II - 39

His expression as he unraveled his past was relaxed. He shared deep, buried stories that he had never told to friends or even family, without a trace of discomfort. 

“I don’t remember exactly when it started, but I must have been around four years old. In my memory, Father has always managed the household since then.” 

It was their father who took charge of running the household in place of their busy mother. From meals to studies, everything fell under his responsibility. 

“As you know, our mother is quite an extraordinary person. Father saw managing the household perfectly as both his duty and a way to support her. He took pride in it.” 

When their mother began expanding her business in earnest, the size of their home grew along with it. By the time the company went public and joined the ranks of conglomerates, they had moved to Dogok-dong. Though they hired staff to help manage the household, the authority still rested firmly with their father. 

“Managing the inner household in Dogok-dong is Father’s domain. Assigning Mrs. Choi to oversee the annex was also his decision.” 

I-jun calmly continued his explanation. 

Throughout, he didn’t apologize for not informing her earlier. From the start, he had no intention of letting her handle household matters, and that hadn’t changed even now. 

“It means you don’t need to worry about any of this at all.” 

He emphasized his words, hoping she wouldn’t concern herself with the main house’s affairs like today. 

“But this is where you and I live.” 

“I think I’ve mentioned this before—bringing you here wasn’t so you could handle chores.” 

“Don’t cut me off like that.” 

I-ryeong’s face betrayed her hurt feelings. 

She understood his intention in distinguishing between the main house and the annex. 

Still, this annex was her sanctuary—a place she intended to live for life unless driven out. His insistence that she not worry about it only made her feel more disheartened. 

“In Dogok-dong, everyone has their place. I’m the youngest son and vice president. You’re the younger daughter-in-law and an employee.” 

“I-jun!” 

Her voice rose in frustration. 

After registering their marriage, it seemed he had no concept of them as a couple—only as two individuals whose relationship mattered only in how it appeared to others. 

“You followed my proposal and came to Dogok-dong, so take comfort in this place and enjoy what you can.” 

“I’ll manage on my own.” 

Had the man who tenderly offered his arm last night been nothing but a mirage? 

Overwhelmed by the weight of the present moment, I-ryeong lowered her eyes until her thick lashes brushed against her cheeks, wishing she could turn back time. 

“Why are you being so cautious when your husband tells you to relax?” 

“…!” 

How did he know her thoughts so well? 

Lifting her head, I-ryeong stared at him with wavering eyes, unable to steady her gaze. 

She hated him for alternating between punishment and reward, and she hated herself for loving him despite it all. 

“Mrs. Choi will take care of the annex. So relax while you’re here—it’s your space.” 

I-jun fiddled with the ribbon of her jeogori (traditional Korean blouse). At his touch, her rationality fled, and her chest began to rise and fall rapidly. 

“You’ve already paid your respects to my parents, so there’s no need to bother—” 

Her gaze shifted to his lips as he trailed off. 

“Do we really need to do it again? Don’t worry about formal greetings. How can we visit the main house every day? We’re busy office workers.” 

Was he licking his lips, or was that another illusion? 

I-ryeong began stepping into dangerous imaginings once more. 

“You must have been tired wearing that hanbok. I’m sorry I didn’t mention this earlier.” 

“Tired? Not at all. The hanbok is easy to take off—” 

Before she could finish, her feet, which had been firmly planted on the ground, suddenly lifted into the air. Startled, I-ryeong flailed as I-jun swept her up in his arms. 

The skirt she had been clutching fluttered lightly in the spring air, like cherry blossoms drifting under the sky—just like her unsettled heart. 

“L-I-jun!” 

Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his neck. 

“So, why did you wake up so early?” 

His voice grew hoarse again. 

“We decided to eat breakfast later.” 

With her face flushed red, I-jun carried her toward the bedroom. His thighs tensed with effort, causing him some discomfort. 

“We have some time to spare.” 

He walked quickly, needing to suppress the impure instincts that had risen since morning. 

“Shall I help you take off your hanbok?” 

“Y-You’re insane!”

The intensity in his gaze was unusual. It resembled that of a beast starved for desire.

“I work out every morning. Today’s no exception.”

As they entered their private, intimate space, his voice sounded even more sticky.

The room was still dark with the curtains drawn, but I-jun’s face was clearly visible.

Her heart was completely filled with him.

“But it’s strange.”

His voice, laced with laughter, made her chest tremble. It was as if she knew something was about to happen.

“I ran like crazy, but I didn’t know I’d still have so much energy left.”

Without realizing it, I-ryeong reached out and ran her fingers through his hair. The soft texture brushed against her fingertips.

“I wanted to hold you last night too.”

His lips released a breath filled with pleasure.

The damp, hot breath fell on her face, causing the already ripe flower bud to burst.

I-ryeong’s flushed face parted her lips slightly. Her excitement was palpable.

“Why did you make a promise you couldn’t keep?”

He had broken his promise multiple times—the promise to never get involved with her after their wedding. It all seemed to be her fault.

“I don’t think there’s a madman as mad as this.”

Why did she have to be so unnecessarily pretty?

The heat from her palm, tousling his hair, was unbearable.

“I-jun.”

I-ryeong continued to stroke his hair as she called out to him subtly.

“I’d rather hear it from your mouth than from anyone else.”

She never wanted to feel the way she did today again. Still, since she had taken the leap of faith and married him, she hoped he would pay a little more attention to her.

“Everything, no matter what it is.”

Even the smallest, most trivial things. Even if it was something unbearable, she wanted him to tell her.

“Everything? You’re quite greedy.”

“I’ll be greedy.”

Even in the darkness, their eyes met.

“I’m curious. What kind of greed is it?”

His voice, sticky with moisture, let out a light laugh.

Even at his light laughter, I-ryeong felt greedy.

She loved his smile so much that she didn’t want anyone else to take it away, and her desperation only grew.

“Come here.”

Boldly, she pulled him closer, driven by that desperation. In an instant, their lips met.

As their soft flesh moved between their deeply sucking lips, their saliva mixed.

The heat mingled with their entangled flesh, and she held him tighter, as if they might melt together.

She drank in all the excitement he gave her. Tasting Seo I-jun, swallowing his saliva, only made her want more.

He sucked deeply on her crumpled lips, then nibbled on them.

Ah, what if I melt and disappear? As the useless thought crossed her mind, she unconsciously swayed her hips.

She could feel herself getting wetter below. Her lower half was already opening, begging for his large, firm length. Her chest swelled with a dizzying yet soft sensation.

“…Ah.”

I-ryeong let out a soft moan.

The more he pushed in without hesitation, the more she wanted something stronger, wishing to be completely consumed by I-jun’s sensations.

She wanted that familiar object, now poking her buttocks, to come to her.

“Ha, are you not focusing on me again?”

He pulled his lips away and let out a rough voice, almost as if he were angry.

“I…”

I-ryeong tangled her fingers in his hair, her words trailing off.

“What were you imagining while I was right in front of you?”

His darkened voice wasn’t that of an angry person. He was soaked in excitement.

I-jun lowered his head and bit into her jeogori (traditional Korean jacket) in one swift motion.

Then, with his pointed tongue, he slowly brushed over her breast, as if searching for her nipple.

Finally, he took a big bite of her chest.

“Ah!”

I-ryeong let out a moan, overwhelmed by the unbearable excitement.

His tongue, now fully erect, circled around before pressing firmly against her sensitive peak.

Her soaked undergarments swelled and stiffened, much like his own arousal.

“Ha, ah…”

I-ryeong threw her head back, continuing to pour out moans.

Her underwear was now so wet that she wanted to tear it off herself.

Desperate for him to enter her, she began moving her hips faster and more intensely.

“Shall we take care of some overdue homework first?”

He laid her down on the bed and unabashedly revealed his desire.

“I was curious last night too—where that sweet scent was coming from.”

I-jun, now completely undressed, climbed onto the bed and grabbed her ankles.

Hungry with lust, he let out a deep, lingering breath.

“Here it is.”

He dove beneath the wide, disheveled hem of her skirt.

Without realizing it, I-ryeong raised her toes and bent her knees.

“Ah…”

Starting from her ankles, he devoured every inch up to her rounded knees.

He sucked deeply on her tender skin, releasing it only to repeat the motion. Covering her skin with his warm saliva, he left no part untouched, marking her thoroughly.

After nibbling and kissing her skin, he ventured further into her secret place.

The overwhelming sensation made her mind go blank, as if she might lose herself completely.

When his lips touched the inside of her thigh, I-ryeong gripped the bedsheet tightly.

It was a moment when her emotions spiraled out of control, threatening to numb her rationality. He bit down on her soaked panties and pulled them off.

“I-jun!”

As her hips sprang up like a coil, he pounced on her as if he had been waiting for this moment.

Something familiar pressed against her damp thighs. He used his hand to part her secret folds.

“Ah!”

She let out a sharp cry and twisted her hips, but he didn’t stop.

His long, erect tongue swept from bottom to top, licking her intimate area. He sucked strongly, as if drawing out milk, before sliding his tongue into her entrance.