When Hyunseo woke up, she didn’t know what to do with herself for a while. She couldn’t possibly mistake who owned the broad chest positioned behind her back, or the strong arms wrapped around her waist, holding her tight.

She closed her eyes again. She tried to force herself back to sleep that would never return, then reluctantly lifted her eyelids. 

Only after confirming the steady breathing she heard at regular intervals did her anxious heart settle down a bit.

Day had already broken. The early morning scenery flowed in through the slightly parted curtain gap, but she couldn’t tell the exact time. 

‘Still, there must be time left before checkout.’

She only now noticed the interior light they hadn’t turned off. It seemed they’d passed out without even realizing they’d fallen asleep after tangling their bodies together until late into the dawn. 

Biting her lip in embarrassment, she mustered the courage to slowly turn around.

Wow…

Her heart went thump. The exclamation that escaped wasn’t solely because of Gyeom’s perfect face.

It was fascinating. 

‘To think I’d get to see Gyeom sleeping, right in front of my face like this.’ 

Her feelings upon realizing last night’s events weren’t a dream were incredibly complicated. Yet somehow, the fact that he was sleeping soundly gave her an inexplicable sense of comfort.

Because he’d said he suffered so much he couldn’t fall asleep without alcohol. In him, who’d said ruining himself didn’t matter, Hyunseo had seen her past self.

He’d looked so precarious, and she’d wanted to comfort him somehow. She hadn’t thought she could dare do such a thing, but that’s what her heart wanted.

After hesitating, she turned her body completely. It took quite a long time to roll over completely while being careful not to wake Gyeom. Her whole body ached like she’d been beaten severely. 

Forgetting even the throbbing pain in her lower back, she watched Gyeom and gently raised her hand toward his eyes. That’s when his eyelids opened.

“I didn’t… turn off the light.”

“……”

“I just thought… your eyes might sting.”

He stared at her blankly, then closed his eyes again. Thinking he’d only opened his eyes briefly in his sleep, she felt relieved and shielded the light more carefully. 

Even her fingertips hovering just barely there made her nervous.

He suddenly put strength into his arm and pulled her close, though she’d thought he was asleep. 

Startled by their bodies pressed together without even a slight gap, she flinched and trembled, closing her eyes. A voice thick with sleep came from around the crown of her head.

“Is it time to leave?”

“…No, not yet.”

“Then let’s sleep a little more.”

His large hand caressed her lower back. Even knowing he meant to sleep, she couldn’t easily do so.

Her lips were touching his chest.

To pull away, she’d have to toss and turn again, and if she did that, she’d obviously disturb his deep sleep—unable to do either, she tried to calm her pounding heart. 

If even that wasn’t easy, the reason was unmistakably that. The thing swelling large and poking at her lower belly.

“I haven’t slept this well in years.”

“Ah…”

“So I want to sleep more, but Do Hyunseo isn’t helping.”

“I’m sorry…”

“If you keep talking, it’ll get bigger.”

She quickly shut her mouth. Nevertheless, the momentum of his thing swelling ominously and jabbing at her lower belly remained unchanged. 

‘It’ll be difficult, but I have no choice but to try not to be conscious of it as much as possible.’

‘I can’t do it anymore.’ 

Truly, she didn’t have the stamina left for that. Even now, the throbbing between her legs felt unbearable. Memories of last night that she’d tried to ignore flickered throughout her mind.

Gyeom, who’d finally awakened to desire, had overlapped their bodies repeatedly.

True to his word, he quickly grasped the technique and made Hyunseo cry several times with his increasingly skilled hip movements. 

At first she’d cried simply from pain, but in the end she trembled and sobbed from the dizzying pleasure that surged too intensely to handle.

No matter how much she begged, his persistent hip movements that wouldn’t stop were frightening yet good. In the end, it became like that.

But still, it couldn’t happen. 

‘If we do more, I definitely won’t even be able to walk properly. I can’t end up like that.’

Hyunseo recalled Gyeom determinedly using up even the additionally purchased condoms and obediently refrained from moving. 

Even at the steady breathing she heard before long, she didn’t let down her guard, then gradually lowered her drowsy gaze.

***

“Where did it go?”

Only after receiving a call from the counter informing them it was 30 minutes before checkout did Gyeom get up. 

After sending him off saying he’d go up to his room to wash, Hyunseo also washed up and came out with a troubled expression, sighing.

No matter how much she searched, it wasn’t there. She’d rummaged through every corner but it wouldn’t turn up—it was enough to make a ghost wail. 

After checking under the bed once more, she left the room without ever finding her mysteriously vanished panties.

The car was already waiting in front of the motel building. 

She bowed her head in greeting toward Gyeom, who was watching her through the half-lowered window, then got into the seat beside him. The door closed with a careful motion.

“Secretary Gu, let’s go.”

“Yes, Executive Director.”

They decided to skip a late breakfast. It was a decision based on the judgment that it would be better to head up before traffic got bad.

The luxury sedan that immediately entered the highway raced forward at high speed. In the car smoothly crossing the wide-open road, the only uncomfortable person was Hyunseo. 

Gyeom cast a languid gaze at her.

“Are you okay?”

“Ah, yes.”

“You don’t look okay.”

She flinched her shoulders up. He’d merely swept his eyes down her lightly, yet it felt like she’d been caught not wearing underwear. She tried to act calm and curled up the corners of her mouth.

“I’m really fine.”

“Alright. That’s a relief then.”

Watching her with doubtful eyes, he took out a tablet PC. At his urging to sleep if she was tired, Hyunseo answered that she would and turned her gaze to the window.

Unlike yesterday when it had been ferociously stormy, the sky was deceptively clear. Only the wet roads everywhere indicated that a fierce downpour had passed through.

She deliberately tried harder to take in the bleak scenery outside. It was part of her effort not to be conscious of Gyeom sitting right beside her.

If she let her guard down even a little, lewd memories immediately filled her mind, making her keep sighing. She had to tremble in anxiety every minute and second, worried that she might get wet between her legs.

“I’ll be right back.”

“It’s fine, so take your time.”

“Yes, Executive Director. I apologize.”

After driving silently for a long while, at a point where Seoul was just ahead, the sedan suddenly stopped at a rest area.

Secretary Gu, who got out practically running, repeatedly apologized to Gyeom, then hurriedly walked toward the bathroom in the distance. 

Gyeom set down his tablet PC without hesitation, leaned his head against the headrest, and looked at Hyunseo.

“Does it hurt?”

“Pardon?”

“This is serious. I can’t even blow on it for you.”

Not here, he added, licking his lips with his tongue. Watching him make an expression that said location wasn’t really a problem at all, contrary to his words, Hyunseo flushed red in embarrassment.

He’d been acting indifferent all along, seemingly like nothing had happened all night. 

Yet there he was, looking at her with lewd eyes like he’d been waiting for this—there was no way she could handle it. The dry atmosphere in the car instantly became suggestive.

“If it hurts a lot, should I s*ck it for you?”

From Gyeom’s mouth as he stared intently finally flowed words that made her gasp. Hyunseo’s face turned pale.

“I’ll finish before Secretary Gu comes back.”

“…No.”

“You said it hurts. Come here, let me at least touch it.”

“I’m fine, please don’t do that.”

“What’s fine when you keep being uncomfortable?”

“It’s because I couldn’t wear panties. It’s not because it hurts, so you don’t need to worry…”

Hyunseo, who’d been desperately blocking Gyeom’s approaching hand, trailed off. 

The impact of the circumstances she’d finally revealed was indicated by Gyeom’s expression, which had hardened stiffly.

“You’re not wearing any?”

“They disappeared.”

“Your underwear?”

“Yes, no matter how much I searched, they weren’t in the room.”

Gyeom made a groaning sound. The embarrassment she felt from him apparently imagining it was her burden to bear.

The opportunity to salvage the awkward silence that had settled came from an unexpected place. She hurriedly took out her phone at the sudden vibration. What appeared on the screen was an unknown number, but she wasn’t in a position to be picky.

“Hello?”

[Hyunseo? This is Han Juhyung, who you’re supposed to meet for a blind date today! Where are you right now?]

Ah.

Right.

‘Am I crazy? What do I do?’

Remembering the lunch appointment she’d forgotten, she squeezed her eyes shut. It was unbelievable. 

‘How could I forget so completely?’ 

She truly hadn’t thought about it for even a split second. She couldn’t believe herself.

Fidgeting restlessly in guilt, she turned her head and froze. Gyeom’s gaze boring into her was sharper than ever before.

The man’s voice coming through the receiver was quite loud. Even if it weren’t, the car with just the two of them was excessively quiet to begin with. 

‘He must have heard everything.’

[Hyunseo? Are you listening?]

“Ah, I’m sorry. I’m currently…”

[No, I’m not trying to scold you, I was worried you might be lost. Should I come pick you up?]

“I’m really sorry, but I haven’t arrived in Seoul yet…”

Realizing quite a bit of time had already passed since their promised meeting time, Hyunseo tried to explain first.

What made her determination futile was Gyeom. She couldn’t even breathe properly, shocked by his hand that slipped into her pants far too easily.

She bit her lip with all her strength, nearly letting out a m*an. From the other end of the line, Juhyung spoke again.

[Oh no, you said you were visiting the countryside—don’t tell me you still haven’t arrived?]

She should have answered yes. Or at least said she’d call back later, but she couldn’t. 

‘If I open my lips even a little, I’ll definitely let out a high-pitched m*an.’

The hand rubbing the split gap was hot. His fingers poking around inside her already soaking wet entrance made her tremble while stifling her sounds—she had no choice but to hang up the phone. Almost simultaneously, he withdrew his hand.

“You really aren’t wearing any. I thought you were joking.”

“Haah…”

Her eyes widened as she let out a labored m*an. She didn’t even have the strength to stop Gyeom from naturally bringing his withdrawn fingers to his mouth. 

His expression remained simply calm as he licked up every bit of the sticky fl*id clinging to them.

Her heart heaved violently. At the tongue sweeping over his lips in satisfaction, at those lewd eyes examining her.

“I apologize for the delay. I’ll depart immediately.”

Secretary Gu, who’d returned, started the engine with a respectful greeting. Gyeom nodded lightly and subtly crossed his legs to the other side.

Hyunseo tried to erase from her mind the front of his pants she’d already seen.

It wasn’t easy. Her still-flushed v*lva felt like it was still being touched by his hot, large hand. 

She silently stared out the window, forcibly holding back the m*an that tried to burst out again. Her fingertips trembled.