#d lite

The rain had been falling steadily all day—not stormy, just soft and rhythmic, like nature itself was urging the world to slow down. The apartment lights were low and golden, warm against the cool gray outside. A candle flickered lazily on the coffee table, the scent of vanilla and something woodsy curling in the air.

You and Daesung had spent most of the day lounging; sleeping in late, eating a slow brunch he insisted on making (and slightly burned), and now, hours later, tangled together on the couch. The movie playing was one you’d both seen a dozen times, more background noise than entertainment. What really held your attention was him.

You were curled up against his side in one of his oversized hoodies, legs draped over his lap. One of his hands rested on your thigh, the other lazily brushing through your hair in slow, absentminded strokes. He wasn’t trying to do anything with it—he just liked touching you. Always had. The kind of touch that didn’t ask for anything in return, just reminded you that he was there. That he loved you.

“You’re quiet tonight,” you murmured.

“I’m content,” he replied softly, lips grazing the top of your head. “You make me quiet.”

“That’s a little romantic for someone who just snorted at a fart joke ten minutes ago.”

Daesung chuckled, his body shifting beneath you as he tilted his head back against the couch cushions. “Hey, I’m a complex man.”

You tilted your head to look at him, unable to resist teasing him a little. “Wow, so deep and mysterious.”

“Mmm.” He leaned in, pressing a kiss to your forehead, then your temple, then the edge of your jaw. “Just in love,” he whispered between kisses, just barely grazing your skin with each one. “And lucky.”

You rolled your eyes, but your smile gave you away. “You’re laying it on thick tonight.”

“I mean every word.”

You studied his face—the softness in his eyes, the easy way his mouth tugged up at the corners, like he couldn’t stop smiling even if he tried. Your heart ached a little, in the best way. He was so warm. So good. And so annoyingly smug when he got like this.

“You’re acting like you need me to fall in love with you all over again,” you said, voice teasing.

He shrugged, but his smile didn’t waver. “Maybe I do. Gotta keep the spark alive.”

You raised an eyebrow. “You think you could actually seduce me again? Like, right here? Right now?”

He turned to you more fully, a slow, amused blink in your direction. “What, you don’t think I’ve still got it?”

“I think you talk a big game.”

He let out a soft breath, somewhere between a laugh and a scoff. “You really want to go there?”

Your grin was already forming, teeth sinking into your bottom lip to hold it back. “Okay then,” you said, eyes gleaming. “Go ahead.”

Daesung blinked once, like he was letting the words sink in, and then his smile shifted. It was still playful, but there was a heat behind it now. The subtle drop in energy made your stomach flip. His whole posture changed, like something had clicked. Activated. He tilted his head, eyes scanning over you slowly—not just looking, watching. Calculating. 

“You sure you want that?” He murmured.

You gave a smug little shrug, even as your pulse picked up. “Unless you’re scared.”

That did it.

“Oh, jagi,” he said, voice velvet smooth, already shifting beneath you to sit up straighter, the air between you turning electric. “You have no idea what you just started.”

As confident as he seemed, you could tell how thrown off he was—his cheeks growing warmer by the second, as if reliving the moment he had pursued and confessed to you all those years ago. His introverted tendencies peeking through the cracks of whatever persona he was trying to put on. The sight of it had definitely given you a throwback of your own.

“Okay,” he cleared his throat. “Seduce you. Easy. I got this.”

You raised an eyebrow. “Are you... hyping yourself up right now?”

“No. Maybe. Don’t look at me like that.”

“This is off to a strong start.”

Ignoring you, he cleared his throat again with an awkward cough, smoothed his hands over his jeans like he was gearing up for a performance, and then turned to you with a dazzling smile. “Hey, gorgeous,” he said, voice low and a little too dramatic. “You come here often?”

You snorted.

He frowned. “Okay, okay, that was a warm-up. Give me a second—”

You were still laughing as he leaned closer, this time with more care. His hand brushed your cheek, sweet and gentle. “You’re cute when you laugh,” he said, voice dropping again, a little steadier now. “But I think you’d be even cuter if you were breathless.”

The line was almost smooth—almost—if he hadn’t immediately bumped his forehead against yours in the process.

“Ow,” he hissed, recoiling slightly.

“Are you trying to seduce me or knock me out?” You laughed. 

“Both?” He offered weakly, rubbing his temple.

You laughed again, and he let it happen this time. Let it sink in. The fact that he was being ridiculous and adorable and trying so hard. But then, once your giggles settled into quiet, he pulled you into his lap with a surprising steadiness.

“No more warm-ups,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to your jaw, softer now. “Just me. Trying to love you real good.”

You melted a little at that—because that was Daesung. Not the over-the-top lines, not the botched theatrics. Just this: sweet, solid, affectionate to his core. He kissed you again, this time just below your ear, lingering. Then your collarbone. His hands, no longer shaking from nerves, traced slow paths down your arms like he was trying to memorize the shape of you.

You were still half-laughing, half-blushing, hands lazily fisting the front of his hoodie when one of those kisses turned slower. His lips brushed your pulse, and this time, they stayed. Pressed. Warm. Intentional. Your breath caught in your throat, feeling him smile against your skin, but he didn’t tease you about it. Didn’t say a word. He just adjusted his hold on you, pulling you in a little closer like his arms were rediscovering how perfectly you fit against him. And maybe he wasn’t fully confident. Maybe his heart was still pounding like mad.

But he wasn’t leading with nerves anymore.

He was leading with you. With the way your breath hitched when he trailed his fingertips just beneath the hem of your shirt, featherlight over your back. With how you instinctively tilted your head for more when he dipped down to kiss your throat again, slower this time. Like he was drinking in the way you reacted. Letting it guide him.

His mouth curved upward against your skin when he felt you shiver.

His lips moved back up — your jaw, your cheek, the space beside your mouth — before he finally kissed you there. Really kissed you. No nerves. No warm-up. Just heat and affection and a low hum in his throat when you kissed him back just as eagerly.

You couldn’t help the little sigh you let out.

He kissed you deeper.

His hands weren’t fumbling anymore, just sure and slow as they cupped your waist and pulled you flush against him. You could feel how serious he was about this—how much he wanted to make you feel adored and dizzy.  When he finally pulled back, just enough to rest his forehead against yours, his eyes fluttered open—warm and wrecked in the best way.

“You okay?” He asked, voice low and husky, brushing his thumb over your cheek.

You smiled breathlessly. “Mhmm. You’re doing great.”

He laughed under his breath—this quiet, self-satisfied sound—and leaned in to kiss you again, a little smug now, but in that adorable Daesung way.

“You sure?” He murmured, voice teasing at the edges again. “’Cause I’m just getting started.”

You could tell by the way his fingers tightened ever so slightly at your waist that he was tempted to keep going. To deepen the kiss again. To see just how breathless he could make you. But instead, he let out a long, content sigh and pulled you in close, arms looping fully around your back like you were something precious he wanted to hold, not ravish. Well, not right now, at least.

He kissed your forehead, soft and lingering. “I’m gonna be honest,” he mumbled, “I have no idea how I managed to turn that around.”

You snorted, tucking your face against his shoulder. “You did fine. More than fine. 10 out of 10, would be seduced again.”

“Really?” He asked, voice light but tinged with shy surprise. “Even with the part where I almost concussed both of us?”

“Especially because of that,” you grinned. “It was so you. Honestly? You being awkward about it made it even better.”

He groaned, burying his face in your hair. “Don’t tell the guys. I’ll never hear the end of it.”

“No promises,” you teased, looping your arms around his neck. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

You both dissolved into giggles, tangled together on the couch like two teenagers riding the high of a successful dare. He rocked you gently side to side, humming under his breath, clearly pleased with himself now that the pressure was off. A few seconds later, you felt his hand rub soft circles on your back, and his voice dropped again—not trying to be sexy this time. Just sincere.

“I like making you laugh,” he said quietly. “I like seeing you all flustered. But mostly I just like being close to you like this.”

You exhaled against his hoodie, heart melting into a puddle. “Then stay like this.”

His arms tightened. “Done.”

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