Chapter 3
“I was just at a company dinner nearby. I had to leave in a hurry, so everyone is probably waiting for me.”
Of course, Eun-bin had just received a message from a colleague saying they were on their way home after tidying up earlier.
“Then… I’ll go now…”
At that moment, Eun-bin’s hand brushing past Ji-hyuk was suddenly held, pulling her back in front of him.
“…Ji-hyuk oppa?”
The large hand resting on her forehead sent a shiver through her body. The sudden touch froze Eun-bin in place.
A pleasant scent brushed her nose, and the intense presence of Ji-hyuk right in front of her was overwhelming. Everything felt confusing.
“You’re not leaving. Just stay here and rest today.”
“B-but…”
“If you collapse on the way, Joo-woo Jin will scold you forever.”
“I won’t collapse. I’m not that weak. And I’m not going to tell you about work today. If you knew, you’d just nag as usual.”
“Listen to me. You don’t need to feel any pressure. It’s my room.”
“But…”
Ji-hyuk ruffled Eun-bin’s hair lightly, as if to tell her not to worry.
“I was about to leave too. Just make yourself comfortable.”
“…You’re leaving?”
“It would be uncomfortable to stay here alone with a guy, right? You’re grown up now.”
Being treated like a child, Eun-bin’s expression stiffened. It had always been this way since they first met: to him, she was just a kid—the younger sister of a close friend.
Even in the earlier situation, even now, she knew this was why he was taking care of her. She had accepted it as normal… so why did it feel so strange now?
“What kind of girl is this so plain…? Who would even like you?”
“You’re not even a real woman. So what if you have XX chromosomes? You have no charm as a woman.”
Maybe it was those words. No—actually, it was just an excuse.
Everything she had suppressed under the guise of being a good girlfriend for seven years was now surging through her like a dam breaking.
This unfamiliar hotel, the beautiful night view outside the window, and even the scent of Ji-hyuk’s cologne brushing her nose… everything was paralyzing her reason.
An alarm went off in her mind, warning of danger, but that danger only stirred her instincts.
Just for tonight… I want to break free.
Not the always patient, considerate, waiting Joo Eun-bin. She wanted to be a woman who followed her instincts.
And most of all, the person in front of her was Ji-hyuk.
Though she had drawn a line, telling herself it was impossible because he was her oppa’s friend, she had known all along: from the moment she held feelings for him, she had never seen him as just a friend.
Deep down, he was always the man who made her heart race.
“Joo Eun-bin?”
“Oppa… you’re… okay with this?”
“What?”
“Two grown adults, alone in a hotel room late at night… and you… don’t feel anything?”
“Do you know what you’re saying?”
“I’m a woman too. Like you said, I’m grown up.”
It might have been the alcohol loosening her tongue. She was saying things she would never normally say. Still, she wanted to know Ji-hyuk’s answer.
Eun-bin instinctively stepped closer to him.
So close that their breaths could meet.
Ji-hyuk’s unreadable gaze slowly scanned her. Without a word, just with his eyes, her cheeks flamed.
At that moment, he smirked slightly.
“To me, you’re still a child.”
“Treating me like a kid again…”
“You should be grateful I treat you like a kid.”
“…?”
Grateful? Eun-bin didn’t understand what he meant. But today, his gaze seemed darker, dangerous even—and that only made her want to reach for him more.
She wanted to touch him.
Repeating that thought made her even hotter.
Through her fine shirt, she could feel the firmness of his chest, broad shoulders, and large hands. What would it feel like if that hand touched her?
Eun-bin found herself having erotic thoughts, biting her lips. She had never imagined such things about a person before…
“You heard everything earlier, right?”
“Don’t take those words from a beastly human to heart.”
“Some of it was true.”
“…”
“You didn’t like being with your boyfriend.”
Eun-bin slowly looked up at Ji-hyuk. Her hand rose toward his chest.
Thump.
Her hand pressed against his firm chest, and the beat of his heart reverberated through her palm.
Ji-hyuk’s gaze darkened momentarily. It seemed he was tolerating her only up to a point.
But Eun-bin wanted to cross that line. Even if it was just for today, she wanted to be seen as a woman in his eyes, even for a moment.
“I understand how you feel too, oppa.”
“Understand?”
“Because I have no charm as a woman.”
“Who said that?”
“So… you don’t think that?”
“Is this provocation?”
Ji-hyuk fumbled with his tie in frustration at Eun-bin’s innocent reaction, unaware of how flushed her cheeks were and how she was swallowing nervously.
It was obvious what she was thinking, but she had no awareness herself. That defenselessness made him crazed. He had tried to restrain himself, but…
“Fine. You’re grown up now, like you said.”
Muttering to himself, Eun-bin’s eyes widened.
“Joo Eun-bin, close your eyes.”
“…?”
“I’m going to kiss you now.”
Kiss? Eun-bin’s eyes went wide.
At the touch of his hands on her cheeks, she flinched, then seemed to make a decision, closing her eyes tightly.
Okay. Really tight.
A small laugh made her chest flutter.
And then their lips met.
“…!”
He took her lower lip softly, then opened the space between them, pushing in with a bold warmth.
A thrilling sensation shot through her entire body.
It was amazing. His lips were so soft, yet so overpowering.
He traced her mouth with his tongue, persistent as if to consume her breath entirely.
Her body trembled from the sweet stimulation.
It felt so good…
Eun-bin rose onto her tiptoes to press closer, and Ji-hyuk responded by pulling her slim waist tightly against him.
Their bodies were perfectly pressed together. Between them existed only warm breath and sweet heat.
Every movement of his lips against hers made her feel stars exploding before her eyes.
Was this how a kiss was supposed to be?
She didn’t know, being her first time—but it was nothing like she had imagined from what others had said.
“Huff.”
Eun-bin, struggling for air, tapped his chest, and only then did their lips part.
“You need to breathe through your nose.”
“I know, but I keep running out of breath…”
Maybe from lack of air, her head felt dizzy. Not an unpleasant dizziness, though. Like being at a high altitude where oxygen is thin, feeling a strange pleasure while consciousness blurs.
It was overwhelming, yet… wonderful.
Eun-bin glanced up at Ji-hyuk. Even in his intense gaze, she sensed he was restraining himself.
She liked his consideration, his gentle care that wasn’t arrogant like some people.
But tonight, she wanted him to let go. To lose control just like she was, even if only for a moment.
Eun-bin wrapped her arms around his neck. His handsome eyebrows lifted.
“You know what I mean, right?”
“I’m not sure, so I want to know.”
“If you’re too curious and keep poking around, you might get hurt.”
“With oppa, I think it’ll be okay.”
At that moment, Ji-hyuk’s gaze darkened. A flicker of doubt crossed his mind—but regret was always too late.
In an instant, Eun-bin was lifted into the air.
“Kyah!”
Ji-hyuk had effortlessly scooped her up.
“P-put me down, I’m heavy.”
“Not heavy at all.”
“But…”
“Move too much and you’ll really fall.”
Eun-bin, startled, clutched him tightly.
A small laugh whispered in her ear.
Had he always laughed like this? Eun-bin wondered.
Before she could ponder further, the soft texture of his body pressed against her back. Ji-hyuk had laid her down, unbuttoning his shirt.
gulp
She swallowed dryly, unaware. She now understood a little why people watched strip shows.
Ji-hyuk looked at Eun-bin’s dazed expression with a hint of disapproval.
“You’re not concentrating.”
“It’s not that…”
“Doesn’t matter. Soon you won’t be able to think at all.”
His words were cryptic. Then his bare chest was revealed. Eun-bin’s mouth fell open at the stunning view.
His lips trailed along her slender neck.
Hhh!
Eun-bin stifled a sound of surprise.
“Oppa, wait…”
“I’ve held back long enough.”
The slightly husky voice made her chest race.
The knowledge that he desired her, raw and untamed, made her so aware.
“Hhh, there…!”
From the revealed collarbone to the slowly exposed skin, his lips attached, making her insides boil.
“No charm, you said?”
Ji-hyuk murmured without removing his lips from her clavicle.
“Such nonsense.”
A red bloom appeared on her skin with the wet sound of his lips.
“You feel so much just from touch.”
His warning that she wouldn’t be able to think at all was no empty threat.
What was this… she had never felt anything like it before.
Tears welled up at the intense stimulation. Eun-bin bit her lips, whimpering as Ji-hyuk moved above her.
“Already crying?”
“This….”
He gently kissed her cheek, wiping her tears.
“I can always wipe them, but I won’t stop otherwise.”
“….”
“If you can’t stand it, bite me. Instead of your lips.”
Eun-bin shook her head. How could she possibly bite him?
Ji-hyuk smiled enigmatically, breathing hot air into her ear.
“I’ll show you how pretty you really are.”
A tingling sensation spread through her body again.
She couldn’t stop moaning.
“Haa, hh…”
Tomorrow, she would probably regret this. But now, she just wanted to live in this moment.
Eun-bin slowly closed her eyes.
The night was only just beginning.
