Precious Thing

Nothing happened until they left the party venue, or even until they arrived home. Lee Yesin hadn’t attempted to escape, and Tae Woowon had managed to keep his composure. However, the moment the front door closed behind them, Lee Yesin’s scream filled the air.Tae Woowon grabbed Lee Yesin by the hair and flung him onto the living room sofa, roughly tearing off his disheveled clothes and exposing him.“So you haven’t done it yet? Smelled like you had.”While someone had been too considerate to even touch him, worried it might cause trauma, Lee Yesin had been all too ready to spread his legs for Seong Wonkyung. The sexual torture Jang Wonhyeok had inflicted had scarred Lee Yesin’s mind, but his body was still intact, still craving a man’s touch. So there was no need to hold back any longer.“Don’t… stop! Let go!”Smack!

 Tae Woowon struck Lee Yesin’s squirming backside and grabbed hold of his unresponsive length, shaking it. Whether from fear or otherwise, Lee Yesin wasn’t responding.“Ah, stop! That hurts!”Lee Yesin urgently tried to pull Tae Woowon’s hands off him. Tae Woowon, looking annoyed, pushed aside Yesin’s shirt and bound his wrists behind his back. Before Lee Yesin could twist away in distress, Tae Woowon wet his fingers and pressed them inside, pressing down on a sensitive spot and quickly rubbing the tip of Yesin’s member with his thumb. Yesin’s toes curled as he reflexively arched, his body involuntarily reacting to the sensations. A choked groan escaped him once he was fully aroused.Smack! Tae Woowon withdrew his fingers, slapped Yesin’s backside, and flipped him over, lifting his hips. Unzipping his pants, he pulled himself out, using the pressure of his length against Yesin’s tight entrance to further arouse him.“I… ugh, whoever I’m with… what does it matter to you?”Tears streamed down the sides of Lee Yesin’s face, tracing a path from his temples. Tae Woowon looked at the droplets falling onto the sofa and laughed.“Are you serious?”“…”“I’m asking if you really mean that.”Lee Yesin’s jaw quivered as he pressed his lips tightly together. Tae Woowon ran his hand along himself before pushing the tip inside. Lee Yesin’s head tipped back, his neck muscles straining as a vein became visible.“Ah… stop, ah…!”“Bear it.”Grasping Yesin’s now wilting length, Tae Woowon rubbed the tip quickly with his palm. As his body adjusted, Yesin’s opening gradually took in more of him. Once he was in deeper, Tae Woowon let go, folding Yesin’s legs back and pushing further with slow, deliberate thrusts. With each motion, he pressed in further, the friction stinging without any lubrication. Yesin felt it too, wincing and letting out strained, pained gasps with each move of Tae Woowon’s hips.The situation was beyond absurd. Tae Woowon let out a dry laugh, withdrawing from Lee Yesin before getting up. Without warning, he left Yesin’s body empty, making his legs twitch in the sudden absence. Tae Woowon headed into the nearby kitchen and returned with cooking oil. Lowering his legs, Yesin struggled to place his feet back on the floor.“Why? Trying to escape?”Halfway sitting up, Yesin looked up at Tae Woowon, his chest rising and falling heavily.“Why are you doing this to me…?”Ignoring his question, Tae Woowon climbed back onto the sofa, pushing Yesin down again. Lifting his legs to the point his knees nearly touched his face, Tae Woowon poured the oil into the tightly clenched opening. He set the bottle aside, letting the oil trail down Yesin’s back and used his fingers to spread it inside, making it seep deep with a few quick thrusts.“…Why didn’t you tell Chairman Lee I’d run away?” Yesin mumbled, trying to focus anywhere but on what was happening.Tae Woowon wasn’t interested in conversation. He kept pouring oil until it overflowed, coating his hand and dripping down Yesin’s body. Then, he applied some to himself, positioned Yesin back against the sofa, and pushed in all at once.“Agh!”Yesin’s back arched, and the excess oil made strange sounds as it spilled from his body. Tae Woowon looked down at the slick mess below him and picked up speed, thrusting harder.“Ah… mm, ah!”Yesin’s plump hips quivered, his lower abdomen jolting with each motion. His hands, tied behind his back, clawed at the sofa. Tae Woowon grabbed Yesin’s hips, pressing even deeper, and Yesin’s breaths stuttered, his body writhing in an attempt to escape Tae Woowon’s grip. With a loud smack, Tae Woowon struck his oiled skin, chastising him, then moved in even faster, stretching him open fully.“Ah, stop… ah! Ugh!”As the wet sounds grew louder, Lee Yesin’s body trembled, his inner thighs convulsing as he twisted his hips. Tae Woowon’s hands roamed over that sensitive spot, pushing himself even deeper inside.“Haa… ngh!”A stream of fluid began to spill from Lee Yesin, and Tae Woowon gripped the base of his shaft, shaking it quickly as Yesin tried desperately to wriggle free. With his other hand, Tae Woowon mercilessly rubbed at the sensitive head, causing Yesin to cry out and tense his lower abdomen until he erupted.“Ahhh!”A clear fluid spurted from the tip of Lee Yesin, splashing across his own body and leaving scattered traces on Tae Woowon’s chest. With a dazed expression, Yesin’s body arched several times as he took in sharp, shallow breaths. Tae Woowon watched him, running his thumb over the head of his shaft until another, drawn-out moan escaped him, accompanied by a final, shuddering release.“What was it you asked earlier?”“Nngh… ah… ugh…”Lee Yesin let out weak, staggered moans as his body twitched. Tae Woowon traced his fingers over Yesin’s damp skin, observing his unfocused eyes. After a moment, Tae Woowon tapped his cheek lightly until Yesin finally met his gaze, lips trembling.“Let me ask you, then—do you still think I’m just Chairman Lee’s lackey?”With a soft kiss, Tae Woowon bent down and pressed his lips to Lee Yesin’s tear-streaked face. Fresh tears slipped from Lee Yesin’s eyes as Tae Woowon leaned in, tasting them, and pressed deeper within him, stretching his inner walls. Lee Yesin let out a muffled groan through his nose, squeezing his eyes shut as his face twisted.“Don’t even think about letting anyone else inside here.”“…Why… who do you think you are…?” Lee Yesin’s voice cracked as he spoke. Tae Woowon, who had been kissing his cheek, lifted his head to meet his gaze. Gently brushing his cheek, he locked eyes with him, smiling.“I have no intention of letting you go.”“……”Straightening up, Tae Woowon took off his suit jacket and tossed it aside, then reached into his pocket to pull out his phone. He kept a steady hold on Lee Yesin, occasionally moving against him, and dialed Seokkyung.— Boss Woo!“You busy?”— Not at all. We just had a rough time with those guys Tak was tailing, but things are calm now. What’s up?“Head over to Jo Chan.”Lee Yesin looked up at Tae Woowon with a worried expression, swallowing hard. Tae Woowon’s slick hand moved across various parts of his body as he spoke.— …What?“Come do a little heist for me. I’ll make it worth your while.”— Now?“No. In two hours.”Schlup. He withdrew his member halfway, as if it had been made to fit perfectly, tightly connected as one. Lee Yesin bit his lower lip.— A design or something…“Not necessary. I’ll inscribe my name.”With a thrust, he pushed his member back in and pressed firmly on his perineum. Lee Yesin’s hips lifted involuntarily.“In a beautiful font that suits Lee Yesin well.”With a sharp click, he ended the call and thrust his length deep inside, fast and hard. Lee Yesin, who was about to say something, instead let out a moan, the words turning into gasps. Lifting Yesin’s waist entirely, Tae Woowon pressed his weight down, driving himself in. Yesin’s face flushed a deep red, and his walls clenched even tighter, wrapping firmly around him. As Tae Woowon pushed deeper, his tip pressed against a new, inner entrance, squeezing tightly.“Breathe.”Tae Woowon looked down, smiling at Lee Yesin’s face, red and wide-eyed, breath caught and lips slightly parted. A thin line of clear saliva traced down the corner of his mouth.“Lee Yesin, you need to breathe.”“…Haaah…!”Tae Woowon forced his tip into the tightly closed inner entrance, pushing against the resistance. It felt like he might be pulled out. Watching the dazed expression on Lee Yesin’s flushed face, he pressed into his side, the sensation causing his own length to throb as it released the pent-up tension from the past few days. Lee Yesin’s aroused body responded with a spasm, releasing onto himself. Tae Woowon leaned in, placing light kisses along Yesin’s face, wrapping an arm around his waist and lifting him slightly, letting the mingling warmth between them drip down.“Mm… Ah…”With a kiss pressed to his temple, Tae Woowon, still joined with him, carried Yesin toward the bedroom. Each step was met with a wet sound, leaving faint traces on the floor. Laying Yesin on the bed, he positioned him facedown, his legs stretched out, and adjusted himself between his rounded hips. Holding onto Yesin’s wrists, tied back by his own shirt, Woowon rocked his hips rhythmically. Yesin’s soft body responded with a subtle sway, his dampened back gleaming, legs occasionally trembling. Tae Woowon wiped away the clear fluid pooling at their joining, brushing it gently across Yesin’s skin.“Haa… Mm…”Lee Yesin’s voice, muffled in the sheets, sounded faint and vulnerable. Tae Woowon, wanting to hear him more clearly, lifted his upper body by his arms. Feeling the shift, Yesin shivered, arching slightly, but Tae Woowon continued undeterred, focused on him entirely.“Ah, ah! Aah!”Lee Yesin struggled to push against Tae Woowon’s lower abdomen, but Tae Woowon only pressed deeper into him in response, causing the muscles inside to tense around him. Feeling the surge of release building up again, Tae Woowon paused, letting go of Yesin’s arm, and unbuttoned his sweat-soaked shirt, spreading Yesin’s hips apart. He watched his length disappearing between the soft, now-relaxed folds, savoring the view, then tossed his shirt to the floor.“Are… are you really… really going to…?”Turning his head, Lee Yesin asked with uncertainty. Tae Woowon slowly drew himself halfway out, gently tracing along Yesin’s opening as a mixture of fluids pooled onto the sheets.“Why? Are you going to vow you’ll never take another man’s touch again?”“…I won’t.”Pulling back fully, Tae Woowon saw Yesin’s opening instinctively close. He leaned down, grazing the spot with his lips, tasting the lingering mix of oils and warmth.“I won’t… I won’t be with anyone else….”“How do I know you’ll keep that promise?”“……”Tae Woowon bit lightly on Yesin’s hip, then loosened the binding on Lee Yesin’s wrists.“It was consensual with Seong Wonkyung, wasn’t it?”“……”“No? Or was it forced?”It had been consensual. If it had been forced, he wouldn’t have neatly folded his pants or trembled in fear upon seeing Tae Woowon. Instead, he would have welcomed him. Even if his mind wasn’t fully aware, Lee Yesin instinctively knew. He shouldn’t share himself with anyone other than Tae Woowon.“…You scare me….”“I’m scared of you too. I have no idea how far you’ll go in breaking me.”Tae Woowon laid Lee Yesin on his side and lifted one leg. The position loosened him slightly, and a faint, milky liquid leaked out. Tae Woowon gently parted the blushing, tender skin, positioning himself at the entrance. Once he was partially inside, he leaned down, turning Yesin’s damp face toward him to meet his gaze.“Don’t stray—stay by my side.”He licked his lips and slid his tongue into the parted mouth. Soft and warm.٠ ࣪⭑Two hours later, Tae Woowon received a message informing him of Seokkyung’s arrival. He pulled away from Lee Yesin, ending their heated kiss after releasing for the third time inside him.“Don’t go…,” Lee Yesin murmured weakly, sounding almost childlike. Tae Woowon kissed him lightly at the corner of his lips, then gently wiped his damp face with the bed sheet before carefully pulling out.“I’ll be right back.”After confirming that he’d closed properly, Tae Woowon covered his lower half with a blanket from the couch and stepped out of the room. He ran his fingers through his sweat-dampened hair as he opened the front door, and Seokkyung’s eyes widened upon seeing him. With lips twitching nervously, Seokkyung struggled to find where to look.“Come in.”“…Hello.”“Yeah.”He brushed off the greeting and led Seokkyung inside, stopping him at the door to the room with his equipment bag in hand, face flushed.“Come in five minutes.”“…Understood.”Tae Woowon returned to the bedroom alone, tossing the blanket aside, and lifted Lee Yesin from where he lay sprawled on the bed. He settled him against the headboard and slipped back inside. Lee Yesin clung to Tae Woowon’s neck, biting into his shoulder hard enough to bruise, gnawing with unrestrained force. Tae Woowon gently stroked the back of his head and pulled the blanket up to cover him halfway. Yesin, having left raw marks on Tae Woowon’s shoulder, looked up at him quietly, eyes red and wet.“…I’m scared.”Tae Woowon cupped his cheek.“Just so you know—if you fool around with someone else again, next time, it’s the other end.”“…I don’t understand why… why I should listen to you, why I should bear your name on my body… I just don’t understand….”“So… do you hate it?”“…I’m scared.”“I asked if you hate it.”He brushed his lips over Yesin’s. Smiling, he ran his hand down his back.“I’ll be by your side forever. Just accept it.”Lee Yesin bit his lip, scrunching his eyes as he wrapped his arms around Tae Woowon and buried his face in his shoulder. Tae Woowon turned his head slightly and planted a kiss on the side of Yesin’s head.A few minutes later, Seokkyung knocked and entered the room, only to recoil at the heavy scent lingering in the air. He shook his head, looking bemused as he approached the bed, and then stopped short, mouth agape at the sight of the two men, damp and pressed close together on the rumpled sheets.“Wow, just… wow.”“Don’t scare him; he’ll get nervous,” Tae Woowon teased, lightly stroking the back of Lee Yesin’s head. Face hidden, Yesin dug his teeth into Woowon’s shoulder, clinging tightly.“…Did the client agree to this procedure?” Seokkyung asked, a bit doubtful.“What do you think?”Seokkyung looked up, incredulous, but Tae Woowon just smirked and continued, “I mean it’s a pointless question.”“…Where’s it going?”“Back of his neck. Just above the collar line so it’s hidden when he wears a dress shirt.”“Ooh, nice choice. And… what are we engraving?”Seokkyung connected the pen-like tattoo machine to an outlet, pulling out ink and anesthetic cream as he waited for Tae Woowon’s response. Woowon rubbed the side of Yesin’s torso.“The last character of my name.”“…Woo? Just WOO?”“Yeah. Keep it small. I might add to it later.”Lee Yesin’s teeth sank into Tae Woowon’s skin, an irritated gesture that Woowon found endearing.“Alright, I’ll start with the outline.”Seokkyung pulled a pen from his kit, kneeling on a relatively dry part of the bed. As the pen touched the back of his neck, Yesin flinched slightly, and Tae Woowon soothingly stroked his body in response.“How’s it look?”Seokkyung held up a mirror, and Yesin could see the small, tidy design near the bump of his neck bone. The elegant script was a contrast to Seokkyung’s own elaborate skull tattoos.“Want to see?” Tae Woowon asked, hips shifting slightly. Yesin’s inner muscles clenched in response, and he slapped Woowon’s shoulder firmly. Woowon chuckled and murmured, “Go ahead,” cupping Yesin’s face to kiss him lightly before letting him turn his neck back to Seokkyung. Holding Woowon close, Yesin left a trail of kisses along his neck.“Let’s begin.”After applying the anesthetic, Seokkyung moved the buzzing needle to Yesin’s neck. Yesin whimpered and clenched down on Woowon’s body throughout the short procedure, but the tiny inscription was done quickly. While Seokkyung wiped off the excess ink, Tae Woowon slipped a hand under the blanket to gently squeeze Yesin’s hips. Seokkyung cut a piece of wrap to protect the tattoo and got up to explain the aftercare instructions, tossing Tae Woowon a small container of Vaseline as a courtesy.“Take care of it, and transfer the fee to Jo Chan’s account,” Seokkyung said.He named a high price, befitting an on-site visit, but Woowon nodded, unfazed.“Drop by at the scheduled time for a check-up?”After gathering his things, Seokkyung subtly mentioned to Tae Woowon that he had successfully placed the painting and jewels into Chairman Lee’s safe. It was time to move on to the next phase.“Got it.”“I’ll be off now.”“Alright.”With one last squeeze of Lee Yesin’s hips, Woowon saw him out. As the sound of the front door closing echoed from afar, Yesin lifted his head and slapped Woowon’s cheek. It wasn’t overly forceful but had some strength behind it. He wiped his eyes with his wrist, then yanked Woowon’s hair, bringing his clear gaze up close.“If you ever leave me, I’ll kill you.”Woowon’s lips curled up into a soft smile. He closed his eyes and replied, “Sure.” Yesin kissed him.٠ ࣪⭑Standing before the vanity, Yesin lifted a hand mirror to inspect the back of his neck. WOO. The tattoo was clean and precisely spaced. As he gazed at the simple black letters, Woowon came out of the bathroom, giving Yesin’s round backside a playful tap before pulling a hair dryer from the vanity drawer. Lowering the mirror, Yesin turned to Woowon, who gathered Yesin’s damp hair in his hand and gave him a light kiss before drying it.Eyes half-closed, Yesin leaned his head down, letting the warm air wash over him. Then, he reached out and gave Woowon’s lower half a playful slap. Woowon chuckled, glancing through the mirror at the single character tattooed on Yesin’s neck. Once things wrapped up, he thought, he might expand it, adding more in front or behind. He released Yesin’s now dry hair and quickly dried his own. Yesin tried to step away from the vanity, but his weakened legs nearly gave out, and Woowon caught him by the waist, steadying him. Turning off the dryer, Woowon scooped a bit of Vaseline from a container nearby, gently applying it to the tattoo on Yesin’s neck.“…You’re seriously crazy.”“And why’s that?”“Who forces someone to get a tattoo?”Woowon wiped the Vaseline off his fingers on Yesin’s backside, then replaced the lid, meeting Yesin’s gaze.“Was it really forced? You said you were scared, not that you didn’t want it.”“And if I had said no?”“Don’t be ridiculous.”Smack. Yesin’s hand came down on Woowon’s broad chest. Woowon grabbed Yesin’s wrist, smiling as he leaned down. He gripped Yesin’s chin, pulling his mouth open as he slid his tongue inside. Yesin frowned but clenched his lips around Woowon’s tongue. It wasn’t just Woowon who was unpredictable—both of them were rough and clumsy as if they were incomplete without each other.“Stop… ngh… it hurts…”At Yesin’s pained whimper, Woowon deliberately let out a loud, slick sound as he released his lips. Wiping Yesin’s wet lips with the back of his hand, he reopened the Vaseline and gently applied it to Yesin’s swollen mouth. Yesin’s lips, red and slightly pouty, peeked out. This time, Woowon smeared the remaining Vaseline on Yesin’s left nipple, then lifted him onto the newly made bed. Seated on the fresh sheets, Woowon knelt on the floor, massaging Yesin’s calves. They were tense from the lengthy session and varied positions. As his hands kneaded, Yesin propped his other leg on Woowon’s shoulder. Turning, Woowon pressed a kiss to Yesin’s ankle, and Yesin used his toes to gently trace over the dark bruise on Woowon’s neck.“I don’t know what to do moving forward.”At Lee Yesin’s words, Tae Woowon paused pressing on his inner thigh and looked up. Yesin was gazing through a window with nails embedded in it, watching the sun rise dimly outside.“Well, then just hang out at home until you figure it out.”Woowon released the leg he had been massaging and began kneading the one resting on his shoulder.“…Chairman Lee offered to set up a shop for me.”It felt as if he had been proposed to by an old man, like some kind of kept boy. To rid himself of this pathetic feeling, he needed to cut off Chairman Lee and his entourage as soon as possible.“Are you going to ask him to do that?”“No.”Woowon nodded and pushed both of Yesin’s thighs apart. Lying back with a worried expression, Yesin looked at Woowon. Ignoring his anxiety, Woowon inspected Yesin’s entrance. It was pleasantly swollen but showed no visible wounds. Woowon pulled the skin taut and slipped a finger inside.“Does it hurt inside?”“…No.”Thanks to all the oil and semen, the interior was fine. The problem was the semen that had gone deep inside. He had managed to expel some of it with a water enema, but he couldn’t be sure if it was all out.“If your stomach feels uncomfortable, let me know.”“…Is this your usual style of sex?”“What’s my style like?”Sitting up, Tae Woowon pulled out two cigarettes from the pack on the bedside table. He lit them both at once and handed one to Lee Yesin. Yesin took the cigarette and frowned slightly.“It’s rough. You don’t use condoms, you go deep, you laugh while I struggle, and you spank me….”“That’s all stuff you like.”Smiling, Tae Woowon sat down next to Lee Yesin, who had a discontented expression, holding an ashtray. Lee Yesin, who had propped himself up from lying down, rested his forehead on Tae Woowon’s shoulder.“I’m a bit… worried.”“What about?”“…I feel like it’s going to get ruined inside.”“If it does, I’ll take you to the hospital together.”Sighing, Lee Yesin irritably flicked off the ash from his cigarette. Tae Woowon chuckled and stroked the back of Lee Yesin’s head. In the quiet atmosphere, they both finished a cigarette and shared a drink of water. After placing the water bottle on the floor, Tae Woowon wrapped his arms around Lee Yesin and lay back on the bed. Lee Yesin, lying on his back, turned away from Tae Woowon. He wriggled and pressed his body against Tae Woowon’s, and Tae Woowon embraced Lee Yesin from behind, slipping one of his arms between Lee Yesin’s.Gazing at the soft skin within reach, Tae Woowon admired the tattoo on the back of Lee Yesin’s neck.It was unstable beneath them to call it peace. It felt too languid to call it uncomfortable, and there were still tasks left to consider it satisfying. In the cool yet warm air that had no name, Tae Woowon closed his eyes.٠ ࣪⭑After resting his eyes for about three hours, Tae Woowon carefully covered the deeply sleeping Lee Yesin with a blanket, put on the shackles, and left the room. Dressed in casual clothes, he drove straight to the hotel where his team was. He intermittently checked the monitor that displayed Lee Yesin’s room and entered the hotel. Despite not having stolen anything, the excited thieves were having a party.“Oh! Who do we have here? It’s Boss Woo!”Baek Hyeyun, her face flushed, approached Tae Woowon with a bright smile. He lightly pushed her aside and walked over to the sofa. Jane was sprawled out carelessly. Tae Woowon kicked her legs out of the way and sat down. It seemed he had arrived at a bad time.“We drank a bit today. It’s exciting, right? Do you know how much I struggled planning this? Huh? Doesn’t it look like my tongue is about to fall out?”Baek Hyeyun stuck out her tongue messily. Tae Woowon sighed as he brushed his hair back.“It’s still morning.”“Since it’s morning, how about a drink?”A glass filled with amber-colored liquor was thrust in front of Tae Woowon. When he looked up, he saw Franco, someone he had only seen on the screen, grinning at him.“Hey there! I’m Franco.”“Right. Good job.”“Thanks to you, I’m drinking expensive alcohol.”“Hehe,” Franco chuckled and playfully nudged Tae Woowon’s shoulder. Tae Woowon set down the drink he hadn’t brought close to his mouth and looked at Baek Hyeyun across from him. She forced a smile. Unfortunately, Tae Woowon couldn’t recall footing the bill for their company dinner. They were spending someone else’s money freely.“If you’ve had enough to drink, you should go home.”“Uh… doesn’t Boss Woo drink? Let’s hang out for a bit. We’ve been super busy with our preparation period. Let us relax a little.”“Relax? Go home.”“Come on, let’s wrap it up like this for today. Francesco, good job. Take a taxi back.”Baek Hyeyun, sensing Tae Woowon’s irritation in his tone, shook off the alcohol buzz and started to tidy things up. She pulled out a thousand-won bill from her pocket and handed it to Franco, who wrinkled his face.“I’m Franco.”“It’s the same either way.”Groaning, Jane raised her body and nodded to Tae Woowon.“You’re here. Ouch, my head…”“You should go too.”“Do I not need to be here anymore?”Rubbing her eyes, she playfully asked. Tae Woowon took a small plastic pack from his pocket and handed it to her. Inside was a one-carat red light.“Wow, damn!”Franco, who had cursed loudly, quickly approached after stuffing the thousand-won bill Baek Hyeyun had given him into his pocket. Tae Woowon easily pushed him away and handed the red light to Jane.“Watch out for him on your way.”Pointing at Franco, Jane smiled widely and nodded.“I’m stronger than that jerk.”“That’s reassuring.”“Then please call me next time there’s something to do. I want to work with the boss again on-site.”“Jane has a crush on you.”Baek Hyeyun said as she filled her glass with alcohol. Tae Woowon reached out and snatched her drink. It felt like gathering misbehaving kindergarteners together.“Where’s Seokkyung?”“Kyung is sleeping. The cute Kyung is currently sleeping with Tak.”Tae Woowon let out a hollow laugh as Baek Hyeyun shook her head and added that he was just sleeping.“First, you two should go.”He said to Franco, who was slumped against the wall, dozing off, and Jane, who was staring blankly at the red light she had taken out. Jane slowly nodded and stood up. Then she hugged Tae Woowon.“Boss, call me again.”“If there’s work.”With a peck on Tae Woowon’s head, Jane forced Franco, who was dozing off, to stand up by gripping the back of his neck. She handed him a backpack filled with money.“I’m off. See you again! Bye, unnie! Please say hi to Seokkyung and Tak for me.”“Okay. Bye.”“Bye-bye! Bye-bye! Everyone, bye!”Franco waved his arms enthusiastically, grinning. Jane grabbed him by the collar and left the hotel room. The noisy atmosphere finally quieted down. Tae Woowon picked up a water bottle lying on the floor and tossed it to Baek Hyeyun.“Wasn’t the lobbyist supposed to come today?”“Yeah… that bastard said he was super busy and could only make it today.”“But why are you still drunk?”“…I’ll wake up soon.”Baek Hyeyun turned the water bottle she was rubbing on her face upside down and gulped down the water. Tae Woowon watched her as she opened her room door and brought out her laptop. After finishing a bottle of water, Baek Hyeyun lit a cigarette. Tae Woowon sat down next to her.“What’s the situation with the tip?”“I finished it. Chairman Lee can open the safe, so we need to get the search warrant as soon as possible. I let something slip before, so it’ll probably hit the news soon.”“What about Jo Seonggil?”“No movements.”Tae Woowon nodded, checking the evidence of tax evasion against Chairman Lee that Baek Hyeyun had gathered. The goal was in sight. He would handle Chairman Lee, who was recklessly manipulating Lee Yesin using Jo Seonggil, and Lee Juho, and then gradually paint him in Tae Woowon’s color. Finding and eliminating anyone who could manipulate Lee Yesin outside of Yeho Group could wait until after they dealt with Yeho Group.“The role of the lobbyist is crucial. Jo Seonggil must not know that I’m targeting Lee Yesin. This Yejun should think Jo Seonggil wants Lee Yesin.”“And meanwhile, the lobbyist should be unaware of this. Don’t worry. I picked a clever guy who knows how to keep a low profile.”Still not fully aware, Baek Hyeyun responded by alternating slapping her cheeks with her hands. Ash from her cigarette fell onto her bare legs. Tae Woowon clicked his tongue, set his laptop on the table, and threw her a tissue.“Thanks. How did your neck get like that?”Tae Woowon lightly touched her neck, which had dark red spots. Even a light touch hurt quite a bit.“I played with Lee Yesin.”“Haha… I’m the fool for asking. Oh, what happened to Kwon Heechan?”Tae Woowon pulled out a cigarette from his pocket and put it in his mouth. He folded his fingers, counting the numbers. After counting to twelve, he lit the cigarette.“I pulled out all his nails. I pulled out the thumb and index toenails on his right foot.”Twelve times. It was the number of times Lee Yesin’s face had hardened upon waking up, recalling the memories that suddenly came to him. Having kept him alive by only throwing water and bread scraps, it was now the right time to start torturing him properly.“…Did you take a torture class?”“My education is lacking.”“…No, it’s not that there are actually classes like that…”Tae Woowon laughed and exhaled cigarette smoke.“I know that much.”“I didn’t mean to ignore it.”“I know.”He handed the ashtray to Baek Hyeyun. As she tapped off the ash, she stole a glance at Tae Woowon’s face. When he asked what it was, she hesitated, as if she had made up her mind, and turned to face him.“I heard from Tak. That you cut off Jang Wonhyeok’s ankle.”When Baek Hyeyun first heard this from Tak, she didn’t believe him. She thought that while Tae Woowon had some cruel and indifferent aspects, he wouldn’t go that far. However, Tak had described in detail how Tae Woowon had coldly and sexily sliced Jang Wonhyeok’s ankle with a blank face. Since Tak wouldn’t lie about something like that, she had to believe it, but she wanted to ask him directly at least once.“So?”But the response that came back was so calm that it felt unreal.“…Not just anyone can cut into a person’s body.”“Oh, really?”“…….”“Are you asking about my past now?”Baek Hyeyun, with her expression wiped clean, kept her mouth shut and shook her head. Asking about another person’s past was a taboo in this world. After looking at her for a moment, Tae Woowon got up and headed toward the mini bar.“It’s almost nine. Get ready.”“Are you mad?”Baek Hyeyun asked, leaning against Tae Woowon’s back. He turned around, shifting the cigarette in his mouth to his hand.“Of course not. I don’t get mad over stuff like this.”“Then what are you mad about?”“Hmm. I’m not sure.”Tae Woowon replied, tilting his head slightly, and took a drink from the refrigerator. The last time he had been angry was just yesterday. The reason was Lee Yesin’s casual behavior. But he wondered if that was enough of a reason to be that angry. He had seen Lee Yesin with other people many times before. Had he been this angry then?After pondering for a moment, Tae Woowon stopped his thoughts and threw away the empty drink bottle. Stretching out his languid body, he checked the monitor for Lee Yesin’s room. Despite having his name written on him, Lee Yesin looked fine and was still well-behaved. That was enough for him. Tae Woowon had no passion for digging into his emotions one by one.٠ ࣪⭑He had a dream. But it vanished from his memory faster than he could wake up, and Lee Yesin opened his eyes, clutching only the remnants of a hazy dream. After blinking a few times, he placed his hand on the empty space beside him. Had it been vacant for long? The sheets felt cold. Gazing blankly at the sunlight streaming through the window, he sat up. Clunk. At the unexpected sound, he stiffened and looked down. Familiar shackles were fastened around his ankles, twisting Lee Yesin’s face in discomfort.“…You bastard…”Clutching the blanket, he looked down at the black leather encasing his ankles. Lee Yesin rubbed his face roughly and got off the bed. The metal chains only allowed him to move between his room and the bathroom. He entered the bathroom, dragging the sound of metal like a prisoner locked in a cell.He had even gotten a tattoo. It had hurt during the process, and he had felt a surge of anger, but he had also felt a flutter of excitement while recalling the sweet words promising to always be on his side. After the procedure, he experienced an inexplicable pleasure as his cheeks were slapped. When the man who told him not to throw it away answered readily, Lee Yesin couldn’t resist and leaped in to kiss him. Yet, he didn’t trust him. And now, shackled, Lee Yesin’s trust in him quietly crumbled away.He and Seong Wonkyung were in sync. Lee Yesin had no intention of pushing away the man eagerly sucking on his lips. He planned to comfort him moderately and ask if there was more to the story he had heard on the phone. However, the skilled hands exploring Lee Yesin’s body stirred pleasant sensations, making it hard for them to continue the conversation. Ultimately, they ended up grinding against each other and reaching climax together.He barely managed to hold onto his fading reason, but when Seong Wonkyung coaxed him for just a bit more, he slowly removed his pants and outer clothing, letting Seong Wonkyung suck on his nipples before feeling his arousal against his thigh. It had been a while. With Tae Woowon, they had only kissed; they had never gone further. Therefore, Lee Yesin’s sensitive body, familiar with sex, welcomed the man’s arousal even before his mind did. When he felt Seong Wonkyung’s member stirring against his thigh, an itch began to grow inside him just as the bathroom door swung open. It was then that he realized. Where was he? Stifling a gasp, he exhaled hot breath into Seong Wonkyung’s hand as it instinctively covered his mouth. No way. It couldn’t be. It shouldn’t be. Should it? Did it even matter?As he struggled to clear his confused mind, a visitor stealthily approached, one by one pushing open the bathroom door. Lee Yesin’s body reacted before his mind could catch up. Leaning against the wall in an awkward position, he tensed up and trembled with an unknown fear when he heard the voice. Should I open it, or will you?As he turned his body to tell Seong Wonkyung not to open the door, it swung open violently. Lee Yesin collapsed to the floor. He quickly turned his head away from the expressionless face that entered, trembling all over. His eyes weren’t merely spinning. He was angrier than ever. Lee Yesin felt as if the man would kill Seong Wonkyung. In the end, he unleashed violence upon Seong Wonkyung, transferring the place of the marking from his throat to the back of his neck. He was scared. But on the other hand, he felt anticipation. Are you perhaps jealous right now?At that moment, Lee Yesin concluded that his embarrassing assumptions were wrong. Perhaps he had followed Lee Yesin out of his own will, regardless of Chairman Lee, and all the times he had tucked Lee Yesin in and held him were out of genuine kindness. But then, he quickly realized the painfully simple truth that it was not so. And then, he was angry at Lee Yesin for being with Seong Wonkyung. Running away could be understood. If Lee Yesin fled, it would mean he hadn’t done his job properly, and Chairman Lee would hold him accountable, so it was natural for him to act sensitive. But sex was a different matter.He had no right to be angry at Lee Yesin for having sex with someone else. Still, he told Lee Yesin not to accept another man’s member and marked his territory on the back of his neck. He felt relieved hearing that he was being ruined because of Lee Yesin. Lee Yesin was also being ruined because of him. As he felt the burning possessiveness surging through him, he firmly believed the words that he had no intention of letting go, that he wanted Lee Yesin to stay by his side, that he would always be on his side. So, to recover the trust lost through deception, he didn’t refuse the tattoo and spent the night licking his body and receiving his essence until dawn.Just when he thought this “for now” would end when he was satisfied, a new peace arrived. He even pondered what to do and how to live moving forward. But then he shackled Lee Yesin. The hierarchical relationship was clearly visible. The one who held freedom was him, and even when Lee Yesin stepped outside the room, he still needed Tae Woowon’s permission. How on earth was he supposed to interpret this?Lee Yesin wiped his wet face and stared at the mirror before turning off the faucet. He draped a robe over his bare body and exited the bathroom, settling on the couch. He hugged his knees and turned on the TV, fixing it on a random channel. The tedious commercials ended, and the familiar opening of a foreign film production company began to play.Tae Woowon returned home when about half of the movie’s first part had passed. Approaching with the scent of fresh air, he lightly cupped Lee Yesin’s cheek and pressed his lips to his forehead.“I brought food. The housekeeper will come tomorrow.”Lee Yesin, uninterested in household chores, pushed Tae Woowon away and lifted his ankle.“Take this off.”After setting the food he had bought on the table, Tae Woowon pulled out the key from his pocket and removed the shackles. The parts that touched his skin were made of soft leather, so they didn’t hurt, but he rubbed Lee Yesin’s ankle gently. He considered this situation normal. Whenever he left the place, he would shackle Lee Yesin, and upon returning, he would free him. To him, this was common sense.“Why?”As he silently stared at Lee Yesin, he released Lee Yesin’s ankle and asked. Lee Yesin looked down at his seated face and opened his mouth.“Don’t do this.”“What do you mean?”“This.”He gestured toward the shackles on the floor. Tae Woowon, kneeling, moved closer to Lee Yesin. He embraced Lee Yesin’s waist and stroked his back.“Why?”Why? Lee Yesin bit his lip.“It’s natural to dislike this. I don’t want to be locked up. I want to go outside too.”“To run away?”He let out a short sigh and pushed him away. Tae Woowon looked down at Lee Yesin’s hand, which was pushing against his shoulder.“Move.”“Are you going to run away?”“I’m not going! I’ve got your name on me; where would I go!”“You could just erase it.”Lee Yesin made a shocked face while gripping Tae Woowon’s clothing. Tae Woowon looked up at Lee Yesin with indifferent eyes.“…What?”“You can cover up the name engraved on my body, and if you erase it, that’s the end of it.”“…I didn’t refuse for no reason…”“That’s appreciated, but that’s separate from this.”Tae Woowon, rising from his position, moved to the sofa. He lifted one of Lee Yesin’s legs and placed it over his knee. Their bodies naturally aligned. Lee Yesin bit his lip and clung to Tae Woowon’s arm. Tae Woowon slowly stroked Lee Yesin’s knee.“The name written on the back of your neck is because you were rolling around with another man, and the lock on your ankle is because you tried to run away.”He brought his lips close to Lee Yesin’s knee, lightly sucking the skin and kissing around it.“Just a few more days.”“…….”“Come here.”He turned to face Lee Yesin and opened his arms. When Lee Yesin didn’t move, he slowly reached out and touched Lee Yesin’s cheek.“It’s okay. Come here.”Lee Yesin blinked and slowly leaned his upper body into Tae Woowon’s embrace. He felt as if his knees were being crushed. Lee Yesin’s body trembled slightly. It’s okay. The whisper that tickled his ear wrapped Lee Yesin in his arms, pulling him close. His large hand patted Lee Yesin’s lower back. Lee Yesin swallowed hard and hugged him tightly. With his body trained to his presence, fear and comfort alternated within him.“That guy is dangerous. They say if you get caught, your life is over. Contact him before it’s too late.”He heard Seong Wonkyung’s voice. Suddenly, a foreboding feeling struck him—that it would be Lee Yesin, not Tae Woowon, who became dependent on this relationship. Immediately, he envisioned himself clinging to the cold-faced Tae Woowon and shedding tears. Would he really break down like this? Lee Yesin clutched the hem of Tae Woowon’s clothes. He couldn’t stay like this. He needed to get the phone Seong Wonkyung had given him.٠ ࣪⭑After regaining his composure, Tae Woowon handed a spoon to Lee Yesin, and they had a late breakfast, sitting closely together. Lee Yesin, glancing at him, grew irritated, and Tae Woowon skillfully soothed him, helping him feel better. Their emotions were veering off course.After finishing his meal, Lee Yesin followed him into the living room. Near the sofa lay the clothes he had worn yesterday, still scattered about. Spotting this, Lee Yesin concealed his tension and kept an eye out for an opportunity throughout the day.He behaved as usual, searching for the perfect timing, and wandered around appropriately. He didn’t stop Tae Woowon from following him to the study but did when he went to the bathroom. He lay on the bed reading a book before shifting to the sofa in front of the TV, intentionally sitting next to Tae Woowon. The opportunity arose after dinner when Tae Woowon was doing the dishes. As he sat next to him sipping warm tea, he heard a vibrating sound. Tae Woowon wiped his hands quickly and checked the phone he had tucked into his pocket. He answered the call and stepped into his room.Left alone, Lee Yesin realized that from Tae Woowon’s room, the living room sofa was not visible. He set down his mug with the teabag hanging inside and walked quickly. Glancing at the door, he lowered his body behind the sofa and pulled over the dress pants that had fallen on the floor. He stuffed his small flip phone, still in his pocket, into the robe’s pocket. After shoving his clothes back into place, he hurried back to the kitchen and poured hot water into his mug. His hands trembled slightly.As he listened to Tae Woowon’s calm voice with one ear, he held the cup and walked toward the room. Deliberately, he stopped in front of Tae Woowon’s door. Tae Woowon, sitting on the desk and talking on the phone, gestured for Lee Yesin to come over. Lee Yesin playfully stuck out his tongue and turned back to enter his room.He set the mug down on the table in front of the TV and went into the bathroom. Where should he hide it? As he glanced around the spacious bathroom, he heard footsteps. Nervously, Lee Yesin opened the storage cabinet and tucked the phone between the towels at the very bottom before standing in front of the toilet, holding himself. Due to the tension, he couldn’t urinate. Biting his lip, Lee Yesin pressed on his lower abdomen and rubbed himself. Just as he did, Tae Woowon opened the door, and fortunately, the urine finally began to flow.“Get out.”He was a master at opening doors, so it was useless to lock them. Because of this, Lee Yesin became used to not locking the door anywhere and often had to use words to shoo him away. Sometimes he would just leave, and other times he would force his way in.