#junghoseokxreader

The party was in full swing, a large motley collection of people having gathered in the Jung's house to celebrate New Year's Eve, plus the engagement of Hoseok to his long-time girlfriend slash next door neighbor, Kang Hyeonji.

As the glamorous guest of honor, the happy couple were dressed for the part. The proud groom-to-be was resplendent in stylish Balenciaga navy trousers, an open neck Gucci blue shirt and a suave cream silk sports jacket by Supreme. is bride-to-be was stunning in a strapless party dress of emerald satin by Chanel, with an even more stunning emerald and gold choker gracing her elegant neck. It had been a Christmas present from her adorning fiance, one of many he'd lavished on her during the past year.

Hoseok had, in fact spoiled Hyeonji rotten with gifts of expensive clothes and jewelry, not to mention his myriad smaller purchases of chocolates, flowers and perfume. He'd taught her to drive in his precious car, and would've bought him a new car if she'd let him. Then there were the fantasy getaways he'd taken her on, weekends here and there at romantic places designed to seduce and soften even the hardest of hearts. Not that Hyeonji was a hard girl. Hoseok knew she wasn't.

But she'd been surprisingly difficult to win, he'd found to his consternation. He'd never been quite sure of her feelings. She'd keep him dangling, had often been late for dates, and had sometimes even dared to cancel them. He'd never quite known where he stood with her, which had been both irritating and intriguing. Only in the love making department had he been sure of his domination over her. There, she was a putty in his hands, melting at his touch, quick to be aroused and always willing, no matter how often he wanted her, or where.

She'd never said no, even when there;d been some danger of being discovered. His choosing precarious places, such as behind rocks at the beach or in a sparsely filled movie theater - had sometimes soothed the sense of emotional insecurity she instilled in him, he'd almost felt loved. There'd been no doubt she craved him sexually; could not deny him. But was that love?

Till Christmas Day, when he'd produced an engagement ring for her which would have done Elizabeth Taylor proud. It was huge brilliant-cut yellow Argyle diamond, set in white gold. But it had been his words as he'd given it to her that had seemed to do the trick. "This cost me a fortune, Hyeonji," he said. "But a fortune means nothing to me without you. Marry me, my darling. I love you so much and I think you love me. You don't have to say you do if you don't want to but it would be nice, just once, to hear it from your lips."

Hyeonji had stared at him and then burst into tears. He gathered her to him and heard the words he'd been dying to hear all year. "Of course I love you. Don't you know that yet? I love you, Hoseok. With all of my heart, I love you. I love you..."

He looked over at her now across the crowded living room and caught her eye. She smiled at him, brown eyes sparkling. It wasn't so much different from the smiles she'd given him before, but tonight he saw the love in them. Why hadn't he seen it before? Hoseok was about to walk across the room to join her when someone tapped him on the elbow.

"Hello, you gorgeous hunk, you. If I wasn't married, you know, I'd given Hyeonji a run for her money." It was Choon Hee, from the library. One of Hyeonji's best friends.

Hoseok smiled "You would have to be good."

Choon Hee nodded up and down. "You're right. Hyeonji's a grand girl and I'm very happy for her. You don't know how lucky you are."

"Oh, I think I do..."

"She's loved you for so long, you know." says Choon Hee

Hoseok was about to say he didn't know at all when he stopped himself. It was then he realized Choon Hee was off in another world, smiling at something in her head.

"I can still remember the day she came into the library and told me about Mr X. You must remember Mr X, Hoseok," she added, glancing up at him.

"Only too well," Hoseok said dryly, and he lifted the glass he was holding to his lips.

Choon Hee chuckled. "I nearly cracked up when she told me about him, especially when she said you hadn't twigged. I mean...you have to admit it's very funny, but rather typical of men, not seeing beyond their nose. But I dare say you've laughed together about it since."

"Laughed about what?"

"About you being Mr X, of course."

Hoseok's drink froze midway to his mouth. He stared at Choon Hee over the glass. She grimaced, then groaned. "Oh, dear heaven, you didn't know. I always assumed she'd told you. Oh Lord!"

Hoseok could hardly think. He was Mr X. His head spun with the news, and all it implied. Hyeonji had loved him all along. But she'd also lied to him, laughed at him, manipulated him. She'd been a schemer, as Tinashe had warned she was. He recoiled at his thought, and his feelings showed on his face.

"Don't you dare take that attitude," Choon Hee warned.

"Dont you DARE! That girl loves you. No, she adores and worships you. Always has done. But did you ever see it? Not on your nelly! You sailed on through your glamorous privileged life, tossing her a few crumbs from your table when it suited you. You didn't give a fig for her feelings. You took her for granted and you broke her heart."

"But that's not..."

"Oh, shut up and listen!" Choon Hee snapped. "So what if she protected her self-esteem by inventing Mr X? So what if she had some fun with it? She'd had little enough fun in her life at that point in time. Give credit where credit is due, Hoseok. When she saw her chance she went after what she wanted. She changed for you, lied for you, fought for you. And she won you, by God - won your love and your respect. Look at her, Hoseok. She's beautiful and very brave woman; a woman in a million. Don't you dare tell her I told you about Mr X. Don't take her pride. Go on letting her think you believe she once had a Mr X in her life, because maybe she needs that Maybe she...Oh my God, she's coming over. Promise me, Hoseok. Promise me, you won't tell her I told you."

"I promise Choon," he said faithfully. "And thank you...for making me finally see the light."

Hoseok watched the girl he loved walk towards them, a lovely smile on her lovely face. He felt humbled and incredibly moved as the full import of Choon Hee's words sank in. Hyeonji had always loved him. Oh, how cruel life could be sometimes. And how wonderful. He saw now why he loved her so much. Because she loved him so much. He must have sensed in it at some subconscious level, had known that to let her go would be the worst, most stupid thing he could ever do. He vowed now he'd never let her go. Never.

"What are you two sneaky devils talking about over here?" she asked, glancing from one to another. "You two were looking rather very serious, Choon Hee. You too love."

Hoseok's heart kicked over. Never had the word "love" on her lips sounded so sweet, or so touching. He wound his arm around her slender waist and pulled her against him. "We were having a very serious discussion on having children in this day and age, weren't we Choon?"

Choon Hee laughed. He could see the flicker of surprised pleasure in her eyes "I've been wanting to discuss children with you. I would like to have a baby quite soon, but I wasn't sure about you..."

No, he thought, understanding dawning. She still wasn't sure of him. It was a cruel legacy of all those years when he hadn't noticed her, hadn't wanted her. That's why she kept him unsure. She'd been protecting herself, had made him keep proving his love over and over. There was still a lot of work to be done, he realized, before she would feel totally secure in his love. But having children together would be a good start. He gave her a reassuring smile, and a loving squeeze.

Hyeonji gave a self-conscious laugh. "How about nine months after the wedding day?"

"How about six?" he returned, squeezing her again. The wedding date has been set in March.

"I think this conversation is getting too private for me," Choon Hee exited.

"Hoseok laughed "I like your Choon Hee. I think we'll ask her to be Godmother to our first child."

"Our...first child?"

"You don't honestly think we're going to have only one child, do you? Only children are notoriously spoiled."

"Yes, well..."

He kissed her. Then kissed her again. "Wanna get out of here?" he murmured

"Where?"

"Your room" Hoseok smirked.

Hyeonji sucked in a startled breath. "Mine? But it...it only has a single bed in it."

Hoseok took her hand and began drawing her from her room. "Single beds were just made for lovers." Hoseok loved her, Hyeonji, the simple, solid girl who'd always loved him. He would make sure she would never doubt it again, and he would never cause her to.

Midnight came with cheers and shouts, whistles and car horns. People spilled out of houses into the streets below. Everyone was kissing.

No one missed the guests of honor.

"Hyeonji...?"

Hyeonji was lying cross ways on the bed with her head cradled in the small of Hoseok's back. Hoseok stretched out on his stomach, face buried in the pillows. Till a moment ago, she'd thought he was asleep. And well he might have been. He had to be utterly exhausted. She herself was bone-weary.

But what an afternoon it has been!

She would never have believed she could come so many times in a few short hours. Or that a man and woman could make love in so many different ways and positions. Hoseok had seemed to delight in witnessing her shock at each successive and seemingly outrageous suggestion, before seducing her to his will with an ease that made mockery of her initial inhibited reaction. How quickly he's routed those inhibitions, showing her pleasures she could have only dreamed of, once she'd put aside or at least learnt to ignore that squirming embarrassment which came whenever he looked upon her body in some new and increasingly intimate fashion.

He'd become her own personal devil all right, tempting her in ways she might have read and dreamed about, but which she would never have believed she would dare to do. Her stomach fluttered at what he might be going to suggest now, just when she'd thought everything had to come to a satisfying conclusion. Was there anything else? She doubted it.

"Yes?" she murmured warily, her own eyes staying shut.

"Lift your head for a second will you?"

She did, and he rolled over onto his back. "Right. You can put your head back down again."

Her head now nestled into his stomach, Hyeonji's own stomach contracted. The nearness of his slumbering cock brought back hot memories of the last time she'd encountered his flagging desire, less than thirty minutes before. Hoseok had carried her into the shower after one of their torrid mating's and, after washing her all over, had given her the shower gel and the sponge and set her to returning the favor. She'd been shy at first, as she always was when confronted by one of Hoseok's new suggestions. Her hands had initially been hesitant on him, but not for long.

How exciting it had been to bring him to life again in such a stunningly intimate way. There'd been a dizzying sense of power at the sight of him growing harder and larger by the second, his moans letting her now how much he was enjoying her ministrations. The decision to sink to her knees and do to him what he's already done to her more than once had come without conscious thought.It had seemed perfectly natural, yet at the same time the most wildly exciting thing she'd ever done.

Hoseok, however had not been as comfortable with her bold lovemaking. His thighs had alternately trembled and tensed as he'd struggled to control himself.

"stop," he'd rasped at last, stiffening and bracing himself back against the cool, wet tiles. "You must stop."

But she had not stopped. If he'd been her own personal devil before, she was his at that moment, her lips tempting him with the dark excitement of total surrender to her will this time. And while the hot water beat down on them both and the bathroom filled with steam Hoseok had finally lost his battle of the flesh, and she'd her wicked way with him.

"Hyeonji?" he said again, snapping her out of her erotic reverie.

She shivered then glanced up at him. "What?"

He was staring down at her with heavy-lidded eyes.

"Why is it, do you think, that everyone seems to believe you're in love with me?"

Hyeonji froze, then forced a light laugh. "I didn't know everyone did. Surely you're not talking about Tinashe? She was so green-eyed she couldn't see straight!"

"I realize that, but Jungkook seemed to think so too. Then this morning even Mom hinted the same."

Hyeonji gulped. "Really?"

"Yes, she said how much you cared for me and if I hurt one hair on your head I'd have her to answer to."

Hyeonji was touched, but also flustered. Was this the moment to confess, to tell Hoseok the truth? How would he react, she wondered, to finding out he was the enigmatic Mr X? Even if he was initially flattered. he might also be annoyed. He might think she'd made some kind of a fool of him by playing with his own identity. Hoseok would not like thinking that she'd been mocking him, or amusing herself at his expense. Which she had been, in a way. Though never maliciously. Then there was his possible reaction to finding out she'd been in love with him all these years like a love sick puppy dog. Even Tinashe had realized that if she declared a life long love and undying devotion Hoseok would have run a mile.

His mother's advise had been similar.

Hoseok was captivated by spirited women who went after what they wanted, not little mice who languished for years from an unrequited passion.

No, she could not tell him the truth. She could not risk losing Hoseok's respect, and possibly losing Hoseok in the process. She might have only won his lust so far, but it was a start.

"Well, of course I do care for you, Hobi," she confessed rather nonchalantly. "I always have."

"Yes, but it's this Mr X you're in love with," he muttered, none too happily. His disgruntlement gave Hyeonji hope. He lifted his head to glare down at her. "You are still in love with him, aren't you?"

She didn't know what to say. She really had to get rid of that infernal Mr X once and for all. He'd become a nuisance and an embarrassment, but how?

"Well?" Hoseok glowered at her.

Incredibly, she blushed.

Hoseok took that for admission, and scowled. "What in God's name has he got that I haven't got?"

Now Hyeonji ratlled "Err...nothing. I guess."

"Then there's no reason why you can't fall out of love with him and in love with me, is there?"

Hyeonji's mouth dropped open. "What..what are you saying?"

"What a I saying?" he bent down and scooped her up on top of him. "I'm saying I'm mad about you, Hyeonji. And I won't rest until you're just as mad about ,e." He rolled her under him and kissed her with a breathtaking hunger, hands cupping her face and keeping it solidly captive beneath his. "But that's not enough. I want to drive all thoughts of Mr X from your mind. I want you to love me as you've loved no other man."

"But I already have, Hobi. Loved you as I've loved no other man."

His head jerked back. "What?"

"Do you think I've done any of the things I've done with you today with any other man?"

He frowned. "But I thought...I mean... Look, lots of girls out there are technically virgins these days, but that doesn't mean they haven't done plenty. I thought...in the shower...I mean...My God, baby," he said, awe in his voice, "You're damned good at that for a beginner."

"Perhaps I just have a damned good tutor," she murmured, smiling. "And perhaps you were right about Mr X. What I felt for him was probably only infatuation, a fantasy. To be honest, I haven't given him a thought all the time I've been with you."

"So you're not in love with him anymore?"

"I can't see how I can be."

His triumph ant smile sent shivers down her spine.

"In that case that's going to be my next project - making you fall in love with me."

Hyeonji tried not to stare too hard, or cry. But it was too good to be true. She swallowed and tried not to let her feelings overwhelm her. Common sense dictated she be careful and not let her hopes get too high. Hoseok might me mad about her at the moment but that didn't mean he genuinely loved her. It might all be one of his passing passions, a temporary obsession. He's probably been mad about Tinashe at one point, plus all those other girls.

"And how do you aim to do that?" she asked him with a saucy smile.

He pursed his lips and made a thoughtful sound. "I'm not quite sure yet. You're so much more of a mystery than I ever imagined. A highly complex girl, not the simple creature I thought I knew so well. And you're far naughtier than I'd imagined too," he added, his eyes gleaming.

"Really?" she laughed. "Well, you're exactly as I always imagined."

"Is that good or bad?"

"Oh, definitely good. AND bad. You are as selfish as you said you were, but not in bed, thankfully."

'I'm not going to be selfish anymore," he vowed. "I'm going to change."

She smiled. "And the sun's going to rise in the west."

"You just wait and see. Besides, who are you to talk? Moved-on-made-over Hyeonji isn't exactly Miss Sweetness and Light. You could have knocked me over with a feather the way you stood up to Tinashe out there."

"Where as the Hyeonji I used to be would have stood there and not made a sound, not even a little squeak." she smirked.

Hoseok laughed. "Hey! Don't run her down. I really liked that girl. She was very sweet."

Hyeonji's eyebrows lifted. Yes, but you didn't fall in love with her, came her rueful thought. "She was a bore!"

"She was VERY nice," he defended hotly.

"She's dead and gone. Banished!"

"No. She's not," he said, his voice dropping to a soft and sentimental timbre. "She's still there, hiding underneath your new hair and your newly found assertiveness. I think that's why my feelings for you are different to what they were with any of those other girls. Different, and deeper. Because YOU'RE different. I've always liked you Hyeonji. You're not a vain little puss, and you're honest as the day is long. You'd never lie to me. You're the sort of girl a man is proud to take home to his mother. The sort a man wants to ma-"

She pushed her fingers against his mouth, panic flowering all through her. "Hush! Don't say that Hobi. Don't!"

He groaned, then picked up her fingers and kissed the trembling fingertips. "I'm rushing you, I know. I can be like that once I set my sights on something. I can see it's the wrong timing for me to do. Only yesterday you were a virgin, and in love with another man. I can understand you might be a little confused. But I can also be patient too," he vowed passionately. "And very single-minded. You're going to be mine Hyeonji. Fight me. I enjoy a good fight. But come the year you will become my fiance, with my ring on your finger and true love for me in your heart."

She stared at him with wide blinking eyes. She almost told him then, but didn't for she knew she had to make sure of him, had to let him fight his good fight for her, and for her love. It was fitting, after all the years of heartache and longing she'd been through, that should not win her easily. Men did not value what they gained easily. And Hoseok was going to value her. She deserved it.

"The new year?" she said, her mind racing. That was ten months away, ten months of him chasing her, courting her, pursuing her and seducing her. It was an irresistibly exciting thought. "Well I suppose by then I should know if it's true love I feel for you and not just infatuation. After my fiasco with Mr X, I would want to be sure."

"You'll be sure, my love. Don't worry. I will make sure of that" as he smirked.

Chapter 16 Final

Another talk less drive to Hoseok's home. More nerve racking tension.

And doubts. Terrible doubts.

What am I doing? Hyeonji agonized. This isn't me, I'm not a sex-monster. I know I'm not. So what am I doing letting Hoseok reduce me to nothing but a sexual challenge?

A member of Bangtan Sonyeondan was belting out a song, singing about love in their distinctive style.

Love! God, but she was beginning to hate that word. And the state. Being in love was totally self-destructive. Look what it had done to her mother. She'd loved her father who'd been a womanizer and wastrel. He'd brought her nothing but heartache and misery.

Now here she was, her mother's daughter, wasting her love on the wrong man. Maybe Hoseok wasn't a rotter or a wastrel but he had one major flaw. He didn't love her back. If he did, he wouldn't be doing this, would he? He'd be....

Hyeonji sucked in a startled breath as a possible defect in her reasoning broke through her mental ramblings. The question she'd just asked herself could have been the wrong question. What if she'd asked how Hoseok would be acting if he definitely didn't love her? If he disliked and disapproved of her new self as much as he said he did. For one thing he would not have come over today. He would have been only too happy to see the back of her. He certainly would have not raged at her then vowed to turn her into some kind of sex slave!

Hyeonji took a deep breath and tried not to get too carried away with this new theory to explain Hoseok's some what alien actions. It was always possible that she'd somehow captured his sexual interest in a way previously unknown to him, and he just could not handle his new feelings towards her. Clearly he was jealous of the idea of her with any other man.

Their arrival at Hoseok's place brought a swift end to this new and rather exciting train of thought. Still, Hyeonji vowed to stop being so obsessed with her own feelings and more observant about Hobi's. She appreciated, however, that cool reasoning was difficult when your nerve-endings were dancing and all you could think about suddenly was what Hoseok would do when they were alone in his loft.

He seemed tense himself, dropping his keys at the door then fumbling with the lock. He finally flung the door open and stalked inside. Hyeonji let out her long held breath then followed his wake. She was about to say something when a voice interrupted her, a low, husky female voice.

"Glad to see you finally came home, babe. I don't know about you, but this last month has been the longest in my life. So I didn't want to waste my time..."

Hyeonji could not see who had spoken. Hoseok stood in her line of sight. But she recognized the voice. Tinashe had a very distinctive delivery.

"For pity's sake Tinashe!" Hoseok exclaimed. "I have someone with me."

Hyeonji stepped out from behind Hoseok's suddenly frozen stance to see what had shocked him. Tinashe was draped in the bedroom doorway, stark naked. If ever Hyeonji had cause to feel inadequate, it was at that moment. She could not fault Tinashe's tall voluptuous body. Anywhere. The only remote flaw she could find was that Tinashe's nakedness confirmed what a jealous Hyeonji had always suspected - that Tinashe was not a natural blonde.

Still such small imperfection was little comfort in the face of such amazing figure. Tinashe slightly thrown by the unexpected presence of another woman. Her artfully raised arms dropped languidly to her sides and she rolled her eyes at Hoseok in mild exasperation. "Really, babe. This is the day we agreed to get together again. Had you forgotten? Maybe I left you alone for too long..."

She actually sashayed into the room, utterly unabashed of her nakedness. Her long blonde hair shifted in sensual disarray across her shoulders, her melon-like boobs undulating sensuously, bringing attention their lush size, plus their very pink, very pointed nipples. Hyeonji would not have put it past her to have painted the damned things, then iced them to their present stunning erect state.

"Why don't you tell this little sweetie to run along?" Tinashe said, waving a dismissive hand in Hyeonji's direction. "You really don't want to stay, do you, sweetie? Hoseok clearly has been a naughty boy in not telling you he already has a girlfriend." Hoseok glared his fury at her while Hyeonji gathered all her courage. "My name is Hyeonji, not sweetie," she said coolly. "And I'm afraid it's you who's going to be leaving, Tinashe, dear. Hoseok has indeed been naughty, but only in not calling you today and telling you it's over between you two. Right? Darling." And she linked arms with Hoseok, fluttering her eyelashes up at him as she gazed adoringly to his stunned face.

Tinashe at last looked annoyed. Her hands found her hips and she ppered at Hyeonji with narrowed eyes. "Hyeonji did you say?"

She took an aggressive step forward and looked Hyeonji up and down. "My God, it is!" She sneered. "It's the mouse from next door. I just didn't recognize her. I always knew you were a sly piece of shit. Did you think you had me fooled with your goody librarian routine? I saw the way you drooled over Hoseok when he wasn't watching. I knew you were jealous and you were just waiting on your chance to get your hooks in. Just good friends my ass."

Tinashe looked over at Hoseok "So tell me, what did she do babe? Confessed her long time love? Kissed your fucking feet? Promised undying devotion? No. I dont think that would've worked. You would run a mile away! You like your women assertive and independent, not simpering and clinging!" Tinashe gave Hyeonji another savage glance, then laughed. "Aaah. I get it. She played the make over game. Changed her hair and clothes. Worked on her fat ass."

"That's enough!" Hoseok ground out.

"Oh no, no, no...it's not," Tinashe returned, scornful and defiant. "It's not nearly enough. I'm going to have my say. I am not going to crawl out here with my tail between my legs! I am going to make you see that that bitch there is even more manipulative than I am!" She then turned to face Hyeonji, "tell me, what did you dangle him, hmmm princess? Your priceless virginity?"

When Hyeonji's face flamed, Tinashe triggered. "Oh, that IS priceless. And you fell for it Hoseok? I'm surprised. I thought you were more sophisticated than that. But I guess deep down all men are suckers for untouched vagina? The poor misera-"

Tinashe never got to finish her tirade of insults. She was too busy squawking when Hoseok threw her over his shoulder and marched her to the door. But she soon found her voice again, screaming a string of obscenities at Hoseok when he dumped her, in a none too flattering heap, in the hallway. Her clothes followed, then her purse-minus a key, an open-mouthed Hyeonji noticed.

"Goodbye Tinashe," he said coldly. "I would have liked to have done this decently. But decency would be wasted on you. I'm sure you won't have a hard time finding some sucker with low standards as yourself." And he slammed the door shut on her, shooting the lock across with a savage flick on his wrist. When he turned, he actuallt shuddered. "I cant believe I ever considered going back to that...creature!"

Hyeonji's estimation of Hoseok went up a thousand fold. Which meant it was now off the planet. "Well that was interesting. I must say she is...was...very beautiful.," she said. "And I dare say good in bed."

Hoseok grimaced. "I doubt anything about her is good except her acting. I would rather have five minutes in bed with you, Hyeonji, than a lifetime with her. You leave her for dead in every department. And you're just as beautiful."

Hyeonji's heart caught. "Not really Hobi," she murmured. "But it's nice of you to say so."

"No I mean it. You have a beauty which will last, because it comes from within. Not that I dont think youre very attractive," he said as he drew her into his arms. "You are. And very sexy too. In fact you're more sexy with your clothes on than Tinashe is stark naked. I see now that true sexiness comes from what a woman subtly offers a man. A willingness to give as well as receive. And trust. It wasn't so much of your virginity I found enchanting last night, but your trust. You trusted me with your body, and even your life. That blew me away. You blew me away. I couldn't sleep all night thinking of you., and wanting you again. What I said to you earlier, Hyeonji...I didn't really mean that. I would never do anything to hurt you. I was just going mad with wanting you. And I was in flat panic that you were going off and find someone else."

She cupped his handsome face and tried to still her racing heart. "You mean you're bot going to bow me to your will through fair means or foul? You're not going to try to turn me into some sex slave?"

Hoseok laughed "God, no. I don't know what got into me."

"Well, that's a shame," she said, smiling saucily into his very serious face. "I was kinda looking forward to it."

His brown eyes jerked wide, then narrowed. "I have an awful feeling you mean that."

"I do in a fashion..." Hyeonji replied, Hoseok quirked his head to the side "What kind of fashion?"

"I don't want you to hurt me, but I was looking forward to all those experiences you promised." She kissed him lightly on the lips "and be my master...." she kissed him again, not quite so lightly. "And my own personal devil..." her third kiss left him breathing heavily. "But most of all," she whispered huskily, "I was counting on you taking me to that mysterious level of surrender."

His expression had darkened during her provocative confession. She wasn't sure if she had shocked him to the core this time or not. He was certainly pretty still, but then a slow smile pulled at his nicely shaped mouth, and a wicked grin brightened his beautiful brown eyes.

"You do know what happens to little girls who play with fire, don't you? Hmmm...Baby girl?"

She gulped. Had she gone too far? She thought...

"Er..."

"Too late," he snapped, and scooped her up into his arms. "You cant throw down a challenge like that to a man like me, then try to back out." He began to stride towards the bedroom.

"But I...I..."

He halted in the doorway. "You what? Use your words baby girl, or forever hold your peace."

Hyeonji bit her bottom lip and Hoseok swept into the room, suddenly throwing her on his bed laughing devilishly. The boy meets evil.

Chapter 15

The League Club had been the main social club of the Cantral Gwangju-Busan Coast area for some years. Membership was cheap, and not even necessary to gain entrance. Visitors and tourists were welcome to enjoy the many facilities and entertainment the club had to offer.

There were poker machines galore, bingo nights, dance clubs, variety shows, bars, lounges, snooker tables and even a TAB betting branch. The large bistro section provided inexpensive meals, with three other restaurants catering for patrons who wanted more extensive menu and silver service.

It was understandable, then, that the club car park was almost full by seven fifteen on thag saturday night. Hoseok finally found a spot on the top level, his face showing irritation by the time he and Hyeonji made their way ober by the lifts. When a black Jag sped around the corner from the level below and almost collected them, Hoseok could no longer contain his temper.

He swore, shaking his fist at the unseen driver. The Jag screeched to a halt. The tinted window purred down and Jeon Jungkook's distinctive dark brown hair and face leant out.

"Hoseok!" He exclaimed. "I thought it was you I nearly killed. Pretty stupid of me since I gather you're presenting me with my award tonight. I was voted Young Businessman of the Year, would you believe?"

Jungkook's deeply set doe eyes suddenly shifted over to Hyeonji, his black brows shooting upwards. "Good God, is that our little Hyeonji you've got with you? Wow, girl, you're looking even better than you did the other night. Hold the lift for me, you two, will you? It won't take me a second to park this old chariot."

Hoseok's grip on her arm tightened as he steered her over the lift. "Our little Hyeonji?" He grated out. "What did he mean by that? And where in God's name did he see you the other night?"

Hyeonji thought all her Christmases had come out at once. She could not have orchestrated things better for herself. Fate had, for once, been on her side.

"Jungkook drove by as I was walking home from the hair dresser Friday week ago," she said truthfully. "He stopped and gave me a lift home." Hoseok reached out with his free hand and jabbed the 'down' button before glowering down at her "And?" Hyeonji had no trouble adopting an innocent expression, she was innocent "And what?"

"And he told you, you looked fantastic, didn't he?"

Hyeonji stiffened. Suddenly, she could see which way Hoseok's mind was working and it wasn't what she wanted at all. Damn that infernal Mr X!

"He did say something complimentary," she hedged. "I can't really remember his exact words "

"Don't play games with me Hyeonji. You're not like to have forgotten the exact words your precious Mr X said to you. Jeon Jungkook IS your Mr X, isn't he? You lied to me about that. And you lied to me knowing that he'd be here tonight." As Hoseok's hold tightens on Hyeonji's arm.

"Don't be silly, Hobi." She shrugged out of his bruising hold. "Jungkook is not my Mr X and I had no idea he would be here tonight. But now that he is I can't say I'm sorry. I've always liked Jungkook. He's good fun."

The lift doors slid open and they walked in, Hyeonji and not Hoseok reaching for the 'hold' button.

"You do realize he'll try to hit on you," Hoseok pointed out scathingly. "Will he? Well, why should that worry you?" Hoseok snapped "Your even saying that shows naivety, I wouldn't trust him with an eighty-year-old grandmother!"

"I don't think Jungkook is that bad as everyone makes him out to be," she defended hotly, her face burning over Hoseok's calling her naive and silly. "I wouldn't advise your putting that notion to the test." He ground out.

An awkward silence fell between then, broken only when Jungkook strode into the lift. He was wearing a dinner suit similar ilk to Hoseok's, but somehow Hyeonji though Hoseok's looked more elegant. In Hyeonji's opinion people would say the clothes maketh the man. In Hoseok's case it was the other way around.

"Thanks babe," Jungkook said, pressing the ground floor button while ipenly ogling Hyeonji. "So how come you two are out together tonight? Last time I saw you Hoseok you had a blonde bombshell on your arm."

"Hobi and I are just good friends," Hyeonji piped up before Hoseok could say a word. "His girlfriend couldn't make it so I'm here in her place."

Jungkook looked pleased at this news. "So you're not on a real date?"

Hyeonji laughed. "Good heavens, no!"

"So what are you doing after dinner?" He persisted. Hyeonji had to give Jungkook his due. He didn't believe in wasting time.

"I'm taking her home," Hoseok pronounced firmly.

"Come now, don't be a spoilsport," Jungkook said jokingly. "If you're not interested in this little lady, then I surely am."

"Then I suggest you ask her out some other time," Hoseok said politely, even though his eyes would have set low-calorie jelly in ten seconds flat. "Contrary to Hyeonji's opinion, I DO consider this a real date. When I take a girl out for the night, I see her safely home."

The subtle emphasis on the word 'safely' did not escape Hyeonji. Or Jungkook, who rolled his eyes and snorted.

"I didn't realize you were so old fashioned." Jungkook retorted. "I don't consider myself old fashioned. But I do have certain standards."

Jungkook guffawed. "Yeah, I've seen some of them. And I must congratulate you on your standards. When you've finished with Blondie, you can give me her phone number."

The lift doors opened, and Hoseok took Hyeonji's arm. "Find your own girlfriends," he advised brusquely. "And leave Hyeonji alone."

Jungkook grinned. "Damn, fighting words Hoseok."

Hyeonji was astonished by the look Hoseok sent Jungkook. She'd always thought of Hoseok as a pacifist. Violence would never be his way. But there was violence in his eyes when he glared at his former classmate.

"Anytime Jungkook," he said in a voice reminiscent of Clint Eastwood at his tough-guy best. "Anywhere."

Doubt filled Jungkook's face. He glanced from Hoseok to Hyeonji to Hoseok again. In the end he shrugged and stalked off. Hyeonji couldn't make up her mind if she liked Hoseok's proprietorial manner or resented it. Whatever, her blood was up and was her temper.

"I don't understand your dog-in-the-manger attitude," she hissed on their walk from the lift to the club entrance. "You don't want me, but you don't want other man to want me."

"Who says I don't want you?" He hissed back.

Hyeonji ground to a halt, her crystal earrings in pendulum mode as she gaped up at the man she loved. But his returning glance was rueful and not full of the out-of-control, smoldering passion she was hoping for.

"Any red-blooded man would have to be dead not to want you, the way you're looking tonight," he ground out. "You must have got some inkling of the effect you had on me when I kissed you earlier. I had to exercise considerable self-control to stop when I did."

"No kidding," Hyeonji muttered. Ans she knew how he'd found that self-control. He'd only had to think of Tinashe tomorrow, she thought with savage despair. Why waste all that pent-up male sexuality on silly, naive, innocent Hyeonji when you have a blonde sex-bomb just waiting in the wings?

Her hazel brown eyes flashed as they raked over his handsome face. "Congratulations on your self-control," she said caustically. "But what good is that to me? I told you I wanted to move on Hobi."

"Meaning what?"

Hyeonji's laugh was dry. "And you called me silly and naive. Do I have to spell it out for you? I'm sick and tired of waiting for the man I love to love me back. And I'm sick and tired of being a virgin. Everyone keeps telling me to move on, even you! Well, I've decided to just that tonight in a way where there's no turning back! Since you won't oblige me, Hoseok, then I'll find someone who will."

"You don't mean that Hyeonji," he said in truly shocked tones. "I do mean it."

"Not Jungkook for pity's sake!"

"Why not Jungkook? I'm not expecting him to love me. Just to make love to me! I hear he's pretty good at that." Says Hyeonji. Hoseok groaned at the idea. "I can't bare to think of it."

"Well, you know what to do in that case," she threw at him in one desperate, last ditch attempt. "Do the honors yourself. If you were really my best friend you would."

He stared at her as though she were mad. She whirled and began to stride on ahead her skirt swishing angrily around her legs. She was mad all right, mad with herself. If she had any real guts she'd take Jungkook up on hid offer. Who knew? May she would before the night was up.

Hoseok caught up with her just as she approached the floor-to-ceiling glass doors which led into the club's brightly lit foyer. His arm linked forcibly with hers slowing her step before turning her to face him.

His brown eyes burned down at her with a darkly angry frustration "All right," he bit out. "I'll do it. But be it on your head, Hyeonji. God knows I suddenly lost mine!" And, with that, he swing her around and swept her into the club.

Chapter 10

Choon Hee grabbed her the moment she walked into the library, and dragged her down to the privacy of the back room. "I'm dying of curiosity," she said, quite unnecessarily, since her whole body language reeked of a breathless tension. "Did you doll yourself up like we told you to? Did you wear the perfume? Did you knock glamour boy for six when he came to pick you up?"

Hyeonji had thought about what she would tell the girls this morning. She'd walked more slowly to work than usual, mulling over whether she should lie or not. Now the moment of truth was at hand, and despite Choon Hee's eager face Hyeonji could not bring herself to make up a story.

"No I didn't doll myself up," she confessed, with a wealth of apology in her voice. "I didn't wear the perfume either, though it was a lovely though, Choon hee and I do thank you and Han Byeol for it. And as I'm sure you've guessed...no, I didn't knock Hoseok for six when he came to pick me up."

Choon Hee exhaled a huge sigh of disappointment. "Oh, Hyeonji! How many chances like that do you think you're going to get?"

"Actually, last night wasn't a total disaster. Hobi did notice at last how much weight I'd lost. He also told me I had a nice figure and good legs...for someone so short."

"He did? Wow! You must have been thrilled to bits" she says.

"It's not quite good as it sounds," Hyeonji said ruefully, then went on to tell Choon Hee exactly how the compliments had come about. She listened intently, her eyes rounding further with each new revelation. "You mean he thinks you're in love with someone else? This guy he dubbed as Mr. X?"

"Uh-huh..." Hyeonji nodded.

"And he told you how to dress so that you would be more attractive for another man?"

Hyeonji again nods.

"I'd like to strangle him with my bare hands!" says choon Hee in annoyance.

"Don't blame Hobi. I forced him into it." Hyeonji automatically defends her best friend. "Rubbish! That man is a blind fool! Oh, poor baby."

"Not poor baby, at all Choon Hee," she returned with a very firm resolve. "Because I'm going to do it. Follow all of Hoseok's suggestions. But not for him, I'm going to do it for myself." She smiled at her friend. Choon Hee snickered at Hyeonji "Go on with you! You're not!"

"Yes I am"

"You're going to cut your hair short and dye it red?" as choon Hee's eyes grew rounder in shock. "For starters. So do you happen to know a good hairdresser who doesn't cost the earth? Also where I might find a make-up expert who gives free advice and tuition?"

Choon Hee's dark eyes twinkled with excitement "I certainly do. But gosh, Hyeonji, whatever is your mother going to say?" Hyeonji wasn't sure. But she would find out that evening. To be honest, the prospect was a daunting one. It wasn't like her to make waves. Or to do something as bold as this. But she was determined to change herself, and her life...whatever the cost.

Fortunately, she had a few bucks placed away for emergencies –and which she would use for her first visit to the hairdresser, and some make-up. Still, if she was to find enough money from their tight budget for regular visits to the hairdresser and a whole new wardrobe, then some changes would have to be made to their day-to-day lifestyle.

Her own salary was almost totally eaten up with the two mortgages her father had taken out shortly before he died, and her mother's pension barely covered their living expenses and other bills, with little left over for luxuries.

Hyeonji waited till after dinner before she brought up her plan for her future, and was not really surprised when her mother reacted badly. "But why do you want to change yourself so dramatically?" Zil asked in a tremulous voice. "I don't understand. This isn't like you at all!"

"Mum," Hyeonji returned patiently, "I'm twenty-three and I have not had one single steady boyfriend in my life. I do not want to become an old maid. I want to get married one day and have a family of my own. To get married I need a man, and to get a man I need to do something about attracting one."

"It's not any man you want to attract, missie,"came her waspish accusation. "It's Jung Hoseok. You were perfectly happy till you went out with him last night and now you've got all these silly ideas in your head."

"They are not silly ideas," Hyeonji said more sternly. "Yes I do have feelings for Hoseok. I always have had. I won't deny it. But you were right when you said he'd never fall in love with me, he thinks of me as a kid sister. But that doesn't mean I'm going to spend the rest of my life pinning after him. Since men don't exactly come flocking to my door, I aim to get out and about a bit more, and I aim to look darned good when I do so. Looking good costs money, which brings me to my first suggestion. What do you think about selling this house and buying something smaller? The mortgages are killing us."

Her mother gave her a truly horrified look. "Oh, no! No, no, no! I love this house. It's all I have. You can't ask that of me. You can't!"

Hyeonji relented and moved straight to plan B. To be honest she hadn't really wanted to sell. As much as she'd told both Choon Hee and her mother that these radical changes were for herself, she still wanted to see Hoseok's reaction to the finished product. Silly of her perhaps but a fact. "Okay, forget selling," she said briskly. "My alternative suggestion is that we advertise for a boarder."

"A boarder!"

"Yes. We have four bedrooms in this house, Mum, two of which are never used, the master bedroom being one of them. You could get money for that room. It has an en suite, a dressing room and lots of space." As Hyeonji tries to debate with her mother. "Oh, but I couldn't have some strange man living in your father's house and sleeping in his bed!"

Hyeonji prayed for more patience. Her mother's devotion to her father had increased considerably since his death. Couldn't he remember what a selfish bastard he'd been? How he'd wasted all her inheritance from her parents on one stupid get-rich schemes? Worst of all, how he'd often come home late, smelling of booze and cheap perfume?

"You don't have to have a male boarder, Mum. I'm sure there are plenty of widows around your age who need accommodation. It would be company for you as well," Hyeonji pointed out. "I am not going to be at home as much as I used to be."

Zil opened her mouth to protest again, then closed it, her expression petulant. She looked like a sulky child sitting there. Hyeonji felt sorry for her but knew she had to make a stand or her future would be as dull and dreary as she'd been fearing. "Do I have your agreement to put up an add next Wednesday's paper?"

The following day Hyeonji did what she was set out to do, though bombarded with the previous argument she had with her mother, who is still insisting on not getting any boarders, Hyeonji was persistent.

"I can't believe it's me!" Hyeonji exclaimed delightedly. "You're a genius, Taehyung!"

The hairdresser's smile carried a delicious satisfaction. "I must admit I have outdone myself this time!"

Hyeonji beamed anew at this striking and sophisticated-looking creature who was staring back at her in the mirror. She turned her head from side to side and watched the smooth coppery cap shimmer and sway and fall perfectly back into place. "This particular cut will give your hair body and style," Taehyung had pronounced reassuringly while he proceeded to shape her hair while layering the top concentric circles of from her crown. Hyeonji now had a stylish fringe down to her eyebrows, the effect being to diminish the size of her face and nose, and highlight her deeply set hazel brown eyes.

The new coppery color besides being eye-catching in itself, was a perfect foil for her pale skin, giving it a translucency and delicacy which has been lost against her mousy brown hair. When Hyeonji stood up she saw delightedly that the clean lines made her neck look longer and even more elegant.

"You look really different, I mean you're such a babe. If I weren't gay and totally in love with my partner Jimin, honey. I'd bring you home." The hairdresser said, shaking his head admiringly. "Taller too."

Hyeonji chuckles at Taehyung. "Yeah, I think you're right. I do look different," Hyeonji said excitedly. "Oh, Taehyung how could I ever thank you? It was so kind of you to fit me in your schedule tonight."

"It was my pleasure. Now how are you going to get home?" Taehyung asked once Hyeonji had handed the money. "I'll walk it's not that far." Taehyung lived less than a block from the library, which was only a fifteen-minute walk from her house. Taehyung frowned. "Do you think that's wise? It's Friday night, you know."

"What do you mean?" she asked inquisitively.

"People let their hair down on a Friday night around here. You'll have to walk past the bar on your way home, won't you?" says Taehyung. "Yes" Hyeonji responds.

"Then you better watch yourself. You're not exactly inconspicuous with that new red hair you know." Taehyung's warning startled Hyeonji. She'd never been hassled by unwanted male attention in all her life and simply could not anticipate that a mere change in hair color would create trouble for her, especially when she was still dressed in her library uniform.

But she was wrong.

She'd just passed the tavern and was halfway along the past stretch which followed the railway line when a hotted-up Chevie full of less than savory individuals rumbled by. "Hey babe!" one of them called out.

Hyeonji averted her eyes and crossed the road as soon as they passed by, then nearly died when she heard the tires screech as the driver executed a U-turn. Before she could blink, the car was cruising along next to her and an obviously drunk, loud-mouther lout was leaning out of the passenger window in her direction.

"Where you going baby?" he said breathing beer fumes in her way. "Wanna ride?"

She quickened her step and kept her eyes straight ahead. "What's the matter? You think you're too good for us? Fellas, you think we should teach Madam here a lesson or two?"

Her mouth dry with fear, Hyeonji was just about to run for it when a sleek black car shot around the Chevie and pulled up dead. The driver of the Chevie had to brake hard to avoid a collision and the man hanging by the passenger window almost tipped out onto the road. When a tall dark haired man dressed in black jumped out from behind the wheel of the black car and began stalking back towards Hyeonji's verbal assailant, the man shouted something and scrambled back into the vehicle, spun around and roared off.

Her savior curved his big hands over her shaking shoulders and peered down over her pale face. "You all right there miss?" he said. It was only then that Hyeonji recognized the identity of her rescuer.

It was Jeon Jungkook.

"Yes I think so," Hyeonji says in a breathless hush. "Thank you so much for stopping, Jungkook." His surprise at her for knowing his name was obvious in the jerking back of his head, and the widening of his dark eyes. Hyeonji would've gratified if she hadn't still been shaking like a leaf. "It's Hyeonji," she said "Kang Hyeonji"

"Hyeonji?" His startled gaze lifted to her hair, then swiftly ran down her body and up again. "Good Lord, it is you. I didn't recognize you with that stunning hair, and you've lost weight too, haven't you?"

"A little..."

His smile took on a knowing edge as he looked at her up and down again. "More than a little. You're looking fantastic. Too fantastic to be walking down these streets at night on your own. No wonder you almost got yourself into trouble. Come on, I'll drive you home."

After her frightening experience with those creeps Hyeonji wasn't about to refuse. She wouldn't have been human either, if she hadn't been flattered by Jungkook's compliments by her appearance, and by the way he kept looking at her.

His touch seemed gentle and solicitous as he helped her into the passenger side of his roomy black sedan, but when he sashed the seatbelt into place for her Hyeonji was quite sure his left hand deliberately brushed over the tips of her breasts. She stiffened inside but said nothing, ignoring his attempt to make eye contact at the same time. Creeps came in various forms she thought ruefully. It was obvious that outright rape wasn't his thing. Silky smooth seductions and one night stands where his forte. He would use his golden tongue to talk his way into a girl's bed. Hyeonji decided not to get carried away with Jungkook's words of praise. She didn't doubt she looked better with her new hairdo, but she wasn't competition for Tinashe just yet.

They were only a minute away from her home by car, but Jungkook didn't waste a second, bombarding her with questions designed to elicit the only information from a female he would want to know. How old was she exactly, where did she work these days. Did she have a boyfriend? Unfortunately Hyeonji didn't realize where Jungkook was heading till she told him several truths with naïve honesty.

As soon as he pulled up the curve outside her house, he turned and asked her if she would like to come out for a drink with him later that night. "I could pick you up at say...ten thirty?"

Hyeonji might've been inexperienced with men but she knew that to agree with such invitation at that hour of the night was to agree to more than just a drink. She didn't doubt that she'd get a drink. Plenty of them. And all of them alcoholic. Then, when she was suitably plastered Jungkook would take her back to his orgy palace for a night of raw naked sex. The very thought of Jungkook naked gave Hyeonji chills down her spine. He had a great body, facially he was very handsome, no doubt a lot of women fancied his darkly macho appearance with that playboy bunny smile of his, but Hyeonji preferred Hoseok's fairer more elegant looks.

Her favorite fantasy always included running her hands through his silky black hair and over his smooth chest. It turned her on just to imagine touching his body, whereas the thought of touching Jungkook's made her skin crawl.

"Thank you Jungkook," she said politely "For everything, but I'm sorry I can't. Not tonight."

To give him credit he took the rejection well. His black eyes glittered with undeniable confidence as he smiled over at her. "That's all right, another time maybe?"

"Perhaps," not wanting to be rude to her rescuer. "I'll call you," he said then started the engine and left.

Chapter 06