101

It was a stark contrast from when he’d been ordered to earn Assemblyman Tak’s trust before attending the leaders’ meeting.

Baek Sa’s eyes wavered for the briefest moment. Now, he looked like he didn’t want to send him anywhere—whether it was for training or a recon mission. Even if Assemblyman Tak were to notice those feelings by some chance, Baek Sa didn’t seem intent on hiding them, as though it could be written off as nothing more than a lover’s quarrel.

Ha-gyeom didn’t want to chalk up his reaction to mere drunkenness. Watching him shift so precariously between Baek Sa and Baek Seung-woo made his stomach churn.

“…Wouldn’t it be good for you too if I got in Assemblyman Tak’s good graces?”

Even if only for the mission’s sake.

Unlike before, Ha-gyeom met Baek Sa’s gaze—now soaked in emotion—and asked from that thin, dangerous edge. But this time, he lowered his voice, pressing his lips directly to Baek Sa’s ear.

Compared to the firm resolve he had set, earning Tak’s trust was surprisingly easy. At the scene where Ah-rang woke up, Ha-gyeom had acted in stark contrast to Yeo Jin-joo as a guide. And even then, Baek Sa had wanted to keep his composure hidden. He’d even shaken his head as if nothing—absolutely nothing—should be exposed.

“That’s true, but…”

A denial followed right after the affirmation. Ha-gyeom could only vaguely sense why that bizarre moment had caught Tak’s attention, but the fact that he’d shared a private meal with him and had been invited to stay in a luxurious home spoke volumes. There was no doubt now that he’d earned the man’s trust.

As far as the mission initiated by Kim Hye-jeong went, Ha-gyeom had fulfilled his role as Baek Seung-woo’s partner quite smoothly.

“You don’t think I don’t know this is dangerous, right?”

Instead of answering, Baek Sa pulled him in closer, and Ha-gyeom allowed himself to be embraced. He wrapped his arms around Baek Sa’s neck, which sat slightly higher than his own. Their chests pressed hotly together, but the chill under his skin didn’t fade.

“If it’s for you, I can do anything.”

He knew it was the kind of thing Baek Seung-woo wouldn’t welcome. But Ha-gyeom was someone who would’ve thrown himself into it even if he wasn’t the right person for the job. And since he actually was the right person, there was no way he’d let this opportunity pass.

“You shouldn’t say things like that so easily.”

Baek Sa didn’t seem to agree, but he didn’t look particularly disturbed either. Given that he already knew he was the reason Ha-gyeom had come here, trying to teach him otherwise was pointless.

Ha-gyeom tightened his arms slightly and asked carefully.

“…Were you with Ah-rang while I was gone?”

If Ah-rang had been Baek Sa’s exclusive guide, then Baek Sa, as an Esper, would’ve been perfectly qualified to help in her recovery. It was natural to assume he’d stayed by her side. But Baek Sa responded with the same flat tone he’d used when reporting to Assemblyman Tak.

“No. Ah-rang’s condition was too unstable, so she’s in isolation.”

…Should he feel relieved?

Even though he’d heard it was Baek Sa who’d taken Ah-rang on the recon mission, Ha-gyeom couldn’t see the two of them objectively. He knew it was wrong to show possessiveness toward Baek Sa at a time like this—knew it was immoral even to consider blaming him—but his chest tightened painfully nonetheless.

Because when he recalled that moment—Baek Sa’s long, beautiful fingers brushing the nape of Ah-rang’s neck—he felt so jealous it made him want to die.

“So I only heard about Ah-rang’s condition through reports.”

Perhaps sensing how I felt, Baek Sa added more clearly. Ha-gyeom pulled his chest away from him and stared, his eyes filled with raw desire. This time, Baek Sa’s lips curled into a pleased smile.

“Did that bother you?”

“……”

“Were you worried I might do this with someone else?”

Even so, with some sense of guilt, Ha-gyeom slowly nodded. Despite the shame, he didn’t lower his gaze, and Baek Sa’s hand abruptly slipped beneath his underwear.

“Ugh…”

With one deep movement, Ha-gyeom let out a ragged breath. Before he could rest his head against Baek Sa’s solid shoulder, bitter words poured into his ear.

“It’s all because of you, Ha-gyeom.”

As his hand moved from stroking his penis to parting the rounded cleft of his buttocks in one swift motion, Baek Sa whispered,

“The reason I’m here…”

“Hnn…”

“The reason I couldn’t send you back, even knowing things would turn out like this…”

His voice was low, meant only for Ha-gyeom to hear. The breath from his lips, right against Ha-gyeom’s earlobe, was hot. Because Baek Sa had crossed every line without hesitation, Ha-gyeom tensed so hard that even his fingertips tingled.

“Haa…”

The water was unusually thick, likely due to the disinfectant. When his rough fingers touched a place that had always been slick, Ha-gyeom’s vision flashed white and his heart pounded. Baek Sa kept rubbing over the tightly shut anus again and again, but it didn’t feel like affection. With his body tense and the odd sensation of water trying to seep inside whenever the entrance parted, it was simply unpleasant.

“If you weren’t the only one, how could I ever do this?”

This time, Baek Sa whispered against his lips and then kissed him. The way things progressed without pause made it clear—he no longer hesitated about the complicated relationship between them.

Ha-gyeom willingly parted his lips and accepted the hot, invading tongue. Though he’d waited for Baek Sa to take off his underwear, he was already naked in no time.

Though the water covered him up to his chest, the bare skin of his exposed shoulders felt colder than the pool. Their lower bodies touched, and the heat between them surged uncontrollably. Leaning against the pool’s edge, he wrapped his legs around Baek Sa’s waist, relying on the strength lifting his hips. As his fingers tangled in Baek Sa’s hair and his breathing grew ragged, every nerve felt like it was on edge.

“Does putting me in danger… hurt you?”

He asked, feeling the swollen head of Baek Sa’s penis press directly against his anus. He couldn’t even remember how long it had been since their last time—the entrance throbbed on its own.

“Yes. To the point it’s unbearable.”

Even though his voice was twisted with arousal, it sounded sincere. Ha-gyeom knew he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t afraid too, but hearing those words made his chest feel full. Knowing Baek Sa lost his composure because of him—why did that make even his throat feel like it was burning?

‘If you weren’t the only one, how could I ever do this?’

As that sentence echoed obsessively in his mind, Ha-gyeom felt the thickness of the penis forcing its way into his dry entrance. It hurt, like he was being torn open. He should’ve pushed away, but instead he just clung tighter to the body pressed against him.

“Aren’t you scared?”

Baek Sa, already aroused, asked gently like he had once long ago. Whether he was talking about what was happening now or the training tomorrow was unclear, but Ha-gyeom answered honestly, just as he had when he was younger.

“I’m scared.”

He clung tightly, thighs pressed hard against him. Baek Sa, breathing hard, finally pulled his lips away. The splashing of the water echoed as unbearable pain began to flood in.

“Agh…”

It had been a long time since he’d been penetrated—his insides clenched tightly. As Ha-gyeom struggled to suppress his cry, Baek Sa’s brow furrowed deeply. Because they had started so suddenly without preparation, tears welled up in Ha-gyeom’s eyes almost immediately.

“Hnn, it h-hurts…”

Even with the pained plea, Baek Sa didn’t stop or ease up.

“I wonder how much it hurts… You’re squeezing so hard…”

“Ugh… Ah…!”

There was sympathy in Baek Sa’s eyes, but no sign he intended to stop. Had he only entered halfway? As soon as that thought formed, a harsh thrust made Ha-gyeom’s whole body jolt. Thrust. Thrust… Again and again. His vision spun as his anus stretched to its limit, and the fully buried penis began to mercilessly slide in and out.

“Ahh! Mmmph…!”

The lewd moan echoed through the pool. Ashamed, Ha-gyeom buried his face in Baek Sa’s neck and tried desperately to hold back his sounds.

His thighs trembled with effort as the inside of his body clenched wildly. The movements weren’t voluntary. He couldn’t tell if it was a spasm or instinct—was the cruel penis ruining him, or was he desperately sucking it in?

“Haa… ngh…”

He was helpless against the thrusting. It was slow and powerful. The quiet, relentless force pushing him to his limits wasn’t vulgar—it was terrifying. Just as he sobbed from the sensation of his inner walls being dragged out, a sharp stroke that pushed everything back inside sent pleasure soaring.

“Mmph, ngh!”

He shook violently, wondering when the pain would ease. While he was helplessly impaled, Baek Sa pulled back enough to press his lips against Ha-gyeom’s wet chest.

Baek Sa looked just as tormented. His hurried breaths left no room for calm.

“Haa…, ha…”

Long, drawn-out moans.

As his lips and nose brushed over a hardened nipple, Baek Sa flicked his tongue across it. Ha-gyeom, who had barely been hanging on by clutching his elbow, threw his head back.

“Hhngh…”

When Baek Sa took the small nipple into his mouth and sucked roughly, it felt like his mind would break. If Ha-gyeom twisted away, Baek Sa would only nibble harder as if he enjoyed it.

“Should I bite it?”

How could he refuse? Ha-gyeom met his blazing eyes and innocently nodded.

He once thought he couldn’t feel pleasure from this part of his body. Everything was good because it was Baek Sa—but he hadn’t expected even the sharp pain to turn into something he’d come to like so quickly.