WOPE Ch 23

Professional athletes tended to do everything they had put off during the off-season. Weddings were practically a weekly occurrence, and they crammed in dating, traveling, and parenting all at once. Moving was no exception.

While looking for a house near the clubhouse, Junwook finally set a moving date. As it happened, Hooyoung had the day off and helped out. Since it was a full-service move, there wasn’t much to do, but Junwook still packed his smaller personal items separately. Having been busy with off-season training camps and practice games, Hooyoung hadn’t yet heard where Junwook was moving. Junwook only gave a brief explanation that it wasn’t too hard to commute by car.

“Got everything packed?”

Hooyoung, wondering if there was anything else to grab, slung his backpack over his shoulders and stood in the middle of the living room, looking around. Junwook emerged from the bedroom.

“Not much to pack, really. Just the essentials I need right away, like my charger, and things I can’t lose, like my ID and passport.”

Unlike Hooyoung, whose backpack was barely half full, Junwook was carrying a box that was neither too big nor too small. Hooyoung gave him a curious look. Was there really that much to pack from the bedroom?

“Valuables? Is it heavy? Want me to help carry it?”

Though not as extensive as his Seoul home, this place also had a few of Junwook’s favorite watches. They were shiny to look at and heavy to hold. When Hooyoung showed interest, Junwook sized up Hooyoung’s wrist and offered to buy him one, but Hooyoung firmly declined. Basketball rules prohibited wearing accessories due to injury risks. Besides, leaving such expensive items in the locker room would make it impossible to focus on the game.

“Valuables? Well, you could say that.”

Junwook said it wasn’t too heavy and insisted on carrying it himself. But his expression as he said this was hard to pin down. It wasn’t much different from his usual smile, yet there was something subtle—his eyes seemed to narrow slightly, maybe even giving Hooyoung a quick once-over. It wasn’t unpleasant since it was Junwook, but it gave Hooyoung a strange, ticklish feeling in the soles of his feet.

“Not your watches?”

“Watches? Oh, right, the watches. Well, these are just as valuable. I don’t really want anyone else handling them.”

Was there something in this house more expensive than the watches? Hooyoung tilted his head in confusion and followed Junwook. In the Seoul house, there was a moon jar crafted by a master artisan and paintings won at auctions, but this place didn’t seem to have anything like that.

“Straight to the new place?”

“If we go now, we’ll run into the people moving out, so let’s head to the suburbs, grab some food, and take our time getting there.”

The two planned to leave before the moving company arrived. Since they weren’t moving appliances or furniture, it wouldn’t take long. Excited at the thought of a rare date outside, Hooyoung followed Junwook with a quiet smile.

“Wait a sec!”

On the way to the car, Hooyoung suddenly remembered something and called out to Junwook.

“Huh? Forgot something?”

“No, I just want to take a picture.”

“Of me?”

“No, the house.”

Hooyoung shot back without missing a beat at Junwook’s playful remark. It was their usual banter. Want breakfast? Sure. Want me to eat too? Nope. You had to reply as fast as possible to avoid getting roped in. One misstep, and before you knew it, you’d be labeled a pervert, a flirt, or someone head-over-heels in love.

Feeling triumphant, Hooyoung stood in front of the house and pulled out his phone. Click. The beautiful building filled the screen. In the summer, vibrant flowers and lush greenery turned it into his own private paradise. A paradise that had fully embraced him.

“It’s not like you can never come back. You can visit anytime. It’s supposed to be for executives, but only me and the hyungs use it.”

“Still.”

It felt like the end of a basketball season. Something to keep and look back on.

“You’re taking pictures of the house but not me? It’d be more meaningful if you took one of us together.”

“Oh, come on.”

Hooyoung turned and snapped a couple of photos—click, click—before Junwook could even strike a pose. The pictures captured Junwook squinting in the bright sunlight, holding the box in front of the sleek black car, standing slightly off-kilter as a bonus.

“Hey! Take another one!”

Hooyoung lowered his phone, laughing. He didn’t plan to take more. There were plenty of polished photos of Junwook online if you searched. These candid ones were better. They were just for him.

“The flowers in the background are in full bloom, so it looks good. It came out well.”

“Yeah? Then make it your wallpaper.”

Junwook loaded the box into the trunk, and they got into the car together.

“If I set it as my wallpaper, what if someone sees it? Hojin’s kind of an airhead when he plays basketball, but he’s got sharp eyes. He’d notice right away.”

“Just say it’s a close hyung.”

“…You’re not just a close hyung.”

“Well, true. You don’t have sex with a close hyung—you do that with your honey, your darling.”

Hooyoung pretended not to hear. If he kept engaging, he’d end up having to call Junwook “honey” or “darling,” so it was better to ignore it from the start.

As the car left the training center, Hooyoung rolled down the window and kept looking back. They passed the dorm where he’d lived for two years. He still used the room during training, of course, sharing it with Hojin for naps as before. But even though it was the same room, not living there anymore—not sleeping there at night—made it feel less comfortable than before.

It was the first place he’d lived alone after his grandmother was hospitalized. His first year as a pro, burdened with overwhelming debt, with nowhere to turn and no one to rely on but himself. Thinking back on those times, Hooyoung let out a small laugh.

“Why’re you laughing? Something funny?”

“Nothing. Just…”

It was strange that it was all gone. Thinking back on how things were not so long ago, it felt almost absurd.

“What are we eating?”

“The head secretary of the big hyung is a real gourmet. Knows every spot in the country—no, the world. Been with our family since my dad’s time, sourcing all kinds of rare ingredients from across the country. Probably got that wild ginseng through him too.”

“Did he recommend a place?”

The car veered off the city roads onto a quieter route, likely heading to the suburbs.

“Not exactly a recommendation, but Suhwan said it’s a place he books every time he visits the Icheon factory. A traditional Korean restaurant.”

“Oh.”

Hooyoung’s eyes lit up with interest, and Junwook reached over to brush back the bangs falling over Hooyoung’s forehead. It was about time for a haircut; the bangs were almost poking his eyes. Hooyoung grabbed his bangs with both hands and checked their length in the visor mirror. His thick, straight hair never held a perm, so he always ended up with the same style.

“Would it be easier if I got it cut short at the salon?”

“I like it now. It swishes when you run. Besides, Lee Hooyoung’s going to win gold at the Asian Games and get exempted, so no need for a short cut.”

If the coach or team manager had said that, it would’ve felt like pressure, but coming from Junwook, it felt like nothing. Junwook wasn’t about giving orders—he motivated and created the environment to make things possible.

“…Even if I get exempted, I’d still have to do a month of training camp.”

“Oh? Just a month, no big deal.”

Hooyoung shot Junwook a suspicious look.

“Why’re you looking at me like that?”

“I was going to ask before but… you didn’t skip the military, did you?”

Junwook laughed silently.

“Guess. Think I went or not?”

Hooyoung studied Junwook closely. It was hard to imagine him with a buzzcut, living the rigid group life of the military. He held his own even with much older hyungs—would he have just said “yes, sir” in a strict military setting? Maybe he’d get frustrated after a few days and pull some rank…

“…I’m leaning toward you didn’t go.”

“Hey.”

Junwook gave Hooyoung a playful glare.

“Mom and Dad said they’d find a way if I didn’t want to go.”

“And?”

Hooyoung didn’t know why he was so curious about whether Junwook had served. Deep down, he was convinced Junwook was a non-serving type.

“But the hyungs threw a fit, saying I had to go. No choice.”

“You went?!”

“I did.”

Hooyoung scratched under his chin. It really, really didn’t suit him.

“Where?”

“KATUSA.”

Seeing Junwook chuckle, it was clear he hadn’t gotten in through the usual fierce competition.

“It wasn’t tough. Felt like a two-year vacation in Korea. Went home a lot, and my family loved it.”

Hooyoung could imagine him living comfortably, but picturing Junwook with a buzzcut and in a military uniform was tough.

“…Got any pictures from back then?”

“Probably somewhere. You’d lose it if you saw them. I was wild and sexy.”

…Was Junwook the only person in the world who’d call his military days wild and sexy? Hooyoung turned back to the window, his expression puzzled.

“You don’t believe me.”

“I do.”

The half-hearted, robotic reply made both Junwook and Hooyoung burst out laughing.

“Next time we’re at my parents’ place, I’ll grab those photos. You’ll be curious. Not just those, but older ones too, from when I was a kid.”

“Cool.”

“I’ll show you mine too. I’d have to look, but they’re probably at the Seoul house. Everything not related to sports got moved there.”

“I’ve got tons of your old photos. Elementary, middle, high school, college—all kinds.”

Hooyoung looked at Junwook in shock, wondering how he had them.

“You’ve been playing basketball since elementary school, so I found all sorts of photos. Even a group shot from when you went to a youth national team event at a hotel in high school.”

“What?”

He had taken a lot of photos. Some were for scholarships or sponsorships, but being on an elite sports track meant constant pictures—once in team uniforms, once before tournaments, once when VIPs visited. Too many photo ops.

“My favorite is the one from when you got MVP in elementary school. A tiny kid with a buzzcut, grinning ear to ear. The uniform went down to your knees, like you were wearing a sack.”

“…You found stuff like that?”

“It’s basic. Not just online stuff—I dug through all kinds of databases. The Haegok Foundation had a bunch too.”

How much had he found? Hooyoung tried to recall his younger self. Always skinny, the smallest among his friends. Like most athletes, his head was always shaved.

“You were adorable. I’ve got a Lee Hooyoung buzzcut evolution saved on my phone. I look at it all the time.”

“You’re into weird stuff.”

“No, I’m into Lee Hooyoung.”

What… Hooyoung looked away, pretending to be distracted. How could he say stuff like that so casually?

“Your ears are red.”

“Don’t look.”

“Okay.”

Junwook’s humming filled the car.

After a satisfying meal and a drive around the area, they arrived at the new house. Hooyoung had assumed it’d be an apartment like the Seoul place, but the car passed the apartment complex and headed to a quieter area with stylish houses.

“I thought we were going to an apartment.”

“I considered it, but hyung said since I’ll be here for a while with my current job, I should go for somewhere comfortable. It’s still urban, but a bit outside the city, you can get something quieter and more spacious than in Seoul.”

The house was unique. Getting out of the car, Hooyoung tilted his head at the building. It was large and impressive but felt a bit closed off. The windows and terrace were there, but they were small. The walls—or was it a fence?—blocked any view inside.

“Let’s go in.”

Junwook grabbed the box from the trunk and led the way. Hooyoung craned his neck, still taking in the building’s design. It was definitely nice, but he couldn’t help feeling a bit puzzled by Junwook’s choice. But the moment they stepped inside, his jaw dropped.

“Wow…!”

“Not bad, right?”

Not bad was an understatement. The central courtyard caught his eye immediately. It wasn’t huge, but it had a big tree, a lawn, and even a table and chairs for relaxing.

“It’s gorgeous.”

“Glad you think so. Take a look around.”

Junwook took Hooyoung’s backpack, placed it on the box, and headed to the bedroom. Hooyoung opened the glass doors to the courtyard, explored every corner of the house, and took it all in. Compared to the Seoul house, there was much less furniture, giving it an empty feel. The study had just one computer, and there were plenty of empty rooms.

“Not coming out?”

Curious about the bedroom, Hooyoung climbed the stairs and called out. He expected Junwook to come right out, but he was taking a while, maybe organizing something.

“Yeah, I’m done.”

Entering the bedroom, Hooyoung’s eyes went straight to Junwook, not the bed or decor. The box was open, and Junwook was closing the drawer by the bed, his expression unusually serious.

“…Condoms, huh.”

It was obvious what was in the top drawer of the bedside table. Whether in Seoul, the training center, or the U.S., Junwook always pulled condoms or lube from the first drawer of the nightstand.

“Yup. What’s more precious than these?”

Seriously. Hooyoung let out a disbelieving laugh. To think he’d carried them so carefully.

“Don’t want anyone else handling them.”

“That’s true, but… the box you brought today was pretty big. There weren’t that many in there, were there?”

“When did you check?”

Oops. Hooyoung’s mouth opened slightly. Busted…

Since they usually dove right into sex, Junwook always handled the condoms and lube. At the training center and Seoul house, they were always in the top drawer, so curiosity got the better of Hooyoung once. He’d peeked, but after getting caught masturbating at home and feeling mortified, he hadn’t dared look again. It wasn’t the peeking that was the crime—it was the embarrassing misunderstanding it caused.

“…A long time ago.”

Hooyoung mumbled, embarrassed, and Junwook narrowed his eyes with a sly smile. Not the cool, refreshing kind, but the mischievous one he got before teasing—especially naughty teasing.

“Not since then? You haven’t peeked lately?”

“…I haven’t.”

Why did that matter? Hooyoung shrugged, expecting Junwook to say something like, “I knew you were into naughty stuff.” But Junwook’s expression was odd—part smile, part relief.

“I thought…”

“What’s ‘I thought’?”

Hooyoung stepped closer, but Junwook turned away.

“Let’s go.”

“I want to see what’s in there.”

“If we’re having sex right now, I’ll show you.”

Hooyoung gave Junwook a look, as if to say, “That’s unfair.” Junwook knew he couldn’t. Last night, their actual last night at the training center, they’d gone so hard that Hooyoung was still a bit sore. Another round might mess with tomorrow’s training. But Junwook wasn’t the type to back down, so Hooyoung gave up for now.

“Suspicious.”

“What’s suspicious? It’s all yours anyway.”

Junwook hugged him from behind, his playful voice kissing every spot he touched. Hooyoung figured he could check later when he was alone. Not being the type to obsess over curiosity was a relief.

After training camp and intense practice games, the season opener was next. The few days of vacation before the opener were meant as a final chance to rest before the grind.

After morning training, Hooyoung got four days off and came home in high spirits. The excitement of the break mixed with the anticipation of the upcoming season. He hadn’t been a pro long, but this off-season, he’d prepared with a confidence he could be proud of. Thanks to Junwook, he felt mentally stable too. Realizing basketball was the only thing he had to pour himself into felt amazing.

Kicking off his shoes haphazardly, Hooyoung headed to the kitchen with his backpack still on. No frog or turtle juice in the fridge, but there was always fresh fruit and vegetable juice.

“Oh, tomato juice.”

He didn’t know how long he’d get this excited over food, but it wasn’t easy to stay nonchalant. Junwook’s fridge was always stocked like a noble’s pantry. Honestly, it seemed like there was even more variety since they started living together. Junwook, who wasn’t big on food, didn’t notice, but the portions and variety seemed to have subtly increased.

“Am I imagining it?”

Tilting his head at the neatly packed salad containers, Hooyoung closed the fridge and chugged the tomato juice. The sweetness, probably from honey, was fragrant and flavorful. As he finished the last sip, a sudden thought hit him.

There was something he’d always wanted to do when he was alone—explore Junwook’s drawer. Since moving, he’d been too busy going between here and Seoul to have the chance.

“Today’s the day.”

It was the perfect opportunity. He rarely got home before Junwook. With night training, rehab, and skill sessions, he usually came back late. Junwook, with his clockwork punctuality, always greeted him at the door with a “You’re back?”

Hooyoung bounded up the stairs. Both here and the Seoul house were two stories, but they felt completely different. Here, you saw the central courtyard as you climbed; in Seoul, it was the Han River through the staircase window. He didn’t have time to look now, though.

Throwing his backpack anywhere as he entered the bedroom, Hooyoung went straight to the nightstand. He wasn’t a thief, but he felt like one, heart racing. He was more nervous than the first time he’d peeked. What could be in there…?

“Gah!”

Opening it just a crack, he was stunned by the dozens of condom varieties. There were way more than last time. Ultra-thin ones they usually used, scented ones, glow-in-the-dark ones…

“Why’d he buy delay condoms? He already lasts forever.”

Not just that—there were studded condoms from the U.S. in all sorts of shapes. Some had ridges like a rooster’s comb, others had rings around the tip. A shiver ran through Hooyoung as he recalled their time in the U.S., his body tingling like when he first watched porn as a teenager.

“How much did he buy?”

Was he collecting condoms from around the world? When he fully opened the drawer, his jaw dropped.

“…No way!”

Shocked, Hooyoung slammed the drawer shut and stumbled back a few steps. He couldn’t believe his eyes. It was absurd. The condoms were just what he saw at first. There was lube and oil too, but that wasn’t what freaked him out.

Hooyoung swallowed hard and approached the dresser again. His current feelings were akin to knowing something is bad for you yet still drinking alcohol or eating snacks dusted with heaps of sugar. He knew he should just pretend he didn’t see it and forget about it, but he couldn’t help wanting to check it again.

As Hooyoung’s hand grasped the handle and slowly pulled, the dresser drawer slid open with a soft sound. Channeling a safe-cracker, Hooyoung licked his lower lip once.

“What are these things…?”

The items tucked deep inside the drawer weren’t ordinary, at least not to Hooyoung’s eyes. Yet, he couldn’t stop his hand from reaching out. His hand trembled slightly as it picked up an item, but his eyes were overflowing with curiosity, almost spilling over.

“Is this something you insert in the back?”

He couldn’t read the Japanese instruction manual, but the illustrations suggested it was a prostate massager. Judging by the on-off button, it clearly vibrated. It wasn’t too large or grotesque-looking, which was a relief… Wait, what was he even thinking?

“Relief? What relief? Get a grip.”

Hooyoung lightly slapped his own cheek and moved on to the next item. This time, it was a metallic object with a cubic gem embedded at the end. He picked it up and checked the instructions on the back. Fortunately, this one was in English, so he could read it.

“…Anal plug.”

Hooyoung scratched under his chin. He couldn’t help but wonder what it would feel like to have something like this inside. There must be some kind of pleasure, or people wouldn’t use it, but from his perspective, he couldn’t quite grasp why someone would insert something that wasn’t even that large.

“Is it just to make you feel embarrassed?”

Then again, the thought of inserting it in front of Junwook made him feel like he might throw up. Hooyoung fanned his flushed face a few times with his hand and moved on to the next item. At first glance, it looked like just a chain, and he wondered why something like that was in the drawer.

“Wow.”

After flipping over the packaging, Hooyoung let out a sound upon realizing what it was. It wasn’t a “wow” of admiration but a “you bought this too?” kind of bewildered “wow.”

“For… the chest?”

This instruction manual kindly included illustrations. It showed clips pinching both of a person’s nipples, connected by a chain. Hooyoung blinked a few times. He hated that he could kind of understand what this might feel like. If the sensation of Junwook pinching him could persist while these clips were attached, well, um, wow…

Hooyoung quickly shook his head and put the item back in its place. The drawer was filled with things like that. What he had picked up wasn’t even the half of it. There were plugs in various sizes, nipple clips with chains, bells, or feathers—multiple varieties. He hadn’t looked closely, but there seemed to be men’s underwear too. He caught a glimpse of something like a string that would go between the buttocks. Now, Hooyoung finally understood the size of the box Junwook had been holding.

“…Total pervert.”

He said that, but he didn’t close the drawer. He was curious about when and where these were bought, and he made a mental note to check the dresser at their Seoul home too.

Hooyoung stood still in front of the dresser for a while, glancing up at the clock on the wall and then at the sunlight streaming through the window. It was still bright outside. It was just past 2 p.m., so Junwook wouldn’t be back for at least three or four hours.

“…I really hate myself.”

All he had to do was close the drawer, and that would be the end of it, but he couldn’t. Like a child who dropped candy on the street, he was overflowing with reluctance to let go. He wasn’t aroused, but he felt like even a slight touch would make something spill out.

Hooyoung’s hand slowly reached into the drawer. It brushed over colorful condoms, lingered on what looked like a miniaturized studded condom for fingers, but ultimately picked up the nipple clip he had stared at the longest. The reason was simple: it was intriguing, but also, it was stored in a thick, waterproof zipper bag. It seemed like the easiest to return to its original state as if untouched.

Hooyoung’s lips kept drying out, and he repeatedly bit and released them as he opened the zipper bag.

“…It might hurt.”

He rubbed the clip part with his hand. He even tried clamping it on his pinky finger. Would this be bearable? Hooyoung fiddled with it like a primitive person encountering a new invention, then pulled off the short-sleeved shirt he was wearing. It was simple: once he decided to try something, he would.

Hooyoung pinched his own nipple lightly with his fingers and flinched slightly. Doing it himself felt strange. Hiss, ha. Hiss, ha. Taking deep breaths like before an important match, Hooyoung picked up the clip and lowered his head.

“…Ugh.”

The cold touch of the clip hit him, and as soon as he let go, the sensation of his nipple being pinched followed. Hooyoung’s waist trembled slightly as he quickly clamped the other side. “Hmm, it’s not as bad as I thought?” he thought, then lightly tugged on the connecting chain.

“Hah!”

Startled by the sound he made, he quickly covered his mouth. Uh, this was… Hooyoung carefully sat on the bed. It was much more intense than he’d expected. He did it himself, but it didn’t feel like it—a tingling sensation. With a tense face, Hooyoung cautiously rubbed around his nipple and tugged the chain again. A moan, hng, slipped out immediately.

“This is crazy…”

He couldn’t stop here. He had planned to just try it on and be done, but stopping his hand from slipping into his pants was difficult. Just as Hooyoung, with the ridiculous thought of touching himself just once, lightly, and stopping, reached for his tip, an electric sensation made his toes curl. At that moment, a sound that shouldn’t have been there rang out. A loud bang—the sound of the house’s large door opening and closing.

No exaggeration, Hooyoung genuinely felt his heart drop with a thud. He meant it.

“Where are you?!”

Junwook’s voice echoed from afar. At the same time, Hooyoung’s mind snapped back to reality. He jumped up and moved faster than ever—faster than when he stole the ball from an opponent on the court.

“Ugh.”

Pulling the chain recklessly hurt his nipple like it might tear off, but there was no time to dwell on the pain. He quickly pulled up his half-down pants and underwear, grabbed the T-shirt from the floor, and put it on.

“Lee Hooyoung—.”

Junwook’s voice, dragging out his name, called again. He must have just taken off his shoes and entered. Hurry, faster. Hooyoung urged himself, grabbing the nipple clip and its zipper bag, roughly tossing them into the drawer. There was no time to repackage it neatly as it was. As long as Junwook didn’t see, he could fix it later.

“Lee Hooyoung—!”

“Coming!”

Hooyoung shouted back loudly. He ran to the mirror to check if he looked normal. There didn’t seem to be any issues outwardly. On closer inspection, his swollen nipples might show through the thin T-shirt, but luckily, the shirt he wore today was loose-fitting.

“You’re here?!”

Hooyoung rushed down to Junwook, who was about to climb the stairs, and threw himself into his arms. It was practically a leap.

“What’s this?”

Junwook braced himself to avoid falling as Hooyoung hugged him tightly. Hooyoung buried his face in Junwook’s neck and rubbed against it frantically. He did it on purpose. He’d gotten a bit clever and knew that not showing his face was the priority right now.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Just happy.”

“This is suspicious.”

Then he’d make sure there was no room for suspicion. Hooyoung jumped up, wrapping his legs around Junwook’s waist, practically hanging onto him.

“It’s nice to be greeted so enthusiastically.”

Just keep liking it.

“But it’s so suspicious that I want to find out why.”

“It’s not like that.”

“What’s not like that? Let me see your face. Look up.”

Junwook tried to pull back to see his face, but Hooyoung refused, clinging to his neck like it was a lifeline.

“What were you doing?”

“…Just, I was napping. I was about to fall asleep when the door slammed so loudly.”

He spoke softly, as if half-asleep, and it sounded like he’d just woken up.

“So you ran out because you were happy to see me?”

“Yeah.”

Hooyoung pouted and kissed Junwook’s neck repeatedly, smack, smack. He was determined to survive this. His desperate efforts seemed to work, as Junwook’s steps turned toward the living room instead of upstairs. Hooyoung let out a small, cautious sigh of relief.

His heart was still racing, but the heat had subsided a bit. When Junwook set him down on the sofa, Hooyoung lifted his head with a face that looked like he’d aged ten years.

“Why are you back so early?”

He asked in a calm voice. Junwook, still in his jacket, started unbuttoning it while looking at Hooyoung intently.

“You said you’d be here early, so I just skipped out.”

“Even your secretary didn’t say anything?”

As he spoke, Hooyoung wasn’t sure if what came out of his mouth was words or a song. He wanted to take a deep breath, but afraid Junwook would notice, he quietly filled his chest with air and exhaled slowly. His chest rose and fell repeatedly, but Hooyoung, unaware of Junwook’s gaze lingering there, felt relieved to have dodged a crisis.

“…If I leave early, she leaves early too. Four days of vacation?”

“Yeah. Four days off, two days of training, then the opening game. You’re coming to the opening game too, right?”

“Probably? I’ll go cheer for Hooyoung. But, Hooyoung.”

“Yeah?”

Junwook loosened his tie and looked at Hooyoung deeply.

“What do we do?”

“Why?”

Something wrong? As Hooyoung met Junwook’s eyes with concern, it happened.

“You got caught, didn’t you?”

Junwook’s hand swiftly reached up and pinched the peak of Hooyoung’s chest through his shirt.

“Argh!”

The shock was greater than the pain in his nipple. Hooyoung’s eyes widened as he stared at Junwook. …One second, two seconds, three seconds. Exactly three seconds. It took exactly three seconds for Junwook and Hooyoung to move simultaneously.

“Wait, wait a second!”

“No waiting!”

Hooyoung and Junwook leapt off the sofa and started running. The sound of their heavy footsteps echoed thud, thud, thud on the wooden floor. Junwook was ahead, with Hooyoung chasing behind.

“Hey, wait! Just a second!”

Hooyoung was faster, but Junwook’s legs were longer. He caught up close enough to grab him at the stairs, but overtaking in the narrow space was tough.

“Wait, just listen to me! Please?!”

“No way!”

Junwook bolted straight into the bedroom. Hooyoung tried with all his might to stop him, but it was impossible. Junwook’s tall frame stood in front of the dresser, and the first drawer was opened immediately. Did it take ten seconds to get from the sofa to here? Hooyoung saw Junwook’s cheekbone and the corner of his mouth curling up.

“You tried this?”

The chain of the nipple clip dangled from Junwook’s finger. Hooyoung, standing at the door, couldn’t breathe. He was completely frozen, staring at the tip of Junwook’s finger. It was definitely the one he’d put on his chest out of curiosity minutes ago. Should he just run? He was confident he could escape faster than Junwook could catch him.

“Nuh-uh. There’s nowhere to run, you.”

As if reading his mind, Junwook spoke in a low voice—not angry, but the sleazy tone he used before something naughty.

“…It’s, it’s just.”

“Yes, it’s just?”

“I was curious, so I, I, I opened it?!”

Hooyoung’s voice cracked pathetically. He’d never felt so humiliated and flustered in his life. He couldn’t think of a way to salvage this. In a game, if he was winning and then got overtaken, he could rally and strategize, but now? It was just the worst.

“Hooyoung.”

Junwook called him, nodding for him to come closer. But Hooyoung’s feet wouldn’t budge.

“Not coming?”

“…I’m not going.”

“Oh, rebelling? That’s totally my style.”

Hooyoung clearly saw Junwook’s eyes glint. He absolutely couldn’t get caught by those hands.

“Who told you to try it alone? Do you know how much thought I put into picking these out?”

“Why, why would you buy stuff like that!”

If he hadn’t been caught, maybe getting mad would’ve worked, but since Junwook already knew, it would just sound like whining. As Hooyoung mustered the courage to step back, Junwook closed the distance in one stride, like an eagle snatching prey, grabbed Hooyoung’s wrist, and pushed him against the wall.

“Got you.”

“It’s, it’s not fair!”

“You’ve got a lot to feel unfair about. Gonna stay still?”

As Junwook tried to pull off his shirt, Hooyoung thrashed, and Junwook slapped his hip lightly. The loose-fitting shirt, which Hooyoung thought would hide everything, was easily pulled off and fell to the floor.

“I was going to take it slow so our Hooyoung wouldn’t get scared, but you went and tried it sneakily on your own.”

The clips were reattached to Hooyoung’s already red, swollen nipples—one, then two. As the clips bit into the sensitive tips, Hooyoung trembled slightly. It was definitely, definitely much more intense than when he did it himself.

“How far did you go?”

“…Just this.”

He was about to do more, but you barged in. Hooyoung shot Junwook a resentful look. It wasn’t fair to resent the homeowner for coming home, but Hooyoung wanted to. Just a bit later. An hour later. He swore to himself he’d never do anything alone at home again. Regretting it now was useless, but never again, never.

“Should’ve come home later, huh?”

“Yeah.”

That was sincere.

“Then you would’ve seen the plug or vibrator too.”

“…Not really.”

That was also sincere. All he’d planned to try was the clip. He could swear to the heavens on that.

“I wasn’t going to try those.”

“Alright, I’ll put those in for you later.”

No, that’s not what he meant. Junwook, staring at the clipped chest, pulled the chain firmly without looking at Hooyoung’s desperate face. There was no caution like when Hooyoung did it himself. It wasn’t rough, but it was a heavy, deliberate touch that maximized pleasure.

“Hng, ugh!”

Seeing Hooyoung’s upper body lurch forward, Junwook chuckled, tossing off his jacket and tie. He trapped Hooyoung firmly between his legs to prevent escape.

“When a naughty guy like you travels all over the country, how can I not worry?”

What’s an athlete supposed to do if not travel? Hooyoung, almost giving up, accepted Junwook’s kiss. It was over. He should’ve admitted defeat the moment he got caught.

“Turn around and put your hands on the wall.”

“…I don’t want to do the other stuff.”

Oddly, he felt like crying. Honestly, using an anal plug or vibrator during sex with Junwook would probably be hot and fun, not something to cry over. But today, right now, he didn’t want to. Getting caught using the clip was embarrassing enough; the thought of being teased with more made him feel beyond shame—utterly humiliated.

“I know, I know. Gotta protect our Hooyoung’s pride.”

It’s already all crumbled, what’s there to protect? Tears welled up, and as he sniffled quietly, Junwook leaned in and sucked the tears from under his eyes.

“Stop crying, we’re doing this anyway. Stop.”

Junwook turned Hooyoung around, grabbed his hands one by one, and placed them on the wall. Then, he ran his hand from Hooyoung’s wrists to his elbows, arms, armpits, and chest, stroking long and slow.

“Stay still. No running.”

The sound of a belt unbuckling and a zipper going down came from behind. Standing against the wall like he was being punished, Hooyoung, with teary eyes, felt his insides churn with excitement. The stimulation from his pinched nipples was consuming his mind. Once again, he recalled his grandmother’s saying about like-minded people finding each other.

“I was planning to put the clips on your chest, sit you on top, and keep rocking you. If you weren’t trying hard enough, I’d tug a bit, like reins.”

I’m not a horse. Hooyoung closed his eyes tightly and grumbled only in his mind, really only in his mind.

“But today, I think you’d cry from embarrassment if we did that… so I’ll do it like this.”

Junwook pressed Hooyoung’s back firmly. As Hooyoung, hands on the wall, was pushed forward helplessly, he suddenly flinched and trembled大きく.

“Ugh, wait! Just a second!”

“This’ll kill you.”

The protruding clips, still pinching his nipples, hit and rubbed against the wall, amplifying the sensation several times over.

“This, this is too much. Just wearing them was fine!”

“Nah, I don’t like that.”

Smack, smack. Oblivious to how infuriating his kisses were, Junwook pressed his lips to Hooyoung’s ear, then brought his hand to Hooyoung’s mouth, slipping it inside.

“Cut me some slack today. If I open that drawer, I might grab something else.”

Junwook’s long index and middle fingers stirred inside Hooyoung’s mouth, teasing his tongue and soaking it with saliva. Hooyoung wanted to tell him to stop making excuses, but with fingers in his mouth and the fear that saying the wrong thing might lead to a plug or vibrator being used, he held back. Still, he wanted to express his frustration somehow.

“Ah!”

Hooyoung bit Junwook’s finger hard, making him flinch with a low groan.

“You’re mad, huh?”

“…Not mad, just annoyed.”

It was less anger and more mild frustration at being caught and dragged along without a fight. Not really mad. He liked Junwook too much.

“One kiss? Then shall we put it in?”

Junwook’s saliva-soaked fingers teased the wrinkled entrance. The overwhelming stimulation from his chest kept coming, and his arousal was already standing tall.

“Yeah.”

Junwook turned Hooyoung’s face sideways and poured a deep kiss into him. With his head turned, their tongues tangled, saliva dripping, but neither cared.

“Does it hurt?”

Junwook’s fingers carefully rubbed Hooyoung’s entrance, slowly pushing inside. Hooyoung shook his head. Saliva wasn’t as good as lube, so it felt a bit rough, but his body had been heated with excitement for a while. His body, familiar with the sensation of being penetrated, would adjust quickly. His lower abdomen was practically throbbing, craving that familiar pleasure.

“Hng, ah! Just put it in…”

Seeing Hooyoung seem to be in pain, Junwook entered slowly, but Hooyoung urged him on. It wasn’t pain—it was impatience.