was matted with dirt and there was a look on his face you didn’t recognize—and his eyes. His eyes were so different. Why did those eyes look so familiar? Those golden eyes?

Sliding his fingers over yours, Jihoon’s eyes take in every bit of you that he can, knowing that he might never see you again. He thinks back to seeing you laying in bed, the blood seeping through the bandages as you whined in your sleep before waking up and asking him things he couldn’t answer. “Please leave me. Do this for me.”

You could hear the sorrow in Jihoon’s voice that it was breaking you in pieces. Why would he want to stay here? This wasn’t something he could ask of you. Shaking your head, you start to argue with him when Jihoon’s voice becomes more frantic, his fingers holding yours tightly behind the door. 

“Please! Please?! Y/N, can’t you do this one thing for me? Let me die down here where I can’t hurt you!” 

Trying to pull your hand away from Jihoon as you sob, you try to say his name when you feel an arm wrap around your waist and another around your wrist, easing you back from the cell door. 

“Let go of her, Sire... now.” 

Growling from inside the cell makes your blood run cold, but Jihoon’s fingers slide from yours and Wonwoo is able to bring your hand down from the door and to your stomach, where he holds it to you tightly. 

“It’s time to go back upstairs, Madame.” 

Why was Wonwoo always part of things like this? Trying to pull from his grasp, you whine his name, finding his grip too strong as he turns with you in his arms, walking back the way you had come. Behind you, you hear Jihoon’s growling soften into a whimper of your name as you lean your head back against Wonwoo’s chest, begging the man to let you go so you can go back for your husband. 

“I can’t. Please walk or I’ll have to carry you.” 

“I hate you. You did this, didn’t you? Why did you lock him in there?!” 

Sighing to the tone of your voice when you scream at him, Wonwoo bends his knees and pulls you into his arms much like he had the night he had saved you from the beast. Even though you push at his chest and struggle to get loose from him, you find yourself unable to grow wearier with each step up towards the light. 

“Because he asked me to, Madame.” 

19

Over the next few days, you find yourself getting lost in the palace as you attempt to find the staircase to the dungeon again. You had known where it was. You had seen Jihoon and felt his hand on yours, and yet by the time that you had made it upstairs with Wonwoo, it was as if exhaustion had clouded your mind, causing you to become confused and disoriented. 

You knew better than to ask Wonwoo for his help. He was keeping a closer eye on you, ever looming at every step you took and always directing you in the direction of your parlor or the library for a distraction. He was always reminding you that Jihoon was away on business. He was always lying to you, even though he knew that you knew the truth. 

It wasn’t until the fourth day that you managed to get Soonyoung’s facade to crack. You had watched him wander aimlessly around the palace only to look at you and start to say something before turning in the other direction. Something was on his mind and you knew what it was. He hated the idea of Jihoon in the dungeon as much as you did; he had to. That was his best friend. 

“Stop walking away from me.” 

Shaking his head as he continues walking away from you, Soonyoung furrows his brows, feeling his stomach twist with anxiety as you continue to follow with a limp in your step. “I’m not, madame... I’m just—I’m trying to get something done.” 

“Stop lying to me, Soonyoung! Stop making me chase you.” 

You were out of breath and Soonyoung felt horrible, but it wasn’t until he heard you wince in pain and heard the sound of you hitting the floor that he stopped in his tracks, running back towards you. Moving his eyes quickly over your face and down your body, Soonyoung feels the anxiety in him turning to panic as his hand hovers over your leg before he gives in and meets your eyes. “Are you hurt? Do I need to get the doctor? Is it your leg?” 

Dropping your act, you let out a slow, calming breath, grabbing Soonyoung’s hand and keeping him close to you. “I’m fine; I don’t want a doctor. I want my husband.” 

Opening his mouth in awe, Soonyoung is genuinely impressed by your willingness to go so far as to feign reinjuring yourself. You were a strong-willed woman and even more strong-willed since you became queen. Swallowing hard, Soonyoung shakes his head, looking down at the floor in front of you as you tell him what you want. He starts to tell you the same thing everyone else has when you grab his chin and make him meet your eyes. 

“I just—I want to take him food. Help me get back down there, please? I just want to see him for a few minutes. You can do this much for me.” 

Soonyoung knew this was a horrible idea as he walked in front of you, leading you down into the dungeon. Wonwoo would kill him and then blame it on someone else if this went poorly. Everyone had been warned not to let you come back down to the cells and yet here Soonyoung was doing just that and leading you right to Jihoon. “Ten minutes, Y/N... Anymore and Wonwoo will come looking for you.” 

You watch as Soonyoung looks inside Jihoon’s cell with his brows furrowed before he unlocks the cell door and steps back, letting you pull the door open. What you find is very different from what you had expected. Jihoon had seemed delusional and manic the last time you had seen him; now, while he seemed confused and afraid, he was lucid. 

Tears instantly fill your eyes at the sight of him as you move into the cell and put the plate of food on the bench. Moving to Jihoon, you throw your arms around his neck, feeling him carefully hold on to your waist. What you don’t see are Jihoon’s eyes locked on Soonyoung's, full of confusion and anger, before he buries his face against your neck, enjoying the moment knowing he has to let you go. 

“Why are you here, mon ange?” 

He really was different. This was your Jihoon now. Shaking your head, you sit beside him and carefully inspect him, lifting your hand to brush your fingers over his cheek, feeling Jihoon lean into your touch. “Miss you so much. Why—I—I brought you food.” Turning back to the plate, you put it on your lap and watch Jihoon’s smile turn sad as he nods gratefully. 

“I eat, darling. I don’t—I’m not starving.” He missed you terribly. This was making it worse. He had realized he loved you and now he was keeping himself from you. You were sitting right next to him, teasing him with the possibility of having his wife in his life, and Jihoon couldn’t take it. “You can’t be down here. Soonyoung, you need—” 

“Please, Jihoon. End this. Come upstairs and back to me? I’ll do anything. I’m sorry for whatever I did—” 

“You didn’t do anything, Y/N. I did. I—you don’t get it.” 

You didn’t and yet, as always, Jihoon wasn’t explaining it. “Then explain it to me. I need my husband. I cannot and will not live my life like this with you living in a cell.” 

You had every right to be angry with Jihoon. That was better than blindly trusting him. Looking towards the door, Jihoon sighs. Following his eyes, you see how the door is bent and scratched. That hadn’t been there before. It didn’t make any sense. How had Jihoon done that to a solid iron door? He seemed so normal and calm now compared to how he had been before. Did you even really want to know the answer to any of the questions you were asking yourself? 

“Or—just come home. You seem so much better.” 

“I do feel better, for now.” Jihoon wasn’t lying. He was a couple days out from shifting at this point and this was when he felt the best he could. He was on top of the world and could accomplish anything, but soon he would be right back where he was. You had visited him right before he shifted last time. You had put yourself in danger once again unnecessarily and that was what terrified Jihoon. You didn’t listen. “But you always—you didn’t stay inside that night, Y/N.” 

“I’ll stay inside! Forever!” Grabbing Jihoon’s hand, you blink through tears and pull his hand to your lips as you beg him to end this. “I swear it. Please?” 

Jihoon feels his chest tightening as you kiss his knuckles and as your tears hit his skin. He knows he should say no and stay where he is. No one, especially you, can be hurt or killed while he is locked away, but then you meet his eyes and plead with him once more and Jihoon’s resolve breaks. “Okay, mon ange.” 

20

There was ignorance and then there was blissful ignorance. For a week you had attempted to be blissfully ignorant, enjoying the presence of Jihoon back in the palace. Things had gone back to normal as much as they could, though you couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that was growing inside of you. 

So much about your life in Aetherial Grove didn’t make sense. Jihoon didn’t make sense and how everyone acted around him didn’t make sense. They treated him as if he were made of glass, so fragile that one wrong word and he might break. You were the only person to not treat him this way and many times you found yourself being chastised for doing so and being reminded that the king has a fragile temperament. 

Even with all of the looming anxiety and building tension in the palace, you had kept your word to Jihoon and stayed inside each and every night for close to two weeks. Not once in those two weeks did he come to your bed or make an effort to be closer to you than he already was and you found yourself growing more and more weary as the days crept by, wondering if this was the life you were resigned to. 

It wasn’t until Jihoon had kissed you gently one evening and whispered his goodnight wishes to you earlier than any other night that week that you found yourself feeling defiant. You had promised not to go outside, but that didn’t mean you couldn’t wander the palace after dark. You could go to Jihoon’s room and speak to him about how you were feeling—surely this would be allowed. 

So that was where you found yourself, standing in front of Jihoon’s open door, finding it empty. He had said he was tired and that he was going to bed not ten minutes ago and yet there was no one to be found. Sighing under your breath, you tug your robe around you tighter and furrow your brows as you start to go back towards your room when you hear the sounds of the heavy front doors shutting. Why would anyone be going outside at this time of the night? You weren’t allowed to, so surely no one else was either. 

Following the sound, you let your hand hover over the door before finally pushing it open and shivering instantly to the cold night air, stepping out into the darkness feeling a pang of guilt in your stomach. You were breaking your promise, but something wasn’t right. There was someone at the gates and they were open. Moving towards them, you start to speak when you find yourself horrified and shocked as you watch Soonyoung easing the gate closed as Jihoon falls to the ground just outside of it, his skin ripping as something bursts through the muscle. What was happening? Why wasn’t Soonyoung helping him? 

With your hand on your stomach, you try to run with your leg beginning to burn and Jihoon’s name on your lips when you find yourself collapsing as Jihoon’s body starts to change in front of your eyes. Limbs break and between his screams, he growls like an animal. Fur takes the place of his skin and quickly he becomes something you had seen once before when it had attacked you. 

Turning back towards the palace, his head bursting with tension and anxiety, Soonyoung stops in his tracks just a few feet from the gate when he sees you sitting on your knees in front of him. Terror takes the place of his anxiety as Soonyoung runs towards you, pulling you to your feet as Jihoon snarls at the gate, pushing against it, seeing you both there. “Y/N! You can’t be out here! You promised!” 

With the wind biting at your face, tears drip off your cheeks and onto your gown as you stare at Jihoon’s golden eyes as he tries to push in the gate, finding it impossible. You push at Soonyoung’s chest as he tries to lift you, your eyes locked on Jihoon, until hands hold either side of your face, making you look at Soonyoung. “We have to go inside! The gate is strong but if he tries harder, it won’t hold.” 

“Is that….” You knew the answer to your question and yet it didn’t seem real as Soonyoung pulled you to your feet, feeling you collapse only a few feet from the palace doors. "Soonyoung, is that Jihoon?! Did he—Mingyu? Me?!” 

Shaking his head, Soonyoung wants to tell you no. He wants to make you get up and tell you that it’s all a bad dream but he can’t so instead he stays silent and gestures towards the door. 

“Tell me!” 

“Soonyoung, go inside. I’ll tell her.” 

Lifting your eyes toward the doors as light spreads out along the courtyard, you and Soonyoung stop everything to meet the eyes of Jihoon’s mother, seeing a solemn look on her face. You watch as Soonyoung starts to argue only for her to lift her hand and for her to offer it to you to take. 

“I’ll explain it all.”

21

The ground is hard under Jihoon and yet his body doesn’t feel nearly as cold as it usually does when he wakes up early in the mornings. He can hear the birds chirping and the trees shifting with the gentle wind. If it weren’t for the rocks under his body and the ache in his muscles, it would almost be peaceful—welcomed. 

Jihoon could remember seeing Soonyoung dragging you back to the palace the night before. He hadn’t attacked you; thank God for that, but you had lied to him. That would be something he would have to deal with once he got back to the palace, but for the time being, Jihoon lay quietly, feeling the sun heating up the blanket draped over his body. 

Then it dawns on him that there is a blanket covering him. Not once has he ever woken up to something like this. Soonyoung would often be waiting for him with clothes and sometimes even something warm to eat or drink, but he had never gotten close enough to cover him as he slept. Someone had. 

Lifting his head, Jihoon searches around him and that’s when he sees you sitting with your back against a tree, your eyes moving over a book resting on your lap. Why the fuck were you here? Panicked Jihoon takes a sharp breath, sitting up almost too quickly, feeling the blood rushing to his head. There was no reason for you to be out in the forest—no reason for you to be near him like this... unless you knew. 

Muttering your name under his breath, Jihoon notices the clothes folded next to him and whines, realizing how much you seemed to prepare for this moment. You seemed to have been waiting for a while. Even now hearing him panic behind you, the only sign that you knew he was awake was the way you turned your head further, offering him more privacy. 

Tugging the pants over his legs, Jihoon looks from you and back down to the ground as he stumbles, trying to hurry as he attempts to walk and dress at the same time. Fear was taking hold of him; it was coursing through his veins like never before and by the time that he was dressed, he found himself falling to his knees in front of you with tears in his eyes and shaking his head. 

“I—I’m so sorry, mon ange. I’m—” Swallowing hard as he meets your eyes, Jihoon loses the composure he had, the tears streaming down his cheeks once you close your book. “I’m a monster, Y/N. You don’t deserve this shit. You—fuck… I hurt yo—” 

Jihoon wants to explain it all and make you understand how sorry and dangerous he is but all his words jumble together. None of it seems to matter to you as you lift your hand, resting it against his cheek, your thumb brushing the tears from it as you shush him, shaking your head along with his words. 

Leaning into your touch, Jihoon lets out a shaky sob, cupping your hand his own and bringing it to his lips to kiss your palm when you don’t speak. He was terrified of what you might say, but you say nothing and yet he can feel it all as you simply sit with him in the moment. 

Hand in hand, you and Jihoon finally make your way back to the palace. You feel his thumb brush the back of your hand as he takes deep breaths to keep himself steadfast, knowing it’s not just your eyes on him anymore. Now you understand him. You understand it all. While it doesn’t make any of what had happened to you or any other woman that came to Aetherial Grove right, you still understand it, and it’s not Jihoon’s fault. 

He didn’t choose this curse. He wasn’t the person who was at fault and yet he was the one who bore it. You had sat watching him sleep that morning and decided that he wouldn’t bear it alone. 

“I’m just going to get cleaned up, darling, and then we can talk a bit more.” 

Standing at the door to Jihoon’s room, you smile at him as he lifts your hands to his lips, pressing a kiss to each one before he starts to turn to leave you. “Jihoon.” 

You hadn’t spoken much to Jihoon since he had woken up and yet that was okay. There was something in your comforting silence that made Jihoon feel at peace. Hearing his name on your lips now was almost a welcomed surprise that had him half concerned and intrigued as Jihoon brushed his fingers over your cheek, humming questioningly as your eyes searched his face. 

“Can I stay? Let me help you.” 

Innocent and his. Parting his lips to let out a soft breath, Jihoon tries to think of how to speak but you don’t let him dwell on it. You take his hand in yours and open the door to his room, leading him in on your own. 

There was always a bath ready for Jihoon by the time he was back from the forest; today wasn't the exception. Stripping off the clothes you had brought him one by one, Jihoon furrows his brows and tries to muffle a pained groan as he feels the tension in his back muscles knowing you aren’t too far away. 

From where you were, you could see Jihoon out of the corner of your eye as you kept your eyes down once again, attempting to give your husband his privacy until he was in the water. You had seen him naked the night he had come to your room and briefly before you covered him with the blanket, but still you felt your cheeks heat up at the thought. 

Hearing the water break and shift, you take in a deep breath, listening to Jihoon’s sighs of relief before finally lifting your eyes and moving towards him as he watches you. His eyes had been intense before but knowing what you know now, somehow they felt different. You weren’t necessarily scared of him and you didn’t pity him, but there was something about him that kept you on your toes. 

Jihoon could see the shy look on your face as you swallowed your breath sitting on the side of the tub, keeping your eyes averted from looking down into the water. He was your husband and still you were so sweet and innocent you were afraid to look. Perhaps that was his fault—no, he knew it was. 

Sighing softly as he watches you lather your hands with soap, Jihoon anticipates your touch only to feel a shiver run through his body when you finally do touch him. Your hands are gentle and soft, matching how delicate you really are as you work the soap into his skin along the top of his shoulders. “You don’t have to help me with this.” Even though Jihoon speaks, his words saying one thing, he closes his eyes, relishing in the feeling of you, causing you to smile softly. 

“I want to. You’re my husband and I—” Rubbing your lips together, you swallow your words, tilting your head as Jihoon leans his head back, letting your hand slide over his chest, dragging the lather with it. You know what you want to say—how you feel about Jihoon, but it terrifies you almost as much as watching him shift or as much as feeling the arousal bubbling in your stomach as you help him bathe. You know you are being selfish. 

Furrowing his brows hearing you stop talking, your words unspoken, Jihoon opens his eyes and looks up at your pretty face, watching your eyes avoid his in place of looking at your hand as you work. “And?” 

Trying to smile and distract Jihoon from wanting to know more, you shake your head, reaching for the soap once again before shrugging. You sigh out a breath, trying to keep your attention on the task at hand, feeling yourself shaking slightly as your fingers work close to the waterline, feeling Jihoon’s muscles tense under your touch. 

“Fuck—” Biting his lips, Jihoon sucks in a breath, knowing you aren’t trying to seduce him even as you spread the lather over his stomach, your fingers dipping below the water. “Baby—” Leaning his head back, Jihoon reaches for your hand, wrapping his fingers around yours carefully, keeping it in place as he feels his cock twitching under the water, getting harder from just your innocent touch. 

It’s only when Jihoon stops you and you watch him take in deep breaths to try to calm himself that you realize your error and your eyes shift to the bathwater. “I’m sorry. Do—I can fix it.” 

Scoffing under his breath, Jihoon licks his lips and shakes his head, wondering to himself if you’d even know how to fix it. Would his sweet angelic wife know what to do with his cock all on her own? God, it was horrible for him to want to know, especially after everything that you had been through because of him. “It’s okay, mon ange. It’ll go away in a bit.” 

Feeling Jihoon’s fingers pat yours over his stomach, you pout to yourself as he keeps his eyes closed. You know deep down that he is trying to be kind and keep your innocence, but you find yourself offended by it and feel like a challenge is placed in front of you. Humming under your breath, you work your hand free from Jihoon’s feeling his stomach suck in under your touch as he mutters your name when your touch timidly goes lower. Perhaps you didn’t have all the practice, but you weren’t going to be put in your room and told to lock the door now that you knew what you knew. You were going to know everything. 

“Ah—wait!” Hissing out a breath, Jihoon’s eyes open widely to look between your face and down to the water as you wrap your fingers around his cock and stroke him once, holding him tightly. Holding the tub with one hand, he puts his other around your hand, loosening your grip slightly as you meet his eyes before guiding you. “Shit—like that, okay?” 

Adjusting with Jihoon’s help, you nod, your lip caught between your teeth as you feel his cock throb in your hand as you run your hand over it slowly. You can't help but be intrigued by the feeling and enjoying the weight of it in your hand as you feel the arousal pooling between your legs, causing you to whimper out a yes in response to Jihoon’s directions. 

“Feels good, darling. You are so beautiful. I—shit… You are too pretty to touch me, you know that?” Furrowing his brows, Jihoon groans your name like a prayer, helping you speed up your hand as he lifts his hips, chasing the feeling of his high. 

This felt completely different from when Jihoon had come to your room. It was more than the fact that it was you touching him; it was that you knew him better. You trusted him more. You loved his man and you wanted to make him feel good. Watching his mouth part in a groan, you furrow your brows and hold back a soft moan of your own when Jihoon falls over the edge. 

Tightening his grip around yours, Jihoon whines, letting you overstimulate him for a few seconds before he moves both your hand and his from his cock, letting it rest against his thigh. It had been so long since he had experienced something like that with someone else, but the fact that it was you—Jihoon’s mind was racing and his cock wasn’t fully softening. He had heard your pretty moans as you stroked him through his climax and now he couldn’t help but let himself wonder how wet you might be. 

The silence is almost deafening for a few seconds until Jihoon meets your eyes as he presses his thumb gently into your palm, drawing a small circle, causing your thighs to clench. You knew that you wanted him, but you were scared to ask. Luckily, your eyes said enough and Jihoon didn’t want to keep you waiting. 

Water soaks through your dress as Jihoon’s body presses against yours with your back against his bed. You whine to the feeling of his lips moving along your neck as his fingers impatiently work to undo ties and buttons before you hear and feel the fabric tear at your shoulder. “Jihoon—” 

“‘M sorry… Fuck, I’m sorry. I’ll get you more. I’ll buy you a thousand dresses and all the things you want, but I have to get you out of this fucking dress right now.” 

You could hear the desperation in Jihoon’s voice as he rutted his hips against your leg over the skirt of your dress, his fingers tearing at ruined sleeves so that his lips had more access to your skin. Leaning up on your elbows, you whine Jihoon’s name, feeling his tongue lap at your skin even as his fingers tug your dress carefully down to your waist, leaving your chest exposed to him. 

“You sound so pretty, baby.” He had been afraid to let you speak before when he was in your bed. The beast was listening too closely and he was not only a fool but a coward. Now as he relished in the sounds of your whimpers and moans, Jihoon willed the beast back, determined to enjoy you and every single sound you made for him in his bed. “God, I love you so fucking much.” 

Jihoon hadn’t meant to confess to you like that. His head was swimming with adoration for you along with lust as he worshipped your body, leaving kisses along your chest. You were his everything, all that would ever matter. The moment the words leave his mouth, Jihoon hears you suck in a breath and your body trembles under him, drawing his eyes upward.  

Those had been the words that you had wanted to say to Jihoon earlier—that you loved him. You were scared to say them. You were afraid that he would never love you and that you’d never been good enough for him and yet he said them to you first. Closing your eyes tightly, you feel the tears rising in your eyes as you try to keep them back but it’s impossible as you shake with a soft sob overwhelmed by sensations and emotions. 

Moving up the bed, Jihoon shakes his head, cupping your cheek in his palm as he looks down at you concerned as tears run from the corner of your eyes. He worries at first that you are hurt or that he’s upset you, but then he sees your smile and it almost breaks him. “Baby—”

“I love you, Jihoon.” 

God, he loved those words on your lips. They scared the shit out of him, but they were like hearing a true angel speak. Jihoon never deemed himself worthy of love. He didn’t think that he was worthy of his parents’ love or that of his friends, but when it came to you, he thought he’d never in his entire life earn those words. Something about those three little words changed Jihoon, but for now he simply kissed your smile and then each of your cheeks wiping the tears from your face. “You’re my heart, Y/N. I swear I won’t make you regret those words.”

Sighing happily, you run your fingers through Jihoon’s damp hair as his lips begin to once again move along your jaw and down your neck. You felt in your heart that he wasn’t lying to you. For the first time, it truly felt like you had your husband in your arms and he was taking his time and making you his. 

Carefully working the rest of your dress from your body, Jihoon winces, seeing how badly he really ruined the dress before he drops it into the floor as you laugh under your breath at his reaction. “I’m serious, a thousand, ten thousand more dresses just like it.” 

You want to say something—a smart comeback about how he should get you dresses for the damage done to that one, but any care you have for that dress leaves your head as you watch Jihoon’s fingers run along your thigh, urging you to spread your legs. You find yourself suddenly nervous once again as Jihoon meets your eyes and takes a deep breath when he moves them between your legs, seeing just how wet you are. 

“I—I don’t think I properly apologized for how things happened last time. That isn’t how anyone should treat you, but especially not your husband.” Watching you furrow your brows and start to shake your head, Jihoon lifts his free hand to stop you as he massages your inner thigh with his other hand. “It’s not an excuse, and I will never use it as one—I simply want to explain so that we are cautious in the future. When I am close t–to shifting like I was that evening, I am—” 

You watch Jihoon struggle with his words, having to take in deep breaths. You wonder if he’s ever explained something like this to someone else before realizing he hasn’t, that he’s never let himself get so close to someone. Moving to sit up, you slide closer to Jihoon, letting him rest between your legs as you run your fingers over his face, feeling him lean into your touch. “I’m listening and I’m not going anywhere, Jihoon. I love you.” 

He didn’t deserve you. God, how did you exist? Smiling, Jihoon turns towards your palm, kissing it gently before muttering that he loves you too and letting out a breath before continuing. “The beast makes me angry—aggressive and stupid. It would be wise if we were more careful about things like this if I’m close to shifting. Does that make sense?” 

Meeting Jihoon’s eyes, you run your thumb over his cheekbone as you nod, almost trying to memorize the color of his dark brown eyes as you think back to the golden of the beast’s eyes. “Yes, but I trust you. I also don’t want you to ever lock yourself away again, Jihoon. We do this together, forever. Do you understand? Don’t ever keep this from me again.” 

The thought of that terrified Jihoon more than anything. He was so afraid that he might hurt you or worse. You were more important to him than anything else in his life and he had a feeling that the beast knew that. The beast enjoyed taking things from him—or at least that’s what it felt like. Swallowing hard, Jihoon reluctantly nods, agreeing before leaning to meet your lips in a tender kiss, feeling you smile against it. 

Humming softly into the kiss, Jihoon’s tongue sliding along yours, you let him ease you back on to the bed, feeling the pillow under your head. Legs tangle with one another as his hand slides along your side, along your hip, and down to your knee before Jihoon pulls it up to his hip so he can nudge his cock between your legs. 

“Ah…” Excitement and arousal wash over you. Leaning your head back, you open your eyes, meeting Jihoon’s, biting your lip, wondering when he is going to finally put himself into you, only for confusion to the place of your excitement as he eases back. “No… wait? Jihoon, I thought—” 

“We are, baby. You aren’t ready. You said I’m your first.” Speaking between kisses along your jaw and neck, Jihoon lowers his eyes between your legs as he takes a steading breath, preparing himself more than you before he brushes his fingers over your wet folds. “I’d rather die than hurt you again, mon ange. Keep your leg up for me and if anything hurts, tell me.” 

Holding tightly to his bicep, you whine Jihoon’s name when you feel his index finger slowly ease into you. The feeling is familiar but unlike last time, there is no pain. This time you find yourself clenching around Jihoon’s finger. “Mmm…” 

Smirking to himself, Jihoon nods to your reaction before carefully pushing his finger in deeper, feeling your hand tighten on his bicep as you moan. He pictures you in your bed making those noises and wonders if you’ve put your own small fingers inside yourself like this, knowing they’d never reach as deep as he can. “Good? How about this?” Curling his finger back towards his palm, Jihoon watches as you arch your back, your mouth falling open with a breath. “Beautiful.” 

You wanted more. This was what you had expected and what your cousins had told you that you might expect in the bedroom with a husband. You knew that some marriages weren’t blessed with sex lives to be envied; at this moment, you felt like yours was. There was no way that there could be anything better than this. There was no way there was anyone better than Jihoon. 

“I’m going to add another finger, darling.” 

Bracing yourself, brows furrowed, you nod only to moan Jihoon’s name, feeling yourself stretch around his index and middle fingers. It wasn’t as if you hadn’t touched yourself before. You had made yourself orgasm several times in your life, but never had you felt this good. Never had you felt yourself stretched around fingers like you were now and that only brought you back to what you knew would come next as you felt Jihoon’s cock brush against your thigh. It was much thicker than two of his fingers. How would you ever handle that? 

“You are doing so well. So pretty.” Using his thumb, Jihoon draws small circles on your clit, watching you lift your hips as you feel the pressure beginning to build in your stomach. He had watched women cum before; he had even seen you do it once before, but there was something special about this. He was seeing you with clear eyes and you were divine. “You can let go. Cum for me, baby.” 

Your nails dig into Jihoon’s skin and yet he doesn’t flinch or seem angry with you as deep red marks appear on his skin when you cum around his fingers. Gasping his name, you push your hips down over his fingers and ride out your orgasm, daring to meet his eyes before throwing your head back with a breathy moan. 

Kissing the corner of your lips, Jihoon eases his fingers from you, feeling you clenching around them as he does. Despite his cock twitching and leaking on to your leg, he doesn’t rush you this time; instead, Jihoon brushes his fingers over your head and whispers softly against your skin as you come down from your orgasm. “You’re perfect. Love you so much, Y/N... Take your time, baby. Shh… I’m not going anywhere. Have all the time in the world.”

Though you didn’t want to wait, you could feel your thighs shaking as you fought to catch your breath. Any fears you had that Jihoon would rush out the door, leaving you alone and wanting were distant, as you felt like you were drowning in him now. Every word and brush of his lips against your skin or lips had not only made you feel like you were able to take your time but also more confident. Finally, once you couldn’t stand the growing arousal in you taking back over, you whined Jihoon’s name, feeling his lips pull up into a smile against your cheek as his fingers brushed over your lower stomach. 

“Hm, what is it, baby? Why are you whining for me?” Jihoon knew that you were still his innocent flower, his perfect little angel of a wife and while every bone in his body was begging him to take you and ruin you for anyone else—he had to hear you ask for it. Holding your chin between his thumb and forefinger, Jihoon meets your pretty eyes as he feels your leg run along the outside of his thigh, your wet pussy pressing against his thigh, causing a groan to bubble up in his throat that he just barely manages to keep silent as he waits for you to speak. “What do you want from your husband?” 

The confidence that you had managed to build was waning, but you could see the look in Jihoon’s eyes and you somehow knew that he was going to make you follow through with his words. Glancing downward, you let your bottom lip jut out slightly, causing Jihoon to laugh under his breath as he watches you until you do finally speak. “I want—Jihoon, please? Take me.” 

You were being so sweet and soft. Your cute bottom lip sticking out at your pouted, but then you said those words and all amusement left Jihoon just like the breath in his lungs. He wanted to take you. While he never wanted to possess you like the beast did, there was a sense of pride that you were his wife and in his bed. He was lucky enough to have this claim to you and he’d be a fool not to act on it. 

Groaning under his breath, Jihoon nods before nipping at your jaw and hearing your breath get caught in your throat. The sounds leaving your mouth spur him on and have his hands once again trace the curves of your body, learning very dip and valley as he settles himself back between your legs. “Fuck—you’re… God, you’re so—” Shaking his head, unable to think straight, Jihoon practically whines, feeling your soft folds against his cock as he holds himself steady. “Please tell me you love me again.” 

Feeling the head of his cock bump against your clit, you gasp out Jihoon’s name before he grips your ass with his free hand, pulling your hips closer to him and lining himself up with you, waiting for you to do as he asked. It wasn’t a command or difficult task; it was asking you to do something as simple as breathing. “I love you, Jihoon, so much.” 

Neither of you were really prepared for how you would feel when Jihoon’s cock began to ease into you for the first time. You had never felt such an intense stretch like it in your entire life, and Jihoon was barely hanging on by a thread as he felt you clench down around him like a vice every single inch for what seemed like hours. He wasn’t going to rush you, but as he tried to allow you the time to adjust and get used to the feeling of him inside of you, Jihoon felt like he was going to explode. 

“Babe—baby… You are so tight. You have to try to relax for me, okay? Shh…” Brushing his thumb along your cheek, Jihoon meets your eyes, watching you nod along with his words as you make your best attempt to relax, allowing him to finally breathe when his hips settle against yours. “Fuck, there you go. Such a good girl. You okay? You let me know when you’re ready.” 

“Okay, oh my god.” You had been right when you wondered how you would fit all of Jihoon inside of you. Even as he lay between your legs and you felt yourself tightening around him, you were having a hard time comprehending it. 

The pain at first had been overwhelming, but now you were beginning to feel restless even as Jihoon’s fingers caress your skin and draw small invisible shapes along your chest and breasts to distract you. None of it is enough to stop you from wanting more and instinct kicks in, causing you to lift your hips, letting you watch a look of pleasure cross over Jihoon’s face as his eyes close and his lips part with a groan as you use your body like you had your hand earlier. “Please?” 

Anything you wanted. Jihoon would give you the moon and the stars. He would climb to the top of the palace and stand on the roof to pluck them out of the sky and bring them down one by one for you if you asked him to. Doing this—making love to his wife—Jihoon was more than happy to do. 

Lacing his fingers with yours, Jihoon presses your hand to the bed with the first swallow thrust of his hips, watching your mouth fall open with a choked moan. There was no way he was going to last long, but he’d rather die than cum without feeling you let go around his cock. He had denied himself for so long—he had denied you—that this was more than about just fucking you; it was about the pleasure he was determined to give you and to make you remember that he was the only one who’d ever make you feel this way. 

“Ji–Jihoon…” Tears fall over the rims of your eyes as Jihoon’s hips meet yours harder, his head buried in the crook of your neck. You had dreamt of pleasure like this but never thought it would be real until this moment—until Lee Jihoon. Digging your nails into his lower back, you press your head back into the pillow, gasping out a moan and arching your back, feeling the familiar pressure building with each of Jihoon’s deep thrusts. “Kiss me? Please kiss me, Jihoon.” 

The moon and the stars. Tightening his fingers on yours, Jihoon kisses your neck and groans your name before walking his kisses up to your lips, claiming them once again when you ask for something. He could feel himself barreling over the edge, his climax teetering on a precarious edge, but still determined to feel you first, Jihoon shifts his body closer to you, listening to you whine loudly against his lips as he pushes your leg up towards your stomach so he can bury his cock into you hard. “Come on, mon ange. Give it to me...” 

Jihoon sounds desperate and breathless against your lips; his thrusts are sharp and irregular as he gets exactly what he wants when you fall apart for him. Gasping for a deep breath, you find it impossible when your orgasm rips through you, causing your thighs to shake around Jihoon’s body. Resting his forehead against yours, Jihoon groans your name, feeling himself unable to hold back cumming hard into your warm pussy as you milk him dry. 

Both of you are silent beside your breaths for a few moments. Your bodies are tangled and unmoving as cum begins to seep from you and to the bed under you, making you feel sticky. It is Jihoon that moves and speaks first when he kisses your cheek and then your lips, unwilling to separate from you even as his cock softens inside of you, allowing more of his cum to escape. “My beautiful wife.”

Laughing under your breath, you turn your face from Jihoon’s kisses, feeling your cheeks burning at his attention even as he turns you back towards him, capturing your lips for a longer kiss and letting you sigh into it. You find yourself happy and sad all at once, your bottom lip once again sticking out slightly, making Jihoon lean back to look down at you before finally slipping himself from you and moving to your side, pulling you into his arms. 

“Why are you sad? What did I do?” 

Quickly shaking your head, you turn on your side, pulling one leg over Jihoon's, enjoying the feeling of his fingers on your skin. “Nothing, I’m not—it’s not sadness, Jihoon. It’s—I’m not sure what it is. Regret?” Seeing Jihoon furrowing his brows, you pat his chest and sit up slightly, trying to correct yourself. “No, no, wait. Not like that. Regret that we didn’t figure this out sooner. How much of our relationship we have already missed out on because of—something you can’t be a fault for.” 

Wrapping his fingers around yours, Jihoon brings them to his lips, kissing them and speaking against them slightly muffled even as he sighs into his words. “You’re the only person who has ever truly made me feel like perhaps the curse isn’t my fault. I’ve always felt I earned it—” 

“Jihoon—” 

“Let me finish, mon ange.” Kissing your fingertips again, Jihoon smiles against them. “I know I was born like this and that the curse was put on my parents. I logically know that. That has never mattered until I met you. Every other woman has—well, you know.” Sighing, Jihoon laughs almost in disbelief at his own words as he shakes his head, putting your hand on his chest over his heart. “You make me feel like perhaps I’m not even cursed at all. How could I be if I have you?” 

Jihoon’s words cause your chest to tighten and for tears to sit on the rims of your eyes as you feel his heart beat steadily in his chest. You can’t imagine a life without him—a cursed life or not. “You aren’t, my love. You are just Jihoon. You are just my husband.” 

For the first time in Jihoon’s life, he believes those words in his heart and the rumbling is silent as you kiss him, whispering that you love him against his lips. 

22

Four days of ignorant bliss. It had been a honeymoon phase. 

Jihoon had spent days and nights in your arms, but now he could feel the hair standing on the back of his neck even as you laid your head in his lap reading your book. He knows he should tell you that he is going to shift, but the shame overwhelms him. 

Promises had been made about this. He had told you that the two of you would deal with things together, but how could he do that when he looks at your now and sees the scars on your thigh? He can see the way his claws ripped through your perfect skin and left such angry marks? No—Jihoon has to keep you safe. 

Jihoon waits until you are asleep. His fingers tremble as he brushes your hair from your beautiful face before he lifts you and lays you back in bed and he listens to the angry rumble in the back of his head. The beast is angry with him. Why was it so angry? Why was the beast longing after you? That terrified Jihoon. He had to get away from you. 

Stumbling out of the room, Jihoon groans under his breath in pain, making his way towards the front of the palace to the doors when someone stands in his way at the doors. Lifting his golden eyes to Wonwoo, Jihoon sighs out a ragged breath and gestures to the door. “Open it and move, Wonwoo. I don’t want to hurt you or anyone else. I couldn’t live with myself. Please.” 

“No, sire.” 

Confused, Jihoon puts a hand to his stomach, feeling his muscles beginning to tear from the inside out. Letting out a pained groan, Jihoon takes a step forward, trying to get to the door himself, only to feel Wonwoo’s hand on his shoulder pushing him back with surprising strength. “Fucking move, Wonwoo! You know I don’t have—I don’t have time! Why are you doing this to me?!”  

“Why did you lie to her?” 

Falling towards Wonwoo, Jihoon coughs, tasting blood in his mouth from the muscles shifting internally. Though he is still confused, he pushes past the steward harder, managing to open the door and fall to the ground at the steps and Wonwoo’s feet as the man looks down at him. “Wha—what the fuck are you—” Lying? He hadn’t told you that he was going to shift. Had Wonwoo been spying on the two of you? Furious, Jihoon glares at Wonwoo before letting out a painful growl as his back arches, the bones snapping. 

“You lied to her, Jihoon. You had made so much progress—you were changing.” 

Scratching at the marble under his fingers, Jihoon spits the blood from his mouth and turns his head back up to Wonwoo. “What the fuck? Are you spying on us?” 

“You’re smarter than that, Jihoon. Think—” 

“Jihoon!” You had woken up to the sounds of pained yowling and only one thing had made sense. With tears in your eyes, you run towards the door,, seeing Jihoon lying across the steps in the middle of shifting, fear evident in his eyes as he looks around, shocked and confused. 

“No—Wonwoo, send her—” Looking for Wonwoo, Jihoon is stunned to not see him standing over him anymore; he only sees you as you rush forward, falling to your knees in front of him This was the worst thing that could happen. He was dangerous during his shift and the beast would kill you; he couldn’t trust himself and yet you were looking at him like you always did. You weren’t afraid of him; why weren’t you afraid? “Y/N, please go away! Baby, please!” 

Shaking your head, you sob Jihoon’s name, moving closer even as his body breaks and reforms in front of you. You knew that you should be afraid, but you couldn’t. You had promised to take care of him and you weren’t going to go back on it. “No! I love you. I won’t leave. I’m here, Jihoon. I trust you!” 

Jihoon cries out in pain, his fingers breaking one by one before claws begin to take their place. He meets your eyes, able to shake his head before everything goes to black and nothing is left but the beast. Blowing out a deep breath into a growl, Jihoon opens his eyes and scratches at the floor under him, feeling the marble cracking until he meets your eyes. You should be terrified. You should be screaming, but you aren’t. 

“I’m here. I’m—Jihoon, I’m not afraid of you and I’m not leaving. I love you.” 

The words seem foreign and impossible, but even as something fights him, telling him that you are lying to him, Jihoon keeps his eyes on you, listening to you tell him that you love him over and over again as you lift your hand, putting it against his face. He could so easily kill you. Tear you limb from limb, but he can’t and he won’t. Falling down in front of you, Jihoon lets out a loud breath, resting his large head in your lap, feeling your shaky hands run over the thick fur.  

At first, Jihoon falling into your lap scares you. You worry for a moment that he might get up and capture you in his large jaws, but after a few moments, you begin to wonder if he’s fallen asleep as you run your fingers over his head, listening to him breathe steadily. Tears drip from your cheeks and down on to the top of Jihoon’s head, soaking into the fur before you manage to lift your free hand, wiping them away, feeling relief wash over you. 

“You lulled man and beast, madame.” 

Furrowing your brows to hear a voice so close and having not heard any footsteps, you look up surprised to see Wonwoo standing against the doorframe with a slight smirk on his lips. You were used to seeing him in the same suit every day. He was a man of routine and he rarely surprised you, but tonight he looked completely different. He looked almost ethereal in his long black cape and his eyes full of mirth. 

“Wh—I? What? What are you doing out here?” 

Undoing his cape, Wonwoo grins at you as you feel the weight in your lap lessen, drawing your eyes down to Jihoon and causing your mouth to fall open in shock. Where the beast had been just moments before now lay your husband, his eyes fluttering as if he were simply dreaming, his body shivering from the cold. 

“I’ve grown weary, madame. Here, allow me.” Leaning to put the cape over Jihoon like a blanket, Wonwoo meets your eyes and you notice the subtle golden color to them before he stands back to his normal height to look up at the night sky. “You’ve done so much in your short time in Aetherial Grove.” 

Still confused, you watch Wonwoo closely while trying to keep Jihoon covered, feeling his fingers holding your dressing gown tightly at your thigh as he dreams. “What do you mean? Who—What—” 

Smiling to himself at your half-asked questions, Wonwoo glances towards you and nods. “Who and what indeed. A smart queen for an unselfish king. Quite the pairing.” You watch as Wonwoo lifts his hands and turns towards you and Jihoon, a playful look on his face. “When our dear king does wake, tell him that I am grateful for his generosity and that he allowed me to stay for as long as I wanted.” 

As if realizing something, you open your mouth, seeing Wonwoo’s eyes almost sparkle at your recognition. “You—” 

Bowing at his waist, Wonwoo meets your eyes and sighs. “Farewell, madame. Blessings on the king and his queen for many years to come.” Turning to walk away, you hear him laugh under his breath before he whispers just loud enough for you to hear. “Perhaps I’ll visit again one day.” 

Stunned and uncertain what to say or do, you watch Wonwoo as he moves towards the golden gates. You wait for him to push them open only to watch as he seems to vanish just before reaching them, just a shimmer of gold dissipating into the air where he once was. 

In your lap, Jihoon groans under his breath, shifting under the cloak, finally managing to open his eyes, looking up at you. The confusion is clear on his face, but as he blinks, looking around as if expecting something to happen, you can almost see something becoming clear to him. 

“How?” 

Lifting your hand to your lips and realizing that the curse is truly broken, you can’t stop the sob before it leaves you. Jihoon, still confused, looks at the cloak around him before moving closer to you, trying to keep you warmer as you try to speak between sobs, trying to explain what had happened even though you know it doesn’t make sense.  

Though Jihoon doesn’t completely understand, he pushes the tears from your cheeks and nods along, letting it sink in. Wonwoo had been in his life for as long as he could remember. His father had never explained where the steward had come from, and Jihoon had never asked. He remembered his father and Wonwoo having a difficult relationship as well as a close friendship, but now as you tried to explain who he really was, it all began to sink in. 

His father had been a selfish king and in his own way, so had Jihoon. He had thought by keeping everything to himself that he was protecting everyone around him—he had been protecting you, when in fact he had been hurting you more. It took letting someone in and letting them stay to break the curse. Just like letting Wonwoo stay until he was ready to go. 

In the end, it all led Jihoon to you and now he would never let you go. 

His wife. His queen. His heart. 

READ THE BONUS ON PATREON

No. It must be how well you slept. That happens sometimes. You wake up after a particularly good night’s rest and everything feels better. The sheets start to feel like satin under your bare skin. The mattress hugs you like a cloud, urging you to reach for your fiancé and curl yourself into his side. Only when you slide your hand along the sheets but that's all you feel. Ben got up before you and didn’t even say goodbye. 

Typical. 

Rolling towards the middle of the bed, you smile to yourself, feeling the sheets caress your lower back. God, it feels nice just to lie here. It feels nice to not rush yourself out of bed and back into another meaningless workday. There’s no telling how long you have before your alarm will go off… would it be so bad to just drift back off for a while? 

Another sigh leaves your lips and your brows furrow. How long had you drifted back off for? Your mouth feels like cotton and your stomach is beginning to complain for food. Reaching once more across the bed in search of Ben, your lips turn down.  

Things haven’t been perfect for you and your fiancé, but you do your best to make him happy. With that in mind, you finally pry your eyes open and whisper his name, only for the word to die on your lips as you notice where you are—where are you? 

The sheets undercovering your body aren’t your own. This bed isn’t yours. This bedroom isn’t yours. Panic begins to rush through you as you sit up in the bed and tug the sheet up to your chest, realizing you were feeling the sheets on your skin because you’re naked. Where are your clothes? 

“Ben?” Your voice echoes around the room and a feeling of dread settles in your chest. Looking around the room and towards the nightstand, your heart thumps loudly in your chest when you realize not only are you somewhere else but your phone isn’t next to you. In the place of your phone, you find a single red rose as if it were left for you to discover. 

Tears prick at your eyes even as you force yourself to tug the sheet from the bed and wrap it around you in an attempt to cover yourself. How could something like this happen? You rack your brain trying to remember the night before. 

Ben had to work late. You were upset with him, but you still made him dinner, promising to heat it up for him once he came home. You remember opening a bottle of wine. Was that the problem? You rarely drink but one glass of wine wouldn’t knock you out so heavily someone could come in and steal you straight from your bed. You couldn’t have been so drunk you’d sleep through someone taking you from your house, stripping you, and putting you in this bed. 

The tears sit on the rim of your eyes until you blink, causing them to spill over and run down your cheeks. You are trying to force yourself to think—to figure out what to do once you make it to the large black door across the room from you—when a knock sends a shiver down your spine. 

“Y/N? Are you awake?” 

Who is that? The voice is smooth and deep. It’s unfamiliar and yet he knows your name. Shaking your head, you scold yourself for caring if he knows your name. Of course your kidnapper would know your name. Is that what happened? You were kidnapped? 

Or is this something else? Have you finally snapped? Was the pressure of everything too much and now this is a delusion? Is the person behind that door a doctor? That could happen. Your fragile mind finally broke and this is a bougie hospital that your parents placed you in. 

Then again—why would they? It has been years since you spoke to your parents. You have separated yourself from their lives and sworn to become a better person. You had found a new home and a church where you felt comfortable. That was where you met Ben. You had fallen in love so quickly that you made yourself overlook all of your fiancé's questionable habits. You were—are going to get married in a year in the church that at first offered you safety and stability. 

“I know you’re awake. I’m going to open the door.” 

Taking a few steps back towards the bed, you feel your heart in your throat at the idea of whoever is on the other side of that door opening it. You only have a sheet to cover your body and you still have no idea who they are or where you are, but you only get a few seconds of panic before the door does open and a tall man steps through it. 

His eyes find you immediately and your breath gets caught in your throat. You had hoped for half a second that you’d know who it was. Maybe it was Ben forcing his voice lower, but that was a stupid wish because this man sounds nothing like Ben. Like his voice, his eyes are deep—so brown they almost seem black. You swallow hard and take another step back as he takes one towards you, letting the door shut behind him. 

“I know you’re confused.” 

That is an understatement. 

Whining under your breath, you stop walking backward when your butt knocks into the nightstand, causing the lamp to fall over behind you. “Wh—where am I?” Even your voice sounds different. It sounds strained and laced with fear. You swallow hard, trying to make more saliva to coat your overly dry tongue in hopes of sounding less small. “Who are you?”

The man smiles at you but it isn’t a normal polite smile. His lips form more of a smirk than a smile as he pushes his hand into the pocket of his black dress pants as he smooths his black button-down over his stomach. “You can call me Wonwoo.” 

That was one answer and yet not the one you desired more. Your eyes follow Wonwoo as he turns his eyes from you to glance around the room, his feet moving a few steps towards you until he sighs patiently. “As I said, you must be confused.” 

“Very. Tell me where I am. Why—did—did you kidnap me?” 

Smooth, Y/N. Like the kidnapper would just tell you if he did it. Cursing yourself under your breath, you hold the sheet tighter around your chest as you meet Wonwoo’s eyes once again. His laugh triggers a chill up your spine that has your skin erupting with chill bumps. He shakes his head and lifts the hand from his stomach to his head as he scratches his eyebrow, seeming to think carefully on his next words. 

“No, Darling. I simply collected what was mine.” 

Your pulse begins to beat loudly in your ears as your blood runs cold. Heat licks behind your eyes as you force yourself not to close them even as the world seems to spin in front of you. “Wh—what? I wanna go home…” You aren’t sure the words are spoken aloud. Finally closing your eyes, you whine at the sick feeling building in your stomach and rising up your throat as fear rips through your soul. 

Watching you start to sway, Wonwoo tilts his head and takes another step towards you. Humans are weak. There is no denying that. It doesn’t take much to see you are on the verge of passing out. There is sweat gathering on your temples and your skin has begun to take on an unnatural color when finally your legs give out. A rush of emotions pushes through Wonwoo as he closes the space between you and him just in time to sweep you from your unsteady legs and into his arms. 

You are so fragile. A mixture of intrigue and disgust worms its way through Wonwoo’s body before he turns to place you back on the bed, readjusting the black satin sheet around you so you are covered. The very act seems foreign to him. He has never attempted to protect anyone's modesty before and yet as he looks down on you now as your breathing begins to settle, Wonwoo finds himself not only keeping you covered but also pushing your hair back from your face. 

It’s just so he can look at you. At least that’s what he tells himself as his fingers stroke along your cheekbone down to your parted lips. The color has started to return to you; your lips, while cracked from dehydration, are the right color again. 

Settling onto the bed next to you, Wonwoo studies you silently. His eyes moving along every bit of you that is exposed to him. You are beautiful—so stunning that it makes him uncomfortable. Humans shouldn’t look like you. When God created all things—humans included—he attempted and failed at creating perfection with Adam and Eve. Their flaws… the free will that they were permitted left them scarred inside and out—but not you. If Wonwoo didn’t know better, if he couldn’t literally see your soul clinging to your body, he would think you were an angel like him. 

Fingers trail along your shoulder, causing you to sigh happily at the contact. It was a dream. Ben is home and you have been home this entire time. Turning towards the touch, your lips turn up in a small smile at the brush of soft lips against your neck.

“Mmm, I had such a weird dream.” Your smile pulls at your lips as the kisses walk the length of your neck to your jaw. The breath against your skin causes chill bumps to spread in anticipation. 

“Tell me about it…” The voice isn’t what you expected yet it keeps you calm as you lift your hand, running your fingers through soft hair. 

“I was taken.” Gasping into your words, you arch your back when teeth nip at your sensitive skin. “Mmm, taken to hell. I was there for weeks. I lost track of time.” 

A soft hum of understanding from the lips now brushing over the shell of your lips has you gripping at the hair under your fingers. You could open your eyes but something tells you to wait. This feels too good. “Yeah… There was a man. He watches me but…” Your voice lowers as the memories come back to you and you know who is kissing you. You should hate it. He took you from your home. He took you from your fiancé. He took you from Ben but he hasn’t told you why beyond saying he took what was his. 

“Wonwoo…” You whisper on a soft gasp, feeling his lips pull up in a smirk.  

“Yes, little angel. Keep telling me about this dream. Was it a bad dream?” 

Tears press behind your eyes as you keep them shut tightly, your hand starting to loosen in Wonwoo’s hair only for his hand to rest over yours, tightening your fingers once again. Using your hand, he tugs on his hair hard enough to make you wince before you arch against him, feeling his thigh press between your legs. 

“It—” You struggle to find your words, feeling not only confused but also aroused when you roll your hips over the hard thigh resting against your bare cunt. “Mm, I don’t know. I’m—please? I want to go home.” 

Your words say one thing but your body another as Wonwoo traces your jaw up to your ear with his tongue. He had done so well for weeks. He had barely touched you but he had waited long enough. “Home? Darling, you are home.” Hearing you whine his name, tears rolling down to his lips now at the corner of yours, Wonwoo rocks his thigh against you and hums in appreciation. “Do you want me to tell you the truth? You want me to break your little heart?” 

When you don’t answer with more than new tears for him to lick from your skin, Wonwoo growls low under his breath. You are stubborn and infuriating in ways he has never dealt with. Others pray to him. Some pray with hate in their hearts, others with devotion—yet you give him your sorrow. You pray for what you’ve lost. What you think was taken from you. 

“I’ll break your heart. I’ll watch it shatter and then, sweet little one… I will bind it to me.” Leaning back to look down at you, Wonwoo narrows his eyes as you keep your eyes shut tightly. “Look at me when I’m speaking to you, Y/N. Open your eyes and face the truth you so desperately want…” 

Forcing your eyes open, you blink through your tears to meet Wonwoo’s eyes. You know you should try to push him away. His words already make you feel like you want to die—but aren’t you dead already? You are in hell. That much you know to be true. You’ve been here for so long now that you can’t keep lying to yourself about that much. As for Wonwoo… you’ve figured him out too. The name Wonwoo is there to make you feel better about the situation, if that were even possible; the man, the being looming over you now, he’s not human. He’s something you’re terrified to even name in your own head because you know who he is. 

Watching you closely, Wonwoo hums under his breath, once again sliding his hand along your head so carefully that when you flinch, it causes his brows to furrow in pain. He deserves this reaction from you, but he also deserves the way your hips move over his thigh chasing pleasure as if you are trying to distract yourself from what truth he is going to ruin your life with.  Moving his eyes along your body, Wonwoo tilts his head and slides one of his hands over the sheet loosely draped over your waist, watching the silk slide from your skin as he speaks low and calm. “He sold you, Y/N. He had a choice and this is what he chose. The man you pretend to yearn for. Your precious fiancé. He wanted more than he could afford, yet instead of offering his own body and soul as payment, he gave me you.” 

Meeting your eyes, Wonwoo gauges your reaction before continuing as realization settles in your eyes. “He never loved you. He loved what you gave him. A doting woman who would look past all his sins as you prayed for them for him. Do you think my father heard your prayers, darling?” Shaking his head, Wonwoo sighs resolutely as he traces your belly button, feeling you suck in your stomach under his touch. “No, sweet girl. He doesn’t listen, but I do. So when Ben asked for too much, I came and I took.” 

The painful truth sends an ache through your body before resting over your heart. Closing your eyes as if you can make it go away, you stop moving completely and lift your hands to your face. You hope that Wonwoo will leave. You hope that he will let you suffer here in silence, but that doesn’t happen. 

Lips press to the back of your hands before he gently pulls them away and wipes your tears from your cheeks as he whispers close to your cheek. “I should have killed him instead, but humans, especially selfish ones like your fiancé, only learn through true pain. He will live out the rest of his years with the price in the forefront of his mind. He will think of you when he wakes up. He will dream of you. He will never find peace and when he dies, little angel, he will suffer at my hands further.” Wonwoo’s words should hurt you more, but instead you find yourself listening to each one as the pain in your heart shifts into something else. 

“I will tear his miserable skin from his body every single day for eternity. He will beg me to stop and to let him rest but there is no rest for the wicked, not even in hell. Every single moment he will feel the flames lick at his exposed muscles and tendons, only for the price he paid to remain in the forefront of his mind.” Smirking at his own words, Wonwoo laughs darkly as your eyes meet his once again and this time he sees understanding in them. “Yes, darling, he will think of you even in death. I will fuck you over his body, never letting him touch you. I’ll let him hear you scream my name in pleasure as pain overwhelms him.” 

The idea of Wonwoo’s plans for Ben should frighten you and perhaps deep down they do, but you feel a flutter in your chest—excitement. “Promise me.” 

Your voice is so quiet that Wonwoo furrows his brows in confusion before you repeat the same words louder this time. The demand goes straight to his cock before he rocks his hips towards you, feeling your wet pussy against his pants as you start to soak through the fabric. “I promise. I’ll give you anything you ask for.” The moment the words are out of his mouth, Wonwoo laughs as you start to speak, only for him to cut you off. “Except give you up and let you leave. You are mine, Y/N. I don’t abandon things that belong to me, especially something like you.” 

The finality in Wonwoo’s tone causes your heart and mind to race. Thoughts flood your mind along with pleasure when he rolls his hips towards yours once again. This is the first time he’s touched you like this in the many weeks since he took you. He watched you every single day. He’d sit by your bed and attempt to soothe you, but he never took from you—until now. But is that what he is doing? 

Pleasure jolts through you as his fingers slide to your hips, pulling your hips down over his thigh. This isn't taking; this is giving. More than you could ever say for Ben—for the man who sold you for his benefit. Lifting your hips into Wonwoo’s hands, you whine his name and relish in the feeling of your clit grazing the fabric covering his muscular thigh. You realize that you want this, perhaps more than you could have ever anticipated, but the look in Wonwoo’s eyes tells you his patience had been running thin. With one more content sigh slipping from your lips, he begins to take. 

Wonwoo’s kiss burns with his intensity. His hands dig into your hips as he lifts you from his thigh and fingers trail between your legs. With a growling breath, Wonwoo breaks the kiss to meet your eyes as his fingers slide between your wet lips and over your already throbbing clit. “You are mine. This—” He emphasizes his words with a pinch to your clit before his fingers slide to your waiting entrance, where he eases two fingers into you. “Is mine.” 

Your hands flail for a moment as pain mixes with your pleasure as Wonwoo’s fingers begin to stretch you. One of your hands finds Wonwoo’s wrist as the other grips the bedding under you in an attempt to ground yourself. He doesn’t wait for you to adjust; instead, Wonwoo curls his fingers inside of you and traces a circle over your clit, enjoying the feeling of your pussy tightening. 

Soft moans slip from between your lips only to be swallowed by Wonwoo as his tongue slides along yours. Even as you try to lift your hips, attempting to chase your pleasure, he easily pushes you back down on the bed, fucking you hard and fast on his fingers. You want more. You need more, but all of that fades to the background as your walls begin to clench down on his fingers and your orgasm rips through you like a tidal wave. 

A dark chuckle tickles your skin as Wonwoo’s lips work from your lips to your breasts. His eyes flick up to yours and for a brief moment they are completely black. Any trace of white around his dark irises seems to have been swallowed until he blinks and the color returns. 

“Wonwoo—” 

“Shh, little angel. I’m not done with you. You owe me so, so, so much more.” 

You start to speak, to form some retort to his claiming words, but then his lips find your clit even as his eyes stay fixed on you. Teeth tip at your soft skin and the throbbing bundle of nerves before he laughs again, leaning back enough to lick your cum from his lips and speak. “Beg me like a good girl to fuck him out of your mind. Your soul is mine, Y/N; now let me have the rest of you…” 

Sobbing in pleasure, you buck your hips towards Wonwoo’s waiting mouth, feeling his smile against your skin as you do just that. Numerous pleas leave your lips as you feel your mind, body, and soul latch on to the man, the devil between your legs binding you to him forever. 

No. It must be how well you slept. That happens sometimes. You wake up after a particularly good night’s rest and everything feels better. The sheets start to feel like satin under your bare skin. The mattress hugs you like a cloud, urging you to reach for your fiancé and curl yourself into his side. Only when you slide your hand along the sheets but that's all you feel. Ben got up before you and didn’t even say goodbye. 

Typical. 

Rolling towards the middle of the bed, you smile to yourself, feeling the sheets caress your lower back. God, it feels nice just to lie here. It feels nice to not rush yourself out of bed and back into another meaningless workday. There’s no telling how long you have before your alarm will go off… would it be so bad to just drift back off for a while? 

Another sigh leaves your lips and your brows furrow. How long had you drifted back off for? Your mouth feels like cotton and your stomach is beginning to complain for food. Reaching once more across the bed in search of Ben, your lips turn down.  

Things haven’t been perfect for you and your fiancé, but you do your best to make him happy. With that in mind, you finally pry your eyes open and whisper his name, only for the word to die on your lips as you notice where you are—where are you? 

The sheets undercovering your body aren’t your own. This bed isn’t yours. This bedroom isn’t yours. Panic begins to rush through you as you sit up in the bed and tug the sheet up to your chest, realizing you were feeling the sheets on your skin because you’re naked. Where are your clothes? 

“Ben?” Your voice echoes around the room and a feeling of dread settles in your chest. Looking around the room and towards the nightstand, your heart thumps loudly in your chest when you realize not only are you somewhere else but your phone isn’t next to you. In the place of your phone, you find a single red rose as if it were left for you to discover. 

Tears prick at your eyes even as you force yourself to tug the sheet from the bed and wrap it around you in an attempt to cover yourself. How could something like this happen? You rack your brain trying to remember the night before. 

Ben had to work late. You were upset with him, but you still made him dinner, promising to heat it up for him once he came home. You remember opening a bottle of wine. Was that the problem? You rarely drink but one glass of wine wouldn’t knock you out so heavily someone could come in and steal you straight from your bed. You couldn’t have been so drunk you’d sleep through someone taking you from your house, stripping you, and putting you in this bed. 

The tears sit on the rim of your eyes until you blink, causing them to spill over and run down your cheeks. You are trying to force yourself to think—to figure out what to do once you make it to the large black door across the room from you—when a knock sends a shiver down your spine. 

“Y/N? Are you awake?” 

Who is that? The voice is smooth and deep. It’s unfamiliar and yet he knows your name. Shaking your head, you scold yourself for caring if he knows your name. Of course your kidnapper would know your name. Is that what happened? You were kidnapped? 

Or is this something else? Have you finally snapped? Was the pressure of everything too much and now this is a delusion? Is the person behind that door a doctor? That could happen. Your fragile mind finally broke and this is a bougie hospital that your parents placed you in. 

Then again—why would they? It has been years since you spoke to your parents. You have separated yourself from their lives and sworn to become a better person. You had found a new home and a church where you felt comfortable. That was where you met Ben. You had fallen in love so quickly that you made yourself overlook all of your fiancé's questionable habits. You were—are going to get married in a year in the church that at first offered you safety and stability. 

“I know you’re awake. I’m going to open the door.” 

Taking a few steps back towards the bed, you feel your heart in your throat at the idea of whoever is on the other side of that door opening it. You only have a sheet to cover your body and you still have no idea who they are or where you are, but you only get a few seconds of panic before the door does open and a tall man steps through it. 

His eyes find you immediately and your breath gets caught in your throat. You had hoped for half a second that you’d know who it was. Maybe it was Ben forcing his voice lower, but that was a stupid wish because this man sounds nothing like Ben. Like his voice, his eyes are deep—so brown they almost seem black. You swallow hard and take another step back as he takes one towards you, letting the door shut behind him. 

“I know you’re confused.” 

That is an understatement. 

Whining under your breath, you stop walking backward when your butt knocks into the nightstand, causing the lamp to fall over behind you. “Wh—where am I?” Even your voice sounds different. It sounds strained and laced with fear. You swallow hard, trying to make more saliva to coat your overly dry tongue in hopes of sounding less small. “Who are you?”

The man smiles at you but it isn’t a normal polite smile. His lips form more of a smirk than a smile as he pushes his hand into the pocket of his black dress pants as he smooths his black button-down over his stomach. “You can call me Wonwoo.” 

That was one answer and yet not the one you desired more. Your eyes follow Wonwoo as he turns his eyes from you to glance around the room, his feet moving a few steps towards you until he sighs patiently. “As I said, you must be confused.” 

“Very. Tell me where I am. Why—did—did you kidnap me?” 

Smooth, Y/N. Like the kidnapper would just tell you if he did it. Cursing yourself under your breath, you hold the sheet tighter around your chest as you meet Wonwoo’s eyes once again. His laugh triggers a chill up your spine that has your skin erupting with chill bumps. He shakes his head and lifts the hand from his stomach to his head as he scratches his eyebrow, seeming to think carefully on his next words. 

“No, Darling. I simply collected what was mine.” 

Your pulse begins to beat loudly in your ears as your blood runs cold. Heat licks behind your eyes as you force yourself not to close them even as the world seems to spin in front of you. “Wh—what? I wanna go home…” You aren’t sure the words are spoken aloud. Finally closing your eyes, you whine at the sick feeling building in your stomach and rising up your throat as fear rips through your soul. 

Watching you start to sway, Wonwoo tilts his head and takes another step towards you. Humans are weak. There is no denying that. It doesn’t take much to see you are on the verge of passing out. There is sweat gathering on your temples and your skin has begun to take on an unnatural color when finally your legs give out. A rush of emotions pushes through Wonwoo as he closes the space between you and him just in time to sweep you from your unsteady legs and into his arms. 

You are so fragile. A mixture of intrigue and disgust worms its way through Wonwoo’s body before he turns to place you back on the bed, readjusting the black satin sheet around you so you are covered. The very act seems foreign to him. He has never attempted to protect anyone's modesty before and yet as he looks down on you now as your breathing begins to settle, Wonwoo finds himself not only keeping you covered but also pushing your hair back from your face. 

It’s just so he can look at you. At least that’s what he tells himself as his fingers stroke along your cheekbone down to your parted lips. The color has started to return to you; your lips, while cracked from dehydration, are the right color again. 

Settling onto the bed next to you, Wonwoo studies you silently. His eyes moving along every bit of you that is exposed to him. You are beautiful—so stunning that it makes him uncomfortable. Humans shouldn’t look like you. When God created all things—humans included—he attempted and failed at creating perfection with Adam and Eve. Their flaws… the free will that they were permitted left them scarred inside and out—but not you. If Wonwoo didn’t know better, if he couldn’t literally see your soul clinging to your body, he would think you were an angel like him. 

Fingers trail along your shoulder, causing you to sigh happily at the contact. It was a dream. Ben is home and you have been home this entire time. Turning towards the touch, your lips turn up in a small smile at the brush of soft lips against your neck.

“Mmm, I had such a weird dream.” Your smile pulls at your lips as the kisses walk the length of your neck to your jaw. The breath against your skin causes chill bumps to spread in anticipation. 

“Tell me about it…” The voice isn’t what you expected yet it keeps you calm as you lift your hand, running your fingers through soft hair. 

“I was taken.” Gasping into your words, you arch your back when teeth nip at your sensitive skin. “Mmm, taken to hell. I was there for weeks. I lost track of time.” 

A soft hum of understanding from the lips now brushing over the shell of your lips has you gripping at the hair under your fingers. You could open your eyes but something tells you to wait. This feels too good. “Yeah… There was a man. He watches me but…” Your voice lowers as the memories come back to you and you know who is kissing you. You should hate it. He took you from your home. He took you from your fiancé. He took you from Ben but he hasn’t told you why beyond saying he took what was his. 

“Wonwoo…” You whisper on a soft gasp, feeling his lips pull up in a smirk.  

“Yes, little angel. Keep telling me about this dream. Was it a bad dream?” 

Tears press behind your eyes as you keep them shut tightly, your hand starting to loosen in Wonwoo’s hair only for his hand to rest over yours, tightening your fingers once again. Using your hand, he tugs on his hair hard enough to make you wince before you arch against him, feeling his thigh press between your legs. 

“It—” You struggle to find your words, feeling not only confused but also aroused when you roll your hips over the hard thigh resting against your bare cunt. “Mm, I don’t know. I’m—please? I want to go home.” 

Your words say one thing but your body another as Wonwoo traces your jaw up to your ear with his tongue. He had done so well for weeks. He had barely touched you but he had waited long enough. “Home? Darling, you are home.” Hearing you whine his name, tears rolling down to his lips now at the corner of yours, Wonwoo rocks his thigh against you and hums in appreciation. “Do you want me to tell you the truth? You want me to break your little heart?” 

When you don’t answer with more than new tears for him to lick from your skin, Wonwoo growls low under his breath. You are stubborn and infuriating in ways he has never dealt with. Others pray to him. Some pray with hate in their hearts, others with devotion—yet you give him your sorrow. You pray for what you’ve lost. What you think was taken from you. 

“I’ll break your heart. I’ll watch it shatter and then, sweet little one… I will bind it to me.” Leaning back to look down at you, Wonwoo narrows his eyes as you keep your eyes shut tightly. “Look at me when I’m speaking to you, Y/N. Open your eyes and face the truth you so desperately want…” 

Forcing your eyes open, you blink through your tears to meet Wonwoo’s eyes. You know you should try to push him away. His words already make you feel like you want to die—but aren’t you dead already? You are in hell. That much you know to be true. You’ve been here for so long now that you can’t keep lying to yourself about that much. As for Wonwoo… you’ve figured him out too. The name Wonwoo is there to make you feel better about the situation, if that were even possible; the man, the being looming over you now, he’s not human. He’s something you’re terrified to even name in your own head because you know who he is. 

Watching you closely, Wonwoo hums under his breath, once again sliding his hand along your head so carefully that when you flinch, it causes his brows to furrow in pain. He deserves this reaction from you, but he also deserves the way your hips move over his thigh chasing pleasure as if you are trying to distract yourself from what truth he is going to ruin your life with.  Moving his eyes along your body, Wonwoo tilts his head and slides one of his hands over the sheet loosely draped over your waist, watching the silk slide from your skin as he speaks low and calm. “He sold you, Y/N. He had a choice and this is what he chose. The man you pretend to yearn for. Your precious fiancé. He wanted more than he could afford, yet instead of offering his own body and soul as payment, he gave me you.” 

Meeting your eyes, Wonwoo gauges your reaction before continuing as realization settles in your eyes. “He never loved you. He loved what you gave him. A doting woman who would look past all his sins as you prayed for them for him. Do you think my father heard your prayers, darling?” Shaking his head, Wonwoo sighs resolutely as he traces your belly button, feeling you suck in your stomach under his touch. “No, sweet girl. He doesn’t listen, but I do. So when Ben asked for too much, I came and I took.” 

The painful truth sends an ache through your body before resting over your heart. Closing your eyes as if you can make it go away, you stop moving completely and lift your hands to your face. You hope that Wonwoo will leave. You hope that he will let you suffer here in silence, but that doesn’t happen. 

Lips press to the back of your hands before he gently pulls them away and wipes your tears from your cheeks as he whispers close to your cheek. “I should have killed him instead, but humans, especially selfish ones like your fiancé, only learn through true pain. He will live out the rest of his years with the price in the forefront of his mind. He will think of you when he wakes up. He will dream of you. He will never find peace and when he dies, little angel, he will suffer at my hands further.” Wonwoo’s words should hurt you more, but instead you find yourself listening to each one as the pain in your heart shifts into something else. 

“I will tear his miserable skin from his body every single day for eternity. He will beg me to stop and to let him rest but there is no rest for the wicked, not even in hell. Every single moment he will feel the flames lick at his exposed muscles and tendons, only for the price he paid to remain in the forefront of his mind.” Smirking at his own words, Wonwoo laughs darkly as your eyes meet his once again and this time he sees understanding in them. “Yes, darling, he will think of you even in death. I will fuck you over his body, never letting him touch you. I’ll let him hear you scream my name in pleasure as pain overwhelms him.” 

The idea of Wonwoo’s plans for Ben should frighten you and perhaps deep down they do, but you feel a flutter in your chest—excitement. “Promise me.” 

Your voice is so quiet that Wonwoo furrows his brows in confusion before you repeat the same words louder this time. The demand goes straight to his cock before he rocks his hips towards you, feeling your wet pussy against his pants as you start to soak through the fabric. “I promise. I’ll give you anything you ask for.” The moment the words are out of his mouth, Wonwoo laughs as you start to speak, only for him to cut you off. “Except give you up and let you leave. You are mine, Y/N. I don’t abandon things that belong to me, especially something like you.” 

The finality in Wonwoo’s tone causes your heart and mind to race. Thoughts flood your mind along with pleasure when he rolls his hips towards yours once again. This is the first time he’s touched you like this in the many weeks since he took you. He watched you every single day. He’d sit by your bed and attempt to soothe you, but he never took from you—until now. But is that what he is doing? 

Pleasure jolts through you as his fingers slide to your hips, pulling your hips down over his thigh. This isn't taking; this is giving. More than you could ever say for Ben—for the man who sold you for his benefit. Lifting your hips into Wonwoo’s hands, you whine his name and relish in the feeling of your clit grazing the fabric covering his muscular thigh. You realize that you want this, perhaps more than you could have ever anticipated, but the look in Wonwoo’s eyes tells you his patience had been running thin. With one more content sigh slipping from your lips, he begins to take. 

Wonwoo’s kiss burns with his intensity. His hands dig into your hips as he lifts you from his thigh and fingers trail between your legs. With a growling breath, Wonwoo breaks the kiss to meet your eyes as his fingers slide between your wet lips and over your already throbbing clit. “You are mine. This—” He emphasizes his words with a pinch to your clit before his fingers slide to your waiting entrance, where he eases two fingers into you. “Is mine.” 

Your hands flail for a moment as pain mixes with your pleasure as Wonwoo’s fingers begin to stretch you. One of your hands finds Wonwoo’s wrist as the other grips the bedding under you in an attempt to ground yourself. He doesn’t wait for you to adjust; instead, Wonwoo curls his fingers inside of you and traces a circle over your clit, enjoying the feeling of your pussy tightening. 

Soft moans slip from between your lips only to be swallowed by Wonwoo as his tongue slides along yours. Even as you try to lift your hips, attempting to chase your pleasure, he easily pushes you back down on the bed, fucking you hard and fast on his fingers. You want more. You need more, but all of that fades to the background as your walls begin to clench down on his fingers and your orgasm rips through you like a tidal wave. 

A dark chuckle tickles your skin as Wonwoo’s lips work from your lips to your breasts. His eyes flick up to yours and for a brief moment they are completely black. Any trace of white around his dark irises seems to have been swallowed until he blinks and the color returns. 

“Wonwoo—” 

“Shh, little angel. I’m not done with you. You owe me so, so, so much more.” 

You start to speak, to form some retort to his claiming words, but then his lips find your clit even as his eyes stay fixed on you. Teeth tip at your soft skin and the throbbing bundle of nerves before he laughs again, leaning back enough to lick your cum from his lips and speak. “Beg me like a good girl to fuck him out of your mind. Your soul is mine, Y/N; now let me have the rest of you…” 

Sobbing in pleasure, you buck your hips towards Wonwoo’s waiting mouth, feeling his smile against your skin as you do just that. Numerous pleas leave your lips as you feel your mind, body, and soul latch on to the man, the devil between your legs binding you to him forever. 

No. It must be how well you slept. That happens sometimes. You wake up after a particularly good night’s rest and everything feels better. The sheets start to feel like satin under your bare skin. The mattress hugs you like a cloud, urging you to reach for your fiancé and curl yourself into his side. Only when you slide your hand along the sheets but that's all you feel. Ben got up before you and didn’t even say goodbye. 

Typical. 

Rolling towards the middle of the bed, you smile to yourself, feeling the sheets caress your lower back. God, it feels nice just to lie here. It feels nice to not rush yourself out of bed and back into another meaningless workday. There’s no telling how long you have before your alarm will go off… would it be so bad to just drift back off for a while? 

Another sigh leaves your lips and your brows furrow. How long had you drifted back off for? Your mouth feels like cotton and your stomach is beginning to complain for food. Reaching once more across the bed in search of Ben, your lips turn down.  

Things haven’t been perfect for you and your fiancé, but you do your best to make him happy. With that in mind, you finally pry your eyes open and whisper his name, only for the word to die on your lips as you notice where you are—where are you? 

The sheets undercovering your body aren’t your own. This bed isn’t yours. This bedroom isn’t yours. Panic begins to rush through you as you sit up in the bed and tug the sheet up to your chest, realizing you were feeling the sheets on your skin because you’re naked. Where are your clothes? 

“Ben?” Your voice echoes around the room and a feeling of dread settles in your chest. Looking around the room and towards the nightstand, your heart thumps loudly in your chest when you realize not only are you somewhere else but your phone isn’t next to you. In the place of your phone, you find a single red rose as if it were left for you to discover. 

Tears prick at your eyes even as you force yourself to tug the sheet from the bed and wrap it around you in an attempt to cover yourself. How could something like this happen? You rack your brain trying to remember the night before. 

Ben had to work late. You were upset with him, but you still made him dinner, promising to heat it up for him once he came home. You remember opening a bottle of wine. Was that the problem? You rarely drink but one glass of wine wouldn’t knock you out so heavily someone could come in and steal you straight from your bed. You couldn’t have been so drunk you’d sleep through someone taking you from your house, stripping you, and putting you in this bed. 

The tears sit on the rim of your eyes until you blink, causing them to spill over and run down your cheeks. You are trying to force yourself to think—to figure out what to do once you make it to the large black door across the room from you—when a knock sends a shiver down your spine. 

“Y/N? Are you awake?” 

Who is that? The voice is smooth and deep. It’s unfamiliar and yet he knows your name. Shaking your head, you scold yourself for caring if he knows your name. Of course your kidnapper would know your name. Is that what happened? You were kidnapped? 

Or is this something else? Have you finally snapped? Was the pressure of everything too much and now this is a delusion? Is the person behind that door a doctor? That could happen. Your fragile mind finally broke and this is a bougie hospital that your parents placed you in. 

Then again—why would they? It has been years since you spoke to your parents. You have separated yourself from their lives and sworn to become a better person. You had found a new home and a church where you felt comfortable. That was where you met Ben. You had fallen in love so quickly that you made yourself overlook all of your fiancé's questionable habits. You were—are going to get married in a year in the church that at first offered you safety and stability. 

“I know you’re awake. I’m going to open the door.” 

Taking a few steps back towards the bed, you feel your heart in your throat at the idea of whoever is on the other side of that door opening it. You only have a sheet to cover your body and you still have no idea who they are or where you are, but you only get a few seconds of panic before the door does open and a tall man steps through it. 

His eyes find you immediately and your breath gets caught in your throat. You had hoped for half a second that you’d know who it was. Maybe it was Ben forcing his voice lower, but that was a stupid wish because this man sounds nothing like Ben. Like his voice, his eyes are deep—so brown they almost seem black. You swallow hard and take another step back as he takes one towards you, letting the door shut behind him. 

“I know you’re confused.” 

That is an understatement. 

Whining under your breath, you stop walking backward when your butt knocks into the nightstand, causing the lamp to fall over behind you. “Wh—where am I?” Even your voice sounds different. It sounds strained and laced with fear. You swallow hard, trying to make more saliva to coat your overly dry tongue in hopes of sounding less small. “Who are you?”

The man smiles at you but it isn’t a normal polite smile. His lips form more of a smirk than a smile as he pushes his hand into the pocket of his black dress pants as he smooths his black button-down over his stomach. “You can call me Wonwoo.” 

That was one answer and yet not the one you desired more. Your eyes follow Wonwoo as he turns his eyes from you to glance around the room, his feet moving a few steps towards you until he sighs patiently. “As I said, you must be confused.” 

“Very. Tell me where I am. Why—did—did you kidnap me?” 

Smooth, Y/N. Like the kidnapper would just tell you if he did it. Cursing yourself under your breath, you hold the sheet tighter around your chest as you meet Wonwoo’s eyes once again. His laugh triggers a chill up your spine that has your skin erupting with chill bumps. He shakes his head and lifts the hand from his stomach to his head as he scratches his eyebrow, seeming to think carefully on his next words. 

“No, Darling. I simply collected what was mine.” 

Your pulse begins to beat loudly in your ears as your blood runs cold. Heat licks behind your eyes as you force yourself not to close them even as the world seems to spin in front of you. “Wh—what? I wanna go home…” You aren’t sure the words are spoken aloud. Finally closing your eyes, you whine at the sick feeling building in your stomach and rising up your throat as fear rips through your soul. 

Watching you start to sway, Wonwoo tilts his head and takes another step towards you. Humans are weak. There is no denying that. It doesn’t take much to see you are on the verge of passing out. There is sweat gathering on your temples and your skin has begun to take on an unnatural color when finally your legs give out. A rush of emotions pushes through Wonwoo as he closes the space between you and him just in time to sweep you from your unsteady legs and into his arms. 

You are so fragile. A mixture of intrigue and disgust worms its way through Wonwoo’s body before he turns to place you back on the bed, readjusting the black satin sheet around you so you are covered. The very act seems foreign to him. He has never attempted to protect anyone's modesty before and yet as he looks down on you now as your breathing begins to settle, Wonwoo finds himself not only keeping you covered but also pushing your hair back from your face. 

It’s just so he can look at you. At least that’s what he tells himself as his fingers stroke along your cheekbone down to your parted lips. The color has started to return to you; your lips, while cracked from dehydration, are the right color again. 

Settling onto the bed next to you, Wonwoo studies you silently. His eyes moving along every bit of you that is exposed to him. You are beautiful—so stunning that it makes him uncomfortable. Humans shouldn’t look like you. When God created all things—humans included—he attempted and failed at creating perfection with Adam and Eve. Their flaws… the free will that they were permitted left them scarred inside and out—but not you. If Wonwoo didn’t know better, if he couldn’t literally see your soul clinging to your body, he would think you were an angel like him. 

Fingers trail along your shoulder, causing you to sigh happily at the contact. It was a dream. Ben is home and you have been home this entire time. Turning towards the touch, your lips turn up in a small smile at the brush of soft lips against your neck.

“Mmm, I had such a weird dream.” Your smile pulls at your lips as the kisses walk the length of your neck to your jaw. The breath against your skin causes chill bumps to spread in anticipation. 

“Tell me about it…” The voice isn’t what you expected yet it keeps you calm as you lift your hand, running your fingers through soft hair. 

“I was taken.” Gasping into your words, you arch your back when teeth nip at your sensitive skin. “Mmm, taken to hell. I was there for weeks. I lost track of time.” 

A soft hum of understanding from the lips now brushing over the shell of your lips has you gripping at the hair under your fingers. You could open your eyes but something tells you to wait. This feels too good. “Yeah… There was a man. He watches me but…” Your voice lowers as the memories come back to you and you know who is kissing you. You should hate it. He took you from your home. He took you from your fiancé. He took you from Ben but he hasn’t told you why beyond saying he took what was his. 

“Wonwoo…” You whisper on a soft gasp, feeling his lips pull up in a smirk.  

“Yes, little angel. Keep telling me about this dream. Was it a bad dream?” 

Tears press behind your eyes as you keep them shut tightly, your hand starting to loosen in Wonwoo’s hair only for his hand to rest over yours, tightening your fingers once again. Using your hand, he tugs on his hair hard enough to make you wince before you arch against him, feeling his thigh press between your legs. 

“It—” You struggle to find your words, feeling not only confused but also aroused when you roll your hips over the hard thigh resting against your bare cunt. “Mm, I don’t know. I’m—please? I want to go home.” 

Your words say one thing but your body another as Wonwoo traces your jaw up to your ear with his tongue. He had done so well for weeks. He had barely touched you but he had waited long enough. “Home? Darling, you are home.” Hearing you whine his name, tears rolling down to his lips now at the corner of yours, Wonwoo rocks his thigh against you and hums in appreciation. “Do you want me to tell you the truth? You want me to break your little heart?” 

When you don’t answer with more than new tears for him to lick from your skin, Wonwoo growls low under his breath. You are stubborn and infuriating in ways he has never dealt with. Others pray to him. Some pray with hate in their hearts, others with devotion—yet you give him your sorrow. You pray for what you’ve lost. What you think was taken from you. 

“I’ll break your heart. I’ll watch it shatter and then, sweet little one… I will bind it to me.” Leaning back to look down at you, Wonwoo narrows his eyes as you keep your eyes shut tightly. “Look at me when I’m speaking to you, Y/N. Open your eyes and face the truth you so desperately want…” 

Forcing your eyes open, you blink through your tears to meet Wonwoo’s eyes. You know you should try to push him away. His words already make you feel like you want to die—but aren’t you dead already? You are in hell. That much you know to be true. You’ve been here for so long now that you can’t keep lying to yourself about that much. As for Wonwoo… you’ve figured him out too. The name Wonwoo is there to make you feel better about the situation, if that were even possible; the man, the being looming over you now, he’s not human. He’s something you’re terrified to even name in your own head because you know who he is. 

Watching you closely, Wonwoo hums under his breath, once again sliding his hand along your head so carefully that when you flinch, it causes his brows to furrow in pain. He deserves this reaction from you, but he also deserves the way your hips move over his thigh chasing pleasure as if you are trying to distract yourself from what truth he is going to ruin your life with.  Moving his eyes along your body, Wonwoo tilts his head and slides one of his hands over the sheet loosely draped over your waist, watching the silk slide from your skin as he speaks low and calm. “He sold you, Y/N. He had a choice and this is what he chose. The man you pretend to yearn for. Your precious fiancé. He wanted more than he could afford, yet instead of offering his own body and soul as payment, he gave me you.” 

Meeting your eyes, Wonwoo gauges your reaction before continuing as realization settles in your eyes. “He never loved you. He loved what you gave him. A doting woman who would look past all his sins as you prayed for them for him. Do you think my father heard your prayers, darling?” Shaking his head, Wonwoo sighs resolutely as he traces your belly button, feeling you suck in your stomach under his touch. “No, sweet girl. He doesn’t listen, but I do. So when Ben asked for too much, I came and I took.” 

The painful truth sends an ache through your body before resting over your heart. Closing your eyes as if you can make it go away, you stop moving completely and lift your hands to your face. You hope that Wonwoo will leave. You hope that he will let you suffer here in silence, but that doesn’t happen. 

Lips press to the back of your hands before he gently pulls them away and wipes your tears from your cheeks as he whispers close to your cheek. “I should have killed him instead, but humans, especially selfish ones like your fiancé, only learn through true pain. He will live out the rest of his years with the price in the forefront of his mind. He will think of you when he wakes up. He will dream of you. He will never find peace and when he dies, little angel, he will suffer at my hands further.” Wonwoo’s words should hurt you more, but instead you find yourself listening to each one as the pain in your heart shifts into something else. 

“I will tear his miserable skin from his body every single day for eternity. He will beg me to stop and to let him rest but there is no rest for the wicked, not even in hell. Every single moment he will feel the flames lick at his exposed muscles and tendons, only for the price he paid to remain in the forefront of his mind.” Smirking at his own words, Wonwoo laughs darkly as your eyes meet his once again and this time he sees understanding in them. “Yes, darling, he will think of you even in death. I will fuck you over his body, never letting him touch you. I’ll let him hear you scream my name in pleasure as pain overwhelms him.” 

The idea of Wonwoo’s plans for Ben should frighten you and perhaps deep down they do, but you feel a flutter in your chest—excitement. “Promise me.” 

Your voice is so quiet that Wonwoo furrows his brows in confusion before you repeat the same words louder this time. The demand goes straight to his cock before he rocks his hips towards you, feeling your wet pussy against his pants as you start to soak through the fabric. “I promise. I’ll give you anything you ask for.” The moment the words are out of his mouth, Wonwoo laughs as you start to speak, only for him to cut you off. “Except give you up and let you leave. You are mine, Y/N. I don’t abandon things that belong to me, especially something like you.” 

The finality in Wonwoo’s tone causes your heart and mind to race. Thoughts flood your mind along with pleasure when he rolls his hips towards yours once again. This is the first time he’s touched you like this in the many weeks since he took you. He watched you every single day. He’d sit by your bed and attempt to soothe you, but he never took from you—until now. But is that what he is doing? 

Pleasure jolts through you as his fingers slide to your hips, pulling your hips down over his thigh. This isn't taking; this is giving. More than you could ever say for Ben—for the man who sold you for his benefit. Lifting your hips into Wonwoo’s hands, you whine his name and relish in the feeling of your clit grazing the fabric covering his muscular thigh. You realize that you want this, perhaps more than you could have ever anticipated, but the look in Wonwoo’s eyes tells you his patience had been running thin. With one more content sigh slipping from your lips, he begins to take. 

Wonwoo’s kiss burns with his intensity. His hands dig into your hips as he lifts you from his thigh and fingers trail between your legs. With a growling breath, Wonwoo breaks the kiss to meet your eyes as his fingers slide between your wet lips and over your already throbbing clit. “You are mine. This—” He emphasizes his words with a pinch to your clit before his fingers slide to your waiting entrance, where he eases two fingers into you. “Is mine.” 

Your hands flail for a moment as pain mixes with your pleasure as Wonwoo’s fingers begin to stretch you. One of your hands finds Wonwoo’s wrist as the other grips the bedding under you in an attempt to ground yourself. He doesn’t wait for you to adjust; instead, Wonwoo curls his fingers inside of you and traces a circle over your clit, enjoying the feeling of your pussy tightening. 

Soft moans slip from between your lips only to be swallowed by Wonwoo as his tongue slides along yours. Even as you try to lift your hips, attempting to chase your pleasure, he easily pushes you back down on the bed, fucking you hard and fast on his fingers. You want more. You need more, but all of that fades to the background as your walls begin to clench down on his fingers and your orgasm rips through you like a tidal wave. 

A dark chuckle tickles your skin as Wonwoo’s lips work from your lips to your breasts. His eyes flick up to yours and for a brief moment they are completely black. Any trace of white around his dark irises seems to have been swallowed until he blinks and the color returns. 

“Wonwoo—” 

“Shh, little angel. I’m not done with you. You owe me so, so, so much more.” 

You start to speak, to form some retort to his claiming words, but then his lips find your clit even as his eyes stay fixed on you. Teeth tip at your soft skin and the throbbing bundle of nerves before he laughs again, leaning back enough to lick your cum from his lips and speak. “Beg me like a good girl to fuck him out of your mind. Your soul is mine, Y/N; now let me have the rest of you…” 

Sobbing in pleasure, you buck your hips towards Wonwoo’s waiting mouth, feeling his smile against your skin as you do just that. Numerous pleas leave your lips as you feel your mind, body, and soul latch on to the man, the devil between your legs binding you to him forever. 

No. It must be how well you slept. That happens sometimes. You wake up after a particularly good night’s rest and everything feels better. The sheets start to feel like satin under your bare skin. The mattress hugs you like a cloud, urging you to reach for your fiancé and curl yourself into his side. Only when you slide your hand along the sheets but that's all you feel. Ben got up before you and didn’t even say goodbye. 

Typical. 

Rolling towards the middle of the bed, you smile to yourself, feeling the sheets caress your lower back. God, it feels nice just to lie here. It feels nice to not rush yourself out of bed and back into another meaningless workday. There’s no telling how long you have before your alarm will go off… would it be so bad to just drift back off for a while? 

Another sigh leaves your lips and your brows furrow. How long had you drifted back off for? Your mouth feels like cotton and your stomach is beginning to complain for food. Reaching once more across the bed in search of Ben, your lips turn down.  

Things haven’t been perfect for you and your fiancé, but you do your best to make him happy. With that in mind, you finally pry your eyes open and whisper his name, only for the word to die on your lips as you notice where you are—where are you? 

The sheets undercovering your body aren’t your own. This bed isn’t yours. This bedroom isn’t yours. Panic begins to rush through you as you sit up in the bed and tug the sheet up to your chest, realizing you were feeling the sheets on your skin because you’re naked. Where are your clothes? 

“Ben?” Your voice echoes around the room and a feeling of dread settles in your chest. Looking around the room and towards the nightstand, your heart thumps loudly in your chest when you realize not only are you somewhere else but your phone isn’t next to you. In the place of your phone, you find a single red rose as if it were left for you to discover. 

Tears prick at your eyes even as you force yourself to tug the sheet from the bed and wrap it around you in an attempt to cover yourself. How could something like this happen? You rack your brain trying to remember the night before. 

Ben had to work late. You were upset with him, but you still made him dinner, promising to heat it up for him once he came home. You remember opening a bottle of wine. Was that the problem? You rarely drink but one glass of wine wouldn’t knock you out so heavily someone could come in and steal you straight from your bed. You couldn’t have been so drunk you’d sleep through someone taking you from your house, stripping you, and putting you in this bed. 

The tears sit on the rim of your eyes until you blink, causing them to spill over and run down your cheeks. You are trying to force yourself to think—to figure out what to do once you make it to the large black door across the room from you—when a knock sends a shiver down your spine. 

“Y/N? Are you awake?” 

Who is that? The voice is smooth and deep. It’s unfamiliar and yet he knows your name. Shaking your head, you scold yourself for caring if he knows your name. Of course your kidnapper would know your name. Is that what happened? You were kidnapped? 

Or is this something else? Have you finally snapped? Was the pressure of everything too much and now this is a delusion? Is the person behind that door a doctor? That could happen. Your fragile mind finally broke and this is a bougie hospital that your parents placed you in. 

Then again—why would they? It has been years since you spoke to your parents. You have separated yourself from their lives and sworn to become a better person. You had found a new home and a church where you felt comfortable. That was where you met Ben. You had fallen in love so quickly that you made yourself overlook all of your fiancé's questionable habits. You were—are going to get married in a year in the church that at first offered you safety and stability. 

“I know you’re awake. I’m going to open the door.” 

Taking a few steps back towards the bed, you feel your heart in your throat at the idea of whoever is on the other side of that door opening it. You only have a sheet to cover your body and you still have no idea who they are or where you are, but you only get a few seconds of panic before the door does open and a tall man steps through it. 

His eyes find you immediately and your breath gets caught in your throat. You had hoped for half a second that you’d know who it was. Maybe it was Ben forcing his voice lower, but that was a stupid wish because this man sounds nothing like Ben. Like his voice, his eyes are deep—so brown they almost seem black. You swallow hard and take another step back as he takes one towards you, letting the door shut behind him. 

“I know you’re confused.” 

That is an understatement. 

Whining under your breath, you stop walking backward when your butt knocks into the nightstand, causing the lamp to fall over behind you. “Wh—where am I?” Even your voice sounds different. It sounds strained and laced with fear. You swallow hard, trying to make more saliva to coat your overly dry tongue in hopes of sounding less small. “Who are you?”

The man smiles at you but it isn’t a normal polite smile. His lips form more of a smirk than a smile as he pushes his hand into the pocket of his black dress pants as he smooths his black button-down over his stomach. “You can call me Wonwoo.” 

That was one answer and yet not the one you desired more. Your eyes follow Wonwoo as he turns his eyes from you to glance around the room, his feet moving a few steps towards you until he sighs patiently. “As I said, you must be confused.” 

“Very. Tell me where I am. Why—did—did you kidnap me?” 

Smooth, Y/N. Like the kidnapper would just tell you if he did it. Cursing yourself under your breath, you hold the sheet tighter around your chest as you meet Wonwoo’s eyes once again. His laugh triggers a chill up your spine that has your skin erupting with chill bumps. He shakes his head and lifts the hand from his stomach to his head as he scratches his eyebrow, seeming to think carefully on his next words. 

“No, Darling. I simply collected what was mine.” 

Your pulse begins to beat loudly in your ears as your blood runs cold. Heat licks behind your eyes as you force yourself not to close them even as the world seems to spin in front of you. “Wh—what? I wanna go home…” You aren’t sure the words are spoken aloud. Finally closing your eyes, you whine at the sick feeling building in your stomach and rising up your throat as fear rips through your soul. 

Watching you start to sway, Wonwoo tilts his head and takes another step towards you. Humans are weak. There is no denying that. It doesn’t take much to see you are on the verge of passing out. There is sweat gathering on your temples and your skin has begun to take on an unnatural color when finally your legs give out. A rush of emotions pushes through Wonwoo as he closes the space between you and him just in time to sweep you from your unsteady legs and into his arms. 

You are so fragile. A mixture of intrigue and disgust worms its way through Wonwoo’s body before he turns to place you back on the bed, readjusting the black satin sheet around you so you are covered. The very act seems foreign to him. He has never attempted to protect anyone's modesty before and yet as he looks down on you now as your breathing begins to settle, Wonwoo finds himself not only keeping you covered but also pushing your hair back from your face. 

It’s just so he can look at you. At least that’s what he tells himself as his fingers stroke along your cheekbone down to your parted lips. The color has started to return to you; your lips, while cracked from dehydration, are the right color again. 

Settling onto the bed next to you, Wonwoo studies you silently. His eyes moving along every bit of you that is exposed to him. You are beautiful—so stunning that it makes him uncomfortable. Humans shouldn’t look like you. When God created all things—humans included—he attempted and failed at creating perfection with Adam and Eve. Their flaws… the free will that they were permitted left them scarred inside and out—but not you. If Wonwoo didn’t know better, if he couldn’t literally see your soul clinging to your body, he would think you were an angel like him. 

Fingers trail along your shoulder, causing you to sigh happily at the contact. It was a dream. Ben is home and you have been home this entire time. Turning towards the touch, your lips turn up in a small smile at the brush of soft lips against your neck.

“Mmm, I had such a weird dream.” Your smile pulls at your lips as the kisses walk the length of your neck to your jaw. The breath against your skin causes chill bumps to spread in anticipation. 

“Tell me about it…” The voice isn’t what you expected yet it keeps you calm as you lift your hand, running your fingers through soft hair. 

“I was taken.” Gasping into your words, you arch your back when teeth nip at your sensitive skin. “Mmm, taken to hell. I was there for weeks. I lost track of time.” 

A soft hum of understanding from the lips now brushing over the shell of your lips has you gripping at the hair under your fingers. You could open your eyes but something tells you to wait. This feels too good. “Yeah… There was a man. He watches me but…” Your voice lowers as the memories come back to you and you know who is kissing you. You should hate it. He took you from your home. He took you from your fiancé. He took you from Ben but he hasn’t told you why beyond saying he took what was his. 

“Wonwoo…” You whisper on a soft gasp, feeling his lips pull up in a smirk.  

“Yes, little angel. Keep telling me about this dream. Was it a bad dream?” 

Tears press behind your eyes as you keep them shut tightly, your hand starting to loosen in Wonwoo’s hair only for his hand to rest over yours, tightening your fingers once again. Using your hand, he tugs on his hair hard enough to make you wince before you arch against him, feeling his thigh press between your legs. 

“It—” You struggle to find your words, feeling not only confused but also aroused when you roll your hips over the hard thigh resting against your bare cunt. “Mm, I don’t know. I’m—please? I want to go home.” 

Your words say one thing but your body another as Wonwoo traces your jaw up to your ear with his tongue. He had done so well for weeks. He had barely touched you but he had waited long enough. “Home? Darling, you are home.” Hearing you whine his name, tears rolling down to his lips now at the corner of yours, Wonwoo rocks his thigh against you and hums in appreciation. “Do you want me to tell you the truth? You want me to break your little heart?” 

When you don’t answer with more than new tears for him to lick from your skin, Wonwoo growls low under his breath. You are stubborn and infuriating in ways he has never dealt with. Others pray to him. Some pray with hate in their hearts, others with devotion—yet you give him your sorrow. You pray for what you’ve lost. What you think was taken from you. 

“I’ll break your heart. I’ll watch it shatter and then, sweet little one… I will bind it to me.” Leaning back to look down at you, Wonwoo narrows his eyes as you keep your eyes shut tightly. “Look at me when I’m speaking to you, Y/N. Open your eyes and face the truth you so desperately want…” 

Forcing your eyes open, you blink through your tears to meet Wonwoo’s eyes. You know you should try to push him away. His words already make you feel like you want to die—but aren’t you dead already? You are in hell. That much you know to be true. You’ve been here for so long now that you can’t keep lying to yourself about that much. As for Wonwoo… you’ve figured him out too. The name Wonwoo is there to make you feel better about the situation, if that were even possible; the man, the being looming over you now, he’s not human. He’s something you’re terrified to even name in your own head because you know who he is. 

Watching you closely, Wonwoo hums under his breath, once again sliding his hand along your head so carefully that when you flinch, it causes his brows to furrow in pain. He deserves this reaction from you, but he also deserves the way your hips move over his thigh chasing pleasure as if you are trying to distract yourself from what truth he is going to ruin your life with.  Moving his eyes along your body, Wonwoo tilts his head and slides one of his hands over the sheet loosely draped over your waist, watching the silk slide from your skin as he speaks low and calm. “He sold you, Y/N. He had a choice and this is what he chose. The man you pretend to yearn for. Your precious fiancé. He wanted more than he could afford, yet instead of offering his own body and soul as payment, he gave me you.” 

Meeting your eyes, Wonwoo gauges your reaction before continuing as realization settles in your eyes. “He never loved you. He loved what you gave him. A doting woman who would look past all his sins as you prayed for them for him. Do you think my father heard your prayers, darling?” Shaking his head, Wonwoo sighs resolutely as he traces your belly button, feeling you suck in your stomach under his touch. “No, sweet girl. He doesn’t listen, but I do. So when Ben asked for too much, I came and I took.” 

The painful truth sends an ache through your body before resting over your heart. Closing your eyes as if you can make it go away, you stop moving completely and lift your hands to your face. You hope that Wonwoo will leave. You hope that he will let you suffer here in silence, but that doesn’t happen. 

Lips press to the back of your hands before he gently pulls them away and wipes your tears from your cheeks as he whispers close to your cheek. “I should have killed him instead, but humans, especially selfish ones like your fiancé, only learn through true pain. He will live out the rest of his years with the price in the forefront of his mind. He will think of you when he wakes up. He will dream of you. He will never find peace and when he dies, little angel, he will suffer at my hands further.” Wonwoo’s words should hurt you more, but instead you find yourself listening to each one as the pain in your heart shifts into something else. 

“I will tear his miserable skin from his body every single day for eternity. He will beg me to stop and to let him rest but there is no rest for the wicked, not even in hell. Every single moment he will feel the flames lick at his exposed muscles and tendons, only for the price he paid to remain in the forefront of his mind.” Smirking at his own words, Wonwoo laughs darkly as your eyes meet his once again and this time he sees understanding in them. “Yes, darling, he will think of you even in death. I will fuck you over his body, never letting him touch you. I’ll let him hear you scream my name in pleasure as pain overwhelms him.” 

The idea of Wonwoo’s plans for Ben should frighten you and perhaps deep down they do, but you feel a flutter in your chest—excitement. “Promise me.” 

Your voice is so quiet that Wonwoo furrows his brows in confusion before you repeat the same words louder this time. The demand goes straight to his cock before he rocks his hips towards you, feeling your wet pussy against his pants as you start to soak through the fabric. “I promise. I’ll give you anything you ask for.” The moment the words are out of his mouth, Wonwoo laughs as you start to speak, only for him to cut you off. “Except give you up and let you leave. You are mine, Y/N. I don’t abandon things that belong to me, especially something like you.” 

The finality in Wonwoo’s tone causes your heart and mind to race. Thoughts flood your mind along with pleasure when he rolls his hips towards yours once again. This is the first time he’s touched you like this in the many weeks since he took you. He watched you every single day. He’d sit by your bed and attempt to soothe you, but he never took from you—until now. But is that what he is doing? 

Pleasure jolts through you as his fingers slide to your hips, pulling your hips down over his thigh. This isn't taking; this is giving. More than you could ever say for Ben—for the man who sold you for his benefit. Lifting your hips into Wonwoo’s hands, you whine his name and relish in the feeling of your clit grazing the fabric covering his muscular thigh. You realize that you want this, perhaps more than you could have ever anticipated, but the look in Wonwoo’s eyes tells you his patience had been running thin. With one more content sigh slipping from your lips, he begins to take. 

Wonwoo’s kiss burns with his intensity. His hands dig into your hips as he lifts you from his thigh and fingers trail between your legs. With a growling breath, Wonwoo breaks the kiss to meet your eyes as his fingers slide between your wet lips and over your already throbbing clit. “You are mine. This—” He emphasizes his words with a pinch to your clit before his fingers slide to your waiting entrance, where he eases two fingers into you. “Is mine.” 

Your hands flail for a moment as pain mixes with your pleasure as Wonwoo’s fingers begin to stretch you. One of your hands finds Wonwoo’s wrist as the other grips the bedding under you in an attempt to ground yourself. He doesn’t wait for you to adjust; instead, Wonwoo curls his fingers inside of you and traces a circle over your clit, enjoying the feeling of your pussy tightening. 

Soft moans slip from between your lips only to be swallowed by Wonwoo as his tongue slides along yours. Even as you try to lift your hips, attempting to chase your pleasure, he easily pushes you back down on the bed, fucking you hard and fast on his fingers. You want more. You need more, but all of that fades to the background as your walls begin to clench down on his fingers and your orgasm rips through you like a tidal wave. 

A dark chuckle tickles your skin as Wonwoo’s lips work from your lips to your breasts. His eyes flick up to yours and for a brief moment they are completely black. Any trace of white around his dark irises seems to have been swallowed until he blinks and the color returns. 

“Wonwoo—” 

“Shh, little angel. I’m not done with you. You owe me so, so, so much more.” 

You start to speak, to form some retort to his claiming words, but then his lips find your clit even as his eyes stay fixed on you. Teeth tip at your soft skin and the throbbing bundle of nerves before he laughs again, leaning back enough to lick your cum from his lips and speak. “Beg me like a good girl to fuck him out of your mind. Your soul is mine, Y/N; now let me have the rest of you…” 

Sobbing in pleasure, you buck your hips towards Wonwoo’s waiting mouth, feeling his smile against your skin as you do just that. Numerous pleas leave your lips as you feel your mind, body, and soul latch on to the man, the devil between your legs binding you to him forever. 

“jun, please— need to cum, please let me cum—”

you feel your cunt throb with emptiness as tears well up in your eyes, finally beginning to spill down your cheeks at the discomfort of being edged and then subsequently overstimulated for the better part of an hour.

he says nothing as his thumb continues to roll over your swollen clit at an agonizing pace. his other fingers keep your folds spread apart so he has a perfect view of your spent pussy, clenching around nothing over and over again. 

your skin is already glistening with slick from so many orgasms, and he watches with a smirk as more continues to leak out of your hole. your tensing muscles force the wetness to drip down your ass and pool on the sheets beneath you, but he makes no moves to clean it up. 

even if he doesn’t say it aloud, you know he loves the sight: your cunt messy and ruined, and his cock isn’t even out of his pants yet. it’s almost impressive how all he needs is his fingers and his mouth to reduce you to a stuttering, shaking puddle of your own cum.

“you can do better than that, sweetheart.”

you whimper and squeeze your eyes shut as you feel your cheeks grow wetter with tears you can’t hold back. “please, junnie,” you sob out. “please let me, need it so bad— please!”

“i’ve let you cum plenty of times already, and you still need more? have i not done a good enough job that my baby is still not satisfied?” he presses his thumb harder against your clit, and you gasp and buck your hips into his hand, simultaneously trying to get closer and farther away from him.

“no, just—please, i’ve been so good, jun, just let me have one more,” you choke, your thighs trembling in exhaustion yet you still plead for more.

“and how many times have i let you cum tonight?” he asks as he increases the speed of his thumb petting your clit. he bends his knuckle and the edge of his nail brushes against your nerves for just a second, and automatically your legs jolt and try to snap shut. but his large hands are there to stop you, easily keeping your spread open despite the soreness already settling into your muscles.

you whine in frustration, but still answer his question. “f-four, but—jun, please, it hurts…”

“oh, it hurts?” he asks with faux sympathy, almost mocking you. you know what he’s going to say but you nod anyway, tears still staining your cheeks as you writhe in his grip. “you’re so close that every second without release is almost too much to bear? so overstimulated that you can’t possibly take another orgasm, yet you can’t live without just one more?”

“yes!”

his features melt into a grin, his eyes darkened with lust as he increases the pace of his thumb one more time. “good. because that was my intention.”

your mouth falls open in a guttural moan before it even registers in your brain that he’s taken his hand off of you. your cunt aches nearly to the point of hysteria, and your hips thrash uncontrollably as an incoherent melody of sounds falls from your lips, begging and whimpering and pleading for jun to let you cum. but he just watches with a smirk as his hands grip your thighs tightly, making it almost impossible for you to move or do anything to chase your fleeing orgasm.

your breath catches in your throat, each inhale like fire in your lungs despite the chills running through your body. every inch of your skin is sticky with sweat, and a fresh wave of tears is already beginning to spill down your face.

with a gentle touch jun brushes his finger against your cheek, wiping away a stray tear that falls from your eye. you blink your eyes open in surprise just in time to watch as he pushes his finger between his lips, his dark eyes locked with yours as his tongue swirls around his own fingertip. 

he groans at the taste, inhaling sharply through his nose before exhaling slowly as his eyes close in pleasure. a moment later he pulls his finger from his mouth and he opens his eyes again, his gaze falling on your expression as you stare up at him. 

“don’t you know how sweet you taste when you’re in pain?” he asks. he reaches out to swipe his finger against your cheek once more, but this time instead of opening his mouth, he presses his tear-soaked finger against your lips, and you willingly part them to allow him to let you taste. 

he studies your every move and hums when your tongue brushes over his finger. “such pretty tears,” he coos as you squirm beneath him, feeling your cunt beginning to throb again under his watchful eye, his words alone setting you back on the path towards your high. “look at what a mess you are. poor, sensitive baby, look at how you cry. doesn’t it feel so good when it hurts so much?”

without warning you feel a surge of energy, every muscle in your body tensing up as pleasure overtakes you. your heartbeat pulses in your chest and in between your legs at the same time, the sound rushing through your ears and overwhelming your senses as you struggle to stay conscious through your most powerful orgasm tonight.

“and look at you now,” jun chuckles, the same sadistic grin still spread across his face even as you whine and gasp for air. “cumming untouched, over nothing but a few tears? stupid little slut can’t even wait long enough to ask permission anymore. all you know how to do is cum.” he sighs, looking down at you almost with pity. “at least you look pretty when you do.”

“jun, p-please,” you sob, heaving breaths pushing your chest up and down rapidly.

“please, what? i’ve already given you the orgasm you asked for, so what more could you possibly want?” he hums at your silence, and the sudden feeling of his fingers on your clit once more makes you jump. “looks like i haven’t done a good enough job then, since you’re clearly still needy. so i guess i’ll have to just keep making you cum, until you can’t anymore, and maybe then you’ll finally be satisfied.”

he plunges three fingers into you without warning and your walls clench down around them, sucking him in as your cunt greedily accepts him inside you. you’re already feeling yourself beginning to fall into another orgasm, but you fight it off as hard as you can, barely recovered from the previous orgasm mere seconds ago.

“jun—” you rasp, your vision going blank at the force of the pleasure coursing through you. “fuck, j-jun, please, i can’t—”

“oh, you can,” he says harshly, curling his fingers rougher, harder, faster into your cunt. “and you will. until i say you can’t, you will. and i don’t think i’ve seen enough tears yet.” he leans down over your trembling body, pressing his lips against your ear so you can feel his hot breath burning into your skin, as he says the words that fill you with both dread and desire. “so go on, show me what you can do. cum for me, baby.”

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Chan is the one rolling his eyes now. He knew you were teasing him, but he meant every name he called you—darlin’, sweetheart, honey… None of them could match how he felt about you and how much you lit up his life. You deserved someone being nice to you and calling you pretty names that, even if they couldn’t match your beauty, would put a smile on your face. His eyes follow your hand as you bring the coffee up to your lips and take a sip, letting a smile spread across your pretty face. He might not get the cold coffee or like the taste of all that chocolate you liked in your drinks but he’d do anything to make you smile like that. 

“Don’t let it rot your teeth out your head. They put about five pumps of that chocolate shit into it.” 

You laugh, and Chan feels his chest tighten. This was a good day. The sun was out, the wind was moving through the trees, and you were with him. He couldn’t ask for anything better—well, he could, but that’d make him be as selfish as he felt when he was around you. 

“Just how I like it. Want a sip?” Tilting the drink towards Chan, you watch his nose wrinkle before he leans to take a sip and then makes a face like he has something sour on his tongue. “You are such a baby. What’d you get anyhow? Coffee just black and boiling?” 

Lifting his cup, Chan grins at you before he takes a sip of just that. It was strong and he could feel it go down his throat and warm his chest. “Mmhm, like a real man.” You laugh again following it with a groan, the smile that was on Chan’s face softens into something fond. You two could be picking at each other for just about anything and all you’d have to do is look at him and he’d fall on his knees for you. 

Of course you didn’t know that. You just saw Lee Chan as your best friend. He’d met you on the playground when the two of you were in second grade. You had fallen off a swing and cut your knee. Chan had been the first person there. He had wiped away the big fat tears on your cheeks before running to find a teacher before coming back to you and telling you it’d all be okay. You still had that scar. Every time you’d wear shorts, like today, Chan couldn’t help but let his eyes move down to it. That scar marked the moment he fell in love with you but just like that 7-year-old boy, he still couldn’t tell you. Instead, he’d watched you grow up beside him and hated every man you’d ever dated, but none of them he hated more than the one you had now. 

Sighing to the sound of your ringtone, you pout at the idea of being interrupted but seeing Ian’s name on the caller ID has you sitting up and a big smile on your face. You hadn’t been dating Ian Carrington for too long, just about six months, but he felt like the one. You don’t see how Chan’s smile fades to a scowl when you put the phone to your ear and answer it, so pleased to hear from your boyfriend. “Hi, baby!” 

Chan looks down at the coffee in his hands as he listens to your voice change. It wasn’t necessarily that you were trying to be someone different with Ian; it was more that he brought something else out of you. He made you feel like you had to be perfect when that was impossible for anyone. It didn’t matter if, in Chan’s eyes, you were the closest thing to perfection; Ian still made you feel like you had to be better. 

“Yes! Really? I’d love to see you.” A soft, flirty giggle slips past your lips as you lean your head towards your shoulder. Ian still had you in the schoolgirl-in-love phase. He was one of the most handsome guys you had ever seen and there was a layer of unattainability to him that you were breaking through piece by piece. “I miss you too, babe.” Glancing up at Chan, you give him an apologetic look, seeing him stare at his coffee. From the beginning of your relationship with Ian, you had made it clear that you still needed to have time for your best friend. That hadn’t really changed, but Ian did seem to have horrible timing. “Now? Ian, I’m out with Channie…” 

Keeping his scoff to himself, Chan lifts his coffee to his lips, taking a long sip as he listens to your voice drop in volume. All he can think to himself is, here we go again. It may be lost on you that Ian didn’t like your friendship with him, but your boyfriend had made it very clear to him. It wasn’t like Ian didn’t already know where you were. You had no doubt texted him at the very least, and yet he was going out of his way to ruin a perfect day. Any other time he’d leave you sitting in your apartment bored and missing him, but the moment that Chan stepped up, suddenly Ian was the perfect attentive boyfriend. 

“Baby doll, I left work early for you. Now, don’t you wanna come see me? Spend a little time with your boyfriend? You can see Chan any day of the week. You know I’m busy, baby…” You start to speak and Ian sighs softly, speaking over you. “‘Course if you wanna stay out instead of coming to see me, I can’t make you do something you don’t want. It was wrong of me to call you while you’re out. Tell Chan I’m sorry and you two have a good day. I’ll try to see you tomorrow.” 

Meeting Chan’s curious eyes, you shift in your chair a bit uncomfortably before whining Ian’s name. You hated the idea that you might not get to see him today and the way he was talking, tomorrow seemed like it might not happen either. “No… No, baby. I can—I’ll be over in like twenty minutes, okay? I’m excited to see you.” 

It was past noon but Chan rarely got up before 2 pm. There were few things that would make him get his ass moving, but you were one of them. You were pretending to be okay. You were always doing that—Chan could tell when it wasn’t the case. There was a slight whine to your voice, like you had been crying… again. “What happened, sweetheart?” 

Closing your eyes tight, you hold the phone closer to your ear. How did he always know? Ian never knew. You could be outright crying and Ian would be oblivious. That wasn’t his fault. You were on the phone; how could he really tell? That’s what you kept telling yourself and yet your best friend caught on instantly. “No—nothing... I’m fine, Chan. What are you up to?” 

You hadn’t looked at the time before calling him. If it were anyone else, that’d annoy Chan, but it was you. He had worked the night before and been asleep for about five hours—that’d be enough. “Nothing, just sittin’ here. What happened, Y/N? I know you aren’t fine. You’ve been cryin’. Did that asshole—” 

“Channie! No… no, he didn’t do anything. Just—” Tears were on your cheeks again. You were trying to keep yourself calm but it was hard to do when you felt like shit. “We made plans and then one of his friends called.” 

To anyone else that might sound silly; however, Chan knew what it meant. You two had made plans, maybe a date or something, and then either he didn’t show up or he left ten minutes into it because one of his stupid friends called wanting him to hang out with them instead. This shit was always happening. It was easier than telling the weather, knowing if Ian was going to break your heart or not. “Want me to come over? I can pick up some Chinese and rot on the couch.” 

You felt bad putting this on Chan as often as you did. You were still dressed up, ready to spend the day with your boyfriend but instead you were crying on the phone with your friend. “That sounds nice. If you aren’t busy. I—” As if something comes to your mind, just then you gasp and whine, causing Chan to sit up a bit before you continue. “You worked last night! Oh my god! Go back to sleep. I’m so stupid. I’m sorry, Channie!” 

Sighing to himself, Chan tugs his jeans up his legs, balancing the phone between his cheek and shoulder. “Stop it, darlin’. If I get tired again, I can nap at your place. You ain’t stupid. Don’t ever call yourself that. I’d kill someone for saying that to you. Smartest gal I know.” 

You pout to yourself, wiping the tears from your cheek as you listen to Chan moving around his place. You knew he wasn’t kidding. He had gotten into more fights than you could count while the two of you were in school. All it took was someone to look at you wrong or say the wrong thing and they’d get Chan’s face in theirs. He was just protective, like you were his sister or something. “I’m not. Be careful drivin’. Love you.” 

Chan knew how much Ian hated to hear you tell Chan you loved him. You hadn’t even said it to him as far as Chan knew. The thought makes a smile pull at his lips as he pulls his keys from the hook, shoving them into his jacket pocket. “Love you too. Be there soon.” 

You had been telling Lee Chan you loved him since the second grade and that wasn’t going to change. That fact was a big reason that you and Ian fought. He had told you that he loved you around the third date, but you hadn’t been sure then. You thought you knew now but the words always got caught in your throat. You probably just needed to be a bit braver. 

It didn’t take Chan long to drive to your place. He had made this drive hundreds of times and every single time, but especially lately, he felt his stomach get all tight with nerves. You were more special than you even knew. You were the type of girl to look in the mirror and think she had every single thing wrong with her, but Chan saw you for who you really were—the most beautiful girl that was ever born. He could see that you were made of everything that was good in the world, even if you thought you were plain and selfish. 

Using his spare key to your apartment, Chan lets himself in and sighs softly as he kicks off his shoes in the entryway. This was just as much home for him as his own place was. He could remember falling asleep on your couch or in your bed multiple times after a long study session when you both were still trying the college thing. He remembered waking up to the smell of food and you singing along with some pop song on the radio as you swayed in front of the stove cooking. Chan had more good memories in this apartment, but he also had bad ones. Bad was seeing Ian show up and knowing he had to leave. Bad happened as soon as you started dating that moron that you seemed to be head over heels with. None of that could compare to walking into your apartment and seeing you curled up on the couch with tears drying on your cheeks. 

“Darlin’...” The word slips off Chan’s lips like a breath as he moves across the room, only stopping to drop off the carryout in his hand before he kneels at your couch. Delicately wiping the tears from under your eyes, trying to control his face. The moment you look at him, you’d know he was upset. Chan had a hard time hiding those sorts of expressions. His brows would furrow deeply, just like his lips would turn down in a disapproving frown. “Come here. Let me sit with ya.” 

Taking a deep breath, you try to push down your emotions but that look on Chan’s face breaks you again. You sit up and he slips onto the seat you were lying on before pulling you against his chest. You know you shouldn’t rely on him so heavily but it was difficult to say no to your rock. Chan was your constant and right now he was keeping you from sinking even as you sobbed softly in his arms. “I’m so stupid.” 

Chan shakes his head and tugs you tighter to him when you start to blame yourself for your situation. You didn’t make yourself cry by treating yourself like you weren’t worth the time—no, that was Ian Carrington’s doing. “No, you ain’t. I already told you you’re the smartest and prettiest girl I know. Want me to kill him? I’ll do it.” 

His words make you laugh, but you don’t even realize how serious Chan is. Of course he wouldn’t actually kill someone, but kicking his ass into the next century? That was something he could and would do for you. 

“Don’t be silly.” Sighing into your words, you shift against Chan to get more comfortable. You were still sad but it never failed that you’d brighten up even a fraction when you were around your best friend. “He promised to make it up to me so I know he will.” 

“Sure…” Chan wanted to tell you that maybe you were being a bit stupid, but those words never left his mouth. Instead, he tightens his arm around you and stares at the table in front of him. Ian was always making it up to you, but that didn’t mean that Chan believed it. “Enough of him, I got you sesame chicken. Eat somethin’.” 

He watches as you perk up slightly and move back to sitting beside him instead of against him. You were cute as you carefully opened the bags holding the food, setting each container out like you always would. Chan finds himself wondering if your boyfriend took care of you like this. Did he come when you were crying? Did he bring you all your favorite foods and snacks? Maybe he did, but to Chan this was something only he could do. 

Squealing under your breath when you open the crab rangoon, you look over your shoulder to meet Chan’s eyes, seeing the smile pulling at his lips. “You’re spoiling me.” 

He was. That had been the intention. Chan knew he could have gotten you the bare minimum and you’d still feel the same, but after hearing you crying on the phone, he had gotten all your favorites. Leaning forward, he opens the last dish, his own but even it makes you shuffle your feet out of excitement. “Now don’t think you’re stealing my food. I’ll share with you if you share with me.” 

You knew that Chan was teasing you, but even as you open your chopsticks and take a piece of meat from his plate, he smiles at you. Speaking carefully around the food in your mouth, you furrow your brows and lean to push your shoulder against his playfully. “You always say that, but then you get something I like.” 

Picking up the other set of chopsticks, Chan looks down at them as he breaks them apart to hide the slight flush he was feeling on his cheeks. You were right. He could pick just about anything, but it felt better to get something you’d share with him. He could be plenty happy just watching you enjoy your food; however, there was something special about knowing just the right things to get to make you happy. “Yeah, whatever. Just wanna make sure you eat well.” 

The two of you fall into a comfortable silence as you eat. At some point you turn the TV back on and hit play on the latest series that you and Chan had been watching together. Nothing needs to be said until you are the first to break the silence, glancing over at Chan as he rests his hand over his stomach. “I—hey. Did you ever call Chuu back? She was texting me but—” 

“Nah. I’ll text her later and apologize.” 

Furrowing your brows, you put your chopsticks down next to the plastic container before pulling your legs under you so you can rest back on the couch. “Did the date not go like you wanted it to? She seemed to really like you.” You weren’t exaggerating. In the past two days you had gotten a dozen texts from your co-worker Chuu asking if Chan was ignoring her. This wasn’t the first time you had tried to set him up with someone only to watch it go nowhere. 

Chan shrugs into a sigh, his eyes moving to you then quickly back to the TV. He knew he had a few unread texts from your friend but he didn’t want to lead anyone on. “Yeah, I mean, sure. The date was alright. Just got dinner at Charlie’s and I took her home.” 

Now you looked disappointed as you nodded along with Chan’s words. Sighing once again, he shifts next to you and runs his fingers through his hair. “She just—I don’t know. She’s not my type. She’s a sweet girl, don’t get me wrong. I just don’t think I’m ready to date like that. I’m not interested in somethin’ serious like they seem to think I am.” 

The disappointed look on your face had turned sour. You looked like you didn’t believe him now, like you were reading his mind. “I don’t think Chuu was lookin’ for anything too serious neither, Channie. I just want—listen to me, okay? You are always alone or stuck with me.” When Chan doesn’t say anything right away, his face only scrunching up like he’s tasted something that’s gone bad, you slide to your knees and reach for his hand like you are going to tug him along with you. “We should go out this weekend. I can be your wingwoman, and we can look for someone who’s more your type.” 

Saturday rolled around too quickly for Chan’s liking. It wasn’t just that he knew what your plan was with this trip to the bar, but that Ian was coming along. He had been looking forward to tonight for days, and the moment he learned about Ian’s insistence to tag along, the night was ruined. Chan knew he could have told you that he didn’t want your boyfriend there, but how would that go over? So instead, Chan tugged at his jacket as he looked in the mirror, deeming himself dressed. He didn’t have high hopes for the evening. 

You, on the other hand, were over the moon. Not only were you on a mission to get Chan a date but now Ian was actually making time for you. Leaning against your dresser, you close one eye, carefully applying your eyeliner as you listen to Ian from the other room. He had shown up about an hour early but again you weren’t complaining. Getting time with him lately was like pulling teeth. You knew that your boyfriend was a popular guy. He had tons of friends and he enjoyed his job, but sometimes you wished he’d pick you over a night out with work friends or whatever it was he did. 

“You listening to me, baby?” Huffing into his words, Ian leans against the door frame to your bedroom as he watches you. You were gorgeous and tonight it seemed like you were putting in some extra effort. He was doing his best to tell him that was because of him. “That dress is pretty. It new?” 

You smile at Ian from your mirror and shift your weight to your other leg as you repeat the process on your other eye. “Yeah, I got it yesterday after work. You really like it?” 

How could he not? It was tight in all the right places and had his mind wandering as his eyes moved over your pretty legs. “Yeah, I like it. It’s a little tight.” Ian sees your smile fade slightly, but you still manage to seem unaffected by his words. “I’m just sayin’ that maybe it’s not a dress for tonight. I mean, this is about trying to find a chick for Chan, right? Why you gotta get all dolled up for him?” 

You hated when Ian did that. When he acted like there was something between you and Chan. He was jealous of your best friend and it upset you. “No—I… I’m dressed up for you, babe. I wanna look pretty for you. ‘Sides, I don’t really wanna go out looking shabby.” Pouting as you put the cap back on your eyeliner, you avoid Ian’s eyes as you whine into your words. “You want me to change?” 

God, he couldn’t stand when you were whining. You did it more often than his liking. At first it was cute, but the moment he said one thing that didn’t go in the way you wanted it to, you were whining and crying. You did a good job at making him feel like the bad guy when it wasn’t really his fault he had a life outside of you. Shaking his head, Ian moves to stand behind you, sliding his hands along your waist to pull you back against him. “Course not. You do look pretty, baby. You look too pretty, but that’s alright. Wear what you want.” 

You smile, feeling Ian’s lips against your neck, his fingers kneading into your stomach as he takes a deep breath of your perfume. Times like this you felt like a million bucks. Sure, he could make you sad, but then he’d spend time with you like this and all that sadness would fade away. “‘Kay. Thank you.” 

Humming softly against your soft skin, Ian hides how he rolls his eyes at your response. You were spoiled and it had to be his fault. Forever his bratty little baby. “Mm, anything for you, doll.” Moving back from you a bit, Ian lets his eyes move over your face in the mirror and down to your chest, where your breasts were being held up and tight by your dress, giving you mouthwatering cleavage. He should enjoy it and maybe he would if he were the one going to see it. “Maybe wear a jacket, though. Your tits are out.” 

It doesn’t surprise Chan when you and Ian show up later than planned. He had already been sitting at the bar nursing a whiskey for around half an hour before he heard your voice call his name. He isn’t able to hide his smile when you carefully move between people to make your way over to him. Chan simply sighs and opens one arm for you, letting you hug him from the side as he feels Ian’s eyes linger on you both a bit too fiercely. 

“Any luck yet?” 

Ian’s voice seems bored when he speaks to Chan, drawing his attention away from you and up to him as he takes a seat one stool away from him. At least he had left a stool for you, but the way he pulled you away from him told Chan everything he needed to know. Ian was in a mood and he wasn’t tolerating Chan tonight. How you didn’t seem to be affected by his attitude was a mystery, but Chan forces himself to smile as he shakes his head. “Nah. Ain’t been here too long.” 

Forcing himself not to roll his eyes, Ian offers Chan a tight smile instead as you sit between the two of them shrugging your jacket off. It was hot in the bar but the idea of you with all that skin showing causes the smile on Ian’s face to fall into a tight line. Though he doesn’t say anything, it seems his eyes on you are enough to have you tugging your dress up on your chest. 

Chan lets himself get a good look at you and you take his breath away. You were always stunning but he had never seen you in this dress. It was perfect on you even as you fought with the deep cut of the neck that displayed your breasts so well. If this was anyone else and a different time, you’d have him on his knees for you begging for a single chance—but life wasn’t fair, and he could feel Ian’s judging eyes. 

“Baby, let’s go dance.” 

Already slipping out of his chair, Ian reaches for your hand as you whine. You two had just got there and you were on a mission. “I—yeah, okay. Channie, come with us?” 

Chan didn’t need to see the look on Ian’s face to have him turning you down. It hurt to see that smile fade from your lips but Chan is quick to cover his own disappointment as he gestures around the bar. “Checking out prospects. You go have fun, sweetheart.” 

You glance around the bar, seeing the few pretty girls that Chan had to be referencing, before biting at your bottom lip. This was what you wanted, so why did it make your stomach hurt? “Alright. Good luck!” 

Watching Ian guide you into the middle of the small dance floor, Chan watches your smile brighten as you start to dance. He should look away and give you and Ian privacy, but instead he brings his drink to his lips and sips to cover his sigh. 

“She’s pretty. That guy steal your girl?” 

The woman’s voice is sultry as she slides onto the stool that had just been yours. Glancing to his left, Chan gives her a quick once-over before shaking his head to answer her question. “Nah. Nothin’ like that.” The woman was pretty. She was wearing a tight red dress that left little to the imagination. Her long black hair was shiny and it looked soft, but Chan feels that pit in his stomach getting larger as he even considers her. 

He had intrigued her. He was one of, if not the most, attractive guys in the bar tonight and he had his eyes on some girl dancing with an equally hot man. Yet he was telling her that the girl he had his eyes fixed on wasn’t his. Maybe he wanted her to be, or maybe he just needed someone to help him forget. “I see. I’m Gabriela.” Offering him her hand, Gabriela smiles brightly, enjoying the moment that Chan finally looks at her, turning on his stool away from the girl he couldn’t have. 

“Chan.” Despite the pit in his stomach, Chan remembers the reason you had begged him to come out tonight. He had hoped for one thing, you and him alone to just enjoy another night out, but had gotten another as Ian kissed at your neck for everyone to see. Keeping his eyes on Gabriela, Chan swallows hard and gives in to what’s easy. “What you drinkin’, gorgeous?” 

Other girls were easy. Flirting was as easy as breathing on the surface; it was how he felt on the inside that made this unbearable for Chan. And yet it was working on Gabriela. She was batting her lashes and moving her hair over her shoulder to let Chan get a good look at her exposed skin. He could easily look away, but his mind was fighting him. Glancing out towards the dance floor, Chan’s chest tightens when he sees your arms around Ian’s neck as his hands slide down over your ass. That was enough to make Chan feel sick so he grins at Gabriela and lifts his hand for the bartender, ready to order her a drink. 

Smirking to himself, Ian glances from Chan at the bar down to you. “He’s doing just fine. I don’t know what you were worried about.” 

Your eyes quickly move to Chan and over the girl sitting next to him as he slides a cocktail towards her fingers. You should be happy. This was what you wanted to happen. You wanted Chan to come out and find a pretty girl to take out, but this girl looked like a viper wrapped in red spandex. You felt your chest tighten as she ran her red nails over his hand and leaned her head back to laugh at something Chan had said. “Oh… yeah, he’s— she’s—” 

Ian sighs as he leans his head back, turning you slightly on the dance floor so that your attention is back on him. “Perfect for him. Just slutty enough, right?” 

You hated when Ian talked like that, and that wasn’t the type of girl you pictured your best friend with. Then again, you hadn’t really pictured him with anyone. You wanted to, but it never seemed easy. There was always just you and Chan no one else… Glancing up at Ian, you put a smile on your lips but you don’t nod or shake your head to tell him that he’s right or wrong. You instead let him tighten his grip on your hip as you tilt your head, meeting his eyes, trying to ignore what you had caused at the bar. 

“Security?” Tilting her head, Gabriela grins at Chan as he nods. “Like a cop? Are you gonna arrest me?” 

Sighing into a strained laugh, Chan shakes his head this time. “Uh no, no, not like a cop. Just security. I—” 

“So like a mall cop then?” 

God, this girl was irritating. The only good things about her were how pretty she was and that she smelled nice. Chan had no intention of this going anywhere with how she was acting. “Sure, like a mall cop. If that’s what you wanna call it.” 

Sipping at her cosmo, Gabriela smirks around the straw, seeing the irritation in Chan’s smile. Maybe she was pushing too hard, but she had come out to get laid and she was convinced that Chan was going to be the guy she left with. “That’s cute. Do you have cuffs?” 

Chan tries to hide his scoff, but he doesn’t do it well enough as he watches Gabriela’s smirk stay in place. She was pushing his buttons on purpose and this wasn’t really Chan’s idea of foreplay. “No. Even if I did, I wouldn’t put them on you.” 

“Why not? You wouldn’t wanna play cops and robbers with me, Chan?” Gabriela had always been bold. She went after what she wanted and right now that was Chan. Catching the buttons of his jacket sleeve under her nails, Gabriela bites her bottom lip, feeling Chan’s eyes move over her, landing on her cherry red lips. “I think it could be fun. Isn’t that why you came out tonight? To have some fun?” 

Using his free hand, Chan pushes his hair from near his eyes and sighs in disbelief at how shameless Gabriela is. He didn’t fault her. He didn’t want to judge her, but was he really the guy she wanted to play this on? Just as Chan starts to turn her down, his eyes once again find the dance floor and he sees you with your back against Ian’s chest as you sway to the music. Did you even remember you had asked Chan to come out with you? Did you even care? “Yeah, maybe I did.” 

Feeling eyes on you, you meet Chan’s eyes from the bar just as he turns his attention back to the pretty girl with her hand now resting on his thigh. You felt like you were feeding him to the dogs. This girl had her claws in his skin and you were watching him get eaten alive. You start to move away from Ian to go towards the bar when your boyfriend pulls you back against him and laughs against your ear. 

“Leave him be. Anyone can see they are about to dip out of here. That’s what you wanted, wasn’t it?” 

“I like your place.” 

Sighing as he leans towards the fridge to take out two beers, Chan forces himself to smile as he acknowledges Gabriela and what she had said. “Thanks. It ain’t much, but it’ll do.” Chan rarely let girls come back to his place, but this was better than going to hers. When Chan was inside some random girl’s space, he felt vulnerable. That felt like he could lead to more than he was willing to give. In his own space he could control the narrative and keep his power. 

“It’s very you.” 

As if this chick knew who Chan was, but instead of voicing that out loud, he just grinned and offered her the beer. He wasn’t looking for this to last longer than it needed to. “That so, gorgeous?” Trying to enjoy the moment and the release he’d be getting, Chan sits down on his couch and guides Gabriela down to sit next to him. She was soft, but no matter how much he looked at her, Chan only saw you. 

“Mmhm. God… You are so fuckin’ hot. How are you even on the market?” Gabriela had opened her beer and taken one sip before Chan had called her gorgeous again. The question was real and yet rhetorical. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know. She had seen how Chan had been looking at you, and if she thought too much about it, she might lose her confidence. “You seem like you’ve got a lot on your mind, Chan. Want me to help you with that?” 

Chan laughs, the sound getting caught in his throat as Gabriela puts her drink down with his and slides over his thighs. She was warm under his hands as Chan let her guide them over her sides and higher to her breasts. “I might have a couple things on my mind. How you gonna help me?” He knew the answer, but that was part of the game, wasn’t it? He could see how Gabriela’s smirk grew wider at the question, and now it was just a matter of time before he could shut off his feelings and just enjoy the moment. 

“Oh, I got plans for you, Channie.” 

Furrowing his brows at the pet name, Chan shakes his head, sliding his hands back down to Gabriela’s waist. “Don’t call me that. Stick to Chan…” He could see how her face fell, but she was a woman on a mission, so it only lasted for a moment before she was right back to business. Chan closes his eyes the moment that Gabriela’s lips brush against his. He didn’t like kissing his hookups, but tonight it didn’t feel too bad. 

“Touch me.” 

He nods in response to her request, sliding his hands back along her body and to her back. Catching the zipper of her dress between his fingers, Chan groans when Gabriela rocks her hips down over his. God, he hated how easily he had gotten turned on tonight. It wasn’t even that he had a pretty girl in his lap; it was that he had closed his eyes and pictured you in her place. 

Every soft moan from her lips, Chan imagined it coming from you. The soft skin under his hands as he helped her out of her dress—that was your skin. It felt wrong, but then he had carried her to bed and kept the light off. In the darkness he could only feel her and that let his imagination carry him further. 

“Oh, fuck—” Gabriela whines under her breath as she feels Chan’s fingers scissoring into her, his other hand pulling a condom from the nightstand. She wished she could see him a bit better, that maybe he had even left the door to his bedroom open, but instead even when she whined his name, Chan would shush her. Whatever, she could stay quiet. She could let herself enjoy this. 

With one stroke of his hand to make sure the condom was in place, Chan buries his face against Gabriela’s neck and eases himself into her warmth. Would you feel like this? Would you be softer? Wetter? Tighter? God, the thought of it alone has him burying himself in her as deep as possible. What would you be doing now? Were you getting fucked by Ian? Why would Chan even think about that? It was ruining his mood—so he fucked Gabriela harder, listening to her sob his name, asking for more. 

Everything meshes together—Gabriela’s orgasm and Chan’s frustration as he has to force himself to finish, but in the end he ends up with her resting against his chest, both of them catching their breath. 

“Holy shit, that was incredible.” Gabriela wasn’t sure what she had expected, but Chan had exceeded it times ten. She had gone out looking to get laid, and she had ended up with more. Fuck, she loved the feeling of this man’s hands on her and how tender he had been with her until he fucked her like a man who was starved. “Do you want—” 

“I don’t do repeats.” 

Gabriela’s words get caught in her throat when Chan interrupts her with that. His hand wasn’t on her hip anymore; he was sitting up and turning on the light, picking up a pack of cigarettes and putting one between his lips. “What? What does that mean?”

Inhaling the smoke, Chan lets it sit on his chest for a few seconds before he turns his head away from Gabriela to blow it away from her. “Exactly what it sounds like.” 

Sitting up quickly, Gabriela stares at Chan before scoffing. He had to be kidding. She had been with assholes before but Chan didn’t seem like one. This seemed like he was putting on an act and yet his eyes were cold now when he looked at her. “Are you really this much of a dick?” 

Chan shrugs and licks his lips as he leans to flick the ashes from his cigarette into the ashtray on his nightstand. “Yeah, but it was good, wasn’t it?” He knew what Gabriela’s reaction would be and it was exactly what he wanted. He wanted her to be pissed off at him. He didn’t want her to stick around and try to get more than he could give her. Leaning out of her way, Chan sighs out smoke before resting the rest of the cigarette in the tray, watching Gabriela get dressed quickly as she curses under her breath. “I’ll order you a ride.” 

“Fuck you.” 

He knew he deserved that. He knew exactly what he was doing even if it made him feel worse about himself and the situation. “Fair, but you said you lived on the other side of town; it’s the least I can do. Don’t take some shady taxi.” 

Like he actually cared. Gabriela sees red for a moment, her palm meeting Chan’s cheek before she turns towards the door, opening it with enough force to cause the doorknob to leave a place in the drywall. “Worst lay of my fucking life!” 

Chan knew that Gabriela was full of shit. She had enjoyed it; he had made sure of that, but he let her say whatever she wanted to as he tugged his sweatpants on and followed her out into the living room as she struggled with her shoes. “Course, but I’m still ordering you a ride so calm your ass down for a minute.”  

Crossing her arms tightly over her chest, Gabriela feels tears biting at her eyes, but she forces them to stay back. How was this guy treating her like this? One minute she felt like a common slut for him to use and toss out, and then he was being halfway decent, ordering her a ride home. Was this another act? What the fuck was his problem? “What did I do wrong?” 

You had drunk more than you should have. Your mind was floaty like a dandelion in the wind and you were having to let Ian help you with everything. First it had been just to walk and now it was your shoes as you leaned against the wall at the first door. “Thanks…” 

Ian laughs under his breath at how pitiful you sound, his fingers carefully tugging at the strap around your ankles in order to free your feet from the heels. “No problem, doll. You can’t hold your liquor. I told you that when you ordered another drink…” 

He wasn’t wrong. He had told you that, and you should have listened, but you felt sad before, and you had hoped the alcohol would fix it. It hadn’t. “I know.” Sighing softly, you lean back against Ian as he guides you through the living room and towards your bedroom. “Do you think Channie—” You aren’t even sure what you are asking, so you stop speaking and pout instead, causing Ian to roll his eyes. 

“Channie, what? That he got laid? Yeah, baby, I do. But why the fuck do you care?” 

It was clear that you had annoyed Ian but that hadn’t been your intention. “I don’t know. I’m sorry. Please don’t be mad at me.” 

You were whining again, and while it still annoyed Ian, he couldn’t stay mad at you for too long. You were too cute and now he did have you all to himself. “It’s fine. Stop pouting at me. Hey, Y/N…” Making sure you are looking at him, Ian runs his thumb along your bottom lip and tilts his head as you smile against his finger. “There you go. My pretty baby. This is better than being at the bar, isn’t it? Just me and you, like you’ve been wanting, right?” 

It was what you had wanted. You had been so upset when he had cancelled on you earlier in the week, but this was making up for it. You were so tired, the alcohol clouding your brain, but it felt nice to be in his arms. “Mmhm. I love being with you.” 

What Ian was hearing was that you loved him and that’s all that mattered. You weren’t whining over Chan anymore or the cancelled date; you were just putty in his hands. Carefully tugging your dress up on your hips, Ian grins at you when you stumble against him near your bed. “My clumsy girl. I’ve been thinking ‘bout this all night. You know that? How bad you drove me insane wearing this slutty little dress out in public.” 

You didn’t know, but your cheeks were on fire now at the idea of it. Was it a slutty dress? You hadn’t meant to look that way. You had just wanted to be pretty, but maybe that was what Ian had meant. “You like my dress?” 

“I like it plenty. Just don’t think it’s a dress you should be wearing out anymore.” Watching you fall backwards onto the bed, Ian knows he should just put you to bed and call it a night. You had drunk too much. You were obviously not in your right mind, yet you were talking to him. “Come here, baby. Cuddle with me.” 

Sighing happily, you let Ian pull you against him as he lies down next to you. This was nice. You had missed this. You had missed him and how good he smelled. You were so tired. The warmth of being in his arms and the alcohol in your system were doing a great job at putting you to sleep. But then you felt Ian’s lips at your throat, you felt his hand sliding along your thighs, and you couldn’t stop the way your brows furrowed. “‘M tired, Ian. Not tonight…” 

Now his brows were furrowing. You had been teasing him all fucking night and now you were saying not tonight? Groaning against your skin, Ian pulls you back against him, letting you feel his cock hard in his jeans. “But, baby—” 

You push his hand from your thigh as you whine his name. You don’t see the anger that passes over Ian’s face before he lies back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. “Then sleep.” 

And you did. You slept hard, but it was restless. You were still in your tight dress. You could feel Ian’s warmth radiating towards you and it made you feel uncomfortable. When the first bits of daylight peek through the curtains, you already feel like wanting to die. You’ve barely opened your eyes when you grimaced at the feeling of the layer of sweat covering your skin. Glancing behind you, Ian sleeps soundly, his arm over his eyes as he snores softly. He doesn’t seem to stir from his sleep until you slide off the bed and whine about how uncomfortable you are. 

“Shh… Too fuckin’ early.” 

It was too early to be awake after the night you had. Bracing yourself on the wall, you muffle your whimper, feeling your head ache. Your eyes felt like sandpaper and your mouth was all cotton. It takes you longer than it should to stumble into the bathroom before you fall to your knees on the white tile, heaving hard over the toilet. You were feeling your regret wash over you. 

Making your way back to the bedroom, you whine under your breath as you tug the zipper of your dress down and kick the garment from your legs as soon as it reaches your feet. You don’t feel Ian’s eyes moving over your body as he lies in bed, his head resting on his arm. You only feel the pain behind your eyes and the churning in your stomach as you work to release your body from the rest of the uncomfortable clothes in search of new ones. 

“Come here, doll.” 

Your brows furrow as you do finally meet Ian’s eyes, seeing the look in them. He was much more awake than you were and clearly feeling better. All you wanted to do was pull on your softest shirt and a fresh pair of panties, but his fingers draw you closer to the bed. Letting him guide you down on it, you let out a soft sigh, hoping he just wants to hold you. His fingers trace your curves, causing you to shiver as the air moves over your body. 

“You are so pretty. You know that?” 

You don’t feel it right now, so you shake your head in disagreement, hearing him tsk at you. His fingers move further down your stomach to the middle of your legs, where you close your thighs a bit tighter. “I feel like shit—” 

“Seriously? I took you out last night. I let you be the one who got shitfaced, and I got turned down then. You are seriously gonna do it again? Way to make me feel like an asshole, Y/N.” 

A frown fixes itself on your lips as you force yourself to meet Ian’s eyes. He was right. You had done all of those things. You hadn’t done it on purpose, but you had turned him down. You wanted to continue to turn him down now, but the disappointed look in your eyes made you consider how valuable his time was to you. “”M sorry, Ian. You—we can. You can touch me.” 

Shaking his head, Ian slides his hand from you. You see the look in his eye, like the feeling of your skin is offending him. Turning on your side, you whine his name only to watch him lean his head back to escape your fingers. “I—what if…” Your voice trails off as you move on the bed to your knees, looking over Ian’s body. It felt weak… forced, as you run your fingers over his thigh towards the top of his jeans, feeling him start to harden under your hand. “I can just take care of you if that’s what you want, baby.” 

Ian hides his smirk as he considers your proposition. He would be lying to himself if he hadn’t wanted this to be the way his morning went, but he wasn’t going to say that to you. Instead, he lifts his hips and nods down at his jeans to let you get started. He could feel your hands trembling slightly as you worked the zipper down and then the denim to his thighs. “Fuck, I can’t say no to you…” 

The moan in his voice fills you with a bit of confidence. You were doing good again. You had messed up, but now Ian was happy again. Did you want to go down on him this morning? Absolutely not, but what you wanted even less was to be alone. You could picture him getting upset one more time and walking out the door. That wouldn’t happen if you did this. 

Taking his hard cock into your hand, you shift on your knees to lean over his hips, tracing the tip of it with your warm tongue. The sound that reaches your ears causes your lips to pull up in a bit of a smile. It still wasn’t that you wanted to do this. It wasn’t that you were getting off on it. It was that you knew how to keep him with you. You knew how to keep the loneliness from eating you to death today. 

Ian groans your name loudly when you take him into your mouth fully. He can almost feel your throat closing around the head of his cock when you swallow. You were good at this. If there was nothing else you knew how to do, at least you could suck cock. Lifting his hips towards your mouth, Ian runs his fingers through your hair before forcing your head down over him. He was already getting close. It had been a couple days since he had fucked you and this was just what the doctor ordered. “Just like that. Fuck—fuck!” 

Cum fills your mouth after a few moments of working your mouth over Ian’s cock. You always hated the taste of cum, but one glance up to your boyfriend had you forcing yourself to swallow the salty release. 

“Shit… I love watching you do that. You don’t miss a single fucking drop of it. So hungry for it, huh?” 

You just nod, unable to find your words. You hoped that now maybe Ian would take care of you. He’d want you enough to touch you, but all he offers you is a quick kiss followed by a sigh. 

“I know you like the taste of my cum, but I don’t, baby.” Turning his face from you, Ian yawns loudly as he lifts his hips, tugging his jeans and boxers back up. “I gotta get going anyway. I promised Wooyoung we’d hang out today before he goes to work.” 

The pit in your stomach continues to grow. Darkness and cold fill it as you force yourself to smile and nod at him. “Oh… Oh, okay? I just—we aren’t gonna hang out today?” 

Shrugging as if you should know his answer, Ian slides off your bed and uses the mirror at your vanity to fix his hair. He signs into his words, boredom leaking through like venom. “We hung out yesterday, doll. Don’t be selfish. You know I have to give my friends some time with me too. I can’t stay in here all the damn time.” 

You sit up, pulling your knees towards your stomach as tears threaten to spill over the rims of your eyes. “Right. No, I know, Ian. I just…” Sniffing back your tears, you feel your bottom lip start to quiver as loneliness bites at your skin. “Just miss you is all and we only went out to the club, really. We didn’t really spend—” 

“Babe, are you crying?” Groaning out another sigh, Ian turns back to you, moving to his knee at the side of your bed and running his fingers over your head. “Stop it. You know you want some time to yourself anyhow. Don’t make me feel like shit over this. I do everything for you.” 

You want to remind him of how little he actually does, but the moment he meets your eyes, you crumble. Tears drip down your cheeks only to be wiped away by Ian’s thumbs as he waits for you to agree with him. Forcing one last smile, you try to keep the tears out of your voice, but it doesn’t work as your voice shakes. “I—yeah. No, I know… You take care of me.” 

Nodding along with your words, Ian leans forward to tilt your head back so he can brush his lips over yours. “Always will. Get some rest, doll. I’ll text you later.” 

Three fucking days since you had really spoken to Chan and he was going insane. Of course you still text him and there had been a call or two over the past thirty-six hours, but they hadn’t been anything of substance. 

Something was wrong and he was going to figure out what it was. His first thoughts landed on Ian and all Chan could see was red. If that motherfucker had done something to you… Chan couldn’t even let the words pass through his mind without gritting his teeth so hard he thought they might shatter from the pressure. 

Relaxing his jaw, Chan tightens his hands on the steering wheel instead as he waits for the traffic light to change. He hadn’t told you he was coming over. Perhaps that was a mistake, but how was he supposed to go for so long without seeing you or really hearing you? It was like taking the air out of his lungs and expecting him to thrive. It was impossible. He had spent almost every single day of over a decade with you within arms reach and this was the first time you had ever gone silent in a way that felt endless. 

He let out a relieved sigh as he pulled into a parking space near your place—Ian wasn’t there. Or at least his car wasn’t and that was enough to keep Chan’s hopes up. As long as your so-called perfect boyfriend wasn’t in his way, he could get to the bottom of this. He could get you back. 

Jogging up the steps, Chan tugs his keys from his jacket and instinctively finds your key. This was muscle memory for him. Not even knocking, Chan pushes your door open and kicks his boots from his feet next to the spot yours sat. He dropped his keys into the bowl with yours and furrowed his brows, letting out a breath when he heard the sounds of something playing on the TV in the living room. “Darlin’?” 

You hadn’t expected company. There were only two people who had a key to your apartment and your stomach was twisting with a mixture of anxiety and relief at the sound of the door opening and closing. Ian had been distant with you for the past few days. You didn’t understand what you could have done wrong. You had given him what he wanted the last night he stayed with you and now he was giving you the cold shoulder, just stating he needed space. 

Would you really want to see him right now? Could you handle it?

The sound of Chan’s voice instantly makes your chest tighten. You felt horrible about being so distant with him. You knew that he was concerned about you, but you had gotten so tired of being the needy friend. There wasn’t a day that went by that you didn’t have something to complain about, and while it seemed that Chan could and would be there for you no matter what… the guilt was eating you. Were you just using his friendship to make you feel better? How the fuck was that fair to him? Chan was the most amazing person you knew and he deserved the world, not his best friend being a constant burden. 

Meeting his eyes as he moves into the living room, you try to smile at him but your resolve breaks. Tears fill the rims of your eyes and you instantly bury your face into your blanket that had been wrapped around you so tightly to keep you warm and hidden. Arms wrap around you and you feel Chan’s warm breath against the side of your head as he doesn’t say anything. He just sits in the moment with you. The anxiety seems to come off him in waves the longer you stay silent in your tears. 

“I—” You start and then stop, managing to look up and meet your best friend’s eyes. His eyes were so warm and full of love when he looked at you that it was suffocating. He makes no attempt to rush you; instead, his thumbs push the tears from your cheeks as he gives you endless time. “I’m sorry.” 

You didn’t have a single fucking thing to apologize for, but Chan understood what you meant. He could read you as well as his favorite book. He had been here a hundred times, his fingers in your hair as he soothed you. This was like flipping through that book and finding his favorite parts that he had dog-eared so that he’d never lose them. “Shh… Talk to me, sweetheart. What’s goin’ on? Where you been?” 

Leaning against Chan, you let yourself give in to your selfishness, enveloping yourself in his warmth and familiarity. “Nothing. It’s stupid. I—I don’t know why I’m like this.” That didn’t seem like the full truth, but Chan didn’t want to push you. He had you right back where he wanted you. The last thing he’d do right now is scare you away by forcing you to tell him the truth. 

“Nothin’ wrong with you.” Chan’s words make you scoff, but a smile does pull at your lips, causing him to mimic it. “‘M serious. You’re perfect like you are. My favorite person.” 

You swallow hard at that. He was your favorite person too and yet again you felt so completely selfish that it almost swallowed you whole. You didn’t deserve him like this. He could be out living his life—the idea of that makes you remember the girl that he had left the club with a few nights ago and you shift against him, a frown taking the place of your smile. “Yeah… Uh, did—how was…” You trail off, finding Chan focused so fully on you as you try to find your words. It felt wrong to pry into his life, but if he was talking about himself, then he wasn’t asking about you. 

“Did you have fun with that girl?” You see the confusion and then realization cross over Chan’s lips before he sucks in a breath trying to find his words. Before he can speak, you force a smile and lift your shoulders, trying to seem interested and nonchalant about it all. “She was really pretty. Totally… like, you know, your type. Dark and sexy…” 

That makes Chan scoff to keep from laughing. He wasn’t amused by the idea of that girl. What had her name even been? God, he was a piece of shit… Shaking that thought from his head, he meets your eyes once again as he brushes his thumb along the arm of your shirt on your bicep. “It was—she was fine. It—I’m not seein’ her again.” 

Instead of seeing what he wanted flash across your eyes, he sees concern and confusion as you shift once again against him, turning to face him, your legs crossed on the couch under you. “What do you mean? You—it seemed like y’all were having a good night. Did—” You furrow your brows as you start to ask if they hooked up, realizing you don’t really want to know. You see the look in Chan’s eyes as he anticipates the question, seeming uncomfortable with what his answer would be and how it would affect you. 

“Never mind. Um, so—” Leaning away from Chan, you swipe your phone from the coffee table, opening your Instagram and searching for something while his eyes seem to search over you. “Did I ever show you, uh—Molly? She’s the new girl at work and she was asking about—” 

Chan sighs your name, reaching for your phone and turning off the screen before he puts it back on the coffee table, shutting down the conversation before it started. “You did and I’m not interested.” The way your face falls, your eyes instantly searching for anywhere else to look but him as you try to regain your balance. “You don’t have to set me up with someone, sweetheart.” 

“But, that’s not true. You don’t try, Channie…” You could feel the frustration rising in you as you watched Chan roll his eyes in annoyance. You were doing it again, but you hated the idea of him  being sad and alone more than you were concerned if he got mad at you. “You are always alone and you don’t give anyone a chance!” 

“Because I don’t want a relationship, Y/N!” Chan hadn’t meant to raise his voice, but the moment he had, he saw the hurt settle in your pretty eyes. “Baby, listen to me. I don’t want some loveless relationship with a girl who might look good on my arm. I’m not alone. I’ve never been alone. I got you…” He hoped that you’d get what he meant. There had been very few times when he had ever let himself be this vulnerable around you and he could count on one hand the number of times he had ever called you "baby." 

Your heart beats a little harder in your chest with Chan’s words. Why was he being like this? He had always been stubborn, but this was frustrating. You weren’t enough. How could you be enough? No, you’d never let him be alone if you had your way about it, but what about when you got married? Even the idea of it leaves you with a queasy feeling rising in your throat that you force away. It was what you wanted… Right? That was the end goal. You’d marry Ian… You’d be a good wife and get your white picket fence—god, why didn’t that feel perfect like it should? That was the blueprint handed down by your mother and her mother before, but it felt tainted. 

“That—Chan, please be for real.” 

Those words are enough to break the calmness that Chan had been holding on to so tightly. Lifting his hand from you to push against the center of his brows, he scoffs, losing his patience. “I’m just about the only one being real. You wanna be for real, Y/N?” Not waiting for your answer, he bites the bullet, feeling the pit in his stomach grow as the words fall off his tongue like poison. “Why the fuck would I want to be trapped like you? Why would I want to be miserable day in and fucking out like you are?” 

The moment the words leave Chan’s mouth, you watch his eyes soften and how quickly apologies form on his lips, but the damage was already done. Tears drip down your cheeks and you push his hand from your leg, not wanting him touching you. Words don’t find your tongue; instead, you breathe his name into a sob before wrapping your arms around your legs, causing him to curse softly at your reaction. 

“No—wait! Y/N, I didn’t mean—” 

“Stop it!” 

You didn’t want to hear him make excuses for what he had said. You weren’t even mad at him. You were mad because it hit home so hard. Hell, where had you been before he showed up to check on you? You had been wallowing in self-pity over your boyfriend ignoring you. You had been eating your way through an entire pack of chips as you teared up over reality TV relationships. What hurt the most was that Chan hadn’t held back in saying it. 

“Bab—Y/N, please. I’m sorry. I’m so fuckin’ stupid and I’m—” Anxiety was trapped in Chan’s throat as you sobbed, batting his hands away from you with every attempt he made to pull you back to him. How could he be so stupid? What the fuck had he been thinking, saying something like that to you? It didn’t matter if it was the truth. The way he had said it was wrong. While he didn’t fully understand what you saw in Ian, it wasn’t his place to tug you down like this and make you feel like shit. “I’m just some asshole! What the fuck do I even know, right?” 

A soft scoffing laugh escapes your lips between your sobs as Chan calls himself an asshole. He wasn’t far off, but that wasn’t fair of you. Blinking through your tears, you look up at him, seeing the crushed and concerned look on his face before confusion joins the mix when you laugh again. “You—you’re so stupid.” 

God, he was. Chan knew that, but as you sniffed hard and wiped your cheeks with your blanket, he found himself smiling at you softly. “You know I am. I’m sorry. I don’t know what—” 

“Let’s just let it go, okay? I really can’t handle sitting here like this anymore.” You wipe away a few fresh tears before leaning your head back, willing them to stop completely. “I look like a fucking moron.” 

Buzz buzz 

The sound was incessant as your phone kept ringing from its spot on the coffee table in front of you. 

Buzz buzz

You weren’t sure what time you had fallen asleep on this couch, but what you knew right now was that the buzzing from your phone was annoying. You were warm and your back was pressed against someone’s chest as you finally forced your eyes open. Glancing over your shoulder, you stare at Chan as he sleeps soundly behind you, his arm around your waist protectively. 

You remembered him coming over and your meltdown, but then the two of you had settled on the couch to watch some movie together. Apparently neither of you had made much of an effort to get off the couch and had fallen asleep here together. 

This wasn’t the first time by any means. Hell, he had spent nights over in your bed, the two of you talking until early morning and your mom finding the two of you gently chastising you both before a smile would take over her lips. It was innocent. This didn’t feel as innocent. You were warm and safe right here. You didn’t want to check your phone that had stopped ringing only to ring again. 

Buzz buzz

Carefully slipping from under Chan’s arm, you pull the blanket from the back of the couch down over him before picking up your phone and hissing under your breath at the name on the screen. Ian was calling you. Now you felt even more guilty for where you had fallen asleep and the fact that you had a missed call from him. 

“Hello?” You whisper as you move out of the living room and into your bedroom, leaving the door cracked. Balancing the phone against your shoulder, you bite at your bottom lip as you tug some jeans and a shirt from your closet, realizing you were still in your stained lounge clothes from the day before. 

Ian laughs under his breath. “Why are you whispering, babe? You busy?” You were never busy this early and certainly not on a day off. Maybe you were just waking up. The thought of that brought a bit of a smile to Ian’s face as he pictured you cute and sleepy, waking up against his chest. 

Shaking your head, you tug your shirt over your head quickly, replacing it with another before securing your phone back against your ear. “No, no… Course not. I missed you…” That wasn’t a lie and was part of the problem. It had been a couple of days since he had really reached out like this and you were like a dog begging for scraps when it came to his attention. “Are you coming over?” 

That question was sincere. You wanted to see your boyfriend, but it might also be nice to have some warning since Chan was asleep on your couch. Nothing had happened. There was absolutely nothing wrong with him staying at your place—especially on your couch—but you felt guilty anyway. You had slept right there on that couch with him. 

With that question, Ian sighs, leaning his head back. It wasn’t like he woke up and decided to disappoint you, but that was easier to do than breathing lately. “Nah, not today, baby. I got some shit to do with the guys. You understand, right?” 

Disappointment settles over your guilt, taking its place as you button your jeans and stare out in front of you as if you can see Ian there. “I—no. Not really. I haven’t seen you in like…days, Ian. I miss—” 

“And I miss you! Fuck, Y/N. You know that. Why you gotta make me feel like a piece of shit when you’re just needy?” 

The sound of Ian’s friends in the background makes you feel like you are sinking into the floor like a pit. They were laughing and you thought you heard one of them tell Ian he was a dick. He was talking to you like that with them right there? Tears rise in your eyes and you bite on your cheek to stop them from falling. When you don’t speak up, Ian sighs your name through the phone. 

“I gotta go, baby. I will call you later.” Before he hangs up, you hear him groan as if he’s remembering something, and he adds. “Don’t forget about dinner with my parents this weekend, alright? Wear something pretty… Love you.” The phone beeps against your ear as he doesn’t wait for your response or an “I love you” in response. 

Stretching on the couch, Chan flexes his fingers over the spot you had been, causing a frown to form on his face. He hadn’t meant to fall asleep here but he didn’t regret it for a second. He had loved having you in his arms like that. He wanted to keep you safe and happy but now you weren’t where he left you. 

Chan pulls himself up, letting the blanket you had put over him fall to the cushions as he runs his hands over his face, listening to you talk quietly in another room. He couldn’t make it all out but he wasn’t an idiot. You had to be talking to Ian. The thought of it made Chan’s stomach twist with too many emotions—anxiety, disappointment, and jealousy. God, it wasn’t his place but he couldn’t help how jealous it made him that it wasn’t him you belonged to. 

Sighing to himself, Chan gets to his feet, ready to figure out his next move, when the sound of your voice once again catches his attention. “I—no. Not really. I haven’t seen you in like…days, Ian. I miss—” You were sad; that was so clear that he didn’t even need to see you to know you were crying. You might be trying to keep it from Ian, but Chan knew you so well he could hear it in your voice. 

It takes a few more minutes for you to come out of your room. Chan quickly moves his eyes over your fresh clothes before meeting your eyes, seeing your cheeks dry. You had obviously wiped your tears away; that didn’t mean he couldn’t still tell. “You alright, sweetheart?” 

God, it was frustrating how Chan always seemed to know. Forcing a smile on your face, you put your phone in your back pocket and shrug like nothing in the world could possibly be wrong. “All good. You, uh—” Scratching the back of your neck, you gesture to the kitchen before looking back over at the couch you and Chan had slept on before walking in the direction you had pointed. “Breakfast? I’m sure you got all kinds of shit to do before work…” 

Chan glances back over at the couch like you had, his brows furrowing before he follows you towards the kitchen, shaking his head. “No. I mean—yeah, breakfast, but no, I don’t got shit to do. You…” Tilting his head, Chan watches you open the fridge as you try to keep up your mask, not letting him know you are hurting. “Thought I’d just hang out with you before I went back to work. That sound good?” 

You hated how quickly you nodded in response to that scrap of attention from your best friend. The idea of being alone was eating at you and like always, he came in like a knight in shining armor, ready to make it better. Now a real smile was pulling at your lips as you turned to meet him. “Yeah! I—you really…” Shaking your head to stop yourself from talking, you laugh as you bite at your bottom lip, turning back to your task, pulling out the ingredients for pancakes as you try to find the right words. “I’m just really happy to spend some time with you, Channie.” 

Chan smirks a bit at your reaction before moving to rest against the counter near you. He loved making you smile like that. You looked genuinely excited about spending the day with him and he didn’t have anywhere else he’d rather be. “I love spending time with you. You know that.” A sigh leaves his lips as your cheeks start to heat up under his attention. You are happy when he gestures to the bowl in front of you in question. “What’s for breakfast? Flour?” 

His eyes don’t leave you even as you laugh again, moving to pull on a little apron to cover your clothes. You were so beautiful and even something as simple as watching you put on that apron had his mind spiraling. You were already starting to relax and that only made it easier for him to do the same. Like this he could let himself enjoy your company and how fucking domestic this all was as you handed him the pancake flour and a measuring spoon. 

“Pancakes, duh. I need, like, two…” You say the number like a question before checking the back of the box and nodding. “One and a half cups of that and I’ll add in the rest while you do that.” 

Grinning, Chan sets the bag down on the counter before doing as he’s asked. Dumping the first half a cup into the bowl, he watches you carefully as you bite at your lips, cracking an egg and adding it in as well. He could picture doing this shit every day for the rest of his life with you. If he let himself imagine too much, he’d start picturing you with a kid running around your legs—his kid. Something that would never happen. 

“That’s enough…. Channie!” You whine, knocking his hand, causing the rest of the flour to spill back on his jeans. The moment his eyes fall down to his now dusted jeans, you put an apologetic smile on your lips and whisper out an apology on a quiet laugh. 

“You think this is funny, do ya, darlin’?” It was obvious you did even as you apologized again, turning to drop some batter into the hot skillet. Wiping the flour from his jeans, he cups some of it into his hand, blowing it away and towards you, hitting mostly your hair and cheek. 

“Chan!” You squeal his name, kicking at his leg even as you keep your attention on the batter cooking in front of you. “I’ll kick your ass if you start this.” 

Was that a promise? Grinning once again, he reaches into the batter bowl and scoops out a small amount, smearing it over your nose as you stare at him in disbelief. “Cute.” The word leaves Chan’s mouth, followed by a loud laugh, when you smear your finger through the batter and come for him in retaliation. He grabs your wrist gently, keeping you back as you playfully glare at him. “Your pancakes are gonna burn if you keep playing with me.” 

He was right. You could already smell the batter cooking and it was starting to smell too done at this point, but this was war. With a small push forward, you rest your body against his and Chan’s eyes soften as he loosens his grip on your wrist, practically letting you reach forward and smear the batter onto his cheek. You couldn’t remember a time when he had given up so easily, but maybe you were just getting stronger. Smiling in victory, you turn back to your pancakes and flip them over, assessing the damage as Chan presses his lips together, staying by your side. 

You didn’t seem to realize that he had let you win, but that was okay. It had taken everything in him not to wrap his arms around you when you had rested against him like you had. That daydream of a life together with you had felt all too real for a moment and now Chan was struggling to calm himself down. His heart was in his chest and his hands were shaking slightly as he grabbed a towel, wiping the batter from your nose and his cheek before cleaning most of the flour from your hair as you cooked. 

“You sexting your girl or something?” 

Seungcheol’s voice and his question pull Chan out of his daze and draw his eyes upward as he clears his throat. “What? No… I don’t—” Shaking his head, he shoves his phone back into his jacket pocket and turns his attention back to the door he was watching with the other man. Despite it being a Friday night, this bar wasn’t getting nearly the action required for two to be manning the door. “I was just talking to Y/N…” 

Giving Chan a knowing look, Seungcheol’s lips pull up in a slight smirk before he steps to the side, letting in another small group of girls. They were all cute, probably close to Chan’s age and yet he didn’t give them a second glance as they eyed both of the bouncers before moving to the bar, sharing giggles over Seungcheol’s attention. “Like I said.” 

Seungcheol always did this. He was almost as bad as you. One minute he would be teasing him about you and the next he was trying to secure every potentially eligible girl’s number for him. Chan had eyes. He knew that there were plenty of pretty girls in the bar, but none of them did it for him. 

“Quit the shit. You know Y/N is just my best friend. She’s—I don’t know. Her location is still showing at work and she’s had a couple bad days.” The phone in his pocket vibrates and even though Chan knows that he should ignore it, he shouldn’t check it again while Seungcheol scrutinizes him… He can’t help it. Your name was on the screen and it made Chan’s lips pull up in a small smile as he texted you back. 

“Again, like I said. Your girl. You look like you're two seconds from cumming in your jeans every time she texts you.” 

Chan’s lips purse together as he rolls his eyes at the continued teasing. Something didn’t feel right about how you were texting him. Why the fuck were you still at work? He hated the idea of you having to order a ride home this late. 

“Ope, maybe it’s not sexting. Looks like someone just pissed in your cornflakes.” 

Sighing into his words, Chan glares up at Seungcheol, now leaning back against the door frame as he does. “Dude… I’m not sexing her! We don’t—she’s got somebody. Doesn’t matter…” 

Y/N: How’s work? You at the same bar as last week? 

Chan: Yeah same place. The fuck you still at work for? 

Y/N: Waiting for Ian to pick me up. He was supposed to be here like an hour ago.

An hour? Cursing under his breath, Chan quickly responds to you as Seungcheol smirks at one of the girls who was lingering closer with a drink in her hand. 

Chan: wtf?? Where the fuck is he? 

A few minutes pass without your answer. Chan shifts from one foot to the other, looking at the time in the corner of his screen before cursing a bit louder when you do finally answer. Both Seungcheol and the girl look up in surprise before she wanders back towards her friend. “What? Why are you being weird? I had a name and was this close to getting her digits but you had to wig out.”

“Sorry, I didn’t—goddammit. I’m gonna kill his ass.” Looking up from his phone, Chan scowls heavily, shifting in place once again like it's difficult to stay still. He looks about one breath away from walking out the door and yet his feet are cemented in place, knowing he is on the clock. “The motherfucker forgot to pick up Y/N from work and now she’s sitting on East Higgins tellin’ me she’s gonna order a goddamn Uber.” 

Now it made sense—the ready-to-kill-someone look that was plastered on Chan’s face. Glancing around the bar, Seungcheol shrugs before gesturing to the door. “Get the fuck out of her and go take her home. Ain’t shit happening in here tonight. It’s dead as fuck and you know it.” 

Taking his own look around, Chan groans under his breath, feeling tugged in two different directions. He didn’t skip out on work and though he knew Seungcheol would cover for him, the idea of it ate at him. Then again, you were willing to risk a ride with some shady fuck who might be cruising near your work. Chan felt bile in his throat at the idea. Sure, you might be just fine. You might get the nicest driver in town and there was always the chance you’d end up with some asshole who’d make you uncomfortable. 

Seconds tick by and Chan runs his hand over his face before nodding at Seungcheol, who was staring at him, waiting for him to get his ass in gear. “Yeah…. Yeah, alright. I’m goin’. I’ll make it up to you. Swear.” 

Not waiting for much more than a nod, Chan tugs his keys out of his pocket and moves through the door and out towards his car as he texts with the other hand. 

Chan: Fuck that. I’m on my way. Be there soon.

Guilt eats at you when you see that text from Chan. You hadn’t wanted him to leave work for you, and yet alongside the guilt, you were feeling some relief. It was cold. You had walked out the door of work expecting Ian to be waiting for you only to notice his car wasn’t there. He had promised to pick you up. He had been the one to urge you to get in a couple extra hours on your latest project at work, and now he was too busy to come get you. 

Ten minutes pass and you look up in surprise when Chan’s car comes to a stop with a loud screech of his brakes. He had been at least twenty minutes away. You were full of anxiety, considering how many traffic laws he had broken to get to you as quickly as he had. Wiping your cheeks quickly to get rid of the leftover tears on them, you tug your bag onto your shoulder and make your way over to the car. 

Chan furrows his brows as he waits for you to get comfortable in his passenger seat. You looked like you were freezing and he he didn’t wait even a second before turning up his heat and reaching to brush his fingers over your cheeks. Your skin was like ice and he could feel the line where tears had dried in the cold air. Of course you had been crying. God, how could you not when you had been relying on someone and they let you down once again? “Here, give me your hands.” Reaching for both of your hands as you lift them, Chan cups them in his own and exhales warm breath onto your trembling fingers. “Why didn’t you go back inside, sweetheart?”

Sighing into a laugh, you tilt your head watching Chan as you start to warm up bit by bit. “The door was locked. When I realized Ian wasn’t here, I tried to open the door again, but it was too late. I—he told me to get an Uber home and I could’a done that, Channie.” 

Chan scoffs before his teeth clench to stop him from saying something he shouldn’t. “Alright, why did you work so fuckin’ late for? It’s Friday… Don’t you usually get drinks with people from work?” 

You could see the concern on Chan’s face in the way his brows were knit together and how his jaw was so tight. Taking your hands back from him, you shrug and offer him a soft smile as he finally puts the car into drive, turning towards the direction for home. “Have that big project and I was toying with the idea of getting it done this weekend. I was gonna come in tomorrow but I have dinner with Ian’s parents so he—we—thought tonight might be better to just knock it out.” 

Every fucking decision you made tonight had been for him. The fact of that was causing Chan’s hands to tighten around his steering wheel. He was trying to stay calm, but when you wave it off, he snaps. “He’s a fuckin’ asshole.” You sigh Chan’s name and before you can continue—to defend Ian—Chan practically growls into his words. “No, Y/N, he is. He left you in the fuckin’ cold because he’s too goddamn pathetic to keep his word. You’re too good for him. Why—you should drop his ass.” 

Chan had said things like this before, but he had never been so mad about it. He let you make your own choices, even if he didn’t agree to them, but he had never outright told you that you should break up with Ian. “Don’t be silly. It’s not a huge deal. I’m fine…” 

“No, baby, it’s not.” He hadn’t meant to call you baby, but he wasn’t thinking straight as he tapped his thumb on the wheel hard, waiting for the light to change. “He treats you like shit. Be serious for one second and think back on just the past couple of weeks. How many times has he done what he said he was gonna do?” 

Swallowing hard, you consider Chan’s words and your mind does start to recount the canceled dates and all too many times you were left crying over something Ian had done or had forgotten to do. 

“You work too damn hard to start pulling ten- to twelve-hour days. Oughta wear your ass out for even doing it.” 

Now Chan was muttering under his breath, but you feel your cheeks heat up at his words anyway. He cared about you so much and without question. Sighing softly, you whine his name and shake your head when his attention is back on you. “I know, Chan. I—you’re right, but we’ve been together for so long and he’s—you know. He’s talking to his parents more about shit and we’re doing dinner tomorrow. I’d be an idiot to give up something so good.” 

Scoffing, Chan runs his fingers through his hair before leaning his elbow against the door as he rests his thumb against the bottom of his lip, keeping his eyes on the road. “What’s so good about it? Seriously, tell me because, sweetheart, I don’t see it.” 

You sigh again and lift your hands as if it’s obvious, but Chan’s brows just lift in question. “Oh my god, like everything. He’s good-looking, he’s got a good job… His family is—they’re a good family.” 

“And he’s got a shitty-ass personality.” 

Finally a smile pulls at your lips, causing you to look down. Just seeing it on your face has Chan smirking against his thumb until you speak again and he feels his stomach in his throat. “I think he’s gonna propose, Channie. I’d be throwing all that away. A good stable life… A chance to have kids and give them that life too.” 

Chan fights the urge to say he hopes you’re wrong. He wants to scream at you and tell you not to be so stupid, but what kind of friend would that make him? He could tell you that he could provide that for you—but you didn’t want him like that. He was fucking delusional to even consider it, yet the bile was biting at his throat, causing the next words to come out like the acid he felt. “You really wanna play submissive housewife to someone like that? Someone who doesn’t give you the fuckin’ time of day to come pick you up from work now? This is just you two dating, Y/N…” 

His words cut you deep, but you consider them even as they bite at what you have left of your confidence. “I—I don’t know Channie. It’s all I know…” 

Shifting the car into park, Chan’s eyes move over your face as you keep turning to look at the building with another soft sigh. The moment you start to reach for your bag, he slides his hand into yours, lifting it towards his lips again, brushing them over your knuckles. He watches as your head tilts and your eyelashes flutter like you’re lost in thought before he fills the silence. 

“You know how much I love you, right?” Chan smiles against your knuckles when you nod, telling him you love him too. “And I just want you to be happy. That’s all I care about.” 

Your breath gets caught in your throat even as you lower your hand back down to your lap. You can feel Chan’s lips against your skin and it makes you feel like you are floating, while at the same time panic creeps up your spine because how do you land after that? You wouldn’t; you’d crash to the ground in a bloody heap. You couldn’t consider him like this. You couldn’t ruin this with him. Why was your heart beating like a drum?

“Go on, beautiful. Get some rest.” 

The fish on the plate in front of you was staring at you. Even as you pushed your fork against the side of it, there seemed to be no way to make the fish close its eyes. You could hear the soft drone of voices around you, and yet it wasn’t until Ian closed his hand around yours that you seemed to come back to the present. 

“Mother was speaking to you…” Ian had a smile on his face, but it wasn’t real. There was a strain in his lips that you could see so easily. Dropping your fork, you smile at him and then look to his mother. She was the very picture of a kept housewife. Her brown hair was in a neat chignon near the nape of her neck. Her makeup was light and yet hid every single imperfection. The smile on her face was just as strained as her son’s. 

“I—I’m so sorry, Mrs. Carrington. What were you saying?” 

She scoffs under her breath, glancing at her husband by her side, who hadn’t stopped inspecting you from the moment you had sat down. He was what you imagined power personified would be. He scared you a bit. He looked so much like Ian, and yet there was a deepness in his eyes that made you feel like people could get lost in them. “That’s alright, dear. I was asking about your job. I was wanting to know what advancement opportunities lie at your company. Are you fulfilled there, dear? Would you still work once you have children?” 

Opening and closing your mouth, you swallow hard, feeling Ian’s thumb rub against your wrist bone as they all wait for you to answer. “I—” Why couldn’t you just spit out the words they wanted to hear? Why was this so uncomfortable and difficult? You had met each of Ian’s parents separately over the course of your relationship, but this was the first time you had all sat down together. 

“She works so hard. I’m sure there would be something that could and should be available to her.” Ian speaks up, covering for you and you find yourself grateful until he tilts his head and sucks at his teeth. “But I think Y/N would be happy to stay at home with children. She’ll make a wonderful mother. Right, baby doll?” 

Ian’s eyes, along with his parents’, stay fixed on you as your cheeks start to burn. You weren’t really ready for kids at this exact moment. Of course you had thought about them. You had told Chan the same just a day before, but now that the subject was in front of you and your life was being spelled out for you, it had your heart in your throat beating with every word. “I—I don’t know. There’s time to figure that out.” 

That hadn’t been the response anyone at the table had been waiting for. For the first time in about twenty minutes, Ian’s father makes a sound, and it’s one of disapproval. “You’ll need to figure it out, Miss Y/L/N. There are expectations as a Carrington… That is what all this bullshit is about, is it not?” His eyes then fell to his son, who rested his elbow on the table, pursing his lips against his index finger. 

“Well, I—Sir, I couldn’t assume—” You had started to speak only to feel Ian’s hand tighten around your wrist to stop you. Wincing a bit at the pressure of his hand, you look down at it and then over to Ian even as he keeps his eyes off of you and on his parents. “That hurts…” You manage to whisper the words, leaning towards Ian, and his eyes finally shift to yours. While his fingers ease slightly, he doesn’t let go, and the look in your eyes tells you almost everything you needed to know. He knew that it hurt, and he had meant it. Were you being so impossible that he had to physically shut you down? 

“Y/N understands, Father. Don’t worry about—” 

“I’ll worry about what I want to worry about, Ian. I’ve played along with this—” His finger shifts, pointing from him to you as he furrows his brows in discomfort. “For too long. You told me that she was perfect. I fail to see that.” Settling his eyes back on you, Ian’s father moves his eyes from the top of your head and down as if he can see through the table. “We asked for you both to dress for the occasion. Your girlfriend decided that this restaurant warranted a tight dress that leaves nothing to the imagination? She can’t speak without stammering like an uneducated child. I’m not seeing the perfection.” 

Your stomach flipped with each of his hits to your appearance and actions. This should be the time that Ian stood up to him and named everything he liked about you. You could imagine him being furious with his father and how he was speaking to you; instead, he lowered his own hand, smoothing out his perfect shirt, and tightened his hand around your wrist again. 

“I did ask better of her, Father.” Seeing your jaw drop in surprise, Ian turns to look at you, leaning in closer to speak quieter just for you. “Stop that. You know I did. I told you multiple times this week that this was coming up, and you said you understood.” His eyes shift down to your dress and the bit of cleavage that peeks from the neckline with a displeased groan. “I told you to look perfect. At least you can do is think before you speak. You know the pressure I’m under… I like you, but Jesus Christ, Y/N.” 

“Like me? You don’t love me?” Your eyes cut into Ian as he sighs your name, glancing towards his parents as they speak in a similar way. His father’s neck was flushed from anger and you weren’t making this easy. 

“Stop… I—you know I love you.” 

Tugging your hand away, you go back to looking at the poor dead fish on your plate as Ian apologizes to his parents for you. This didn’t feel like love, but what were you supposed to do but take it? This was what you had signed up for, right? You had slowly started to learn who Ian was. He was one person with his parents and another with his friends, and with you he had never been this. Not really. He had been mean before, but today, this was cruel. 

The dinner had gone on for longer than you had wanted. You had spent more time staying silent and nodding along with Ian or his mother as his father continued to tell you how the relationship would be going from here on out. He had slapped his hand to his son’s shoulder with a painful clap before shaking his hand and telling him you all could meet again in a month to discuss the next steps. Was that how an engagement should begin? Was this a business proposal that his father needed to sign off on before your boyfriend could or would get on his knee to ask for your hand? 

Looking out the window, you sigh as Ian keeps his eyes on the road. You hadn’t spoken to him since the two of you had told his parents goodbye, but it didn’t seem like it was bothering him. It isn’t until the car is parked outside of your building that he turns his attention back to you and breathes out your name. It hurt hearing his voice so soft now when he had hurt you so badly today. Glancing towards him, you feel yourself start to melt a bit at the apologetic look on his face. Maybe you were being too harsh. He had said it himself; he was under a lot of pressure. 

“Are you still mad at me?” Ian slides his hand over yours on your leg, lacing his fingers through yours as he watches your brows soften. “I said I was sorry, babe.” 

He had said that, but at the time it hadn’t felt like he meant it. Now you weren’t as sure. It was confusing. There was an ache in your heart, but having his soft eyes on you like this now… did it make everything better? Shaking your head, you watch his lips pull up in a smile before he turns your hand in his, lifting it towards his mouth and pressing a kiss to your knuckles. The entire moment makes your stomach twist as you picture Chan doing the same thing the night before when Ian had left you sitting outside of your office. 

“That’s good. I’ll call you later, okay?” 

At those words, your mouth dries up and you stare at Ian like he’s joking. Tugging your hand away, your brows once again tense as you try to find your words, feeling like there is cotton sitting on your tongue. “Wha—what? What do you mean? You aren’t coming in?” 

Ian sighs, leaning his head back against the leather headrest. “Baby, I have shit to do. We just had this fucking conversation.” 

All you see is red. You grab your purse out of the floorboard and get out of his car quickly, slamming the door behind you. You can hear Ian cursing behind the closed door and he doesn’t stop as he gets out and moves around the car quickly, his eyes narrowing on you. “The fuck is your problem? You’re acting like a spoiled brat! If you fucked up my car— I swear to god, Y/N!” 

You had hoped that maybe he was getting out of his stupid expensive car to come to get you. You let yourself believe for a split fucking second that he was angry you weren’t going to talk this out with him, but no. Of course he wasn’t doing that; instead, you watch as Ian runs his hand over the door of his car. 

“You need to watch your damn temper, Y/N. This car is worth—” 

“I don’t give a fuck what it’s worth, Ian!” Staring at him for a few seconds, you turn your attention to the car and kick at the door hard, feeling the heel of your shoe scratching at the paint. His hands grab your biceps, and he pulls you tightly into his arms, causing you to wince at the force he uses to keep you in place. 

“Get your ass inside before you do something to really piss me off!” With a rough push towards the steps, Ian glares at you, and you glare back, tears dripping off your cheeks. 

Across town Chan hadn’t been able to stop himself from thinking about you. He had checked his texts one more time; Chan sighs when he sees his message to you left unread. He knew that you were out with Ian, but he couldn’t help himself now as he pulled into a parking spot and looked towards your place. He didn’t know what he had expected, but it wasn’t seeing that motherfucker pushing you away from him, causing you to stumble. 

It only takes seconds for Chan to run towards the other man and for his body to crash into his, sending them both to the sidewalk below. His knuckles meet Ian’s jaw and Chan feels pain rush through his hand from the force. You were yelling now, but Chan only saw him. It didn’t matter that his knuckles were split from how hard he was punching Ian; it only mattered that it was finally happening.

“Get the fuck off of me!” Growling into his words, Ian lands a punch on Chan’s stomach, giving him a split second to roll over him, taking advantage of this fight. He hated this asshole and now he finally had a reason to kick his ass. Taking another swing, this time for Chan’s face, he hits skin, feeling the bone underneath. Ian hoped he had done some damage, but the man below him just glares at him even as blood starts to run down his jaw from his lip. 

“Stop it! Please!” Your throat was raw from how loud you were having to be, just hoping either Ian or Chan would listen to you, but instead you watched as Chan put Ian back on the ground below him and landed a punch against his side, causing your boyfriend to groan in pain. “Oh my god! Chan, stop it!” 

You knew it was stupid to try to break up the two men, but the moment that Ian ended up back over Chan, your heart was in your throat hearing the sound of his fists against your best friend’s face. Starting to reach for Ian, you meet his eyes briefly when his elbow swings back and against your jaw, causing you to see a flash of white as pain spreads through your face. 

Sirens blare in your ears even as you stumble back, your hand on your cheek, hearing Ian and Chan cursing at one another. You couldn’t make out their words anymore. You only seem to focus when a woman speaks to you, her hand on your arm as you look past her to watch two police officers dragging your boyfriend and best friend apart. 

“Miss?” You blink at the woman, seeing the concern in her eyes as her eyes fall to your already swelling jaw. “Which one of them hit you? Do you need an ambulance?” 

Shaking your head, you glance down at the badge on her chest as fresh tears roll down your cheeks. “No…” Beyond the police officer in front of you, you watch as both men are cuffed behind their backs, Chan struggling briefly before he’s told to stop. His eyes were focused on Ian’s, whose eyes were full of the same hate. 

“Would you like to press charges?” 

Those words bring you fully back to the moment, and you step towards them only to be pulled back by the female police officer, who tries to keep you calm. “No! I—it’s not like that. Please don’t take them.” 

“Miss, if either one of them cared enough to stay here, they wouldn’t have been fighting on the side of the street.” 

It had been close to eight hours since you had watched Ian and Chan being driven away in police cars. Your face was aching even as you held an ice pack to it with your eyes fixed on your cell phone. You had texted both of them hoping for a response, and it was as if time was laughing at you as the screen of your phone stayed black. 

Tears begin to well in your eyes, and finally relief mixed with panic floods through you as you grab your phone and look at the message from Ian. 

Ian: I’m sorry. 

Pressing down on his name, you put your phone to your ear and whine when he sends you straight to voicemail with another text, causing your phone to vibrate in your hand. 

Ian: I need some time. My parents bailed me out. Theyre pissed.

Of course they would be. God, this was the fucking worst. They’d hate you even more now, but you find yourself not dwelling on that. At least Ian was out, and you two could talk about this. You needed to talk to him about what happened, but your mind shifted to Chan. He hadn’t texted you back yet and you didn’t know if he was even okay. 

Y/N: I’m so sorry. Do you know if Chan is okay?

Ian: don’t fuckin care hope he rots in there 

Ian’s text causes your mouth to drop open in disbelief. You knew that there would be animosity after what had happened, but not outright rage like that. 

Y/N: Don’t say that…

A moment later your phone rings, showing Ian’s name on the caller ID. Anxiety ripples through you as you answer, putting the phone to your ear. 

“Really, Y/N? You gonna go that damn low to back that motherfucker after what he did to me? He attacked me!” 

Opening your mouth, you start to speak only to hear Ian curse as his mother speaks in the background, telling him to calm down. Tears that had been sitting on the rims of your eyes start to trail along your cheeks as he curses your best friend, calling him every name he can think of before turning his attention back to you. “When are you gonna get it through your thick ass skull who and what he is?” 

Swallowing a sob, you shake your head and wipe your tears from your cheeks. “No, stop it. It’s not like that. You—You pushed me and he—” 

“Oh my god, Y/N! I apologized! I was just pissed. You kicked my goddamn car! You were acting crazy!” 

Once again you start to speak, the sob coming through in your voice as you start to defend yourself and Chan, only to hear Ian hit something through the phone and his mother gasp, immediately telling him to calm down again. “No, I’m not calming down. You know what, Y/N? I can’t do this bullshit anymore. I'm done!” 

Your heart cracks at his words. You feel the pieces shattering in your chest as you try to catch your breath, whispering that this isn’t fair. You don’t get the chance to speak again as the phone beeps in your ear, leaving you just as alone as you were. Tears drip onto the screen of your phone and your shoulders shake as you feel a wave of pain wash over you, followed by a sense of relief. The relief confuses you; it has you sitting up straighter and wiping the tears from your face before you find yourself calming down enough to think. 

The evening replays in your mind. The pain in your jaw has your brows furrowing as you let out a soft, calm breath, realizing you aren’t nearly as heartbroken as you should be. 

Staring up at the police station, you swallow hard before taking the few steps up the stairs before pulling the door open to look around. You couldn’t say that you had been to the police station often, if ever before, but looking around it now had you relaxing more. You had expected bad guys cuffed to chairs and people yelling as police officers led them around, but instead you found one man leaned back in a chair with an annoyed look on his face as a woman sat behind a desk offering a smile to you. 

“Uh, hi. I—could I speak to someone about bailing someone out?” 

The woman nods before pressing down on her radio, asking for another officer to come out before she gestures in that direction. The man offers you a soft smile and then his hand as he introduces himself as Officer Jeon and waits for you to do the same. “How can I help you, Miss Y/N?” 

Following him towards a set of chairs, you sigh before finally speaking. “I want to bail out my friend Lee Chan. I—I’ve never done this before. I brought some cash…” Lifting your purse into your lap, you start to dig out your wallet when the officer laughs under his breath. 

“Let me get his release papers, and we’ll get this figured out.” After a few moments of you sitting awkwardly waiting for him to come back, he waves the papers at you, and you move to stand, going towards him. “His bond is set at $1000 cash. He was charged with public disorderly conduct. This is his court date, but he knows that too.” 

You once again start to take out your wallet when Officer Jeon gestures to the woman you had spoken to when you had arrived. “She’ll take that from you, and I’ll go get Mr. Lee.” 

Nodding, you slowly make your way towards the woman as she takes the papers from the other officer, beginning to process his release into your care. 

Chan’s face was aching, and that didn’t match the feeling of his ribs. He wasn’t sure that he hadn’t broken something, but rage was doing a good job of masking it. Someone was bailing him out and Chan couldn’t think of anyone besides you. That was crazy, though. You wouldn’t want to see him after how he acted. He had just seen shades of red and black when Ian had laid his hands on you. Then he had almost blacked out when he heard that motherfucker’s elbow hit your face. You had looked terrified and shocked. 

Walking behind Officer Jeon, Chan sighs under his breath, lifting his head to see you standing there with papers in your hand. You had come for him after all. There wasn’t anger in your gaze like he had assumed there would be; instead, you looked like you were going to cry at the sight of him. 

“Hey, darlin’.” 

Even Chan’s voice sounded as rough as he looked. Enough time had gone by that, just like your bruise, his was starting to bloom along his skin. There were so many, and you knew there were more you couldn’t even see. Moving towards him, you move into his arms, hearing him grunt in some discomfort as he nods along with the officer’s words, promising to go to his court date. 

Leaving his arm around your shoulders, Chan moves through the station with you and out the door, taking in a deep breath of the evening air. His cell hadn’t necessarily stunk, but there was a chemical cleaner smell that made it even more unpleasant. He had laid down on the thin mattress over the metal bed and attempted to rest his eyes, but all he could see when he closed them was the fear in your eyes. This was better; this was freedom, and he’d do anything he could not to end up inside of one of those cells again. 

You turn in Chan’s arms and look up at him, the tears in your eyes spilling over as you run your fingers over the bruises on his face and then the cut on his lip. “I’m so sorry.” You have to catch your breath through the words, and even as Chan shakes his head, ready to apologize, you refuse it, burying your face against his shoulder, letting him hold you tight. 

“I’m alright. Shh, sweetheart. Let me see you…” His voice is soft as you look up at him. Chan traces the swelling on your jaw, and his teeth clench in anger. That pissed him off more than any bruise or broken bone he might have. You should have never been touched in the first place, but this was worse. 

“It’s okay.” 

It wasn’t okay, and Chan wanted you to understand that, but you were looking at your phone before he could speak. He could see that you had already ordered a ride and now you were just checking to see how long it would be before the Uber would show up. 

Holding the door so you can get into the car, Chan furrows his brows as he sits beside you, letting you rest against his side. He finds himself wondering if you did this same thing for Ian. If you had taken him back to his car and let the prick apologize before he swept you back off your feet. The idea of it makes him feel sick, bile rising in his throat as his eyes move over the side of your face. “I—so, did—have you spoken to Ian?” 

Chan watches as you take a deep breath at the mention of your boyfriend’s name. His eyes follow your face as you nod, but you don’t give him much more than that. God, this wasn’t good, was it? Rubbing his palms against his jeans, Chan looks out the window as the driver turns towards your building and parks. Starting to speak, Chan stops when you thank the man and look at him expectantly. “You—yeah, sorry.” Sliding from the seat, Chan watches you do the same before he closes the door and listens to the car drive away, leaving you both in silence. 

His car was still parked where it had been, but Ian’s was gone. Swallowing hard, Chan tugs his keys from his pocket, ready to speak again when you take his keys out of his hand and lace your fingers with his instead. “I’m not going home? Don’t you want some time away from me?”

He watches as you shake your head and start to lead him up the stairs into your building without so much as a word at first. The silence was like feeling needles against his skin even as your hand rested in his. “I’m sorry, Y/N. I didn’t mean for any of this shit to happen and I—I just… He pushed you, and I freaked the fuck out. He’s a cocksucker with a complex, and I should just keep my mouth shut, but I hate the idea of him touchin’ you—you know, like that.” 

Pushing open the door to your place, you sigh Chan’s name and laugh sadly under your breath. “Stop apologizing. It was my fault and—" You trail off before letting go of his hand, dropping the keys into the bowl and walking into the living room, knowing he is following you. “Doesn’t matter anymore.” 

Chan’s brows furrow at your words, leaving him confused. What didn’t matter anymore? You don’t give him much time to dwell on it as you look back at him and sigh sadly. Moving to take his hand again, you lead him towards the bathroom, leaning to turn on the shower and turning to tug his shirt from his jeans as he watches you closely. Your fingers timidly trace the outline of the biggest bruise on his side as your lips turn down in a frown. 

“This is all my fault.” You were echoing your words from a few minutes ago, but now there was so much pain laced in them that it was breaking Chan’s heart. “I’m so difficult.” You wipe your tears from your cheek angrily before pushing Chan’s shirt up his torso, making him help you get it off as you look over the cuts and bruises that were hidden from you. “We went to lunch with his parents, and they hated me. They hated what I was wearing and how I spoke. Ian was so ashamed of me…” 

Gritting his teeth, Chan leans his head back to keep himself from reacting like he’d prefer to hear how your day had gone. You weren’t someone that anyone should ever be ashamed of. You were perfect, and if they couldn’t see that—if Ian couldn’t see that—none of them deserved you. “Fuck them. Fuck him. I’d kick his ass again if I got the chance. I’ll kill him—” 

“No, you won’t.” Sniffing back your tears, you take Chan’s shirt from his hands and hold it close to you, starting to walk out of the bathroom. “Like I said, it doesn’t matter anymore. He broke up with me. I—" You laugh sadly under your breath again, and Chan leans against the bathroom counter, his brows furrowed at this new information. “I asked about you when he told me his parents bonded him out. He told me you could rot in there for all he cared.” Tears stream down your cheeks, but you can’t decide if you are sad, angry, or numb. “I don’t know what to do.” 

Moving towards you, Chan slides his fingers over yours, pulling one hand to him as he tilts his head. “You don’t have to do anything. How are you feeling? That’s what I want to know. He didn’t deserve you, but I—” 

You laugh again, leaning your head back to attempt to stop the tears still flowing from your eyes. I don’t know how to feel. Ian… He was supposed to be my forever. I had been banking on it, you know?” 

Taking another step towards you, Chan groans your name under his breath as he shakes his head, reaching up to wipe tears from your cheeks. He hated that you were crying over this asshole. It broke his heart to see you so broken. “You deserved so much better. You deserve someone better than some pussy who is going to throw you around like he did.” 

Those were pretty words, and that makes you smile. It was like being told a joke that you knew the true punchline to. “I’m never going to find better than that, Channie.” 

That’s all it takes to break Chan and for him to push you against the door so he can rest his hand on the wood beside your head. His other hand rests against your face, his thumb brushing away more of those tears. He shakes his head resolutely and meets your eyes. “You are worth the fucking world. I just—I just wish I wasn’t such a fucking coward and could say exactly what I want to say to you. I wish just once I could show you what that means…” 

You feel fear spreading through you at Chan’s words, but as much fear as there is rushing through your veins, there is hope chasing it out. You wanted to hear what he had to say. You didn’t want to push him away or make another excuse to get away from him before something happened you couldn’t take back. You didn’t want to take this back. 

“Fuck… Y/N, I love you.” Chan whines into his words when you quickly repeat the words back to him, but he rests his forehead against yours and traces the line of your neck as he forces himself to be brave. “No… Not like that.” Seeing the look in your eyes change, Chan sighs, sliding his hand from the door to rest it on your waist. “I—of course I love you like that, baby. I mean, I’m in love with you. I’ve always been in love with you.” 

Seconds tick by into minutes with you staring up at him with confusion in your eyes until finally understanding seems to wash over you. Reaching up to slide your hand along his chest, you hear Chan whisper your name, pain lining his voice with fear of rejection, before you finally reach his neck, tugging him down the few inches you need. 

Your lips are soft and yet it feels like a fire is behind that kiss when your lips finally meet Chan’s. A groan slips between his lips and into yours as he takes the last step towards you, pinning you between him and the door. This had to be in his imagination. This was every dream he had ever had and it was going to take convincing for Chan to realize it was real. 

Hands carefully trace the line of Chan’s side before you rest your palm against his abs, feeling him suck in his stomach at your touch. You knew this was crazy. There was so much that could go wrong with this, but you push those thoughts away and whine out a moan into Chan’s mouth as his fingers press into your skin over your shirt. 

Somehow this feels so overdue. You feel the fire that had been stoked in your heart burst into flames when Chan groans your name, sliding his hands down your hips then over your ass to lift you. He steps between your legs, and you lock your ankles behind his back, rolling your hips down over his, feeling his cock hardening in his jeans for you. 

“Fuck, baby…” You felt so good against him. He had imagined this thousands of times over the years, but nothing could prepare him for how you actually felt. Your lips were so soft, and your tongue was warm against his. Your body was perfect. He loved how you fit against him and how you clearly wanted him as much as he wanted you. He could feel heat between your thighs, and his cock was painfully straining in his pants now. 

Sliding his fingers along your waist again, Chan breaks the kiss to look down at you for any signs of regret as he pushes your shirt up your stomach to rest under your breasts. Instead of finding any regret, he finds fire in your eyes. They were full of lust and, more importantly, love. God, this might only happen this once, and you might hate him after it, but Chan was so selfish he’d take one time. 

You help Chan slide your shirt over your head, letting it fall to the floor with his as his hands trace your skin as if he’s trying to memorize it with his fingers. Your bra slips down your arms as he unclasps it and you shimmy against him, letting him drop it along with the other clothes. This wasn’t the first time he had seen your tits before, but there was a difference between walking in on your best friend while she changed and the way that Chan was looking at you now. 

How could you be this fucking perfect? Your body was calling to him, and Chan was determined to answer. Brushing his lips against yours again to capture them in a deep kiss, he traces the swell of your breast with one hand before running his thumb over your nipple, causing it to harden. Electricity seems to roll through your body with that action, and you arch your back off the door, pushing your chest back towards him with a whine. 

“So fucking pretty. God, let me look at you.” 

Chan’s voice is low but there’s a deepness to it that has your thighs shaking. You had forced yourself not to think about him like this, but now that it was yours for the taking, every dirty thought you had secretly had about him washed over you. You swallow hard as he steps back from the door and turns to put you on the counter so he can step back and take you in. You feel shy under his eyes and yet nothing about that makes you want to hide. 

Tugging his belt from his jeans, Chan moves his eyes over every inch of your skin without regret. You were his. At least in this moment you were and if it was the first and only time he was damn well going to remember every detail. He mapped out the moles and scars on your skin as he dropped his jeans to the floor with his boxers before running his hand up your legs and to your waist, undoing your jeans next. 

A sigh escapes your lips as you lean back against the mirror, lifting your hips to make it easier for Chan to tug them down with your panties. You were trying to stay focused, but his hands felt so good on your skin, and when he stepped back between your legs, you could feel his cock hard against your bare skin. 

He was big. Bigger than you had even noticed before. It wasn’t as if you had been looking at your best friend’s cock before, but you were a woman, and you weren’t blind. You had seen the bulge in his jeans more than once and let your eyes linger there for a second too long. Now you were looking and feeling without shame. Sliding your hand along your leg, you smirk when Chan’s hands tighten on your thighs, feeling your fingers sliding along his shaft. 

“Careful, sweetheart… Don’t tease me too much.” 

Was that a threat? What if you did exactly that? God, why did that excite you so much? You were soaked, practically dripping onto the counter under you, and Chan’s breathy voice had you tightening around nothing. “Why not?” 

Laughing under his breath, Chan follows it up with a groan when you wrap your hand around his cock and press his tip against your palm, smearing pre-cum onto your skin. “Brat… I don’t wanna scare you. This is supposed to be perfect. I’ve always pictured it differently.” 

That has you tilting your head as you shift forward to rest the head of his cock against your pussy, your other hand gliding along his length slowly. “You won’t scare me.” There was a smile in your voice, teasing him as you did the same with your hand and the softness of the lips between your legs. “How did you picture it? How many times did you picture it?” 

Groaning quietly, Chan opens his eyes to meet yours, seeing the challenge in your eyes. “I’ve thought about this almost every fucking day since we were teenagers, but I’ve loved you for longer.” That admission has your hand slowing and your brows softening; Chan smirks at your reaction, moving to place his hand over yours, moving it over his cock at his pace. “I pictured romancing you. Laying you back on the bed and worshiping you until you screamed my name and came on my cock.” That has your eyes widening and your fingers tightening around him. Groaning into his words, Chan looks down at your hand under his and gasps between words. “You don’t know anything about me when it comes to this. I might scare the shit out of you, princess.” 

Your breath catches in your throat when you see the look in Chan’s eye, and you find yourself actually feeling a bit nervous at his words. Yet the challenge stares you in the face, and you don’t back down. “I’m not afraid of you.” 

Biting at his lip, Chan looks for signs you are lying before his hand moves for your thigh, coming back down with a harsh slap to your skin. He watches as you gasp into a moan before your head falls back against the mirror. Your eyes had rolled back into your head, and you were panting now. “Promise?” 

You had never been with a man who would actually be rough with you before. You could remember complaining about your sex life to Chan more than once, and now you could remember the smirk on his lips as he told you that maybe you just hadn’t found the right guy yet. “Fuck, I promise. Please…” 

What were you even begging for? Smirking to himself, Chan takes a few steps back from you and holds on to the ends of your fingers, urging you to slide off the counter to stand on your own. The moment your feet hit the floor, he turns you in front of him and pins you down, his chest against your back. “Spread your legs.” When you take a moment to act, Chan knocks his knees between your thighs, urging you to do as he said. “How many times have you thought about me fucking you? Be honest.” 

The question has your cheeks burning with embarrassment. You had spent years pushing down your attraction to your best friend, and now he wanted the dirty truth. Fingers slip between your wet folds from behind, and you press your hands into the cold counter under you with a whining moan. “I—a few times.” 

Scoffing at your answer, Chan uses his forearm to keep you pinned down as he leans back to look between your legs as he spreads your folds for him, seeing how wet you are. You were dripping on his fingers, and he still couldn’t prove that this wasn’t a highly realistic wet dream. It didn’t matter either way; he had to see this through. He’d die if he didn’t. “A few? Once, twice, maybe a dozen? We’ve known each other a long fuckin’ time, Y/N. I know when you’re lying to me. Don’t make me punish you.” 

The promise of that was so sweet you bite your bottom lip and suck it into your mouth, feeling Chan’s fingers barely dip into your entrance. You gasp, your lip falling from your lips when he buries his middle finger in you completely, drawing an answer from your lips. “A couple times…” 

It was a lie and he knew it. Chan grins, standing up a bit taller, letting his arm rest over your ass now as he curls his finger against your warm, soft walls. “You’re gorgeous when you lie.” With those words he pulls his finger from you, hearing you whine before his hand comes down hard over your ass. The scream falling from your lips scares him for a few seconds before you relax under him and look back over your shoulder with lust in your eyes. You wanted more. He could do that. 

Chan tugs you back further, pushing your ass out even more, before his hand smacks the side of your ass so hard that his palm burns. “How fucked up are you, baby? Wanna share stories?” His eyebrows lift, and you whine, turning your head away from him. You were embarrassed, but Chan was feasting on the sight of you. “Oh, come on. You won’t tell me the truth about how much you’ve thought about me. Least you can do is tell me how kinky you’ve gotten.” Did he even really want to know? Probably not. The idea of some other man touching you has Chan’s blood boiling, but he has to hear it from you to know just how much better he has to be. 

“I don’t know! Fuck, Channie!” Another slap to your ass has your thighs trembling, your knees threatening to buckle before Chan pulls you back against his chest as he leans to turn the shower off, making you realize this isn’t going to be over anytime soon. You whine at the feeling of his hard cock pressing against your ass as he leads you out of the bedroom and into your bedroom. You know you should know better, but a smirk pulls at your lips as you remember what he had said. “This the part where you romance me and make love to me?” 

Grinning to himself, Chan tugs your arm behind your back a bit tighter at the teasing in your voice. “Somethin’ like that. I do want you on your back.” Turning you in his arms quickly, Chan dips his head to yours and captures your lips in a searing kiss that leaves you breathless. He continues to walk you backwards until your knees meet the end of the bed and you fall backwards without anyone to catch you but the mattress. 

Chan moves his eyes back over you and groans as he stops between your legs, seeing your folds glisten in the light. “Spread ‘em.” He watches intently as you spread your legs, your folds sticking together from how wet you really are. “Your pussy too. Be a good girl and use your fingers.” 

You lick your lips, your breath threatening to get caught in your throat again as Chan tells you what to do. You know you could tell him no. You could just lie here and let him force you to do it, but your fingers trail over your stomach and between your legs, where you use your fingers to spread your soft folds for him. 

“No one compares to you. I’ve looked at women. I’ve fucked them. You know that… Don’t give me that look.” A smirk pulls at Chan’s lips when you narrow your eyes at him recounting his own sex life. “You’re the one who urged me to date, baby. You don’t get to judge me now.” Seeing you still pout at him, though your eyes soften, has Chan chuckling in amusement. “But none of them were half as beautiful as you. None of their pussies had my mouth watering and my cock so fucking hard. That’s only you.” 

There would be no other girls. He’d never look between another girl’s legs for as long as you were breathing. You had never been so possessive in your life, especially not over Chan, but now you were practically feral at the thought of him touching another girl. How had you set up all those dates and watched some girl’s hand sliding over his arm? The idea of it now made you want to scream and tear their hair out. 

“You look like you’re going to burst into flames. Are you that fuckin’ mad? You thinking about how you took me to the bar and I left with another woman?” 

“Shut the fuck up!” 

Chan laughs in disbelief as you yell at him. His hand slaps yours away before his hand comes down hard over your pussy, making you scream out a moan. “You’re furious. So goddamn jealous now. You claiming me, darlin’?” 

Tears were on your cheeks, but this time they weren’t from how sad you had been. This time they were tears of pleasure. They were tears of frustration as Chan played with you. “You’re mine.” 

God, how long had Chan wanted to hear that? How many times had he wanted to say that same fucking thing to you? Sliding his fingers along your folds, Chan grins as he meets your vengeful eyes. “And you’re mine. No one else can ever make you feel like I do. I swear that to you. I’m gonna fuck you so hard… so good, that you won’t remember that motherfucker’s name.” 

He was just as possessive, if not more. That was deadly clear now as Chan avoided even saying Ian’s name in fear you’d try to remember it. The moment you furrow your brows, Ian’s name clearly on your mind, Chan groans, but it sounds more like a growl before his hand comes down between your legs again hard. It hurt, but it hurt so good that each slap had your thighs quivering and your pussy clenching. 

“Get his fuckin’ name off your mind. What did I just say?” 

“I’m sorry! I won’t think about him. I’ll forget his name.” 

With your apology, Chan nods, his fingers smoothing the burn he had left between your legs before he turns his palm up and slides two of his fingers into you without warning. He watches you arch off the bed and how your legs try to close, but he just pushes them back down to the bed with his free hand. “You’re close, aren’t you? You gonna cum on my fingers like a good girl?” 

You wanted to be his good girl, and he wasn’t making that difficult. You were so close that it was painful. A few thrusts of his fingers over that spot inside of you had you lifting your hips off the bed and trying to push his hand away. He didn’t let you. He pushed down on your hips and pumped his fingers into you harder, faster, and unapologetically as he prolonged your orgasm, causing you to scream his name. 

Chan doesn’t stop until he sees the tears rolling down your cheeks once again. Only then does he slide his fingers from you, pausing to tease your swollen clit, drawing another whimper for mercy from your pretty lips. You were exhausted. Your thighs were shaking uncontrollably, and his hand was coated in your cum. It still wasn’t enough. Chan wanted you ruined. 

You shiver as Chan traces his hands along your sides, letting them come to a rest under your breasts. He was giving you time to come down from your orgasm, but you weren’t sure there was any way of coming down from this. You had never felt so limp after an orgasm as you did now. You could easily fall asleep as his hands lulled you to take deeper breaths, and yet you knew he wasn’t done. “You—You’re gonna kill me.” 

Laughing under his breath, Chan’s lips brush over the soft skin of your stomach, groaning when you shift under him. “Never. I couldn’t live without you. I thought you knew that by now.” He watches a smile pull at your lips before he nips gently at your skin, working his kisses lower. You were whining his name, almost seeming to realize where he was going, but he laced his fingers with yours and tsked. “Denying me a taste? Can’t you handle it, baby?” 

God, he was infuriating. You were made of jello, and Chan wasn’t letting you go. You’d be lying to yourself and him if you wanted him to. Opening your eyes, you watch him move lower, your bottom lip caught between your teeth only to slip out when you moan at the first swipe of his tongue between your legs. 

You tasted better than Chan could imagine. Your pretty thighs were trembling with each lick, nip, and brush of his lips over your sensitive pussy, but he wasn’t anywhere close to being done with you. Pushing your legs back towards your stomach, Chan groans like a starved man as he buries his face against you. He sucks your clit between his lips and ruts his hips against the end of the bed, hearing you cry out for him. 

“Taste so fuckin’ good.” Chan was muttering to himself, but he knew you could hear him. Your fingers were laced in his hair. You were pulling him closer between your legs and he wasn’t going to disappoint. His teeth tug at your soft lips, letting them go before he dips his mouth lower and forces his tongue into your dripping hole. 

You were clenching down on his tongue and practically screaming Chan’s name as he groaned like an animal against your pussy. No one had ever come close to making you feel like it. You could remember faking orgasm after orgasm with different partners, but you knew in your soul you’d never have to do that with Chan. 

Running his tongue back up to your clit, Chan grins against your skin before he sucks the bud back into his mouth and you let out a silent scream this time as your orgasm rips through you like a wave. Your thighs were closed around his head. Each breath in from his nose made his lungs scream for more, but he didn’t force your legs apart until you came to a stop with your back arched high. 

Not wasting a bit of your cum, Chan licks his lips clean and stares up at you from between your legs. Your breasts were rising and falling hard. You looked just about as ruined as he wanted you, but his cock was going to explode if he didn’t get inside of you. He knew there was more to talk about, but his brain was going a million miles an hour as he slid between your legs and pressed his tip against your clenched pussy. He wasn’t going to force himself inside of you. He waited until you were relaxed enough to welcome him in before he buried his cock in you to the hilt. 

A tired but pleased gasp escapes your lips when Chan fucks you slow, making you feel almost overwhelmed with how full you are. No one else mattered and it seemed like he knew it as he groaned against the shell of your ear, relishing in the feeling of you surrounding him. 

“You’re mine, Y/N. Even if it’s just for tonight.” Chan’s voice has a layer of sadness that you want to banish away from him, but before you can find the words, he thrusts into you again, finding a steady pace and you forget how to even speak. His lips find yours, his tongue gliding along yours as his hand pulls your leg tighter to his side, letting him fuck you hard and deep. 

Words get lost between the both of you. You both fall into the rhythm and the feeling of your skin against his. You start to think that there’s no way you can cum again, but once again Chan refuses to give up, his cock so deep and so perfect that after a few minutes you feel that coil tightening and threatening to snap. “P—Please…” 

Furrowing his brows tightly as you beg him for release, Chan groans, burying his face against your neck, his lips finding the soft skin there as he nips and sucks at it. He’d give you the fucking world. He’d tear it down piece by piece and rebuild it for you if you only asked for it. Reaching between your body and his, Chan’s fingers find your clit, and he rubs the bundle of nerves in a tight circle, feeling your thighs start to shake once again. The moment your orgasm rips through you, he has to force himself not to follow. You were clenched around him so tightly it took effort to thrust into you. You were acting like you never wanted to let him go, and by god, he’d stay inside you for the rest of his fucking life if that were possible. 

You feel Chan try to pull from you, his groans becoming breathy as his own climax tries to take him over that edge. A whine slips from your lips, and you wrap your leg around his back, urging him to stay inside you. Meeting his eyes, you see the question in his gaze, and you simply nod and whisper "please" once more. Chan’s brows furrow, and he lets out a sigh of your name before pressing his lips to yours, burying himself inside of you hard once more, letting his cum spill into you. 

Moments slip by without a spoken word. You both fight to catch your breath, and Chan’s hands trace the contours of your body before he finally slips from you and lies at your side. This was the part you were afraid of. This was always the scary part; it didn’t matter who the man was in your bed, they would either stay or leave, and nine times out of ten in your experience, they left. But this was Chan. Chan, who had slept in your bed a hundred, possibly a thousand, times in the time since you had become friends. It was Chan who was looking at you like you hung the fucking stars in the sky as his fingers traced your swollen jaw with so much care you felt like glass under his touch. 

“Do—” Swallowing your words, you turn on your side to face Chan as he lifts his brows in question, urging you to keep going. “Do you really love me?” You watch as his brows soften before he pulls you closer and kisses you softly. There is so much said in that kiss that it almost breaks your heart. 

“More than anything. For the rest of my fuckin’ life. Even if you never look at me like this again. Even if I never get you like this again… I’ll always love you.” 

Tears fill your eyes, and you whine his name, pushing him away so you can hide the tears. You bury your face against his chest, and Chan runs his hand along your back, soothing you and begging you not to push him away. How was this real? You didn’t deserve it. You didn’t deserve Chan, but you loved him so much that it took your breath away. So finally you tell him that and you watch his lips fall open in a breathless sigh before he cups your chin and presses his lips to yours with meaning, hoping you’ll understand how important this moment is to him. 

READ THE BONUS NOW

Chan is the one rolling his eyes now. He knew you were teasing him, but he meant every name he called you—darlin’, sweetheart, honey… None of them could match how he felt about you and how much you lit up his life. You deserved someone being nice to you and calling you pretty names that, even if they couldn’t match your beauty, would put a smile on your face. His eyes follow your hand as you bring the coffee up to your lips and take a sip, letting a smile spread across your pretty face. He might not get the cold coffee or like the taste of all that chocolate you liked in your drinks but he’d do anything to make you smile like that. 

“Don’t let it rot your teeth out your head. They put about five pumps of that chocolate shit into it.” 

You laugh, and Chan feels his chest tighten. This was a good day. The sun was out, the wind was moving through the trees, and you were with him. He couldn’t ask for anything better—well, he could, but that’d make him be as selfish as he felt when he was around you. 

“Just how I like it. Want a sip?” Tilting the drink towards Chan, you watch his nose wrinkle before he leans to take a sip and then makes a face like he has something sour on his tongue. “You are such a baby. What’d you get anyhow? Coffee just black and boiling?” 

Lifting his cup, Chan grins at you before he takes a sip of just that. It was strong and he could feel it go down his throat and warm his chest. “Mmhm, like a real man.” You laugh again following it with a groan, the smile that was on Chan’s face softens into something fond. You two could be picking at each other for just about anything and all you’d have to do is look at him and he’d fall on his knees for you. 

Of course you didn’t know that. You just saw Lee Chan as your best friend. He’d met you on the playground when the two of you were in second grade. You had fallen off a swing and cut your knee. Chan had been the first person there. He had wiped away the big fat tears on your cheeks before running to find a teacher before coming back to you and telling you it’d all be okay. You still had that scar. Every time you’d wear shorts, like today, Chan couldn’t help but let his eyes move down to it. That scar marked the moment he fell in love with you but just like that 7-year-old boy, he still couldn’t tell you. Instead, he’d watched you grow up beside him and hated every man you’d ever dated, but none of them he hated more than the one you had now. 

Sighing to the sound of your ringtone, you pout at the idea of being interrupted but seeing Ian’s name on the caller ID has you sitting up and a big smile on your face. You hadn’t been dating Ian Carrington for too long, just about six months, but he felt like the one. You don’t see how Chan’s smile fades to a scowl when you put the phone to your ear and answer it, so pleased to hear from your boyfriend. “Hi, baby!” 

Chan looks down at the coffee in his hands as he listens to your voice change. It wasn’t necessarily that you were trying to be someone different with Ian; it was more that he brought something else out of you. He made you feel like you had to be perfect when that was impossible for anyone. It didn’t matter if, in Chan’s eyes, you were the closest thing to perfection; Ian still made you feel like you had to be better. 

“Yes! Really? I’d love to see you.” A soft, flirty giggle slips past your lips as you lean your head towards your shoulder. Ian still had you in the schoolgirl-in-love phase. He was one of the most handsome guys you had ever seen and there was a layer of unattainability to him that you were breaking through piece by piece. “I miss you too, babe.” Glancing up at Chan, you give him an apologetic look, seeing him stare at his coffee. From the beginning of your relationship with Ian, you had made it clear that you still needed to have time for your best friend. That hadn’t really changed, but Ian did seem to have horrible timing. “Now? Ian, I’m out with Channie…” 

Keeping his scoff to himself, Chan lifts his coffee to his lips, taking a long sip as he listens to your voice drop in volume. All he can think to himself is, here we go again. It may be lost on you that Ian didn’t like your friendship with him, but your boyfriend had made it very clear to him. It wasn’t like Ian didn’t already know where you were. You had no doubt texted him at the very least, and yet he was going out of his way to ruin a perfect day. Any other time he’d leave you sitting in your apartment bored and missing him, but the moment that Chan stepped up, suddenly Ian was the perfect attentive boyfriend. 

“Baby doll, I left work early for you. Now, don’t you wanna come see me? Spend a little time with your boyfriend? You can see Chan any day of the week. You know I’m busy, baby…” You start to speak and Ian sighs softly, speaking over you. “‘Course if you wanna stay out instead of coming to see me, I can’t make you do something you don’t want. It was wrong of me to call you while you’re out. Tell Chan I’m sorry and you two have a good day. I’ll try to see you tomorrow.” 

Meeting Chan’s curious eyes, you shift in your chair a bit uncomfortably before whining Ian’s name. You hated the idea that you might not get to see him today and the way he was talking, tomorrow seemed like it might not happen either. “No… No, baby. I can—I’ll be over in like twenty minutes, okay? I’m excited to see you.” 

It was past noon but Chan rarely got up before 2 pm. There were few things that would make him get his ass moving, but you were one of them. You were pretending to be okay. You were always doing that—Chan could tell when it wasn’t the case. There was a slight whine to your voice, like you had been crying… again. “What happened, sweetheart?” 

Closing your eyes tight, you hold the phone closer to your ear. How did he always know? Ian never knew. You could be outright crying and Ian would be oblivious. That wasn’t his fault. You were on the phone; how could he really tell? That’s what you kept telling yourself and yet your best friend caught on instantly. “No—nothing... I’m fine, Chan. What are you up to?” 

You hadn’t looked at the time before calling him. If it were anyone else, that’d annoy Chan, but it was you. He had worked the night before and been asleep for about five hours—that’d be enough. “Nothing, just sittin’ here. What happened, Y/N? I know you aren’t fine. You’ve been cryin’. Did that asshole—” 

“Channie! No… no, he didn’t do anything. Just—” Tears were on your cheeks again. You were trying to keep yourself calm but it was hard to do when you felt like shit. “We made plans and then one of his friends called.” 

To anyone else that might sound silly; however, Chan knew what it meant. You two had made plans, maybe a date or something, and then either he didn’t show up or he left ten minutes into it because one of his stupid friends called wanting him to hang out with them instead. This shit was always happening. It was easier than telling the weather, knowing if Ian was going to break your heart or not. “Want me to come over? I can pick up some Chinese and rot on the couch.” 

You felt bad putting this on Chan as often as you did. You were still dressed up, ready to spend the day with your boyfriend but instead you were crying on the phone with your friend. “That sounds nice. If you aren’t busy. I—” As if something comes to your mind, just then you gasp and whine, causing Chan to sit up a bit before you continue. “You worked last night! Oh my god! Go back to sleep. I’m so stupid. I’m sorry, Channie!” 

Sighing to himself, Chan tugs his jeans up his legs, balancing the phone between his cheek and shoulder. “Stop it, darlin’. If I get tired again, I can nap at your place. You ain’t stupid. Don’t ever call yourself that. I’d kill someone for saying that to you. Smartest gal I know.” 

You pout to yourself, wiping the tears from your cheek as you listen to Chan moving around his place. You knew he wasn’t kidding. He had gotten into more fights than you could count while the two of you were in school. All it took was someone to look at you wrong or say the wrong thing and they’d get Chan’s face in theirs. He was just protective, like you were his sister or something. “I’m not. Be careful drivin’. Love you.” 

Chan knew how much Ian hated to hear you tell Chan you loved him. You hadn’t even said it to him as far as Chan knew. The thought makes a smile pull at his lips as he pulls his keys from the hook, shoving them into his jacket pocket. “Love you too. Be there soon.” 

You had been telling Lee Chan you loved him since the second grade and that wasn’t going to change. That fact was a big reason that you and Ian fought. He had told you that he loved you around the third date, but you hadn’t been sure then. You thought you knew now but the words always got caught in your throat. You probably just needed to be a bit braver. 

It didn’t take Chan long to drive to your place. He had made this drive hundreds of times and every single time, but especially lately, he felt his stomach get all tight with nerves. You were more special than you even knew. You were the type of girl to look in the mirror and think she had every single thing wrong with her, but Chan saw you for who you really were—the most beautiful girl that was ever born. He could see that you were made of everything that was good in the world, even if you thought you were plain and selfish. 

Using his spare key to your apartment, Chan lets himself in and sighs softly as he kicks off his shoes in the entryway. This was just as much home for him as his own place was. He could remember falling asleep on your couch or in your bed multiple times after a long study session when you both were still trying the college thing. He remembered waking up to the smell of food and you singing along with some pop song on the radio as you swayed in front of the stove cooking. Chan had more good memories in this apartment, but he also had bad ones. Bad was seeing Ian show up and knowing he had to leave. Bad happened as soon as you started dating that moron that you seemed to be head over heels with. None of that could compare to walking into your apartment and seeing you curled up on the couch with tears drying on your cheeks. 

“Darlin’...” The word slips off Chan’s lips like a breath as he moves across the room, only stopping to drop off the carryout in his hand before he kneels at your couch. Delicately wiping the tears from under your eyes, trying to control his face. The moment you look at him, you’d know he was upset. Chan had a hard time hiding those sorts of expressions. His brows would furrow deeply, just like his lips would turn down in a disapproving frown. “Come here. Let me sit with ya.” 

Taking a deep breath, you try to push down your emotions but that look on Chan’s face breaks you again. You sit up and he slips onto the seat you were lying on before pulling you against his chest. You know you shouldn’t rely on him so heavily but it was difficult to say no to your rock. Chan was your constant and right now he was keeping you from sinking even as you sobbed softly in his arms. “I’m so stupid.” 

Chan shakes his head and tugs you tighter to him when you start to blame yourself for your situation. You didn’t make yourself cry by treating yourself like you weren’t worth the time—no, that was Ian Carrington’s doing. “No, you ain’t. I already told you you’re the smartest and prettiest girl I know. Want me to kill him? I’ll do it.” 

His words make you laugh, but you don’t even realize how serious Chan is. Of course he wouldn’t actually kill someone, but kicking his ass into the next century? That was something he could and would do for you. 

“Don’t be silly.” Sighing into your words, you shift against Chan to get more comfortable. You were still sad but it never failed that you’d brighten up even a fraction when you were around your best friend. “He promised to make it up to me so I know he will.” 

“Sure…” Chan wanted to tell you that maybe you were being a bit stupid, but those words never left his mouth. Instead, he tightens his arm around you and stares at the table in front of him. Ian was always making it up to you, but that didn’t mean that Chan believed it. “Enough of him, I got you sesame chicken. Eat somethin’.” 

He watches as you perk up slightly and move back to sitting beside him instead of against him. You were cute as you carefully opened the bags holding the food, setting each container out like you always would. Chan finds himself wondering if your boyfriend took care of you like this. Did he come when you were crying? Did he bring you all your favorite foods and snacks? Maybe he did, but to Chan this was something only he could do. 

Squealing under your breath when you open the crab rangoon, you look over your shoulder to meet Chan’s eyes, seeing the smile pulling at his lips. “You’re spoiling me.” 

He was. That had been the intention. Chan knew he could have gotten you the bare minimum and you’d still feel the same, but after hearing you crying on the phone, he had gotten all your favorites. Leaning forward, he opens the last dish, his own but even it makes you shuffle your feet out of excitement. “Now don’t think you’re stealing my food. I’ll share with you if you share with me.” 

You knew that Chan was teasing you, but even as you open your chopsticks and take a piece of meat from his plate, he smiles at you. Speaking carefully around the food in your mouth, you furrow your brows and lean to push your shoulder against his playfully. “You always say that, but then you get something I like.” 

Picking up the other set of chopsticks, Chan looks down at them as he breaks them apart to hide the slight flush he was feeling on his cheeks. You were right. He could pick just about anything, but it felt better to get something you’d share with him. He could be plenty happy just watching you enjoy your food; however, there was something special about knowing just the right things to get to make you happy. “Yeah, whatever. Just wanna make sure you eat well.” 

The two of you fall into a comfortable silence as you eat. At some point you turn the TV back on and hit play on the latest series that you and Chan had been watching together. Nothing needs to be said until you are the first to break the silence, glancing over at Chan as he rests his hand over his stomach. “I—hey. Did you ever call Chuu back? She was texting me but—” 

“Nah. I’ll text her later and apologize.” 

Furrowing your brows, you put your chopsticks down next to the plastic container before pulling your legs under you so you can rest back on the couch. “Did the date not go like you wanted it to? She seemed to really like you.” You weren’t exaggerating. In the past two days you had gotten a dozen texts from your co-worker Chuu asking if Chan was ignoring her. This wasn’t the first time you had tried to set him up with someone only to watch it go nowhere. 

Chan shrugs into a sigh, his eyes moving to you then quickly back to the TV. He knew he had a few unread texts from your friend but he didn’t want to lead anyone on. “Yeah, I mean, sure. The date was alright. Just got dinner at Charlie’s and I took her home.” 

Now you looked disappointed as you nodded along with Chan’s words. Sighing once again, he shifts next to you and runs his fingers through his hair. “She just—I don’t know. She’s not my type. She’s a sweet girl, don’t get me wrong. I just don’t think I’m ready to date like that. I’m not interested in somethin’ serious like they seem to think I am.” 

The disappointed look on your face had turned sour. You looked like you didn’t believe him now, like you were reading his mind. “I don’t think Chuu was lookin’ for anything too serious neither, Channie. I just want—listen to me, okay? You are always alone or stuck with me.” When Chan doesn’t say anything right away, his face only scrunching up like he’s tasted something that’s gone bad, you slide to your knees and reach for his hand like you are going to tug him along with you. “We should go out this weekend. I can be your wingwoman, and we can look for someone who’s more your type.” 

Saturday rolled around too quickly for Chan’s liking. It wasn’t just that he knew what your plan was with this trip to the bar, but that Ian was coming along. He had been looking forward to tonight for days, and the moment he learned about Ian’s insistence to tag along, the night was ruined. Chan knew he could have told you that he didn’t want your boyfriend there, but how would that go over? So instead, Chan tugged at his jacket as he looked in the mirror, deeming himself dressed. He didn’t have high hopes for the evening. 

You, on the other hand, were over the moon. Not only were you on a mission to get Chan a date but now Ian was actually making time for you. Leaning against your dresser, you close one eye, carefully applying your eyeliner as you listen to Ian from the other room. He had shown up about an hour early but again you weren’t complaining. Getting time with him lately was like pulling teeth. You knew that your boyfriend was a popular guy. He had tons of friends and he enjoyed his job, but sometimes you wished he’d pick you over a night out with work friends or whatever it was he did. 

“You listening to me, baby?” Huffing into his words, Ian leans against the door frame to your bedroom as he watches you. You were gorgeous and tonight it seemed like you were putting in some extra effort. He was doing his best to tell him that was because of him. “That dress is pretty. It new?” 

You smile at Ian from your mirror and shift your weight to your other leg as you repeat the process on your other eye. “Yeah, I got it yesterday after work. You really like it?” 

How could he not? It was tight in all the right places and had his mind wandering as his eyes moved over your pretty legs. “Yeah, I like it. It’s a little tight.” Ian sees your smile fade slightly, but you still manage to seem unaffected by his words. “I’m just sayin’ that maybe it’s not a dress for tonight. I mean, this is about trying to find a chick for Chan, right? Why you gotta get all dolled up for him?” 

You hated when Ian did that. When he acted like there was something between you and Chan. He was jealous of your best friend and it upset you. “No—I… I’m dressed up for you, babe. I wanna look pretty for you. ‘Sides, I don’t really wanna go out looking shabby.” Pouting as you put the cap back on your eyeliner, you avoid Ian’s eyes as you whine into your words. “You want me to change?” 

God, he couldn’t stand when you were whining. You did it more often than his liking. At first it was cute, but the moment he said one thing that didn’t go in the way you wanted it to, you were whining and crying. You did a good job at making him feel like the bad guy when it wasn’t really his fault he had a life outside of you. Shaking his head, Ian moves to stand behind you, sliding his hands along your waist to pull you back against him. “Course not. You do look pretty, baby. You look too pretty, but that’s alright. Wear what you want.” 

You smile, feeling Ian’s lips against your neck, his fingers kneading into your stomach as he takes a deep breath of your perfume. Times like this you felt like a million bucks. Sure, he could make you sad, but then he’d spend time with you like this and all that sadness would fade away. “‘Kay. Thank you.” 

Humming softly against your soft skin, Ian hides how he rolls his eyes at your response. You were spoiled and it had to be his fault. Forever his bratty little baby. “Mm, anything for you, doll.” Moving back from you a bit, Ian lets his eyes move over your face in the mirror and down to your chest, where your breasts were being held up and tight by your dress, giving you mouthwatering cleavage. He should enjoy it and maybe he would if he were the one going to see it. “Maybe wear a jacket, though. Your tits are out.” 

It doesn’t surprise Chan when you and Ian show up later than planned. He had already been sitting at the bar nursing a whiskey for around half an hour before he heard your voice call his name. He isn’t able to hide his smile when you carefully move between people to make your way over to him. Chan simply sighs and opens one arm for you, letting you hug him from the side as he feels Ian’s eyes linger on you both a bit too fiercely. 

“Any luck yet?” 

Ian’s voice seems bored when he speaks to Chan, drawing his attention away from you and up to him as he takes a seat one stool away from him. At least he had left a stool for you, but the way he pulled you away from him told Chan everything he needed to know. Ian was in a mood and he wasn’t tolerating Chan tonight. How you didn’t seem to be affected by his attitude was a mystery, but Chan forces himself to smile as he shakes his head. “Nah. Ain’t been here too long.” 

Forcing himself not to roll his eyes, Ian offers Chan a tight smile instead as you sit between the two of them shrugging your jacket off. It was hot in the bar but the idea of you with all that skin showing causes the smile on Ian’s face to fall into a tight line. Though he doesn’t say anything, it seems his eyes on you are enough to have you tugging your dress up on your chest. 

Chan lets himself get a good look at you and you take his breath away. You were always stunning but he had never seen you in this dress. It was perfect on you even as you fought with the deep cut of the neck that displayed your breasts so well. If this was anyone else and a different time, you’d have him on his knees for you begging for a single chance—but life wasn’t fair, and he could feel Ian’s judging eyes. 

“Baby, let’s go dance.” 

Already slipping out of his chair, Ian reaches for your hand as you whine. You two had just got there and you were on a mission. “I—yeah, okay. Channie, come with us?” 

Chan didn’t need to see the look on Ian’s face to have him turning you down. It hurt to see that smile fade from your lips but Chan is quick to cover his own disappointment as he gestures around the bar. “Checking out prospects. You go have fun, sweetheart.” 

You glance around the bar, seeing the few pretty girls that Chan had to be referencing, before biting at your bottom lip. This was what you wanted, so why did it make your stomach hurt? “Alright. Good luck!” 

Watching Ian guide you into the middle of the small dance floor, Chan watches your smile brighten as you start to dance. He should look away and give you and Ian privacy, but instead he brings his drink to his lips and sips to cover his sigh. 

“She’s pretty. That guy steal your girl?” 

The woman’s voice is sultry as she slides onto the stool that had just been yours. Glancing to his left, Chan gives her a quick once-over before shaking his head to answer her question. “Nah. Nothin’ like that.” The woman was pretty. She was wearing a tight red dress that left little to the imagination. Her long black hair was shiny and it looked soft, but Chan feels that pit in his stomach getting larger as he even considers her. 

He had intrigued her. He was one of, if not the most, attractive guys in the bar tonight and he had his eyes on some girl dancing with an equally hot man. Yet he was telling her that the girl he had his eyes fixed on wasn’t his. Maybe he wanted her to be, or maybe he just needed someone to help him forget. “I see. I’m Gabriela.” Offering him her hand, Gabriela smiles brightly, enjoying the moment that Chan finally looks at her, turning on his stool away from the girl he couldn’t have. 

“Chan.” Despite the pit in his stomach, Chan remembers the reason you had begged him to come out tonight. He had hoped for one thing, you and him alone to just enjoy another night out, but had gotten another as Ian kissed at your neck for everyone to see. Keeping his eyes on Gabriela, Chan swallows hard and gives in to what’s easy. “What you drinkin’, gorgeous?” 

Other girls were easy. Flirting was as easy as breathing on the surface; it was how he felt on the inside that made this unbearable for Chan. And yet it was working on Gabriela. She was batting her lashes and moving her hair over her shoulder to let Chan get a good look at her exposed skin. He could easily look away, but his mind was fighting him. Glancing out towards the dance floor, Chan’s chest tightens when he sees your arms around Ian’s neck as his hands slide down over your ass. That was enough to make Chan feel sick so he grins at Gabriela and lifts his hand for the bartender, ready to order her a drink. 

Smirking to himself, Ian glances from Chan at the bar down to you. “He’s doing just fine. I don’t know what you were worried about.” 

Your eyes quickly move to Chan and over the girl sitting next to him as he slides a cocktail towards her fingers. You should be happy. This was what you wanted to happen. You wanted Chan to come out and find a pretty girl to take out, but this girl looked like a viper wrapped in red spandex. You felt your chest tighten as she ran her red nails over his hand and leaned her head back to laugh at something Chan had said. “Oh… yeah, he’s— she’s—” 

Ian sighs as he leans his head back, turning you slightly on the dance floor so that your attention is back on him. “Perfect for him. Just slutty enough, right?” 

You hated when Ian talked like that, and that wasn’t the type of girl you pictured your best friend with. Then again, you hadn’t really pictured him with anyone. You wanted to, but it never seemed easy. There was always just you and Chan no one else… Glancing up at Ian, you put a smile on your lips but you don’t nod or shake your head to tell him that he’s right or wrong. You instead let him tighten his grip on your hip as you tilt your head, meeting his eyes, trying to ignore what you had caused at the bar. 

“Security?” Tilting her head, Gabriela grins at Chan as he nods. “Like a cop? Are you gonna arrest me?” 

Sighing into a strained laugh, Chan shakes his head this time. “Uh no, no, not like a cop. Just security. I—” 

“So like a mall cop then?” 

God, this girl was irritating. The only good things about her were how pretty she was and that she smelled nice. Chan had no intention of this going anywhere with how she was acting. “Sure, like a mall cop. If that’s what you wanna call it.” 

Sipping at her cosmo, Gabriela smirks around the straw, seeing the irritation in Chan’s smile. Maybe she was pushing too hard, but she had come out to get laid and she was convinced that Chan was going to be the guy she left with. “That’s cute. Do you have cuffs?” 

Chan tries to hide his scoff, but he doesn’t do it well enough as he watches Gabriela’s smirk stay in place. She was pushing his buttons on purpose and this wasn’t really Chan’s idea of foreplay. “No. Even if I did, I wouldn’t put them on you.” 

“Why not? You wouldn’t wanna play cops and robbers with me, Chan?” Gabriela had always been bold. She went after what she wanted and right now that was Chan. Catching the buttons of his jacket sleeve under her nails, Gabriela bites her bottom lip, feeling Chan’s eyes move over her, landing on her cherry red lips. “I think it could be fun. Isn’t that why you came out tonight? To have some fun?” 

Using his free hand, Chan pushes his hair from near his eyes and sighs in disbelief at how shameless Gabriela is. He didn’t fault her. He didn’t want to judge her, but was he really the guy she wanted to play this on? Just as Chan starts to turn her down, his eyes once again find the dance floor and he sees you with your back against Ian’s chest as you sway to the music. Did you even remember you had asked Chan to come out with you? Did you even care? “Yeah, maybe I did.” 

Feeling eyes on you, you meet Chan’s eyes from the bar just as he turns his attention back to the pretty girl with her hand now resting on his thigh. You felt like you were feeding him to the dogs. This girl had her claws in his skin and you were watching him get eaten alive. You start to move away from Ian to go towards the bar when your boyfriend pulls you back against him and laughs against your ear. 

“Leave him be. Anyone can see they are about to dip out of here. That’s what you wanted, wasn’t it?” 

“I like your place.” 

Sighing as he leans towards the fridge to take out two beers, Chan forces himself to smile as he acknowledges Gabriela and what she had said. “Thanks. It ain’t much, but it’ll do.” Chan rarely let girls come back to his place, but this was better than going to hers. When Chan was inside some random girl’s space, he felt vulnerable. That felt like he could lead to more than he was willing to give. In his own space he could control the narrative and keep his power. 

“It’s very you.” 

As if this chick knew who Chan was, but instead of voicing that out loud, he just grinned and offered her the beer. He wasn’t looking for this to last longer than it needed to. “That so, gorgeous?” Trying to enjoy the moment and the release he’d be getting, Chan sits down on his couch and guides Gabriela down to sit next to him. She was soft, but no matter how much he looked at her, Chan only saw you. 

“Mmhm. God… You are so fuckin’ hot. How are you even on the market?” Gabriela had opened her beer and taken one sip before Chan had called her gorgeous again. The question was real and yet rhetorical. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know. She had seen how Chan had been looking at you, and if she thought too much about it, she might lose her confidence. “You seem like you’ve got a lot on your mind, Chan. Want me to help you with that?” 

Chan laughs, the sound getting caught in his throat as Gabriela puts her drink down with his and slides over his thighs. She was warm under his hands as Chan let her guide them over her sides and higher to her breasts. “I might have a couple things on my mind. How you gonna help me?” He knew the answer, but that was part of the game, wasn’t it? He could see how Gabriela’s smirk grew wider at the question, and now it was just a matter of time before he could shut off his feelings and just enjoy the moment. 

“Oh, I got plans for you, Channie.” 

Furrowing his brows at the pet name, Chan shakes his head, sliding his hands back down to Gabriela’s waist. “Don’t call me that. Stick to Chan…” He could see how her face fell, but she was a woman on a mission, so it only lasted for a moment before she was right back to business. Chan closes his eyes the moment that Gabriela’s lips brush against his. He didn’t like kissing his hookups, but tonight it didn’t feel too bad. 

“Touch me.” 

He nods in response to her request, sliding his hands back along her body and to her back. Catching the zipper of her dress between his fingers, Chan groans when Gabriela rocks her hips down over his. God, he hated how easily he had gotten turned on tonight. It wasn’t even that he had a pretty girl in his lap; it was that he had closed his eyes and pictured you in her place. 

Every soft moan from her lips, Chan imagined it coming from you. The soft skin under his hands as he helped her out of her dress—that was your skin. It felt wrong, but then he had carried her to bed and kept the light off. In the darkness he could only feel her and that let his imagination carry him further. 

“Oh, fuck—” Gabriela whines under her breath as she feels Chan’s fingers scissoring into her, his other hand pulling a condom from the nightstand. She wished she could see him a bit better, that maybe he had even left the door to his bedroom open, but instead even when she whined his name, Chan would shush her. Whatever, she could stay quiet. She could let herself enjoy this. 

With one stroke of his hand to make sure the condom was in place, Chan buries his face against Gabriela’s neck and eases himself into her warmth. Would you feel like this? Would you be softer? Wetter? Tighter? God, the thought of it alone has him burying himself in her as deep as possible. What would you be doing now? Were you getting fucked by Ian? Why would Chan even think about that? It was ruining his mood—so he fucked Gabriela harder, listening to her sob his name, asking for more. 

Everything meshes together—Gabriela’s orgasm and Chan’s frustration as he has to force himself to finish, but in the end he ends up with her resting against his chest, both of them catching their breath. 

“Holy shit, that was incredible.” Gabriela wasn’t sure what she had expected, but Chan had exceeded it times ten. She had gone out looking to get laid, and she had ended up with more. Fuck, she loved the feeling of this man’s hands on her and how tender he had been with her until he fucked her like a man who was starved. “Do you want—” 

“I don’t do repeats.” 

Gabriela’s words get caught in her throat when Chan interrupts her with that. His hand wasn’t on her hip anymore; he was sitting up and turning on the light, picking up a pack of cigarettes and putting one between his lips. “What? What does that mean?”

Inhaling the smoke, Chan lets it sit on his chest for a few seconds before he turns his head away from Gabriela to blow it away from her. “Exactly what it sounds like.” 

Sitting up quickly, Gabriela stares at Chan before scoffing. He had to be kidding. She had been with assholes before but Chan didn’t seem like one. This seemed like he was putting on an act and yet his eyes were cold now when he looked at her. “Are you really this much of a dick?” 

Chan shrugs and licks his lips as he leans to flick the ashes from his cigarette into the ashtray on his nightstand. “Yeah, but it was good, wasn’t it?” He knew what Gabriela’s reaction would be and it was exactly what he wanted. He wanted her to be pissed off at him. He didn’t want her to stick around and try to get more than he could give her. Leaning out of her way, Chan sighs out smoke before resting the rest of the cigarette in the tray, watching Gabriela get dressed quickly as she curses under her breath. “I’ll order you a ride.” 

“Fuck you.” 

He knew he deserved that. He knew exactly what he was doing even if it made him feel worse about himself and the situation. “Fair, but you said you lived on the other side of town; it’s the least I can do. Don’t take some shady taxi.” 

Like he actually cared. Gabriela sees red for a moment, her palm meeting Chan’s cheek before she turns towards the door, opening it with enough force to cause the doorknob to leave a place in the drywall. “Worst lay of my fucking life!” 

Chan knew that Gabriela was full of shit. She had enjoyed it; he had made sure of that, but he let her say whatever she wanted to as he tugged his sweatpants on and followed her out into the living room as she struggled with her shoes. “Course, but I’m still ordering you a ride so calm your ass down for a minute.”  

Crossing her arms tightly over her chest, Gabriela feels tears biting at her eyes, but she forces them to stay back. How was this guy treating her like this? One minute she felt like a common slut for him to use and toss out, and then he was being halfway decent, ordering her a ride home. Was this another act? What the fuck was his problem? “What did I do wrong?” 

You had drunk more than you should have. Your mind was floaty like a dandelion in the wind and you were having to let Ian help you with everything. First it had been just to walk and now it was your shoes as you leaned against the wall at the first door. “Thanks…” 

Ian laughs under his breath at how pitiful you sound, his fingers carefully tugging at the strap around your ankles in order to free your feet from the heels. “No problem, doll. You can’t hold your liquor. I told you that when you ordered another drink…” 

He wasn’t wrong. He had told you that, and you should have listened, but you felt sad before, and you had hoped the alcohol would fix it. It hadn’t. “I know.” Sighing softly, you lean back against Ian as he guides you through the living room and towards your bedroom. “Do you think Channie—” You aren’t even sure what you are asking, so you stop speaking and pout instead, causing Ian to roll his eyes. 

“Channie, what? That he got laid? Yeah, baby, I do. But why the fuck do you care?” 

It was clear that you had annoyed Ian but that hadn’t been your intention. “I don’t know. I’m sorry. Please don’t be mad at me.” 

You were whining again, and while it still annoyed Ian, he couldn’t stay mad at you for too long. You were too cute and now he did have you all to himself. “It’s fine. Stop pouting at me. Hey, Y/N…” Making sure you are looking at him, Ian runs his thumb along your bottom lip and tilts his head as you smile against his finger. “There you go. My pretty baby. This is better than being at the bar, isn’t it? Just me and you, like you’ve been wanting, right?” 

It was what you had wanted. You had been so upset when he had cancelled on you earlier in the week, but this was making up for it. You were so tired, the alcohol clouding your brain, but it felt nice to be in his arms. “Mmhm. I love being with you.” 

What Ian was hearing was that you loved him and that’s all that mattered. You weren’t whining over Chan anymore or the cancelled date; you were just putty in his hands. Carefully tugging your dress up on your hips, Ian grins at you when you stumble against him near your bed. “My clumsy girl. I’ve been thinking ‘bout this all night. You know that? How bad you drove me insane wearing this slutty little dress out in public.” 

You didn’t know, but your cheeks were on fire now at the idea of it. Was it a slutty dress? You hadn’t meant to look that way. You had just wanted to be pretty, but maybe that was what Ian had meant. “You like my dress?” 

“I like it plenty. Just don’t think it’s a dress you should be wearing out anymore.” Watching you fall backwards onto the bed, Ian knows he should just put you to bed and call it a night. You had drunk too much. You were obviously not in your right mind, yet you were talking to him. “Come here, baby. Cuddle with me.” 

Sighing happily, you let Ian pull you against him as he lies down next to you. This was nice. You had missed this. You had missed him and how good he smelled. You were so tired. The warmth of being in his arms and the alcohol in your system were doing a great job at putting you to sleep. But then you felt Ian’s lips at your throat, you felt his hand sliding along your thighs, and you couldn’t stop the way your brows furrowed. “‘M tired, Ian. Not tonight…” 

Now his brows were furrowing. You had been teasing him all fucking night and now you were saying not tonight? Groaning against your skin, Ian pulls you back against him, letting you feel his cock hard in his jeans. “But, baby—” 

You push his hand from your thigh as you whine his name. You don’t see the anger that passes over Ian’s face before he lies back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. “Then sleep.” 

And you did. You slept hard, but it was restless. You were still in your tight dress. You could feel Ian’s warmth radiating towards you and it made you feel uncomfortable. When the first bits of daylight peek through the curtains, you already feel like wanting to die. You’ve barely opened your eyes when you grimaced at the feeling of the layer of sweat covering your skin. Glancing behind you, Ian sleeps soundly, his arm over his eyes as he snores softly. He doesn’t seem to stir from his sleep until you slide off the bed and whine about how uncomfortable you are. 

“Shh… Too fuckin’ early.” 

It was too early to be awake after the night you had. Bracing yourself on the wall, you muffle your whimper, feeling your head ache. Your eyes felt like sandpaper and your mouth was all cotton. It takes you longer than it should to stumble into the bathroom before you fall to your knees on the white tile, heaving hard over the toilet. You were feeling your regret wash over you. 

Making your way back to the bedroom, you whine under your breath as you tug the zipper of your dress down and kick the garment from your legs as soon as it reaches your feet. You don’t feel Ian’s eyes moving over your body as he lies in bed, his head resting on his arm. You only feel the pain behind your eyes and the churning in your stomach as you work to release your body from the rest of the uncomfortable clothes in search of new ones. 

“Come here, doll.” 

Your brows furrow as you do finally meet Ian’s eyes, seeing the look in them. He was much more awake than you were and clearly feeling better. All you wanted to do was pull on your softest shirt and a fresh pair of panties, but his fingers draw you closer to the bed. Letting him guide you down on it, you let out a soft sigh, hoping he just wants to hold you. His fingers trace your curves, causing you to shiver as the air moves over your body. 

“You are so pretty. You know that?” 

You don’t feel it right now, so you shake your head in disagreement, hearing him tsk at you. His fingers move further down your stomach to the middle of your legs, where you close your thighs a bit tighter. “I feel like shit—” 

“Seriously? I took you out last night. I let you be the one who got shitfaced, and I got turned down then. You are seriously gonna do it again? Way to make me feel like an asshole, Y/N.” 

A frown fixes itself on your lips as you force yourself to meet Ian’s eyes. He was right. You had done all of those things. You hadn’t done it on purpose, but you had turned him down. You wanted to continue to turn him down now, but the disappointed look in your eyes made you consider how valuable his time was to you. “”M sorry, Ian. You—we can. You can touch me.” 

Shaking his head, Ian slides his hand from you. You see the look in his eye, like the feeling of your skin is offending him. Turning on your side, you whine his name only to watch him lean his head back to escape your fingers. “I—what if…” Your voice trails off as you move on the bed to your knees, looking over Ian’s body. It felt weak… forced, as you run your fingers over his thigh towards the top of his jeans, feeling him start to harden under your hand. “I can just take care of you if that’s what you want, baby.” 

Ian hides his smirk as he considers your proposition. He would be lying to himself if he hadn’t wanted this to be the way his morning went, but he wasn’t going to say that to you. Instead, he lifts his hips and nods down at his jeans to let you get started. He could feel your hands trembling slightly as you worked the zipper down and then the denim to his thighs. “Fuck, I can’t say no to you…” 

The moan in his voice fills you with a bit of confidence. You were doing good again. You had messed up, but now Ian was happy again. Did you want to go down on him this morning? Absolutely not, but what you wanted even less was to be alone. You could picture him getting upset one more time and walking out the door. That wouldn’t happen if you did this. 

Taking his hard cock into your hand, you shift on your knees to lean over his hips, tracing the tip of it with your warm tongue. The sound that reaches your ears causes your lips to pull up in a bit of a smile. It still wasn’t that you wanted to do this. It wasn’t that you were getting off on it. It was that you knew how to keep him with you. You knew how to keep the loneliness from eating you to death today. 

Ian groans your name loudly when you take him into your mouth fully. He can almost feel your throat closing around the head of his cock when you swallow. You were good at this. If there was nothing else you knew how to do, at least you could suck cock. Lifting his hips towards your mouth, Ian runs his fingers through your hair before forcing your head down over him. He was already getting close. It had been a couple days since he had fucked you and this was just what the doctor ordered. “Just like that. Fuck—fuck!” 

Cum fills your mouth after a few moments of working your mouth over Ian’s cock. You always hated the taste of cum, but one glance up to your boyfriend had you forcing yourself to swallow the salty release. 

“Shit… I love watching you do that. You don’t miss a single fucking drop of it. So hungry for it, huh?” 

You just nod, unable to find your words. You hoped that now maybe Ian would take care of you. He’d want you enough to touch you, but all he offers you is a quick kiss followed by a sigh. 

“I know you like the taste of my cum, but I don’t, baby.” Turning his face from you, Ian yawns loudly as he lifts his hips, tugging his jeans and boxers back up. “I gotta get going anyway. I promised Wooyoung we’d hang out today before he goes to work.” 

The pit in your stomach continues to grow. Darkness and cold fill it as you force yourself to smile and nod at him. “Oh… Oh, okay? I just—we aren’t gonna hang out today?” 

Shrugging as if you should know his answer, Ian slides off your bed and uses the mirror at your vanity to fix his hair. He signs into his words, boredom leaking through like venom. “We hung out yesterday, doll. Don’t be selfish. You know I have to give my friends some time with me too. I can’t stay in here all the damn time.” 

You sit up, pulling your knees towards your stomach as tears threaten to spill over the rims of your eyes. “Right. No, I know, Ian. I just…” Sniffing back your tears, you feel your bottom lip start to quiver as loneliness bites at your skin. “Just miss you is all and we only went out to the club, really. We didn’t really spend—” 

“Babe, are you crying?” Groaning out another sigh, Ian turns back to you, moving to his knee at the side of your bed and running his fingers over your head. “Stop it. You know you want some time to yourself anyhow. Don’t make me feel like shit over this. I do everything for you.” 

You want to remind him of how little he actually does, but the moment he meets your eyes, you crumble. Tears drip down your cheeks only to be wiped away by Ian’s thumbs as he waits for you to agree with him. Forcing one last smile, you try to keep the tears out of your voice, but it doesn’t work as your voice shakes. “I—yeah. No, I know… You take care of me.” 

Nodding along with your words, Ian leans forward to tilt your head back so he can brush his lips over yours. “Always will. Get some rest, doll. I’ll text you later.” 

Three fucking days since you had really spoken to Chan and he was going insane. Of course you still text him and there had been a call or two over the past thirty-six hours, but they hadn’t been anything of substance. 

Something was wrong and he was going to figure out what it was. His first thoughts landed on Ian and all Chan could see was red. If that motherfucker had done something to you… Chan couldn’t even let the words pass through his mind without gritting his teeth so hard he thought they might shatter from the pressure. 

Relaxing his jaw, Chan tightens his hands on the steering wheel instead as he waits for the traffic light to change. He hadn’t told you he was coming over. Perhaps that was a mistake, but how was he supposed to go for so long without seeing you or really hearing you? It was like taking the air out of his lungs and expecting him to thrive. It was impossible. He had spent almost every single day of over a decade with you within arms reach and this was the first time you had ever gone silent in a way that felt endless. 

He let out a relieved sigh as he pulled into a parking space near your place—Ian wasn’t there. Or at least his car wasn’t and that was enough to keep Chan’s hopes up. As long as your so-called perfect boyfriend wasn’t in his way, he could get to the bottom of this. He could get you back. 

Jogging up the steps, Chan tugs his keys from his jacket and instinctively finds your key. This was muscle memory for him. Not even knocking, Chan pushes your door open and kicks his boots from his feet next to the spot yours sat. He dropped his keys into the bowl with yours and furrowed his brows, letting out a breath when he heard the sounds of something playing on the TV in the living room. “Darlin’?” 

You hadn’t expected company. There were only two people who had a key to your apartment and your stomach was twisting with a mixture of anxiety and relief at the sound of the door opening and closing. Ian had been distant with you for the past few days. You didn’t understand what you could have done wrong. You had given him what he wanted the last night he stayed with you and now he was giving you the cold shoulder, just stating he needed space. 

Would you really want to see him right now? Could you handle it?

The sound of Chan’s voice instantly makes your chest tighten. You felt horrible about being so distant with him. You knew that he was concerned about you, but you had gotten so tired of being the needy friend. There wasn’t a day that went by that you didn’t have something to complain about, and while it seemed that Chan could and would be there for you no matter what… the guilt was eating you. Were you just using his friendship to make you feel better? How the fuck was that fair to him? Chan was the most amazing person you knew and he deserved the world, not his best friend being a constant burden. 

Meeting his eyes as he moves into the living room, you try to smile at him but your resolve breaks. Tears fill the rims of your eyes and you instantly bury your face into your blanket that had been wrapped around you so tightly to keep you warm and hidden. Arms wrap around you and you feel Chan’s warm breath against the side of your head as he doesn’t say anything. He just sits in the moment with you. The anxiety seems to come off him in waves the longer you stay silent in your tears. 

“I—” You start and then stop, managing to look up and meet your best friend’s eyes. His eyes were so warm and full of love when he looked at you that it was suffocating. He makes no attempt to rush you; instead, his thumbs push the tears from your cheeks as he gives you endless time. “I’m sorry.” 

You didn’t have a single fucking thing to apologize for, but Chan understood what you meant. He could read you as well as his favorite book. He had been here a hundred times, his fingers in your hair as he soothed you. This was like flipping through that book and finding his favorite parts that he had dog-eared so that he’d never lose them. “Shh… Talk to me, sweetheart. What’s goin’ on? Where you been?” 

Leaning against Chan, you let yourself give in to your selfishness, enveloping yourself in his warmth and familiarity. “Nothing. It’s stupid. I—I don’t know why I’m like this.” That didn’t seem like the full truth, but Chan didn’t want to push you. He had you right back where he wanted you. The last thing he’d do right now is scare you away by forcing you to tell him the truth. 

“Nothin’ wrong with you.” Chan’s words make you scoff, but a smile does pull at your lips, causing him to mimic it. “‘M serious. You’re perfect like you are. My favorite person.” 

You swallow hard at that. He was your favorite person too and yet again you felt so completely selfish that it almost swallowed you whole. You didn’t deserve him like this. He could be out living his life—the idea of that makes you remember the girl that he had left the club with a few nights ago and you shift against him, a frown taking the place of your smile. “Yeah… Uh, did—how was…” You trail off, finding Chan focused so fully on you as you try to find your words. It felt wrong to pry into his life, but if he was talking about himself, then he wasn’t asking about you. 

“Did you have fun with that girl?” You see the confusion and then realization cross over Chan’s lips before he sucks in a breath trying to find his words. Before he can speak, you force a smile and lift your shoulders, trying to seem interested and nonchalant about it all. “She was really pretty. Totally… like, you know, your type. Dark and sexy…” 

That makes Chan scoff to keep from laughing. He wasn’t amused by the idea of that girl. What had her name even been? God, he was a piece of shit… Shaking that thought from his head, he meets your eyes once again as he brushes his thumb along the arm of your shirt on your bicep. “It was—she was fine. It—I’m not seein’ her again.” 

Instead of seeing what he wanted flash across your eyes, he sees concern and confusion as you shift once again against him, turning to face him, your legs crossed on the couch under you. “What do you mean? You—it seemed like y’all were having a good night. Did—” You furrow your brows as you start to ask if they hooked up, realizing you don’t really want to know. You see the look in Chan’s eyes as he anticipates the question, seeming uncomfortable with what his answer would be and how it would affect you. 

“Never mind. Um, so—” Leaning away from Chan, you swipe your phone from the coffee table, opening your Instagram and searching for something while his eyes seem to search over you. “Did I ever show you, uh—Molly? She’s the new girl at work and she was asking about—” 

Chan sighs your name, reaching for your phone and turning off the screen before he puts it back on the coffee table, shutting down the conversation before it started. “You did and I’m not interested.” The way your face falls, your eyes instantly searching for anywhere else to look but him as you try to regain your balance. “You don’t have to set me up with someone, sweetheart.” 

“But, that’s not true. You don’t try, Channie…” You could feel the frustration rising in you as you watched Chan roll his eyes in annoyance. You were doing it again, but you hated the idea of him  being sad and alone more than you were concerned if he got mad at you. “You are always alone and you don’t give anyone a chance!” 

“Because I don’t want a relationship, Y/N!” Chan hadn’t meant to raise his voice, but the moment he had, he saw the hurt settle in your pretty eyes. “Baby, listen to me. I don’t want some loveless relationship with a girl who might look good on my arm. I’m not alone. I’ve never been alone. I got you…” He hoped that you’d get what he meant. There had been very few times when he had ever let himself be this vulnerable around you and he could count on one hand the number of times he had ever called you "baby." 

Your heart beats a little harder in your chest with Chan’s words. Why was he being like this? He had always been stubborn, but this was frustrating. You weren’t enough. How could you be enough? No, you’d never let him be alone if you had your way about it, but what about when you got married? Even the idea of it leaves you with a queasy feeling rising in your throat that you force away. It was what you wanted… Right? That was the end goal. You’d marry Ian… You’d be a good wife and get your white picket fence—god, why didn’t that feel perfect like it should? That was the blueprint handed down by your mother and her mother before, but it felt tainted. 

“That—Chan, please be for real.” 

Those words are enough to break the calmness that Chan had been holding on to so tightly. Lifting his hand from you to push against the center of his brows, he scoffs, losing his patience. “I’m just about the only one being real. You wanna be for real, Y/N?” Not waiting for your answer, he bites the bullet, feeling the pit in his stomach grow as the words fall off his tongue like poison. “Why the fuck would I want to be trapped like you? Why would I want to be miserable day in and fucking out like you are?” 

The moment the words leave Chan’s mouth, you watch his eyes soften and how quickly apologies form on his lips, but the damage was already done. Tears drip down your cheeks and you push his hand from your leg, not wanting him touching you. Words don’t find your tongue; instead, you breathe his name into a sob before wrapping your arms around your legs, causing him to curse softly at your reaction. 

“No—wait! Y/N, I didn’t mean—” 

“Stop it!” 

You didn’t want to hear him make excuses for what he had said. You weren’t even mad at him. You were mad because it hit home so hard. Hell, where had you been before he showed up to check on you? You had been wallowing in self-pity over your boyfriend ignoring you. You had been eating your way through an entire pack of chips as you teared up over reality TV relationships. What hurt the most was that Chan hadn’t held back in saying it. 

“Bab—Y/N, please. I’m sorry. I’m so fuckin’ stupid and I’m—” Anxiety was trapped in Chan’s throat as you sobbed, batting his hands away from you with every attempt he made to pull you back to him. How could he be so stupid? What the fuck had he been thinking, saying something like that to you? It didn’t matter if it was the truth. The way he had said it was wrong. While he didn’t fully understand what you saw in Ian, it wasn’t his place to tug you down like this and make you feel like shit. “I’m just some asshole! What the fuck do I even know, right?” 

A soft scoffing laugh escapes your lips between your sobs as Chan calls himself an asshole. He wasn’t far off, but that wasn’t fair of you. Blinking through your tears, you look up at him, seeing the crushed and concerned look on his face before confusion joins the mix when you laugh again. “You—you’re so stupid.” 

God, he was. Chan knew that, but as you sniffed hard and wiped your cheeks with your blanket, he found himself smiling at you softly. “You know I am. I’m sorry. I don’t know what—” 

“Let’s just let it go, okay? I really can’t handle sitting here like this anymore.” You wipe away a few fresh tears before leaning your head back, willing them to stop completely. “I look like a fucking moron.” 

Buzz buzz 

The sound was incessant as your phone kept ringing from its spot on the coffee table in front of you. 

Buzz buzz

You weren’t sure what time you had fallen asleep on this couch, but what you knew right now was that the buzzing from your phone was annoying. You were warm and your back was pressed against someone’s chest as you finally forced your eyes open. Glancing over your shoulder, you stare at Chan as he sleeps soundly behind you, his arm around your waist protectively. 

You remembered him coming over and your meltdown, but then the two of you had settled on the couch to watch some movie together. Apparently neither of you had made much of an effort to get off the couch and had fallen asleep here together. 

This wasn’t the first time by any means. Hell, he had spent nights over in your bed, the two of you talking until early morning and your mom finding the two of you gently chastising you both before a smile would take over her lips. It was innocent. This didn’t feel as innocent. You were warm and safe right here. You didn’t want to check your phone that had stopped ringing only to ring again. 

Buzz buzz

Carefully slipping from under Chan’s arm, you pull the blanket from the back of the couch down over him before picking up your phone and hissing under your breath at the name on the screen. Ian was calling you. Now you felt even more guilty for where you had fallen asleep and the fact that you had a missed call from him. 

“Hello?” You whisper as you move out of the living room and into your bedroom, leaving the door cracked. Balancing the phone against your shoulder, you bite at your bottom lip as you tug some jeans and a shirt from your closet, realizing you were still in your stained lounge clothes from the day before. 

Ian laughs under his breath. “Why are you whispering, babe? You busy?” You were never busy this early and certainly not on a day off. Maybe you were just waking up. The thought of that brought a bit of a smile to Ian’s face as he pictured you cute and sleepy, waking up against his chest. 

Shaking your head, you tug your shirt over your head quickly, replacing it with another before securing your phone back against your ear. “No, no… Course not. I missed you…” That wasn’t a lie and was part of the problem. It had been a couple of days since he had really reached out like this and you were like a dog begging for scraps when it came to his attention. “Are you coming over?” 

That question was sincere. You wanted to see your boyfriend, but it might also be nice to have some warning since Chan was asleep on your couch. Nothing had happened. There was absolutely nothing wrong with him staying at your place—especially on your couch—but you felt guilty anyway. You had slept right there on that couch with him. 

With that question, Ian sighs, leaning his head back. It wasn’t like he woke up and decided to disappoint you, but that was easier to do than breathing lately. “Nah, not today, baby. I got some shit to do with the guys. You understand, right?” 

Disappointment settles over your guilt, taking its place as you button your jeans and stare out in front of you as if you can see Ian there. “I—no. Not really. I haven’t seen you in like…days, Ian. I miss—” 

“And I miss you! Fuck, Y/N. You know that. Why you gotta make me feel like a piece of shit when you’re just needy?” 

The sound of Ian’s friends in the background makes you feel like you are sinking into the floor like a pit. They were laughing and you thought you heard one of them tell Ian he was a dick. He was talking to you like that with them right there? Tears rise in your eyes and you bite on your cheek to stop them from falling. When you don’t speak up, Ian sighs your name through the phone. 

“I gotta go, baby. I will call you later.” Before he hangs up, you hear him groan as if he’s remembering something, and he adds. “Don’t forget about dinner with my parents this weekend, alright? Wear something pretty… Love you.” The phone beeps against your ear as he doesn’t wait for your response or an “I love you” in response. 

Stretching on the couch, Chan flexes his fingers over the spot you had been, causing a frown to form on his face. He hadn’t meant to fall asleep here but he didn’t regret it for a second. He had loved having you in his arms like that. He wanted to keep you safe and happy but now you weren’t where he left you. 

Chan pulls himself up, letting the blanket you had put over him fall to the cushions as he runs his hands over his face, listening to you talk quietly in another room. He couldn’t make it all out but he wasn’t an idiot. You had to be talking to Ian. The thought of it made Chan’s stomach twist with too many emotions—anxiety, disappointment, and jealousy. God, it wasn’t his place but he couldn’t help how jealous it made him that it wasn’t him you belonged to. 

Sighing to himself, Chan gets to his feet, ready to figure out his next move, when the sound of your voice once again catches his attention. “I—no. Not really. I haven’t seen you in like…days, Ian. I miss—” You were sad; that was so clear that he didn’t even need to see you to know you were crying. You might be trying to keep it from Ian, but Chan knew you so well he could hear it in your voice. 

It takes a few more minutes for you to come out of your room. Chan quickly moves his eyes over your fresh clothes before meeting your eyes, seeing your cheeks dry. You had obviously wiped your tears away; that didn’t mean he couldn’t still tell. “You alright, sweetheart?” 

God, it was frustrating how Chan always seemed to know. Forcing a smile on your face, you put your phone in your back pocket and shrug like nothing in the world could possibly be wrong. “All good. You, uh—” Scratching the back of your neck, you gesture to the kitchen before looking back over at the couch you and Chan had slept on before walking in the direction you had pointed. “Breakfast? I’m sure you got all kinds of shit to do before work…” 

Chan glances back over at the couch like you had, his brows furrowing before he follows you towards the kitchen, shaking his head. “No. I mean—yeah, breakfast, but no, I don’t got shit to do. You…” Tilting his head, Chan watches you open the fridge as you try to keep up your mask, not letting him know you are hurting. “Thought I’d just hang out with you before I went back to work. That sound good?” 

You hated how quickly you nodded in response to that scrap of attention from your best friend. The idea of being alone was eating at you and like always, he came in like a knight in shining armor, ready to make it better. Now a real smile was pulling at your lips as you turned to meet him. “Yeah! I—you really…” Shaking your head to stop yourself from talking, you laugh as you bite at your bottom lip, turning back to your task, pulling out the ingredients for pancakes as you try to find the right words. “I’m just really happy to spend some time with you, Channie.” 

Chan smirks a bit at your reaction before moving to rest against the counter near you. He loved making you smile like that. You looked genuinely excited about spending the day with him and he didn’t have anywhere else he’d rather be. “I love spending time with you. You know that.” A sigh leaves his lips as your cheeks start to heat up under his attention. You are happy when he gestures to the bowl in front of you in question. “What’s for breakfast? Flour?” 

His eyes don’t leave you even as you laugh again, moving to pull on a little apron to cover your clothes. You were so beautiful and even something as simple as watching you put on that apron had his mind spiraling. You were already starting to relax and that only made it easier for him to do the same. Like this he could let himself enjoy your company and how fucking domestic this all was as you handed him the pancake flour and a measuring spoon. 

“Pancakes, duh. I need, like, two…” You say the number like a question before checking the back of the box and nodding. “One and a half cups of that and I’ll add in the rest while you do that.” 

Grinning, Chan sets the bag down on the counter before doing as he’s asked. Dumping the first half a cup into the bowl, he watches you carefully as you bite at your lips, cracking an egg and adding it in as well. He could picture doing this shit every day for the rest of his life with you. If he let himself imagine too much, he’d start picturing you with a kid running around your legs—his kid. Something that would never happen. 

“That’s enough…. Channie!” You whine, knocking his hand, causing the rest of the flour to spill back on his jeans. The moment his eyes fall down to his now dusted jeans, you put an apologetic smile on your lips and whisper out an apology on a quiet laugh. 

“You think this is funny, do ya, darlin’?” It was obvious you did even as you apologized again, turning to drop some batter into the hot skillet. Wiping the flour from his jeans, he cups some of it into his hand, blowing it away and towards you, hitting mostly your hair and cheek. 

“Chan!” You squeal his name, kicking at his leg even as you keep your attention on the batter cooking in front of you. “I’ll kick your ass if you start this.” 

Was that a promise? Grinning once again, he reaches into the batter bowl and scoops out a small amount, smearing it over your nose as you stare at him in disbelief. “Cute.” The word leaves Chan’s mouth, followed by a loud laugh, when you smear your finger through the batter and come for him in retaliation. He grabs your wrist gently, keeping you back as you playfully glare at him. “Your pancakes are gonna burn if you keep playing with me.” 

He was right. You could already smell the batter cooking and it was starting to smell too done at this point, but this was war. With a small push forward, you rest your body against his and Chan’s eyes soften as he loosens his grip on your wrist, practically letting you reach forward and smear the batter onto his cheek. You couldn’t remember a time when he had given up so easily, but maybe you were just getting stronger. Smiling in victory, you turn back to your pancakes and flip them over, assessing the damage as Chan presses his lips together, staying by your side. 

You didn’t seem to realize that he had let you win, but that was okay. It had taken everything in him not to wrap his arms around you when you had rested against him like you had. That daydream of a life together with you had felt all too real for a moment and now Chan was struggling to calm himself down. His heart was in his chest and his hands were shaking slightly as he grabbed a towel, wiping the batter from your nose and his cheek before cleaning most of the flour from your hair as you cooked. 

“You sexting your girl or something?” 

Seungcheol’s voice and his question pull Chan out of his daze and draw his eyes upward as he clears his throat. “What? No… I don’t—” Shaking his head, he shoves his phone back into his jacket pocket and turns his attention back to the door he was watching with the other man. Despite it being a Friday night, this bar wasn’t getting nearly the action required for two to be manning the door. “I was just talking to Y/N…” 

Giving Chan a knowing look, Seungcheol’s lips pull up in a slight smirk before he steps to the side, letting in another small group of girls. They were all cute, probably close to Chan’s age and yet he didn’t give them a second glance as they eyed both of the bouncers before moving to the bar, sharing giggles over Seungcheol’s attention. “Like I said.” 

Seungcheol always did this. He was almost as bad as you. One minute he would be teasing him about you and the next he was trying to secure every potentially eligible girl’s number for him. Chan had eyes. He knew that there were plenty of pretty girls in the bar, but none of them did it for him. 

“Quit the shit. You know Y/N is just my best friend. She’s—I don’t know. Her location is still showing at work and she’s had a couple bad days.” The phone in his pocket vibrates and even though Chan knows that he should ignore it, he shouldn’t check it again while Seungcheol scrutinizes him… He can’t help it. Your name was on the screen and it made Chan’s lips pull up in a small smile as he texted you back. 

“Again, like I said. Your girl. You look like you're two seconds from cumming in your jeans every time she texts you.” 

Chan’s lips purse together as he rolls his eyes at the continued teasing. Something didn’t feel right about how you were texting him. Why the fuck were you still at work? He hated the idea of you having to order a ride home this late. 

“Ope, maybe it’s not sexting. Looks like someone just pissed in your cornflakes.” 

Sighing into his words, Chan glares up at Seungcheol, now leaning back against the door frame as he does. “Dude… I’m not sexing her! We don’t—she’s got somebody. Doesn’t matter…” 

Y/N: How’s work? You at the same bar as last week? 

Chan: Yeah same place. The fuck you still at work for? 

Y/N: Waiting for Ian to pick me up. He was supposed to be here like an hour ago.

An hour? Cursing under his breath, Chan quickly responds to you as Seungcheol smirks at one of the girls who was lingering closer with a drink in her hand. 

Chan: wtf?? Where the fuck is he? 

A few minutes pass without your answer. Chan shifts from one foot to the other, looking at the time in the corner of his screen before cursing a bit louder when you do finally answer. Both Seungcheol and the girl look up in surprise before she wanders back towards her friend. “What? Why are you being weird? I had a name and was this close to getting her digits but you had to wig out.”

“Sorry, I didn’t—goddammit. I’m gonna kill his ass.” Looking up from his phone, Chan scowls heavily, shifting in place once again like it's difficult to stay still. He looks about one breath away from walking out the door and yet his feet are cemented in place, knowing he is on the clock. “The motherfucker forgot to pick up Y/N from work and now she’s sitting on East Higgins tellin’ me she’s gonna order a goddamn Uber.” 

Now it made sense—the ready-to-kill-someone look that was plastered on Chan’s face. Glancing around the bar, Seungcheol shrugs before gesturing to the door. “Get the fuck out of her and go take her home. Ain’t shit happening in here tonight. It’s dead as fuck and you know it.” 

Taking his own look around, Chan groans under his breath, feeling tugged in two different directions. He didn’t skip out on work and though he knew Seungcheol would cover for him, the idea of it ate at him. Then again, you were willing to risk a ride with some shady fuck who might be cruising near your work. Chan felt bile in his throat at the idea. Sure, you might be just fine. You might get the nicest driver in town and there was always the chance you’d end up with some asshole who’d make you uncomfortable. 

Seconds tick by and Chan runs his hand over his face before nodding at Seungcheol, who was staring at him, waiting for him to get his ass in gear. “Yeah…. Yeah, alright. I’m goin’. I’ll make it up to you. Swear.” 

Not waiting for much more than a nod, Chan tugs his keys out of his pocket and moves through the door and out towards his car as he texts with the other hand. 

Chan: Fuck that. I’m on my way. Be there soon.

Guilt eats at you when you see that text from Chan. You hadn’t wanted him to leave work for you, and yet alongside the guilt, you were feeling some relief. It was cold. You had walked out the door of work expecting Ian to be waiting for you only to notice his car wasn’t there. He had promised to pick you up. He had been the one to urge you to get in a couple extra hours on your latest project at work, and now he was too busy to come get you. 

Ten minutes pass and you look up in surprise when Chan’s car comes to a stop with a loud screech of his brakes. He had been at least twenty minutes away. You were full of anxiety, considering how many traffic laws he had broken to get to you as quickly as he had. Wiping your cheeks quickly to get rid of the leftover tears on them, you tug your bag onto your shoulder and make your way over to the car. 

Chan furrows his brows as he waits for you to get comfortable in his passenger seat. You looked like you were freezing and he he didn’t wait even a second before turning up his heat and reaching to brush his fingers over your cheeks. Your skin was like ice and he could feel the line where tears had dried in the cold air. Of course you had been crying. God, how could you not when you had been relying on someone and they let you down once again? “Here, give me your hands.” Reaching for both of your hands as you lift them, Chan cups them in his own and exhales warm breath onto your trembling fingers. “Why didn’t you go back inside, sweetheart?”

Sighing into a laugh, you tilt your head watching Chan as you start to warm up bit by bit. “The door was locked. When I realized Ian wasn’t here, I tried to open the door again, but it was too late. I—he told me to get an Uber home and I could’a done that, Channie.” 

Chan scoffs before his teeth clench to stop him from saying something he shouldn’t. “Alright, why did you work so fuckin’ late for? It’s Friday… Don’t you usually get drinks with people from work?” 

You could see the concern on Chan’s face in the way his brows were knit together and how his jaw was so tight. Taking your hands back from him, you shrug and offer him a soft smile as he finally puts the car into drive, turning towards the direction for home. “Have that big project and I was toying with the idea of getting it done this weekend. I was gonna come in tomorrow but I have dinner with Ian’s parents so he—we—thought tonight might be better to just knock it out.” 

Every fucking decision you made tonight had been for him. The fact of that was causing Chan’s hands to tighten around his steering wheel. He was trying to stay calm, but when you wave it off, he snaps. “He’s a fuckin’ asshole.” You sigh Chan’s name and before you can continue—to defend Ian—Chan practically growls into his words. “No, Y/N, he is. He left you in the fuckin’ cold because he’s too goddamn pathetic to keep his word. You’re too good for him. Why—you should drop his ass.” 

Chan had said things like this before, but he had never been so mad about it. He let you make your own choices, even if he didn’t agree to them, but he had never outright told you that you should break up with Ian. “Don’t be silly. It’s not a huge deal. I’m fine…” 

“No, baby, it’s not.” He hadn’t meant to call you baby, but he wasn’t thinking straight as he tapped his thumb on the wheel hard, waiting for the light to change. “He treats you like shit. Be serious for one second and think back on just the past couple of weeks. How many times has he done what he said he was gonna do?” 

Swallowing hard, you consider Chan’s words and your mind does start to recount the canceled dates and all too many times you were left crying over something Ian had done or had forgotten to do. 

“You work too damn hard to start pulling ten- to twelve-hour days. Oughta wear your ass out for even doing it.” 

Now Chan was muttering under his breath, but you feel your cheeks heat up at his words anyway. He cared about you so much and without question. Sighing softly, you whine his name and shake your head when his attention is back on you. “I know, Chan. I—you’re right, but we’ve been together for so long and he’s—you know. He’s talking to his parents more about shit and we’re doing dinner tomorrow. I’d be an idiot to give up something so good.” 

Scoffing, Chan runs his fingers through his hair before leaning his elbow against the door as he rests his thumb against the bottom of his lip, keeping his eyes on the road. “What’s so good about it? Seriously, tell me because, sweetheart, I don’t see it.” 

You sigh again and lift your hands as if it’s obvious, but Chan’s brows just lift in question. “Oh my god, like everything. He’s good-looking, he’s got a good job… His family is—they’re a good family.” 

“And he’s got a shitty-ass personality.” 

Finally a smile pulls at your lips, causing you to look down. Just seeing it on your face has Chan smirking against his thumb until you speak again and he feels his stomach in his throat. “I think he’s gonna propose, Channie. I’d be throwing all that away. A good stable life… A chance to have kids and give them that life too.” 

Chan fights the urge to say he hopes you’re wrong. He wants to scream at you and tell you not to be so stupid, but what kind of friend would that make him? He could tell you that he could provide that for you—but you didn’t want him like that. He was fucking delusional to even consider it, yet the bile was biting at his throat, causing the next words to come out like the acid he felt. “You really wanna play submissive housewife to someone like that? Someone who doesn’t give you the fuckin’ time of day to come pick you up from work now? This is just you two dating, Y/N…” 

His words cut you deep, but you consider them even as they bite at what you have left of your confidence. “I—I don’t know Channie. It’s all I know…” 

Shifting the car into park, Chan’s eyes move over your face as you keep turning to look at the building with another soft sigh. The moment you start to reach for your bag, he slides his hand into yours, lifting it towards his lips again, brushing them over your knuckles. He watches as your head tilts and your eyelashes flutter like you’re lost in thought before he fills the silence. 

“You know how much I love you, right?” Chan smiles against your knuckles when you nod, telling him you love him too. “And I just want you to be happy. That’s all I care about.” 

Your breath gets caught in your throat even as you lower your hand back down to your lap. You can feel Chan’s lips against your skin and it makes you feel like you are floating, while at the same time panic creeps up your spine because how do you land after that? You wouldn’t; you’d crash to the ground in a bloody heap. You couldn’t consider him like this. You couldn’t ruin this with him. Why was your heart beating like a drum?

“Go on, beautiful. Get some rest.” 

The fish on the plate in front of you was staring at you. Even as you pushed your fork against the side of it, there seemed to be no way to make the fish close its eyes. You could hear the soft drone of voices around you, and yet it wasn’t until Ian closed his hand around yours that you seemed to come back to the present. 

“Mother was speaking to you…” Ian had a smile on his face, but it wasn’t real. There was a strain in his lips that you could see so easily. Dropping your fork, you smile at him and then look to his mother. She was the very picture of a kept housewife. Her brown hair was in a neat chignon near the nape of her neck. Her makeup was light and yet hid every single imperfection. The smile on her face was just as strained as her son’s. 

“I—I’m so sorry, Mrs. Carrington. What were you saying?” 

She scoffs under her breath, glancing at her husband by her side, who hadn’t stopped inspecting you from the moment you had sat down. He was what you imagined power personified would be. He scared you a bit. He looked so much like Ian, and yet there was a deepness in his eyes that made you feel like people could get lost in them. “That’s alright, dear. I was asking about your job. I was wanting to know what advancement opportunities lie at your company. Are you fulfilled there, dear? Would you still work once you have children?” 

Opening and closing your mouth, you swallow hard, feeling Ian’s thumb rub against your wrist bone as they all wait for you to answer. “I—” Why couldn’t you just spit out the words they wanted to hear? Why was this so uncomfortable and difficult? You had met each of Ian’s parents separately over the course of your relationship, but this was the first time you had all sat down together. 

“She works so hard. I’m sure there would be something that could and should be available to her.” Ian speaks up, covering for you and you find yourself grateful until he tilts his head and sucks at his teeth. “But I think Y/N would be happy to stay at home with children. She’ll make a wonderful mother. Right, baby doll?” 

Ian’s eyes, along with his parents’, stay fixed on you as your cheeks start to burn. You weren’t really ready for kids at this exact moment. Of course you had thought about them. You had told Chan the same just a day before, but now that the subject was in front of you and your life was being spelled out for you, it had your heart in your throat beating with every word. “I—I don’t know. There’s time to figure that out.” 

That hadn’t been the response anyone at the table had been waiting for. For the first time in about twenty minutes, Ian’s father makes a sound, and it’s one of disapproval. “You’ll need to figure it out, Miss Y/L/N. There are expectations as a Carrington… That is what all this bullshit is about, is it not?” His eyes then fell to his son, who rested his elbow on the table, pursing his lips against his index finger. 

“Well, I—Sir, I couldn’t assume—” You had started to speak only to feel Ian’s hand tighten around your wrist to stop you. Wincing a bit at the pressure of his hand, you look down at it and then over to Ian even as he keeps his eyes off of you and on his parents. “That hurts…” You manage to whisper the words, leaning towards Ian, and his eyes finally shift to yours. While his fingers ease slightly, he doesn’t let go, and the look in your eyes tells you almost everything you needed to know. He knew that it hurt, and he had meant it. Were you being so impossible that he had to physically shut you down? 

“Y/N understands, Father. Don’t worry about—” 

“I’ll worry about what I want to worry about, Ian. I’ve played along with this—” His finger shifts, pointing from him to you as he furrows his brows in discomfort. “For too long. You told me that she was perfect. I fail to see that.” Settling his eyes back on you, Ian’s father moves his eyes from the top of your head and down as if he can see through the table. “We asked for you both to dress for the occasion. Your girlfriend decided that this restaurant warranted a tight dress that leaves nothing to the imagination? She can’t speak without stammering like an uneducated child. I’m not seeing the perfection.” 

Your stomach flipped with each of his hits to your appearance and actions. This should be the time that Ian stood up to him and named everything he liked about you. You could imagine him being furious with his father and how he was speaking to you; instead, he lowered his own hand, smoothing out his perfect shirt, and tightened his hand around your wrist again. 

“I did ask better of her, Father.” Seeing your jaw drop in surprise, Ian turns to look at you, leaning in closer to speak quieter just for you. “Stop that. You know I did. I told you multiple times this week that this was coming up, and you said you understood.” His eyes shift down to your dress and the bit of cleavage that peeks from the neckline with a displeased groan. “I told you to look perfect. At least you can do is think before you speak. You know the pressure I’m under… I like you, but Jesus Christ, Y/N.” 

“Like me? You don’t love me?” Your eyes cut into Ian as he sighs your name, glancing towards his parents as they speak in a similar way. His father’s neck was flushed from anger and you weren’t making this easy. 

“Stop… I—you know I love you.” 

Tugging your hand away, you go back to looking at the poor dead fish on your plate as Ian apologizes to his parents for you. This didn’t feel like love, but what were you supposed to do but take it? This was what you had signed up for, right? You had slowly started to learn who Ian was. He was one person with his parents and another with his friends, and with you he had never been this. Not really. He had been mean before, but today, this was cruel. 

The dinner had gone on for longer than you had wanted. You had spent more time staying silent and nodding along with Ian or his mother as his father continued to tell you how the relationship would be going from here on out. He had slapped his hand to his son’s shoulder with a painful clap before shaking his hand and telling him you all could meet again in a month to discuss the next steps. Was that how an engagement should begin? Was this a business proposal that his father needed to sign off on before your boyfriend could or would get on his knee to ask for your hand? 

Looking out the window, you sigh as Ian keeps his eyes on the road. You hadn’t spoken to him since the two of you had told his parents goodbye, but it didn’t seem like it was bothering him. It isn’t until the car is parked outside of your building that he turns his attention back to you and breathes out your name. It hurt hearing his voice so soft now when he had hurt you so badly today. Glancing towards him, you feel yourself start to melt a bit at the apologetic look on his face. Maybe you were being too harsh. He had said it himself; he was under a lot of pressure. 

“Are you still mad at me?” Ian slides his hand over yours on your leg, lacing his fingers through yours as he watches your brows soften. “I said I was sorry, babe.” 

He had said that, but at the time it hadn’t felt like he meant it. Now you weren’t as sure. It was confusing. There was an ache in your heart, but having his soft eyes on you like this now… did it make everything better? Shaking your head, you watch his lips pull up in a smile before he turns your hand in his, lifting it towards his mouth and pressing a kiss to your knuckles. The entire moment makes your stomach twist as you picture Chan doing the same thing the night before when Ian had left you sitting outside of your office. 

“That’s good. I’ll call you later, okay?” 

At those words, your mouth dries up and you stare at Ian like he’s joking. Tugging your hand away, your brows once again tense as you try to find your words, feeling like there is cotton sitting on your tongue. “Wha—what? What do you mean? You aren’t coming in?” 

Ian sighs, leaning his head back against the leather headrest. “Baby, I have shit to do. We just had this fucking conversation.” 

All you see is red. You grab your purse out of the floorboard and get out of his car quickly, slamming the door behind you. You can hear Ian cursing behind the closed door and he doesn’t stop as he gets out and moves around the car quickly, his eyes narrowing on you. “The fuck is your problem? You’re acting like a spoiled brat! If you fucked up my car— I swear to god, Y/N!” 

You had hoped that maybe he was getting out of his stupid expensive car to come to get you. You let yourself believe for a split fucking second that he was angry you weren’t going to talk this out with him, but no. Of course he wasn’t doing that; instead, you watch as Ian runs his hand over the door of his car. 

“You need to watch your damn temper, Y/N. This car is worth—” 

“I don’t give a fuck what it’s worth, Ian!” Staring at him for a few seconds, you turn your attention to the car and kick at the door hard, feeling the heel of your shoe scratching at the paint. His hands grab your biceps, and he pulls you tightly into his arms, causing you to wince at the force he uses to keep you in place. 

“Get your ass inside before you do something to really piss me off!” With a rough push towards the steps, Ian glares at you, and you glare back, tears dripping off your cheeks. 

Across town Chan hadn’t been able to stop himself from thinking about you. He had checked his texts one more time; Chan sighs when he sees his message to you left unread. He knew that you were out with Ian, but he couldn’t help himself now as he pulled into a parking spot and looked towards your place. He didn’t know what he had expected, but it wasn’t seeing that motherfucker pushing you away from him, causing you to stumble. 

It only takes seconds for Chan to run towards the other man and for his body to crash into his, sending them both to the sidewalk below. His knuckles meet Ian’s jaw and Chan feels pain rush through his hand from the force. You were yelling now, but Chan only saw him. It didn’t matter that his knuckles were split from how hard he was punching Ian; it only mattered that it was finally happening.

“Get the fuck off of me!” Growling into his words, Ian lands a punch on Chan’s stomach, giving him a split second to roll over him, taking advantage of this fight. He hated this asshole and now he finally had a reason to kick his ass. Taking another swing, this time for Chan’s face, he hits skin, feeling the bone underneath. Ian hoped he had done some damage, but the man below him just glares at him even as blood starts to run down his jaw from his lip. 

“Stop it! Please!” Your throat was raw from how loud you were having to be, just hoping either Ian or Chan would listen to you, but instead you watched as Chan put Ian back on the ground below him and landed a punch against his side, causing your boyfriend to groan in pain. “Oh my god! Chan, stop it!” 

You knew it was stupid to try to break up the two men, but the moment that Ian ended up back over Chan, your heart was in your throat hearing the sound of his fists against your best friend’s face. Starting to reach for Ian, you meet his eyes briefly when his elbow swings back and against your jaw, causing you to see a flash of white as pain spreads through your face. 

Sirens blare in your ears even as you stumble back, your hand on your cheek, hearing Ian and Chan cursing at one another. You couldn’t make out their words anymore. You only seem to focus when a woman speaks to you, her hand on your arm as you look past her to watch two police officers dragging your boyfriend and best friend apart. 

“Miss?” You blink at the woman, seeing the concern in her eyes as her eyes fall to your already swelling jaw. “Which one of them hit you? Do you need an ambulance?” 

Shaking your head, you glance down at the badge on her chest as fresh tears roll down your cheeks. “No…” Beyond the police officer in front of you, you watch as both men are cuffed behind their backs, Chan struggling briefly before he’s told to stop. His eyes were focused on Ian’s, whose eyes were full of the same hate. 

“Would you like to press charges?” 

Those words bring you fully back to the moment, and you step towards them only to be pulled back by the female police officer, who tries to keep you calm. “No! I—it’s not like that. Please don’t take them.” 

“Miss, if either one of them cared enough to stay here, they wouldn’t have been fighting on the side of the street.” 

It had been close to eight hours since you had watched Ian and Chan being driven away in police cars. Your face was aching even as you held an ice pack to it with your eyes fixed on your cell phone. You had texted both of them hoping for a response, and it was as if time was laughing at you as the screen of your phone stayed black. 

Tears begin to well in your eyes, and finally relief mixed with panic floods through you as you grab your phone and look at the message from Ian. 

Ian: I’m sorry. 

Pressing down on his name, you put your phone to your ear and whine when he sends you straight to voicemail with another text, causing your phone to vibrate in your hand. 

Ian: I need some time. My parents bailed me out. Theyre pissed.

Of course they would be. God, this was the fucking worst. They’d hate you even more now, but you find yourself not dwelling on that. At least Ian was out, and you two could talk about this. You needed to talk to him about what happened, but your mind shifted to Chan. He hadn’t texted you back yet and you didn’t know if he was even okay. 

Y/N: I’m so sorry. Do you know if Chan is okay?

Ian: don’t fuckin care hope he rots in there 

Ian’s text causes your mouth to drop open in disbelief. You knew that there would be animosity after what had happened, but not outright rage like that. 

Y/N: Don’t say that…

A moment later your phone rings, showing Ian’s name on the caller ID. Anxiety ripples through you as you answer, putting the phone to your ear. 

“Really, Y/N? You gonna go that damn low to back that motherfucker after what he did to me? He attacked me!” 

Opening your mouth, you start to speak only to hear Ian curse as his mother speaks in the background, telling him to calm down. Tears that had been sitting on the rims of your eyes start to trail along your cheeks as he curses your best friend, calling him every name he can think of before turning his attention back to you. “When are you gonna get it through your thick ass skull who and what he is?” 

Swallowing a sob, you shake your head and wipe your tears from your cheeks. “No, stop it. It’s not like that. You—You pushed me and he—” 

“Oh my god, Y/N! I apologized! I was just pissed. You kicked my goddamn car! You were acting crazy!” 

Once again you start to speak, the sob coming through in your voice as you start to defend yourself and Chan, only to hear Ian hit something through the phone and his mother gasp, immediately telling him to calm down again. “No, I’m not calming down. You know what, Y/N? I can’t do this bullshit anymore. I'm done!” 

Your heart cracks at his words. You feel the pieces shattering in your chest as you try to catch your breath, whispering that this isn’t fair. You don’t get the chance to speak again as the phone beeps in your ear, leaving you just as alone as you were. Tears drip onto the screen of your phone and your shoulders shake as you feel a wave of pain wash over you, followed by a sense of relief. The relief confuses you; it has you sitting up straighter and wiping the tears from your face before you find yourself calming down enough to think. 

The evening replays in your mind. The pain in your jaw has your brows furrowing as you let out a soft, calm breath, realizing you aren’t nearly as heartbroken as you should be. 

Staring up at the police station, you swallow hard before taking the few steps up the stairs before pulling the door open to look around. You couldn’t say that you had been to the police station often, if ever before, but looking around it now had you relaxing more. You had expected bad guys cuffed to chairs and people yelling as police officers led them around, but instead you found one man leaned back in a chair with an annoyed look on his face as a woman sat behind a desk offering a smile to you. 

“Uh, hi. I—could I speak to someone about bailing someone out?” 

The woman nods before pressing down on her radio, asking for another officer to come out before she gestures in that direction. The man offers you a soft smile and then his hand as he introduces himself as Officer Jeon and waits for you to do the same. “How can I help you, Miss Y/N?” 

Following him towards a set of chairs, you sigh before finally speaking. “I want to bail out my friend Lee Chan. I—I’ve never done this before. I brought some cash…” Lifting your purse into your lap, you start to dig out your wallet when the officer laughs under his breath. 

“Let me get his release papers, and we’ll get this figured out.” After a few moments of you sitting awkwardly waiting for him to come back, he waves the papers at you, and you move to stand, going towards him. “His bond is set at $1000 cash. He was charged with public disorderly conduct. This is his court date, but he knows that too.” 

You once again start to take out your wallet when Officer Jeon gestures to the woman you had spoken to when you had arrived. “She’ll take that from you, and I’ll go get Mr. Lee.” 

Nodding, you slowly make your way towards the woman as she takes the papers from the other officer, beginning to process his release into your care. 

Chan’s face was aching, and that didn’t match the feeling of his ribs. He wasn’t sure that he hadn’t broken something, but rage was doing a good job of masking it. Someone was bailing him out and Chan couldn’t think of anyone besides you. That was crazy, though. You wouldn’t want to see him after how he acted. He had just seen shades of red and black when Ian had laid his hands on you. Then he had almost blacked out when he heard that motherfucker’s elbow hit your face. You had looked terrified and shocked. 

Walking behind Officer Jeon, Chan sighs under his breath, lifting his head to see you standing there with papers in your hand. You had come for him after all. There wasn’t anger in your gaze like he had assumed there would be; instead, you looked like you were going to cry at the sight of him. 

“Hey, darlin’.” 

Even Chan’s voice sounded as rough as he looked. Enough time had gone by that, just like your bruise, his was starting to bloom along his skin. There were so many, and you knew there were more you couldn’t even see. Moving towards him, you move into his arms, hearing him grunt in some discomfort as he nods along with the officer’s words, promising to go to his court date. 

Leaving his arm around your shoulders, Chan moves through the station with you and out the door, taking in a deep breath of the evening air. His cell hadn’t necessarily stunk, but there was a chemical cleaner smell that made it even more unpleasant. He had laid down on the thin mattress over the metal bed and attempted to rest his eyes, but all he could see when he closed them was the fear in your eyes. This was better; this was freedom, and he’d do anything he could not to end up inside of one of those cells again. 

You turn in Chan’s arms and look up at him, the tears in your eyes spilling over as you run your fingers over the bruises on his face and then the cut on his lip. “I’m so sorry.” You have to catch your breath through the words, and even as Chan shakes his head, ready to apologize, you refuse it, burying your face against his shoulder, letting him hold you tight. 

“I’m alright. Shh, sweetheart. Let me see you…” His voice is soft as you look up at him. Chan traces the swelling on your jaw, and his teeth clench in anger. That pissed him off more than any bruise or broken bone he might have. You should have never been touched in the first place, but this was worse. 

“It’s okay.” 

It wasn’t okay, and Chan wanted you to understand that, but you were looking at your phone before he could speak. He could see that you had already ordered a ride and now you were just checking to see how long it would be before the Uber would show up. 

Holding the door so you can get into the car, Chan furrows his brows as he sits beside you, letting you rest against his side. He finds himself wondering if you did this same thing for Ian. If you had taken him back to his car and let the prick apologize before he swept you back off your feet. The idea of it makes him feel sick, bile rising in his throat as his eyes move over the side of your face. “I—so, did—have you spoken to Ian?” 

Chan watches as you take a deep breath at the mention of your boyfriend’s name. His eyes follow your face as you nod, but you don’t give him much more than that. God, this wasn’t good, was it? Rubbing his palms against his jeans, Chan looks out the window as the driver turns towards your building and parks. Starting to speak, Chan stops when you thank the man and look at him expectantly. “You—yeah, sorry.” Sliding from the seat, Chan watches you do the same before he closes the door and listens to the car drive away, leaving you both in silence. 

His car was still parked where it had been, but Ian’s was gone. Swallowing hard, Chan tugs his keys from his pocket, ready to speak again when you take his keys out of his hand and lace your fingers with his instead. “I’m not going home? Don’t you want some time away from me?”

He watches as you shake your head and start to lead him up the stairs into your building without so much as a word at first. The silence was like feeling needles against his skin even as your hand rested in his. “I’m sorry, Y/N. I didn’t mean for any of this shit to happen and I—I just… He pushed you, and I freaked the fuck out. He’s a cocksucker with a complex, and I should just keep my mouth shut, but I hate the idea of him touchin’ you—you know, like that.” 

Pushing open the door to your place, you sigh Chan’s name and laugh sadly under your breath. “Stop apologizing. It was my fault and—" You trail off before letting go of his hand, dropping the keys into the bowl and walking into the living room, knowing he is following you. “Doesn’t matter anymore.” 

Chan’s brows furrow at your words, leaving him confused. What didn’t matter anymore? You don’t give him much time to dwell on it as you look back at him and sigh sadly. Moving to take his hand again, you lead him towards the bathroom, leaning to turn on the shower and turning to tug his shirt from his jeans as he watches you closely. Your fingers timidly trace the outline of the biggest bruise on his side as your lips turn down in a frown. 

“This is all my fault.” You were echoing your words from a few minutes ago, but now there was so much pain laced in them that it was breaking Chan’s heart. “I’m so difficult.” You wipe your tears from your cheek angrily before pushing Chan’s shirt up his torso, making him help you get it off as you look over the cuts and bruises that were hidden from you. “We went to lunch with his parents, and they hated me. They hated what I was wearing and how I spoke. Ian was so ashamed of me…” 

Gritting his teeth, Chan leans his head back to keep himself from reacting like he’d prefer to hear how your day had gone. You weren’t someone that anyone should ever be ashamed of. You were perfect, and if they couldn’t see that—if Ian couldn’t see that—none of them deserved you. “Fuck them. Fuck him. I’d kick his ass again if I got the chance. I’ll kill him—” 

“No, you won’t.” Sniffing back your tears, you take Chan’s shirt from his hands and hold it close to you, starting to walk out of the bathroom. “Like I said, it doesn’t matter anymore. He broke up with me. I—" You laugh sadly under your breath again, and Chan leans against the bathroom counter, his brows furrowed at this new information. “I asked about you when he told me his parents bonded him out. He told me you could rot in there for all he cared.” Tears stream down your cheeks, but you can’t decide if you are sad, angry, or numb. “I don’t know what to do.” 

Moving towards you, Chan slides his fingers over yours, pulling one hand to him as he tilts his head. “You don’t have to do anything. How are you feeling? That’s what I want to know. He didn’t deserve you, but I—” 

You laugh again, leaning your head back to attempt to stop the tears still flowing from your eyes. I don’t know how to feel. Ian… He was supposed to be my forever. I had been banking on it, you know?” 

Taking another step towards you, Chan groans your name under his breath as he shakes his head, reaching up to wipe tears from your cheeks. He hated that you were crying over this asshole. It broke his heart to see you so broken. “You deserved so much better. You deserve someone better than some pussy who is going to throw you around like he did.” 

Those were pretty words, and that makes you smile. It was like being told a joke that you knew the true punchline to. “I’m never going to find better than that, Channie.” 

That’s all it takes to break Chan and for him to push you against the door so he can rest his hand on the wood beside your head. His other hand rests against your face, his thumb brushing away more of those tears. He shakes his head resolutely and meets your eyes. “You are worth the fucking world. I just—I just wish I wasn’t such a fucking coward and could say exactly what I want to say to you. I wish just once I could show you what that means…” 

You feel fear spreading through you at Chan’s words, but as much fear as there is rushing through your veins, there is hope chasing it out. You wanted to hear what he had to say. You didn’t want to push him away or make another excuse to get away from him before something happened you couldn’t take back. You didn’t want to take this back. 

“Fuck… Y/N, I love you.” Chan whines into his words when you quickly repeat the words back to him, but he rests his forehead against yours and traces the line of your neck as he forces himself to be brave. “No… Not like that.” Seeing the look in your eyes change, Chan sighs, sliding his hand from the door to rest it on your waist. “I—of course I love you like that, baby. I mean, I’m in love with you. I’ve always been in love with you.” 

Seconds tick by into minutes with you staring up at him with confusion in your eyes until finally understanding seems to wash over you. Reaching up to slide your hand along his chest, you hear Chan whisper your name, pain lining his voice with fear of rejection, before you finally reach his neck, tugging him down the few inches you need. 

Your lips are soft and yet it feels like a fire is behind that kiss when your lips finally meet Chan’s. A groan slips between his lips and into yours as he takes the last step towards you, pinning you between him and the door. This had to be in his imagination. This was every dream he had ever had and it was going to take convincing for Chan to realize it was real. 

Hands carefully trace the line of Chan’s side before you rest your palm against his abs, feeling him suck in his stomach at your touch. You knew this was crazy. There was so much that could go wrong with this, but you push those thoughts away and whine out a moan into Chan’s mouth as his fingers press into your skin over your shirt. 

Somehow this feels so overdue. You feel the fire that had been stoked in your heart burst into flames when Chan groans your name, sliding his hands down your hips then over your ass to lift you. He steps between your legs, and you lock your ankles behind his back, rolling your hips down over his, feeling his cock hardening in his jeans for you. 

“Fuck, baby…” You felt so good against him. He had imagined this thousands of times over the years, but nothing could prepare him for how you actually felt. Your lips were so soft, and your tongue was warm against his. Your body was perfect. He loved how you fit against him and how you clearly wanted him as much as he wanted you. He could feel heat between your thighs, and his cock was painfully straining in his pants now. 

Sliding his fingers along your waist again, Chan breaks the kiss to look down at you for any signs of regret as he pushes your shirt up your stomach to rest under your breasts. Instead of finding any regret, he finds fire in your eyes. They were full of lust and, more importantly, love. God, this might only happen this once, and you might hate him after it, but Chan was so selfish he’d take one time. 

You help Chan slide your shirt over your head, letting it fall to the floor with his as his hands trace your skin as if he’s trying to memorize it with his fingers. Your bra slips down your arms as he unclasps it and you shimmy against him, letting him drop it along with the other clothes. This wasn’t the first time he had seen your tits before, but there was a difference between walking in on your best friend while she changed and the way that Chan was looking at you now. 

How could you be this fucking perfect? Your body was calling to him, and Chan was determined to answer. Brushing his lips against yours again to capture them in a deep kiss, he traces the swell of your breast with one hand before running his thumb over your nipple, causing it to harden. Electricity seems to roll through your body with that action, and you arch your back off the door, pushing your chest back towards him with a whine. 

“So fucking pretty. God, let me look at you.” 

Chan’s voice is low but there’s a deepness to it that has your thighs shaking. You had forced yourself not to think about him like this, but now that it was yours for the taking, every dirty thought you had secretly had about him washed over you. You swallow hard as he steps back from the door and turns to put you on the counter so he can step back and take you in. You feel shy under his eyes and yet nothing about that makes you want to hide. 

Tugging his belt from his jeans, Chan moves his eyes over every inch of your skin without regret. You were his. At least in this moment you were and if it was the first and only time he was damn well going to remember every detail. He mapped out the moles and scars on your skin as he dropped his jeans to the floor with his boxers before running his hand up your legs and to your waist, undoing your jeans next. 

A sigh escapes your lips as you lean back against the mirror, lifting your hips to make it easier for Chan to tug them down with your panties. You were trying to stay focused, but his hands felt so good on your skin, and when he stepped back between your legs, you could feel his cock hard against your bare skin. 

He was big. Bigger than you had even noticed before. It wasn’t as if you had been looking at your best friend’s cock before, but you were a woman, and you weren’t blind. You had seen the bulge in his jeans more than once and let your eyes linger there for a second too long. Now you were looking and feeling without shame. Sliding your hand along your leg, you smirk when Chan’s hands tighten on your thighs, feeling your fingers sliding along his shaft. 

“Careful, sweetheart… Don’t tease me too much.” 

Was that a threat? What if you did exactly that? God, why did that excite you so much? You were soaked, practically dripping onto the counter under you, and Chan’s breathy voice had you tightening around nothing. “Why not?” 

Laughing under his breath, Chan follows it up with a groan when you wrap your hand around his cock and press his tip against your palm, smearing pre-cum onto your skin. “Brat… I don’t wanna scare you. This is supposed to be perfect. I’ve always pictured it differently.” 

That has you tilting your head as you shift forward to rest the head of his cock against your pussy, your other hand gliding along his length slowly. “You won’t scare me.” There was a smile in your voice, teasing him as you did the same with your hand and the softness of the lips between your legs. “How did you picture it? How many times did you picture it?” 

Groaning quietly, Chan opens his eyes to meet yours, seeing the challenge in your eyes. “I’ve thought about this almost every fucking day since we were teenagers, but I’ve loved you for longer.” That admission has your hand slowing and your brows softening; Chan smirks at your reaction, moving to place his hand over yours, moving it over his cock at his pace. “I pictured romancing you. Laying you back on the bed and worshiping you until you screamed my name and came on my cock.” That has your eyes widening and your fingers tightening around him. Groaning into his words, Chan looks down at your hand under his and gasps between words. “You don’t know anything about me when it comes to this. I might scare the shit out of you, princess.” 

Your breath catches in your throat when you see the look in Chan’s eye, and you find yourself actually feeling a bit nervous at his words. Yet the challenge stares you in the face, and you don’t back down. “I’m not afraid of you.” 

Biting at his lip, Chan looks for signs you are lying before his hand moves for your thigh, coming back down with a harsh slap to your skin. He watches as you gasp into a moan before your head falls back against the mirror. Your eyes had rolled back into your head, and you were panting now. “Promise?” 

You had never been with a man who would actually be rough with you before. You could remember complaining about your sex life to Chan more than once, and now you could remember the smirk on his lips as he told you that maybe you just hadn’t found the right guy yet. “Fuck, I promise. Please…” 

What were you even begging for? Smirking to himself, Chan takes a few steps back from you and holds on to the ends of your fingers, urging you to slide off the counter to stand on your own. The moment your feet hit the floor, he turns you in front of him and pins you down, his chest against your back. “Spread your legs.” When you take a moment to act, Chan knocks his knees between your thighs, urging you to do as he said. “How many times have you thought about me fucking you? Be honest.” 

The question has your cheeks burning with embarrassment. You had spent years pushing down your attraction to your best friend, and now he wanted the dirty truth. Fingers slip between your wet folds from behind, and you press your hands into the cold counter under you with a whining moan. “I—a few times.” 

Scoffing at your answer, Chan uses his forearm to keep you pinned down as he leans back to look between your legs as he spreads your folds for him, seeing how wet you are. You were dripping on his fingers, and he still couldn’t prove that this wasn’t a highly realistic wet dream. It didn’t matter either way; he had to see this through. He’d die if he didn’t. “A few? Once, twice, maybe a dozen? We’ve known each other a long fuckin’ time, Y/N. I know when you’re lying to me. Don’t make me punish you.” 

The promise of that was so sweet you bite your bottom lip and suck it into your mouth, feeling Chan’s fingers barely dip into your entrance. You gasp, your lip falling from your lips when he buries his middle finger in you completely, drawing an answer from your lips. “A couple times…” 

It was a lie and he knew it. Chan grins, standing up a bit taller, letting his arm rest over your ass now as he curls his finger against your warm, soft walls. “You’re gorgeous when you lie.” With those words he pulls his finger from you, hearing you whine before his hand comes down hard over your ass. The scream falling from your lips scares him for a few seconds before you relax under him and look back over your shoulder with lust in your eyes. You wanted more. He could do that. 

Chan tugs you back further, pushing your ass out even more, before his hand smacks the side of your ass so hard that his palm burns. “How fucked up are you, baby? Wanna share stories?” His eyebrows lift, and you whine, turning your head away from him. You were embarrassed, but Chan was feasting on the sight of you. “Oh, come on. You won’t tell me the truth about how much you’ve thought about me. Least you can do is tell me how kinky you’ve gotten.” Did he even really want to know? Probably not. The idea of some other man touching you has Chan’s blood boiling, but he has to hear it from you to know just how much better he has to be. 

“I don’t know! Fuck, Channie!” Another slap to your ass has your thighs trembling, your knees threatening to buckle before Chan pulls you back against his chest as he leans to turn the shower off, making you realize this isn’t going to be over anytime soon. You whine at the feeling of his hard cock pressing against your ass as he leads you out of the bedroom and into your bedroom. You know you should know better, but a smirk pulls at your lips as you remember what he had said. “This the part where you romance me and make love to me?” 

Grinning to himself, Chan tugs your arm behind your back a bit tighter at the teasing in your voice. “Somethin’ like that. I do want you on your back.” Turning you in his arms quickly, Chan dips his head to yours and captures your lips in a searing kiss that leaves you breathless. He continues to walk you backwards until your knees meet the end of the bed and you fall backwards without anyone to catch you but the mattress. 

Chan moves his eyes back over you and groans as he stops between your legs, seeing your folds glisten in the light. “Spread ‘em.” He watches intently as you spread your legs, your folds sticking together from how wet you really are. “Your pussy too. Be a good girl and use your fingers.” 

You lick your lips, your breath threatening to get caught in your throat again as Chan tells you what to do. You know you could tell him no. You could just lie here and let him force you to do it, but your fingers trail over your stomach and between your legs, where you use your fingers to spread your soft folds for him. 

“No one compares to you. I’ve looked at women. I’ve fucked them. You know that… Don’t give me that look.” A smirk pulls at Chan’s lips when you narrow your eyes at him recounting his own sex life. “You’re the one who urged me to date, baby. You don’t get to judge me now.” Seeing you still pout at him, though your eyes soften, has Chan chuckling in amusement. “But none of them were half as beautiful as you. None of their pussies had my mouth watering and my cock so fucking hard. That’s only you.” 

There would be no other girls. He’d never look between another girl’s legs for as long as you were breathing. You had never been so possessive in your life, especially not over Chan, but now you were practically feral at the thought of him touching another girl. How had you set up all those dates and watched some girl’s hand sliding over his arm? The idea of it now made you want to scream and tear their hair out. 

“You look like you’re going to burst into flames. Are you that fuckin’ mad? You thinking about how you took me to the bar and I left with another woman?” 

“Shut the fuck up!” 

Chan laughs in disbelief as you yell at him. His hand slaps yours away before his hand comes down hard over your pussy, making you scream out a moan. “You’re furious. So goddamn jealous now. You claiming me, darlin’?” 

Tears were on your cheeks, but this time they weren’t from how sad you had been. This time they were tears of pleasure. They were tears of frustration as Chan played with you. “You’re mine.” 

God, how long had Chan wanted to hear that? How many times had he wanted to say that same fucking thing to you? Sliding his fingers along your folds, Chan grins as he meets your vengeful eyes. “And you’re mine. No one else can ever make you feel like I do. I swear that to you. I’m gonna fuck you so hard… so good, that you won’t remember that motherfucker’s name.” 

He was just as possessive, if not more. That was deadly clear now as Chan avoided even saying Ian’s name in fear you’d try to remember it. The moment you furrow your brows, Ian’s name clearly on your mind, Chan groans, but it sounds more like a growl before his hand comes down between your legs again hard. It hurt, but it hurt so good that each slap had your thighs quivering and your pussy clenching. 

“Get his fuckin’ name off your mind. What did I just say?” 

“I’m sorry! I won’t think about him. I’ll forget his name.” 

With your apology, Chan nods, his fingers smoothing the burn he had left between your legs before he turns his palm up and slides two of his fingers into you without warning. He watches you arch off the bed and how your legs try to close, but he just pushes them back down to the bed with his free hand. “You’re close, aren’t you? You gonna cum on my fingers like a good girl?” 

You wanted to be his good girl, and he wasn’t making that difficult. You were so close that it was painful. A few thrusts of his fingers over that spot inside of you had you lifting your hips off the bed and trying to push his hand away. He didn’t let you. He pushed down on your hips and pumped his fingers into you harder, faster, and unapologetically as he prolonged your orgasm, causing you to scream his name. 

Chan doesn’t stop until he sees the tears rolling down your cheeks once again. Only then does he slide his fingers from you, pausing to tease your swollen clit, drawing another whimper for mercy from your pretty lips. You were exhausted. Your thighs were shaking uncontrollably, and his hand was coated in your cum. It still wasn’t enough. Chan wanted you ruined. 

You shiver as Chan traces his hands along your sides, letting them come to a rest under your breasts. He was giving you time to come down from your orgasm, but you weren’t sure there was any way of coming down from this. You had never felt so limp after an orgasm as you did now. You could easily fall asleep as his hands lulled you to take deeper breaths, and yet you knew he wasn’t done. “You—You’re gonna kill me.” 

Laughing under his breath, Chan’s lips brush over the soft skin of your stomach, groaning when you shift under him. “Never. I couldn’t live without you. I thought you knew that by now.” He watches a smile pull at your lips before he nips gently at your skin, working his kisses lower. You were whining his name, almost seeming to realize where he was going, but he laced his fingers with yours and tsked. “Denying me a taste? Can’t you handle it, baby?” 

God, he was infuriating. You were made of jello, and Chan wasn’t letting you go. You’d be lying to yourself and him if you wanted him to. Opening your eyes, you watch him move lower, your bottom lip caught between your teeth only to slip out when you moan at the first swipe of his tongue between your legs. 

You tasted better than Chan could imagine. Your pretty thighs were trembling with each lick, nip, and brush of his lips over your sensitive pussy, but he wasn’t anywhere close to being done with you. Pushing your legs back towards your stomach, Chan groans like a starved man as he buries his face against you. He sucks your clit between his lips and ruts his hips against the end of the bed, hearing you cry out for him. 

“Taste so fuckin’ good.” Chan was muttering to himself, but he knew you could hear him. Your fingers were laced in his hair. You were pulling him closer between your legs and he wasn’t going to disappoint. His teeth tug at your soft lips, letting them go before he dips his mouth lower and forces his tongue into your dripping hole. 

You were clenching down on his tongue and practically screaming Chan’s name as he groaned like an animal against your pussy. No one had ever come close to making you feel like it. You could remember faking orgasm after orgasm with different partners, but you knew in your soul you’d never have to do that with Chan. 

Running his tongue back up to your clit, Chan grins against your skin before he sucks the bud back into his mouth and you let out a silent scream this time as your orgasm rips through you like a wave. Your thighs were closed around his head. Each breath in from his nose made his lungs scream for more, but he didn’t force your legs apart until you came to a stop with your back arched high. 

Not wasting a bit of your cum, Chan licks his lips clean and stares up at you from between your legs. Your breasts were rising and falling hard. You looked just about as ruined as he wanted you, but his cock was going to explode if he didn’t get inside of you. He knew there was more to talk about, but his brain was going a million miles an hour as he slid between your legs and pressed his tip against your clenched pussy. He wasn’t going to force himself inside of you. He waited until you were relaxed enough to welcome him in before he buried his cock in you to the hilt. 

A tired but pleased gasp escapes your lips when Chan fucks you slow, making you feel almost overwhelmed with how full you are. No one else mattered and it seemed like he knew it as he groaned against the shell of your ear, relishing in the feeling of you surrounding him. 

“You’re mine, Y/N. Even if it’s just for tonight.” Chan’s voice has a layer of sadness that you want to banish away from him, but before you can find the words, he thrusts into you again, finding a steady pace and you forget how to even speak. His lips find yours, his tongue gliding along yours as his hand pulls your leg tighter to his side, letting him fuck you hard and deep. 

Words get lost between the both of you. You both fall into the rhythm and the feeling of your skin against his. You start to think that there’s no way you can cum again, but once again Chan refuses to give up, his cock so deep and so perfect that after a few minutes you feel that coil tightening and threatening to snap. “P—Please…” 

Furrowing his brows tightly as you beg him for release, Chan groans, burying his face against your neck, his lips finding the soft skin there as he nips and sucks at it. He’d give you the fucking world. He’d tear it down piece by piece and rebuild it for you if you only asked for it. Reaching between your body and his, Chan’s fingers find your clit, and he rubs the bundle of nerves in a tight circle, feeling your thighs start to shake once again. The moment your orgasm rips through you, he has to force himself not to follow. You were clenched around him so tightly it took effort to thrust into you. You were acting like you never wanted to let him go, and by god, he’d stay inside you for the rest of his fucking life if that were possible. 

You feel Chan try to pull from you, his groans becoming breathy as his own climax tries to take him over that edge. A whine slips from your lips, and you wrap your leg around his back, urging him to stay inside you. Meeting his eyes, you see the question in his gaze, and you simply nod and whisper "please" once more. Chan’s brows furrow, and he lets out a sigh of your name before pressing his lips to yours, burying himself inside of you hard once more, letting his cum spill into you. 

Moments slip by without a spoken word. You both fight to catch your breath, and Chan’s hands trace the contours of your body before he finally slips from you and lies at your side. This was the part you were afraid of. This was always the scary part; it didn’t matter who the man was in your bed, they would either stay or leave, and nine times out of ten in your experience, they left. But this was Chan. Chan, who had slept in your bed a hundred, possibly a thousand, times in the time since you had become friends. It was Chan who was looking at you like you hung the fucking stars in the sky as his fingers traced your swollen jaw with so much care you felt like glass under his touch. 

“Do—” Swallowing your words, you turn on your side to face Chan as he lifts his brows in question, urging you to keep going. “Do you really love me?” You watch as his brows soften before he pulls you closer and kisses you softly. There is so much said in that kiss that it almost breaks your heart. 

“More than anything. For the rest of my fuckin’ life. Even if you never look at me like this again. Even if I never get you like this again… I’ll always love you.” 

Tears fill your eyes, and you whine his name, pushing him away so you can hide the tears. You bury your face against his chest, and Chan runs his hand along your back, soothing you and begging you not to push him away. How was this real? You didn’t deserve it. You didn’t deserve Chan, but you loved him so much that it took your breath away. So finally you tell him that and you watch his lips fall open in a breathless sigh before he cups your chin and presses his lips to yours with meaning, hoping you’ll understand how important this moment is to him. 

READ THE BONUS NOW

Chan is the one rolling his eyes now. He knew you were teasing him, but he meant every name he called you—darlin’, sweetheart, honey… None of them could match how he felt about you and how much you lit up his life. You deserved someone being nice to you and calling you pretty names that, even if they couldn’t match your beauty, would put a smile on your face. His eyes follow your hand as you bring the coffee up to your lips and take a sip, letting a smile spread across your pretty face. He might not get the cold coffee or like the taste of all that chocolate you liked in your drinks but he’d do anything to make you smile like that. 

“Don’t let it rot your teeth out your head. They put about five pumps of that chocolate shit into it.” 

You laugh, and Chan feels his chest tighten. This was a good day. The sun was out, the wind was moving through the trees, and you were with him. He couldn’t ask for anything better—well, he could, but that’d make him be as selfish as he felt when he was around you. 

“Just how I like it. Want a sip?” Tilting the drink towards Chan, you watch his nose wrinkle before he leans to take a sip and then makes a face like he has something sour on his tongue. “You are such a baby. What’d you get anyhow? Coffee just black and boiling?” 

Lifting his cup, Chan grins at you before he takes a sip of just that. It was strong and he could feel it go down his throat and warm his chest. “Mmhm, like a real man.” You laugh again following it with a groan, the smile that was on Chan’s face softens into something fond. You two could be picking at each other for just about anything and all you’d have to do is look at him and he’d fall on his knees for you. 

Of course you didn’t know that. You just saw Lee Chan as your best friend. He’d met you on the playground when the two of you were in second grade. You had fallen off a swing and cut your knee. Chan had been the first person there. He had wiped away the big fat tears on your cheeks before running to find a teacher before coming back to you and telling you it’d all be okay. You still had that scar. Every time you’d wear shorts, like today, Chan couldn’t help but let his eyes move down to it. That scar marked the moment he fell in love with you but just like that 7-year-old boy, he still couldn’t tell you. Instead, he’d watched you grow up beside him and hated every man you’d ever dated, but none of them he hated more than the one you had now. 

Sighing to the sound of your ringtone, you pout at the idea of being interrupted but seeing Ian’s name on the caller ID has you sitting up and a big smile on your face. You hadn’t been dating Ian Carrington for too long, just about six months, but he felt like the one. You don’t see how Chan’s smile fades to a scowl when you put the phone to your ear and answer it, so pleased to hear from your boyfriend. “Hi, baby!” 

Chan looks down at the coffee in his hands as he listens to your voice change. It wasn’t necessarily that you were trying to be someone different with Ian; it was more that he brought something else out of you. He made you feel like you had to be perfect when that was impossible for anyone. It didn’t matter if, in Chan’s eyes, you were the closest thing to perfection; Ian still made you feel like you had to be better. 

“Yes! Really? I’d love to see you.” A soft, flirty giggle slips past your lips as you lean your head towards your shoulder. Ian still had you in the schoolgirl-in-love phase. He was one of the most handsome guys you had ever seen and there was a layer of unattainability to him that you were breaking through piece by piece. “I miss you too, babe.” Glancing up at Chan, you give him an apologetic look, seeing him stare at his coffee. From the beginning of your relationship with Ian, you had made it clear that you still needed to have time for your best friend. That hadn’t really changed, but Ian did seem to have horrible timing. “Now? Ian, I’m out with Channie…” 

Keeping his scoff to himself, Chan lifts his coffee to his lips, taking a long sip as he listens to your voice drop in volume. All he can think to himself is, here we go again. It may be lost on you that Ian didn’t like your friendship with him, but your boyfriend had made it very clear to him. It wasn’t like Ian didn’t already know where you were. You had no doubt texted him at the very least, and yet he was going out of his way to ruin a perfect day. Any other time he’d leave you sitting in your apartment bored and missing him, but the moment that Chan stepped up, suddenly Ian was the perfect attentive boyfriend. 

“Baby doll, I left work early for you. Now, don’t you wanna come see me? Spend a little time with your boyfriend? You can see Chan any day of the week. You know I’m busy, baby…” You start to speak and Ian sighs softly, speaking over you. “‘Course if you wanna stay out instead of coming to see me, I can’t make you do something you don’t want. It was wrong of me to call you while you’re out. Tell Chan I’m sorry and you two have a good day. I’ll try to see you tomorrow.” 

Meeting Chan’s curious eyes, you shift in your chair a bit uncomfortably before whining Ian’s name. You hated the idea that you might not get to see him today and the way he was talking, tomorrow seemed like it might not happen either. “No… No, baby. I can—I’ll be over in like twenty minutes, okay? I’m excited to see you.” 

It was past noon but Chan rarely got up before 2 pm. There were few things that would make him get his ass moving, but you were one of them. You were pretending to be okay. You were always doing that—Chan could tell when it wasn’t the case. There was a slight whine to your voice, like you had been crying… again. “What happened, sweetheart?” 

Closing your eyes tight, you hold the phone closer to your ear. How did he always know? Ian never knew. You could be outright crying and Ian would be oblivious. That wasn’t his fault. You were on the phone; how could he really tell? That’s what you kept telling yourself and yet your best friend caught on instantly. “No—nothing... I’m fine, Chan. What are you up to?” 

You hadn’t looked at the time before calling him. If it were anyone else, that’d annoy Chan, but it was you. He had worked the night before and been asleep for about five hours—that’d be enough. “Nothing, just sittin’ here. What happened, Y/N? I know you aren’t fine. You’ve been cryin’. Did that asshole—” 

“Channie! No… no, he didn’t do anything. Just—” Tears were on your cheeks again. You were trying to keep yourself calm but it was hard to do when you felt like shit. “We made plans and then one of his friends called.” 

To anyone else that might sound silly; however, Chan knew what it meant. You two had made plans, maybe a date or something, and then either he didn’t show up or he left ten minutes into it because one of his stupid friends called wanting him to hang out with them instead. This shit was always happening. It was easier than telling the weather, knowing if Ian was going to break your heart or not. “Want me to come over? I can pick up some Chinese and rot on the couch.” 

You felt bad putting this on Chan as often as you did. You were still dressed up, ready to spend the day with your boyfriend but instead you were crying on the phone with your friend. “That sounds nice. If you aren’t busy. I—” As if something comes to your mind, just then you gasp and whine, causing Chan to sit up a bit before you continue. “You worked last night! Oh my god! Go back to sleep. I’m so stupid. I’m sorry, Channie!” 

Sighing to himself, Chan tugs his jeans up his legs, balancing the phone between his cheek and shoulder. “Stop it, darlin’. If I get tired again, I can nap at your place. You ain’t stupid. Don’t ever call yourself that. I’d kill someone for saying that to you. Smartest gal I know.” 

You pout to yourself, wiping the tears from your cheek as you listen to Chan moving around his place. You knew he wasn’t kidding. He had gotten into more fights than you could count while the two of you were in school. All it took was someone to look at you wrong or say the wrong thing and they’d get Chan’s face in theirs. He was just protective, like you were his sister or something. “I’m not. Be careful drivin’. Love you.” 

Chan knew how much Ian hated to hear you tell Chan you loved him. You hadn’t even said it to him as far as Chan knew. The thought makes a smile pull at his lips as he pulls his keys from the hook, shoving them into his jacket pocket. “Love you too. Be there soon.” 

You had been telling Lee Chan you loved him since the second grade and that wasn’t going to change. That fact was a big reason that you and Ian fought. He had told you that he loved you around the third date, but you hadn’t been sure then. You thought you knew now but the words always got caught in your throat. You probably just needed to be a bit braver. 

It didn’t take Chan long to drive to your place. He had made this drive hundreds of times and every single time, but especially lately, he felt his stomach get all tight with nerves. You were more special than you even knew. You were the type of girl to look in the mirror and think she had every single thing wrong with her, but Chan saw you for who you really were—the most beautiful girl that was ever born. He could see that you were made of everything that was good in the world, even if you thought you were plain and selfish. 

Using his spare key to your apartment, Chan lets himself in and sighs softly as he kicks off his shoes in the entryway. This was just as much home for him as his own place was. He could remember falling asleep on your couch or in your bed multiple times after a long study session when you both were still trying the college thing. He remembered waking up to the smell of food and you singing along with some pop song on the radio as you swayed in front of the stove cooking. Chan had more good memories in this apartment, but he also had bad ones. Bad was seeing Ian show up and knowing he had to leave. Bad happened as soon as you started dating that moron that you seemed to be head over heels with. None of that could compare to walking into your apartment and seeing you curled up on the couch with tears drying on your cheeks. 

“Darlin’...” The word slips off Chan’s lips like a breath as he moves across the room, only stopping to drop off the carryout in his hand before he kneels at your couch. Delicately wiping the tears from under your eyes, trying to control his face. The moment you look at him, you’d know he was upset. Chan had a hard time hiding those sorts of expressions. His brows would furrow deeply, just like his lips would turn down in a disapproving frown. “Come here. Let me sit with ya.” 

Taking a deep breath, you try to push down your emotions but that look on Chan’s face breaks you again. You sit up and he slips onto the seat you were lying on before pulling you against his chest. You know you shouldn’t rely on him so heavily but it was difficult to say no to your rock. Chan was your constant and right now he was keeping you from sinking even as you sobbed softly in his arms. “I’m so stupid.” 

Chan shakes his head and tugs you tighter to him when you start to blame yourself for your situation. You didn’t make yourself cry by treating yourself like you weren’t worth the time—no, that was Ian Carrington’s doing. “No, you ain’t. I already told you you’re the smartest and prettiest girl I know. Want me to kill him? I’ll do it.” 

His words make you laugh, but you don’t even realize how serious Chan is. Of course he wouldn’t actually kill someone, but kicking his ass into the next century? That was something he could and would do for you. 

“Don’t be silly.” Sighing into your words, you shift against Chan to get more comfortable. You were still sad but it never failed that you’d brighten up even a fraction when you were around your best friend. “He promised to make it up to me so I know he will.” 

“Sure…” Chan wanted to tell you that maybe you were being a bit stupid, but those words never left his mouth. Instead, he tightens his arm around you and stares at the table in front of him. Ian was always making it up to you, but that didn’t mean that Chan believed it. “Enough of him, I got you sesame chicken. Eat somethin’.” 

He watches as you perk up slightly and move back to sitting beside him instead of against him. You were cute as you carefully opened the bags holding the food, setting each container out like you always would. Chan finds himself wondering if your boyfriend took care of you like this. Did he come when you were crying? Did he bring you all your favorite foods and snacks? Maybe he did, but to Chan this was something only he could do. 

Squealing under your breath when you open the crab rangoon, you look over your shoulder to meet Chan’s eyes, seeing the smile pulling at his lips. “You’re spoiling me.” 

He was. That had been the intention. Chan knew he could have gotten you the bare minimum and you’d still feel the same, but after hearing you crying on the phone, he had gotten all your favorites. Leaning forward, he opens the last dish, his own but even it makes you shuffle your feet out of excitement. “Now don’t think you’re stealing my food. I’ll share with you if you share with me.” 

You knew that Chan was teasing you, but even as you open your chopsticks and take a piece of meat from his plate, he smiles at you. Speaking carefully around the food in your mouth, you furrow your brows and lean to push your shoulder against his playfully. “You always say that, but then you get something I like.” 

Picking up the other set of chopsticks, Chan looks down at them as he breaks them apart to hide the slight flush he was feeling on his cheeks. You were right. He could pick just about anything, but it felt better to get something you’d share with him. He could be plenty happy just watching you enjoy your food; however, there was something special about knowing just the right things to get to make you happy. “Yeah, whatever. Just wanna make sure you eat well.” 

The two of you fall into a comfortable silence as you eat. At some point you turn the TV back on and hit play on the latest series that you and Chan had been watching together. Nothing needs to be said until you are the first to break the silence, glancing over at Chan as he rests his hand over his stomach. “I—hey. Did you ever call Chuu back? She was texting me but—” 

“Nah. I’ll text her later and apologize.” 

Furrowing your brows, you put your chopsticks down next to the plastic container before pulling your legs under you so you can rest back on the couch. “Did the date not go like you wanted it to? She seemed to really like you.” You weren’t exaggerating. In the past two days you had gotten a dozen texts from your co-worker Chuu asking if Chan was ignoring her. This wasn’t the first time you had tried to set him up with someone only to watch it go nowhere. 

Chan shrugs into a sigh, his eyes moving to you then quickly back to the TV. He knew he had a few unread texts from your friend but he didn’t want to lead anyone on. “Yeah, I mean, sure. The date was alright. Just got dinner at Charlie’s and I took her home.” 

Now you looked disappointed as you nodded along with Chan’s words. Sighing once again, he shifts next to you and runs his fingers through his hair. “She just—I don’t know. She’s not my type. She’s a sweet girl, don’t get me wrong. I just don’t think I’m ready to date like that. I’m not interested in somethin’ serious like they seem to think I am.” 

The disappointed look on your face had turned sour. You looked like you didn’t believe him now, like you were reading his mind. “I don’t think Chuu was lookin’ for anything too serious neither, Channie. I just want—listen to me, okay? You are always alone or stuck with me.” When Chan doesn’t say anything right away, his face only scrunching up like he’s tasted something that’s gone bad, you slide to your knees and reach for his hand like you are going to tug him along with you. “We should go out this weekend. I can be your wingwoman, and we can look for someone who’s more your type.” 

Saturday rolled around too quickly for Chan’s liking. It wasn’t just that he knew what your plan was with this trip to the bar, but that Ian was coming along. He had been looking forward to tonight for days, and the moment he learned about Ian’s insistence to tag along, the night was ruined. Chan knew he could have told you that he didn’t want your boyfriend there, but how would that go over? So instead, Chan tugged at his jacket as he looked in the mirror, deeming himself dressed. He didn’t have high hopes for the evening. 

You, on the other hand, were over the moon. Not only were you on a mission to get Chan a date but now Ian was actually making time for you. Leaning against your dresser, you close one eye, carefully applying your eyeliner as you listen to Ian from the other room. He had shown up about an hour early but again you weren’t complaining. Getting time with him lately was like pulling teeth. You knew that your boyfriend was a popular guy. He had tons of friends and he enjoyed his job, but sometimes you wished he’d pick you over a night out with work friends or whatever it was he did. 

“You listening to me, baby?” Huffing into his words, Ian leans against the door frame to your bedroom as he watches you. You were gorgeous and tonight it seemed like you were putting in some extra effort. He was doing his best to tell him that was because of him. “That dress is pretty. It new?” 

You smile at Ian from your mirror and shift your weight to your other leg as you repeat the process on your other eye. “Yeah, I got it yesterday after work. You really like it?” 

How could he not? It was tight in all the right places and had his mind wandering as his eyes moved over your pretty legs. “Yeah, I like it. It’s a little tight.” Ian sees your smile fade slightly, but you still manage to seem unaffected by his words. “I’m just sayin’ that maybe it’s not a dress for tonight. I mean, this is about trying to find a chick for Chan, right? Why you gotta get all dolled up for him?” 

You hated when Ian did that. When he acted like there was something between you and Chan. He was jealous of your best friend and it upset you. “No—I… I’m dressed up for you, babe. I wanna look pretty for you. ‘Sides, I don’t really wanna go out looking shabby.” Pouting as you put the cap back on your eyeliner, you avoid Ian’s eyes as you whine into your words. “You want me to change?” 

God, he couldn’t stand when you were whining. You did it more often than his liking. At first it was cute, but the moment he said one thing that didn’t go in the way you wanted it to, you were whining and crying. You did a good job at making him feel like the bad guy when it wasn’t really his fault he had a life outside of you. Shaking his head, Ian moves to stand behind you, sliding his hands along your waist to pull you back against him. “Course not. You do look pretty, baby. You look too pretty, but that’s alright. Wear what you want.” 

You smile, feeling Ian’s lips against your neck, his fingers kneading into your stomach as he takes a deep breath of your perfume. Times like this you felt like a million bucks. Sure, he could make you sad, but then he’d spend time with you like this and all that sadness would fade away. “‘Kay. Thank you.” 

Humming softly against your soft skin, Ian hides how he rolls his eyes at your response. You were spoiled and it had to be his fault. Forever his bratty little baby. “Mm, anything for you, doll.” Moving back from you a bit, Ian lets his eyes move over your face in the mirror and down to your chest, where your breasts were being held up and tight by your dress, giving you mouthwatering cleavage. He should enjoy it and maybe he would if he were the one going to see it. “Maybe wear a jacket, though. Your tits are out.” 

It doesn’t surprise Chan when you and Ian show up later than planned. He had already been sitting at the bar nursing a whiskey for around half an hour before he heard your voice call his name. He isn’t able to hide his smile when you carefully move between people to make your way over to him. Chan simply sighs and opens one arm for you, letting you hug him from the side as he feels Ian’s eyes linger on you both a bit too fiercely. 

“Any luck yet?” 

Ian’s voice seems bored when he speaks to Chan, drawing his attention away from you and up to him as he takes a seat one stool away from him. At least he had left a stool for you, but the way he pulled you away from him told Chan everything he needed to know. Ian was in a mood and he wasn’t tolerating Chan tonight. How you didn’t seem to be affected by his attitude was a mystery, but Chan forces himself to smile as he shakes his head. “Nah. Ain’t been here too long.” 

Forcing himself not to roll his eyes, Ian offers Chan a tight smile instead as you sit between the two of them shrugging your jacket off. It was hot in the bar but the idea of you with all that skin showing causes the smile on Ian’s face to fall into a tight line. Though he doesn’t say anything, it seems his eyes on you are enough to have you tugging your dress up on your chest. 

Chan lets himself get a good look at you and you take his breath away. You were always stunning but he had never seen you in this dress. It was perfect on you even as you fought with the deep cut of the neck that displayed your breasts so well. If this was anyone else and a different time, you’d have him on his knees for you begging for a single chance—but life wasn’t fair, and he could feel Ian’s judging eyes. 

“Baby, let’s go dance.” 

Already slipping out of his chair, Ian reaches for your hand as you whine. You two had just got there and you were on a mission. “I—yeah, okay. Channie, come with us?” 

Chan didn’t need to see the look on Ian’s face to have him turning you down. It hurt to see that smile fade from your lips but Chan is quick to cover his own disappointment as he gestures around the bar. “Checking out prospects. You go have fun, sweetheart.” 

You glance around the bar, seeing the few pretty girls that Chan had to be referencing, before biting at your bottom lip. This was what you wanted, so why did it make your stomach hurt? “Alright. Good luck!” 

Watching Ian guide you into the middle of the small dance floor, Chan watches your smile brighten as you start to dance. He should look away and give you and Ian privacy, but instead he brings his drink to his lips and sips to cover his sigh. 

“She’s pretty. That guy steal your girl?” 

The woman’s voice is sultry as she slides onto the stool that had just been yours. Glancing to his left, Chan gives her a quick once-over before shaking his head to answer her question. “Nah. Nothin’ like that.” The woman was pretty. She was wearing a tight red dress that left little to the imagination. Her long black hair was shiny and it looked soft, but Chan feels that pit in his stomach getting larger as he even considers her. 

He had intrigued her. He was one of, if not the most, attractive guys in the bar tonight and he had his eyes on some girl dancing with an equally hot man. Yet he was telling her that the girl he had his eyes fixed on wasn’t his. Maybe he wanted her to be, or maybe he just needed someone to help him forget. “I see. I’m Gabriela.” Offering him her hand, Gabriela smiles brightly, enjoying the moment that Chan finally looks at her, turning on his stool away from the girl he couldn’t have. 

“Chan.” Despite the pit in his stomach, Chan remembers the reason you had begged him to come out tonight. He had hoped for one thing, you and him alone to just enjoy another night out, but had gotten another as Ian kissed at your neck for everyone to see. Keeping his eyes on Gabriela, Chan swallows hard and gives in to what’s easy. “What you drinkin’, gorgeous?” 

Other girls were easy. Flirting was as easy as breathing on the surface; it was how he felt on the inside that made this unbearable for Chan. And yet it was working on Gabriela. She was batting her lashes and moving her hair over her shoulder to let Chan get a good look at her exposed skin. He could easily look away, but his mind was fighting him. Glancing out towards the dance floor, Chan’s chest tightens when he sees your arms around Ian’s neck as his hands slide down over your ass. That was enough to make Chan feel sick so he grins at Gabriela and lifts his hand for the bartender, ready to order her a drink. 

Smirking to himself, Ian glances from Chan at the bar down to you. “He’s doing just fine. I don’t know what you were worried about.” 

Your eyes quickly move to Chan and over the girl sitting next to him as he slides a cocktail towards her fingers. You should be happy. This was what you wanted to happen. You wanted Chan to come out and find a pretty girl to take out, but this girl looked like a viper wrapped in red spandex. You felt your chest tighten as she ran her red nails over his hand and leaned her head back to laugh at something Chan had said. “Oh… yeah, he’s— she’s—” 

Ian sighs as he leans his head back, turning you slightly on the dance floor so that your attention is back on him. “Perfect for him. Just slutty enough, right?” 

You hated when Ian talked like that, and that wasn’t the type of girl you pictured your best friend with. Then again, you hadn’t really pictured him with anyone. You wanted to, but it never seemed easy. There was always just you and Chan no one else… Glancing up at Ian, you put a smile on your lips but you don’t nod or shake your head to tell him that he’s right or wrong. You instead let him tighten his grip on your hip as you tilt your head, meeting his eyes, trying to ignore what you had caused at the bar. 

“Security?” Tilting her head, Gabriela grins at Chan as he nods. “Like a cop? Are you gonna arrest me?” 

Sighing into a strained laugh, Chan shakes his head this time. “Uh no, no, not like a cop. Just security. I—” 

“So like a mall cop then?” 

God, this girl was irritating. The only good things about her were how pretty she was and that she smelled nice. Chan had no intention of this going anywhere with how she was acting. “Sure, like a mall cop. If that’s what you wanna call it.” 

Sipping at her cosmo, Gabriela smirks around the straw, seeing the irritation in Chan’s smile. Maybe she was pushing too hard, but she had come out to get laid and she was convinced that Chan was going to be the guy she left with. “That’s cute. Do you have cuffs?” 

Chan tries to hide his scoff, but he doesn’t do it well enough as he watches Gabriela’s smirk stay in place. She was pushing his buttons on purpose and this wasn’t really Chan’s idea of foreplay. “No. Even if I did, I wouldn’t put them on you.” 

“Why not? You wouldn’t wanna play cops and robbers with me, Chan?” Gabriela had always been bold. She went after what she wanted and right now that was Chan. Catching the buttons of his jacket sleeve under her nails, Gabriela bites her bottom lip, feeling Chan’s eyes move over her, landing on her cherry red lips. “I think it could be fun. Isn’t that why you came out tonight? To have some fun?” 

Using his free hand, Chan pushes his hair from near his eyes and sighs in disbelief at how shameless Gabriela is. He didn’t fault her. He didn’t want to judge her, but was he really the guy she wanted to play this on? Just as Chan starts to turn her down, his eyes once again find the dance floor and he sees you with your back against Ian’s chest as you sway to the music. Did you even remember you had asked Chan to come out with you? Did you even care? “Yeah, maybe I did.” 

Feeling eyes on you, you meet Chan’s eyes from the bar just as he turns his attention back to the pretty girl with her hand now resting on his thigh. You felt like you were feeding him to the dogs. This girl had her claws in his skin and you were watching him get eaten alive. You start to move away from Ian to go towards the bar when your boyfriend pulls you back against him and laughs against your ear. 

“Leave him be. Anyone can see they are about to dip out of here. That’s what you wanted, wasn’t it?” 

“I like your place.” 

Sighing as he leans towards the fridge to take out two beers, Chan forces himself to smile as he acknowledges Gabriela and what she had said. “Thanks. It ain’t much, but it’ll do.” Chan rarely let girls come back to his place, but this was better than going to hers. When Chan was inside some random girl’s space, he felt vulnerable. That felt like he could lead to more than he was willing to give. In his own space he could control the narrative and keep his power. 

“It’s very you.” 

As if this chick knew who Chan was, but instead of voicing that out loud, he just grinned and offered her the beer. He wasn’t looking for this to last longer than it needed to. “That so, gorgeous?” Trying to enjoy the moment and the release he’d be getting, Chan sits down on his couch and guides Gabriela down to sit next to him. She was soft, but no matter how much he looked at her, Chan only saw you. 

“Mmhm. God… You are so fuckin’ hot. How are you even on the market?” Gabriela had opened her beer and taken one sip before Chan had called her gorgeous again. The question was real and yet rhetorical. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know. She had seen how Chan had been looking at you, and if she thought too much about it, she might lose her confidence. “You seem like you’ve got a lot on your mind, Chan. Want me to help you with that?” 

Chan laughs, the sound getting caught in his throat as Gabriela puts her drink down with his and slides over his thighs. She was warm under his hands as Chan let her guide them over her sides and higher to her breasts. “I might have a couple things on my mind. How you gonna help me?” He knew the answer, but that was part of the game, wasn’t it? He could see how Gabriela’s smirk grew wider at the question, and now it was just a matter of time before he could shut off his feelings and just enjoy the moment. 

“Oh, I got plans for you, Channie.” 

Furrowing his brows at the pet name, Chan shakes his head, sliding his hands back down to Gabriela’s waist. “Don’t call me that. Stick to Chan…” He could see how her face fell, but she was a woman on a mission, so it only lasted for a moment before she was right back to business. Chan closes his eyes the moment that Gabriela’s lips brush against his. He didn’t like kissing his hookups, but tonight it didn’t feel too bad. 

“Touch me.” 

He nods in response to her request, sliding his hands back along her body and to her back. Catching the zipper of her dress between his fingers, Chan groans when Gabriela rocks her hips down over his. God, he hated how easily he had gotten turned on tonight. It wasn’t even that he had a pretty girl in his lap; it was that he had closed his eyes and pictured you in her place. 

Every soft moan from her lips, Chan imagined it coming from you. The soft skin under his hands as he helped her out of her dress—that was your skin. It felt wrong, but then he had carried her to bed and kept the light off. In the darkness he could only feel her and that let his imagination carry him further. 

“Oh, fuck—” Gabriela whines under her breath as she feels Chan’s fingers scissoring into her, his other hand pulling a condom from the nightstand. She wished she could see him a bit better, that maybe he had even left the door to his bedroom open, but instead even when she whined his name, Chan would shush her. Whatever, she could stay quiet. She could let herself enjoy this. 

With one stroke of his hand to make sure the condom was in place, Chan buries his face against Gabriela’s neck and eases himself into her warmth. Would you feel like this? Would you be softer? Wetter? Tighter? God, the thought of it alone has him burying himself in her as deep as possible. What would you be doing now? Were you getting fucked by Ian? Why would Chan even think about that? It was ruining his mood—so he fucked Gabriela harder, listening to her sob his name, asking for more. 

Everything meshes together—Gabriela’s orgasm and Chan’s frustration as he has to force himself to finish, but in the end he ends up with her resting against his chest, both of them catching their breath. 

“Holy shit, that was incredible.” Gabriela wasn’t sure what she had expected, but Chan had exceeded it times ten. She had gone out looking to get laid, and she had ended up with more. Fuck, she loved the feeling of this man’s hands on her and how tender he had been with her until he fucked her like a man who was starved. “Do you want—” 

“I don’t do repeats.” 

Gabriela’s words get caught in her throat when Chan interrupts her with that. His hand wasn’t on her hip anymore; he was sitting up and turning on the light, picking up a pack of cigarettes and putting one between his lips. “What? What does that mean?”

Inhaling the smoke, Chan lets it sit on his chest for a few seconds before he turns his head away from Gabriela to blow it away from her. “Exactly what it sounds like.” 

Sitting up quickly, Gabriela stares at Chan before scoffing. He had to be kidding. She had been with assholes before but Chan didn’t seem like one. This seemed like he was putting on an act and yet his eyes were cold now when he looked at her. “Are you really this much of a dick?” 

Chan shrugs and licks his lips as he leans to flick the ashes from his cigarette into the ashtray on his nightstand. “Yeah, but it was good, wasn’t it?” He knew what Gabriela’s reaction would be and it was exactly what he wanted. He wanted her to be pissed off at him. He didn’t want her to stick around and try to get more than he could give her. Leaning out of her way, Chan sighs out smoke before resting the rest of the cigarette in the tray, watching Gabriela get dressed quickly as she curses under her breath. “I’ll order you a ride.” 

“Fuck you.” 

He knew he deserved that. He knew exactly what he was doing even if it made him feel worse about himself and the situation. “Fair, but you said you lived on the other side of town; it’s the least I can do. Don’t take some shady taxi.” 

Like he actually cared. Gabriela sees red for a moment, her palm meeting Chan’s cheek before she turns towards the door, opening it with enough force to cause the doorknob to leave a place in the drywall. “Worst lay of my fucking life!” 

Chan knew that Gabriela was full of shit. She had enjoyed it; he had made sure of that, but he let her say whatever she wanted to as he tugged his sweatpants on and followed her out into the living room as she struggled with her shoes. “Course, but I’m still ordering you a ride so calm your ass down for a minute.”  

Crossing her arms tightly over her chest, Gabriela feels tears biting at her eyes, but she forces them to stay back. How was this guy treating her like this? One minute she felt like a common slut for him to use and toss out, and then he was being halfway decent, ordering her a ride home. Was this another act? What the fuck was his problem? “What did I do wrong?” 

You had drunk more than you should have. Your mind was floaty like a dandelion in the wind and you were having to let Ian help you with everything. First it had been just to walk and now it was your shoes as you leaned against the wall at the first door. “Thanks…” 

Ian laughs under his breath at how pitiful you sound, his fingers carefully tugging at the strap around your ankles in order to free your feet from the heels. “No problem, doll. You can’t hold your liquor. I told you that when you ordered another drink…” 

He wasn’t wrong. He had told you that, and you should have listened, but you felt sad before, and you had hoped the alcohol would fix it. It hadn’t. “I know.” Sighing softly, you lean back against Ian as he guides you through the living room and towards your bedroom. “Do you think Channie—” You aren’t even sure what you are asking, so you stop speaking and pout instead, causing Ian to roll his eyes. 

“Channie, what? That he got laid? Yeah, baby, I do. But why the fuck do you care?” 

It was clear that you had annoyed Ian but that hadn’t been your intention. “I don’t know. I’m sorry. Please don’t be mad at me.” 

You were whining again, and while it still annoyed Ian, he couldn’t stay mad at you for too long. You were too cute and now he did have you all to himself. “It’s fine. Stop pouting at me. Hey, Y/N…” Making sure you are looking at him, Ian runs his thumb along your bottom lip and tilts his head as you smile against his finger. “There you go. My pretty baby. This is better than being at the bar, isn’t it? Just me and you, like you’ve been wanting, right?” 

It was what you had wanted. You had been so upset when he had cancelled on you earlier in the week, but this was making up for it. You were so tired, the alcohol clouding your brain, but it felt nice to be in his arms. “Mmhm. I love being with you.” 

What Ian was hearing was that you loved him and that’s all that mattered. You weren’t whining over Chan anymore or the cancelled date; you were just putty in his hands. Carefully tugging your dress up on your hips, Ian grins at you when you stumble against him near your bed. “My clumsy girl. I’ve been thinking ‘bout this all night. You know that? How bad you drove me insane wearing this slutty little dress out in public.” 

You didn’t know, but your cheeks were on fire now at the idea of it. Was it a slutty dress? You hadn’t meant to look that way. You had just wanted to be pretty, but maybe that was what Ian had meant. “You like my dress?” 

“I like it plenty. Just don’t think it’s a dress you should be wearing out anymore.” Watching you fall backwards onto the bed, Ian knows he should just put you to bed and call it a night. You had drunk too much. You were obviously not in your right mind, yet you were talking to him. “Come here, baby. Cuddle with me.” 

Sighing happily, you let Ian pull you against him as he lies down next to you. This was nice. You had missed this. You had missed him and how good he smelled. You were so tired. The warmth of being in his arms and the alcohol in your system were doing a great job at putting you to sleep. But then you felt Ian’s lips at your throat, you felt his hand sliding along your thighs, and you couldn’t stop the way your brows furrowed. “‘M tired, Ian. Not tonight…” 

Now his brows were furrowing. You had been teasing him all fucking night and now you were saying not tonight? Groaning against your skin, Ian pulls you back against him, letting you feel his cock hard in his jeans. “But, baby—” 

You push his hand from your thigh as you whine his name. You don’t see the anger that passes over Ian’s face before he lies back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. “Then sleep.” 

And you did. You slept hard, but it was restless. You were still in your tight dress. You could feel Ian’s warmth radiating towards you and it made you feel uncomfortable. When the first bits of daylight peek through the curtains, you already feel like wanting to die. You’ve barely opened your eyes when you grimaced at the feeling of the layer of sweat covering your skin. Glancing behind you, Ian sleeps soundly, his arm over his eyes as he snores softly. He doesn’t seem to stir from his sleep until you slide off the bed and whine about how uncomfortable you are. 

“Shh… Too fuckin’ early.” 

It was too early to be awake after the night you had. Bracing yourself on the wall, you muffle your whimper, feeling your head ache. Your eyes felt like sandpaper and your mouth was all cotton. It takes you longer than it should to stumble into the bathroom before you fall to your knees on the white tile, heaving hard over the toilet. You were feeling your regret wash over you. 

Making your way back to the bedroom, you whine under your breath as you tug the zipper of your dress down and kick the garment from your legs as soon as it reaches your feet. You don’t feel Ian’s eyes moving over your body as he lies in bed, his head resting on his arm. You only feel the pain behind your eyes and the churning in your stomach as you work to release your body from the rest of the uncomfortable clothes in search of new ones. 

“Come here, doll.” 

Your brows furrow as you do finally meet Ian’s eyes, seeing the look in them. He was much more awake than you were and clearly feeling better. All you wanted to do was pull on your softest shirt and a fresh pair of panties, but his fingers draw you closer to the bed. Letting him guide you down on it, you let out a soft sigh, hoping he just wants to hold you. His fingers trace your curves, causing you to shiver as the air moves over your body. 

“You are so pretty. You know that?” 

You don’t feel it right now, so you shake your head in disagreement, hearing him tsk at you. His fingers move further down your stomach to the middle of your legs, where you close your thighs a bit tighter. “I feel like shit—” 

“Seriously? I took you out last night. I let you be the one who got shitfaced, and I got turned down then. You are seriously gonna do it again? Way to make me feel like an asshole, Y/N.” 

A frown fixes itself on your lips as you force yourself to meet Ian’s eyes. He was right. You had done all of those things. You hadn’t done it on purpose, but you had turned him down. You wanted to continue to turn him down now, but the disappointed look in your eyes made you consider how valuable his time was to you. “”M sorry, Ian. You—we can. You can touch me.” 

Shaking his head, Ian slides his hand from you. You see the look in his eye, like the feeling of your skin is offending him. Turning on your side, you whine his name only to watch him lean his head back to escape your fingers. “I—what if…” Your voice trails off as you move on the bed to your knees, looking over Ian’s body. It felt weak… forced, as you run your fingers over his thigh towards the top of his jeans, feeling him start to harden under your hand. “I can just take care of you if that’s what you want, baby.” 

Ian hides his smirk as he considers your proposition. He would be lying to himself if he hadn’t wanted this to be the way his morning went, but he wasn’t going to say that to you. Instead, he lifts his hips and nods down at his jeans to let you get started. He could feel your hands trembling slightly as you worked the zipper down and then the denim to his thighs. “Fuck, I can’t say no to you…” 

The moan in his voice fills you with a bit of confidence. You were doing good again. You had messed up, but now Ian was happy again. Did you want to go down on him this morning? Absolutely not, but what you wanted even less was to be alone. You could picture him getting upset one more time and walking out the door. That wouldn’t happen if you did this. 

Taking his hard cock into your hand, you shift on your knees to lean over his hips, tracing the tip of it with your warm tongue. The sound that reaches your ears causes your lips to pull up in a bit of a smile. It still wasn’t that you wanted to do this. It wasn’t that you were getting off on it. It was that you knew how to keep him with you. You knew how to keep the loneliness from eating you to death today. 

Ian groans your name loudly when you take him into your mouth fully. He can almost feel your throat closing around the head of his cock when you swallow. You were good at this. If there was nothing else you knew how to do, at least you could suck cock. Lifting his hips towards your mouth, Ian runs his fingers through your hair before forcing your head down over him. He was already getting close. It had been a couple days since he had fucked you and this was just what the doctor ordered. “Just like that. Fuck—fuck!” 

Cum fills your mouth after a few moments of working your mouth over Ian’s cock. You always hated the taste of cum, but one glance up to your boyfriend had you forcing yourself to swallow the salty release. 

“Shit… I love watching you do that. You don’t miss a single fucking drop of it. So hungry for it, huh?” 

You just nod, unable to find your words. You hoped that now maybe Ian would take care of you. He’d want you enough to touch you, but all he offers you is a quick kiss followed by a sigh. 

“I know you like the taste of my cum, but I don’t, baby.” Turning his face from you, Ian yawns loudly as he lifts his hips, tugging his jeans and boxers back up. “I gotta get going anyway. I promised Wooyoung we’d hang out today before he goes to work.” 

The pit in your stomach continues to grow. Darkness and cold fill it as you force yourself to smile and nod at him. “Oh… Oh, okay? I just—we aren’t gonna hang out today?” 

Shrugging as if you should know his answer, Ian slides off your bed and uses the mirror at your vanity to fix his hair. He signs into his words, boredom leaking through like venom. “We hung out yesterday, doll. Don’t be selfish. You know I have to give my friends some time with me too. I can’t stay in here all the damn time.” 

You sit up, pulling your knees towards your stomach as tears threaten to spill over the rims of your eyes. “Right. No, I know, Ian. I just…” Sniffing back your tears, you feel your bottom lip start to quiver as loneliness bites at your skin. “Just miss you is all and we only went out to the club, really. We didn’t really spend—” 

“Babe, are you crying?” Groaning out another sigh, Ian turns back to you, moving to his knee at the side of your bed and running his fingers over your head. “Stop it. You know you want some time to yourself anyhow. Don’t make me feel like shit over this. I do everything for you.” 

You want to remind him of how little he actually does, but the moment he meets your eyes, you crumble. Tears drip down your cheeks only to be wiped away by Ian’s thumbs as he waits for you to agree with him. Forcing one last smile, you try to keep the tears out of your voice, but it doesn’t work as your voice shakes. “I—yeah. No, I know… You take care of me.” 

Nodding along with your words, Ian leans forward to tilt your head back so he can brush his lips over yours. “Always will. Get some rest, doll. I’ll text you later.” 

Three fucking days since you had really spoken to Chan and he was going insane. Of course you still text him and there had been a call or two over the past thirty-six hours, but they hadn’t been anything of substance. 

Something was wrong and he was going to figure out what it was. His first thoughts landed on Ian and all Chan could see was red. If that motherfucker had done something to you… Chan couldn’t even let the words pass through his mind without gritting his teeth so hard he thought they might shatter from the pressure. 

Relaxing his jaw, Chan tightens his hands on the steering wheel instead as he waits for the traffic light to change. He hadn’t told you he was coming over. Perhaps that was a mistake, but how was he supposed to go for so long without seeing you or really hearing you? It was like taking the air out of his lungs and expecting him to thrive. It was impossible. He had spent almost every single day of over a decade with you within arms reach and this was the first time you had ever gone silent in a way that felt endless. 

He let out a relieved sigh as he pulled into a parking space near your place—Ian wasn’t there. Or at least his car wasn’t and that was enough to keep Chan’s hopes up. As long as your so-called perfect boyfriend wasn’t in his way, he could get to the bottom of this. He could get you back. 

Jogging up the steps, Chan tugs his keys from his jacket and instinctively finds your key. This was muscle memory for him. Not even knocking, Chan pushes your door open and kicks his boots from his feet next to the spot yours sat. He dropped his keys into the bowl with yours and furrowed his brows, letting out a breath when he heard the sounds of something playing on the TV in the living room. “Darlin’?” 

You hadn’t expected company. There were only two people who had a key to your apartment and your stomach was twisting with a mixture of anxiety and relief at the sound of the door opening and closing. Ian had been distant with you for the past few days. You didn’t understand what you could have done wrong. You had given him what he wanted the last night he stayed with you and now he was giving you the cold shoulder, just stating he needed space. 

Would you really want to see him right now? Could you handle it?

The sound of Chan’s voice instantly makes your chest tighten. You felt horrible about being so distant with him. You knew that he was concerned about you, but you had gotten so tired of being the needy friend. There wasn’t a day that went by that you didn’t have something to complain about, and while it seemed that Chan could and would be there for you no matter what… the guilt was eating you. Were you just using his friendship to make you feel better? How the fuck was that fair to him? Chan was the most amazing person you knew and he deserved the world, not his best friend being a constant burden. 

Meeting his eyes as he moves into the living room, you try to smile at him but your resolve breaks. Tears fill the rims of your eyes and you instantly bury your face into your blanket that had been wrapped around you so tightly to keep you warm and hidden. Arms wrap around you and you feel Chan’s warm breath against the side of your head as he doesn’t say anything. He just sits in the moment with you. The anxiety seems to come off him in waves the longer you stay silent in your tears. 

“I—” You start and then stop, managing to look up and meet your best friend’s eyes. His eyes were so warm and full of love when he looked at you that it was suffocating. He makes no attempt to rush you; instead, his thumbs push the tears from your cheeks as he gives you endless time. “I’m sorry.” 

You didn’t have a single fucking thing to apologize for, but Chan understood what you meant. He could read you as well as his favorite book. He had been here a hundred times, his fingers in your hair as he soothed you. This was like flipping through that book and finding his favorite parts that he had dog-eared so that he’d never lose them. “Shh… Talk to me, sweetheart. What’s goin’ on? Where you been?” 

Leaning against Chan, you let yourself give in to your selfishness, enveloping yourself in his warmth and familiarity. “Nothing. It’s stupid. I—I don’t know why I’m like this.” That didn’t seem like the full truth, but Chan didn’t want to push you. He had you right back where he wanted you. The last thing he’d do right now is scare you away by forcing you to tell him the truth. 

“Nothin’ wrong with you.” Chan’s words make you scoff, but a smile does pull at your lips, causing him to mimic it. “‘M serious. You’re perfect like you are. My favorite person.” 

You swallow hard at that. He was your favorite person too and yet again you felt so completely selfish that it almost swallowed you whole. You didn’t deserve him like this. He could be out living his life—the idea of that makes you remember the girl that he had left the club with a few nights ago and you shift against him, a frown taking the place of your smile. “Yeah… Uh, did—how was…” You trail off, finding Chan focused so fully on you as you try to find your words. It felt wrong to pry into his life, but if he was talking about himself, then he wasn’t asking about you. 

“Did you have fun with that girl?” You see the confusion and then realization cross over Chan’s lips before he sucks in a breath trying to find his words. Before he can speak, you force a smile and lift your shoulders, trying to seem interested and nonchalant about it all. “She was really pretty. Totally… like, you know, your type. Dark and sexy…” 

That makes Chan scoff to keep from laughing. He wasn’t amused by the idea of that girl. What had her name even been? God, he was a piece of shit… Shaking that thought from his head, he meets your eyes once again as he brushes his thumb along the arm of your shirt on your bicep. “It was—she was fine. It—I’m not seein’ her again.” 

Instead of seeing what he wanted flash across your eyes, he sees concern and confusion as you shift once again against him, turning to face him, your legs crossed on the couch under you. “What do you mean? You—it seemed like y’all were having a good night. Did—” You furrow your brows as you start to ask if they hooked up, realizing you don’t really want to know. You see the look in Chan’s eyes as he anticipates the question, seeming uncomfortable with what his answer would be and how it would affect you. 

“Never mind. Um, so—” Leaning away from Chan, you swipe your phone from the coffee table, opening your Instagram and searching for something while his eyes seem to search over you. “Did I ever show you, uh—Molly? She’s the new girl at work and she was asking about—” 

Chan sighs your name, reaching for your phone and turning off the screen before he puts it back on the coffee table, shutting down the conversation before it started. “You did and I’m not interested.” The way your face falls, your eyes instantly searching for anywhere else to look but him as you try to regain your balance. “You don’t have to set me up with someone, sweetheart.” 

“But, that’s not true. You don’t try, Channie…” You could feel the frustration rising in you as you watched Chan roll his eyes in annoyance. You were doing it again, but you hated the idea of him  being sad and alone more than you were concerned if he got mad at you. “You are always alone and you don’t give anyone a chance!” 

“Because I don’t want a relationship, Y/N!” Chan hadn’t meant to raise his voice, but the moment he had, he saw the hurt settle in your pretty eyes. “Baby, listen to me. I don’t want some loveless relationship with a girl who might look good on my arm. I’m not alone. I’ve never been alone. I got you…” He hoped that you’d get what he meant. There had been very few times when he had ever let himself be this vulnerable around you and he could count on one hand the number of times he had ever called you "baby." 

Your heart beats a little harder in your chest with Chan’s words. Why was he being like this? He had always been stubborn, but this was frustrating. You weren’t enough. How could you be enough? No, you’d never let him be alone if you had your way about it, but what about when you got married? Even the idea of it leaves you with a queasy feeling rising in your throat that you force away. It was what you wanted… Right? That was the end goal. You’d marry Ian… You’d be a good wife and get your white picket fence—god, why didn’t that feel perfect like it should? That was the blueprint handed down by your mother and her mother before, but it felt tainted. 

“That—Chan, please be for real.” 

Those words are enough to break the calmness that Chan had been holding on to so tightly. Lifting his hand from you to push against the center of his brows, he scoffs, losing his patience. “I’m just about the only one being real. You wanna be for real, Y/N?” Not waiting for your answer, he bites the bullet, feeling the pit in his stomach grow as the words fall off his tongue like poison. “Why the fuck would I want to be trapped like you? Why would I want to be miserable day in and fucking out like you are?” 

The moment the words leave Chan’s mouth, you watch his eyes soften and how quickly apologies form on his lips, but the damage was already done. Tears drip down your cheeks and you push his hand from your leg, not wanting him touching you. Words don’t find your tongue; instead, you breathe his name into a sob before wrapping your arms around your legs, causing him to curse softly at your reaction. 

“No—wait! Y/N, I didn’t mean—” 

“Stop it!” 

You didn’t want to hear him make excuses for what he had said. You weren’t even mad at him. You were mad because it hit home so hard. Hell, where had you been before he showed up to check on you? You had been wallowing in self-pity over your boyfriend ignoring you. You had been eating your way through an entire pack of chips as you teared up over reality TV relationships. What hurt the most was that Chan hadn’t held back in saying it. 

“Bab—Y/N, please. I’m sorry. I’m so fuckin’ stupid and I’m—” Anxiety was trapped in Chan’s throat as you sobbed, batting his hands away from you with every attempt he made to pull you back to him. How could he be so stupid? What the fuck had he been thinking, saying something like that to you? It didn’t matter if it was the truth. The way he had said it was wrong. While he didn’t fully understand what you saw in Ian, it wasn’t his place to tug you down like this and make you feel like shit. “I’m just some asshole! What the fuck do I even know, right?” 

A soft scoffing laugh escapes your lips between your sobs as Chan calls himself an asshole. He wasn’t far off, but that wasn’t fair of you. Blinking through your tears, you look up at him, seeing the crushed and concerned look on his face before confusion joins the mix when you laugh again. “You—you’re so stupid.” 

God, he was. Chan knew that, but as you sniffed hard and wiped your cheeks with your blanket, he found himself smiling at you softly. “You know I am. I’m sorry. I don’t know what—” 

“Let’s just let it go, okay? I really can’t handle sitting here like this anymore.” You wipe away a few fresh tears before leaning your head back, willing them to stop completely. “I look like a fucking moron.” 

Buzz buzz 

The sound was incessant as your phone kept ringing from its spot on the coffee table in front of you. 

Buzz buzz

You weren’t sure what time you had fallen asleep on this couch, but what you knew right now was that the buzzing from your phone was annoying. You were warm and your back was pressed against someone’s chest as you finally forced your eyes open. Glancing over your shoulder, you stare at Chan as he sleeps soundly behind you, his arm around your waist protectively. 

You remembered him coming over and your meltdown, but then the two of you had settled on the couch to watch some movie together. Apparently neither of you had made much of an effort to get off the couch and had fallen asleep here together. 

This wasn’t the first time by any means. Hell, he had spent nights over in your bed, the two of you talking until early morning and your mom finding the two of you gently chastising you both before a smile would take over her lips. It was innocent. This didn’t feel as innocent. You were warm and safe right here. You didn’t want to check your phone that had stopped ringing only to ring again. 

Buzz buzz

Carefully slipping from under Chan’s arm, you pull the blanket from the back of the couch down over him before picking up your phone and hissing under your breath at the name on the screen. Ian was calling you. Now you felt even more guilty for where you had fallen asleep and the fact that you had a missed call from him. 

“Hello?” You whisper as you move out of the living room and into your bedroom, leaving the door cracked. Balancing the phone against your shoulder, you bite at your bottom lip as you tug some jeans and a shirt from your closet, realizing you were still in your stained lounge clothes from the day before. 

Ian laughs under his breath. “Why are you whispering, babe? You busy?” You were never busy this early and certainly not on a day off. Maybe you were just waking up. The thought of that brought a bit of a smile to Ian’s face as he pictured you cute and sleepy, waking up against his chest. 

Shaking your head, you tug your shirt over your head quickly, replacing it with another before securing your phone back against your ear. “No, no… Course not. I missed you…” That wasn’t a lie and was part of the problem. It had been a couple of days since he had really reached out like this and you were like a dog begging for scraps when it came to his attention. “Are you coming over?” 

That question was sincere. You wanted to see your boyfriend, but it might also be nice to have some warning since Chan was asleep on your couch. Nothing had happened. There was absolutely nothing wrong with him staying at your place—especially on your couch—but you felt guilty anyway. You had slept right there on that couch with him. 

With that question, Ian sighs, leaning his head back. It wasn’t like he woke up and decided to disappoint you, but that was easier to do than breathing lately. “Nah, not today, baby. I got some shit to do with the guys. You understand, right?” 

Disappointment settles over your guilt, taking its place as you button your jeans and stare out in front of you as if you can see Ian there. “I—no. Not really. I haven’t seen you in like…days, Ian. I miss—” 

“And I miss you! Fuck, Y/N. You know that. Why you gotta make me feel like a piece of shit when you’re just needy?” 

The sound of Ian’s friends in the background makes you feel like you are sinking into the floor like a pit. They were laughing and you thought you heard one of them tell Ian he was a dick. He was talking to you like that with them right there? Tears rise in your eyes and you bite on your cheek to stop them from falling. When you don’t speak up, Ian sighs your name through the phone. 

“I gotta go, baby. I will call you later.” Before he hangs up, you hear him groan as if he’s remembering something, and he adds. “Don’t forget about dinner with my parents this weekend, alright? Wear something pretty… Love you.” The phone beeps against your ear as he doesn’t wait for your response or an “I love you” in response. 

Stretching on the couch, Chan flexes his fingers over the spot you had been, causing a frown to form on his face. He hadn’t meant to fall asleep here but he didn’t regret it for a second. He had loved having you in his arms like that. He wanted to keep you safe and happy but now you weren’t where he left you. 

Chan pulls himself up, letting the blanket you had put over him fall to the cushions as he runs his hands over his face, listening to you talk quietly in another room. He couldn’t make it all out but he wasn’t an idiot. You had to be talking to Ian. The thought of it made Chan’s stomach twist with too many emotions—anxiety, disappointment, and jealousy. God, it wasn’t his place but he couldn’t help how jealous it made him that it wasn’t him you belonged to. 

Sighing to himself, Chan gets to his feet, ready to figure out his next move, when the sound of your voice once again catches his attention. “I—no. Not really. I haven’t seen you in like…days, Ian. I miss—” You were sad; that was so clear that he didn’t even need to see you to know you were crying. You might be trying to keep it from Ian, but Chan knew you so well he could hear it in your voice. 

It takes a few more minutes for you to come out of your room. Chan quickly moves his eyes over your fresh clothes before meeting your eyes, seeing your cheeks dry. You had obviously wiped your tears away; that didn’t mean he couldn’t still tell. “You alright, sweetheart?” 

God, it was frustrating how Chan always seemed to know. Forcing a smile on your face, you put your phone in your back pocket and shrug like nothing in the world could possibly be wrong. “All good. You, uh—” Scratching the back of your neck, you gesture to the kitchen before looking back over at the couch you and Chan had slept on before walking in the direction you had pointed. “Breakfast? I’m sure you got all kinds of shit to do before work…” 

Chan glances back over at the couch like you had, his brows furrowing before he follows you towards the kitchen, shaking his head. “No. I mean—yeah, breakfast, but no, I don’t got shit to do. You…” Tilting his head, Chan watches you open the fridge as you try to keep up your mask, not letting him know you are hurting. “Thought I’d just hang out with you before I went back to work. That sound good?” 

You hated how quickly you nodded in response to that scrap of attention from your best friend. The idea of being alone was eating at you and like always, he came in like a knight in shining armor, ready to make it better. Now a real smile was pulling at your lips as you turned to meet him. “Yeah! I—you really…” Shaking your head to stop yourself from talking, you laugh as you bite at your bottom lip, turning back to your task, pulling out the ingredients for pancakes as you try to find the right words. “I’m just really happy to spend some time with you, Channie.” 

Chan smirks a bit at your reaction before moving to rest against the counter near you. He loved making you smile like that. You looked genuinely excited about spending the day with him and he didn’t have anywhere else he’d rather be. “I love spending time with you. You know that.” A sigh leaves his lips as your cheeks start to heat up under his attention. You are happy when he gestures to the bowl in front of you in question. “What’s for breakfast? Flour?” 

His eyes don’t leave you even as you laugh again, moving to pull on a little apron to cover your clothes. You were so beautiful and even something as simple as watching you put on that apron had his mind spiraling. You were already starting to relax and that only made it easier for him to do the same. Like this he could let himself enjoy your company and how fucking domestic this all was as you handed him the pancake flour and a measuring spoon. 

“Pancakes, duh. I need, like, two…” You say the number like a question before checking the back of the box and nodding. “One and a half cups of that and I’ll add in the rest while you do that.” 

Grinning, Chan sets the bag down on the counter before doing as he’s asked. Dumping the first half a cup into the bowl, he watches you carefully as you bite at your lips, cracking an egg and adding it in as well. He could picture doing this shit every day for the rest of his life with you. If he let himself imagine too much, he’d start picturing you with a kid running around your legs—his kid. Something that would never happen. 

“That’s enough…. Channie!” You whine, knocking his hand, causing the rest of the flour to spill back on his jeans. The moment his eyes fall down to his now dusted jeans, you put an apologetic smile on your lips and whisper out an apology on a quiet laugh. 

“You think this is funny, do ya, darlin’?” It was obvious you did even as you apologized again, turning to drop some batter into the hot skillet. Wiping the flour from his jeans, he cups some of it into his hand, blowing it away and towards you, hitting mostly your hair and cheek. 

“Chan!” You squeal his name, kicking at his leg even as you keep your attention on the batter cooking in front of you. “I’ll kick your ass if you start this.” 

Was that a promise? Grinning once again, he reaches into the batter bowl and scoops out a small amount, smearing it over your nose as you stare at him in disbelief. “Cute.” The word leaves Chan’s mouth, followed by a loud laugh, when you smear your finger through the batter and come for him in retaliation. He grabs your wrist gently, keeping you back as you playfully glare at him. “Your pancakes are gonna burn if you keep playing with me.” 

He was right. You could already smell the batter cooking and it was starting to smell too done at this point, but this was war. With a small push forward, you rest your body against his and Chan’s eyes soften as he loosens his grip on your wrist, practically letting you reach forward and smear the batter onto his cheek. You couldn’t remember a time when he had given up so easily, but maybe you were just getting stronger. Smiling in victory, you turn back to your pancakes and flip them over, assessing the damage as Chan presses his lips together, staying by your side. 

You didn’t seem to realize that he had let you win, but that was okay. It had taken everything in him not to wrap his arms around you when you had rested against him like you had. That daydream of a life together with you had felt all too real for a moment and now Chan was struggling to calm himself down. His heart was in his chest and his hands were shaking slightly as he grabbed a towel, wiping the batter from your nose and his cheek before cleaning most of the flour from your hair as you cooked. 

“You sexting your girl or something?” 

Seungcheol’s voice and his question pull Chan out of his daze and draw his eyes upward as he clears his throat. “What? No… I don’t—” Shaking his head, he shoves his phone back into his jacket pocket and turns his attention back to the door he was watching with the other man. Despite it being a Friday night, this bar wasn’t getting nearly the action required for two to be manning the door. “I was just talking to Y/N…” 

Giving Chan a knowing look, Seungcheol’s lips pull up in a slight smirk before he steps to the side, letting in another small group of girls. They were all cute, probably close to Chan’s age and yet he didn’t give them a second glance as they eyed both of the bouncers before moving to the bar, sharing giggles over Seungcheol’s attention. “Like I said.” 

Seungcheol always did this. He was almost as bad as you. One minute he would be teasing him about you and the next he was trying to secure every potentially eligible girl’s number for him. Chan had eyes. He knew that there were plenty of pretty girls in the bar, but none of them did it for him. 

“Quit the shit. You know Y/N is just my best friend. She’s—I don’t know. Her location is still showing at work and she’s had a couple bad days.” The phone in his pocket vibrates and even though Chan knows that he should ignore it, he shouldn’t check it again while Seungcheol scrutinizes him… He can’t help it. Your name was on the screen and it made Chan’s lips pull up in a small smile as he texted you back. 

“Again, like I said. Your girl. You look like you're two seconds from cumming in your jeans every time she texts you.” 

Chan’s lips purse together as he rolls his eyes at the continued teasing. Something didn’t feel right about how you were texting him. Why the fuck were you still at work? He hated the idea of you having to order a ride home this late. 

“Ope, maybe it’s not sexting. Looks like someone just pissed in your cornflakes.” 

Sighing into his words, Chan glares up at Seungcheol, now leaning back against the door frame as he does. “Dude… I’m not sexing her! We don’t—she’s got somebody. Doesn’t matter…” 

Y/N: How’s work? You at the same bar as last week? 

Chan: Yeah same place. The fuck you still at work for? 

Y/N: Waiting for Ian to pick me up. He was supposed to be here like an hour ago.

An hour? Cursing under his breath, Chan quickly responds to you as Seungcheol smirks at one of the girls who was lingering closer with a drink in her hand. 

Chan: wtf?? Where the fuck is he? 

A few minutes pass without your answer. Chan shifts from one foot to the other, looking at the time in the corner of his screen before cursing a bit louder when you do finally answer. Both Seungcheol and the girl look up in surprise before she wanders back towards her friend. “What? Why are you being weird? I had a name and was this close to getting her digits but you had to wig out.”

“Sorry, I didn’t—goddammit. I’m gonna kill his ass.” Looking up from his phone, Chan scowls heavily, shifting in place once again like it's difficult to stay still. He looks about one breath away from walking out the door and yet his feet are cemented in place, knowing he is on the clock. “The motherfucker forgot to pick up Y/N from work and now she’s sitting on East Higgins tellin’ me she’s gonna order a goddamn Uber.” 

Now it made sense—the ready-to-kill-someone look that was plastered on Chan’s face. Glancing around the bar, Seungcheol shrugs before gesturing to the door. “Get the fuck out of her and go take her home. Ain’t shit happening in here tonight. It’s dead as fuck and you know it.” 

Taking his own look around, Chan groans under his breath, feeling tugged in two different directions. He didn’t skip out on work and though he knew Seungcheol would cover for him, the idea of it ate at him. Then again, you were willing to risk a ride with some shady fuck who might be cruising near your work. Chan felt bile in his throat at the idea. Sure, you might be just fine. You might get the nicest driver in town and there was always the chance you’d end up with some asshole who’d make you uncomfortable. 

Seconds tick by and Chan runs his hand over his face before nodding at Seungcheol, who was staring at him, waiting for him to get his ass in gear. “Yeah…. Yeah, alright. I’m goin’. I’ll make it up to you. Swear.” 

Not waiting for much more than a nod, Chan tugs his keys out of his pocket and moves through the door and out towards his car as he texts with the other hand. 

Chan: Fuck that. I’m on my way. Be there soon.

Guilt eats at you when you see that text from Chan. You hadn’t wanted him to leave work for you, and yet alongside the guilt, you were feeling some relief. It was cold. You had walked out the door of work expecting Ian to be waiting for you only to notice his car wasn’t there. He had promised to pick you up. He had been the one to urge you to get in a couple extra hours on your latest project at work, and now he was too busy to come get you. 

Ten minutes pass and you look up in surprise when Chan’s car comes to a stop with a loud screech of his brakes. He had been at least twenty minutes away. You were full of anxiety, considering how many traffic laws he had broken to get to you as quickly as he had. Wiping your cheeks quickly to get rid of the leftover tears on them, you tug your bag onto your shoulder and make your way over to the car. 

Chan furrows his brows as he waits for you to get comfortable in his passenger seat. You looked like you were freezing and he he didn’t wait even a second before turning up his heat and reaching to brush his fingers over your cheeks. Your skin was like ice and he could feel the line where tears had dried in the cold air. Of course you had been crying. God, how could you not when you had been relying on someone and they let you down once again? “Here, give me your hands.” Reaching for both of your hands as you lift them, Chan cups them in his own and exhales warm breath onto your trembling fingers. “Why didn’t you go back inside, sweetheart?”

Sighing into a laugh, you tilt your head watching Chan as you start to warm up bit by bit. “The door was locked. When I realized Ian wasn’t here, I tried to open the door again, but it was too late. I—he told me to get an Uber home and I could’a done that, Channie.” 

Chan scoffs before his teeth clench to stop him from saying something he shouldn’t. “Alright, why did you work so fuckin’ late for? It’s Friday… Don’t you usually get drinks with people from work?” 

You could see the concern on Chan’s face in the way his brows were knit together and how his jaw was so tight. Taking your hands back from him, you shrug and offer him a soft smile as he finally puts the car into drive, turning towards the direction for home. “Have that big project and I was toying with the idea of getting it done this weekend. I was gonna come in tomorrow but I have dinner with Ian’s parents so he—we—thought tonight might be better to just knock it out.” 

Every fucking decision you made tonight had been for him. The fact of that was causing Chan’s hands to tighten around his steering wheel. He was trying to stay calm, but when you wave it off, he snaps. “He’s a fuckin’ asshole.” You sigh Chan’s name and before you can continue—to defend Ian—Chan practically growls into his words. “No, Y/N, he is. He left you in the fuckin’ cold because he’s too goddamn pathetic to keep his word. You’re too good for him. Why—you should drop his ass.” 

Chan had said things like this before, but he had never been so mad about it. He let you make your own choices, even if he didn’t agree to them, but he had never outright told you that you should break up with Ian. “Don’t be silly. It’s not a huge deal. I’m fine…” 

“No, baby, it’s not.” He hadn’t meant to call you baby, but he wasn’t thinking straight as he tapped his thumb on the wheel hard, waiting for the light to change. “He treats you like shit. Be serious for one second and think back on just the past couple of weeks. How many times has he done what he said he was gonna do?” 

Swallowing hard, you consider Chan’s words and your mind does start to recount the canceled dates and all too many times you were left crying over something Ian had done or had forgotten to do. 

“You work too damn hard to start pulling ten- to twelve-hour days. Oughta wear your ass out for even doing it.” 

Now Chan was muttering under his breath, but you feel your cheeks heat up at his words anyway. He cared about you so much and without question. Sighing softly, you whine his name and shake your head when his attention is back on you. “I know, Chan. I—you’re right, but we’ve been together for so long and he’s—you know. He’s talking to his parents more about shit and we’re doing dinner tomorrow. I’d be an idiot to give up something so good.” 

Scoffing, Chan runs his fingers through his hair before leaning his elbow against the door as he rests his thumb against the bottom of his lip, keeping his eyes on the road. “What’s so good about it? Seriously, tell me because, sweetheart, I don’t see it.” 

You sigh again and lift your hands as if it’s obvious, but Chan’s brows just lift in question. “Oh my god, like everything. He’s good-looking, he’s got a good job… His family is—they’re a good family.” 

“And he’s got a shitty-ass personality.” 

Finally a smile pulls at your lips, causing you to look down. Just seeing it on your face has Chan smirking against his thumb until you speak again and he feels his stomach in his throat. “I think he’s gonna propose, Channie. I’d be throwing all that away. A good stable life… A chance to have kids and give them that life too.” 

Chan fights the urge to say he hopes you’re wrong. He wants to scream at you and tell you not to be so stupid, but what kind of friend would that make him? He could tell you that he could provide that for you—but you didn’t want him like that. He was fucking delusional to even consider it, yet the bile was biting at his throat, causing the next words to come out like the acid he felt. “You really wanna play submissive housewife to someone like that? Someone who doesn’t give you the fuckin’ time of day to come pick you up from work now? This is just you two dating, Y/N…” 

His words cut you deep, but you consider them even as they bite at what you have left of your confidence. “I—I don’t know Channie. It’s all I know…” 

Shifting the car into park, Chan’s eyes move over your face as you keep turning to look at the building with another soft sigh. The moment you start to reach for your bag, he slides his hand into yours, lifting it towards his lips again, brushing them over your knuckles. He watches as your head tilts and your eyelashes flutter like you’re lost in thought before he fills the silence. 

“You know how much I love you, right?” Chan smiles against your knuckles when you nod, telling him you love him too. “And I just want you to be happy. That’s all I care about.” 

Your breath gets caught in your throat even as you lower your hand back down to your lap. You can feel Chan’s lips against your skin and it makes you feel like you are floating, while at the same time panic creeps up your spine because how do you land after that? You wouldn’t; you’d crash to the ground in a bloody heap. You couldn’t consider him like this. You couldn’t ruin this with him. Why was your heart beating like a drum?

“Go on, beautiful. Get some rest.” 

The fish on the plate in front of you was staring at you. Even as you pushed your fork against the side of it, there seemed to be no way to make the fish close its eyes. You could hear the soft drone of voices around you, and yet it wasn’t until Ian closed his hand around yours that you seemed to come back to the present. 

“Mother was speaking to you…” Ian had a smile on his face, but it wasn’t real. There was a strain in his lips that you could see so easily. Dropping your fork, you smile at him and then look to his mother. She was the very picture of a kept housewife. Her brown hair was in a neat chignon near the nape of her neck. Her makeup was light and yet hid every single imperfection. The smile on her face was just as strained as her son’s. 

“I—I’m so sorry, Mrs. Carrington. What were you saying?” 

She scoffs under her breath, glancing at her husband by her side, who hadn’t stopped inspecting you from the moment you had sat down. He was what you imagined power personified would be. He scared you a bit. He looked so much like Ian, and yet there was a deepness in his eyes that made you feel like people could get lost in them. “That’s alright, dear. I was asking about your job. I was wanting to know what advancement opportunities lie at your company. Are you fulfilled there, dear? Would you still work once you have children?” 

Opening and closing your mouth, you swallow hard, feeling Ian’s thumb rub against your wrist bone as they all wait for you to answer. “I—” Why couldn’t you just spit out the words they wanted to hear? Why was this so uncomfortable and difficult? You had met each of Ian’s parents separately over the course of your relationship, but this was the first time you had all sat down together. 

“She works so hard. I’m sure there would be something that could and should be available to her.” Ian speaks up, covering for you and you find yourself grateful until he tilts his head and sucks at his teeth. “But I think Y/N would be happy to stay at home with children. She’ll make a wonderful mother. Right, baby doll?” 

Ian’s eyes, along with his parents’, stay fixed on you as your cheeks start to burn. You weren’t really ready for kids at this exact moment. Of course you had thought about them. You had told Chan the same just a day before, but now that the subject was in front of you and your life was being spelled out for you, it had your heart in your throat beating with every word. “I—I don’t know. There’s time to figure that out.” 

That hadn’t been the response anyone at the table had been waiting for. For the first time in about twenty minutes, Ian’s father makes a sound, and it’s one of disapproval. “You’ll need to figure it out, Miss Y/L/N. There are expectations as a Carrington… That is what all this bullshit is about, is it not?” His eyes then fell to his son, who rested his elbow on the table, pursing his lips against his index finger. 

“Well, I—Sir, I couldn’t assume—” You had started to speak only to feel Ian’s hand tighten around your wrist to stop you. Wincing a bit at the pressure of his hand, you look down at it and then over to Ian even as he keeps his eyes off of you and on his parents. “That hurts…” You manage to whisper the words, leaning towards Ian, and his eyes finally shift to yours. While his fingers ease slightly, he doesn’t let go, and the look in your eyes tells you almost everything you needed to know. He knew that it hurt, and he had meant it. Were you being so impossible that he had to physically shut you down? 

“Y/N understands, Father. Don’t worry about—” 

“I’ll worry about what I want to worry about, Ian. I’ve played along with this—” His finger shifts, pointing from him to you as he furrows his brows in discomfort. “For too long. You told me that she was perfect. I fail to see that.” Settling his eyes back on you, Ian’s father moves his eyes from the top of your head and down as if he can see through the table. “We asked for you both to dress for the occasion. Your girlfriend decided that this restaurant warranted a tight dress that leaves nothing to the imagination? She can’t speak without stammering like an uneducated child. I’m not seeing the perfection.” 

Your stomach flipped with each of his hits to your appearance and actions. This should be the time that Ian stood up to him and named everything he liked about you. You could imagine him being furious with his father and how he was speaking to you; instead, he lowered his own hand, smoothing out his perfect shirt, and tightened his hand around your wrist again. 

“I did ask better of her, Father.” Seeing your jaw drop in surprise, Ian turns to look at you, leaning in closer to speak quieter just for you. “Stop that. You know I did. I told you multiple times this week that this was coming up, and you said you understood.” His eyes shift down to your dress and the bit of cleavage that peeks from the neckline with a displeased groan. “I told you to look perfect. At least you can do is think before you speak. You know the pressure I’m under… I like you, but Jesus Christ, Y/N.” 

“Like me? You don’t love me?” Your eyes cut into Ian as he sighs your name, glancing towards his parents as they speak in a similar way. His father’s neck was flushed from anger and you weren’t making this easy. 

“Stop… I—you know I love you.” 

Tugging your hand away, you go back to looking at the poor dead fish on your plate as Ian apologizes to his parents for you. This didn’t feel like love, but what were you supposed to do but take it? This was what you had signed up for, right? You had slowly started to learn who Ian was. He was one person with his parents and another with his friends, and with you he had never been this. Not really. He had been mean before, but today, this was cruel. 

The dinner had gone on for longer than you had wanted. You had spent more time staying silent and nodding along with Ian or his mother as his father continued to tell you how the relationship would be going from here on out. He had slapped his hand to his son’s shoulder with a painful clap before shaking his hand and telling him you all could meet again in a month to discuss the next steps. Was that how an engagement should begin? Was this a business proposal that his father needed to sign off on before your boyfriend could or would get on his knee to ask for your hand? 

Looking out the window, you sigh as Ian keeps his eyes on the road. You hadn’t spoken to him since the two of you had told his parents goodbye, but it didn’t seem like it was bothering him. It isn’t until the car is parked outside of your building that he turns his attention back to you and breathes out your name. It hurt hearing his voice so soft now when he had hurt you so badly today. Glancing towards him, you feel yourself start to melt a bit at the apologetic look on his face. Maybe you were being too harsh. He had said it himself; he was under a lot of pressure. 

“Are you still mad at me?” Ian slides his hand over yours on your leg, lacing his fingers through yours as he watches your brows soften. “I said I was sorry, babe.” 

He had said that, but at the time it hadn’t felt like he meant it. Now you weren’t as sure. It was confusing. There was an ache in your heart, but having his soft eyes on you like this now… did it make everything better? Shaking your head, you watch his lips pull up in a smile before he turns your hand in his, lifting it towards his mouth and pressing a kiss to your knuckles. The entire moment makes your stomach twist as you picture Chan doing the same thing the night before when Ian had left you sitting outside of your office. 

“That’s good. I’ll call you later, okay?” 

At those words, your mouth dries up and you stare at Ian like he’s joking. Tugging your hand away, your brows once again tense as you try to find your words, feeling like there is cotton sitting on your tongue. “Wha—what? What do you mean? You aren’t coming in?” 

Ian sighs, leaning his head back against the leather headrest. “Baby, I have shit to do. We just had this fucking conversation.” 

All you see is red. You grab your purse out of the floorboard and get out of his car quickly, slamming the door behind you. You can hear Ian cursing behind the closed door and he doesn’t stop as he gets out and moves around the car quickly, his eyes narrowing on you. “The fuck is your problem? You’re acting like a spoiled brat! If you fucked up my car— I swear to god, Y/N!” 

You had hoped that maybe he was getting out of his stupid expensive car to come to get you. You let yourself believe for a split fucking second that he was angry you weren’t going to talk this out with him, but no. Of course he wasn’t doing that; instead, you watch as Ian runs his hand over the door of his car. 

“You need to watch your damn temper, Y/N. This car is worth—” 

“I don’t give a fuck what it’s worth, Ian!” Staring at him for a few seconds, you turn your attention to the car and kick at the door hard, feeling the heel of your shoe scratching at the paint. His hands grab your biceps, and he pulls you tightly into his arms, causing you to wince at the force he uses to keep you in place. 

“Get your ass inside before you do something to really piss me off!” With a rough push towards the steps, Ian glares at you, and you glare back, tears dripping off your cheeks. 

Across town Chan hadn’t been able to stop himself from thinking about you. He had checked his texts one more time; Chan sighs when he sees his message to you left unread. He knew that you were out with Ian, but he couldn’t help himself now as he pulled into a parking spot and looked towards your place. He didn’t know what he had expected, but it wasn’t seeing that motherfucker pushing you away from him, causing you to stumble. 

It only takes seconds for Chan to run towards the other man and for his body to crash into his, sending them both to the sidewalk below. His knuckles meet Ian’s jaw and Chan feels pain rush through his hand from the force. You were yelling now, but Chan only saw him. It didn’t matter that his knuckles were split from how hard he was punching Ian; it only mattered that it was finally happening.

“Get the fuck off of me!” Growling into his words, Ian lands a punch on Chan’s stomach, giving him a split second to roll over him, taking advantage of this fight. He hated this asshole and now he finally had a reason to kick his ass. Taking another swing, this time for Chan’s face, he hits skin, feeling the bone underneath. Ian hoped he had done some damage, but the man below him just glares at him even as blood starts to run down his jaw from his lip. 

“Stop it! Please!” Your throat was raw from how loud you were having to be, just hoping either Ian or Chan would listen to you, but instead you watched as Chan put Ian back on the ground below him and landed a punch against his side, causing your boyfriend to groan in pain. “Oh my god! Chan, stop it!” 

You knew it was stupid to try to break up the two men, but the moment that Ian ended up back over Chan, your heart was in your throat hearing the sound of his fists against your best friend’s face. Starting to reach for Ian, you meet his eyes briefly when his elbow swings back and against your jaw, causing you to see a flash of white as pain spreads through your face. 

Sirens blare in your ears even as you stumble back, your hand on your cheek, hearing Ian and Chan cursing at one another. You couldn’t make out their words anymore. You only seem to focus when a woman speaks to you, her hand on your arm as you look past her to watch two police officers dragging your boyfriend and best friend apart. 

“Miss?” You blink at the woman, seeing the concern in her eyes as her eyes fall to your already swelling jaw. “Which one of them hit you? Do you need an ambulance?” 

Shaking your head, you glance down at the badge on her chest as fresh tears roll down your cheeks. “No…” Beyond the police officer in front of you, you watch as both men are cuffed behind their backs, Chan struggling briefly before he’s told to stop. His eyes were focused on Ian’s, whose eyes were full of the same hate. 

“Would you like to press charges?” 

Those words bring you fully back to the moment, and you step towards them only to be pulled back by the female police officer, who tries to keep you calm. “No! I—it’s not like that. Please don’t take them.” 

“Miss, if either one of them cared enough to stay here, they wouldn’t have been fighting on the side of the street.” 

It had been close to eight hours since you had watched Ian and Chan being driven away in police cars. Your face was aching even as you held an ice pack to it with your eyes fixed on your cell phone. You had texted both of them hoping for a response, and it was as if time was laughing at you as the screen of your phone stayed black. 

Tears begin to well in your eyes, and finally relief mixed with panic floods through you as you grab your phone and look at the message from Ian. 

Ian: I’m sorry. 

Pressing down on his name, you put your phone to your ear and whine when he sends you straight to voicemail with another text, causing your phone to vibrate in your hand. 

Ian: I need some time. My parents bailed me out. Theyre pissed.

Of course they would be. God, this was the fucking worst. They’d hate you even more now, but you find yourself not dwelling on that. At least Ian was out, and you two could talk about this. You needed to talk to him about what happened, but your mind shifted to Chan. He hadn’t texted you back yet and you didn’t know if he was even okay. 

Y/N: I’m so sorry. Do you know if Chan is okay?