TATMFL - 26

A deliberate hand slid down the tense nape of Ra-on’s neck, subtle yet electrifying. The faint brush of her raised hairs against his fingertips was satisfying enough to elicit a languid groan from Do-kyung as their lips remained connected. 

The hot, humid breath that rushed into her mouth made Ra-on gasp and pant, her nostrils flaring. Despite her attempts to push him away, Do-kyung didn’t budge; instead, his tongue entwined with hers even more deeply, leaving her disoriented. His relentless hold deprived her of proper breath, making her breathing shallow and erratic. 

The hand that had been rubbing and pressing against her earlobe now pressed firmly on the soft cartilage before sliding down to probe the sensitive inner shell of her ear. 

At the intimate touch, Ra-on reflexively tried to pull back, but escape was impossible. The grip around her neck wouldn’t allow it. A chilling sensation ran down her spine, as though she were caught in an inescapable trap. 

But only for a moment. 

“…Huk!” 

At her pained moan, Do-kyung reluctantly pulled away, his lips parting from hers with an audible smack. As much as he wanted to continue, he knew when to stop—at least for now. 

A string of saliva stretched between them before disappearing into Do-kyung’s mouth, licked away by his tongue. 

“Haa…” 

Oxygen rushed back in, and Ra-on swayed dizzily. Supporting her unsteady waist firmly, Do-kyung narrowed his eyes, inspecting her flushed face under the soft lighting. His gaze dripped with arousal, sharp and intense. 

Ra-on’s eyes, glaring at him, were clouded with contempt. 

Exhaling a heavy breath, Do-kyung tightened his grip on her chin. The delicate bone beneath his fingers felt fragile enough to shatter at any moment. The trembling that coursed through her skin made his fingertips tingle. He wanted nothing more than to force her mouth open and thrust himself inside. 

“You’re prettier than I expected. So enticing.” 

“What… Huk, what do you think you’re doing?!” 

Struggling to catch her breath, Ra-on twisted her head, trying to break free. But neither the hand gripping her chin nor the one clutching her arm showed any sign of letting go. 

Despite her efforts, Do-kyung leaned closer, closing the distance between them further. Without bothering to wipe the saliva glistening on his lips, he spoke, his voice low and commanding. His tongue, having ravaged her mouth moments ago, called her name. 

“Ra-on-ah.” 

“Let… me go!” 

“When someone calls you, you should answer. Don’t you think?” 

“Let go of me!” 

Into her ear, still writhing in resistance, Do-kyung hissed like a cunning serpent, his words laced with greed. 

“You don’t want to see him ruined, servicing countless men. Do you?” 

Ra-on’s struggles came to an abrupt halt. Her eyes widened in disbelief as they locked onto Do-kyung. 

“If it’s just me, wouldn’t that be better? What do you think?” 

“…What are you talking about?” 

Her lips trembled as she spoke, then twisted into a scowl. The disdain in her eyes burned even fiercer. 

“Don’t tell me… Are you saying you want Hye-sung?” 

So it was true—Do-kyung had approached her with Hye-sung in mind. She should have suspected as much when he mentioned pheromones earlier… but she never imagined he would come at her like this. 

Unaware that Do-kyung was staring intently at the wetness inside her mouth, his thumb gently prying her lips apart, Ra-on twisted her jaw in an attempt to break free. However, instead of escaping, her movement only caused his finger to slip further inside. Realizing this, she clenched her teeth tightly in frustration. 

“Tsk.”

Do-kyung bowed his head deeply and burst into laughter. 

It was amusing how she thought he wanted Hye-sung, even after kissing her. Though her thoughts were entirely consumed by Hye-sung, which irritated him slightly, Do-kyung kindly explained: 

“No, no. You’ve got the wrong idea.” 

With that, Do-kyung pressed a light, fleeting peck on her lips before pulling back. His gaze greedily lingered on Ra-on’s trembling eyes, shimmering with moisture, as he tilted the left corner of his mouth upward in a sly smirk. 

“All you need to do is open yourself up to me.” 

“What…” 

“Instead of Hye-sung. Give yourself to me.” 

As he tightened his grip on her chin, Do-kyung pressed his lips against her slackened mouth and spoke directly: 

“If you do, I’ll pull Hye-sung out of that filth.” 

Immediately afterward, their breaths entangled once more. 

──────────── 

The second kiss was even more intense than the first. Do-kyung clung to her lips hungrily, refusing to let go, like a starving beast devouring its prey. 

Her lips, undoubtedly swollen without needing confirmation, throbbed uncomfortably from the pressure. The root of her tongue tingled painfully as he sucked on it as if trying to tear it apart. 

The arm that had held her firmly, as though unwilling to ever release her, finally loosened when Ra-on, dazed and overwhelmed, bit down hard on Do-kyung’s probing tongue. 

But instead of recoiling, Do-kyung flicked out his bloodied tongue, visibly aroused. 

Watching him react as if pain were just another form of pleasure, Ra-on momentarily froze, her expression one of sheer disbelief. 

When she finally came to her senses, she found herself in front of her house. 

“...” 

With unfocused eyes, she perched herself on the flower bed by the entrance. The cold wind mercilessly slapped against her cheeks. 

She sat there for a long while, until her numb cheeks began to sting. Only then did Ra-on’s hazy pupils begin to regain focus. 

“Haa...” 

She buried her face in her palms and exhaled deeply. The frozen tips of her fingers pressing stiffly against her forehead didn’t matter; her attention was entirely elsewhere. 

[“All you need to do is open yourself up to me.”] 

[“Instead of Hye-sung. Give yourself to me.”] 

Do-kyung’s demands had been explicit, almost brutally straightforward. 

His pupils, gleaming with unfulfilled desire, had looked at her as though he could barely restrain himself from pouncing. That gaze suffocated her, sending shivers racing down her spine. 

His pitch-black eyes, indistinguishable between iris and pupil, bore into hers. As his fingers brushed down her cheek, he mocked her in a low, deliberate tone: 

[“I assumed you’d readily agree again, given how eager you are to save complete strangers. But it seems I was wrong? You’re hesitating.”] 

It wasn’t hesitation. 

She hadn’t understood a single word he said—his audacity had left her stunned. How could someone so casually demand such a thing? It was absurd, beyond comprehension, and yet… she couldn’t even muster the strength to laugh. 

And yet... 

[“If you do, I’ll pull Hye-sung out of that filth.”] 

[“Think carefully. Which option costs less?”] 

For a fleeting moment, his words shook her.

She had almost foolishly agreed, her lips parting to say “yes,” lured by the shallow promise of saving Hye-sung from ruin. 

A dry, bitter laugh escaped through her tightly pressed lips. 

“Have I lost my mind, Yoo Ra-on?” 

No matter how much she wanted to help Hye-sung, how could she even consider offering herself as collateral? There was no greater idiocy than this. 

Ra-on bit down hard on her lip. The tender flesh, already swollen from Do-kyung’s kisses, throbbed painfully. Only now did the memory of their kiss fully resurface, causing her chest to heave violently. 

She didn’t need to guess what Do-kyung had been thinking when he made that indecent proposal. His expression while uttering those unspeakable words was one she recognized all too well—the same look of twisted amusement he always wore when anticipating her reaction. 

To him, this was all just a game. Hye-sung’s misfortune was merely a tool for his entertainment. 

“That sick bastard…” 

As Ra-on muttered curses under her breath, a voice interrupted her thoughts. 

“What the hell? I was worried because you weren’t answering your phone, so I came out here, and what are you doing sitting there?” 

Ji-an’s voice snapped Ra-on out of her daze. When she turned toward the entrance, Ji-an, dragging her slippers lazily, froze mid-step upon seeing her. 

Her sharply arched eyebrows furrowed deeply, and her gaze, heavy with displeasure, swept over Ra-on from head to toe before she wrinkled her nose in distaste. 

“What’s going on with you?” 

“Huh?” 

“Did you meet an alpha or something?” 

“What?” 

Confused by the incredulous tone of the question, Ra-on frowned, unsure of what Ji-an meant. 

“What do you mean?” 

Ji-an’s question couldn’t possibly be about romance—she knew better than anyone that Ra-on wouldn’t be involved with any alphas. 

So that left only one interpretation: Ji-an was asking if Ra-on had met someone like Do-kyung. But how could Ji-an possibly know about that? 

Before Ra-on could process further, Ji-an seemed to find her answer written all over Ra-on’s face. She grimaced and covered her nose and mouth with her hand, visibly repulsed. 

“You’re not even dating, so why are you covered in pheromones? Honestly, if you told me you were an alpha, I’d believe it.” 

At those words, Ra-on asked hesitantly, disbelief etched across her face: 

“Were you seriously asking if I’m dating an alpha?” 

Raising an eyebrow skeptically, Ji-an gestured with her chin. 

“Yes. And whoever it is, they’ve marked you pretty thoroughly.” 

The pheromones clinging to Ra-on were far from subtle—they reeked of chaos, as though she’d just emerged from a wild, messy encounter. 

Clicking her tongue in disapproval, Ji-an finally released her reddened nose, which she’d been rubbing raw, and crossed her arms. Instead of continuing to pinch her nose, she took a step back, putting distance between herself and Ra-on. 

Then, she asked again: 

“So… are you really not?” 

“No.” 

Ra-on shook her head firmly, her voice unwavering. Her lips, still tingling, pressed tightly together as she rummaged through her bag and pulled out a deodorizing spray, applying it liberally. 

Afterward, she asked: 

“...Have you smelled pheromones like this on me before?” 

“Yeah.” 

“When?”

At Ra-on’s rigid tone, Ji-an scrunched up the bridge of her nose and replied. 

“The day of our class reunion. I asked you then, didn’t I? If there had been a fight at the café where you work.” 

“...” 

“It’s the exact same pheromones I smelled back then.” 

What kind of guy is he, anyway? Ji-an added irritably. Ra-on’s lips clamped shut tightly. 

Fortunately, it seemed that Do-kyung’s pheromones hadn’t clung to her like this on any other occasion—otherwise, Ji-an would have said something more. 

That left only one plausible explanation. It must have been when Han Do-kyung kissed her. That was the only thing that had been different that day. 

She should have realized it sooner when she noticed Kwon Joon grimacing uncomfortably behind Do-kyung. 

“But you’re really telling me there’s nothing between you two?” 

At Ji-an’s repeated question, Ra-on shot her a slightly irked glance. 

Ji-an still looked unconvinced. Tilting her head slightly, she remarked, 

“I’d believe you even if you told me you took a shower in those pheromones, but still…”