FF Chapter 40

“You could’ve at least called.”

At the sound of the deep, resonant laughter coming from his chest, Ji Yeonwoo looked up.

“I figured you’d be busy, so I didn’t. Would it have made a difference if I had called?”

“Of course it would. Who’d dare drag their feet when it’s your call?”

Choi Muhyeok smiled charmingly, lifting one corner of his lips. Ji Yeonwoo’s heart raced, and his head felt dizzy. What is this? Ji Yeonwoo stared blankly at Choi Muhyeok’s face, confused. His face flushed with heat, and his body shivered. Was it because of lack of sleep? He had been feeling chilly for a while, and his body felt strange today.

“Let’s get inside. You’re going to catch a cold.”

Noticing Ji Yeonwoo’s trembling, Choi Muhyeok took off his leather jacket and draped it over his shoulders. Gently guiding him inside, Choi Muhyeok showed his usual kindness.

In the reflection of the silver elevator doors, the significant height difference between them was apparent as they stood side by side. Choi Muhyeok glanced at the leather jacket resting on Ji Yeonwoo’s shoulders and smoothed out the creased shoulder area.

“You’re wearing my cardigan, huh? Is it comfortable?”

“Oh, this.”

Only then did Ji Yeonwoo realize he was wearing Choi Muhyeok’s cardigan and awkwardly adjusted it around himself.

“Comfortable? I’m not sure. I think I just like it, so I keep reaching for it.”

“Do you want to keep it, Yeonwoo?”

“I’ll only wear it at home. I can’t wear it outside anyway.”

He lifted his overly long sleeves for emphasis.

“As you can see, it’s way too big.”

Choi Muhyeok chuckled softly, rubbing the side of his face. His complexion seemed a little redder than usual. The hand that touched Ji Yeonwoo’s forehead earlier had felt warm, making him wonder if Choi Muhyeok wasn’t feeling well.

They stepped into the elevator as it arrived. After pressing the button for the top floor, the silver doors slowly closed. Ji Yeonwoo could see the fatigue etched on Choi Muhyeok’s face in the reflection.

“You should wash up and get some rest.”

Standing next to him, Choi Muhyeok turned his head slightly to look at Ji Yeonwoo with wide eyes.

“You look really tired.”

After hearing this explanation, Choi Muhyeok gave a small nod in agreement.

“Yeah, it’s been a while since I used some pheromones. It’s making me feel a bit sluggish, and I’ve got a bit of a fever.”

Choi Muhyeok lightly touched his forehead with his hand and smiled, as if it were nothing serious.

“It’s no big deal, so don’t worry about it. Oh, and…”

As if he suddenly remembered something, Choi Muhyeok continued, “Ah…”

“It’s about Lee Hyunjun.”

Ji Yeonwoo quickly turned around at the mention of that name.

“You don’t have to worry about him anymore. He won’t be appearing in front of you again.”

Ji Yeonwoo’s eyes flickered, trembling slightly as he stared at Choi Muhyeok.

“Really…?”

Choi Muhyeok gave a single nod as if to confirm it.

So that’s what happened. He had gone to deal with Lee Hyunjun. Ji Yeonwoo had started suspecting it once Choi Muhyeok had been gone for more than six hours. He didn’t know exactly what Choi Muhyeok had done to Lee Hyunjun, but it was clear that whatever he’d done—whether it was killing him or something else—he intended to end it for good. Seeing Choi Muhyeok return, having finished it with his own hands and telling Ji Yeonwoo not to worry anymore, caused a lump to form in Ji Yeonwoo’s throat.

If it hadn’t been for Choi Muhyeok, Ji Yeonwoo might have spent countless days trapped in the shadow of Lee Hyunjun. Ji Yeonwoo knew better than anyone that he couldn’t dispel that shadow on his own. So he had resigned himself to live quietly, buried under that shadow. But it was Choi Muhyeok who had pulled him out.

Could Ji Yeonwoo live a life without Choi Muhyeok?

The thought of having such a light in his life made him feel almost unbearably happy.

“It feels like I’m always just receiving from you, Muhyeok.”

“So, does that make you uncomfortable?”

“It’s not discomfort exactly… I just want to do something for you, too.”

“That’s a nice thing to hear.”

“But I don’t have as much as you, so I can’t do anything grand.”

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

Choi Muhyeok turned toward him. Startled by how close he had gotten, Ji Yeonwoo took a step back until his back and waist pressed against the elevator railing.

“What I want doesn’t cost any money.”

With his hands on either side of the railing, Choi Muhyeok leaned in to match Ji Yeonwoo’s eye level. Ji Yeonwoo’s heart pounded even faster than when they were standing side by side, arms touching.

“For example, something like this…”

As Choi Muhyeok spoke, he suddenly paused. His eyes shifted, urgently following Ji Yeonwoo’s movements, and a look of confusion spread across his face.

Even as he kept his intense gaze on Ji Yeonwoo, his amber eyes flickered slightly, and his stare felt hotter than usual.

‘What’s going on all of a sudden?’

Ji Yeonwoo averted his gaze, feeling confused, and tilted his head. Choi Muhyeok’s hand, which had touched Ji Yeonwoo’s forehead earlier, had felt warmer than usual. Was he really not feeling well?

As these thoughts ran through his mind, a sudden wave of heat surged through Ji Yeonwoo.

‘Wait, am I feeling hot too?’

He clearly remembered feeling chilly earlier, but now the air around him felt stifling. His shallow breaths weren’t enough, and he found himself taking deep breaths, fanning himself with the hem of the cardigan he was wearing.

“Hah.”

At that, Choi Muhyeok’s sharp gaze intensified once more. Sensing something was wrong, Ji Yeonwoo quickly stopped fanning his shirt.

“Why….”

Choi Muhyeok suddenly grabbed Ji Yeonwoo’s hand, catching him off guard.

“Yeonwoo, what is this scent?”

His words were completely unexpected.

“Scent?”

Ji Yeonwoo didn’t smell anything and had no idea what Choi Muhyeok was referring to. Confused, he gave a puzzled look, but before he could react, Choi Muhyeok twisted his wrist and pushed him against the wall, burying his face in Ji Yeonwoo’s neck. He inhaled deeply, rubbing his nose against Ji Yeonwoo’s soft skin.

“It’s gone now, but I definitely smelled it just a moment ago.”

Choi Muhyeok mumbled into Ji Yeonwoo’s neck. Not understanding what was happening, Ji Yeonwoo gently wrapped his arms around Choi Muhyeok, who seemed different from usual.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t… Muhyeok, what’s wrong with you?”

“Don’t you notice it, Yeonwoo? This scent is unmistakable. Ha.”

When Choi Muhyeok lifted his head, his eyes were still as sharp as before. His deeply furrowed expression didn’t seem like he was joking.

“Are you okay? What’s wrong? Hm?”

Worried, Ji Yeonwoo cupped Choi Muhyeok’s face with both hands. When Ji Yeonwoo’s hands touched his face, Choi Muhyeok squeezed his eyes shut, as if overwhelmed, and pulled Ji Yeonwoo into a tight embrace, wrapping his arms around his waist and back. Ji Yeonwoo could feel a faint tremor in his hands.

“It’s faint, but it’s still there.”

“Muhyeok… What are you talking about…?”

“So that’s what it is. Yeonwoo, your scent is so sweet and soft.”

Upon hearing that, it felt like cold water had been poured over Ji Yeonwoo’s head, bringing him to full alert.

A scent? A sweet and soft scent?

Most people can’t smell their own pheromones. That had been true for Ji Yeonwoo too, even before he had developed pheromone deficiency. Though he had never smelled it himself, he remembered hearing from others that before his pheromone deficiency, his pheromones had a sweet, ripe peach-like scent, with a creamy softness to it.

Now, hearing Choi Muhyeok describe it the exact same way sent chills down Ji Yeonwoo’s spine.

Even if what Choi Muhyeok smelled was indeed Ji Yeonwoo’s pheromones, it didn’t make sense. Ji Yeonwoo had been living with pheromone deficiency for years, having lost his pheromones.

Could his pheromones have suddenly returned? Even for a brief moment? How was that possible?

As Ji Yeonwoo processed this, the elevator doors to the penthouse opened and then slowly began to close again. He couldn’t stay like this forever. Just as he reached out to pull Choi Muhyeok back to reality, the moment intensified.

“How on earth did you do that? Can you try it again?”

Choi Muhyeok’s voice rumbled from his throat, his face flushed red, as he tugged down the hem of Ji Yeonwoo’s shirt. His lips pressed against the exposed skin of Ji Yeonwoo’s pale neck and collarbone as the shirt pulled open.

Ji Yeonwoo gasped, pushing Choi Muhyeok away in surprise.

“Wait a second, you can’t do this here, ah!”

But Choi Muhyeok’s body didn’t budge. As if he couldn’t hear, he continued to suck and bite, leaving marks on the soft skin. His touch felt rougher than usual.

As he nipped harder at the already reddened skin, Ji Yeonwoo let out a short moan, leaning his forehead against Choi Muhyeok’s shoulder.

Why is this happening? Heat was flooding his body, and the trembling wouldn’t stop. The deeper Choi Muhyeok’s touch and lips delved, the more Ji Yeonwoo felt like he was floating above the clouds.

“Yeonwoo, stop dodging the question.”

“Haa, ngh…”

Even the breaths escaping his lips felt hot. He could barely stand as his legs went weak.

Choi Muhyeok’s hand, now sliding down, slipped under Ji Yeonwoo’s shirt.

“I’m asking how you did it just now. Hmm?”

His sweet voice tickled Ji Yeonwoo’s ear as the hand inside his shirt gripped his waist tightly.

“I-I don’t know. But my body… my body feels so strange, Muhyeok…”

Overwhelming pleasure clouded Ji Yeonwoo’s mind. Clinging to Choi Muhyeok, it finally dawned on him what was happening.

Ji Yeonwoo’s heat had started, irregular and unpredictable as always.

˖ ❀ ⋆｡˚

Typically, the heat cycles of pheromone-deficient individuals are unstable. Most don’t experience heats at all, but Ji Yeonwoo was one of the rare exceptions who had irregular, unpredictable cycles.

Because his cycles were so erratic, and he couldn’t take suppressants due to his pheromone deficiency, Ji Yeonwoo had learned to endure the heats whenever they came. His lack of pheromones meant his heats were usually mild, manifesting as slightly heightened libido, something he could handle alone.

But this time was different. His heart pounded so fast it was unbearable, and his head spun as if he could hardly stay on his feet. It felt like he had returned to the days before his pheromone deficiency.

“Do you always get like this when your heat starts, Yeonwoo?”

Choi Muhyeok’s hand teased the sensitive skin inside Ji Yeonwoo’s shirt, flicking and pinching his hardened nipples before pressing down with his palm. The jolt of sensation sent a sharp wave of pleasure through Ji Yeonwoo, making him cling tighter to Choi Muhyeok.

“Haa, what do you…”

“I’m asking if you get this horny every time you go into heat.”

“I-I don’t understand… I, ha…”

Ji Yeonwoo stammered, struggling to reply as Choi Muhyeok’s tongue traced the edge of his ear. He nibbled at Ji Yeonwoo’s earlobe, his voice low and teasing.

“Can’t you see? You’re rubbing against me.”

…What?

Ji Yeonwoo’s eyes widened as he pushed away from Choi Muhyeok’s chest in shock. But before he could pull back, Choi Muhyeok’s hands tightened around his waist, pulling him close again so that their lower bodies pressed against each other. Ji Yeonwoo could feel how hard both of them had become, the front of his pants damp from arousal.

He was stunned. He had thought Choi Muhyeok was the one touching him, but it turned out he had been rubbing against him the entire time. Ji Yeonwoo tried to clear his foggy mind, but the heat made it impossible to think straight.

Everything was hazy, his vision blurred like a mist had settled over his eyes, and even the air felt thick and hot in his lungs.

As Ji Yeonwoo struggled for breath, a large hand gently caressed his cheek. He instinctively leaned into the touch, gripping Choi Muhyeok’s hand with both of his.

Whether he had been rubbing against him or not, Ji Yeonwoo no longer cared. His lower belly tingled with need, and the growing pressure in his pants was becoming unbearable. He just wanted relief for his burning, overheated body.

“Muhyeok… ngh…”

Ji Yeonwoo turned his head, kissing the curve of Choi Muhyeok’s palm, trailing soft kisses along his rough hand. Just as he was about to take one of Choi Muhyeok’s fingers into his mouth—

“Shit.”

Choi Muhyeok cursed under his breath and yanked Ji Yeonwoo’s head back, capturing his lips in a fierce kiss. His mouth opened wide as their tongues tangled in a wild, messy kiss. Ji Yeonwoo didn’t care about the gasping breaths or the saliva dripping between them.

“Now I regret not killing that bastard Lee Hyunjun.”

Choi Muhyeok grabbed Ji Yeonwoo’s shirt and ripped it open, his lips trailing down Ji Yeonwoo’s neck as he left wet, noisy kisses. For a moment, Ji Yeonwoo wondered if he was feeling jealous, but that thought quickly vanished. When Choi Muhyeok’s mouth latched onto the dip of his collarbone, his wet tongue licking up the length of his throat, Ji Yeonwoo shuddered and pressed himself even closer.

“Ugh!”

As his body was lifted, Ji Yeonwoo hastily wrapped his arms around Choi Muhyeok’s neck, clinging tightly. Without stopping his kisses, Choi Muhyeok carried him inside the house, heading for the couch instead of the bedroom.

With Ji Yeonwoo straddling his lap, Choi Muhyeok resumed unbuttoning his shirt while their clothes—Ji Yeonwoo’s thin pajama pants and underwear—were discarded onto the floor.

Now fully exposed, Ji Yeonwoo’s pale, soft body pressed against Choi Muhyeok’s firm, muscular chest as they kissed. His hands explored Choi Muhyeok’s chest as the other man’s hand slipped lower. His fingers toyed with the slick folds of skin.

“Do you like this? You’re already wet.”

Choi Muhyeok’s low voice filled Ji Yeonwoo’s ear as he licked and nibbled along his earlobe. His hand lingered, teasing the entrance without fully entering, driving Ji Yeonwoo’s senses wild.

His breath came out in shallow pants as his whole focus shifted downward, the teasing touches intensifying the ache between his legs.

“Ngh… Muhyeok, please… hurry…”

Ji Yeonwoo, softly pleading, looked as if he were about to burst into tears at any moment. Choi Muhyeok let out a breath, his expression shifting as if he had just discovered a new creature. The moment Ji Yeonwoo sensed the lust in Choi Muhyeok’s eyes, a long finger spread the folds and slid inside.

“Ahh!”

Ji Yeonwoo let out a short cry as a mixture of discomfort and pleasure surged through him. Though his breaths came in short gasps with his head thrown back, the already wet entrance easily accepted the invading fingers. The slick sounds of fingers moving in and out were soon joined by a second finger, stretching his inner walls. The sensation was raw, but the pleasure overshadowed the pain, and all Ji Yeonwoo could do was bury his face in Choi Muhyeok’s bare chest, whimpering.

“Wh-what do I do? Haa, ngh…”

“Do you like me pressing here?”

With a wet, squelching sound, Choi Muhyeok’s low, lazy voice echoed in Ji Yeonwoo’s ears as his fingers pumped in and out, stimulating his inner walls. Nodding repeatedly, Ji Yeonwoo clung to him.

The straight fingers pushed deeper and deeper, and when they brushed against a certain spot inside, a sharp jolt ran through Ji Yeonwoo’s entire body. His muscles tightened, and with every tremor, a milky white fluid intermittently spurted out, splattering across Choi Muhyeok’s abs and chest.

“Ngh… uh…”

But no Omega in heat could be satisfied with just one release. A third finger was already pushing inside, stretching the entrance even wider. As the fingers pressed in, curved, and searched his inner walls, they would pull out briefly, only to plunge back in, spreading wide as they twisted, making room.

When Choi Muhyeok’s fingers finally slipped out after repeatedly thrusting in and out, Ji Yeonwoo trembled and wrapped his arms around Choi Muhyeok’s neck.

“You can keep going, right?”

Choi Muhyeok whispered, planting possessive kisses on Ji Yeonwoo’s neck, leaving dark marks in his wake. His voice, gentle and sweet, seemed to melt into Ji Yeonwoo’s ears.

“Mmh… more, please, more…”

The overwhelming pleasure was terrifying. Words and actions that Ji Yeonwoo would never normally say or do came spilling out uncontrollably, against his will.

Ji Yeonwoo kissed Choi Muhyeok and ground his hips against the thick bulge of his manhood. It was as if his body craved to devour it whole. Choi Muhyeok didn’t reject Ji Yeonwoo’s wanton display.