Dreamcatcher Smut - Tumblr Posts

Requests open!

I’m going to be writing a few drabbles, requests are open :) send through my ask box pls <3

genres/pairings i will write:

smut

fluff

angst

member x member

member x reader

solo member

groups/idols i will write for:

ATEEZ - all members

BTS - all members

SHINee - key, minho

Dreamcatcher - all members

TXT - all members

---

distance apart | jiu x fem!reader

not requested but i'll work on requests after! also just to let everyone know there's gonna be a cliffhanger at the end but listen, i'm planning to make a pt2

warnings / smut, phone sex, kinda a long ass fic btw 😭

These last few weeks have been hard. They've been frustrating and honestly, you've been pent up this whole week. You haven't been able to give yourself a damn break and it frustrates you. But your mood suddenly softens when Minji calls you, her endearing contact filling your heart with relief. She always knows what to say when you have a bad day, her soft voice bringing you at peace.

This call though... just seemed like she wanted to bring you to a different mood.

“Aww, you've missed me haven't you?” She asks although she doesn't need an answer for that because she knows you do.

“I have... I want to see you already,” Minji can imagine you pouting through the screen and she can't help but smile at the thought.

“Such an impatient girl,” she teases, your face getting flustered at the way she describes you, “you've been more needy since the last time I saw you.”

You'd joke that she's been spying on you since your business trip started because she's right. It's not easy not having her by your side or there to give you the proper comfort. You could survive a few more days without her, you needed to be alive to see her anyway.

“That's because I don't have your hands on me 24/7.”

There's a hum from her and then a long pause. The silence fills both ends with tension and you weren't sure if it was good or bad tension. Maybe that was too bold to say? Fuck, I shouldn't have said that in the first place. You felt awkward now, your thoughts making you feel even more embarrassed.

The prolonged silence was too much to bare so you broke the tension by groaning out, “I'm sorry, I just-”

“Have you been a good girl for me?”

She cuts you off before you can even apologize, her voice low and husky through the phone. You're suddenly met with heat that travels throughout your body, making your lower center warm and throbbing.

It's a question that catches you so off guard that you don't even know how to process it.

“What?”

'What' is all you can say because you're still trying to wrap your head around what just happened. From an embarrassingly long silence to asking you such a bold question had you questioning everything.

“Cat got your tongue, baby?” Minji chuckles but in a way that she's mocking you.

Your hands grip the sheets and you don't know why but you assume that her condescending tone is so fucking hot that you're left speechless.

In which you are.

“Answer me.”

You're so dumbfounded that you forgot that this all isn't happening through text, where you could easily just leave her on read and hope for the best. It's all happening in real-time.

“I-I've been good, Minji,” you whisper.

“You haven't been touching yourself without my permission, have you?” Minji wonders if you've made it this far without cumming. It's all decided by you though, whether she treats you like a slut or her good girl.

“N-No, I haven't.”

She's shocked but happy, the plan she set up for you is all going well.

“That's my girl,” she praises, making you melt so easily.

“It sounds like you deserve a reward for it then.”

Your eyes lit up at the sound of that, you might finally receive the release you've been wanting all this time. That is if you stay truthful and good to her but that isn't something you have to worry about.

“Did you see the toy I brought along in your suitcase?”

Another one of Minji's questions that has your head spinning with another 'What?' You had two suitcases, one with your essentials and another with all your clothes. You focused more on the suitcase with your clothes so you must've not realized that she put something in your luggage.

You have another one of your moments and decide to check your suitcase, and you were right. It was covered under everything else you packed, a dildo. It had to be one of your favorites that she used on you and you almost drooled on the spot when you saw it.

“Oh my god...” you say, clearly struck at the fact that she packed a toy for you.

“You're so cute. I put it with your luggage because I've been thinking about doing this with you.” You swore that if you stood up, your panties would be soaked. Instead, you just freeze and let her continue herself.

“I want you to put it inside while you're on the phone with me, I'll even let you ride it if you earn it.”

You're fucked.

You rush to the bed again and press your thighs tighter. You've been at a lost for words ever since she asked if you've been good for her, which happened 10 minutes ago.

“Hm? Would you like that, sweetheart?” Minji asks and you almost immediately reply with, “Yes please.”

You're obedient, almost too obedient that you'd allow Minji to do anything to you, but that's what she loves about you and she could never take it for granted.

Since you happily obliged, she smiles and says, “Good, put it inside of you then.”

“Start slow, don't put it in all the way yet,” making sure that the boundary is clear that you don't take it in all the way yet.

“Shit...”

“Does it feel good, love?”

She hears the single curse word and confirms that you're enjoying yourself but you add on,

“You feel so good, I've been needing this since I left.”

Minji herself felt her clit grinding against the friction of her pants, hungrily searching for some type of relief. You hear her breathing pick up from the other side of the phone and you take that to your advantage to think about how she'd sound like if she saw you like this.

Her arms holding one of your thighs to the side, digging her nails that would leave marks until the next day.

“My poor baby,” Minji cooed and your legs started spreading wider for her, “helplessly thinking about my strap buried inside of her, isn't that right?”

“Go deeper,” she growls.

“Oh god, please.” Your entire body shudders as you try to take it deeper. You've been so stressed out from work that your muscles have been more tense lately, Minji's been expecting it.

A stretch from your favorite toy would loosen you up, wouldn't it, princess?

You mumble to her how tight you are and how you can't take it – but she doesn't care really. She knows that she can treat you however she wants and not care how much you can take until you say the safe word so she's safe to continue.

The toy fills you up so much that you feel full but you're too greedy to stop. Your slick dripping down the length from how wet you are and it creates a mess underneath you. You speed up your pace and take it faster, hearing all the filthy sounds it makes as you pound yourself with the thought of Minji in your head.

“Tell me what I'd do if I was there with you.”

Minji could practically imagine and tell you what you're thinking of, she is the leader of her group at the end of the day. But her instincts leave her guessing, you must be thinking about a lot of things if she hears you this wet through the call. She takes in the pleasure of making you shy and hot in the face, knowing the result will always be you begging her to cum.

“You would force it all the way inside of me,” you manage out, “t-telling me that I'm your good girl while fuck-”

The mental images that mixed in with arousal made it nearly impossible to finish your sentence. You found yourself stuttering word after word and you weren't even sure if Minji understood what you said before that. It proved the easy access she had over you, so good to please and fuck.

You were both too deep to stop now so she encourages, “C'mon... Y/N, I know you can tell me.”

“While you shove your fingers in my mouth to keep me quiet,“ your own words having you rolling your hips harder into the toy.

“I'm so proud of you.”

Her praise never failed to boost your confidence and she can feel it through the screen, miles apart and her senses are still with you. Minji remembers it all so well. Bending you over while her fingers enter your mouth with ease, pulling them out all coated with your spit that she'll use to fill inside of you.

The memory sticks with her so well, she must remind you, “I'd have you choking around me so much, yet you're all alone in your hotel room...”

--

---

MASTERLIST

Hi everyone, finally decided to post this and turn this blog into a full kpop reaction/scenario blog.

I only write for GIRLGROUPS, a few of them. The groups I write for are : DREAMCATCHER, ITZY, AESPA, BLACKPINK, PURPLE KISS. I’ll maybe add some more later.

I can do fluff, angst, smut. Anything, really. I only write for fem!reader, or genderneutral!reader. I can also do G!P.

I won’t do any request if it’s about self h*rm, or suicide or anything involving heavy mental illness topics. Too triggering.

MASTERLIST

[M] = mature, [F] = fluff, [A] = angst

AESPA

nothing yet…

BLACKPINK

nothing yet…

DREAMCATCHER

nothing yet…

ITZY

nothing yet…

PURPLE KISS

nothing yet…

---

At Your Service

Pairing: Jiu x Fem!Reader (& some Yoohyeon x Fem!Reader)

Warnings / Misc. -- Fluff, Angst, Smut, Mentions of violence, etc.

Word Count: 33,401 (grab a snack)

Synopsis: Jiu -- a married heiress and product of the centuries old, successful dynasty of Kims -- finds herself in need of a new personal maid following the sudden departure of her previous one. When opportunity arises and brings Y/N L/N -- a stubborn, working class citizen with a hatred for her less than ideal circumstances -- to her doorstep, how will they deal with the fallout?

Disclaimer: This writing is a work of fiction, and no disrespect is meant for those mentioned herein.

A/N: Hey everyone! Here's my first Dreamcatcher fic. I hope you enjoy! :)

💖 Happy Reading 🌹

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◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚

Blood trickled down the side of your father’s hand, shining crimson in the subtle flicker of candlelight. A makeshift weapon – some mangled piece of metal, resembling a shiv – cut into his skin slightly, due to the force of his grip on it. 

His weight was shifted to one foot, keeping him prepared to strike if need be; with the front door of your home slightly ajar, he craned his neck enough to communicate with the guards on the other side. His thumb rubbed the handle of the blade in rhythmic strokes… one, two … keeping his breathing in check. Appearing suspicious was a death sentence, and he knew that; so, he patiently waited for the opportunity to make a move.

In an eerie flash of black suits and gloves, the men pushed their way inside.

They came to loom over your family members with piercing gazes, staring holes into them. Tension was thick in the room, nearly suffocating. Each second was an hour as the interrogation they started dragged on, only increasing the chance of impulsivity on both sides. Glancing eyes were a silent challenge, the twitch of a finger was a call to arms.

At the center of it all, surrounded in more ways than you even knew at the time, was you. Had you known then how drastically your life would change, maybe you’d have done things differently. 

Maybe you would have started running after that first knock.

-

“We aren’t here seeking trouble, Y/F/N. What the heiress requires is simple, and you’re the first on the list to provide it,” the boss explained, reclining in your father’s chair. His slicked-back hair looked greasy in the low light of the room. 

“Y/N has nothing to do with any of my financial dealings,” your father reiterated, not backing down. “Paying off my debts isn’t something that concerns her.” 

That statement earned him a wary glance from you, though he didn’t see it.

The leader shrugged in response. “We have our orders just the same as you. And besides,” he reasoned, leaning forward enough to touch his elbows to his knees, “...this is something to be grateful for. All of your debt will be forgiven when she finishes her time at the estate. It’s as easy as that.”

“The estate?” You broke in, confusion heavy in your tone.

The man seemed appreciative of your question, with the way his face brightened as he turned his focus to you. “Precisely, Y/N. It’s a beautiful place, where Mrs. Kim lives; acres and acres of land, so many sights to see. And the house, well…” he paused, attempting to build anticipation like a parent reading to their child. “... the house is the best part. You’ll have your own quarters, near the heiress’s room, and be free to roam the halls once your work is completed for the day.” A wistful look befell him. “It's absolutely breathtaking." 

“What’s the catch?” You asked skeptically, narrowing your eyes. Your father turned to face you, unbelieving that you’d even entertain the idea by inquiring further. 

The leader sat up straighter, shaking his head slightly. “There isn’t one, Y/N, despite what your father may have led you to believe.” He glanced at him almost smugly before returning his gaze to you. “Everyone can benefit from this deal. The heiress gets the maid she needs, you can enjoy a few months away in the countryside, and your family will be relinquished of any debts owed. It’s truly that simple.”

You pondered for a moment. “How long would I be indentured?”

Your father adamantly shook his head, coming to stand in front of you. “No, Y/N. You’re not doing this. I forbid it.”

“Why?” 

The guards near your other family members took a step closer to them, though you failed to see it at the time. 

“This isn’t your due to pay,” he reasoned, hoping you’d just listen to him for once. “And nothing that these men say is ever true. Not fully, anyway.” He glanced over his shoulder subtly, stealing a peek at the boss. He took note of the positions the rest of the men were in, committing them to memory. 

“But father, if I have the chance to help like this I have to take it,” you affirmed, steadfast in your desire to be useful. 

“No.”

“Father–”

“I said no, Y/N.” He leveled his gaze with yours, stern and final. 

The leader sighed dramatically behind him, slapping his knees before moving to stand.

“I was really hoping to do this the easy way, Y/F/N.” He tutted, taking a step closer. Your father turned around to look at him, fiddling with the metal in his pocket again.

“Why do you always have to be so difficult?” He sounded genuinely disappointed. 

The other men darted forward when he nodded his head, grabbing the arms of your family members and forcefully restraining them behind their backs. You lunged towards your mother instinctively, ready to free her, but were met with the chilling sound of a gun cocking before you could pry their hands off of her. 

“Now now, Y/N. Don’t be like your father.”

Tears began to brim in your eyes as you slowly turned to look at the pair of them. A statement like that could only mean a handful of things, and none of them were good.

Your father's shiv was angled directly at the man's throat, nearly poking into his Adam's apple. In retaliation, you found his pistol pointed directly at your father’s head. 

Neither of them backed down; if the scene before you were a war of wills, it would surely be a bloodbath.

“Don’t be a hero, okay?” The adversary smiled crookedly, looking truly evil in the light of the room. “You have the power to end this however you want.”

Y/F/N reached a hand out to you, sensing how frightened you were. Even when his life was on the line, keeping you calm was more important. 

“Don’t listen to him, Y/N/N. Nothing good will come of anything he says–”

A stomach-churning crack rang out before you even had time to blink.

Only once your father spit a mouthful of blood onto the wooden floor and let out a quiet groan did you understand what happened. The man had pistol whipped him in a fit of anger. 

Your enemy let out a shaky breath, fighting his every instinct to prevent himself from shooting your father right then and there. “I’ll be generous and give you thirty seconds, Y/N. Either come with us back to the estate and begin your servitude, or stay here and see what happens.” 

You swallowed nervously, rooted in place. 

“I can’t promise you’ll like the outcome of the latter,” he stifled a laugh, “...but do as you wish.”

Hushed sobs came from your mother, heartbreaking for a multitude of reasons. The rest of your family, too, threw insults at the men and attempted to wiggle free of their grasps, though their efforts proved futile. 

These people were unpredictable, and that frightened you more than anything else. Preparing for their next move was impossible; the unknown held far more risks than rewards when it came to them, and you were aware of that. Subjecting those closest to you to a fate so uncertain would never sit right with your conscience.

“I’ll go.”

Whatever happened to you, you could take. 

A pleased smile made its way to the fiend’s lips. “Smart girl, she is,” he praised, leaning in a bit closer to your father. Y/F/N shifted away, disgusted. 

With the flick of a hand, the group of guards released your family and headed for the door.

“You have five minutes to pack your things, Y/N. Not a second longer.” 

He pressed the end of the pistol to your father’s forehead as a warning, leaving an indentation on it after he pulled it away and returned it to the holster on his hip. His hands slicked back his messy hair again out of habit, and he followed after his men to wait outside. 

Devastated, you looked around the room at the people you loved most. When, or even if, you’d see all of them again, you didn’t know. But this decision increased that likelihood to some degree, and with that, you could live peacefully. 

—

An Hour Later

The midnight sky reigned supreme high above, jet black and ominous. Sprawling tree branches loomed over the road you traveled down, cutting jagged paths and creating an eerie canopy to further entrap you. Every whizzing branch sealed your fate that much more, and here, under it all, anything seemed feasible. Your mind ran wild with the possibilities.

Even the moon cowered behind clusters of clouds, hiding itself away and refusing to offer much light to the land below. But a few distant, brave stars twinkled every now and then, giving you a small sense of hope. 

Usually, you’ve found, nature has an odd way of predicting things.

The car shimmied over the rough terrain of the road, jostling you some in your seat and adding to your already jumpy nerves. Its tires crunched as you traveled, working alongside the wildlife and insects to fill the evening air with sound. The driver looked back at you through the rearview mirror, his eyes a tense blue. They studied you carefully, for a moment, before training themselves back on the expanse ahead. You fought a shiver and pulled your jacket tighter around your body.

The forest parted more as you traveled, slowly opening up its brooding curtains little by little. Eventually, and in time with the increasing sparsity of trees on either side of you, the thick underbrush subsided. The road before you widened, and the headlights of the car illuminated a menacingly tall, wrought iron fence. Spikes pierced the air high above, serving as silent threats to anyone who dared to climb over. 

Two gargoyles guarded either side -- leering menaces. 

Kim Estate was posted in fancy lettering on a sign where the two sides met, front and center. It was polished and clean, just as expected. When two suited staff members emerged from the booths on either side of the road and released the lock, the sign glinted as it caught the attention of the car’s headlights in just the right way. With the way it sliced through the reflecting light, it resembled a blade. 

Your driver nodded to the man on the other side of his window before pressing the gas again, and you slid yourself closer to the window in anticipation. Despite your circumstances, you couldn’t ignore the curiosity in your system.

Once the car rounded one last curve, the manor finally came into view. Truthfully, it looked like something a royal family would live in. 

Lampposts dotted the grand driveway, showering soft golden light down to guide those coming and going. A sizable fountain greeted you at the center of it all, complete with an angel statue at its top. Water cascaded over its marble rim, catching the rays of two underwater lights on its way. Large flower beds stretched out on either side of the grassy area around it, wavering gently in the late-night breeze. 

The house itself stretched far and wide from left to right and featured three floors, from what you could tell. Two halls extended on either side as well, reaching out and beckoning brave visitors inside. Its appearance was a mix of Gothic and Mediterranean, thanks to the Kim family’s own personal tastes and circle of friends. With those closest to them insisting on such a style and ensuring that they had certified architects to complete such a daunting task, it only made sense for them to graciously accept it. 

And, in its own ways, it held a mysterious charm. The slight frost of its windows veiled what was going on inside, adding to the secrecy it possessed. Every arch and peak told a story, built by hands long-gone; they were situated up high, keeping watch over the land and its inhabitants. The designs so carefully etched there, sprawling and winding their ways into elaborate patterns as they connected with one another, were the eyes of the place. 

The angel was merely a façade. 

Shortly, your door was opened for you by a thin woman. She couldn’t have been more than twenty five years old. Her cheeks were rosy as she extended a gloved hand to you, aiding your departure from the car. She subtly nodded to an unseen figure behind you once you were out, and the sound of the trunk opening filled the otherwise quiet night air. 

“Follow me, please, Miss.” Her voice was kind; far softer than you had imagined it’d be. 

She led you through the main doors, keeping her pace slow enough to allow you ample time to take in your surroundings. 

Torches burned in various places, all stationed methodically to fit the aesthetic and offer just enough light. They flickered near the art pieces that adorned the walls of the entryway, casting shadows of battles and conquests here and there. 

A final embrace between two ill-fated lovers called from the end of the hall, larger than all the rest. Bittersweet smiles graced their faces as they peered at one another, finally having broken free of the tenacious arms holding them back. Their bloodied hands reached out for each other, barely brushing; but the flickering light changed their cruel fates, however, by closing the gap anytime a draft picked up. It offered them what they sought in those final moments: the simple pleasure of peace, together. 

Your eyes lingered on it until you were instructed to round a corner, passing it by. Up close, you could see a flower tied to the man’s belt, waiting and ready to be given to his love. Its white petals were painted with droplets of crimson, somehow – strangely – making it all the more beautiful. 

The woman’s flat shoes clicked against the floor as she led you further into the manor, through another hall. Here, the paintings were far more vibrant and lighthearted. Cherry trees blossomed from one frame to another, scattering their shimmering petals across the hall as they so pleased; women dressed in traditional clothing frolicked in a rich field of green, baskets in hand. They held their hats down, tipping their chins to prevent them from blowing away in the breeze.

At the far end of the hall, where you were headed again, a portrait hung proudly. A single woman was shown in it, smiling softly for her admirers; her eyes smiled, too, and you found yourself able to breathe again the longer you looked at it. She looked regal, dressed to the nines, yet approachable. A kindness gleamed in her eyes, full of power.

Amid the darkness of all the rest, this space was a bright reprieve. This woman. 

Your lips tugged up, ever so subtly, as you exited the hall, replaying the vision of the woman in your mind as you went. You knew she’d stay with you, then, and you were happy with that notion. Perhaps this endeavor would be a little more bearable that way. 

“The heiress is in her study,” a voice informed, pulling you from your thoughts as you entered a foyer. A large staircase laid in front of you, branching off widely once it climbed its way to the second story. Frilly garlands adorned its rails and spindles, making it look more inviting. 

A man came into view, clean cut and professional. His hands were clasped behind his back in a relaxed pose, putting you at ease. 

“Give me a moment and I’ll see if she’s ready to greet you.”

“Yes, sir.” You bowed politely, and he returned the gesture before heading off. 

A moment later, the woman beside you spoke. “For now, I’ll make sure that all of your luggage has made it to your room, Miss.” She smiled gently at you, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Once you meet with the Lady, I’ll be waiting to tell you all about what’s expected of you.”

“Thank you, ….” You trailed off, waiting for her to fill in the blank for you.

“Yoohyeon,” she finished, dipping her head slightly – shyly. 

“Thank you, Yoohyeon.” Her smile deepened at the way you said her name, though you didn’t notice it. “I appreciate your kindness more than you know.” 

“I’m happy to be of assistance.”

Her humbleness surprised you, given that you were expecting everyone beyond that fence outside to be pretentious – at least to some degree. But no malice existed in her, as far as you could tell; for your own sake, you hoped that assumption was never proven wrong. She might be capable of making the next few months survivable, if it stayed true.

She left a moment later with a word of goodbye, leaving you alone and to your own devices.

Your hands hung at your sides, mindlessly toying with the ends of your sleeves as you waited. A few stray staff members passed by silently, stopping only for a brief second to observe you before they moved on with whatever they were doing. Some stayed longer than others, though, lingering in the shadows of the halls or kitchen to investigate further. You were new meat here, and you knew it; blaming them for their curiosity wasn’t something you cared to do. You just hoped they’d be civil once their gossiping phase ran its course.

“Ms. L/N,” a familiar voice said, grabbing your attention again. You raised your head, meeting the gaze of the man from before. 

“Mrs. Kim will see you now, if you’ll just follow me. I’ll take you to your quarters once you’ve been introduced.”

You nodded politely in response, and he smiled. He turned on his heel, enticing you to tread after him in pursuit. His form led you to a grand room just behind the stairs, where he delivered two swift knocks to its door. 

“Come in,” a distant voice responded, feminine in a beautiful way. 

He stepped through the threshold and welcomed you inside, ensuring his face appeared stoic. You thanked him and entered, doing your best to seem confident.

Any chance of that crumbled the second you laid eyes on her. 

The woman from the painting sat behind a massive oak desk, clad in a floral dress that hugged her figure perfectly. Glasses rested across the bridge of her nose, pushed up gently by her fingers as she raised her head to look at you. It tilted curiously, presumably due to the awestruck look on your face. You’d always been terrible at hiding your emotions in situations like this.

“Y/N, yes?” She asked, wanting to make sure she got your name right. Such a thing was important to her.

Stacks of papers rested in front of her, some splayed across the desk while others were neatly organized. She must’ve had a busy day.

“Yes, ma’am.” You bowed, suddenly snapping back to reality and remembering your place. You dropped eye contact, afraid of overstepping this early on.

She stood from her chair and approached you slowly, taking her time as her eyes trekked up and down your body. They lingered in places they probably shouldn’t have, though you were none the wiser. She noticed the way your chest rose a little faster than before as she stepped closer. It intrigued her.

Wordlessly, she raised a hand to dismiss the man behind you. 

As he shut the door behind himself, your nerves truly began to kick in. The woman before you already had more power over you and your future than either of you realized. Whatever she did or didn’t do, whatever decisions she made, she was deciding for the both of you. From now on, your destiny would depend on her every whim.

That kind of vulnerability terrified you.

“Look at me.”

You blinked a few times, cautiously returning your gaze to her expectant one. 

It was riddled with curiosity, but not the kind of eager children. She’d done this many times before; she had things that she was searching for in you. A criteria you needed to meet. 

Her right hand raised to your cheek, giving you half the urge to flinch. But instead of being met with a slap, you felt her fingertips press against your jawline, turning your head to the side. She inspected you, admiring the curve of your face and how soft your skin was against hers. She turned it back, doing the same to the other side before taking a small step back. 

“Turn around.”

Warmth spread to your cheeks, but you did as she asked. Her gaze was heavy on you, training itself on the subtle lines of your muscles that were visible through the form-fitting shirt you wore. As you lifted your arms at her request, they tensed and shifted, almost dancing for her.

She was pleased; you’d suit her just fine.

“Alright, that’s all,” she said, retreating to the edge of her desk. The backs of her legs pressed into the polished surface, keeping her grounded. 

Her arms crossed loosely at her chest. You turned around, happy to be facing her again. She was a sight for sore eyes in every sense of the phrase. 

"I trust that your ride here went well," she stated, giving enough opportunity for you to confirm or deny it. 

"It did, ma'am." Your lips pressed together as you nodded, out of habit.

She smiled lightly. Had your answer been anything short of what it was, she would've had someone's head for it. 

Her reputation was important, after all.

"I'm glad, Y/N.” Her tone and aura were as warm as the fire that burned in the hearth across the room. It made you want to be close to her; she was capable of drawing you in without even trying.

She turned her wrist over in time with the drop of her eyes. A quick glance at the thin watch that rested across it shocked her.

“Gosh,” she breathed, her eyebrows raising. “...seeing that it's already so late, I won't ask you to do anything tonight." She promised. “You’ll begin tomorrow morning, eight o’clock sharp. I’m to be dressed and ready promptly for a breakfast with some investors.”

“Yes, ma’am,” you nodded. 

Her eyes found yours again, softening a little. The light offered by the fire casted on her, making them sparkle in a subtle kind of way. The dark brown of them was a touch lighter; speckles of a hidden richness that typically laid dormant, waking up. You had to be looking to see it, but that made it all the more special to you. 

“Ezekiel will show you to your room,” she informed, reaching beside herself for a bell. It rang twice… ding, ding… before the door glided open behind you.

“Good night, Y/N. Sleep well.” A gentle smile rested on her lips as she said the words.

“Good night, ma’am.”

With a final bow, you were escorted out and towards your room, leaving behind an incredibly interested heiress. Her expectations were exceeded by you; respectful, calm, beautiful. Though she’d heard of your existence through the grapevine a few times – details of your family rolling off the tongue of her father or other business partners – she’d never gotten to know much about you individually. But now, with the prospect so conveniently perched right in front of her, she’d never been more intrigued. 

—

The Next Morning

*beep be-beep beep be-beep*

The sound of your alarm was both welcome and nerve-racking. It set you in motion in an instant, and you had it turned off before it could muster up a second set of rings. Truthfully, you hadn’t gotten much sleep. Your unfamiliar surroundings, paired with the pressure you felt to perform well, prevented you from resting easily. But, for what time you had managed to slip away to dreamland, you were grateful; it was enough. 

You parted ways with your bed with a sleepy yawn before heading to the restroom to get cleaned up and ready for the day ahead. After you were presentable, you made your way towards the heiress’s room.

Softly, you delivered two knocks to the heavy wood of her door.

After waiting a customary few seconds, you let yourself in and shut it behind yourself, being mindful of the latch. When you did, you couldn’t believe your eyes. Her room was a beautiful utopia, full of the summer sunshine that cascaded in through the flowy, white drapes of her tall windows. A dreamy haze had settled over everything, coating it in stardust. The furniture around her room was of the highest quality fabrics and materials that money could buy, and every embellishment and decoration surely cost more than your entire life savings. The paintings that adorned the walls were just as unique and special, all authentic pieces depicting artistic moments of life.

It was a far cry from your simple room, and it all gave you the urge to rub your eyes, just to make sure you weren’t seeing things. 

When your shock began to subside, you focused your mind back on the task at hand and approached the bed. Mrs. Kim was clad in a silky, yellow nightgown, sprawled haphazardly and still in the throes of sleep. The covers were pushed down to her knees, revealing how her gown had ridden up her thighs as she’d tossed and turned throughout the night. Her hair was splayed across her pillow in every direction imaginable, and yet she looked just as elegant as always.  

How lucky you were to get to see her in such a peaceful state.

“My Lady,” you tried, hesitant to wake her when she looked so comfortable.

She turned her head and sighed in response, still fast asleep. You’d have to try harder. 

“Ma’am,” you called, putting a hand on her shoulder. You shook it slightly. She twitched, finally pulled from whatever dream she had been having. 

Her eyes peeked open as she looked at you, feeling a little sheepish. She was convinced she looked a mess in the mornings, no matter what people told her. 

“Hi,” she sleepily smiled, raising her arms above her head as she stretched the tension out of them. 

“Good morning,” you grinned. 

She sat up and looked at her bedside clock, running a hand through her hair to tame her locks back into place. “Right on time, Y/N,” she noted, clearly pleased, “...off to a good start.”

A word of gratitude left you on instinct, and you were thankful for such a reflex. Had you not had it, you would’ve kept staring at her in awe and embarrassed yourself to no end. 

“I have to be at the dining hall in an hour,” she informed, as she stood up and headed towards the bathroom that was attached to her bedroom. You followed behind her, listening intently as she filled you in. “The breakfast will take a couple of hours, most likely. I cleared my schedule for the rest of the day to allow you time to familiarize yourself with everything, so you won’t have to worry about me. I’ll likely stay busy in my study.” 

Your jaw went a little slack as you crossed the threshold and stepped into her bathroom. The sheer size of it caught you off guard, as did everything else. A vanity sat on the right side, shining and glittering with bottles upon bottles of every product in existence. The tub was directly across from it, large enough to fit upwards of three people at a time. The toilet itself looked like a mini throne, and you had half the urge to laugh at how ridiculous the situation was. One stone from its handle could likely pay off every bit of debt your father owed in the first place.

“I’ve assigned Yoohyeon to be your guide for the day,” Mrs. Kim spoke again, drawing you from your daze. “You should’ve met her last night.”

“I did.” You assured her.

“Good.” Her reply was short and sweet.

She glanced at the empty tub, silently prompting you. You sprung into action at once, mentally scolding yourself for not having the water ready. Getting used to this new routine would certainly be full of moments just like this, as much as you disliked it. 

As you filled the tub and made sure the temperature was just right, she took her gown off and removed her earrings, setting both on the marble countertop of her vanity. You retrieved some oils and scents from the cabinet that hung overhead and quickly added them to the water as it flowed from the faucet. The motion of it made plenty of suds appear in no time. 

In the name of sparing your pride and maintaining her privacy, you averted your gaze as she gracefully stepped into the deep tub. Her body was soon enveloped by the mountains of bubbles as it sank down below the surface, further and further. Only then did you turn the water off and kneel down beside her. 

To ensure that the water remained warm for the entire time she was in it, the two of you worked simultaneously. While you shampooed and conditioned her hair, she used a delicate loofah to wash her body. You assisted with her back and other hard to reach areas, but she was self-sufficient in every other way. For that, you were grateful. You’re convinced you would’ve died if she had been the type to make you wash her yourself. Sharing such an intimate interaction with anyone would’ve been bad enough, but with her? Someone you found so attractive? No, you wouldn’t have survived it. 

She must’ve been aware of the effect she had on you, because she made sure to keep a ring of suds around herself at all times. Modesty bubbles, she declared them, to put you at ease on your first day. You were both aware that time would allow for more adjustment and comfortability when it came to things like this, and patience was something you had for one another. In the meantime, you traded jokes and splashes of water to loosen up and shake off any awkwardness you felt. 

By the time you emerged from the bathroom, she had deposited a handful of bubbles on top of your head, and a generous dollop of them rested on the tip of her nose as well, courtesy of you. 

You approached her closet and sought out the suit that Yoohyeon had told you she’d need last night. As you flipped through the seemingly endless row of clothes, all strung up on hangers, you felt the heiress come up behind you. The towel around her body stayed bound in place as she reached up and wordlessly got rid of bubbles for you, laughing all the while. 

You shook your head at her with an amused smile as you retrieved her outfit and turned around, holding it up. You intended to make her bed while she got dressed, and so she waited until you had your back turned to drop her towel. 

The sound of it landing on the hardwood floor made your heart speed up, but you made a vow not to think too much of it. Your hands buried themselves in the covers, tugging hard to snugly put them back into place.

The rest of the hour flew by as you helped her fix her hair and complete the subtle makeup look that she chose for the day. Truthfully, you wished you could’ve had a little more time with her to yourself before she had to go. But, it wasn’t your place to want something like that, and as the two of you walked your way towards the meeting room, you made peace with just being in her presence for what little time you had left. 

She reciprocated subtly, without you even recognizing it: normally, her strides were fast, but with you at her side, she slowed them immensely. When you matched her pace, she smiled. 

Shortly, you rounded the corner to the hall that housed the meeting room.

Yoohyeon came into view, rocking up unto her tippy toes and back down to occupy herself as she patiently waited on your arrival. Her hands were behind her back, clasped but fidgeting, and her eyes regarded the fancy ceiling design as if she hadn’t seen it everyday for the past three years of her life. 

When she heard your approaching footsteps, she snapped back to reality and lit up as bright as a Christmas tree. Her smile was so warm you couldn’t help but reciprocate without even trying.

Mrs. Kim traded greetings and pleasantries with her once the two of you had joined her, and you did the same. Before you could talk for very long, though, the heiress had to wrap things up. 

“Take care of her, Yoohyeon. Show her everything; I want her to know her way around the place.” She instructed.

The younger girl bowed respectfully, reassuring her. “I’d do nothing less, my Lady. She’ll know the place like the back of her hand in no time.”

Mrs. Kim grinned, looking between the two of you. It seemed as though she wanted to say something more as her eyes lingered on you a second longer than usual, but the door beside her opened before she got the chance to. It was her husband.

His brow raised expectantly, and an air of impatience seemed to leak out of the room behind him through the open doorway. You peered inside, finding a few balding men all sitting around a large table with annoyed expressions on their faces. It made you grimace and wish to send your condolences to the heiress before she had to enter.

“I’ll see you after,” she said, regarding you. 

You bowed and offered a word of good luck to her before she disappeared into the room behind Mr. Kim. 

Muffled sounds of discussion instantly began, unintelligible to you through the thick walls.

Yoohyeon smiled at you and linked her arm with yours, leading you away. She was clearly excited to have been gifted such a task; her other responsibilities had grown monotonous, making her less than fond of them. But now she had the opportunity to wander about the estate with you and see everything through new eyes. She couldn’t have possibly been happier. 

-

She took her job seriously, much to your relief. No stone was left unturned as she showed you around and explained the heiress’s weekly schedule to you.

Areas and rooms existed for just about every possible task imaginable. Every time you thought the tour was over, Yoohyeon would inevitably lead you up more stairs or turn another corner and down a new hall to discover. Meeting halls, dining rooms, ballrooms, personal quarters, kitchens, studies, recreational areas, specialized spaces for the arts, even an indoor swimming pool – they all blended together, creating the complex and intricate layout of the manor.

“An art instructor conducts lessons for her on Tuesdays and Thursdays at noon,” she had said, as she let you peep into the expansive art gallery. It housed tons of paintings and sculptures from far and wide, all acquired by the Kims in some way. A few were originals, done by the heiress’s father. 

“She’s enrolled in two language courses to broaden her horizons in the business world.” Yoohyeon informed, as you passed by one of the executive meeting rooms. Books full of practice materials were all perfectly shelved inside, peering back at you from beside a menacing desk. “Those are held on Mondays and Wednesdays at three o’clock sharp. Don’t be late,” she warned, sending a tense look your way. “He’s a pain in the ass to deal with if she arrives late, and neither of you want to be on the receiving end of his ranting. Trust me.”

The outside was much the same, as you worked your way through acres of land complete with gardens (both botanical and for farming), stables, pastures, coops, ponds, a lake, and a racetrack. The lavishness caught you off guard, but you did your best to hide it and stay composed. On the inside, though, you were like a kid in a candy store. You wanted to get lost in your own personal exploration of it all.

By the time you had made your way back inside, you felt like you’d been gone for a week. The miles that you had hiked were weighing heavily on you, but it was the best kind of exhaustion. Your body may have been tired, but your mind was anything but. 

The sound of Mr. Kim’s voice made its way to your ears as you rounded the corner, at Yoohyeon’s side. He kissed his wife’s cheek before whispering a word of goodbye and exiting towards the carport. 

She watched him go, looking just as tired as you.

“Ma’am!” Yoohyeon called, waving to her once she turned in your direction.

Her face lit up upon spotting the two of you. “Ah, Yoohyeon. Y/N.”

The gloss on her lips shimmered as she smiled, taking in the sight of you in your uniform. You looked even better then than you had that morning.

“What brings you this way?” She addressed Yoohyeon.

“We were just finishing up our tour,” she explained, motioning to you with a tilt of her head. “The library is our last stop.”

“I could show her,” the heiress suggested, perking up a little. You were ignorant as to why she would be interested in such a task after spending hours in a meeting, but the last thing you would do is turn her down.

“Would that be alright?” Her voice was light, concealing the hidden hope that laid beneath. 

Your body felt the urge to blush when you noticed the sweet way she looked to you, waiting on your decision with polite nonchalance. The smile on her face didn’t help anything either. 

“Of course, ma’am.” 

Her grin only deepened. “Fantastic. Shall we go now?”

You nodded, allowing Yoohyeon to step past you as she switched places with the heiress. She touched your shoulder as a way of saying goodbye. 

“I’ll get started on my other tasks,” she announced, bowing.

“Thank you, Yoohyeon. We’ll see you later.” The heiress dipped her head down in response, full of respect for her employee. She couldn’t imagine life without her and the rest of the team.

The younger girl smiled as she turned away; something about her resembled sunshine no matter what she did, and now was no different. Even the way she walked was cheerful.

Once she disappeared around the corner of the hall, Mrs. Kim addressed you again.

“Right this way.” 

You walked in pleasant silence, simply taking in the hallways and rooms that you passed by on the way. Various workers greeted you; their jobs were easily discernible based on the color of their uniforms. 

Green was reserved for the gardeners and landscapers, white for the chefs and waiters, and traditional black and white for the maids and male servants alike. 

Those designated as greeters outside were dressed in all black, providing a sleek and pristine first impression to anyone visiting the estate. They specifically were made to look prim and proper at every given moment. One too many wrinkles could cost them their job if they weren't careful.

And you could tell they envied the others for that exact reason.

Some of them watched you through the soaring windows of the main hall, scoping you out like predators monitoring their prey. Feeling self-conscious, you averted your gaze and put a bit more distance between yourself and the heiress. That’s what they seemed to be so interested in, anyway. It was obvious that some of them were jealous that a new-comer like you was being awarded such a moment with her. 

“Don’t mind them,” she spoke, more aware of the situation than you thought. She stepped around you so that she was next to the windows, wordlessly blocking you from their view. 

It shouldn’t have surprised you that she was paying such good attention without making it glaringly obvious, given that that was her M.O. Always being aware of the little things is what she did best. But even still, you were taken aback by it all. 

“Yes, ma’am,” you replied, bowing your head. 

She cut her eyes at the workers that still dared to glare at you, and eventually they retreated to their stations to do something productive with their time. Only then was she satisfied. 

The library gleamed in its full glory, shining brighter than ever as you arrived at its doors. Intricate patterns decorated the outside of it, wrapping around one another and flowing in various directions. It was fitting that such a place would be adorned with such poetic embellishments.

From your side, she watched you take it all in with a smile on her face. 

Tucked just out of your view, someone inside rose from their chair. They dusted their uniform off and opened the door, stepping outside of it to hold it open for the two of you. 

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Kim.” They greeted, bowing in respect. When they noticed you at her side, they extended you the same courtesy. 

She thanked them and led you in, walking slowly so you could revel in yet another moment of awe as you looked around. Books of all kinds – old, new, domestic, foreign, small, large, short, lengthy – resided in their rightful places among the shelves that soared above, nearly touching the ceiling. The smell of their pages painted the air, enriching the room with their combined stories and adventures. Torches and candles all illuminated the space in strategically chosen places; all of their flames were covered to protect the books, but they still burned bright enough to guide you every step of the way, no matter what avenue you chose to stroll down. 

Hours and hours of information and fiction alike lined the shelves, creating nooks and crannies that you could get lost in for God knows how long. They were all organized to a T, completely in order. It was overwhelming, if you were honest, and daunting to take in all at once. But the heiress seemed to sense that, and so she put a reassuring hand on your shoulder.

“We can visit here every so often and work through the different sections together, if you’d like. I know it’s a lot.”

“I’d love that.”

“Then it’s settled.” Her smile lines appeared as she said the words, and you unconsciously mirrored her.

“How about we start with the poetry wing for now? You can choose any book that catches your eye.”

“That sounds great.”

With another warm smile, she nodded and led you over to it. She set you loose, free to explore the rows and rows of content until you were satisfied. Your fingertips brushed over the spines of the books as you passed them, ambling about as you read the titles etched there. She herself meandered in your wake. Anytime she heard a sound from you – whether it be one of surprise, excitement, or intrigue – she found herself peeking around the shelves or between breaks in the books to catch a glimpse of you. You were oblivious the entire time, but she didn’t mind; something about that made the moment all the more special for her. 

She didn’t need your eyes on her, like everyone else. Simply admiring your innocent joy was enough for her, and she was able to be the beholder for once. It was a welcome change. 

A few more minutes passed before you returned to her. By then she had chosen a book as well and was already thumbing through its pages. 

“I’ll go with this one,” you declared, proudly holding yours up in the warm light of the room so that she could see which one it was. The smile on your face warmed her heart.

“Good choice,” she praised. “I’ve read that…” she paused to think, tapping her chin, “...ten times since it was published.”

Your eyes widened immensely. “But it just came out a few months ago!”

She shrugged, attempting to hide the smug smile on her face. “It’s just that good. What can I say?”

You began to ramble on about how you’d been dying to get your hands on a copy of it ever since you heard that it was being released, and she listened intently. She learned that the author was one of your favorites, and that surprised her. You had that in common.

Something shifted in her eyes the longer she watched you, all eagerness and poorly concealed excitement. It made her want to participate – to do whatever she had to in order to keep you like that, forever. You were simply radiant, and she’d do whatever it took to protect that happiness for as long as possible. 

“Let me take you somewhere,” she offered, speaking again only once you were finished. “I think you’ll love it.”

Your brows furrowed slightly as you looked up at her. “But what about your work?”

She shook her head. “It can wait.”

You grinned, and the gesture was far cuter to her than you realized. “Then let’s go.”

-

Your feet crunched against the dirt path that wound beneath them, arching up the incline of the hillside that presided over the mansion. You spotted the heiress in case she fell, keeping a careful eye on her as the two of you climbed. Within a few short minutes, you reached its peak and felt your eyebrows raising as the view before you came into focus.

A sprawling cherry tree stood tall next to a quaint bench, both of them overlooking the distant city. The two of you went and sat down, placing your books beside yourself. 

The spot gave you a gorgeous view of the town and forest alike, as well as the mountains that surrounded you. Fog settled along the dips and plateaus of them, visible against the backdrop of rich, dense green. 

People trodded their way about below, all moving past one another with their own responsibilities and schedules in mind. From what you could make out of the outskirts of the town, farmers were returning from their fields after a long day of hard work.

“Wow, Mrs. Kim. This is…. wow.”

She giggled lightly, amused. “I knew you’d like it.”

Dusky twilight painted the sky, with clouds that looked like carefully crafted brushstrokes taken straight from a storybook. The city lights stretched far and wide; residential and corporate buildings alike all switched them on in preparation for the night ahead. Some were hazy and dull, nearly burnt out – but others glowed brightly, cutting through the darkening atmosphere as they fought to be seen. Little beacons, spread amongst the winding streets and alleys. Their shades varied along the spectrum of colors, but that made them all the more unique and interesting to look at. Ones that were partially concealed could be discovered the harder you looked, and the more vibrant ones could serve as way points and markers on the mental map you had constructed in your mind. They were like shimmering stars in the night sky, creating their own constellations for you.

But they felt so far away from where you sat, and seeing them only made you think of your family; as beautiful as they were, you couldn’t stop your mind from taking it there. You hoped they were doing well, all things considered. Leaving them had been one of the hardest things you’d ever had to do in your entire life. 

It didn’t matter that they were only a number of miles away. As long as you were at the estate, they were practically on Mars. 

“You’re thinking about them, aren’t you?” 

Her voice was quiet and gentle, easing you out of your thoughts instead of abruptly pulling you away. She knew you’d need moments like this in order to deal with the change you were being subjected to.

You could feel the way your smile had faded. 

When you nodded, a wave of guilt washed over her. She already had a strong dislike of the way that you were chosen and brought to the estate, but that was out of her hands, just like a majority of other things. A large part of her heart felt for you, knowing you were just as powerless in the situation as she was. 

The worried, homesick look in your eye was enough to conjure up every ounce of pity she had available.

“I just hope this arrangement will go smoothly,” you said. “I hope they're okay.”

She understood you completely. “You’re free to write to them.”

“Really?”

She nodded, smiling softly as the light returned to your eyes at the thought. 

“I appreciate that.”

“It’s nothing,” she dismissed, waving a hand in the air. “You deserve more,” she whispered, almost under her breath. But you heard it, whether she knew that or not. 

The two of you sat there for a while, just soaking in the remaining daylight that was fading quickly. The sun had already disappeared behind the mountains, and you knew it was only a matter of time before inky blackness took over its reign for the night.

Your books laid forgotten beside you until it was time to go. Although this was the perfect place to escape the world and read, it was impossible to pry your eyes away from the beauty around you.

She led you back down the hill as you shot one last look at the city over your shoulder, imprinting the image in your brain. Though your circumstances were far less than ideal, you were grateful for the opportunity to see it all in such a way. From up here, it held a kind of sparkle that was hidden away everywhere else. It shined in its own way, unlike anything else you’d seen before. 

-

The Estate

Two servants greeted you at the doors of the dining hall as you slid your book into the deep front pocket of your uniform. Sensing the nervousness that had sprung up on you, Mrs. Kim sent a reassuring smile your way as you stepped inside with her. Your hands fiddled with the frills of your uniform along your thighs. 

A waiter was finishing his job of setting the table as you took your seat next to the heiress. She sat at the head of the table; the opposite end would be occupied by Mr. Kim. 

Given that you were her personal maid, of course, you were guaranteed a spot at the table. The senior maids and servants were extended the same courtesy, but everyone else ate dinner in their own quarters or separate dining halls, whichever they preferred. Unless a problem arose or the Kims felt generous, that configuration wouldn’t change. 

That fact only heightened the pressure you felt to stay in line. You were afraid that even the smallest of slip ups would wreck things. This place was far too regal than you were used to; too much was at stake at any given moment, and being surrounded by the most influential people of the estate scared you more than you cared to admit. 

But the heiress trusted you enough to give you this in, despite it only being your first official day. Something told her that you were capable of handling it, and that accounted for something. If for nothing else, you would do your best to keep it together for her. 

More waiters and chefs flitted in and out of the room, setting out trays and dishes of steaming food across the length of the table top. Your stomach grumbled lightly as the smells of them made their way to you. Such a wide selection was foreign to you; at most, you were lucky to have a main dish with a side or two back home. But this was a feast fit for royals; no expense was spared in it, and you knew in your heart that it wasn’t something that was reserved for special occasions. This was a typical dinner, here, and that filled you with an eagerness that could only sprout from a situation like yours – coming from humble beginnings, and now thrust into a life of luxury. It was unfamiliar territory in every way, and you knew it would take plenty of getting used to. 

But as the other guests began to filter in and take their seats, the instinctual way you corrected your posture and plastered on a polite smile put your mind at ease.

You could do this.

-

 An Hour & A Half Later

The hall bustled with life as everyone ate and shared discourse with one another. Genuine laughter filled the room – some suppressed, some boisterous – as it bled out into the rest of the manor. In between bites of the delicious creations the chefs had spent hours making, utensils transformed into tools of explanation, aiding the guests in conveying their stories of the day. Many of them were slap happy, too, as they sipped on the alcohol in front of them. Their glasses were always refilled before they could even reach the bottom, so it was really no wonder they were entering into various stages of drunkenness already. Their cheeks were flushed in a charming kind of way; it made them look more approachable. The professional, jarring image they always put up had slipped away by now and left them like you. Normal.

The pleasant atmosphere left you unsure of why you were ever so nervous in the first place. 

Mr. Kim thrust his glass of wine into the air, demanding a toast to commemorate your arrival. It was unexpected, but you welcomed it with a grateful smile. 

Your eyes found the heiress’s on instinct, seeking support from her without you even realizing. She grinned back, reassuring you as she tilted her glass towards yours in the air. It was the first to clink, before everyone else rushed to extend their welcome to you. The man beside you nearly sloshed his drink out from the jovial way he shoved it upwards, but his muttered apology afterwards only made you laugh. 

“To Y/N!” 

Mrs. Kim watched you over the rim of her glass as she finished her wine in one long drink. You merely sipped on yours, having no intention of getting drunk like the rest of them. You wanted to conduct yourself well, and if you expected to be able to take care of her on top of that, you knew you had to be sober.  

When a waitress approached the heiress to refill her glass, she raised a hand to stop her. She was so far gone at that point that she couldn’t fathom drinking another drop. Her skin was heated, and her cheeks were a shade of red that you’d never quite seen before. It was deep, yet bright; entirely beautiful, but also alarming. If it could speak for anything, you were sure it was a harbinger of the terrible hangover she would have in the morning.

Her movements were slightly altered as she reached for the apple that rested on the tablecloth in front of her. It wasn’t something you had expected for her to request, but you learned that whenever they’re in season, she asks that the chefs surprise her from time to time and send her the best looking one from their batches. The one in her hand was no exception, either; it looked fresh out of a storybook. Practically plucked straight from one of its pages.

She grabbed the handle of her knife as she inspected the fruit, picking a place to begin cutting. It made you nervous, though, and on instinct you placed your hands over hers to stop her. 

“Let me,” you offered, taking the knife from her. 

She agreed with a cute little nod.

Before long, you had it sliced and ready for her to eat. Carefully, you sat the knife on your plate and put the cut pieces on her napkin. The corner of her lips pulled back in a lopsided, lazy smile as she reached out for one.

When it disappeared beyond her lips and she took her first bite, she let out a quiet noise of approval and closed her eyes. It was sweet and juicy, just like she wanted. Her favorite variety never failed her. 

“Here,” she suddenly said, gaining your attention.

You glanced down at her hand, finding it extended to you with a slice outstretched. She wiggled it, but before you could grab it she pulled it away. Confused, you looked at her again. Her mouth only opened in response, instructing you on what to do. She held it up to your lips, and after a moment of hesitancy you opened your mouth to receive it. 

Her breath caught in her throat at the way your lips wrapped around it, and she swallowed hard at the sight. Some of the juices from it began to dribble down your chin, but she was quick to swipe them away with her finger and clean you up.

Your stomach flipped when she brought it to her lips, tasting the juice like it was nothing. 

The tips of your ears warmed despite the innocence of the gesture, and you directed your attention to the floor as you finished chewing. If she was aware of what she had just done to your gay heart, she didn’t show it. 

Depending on how you looked at things, that could be a blessing or a curse. 

The remaining time you spent in the dining hall passed by in a flash. That moment with her left you speechless, and it occupied your mind in a way that allowed no room for any more small talk or jokes with the guests around you. Tales of the weeds that the gardener had conquered that morning paled in comparison to the memory of her touch; the one that held the most importance was glaringly obvious. 

Even after she had excused the two of you from the hall and freed you to return to her room, you were still stuck up in your mind. 

That all was brought to a screeching halt, though, as the tip of her stiletto slotted into a crack in the floor.  

The fruity scent of alcohol was strong as she stumbled into you, sending the accents of it to wash over you as well. You caught her on instinct, looping an arm around her waist. She apologized for her tipsiness with an embarrassed smile, but you didn’t mind it in the slightest. 

You were able to see a different side of her, like this, as you ambled on together. Every clumsy move she made inspired laughter; her quiet giggles filled the otherwise silent night air of the manor, drawing it out of its stupor. The candles even seemed to burn a little brighter as she passed by.

Once you finally reached her room, she collapsed onto the bed with a happy sigh. The covers poofed out at the sides from her impact, drawing a smile from you. 

“I’ll go grab your things,” you informed, before slipping away. 

A muffled reply came, but seeing as her cheek was pressed against one of the pillows, it was far from intelligible. 

You returned a few minutes later with her nightgown and shawl, crossing your fingers that she hadn’t fallen asleep yet. The material was warm in your hands, having just come out of the dryer. 

“Mrs. Kim?” 

“Mmm,” she hummed, still snuggled against the side of her pillow.

“Sit up for me, please.”

“Do I have to?” A whine left her.

“Yes.”

She listened shortly after, though her eyes remained closed. Her body swayed slightly as the bed beckoned her to fall back over and sleep.

“Once you get changed, we’ll clean your face and then you can rest. Deal?”

Her eyes peeked open hesitantly, one after the other, as she nodded. 

When she grabbed the hem of her jacket to take it off, you quickly averted your eyes and excused yourself to the bathroom to get her skincare products rounded up. The darkness of the room made finding them a little difficult, but after diligently searching the shelves, her favorite cleanser, serum, and hydrating lotion all found their way into your line of sight eventually.

You sat them on the counter and entered her room again. You were curious as to what was taking so long.

When you spotted her on the bed, it was physically impossible to contain your laughter. 

“Stop it,” she warned.

Her arms were stuck above her head, tangled in the sleeves of her shirt. She had managed to wiggle free of the suit jacket, but her good fortune ended there.

“Here, let me help.”

She still heard your suppressed laughter as you approached the bed, but she didn’t scold you anymore. It was obvious that she wanted to laugh, too. 

Being mindful of her jewelry, you slid the half-unbuttoned top over her head, freeing her. For a moment, you wondered how long she had been stuck like that. 

“Can you help me with the rest?” She asked. Despite the fact that such a thing was literally in your job description, she didn’t want to order you. 

“Of course.” 

You crouched down, removing her heels before placing them neatly beside her dresser. The lack of lighting in the room helped you avoid blushing too much as you unbuttoned her pants and slid them down her legs, feeling just how smooth they were in the process. 

You reached around her next, feeling for the clips of her bra. In one motion, the two sides of it released and came tumbling down. She sighed appreciatively.

"Better?" 

She cooperated well as you slipped her nightgown over her head.

"So much," she replied.

"Good. Now let's get you washed up." 

-

She obediently sat on the chair next to her vanity, perching herself on its edge. The alcohol in her system made her appreciative of how cold its surface was against her heated skin. 

As you filled a bowl up with water and wet a cloth, she watched you through hazy eyes. 

The top few buttons of your uniform were undone, and some of your hair had fallen out of the clip that was nestled in its strands. She smiled to herself when you tucked the unruly pieces behind your ears to get them out of the way. 

“Here we go, ma’am,” you grinned. You pulled a small footrest out of its cubby beneath the sink and placed it in front of her before easing yourself down onto it. 

She closed her eyes and lowered her head, letting it hover close to the bowl as you began to clean off what makeup she had on. It was minimal for the most part, with most of the focus being on her eyes; the intricate design she had requested came off easily, though, much to your relief. 

After wiping off as much as you could with the wet cloth, you used your hands to apply the cleanser to her skin. She giggled drunkenly as you cupped her cheeks and raised her head, needing to see her better to reach all the necessary places. They were warm against your palms, completely flushed. 

Once she was sufficiently sudsed up, you used the water to rinse her off. You snagged a dry towel off of the hanger and dabbed her skin with it afterward, before setting the bowl on the counter beside her. You applied the serum and lotion evenly, noticing how dewy they made her look. Even now, bare faced and sleepy, she was still the most beautiful woman you’d ever seen. 

Mr. Kim truly was a lucky man. 

She shifted in the chair and inadvertently knocked the towel off of your leg. It fluttered to the floor before you had time to react. As you bent slightly to the side to retrieve it, only then did you notice that her lipstick hadn’t budged, despite your efforts. It was stubbornly still stuck on her lips.

“Ah, just a second,” you requested, as you put the towel to the side and took the cloth out of the bowl, flipping it over in search of a clean spot to use. She looked at you expectantly, unaware of what exactly had happened. 

Her lips were full and rosy, looking more kissable than usual somehow as you focused all of your attention on them. You couldn’t help but admire their gentle curves and arches, and the way that they parted slightly every time she drew in a breath. Using the cloth, you rubbed them in gentle strokes to remove the lipstick and gloss that colored them so beautifully. 

An aspect of the motion felt intimate. Perhaps it was how she wrapped her fingers around your forearm, embracing you in her own way. Maybe it was that her gaze seemed to have trouble finding a place to stay; it wandered from your eyes to your mouth. Possibly even the fact that she leaned in a little closer as you worked, granting you all the access you needed. 

Or maybe it was a combination of all those things. You weren’t sure. All you knew was that you needed to hurry and finish the task at hand before you did something reckless. She was alluring in a dangerous way, and you didn’t feel particularly strong enough to remain in line if she kept it up. 

She wanted to kiss you in that moment more than anything. 

To feel your lips against hers, and the weight of your body in her arms. She wanted your hands on her, touching her and caressing her in ways that she’d never felt before. From what little she had already experienced, she knew it would be Heaven. 

But she had no clue why her desire for such a thing was so strong. It had to have been the alcohol simply heightening her urges. She barely knew you, after all, and you were her employee. Perhaps it was more so the action itself rather than the person in question.

Though, when she considered it, none of her previous maids had ever even so much as turned her head. But you… you did. Something about you simply drew her in; you were like a magnet, and she had felt a certain pull to you from the second she met you. It made no sense, and never before in her life had she jumped the gun in such a way. 

Whether she was drunk or sober didn’t matter; anytime she looked at you, it was as if she had to make a conscious effort to stop. You captivated her with even the simplest of actions. And now, as you so diligently followed her routine and made sure to take care of her, something changed. Her inhibitions put themselves on pause, allowing the alcohol to override her systems of judgment and ultimately let her be reckless. 

She leaned forward, pressing her hands down against the seat at her sides in an effort to boost herself closer to you. Desperate curiosity fueled her movements – a deadly combo, making her movements clumsy.

When her lips brushed against yours, the rush of surprise you felt was impossible to hide. 

They were softer than you could’ve ever imagined as they slid over yours, sweet and inviting. Her head tilted to the side subtly as she tested the waters, wanting to brave a step forward. Demurity was present in the movement, but the reality of the situation sunk in and hit you like a ton of bricks, all at once. 

Your eyes opened wide as you pulled back, putting distance between the two of you. The tell-tale uptick of your heartbeat would’ve sold you out in an instant if she could’ve heard it.

But you were oblivious to her intentions in the worst possible way. 

A large part of her wanted you to know that she did it on purpose. Or, at the very least, to have a suspicion of that and trust your gut feeling. 

But you didn’t. You couldn’t. Every possible factor about the situation prevented you from believing she wanted to kiss you. That was just simply unthinkable. The rich, married, successful heiress with one of the most important reputations in the world to uphold had the urge to kiss you? Definitely not. She was just drunk and miscalculated her movements. 

When the reality sunk in that you weren’t going to reciprocate her curiosity – or even allow her to explore it herself – she silently thanked every lucky star she’d ever had for her ability to blame her advances on the alcohol in her system and the sleep that she was in such desperate need of. Her pride could be saved and things wouldn’t have to change between the two of you.

She just prayed that you wouldn’t question her. Lying to you wouldn’t be easy when her mind was busied with the fact that you still tasted like the cherry wine that had been served with dinner. All she wanted to do was taste it again.

You swallowed nervously, still reeling. The sick, inky feeling of icy shock still coursed through your veins. It was hard to breathe, with the way that she was still looking at you; her warm eyes were full of light, even in the darkness. But you pushed the feelings away and stood up.

“I’m all done, ma’am. Let’s get you in bed now.”

She nodded and stood up, too, crossing behind you as you emptied the bowl into the sink. Its contents swirled together, pooling with one another before ultimately disappearing down the drain and into nothingness. Just like her memories of tonight would need to do. 

-

Soft frills caught her eye as she climbed into bed and pulled the blanket over herself. She reached down for the material, finding that it was the shawl you brought in earlier. Heat still hung in its fibers, residual yet plenty noticeable. It replaced what warmth she was beginning to lose as the effects of the alcohol were starting to subside, and she was grateful. The chilly evening air was beginning to seep inside, little by little. 

She wrapped it around her shoulders tightly, reveling in how it felt against her. 

You emerged from the bathroom shortly after and lingered by her bedside, not knowing exactly what to do. She had already managed to tuck herself in and get settled, so you really weren’t needed anymore. 

“Thank you, Y/N,” she spoke, breaking the quiet. “Good night.” A beat passed, far more tense than either of you expected it to be. 

You nodded, avoiding her gaze. “No problem. Sleep well, ma’am.”

She dipped her head down as you bowed, respectfully mirroring the gesture, and once you left the room she let out a heavy sigh. Her fingertips pressed to her lips, toying with them as her mind wandered. 

Little did she know that on your way back to your room, you did the same.

—---

Following that eventful first day, a professional distance was established between the heiress and yourself. It was mainly your doing, so as to keep yourself in check and guarded. The last thing you wanted to do was forget the seriousness of your arrangement and ruin the opportunity you had to give your family a better life. 

But, inevitably, and as the next few weeks bled into months, you began to get to know one another more and grow closer. With every passing day, you found that she had a funny way of lessening the divide between you; her charms chipped away at it, little by little as she disarmed your defenses.

Your time together was filled with countless memories and adventures, but a handful in particular truly stood out among the rest. Looking back, they were the ones that told the story of you. Fate was written in those encounters, present in everything that allowed them to happen just as they did, whether you realized it at the time or not. 

It would be a disservice to go without mentioning them.

1.) Spontaneity 

The heiress taught you the importance of living in the moment.

> Outside, On The Lawn <

A once-calm afternoon gave way to an evening storm of such high caliber that you were left to question what humanity had done to anger Mother Nature so severely. 

Through your fingers, you peered up at the raging horizon.

It seemed out of the blue that the clouds rushed in, claiming their throne in the sky as they overtook the bright Sun. You were left to hastily help Mrs. Kim up in response and seal up the small bag you had on your back. Out of it, you took the umbrella you packed earlier in case something like this would’ve happened. 

The two of you began your retreat towards the house, striding across the lawn as the clouds above opened up. What began as a light drizzle turned into a downpour in an instant as rain flooded down relentlessly.

“Quickly, ma’am,” you instructed over a roar of the wind, using the umbrella to shield her from the stinging droplets that pelted your skin. You took the brunt of it, only caring that she was out of harm's way. 

Much to your dismay, her pace only slowed.

“Wait, Y/N,” she said, placing a gentle hand on your forearm. 

You stopped and turned to look at her, impatient but obedient. Her eyes shined with a mischievous innocence – one that surprised you. What she had planned, you had no idea. 

Her fingers wrapped around the handle just above where yours rested as she took the umbrella away from you. When you made a move to get it back, she simply grinned and shook her head.

Before you could react, she uncovered the both of you and let the umbrella fall to the ground at your feet.

Rain instantly sprayed down on you, working to drench what areas of your skin and clothes it hadn’t reached before. The swaths of wind that continued to blow in only made things worse; they heightened the frigidity of the rain, making your breath catch in your throat at the sensation. 

But when you shot a shocked look up at the heiress, she couldn’t have possibly looked happier. 

Her shirt clung tightly to her skin, hugging the curves of her breasts and sides in a way that seemed deserving of having poetry written about it. Her lacy undergarments were becoming visible through the thin material, fading in more and more with every blast of the current. Her fancy updo – which you had spent a considerable amount of time on earlier – was undeniably ruined; strands of it fell down in different directions and ways than you had intended. Water droplets hung in the locks that came down to frame her face, sparkling with all the light they refracted.  

You couldn’t find it in yourself to be the slightest bit upset. 

The childish smile on her face, so eager and bright, took away any ill thoughts you ever could’ve had about the situation.

“Let’s go.”

Your eyebrows furrowed at her sudden command. “What?”

She giggled at your bewilderment. “Just trust me. Come on,” she quickly reassured, sticking her hand out to you. With a swift glance down at it, you shrugged and released your inhibitions. Here goes, you thought to yourself, as you placed your hand in hers. 

She wasted no time in taking that and running with it – literally. She nearly yanked you out of your shoes as she pulled you after her. 

The two of you thundered across the courtyard together, shouting into the wind. 

Your shoes made sloshing sounds amid the rain, just as soaked as the rest of you. She didn’t seem to care at all about the state that her fancier ones were in; when you came upon a large puddle that was forming, she splashed right in. 

Joyous laughter bubbled out of her when you jumped in, too. She spun you around a time or two, admiring the curve of your smile as you lifted your face to the sky. 

You couldn't help but want her to experience it, too, and so you reached out for her. 

Your arms wrapped around her waist as you stepped closer, planting your feet to keep the both of you steady. Once you sent her a nod of approval, she put her hands on your shoulders and leaned back.

She closed her eyes and let the rain fall freely all over her; it was only obstructed by the partial cover that your body provided as you hovered closely. She, for a moment, was the eye of the storm. Delicately perched in your arms, she existed amid the chaos that surrounded you. 

A candle in the wind, burning brightly. You, serving as her holder. 

Her hands reached high up to the sky, and she reveled in the chilly sensation of the water running over her palms and down her arms. Your warmth staved off a majority of the cold, making it bearable as you provided it so readily for her. Seeing the content smile on her face made it all worth it. 

But, before long, an end was brought to your plans. Mother Nature warned you more harshly, showing her anger at discovering you were still outside in the first place; the clouds above darkened, swirling in dangerous patterns as the winds mixed with one another. When a large bolt of lightning was unleashed, streaking its searing path down to Earth, you both jolted in response. 

You held your breath for a moment at the way she clung to you, her heart racing as she trembled from the shock; but you released it in the form of a laugh as she shied away, embarrassed over getting so frightened. 

You pulled her up and made sure she was alright before you took her hand again, and the two of you raced back to the manor. Cracks of lightning and booms of thunder followed you, shouting and complaining like the grumpy old neighbors you see in movies. 

When you crossed the threshold, only then did you realize your fingers had become intertwined along the way.

The gesture was small, and completely unintentional, no doubt; but there was no denying the rush of butterflies it sent to your stomach.

The heiress only let go of you when a few maids rushed in with towels in their hands, ready to dry her off as quickly as possible. They fussed over her like their lives depended on it – three sets of hands all working together to get the water off.

Another servant emerged from the hall a few seconds later and handed you a towel with an expression that resembled amusement.

“Y/N can take it from here, ladies,” the heiress spoke after a couple of minutes, gaining everyone’s attention. 

You stood up straight and raised your head, halting your efforts to dry your hair. 

“Yes, ma’am,” they replied, bowing before scurrying away. 

She turned to look at you, waiting patiently until she heard the last of their footsteps fade far into the manor, before she burst into laughter again. You joined her, unable to resist. Once the two of you wound down, you made pleasant conversation about her little surprise and meandered your way back to her quarters. 

You headed for the bathroom immediately after arriving, prepared to get her bath ready and have it cooling off. A small sense of guilt resounded in her heart when you passed her, shivering as you wrapped your towel around your shoulders. The soaked material was definitely useless to you now, and while she would be getting warm and cozy you’d be forced to watch from beside the tub. That fact didn’t sit right with her. 

“Y/N,” she called lightly, undoing the rest of her buttons before sliding her top off of her shoulders. 

“Yes?” You responded, tilting your head up and towards the open doorway of the bathroom, but keeping your eyes on the water in front of you. Steam radiated from it, swirling as you added in one of her favorite oils.

She stripped out of her long skirt and undergarments, all of them far heavier than usual with the amount of water they held in their threads. She placed them in a bin that one of the maids had set out earlier, when they first spotted the two of you outside. 

“You should take a bath, too.”

You smiled, happy to know she wanted you to be taken care of. 

“I will, don’t worry,” you called back again, adding a few droplets of soap to make some suds appear. “Once you’re cleaned up, I’ll head back to my room and take one.” 

“No.”

Your brows furrowed in confusion, and you turned to look at her. This time, when your eyes raised up, they were met with the sight of her standing completely bare in the doorway. Your crouched position only made things worse for you, and you hastily looked away.

Welp, you definitely weren’t cold anymore. That took care of that problem.

“I meant with me, here. There’s no use in wasting more water, and I want you to be warm.” She explained nonchalantly, taking a few steps into the bathroom towards you. “I can’t have my maid getting sick, now can I?”

Your cheeks burned, likely hotter to the touch than the water in front of you.

What was it with the two of you and this bathroom?

You shook your head, aware that the absence of an answer would seem suspicious. Silently, you cursed yourself for feeling the way you did. Such a routine task for a maid shouldn’t be such a big deal; seeing her naked shouldn’t have the kind of effect on you that it does. 

You weren’t sure if you’d ever get used to it. 

Her hands slid onto your shoulders from behind, and you held your breath as she took the towel off of them. Her fingers tapped them lightly, silently requesting that you stand up. You turned to face her and stepped to the side, extending your hand to help her into the tub. She held it and used it to steady herself.

Once she was in, she grasped the sides of the tub and lowered herself in slowly, allowing her skin time to adjust to the heat. Cautiously, you watched as more of her body disappeared below the soapy surface. The lines of her back and shoulders tensed and shifted, making you ache in a lovesick kind of way. They were beautiful as they showcased her effort. 

Steam continued to billow up, causing the baby hairs around her face to curl.

“Come on, don’t wait until it’s cold,” she teased, though you knew the prompting behind her words was serious. 

You bit your cheek and stripped, keeping your back turned to her to spare your pride. Your position prevented you from seeing the way that her eyes glanced over to you, stealing looks on more than one occasion. Her curiosity overruled her better judgment. Part of her felt sorry for peeking, but she truly couldn’t help herself. 

Was it really so bad? Perhaps you’d be upset with her if you knew.

Once you were free of your garments, you approached the other side of the tub and carefully stepped in. She brought a hand out of the water, holding it up to you just as you’d done for her; steam radiated from it, making her look like some sort of super hero. You thanked her as you took it, getting inside with her. 

The tub was plenty big enough for the both of you, so leg room wasn’t an issue. You each stretched your legs to the right, sitting at opposite ends. Occasionally, you felt a tantalizing brush of her soft skin against you, but you did your best to block it out. 

This definitely wasn’t the environment to get even more hot and bothered in. Too many opportunities existed here for you to embarrass yourself or for her to discover your blossoming feelings.

“Nice, isn’t it?” She asked some time later, smiling to herself. Her head was laid back, resting against the edge of the tub.

You nodded as if she could see it. “Mhm.”

“Thank you for doing this.” The words came out like a sigh. 

“Running a bath?” You laughed, taken aback by her unexpected praise. “It’s just my job, ma’am.”

“I meant using all of my favorite oils and scents,” she explained, letting her hand swirl around in the water. The other still rested along the side of the tub, leaving heated fingerprints to the slightly colder surface. 

“You already know what I like,” she added. “I’m grateful to have someone as observant as you.”

You grinned to yourself, feeling proud. Knowing that she noticed and appreciated the effort you put in was enough for you. 

She spoke again after another comfortable minute passed. “And my last maid refused to do anything spontaneous, so you’re a welcome improvement.”

You chuckled at that. If spontaneity with her ended as an evening like this, you’d be a fool to deny it. Mentally, you sent a word of gratitude to whatever idiot came before you. 

Her hand absentmindedly brushed against your knee as you uttered a happy reply. 

“I’m glad you think so.”

—--

2.) Watch Yourself

The heiress showed her devotion to you in a new way, exposing you to another side of herself in the process. 

You hummed a quiet song to yourself as you tidied up some of the garlands and wreaths that were strung up across the porch of the manor. Some were handmade by the crafters of the estate, while others were gifts from friends, family, and business partners of the Kims. They were meant to welcome the season and spiff up the house – two things the heiress loved dearly. 

She sat in a rocking chair nearby, flipping through the pages of one of her favorite books. Care was put into the way she cradled it, ensuring no harm came to the precious material.

She looked up at you occasionally, when she would take a sip of the tea that rested on the flat arm of her chair. 

A handful of other servants aided you – everyone working hard in various locations – but her eyes always had a funny habit of drifting back to you. 

It began as simple curiosity. The endearing way you raised up onto your toes to reach the highest peaks of the wreaths especially made her smile. 

But that curiosity evolved into something far less innocent before she knew it. She studied the curve of your body as you bent over, reaching deep into the bin in front of you to grab another string of festive tinsel. The sleeves of your uniform were hiked up at your shoulders to offer you some relief from the heat that bogged the estate down. Your muscles flexed as you moved about, searching for the perfect piece to go along with the aesthetic that you had in mind. 

You bit your lip in the process, and it was all she could do to stop herself from openly staring. 

She cleared her throat and attempted to compose herself once you grabbed what you were after and looked up. Her heart pounded as she pretended to read again, hoping to throw you off her trail. 

She felt your eyes on her for an aching second, just as curious as she had been, before you looked away.

Part of her was disappointed, strangely. 

Regardless, she didn’t question it. Her nose remained firmly stuck between the pages of her book for the next few minutes as she did everything she could to distract herself from you. And it worked, for a while, until the lovers described in her poems all began to take the shape of you. They all had your soft smile, as she imagined them in her mind; and your pretty eyes. Their mannerisms all became yours, in one way or another. They expressed and made love in ways that she imagined you would, despite the fact that that was as far of an overstep as she possibly could’ve taken. She felt ashamed, like she was taking advantage of the mere thought of you.

Yet, why was she blushing?

-

The worn handles of the decoration box rubbed against your fingers as you carried it down the stairs of the porch and towards the fountain in the middle of the driveway. You’d been asked to decorate it, too, specifically with the ornaments and wreaths that the youngest Kims had crafted.

Each of them started as a simple ring of twigs, giving the traditional shape of a wreath. From there, the children were given free reign of what… artistic… directions and liberties they took. In many cases, fake berries and leaves were crudely wrapped around the twigs; some were glued, and others stapled. Those made by the older children were easily discernible, of course, but all of them were just as charming as the last. 

When you knelt down in front of the fountain and took out the first one, you discovered that you were smiling. 

Later, when you were finishing up, the sound of tires treading heavily on the pavement behind you grabbed your attention. A car approached, sleek and dark in every way it could’ve been; the tint of the windows was nearly jet black. 

It came to a stop halfway around the circle, obstructing your view of the porch. When the door opened and a man stepped out, your blood ran cold. 

It was the man from that night back at your house.

He was dressed in black slacks and a gray button up, both of which were mussed in an uncouth kind of way. Sunglasses sat across the bridge of his nose, just as dark as the windows of his car. He removed his cap, slyly grinning at you as he tossed it in the car and shut the door. 

His dress shoes squeaked lightly as he began his approach, reeking of a polish so strong that you could smell it from where you were. You stood up when he neared you. 

“Ah, Y/N,” he greeted, too overzealous and too fake for your liking. 

You remained silent, refusing to return the gesture. His carefully practiced smile faltered, but only for a moment.

“How is maid life treating you?” He tried. 

“It’s fine, sir,” you returned shortly. You had the desire to allow your voice to deadpan, but you decided against it at the last second. 

“Is it, really?” His voice dropped a little lower, quieting to become inaudible to anyone other than you. A wry look gleamed in his eye, making you uneasy. 

“Because your parents are really worried sick,” he pouted, before taking a look around. You stiffened at the mention of them, and he noticed. 

Shit.

“Maybe I should pay them another visit,” he suggested, smirking sinisterly. "Let them know you're alright." His feet treaded towards you when he took a couple steps closer, looming above.

Dread tightened in your chest. A sinking feeling of restriction was settling over you, but you did your best to hide that fact. Letting this man think he had power over you was the last thing you wanted. 

“I think your father and I have a few things to discuss, anyway.”

You took a cautious step back, unsure of what he planned to do next. He was definitely the type of person to resort to violence if his tactics of intimidation failed.

“No, you don’t. I’m holding up my end of the bargain by being here.”

One of his unkempt eyebrows tweaked up at the corner. He hadn’t expected you to respond like that.

“Clearly you know nothing of his past if you think that’s the only business that exists between the two of us.”

Your eyes narrowed at him as you fell silent. 

“Aww, what’s wrong?” He pouted again, mocking you. “Don’t know your daddy as well as you thought you did?”

The grimace that found its way to your face showed every ounce of disgust you felt towards him. Just as he went to invade your personal space and make another, more malicious comment, authoritative footfalls resounded from somewhere behind you.

Before you had the chance to turn around and see who the source of the sound was, a protective hand found its way to the small of your back. 

The heiress.

Her eyes were set firmly on the man, with a gaze so icy it frightened you. 

His leer faded as he recognized her; a bit of color left his face. 

“Is there a reason you’re keeping my maid from me?” Aggravation led her tone. From your position at her side, you noticed the way her jaw tensed the longer she looked at him.

“My bad, Mrs. Kim,” he soothed, too smug to apologize yet too much of a coward to ignore her outright. He attempted a smile again to ease the tension, but it soon dropped. 

She wasn’t in the mood for his bullshit,  either. 

“I suggest you leave, Dae-Jung. Now.”

He glanced at you again after that, as if deciding whether or not to say something else. Like the losing dog in a fight, he wavered; his predatory gaze lingered, stuck to you in a way that made you feel grimy. 

The subtle way Mrs. Kim pulled you in a little closer to her body deterred him; her arm snaked further around your waist, settling there. 

With a click of his tongue, he relented. 

“Have a good evening, everyone!” He shouted loudly all of a sudden, putting his hands up. The workers outside all raised their heads to see what the outburst was about. Many of them shared similar expressions of annoyance. 

“Keep up the good work for our dear Lady.” 

Contempt was written all over his face as he backed away, retreating to whatever corner of Hell he came from. You looked away, not wishing to see him for a second longer than you had to.

Instead, your eyes happened to find their way to the heiress, who remained at your side, standing tall. She intently watched his every step until he reached his car and sped off; if he had come back to start trouble again, she wanted to be prepared. And for you, she was more than ready.

“I’m sorry about him, Y/N,” she mitigated, releasing her hold on you. 

You tried not to let your disappointment show too much at the loss of contact. 

“It’s not your fault, ma’am.”

You retrieved the decoration box before joining her again.

“Still,” her head shook, frustration and dislike evident in the motion. “Dae-Jung is terrible. If it were up to me, he never would’ve been hired in the first place.”

That piqued your interest. “Who has the final say, then?”

“My father and Hyun Wook,” she answered. A hint of resentment skated by on her tone, but you didn’t point it out.

Interesting. Perhaps they knew more about whatever shady past he had. 

She kicked a stone across the courtyard as you neared the porch’s stairs. Her hands were nestled in the pockets of her dress, and she looked as though she wanted to say something more. You waited patiently as she visibly contemplated.

“If he ever causes you any trouble again – or if anyone here does, for that matter – tell me. The last thing I want is for you to be mistreated during your stay.” 

You smiled at her sincerity, feeling a little giddy. 

“I appreciate that, ma’am. Thank you.”

She nodded, seemingly relieved at your words. 

When you laid the box on the porch, leaving it out for the other servants to use later, you noticed the heiress’s book. It was laid open on the seat of her chair – not carefully shut like it should’ve been. It was askew, too, showing that she had likely thrown it down in haste. As to why she was in such a rush, you had no idea. 

The reality of that made you wonder. 

–

3.) Savior

Fate kept you on your toes, ensuring that you never got too complacent.

The smell of fresh dirt and fertilizer hung heavy in the air, pervading it as you stepped outside. Faint floral scents skated by on gusts of wind as well, but they couldn’t rival the richness of the Earth. It brought everything to life as it welcomed the changing season in full, promising abundant harvests for the year to come. 

The notion lightened your spirit as you took it in. In the city, things like this had always been a struggle; food was far more scarce for your neighborhood, and having a plot of land decent enough to produce true sustenance was a rarity. Your family had always managed to make it by, but just barely.

You wondered, then, if the heiress would allow you to send some crops back home in order to help. Surely she’d extend the courtesy, provided the circumstances.

As you smoothed out the gardening uniform you wore and made your descent over the lush yard towards the garden, you made a mental note to ask her. 

And before long, following one final turn around the corner of the supply shed, you spotted her.

Your Lady.

The sun wrapped around her, holding her tight like a sweet kiss as she thanked a passing landscaper for his hard work. He bowed kindly, the gesture full of respect. The skirt of her dress wavered in the passing breeze, rippling as it so pleased when she returned the motion to him.

Her sun hat partially obstructed her view as she turned to look at you, but the sweet way she tilted her head back to peek at you from beneath the rim made you smile. 

“There you are!” She called out, putting her hands on her hips. Her eyes squinted slightly as she braved the bright sun solely in the name of greeting you properly.

“I apologize for my tardiness,” you responded, making your way down the hill to her. The slope wasn’t too terribly steep, and for that you were thankful. 

“I hope it wasn’t too much of an inconvenience.”

She shook her head, adamant but easy going. “Not at all. I’ve just been enjoying the weather.”

A quick glance down at her legs gave you another insight into her solo endeavors. 

“And playing in the pond, I see.” An amused smile toyed at your lips when she looked down at them as well, reminded of her excursion. 

“And playing in the pond,” she echoed, nodding to herself. 

After that, neither of you said anything for a bit. Both of you fell into a comfortable silence as you admired the land, allowing yourselves the opportunity to take it all in. For her, the sights and sounds were pleasant reminders of the life she so graciously lived. But for you, they were new discoveries entirely. 

Birds and insects that you’d never heard before shared their unique calls, creating melodies all of their own. Some were piercing, bordering on shrill; others as soft as silk as they floated by in pursuit of one another. 

When she caught a glimpse of your innocent amazement, she couldn’t help but smile. It warmed her heart to see that you were adjusting well to the abrupt change that you went through, and knowing you hadn’t lost the curiosity that you harbored from that first day comforted her even more. Although she was aware that being at the estate wasn’t something you ever asked for, she hoped that experiences like this could remedy things to some degree. The time you were losing with your family was irreplaceable, no doubt, but perhaps you would have plenty to tell them about upon your return. That eased her conscience, at least. 

Maybe, if things were done right, even some of that initial anguish could be replaced with more happy memories like this one. 

You’d made her happier in your short time at the manor than she ever imagined you could’ve, and that meant something. 

She took you by the hand and led you to one of the benches near the pond, careful to avoid the bees and wasps that buzzed by. 

Confusion tweaked at your features momentarily, but the comfortable hold that she had on you melted it away. 

Gardening could wait until she wanted to do it, you supposed, as she guided you to sit down. 

The metal seat was warm against your body, but not hot. The sun’s energy was stored there like a reservoir, allowing you to savor the feeling of it over time. Unconsciously, you sunk into the bench a little further, truly feeling at ease. She joined you shortly after, sitting close enough that your knees brushed each other whenever you shifted around. 

The proximity was more than welcome by you, though you did your best not to make that too obvious. 

Embarrassing yourself like that wasn’t very high on your to-do list for the day.

A gathering of tall flowers wavered next to you, blowing in the breeze; as you reached a hand out to them, their petals brushed against your palm in various patterns, soft and mild. 

They were lavender plants. Such pretty things. Almost capable of holding a candle to the woman beside you. Almost.

“Isn’t it beautiful out here?” 

Her voice was airy, full of light. 

“Absolutely,” you answered, stopping your eyes from wandering anymore and instead focusing them on her again. Her cheeks were flushed, but you couldn’t determine if it was due to the heat or some sudden shyness that befell her. 

“Thank you for letting me experience it like this.” 

‘Like this’, meant with her, just the two of you, hidden away from the rest of the world as the sun worked its fateful magic on the land and added a type of sparkle that was absent during any other part of the day. It meant with her, feeling her leg bump against yours as she spun in the seat and tracked the path of a passing butterfly that was taking flight for the first time. 

But you didn’t elaborate on that. A confession that brazen simply wasn’t in the cards for you.

“You’re more than welcome, Y/N,” she assured warmly, bringing you back to your senses. The rim of her hat tilted in the way again as she turned to you, and, without thinking, you raised a hand to push it up for her. 

She stilled for a moment, surprised – just the same as you.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have–”

“It’s fine,” she chuckled, not letting you finish your unnecessary apology.

Her fingers readjusted the tie below her chin as she settled the hat into place a little better, ensuring that it would stay put from then on. 

A new kind of sparkle showed in her eyes as they glanced between yours; something rested in that shimmer, hidden like a present, waiting to be understood when the time was right. 

She moved in a little closer to you, shifting her hips with a feminine subtlety that gave you half the inclination to believe you’d simply made it up in your mind. But a hint of caution showed on her face, letting you know that she was testing something.

What that was exactly, you had no idea. But you certainly weren’t complaining. 

Unbeknownst to her, in her effort to close some of the distance between you, the heel of her shoe had scraped across a patch of grass beneath the bench, thus interrupting a bee that was feeding from one of the flowers there. 

Its buzzing grew louder, full of anger that it intended to make known. 

Just as she went to say something to you, her words were interrupted by a sudden shout of pain as the bee flew up her dress and stung her leg. 

You jumped in surprise, but after a quick explanation from her you snapped into action. Carefully, you looped her arm around your shoulders and stood up, easing the weight of her body against yours. You knew that walking would be immensely painful in her situation, so you made it a point to prevent her from feeling the effects of gravity to the best of your ability.

Her soft groans of pain filled your ears with each advancing step you took towards the manor, hasty and a bit rocky. You made sure to gently lift her a little, easing the strain on her leg. Any movement of it, though, sent a jolt of searing pain to her injury. Nevertheless, you persisted. 

She leaned into you for support and you held her close, keenly aware of her discomfort. 

Your head shook in frustration when you eventually made it inside and reached the grand staircase. It seemed to tower in that moment, daunting as you peered up at it.

At once, an idea came to mind.

“Come here,” you said, bending your knees slightly as your arm descended to her lower back. Her eyebrows raised briefly when she glanced down at you, unsure. 

“Just trust me.”

She nodded a moment later, quickly biting her lip to stifle another whine as you picked her up. Her arms wrapped around your neck securely as you began your ascent; much to her relief, the pain was far more bearable this way. As a thank you, she pressed a faint kiss to your collarbone, where her full lips had been brushing against. 

The sensation made your heart race, but you shook off the feeling. Now wasn’t the time.

Once you made it to her room, you carefully sat her down on the edge of her chair and raced to retrieve some supplies and ointment from the closet in your quarters. While you were away, she hiked the material of her dress up to her waist and examined the sting. 

Although the stinger was no longer attached, the wound itself proved that her attacker hadn’t been a bee at all. It was a hornet – something she’d had adverse reactions to in the past. 

The degree of swelling that her skin had already undergone alarmed her; if just the short journey here alone had given the venom that much power and opportunity to affect her this much, she could only imagine what it would continue to do.

You immediately picked up on her worry when you reentered her chambers, loaded up with an array of remedies to heal her. A small glimmer of comfort settled over her at the sight of you. 

“We’ll need to clean it first,” you informed, immediately approaching her and setting your supplies down at her feet. You went to your knees in front of her, quickly reaching for the bowl of soapy water you had prepared. 

Her legs parted for you without solicitation, giving you pause for a moment. 

You dipped your fingertips in the solution, generously coating them before you sat the bowl back down and moved in closer to her. A grimace pulled at your features when you saw the injury, an angry swirl of red and white. You could only imagine the pain she was experiencing. 

She hissed once your fingers first made contact with her heated skin, and you noticed the way her nails dug into the arms of her chair. When you repeated the motion a few times, ensuring the area was thoroughly clean, she bit down on her bottom lip to prevent a slew of curses from escaping. Tears brimmed in her eyes, almost spilling over. 

Water trickled down her thigh as she shifted slightly, leaving trails in its wake to glimmer in the midday sunlight that had worked its way into the room. Her legs trembled from the aftershocks, inspiring pity. 

Carefully, you patted the area dry and wiped your hands before reaching for a small tin of ointment. 

“Here, ma’am,” you soothed, dabbing the smooth cream onto her abused skin. Her fingers wrapped around your wrist when you shifted closer, softly enveloping it. You looked up at her, partially through your lashes. 

You were so beautiful to her then that she didn’t know what to do with herself.

“Call me Jiu. Please.”

A new kind of smile graced your lips, warming her heart. It was curiosity mixed with relief; like a child hearing their mother say yes to whatever plans they had concocted. She was allowing you access to a part of herself that not many people ever saw.

“Does that feel a little better now, Jiu?” You asked, testing the waters. Her name felt foreign on your tongue, but in all the right ways. 

She nodded, peering down at you. “It does.”

Her breathing stilled as you lifted her leg, slotting it over your shoulder. A look of surprise washed over her features at the contact, but it soon melted away to something else entirely when she felt your breath fan out across her thigh. 

You blew steadily, hoping to dry the ointment a little and help activate the cooling effects of the lidocaine in it. She sighed, tilting her head back. Her thumb rubbed a small circle along the inside of your wrist, just above your pulse point in a show of gratitude. 

“You’re so good to me,” she praised, smiling lazily. Your heart skipped a beat. 

“...thank you,” she added. Her voice was altered slightly due to her position, making it sound deeper than usual. Amusement was present in her tone, too, now that the adrenaline was beginning to fade and she knew she would be okay. You had such a good way of calming her down.

You bit back a relieved laugh. That could’ve ended badly. 

“Anything for you, Jiu.” You quipped back, smiling at the way she squeezed your wrist in return.

—---

4.) Sharing Isn’t Caring

Destiny promised nothing short of an ebb and flow for you, during your stay. Highs and lows, steps forward followed by steps back. It was all a process – one that required serious effort to put your trust into.

> In The Heiress’s Room <

Jiu’s fingers interlaced with yours, held up in the golden sunlight. Rays reflected off of her rings as she twisted your joined hands, admiring the show. Their patterns casted to different parts of the room in various directions, sparkling. 

The beauty of your moment, though, was quickly interrupted by an intrusive knock that rapped out against the open door. 

“I heard you’re heading out for a picnic,” Hyun Wook noted, inserting himself in a place he so clearly didn’t belong. Biting back a scoff had never been more difficult.

“We are,” Jiu responded simply, not taking his bait right from the get go. It was clear what he wanted, and you knew a man like him wouldn’t beat around the bush much longer. 

“Why don’t I join you?” He suggested, doing his best to sound genuine. He wished to appear spontaneous in a charming way; how bothersome that that had to be at your expense. 

A faint arrogance befell him when he caught you rolling your eyes in his peripheral.

Jiu looked to you, raising an inquisitive brow as if it mattered what you wanted. You lowered your gaze to the floor in response, silently surrendering. 

“Sure, Hyun Wook.”

You failed to catch the hint of disappointment that painted her tone. 

He sighed dramatically, pretending to be relieved. “I thought you’d say no there for a second,” he smirked, stepping towards her. 

The soft hold that she had had on you was lost in that moment, given up to him instead when she let go of your hand. As she politely laughed at what he said, bringing hers up to cup his cheek, you tore your eyes away from her. Jealousy simmered in your chest, hanging heavy. 

“Fetch the basket,” he ordered, raising a dismissing hand in your direction. His lovesick attention never left Jiu for a second; the sight made your stomach hurt.

Begrudgingly, you did as you were told. Before you could even make it out of the room, though, he had picked her up in his arms and spun her, earning himself another one of her laughs. 

Of all things, who would’ve predicted that that would upset you the most during your stay here?

Images of that night back in the city flashed in your mind at once, reminding you of the circumstances that brought you here in the first place. Allowing yourself to feel this way for the heiress would only complicate things more and get you into trouble; for your family, you made a vow to snap back into reality and stay there. 

The childish fiction in your head was delusion anyway – it’s not like Jiu felt the same about you. 

How could she? You pondered, grabbing the handle of the basket and taking it off of the kitchen counter with little care. You were simply her maid. A girl meant to serve her, here, in this mansion poised so highly above the struggle and bustle of the city below. After these next few months were through – once she was done with you – you’d be sent back to live whatever life you could manage, and it was unlikely you’d ever even hear a whisper of her name again. 

It was time for you to know your place and stop pretending otherwise. 

– 

Outside

With a flourish and twist, the heavy quilt in your hands unraveled in a pop of color, fanning out across the grass. Once the corners were smoothed out and tethered down into the ground, you retrieved a small pillow from the bag on your back and laid it down in the center. With practiced ease, you outstretched a hand to Jiu and helped her onto the cushion. 

Hyun Wook remained standing as you unpacked the contents of the basket and spread the containers out to the right of her. His eyes surveyed the land halfheartedly, only for show. They flitted up and over the cherry trees that were beginning to blossom, skimmed over the rippling surface of the pond, and lingered a second too long on a pair of passing maids. Against his hips, his fisted hands rested; he was posing in the way that men do when they’re aiming to impress. 

“Y/N, sit here,” Jiu directed, pointing to the open spot to her left. She leisurely removed her gloves.

Confused, you glanced between the two of them. Maids were meant to busy themselves elsewhere during this sort of thing, or at the very least sit elsewhere. As to why she was changing the rules, you were oblivious.

“Are you sure–”

“Yes.” Her word was firm, leaving no room for debate.

Hyun Wook turned around just as you sat down, and you had the pleasure of watching the expression on his face slowly sour. Had he stopped posing for five seconds, perhaps he would’ve gotten your seat.

“Where am I to sit?” He asked, voice posh and annoyed. So spoiled.

Jiu glanced at you, finding the folded blanket you were going to sit on resting across your lap. She took it and tossed it at him.

“On this.”

He caught it, but barely. You held back a snicker as he rolled his eyes. Checkmate. 

—

5.) Full Moon

Sleep refused to come to you that night.

The theater of your mind was fixated on Jiu, starring her in every production it mustered. Act One was full of her quirks and mannerisms; Act Two her humor. But Act Three, which you were firmly stuck in the middle of, comprised your every interaction. Every smile, fleeting glance, lingering touch. It all drove you mad, replaying with the apparent intention of breaking your heart.

Her scent still remained on you from before; the expensive perfume had found a second home on your skin and in the fibers of your uniform, settling there like a special secret. 

It had transferred to you in a moment of panic during the picnic earlier, when she pulled you close in search of the safety that your arms provided. Danger – what she had been evading – buzzed by languidly on its way towards another flower.

You could remember how warm her skin was, then, as her hold on you tightened. Only once you whispered words of reassurance quietly to her did she begin to calm down and relax into you. 

While you had been keenly aware of her lingering fears, given her past run-in with the wasp, Hyun Wook was oblivious. His ignorance lent itself to something similar to annoyance as he watched the scene in front of him unfold. When Jiu had put her head on your shoulder, he scoffed.

You recalled the way that she simply closed her eyes, using your steady heartbeat as a way to calm down. She pretended he wasn’t there, and before long her moment of fear subsided. Her hand found yours in your lap, and she laced her fingers with yours in a silent show of gratitude. 

Now, laying in bed, it was all you could do to try and forget the feeling. 

It’s not like you wanted to – you’d gladly spend an eternity or two getting lost in all the ways she’s touched you, no matter how insignificant – but you knew you had to forget. 

All of the feelings you had bottled up for her, stored away in your heart, were dangerous. What was platonic to her set your heart ablaze with the notion of what if; things she didn’t think twice about were stuck in your mind for days on end. But living like that wasn’t really living. 

So, you made a pact with yourself to try and get over your growing love for her. 

And if your pursuit of that was to start tonight, you’d have to take a walk. They always had a way of clearing your mind. 

-

Beneath your slippered feet, the ground was chilly. You could feel it – distant, held at bay – despite the comfy memory foam that cushioned your every step. The hallways were much the same, with their towering ceilings and numerous windows allowing the night air to sneak in. But the blanket wrapped around your shoulders staved it off, and you were at ease. 

Moonlight painted the artworks that you passed, leaving the soldiers depicted to fight shadow monsters instead of each other for a change. Their swords gleamed, catching what measly bits of candle light they could from the walls around them. The flames of them flickered gently, but burned with purpose. At an hour like this, free of the hustle and bustle of the staff, they didn’t have to worry about being blown out. No passing drafts would mark their demise. They were free to burn; and so, they did.

You followed them mindlessly, having no real destination in sight. What wandering you did in the manor paralleled the wandering of your mind; every turn put distance between Jiu and you, offering a gentle reprieve from the feelings that plagued you. The image of her faded with every hall you turned down, until it left you completely. 

In lieu of her, you focused on the moon and stars. 

Glimpses of them came to you through the large windows that arched high above, whose panes were fogged slightly from the rivaling air temperatures. 

From behind the puffy clouds, you could see that tonight welcomed a full moon. It was bright, and it coated the landscape of the estate in a gray hue. Entirely calming, and entirely unique. The night sky was free of the smog that you’d grown used to in the city; here, everything was so clear. 

Awe twinkled in your eye, matching that of the stars that shined down. Two types of beholders, both sharing a look at one another. 

Only when you heard the faint crackling of a fire did you care to break yourself free of the late-night, hazy spell that you were under. 

You blinked, looking around as you attempted to locate where you were. Realization dawned on you when you spotted an open door, cracked just enough to show you a sliver of a large mahogany desk. You’d know it anywhere.

Despite every valiant effort you had put in, your feet had managed to meander you all the way back to Jiu’s office. The last place you should’ve been, and yet the only place you really wanted to be. 

The floorboards creaked under her weight as she padded around inside. She put something on her bookshelf before bending at the waist and dragging a finger along the spines of the row in front of her. After a moment of searching, she pulled out what she was looking for. 

You pressed closer when she sat down in her chair, beside the fire. It was out of sight of the door, and, foolishly, you wanted to see her. You promised yourself that you’d just stay for a few more seconds before leaving.

But, given the luck that you’ve always lacked in life, that wasn’t what destiny had in store. 

When you took another step forward towards the door, the front of your slipper got caught on the floor. You lurched forward, lightly bumping your head into the door. 

Jiu jumped slightly, looking up to locate the source of the noise. 

“Hello?” She asked, voice light but cautious. 

Embarrassed, you brought a hand up to rub your forehead. 

“It’s just me, ma’am.”

You opened the door as you nursed your bruised ego. 

“Ah, Y/N,” she grinned, waving you in. “Come sit down.”

You shut the door behind yourself and followed her command, moving to sit in the leather chair opposite her. Part of you hoped it would swallow you up, then and there; a fate like that would be far more welcome than one as embarrassing as this. 

“You know,” she started, sounding thoughtful, “...you’re cute when you blush.”

Your heart lurched at her unexpected compliment. She really shouldn’t say things like that.

She got what she was after when you raised your head back up, no longer looking at the floor. If it was that easy to get you to look at her, she’d have to remind you of little things like that more often.

“But, Y/N, I have to ask,” she tilted her head to the side slightly. “What are you doing up this late?”

You bit your tongue when the truth tried to rush out.

“I just couldn’t sleep, is all.”

She took that at face value, nodding to herself as something came to mind.

“How about some tea, then?” She offered, using her head to motion to the stand next to the window behind her desk. Sure enough, a teapot rested there, emitting a faint stream of steam into the air. 

“I could use a refill, anyway,” she added, peeking past the rim of her cup on the table beside her. 

“Sure.”

While she headed over to fill the cups up, you took the opportunity to look around the room. The fire that she had been meticulously stoking for the past hour or two was burning well; it crackled with life every so often, emitting soft pops to remind you of its presence. Its flames reached up high, licking the air in bold stripes as they stretched into the chimney. 

A few books were stacked on the edge of the table that sat between your two chairs; two of them were poetry, and one a collection of drawings that Jiu always kept with her. On a few occasions, you’d caught her scribbling away in it or doodling when she thought no one was looking. She was always the cutest to you, then, with her tongue darting out of her mouth in concentration or her brows knitted together as she tried to get the lines perfect. 

The memories brought a smile to your face. 

“Here you go,” she said, handing the cup to you with the utmost care. You took it gingerly, savoring the warmth it radiated. 

When she noticed your hands wrapping around it, she put two and two together. Wanting to help, she tugged the edge of your blanket up and a little closer to your body.

Her hand smoothed over the top of your hair as she untucked it from the blanket and fixed it for you. She peered down, smiling to herself.

"You look adorable in those," she noted, glancing at your new pajamas. "I knew they'd suit you well." 

You paused. What?

"You got these for me?" 

Her eyes blinked… once, twice… a little confused. "Of course I did. Who else would've?" 

You blanked, rethinking things after she pointed that out. It never crossed your mind to consider who had been the one to pick them out; all that you considered certain was that it had nothing to do with her. You couldn’t imagine any other heiress being so involved in such an insignificant thing for their maid – especially one that was still relatively new. The fact that she cared that much wasn’t lost on you, and neither was the fact that she kept her special purchase a secret. 

The gesture was in good faith, and her actions only further proved that; she wasn’t seeking anything by getting the outfit for you. She simply wanted you to be comfortable, and that made you like her even more, somehow. 

“I don’t know how to thank you.”

She laughed lightly, shaking her head. “There’s no need. Seeing you in them is enough.”

You watched her sit down, elegant despite the lack of a reason for her to be. It must’ve just been second nature to her to be so ethereal at this point.

You took a sip of your drink when she crossed her legs, hoping to distract yourself. And by God, that scalding tea did the trick.

“What’re you doing up this late?” You asked in return, once a short bit of comfortable silence had passed. She finished the drink she was taking before setting her cup down on its saucer. 

“Well, I’ve had a lot on my mind lately,” she admitted, settling more into her chair. Her back arched slightly as she sought a more comfortable position, and you weren’t strong enough to stop yourself from peeking at her body. The long gown she wore was a sight for sore eyes, with the way its simple design made it shimmer in the low light of the room. Every beautiful curve of her was enhanced by it; surely somewhere in the world it was a crime to look so good in something so plain.

“Hyun Wook is…” she rolled her eyes and grinned at you as she visibly fought the urge to call him something unsavory, “... Hyun Wook. And the meetings lately have made me want to rip my hair out. So,” her shoulders rose and fell in a defeated shrug, “...I’m a little all over the place.”

“Have you told your father that you’re stressed?”

She scoffed, though her intention wasn’t to hurt your feelings. “That’s not something he cares about.”

You frowned, upset that he would be so rude to his only daughter. If you were capable of it, you’d make up for everything he lacked just to prove that she deserved better. 

“What matters to him is money, and money is earned by the more deals we close. It’s only business.”

“I understand that, but you matter in that equation, too.” You reasoned. “How he expects you to do all of that with no breaks is beyond me.”

She tutted. “Just one of the perks of being a Kim; especially since I’m the oldest and a woman. He expects me to prove myself in ways the rest of the family would never have to.” 

“Why doesn’t Hyun Wook help you? Aside from the occasional meeting, all I ever see him do is laze around or drink with his friends when he’s here.”

“Helping me isn’t something he signed up for when we got married. That wasn’t part of the agreement.”

“Agreement?” Your curiosity was piqued.

She nodded, taking another sip of her tea. “My father arranged our marriage when we were teenagers. Once Hyun Wook’s parents gave their conditions and final blessing a few years ago, we were married.”

“And I’m assuming you didn’t have much of a say in things, right?”

Her eyes crinkled in the corners as she smiled lightly. “You’re a fast learner, Y/N.”

The confirmation was bittersweet for a multitude of reasons. It gave you hope – maybe that meant she didn’t harbor real feelings for him – but it made you unequivocally sad for her. This woman, so pure and good natured, was subjected to a life of servitude, too, without even fully realizing it. In some ways, you had more freedom than her. How was that fair?

“I wish things were different,” you said, aware that you were incapable of remedying the situation. You wanted to express your dislike of her circumstances regardless. 

“Me too,” she sighed gently – just the way she was taught to. “But, it’s not all bad, you know.”

When you raised a brow, she took that as a sign to continue.

“You’re here now. And I like to think that we give each other something we never had before.”

“What do you mean, exactly?”

She sat forward in her chair a little, leaning closer to you. “Just… something new, I suppose. You’re unlike anyone I’ve ever met before. You keep me on my toes.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” you laughed. She did, too, thinking you couldn’t possibly be any cuter than you were in that moment. 

Her hand landed on your forearm as her giggles died down.

“It definitely was, Y/N. And you know I don’t give them out often.”

“Why me, then?” You didn’t care if you sounded cheesy or desperate – you were past the point of that. A very real, very genuine intrigue weighed heavy on your mind after finding out about her arrangement with Hyun Wook, and it could only be appeased by some honest answers from her.

“Out of everyone, why me?” You reiterated. The question was loaded.

“Because you’re special to me. Don’t you see that?” Her brows knitted together, taken aback by your oblivion. She’d never hidden her affection for you. “I value all of the staff here, as you know. But, given the choice, I’d always choose to spend time with you over them. You just know me better, somehow.”

“Is that all?” You half-joked, cracking a smile.

Her hand skated down to yours, holding it as her thumb brushed across your knuckles.

“We’d be here until dawn if I were to list all the reasons.”

Your eyes screwed shut as you scrunched your face up in protest. “You’re such a flirt, Jiu. Cut it out.”

A low chuckle left her, husky enough to break your heart right then and there. “Why should I?”

You didn’t dare breathe, let alone give her a reason.

“I can lie, if you’d rather,” she promised, removing herself from you completely and sitting back again. Her eyes scanned over you, waiting and searching for an answer of some kind. “But I’m not the best at that. Especially when it comes to you.”

What could she possibly have meant by that? She had to be toying with you.

When you saw her subsequently glance at your lips, you panicked. It brought back memories of that night, so long ago. 

“Right,” you declared, clearing your throat. You searched for something to change the topic with.

The poetry book from earlier was the first thing to make its way into your line of sight.

You missed the disheartened look that washed over Jiu, and how her face fell a little at the loss of contact. 

But by the time you looked back at her again, her walls were raised once more and all traces of disappointment were gone. 

She picked up on your silent hint. Without another word, she reached forward and picked up the aged book, running her fingertips across its cover. 

“Would you like to hear one of my favorites?” An air of excitement began to surround her, evident in the soft smile that she gave you. It was eagerness restrained, though, and you wondered how often she’s had to bite her tongue before. 

“I’d love nothing more.”

Her gaze softened at that, vulnerable for a moment in a way you hadn’t quite seen before. Your words – or tone, whatever it had been – seemed to have struck a chord in her. 

She thumbed through a few pages until she landed on one that she frequented quite often. She cleared her throat quietly, turning her face away in a show of respect. When she was ready, she glanced up from the page and into your eyes.

“I love you,” she started, giving you pause. You certainly hadn’t expected those words to be the first out of her mouth. “...as certain dark things are to be loved, in secret,” she continued, returning her eyes to the page despite the fact that she had every word memorized a million times over. “...between the shadow and the soul.”

You looked on at her, watching as she grew a little shy. 

“Beautiful.” You whispered, unable to stop yourself. It was just loud enough for her to hear, and part of her questioned what you were referring to. She hoped you meant her, just as much as the poem itself. 

“Read me another.”

“Really?” 

You nodded, motioning to the book. “Please.”

It was obvious that she enjoyed it, and seeing her so happy only did the same to you in return.

She flipped through the pages again, bringing her free hand up to toy with her bottom lip as she searched the pages for a particular writing. You took a long drink of your tea, hiding behind the rim of your cup.

Soon enough, she found the next one. 

This time, she didn’t take her eyes off of you when she recited it. 

“I want to do with you what spring does with the cherry trees.”

The words were simple, completely innocent. It was likely that no hidden meaning lied beyond the more obvious one, and yet, it made you think. 

Did she want to be the reason for your blossoming? Did the idea of seeing you, so open and new, get her through the day? Perhaps she wanted to be the reason you thrived. The harbinger of your impending success for another year.

Still, you couldn’t help but wonder. If the flush of her cheeks was any indication, her mind had taken it elsewhere, too. 

“Wow,” you breathed, attempting to break the tense silence. “Those were wonderful. Thank you.”

She looked pleased. “If you’d like, we could do this more often.”

“That would be great,” you smiled. 

She mirrored you. “How about tomorrow night? Same time, same place.”

“I’ll be here.”

—----------------------

That night with Jiu left you falling even deeper than what you had been before. 

Your nervous system was on high alert the next morning, making you far clumsier than normal and unable to conduct yourself well for a majority of the day. You did your best to stay composed whenever you were around her, and it worked some. But even still, you were sure you made an utter fool of yourself on more than one occasion. 

Work prevented you from being around her much during the day, and you were left to throw yourself into your other tasks. For once, her absence was a welcome one; with the promise of meeting again in a matter of hours, you were at peace. You could use the time until then to calm down and ready yourself for whatever she had in store. 

And that you did. After finishing your jobs and putting together a care package to send to your family – a gift so graciously approved by Jiu – you found that you still had some time to kill. With it, you decided to make a small gift for her. 

Yoohyeon lent you a piece of her art paper and pencils, and on it you sketched an array of the flowers that Jiu had told you she loved over the past few months. You shaded and colored them to the best of your ability, and you wrote the words of her poem as a sort of border around their petals. When it was all finished, you were genuinely proud. It took quite a while for you to be satisfied, but you couldn’t deny that it was worth it. 

As you waited, counting down the hours until you were reunited, you thought up all the possible ways she might react to it. 

Like a lovesick teenager, you hoped that she loved it. Your heart gave in to its childish desire to make up scenarios in your head in the meantime. 

With every hourly chime of the grandfather clock at the end of the hall, a new possibility was constructed. They all made you smile, though your nervousness grounded you with the fact that reality might not match up with them. You made peace with that, though it was easier said than done.

Eventually, the time came. The rest of the manor had all retreated to their rooms, more than ready to knock out. You, on the other hand, were wide awake as you grabbed the present and snuck out of your quarters, careful to remain quiet. 

Your heart beat wildly in your chest; so hard you were sure everyone else could hear it echoing down the empty halls. You paid no mind to the moon, now; the stars didn’t grab your attention as they had before. But, looking back, you wish they would have. You wish you would’ve listened to the cry of the owl outside, perched high on the angel’s shoulder at the fountain. Its large eyes were open wide, as if pleading for you to turn around and forget your pursuit.

It was all too little too late, though. 

The distant sound of voices – mumbling, quietly discussing something – faded in as you neared Jiu’s room. They grew louder the closer you got – more forceful. The door was open so slightly that it appeared to be the latch’s fault, rather than it intentionally being left that way. 

Your curiosity got the better of you when you heard Jiu say something else inside, low and unintelligible. You approached it, closing the final gap that existed between you and the heartbreak waiting inside. 

As you peeked in, your heart sank.

Hyun Wook had beat you to her, it appeared. 

His hand pushed its way past the silk underslip of her dress while her legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him in close. He groped her wantonly as their bodies moved together, all heat and drunken lust. She was perched atop the dresser, though her position was anything but secure. It rocked rhythmically, bumping the wall as his searching hips found comfort between her warm thighs. Their muscles flexed; every twitch made you sick. 

She moaned lowly when he ripped the straps of her dress down, causing you to grimace. You could only hope it was fake, entirely generated to boost his ego and not rooted in any actual pleasure. 

The betrayal you felt, sitting heavy on your chest, made it hard to breathe. He was her husband, and you knew that – you knew that. Even still, some part of you foolishly believed that she would end things with him. That she would stop seeing him altogether, whether it be for sex or anything else. 

Although you were aware that their daily interactions were simply meant to save face, witnessing them was still daunting. But this – this hushed, late night rendezvous – was something else completely. With no one else around to catch them at such an hour, they had no need to put on a show. This was entirely for them. Every shuddered breath, every cry, every thrust of their hips was meant for them. 

You backed away from the door, feeling numb. A final glance at her was stolen before you made your silent retreat, but it only hurt more in the end; he captured her full lips in a bruising kiss, muffling the groan that left them. 

The paper in your hands folded in on itself, then, crumpling from the force you exerted. Until you made it back to your room, it remained clutched tightly in your fist. 

Once you were inside, you threw it in the fireplace.

—

The Next Morning

Distant sounds of silverware clanking together woke Jiu. 

They were jarring – a far cry from her typical alarm: you. Although she was disappointed that you weren’t there to greet her, she brushed off the feeling. Perhaps you were just exhausted and slept in by accident. With how hard you’d been working lately, she couldn’t blame you.

She’d always appreciated how good you were to her. 

When she rang the bell a few minutes later to alert you, it took you far longer than normal to come in. The special knock you always used was absent this time, too, exchanged instead for two dull thuds. 

Admittedly, it made her sad; she always valued your early morning interactions. The sleepy way you would rub your eyes or yawn as you helped get her ready for the day always made her smile, and she often found herself thinking of it in the middle of her business meetings. Your groggy voice was always endearing, too. 

Such a shame things were different today.

You didn’t waste time doting on her. Your hands weren’t as gentle as usual, and you certainly didn’t stop to admire her body as you washed it. If anything, you avoided looking as much as possible; you caught a glimpse of a dark spot on her neck at one point, and that was enough to sour your mood even further somehow. Haste was present in everything you did and said. 

If she noticed or cared, she didn’t make it known. 

Tension hung in the air, along with an awkwardness that neither of you were very fond of. In your pursuit of avoidance, you failed to notice the observant gaze she set on you. Carefully, she attempted to read you; she made sure to look away when your attention was eventually returned to her, despite how hard it was. If she made her concern too obvious, she knew you’d close up and push her away. And for a situation as delicate as this, she was willing to treat it as such.

But, after a while of pretending, things caught up with you. The mask you put up slipped, showing your true feelings:

When you tugged the laces of her corset just a little too hard, making her draw in a tight breath and hold onto the dresser for support, it became apparent that your overzealous hands clearly hadn’t forgotten last night. A mumbled apology was made, but it did little to convince her. 

“What is your problem?” She asked, though her tone resembled an accusation. 

Your eyes found hers in the mirror. You debated. 

“I don’t have a problem, Jiu.” You declared, tying the ends into a bow before turning around. She turned, too, observing you as you laid out a selection of dresses for her to choose from.

“I know you well enough to recognize that that's a lie.”

The statement gave you pause, but you found yourself scoffing after it subsided. 

“Why do you care?” You asked genuinely, raising your head to meet her gaze from across the bed. “It doesn’t concern you.”

“If something is troubling you, I’d like to know. This is my estate, so I feel responsible.” She explained.

You shook your head, dismissing her. “Don’t. I can handle myself fine.” The last thing you wanted was her pity. 

“I didn’t say otherwise, Y/N,” she tilted her head subtly, softening her gaze. “I know you can. But that doesn’t keep me from wondering.”

When you finally looked at her again, searching her eyes as you attempted to decide on your next move, the curiosity there took you by surprise. Something unspoken lied just behind the annoying sparkle in them, drawing you in again. You loathed it in every sense of the word – this power she had over you. But still, you couldn’t fight the urge to give in and tell her why. Maybe, if you were lucky, she’d have a reaction that resembled guilt.

“Fine,” you started, taking a few steps across the room to sit at her window-side table. “I didn’t sleep very well last night. That’s why I’m like this.”

Relief flashed across her face momentarily, and she took a seat on the end of her bed. “Do you know why you couldn’t sleep?” 

Your jaw clenched. “I was a bit under the weather.”

“I’ll have Yoohyeon make you some tea tonight, if it happens again.” She offered, oblivious to your lie. 

“Are you planning to see Hyun Wook again?” You dared to ask, watching as realization flooded over her. It replaced the relief from before. “If so, then go ahead and tell her now.”

She swallowed, glancing down at the floor. “You heard us last night?”

A humorless laugh left you. “Put lightly, yes. But I saw you, too. It was quite the show.”

“Y/N, I–”

“What, Jiu?” You raised your chin up, silently challenging her. The images of them together were resurfacing in your mind, only making your mood worse. “Are you going to say I wasn’t meant to see it? Because that’s obvious. It would be concerning if you wanted me to.”

She took a deep breath, weighing something of her own. “I barely remember it. We were drunk; it just happened.”

You nodded to yourself as if you were expecting her answer to sound something like that. “Convenient, no?”

“What do you want me to say?” She seemed taken aback.

“Something a little less overused, maybe.”

She sighed, feeling frustration beginning to creep up on her. So many unsaid things existed between the two of you, complicating matters beyond their limit. Eventually, she knew, they’d all come out. Exactly how and when that would happen, though, she wasn’t sure.

“He came to my room and surprised me, okay? We had some drinks, and one thing led to another.” 

So she really did want to sleep with him. What little hope you had left was crumbling fast. 

“Okay,” you said, standing up. Your sudden response surprised her, and the evidence of that was clear on her face as you crossed the room again. 

“Okay?” She repeated, sounding unsure. 

You hummed in affirmation, ready to move on and get her ready for the day. The faster you got her dressed and prepared, the faster she would be out of your sight. 

“That’s it?” 

If you didn’t know better, you’d have sworn some disappointed painted her tone. 

“What else is there to say?”

So much.

She paused for a moment. “Nothing, I suppose.”

Your hands clasped together in front of you as you subtly motioned to the dresses with your head. 

“Then let’s get you ready.”

—

The rest of the day saw you busied with any and every one of your tasks that didn’t involve Jiu. You avoided her at every opportunity, only letting the essential responsibilities of yours be the reasons you reunited. After they were finished, you were gone faster than she could say goodbye. For any duties bordering on trivial, the other maids stepped up and assumed them. 

Were you allowed to do that? You weren’t exactly sure. But did you care? Absolutely not. 

Being around her made your chest ache. Every attempt from her at simple banter or a normal conversation stung; her oblivion made things ten times worse. Did she question why you were so upset? Did she dig deeper, searching for a reason that her maid would be that affected by an expected interaction between husband and wife?

No. She couldn’t have. Because the Jiu you knew was clever. Had she stopped to consider the circumstances for even a moment, she surely would’ve pieced things together. 

You couldn't decide if that hurt more or not.

Regardless, you tried to gather up what self restraint you had left and use it to stop thinking about her. Finding ways to help out around the busy estate was incredibly easy, and for once you found yourself grateful for that.

The gardeners and animal caretakers were paid visits by you in the morning, but you spent most of the day holed up in the kitchen. Along the way, you heard news of an event that was scheduled for later that night; a group of investors were returning to discuss a merger of their companies, and Hyun Wook had agreed to host. Following a meeting with all of them, there was to be a celebration of sorts in the ballroom, complete with a vast array of refreshments and foods. Being the… bright… mind that Hyun Wook is, though, he failed to mention it until the day of. 

His incompetence only fanned the flames of your hatred, but you held your tongue and channeled your energy into helping prepare everything. It took a lot of effort, but you knew it would be worth it in the end. 

Yoohyeon was there to keep you company for a while, when she took her occasional breaks, and that was enough for you. Though it was obvious to her that you were upset, she didn’t question it. Her instincts as your friend knew better than to push you for information when you were so vulnerable. She knew you’d come to her about it eventually, when things settled into place. She offered words of encouragement in the meantime and hugged you close when she saw you getting overwhelmed. 

The kitchen staff was friendly, too, despite the stress they were under. You even began to forge friendships with some of them, working closely and depending on one another to ensure that things ran smoothly. Pressure piled on your shoulders in ways you had never experienced before, given the change in tasks. But you persevered, and your efforts helped keep the night from being a total disaster.

When things kicked off in the ballroom, the head chef thanked you for your assistance and sent you to enjoy the party. 

Yoohyeon bumped her shoulder into yours as she walked out with you, finished with her responsibilities too and free to keep you company. She helped you get changed into something more fitting for a celebration before you both headed to the ballroom. 

-

“We should just go to the library,” you pouted, pulling at the collar of your shirt. 

“I think drinking is exactly what you need right now,” she replied, shutting your bedroom door behind herself. “We can dance and enjoy ourselves, and it’ll take your mind off of whatever’s bugging you.”

She joined you again, poking your arm in an attempt to cheer you up.

“If you say so,” you sighed, walking on towards the ballroom. 

The skirt that she had chosen for you flowed and swayed with every step you took, looking far more elegant than you’d ever admit. It made you feel attractive despite your low spirits, and you figured that had to count for something.

When you arrived, the doors were opened by two male servants dressed in full black outfits, denoting their status. Their faces were stoic as you treaded inside. Too bad they couldn’t come in and enjoy themselves as well. 

The biggest, brightest chandelier you’d ever seen hung above the dance floor, twinkling as its jewels and beads caught the lights of the room. Throngs of people were already under it; those that occupied the center were busy dancing joyfully together, finally letting themselves loose, while the pockets of people that bordered them chose to converse and watch one another over the rims of their glasses instead. 

Tables lined the rest of the room, every one of them a carbon copy of the next. Despite the lack of a heads up, the staff had managed to whip everything into shape; not even a single napkin was out of place. Had you not been privy to the constraints that were placed on them, you would’ve assumed that they had days to prepare with just how orderly everything was. 

Waiters wordlessly cycled through the crowd, keeping an eye out for any glasses whose contents were quickly dwindling. They had them switched out with fresh ones before the guests could even think of complaining. Their practiced ease was admirable as they kept things running smoothly, unfazed by the music and bustle of the party. 

Yoohyeon tugged on your arm, pulling you over towards the dance floor. On your way, you passed by the center table that stretched from one side of the room to the other. The kitchen’s creations all shined in their respective places on it, sitting on their fancy plates. It all looked delicious, but you weren’t in the mood to eat. Even if you had been, it wouldn’t have mattered; Yoohyeon was on a mission, and you were coming along for the ride whether you wanted to or not. 

She wiggled her way through the crowd with you in tow, only stopping once you broke through the outer ring and the middle of the dancefloor was in sight. She didn’t push you into the heart of the action; instead, she settled for a nice spot nearby, where you both could move freely and still be a part of the hoopla.

And move, she did. As the group of musicians on the elevated stage began their next song, she jumped at the opportunity to dance. Your initial attempts to match her energy were half hearted at best, but the longer the music played, the more you opened up. She joked with you and made a fool of herself in the best possible way, knowing just how to lift your spirits. Before long, the two of you were lost in the rhythm of the music; your cares had slipped away, and for a pleasant moment, every thought of Jiu that had been plaguing your mind vanished. The feeling of Yoohyeon’s body pressed tightly against yours as you swayed together, free with the beat, replaced everything else. 

Your hearts raced together, just as in sync as the smiles on your faces. You dipped one another and spun around, lacking any care for the traditional way that the song in question was meant to be danced to. Others might have sent you unapproving looks, but that was truly the last thing you cared about in that moment. The happiness you felt outshined and deflected any haughty contempt that came your way.

Only once you began to get a little too hot for comfort did you step off the dance floor for a quick break. 

Yoohyeon jovially knocked into you with every other step, still reeling from the excitement that coursed through her veins. It wasn’t a common occurrence for staff like her to be invited to such a night of fun, so it was really a no-brainer that she was so eager to be there. Truthfully, she worked harder than anyone else you’d seen at the estate. If anyone deserved a night of freedom, it was her.

“Ah, my favorite!” She blissfully sighed, still a bit out of breath as she took the drink that a passing waiter outstretched to her. 

He did the same for you as she made quick work of downing hers, much to his amusement. He let a smile break out across his face as he handed her her second glass of the evening and retrieved the now empty one.

You thanked him by raising your glass in a silent toast to his efforts before taking a sip. He bowed and left directly after.

Across the room, Jiu stood among a group of guests that had no intention of fully enjoying the party around them. Her husband was at her side, sipping on the whiskey he’d just received a few minutes prior. His arm was around her waist, possessive in the way that it stayed there. The conversation around her began to sound more like unintelligible mumbling as she turned her head away, seeking a moment of reprieve from the mind-numbing boasting that everyone was doing.

As if on cue, Yoohyeon took a step to the side. Her body no longer blocked your view of the heiress, and before you could look away, your eyes locked with hers. 

Surprise overtook her features, but you weren’t so lucky. Disappointment returned to you, making your face fall as you took in the sight of her. When you noticed your rival’s hold on her slipping further south, you couldn’t help but roll your eyes. You shook your head and looked away, scoffing quietly. 

Did they have no shame? Did she?

All of hers must have run out without you realizing. 

Bitterness filled your heart in a dangerous way. It made you want to get back at her, somehow; to make her feel just as shitty as you did. You racked your brain for a solution, though your better judgment pleaded for you to just let it go. You tried, for a hot second, but jealousy is a cruel destroyer, after all – a purveyor of ruin – and it worked its magic on you. 

However reckless your next move was didn’t matter. The fallout would come in due time, and you could pick up the fallen pieces of your house of cards then.

You leaned closer to Yoohyeon, placing a hand on her forearm.

“Kiss me.” 

The whispered request made her eyes widen immensely, but you pulled her closer to your body to conceal that fact. 

“What?”

You peeked over her shoulder, finding Jiu looking tense. Her grasp on the glass in her hand was growing tight, nearly capable of shattering it. A small smile graced your lips at the realization. 

“Just do it, please,” you practically begged, knowing your window of opportunity was closing fast. If something was going to be a turning point, it had to happen right then.

Yoohyeon followed your line of sight, and in an instant she understood. Softly, she turned your head so that you were looking into her eyes again. 

Her fingertips pressed into the front of your shirt, backing you up against the large pillar that stood behind you. Its chilly surface connected with your back just as her lips found yours, slotting together like two puzzle pieces. You cupped her cheeks and tilted your head, giving the illusion that you were kissing her deeper.

At least, it started that way. 

She bit your lip, earning herself a moan of surprise; that wasn’t what you had been prepared for. Her arms wrapped around your waist when you shuffled a little further into her hold, unconsciously seeking the warmth that she provided. Both of you could feel yourselves getting carried away, but oddly, neither of you stopped. It felt too good in the moment to give it up.

Her hands were gentle as they raked over your body, eager enough to sell your lie but restrained enough to avoid bordering on anything serious. The game you were playing was dangerous, but you’d be lying if you said it didn’t thrill you.

Your fingers tangled in her hair, tugging softly as she pressed her warm thigh between yours. Her eyes watered slightly in response, but she smiled against your lips as she savored the feeling.

All of your pleasure instantly turned to fear, however, when someone roughly grabbed your wrist. It was Jiu. Her aura was one that you had never seen from her; entirely new, full of anger. She pulled you away from Yoohyeon at once, not bothering to care how harsh she was. Both of you stumbled, cheeks flushed and hearts racing. 

“Go to your room, Yoohyeon.” Her tone was icy. Far scarier than you’d ever heard it be before. 

Yoohyeon glanced at you warily, pausing for a moment to ensure that you’d be okay with whatever was about to happen. Waking up to hear the news of your murder (or expulsion) wasn’t something she wanted. 

Despite the way that Jiu’s fingers squeezed tighter at Yoohyeon’s reluctance, you gave her a nod to let her know you’d be okay. She relented, then, and quickly bowed before making her departure.

When she was out of sight, you could practically feel the heat radiating off of Jiu. She turned on her heel and dragged you behind her, all the way to her quarters. A fire was lit within her, and nothing you could possibly do was capable of putting it out. 

What she had in store, you had no idea. Hell, you were half certain she planned to actually kill you, with the way she thundered down the hall, not even acknowledging the staff that passed by and greeted her. 

But, at the end of the day, that meant she felt something. Whether it was an indication of her feelings for you or just an unfathomable amount of hate for relationships between employees and public displays of affection, you’d soon be finding out. 

The open door of her bedroom passed by in a whizz of dark brown as she shoved you inside, seething. She followed closely after and shut it behind herself, locking it. 

Your back was still turned to her as you attempted to compose yourself. “Ma’am, we–”

“Shut your mouth, Y/N.”

She took you by the arm again, spinning you around to face her. A grimace crossed her face as she noticed the state you were in. In particular, the gloss that had transferred from Yoohyeon’s lips to yours – smudged and unruly with want – made her sick.

“As much as you make me question it, I know you aren’t stupid.” Her elegant heel paced forward, taking an advancing step toward you. Afraid of doing the wrong thing, you didn’t move.

“So tell me, why would you do something as reckless as that in front of everyone?” 

You swallowed, not sure of how to answer her. Between a rock and a hard place is precisely where you were wedged. 

“I advise that you speak,” she warned after a moment of silence passed, “...for the sake of everyone.” The implication behind her words was obvious, and you resented the fact that she would use your situation against you like that. 

“We just got carried away.” 

The excuse was lame at best, and she clearly wasn’t satisfied with it. Her eyes rolled as she took another step forward in response, causing you to finally retreat some. 

“Do you enjoy being difficult?” Her voice dripped with condescension as she continued to advance. “Or do you think I’m naive enough to believe you?”

Your back brushed against the wall, running into it. Your chance of escape was officially out the window. Shit.

“No, ma’am.”

Her eyes darkened at your use of the title, filling you with dread. 

“Take off your shirt.”

“W-what?” You couldn’t stop the stutter in your voice no matter how hard you tried.

“Take it off,” she repeated, crossing her arms. She tilted her chin up slightly, making herself look superior. “You clearly didn’t care to show off out there, so why should it be any different now?”

She shrugged, letting her gaze slowly travel across your body. When she noticed that you were pressing your thighs together, she looked back up at your face. 

“We really didn’t mean to make a show of it…”

Despite your half-hearted effort to change the topic, she refused to be swayed. With a cocked eyebrow, she waited for you to follow her instructions.

Anxiety swirled with embarrassment as you relented and brought your fingers up to the buttons of your uniform. They trembled briefly before you steadied yourself with a deep breath, determined to keep eye contact with her as you undressed – no matter how shy you were, you were still hurt by the memory of what you witnessed the night before. You wanted to see her reaction. 

She watched with bated breath as you undid the buttons one by one, taking your time but not wasting it. You used every second to your advantage, teasing her without even really meaning to. She visibly tensed when you undid the last one, and you could practically feel your ego being boosted in the process. 

You edged the material down your arms before tossing it on the bed across the room. 

“Feel better?” She questioned, regaining the composure that she lost momentarily. “You know, now that you’re getting exactly what you wanted,” she finished. 

“I didn’t w–”

The response died out in your throat. You knew it was a lie.

She smirked in such an aggravatingly sexy way that you wanted to slap her for it. “What, were you going to pretend you weren’t doing that to get my attention out there?”

You opened your mouth to reply, but gave up shortly after. Your cheeks warmed with embarrassment again.

“I saw the way you peeked over Yoohyeon’s shoulder, Y/N.” Confidence radiated off of her as every trace of vulnerability faded away. “How your eyes swept over me when her hand slid between your thighs. It was cute, really,” she chuckled softly, only making matters worse. 

“And yet, she was the one touching me like that,” you finally spoke, aware that you had to push back against her attempt at belittling you. “It was her lips on mine, kissing me senseless. Not yours.”

She faltered for a moment, not knowing exactly what to say to that. 

"And yeah, I may have wanted your attention," you admit, "but it wasn't too hard to get. Don't think I didn't see how you were looking at me." 

Something changed in her demeanor, then, when she saw the hint of a smile that graced your lips. Nothing in the world could’ve stopped her from getting rid of it. 

Her hands roughly connected with your shoulders as she pushed you up against the wall – further than you already were – and she shoved your thighs apart with her knee. Her grip moved down to your hips, gaining purchase there as she clutched them possessively. The breaths that left her were staggered – full of anger.

Your eyes opened wide when she reached down and grabbed the bottom of your skirt, hiking it up to your waist. 

“Jiu, please–” you gasped, feeling her cold fingers easily slide past the barrier that your panties created. Without meaning to, your legs parted a little wider for her, allowing her to press the length of her body further into yours.

“Did she do this to you?” she asked, brazenly stroking you. Little tenderness was put into her movements.

“Is this,” she paused, gathering up your wetness on her fingertips, “...for her?”

A quiet moan slipped past your parted lips as your head fell back, exposing your neck to her. Her gaze flickered over your taut muscles before stopping to admire the wild beating of your heart, visible at your pulse point; suddenly, she felt the urge to mark you. To ensure that everyone knew who you belonged to, even if you weren’t awarded the same title over her in return.

“Answer me,” she warned, a dangerous look in her eyes. Her free hand came to fist in your hair, needing to be busied.

“N-No, Jiu. It’s not for her.”

Visibly, some tension left her shoulders. Still, her jealousy simmered. 

“If I ever see something like that again or even so much as hear a rumor of it, you’ll be sent back home and your father will pay for his debts himself. Is that clear?”

Your thighs trembled around her hand, both from the implication of her threat and the way she was still touching you. 

“Why do you even care?” It was a bad idea to test her, but you didn’t care. After the back and forth that you’d been put through for so long, you needed to hear her say it.

“I’m not playing your game, Y/N,” she spat, tightening her grip on your hair. Your face scrunched at the sensation.

“Tell me, please.”

The desperation in your voice must have been enough to convince her. Perhaps, though, her own desire played a part, too. 

“She was all over you. It doesn’t take a genius to see what would’ve happened if I hadn’t stopped you when I did.”

Her strokes became languid, making you rut your hips to get relief yourself. “It was pathetic.”

“That’s rich, coming from you,” you managed out through ragged breaths, smiling to yourself. 

She stilled her hand almost completely, arrogantly watching as you writhed a little harder.

“Are you trying to insult me?” She laughed lowly, pressing herself against you a little more. “If you want to do that, you’ll have to stop getting so wet before I even do anything.”

Your eyes closed again, unable to keep contact after catching a glimpse of her darkening ones. Danger flickered in them, but so did lust – the kind that can get you killed if you’re not careful. 

“Then do something already.” 

She watched your lips as you made your request, admiring the way they pursed and pouted with every syllable. From the very first time she laid eyes on you, she’d wanted to kiss them. To taste you, in more ways than one. 

Denying herself such a simple pleasure for so long had been torture.

Your hands made their way to her hips, balling the soft material of her dress up as you waited impatiently. Despite how careful you’d trained yourself to be, never handling her belongings irresponsibly, all you wanted to do was rip it off of her. 

A wave of confidence washed over you somehow, likely brought on by the adrenaline coursing through your veins. 

“Are you afraid I’ll fuck you better than him?”

The sudden question surprised both of you, but you did your best to hide it. Jiu, on the other hand, clearly wasn’t able to; her eyebrows rose, taken aback. The resulting circle of her thumb against your clit, whether subconscious or intentional, lessened your doubts.

“Is that why you’re so jealous?” Your lips hovered over hers, brushing against them as you carefully teased her. “You don’t want me with Yoohyeon but yet you won’t take me yourself. Come on, now, Jiu. You’re better than that.”

Whenever she shifted forward, you moved back slightly. An ebb and flow, both torturous and enticing. She’d have to put in work to prove what she truly wanted. 

“Be quiet.”

“Why should I?” You challenged. Her eyes stared back into yours, so fiery you didn’t know what to do with yourself. “You’re just mad I figured you out.”

“You don’t know half of what you think you do, Y/N.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

You shrugged, ignoring the urge to moan when she slid a finger down to your entrance. It circled, teasing you. 

“Enlighten me, then.”

“You don’t deserve that, after tonight.”

You rolled your eyes. “Give it a rest. What Yoohyeon and I did was practically child’s play compared to you and Hyun Wook. Stop lamenting over it.”

When her head cocked to the side, you knew whatever was coming next would only hurt.

“I could say the same to you about what you saw, you know. It’s just what a husband and wife do; you have no right to be so upset.”

Her words, combined with the icy tone she put on, stung. She could read the hurt on your face as they sunk in.

Her attempt at hurting you like this hurt her, too, but she knew she needed to keep you at bay. It was a necessary evil. 

“So did our plans for that night mean nothing to you, then?” You asked, sounding more angry than sad as the two emotions battled one another in your heart. You took her hands off of you and pushed her away.

She stumbled; your question struck a chord in her. It was easy to see, despite the effort she put in to hide it. 

“They meant something to me. Believe that.”

A scoff left you. “Oh, I bet. I’m sure that’s all you could think about when he was inside of you.” 

“I thought of you the whole time, Y/N.”

She was taking things too far now. 

“Why the hell would you say something like that? Stop toying with me!” You shouted a little too loud for your own good, but truthfully you couldn’t have cared less. 

“I’m not,” she mitigated, saying the words like a promise as she took a small step towards you. The hesitation in it made you hesitate, too. What was she up to?

“Every second I was with him I pretended it was you touching me. Kissing me. Fucking me.” The way that she glanced away made it obvious that she was replaying it all in her mind, and in that moment you would’ve done just about anything to have had a peek inside. 

“Do you seriously think I could’ve made those sounds otherwise?” 

Your heart beat a little harder at the memory of them.

"Why did you choose him, then?"

"When we started drinking, you were all I could think about." She admitted, looking ashamed but honest. "But I knew I couldn't have you. Not in the ways I wanted to. Needed to. And… he was available." She swallowed down the guilt that she felt rising in her. 

"So I settled." 

Her explanation was still partially a lie, but you were oblivious to that. She was still too afraid to tell you the full truth yet, though her heart begged her to.

"You could've come to the study and had me instead." 

Something unreadable flashed in her eyes. It was lust mixed with something else.

“Could I have?” She asked, eyebrows raised, as if you were a child who just suggested the most impossible task known to man. Her tone was dripping with incredulity, and a bitter laugh threatened to leave her. 

“Yes,” you breathed, emphasizing the word. “But even if you couldn’t have, it hurts to know you’d allow him to take my place.”

She looked away. Shame pervaded her mind.

“Why didn’t you tell me you felt this way?”

“I was afraid.”

“Of what?”

“You, Y/N.”

You couldn’t believe that. “Am I so threatening?” 

“Yes!” She erupted. “Do you not see how much power you have over me?” 

Your jaw went slack. “What power could I possibly have over you?”

“You rule me in ways you’ll never understand.”

“Help me learn them, then.” You took a step forward, extending a hand to her. 

Several seconds passed. She looked at it, visibly deciding if she wanted to accept it, before she eventually decided to. When she met your gaze again, you could see the tears beginning to brim in her eyes.

“Oh, Jiu.”

“You have no idea what it’s like, Y/N, and I can’t fault you for that,” she started, looking up at the ceiling to prevent her tears from falling. “But my life is based on rules. It always has been, from the second I was born; and up until the second I die, I’ll still be subjected to them. Who I can meet with, who I can marry, what I can occupy my time with. It’s all limited, all monitored.” She explained. 

You brought your hand up to cup her cheek when she sniffled, rubbing the pad of your thumb across her smooth skin. The way her chin quivered in response to the comforting sensation made your heart ache. 

“But when you came to live here, something changed in me. You’ve made me feel seen and understood in ways I’ve never been by anyone else. My secrets are safe with you. I’m safe with you.”

She brought her free hand up, wiping her eyes on the sleeve of her dress.

“And as much as I love that, it’s terrifying. You could ruin me in a second.”

“I would never.” Your answer was almost instant.

“But you could. You could walk away after your time here is done and never see me again. You could forget about me and move on with your life. But that’s something I could never do.”

When she said ‘ruin’, you figured she meant her reputation. Not her heart. You’d never thought yourself capable of such a feat.

“Everything you do is important to me. I hang onto every conversation we have. Every look. Every touch.” Her eyes shut briefly, tensing. “I think about you in ways that I shouldn’t, and I’ve struggled with this awful sense of regret for so long. I tried to suppress my feelings when I found that I was incapable of stopping them. I figured it was the next best thing.” She admitted. “But then that night in the study sent me back to square one.”

Your gaze softened at the pitiful look on her face. She truly had been suffering.

“I knew it was foolish of me to push the boundary, but God did I enjoy it. My better judgment slipped away from me, then, and I paid for it when I saw Hyun Wook the next morning.”

That got your attention. “What do you mean?”

“He complained that I was growing too distant from him, and hinted that he would inform my father of his feelings unless I changed things.”

Subconsciously, your head shook.

“I thought about you and our plans all day long, and to be honest, I couldn’t wait to have you all to myself. I was worked up–”

“Worked up?” You interrupted, confused. 

She blushed at your lack of understanding. “Turned on, Y/N,” she elaborated.

Oh.

“I was worked up when he came in. He was drunk and demanded I be a good wife. In his mind, that included drinking with him and fucking.”

You grimaced, fighting the urge to recoil at the image of that, which was taking shape in your mind.

“He thought my arousal was for him, and it only made things worse. When I tried to worm my way out of sleeping with him, he took his phone out and threatened to dial my father. I didn’t have the option to refuse anymore.”

“So that’s why you did it.”

She nodded, ashamed. She avoided your gaze, feeling unworthy of it.

Just like that, the final layer of her lie was peeled back. It opened to reveal the truth: that she never actually wanted to be with him at all. 

“What would your father have done?”

Her head swayed from side to side sadly. “I don’t know, and that’s the worst part. But it wouldn’t have been anything good; he always sides with Hyun Wook.”

“And what would you have done, if he never came in?”

“I don’t know that either, Y/N, but I like to think I might’ve eventually told you my feelings.”

You pursed your lips in thought. "You did pretty well just now." 

She grinned lightly at your sweet teasing. "You think so?" 

"Mhm," you nodded, placing your hands on her hips as you backed her up towards the bed. 

When her calves bumped into the frame, she gently plopped down onto the mattress. You stayed standing in front of her, moving to cup her cheeks. She nuzzled into your hold a little. 

"All this time, I thought I was just fooling myself into believing you liked me back." 

Her hands ran up and down your back, creating goosebumps in their wake. No matter what, she always knew just the right way to touch you.

"It feels good to know I’m not delusional after all.”

She laughed softly as she turned her head enough to kiss your palm. Her fingertips skated down your spine, ghosting over your skin until they reached your waist. She took hold of it, loving how warm you were against her. 

“Well, I wouldn’t go that far,” she teased. 

“Hey!” You pinched her cheek in retaliation.

“I’m kidding, jagi!” 

You pushed her backwards, sending her down onto the mattress. The sheets poofed out all around her in response, absorbing all of her impact. She pulled you along with her, guiding you to straddle her.

Amusement shined in her eyes as she looked up at you, noticing your arms crossed in faux annoyance. The position made your chest look even more enticing to her. 

Your act began to slip up when you noticed her staring. “Like what you see?” 

She was brazen with it – not subtle like she’d always been before. A new level of desire burned in her; here and now, there was no one to stop her from doing what she’d dreamed of for so long. 

Her hips raised suddenly, sending you forward and into her arms. Your lips brushed against hers in the process. 

“I love it, Y/N/N. You’re so beautiful.” She answered, sweeping the fallen strands of hair out of your face. You shifted your weight to an elbow, using it to hold yourself up. Your free hand went to her side.

She traced your lips with her thumb, silently asking for permission. You granted it without hesitation.

Part of you would like to say you saw fireworks and stars as her lips pressed to yours, but that would be a lie. Instead, it was warmth spreading throughout your body as your heart beat harder to compensate. Though the feeling was new and unknown, it was like coming home. It was finding home in a foreign place. 

Everything else – anything other than her – melted away in the moment, leaving you keenly aware of her every move. 

Her shuddered breathing became obvious when she rolled you over; she trembled in your arms. The movement hiked her dress up to her thighs, and you took the opportunity to slide your hands beneath the silky material. 

Her kisses were like the poetry she loved so much – each one a new line as you discovered one another for the first time. 

She nipped at your lip – innocently, carefully – before gaining the courage to deepen the kiss. You moaned in response as her eager hands found their way to your bra, kneading your breasts. Your nipples hardened against her palms from all the stimulation you were receiving. 

She arrogantly smiled against you at the feeling. 

Her hips slowly ground down into yours, creating a torturous rhythm. The heat between your thighs was already insufferable, and feeling her small movements only made things worse. She controlled everything, then; her breath on your neck sent you spiraling in time with the rutt of her hips. She purposefully stuttered them to rile you up and bring you closer to the edge. 

It was as if she wanted to make you come without even doing much at all. 

And as pitiful as it sounded, she was completely capable of such a feat. 

But your situation was far from a one way street. She may have hid it better, but she had never craved someone so much in her entire life. Your every sound and move made her throb a little harder as the ache between her legs became more and more unbearable.

Her soft lips peppered your neck with kisses and love bites as her hands greedily explored your body. She was attempting self control, but when your hips began to raise in time with hers, searching for friction, that went out the window. She could feel herself getting wetter by the second.

Her lips found yours again before she sat back on her knees, letting you take her full weight as she slipped her dress over her head. She was completely bare underneath it.

"We have to be careful," she reminded you, beginning to kiss her way down your body. She toyed with the waistline of your skirt, mentally debating on whether or not she should leave it on you. 

She glanced at the door.

Sounds of the party were distant but audible, and she knew all it took was one wayward guest to ruin everything for the both of you. One miscalculation could be your demise… so why did that thrill her?

The door was locked anyway. Surely that would be enough.

"Jiu–"

"Shhh," she soothed, sensing your growing impatience. "I'm not going anywhere." She gave her full attention back to you, putting you at ease.

In one motion, she tugged your skirt down and off of your legs. Her eyes flitted up and over every curve of your body, alight with blatant lust and admiration. You were absolutely divine. 

A smirk broke out across her face when she noticed the wet spot on your panties. 

"Such a shame." She tutted at you, reaching down to run her finger over the ruined material. You jerked a little at the contact, now keenly aware of just how sensitive you really were. 

"You want me to take these off?" She asked, feigning innocence as she pressed her palm against them, massaging you. "It has to be uncomfortable." 

She pouted, mocking the state you were in. Even her cockiness turned you on. 

"Please." 

Her eyebrows raised ever so slightly, taken aback. "Asking so politely already? What a good girl." 

"I can't wait anymore." You admitted, screwing your eyes shut. You had to make a conscious effort to steady yourself.

She chuckled darkly and pushed your thighs further apart with her hands. They were warm against your tender skin, and so possessive you didn't know what to do with yourself. She commanded your body better than you ever could've.

"You think I can?" Her voice was incredulous. "I've been dying for this." 

She looped her fingers in the thin material and yanked it down, tossing it haphazardly behind herself. 

A tremble racked through you, both from the coldness of the air and from the promise that lied in her words. Her eyes gleamed with a darkness that guaranteed you'd be even more of a mess soon enough.

She lowered herself down between your thighs, looking up at you all the while. Her lips dragged along your sensitive skin, leaving open mouth kisses and licks in their path.

"You have to be quiet for me, Y/N/N," she instructed. "Can you?" 

You nodded, but she wasn't satisfied. 

"Words." 

"Yes, ma'am." You replied in an instant, voice hushed. 

Her jaw tensed at your use of the title.

"Good. Keep it that way, or I'll stop." 

The closing of your eyes and subtle push of your head back into the pillows was the submission that she was after, and it pleased her for the time being.

She flattened her tongue and licked a stripe up your slit without warning, making you flinch slightly. Your hands gripped the sheets when she wrapped her arms around your thighs, intending to keep you in place when you inevitably started losing your composure. She lapped at the slick that dripped down your center and hummed, loving the way you tasted. It was better than she had imagined, somehow, and it only made her want you more. 

To think that such a beautiful woman like you could also taste so good seemed unfair. Finding your flaws was one of the hardest things she’d ever attempted. 

She was merciless as she gave her all to you, pulling out every trick she’d ever thought of trying. Some of her movements were sloppy and unconventional, showing her inexperience, but it was obvious she was doing everything she’d want done to her. She paid attention to the noises you made and what pulled the biggest reactions from you, and adjusted her rhythms and approach accordingly. She was a fast learner, you came to realize, as she practically turned from a rookie to natural right in front of you. 

But she wasn’t prepared for how much fucking you would effect her. The reins that held her together were slipping from her grasp the longer she had you like this. She needed relief, too, no matter how she got it. 

She unconsciously humped the bed in time with every desperate roll of your hips, unable to control herself. The fire in the pit of her stomach was blazing, leaving her breathless. 

She watched you bite into your lip in a poor attempt to quiet yourself; but it barely helped. As you came undone with a stuttered groan of her name, she felt a tell-tale rush of warmth between her own thighs as well. They pressed together, confirming what she suspected.

You gave her her first orgasm without even knowing it.

“Fuck,” she breathed, closing her eyes momentarily. Her core throbbed, needing more. 

You raised your head at the sound of her voice, oblivious. “What?” 

She shied away when you reached for her, causing you to push yourself up onto your elbows. 

“Jiu…”

Her cheeks burned with embarrassment, but she wordlessly glanced underneath her body, leading your gaze to the mess that she’d made on the sheets below herself. Realization dawned on you, making an innocent smile appear on your face. 

“Did you…?”

“I couldn’t stop it.”

She moved up your body, hovering over you. Any remaining humiliation she felt at the situation dissipated when you slid a hand between your bodies, wanting to feel for yourself just how wet she was. Her brows knitted together and she moaned, letting you explore her. 

She allowed you to push her over on the large bed and straddle her, effectively trading your positions. 

“Tell me what to do.” You requested, lazily stroking her. The tips of your fingers teased her, not committing to anything too seriously yet. “Tell me what you want.”

She swallowed, eyeing you. “I want your fingers, Y/N, and that pretty mouth. Show me what I’ve been missing all this time.” 

You quirked a brow.

“Please,” she added, catching herself.

You smiled and leaned down, replacing your lips on hers as your hips settled between her thighs. Her tongue ran across your lips as she cupped your cheeks, pulling you in ever-closer and deepening the kiss. You melted into her embrace, much to her delight; everything about the moment was passion incarnate.

One of her hands dragged its way to your neck, which her slender fingers subsequently wrapped around. They tightened gently, reminding you of just how vulnerable you really were. She panted softly into your mouth between kisses, aware of the rapid beating of your heart.

You only broke away when you felt her lower half rubbing against you in its never ending pursuit of friction.

Your lips painted her soft skin with love bites in various hidden places, all carefully chosen as you worked your way down her body. They stalled at her chest as you licked and sucked her nipples, taking them into your warm mouth. You were showing her a type of pleasure she’d never experienced with her husband. He only ever focused on his own release; but you only focused on hers. Everything you did was the stuff of fantasy – things she’d read about in books and longed for, but had no hope of ever experiencing first hand.

Quiet whines slipped past her parted lips and she pushed her head back into the comforter anytime it all became too much to handle. You sucked a mark onto the inside of her thigh once you reached it, aware that it especially would only be visible when she was naked. No prying eyes could catch a glimpse of it and start drama; only two people in the manor would ever have a chance to see it, apart from her. 

"Don't let him touch you again, Jiu, unless you want him to find out who you really belong to." 

Her chest rose and fell faster than before – the result of your ministrations. The jealousy in your tone did unspeakable things to her. 

But she didn’t have time to properly respond. Two of your fingers slid in easily as you took her into your mouth, wrapping your lips around her clit. Her walls were warm around you and softer than you ever could’ve guessed. They quickly adjusted to you as you stretched her out and wasted no time in giving her what she wanted. 

Just as she requested, your fingers worked in time with your mouth, relentlessly chasing after her high. Every curl of them inside of her brought it a step closer; every swirl of your tongue earned you the gift of a new sound from her. 

You committed them all to memory, wanting to replay them later. They were all so pretty; even her pitiful sobs and incoherent pleas sounded beautiful. 

The blush on her cheeks was a deep crimson as she reached down and threaded her fingers through your hair. Her grip tightened as she got closer and closer, making your eyes water from the sting. It was a welcome pain, though, and you found yourself grinning against her when she unintentionally did it again. 

She’d never experience pleasure like this before with anyone; it was overwhelming for her, but the last thing she wanted was for it to stop. She was discovering just how good she could feel and how empowering it was to have someone worshipping her in such a way. 

How had she survived so long without you? Surely she was only half alive.

“Come for me,” you commanded, kissing the darkening mark on her thigh. Her body rocked, gyrating however it pleased as she met your every move halfway. Within a matter of seconds she was tensing and shuddering against you, unable to keep the pace you had set. When her back arched off the bed, you knew she was done for.

Her hand clasped tightly over her mouth to muffle the cries she let out as she tumbled over the edge and into euphoria. Sweat gleamed on her like a trophy, showcasing every ounce of effort you poured into getting her there. Her eyes were still closed as she reveled in bliss.

The tension in her taut muscles faded away when she eventually floated back down to Earth, still reeling. Her legs trembled from the aftershocks as you slowly cleaned her up a bit, savoring the taste of her. 

But you didn't stop there. You got greedy, with the way she unconsciously continued to grind against your face with movements so subtle she likely didn't even recognize that she was doing them. But her body did; it recognized the pleasure you gave, and it didn't want it to stop.

Her other hand instinctively tightened in your hair again, still nestled in the mussed strands of it. Her breathing was far from controlled, and as you picked your pace back up it only became more erratic. 

She whined as you continued between her thighs, determined to pull another orgasm from her. The overstimulation was almost too much for her to bear; her hands went to your shoulders as she tried to push you away. 

"Please… I can't," she struggled out through broken moans, writhing. 

Her body failed to adhere to her words, however; her hips raised rhythmically to meet your mouth, riding your tongue. She blushed deeply when you looked up at her through your lashes with lustful eyes. 

She squirmed again, causing you to lay an arm across her pelvis and press her into the bed, keeping her in place. 

"Yes you can," you mumbled, responding to her without fully taking your mouth away. The vibrations coursed through her, drawing another pitiful moan from her lips. 

"Jagi, please–"

What an actress. 

"One more, Jiu. We both know you want it, too."

"I-It's too much," she pleaded, shaking like a leaf. 

You moved up her body and put your lips on hers in response, quieting her begging. She whimpered at the taste of herself on your tongue, paired with the curl of your fingers as they slid inside of her with even more ease than before. You found her sweet spot again and wasted no time in using that to your advantage. 

"Y/N… ah–" she cried, latching onto you so tightly you were sure she'd leave marks. Her nails dragged along your back, harsh against your soft skin in the best kind of way. 

"I'm almost there." The husky tone of her voice only spurred you on.

Her grinding was wanton now, full of reckless abandon. She buried her face in your neck just as her moans reached a fever pitch. 

With another pulse of your fingers, she came hard around them, crying out your name.

She clutched you close to her body, almost as if she was afraid you’d slip away. You whispered sweet nothings as she came back down from her high, feeling weightless. Her tight grip loosened when she realized you weren’t going anywhere, and it gave you the chance to lay down beside her. Your hand splayed across her stomach when she looked up at you.

Innocence shined in her big, bright eyes, both precious and pure. Her heart was on her sleeve; she was in a state beyond vulnerability, and yet she wasn’t afraid like before. You, she realized, were her comfort. Her safety net, ready to catch her when she fell, and her supporter who’d never dream of leaving. 

Something told her that her revelations were bigger than just post-orgasm niceties. She knew what you felt for each other was real, and that meant everything to her. In the world of smoke and mirrors that she had been raised in, that kind of thing didn’t exist. But you broke the mold; her enigma.

Your fingers traced gentle circles above her navel, drawing her from her daze. 

A shy laugh left you, making your shoulders bounce slightly, and she couldn’t help but do the same. What were you to do now? She felt like she needed a few business days to recover.

She figured the next best thing would be to get cleaned up, and so she sat up to head to the bathroom and grab a towel. Her legs trembled as she attempted to lift them, not in the mood to cooperate. There was no way she could even stand yet, let alone walk.

“I’ll get it,” you soothed, already knowing what she was after. You leaned over and quickly kissed her again before heading off. Shortly after, you returned and gently cleaned her up before doing the same to yourself. Sensing that she had a few more rounds left in her, you hung it on the footboard for when you’d inevitably need it again.

“Come here.” She coaxed. 

She held her hand up to you, beckoning you closer. But before you could take it, her wedding ring caught your attention as it came into view. Its expensive jewels shimmered in the available light of the room, making you frown.

When she noticed it as well, she paused, visibly debating. After a few seconds passed, she slid it off her finger and sat it on the bedside table.

Free of it, she held her hand out again and smiled as you took it this time.

"Let's stay here a while," she insisted. Her voice was hoarse in an attractive way. The sound of it made what happened tonight real; it confirmed that you definitely weren't dreaming. 

"But what about the party?"

She just shook her head, unbothered. All she wanted to do was hold you close.

"Alright," you relented, unable to hold out any longer with the sweet way she was looking at you. 

She opened her arms and took you into them lovingly, letting out a sigh of contentment. 

Where the future would take you, you weren’t sure. But in her protective embrace, you felt safe from any challenges that might come your way. You’d face them together, always. 

She was your safeguard, and you were her escape. Two things so fatefully intertwined were surely destined to find a way in the end. 

---

At Your Service

Pairing: Jiu x Fem!Reader (& some Yoohyeon x Fem!Reader)

Warnings / Misc. – Fluff, Angst, Smut, Mentions of violence, etc.

Word Count: 33,401 (grab a snack)

Synopsis: Jiu – a married heiress and product of the centuries old, successful dynasty of Kims – finds herself in need of a new personal maid following the sudden departure of her previous one. When opportunity arises and brings Y/N L/N – a stubborn, working class citizen with a hatred for her less than ideal circumstances – to her doorstep, how will they deal with the fallout?

Disclaimer: This writing is a work of fiction, and no disrespect is meant for those mentioned herein.

A/N: Hey everyone! Here’s my first Dreamcatcher fic. I hope you enjoy! :)

💖 Happy Reading 🌹

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◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚

Blood trickled down the side of your father’s hand, shining crimson in the subtle flicker of candlelight. A makeshift weapon – some mangled piece of metal, resembling a shiv – cut into his skin slightly, due to the force of his grip on it. 

His weight was shifted to one foot, keeping him prepared to strike if need be; with the front door of your home slightly ajar, he craned his neck enough to communicate with the guards on the other side. His thumb rubbed the handle of the blade in rhythmic strokes… one, two … keeping his breathing in check. Appearing suspicious was a death sentence, and he knew that; so, he patiently waited for the opportunity to make a move.

In an eerie flash of black suits and gloves, the men pushed their way inside.

They came to loom over your family members with piercing gazes, staring holes into them. Tension was thick in the room, nearly suffocating. Each second was an hour as the interrogation they started dragged on, only increasing the chance of impulsivity on both sides. Glancing eyes were a silent challenge, the twitch of a finger was a call to arms.

At the center of it all, surrounded in more ways than you even knew at the time, was you. Had you known then how drastically your life would change, maybe you’d have done things differently. 

Maybe you would have started running after that first knock.

Keep reading

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Black Magic

Pairing: Witch!Yoohyeon x Fem!Witch!Reader

AU: Wizard / Magical

Warnings / Misc. -- Fluff, Mild Angst, Use of Potions, Smut

Word Count: ~ 9,921

Disclaimer: This writing is a work of fiction and no disrespect is meant for those mentioned herein.

A/N: Happy October, everyone! I’m back again with another writing. I hope you enjoy it :) Take care of yourselves, you lovely people.

P.S. ~ It gets better as it goes on.

💖 Happy Reading 🌹

◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚

The day was dreary. A melancholic sort of fog had come to settle over the academy’s grounds, tinting everything with a grey hue that inspired nothing but lethargy. Rain clouds loomed overhead, holding within their dark wisps the promise of a stormy evening.

Just the same as the students were miserable and affected by it all, so too were the faculty. That shared trait meant the day would be a lazy one, given that no one had it in themselves to offer much more than the bare minimum. Work would still be assigned, of course, and deadlines were still in place, but the insipidity of the outside world had already seeped in and begun to take over. 

With everyone at its mercy, they did their best to just push through it. 

And you, sipping on your third energy potion of the day and hiding away in the back of the library, were making some progress on that mission. 

A hefty textbook laid open beside your notebook on the table in front of you, full of sketches and drawings to accompany the paragraphs of mind-numbing information in between. It was for your anatomy class, and you were studying for the exam you had coming up next week. 

To the left of you, windows arched high into the air, soaring until they reached the roof. A mural sprawled its way across the ceiling, picking up where the windows left off and stretching to the other sides of the room. It depicted a beautiful night sky, full of lone stars, constellations, and other celestial bodies. Paired with the wooden interior of the room – a rich brown that exuded pristine excellence – it looked wonderful.  

Only once you came to that conclusion did you realize that your eyes had drifted away from your book again. 

You rubbed them, hoping to ease the ache they felt and gear yourself up for another hour or two of study. The words in front of you had begun to blur together, though, and you knew you needed to take a break if you hoped to actually retain any information at all. 

The chair beneath you made a hushed squeak as you stood up and pushed it in. You didn’t bother to pack your things up before leaving; you were coming back soon, after all, and it was incredibly unlikely that anyone would want to steal any of it. If the worn pages and poorly done annotations enticed them that much, then more power to them. 

Endless shelves stood tall as you wound your way around them on your journey to the hall outside. The sea of books that resided on all of them, meticulously organized and not a hair out of place, painted the air of the room with a richness unlike anything else. The ink, the aged pages – it all intermingled, blending their every story into an amalgamated masterpiece. It was comforting, in a lot of ways, but a little overwhelming, too. 

The sheer amount of history that these four walls held was enough to make your head spin if you thought about it long enough. 

The library's glass doors swung open easily as you pushed them, revealing an unusually calm main hall. Activity was sparse, with merely a handful of students walking to class or digging through their lockers. A few pockets of people glanced your way upon hearing the door, but they went back to minding their own business a few seconds later. 

Along the walls, mounted torches burned brightly. Just like in the library, multiple arching windows gave a wide view of the academy’s grounds. Together, the two sources offered plenty of light to the hall. It still attempted to brood, though, with its dark corners and shady sections that vied to be different. 

As you passed by a set of lockers, a new poster caught your eye.

Fall Formal served as its title, big and bold at the top of the page. Below it were the specifics, like where it was being held and how much tickets were. Ophelia Square and thirty dollars, respectively. 

You simply shook your head at it and continued on. Brighton Academy had never once in its many years of existence pulled off a dance worth going to – formal or otherwise. And it was a pity, too, because the aesthetic and facilities were all there at its disposal. 

Could you have put any faith in it, you might have even considered going. 

But you learned your lesson long ago, during your first year here. Now it was your third; you were practically a natural at seeing through the many façades that the school tried to put up. 

At Brighton, a healthy dose of reality never hurt, anyways. Being surrounded by magic and other unthinkable things on the daily could cause people to get a little… out of touch, after all.

Clearly you valued your wit and cynicism more than most. 

For the most part, though, it seemed rather harmless. Perhaps you were judging too hard. Maybe this would be the year that they finally turned things around. 

“Yubin, I can’t do that!”

Suddenly, a hushed voice grabbed your attention. 

You stopped and looked behind yourself, doing a little spin as you searched for its source. When you spotted an empty classroom with its door slightly ajar and soft lamplight peeking out into the hall, you knew you had found it. Curiously, you moved a little closer to investigate. 

A reply came, unintelligible and masked by the static of a phone. 

“That’s wrong on so many levels.” The first voice returned, pleading for the person on the other end to have some sense. It was feminine, and sounded incredibly familiar…

“Yah, pabo–”

Holy shit. It was Kim Yoohyeon. Resident keeper of your heart. 

You pressed yourself against the rough surface of the wall in hopes of remaining unseen. Movement came from inside; pacing, from what you could make of it. Her footsteps were light but full of restrained tension. 

She twirled her wand in her hand, turning it over and absentmindedly fidgeting with its textured surface as she listened to Yubin. When she crossed between two of the lab tables in the room, you noticed her adamantly shaking her head. 

“Of course I like her, but I can’t take advantage like that. Did Mrs. Perlow teach you nothing in potions?! That’s more than dangerous.”

Yubin continued with her point, knowing she was capable of selling it if Yoohyeon would give her the opportunity. She was merely trying to convince her to practice a spell of enchantment… which she could then use on the person she’d been admiring from afar since the start of the year. Yubin was tired of seeing her best friend so lovesick – especially when, technically, something could be done to remedy the situation. 

“Fine. I’ll practice it, but only because I want to make sure I remember the spell. I’m not going to use it on her.”

Yubin sighed victoriously in their shared dorm across campus, raising a triumphant fist into the air. 

They shared a word of goodbye before Yoohyeon hung up and made a noise of annoyance at her phone in retaliation. 

You couldn’t help but smile.

“I can’t believe I’m really going to do this,” she muttered to herself, turning around. 

You ducked further behind the wall at the last possible second before being spotted. That was close.

When she began to cast the spell, her voice was as soft and sweet as ever. Unlike some of the other students, she didn’t need to be loud for her spells to work; her power went deeper than that. Truly, she was one of the academy’s most talented witches. A twitch of her finger could conjure a flame larger than even some of your professors’. The stomp of her foot could disarm other wizards within a ten foot radius. One glance from her could send people to their knees. 

From the moment she had arrived on campus at the start of the year, so charming and bubbly, she'd had you enraptured.

She was a force to be reckoned with in every sense of the phrase, and you couldn’t deny your excitement at being so close to such a skilled woman. 

You held your breath when she circled her wand into the air, pointing it towards the ceiling and subtly twisting it about. Her movements were simple yet graceful, and full of a practiced ease that she’d spent years of her life perfecting. 

A red and purple stream of haze began to form around her wand, circling on its way upwards like billowing smoke. It shimmered in the light of the room, almost like glitter. It was one of the most beautiful things you’d ever seen.

It made sense to you then why she was so reluctant to practice the spell; in just a matter of seconds, you were already being lured in by the simple sight of it. 

That could only mean that it was incredibly potent.

She repeated the incantation like a mantra, invoking more and more power by the second. 

You blinked a few times and looked away, snapping yourself out of your daze. 

As you straightened your posture some and attempted to regain the rest of your senses, a loud shout echoed from somewhere further down the hallway. The noise grew louder as more voices joined in, creating a thundering murmur of excitement. Footsteps were added to the mix; it sounded like a stampede of people were coming your way. 

That, you quickly learned, was the understatement of the century.

As you peered down the hall, members of the academy’s rugby team rounded the corner with an entire crew of supporters in tow. They whooped and cheered for them, celebrating what you could only assume was a recent success. Their mussed uniforms and sweaty appearances supported that theory, too. 

One of them – a second year student that you’d recently tutored – raised his head and locked eyes with you. A smile grew on his lips, and he cupped his hands on either side of his mouth as he shouted your name. You panicked and shook your head at him, frantically waving your hands to get him to stop.

But he didn’t. His calling drew the attention of some of the other people around him, leaving you with only one chance of escape.

Before more of them could notice you, you quickly darted inside the classroom with Yoohyeon and shut the door behind yourself. Your back pressed against the surface of it, and you sent out a silent prayer for them to stay away. 

But your unexpected intrusion came with consequences that you never saw coming. 

Ever the scaredy cat that she is, Yoohyeon was caught off guard by the suddenness of it all. She spun around to face you with a poorly muffled scream of terror; in the process, her jarred movement inadvertently cast her spell.

Just like in the movies, time seemed to slow down.

It shot across the room in a flash of red and hit you in the center of your chest, stealing away every bit of breath you had left in your body. 

As you helplessly gasped for air and fell to your knees, her eyes went wide. Panic set in immediately as she pocketed her wand and ran to you, letting out a slew of apologies. 

She crouched down beside you and took your face in her hands, raising your head so that she could assess you. 

With a brush of her thumb across your lips, she cast a recovery spell that allowed you to finally inhale a deep breath.

Warmth spread throughout your entire body, radiating from where you were hit. 

"Y/N?!" 

The poor girl was terrified that she might’ve killed you. When she lost control of the spell, it was no longer a simple one of enchantment. It became unstable before it hit you, shifting into something else entirely. There was no telling how powerful it was at the time of impact, or even what exactly it was. 

You put a hand on her forearm and sat up, leaning your back against the wall as you recovered. 

She kept your face cradled as your breathing began to return to normal, and she moved to sit cross-legged in front of you.

"Are you okay?" 

A shiver ran through your body at the sound of her voice. When her sentence stopped, it subsided. 

What the hell?

"I… I'm not sure." 

She shook her head and dropped her hands, absentmindedly allowing them to fall to your thighs. 

"I'm so sorry," she uttered regretfully. "I never meant for this to happen." 

The hair on the back of your neck stood up, keenly aware of the softness and sincerity in her tone. Her hands on you, attempting to provide comfort, felt better than they should have. The only thing that stood between her fingertips and your overly-sensitive skin was the material of your pants.

"It's okay," you soothed, though you were trying to convince yourself just as much as you were her. "I know you didn't." 

When her eyes met yours for a fleeting second, your heart fluttered. 

As she attempted to gauge your status, she couldn't help but notice the flush of your cheeks and the way you squirmed under her touch. When her fingers edged up your thigh the slightest bit, she could feel your body trembling.

"I should take you to the infirmary." 

You blushed at the idea of people seeing you like this. 

"That's not necessary; I'm fine."

She quirked a brow and leaned in a little closer. Her floral perfume washed over you, overriding your senses. "Are you sure? You don't seem like it." 

You simply nodded, not trusting yourself to speak in that moment. Her proximity was making your head fuzzy.

"Y/N, don't lie to me…" she warned, voice stern and a little deeper than before. 

You swallowed nervously, feeling as though she could see right through you. Your heart was racing faster than before, and the room was about ten hundred degrees too hot for your liking. Surely you looked a mess. 

"I'm–"

"Look at me," she interrupted, hooking two fingers beneath your chin to lift your head up. 

Her touch was electric.

Something changed as she peered into your eyes. Her rampant concern shifted – slowly, at first – as realization began to dawn on her. Your behavior was beginning to make sense now. 

Though you tried your hardest, you couldn’t pry your gaze away from her lips. They shined in what measly amount of daylight the window permitted to enter, looking so kissable you almost couldn’t stand it. Your hands were at your sides, grasping the material of your pants in an attempt to stay busy. 

It took every ounce of self control you possessed to keep from pouncing on her. 

Some indescribable desire was overtaking you, leaving you bewitched in a miserable way. It coursed through your body like the very blood in your veins and clouded your mind. All you could think about was Yoohyeon.

Whatever you were fighting was carnal.

Tense silence befell the room – tangible, yet as fragile as glass – as she unconsciously glanced down at your mouth. Curiosity burned in her, too, unbeknownst to you. She shifted a little closer without even trying. 

Your impulsive mind was begging you to take that as a sign and give in, but you fought it. Surely you were just imagining things. 

“What does it feel like?” She asked softly, breaking the quiet. She was still studying you intently. 

“I can’t explain it with words.”

You noticed the subtle way she bit the inside of her cheek when her gaze dropped down again. It filled you with foolish hope. 

“Is there another way? I want to know how to fix this, Y/N.”

Why did she have to be so kind? It would have been better for her to just leave you and let the spell run its course. 

“There… might be,” you answered hesitantly, avoiding eye contact. Having her attention like this made you feel small.

“Show me. Please.” A slight undertone of desperation was present in her voice, but it was obvious that she was trying to hide it. 

You were taken aback by that fact, and it showed when you looked at her again.

You raised a hand to her cheek and cupped it, smiling a little despite yourself when she leaned into it. Your heart pounded like never before. You were beyond nervous in every way possible, but you knew you could only fight your desire for so long; it was taxing. 

Especially when she was looking at you like that.

“Don’t hate me,” you mumbled apologetically.

Before she could utter a response, you were leaning forward and capturing her lips in a kiss. 

For a brief second, she tensed up. Her breath caught in her throat, and she made a little noise of surprise. But once you pressed your body closer to hers and ran the pad of your thumb across her cheek, she relaxed into you. 

Her lips were soft against yours, and the gloss that adorned them transferred to your own with your shared movement. It was her signature; you’d seen it on her so many times, both in class and at events that the academy put on. Its color was so distinct – so… her – and you’d always wondered what it tasted like.

Tropical fruit, you quickly discovered, as its flavor made its way to your tongue. It was warm and smooth – addictive – and you could feel yourself slipping further under when she pulled you in closer with a hand on your shoulder.

Her gentle breaths fanned out across your cheeks as she deepened the kiss, taking you by surprise. 

She let out a poorly-muffled sound of pleasure when your hands grasped at her waist a little restlessly, and the noise spurred you on. It reignited something in you, flipping a risky switch. You were quickly getting overwhelmed by it all, and what little composure you had left was slipping away.

“Yoohyeon,” you said against her lips, half-whining and half-warning. 

Why hadn’t she pushed you away yet? 

“Shhh,” she pacified, her voice like velvet. “Let me help.”

Her hands fell to your thighs again as she replaced her lips on yours, effectively silencing you.

Thunder boomed outside, mirroring the intensity you felt inside. The grey sky swirled, too, refusing to be still – just the same as your untamed heart. The lamp in the corner flickered a little as the academy’s electricity surged, fighting hard to remain on. 

Heavy droplets of rain pattered against the window in droves – unruly sheets carried by the unpredictable winds. 

But Yoohyeon seemed oblivious to the chaos around her. Or, at least, she didn’t mind it. All she cared about was the soft way you sighed into her mouth, and how you held her so desperately. It was a bit possessive, and she couldn’t stop the blush from rising to her cheeks because of it.

Your wanting hands buried themselves in the material of her skirt, gripping her hips. 

That’s precisely when the ache between her legs refused to be suppressed any longer. 

She guided your hand beneath the material with one of her own and led it to her inner thigh. All she needed in that moment was more of your touch. Something – anything. She didn’t care. Just more of you, in any way you’d allow. 

When you began to massage her skin in slow, teasing strokes, a breathy whine slipped out of her mouth. 

“Y/N, please,” she nearly begged. Her forehead pressed to yours as she rocked her hips a little in search of some sort of relief. Your eyes briefly fell to her lap, and you watched as your hand disappeared further and further under her skirt. The way she trembled for you was intoxicating.

The collar of her uniform top dug into her throat, too tight for comfort as her ragged breathing only got worse by the second. 

You reached up with your free hand and undid the button of it, hoping to ease her strain. She tilted her head back and moaned when your fingers lazily rubbed the newly-exposed skin to soothe it. The muscles there were taut and enticing, begging to be admired.  

Her brows knitted together and her teeth sunk into her lip when you toyed with the waistband of her lace panties, debating on whether or not to take things further. Her head spun with the stimulation she was receiving simultaneously; she didn’t know what sensation to focus on more. Even the smallest of touches from you had her wanting more. 

“P-please, jagi.”

Unable to help herself, she grinded against your hand when you slid her panties to the side. Your lips kissed a path from her shoulder to her pulsepoint, leaving a few lovebites in their wake as she writhed pitifully in your arms. Your name fell from her lips like a mantra as she pulled you flush against herself.

“Y/N.”

“Y/N,” strangely, her voice began to fade away…

“Y/N! Please wake up!” 

Your eyes shot open and you sat up with a start, dazed and confused. The classroom around you was the same, and Yoohyeon was next to you. You looked around, attempting to piece together what the hell had happened.

Your head had been her lap, you discovered, as you brought a hand up to the back of it to awkwardly scratch it. You turned to face her, finding her phone in her hand with Yubin’s name and contact image displayed on the screen. She had dialed her up the second you fell unconscious.

The genuine look of concern on her face tugged at your heart strings.

“What happened?”

“You passed out when my spell hit you. I’ve been trying to wake you up ever since.”

You swallowed thickly and brought a hand up to your chest, rubbing the area of impact again. It was growing warm just like before, and the sound of her voice only made the ache you felt earlier return. 

Had that really all been a dream? It felt so real…

She reached a hand out to you and moved to come closer, but you evaded her touch and backed away. You closed your eyes tightly, refusing to look at her; whenever you did, flashbacks of the dream (or whatever it was) came back in a rush. 

You missed the way her face fell in response to your rejection. 

“I-I’m better now,” you stuttered out, fumbling a bit as you stood up. Your knees were weak, and a bitter part of you wanted to laugh at that. Your body was acting as though your fantasy had really happened.

“Y/N, wait,” she requested, standing as well.

But you were already twisting the doorknob and slipping out into the hall before she could get another word in. Your form disappeared in a flash of embarrassment, and you did your best to hide your face as you began your hurried retreat to your dorm.

“...did she leave?” Yubin’s curious voice asked, sounding a little staticky over the phone line. 

Yoohyeon sighed, shaking her head at your actions. All she wanted to do was help. 

“Yeah,” she answered. 

Yubin tutted before going quiet for a moment. Only the faint sounds of pages turning could be heard. Yoohyeon paced in the meantime.

Before too long, the slightly younger witch spoke again. “I think I have an idea of what went wrong,” she said, as her eyes zeroed in on a certain spell in her book. The symptoms that Yoohyeon had informed her of, paired with your immediate reaction, all lead her to believe that it was what you were struck by. 

“It’s a variant of Amore,” she continued, “...and it’s really potent. We’ll need to whip up an antidote to ease her symptoms.”

“What will she experience?”

“Hallucinations, fever, and lust like never before," she listed, upon reading from the page. "Since this strain is only produced by a corruption of the original spell of love, it’ll heighten her existing desires tenfold or more.”

Yoohyeon’s eyebrows furrowed. “Existing desires? For who?”

“Whoever cast the spell, of course,” she replied. “You.”

That didn’t make any sense. Yubin had to be mistaken; you obviously didn’t have any pre-established feelings for her. 

“There’s no way that’s right, Yubin.”

“Why do you say that?”

She thought back to the way you had avoided her like the plague once you woke up. 

“She wouldn’t even look at me when she came to. That doesn’t really add up with your prediction.”

Yubin studied the page a little more before replying. She was humble enough to admit that the chance of her being wrong existed, but she highly doubted that that was the case now. Everything just aligned too well for it. 

“Just come back to the dorm. We can sort it out together here.”

“Alright,” Yoohyeon agreed. “See you soon.”

She pocketed her phone with a tense sigh before running her hands over her face a few times. 

Put lightly, she felt uneasy about the entire situation. It all felt… wrong. She shouldered any and all responsibility when it came to your predicament, and because of that, she regretted not putting up more of a fight when you left. Guilt made its inevitable, insolent journey to her heart in the wake of her failure to act. 

It made the classroom feel even more vacant and cold, as she stood alone in the middle of it. 

Judging by the noises you had made when you were unconscious – helpless, distant mumbles and calls of her name – she knew you were battling something stronger than either one of you had ever been up against. 

And although it should have, her skill in the arts did next to nothing in easing her worries. 

She knew she was gifted, but her imposter syndrome invoked her deepest fears of inadequacy when faced with a serious matter like this.

And – as selfish as it sounded – she couldn’t help but think that she might not have been so ashamed if anyone else had been her victim. She knew that nearly killing you wasn’t likely to score her any points, nor was it particularly advantageous in helping her gain your favor in the long run. 

She lamented over all of her wasted efforts thus far, fully aware that that single strike from her wand had surely eradicated all of the fruits of her labor from your heart and mind. 

Every study session that the two of you had shared before. 

Every late night escape to the outskirts of the academy, where you and your shared group of friends rendezvoused with hers to sneak around and do things you probably shouldn't have.

Every clumsily flirtatious line that she ever tried on you, with the excuse of alcohol floating nearby as a scapegoat. 

If Yubin was correct, the spell's power would eclipse all of those genuine moments and twist any true feelings you might’ve potentially had for her into something unmanageable. At her hands, you would suffer; and she expected to lose you because of it.

Once the enchantment was lifted, you'd certainly be exhausted by the mere sight of her. So, then, how could she expect you to still find any fondness for her in your heart?

It was impossible at best, and it disheartened her to say the least. She doubted you'd even want to be in the same room as her after it was all said and done.

Alas, all she could do now was hope to find the correct solution to heal you. She could settle for your full recovery, if nothing else.

—---

Your Dorm

After arriving, you quickly sent a text to your roommate – who was hidden away in one of the private study rooms of the library – and asked her to retrieve your abandoned belongings. 

She answered almost immediately and sent you a picture, confirming that she had collected it all safe and sound. She told you she still needed to study, though, and that she wouldn’t be back for a little while. 

You assured her that that was fine before throwing your phone onto the bed haphazardly. 

More than fine, you thought to yourself, as less-than-innocent thoughts of Yoohyeon returned to haunt you. You were miserable, completely and utterly, so it was a welcome thing to have the room to yourself in the meantime. 

For a very real, very serious second, you contemplated smothering yourself with your pillow. 

You buried your face in the loose folds of its silky case as you collapsed onto the bed, and you did all you could to put your racing mind to rest. Your entire body felt like it was on fire and you had no idea of how to stop it. 

A thin sheen of sweat appeared on your forehead before long; this spell took being hot and bothered to a whole new level. 

You felt the back of your shirt being lifted, inch by inch, until soft lips left open mouth kisses up your spine. Manicured nails ghosted over your skin, creating goosebumps wherever they went. 

“So beautiful,” Yoohyeon’s alluring voice whispered, only to you. 

Her hand slid down the front of your body, heading for your center when you unconsciously lifted your hips for her. She admired your every curve and line along the way, promising to worship them properly if you were patient for her.

You groaned loudly and shook your head, willing the fantasy away.  

This had to be some sort of cosmic torture. Karma coming back to bite you for some unspeakable atrocity you committed in a past life. 

Even the paintings on your walls judged you. They were poised above your turmoil and boasted cheerful people with smiles that you couldn’t mirror even if you tried. 

The rest of the room was full of a certain tranquility, too, that brought out the deepest parts of your envy. From your roommate's perfectly made bed to the two desks that sat beneath your window, not a thing was out of place. 

And yet there you were. An epicenter of chaos. 

Fearing for your own sanity, you wracked your brain for a temporary fix for your problems.

Should you cast a sleeping spell on yourself? No, that wouldn’t do. It would allow your body to recuperate, sure, but you’d also be trapped in your deepest dreams of Yoohyeon with no way out. There was no way of telling how that would end. 

Your next idea was to prepare a potion to combat your symptoms, but deep down you knew that you were incapable of producing one strong enough to do the trick. The spell was simply too powerful, and given your state, you were just too weak. Thinking clearly and rationally had long ago gone out the window, after all, and the very lines between reality and fiction were blurred irreparably. 

So, back to the drawing board you went. You ruminated, searching each and every corner of your mind for an avenue of assistance. Thankfully, before long, the universe graced you with a glorious eureka moment.

A cold shower! You brightened as the solution crossed your mind. 

That would do the trick, you promised yourself, as you hastily entered the bathroom. You stripped and set the water just shy of hypothermia-inducing temperatures.

When you stepped in, your initial reaction was to evade the stream of frigid water that bore down unsympathetically. But as you eased yourself into it, you discovered how welcome the feeling was. The droplets combatted the pervasive heat, and you finally felt capable of taking in a breath. 

You cherished the sensation for a while by running your hands up and down your body and turning to face the shower head. When you were satisfied, you reached for your shampoo to begin your routine. 

Everything went smoothly until you began to wash your body. 

You had just applied a generous amount of soap onto your loofah and began to work it into the textured material when it slipped from your hands. 

“You have got to be kidding me,” you lamented. 

Soapy water cascaded down your body as you bent at the waist to retrieve it; once it grazed your fingertips, you were quick to grab it.

Before you could upright yourself again, a dominant hand pressed to your back, keeping you bent over. You reached out to steady yourself on the wall as a pair of bare hips brushed against your ass, rutting subtly. 

"Why do you keep fighting your feelings, Y/N? I can make you feel so good, if you'll just let me." 

Your eyes fluttered closed at the familiar voice. It dripped with a confidence strong enough to ruin you. 

The warmth that radiated from her stood in stark contrast with the chilly water beating down on you. It felt too good for words.

Yoohyeon’s hands tracked their way to your hips, paying no mind to how crazy they drove you. She eased you further back against herself as she teasingly rutted again. A smirk tugged at her lips when she felt how wet you already were. 

"Stop," you weakly said. 

But she didn't. 

Her right hand simply dropped lower, and her fingertips circled your clit in response. 

Obscenities fell from her lips as you shuddered beneath her. She was bringing your body to life in such a wonderfully cruel way. 

"Say it with a little more conviction if you really want me to," she instructed, as she raised you up into a standing position again. Her naked body was flush against yours in an instant, clouding your judgement. 

She kissed your neck gently, allowing the action to be a full 180 from everything else she was subjecting you to. It was her version of a peace offering, as her hand still worked between your aching thighs.

A little treat to soothe your insatiability. 

"Please,” you begged. Had you had the energy to care, you might’ve been embarrassed at how pitiful you sounded.

"Alright, my love." 

When you opened your eyes again, you were alone. Every trace of her had vanished, just the same as the water swirling down the drain. 

You used the wall to steady yourself again, feeling humiliated. Your legs were untrustworthy. 

– 

Yubin & Yoohyeon’s Dorm

The two skilled witches stood side by side, reading from the same page of Yubin’s spellbook. The latter pulled on the adjustable arm of her desk lamp, bringing it closer until it hovered over the words and showered the annotations and sketches in warm light. 

They had been going back and forth for the past few minutes on whether or not her initial prediction was correct. 

Yoohyeon’s arms were crossed at her chest, and the look on her face screamed skepticism. 

“Look,” Yubin pointed at one of the formulas. “It had to have been a cross between the Amore variant and a spell of temptation.” She reasoned. “You were thinking about her right before you cast it, right?” 

The younger girl already knew the answer, but she wanted to check all of the boxes.

Yoohyeon bit the inside of her cheek, becoming a little flustered. She felt called out. “Yes.” 

The look in Yubin’s eye softened. When Yoohyeon had first started catching feelings for you – those incessant, fluttering butterflies that were annoyingly endearing – Yubin was the first and only person she told. She’d watched her pine for months on end, and that’s precisely why she encouraged her to practice the spell in the first place. 

But had she known that this would happen, she never would’ve pushed her to.

“I figured.” She nodded lightly. “That’s why I’m so certain I’m right.”

Yoohyeon sighed, though she kept the noise to herself as best she could. She didn't want to believe it.

“There’s no reasonable explanation for why her reaction was so strong. Corrupted variant or not.”

Yubin pondered for a moment. Her pencil twirled in her hand, and she rhythmically tapped its eraser against the surface of her desk as her mind worked its magic.

“Are you sure she doesn’t like you back? Even budding feelings can heighten the effects of these spells under the right circumstances.”

Her gaze fell to the floor, and her head shook, just a little. “I don't know."

You'd always acted so different around her than everybody else. She could never properly read you.

A frown formed on Yubin’s lips, full of pity. She had to be mistaken; any sane person would be head over heels for her.

“Well, there’s still good news,” she mitigated, looking at the bright side of things. “The antidote for this won’t harm her even if the enchantment she’s under really is a different one. Either it stops her symptoms or it does nothing at all.”

“That’s comforting.”

Yubin nodded. She drew in a deep breath and raised her head towards the work station of their room. It was complete with a cauldron, beakers, tools, and every ingredient that they would need. Thankfully the antidote didn’t require any outlandish or rare components.  

“If we work together, we can have it done before the end of the night.”

Yoohyeon’s lips pursed briefly in thought as she set her jaw. Her determination was as strong as ever. 

“Then let’s get started.”

–

Your Dorm

At some point between your disastrous shower and less-than-dignified retreat to bed, the raging storms outside had ceased. The skies were clearer than before, although the velvet cover of night was ridding them of any and all remaining daylight. Stars were picking up their twinkling again, and the moon was poised high above everything else. 

A wet washcloth was folded across your eyes to ensure that your body temperature didn’t exceed an acceptable limit. It eased your headache some, too, although it wasn’t enough to put you out of your misery entirely. 

Every fiber of your being still hummed and your stomach was full of butterflies. Your chest tingled, taunting you. The constant, neverending urge to writhe and squirm was challenging to hold at bay. Your body begged for friction – for release – but no matter what, nothing was ever enough. 

The inseam of your shorts teased your sensitive bud with every hopeless sway of your hips. The material of your shirt ghosted across your skin, flitting over the peaks of your breasts that begged for attention. 

Every added sensation left you breathless, but it failed to push you over the edge. 

You whined and flattened the cloth out across your entire face, praying that the cold material would be enough to offer a short reprieve.

The scent of Yoohyeon’s perfume permeated the air, almost as if she was really there. You'd never experienced such a visceral sense of neediness before in your life. You'd wanted things, sure – lusted after them, even, and with conviction – but nothing compared to this. 

The version of her that resided in your mind commanded your psyche in a torturously beautiful way. It was exhausting, to say the least, and oh so humiliating. But something about being so wholly at her mercy did things to you. And for some twisted reason, your mind decided to use that against you, over and over. 

She returned in waves. 

Any hope of release was continuously pushed farther with every visit she paid; she dangled it proudly, like a prize, just out of reach. 

Like an unbeatable race, she extended the finish line mere seconds before you reached it. A never ending saga, trapping you between the Heaven and Hell that the spell crafted into existence. 

If you were the powder, she was the fuse. And oh, how brightly you burned.

—

Later, Across Campus

Yoohyeon did her best to tread lightly, but the faint clicking of her shoes still echoed out across the expansive corridors of the academy. They were void of activity, given the late hour, and she appreciated that. With no interruptions or distractions, she could make it to you faster. 

Her conscience had been twisting itself into knots relentlessly for the better part of the evening anytime she stopped to imagine what you must’ve been going through. Tall tales and readings were the only means by which she had attained any information on the side effects of such a spell, and none of them eased her mind in the slightest. She was worried sick, and the only thing capable of consoling her was seeing you alright again.

The crystal bottle of antidote was cradled in her hands, shimmering with a slight green hue. 

She passed by more arching windows, finding streaky stains marring their typically spotless surfaces. The rain may have stopped, but it left traces like that everywhere, ensuring it wasn’t forgotten. Puddles of stagnant water reflected moonbeams all across the yard, pooling in various sizes. 

She felt bad for the groundskeepers that would be tasked with prettying it up in the morning. 

The towering ceilings of the grand hall greeted her as she stealthily continued on her journey. They loomed high above, keeping watch.

She remained vigilant to avoid getting caught by any passing faculty or patrolling guards there. It was past curfew, which meant they’d be more apt to question her if she got caught without a valid excuse for being away from her dorm.

So she made a promise to do whatever it took to remain inconspicuous. If the need presented itself, she was prepared to cast a spell of invisibility; the simple words of the incantation remained on standby, resting on the tip of her tongue. 

For you, she was set on making things right, no matter what it took. 

—-

Your Dorm

A knocking resounded from the door, causing you to peek at the time on your phone. A couple of hours had passed since your conversation with your roommate, so you’d been expecting her to arrive any moment. You knew her arms would be full of both your and her own belongings, and so you dragged yourself out of bed to assist her. 

The steps you took were weary and a bit unstable, but you disregarded all of that. You swung the door open and leaned against it, grateful for its sturdiness. 

When you made eye contact with the bane of your existence instead of your roommate, your shoulders sank defeatedly. She had the nerve to smile at you, acting as though she hadn't been encouraging your demise all evening. 

You paused and drew in a deep breath, fed up. This was getting ridiculous.

What did you have to do to put an end to it all? Would giving into the fantasy stop it?

She looked you up and down, studying the state you were in. When she noticed how mussed your clothes were and how ruinous you looked – completely and utterly fucked out – an expression of pity naturally pulled at her features. 

You mistook it as teasing arrogance. 

“Fuck it,” you muttered. Your exasperated voice was harsh against the quiet that had fallen over the academy.

Yoohyeon’s eyes went wide as you put a hand on the back of her neck and pulled her in close, all in one swift movement. Before she could even get a sound out, your lips were on hers and kissing her like your life depended on it. 

A vibrant, crimson blush sprawled its way across her cheeks and neck, even reaching the top of her ears as you unabashedly gave into your desire. The hallway was empty, but even still… did you have no shame? No fear of being caught?

She found her answer when your hand trekked down to the hem of her shirt and lifted it, revealing her toned stomach. Instead of using your words to admire it, your fingertips took their place; they caressed the sculpted lines and curves there, offering their own kind of praise. 

Her back arched involuntarily, searching for more of your touch.

She pulled her lips away from yours and turned her head, shying away as she attempted to catch her breath. Your free arm came to encircle her waist, and your head ducked down to her neck to kiss there instead. 

She sighed softly and allowed you to have your way with her.

“Y-Y/N, what are you doing?” Her voice was airy, and she fought every urge imaginable to keep from moaning when your tongue swirled over her pulsepoint. 

“Don’t play dumb now,” you said. “I’m just finishing what you’ve started.”

Her fingers gripped the material of your shirt at your shoulders in an effort to ground herself. She trembled, unable to process everything she was feeling. 

She tried to remind herself that you were simply at the mercy of the spell – that you wouldn't be doing any of this without its compulsion.

But having you on her in such a way made it easy to forget that. 

Your teeth grazed her sensitive skin, pulling a pretty whimper from her. Her eyes nearly rolled back at the rush of warmth it sent to her core.

“I don’t know what you mean,” she struggled out. 

You halted your movements long enough to pull back slightly and look into her eyes. When you did, you were mortified. 

This Yoohyeon wasn’t the one from your fever dreams at all. 

No; this Yoohyeon – the real Yoohyeon – was peering back at you with a dazed look in her innocent eyes. Her pupils were blown wide, and her lips were kiss-bitten and red. Her chest rose and fell quicker than normal, and you could feel how rapid her heart rate was from how close you still stood. 

Perhaps you had gotten a little ahead of yourself…

You detached yourself and stumbled backwards at once, embarrassingly bumping your head into the door. You reached up to rub the pain away and avoided meeting her eye again, wishing the ground would swallow you up and save you from such a humiliating fate.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to–”

“It’s alright. I know what you’re dealing with,” she soothed, with labored breathing.

Your head raised at that. How could she possibly know?

“Yubin and I finished a potion for you,” she informed, ensuring that the coast was clear as her hands reached into her pocket to retrieve it. It shimmered in the light of the hall when she held it up for you to see. 

“It should get you back to normal in no time.”

“Thank you,” you said, beaming with gratitude. “...so much,” you added.

A deep look of contemplation showed on her face; she was clearly debating on something. What it was, you had no idea. But the only thing on your mind was getting a taste of that enchantment. 

Fate had other plans, it seemed. 

When you went to take it from her, she pulled it away. Your brows furrowed in an instant, riddled with confusion.

But her explanation didn’t come in words. Instead, she reached behind you and pushed the door open wide before shoving you inside. You almost tripped over your own feet; but she tugged you by the shirt and pressed you into the door, ensuring that it shut fully behind you. Her fingers locked it as she quickly kissed you again.

“Yooh, what–” you mumbled against her lips.

“Shhh,” she pacified. “Let me help.”

The parallel between your first fantasy and the current moment threw you for a loop. Those words – the exact ones you’d heard before – were a million times more effective now, as she kissed you. What felt real in that fantasy paled in comparison to having her like this now, molding herself to you and chasing her own pleasure alongside you. 

She really was a dream come true.

“Here,” she offered, as she pulled away just enough to pop the cork out of the potion’s bottle. The liquid made quiet glug glug sounds as she took it all into her mouth, completely upturning the glass. You watched in awe as it disappeared in shimmery ripples.

She beckoned you closer with a simple touch, and you understood then what she had planned. Carefully, you pressed your lips to hers and lowered yourself down, allowing the antidote to flow freely from her mouth to your own. You swallowed it eagerly, pulling her soft body flush against yours to ensure that you received every last drop. 

You used your tongue to greedily lap up what remained on her lips and in her mouth, and she moaned deeply at the sensation. Her blush had returned, too, and in full bloom – but that was the last thing on her mind. 

“Fuck, you taste so good,” you breathed. Your voice was huskier than usual, and full of awe.

Her thighs pressed together instinctually as she let out a broken whine. Your simple praise, so raw and undeniable, made her grow even hotter than she already was.

The magic in the antidote was quickly taking the edge off of the misery that you had been in and enabling your natural desire and passion to come through. Power was finally returning to you, placing your fate in your own hands once again.

Part of Yoohyeon was still holding out in the chance that you would come to your senses in a rush and push her away, rejecting her. 

But that never happened. If anything, the opposite did. And precisely because of that, every resulting movement of your body against hers – so wanton and needy – made her realize just how wrong she had been before. 

Even in the absence of the spell's compulsion, you yearned for her. She could feel it all; each impatient touch sold you out a little more.

Clearly the attraction was a mutual thing… So why had you hidden it away until now? Had you really doubted how much she longed for you, too? Your oblivion truly knew no bounds. 

But, in the end, it simply made her all the more determined to prove just how badly she needed you. Then and always.

“Don’t stop,” she pleaded, when your hands began to roam her body in time with your kisses. “I want this, Y/N,” she whimpered, feeling you hike her skirt up to her waist in one fluid motion. 

“Me, too, jagi.” You assured her, pulling her ruined panties to the side just as she slipped her tongue into your mouth again. Your fingers slid easily between her folds, discovering just how wet she was for you already. 

Her uneven breaths fanned out across your skin in response, warming every bit of it that they touched. This time, that heat was a welcome feeling.

“Take me to bed,” she mewled weakly. Her hair cascaded over her shoulders, messy with want. 

She wrapped her legs around your waist when you obediently hoisted her up into your arms; you carried her over and laid her down, pressing her down into the soft comforter with your body. She tugged impatiently on the bottom of your shirt until you decided to appease her and take it off. 

With your upper half now clad only in your bra, she openly ogled you. Somehow, her shyness had disappeared along the way. 

“I want you to show me everything we did in those fantasies of yours, okay?”

You nodded dutifully, allowing her to soak in the sight of you a little longer. 

“We’re only stopping once we’ve done it all.”

A shiver ran up your spine at her assuredness. Could she get any more perfect? This side of her was sparking up your imagination equally as well as the spell had.

Perhaps she herself could count as an enchantment. Surely a drug, if nothing else. 

You hovered above her again the second she beckoned you closer, and ghosted your lips across her rosy ones. They chased after yours, falling for your tricks every time you pulled away at the last second. It was only fair to give her a taste of what you’d spent the day going through, after all. 

But she wasn’t in the mood for your games. She wasted no time in rolling over and pinning you to the bed instead, with her hands pressing yours into the mattress above your head. Your fingers intertwined when she reconnected your lips, picking right back up where you left off. 

Now that your shorts had ridden up and exposed more of your legs, she took advantage of the opportunity that presented itself. Her thighs came to straddle one of your own, and she eagerly lowered herself down to brush her bare pussy against it. Your brain short circuited initially, unaccustomed to such a feeling in the world of the conscious; but the sensual roll of her hips and the moans that slipped out of her grounded you. 

Her slick dripped down the sides of your thigh as she began to work herself up more and more, using your body like a plaything. You flexed your leg beneath her in time with her rutting, wanting to watch her come undone above you. 

Her appreciative whines resounded around your room, filling the space with their beautiful sounds. As her sensitivity became more apparent, the noises she made grew higher in pitch. They were precious displays intended solely for you to hear; each one a little breathier than the last as she chased her high more freely.

And, lacking any sense of hesitation anymore, you offered yourself readily. In any way she wanted you, you were hers. 

The corners of her lips tweaked up into a smirk when you fully submitted beneath her. The tension in your muscles dissipated, and your strain subsided. Your hands no longer squirmed underneath hers; they gave up their fruitless pursuit of freedom.

You surrendered yourself to her, prepared to lose control once and for all. Now, the elusive release that you’d been searching for was promised. No more tricks.

“Are you ready, jagi?” She asked, trailing her lips down your jawline. They lazily painted your skin with a few marks, taking their time. She reveled in the feel of your embrace and the reactions that you had such trouble containing.

Everything about her was full of restrained desire and tension as she waited on your answer. Controlling herself was always hard when it came to you. 

Then and always. 

“Yes.” You whispered, as the last remnants of her spell faded completely from your system.

Now, she had you entirely at her mercy. Un-bewitched, maybe, but more enamored than ever.

-- Bonus --

A Considerable Amount Of Time Later

The sound of Yoohyeon’s phone ringing disrupted the post-sex haze that you had found yourselves in, and she rushed out a slew of apologies as she begrudgingly untangled herself from you. She pressed a long kiss to your lips before getting out of bed, and her shaky legs nearly buckled completely when she first used them.

You fought hard to hold back your laughter as she searched through her discarded clothes on the floor for the phone, aided only by what bits of moonlight flitted in through the window.

She stumbled to the bathroom after finally locating it, as clumsy as ever. The darkness didn’t help anything either, but she eventually managed to make it there without breaking anything. 

“What, Yubin?” She whispered, a little harsher than intended, once the door was closed.

“Hello to you, too, sunshine,” Yubin mocked.

Deciding to check your phone as well, you blindly reached out towards the bedside table for it. Once its smooth, chilly screen made contact with your fingertips, you snatched it up. 

You kept an eye shut as you unlocked it to prevent yourself from going completely blind. An unread message pulsated, asking to be clicked on. 

-- Y/Roomie’s/N -- 

Cramming late tonight with my study group. I think I’ll just crash at their dorm. Lmk if you want me to run your things over!

Huh. Somewhere along the way, you had completely forgotten about your roommate. Oops…

But knowing that you had the night to yourself – that it was free to share with Yoohyeon – made you inexplicably giddy. You smiled and put your phone down again before returning to your initial position. A content sigh left you as you nuzzled further into your blanket.

Despite Yooh’s very obvious effort to keep her conversation inaudible, the opposite occurred. And although her voice was hushed, it wasn’t hard for you to make out everything she was saying.

“How did it go? Did you ask her to–” Yubin asked curiously, before being cut off.

“No, I haven’t asked her to Formal yet. We got a little… sidetracked.”

You smiled against your pillow at that. So she wanted to take you, huh? 

“I’ll ask her when I ask her,” she resolved, attempting to quiet her best friend’s nagging. All she wanted was to be back at your side. “And I’ll tell you about everything later.”

“I’m counting on that, Yooh. I want to know if my potion worked,” she pouted a little, despite the fact that Yoohyeon couldn’t see it. 

“Patience,” was all the older witch said before she abruptly hung the call up without another thought.  

Yubin muttered an annoyed “Aigoo” to herself, all tucked away in bed. She took a sip of her tea and picked her book back up, ready to wind down by reading until she fell asleep. 

Yoohyeon emerged from the bathroom to find you still on your side, just as she left you. The curve of your face looked so pretty that she took a second to simply admire you. You were more beautiful to her than words could ever describe. 

She climbed back in beside you and pulled the covers over herself before snuggling up. She cuddled close and leaned up enough to press a sweet kiss to your neck, right above one of the darker marks that she had left earlier.

“You’ll have to help me find something to wear for Formal,” you uttered, no longer feigning sleep. 

She jumped a little, not expecting your voice to suddenly break the quiet. When she recovered, she laughed lightly. Such a pleasant sound.

Her arm draped across your side when you shifted further back against her. It provided comfort and security in a beautiful way.

“You heard that?”

"Mhm," you lazily mumbled, covering her hand with your own. It came to rest against your stomach.

"I'm kind of glad you did." 

"Yeah?" 

"Yeah," she smiled against your back. You could feel it through your shirt. "I've been wanting to ask you for a few weeks now." 

"No way." 

"Yes way. You know, you've had me hooked since our first project in alchemy." 

Your brows furrowed briefly as you worked to recollect it. 

"When I singed half of my eyebrow off?" 

"Ding ding ding. How could I have resisted?" She teased, pretending to swoon. 

You clicked your tongue and moved to jokingly push her away, but she simply laughed and wrapped herself around you before you could.

Her giggles bubbled up within her chest, allowing you to feel just how happy she was as her body shook against yours. You knew you could never get tired of that sound – not in a million years. 

"Yah," you said fondly, no longer fighting the smile on your lips. "You're lucky you're cute." 

The hint of warning in your voice, paired with the compliment, only made her grin harder. 

"I know." 

Perhaps this year, for once, Brighton Academy found a way to turn things around after all. 

Yoohyeon – and a little bit of happenstance – were just what it needed.

---

You Again?

Pairing: Jiu x Fem!Reader

AU: Non-Idol

Warnings / Misc. -- Some Angst, Smut, Fluff, Happy Ending :)

Word Count: 9,955

Summary: Y/N and Jiu have history. Unresolved tension, unanswered questions, lingering desire: the inconvenient kind. But when they both unwittingly agree to attend a mutual friend's vacation trip, they're forced to confront their feelings head on and learn to live with one another again.

Why, exactly?

Because they just so happen to be rooming together.

Disclaimer: This writing is a work of fiction, and no disrespect is meant for those mentioned herein.

A/N: Hi everyone! I apologize for my absence, but I hope you enjoy this piece :) I have more stories coming, so stay tuned! 💖 Make sure to eat something good today and drink plenty of water.

💖 Happy Reading 🌹

◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚

This has got to be a day for the record books. One of the worst, most unfair in all of human history. 

Well, let’s be realistic: one of the worst in your life. Maybe “human history” is a bit of a stretch – though you can’t exactly blame yourself for giving into the dramatics at a time like this.

The sound of your best friend sighing in frustration brings you out of your annoyed daze, pulling your attention back to her. 

“Y/N, you’re acting like a child. It’s only for one night.”

“Exactly, Y/BFFs/N; one night is far too long for the two of us to be around each other.”

She scoffs, but you don't budge. There's no way you're accepting this without a fight. 

"Why don't we have somebody else switch?" You suggest. 

She shakes her head, dismissing you. "Most of the girls already went up," she explains, motioning behind herself to the cabin. Sure enough, you can see shadows moving within the rooms – forms hidden behind pulled curtains, almost taunting as they shift around in the visible lamplight.

“And I’ve already told Jiu about it.”

You roll your eyes.

"Plus we all sorted this out beforehand." She shrugs. "Since you both joined at the last minute, it only makes sense to put you together."

Now it's your turn to sigh. Suddenly, an idea pops into your head. 

"How about I sleep in the car?" You brighten at the thought of your own scheme; quite literally anything would be better than being trapped between four walls with Jiu. 

"Ha ha, very funny," Y/BFFs/N mocks, clearly not amused. "You can't stay out here. You'll either freeze to death or waste all of our gas trying not to, and I don't think you really wanna do that." 

A disappointed tut leaves you; your warm breath turns to a puff of white air before dissipating into the night. 

Alright, maybe it's colder than you thought. Maybe.

"I'll talk to the others tomorrow morning and see what I can do, okay?" She offers, bringing a hand up to rub the back of her neck. She looks tired, and a pang of guilt washes over you when you notice it.

"Okay. I'm sorry." Regret shines in your eyes, but it's quickly eased by the growing, sleepy smile on her face. 

"Don't worry about it," she reassures you, looping an arm with yours. The two of you fall in step together, heading back to the cabin. 

"I know it's difficult, after everything. But it's just a few hours. I'm sure you can survive that, no?" 

You shake your head, though you're grinning. 

"We'll have to see. I'm sure she'll make it hard." 

Y/BFFs/N slides her free hand along the polished oak handle of the porch's glass door, opening it for the two of you. 

"Just be civil and it'll all be fine. You don't even have to talk." 

The resulting glare you send her makes her laugh. 

Tonight will definitely be the death of you. 

–

Across the first floor, tucked away in the kitchen, Jiu is hard at work. She stands in a pair of shorts and an oversized sweatshirt, cleaning the grill she helped prepare dinner on earlier. A few strands of her hair have evaded the grasp of her ponytail holder, coming down to frame her face as she scrubs away. 

“Why don’t you just save that for the morning?” Someone unseen inquires, sounding half asleep. 

She turns around to find one of your friend’s other invites moseying over to the center island, bottle of water in hand. Her face is scrunched up some, and the small bags under her eyes immediately remind Jiu of who she is.

It’s Sua, the person who pre-gamed too early and overexerted herself when the group first arrived at the cabin earlier this morning. She’s been nursing a headache for the past few hours as a result. 

The low groan that she lets out as she hauls herself onto the high-top chair makes Jiu giggle, but she stifles it to the best of her ability. The younger girl has managed to brighten everybody’s moods all day long despite feeling how she does; she's truly a gift. 

“I want to get it done so I can rest easy,” Jiu finally answers. 

Sua rolls her eyes. “Sleep now, clean later. This is a vacation for a reason, you know? We deserve to procrastinate.” She raises her bottle to her lips, taking a long drink. 

“You do that, I’ll clean,” Jiu resolves, nodding to herself. 

“Suit yourself, pabo.” 

Sua folds her arms on the countertop and lays her head down, yawning as she nuzzles her cheek against the soft material of her sweater. Jiu glances at her and smiles, amused. She appreciates her nonchalance likely more than anyone else on this trip; it’s distracted her from her worries.  

Namely, you: her biggest inconvenience. 

When news reached her of Y/BFFs/N’s plans for a week-long getaway, she was intrigued. Work had been a hassle, she was stressed, and all in all she just needed a break. So, she pulled some strings, got her shifts covered, and took the time off.

All was well for the first few hours, when everyone was at Y/BFFs/N’s house, readying up to make the long drive to the forest resort; but then you made a surprise appearance there, busting in and looking just as good as you did the last time Jiu saw you. 

Effectively, it ruined her mood.

You’d glanced at her, then, when you first walked through the door. She was the one closest to you, having been on her way to get a refill of the drink she had in hand. Truthfully, it felt like slow motion; for a second, it was like the two of you were back to where you had been all that time ago. 

When you were still together.

You crossed the threshold with an eager smile, luggage bags weighing heavy in your hands before you allowed them to slip off your fingertips and land on the ground with a soft noise of impact. She met your eye for a fleeting moment, and she unconsciously took a small step toward you. Her lips began to pull back in the soft grin that you always told her you loved, mimicking the happy expression on your face. For that foolish second, she was transfixed. Foolish.

It was as if you were looking through her; you hadn’t actually perceived her at all, really. She was a passing face as you searched for Y/BFFs/N’s, only caring to register hers. 

Just before Jiu could utter a word or reach you, a loud cheer rang out from behind her. The entirety of the group had picked up on your arrival, word spreading fast throughout the living room once one of them caught a glimpse of you. 

She cursed quietly and retreated a few steps, allowing the excited crowd to gather around you and visit. 

You happily shared the story of how your boss – who’s always regarded you with a distant indifference – finally showed her humanity and adjusted the schedules so that you could have some time off. Not the entire week, of course, but a few days to go and be with your friends. Everyone seemed genuinely happy to see you; even the ones who barely knew you, having only heard of your existence through the stories that Y/BFFs/N had told them. It all made Jiu feel like the odd one out.

But she could remember a time when just hearing your name made her heart flutter, too, so she couldn’t exactly fault them. 

From a distance, she watched you. How you moved. How your hands danced around as you explained your stories. The way your lips pouted and pursed with every syllable, almost taunting her. 

She thought she had gotten over you months ago, after things ended. She thought she was stronger than this; but clearly, moving on would be impossible with you around. That was to be done separate, no more strings attached. The idea of having to look at you, to hear your laugh, to be near you in such a way and pretend like everything was fine seemed unfathomable. With every trace of you gone, maybe, maybe then she could move on. 

Anything less destroyed even the chance of closure for her. But, she supposed, closure would just have to wait a week or so. 

—

25 Minutes Later

Put lightly, Jiu is avoiding you. 

After washing the grill and dishes, she took her time with leading a groggy Sua back to her room and making sure she got settled fine. She made some small talk with some of the other girls in passing, but nothing as serious as she was looking for.

She’d be happy to debate the meaning of life right now if it kept the two of you apart for a little longer.

But with lights out rapidly approaching and everyone dragging themselves to their respective rooms, she knows the chances of that are nearing zero. So, begrudgingly, she makes her way up to the suite. 

With every step she takes, she wonders what you’re doing in there. Are you already asleep? Reading? Watching television? Maybe you’re scrolling mindlessly on your phone. Maybe you’re not even in there at all. 

The questions pile up in her mind until she eventually gets fed up and decides to be unaffected for once. Or, at least, to appear that way. She shouldn’t care regardless, and she reminds herself of that fact. All the two of you have to do is make it through the night, and then something can be arranged so that you can stay far, far away from one another. Not so hard, right?

Wrong. Certifiably, absolutely, unequivocally wrong. 

When Jiu opens the bedroom door, she finds you fresh out of the shower. A lacy bra adorns your upper half, while a towel is wrapped around your waist; you’re bent over your suitcase in search of some shorts to wear.

She looks away quickly, but it’s too little too late; even as she shuts the door and turns around, pressing her forehead to the wooden surface, she can picture your body. 

She mentally curses the water droplets that run their paths down your chest and abdomen, free as they edge closer and closer to where the towel meets your waist. They touch you in a way that she never can again, and she hates that.

More specifically, she hates the fact that she wants to.

Your eyes land on her as you stand up, shorts in hand. A heavy feeling of embarrassment settles over you. 

“Uh, sorry,” you mumble, not knowing what to do. 

She turns back around to face you after a moment, but she refuses to meet your gaze. If she does, her resolve will surely falter and crumble.

“There should still be plenty of hot water left if you’d like to take a shower,” you offer, extending an olive branch of sorts. From the angle you have of her face, you can see relief spread across it. 

She wastes no time in sending you a quick thank you and slipping off to the safety of the bathroom, leaving you to question what the hell just happened.

Most of the time, she’s engaging and bold; her liveliness is one of the things that made you fall in love with her. Even at the end of your relationship, when things were falling apart, it was never like this; she never refused to look at you as many times as she had today, or been so weary anytime you entered a room. She never used to despise you so much, and as that sinks in you realize just how much it hurts.

Despite everything, you hate how unbothered she is. 

While you’ve watched her from afar all day, agonizing over the curl of her lip when someone said something witty or the sound of her easy banter with the other girls, she’s clearly been fine. Paying you no mind doesn’t seem to be a challenge for her anymore, and you dislike that more than you thought you would. 

Truth be told, you hadn’t prepared yourself for that. With the scope of your relationship and the lack of closure you received, it only made sense for you to assume she’d miss you as much as you miss her. To be just as affected now, by it all, as you have been. 

But that’s clearly not the case. 

—

Once she’s alone, Jiu takes the opportunity to steady herself. Her hands find their way to the cool marble countertop of the sink, and she draws in a deep breath. 

She can’t stand you. 

Now, from just that small interaction, all she can think about is you. The subdued lighting of the room only brought out your features more, leaving shadows to fall across the parts of you that were untouched by it. Your muscles pulled and strained as you sifted through your bag, parting clothes left and right in search of your shorts. She could see your face, too, looking just as kissable as always. 

She really can’t stand you. 

Defeatedly, she turns the water on. The cold streams down, unaccompanied by any real heat whatsoever; this will be a freezing shower, she’s decided. She doesn’t trust what she might do otherwise, alone in here with her thoughts of you and steam clouding her judgement. 

The subtle throb between her legs is enough to warn her; she knows she’ll do something stupid if she doesn’t stop herself now, before it has the chance to start. 

When she strips out of her clothes, she does her best to think of anything other than the way you used to undress her. How you sat on your knees before her, slowly inching her pants down as your warm lips left kisses in their wake. How you’d take your time with her panties afterward, holding eye contact with her and stopping your motions anytime she looked away. 

Even now, goosebumps rise to her skin at the memory. It was torture then, but for entirely different reasons. 

She was promised sweet release then, no matter how much you may have edged or tested her. Now she'd consider herself lucky to even be rewarded with a conversation. 

Shaking the thoughts from her head, she steps into the tub. The frigid water makes contact with her back, and she has to sink her teeth into her lower lip to keep from shouting. But if this is what it takes to keep you out of her mind, then so be it. 

–

The muscles of your neck and shoulders ache as you sit at the mahogany desk on the far side of the room, half-heartedly working on the report your boss asked you to start. It was what you had to give in order to take the time off, which is only reasonable. Even still, you're having a hard time staying focused. 

The desk faces one of the large bay windows of the room, overlooking the forest and mountains that surround you. Darkness completely envelops the land, save for the occasional house light far off in the distance. Moonbeams hit the treetops, coating them in a sparkle that contrasts with the midnight sky. 

Nearby, an electric fireplace crackles, reminding you of its presence. It's situated as the centerpiece of the lounge area of the suite, providing the room with some additional warmth and light from its place beneath the television. Faux flames waver within it, vibrant as they mingle with one another. Some burn brightly while others glow dimly; the wild versus the tamed.

Despite everything, maybe this trip will do you some good. Escaping the hustle and bustle of your life back home is always a plus, and being in nature never fails to ground you again. Some circumstances might be unsatisfactory, sure, but you're determined to not let that stop you from enjoying this time away. You deserve it, after all.

Just as you find the inspiration to start your reporting again, another one of your distractions makes herself known. 

From the bathroom, a pleasant humming fades in; it's Jiu, reciting the chorus to one of her favorite songs. She breaks into vocals occasionally, switching between the two. 

No matter how much you wish you could, you can't deny that it sounds perfect, coupled with the atmosphere that surrounds you. Given its range and ease, her voice has always been a comfort; getting sick of it is simply impossible. That fact annoys you, but at the same time you give up trying to fight it; you know there's no use.

It takes you back in more ways than you know how to handle, but you don’t complain. For now, you’ll bottle up this feeling and store it away for later, when you part ways and return to the chaos of your own lives. 

Maybe then you could open such a Pandora’s Box.

-

A few minutes later, she finally emerges from the bathroom; you attempt to ignore the urge to perk up. It's difficult, no doubt, after being left to your own devices for so long. Knowing she's so close and yet so unattainable doesn't help either. 

You don't turn around, just in case she isn't fully clothed.

It isn't anything you haven't seen before, but you're afraid you don't have that kind of permission anymore. The last thing you want to do is overstep.

Jiu wishes you'd look at her.

One thing she misses the most about you is your attention. You always paid it so freely – so willingly – rarely taking it off of her. It was ready for her anytime she wanted it, mainly because she had you so enraptured. 

Just the same as you’d always watched her, she watched you. She lived for the way your eyes lit up whenever she smiled or laughed, shining beautifully in a way they never did otherwise. She ached over how they darkened when she'd strip, parting her legs for you and putting herself on display. 

She was the art and you were the beholder. The only one she ever wanted to share herself with.

But now is a totally different time. You don't even so much as glance in her direction when she comes out, with her towel draped precariously around her body in a way that she was sure would drive you crazy.

It’s disheartening, but it doesn't make her want you any less. As she opens her bag and retrieves her clothes, slipping them on, she keeps an eye on you through the standing mirror in the corner of the room. 

Your legs spread as you readjust in the chair, making an attempt to rid your muscles of the tension within them. They're tight with the culmination of all the stress you've felt lately. 

When you allow your head to loll back, rolling from one side to the other, Jiu has to stop her wandering hands. The angle of the mirror allows her to see the way your brows knit together, pain and pleasure intermingling. She doesn't know how much longer she can stand this. 

One of your hands finds its way to your shoulder, rubbing a knot there, and Jiu gets an idea. Is it wise? Not in the slightest. But is she going to give in and go with it? Absolutely. 

What was it that Sua said earlier? This is a vacation for a reason. She can escape sound judgement and reason for now. Surely they'll return in full once you're out of the equation again, anyway.

She deserves to be a little reckless for once.

"Y/N," she calls, getting your attention. You wordlessly turn to look at her.

A bottle of lotion rests in her hands; she nervously toys with it.

"You can use some of this for your shoulders, if you want. It works pretty well." 

You consider her offer. "Thanks, but I'm alright," you declare, turning her down. "I can't reach what really hurts anyway." 

A beat passes before her eyebrows gently raise. "I can help you," she says, trying to keep the eager tone of her voice at bay. 

You pull a face. "Are you sure? You don't have to do that."

I want to, she thinks to herself.

"It's not a problem." She shakes her head, cementing her decision. "Just come here and lay down." 

You stand and relent with a soft noise of acceptance, almost imperceptibly. She takes notice of the way your eyes track down her body before dropping to the floor, lingering just a second too long for innocence. 

She dismisses the thought at once, not wanting to give herself hope.

When you cross in front of her and pause, though, slipping your shirt over your head with a subtle glance at her, it’s all she can do to restrain herself. The fading sunburn that you received earlier in the day, stretching across your nose and cheeks, looks like a natural blush from this close. 

She wants to kiss it.

“Thank you in advance,” you say over your shoulder, carefully laying down on your stomach. The fluffy comforter welcomes you in full, partially distracting and preventing you from overthinking what you’re about to experience.

She takes a steadying breath and releases it, glancing up at the ceiling like she’s pleading with a higher power. 

"Don't mention it," she dismisses, getting on the bed after you. 

In her mind, she debates the best way to go about this. Where should she sit? Overstepping the unspoken boundaries you've established isn't something she wants to do. 

Her fingertips play with the hook of your bra, sliding over the material. "Can I…" she trails off, both of you aware of what she's asking. 

"Go ahead," you permit.

She unclips the fastener and watches as the two sides fall down, fully exposing your back to her. Once you slip it off of your arms and toss it towards your suitcase, her fingertips ghost over your skin, tracing the gentle curve of your spine. 

She dons a musing smile when she notices goosebumps appearing in their wake. 

Perhaps she was wrong. Maybe all along, you've been the art and she the beholder. 

Her knees go to either side of your waist as she moves to straddle you, settling down onto you. Once she's sure you're comfortable, she retrieves the bottle of lotion from its place on the bed and squeezes some out onto her fingertips. 

It's smooth as it slides against them, medicated and cool. Her favorite brand makes it, and she never leaves the house without it. She'll be thanking her lucky stars endlessly for that habit after tonight.

Something crossed between a hiss and sigh fights past your lips when she makes contact for the first time, spreading the chilly cream across your shoulders. The attempt she made to warm it beforehand clearly didn't work as well as she thought, and she has to stifle a laugh at your reaction. 

Beneath her fingers, your muscles tense and jump; you do your best to relax them as she pushes harder, kneading them with care. She does so with a steady rhythm, using the base of her hands to loosen you up first before focusing her fingers on the more persistent knots. Every circle of her hands against you warms the lotion up more, convincing you to relax and give into the relief she’s able to provide.

You close your eyes, wanting to focus on her motions. 

What you failed to prepare yourself for, though, is the notion that she’s closer to you than ever. Only separated by the material of your shorts and hers, she sits atop you, her warm thighs trembling slightly with effort anytime she has to push herself up to reach you better. 

When she steadies herself on your lower back, splaying a hand across it, you can feel the subtle way her hips rut against your ass as she readjusts her position. 

Maybe you're just imagining it.

Serious work is put into leaving that idea behind, but at every opportunity she gets, Jiu seems to enjoy feeding your delusion. 

When she accidentally gets too much lotion at once, her solution comes in the form of leaning down and running her hands up your outstretched arms, reaching as far as she can to further spread it. In the process, her front presses against the length of your body; her breathing is shuddered, too, just like yours. 

Did she do that to show you it’s mutual?

If only you knew.

Her eager eyes rake over your body, pleased to have you like this in front of her. At her mercy, reacting to the faintest of touches. Possessing this kind of power again makes her feel brave in a dangerous way; should things continue like this unchecked, she might do something impulsive.

But, is she to be blamed? No; she rejects that. 

The subtle rock of your hips is far guiltier than her, adding fuel to the fire of her imagination. The way your hands fist in the sheets, fingers twisting in a show of pain and pleasure whenever she hits a particularly sensitive spot, are in the wrong; the sight makes her wonder, for a desperate second, how they would feel in her hair. 

Her motions – now more wanton, unafraid of touching you – grow a little more rough, shying away from demurity. They’ve arrived at your waist now; a risky place to be. 

She can tell that the appropriate amount of time for two exes to spend doing something like this is dwindling fast; the window of propriety will be closing soon, leaving any further contact between the two of you up for suspicion. She’s aware of that, and yet she has no desire to stop.

In this game of yours, she’s merely a pawn; that’s something she realizes when the sound of a guttural, appreciative moan from you makes her heart flutter wildly. 

She freezes in place, taking a cautious breath; she shouldn’t have enjoyed it as much as she did.

A few beats pass… one…. another…. before you ultimately take her stunned reaction as a sign of discomfort.

“Uh, thanks again,” you say quietly, suddenly feeling ten times too exposed and five hundred degrees too hot. A couple taps to her leg gives her the memo, and she climbs off of you.

Embarrassed and upset with yourself for doing such a thing, you refuse to even so much as make eye contact with her again. 

An apology from you fizzles into the air, but she’s still too overwhelmed to fully process what just transpired. It all happened too fast; she wants to go back and relive it, but it’s too late. You’re already slipping your shirt back on and burying yourself under the covers, humiliated. When you cover your face with the pillow, debating on smothering yourself, she spares you by reaching over and turning the lamp off. 

She lifts her side of the covers afterward, getting in beside you. You face away from one another, back to back, establishing distance once again.

This night is proving to be anything but predictable.

—

2:07 AM

Insects perform their songs outside, languidly calling to one another from high above – nestled in the leaves of the tree tops – and far below, amid the grassy trails and branching networks of hills. All is calm… until it isn’t.

Suddenly, the stillness of the night is interrupted by a recurring, unintelligible noise. 

The first time you hear it, you ignore it, opting instead to bury your head a little deeper into your pillow. It's probably just the house settling or something outside, you reason.

The second time, you're annoyed enough to pause your attempt at restful sleep with the hopes of discovering its source and stopping it.

It comes again a little later, but from somewhere you never would've expected. Rather, you suppose, someone.

Your name takes the shape of a mumble as it slips through Jiu's lips, altered slightly from how her cheek is pressed to her pillow. Any other time you might find it exciting to hear her say it, but here and now, you can't say you do. 

Warmth spreads to your cheeks as your sleepy mind recalls what happened just a few hours ago, making you relive your embarrassment.

The noise comes again, and a little louder this time; an irritated groan leaves you as you take one of the throw pillows and nudge her, attempting to quiet her. It seems to work for a minute, but just as you settle back down to rest again, something even worse happens.

"Y/N… ah," she moans, her voice breathy and ragged. 

Is she...?

Your eyes open wide when you realize what's taking place right beside you.

Jiu is totally having a sex dream about you.

What a revelation to have.

She writhes in search of relief, causing the covers to fall down her body and expose more of it. Her pajama top, too, has ridden up and ruffled in her pursuit of friction. 

She looks an absolute mess, you realize, as you roll over to look at her. Her hair splays across the pillow in every which way, her chest rises and falls at a faster rate than normal, and her thighs push together to lessen the throbbing between them. Your blood runs cold when you notice that she isn’t wearing her shorts anymore. Only a pair of lacy, white panties conceal her, gleaming in the moonlight with a softness that begs to be touched.

Hot and bothered is the only way to describe her.

"Please," she whines, desperation hanging heavy on the tones of her voice. 

Selfishly, you don’t wake her right away. Seeing her like this, so close and beautiful, is something you don’t want to give up again. At least not yet.

Her full lips part as her head pushes into the pillow, exposing her neck. Her muscles are pulled taut as she squirms; her hands fisted in the sheets at her sides. A thin sheen of sweat is visible on her forehead, showing just how affected she is. 

Maybe you should play nice and put an end to her suffering…

Her hips begin to rock, slowly at first; the motion draws a soft sigh from her as she finally gets some relief. Your body begs you to touch her in some way, feeling your own desire grow at the sight of her. 

Unconsciously – and to prevent you from reaching out to her – your fingers thread themselves in the cover that's thrown haphazardly over you. You bite your lip to keep it busy; otherwise you'd be tempted to wake her up with your mouth, as she's asked you to before.

Only when your own arousal becomes too much to bear do you decide to end this little game. 

She whimpers when you move in closer, still a world away. Her hand falls on your thigh, however, making you falter for a moment. It's warm and dangerously close to your center, trembling slightly against you. Her nails threaten to leave indentations, should she flex her fingers the right way.

Unable to deny yourself such a simple pleasure, you allow it to stay where it is. 

"Jiu." 

She doesn't stir. If anything, the sound of your voice only drags her further under. Her breath hitches in time with another stutter of her hips.

You'll have to try harder.

“Jiu, wake up,” you whisper, leaving a kiss on her cheek. Your lips hover nearby to utter her name again, should they need to.

Gently, you bring a hand to her shoulder and shake it, hoping to coax her out of her dream and back to reality. After a moment, your plan works; her eyes open gingerly, blinking a few times to adjust from her daze. 

“Y/N?” Confusion is prevalent in her voice, coupled with her drowsiness. It’s cute, really, and it takes you back to all the mornings you would wake up by her side. 

“It’s me; I'm here,” you reassure her, moving your hand to her hip. Now with your arm stretched across her body, you can feel the warmth radiating from her. It starkly contrasts with the chilly air of the room, making you want to hide away under the covers and pull her in close. 

But, of course, you refrain. That’s not something you can do anymore.

Her dark eyes shine in what little light the room has to offer, gazing up at you with a sweet innocence that you find endearing. She's vulnerable in this state, and yet by the way she shifts closer in your arms, she makes it known that she trusts you. 

You watch as her gaze travels down your arm, towards where your hand still rests against her hip. Momentarily, she looks as if she's questioning something within her mind – attempting to piece something together. 

"Y/N, did we…?" She trails off, unsure. 

"Did we what?" You push, testing the waters. You have an idea of what she wants to know, but hearing her say it would be so much better. 

Surprisingly, she puts her hand over yours, keeping it in place. 

"Did we have sex?" The question comes out in a husky whisper as she makes an effort to be quiet.

You shake your head in reply as a slightly humored smile works its way onto your lips. 

The movement draws her attention to them; they're a beautiful shade, with the moonlight hitting them just right. She can't find it in herself to look away. 

A few seconds pass before you speak again; her hand grips yours a little tighter. 

"It was just a dream. You–"

Your explanation is cut short by her lips as they press to your own in a swift kiss. 

Reckless. 

You pull away at once, almost like you've been burned. Why would she do that? 

Both of you pause, regarding one another. Your eyes work hard to decipher her intentions – what she wants – through the darkness of the room, as if they have such a gift. Hers do the same, searching your face for the answer she wants.

She gets it in another form, however, as your hand slides higher on her waist. Her heart lurches in her chest, its rate increasing somehow. Part of her is afraid you can feel it; but, truthfully, that's exactly what she wants. If you could feel how badly she needs you in this moment, maybe you'd show some mercy and help her. 

Maybe.

Tension hangs heavy in the air of the room as she slips her hand higher, too, moving it between your thighs. The heat that's come to pool there encourages her, compelling her to cup you through your clothes. 

You gasp, earning a smile from her. You clearly aren't as over her as you pretend to be. 

Empowered, she rolls you over, trading your positions. Now she hovers over you as you lie on your back, waiting with bated breath to see what she'll do. 

Her hand slides up and over the waistband of your shorts slowly, edging closer and closer to your center with only your panties separating her from you. Your eyes flutter closed in response.

"I'm going to kiss you again," she whispers, sounding more confident than ever. "If you want me to stop, tell me. Okay?" 

You nod, trying to stay still. Fighting the urge to rock your hips into her hand is easier said than done.

She leans into you, letting her body mold into yours as she shuffles closer. She replaces the hand between your thighs with a leg, giving you something to grind against. You thank her by slipping your hands beneath her top and pulling it over her head.

"Beautiful," you whisper against her lips, as she presses them to yours again. You take her into your arms in a safe embrace, sighing into her mouth when her bare chest rubs against you. The thin material of your shirt does little to obstruct the feeling. 

Though the shadows hide it, a deep, crimson blush warms her cheeks. She can taste the cinnamon toothpaste that you used earlier and smell the familiar scent of your hair products. You still use the same ones, she realizes. 

Her leg flexes instinctively as you cup her cheek and deepen the kiss, tilting your head to the side. As you raise your hips to meet hers, she slides a hand up to your chest to offer it some attention. A pitiful noise leaves you when she makes contact, cupping your breasts. She pulls away from your lips to admire you, wanting to see the effect she has.

“Such a pretty thing,” she compliments, feeling arrogant when you bite your lip to stifle a moan. She toys with you like a plaything, switching her movements every so often to garner different reactions. You’re restoring her confidence without even trying; such sweet oblivion.

What she doesn’t fully grasp in the moment, though, is that your arrangement is very much so a two way street. You demonstrate the power you still have over her as you take hold of her hips, pulling them down as you thrust up to meet them. 

Just as her thigh is between your legs, so is yours between hers; the mutual relief you receive at the motion entices you, making you repeat it.

She curses into your ear, the sound so full of raw desire that you nearly lose all sense of reason right then and there. Her head falls against your shoulder in ecstasy as she revels a little longer, enjoying the heat that spreads throughout her body the more you touch her.

It’s just like it used to be in so many ways, but somehow new. Still exciting. Still everything she hoped for.

Her lips find their way to your cheek in the darkness, leaving a trail of kisses downward, along your jawline and neck. They’re desperate and needy, accompanied by her shuddered breaths as she attempts to convey everything you’re making her feel. She can only cross her fingers and hope that it’s mutual.

“Come here,” you instruct, tapping her leg. She understands in an instant, wordlessly repositioning herself so that she’s straddling your waist now. The new angle is even more comfortable, and she sits back to give you a better look at her body as a way of expressing her gratitude. Her perky breasts are on full display, looking absolutely divine above the lines of her abs. You run a finger over the latter, tracing the hard-earned muscles in admiration. 

Subtly, her hips begin to gyrate. She wants the movement to be tortuous, starting slow and building up until you can’t take it anymore. It’s only fair to give you a taste of your own medicine after all this time. 

“Shit, Jiu,” you exhale, glancing down to where you’re joined. Her panties glisten as she writhes, displaying the wet spot that you’ve caused; when her grinding becomes a little sloppier, you can feel her slick spread to your abdomen. 

"You like that, baby?" She muses, breathing heavy. You nod vehemently, not quite trusting your voice enough to speak yet. 

You splay a hand across her pelvis, using your thumb to tease her clit. 

She shakes as a surprised, broken moan slips out of her mouth. It’s louder than either of you expected it to be, and you find yourselves wanting to laugh for a moment.

“Play fair,” she warns, glaring at you. “...unless you want to wake everyone in the house up?” It’s posed as a question rather than a statement. 

“I wouldn’t be–” you pause, exhaling when she presses into you a little harder, cocking a brow, “...opposed to that, necessarily.” 

A sexy smile plays on her lips, making them look more kissable than ever. “No?” Something dangerous shines in her eyes.

“Try me.”

She bites her lip, weighing her options. You asked for it.

Her voice is whiny when she speaks again, and about five times louder than necessary at that. “I need you, Y/N. Please…” her hands thread into her hair exaggeratedly, playing into the show she’s giving. “Fuck me–”

You sit up at once, clasping a hand over her mouth and using the length of your body to push her backwards and pin her down against the bed. Adrenaline surges through your veins as you remain deathly still for a few tense seconds, trying to make sure her little stunt didn’t actually wake anybody up. 

You didn’t really think she’d do it.

The sound of distant footsteps fills the hall, a series of padding and waiting, before the latch of a bedroom door clicks. The floorboards creak… someone's weight shifting from one foot to the other as they peek into the hall. 

Jiu smiles against your palm, feeling every thump of your nervous heart. 

When she wraps her legs around your waist and slips a hand between your bodies, your eyes screw tightly shut. 

"Stop," you whisper, the noise like harsh wind on a calm night. 

Her wanting eyes peer up at you, observing. The situation is delicate, so that's exactly how she'll treat it. 

Slowly, she places her free hand beside her head on the bed and glances at it, inviting you to hold it. Upon hesitantly removing your own from her mouth, you thread your fingers with hers as you pin it down.

Innocently, she kisses your neck again, just above your pulse point. Her warm breath tickles your skin, only further stirring the fire within you. 

"Do you really want me to?" She asks, voice sinful and rich. Her lips still, full and tempting, awaiting your answer.

Another door opens somewhere else in the house, followed by heavy footsteps. Someone trekking to the kitchen, it seems. Your mouth runs dry.

Her fingers toy with the hem of your shorts, edging them down little by little. "Say it again and I will," she promises. "Tell me you don't want me and I'll stop." 

You sigh as she pulls your panties to the side, finally slipping her hand past the material. She finds your clit easily, with no real effort necessary; she knows your body now just the same as she did before. 

"I…" you start, fighting back a stutter. Two of her fingers dip down to your entrance, gathering up some of your wetness. "...I can't." 

"You can't what, Y/N?" She moves her fingers left and right, teasing. 

"I can't say I don't want you," you groan, annoyance bubbling up within you. 

"Why not?" You can tell she's smirking just by the sound of her voice. 

"Because I'm sick of lying," you admit. "I've always wanted you." 

Her cocky attitude falters. 

A beat passes.

All footsteps outside retreat back into their respective rooms, and closing doors resound shortly after. 

Effectively, the two of you are alone again.

Silence prevails following your confession – an eternal moment unbroken by any words of reciprocation from her. It lends your mind to chaos, filling it with worry.

You shouldn't have said anything. This was a mistake. 

Embarrassed, you sit up and remove yourself from Jiu, moving towards the edge of the bed. She reaches out for you, though you don't see it. 

"I'm sorry," your head shakes, discontent. "I shouldn't have–"

"Shush," she commands, surprising you. She refuses to let this end like before, with you retreating and shutting her out.

Your eyebrows raise as you turn to look at her; she still lays where you left her, only now she's propped up on her elbows. 

"Don't say you regret it. Please." Her voice sounds small. 

"But I thought…" 

Her eyes remain on you as she sits up, carefully moving to sit next to you on her knees. 

"I never stopped either, Y/N. I just couldn't believe you've felt the same all this time." She explains, not wanting you to misinterpret her silence any longer. 

Your fingers toy at your thighs, still jittery with nerves. She notices, and lays a comforting hand on top of them.

"I've missed you," she adds. Softly, quietly. So as to not disturb this process. Together, you're beginning to pick up the pieces of what you let slip through your fingers before. 

"Me too," you reassure her, bringing a hand up to caress her cheek. She leans into your touch, letting her eyes fall shut. 

The walls she so adamantly built around her heart are lowering, little by little, and the notion scares her. If she gives herself to you tonight and you end up walking away, she doesn’t know if she’ll be able to recover. 

“I’ve got you." The phrase sounds like a promise from your heart to hers; it’s as if you read her mind. “I won’t let things get in the way like before.”

She looks at you again, peeking her eyes open. The earnest look on your face is sincere enough to convince her of anything. “I’ll spend however long it takes proving it to you, Jiu.”

Her eyes shine with unshed tears. “I believe that.”

“Good,” you say, releasing a small breath of anticipation you hadn’t realized you were holding in.

She squeezes your hand three times, reminding you of the past. 

Nostalgia befalls you, both in good ways and bad. So much regret exists between the two of you, centering around the breakup that neither of you really wanted in the first place. Life got in the way, then, and you were both too naive to fight against what you thought were fate’s currents. 

It was decided that if you couldn’t be together, you’d have to settle for the ghost of one another. 

Jiu found you in midnight moonlight, shining brightly amid the darkest of hours. You ruled from high above, with your impact spanning further than you ever realized. 

She found you in the sound of laughter – the kind that starts by surprise, bubbling up from within and spilling out in a way that couldn’t not be contagious. The kind that everyone appreciates when they tell a joke with their fingers crossed, hoping it lands. 

In warm tea and fireside reading you resided; a comforting hug on winter’s coldest day.

But traces of you were left behind in unwanted places, too, like fingerprints on a window. No matter how many cycles of washing and drying her sheets went through, they still smelled like you. 

Her skin still remembered the way you touched her, igniting a fire that only you could put out. Her lips remembered your taste, knowing nothing could compare. She tried, for a time, to replace the imprints you left behind; but her efforts were in vain. 

You were her mirage in the desert; a distant, elusive dream. Glimmering with untapped potential, waiting to be caught. She ebbed, you flowed. That’s how you would be, then and forever.

Or so she thought.

Had she known that she was the Sun to you, perhaps her hope would’ve been restored. 

Or maybe she would have laughed, knowing that you found her in the strangest of places. Like seatbelts, for instance, and napkins; always necessary, and always staving off the bad that the world had to offer. 

She was the chilly blast of air provided by the AC on summer’s most humid day, greeting you at the door of every shop you entered. 

She was the sleepy delirium you slipped into on your days off, all pleasant dreams and comfortable positions.

The flowers and blossoms of the world were all her kisses, like a goddess’s gift to the Earth. Elegant, sweet, perfect. Being showered in them was a good luck charm; they rode the air currents on spring days, fluttering greetings on their way.

Coming home. To you, that was her. The familiarity of the floorboards, knowing where to step to avoid them creaking; the refrigerator light against a pitch-black kitchen, its crescent shape holding the darkness at bay; the support of your bed, offering relief to the parts of you that needed it most.

Truth be told, both of you found each other in everything. Bits and pieces, all fragments far too small to equate to the immensity of what you shared. Glimpses would never do in the long run, and you knew that. But what else were you to do?

Perhaps that silent hope that you held out, all daydreams and utterances of what if, swayed the universe into this. Into giving you an in; an opportunity to right your wrongs. A chance to hold tighter, this time, and accept trials and tribulations as signs of growth to be handled together – not reasons to give up. 

You feel yourself smiling before you realize you’re even doing it. Her presence has a whole new meaning now, a whole slew of possible outcomes. Wherever the two of you decide to take things is up to you again; there’s nothing holding you back anymore. 

She brings a hand up to your cheek, brushing her thumb across your soft skin. Even just holding you like this, so simply, is something she’s been longing for. Since the day you walked into her life, you’ve ruled her world without even knowing it. Sweet oblivion, yet again.

“Kiss me,” she says, after a moment. It draws you from the hold of her spell, bringing you back down to Earth. 

You obey with a smile, but just before your lips meet hers, she stops you. She didn’t mean there.

“Here,” she corrects, as her hand guides yours back between her thighs. She’s wetter now than she was before, somehow, and you moan against her at the feeling. She muffles the noise with a kiss of her own, knowing how badly you need it. 

She bites your lip as she pulls away. “We’re not leaving this bed until you’ve made up for every night we’ve been apart. Do you understand me?”

You sigh, half-amused. “I’m fairly certain that the group is going hiking in the morning,” you inform, “...so I think it’s important that you’re still able to walk for that.”

“Who says we have to join them?” She raises a brow, pushing you down onto the bed and moving to straddle you again. 

You pull a face, feigning concern. “You wouldn’t want to be improper, now would you?” 

Her shoulders rise and fall in a shrug, accepting no blame. “What happens is up to you. Take me now or forever hold your peace.” She declares it proudly, posing herself before you. 

The view of her on top of you – nearly naked, her body humming with want, waiting for your touch – dispels any and all remnants of humor. Your shared desire wins out, filling the air of the room; she’s aware of her power over you, but she’d be a liar to act as if watching your eyes darken didn’t make her stomach flip just like it did the first time you ever took her. 

With a hushed curse, you capture her lips in a searing kiss. She gasps into it when you roughly pull her panties down, showing little care in being gentle now. Her response comes in a similar form, with her hastily tugging your shirt over your head; once you’re exposed to her, she can’t help but stare. She admires every curve like it’s the first time she’s seen it; every line like it’s her last. It’s adoration and desperation, all at once; appreciating it all is important to her, but so too is relearning it. 

Luckily for you, she happens to be best at a hands-on approach.

Her nails drag across your abdomen on their way downward, leaving faint marks on your sensitive skin; she can’t wait to see how many she can leave on you. It’s always been one of her favorite things to do.

In one fluid motion you flip her over, cradling her close in the process. Her hands cup your cheeks as she kisses you, and you hurriedly remove any remaining clothes from your bodies. 

She spreads her legs for you as you begin to slide down her body, leaving one final kiss to her lips. 

Her hands hold your hair up as you explore her abdomen, painting her fair skin with an array of love bites. Her nails dig into your scalp when her impatience hits a high, making you smile against her despite the sting. 

She hums appreciatively when you finally slide your hand down, ready to prepare her for what she wants most. She’s absolutely soaked, and by the whine that she lets out when you press your palm to her clit, it’s safe to say that she’ll only get worse. The bed sheets below her have already received some of her slick, proudly displaying a wet spot for you to bear witness to. 

“Enough teasing, jagi,” she groans, breathless and tired of your games. With shut eyes and furrowed brows, she pushes her head back into her pillow and takes up the writhing again that she had become so good at earlier. Her hands fall to your shoulders, pushing you down further.

You settle her thighs on your shoulders, basking in how smooth and warm they are around you. She’s perfection in human form; divinity personified.

“Keep it down, Jiu,” you command, taking control. “If you pull another stunt like earlier, I’m stopping altogether.”

She nods feverishly, lacking the desire to be a brat anymore. If playing nice is what it takes to have you, then so be it. That promise of release is finally back again, after all this time, and she can let herself get lost in you. 

These four walls – what she once loathed – are creating an oasis.

Her personal utopia.

—

The Next Morning

Overzealous birds work as your alarm clock of sorts, claiming the prize of waking you up. You blink the sleep from your eyes and stretch, feeling a pleasant soreness in parts of your body it hadn’t been before last night. The ache reminds you of everything you did just a few hours ago, and you find yourself smiling like an idiot as you roll over to greet the resident sadist next to you.

When your hand meets the cold, empty expanse of the bed instead, your expression sours.

The bedside table is void of any note or message, too, you discover, though your phone sits atop it, charging. At some point this morning she must’ve plugged it in for you. Sweet, but not enough. You wanted to wake up in her arms, or at the very least next to her. 

Grumbling, you sit up and head to the bathroom to get cleaned up.

You have no idea what the day will hold for the two of you.

–

Clean and dressed, you take a seat on the bed. Your fingertips mindlessly press to the hickey on your neck – one of the many, many that you discovered as you got ready – rubbing patterns against the abused skin there.

You unplug your phone and turn it on, mentally crossing your fingers as you scan through your message notifications for her name. 

Your pursuit proves fruitless. Not even a text.

You huff like a child, rolling your eyes. So much for a vacation; now you’re stressed all over again. 

When staring a hole into your phone doesn’t result in her notification magically popping up, you decide to give it a rest.

Standing up, you slip it into your back pocket and head for the door, ready to track Y/BFFs/N down and tell her everything.

However those plans, too, come to a screeching halt right before your eyes as you swing the door open to reveal a shocked Jiu. Your timing truly is impeccable.

“AHHH!” She shrieks, frightened. 

She hastily scrambles to keep the large tray in her hands upright and off of the floor. 

Spilling the spread of foods she just finished preparing for the two of you doesn’t sound too appealing to her, after all.

Immediately, you spring into action and successfully help steady it. Some fruits fell out of their separate containers and a bit of milk spilled over the side of its jar, but all of that is easily fixable. Jiu releases a tense breath as she realizes that the worst case scenario was avoided, but she glares at you as she pushes her way into the room.

“Pabo,” she mutters, striding over to the bed. The slight limp in her step makes you smile inwardly, proud of yourself.

Once the food is safely laid down and she cleans up what spilled, she turns to look at you. 

“Sorry,” you mitigate, grimacing. When you approach her and look at everything she put together, your annoyance from before gives way to guilt. A plethora of your favorite foods decorates the tray, assembled with love.

She regards you for a moment, pretending to be angry. When her eyes land on one of the darkening marks on your neck, pleased mischief comes to gleam in them.

“You’re lucky I like you,” she threatens, pointing a finger at you.

Playfully, you bite the tip of it. 

“I’m aware, jagi.”

Cautiously, you ease your arms around her waist, ready to pull away if need be. Although her lips still rest in an unamused pout, she doesn’t stop you. 

The jackhammering of her heart has eased now, and you can feel its pace returning to normal as you draw her into your arms. She loops hers around your neck and sweetly presses her cheek to yours, content with staying like that for a bit.

You sway gently, rocking from side to side. This definitely makes up for the rude awakening you received earlier.

Once you’re satisfied, you pull away enough to look at her. Your fingertips brush a few stray strands of hair out of her face, tucking them behind her ear. She leans in, finally kissing you good morning.

“Ready to eat?”

Your lips purse in mock contemplation as you scan the food again. 

"Mmm, five more minutes?" You suggest, leaning forward to kiss her again. She laughs into the embrace lightly, returning the gesture. 

Her lips taste of the strawberries and cherries that she stole bites of earlier, as she cooked. It's addicting, you find, when she deepens the kiss and wraps herself around you, melting into your arms. You hold her close, just like she wants. 

"Does this mean…" she mumbles between kisses, "we're still gonna room together?" 

You pause to laugh. "Yeah, jagi. We're still roommates. No getting rid of me now." 

She replaces her lips on yours, kissing them again and again as you attempt to control the growing smile on your face. She sweetly cups your cheeks, rubbing her thumbs across them as you continue.

Abruptly, jarring clapping resounds from the doorway. Fake sniffling can also be heard, and so the two of you look up to investigate. 

It's none other than Sua and Y/BFFs/N, standing side by side with their hands clasped tightly together like proud parents. 

"I told you it would happen," Sua wails, dabbing fake tears from the corner of her eye. Y/BFFs/N agrees, nodding enthusiastically. 

“Mission accomplished,” she quips, looking straight at you. 

It seems as though they had been playing Cupid all along…

Sneaky.

---

Cloud Nine

Pairing: Dami x Fem!8thMember!Reader

Warnings / Misc. -- Smut, Public Sex, A Little Fluff

Word Count: 3,218

Summary: With the next leg of tour in full swing and lots of places to be, you’re inevitably faced with a daunting red eye flight. Dami – paired with you for the ride – attempts to make the best out of a bad situation.

Disclaimer: This writing is a work of fiction, and no disrespect is meant for those mentioned herein.

A/N: The NDA cover that Dami did with Yooh... dear god, does it have a hold on me. Anyways 🤠 I hope you enjoy this piece! Let me know what you think, and don’t forget to drink some water today! :)

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The ambience of planes has never once failed to fascinate you. 

So many people, so many stories, mingling and intersecting for a point in time that some would remember forever and others would rather choose to forget. Children, adults; first time flyers, seasoned vets. Some having the best day of their lives while others were experiencing their worst. 

A bunch of shooting stars converging, waiting to pass one another for what was likely the first and last time. 

With so much… humanity… packed into one space, your mind tended to give into the romantics. It made you feel small, in the grand scheme of things, but just as important all the same. Every unique experience being lived around you could come together to share this one, unifying moment. 

Well, perhaps calling it a “moment” would understate the grueling twelve hour journey you were embarking on…

But regardlessly, within that, you found true beauty. 

-

The thing to break you from your pleasant reverie was the hushed sound of an attendant’s voice over the intercom, providing a time check and announcing that the cart of refreshments would be brought around shortly. 

You peeked out of the window at your side, taking one last look at the velvety night sky before pulling the cover down and turning away. 

Dami’s eyes were shut and her arms were crossed at her chest; she was resting peacefully, just like a majority of the other travelers. The personal lights above everyone’s seats were all dimmed, basking the cabin in comfortable darkness. Some passengers employed the use of the small televisions mounted against the backs of the seats in front of them, and sparse illumination came from others that were on their phones or tablets as well. 

But for the most part, the darkness won out. 

You watched as a few people woke up, some on their own and others prompted by a jab from their friends or family sitting next to them. They wiped the sleep from their eyes and stretched, reaching down to retrieve their wallets from their carry-ons so that they could buy some snacks. 

You pondered for a moment, deciding on whether or not you should wake Dami up. She looked far too comfortable for you to do so and keep a clear conscience, and you knew she needed the rest anyway; the first few stops of the tour had drained her a bit more than she had prepared for. 

So you resolved to buy something for her instead. You already knew the foods that she preferred, after all, and she could eat them whenever she naturally woke up. It was a win-win in your mind.

Upon rifling through your bag and grabbing some of the cash you had stashed away, you took a second to admire her. The curve of her face was visible in the low light, soft and as pretty as always, and a small pout pulled at her lips, making her cheeks puff out slightly. It truly took every ounce of self control you possessed to refrain from poking them; but you prevailed in the end. 

Her chest rose and fell softly, lulled and gentle like waves lapping on a shore. It brought you comfort just seeing her like that, so cozy and peaceful. She deserved every second of it. 

“Miss?” An approaching, hushed voice asked, addressing you. 

You raised your head and were met with a pleasant smile from one of the attendants. The aisle’s sidelights were on at her feet, ensuring that her movements were well guided. 

“Would you like some refreshments?” She pulled the cart into view and pressed a button, turning the lights of it on so that you could see what each tier had to offer. 

You made quick work of choosing and paying, and before long she was quietly thanking you and handing over all of your goodies. Once you successfully got them all and unlocked the small tray attached to the seat in front of you, you pulled it down over your lap and laid everything out to sort. 

A minute or so later, once your work was done, you sat back with a happy sigh and snuck a glance at Dami. 

Although you had failed to notice it in your previously busy state, it became apparent that she had shifted closer to you. She was curled up a little more, and turned on her side, facing you. It awarded you a perfect vantage point for viewing the subtle smile on her lips; clearly whatever she was dreaming about was good, and that made you happy. 

One of her hands had fallen onto the armrest, with her palm upturned towards the ceiling. It peeked out of her sweater paw, tempting you. 

You succumbed to your weakness and reached over, carefully intertwining your fingers with her own. 

She reacted on instinct, still fully asleep; her hand curled into your slightly warmer one, and a quiet noise of contentment left her. She moved closer once again, and before you knew it her head had found its way to your shoulder, nestling there. Her warm breath fanned out across your neck, almost tickling. 

Snacking, you decided, could wait a while. Sleep was creeping up on you, anyway, and moving was no longer an option. 

You eased your head down atop hers and settled a little more in the seat, getting comfortable for the both of you. Your eyes fluttered shut as the smell of her shampoo washed over you, and you gently rubbed your cheek against her soft hair, allowing sleep to begin dragging you under. 

—

When you awoke a few hours later, things in the cabin were slightly busier than before. A few more people had rejoined the world of the conscious, and glimmers of hazy, early morning sunlight attempted to shine their way in through the plane’s oval windows. 

The tray across your lap had been cleared off and returned to its vertical position, providing room for you to comfortably move around and stretch the tension from your muscles. A blanket was draped over your body as well, courtesy of Dami. 

You blinked the sleep from your eyes and lifted your head from her shoulder, finding that somewhere along the way you had traded positions with her. She looked over at you, and her face neared yours in the process. 

“Sleep well, baby?” She smiled sweetly, pushing her glasses up a little higher on the bridge of her nose. 

You nodded, still not fully alert yet. The fog of sleep weighed heavily on your mind and clouded your senses. Perhaps that explained why when you felt something soft and warm against your thigh, tucked away beneath the blanket, you didn’t immediately register it as her hand. 

You peeked over at her illuminated phone screen and discovered that she was in the middle of reading a book. 

“How long have you been up?” The question came out as a groggy mumble.

Judging by the opened bag of gummies tucked away in her seat pocket, you guessed it had been at least a few minutes. You were glad to know that she liked what you got her.

Her lips pursed in thought. “Not long. Maybe half an hour or so.”

“Good. I know you needed it.”

“Yeah?” She grinned. “You were out like a light, too, you know.” 

Your face twisted into an anticipatory grimace at that. “Did I snore?”

Her head shook lightly as she removed her glasses and put them in her bag, and you visibly relaxed. 

“No, sweetheart. But you did get a little fidgety,” she revealed. “I was afraid you were having a nightmare.”

“What made you think that?”

She shot a quick glance around before moving a little closer to you. “Well, for one, you kept saying my name. And it sounded desperate, too, like something big was about to happen.”

Warmth rushed to your cheeks as her explanation sent realization crashing down onto you. 

“And you squirmed in your seat, too,” she continued, seemingly oblivious to your embarrassment. 

“But when I touched you, you stopped.” She shrugged, and the movement caused her hand to move a little. Her knuckles brushed against your center, just light enough to draw your attention. 

“Dami…” you started, before lowering your voice a bit more to spare your own pride, “...I don’t think that was a nightmare.”

When you pulled away enough to get a good look at her face, you witnessed a sinister change take place. 

“No?” She toyed, using the lilt in her voice to further tease you. “What else could it have been, then?” The innocence in her smile disappeared, opting instead to rebrand itself as arrogance. 

“You already know,” you muttered, blushing a little harder and turning your head away. 

Although things in the cabin were more active than before, concealment and deniability were made available by the relative darkness that still remained. It was a decent remedy for your shyness, and you silently thanked your lucky stars for it. 

And, for what it was worth, Dami was making sure to keep her voice hushed and her movements covered. Her aim wasn’t to make this unenjoyable for you; she just simply lived for teasing you every now and again… and she couldn’t deny that the thought of public play with you did something to her. 

“Mmm,” she hummed, unconvinced. “I don’t think I do, jagi. You’ll have to tell me.”

Her hand worked a little higher on your thigh, caressing the sensitive skin there. Hidden desire guided it, leading her to pull your legs apart a little more and grant herself better access. 

But you stopped her, quickly encircling your fingers around her wrist and preventing her from continuing. 

“Don’t start something that we can’t finish.”

She chuckled to herself at that. 

“Who says we can’t?” She asked, entirely serious, as she brought her face near yours again. Her eyes flitted across your features, taking their time to study them before eventually falling to your lips. Her tongue unconsciously poked out and slid across her own. 

“That bathroom is not big enough for us to fuck in.” You asserted.

“I can make you cum right here, Y/N/N. No need to even get up.” She stated lowly, her deep voice full of husky confidence. You drew in a sharp breath at her forwardness, and she noticed the change. 

When you shied away again, she took the opportunity to lean in and press a kiss to your neck. Her lips were pillowy against your sensitive skin – soft enough to tickle, even, had the stifling tension between you been absent. 

Warmth radiated from her, beaconing you closer. She was right there. She wanted you. She could take you in under five minutes, too, probably, considering how worked up you were already becoming. She could make you feel so good…

Who were you to deny yourself something so perfect?

Your grip on her wrist loosened, slowly but surely, as you handed control back over to her and submitted to whatever fate she had planned. 

She kissed the area just below your jawline while simultaneously spreading your legs apart again. Their innocent trembling was obvious – you were inexperienced with sex in this sort of setting – but it only made her smile and fall for you a little more.

"You're precious, jagi," she complimented. "I've got you; don't worry. Just let me help," she coaxed, kissing you again between the words. She switched hands in order to offer a better angle, and you sighed helplessly at the feeling of her fingers fully rubbing up and down your clothed center. 

“Go slow,” you pleaded, briefly peering over her shoulder. 

Relaxed movements would be easier to cover up if you got caught. 

The upturn of her lips against your neck was obvious. “Remember this moment when you’re begging me to speed up,” she teased. 

“Just shut up and fuck me.”

She tutted, “You know, maybe you need another nap–”

“Yubin.” Your voice was sharp, full of warning. The two of you truly bickered like a married couple sometimes. 

“Alright, Y/N/N,” she giggled a little against your skin, and you felt a small smile growing on your face, too, in time with the roll of your eyes. 

Her hand finally slid into your panties, putting distance between your wet skin and the ruined material. When her fingertips parted your folds, she felt just how much arousal awaited her; a quiet, surprised groan slipped out of her mouth at the sensation, and you blushed a little harder in response. She tended to be the quiet type during sex, so even the most subtle of her sounds made your heart pump a bit faster. 

“I knew you’d be wet, but this much?” She whispered breathlessly, sounding amazed as she collected more of your slick and circled your clit with her thumb. She toyed with you, fully enjoying the way your body responded so easily to her. 

“All your fault.” You struggled out. 

Without any further warning, two of her fingers slid into your entrance. 

Your walls fluttered in response, enveloping them in their warmth in an attempt to coax them in further. One of your hands instinctively reached out and tangled in the front of her shirt, pulling her in, and the other grasped helplessly at the armrest that it laid across. 

“Still so tight, Y/N,” she sighed at how soft you were – how smooth. Her fingers pulled out almost completely, curling on their way, before she eased them back in. She wanted so badly to see you spread out, dripping for her; but she settled, opting instead to focus on every little movement and sound you made as her mind filled itself with images.

A slow grind took control of your hips, aiming to lessen the ache. The motion brought her palm into contact with your swollen clit, and when she noticed, she decided to help. She rubbed it, applying a delicious kind of pressure that made your legs shake a little. 

Her free hand grabbed your chin and turned your head, forcing you to look at her. Through the dark, she watched your brows knit together in pleasure. Before you had the chance to bite your lip, you felt hers sliding across it, trapping it between her own. 

She kissed you passionately, greedily swallowing up the moan that you let out into her mouth and adding the smallest bit of speed to her movements. 

The seat made a squeak beneath you – a product of your grinding growing sloppy. Your fingers weakly tightened in her shirt as you fought your inhibitions; it felt too good to stop or slow down, but you ran the risk of selling yourselves out at this rate. 

She bit your lip and pulled away, allowing you a moment to breathe. 

“Yu–”

Her name cut off abruptly in your throat when her fingers went even deeper, brushing up against your most sensitive spot in the process. Your thighs clamped around her hand in a desperate attempt to keep her in place and prevent her from slipping away.

“Fuck,” she cursed harshly. “You’re doing so well, baby.”

You pulsed around her at that, and both of you felt it. Sensuality ruled her every move, commanding them just as she commanded your body; but beyond it – beyond that languid, brewing passion – a real sense of need reigned supreme. She was just as desperate to get you to your high as you were to reach it. 

Nothing was capable of turning her on as much as watching you come undone for her. The idea alone added a certain, sudden roughness to her movements that had your stomach flipping in excitement. 

A kind of turbulence that you never wanted to end. 

“Just a–” you sighed, biting back another moan, “...a little more. I’m getting close.”

She took your plea as an order, not stopping for a second. It was hard to restrain herself, but she fought against her more primal urge to pound into you. The tenderness was a nice change, she supposed, as you turned your head further to the side and the warm, flushed skin of your cheek pressed to hers. Your every subsequent whimper and whine traveled right to her ear – the most alluring kind of music.

How could you be so perfect?

“Come on, pretty girl. Make a mess for me.” She commanded lowly, feeling you teeter on the edge of ecstasy. The blanket barely covered her wanton ministrations now. 

Somewhere ahead, further up the aisle, a man stood up from his seat. You could see it through the tiny gaps in between the chairs – small flashes of motion that indicated he was turning your way. 

It sent an icy streak of panic through you, but, oddly, your body couldn’t stop. Though your mind was pleading to wait – to still Dami’s hand until the potential crisis was averted – your desire overruled it. You grabbed her wrist again, encouraging her to quicken her pace. 

She raised a brow, looking between you and the approaching man. He was on his way to the restroom that resided a few rows behind you, she deduced. 

“Baby…”

“Just keep going,” you whined, trembling. 

She nodded and obediently followed your instructions. 

Though being caught wasn’t something you necessarily wanted, the thrill of it brought on an undeniably arousing kind of shame. 

Dami’s red cheeks would sell you out immediately, despite the futile excuse her kiss-bitten lips would still attempt to make. Your flushed skin and mussed clothes would further incriminate you, only worsened by her hand in your pants. 

Truly, the risky environment excited you far more than you cared to admit. To know that she wanted you so badly in that moment that she didn’t care who knew – who saw – pushed you further and further towards the edge. 

The passenger grew increasingly closer – now just a matter of a two or three rows away as he tiredly shuffled his way down the narrow walkway. He greeted a stray few people all the while, bidding them hello. 

Dami leaned into you, pressing her lips to your neck. She kissed and sucked at the skin just below your pulsepoint, leaving a mark for you to admire later. She sped up her movements inside of you and eagerly rubbed your aching clit.

“Yubin, I’m–” you struggled out, tightly shutting your eyes. 

“Cum, baby,” she directed. 

Unable to hold out any longer, you let yourself go, falling into paradise. You sunk your teeth into her shoulder to muffle your whines, and she herself moaned at the sensation. 

The man passed by mere seconds after, obliviously nodding in your direction as his eyes sought yours in the dark. 

Your body was still tingling as it recovered from the high of your orgasm.

“Morning, ladies,” he said. 

“Morning,” you both responded in unison, sounding so out of breath it made you laugh together afterward. 

Once he had officially disappeared, you kissed the bite mark on Dami's shoulder as a silent way of apologizing. She smiled as she eased her fingers out of you, making more of a mess in your panties on the way. 

“Told you I could get you off,” she whispered through a grin, and kissed your cheek. 

You’d never been quite so grateful for the dark. 

---

Relief

Pairing: Sua x Fem!Reader

Warnings / Misc. -- Smut, Some Fluff

Word Count: 4,287

Summary: When a rough day at work leaves you in need of some TLC, Sua knows just what to do to make things better.

Disclaimer: This writing is a work of fiction, and no disrespect is meant for those mentioned herein.

A/N: Hey everyone! Here's some Sua smut :) Next up is Yoohyeon, so stay tuned!

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Friday, 11:37 PM – Y/N's Apartment, Seoul, SK

Your bleary eyes raised to meet Sua’s warm ones the moment you arrived at the door to your apartment. She didn’t even give you the chance to put your key in the lock before she had it opened and was welcoming you in, the ghost of a frown on her lips, pitying you. 

She greeted you softly, so as to not worsen the pounding headache that you’d mentioned over the phone. 

In one smooth motion, your bag was surrendered to her waiting hands, and you were melting into her strong frame as she drew you in close. 

"Come here, my love," she sighed, happy to finally have you back in her arms. 

She shut the door and locked it before setting your bag on the entry table, never once pulling away. You slipped your shoes off and blindly nudged them in the direction of the door, resolving to tidy them up later. You nuzzled your face into the crook of her neck, reveling in the comforting smell of her perfume as it greeted your chilly nose. 

The sensation brought goosebumps to her skin and reminded her of the surprise she had waiting in the other room. 

She rubbed your back gingerly, asking, “How does a bath sound? I have everything ready; we just have to put the water in.”

You nodded softly, your pouty lips brushing her pulsepoint in the process. 

“That’s my girl,” she smiled, pressing a kiss to your temple before turning around to lead you to the bathroom. One of her arms remained wrapped around you, helping you amble your way there. 

The soft scent of roses was the first to greet you upon arrival, and you blinked your eyes open as she turned to shut the door behind the two of you. 

Around the room, candles were placed in various spots, flickering gently and providing enough light that she didn’t need to turn on the overhead one. Some were on the floor, while others sat on the end of the tub or along the sink. 

In addition, rose petals were scattered across the tile. Vibrant, rich hues of red caught both the shadows and golden light of the room, looking like something out of a movie. 

A plethora of essential oils was placed near the tub, waiting and ready for you to choose from as you pleased.

“I know today was rough, so I wanted to try and make it a little better,” she explained from just behind you, peering around at the room as if she hadn’t spent the last hour making sure everything was perfect. 

She could almost give you the precise coordinates of each individual petal, if you asked. That’s how serious she took it. 

Your sock-clad feet wiggled, reveling in the softness of the swath of petals beneath you. Sometimes the depth of her love was too much for you to wrap your head around; the notion that she took so much time and effort out of her own day to make yours even a fraction better meant the world to you and then some.

“It’s not much,” she dismissed humbly, “but I couldn’t just sit around and do nothing.”

“It’s perfect, jagi,” you refuted gently, lifting your head to look over at her. 

Your eyes were glossy, practically brimming with salty tears just waiting to fall. Her sentimental side always had a way of doing that to you. 

“Hey,” she soothed, stepping forward to hug you close again. “Don’t cry. Let’s just get you in the tub, yeah? You’ll feel better in no time.”

“Alright,” you mumbled, nodding. As you reached up with one hand to wipe your tears, she gently took the other into her own and led you across the room. 

Her fingers skimmed down the front of your shirt as she faced you, gliding towards the buttons so she could begin undoing them. You watched her fondly, noticing the concentration on her features when she reached a troublesome one. 

Soon you were freed of the garment, and she slid it off of your shoulders before reaching around to undo your bra. It fell easily, and in less than a second – she’d become a master at undressing you over your years together, and the sentiment of that made you smile a little. 

“Is there anything in particular you’d like for dinner?” She asked as she lowered down onto her knees. The cushioned rug below welcomed her, preventing her skin from meeting the hard tile. “I’m planning to fix something while you’re in here.”

You swallowed thickly when she undid the first button of your jeans, feeling her warm breath spread across your exposed abdomen. Though her intention wasn’t necessarily set on getting you going, her movements certainly didn’t get the memo. 

When you failed to answer her, she lightly pinched your thigh. 

“U-uh,” you stuttered, trying to come up with a reply. “Maybe Y/Fav/Dish?”

She nodded, accepting the request without a second thought. “I’ve been craving it, too, actually, so that’ll be good.”

The material of your pants was soon tugged down to your ankles, and she helped you step out of each leg before finally peering up at you. The sight alone – her pretty eyes, warm and full of love as they gazed into your own – was enough to flip your stomach. But being practically naked in front of her – just the slip of a hand, or a kiss away from starting something sinful – filled your mind with possibilities that were lightyears away from innocence. 

Surely it was just the fatigue talking. You were exhausted, truly, so it was no wonder your emotions were so out of whack. Normally you weren’t this easy to rile up.

She looped her fingers in the material of your panties and slid them down your smooth legs, seemingly taking her time with it. 

If she noticed the way your nails pressed into your palms to prevent you from pulling her in, she didn't show it.

Once the thin garment came to pool at your feet, her eyes tracked back up to your center. 

They widened subtly – a mix of surprise and pride swirling within them – as she spotted the slick there. It glistened in the candlelight, making her smile. 

You looked away, feeling a bit embarrassed under her observant gaze. 

“Is that for me, baby?”

The wonder in her voice pushed away your shyness, if only for a moment. “Of course,” you answered, peeking back at her. "Who else?"

“But I haven’t even touched you yet…”

Her use of the word yet made your heart skip a beat. 

An amused scoff left you. “Do you seriously think this is the first time I’ve gotten wet just by being around you?”

Sua swallowed, blinking a couple of times as she centered her thoughts. Admittedly, that simple question sent her imagination a little wild. 

“Well I-” she paused, and you watched as her innocent wonder melted away, getting replaced by a self-satisfied smirk that you adored as much as you loathed. “I knew I was good, but that good?” Her brows raised, and she looked you up and down. “I’m honored, jagi.”

You reached a hand out to her shoulder and playfully shoved her backwards, making her flail for a moment as she fought to remain balanced. 

“Don’t let it go to your head,” you warned, pointing a finger at her in mock authority as you stepped past her and closer to the tub. 

You leaned over to examine the oils and scents that she had laid out for you, rummaging through them until you found the ones you wanted. You sat them apart from the rest and turned the faucet on, ensuring that the water flowing out was a good temperature. 

When you were satisfied, you grabbed the stopper and pushed it into the drain’s entrance.

Gradually, the tub began to fill. As the water splashed out into it, you added a few drops of the liquids to the steady stream and watched as suds began to appear in time with the new smells being released. 

It was pleasant, and you inhaled peacefully as you sat the last bottle down.

But suddenly, just as you went to upright yourself, a surprised moan was slipping out of your mouth and resounding around the room alongside the swashing of the water. 

Sua wordlessly bent you forward a little further, causing you to steady yourself on the wall with a shaky hand. The tile was cool against your palm – almost capable of distracting you from the heat pooling between your thighs. 

Her soft lips kissed a messy, impatient path from the back of your thigh up to your center, and you couldn’t help but shut your eyes. It felt like she had been holding back – restraining herself, for a time – and her resolve had crumbled.

Her hands stroked your skin gingerly, working up from your calves to the curve of your ass. 

With you presented so beautifully for her, positioned just right, she couldn’t stop herself from getting a taste. 

You whimpered when her tongue parted your folds and she began to lap up your arousal. It caught you off guard at first, coming out of left field, but you responded immediately, on instinct, and pushed yourself against her a little more. 

The tip of her tongue dipped into your entrance briefly, teasing you with the promise of what she was capable of. She moaned against you, enjoying the way you squirmed at the stimulation. 

“Sua…”

The arch of your back gave her better access, and she took advantage of it for a few glorious seconds, indulging the both of you. She reached an arm between your parted, trembling legs to toy with your clit; it was already swollen, just begging to be touched by her.

"You taste so good," she praised against you, voice low and lustful. She licked you again, but this time it was slower – more torturous. Like she was savoring you in more ways than one. 

You unconsciously writhed, pursuing the warmth of her mouth and tongue; but she merely grasped your hips and stilled them. 

There was little more you could do than moan in response to her strong grip; it was gentle enough, but an undeniable roughness lied just beyond her fingertips, waiting to be unleashed. 

It was easy to see that she wanted to ruin you, right then and there. But she refrained.

"I've been thinking about this all day," she admitted. Her lips ghosted across your sensitive center as she spoke, making you whine. "I already couldn't concentrate at work, but it was even worse when I got home. One look at the couch and I was thinking about the mess you made on it last night." 

"Oh god," you groaned pitifully, not only at her words but also the memories they brought back. 

She'd fucked you so hard that you'd been plagued with a limp all day – and a difficult one to conceal at that. 

Embarrassing, sure, but even more so arousing. The ache simply reminded you who you belonged to. That you were hers, totally and utterly. 

And you wanted more. No – needed it.

A breathless please was all you could manage, but it proved successful for the time being. 

She quickened her pace and pushed her tongue in further, feeling her own clit throb at the way your walls clenched around the intrusion. Your slick dripped down her chin, making a mess as you greedily swayed your hips to gain more friction against her face. 

She entertained it for a bit longer, getting just as lost in the sensation as you did; but just when that familiar fire in the pit of your stomach was sparking up, she retreated. 

All at once, without warning. Like the gates of Heaven itself were shut right before you and you were pulled back to Earth. 

A chaste kiss was placed against your folds, serving as a parting gift before she fully withdrew. 

Dazed and confused, you found yourself sulking at the loss of contact; the haze of pleasure had clouded your mind and made you forget about the task you had been in the middle of, before her little sexcapade started up.

At the sound of your ensuing, frustrated sigh, she could only grin.

“Tub’s full, baby,” she noted, standing up to reach around you and turn the water off. The simple observation served as a stand-in explanation for her withdrawal, and you accepted it after a moment. 

You were excited for the bath – to unwind after such a long day and get the chance to de-stress – but part of you wanted to say to hell with it and drag her to the bedroom so she could finish what she started. 

Though, of course, her efforts weren’t lost on you, and you knew you couldn’t just disregard the work she had put into arranging all of this for you. It deserved to be used and taken advantage of – but that didn’t mean you couldn’t strike up a deal with her somewhere in the middle. 

“Will you stay?” You tried, looking at her over your shoulder with an expression that she admittedly couldn’t say no to. "At least for a bit?" The soft grip you applied to her wrist didn’t help her resolve any, either. 

“Sure," she agreed with a smile. "Go ahead and get in; I’ll move some of this,” she motioned to the candles and petals around the tub. 

You followed her instructions and stepped inside, wincing at the slight sting that the hot water brought on. It mellowed out once you lowered yourself in and got comfortable, fading to a pleasant tingle, which you reveled in.

Steam radiated from the water's surface as Sua quickly cleared a spot for herself beside the tub, just behind your back. She retrieved a stool from the adjoining closet and placed it down, taking a seat.

Her fingers raked through your hair as she gathered up all of its strands, and soon she was twisting a band around them to keep them up and out of the way.

A quiet hum of gratitude resounded in your chest, and she kissed your temple in reply.

No more words were spoken after that for a while; they simply weren't needed. She knew that some silence would serve your tired mind well, and, frankly, she didn't need to be told how to help you relax. 

She already knew all of your ins and outs. What you liked, what you needed to unwind. 

Like the Sun in the sky, casting itself across the world below, she watched over you. Made sure you were comfortable, not needing for anything. That you were content and happy, tucked away from the outside world and centered in your own little paradise. 

It was domesticity at its finest, and you both loved it. Touches conveyed a million unspoken words; glances and microexpressions even more. Just the simple hitch of a breath could enable you to read one another like a book. 

So, of course, when a moan slipped out of your mouth at the feeling of her hands kneading your shoulders, Sua smiled knowingly. Like clockwork, she'd expected it; one muscle in particular always gave you trouble, and with the right application of pressure and care, you–

"Mmm," you moaned again, features scrunched up in equal amounts of pleasure and pain. 

"That's it, sweet girl. Let it out," she encouraged.

You listened, and soon the tension was leaving your body in droves.

When your shoulders and neck had loosened up, her hands drifted lower, ebbing just as softly as the water as they disappeared beneath the bubbly surface. 

Once they reached your abdomen, you allowed your head to loll back against the cool edge of the tub. You could feel her just beyond the limits of it, hovering close, warm and tempting. Her breaths landed on the exposed skin of your neck, a little jagged as they showcased her own sweet arousal. 

Tension and comfort permeated the air, mingling together like two lovers. They blended into one sensual, cozy ambience that came to settle over the room. 

The first two fingers of her right hand made contact with your clit languidly, taking their time, in no rush at all. Your sensitivity was through the roof already, but you pushed it aside to the best of your ability to enjoy her for as long as possible. 

She used all of the patterns you liked best, alternating between them as she dipped her head down to kiss your neck. You both loved and loathed the fact that she knew you so well; it was a bit embarrassing to be getting worked up again so easily, but god did it feel good. 

She moved in closer, raising her left hand to knead one of your breasts. The movement centered you between her arms, and it provided an added element of support. You were free to melt into her – to let yourself go. 

She rolled your nipple between her fingertips, toying with it as it hardened.

Her tongue slipped past her parted lips to lick across your skin in between kisses, swirling over the marks she left behind to soothe them.

“Sua, please,” you whispered breathlessly, shifting slightly. The waterline wavered, lapping a bit because of your movements. 

“How do you want it, baby?”

“I want your fingers,” you pleaded. “I need you inside.”

“Okay,” she whispered against your pulsepoint, as she obediently trailed her fingers down from your swollen, aching clit to your entrance. You were more than ready for her, and she could feel it from the very second she circled them over it. 

Desperation ruled you, clouding your mind; all you wanted was her. 

The whines that left your lips sold you out, each serving as its own plea for her to fuck you. On their own accord, your legs parted wider, falling open as far as the bounds of the tub would allow. 

Her fingers dipped inside of you with ease, and she didn’t waste anymore time teasing. Even if she had wanted to, she couldn’t have; the pulse of your walls was simply intoxicating. It spurred her on, luring her in further with every flutter and rush of warmth that came to surround her fingers. 

Wetness pooled in her own panties as well, leading her to unconsciously grind against the middle seam of her pants to attain relief in the meantime. 

"Can you take three, sweetheart?" She nibbled lightly on your ear, causing you to squirm helplessly. "Hmm? Will this pretty pussy stretch a little more for me?" 

Eager to please, you nodded vehemently, trapping your bottom lip tightly between your teeth. The move muffled your whimpers to a degree, but Sua heard every one of them. They were shuddered and broken – changing pitch when she finally slid another finger into you.

Your bare back met the soft material of her shirt when she pressed forward, transferring little droplets of water over to the fibers. 

Your mouth fell open when she pushed in knuckle-deep, curling them in time with the press of her palm to your clit. She took advantage of the opportunity presented and kissed you, greedily exploring your mouth as you sought air. All tongue and lips, she took what she wanted, making you melt into her and let her have her way. 

You could taste yourself on her when she deepened the kiss, and your legs instinctively closed around her hand, keeping her in place. You humped wantonly, inspired by the proud groan that resounded low in her throat. 

Water splashed roughly against the sides of the tub, some spilling over; but she simply leaned further into you and tightened her hold, cradling you close as you spiraled towards the edge of no control. 

Your heart pounded in your ears, so loudly that you feared she could hear it as clearly as you. 

The rush of warmth throughout your body – hot blood pumping through your veins, sent to each and every site that she touched you – brought even more blush to the surface of your heated skin. Flushed, desperate, yearning: you were a wreck for her in so many incredible ways. 

“Ah,” she sighed into your mouth, breaking the kiss but not pulling away, “just like that, baby. You’re close, aren’t you?” Her fingers curled within you, repeatedly rubbing up against your g-spot as a cocky smirk played on her lips. 

If you had been standing, your knees would’ve given out in a second. 

“Y-yes,” you struggled out, proud of yourself for managing even the simple confirmation.

“I can feel it,” she admitted, pressing a kiss to your chin, and then your jaw. “You’re taking me so well. So soft, begging for more.” The satisfaction in her low voice worked wonders for your praise kink, truth be told, and you nearly lost it at her words alone.

Her hand on your chest briefly came up to your mouth, and she extended two fingers, sliding them across your pillowy, kiss-bruised lips. “Open,” she commanded, watching over you from above. 

You did, and she pushed them inside, smiling to herself when you obediently swirled your tongue around them, coating them in your saliva. 

“Good girl,” she commended, appreciating how well you were listening. As much as she loved your bratty side – and taming it, more specifically – she couldn’t deny the hold that your submissiveness had on her.

With a wet pop, she drew her fingers out of your mouth and rubbed them against her thumb, coating it as well. She trailed them down to your other breast, finally offering it its own dose of attention as she rolled your nipple between them. 

You gasped when she pinched it, jutting your hips into the air on instinct. Your walls fluttered at the sensation as well, pulling her in deeper. 

This game she was playing with you, this push and pull, perfectly torturous, was just what you had been in need of all day. Where you ended and she began, you had no idea. The water blended everything together; your pleasure was hers, and hers yours. Every time you sank down onto her fingers, striding, leaping and bounding towards ecstasy, she grew closer, too. Due to her own grinding, her ruined panties had worked in between her folds, offering friction to her aching clit. Just from touching you, kissing you, holding you – she was so close.

She was simply under your spell. Enraptured, completely.

And realization dawned on you, then – like the Sun peeking out from behind a batch of clouds – that your headache was gone. Like the best kind of medicine, she was curing you.

Behind your eyelids, colors danced; her fingers flexed deep inside of you, pulsing, guiding them in their waltz like the maestro that she was. 

It didn’t take long for you to finally unwind, unraveling at your very seams with a sharp cry of her name. Surrounded by warmth – immersed in it, both inside and out – you fell into paradise. 

Time stopped for a few seconds, awarding you the opportunity to bask in the moment you had created together. Just as smoothly as the water, she coaxed you through it; and then the aftershocks, planting kiss after kiss against your skin, leaving even more marks in her wake. 

Your head fell back against her shoulder as you drew in deep breaths through your nose, attempting to return to normalcy. She eased out of you, careful and considerate along the way, and you shut your eyes again to calm your heart rate. 

The sound of her sucking her fingers clean of your slick was enough to spark up your desire again, so there’s truly no telling what would’ve happened if you had bore witness to it.

In your post-orgasmic haze, you reveled, holding onto the feeling for as long as humanly possible. Like the reward that it was, you savored it. Euphoria coursed through your frazzled mind, lapping at the edges of it like waves on a shore. You surrendered yourself to the bliss and sighed, feeling content. 

However, the sudden sound of pants hitting the floor brought you out of your reverie. 

Sua stood next to the tub in all of her glory, now naked from head to toe as her hands rested on her hips. She allowed you to gawk, because, frankly, watching you practically eye-fuck her was well worth it. 

“I’ll give you a choice, jagi, since tonight is all about you,” she spoke, when she noticed your tongue darting out of your mouth to wet your lips. 

“I’ll either join you in the tub for round two,” her head tilted to the side subtly as the notion brought a smile to her face, “or I can start prepping dinner.”

This wouldn’t be the first time she’s cooked naked, and the sight of her dressed in only an apron admittedly sent you a little wild, too. But could you pass up on her offer for another round?

You swallowed thickly, feeling overheated again with her brazen attention invested solely on you. 

“What’ll it be?”

‘My demise,’ you thought, though your lips instead declared an aroused, “Come here,” as you tugged her forward by the hand. 

Another splash of water was cast out of the tub as she tumbled into it, displacing itself in the name of making room for her. A high-pitched squeal pierced the air of the room, followed closely by her sweet laughter as she teased you for your eagerness. 

You chuckled, too, feeling the happiness bubble up in your chest as she wrapped herself around you and leaned forward to capture your lips in another kiss. 

---

In Your Dreams

Pairing: Yoohyeon x Fem!Reader

Warnings / Misc. -- Smut

Word Count: 2,273

Summary: When a 2AM knock came at your door during one of the season’s most torrential downpours, you never expected to find her, of all people, standing on your porch and looking so desperate. 

Disclaimer: This writing is a work of fiction, and no disrespect is meant for those mentioned herein.

A/N: Hey everyone! Sorry for the wait, but here’s the Yooh smut I promised :) Siyeon is next, so keep an eye out for that <3

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“Yoohyeon?” You gaped, shock evident in your tone as you lowered the television remote in your hand (which you had been fully prepared to use as a weapon, had she been anyone else). You quickly sat it down on the table by the door and peered at her, full of concern.

Her clothes were completely sodden – every fiber of them packed full of chilly rainwater as they clung tightly to her – and you had to make a conscious effort to not stare at the expanse of skin that her partially unbuttoned shirt exposed. 

The dark cover of night behind her was disrupted by the house lights of the neighborhood – all switched on, acting as little beacons of hope through the raging storm. A large flash of lightning came, too, streaking sharply against the brooding clouds above. 

“What are you doing here?” Your wide eyes darted across her features, searching for an explanation, but she shied away for some reason and failed to utter more than a quiet word here or there. 

When a clap of thunder rang out mere seconds later, she tensed slightly, still shivering from the cold.

You shook your head at her odd behavior but reached out, nonetheless, and pulled her inside. 

Perhaps a little shelter from the elements would open her up.

Water cascaded freely off of her, dripping down onto your floors and filling your foyer with its quiet sounds as you quickly shut and locked the door. You approached her again and moved her closer to the nearby vent that blew wondrous, warm air into the open space, silently hoping that it could work some magic. 

But even once you gave her time to acclimate and returned your gaze to hers, she continued to avoid it. 

Curious, you took it upon yourself to reach up and cup her cheeks, coaxing her into letting you see her. 

When you did, something clicked. Only then did you really take in the full sight of her. 

A vibrant blush painted her cheeks, and her pupils were blown wide as she peered back at you. Beneath the mussed, white, now practically see-through button up she had on, a set of dark lingerie showed, complimenting her tanned skin beautifully. One of the lacy straps of it had long ago fallen off of her shoulder, and her breast was close to showing because of that. The lines of her abs were visible as well, and every movement she made was full of some kind of alluring, restrained tension. 

Like it was killing her not to reach out and touch you.

Her bottom lip was rosy and swollen, due to her habit of biting it when she gets aroused. 

“I had a dream about you,” she admitted, like she couldn’t hold it in anymore. Her breathing was a bit quicker than normal – less stable. 

You were her best friend; she couldn’t believe she was about to do something like this. 

Her drenched clothes, paired with the warm air that felt its way up her body, created a tantalizing mix of sensations that caused goosebumps to arise; and your hands on her only multiplied them even more. She almost couldn’t stand it.

“And you drove all the way here because of it?” You wondered aloud, quirking a brow.

Though you weren’t totally oblivious to the implication behind her words, incredulity overtook your mind and tone. Even if she had had a wet dream about you, you were sure she would just laugh it off like everything else. Like every other charged interaction you’d ever shared, that danced precariously along the border of platonicity and attraction. 

There was no way she planned to do something about it. 

…right?

She swallowed, taking a second to decide if she was prepared to cross this boundary with you. You’d both tested the limits of your “friendship” before, playing with fire, toying with the line and pushing things to get a rise out of one another – but neither of you had had the courage to follow through completely. 

At least not until now.

Her head nodded sheepishly, sealing your fate. 

“I tried to take care of it myself, Y/N/N, but nothing felt as good as you did in that dream. Will you help me?” The soft plea in her voice bordered on a whine, and it ignited something in you that you had never fully considered with her before. 

Drip, drip, drip

Water pooled at your feet now, resembling the mess that you had inadvertently made in her panties. 

She wanted to take you right here on the floor, or up against the wall that stood behind you. She wanted to rip your clothes off and hear the beautiful timbre of your voice as you came undone, moaning her name. 

But she didn’t. She waited, doing her best to ignore the throbbing of her center and the curious way your eyes kept returning to her body, dropping lower and lower. She waited on you to make the next move, needing to know you wanted her just as badly as she did you.

“Kiss me, Yooh.”

That simple request set her in motion, and she had you in her arms in a second. The subsequent gasp that resounded in your throat at the coldness of her clothes was muffled by her lips before it really had a chance to escape. 

Desperation took on human form as she backed you up against the wall, stripping out of her shirt and slipping her shoes off all the while. 

You moaned into her mouth when she hastily unzipped your pants, nearly breaking your zipper in the process. 

Her frigid fingers slid past your panties with no further warning, and she whimpered quietly when she felt how wet you already were. 

“Y/N…” 

If there was any chance left of her restraining herself, it would have to be now. She was teetering on the edge of no control, and each second that she spent with you loosened her grip on the reins more and more.

“Keep going,” you breathily instructed, allowing your head to loll back against the wall. “I’m all yours.”

She shuddered, both out of excitement and chill. A new kind of darkness eclipsed the usual innocence of your eyes, and she didn’t quite know what to do with herself because of it. 

“Please tell me this is real…”

You chuckled at her earnesty. Even now, in a moment like this, she was capable of making you laugh. 

When you leaned forward and pressed an open mouthed kiss to her neck, she melted into you. You reached down into her pants to cup her with one hand, feeling the warmth that radiated from her cunt even through the lingerie, while the other wrapped around her, tenderly kneading the supple skin of her ass. 

She rocked against you out of instinct, vying for any bit of relief you would possibly award her; the needy movements pushed her own palm harder against your clit, causing you to moan softly. 

Her heart skipped a beat at the sound. 

“Does this feel real enough, baby?” You asked against her pulsepoint, just as your teeth lightly trailed across her sensitive skin. The taut muscles of her neck jumped as she strained helplessly in response. 

“Fuck,” she whined, embarrassed by how much of a mess you’d turned her into. She could feel your smile grow, and it made her walls pitifully flutter and clench around nothing.

“I know you can answer me better than that,” you teased.

You pushed her lace to the side and easily slid two fingers inside of her dripping heat, resolving to get your answer that way instead. 

“Ah!” She moaned at the intrusion, high pitched and broken as she was caught off guard. She looked down between your bodies, watching your fingers rhythmically disappear and reappear at her entrance as you fucked her. A new rise of blush made its way up to her ears at the sounds that she produced – none of which she had any semblance of control over. 

“Yoohyeon…” you warned, still waiting. 

“Yes, Y/N,” she replied, aware of her mistake – though, truthfully, she would make it again a million times over if it got you to touch her like this every time. “It feels so good. Please,” she stressed, fully aware that she wouldn’t survive if you left her without release now, “...don’t stop.” 

Her wish was your command. 

Encouraged by her words, you hiked one of her legs up around your waist and settled closer to her. The new position enabled you to easily reach her g-spot, and her resulting, guttural moan confirmed it. 

You wasted no time in exploiting that in the best possible kind of way. 

The ache between her thighs mingled with pleasure, both in equal, overwhelming doses. A tingling sensation was creeping its way up her spine, and the butterflies in her stomach only grew more untamed. 

“Just like that, jagiya,” she begged into your ear. 

Her hips stuttered, jerking messily as she bucked into you over and over. 

“You’re doing so good, baby,” you praised, admiring the flush of her skin and the way she trembled in your arms. Her weak legs squirmed, shaking as she used what strength she had left to hump a little faster. 

You added another finger as a silent way of rewarding her, and the resulting rush of warmth you felt around them made you smile. Her walls pulsed, eagerly stretching to accommodate the change, and beckoned you back inside with every pump you delivered. 

Even her pussy was greedy for you. 

Both of her hands went to the back of your neck as she pulled you forward and sealed her lips against yours in the dark. She didn’t waste much time with demurity; her kisses were messy and full of need as she tangled her fingers in your hair and roughly tugged on it. 

She swallowed up the subsequent sound of shock that you let out and used the opportunity to slip her tongue into your mouth. 

It was warm and inviting, just like the rest of her – so eager to please you. She stole your breath away when her kisses grew harsher – more possessive; the tell-tale clenching of her walls around your fingers told you she was getting dangerously close to release, and the small, staccato breaths she let out through her nose made you smile lightly. 

She was so precious, like that. Such a slut for you that she drove all the way to your house in the pouring rain at 2AM, and yet she still clung to her habitual shyness in a few small, undeniable ways. 

Knowing that she had it so bad for you boosted your ego majorly. 

Lightning flashed close by outside, and the bright pulse of it highlighted your combined, desperate movements against one another. She pressed further into you, and you knew she couldn't hold out any longer. 

Her pitiful shaking brought out the more merciful side of you.

“Show me what you can do, Yooh. Cum on my fingers,” you commanded, pulling away just enough to rest your forehead against hers. Her arms tightened around your neck, tethering you impossibly closer. 

The snap of her hips grew messy and rough – more primal as they worked to match the rhythm of your hand – and with a succession of filthy moans and whines, she hit her high. Her raised leg tightened around your waist, flexing to keep you in place. She cried your name out and clung to you, digging her nails into your shoulders hard enough to leave marks. 

You grimaced at the sting, but knowing you’d been the one to make her feel so good made the pain insignificant. 

She buried her face in your neck, peppering slow, grateful kisses there, and you held her close until her breathing began to even out again. 

When she eventually pulled away, you expected her to take a break. You gently lowered her leg and smiled at her, prepared to help her over to the couch so she could recover. 

But her release merely seemed to reenergize her, somehow, and she had no plans of stopping anytime soon.

She dropped to her knees in front of you and slid your pants down your legs in one motion, taking you by surprise. 

“It’s your turn now, baby,” she smirked up at you, tilting her head as a mischievous gleam showed in her eyes. Yet another flash of lightning came, outlining her striking features amid the darkness; she was a vision to behold in every way. 

Her lips easily found your v-line and felt their way across it, leaving kisses and little nips in their wake. Your head lolled back again as the promise of what was to come sank in. 

Along the backs of your calves her hands skimmed, trailing upwards and paying attention to every inch of you that they could touch. Desire led them – a fact evident in the wanton way they groped you. 

“God, I can’t wait to taste you.” She sighed the admission against your skin as if she’d been starved for a year and you were the first bit of food she had laid eyes on since. 

The conviction in her behavior made you blush, wondering how you’d ever survive whatever it was that she had in store. 

How you'd managed to survive so long without it stumped you just as much. 

Your body hummed in silent, aching anticipation. Like a band pulled tight, ready to snap at any moment. 

It seemed to set something off within her.

“You’d better choose a safe word now, Y/N,” she warned. 

---

Jealousy, Jealousy

Pairing: Siyeon x Fem!Reader

AU: Non-Idol

Warnings / Misc. -- Smut, Jealous Siyeon ;)

Word Count: 3,348

Summary: With your three year anniversary imminent and the need for a get-away pressing, Siyeon organizes a romantic weekend trip for the two of you to enjoy together. Everything goes according to plan in the beginning, but when a night of clubbing breathes new life into her passion for you, things get a bit derailed.

Disclaimer: This writing is a work of fiction, and no disrespect is meant for those mentioned herein.

A/N: Hello again, my lovely readers! Just stopping by to drop off this Singnie fic :) Jiu's story is next, so look forward to it! Hope you like this in the meantime 💖

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Moonlight Bar & Lounge, 11:42 PM

As the two of you peered up at the establishment’s buzzing, neon lights, Siyeon had to make a conscious effort to prevent her hand from dropping too low on your ass. 

She’d made a promise to you – back at the hotel and in her post-orgasm haze – that she would be on her best behavior while you were out celebrating as a way of repaying you. 

You, in return, vowed to let her do anything she wanted to you once you were back in private, so long as she kept things tame and didn’t go back on her word in the meantime. 

And, for what it was worth, she was really giving it her all.

But you looked absolutely divine in your formal outfit – radiant with a sultry undertone, capable of leaving her transfixed. It drove her crazy to know that hidden away beneath it, tucked out of view from prying eyes, your skin was painted with all of her marks. Splashes of color, hues of red and purple growing darker with time – her own personal claims on you. With how hard it had been for her to keep her mouth off of you earlier, she was surprised you had any skin left unmarked at all. 

“Two more hours, Singnie. Think you can handle it?” You asked, glancing at her as you both approached the door. 

She opened it, sending you a confident look all the while. “Of course I can.”

You hummed, unconvinced. “We’ll see about that.” 

When you passed her, a smirk pulled at the corner of your lips. Her gaze had fallen to your ass, again, watching its every move in silent admiration as she trailed behind you like a puppy. 

—

The reviews you’d read, though stellar, had failed to prepare you for just how nice the place was. Its intimate ambience beckoned you in at once, extending an easy-going hand, inviting you to look around and see for yourself everything that it had to offer. 

Things were darkened inside, creating an aura of sensuality and mystery despite the openness of the layout. Hues of black and blue accented the furniture and decorations, in line with the established theme of intrigue. Large skylights were centered in the ceiling, allowing plenty of moonlight in to do as it so pleased. 

A dance floor called from the far side of the room, comfortably crowded and taking up about half of the venue. Couches and chairs were situated around tables on the other side, strategically dotting the available area so as to award parties their privacy. 

The bar was large, stretching out far and wide as it stood ready to greet you upon your arrival. A busy bartender met Siyeon’s eye when he glanced up, vigorously shaking a drink. 

“Welcome, ladies!” He smiled warmly. “It’s great to have you tonight.”

You thanked him with a smile as well, and Siyeon extended the same courtesy. Her arm fell to your waist again mindlessly – completely out of habit as she turned to survey everything. 

“How about we get a table first?” She suggested, subtly motioning towards them with her head. “Then we can dance for a bit, if you’d like.”

“Sure, babe. That sounds perfect.”

-

One Hour Later

Put simply, Siyeon seemed to be out to get you. 

Though she was your girlfriend, the love of your life, your protector – something truly sadistic shined in her dark eyes as she peered at you from the other side of the table, smirking around the rim of her glass. 

She watched you squirm in your seat a little, feigning oblivion as her foot traveled up your calf, teasing. 

Somewhere between her first and second rounds of wine she had undone the top few buttons of her blouse, and the seductive way she pressed closer to the table, arms crossed just below her chest, put her cleavage on full display. The edge of her bra was visible, too, but that was a detail likely only perceptible to you, considering your proximity and inability to focus on anything else. 

Every bit of her prior innocence was gone without a trace, eclipsed by the desire she felt, which was becoming harder and harder to maintain a grip on. 

The alcohol in your system was weakening your inhibitions, too; coaxing them to vanish as her charm worked its magic, promising release for you the second you asked for it. It showed in her eyes – which shamelessly drank in the sight of you – and the subtle bite of her lip. She appeared collected, but you knew that in reality she was far from it.

You downed your last bit of wine in an effort to distract yourself. 

As you lowered your glass, the ring on your finger shimmered, catching the attention of one of the club’s cycling lights. Siyeon looked at it proudly; it was the promise ring that she had given you this morning.

Wordlessly she reached forward, palm upturned. 

The musing, pleased smile on her lips would be your demise. You were sure of it. 

But even still, you extended your hand and placed it in hers, following her unspoken request. She held it close, rubbing her thumb across the back of it in soothing, easy strokes. 

Nothing made her happier than knowing you were hers.

“Ready to dance?” She asked, trying not to sound too eager. The thought of having your body against hers was ruining her in all the best kinds of ways. 

She was fiending for it.

You took a deep breath, steadying yourself for what was to come. She knew that asking was unnecessary, but she took pleasure in seeing you squirm. 

“Sure.” You swallowed. 

Happily, she finished off her wine. 

Leaving behind your empty glasses and appetizer plates, she stood up and led you to the dance floor.  

-

30 Minutes Until Promise Is Completed

The DJ was a true professional at his craft, and you decided at once that he deserved the biggest raise imaginable.

…do DJs get raises?

Regardless, he was owed one. 

His choices of song, paired with the seamless transitions and mixes that he conducted, set the mood of the lounge and kept everyone's energy high. A strong bassline carried throughout the place, thrumming consistently and so powerfully you felt it in your very being. 

Like an undercurrent, it flowed around you. Pushing and pulling, leading you out just to lure you back in again.

Siyeon moved in time with you, hanging onto the rhythm as you let loose. She kissed you occasionally, swept up in the heat of the moment and unable to resist your beauty. Her hands wandered, impossible to control as they made it their mission to tempt you. 

The couples around you all shared that sentiment as well – turning the air thick with sexual tension. 

Some grinded. Others groped. It was a plethora of positions and strides, all writhing and searching for relief – a statement piece on the human condition, plucked straight from a movie scene. From your place within it, amongst the welcome chaos, you could only imagine what a sight it was to behold from an outside perspective. 

A sudden buzzing tethered you back down to Earth, garnering your attention. It came from Siyeon’s front pocket, which was conveniently nestled right between your thighs. 

The contact made you tense at first, not expecting it, but it felt good. More than good, even. And far better than you cared to admit, considering you wanted to hold onto some of your pride. 

She felt it, too, but she didn’t pull away at first. Enjoying the show, she pressed it against you a little harder, coaxing your hips to gyrate, both to the rhythm of the song and in search of the vibrations. 

But once the phone rang a fourth time, you pushed her away with a dismissing laugh, telling her to go answer it. 

Your cheeks were flushed, and your heart was racing wildly within your chest. You covered your forehead with your palm, taking a deep breath as the people around you filled in the open space that her exit provided. 

The loss of contact with her allowed you to sober up the tiniest bit and get your head on straight. She was just like a drug.

Get a grip, you scolded yourself, shaking your head. This was ridiculous. Was going more than a few hours without fucking her really this impossible? You wanted it more than anything, but you didn’t want to give her the satisfaction of calling off your deal. It was made to prove a point, and you intended to keep it instated for that very reason.

You stole a glance at your watch. 

Only fifteen minutes left. That was doable, no?

Siyeon rolled her eyes as she slid up on the green button at the bottom of her screen. She had to fight the urge to just let it go unanswered.

Had it been anyone other than her boss, she likely would’ve. 

“Hello?”

“Ah, Siyeon,” he greeted from the other end, a smile evident in his gravelly voice. “I’m glad I could reach you.”

She pressed her back to an open portion of the far wall, away from the more rowdy parts of the crowd. 

“Of course, sir,” she sighed, withholding the attitude that she wished to lace into it. 

She looked up at you, watching you sway gently in time with the music. The light of the room painted you beautifully – every shimmer and shadow fighting for its chance to cast across your skin. She couldn't help but admire you from afar.

"...yes, sir. I turned that report in to your assistant two days ago." She answered distantly, clearly not entirely focused on their conversation. 

He launched into a response, but Siyeon suddenly tensed and stood up straighter – intrigued for a completely different reason.

A woman was making her way over to you.

Like a shark circling its prey. 

The blonde danced along to the beat with a drink in her hand, sipping on it as she closed the remaining distance between you. Siyeon could only watch as she leaned down, smiling prettily as she introduced herself. 

You laughed at something she said and nodded lightheartedly, amused. 

“Siyeon? Are you there?”

Her lips pressed tightly into a line. “Yes, sir. Continue.”

He did, but again she couldn’t pay much attention. She was too focused on the two of you standing far too close for her liking, and the nonchalant way that the woman invited you to join her for a dance. 

To Siyeon’s annoyance, you agreed and stepped forward. 

She drew you in and briefly settled a hand on your hip as the two of you got accustomed to the new song that the DJ started playing. You followed her lead, allowing her to sway with you. 

She was attractive, and the sight of you together stoked the fire of jealousy within Siyeon.

For what it was worth, though, you didn’t attach any deeper meaning to the exchange. You were simply dancing, after all, and you'd made it a point to flash your ring a few times to avoid any misunderstandings.

But Siyeon was in a different state entirely. 

Her blood boiled, and her grip on her phone tightened audibly. The poor thing groaned and squeaked from the pressure, pleading for her to ease up.

The woman locked eyes with her over your shoulder, practically taunting her as she dipped you down. The angle provided Siyeon an achingly beautiful view of your body, tempting her to admire the lines and curves that you created; but she was sobered up by the fact that it wasn’t exclusive to her. 

In that moment, anyone – including that woman – could see you looking so gorgeously spread out. 

That was her final straw.

She abruptly excused herself from the call, assuring her boss that she’d dial him up again at the first chance she got, before hanging up without another thought.

Bitterness radiated from her with every step that she marched closer to you, practically fuming. She moved people aside along the way, providing an opening for herself to return to you. 

You were uprighted by the woman at once and subsequently seized by Siyeon, who loomed angrily behind you. You were oblivious to the situation until you felt her presence as she entered your personal space. 

She emitted tension, and the sensation made you tremble; the territorial look she gave deterred the blonde, who raised her hands in a show of innocence before smiling knowingly and ambling to another part of the dance floor. 

Hesitantly, you went to turn around and face Siyeon. But her sudden grip on your hips prevented that, keeping you as you were.

Something firm pressed against your ass as she pulled you in, rutting with a restrained sort of gentleness that seemed difficult to maintain. It caught you off guard at first, but the swell of it, straining against the fabric of her pants, was something you'd recognize anywhere. 

It was your favorite toy. She had secretly put it on before you left the hotel earlier. Cheeky. 

How had you not noticed it before?

She ground against you again, aiming to give you a better feel for it, but made sure to remain somewhat inconspicuous to the people around you. Her hands caressed your sides, tentatively working their way downwards as she attempted to gauge your reaction. 

Her lips brushed the shell of your flushed ear, upturning the slightest bit in triumph when she felt your breath hitch. Your head turned to the side and your chin tilted ever-so-slightly, granting her full access.

“Do you feel that?" She asked lowly, clenching her jaw. “What you do to me?”

She couldn’t have cared less about the promise in that moment even if she had wanted to. With you looking as good as you did and flaunting yourself like that… behaving really was no longer an option. 

You nodded fervently, lacking the gift of speech. 

“You’re going to take care of that for me. Right now,” she emphasized, taking a hold of your wrist. 

Chest heaving, you turned around to face her. She shoved your hand between her legs, making you cup the toy as she pressed a harsh kiss to your lips. You melted into it, weak within her strong embrace. Obediently, you groped her again, making the other side of it rub up against her clit. You swallowed up the encouraging moan that she let out at the action.

She begrudgingly pulled away after a moment, but only enough to take your hand again and impatiently drag you towards the front door. Her movements weren’t the most graceful – seeing as that she bumped the two of you into other guests and nearly fumbled over her own feet along the way – but they were endearing. She wanted you so badly that appearing composed no longer mattered to her. 

And that feeling was beyond mutual.

- The Parking Lot -

Although they gave it their all to be seen, the city’s bright lights were muted by the thick fog that covered the windows of Siyeon’s car; they were mere blurs in the distance, becoming increasingly dulled with time. 

The steam served as an immediate tell of what was happening inside, just in case any particularly dimwitted onlookers failed to put two and two together after observing the rocking of the car. 

Part of you was afraid the entire thing would fall apart at any moment, based on how roughly Siyeon was taking you. 

Her body clung desperately to yours, only parting long enough for her to draw the toy out of you and drill it back in as she took you from behind. Her skin met yours repeatedly, filling the cabin of the car with filthy noises that made you wetter than you thought possible. 

“Fuck, baby,” she cursed, pressing your head further down into the seat as the snap of her hips grew messier and more erratic. Her fingers tightened in your hair, making your eyes water the slightest bit.

You smiled triumphantly, feeling the cool leather soothe your heated cheek. 

The decorative beads hanging from the rear view mirror clacked together, consistently colliding with the back of it.

Rhythmically, the press of your hips fell in time with her thrusts; you met in the middle, getting the most out of each and every move. Your muscles ached something wild, but you were beyond caring at that point; all that mattered was Siyeon, and ensuring that she got what she wanted. 

“Does it feel good?” You panted.

“So good, jagi,” she groaned, voice raspy, as she lolled her head to the side. 

Her hazy eyes landed on the hickies that she had left at the small of your back earlier, which she brought her free hand up to caress. Beneath her fingertips, your muscles flexed from the impact that she inflicted; they strained with the desperate, searching rutt of your hips as well, never stopping for a second. 

You were such a whore for her; she loved it.

"I wish you could see yourself like this," she mused through heavy breaths, palming your skin. "Taking me so well. God, you're so perfect." 

Her harsh thrusts mellowed into long, sensual ones as she focused on grinding against you. The ridges of the toy slid across your velvety walls as she humped, stimulating you further. She watched the length of it disappear inside of you repeatedly, only to reappear glistening more and more each time. 

You reached a shaky hand out to brace yourself, aware that she was getting close by the tremble of her legs.

All of the friction her clit was receiving was pushing her closer and closer to the edge. The other end of the toy moved inside of her as well, heightening the effect of even your most subtle motions. 

When your head fell forward and came to rest against your extended arm, she leaned down, seizing the opportunity to kiss your exposed neck. The way her body aligned with yours, completely bare and heated, made you moan. 

She left new marks everywhere she liked, taking her time.

A soft, pleased grunt resounded in her throat when you lifted your hips and grinded back into her, languidly working yourself along the toy. She stilled her movements and let you continue for a bit, reveling in the intimate feeling. 

"Head up, angel." She instructed, grazing her teeth across your pulsepoint. 

You obeyed and raised it, fighting exhaustion. 

Her lips found yours, and you immediately surrendered control of the kiss over to her. Despite knowing you'd grant it without hesitation, she still asked for permission by licking your bottom lip. 

You opened up, sighing as her tongue met yours. 

Instinctively, your walls fluttered at the feeling; she deepened the kiss, doing as she wanted.  

She snaked a hand down your body and pressed her fingertips to your clit, toying with it. She spread your slick around, proud of the mess of it that coated your thighs and pussy. It dripped down your legs, only turning her on more. 

Needing air, you broke the kiss. She clearly felt like showing a little mercy, as she allowed you the chance to catch your breath and kissed your shoulder in the meantime. 

When the toy hit your g-spot again following a particularly sensual roll of her hips, you whined pathetically at the feeling.

“Who do you belong to?”

“You, Siyeon,” you exhaled shakily.

“And who's the only one that gets to fuck you like this?” She pressed, voice commanding. 

You moaned, forgoing pride. “You.”

“That’s right, Y/N/N,” she grinned evilly, pushing herself back up. Her hands went to the small of your back again, applying a tantalizing pressure as you obediently arched for her, already knowing what she wanted. 

She wasn’t even close to being done with you yet. 

“Now, start counting. If you make it to twenty, I might just let you cum.”

The sound of her hand slapping your ass filled the car at once, intoxicating you in an entirely new way. 

“...one.”

---

Payback

Pairing: Jiu x Fem!8thMember!Reader

Warnings / Misc. -- Smut

Word Count: 2,317

Summary: Jiu gets needy, and it's all your fault. She intends to even the score.

Disclaimer: This writing is a work of fiction, and no disrespect is meant for those mentioned herein.

A/N: Hi again, everyone! I hope you guys are having a good morning / day / night wherever you are. Here’s Jiu’s story; next up is Gahyeon! :)

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Y/N & Jiu’s Room – DC Dorm

Seated in the middle of her bed and hard at work on a new song for the group’s next album, Jiu sighed heavily. Her jaw clenched a time or two out of habit, trying to rid itself of the tension it held within. 

A few lyrics were etched onto the pages of the notebook that laid in front of her crossed legs – some scribbled out while others had symbols or arrows above them in her best attempt at organization. Finding the right words was nearly impossible, and she’d been going in circles for the last half hour on how the chorus alone should flow. 

Put simply, she was frustrated.

So, she laid her pencil down and pushed the notebook away, intending to make a trip to the kitchen for a short break. 

Her sock-clad feet made contact with the hardwood as she swung her legs over the side of the bed, stretching them out for the first time in hours. She briefly reveled in the feeling, glad to rid her muscles of the ache they had to endure.

But as she stood up to leave, a notification lit her phone screen up, drawing her attention. 

She grabbed it from the bedside table, pausing for a second to look at the smiling picture of you that she had set as her wallpaper. 

Once she unlocked it, she found that the notification was from Weverse, and it was of your doing. 

She clicked it without hesitation and read the caption that you wrote, feeling a grin grow on her face all the while: “It’s almost time, Somnies! Here’s some behind the scenes pics since you’ve been so patient ;)) #Y/NSoloD-7!” 

She tutted and rolled her eyes at your habit of flirting, but she opened the pictures and began to look through them nonetheless. She returned to her initial position on the bed, promising herself she’d take her break once she was done.

You were far more important, after all. 

The first image was of you sitting in front of a table full of snacks that fans had prepared, with a goofy grin and two thumbs up aimed proudly at the camera.

The second featured you perched on the shoulders of two of the backup dancers with a prop cowboy hat pulled down to cover your face. Your arms were locked at the elbow as you mimicked a robot, and the two dancers were looking at one another skeptically, like you were crazy. Jiu could tell that you had forced them to just trust you and to go with it, probably saying that the fans would enjoy your oddness. 

The smile on her face widened at the thought of that.

But, almost as quickly as it had appeared, that sweet expression of hers faltered. 

When she swiped one final time and your third picture came into view, she suddenly understood why so many fans were commenting and liking the post at the speed of light. 

It was a solo shot of you in front of the mirror, holding your phone at an angle that captured both your front and back. Her eyes tracked the curve of your spine in the reflection and stopped at your ass, which she admired like a horny teenager. The pants that you wore were one of her favorite pairs on you, and she shook her head at the notion that you had purposefully planned all of this with the intention of ruining her. 

Perhaps it was retribution for the orgasm you’d been denied of a few nights ago, after she had so cruelly gotten you worked up. A phone call had stolen her away from you right before you reached ecstasy, and by the time she returned you had already helped yourself to a lackluster high that paled in comparison to what she could’ve given. Even she felt a little remorseful for that one.  

So she took this "punishment" in stride. She followed the beads of sweat that ran down your neck and chest, taking a deep breath as they disappeared behind what little bit of cover your cropped tank top provided. Your sports bra prevented her from seeing as much of your chest as she wanted, but part of her was grateful – after all, she wasn’t the only one with access to the picture. 

Your exposed midriff begged for her attention next, and she paid it without a second thought. All of your hard work was evident, showcased by the toned lines of your abdomen that she wanted so badly to touch. To kiss. To ride.

The smirk on your face lied partially out of frame, and that familiar, arrogant gesture made her thighs press together instinctually. It conjured up a million memories, all of which were only speakable under the cover of night or tucked away in the safety of your bedroom. 

Mental images of your head nestled between her thighs, right where it belonged, as you serviced and worshipped her until she couldn’t speak.

The surreal, almost tangible feeling of your lips ghosting across her skin caused her eyes to flutter shut. 

Without you there to hold, her hands felt empty. They yearned to touch you, and only you; she would’ve given anything to have you alone for just ten minutes, free of distraction and interruption. Hours weren’t enough time for her when it came to you, but she could recognize in hindsight that that may have been a bit greedy. 

Because now, she was aching for anything she could get. 

She settled back against her pillows and hastily propped her phone up, dizzy with her thoughts of you. 

Her selfish hands found their way along her own body, given their inability to be on you instead. 

They caressed the areas you loved so much – perhaps in a silent, unseen ode to you – and her breathing soon grew heavier. One went to her chest while the other dared to travel lower, directly between her trembling thighs. Her body hummed for you, despite the distance that separated you; it called in all the ways it knew how, and she was left to deal with the fallout. 

When her fingertips dipped into her panties, warm arousal instantly coated them, showing her just how easy she was for you. You ruled her without even knowing it. 

She kept her eyes on the picture of you for as long as possible, committing every beautiful detail to memory; but when her fingers brushed against her most sensitive spot, she couldn't stop her eyes from fluttering shut again. 

Your name tumbled past her trembling lips in a broken whisper, spoken like a prayer.

—

DCC Building – Practice Room 3

“Y/N, take five, yeah?” Jun, the lead choreographer, asked, drawing in a succession of deep breaths as his hands rested on his knees. 

From your place on the floor, you raised a weak arm into the air and extended a thumb up to the ceiling. He chuckled at the state you were in before ultimately deciding to have mercy, for a change.

His soft footsteps resounded around the practice room as he left for a break, and you used what remaining energy you had left to push yourself off of the floor and into a sitting position. 

Your back pressed to the wall behind you, and you took a moment to revel in the coldness of its surface. Every fiber of your being was worn out; after giving you an extra long break to post on Weverse, Jun had upped the ante and made you run through the song multiple times without stopping. You knew it was necessary and entirely worth it, but that didn’t mean you couldn’t (mentally) complain about it in the meantime.

A staff member entered the room with a cooler of water in tow in the midst of your sulking, and you studied her face for a moment, convinced that she must have been the closest thing to god you’d ever seen. 

You bowed deeply when she handed you one of them, and she simply laughed and shook her head in response before giving the others to the stray dancers that were also laying in heaps on the floor. 

You retreated to your corner again and nearly drained the bottle in one go; a chime from your phone, however, stopped you at about the ¾ mark, and you begrudgingly pulled away. When you noticed that Jiu’s contact picture was pulsating at the top of your screen, a foolish grin made its way to your face and you hastily sealed the bottle back up before unlocking your phone.

In hindsight, you considered your grin foolish because of how quickly it dissolved. 

Minji ❤️‍🔥💍

📎1 image attachment

You clicked on her name, completely oblivious to what you had just done. You had expected, perhaps, a cute image of Cherry playing, or even something embarrassing of one of the members that could’ve been used as blackmail if they ever got on your nerves. 

To say you were unprepared to receive a nude from Minji would’ve been the understatement of the century. 

Soft lamplight cast across her body as she laid there, elegantly splayed out in the middle of her bed and completely bare – two observations that both knocked the wind from your lungs and caused a sound that you’d never quite made before to leave them. The dancers across the room didn’t seem to notice or care, though, and you thanked your lucky stars for that. 

You tilted your phone down to ensure that no one else had the chance to see her in such a way before resuming your bout of admiration. Your heart thrummed wildly in your chest, beating something fierce for the woman on the other side of your screen. 

Her cheeks and chest were vibrant with a crimson blush that spread across her fair skin beautifully, looking straight out of a painting. Her nipples were peaked and a little swollen, both from arousal and the exposure that they were receiving. You could imagine that she'd been toying with them, just as you always did. 

Your mouth watered at the sight. 

The angle allowed you to see two of her fingers buried deep inside of her pussy, and her eyes were big and pleading as she peered up at the camera through her long lashes. The muscles of her arm and stomach were flexed, and you could only assume that she had been writhing and rutting unabashedly in pursuit of her high as she snapped the picture. 

Her bottom lip was caught between her teeth, swollen and rosy just like her clit. 

The furrow of her brow – paired with the slight blur of motion – made you realize just how close she must’ve been when she took the picture; you felt warmth pool in your abdomen at the filthy thought of that alone. 

She wanted you to see what you did to her – needed you to be with her in that moment more than anything, no matter what – and that lit a fire in you that only she was capable of sparking.

Another chime resounded.

Minji❤️‍🔥💍

Like your payback, baby? ;) Come home soon and you might get a taste…

You cleared your throat and stood up at once, feeling lightheaded from what she was doing to you. Your tired body protested, but you didn’t pay it any mind; the throbbing between your thighs outshined everything else, begging for a kind of relief that only she could provide. 

The strap of your bag slid into your hand a mere moment later, and you made quick work of exiting the practice room. 

When you passed by Jun in the hall, marching as if on a mission, he called after you. You shot a reply over your shoulder, sounding as convincing as you could manage. When he didn't follow after you, you let out a thankful sigh of relief. 

Flying appeared to be a new skill that you’d acquired somewhere along the way, considering you made it down three flights of stairs in all of ten seconds. Your muscles again ached fiercely by the time you arrived at your car in front of the building, but you pushed the feeling down and clambered to produce your keys from your bag. 

Once inside, you threw the hefty thing into the passenger's seat and placed your phone in the cupholder. Fastening your seatbelt came next, but before you had a chance to start the car, one final, torturous ding sounded off. 

With a shaky hand, you retrieved your phone. 

Minji ❤️‍🔥💍

📎1 image attachment

Tick tock… round two is starting any minute.

After reading the message, you opened her attachment.

Cum was spread across her fingers, slick and glistening in the low light of the room as she showcased it proudly, all for you. The veins of her hand were prominent as she strategically posed it in front of her face, preying on your weakness. Her jawline was sharp – made even more attractive by the shadows that cast across it – and the unmarked skin of her neck practically begged to be claimed by you. 

Upon further inspection, you noticed that a bit of cum was visible on her lips, too, which tugged into a sexy smirk at the top of the frame. 

Her impatience had led her to taste herself – a revelation that made your clit throb in anticipation. 

She had pretended her fingers were your own as her tongue worked over them, swirling and obediently lapping at her release as she pictured your body hovering over her. 

Mental images – a million possibilities of what could happen when you arrived – flooded your mind as you raised your trembling hands to the steering wheel and started the car. It came to life in a second, and you were pulling out of your parking spot faster than you could blink.

….

What was the speed limit again? 

---

Midnight Mercy

Pairing: Gahyeon x Fem!Reader

Warnings / Misc. -- Smut, Somnophilia, Slight Degradation

Word Count: 2,607

Summary: The term "wet dream" takes on a whole new meaning in the middle of the night, nestled between the sheets of your bed.

Gahyeon needs your help in finishing what she unconsciously started.

Disclaimer: This writing is a work of fiction, and no disrespect is meant for those mentioned herein.

A/N: Hey everyone! I’m sorry for not uploading sooner; life just got in the way a bit. Buuuuut, I’m back now, and I’ve got a few writings already finished that I just have to edit and post for all of you to enjoy :) I hope you like this piece <3 Handong’s story will be posted soon, also, so keep an eye out for that!

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“Y/N,” a sleepy mumble came from behind you, paired with a bit of shuffling beneath the sheets. 

“I’m here, Gah,” you responded, equally as tired and fully aware that she was away in dreamland somewhere and incapable of actually hearing you. 

“Y/N/N,” she spoke again, this time a little louder – a little more forceful. 

You rolled over, intertwining your legs with hers and laying an arm across her midriff to offer her some reassurance. Perhaps she’d feel it and fall back into a restful slumber again. 

“Shhh,” you soothed, the noise slightly altered from the way your cheek pressed against your pillow. 

When your fingertips lightly stroked her side in a gentle, mindless pattern, she seemed to relax and settle down. Whatever was bothering her stopped, and you lazily smiled, falling back into the rhythm of sleep right behind her.

- 20 Minutes Later - 

Unconscious, unintentional stimulation. That’s all Gahyeon’s mind cared about as it prompted her body to continue the slow grind that it had begun a few minutes prior, aiming to relieve the pressure that plagued her core. 

Her hips wound in sensual circles and strokes, causing her clit to rub just right against something firm and warm that just so happened to be nearby.

Only when the rocking became more forceful did she begin to wake up, and only then did she realize what she had been doing. Her pulse was quicker than normal, pumping harder in her chest, and her breathing was faster, too.

Aided by what light the moon had to offer, she peeked down at where your bodies were joined. The covers had fallen – or been pushed – away, exposing both of you to the night air. 

Both of her legs were wrapped around one of yours, and as she moved to reposition them, her mouth fell open instead. 

A large wet spot glistened on your thigh, darkening the leg of your grey sweatpants in a way that both embarrassed Gahyeon and aroused her. 

Though she hadn’t meant to, she had nearly gotten herself off on you. 

Her eyes tracked up to your face, where she found blissful ignorance etched into your features. 

You were laid out on your back, breathing softly. The neckline of your tank top had ridden lower than it was meant to, due to your drowsy tossing and turning from before. She couldn't help but focus her attention there, admiring the way that your nipples were peaked beneath the thin material, just out of view. 

She bit her lip, needing to busy her mouth. 

The waistband of your sweats had long ago fallen below its proper place as well; your hip bones peeked out above it, and it was all her fault. Her grinding had slowly worked your pants down, pulling them little by little. 

Crimson blush crept up the back of her neck, working up to her cheeks the longer she admired you. 

Did you have any idea how beautiful you were?

While thousands of people threw themselves at her on the daily, all vying for any miniscule amount of attention she'd pay to them, here she was giving every bit of it to you – wholly and undivided. 

She was simply a pawn in your unconscious game. And yet, for a fate that sounded so taxing, she lived for it. 

Her bout of adoration was interrupted as you shifted, sensing some sort of change despite still being asleep. 

Ignorant to the situation at hand, you scooted closer, returning your body to its previous position next to hers as you unconsciously sought out the warmth that she provided so well. 

Your arm wrapped around her abdomen as you pulled her in, and your leg shifted back between her thighs; the motion of your readjustments reached her clit, sending a wave of pleasure washing over her again. 

It reminded her of just how sensitive she was. How close.

Your cheek pressed to her chest, nuzzling there comfortably. 

“Y-Y/N, baby,” she addressed, though her voice betrayed her. What she intended to sound firm was anything but; it classified more so as a broken moan than anything else. 

“Mmm,” you hummed, still blissfully unaware of what was happening. Sleep played on the edge of your mind, cradling you there. 

She gave into the selfish urge to grind again, just a little. No harm, no foul… right?

Her head pressed back into the pillow when your lips brushed against her breast, settling dangerously close to her nipple. Your breath fanned out across her exposed skin, exploiting how sensitive it was; her thin crop top was practically useless as a barrier. If anything, it only heightened what she was feeling. 

It was almost too much to handle; her head spun, dizzied by everything that came along with having you so close. 

“Y/N, wake up,” she tried again, voice still airy.

You muttered a low protest and drew her closer, not listening. 

“You feel so good,” you complimented through a sleepy, blissful sigh, your lips ghosting across her skin with the words. Your hand skimmed down further, meeting the curve of her side, before coming to rest above the line of her thong. 

The pulse between her thighs grew stronger with everything you did. Shame pervaded her mind at the idea of using you like this to get off, but she couldn’t deny that she wanted it. Wanted to take advantage of such a perfect opportunity – of you, and your flawless body. It made her feel dirty, but turned on all the same.

“Gah,” you uttered, beginning to wake up and break through the haze of sleep. “What’s wrong?” She was tense in your arms, and doing everything she could to keep some distance between you. 

You blinked a few times, adjusting to the dark before propping up on your elbow to look at her. 

With her head turned away, you couldn’t see the helpless way her bottom lip was caught between her teeth, or the furrow of her brows as she focused hard on refraining from riding your thigh. 

Your grip on her waist tightened as you shifted close enough to peek at her face; the subtle move made her moan, and it was then that you began to piece things together. You glanced down between your bodies, finding her two thighs trapping one of yours in precious need. A gentle smile showed on your face, full of curious wonder. 

She was absolutely ruinous.

“Why didn’t you wake me up sooner, baby?”

“I tried,” she said. “You were out like a light.”

Two half-truths that conveniently enabled her to forego explaining her deeper desires. Admitting just how much she had enjoyed the thrill of using you in your altered state wasn’t an option in her mind. 

The slight undertone of annoyance in the unsteady waves of her voice made your smile deepen. She really must have been suffering. 

“Use me now, then,” you resolved simply. “Finish what you started.”

She turned her face to look at you – finally – allowing you to see her rosy cheeks and the want in her eyes. Her hair was mussed, a bit disheveled as it splayed across the pillow in multiple directions. Still, she was breathtaking. 

“Y-you don’t mind?” She asked smally.

You let out a little laugh at that. “Of course not. Why would I?”

“I didn’t know if you’d be in the mood. Since you’ve been so busy lately, I didn’t want to bother–

“Gahyeon, look at me,” you interrupted her rambling, bringing a hand up to cup her cheek. “I will always be in the mood for you, okay?” You raised your brows expectantly. 

She nodded, taking your words of reassurance to heart. 

“Making you feel good makes me feel good. So come here,” you coaxed, settling back against the pillows behind you. “...I want to watch you ride me.”

Her heart skipped a beat, both in part from your sweetness and also from your request. She wasn’t often plagued by shyness, but you had the mysterious ability of bringing it out in her at times like this. 

A timid smile reached her lips as she rolled over, obediently moving to straddle you. Her wet shorts made contact with your exposed stomach, making you draw in a breath. She laid down atop you, aligning her body with yours; she was practically humming with need.

“You’re so good to me,” she praised, musing gratefully. 

You smiled as her lips grazed your cheek, pressing a few soft kisses to it before she buried her face in the safety of your neck. You wrapped your arms around her, letting her settle comfortably between them and find her confidence again. 

Her hips began to move in small strokes, still reserved, like she was testing the waters. Your hands gained purchase on the small of her back, guiding her to move freely and release her inhibitions. 

“Go ahead, sweetheart. Don’t hold back.”

The reassurance in your sweet voice successfully spurred her on, and she began to own her desire, slowly but surely. 

In time with her grinding, her pillowy lips drug across your neck, leaving open mouthed kisses in their wake. 

She gave into the urge to mark you when you moaned her name under your breath, just loud enough for her to hear. 

“Is this what you wanted to do while I was asleep?” You asked, tilting your head to the side to give her better ease of access. “Too much of a slut to be patient… Just wanted to use me to get off, huh?”

She nodded, humping faster. The degradation in your tone made her clit throb harder than before, and the humiliation of being found out made her heart pound. 

She should’ve known you’d put the pieces together eventually. 

“Didn’t wanna wait…” she mumbled between kisses, fessing up, “...felt too good to stop.”

She allowed her hands to wander over your body, ghosting her nails across your skin just enough to leave goosebumps as she trailed them towards your chest. She kneaded one of your breasts through your tank top, groping it like she’d been dying to ever since waking up. 

You whimpered, and the sound of it made her hips jerk and stutter briefly. 

“Fucking hell, Y/N,” she cursed under her breath. Her shorts rubbed against your stomach and pelvis, spreading her slick everywhere, making a mess on you. The heady scent of her arousal filled the space between you, igniting something within you with every inhale you drew in. 

In one motion, she pulled your top down, fully exposing your chest to her eager eyes. The thin straps of it fell down your arms, hanging loosely. 

Under her heavy gaze, it was your turn to be shy; she sat up to take in the full sight of you, still straddling your waist. 

Her hands splayed across your stomach as she continued to grind, reveling in the friction that her clit received. The force of her thrusts moved you as well, causing your breasts to bounce.

The image of you like that only made her wetter, and she made it a point to etch it into her mind to remember later. 

Your fingertips skated to the edge of her shirt, which you promptly pulled off of her and tossed elsewhere into the surrounding darkness. 

You sat up and kissed her exposed skin, encouraged by her poorly-suppressed sounds of pleasure. 

She was a work of art, and as you nipped and licked everywhere your mouth could reach, you attempted to paint a hundred different odes to her. Little tributes, all reminders of your devotion to her that she could discover later. Every mark was a splash of color, growing a deeper shade as you fell even more in love. 

With your bodies intertwined and her writhing insatiably within your arms, you felt invigorated. 

Your lips enveloped her nipple as you took it into your mouth, swirling your tongue around the hardened peak. She melted into you at the feeling, pushing herself closer and closer to give you as much access as possible. 

On their own accord, your hips began to wind. 

Your own clit throbbed, having been completely ignored the entire time. But now it brushed against the bunched up crotch of your sweatpants as you moved, attaining a taste of relief.

Erratically, Gahyeon’s muscles jumped against you. You could feel her impending orgasm beginning to take over; her moans grew louder, and her movements less controlled. 

They were stuttered and messy, even causing the headboard to collide with the wall a few times. But you couldn't have cared less; you simply smiled triumphantly and met her with the same level of intensity, encouraging her to chase after her high and use you however she needed to. 

"Y/N/N, baby" she warned, voice whiny and strained with effort, "I'm gonna…"

You released her nipple with a wet pop and brought a hand up to the nape of her neck, pulling her in for a kiss. She submitted immediately and gave you control, welcoming your tongue into her mouth as she teetered on the edge. 

You threaded your fingers into her hair, tightening your grip without warning. The sensation – paired with one final, perfectly timed grind – sent her over the edge. 

A slew of whiny moans came out of her, high pitched and breathless. Stars erupted behind her eyelids, and her mind raced with thoughts of you. She held tightly to them, hanging onto the glorious feeling for as long as possible, never wanting it to end.  

As you coaxed her through the aftershocks, she suckled on your lower lip, languidly riding out every last one of them. She jerked a few times, clinging to you like her life depended on it. 

She was especially sensitive when you reached into her shorts and circled her swollen clit with your thumb. 

"How about another, baby? Since you did so well for me." You offered against her lips, enjoying the way she trembled.

Her resulting, sheepish nod inspired a smile to form on your face.

“Oh and, for the record,” you added, brushing the tip of your nose against hers, “you can do whatever you want with me, anytime; even if I’m sleeping. I don’t mind.” 

You felt the way that she clenched at that, her walls responding to the mere future promise of it alone, and your grin only deepened. 

She shook like a leaf as you moved even closer, allowing your lips to hover next to her ear.

“I know you want to, jagi. It's cute." 

An embarrassed groan left her, but you were only encouraged by it. 

"Maybe I should pretend," you teased, shutting your eyes as you laid back down onto the pillows. "This better?" 

When you let out a fake snore, she whined in protest and smacked your shoulder. 

"Yah! Cut it out!"

You chuckled and pulled her down, pressing a kiss to her cheek to smooth things over again and win her back. Your fingertips swirled across her clit again, like an unspoken apology to ease her anger. 

Despite the pouting she was doing, she leant in to kiss you anyway.

It didn't take long for her to melt into it, either – giving herself up to you again like the good girl she was. 

Moonlight fell across her features, highlighting all of the ways they scrunched together in pleasure when you quickened your movements in her shorts. You eased two fingers into her and curled them, inspiring a loud moan to slip out of her mouth.

With a smirk, you accepted what fate had in store:

Neither one of you would be getting any more sleep tonight.  

---

Positions

Pairing: Handong x Fem!Reader

Warnings / Misc. -- Smut

Word Count: 2,210

Summary: When Handong asked you to show her some of the moves you learned in your latest yoga classes, she failed to think her own request through completely. 

Disclaimer: This writing is a work of fiction, and no disrespect is meant for those mentioned herein.

A/N: Hello again, everyone! Hope you guys are doing well :) Drink some water, take your meds, and eat something tasty today. Let me know if you like this story! <3

P.S. ~ Sorry for not uploading sooner! I was celebrating my birthday and couldn't find the time to post.

◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚

“Dongie,” you groaned, disappointment obvious in your tone. “I just showed you. There’s no way you already forgot.”

“Please, baby? I promise I’ll get it this time.”

Lie number one. 

“Fine,” you rolled your eyes. 

She watched closely as you bent first to the left, extending your right arm above your head, and then mirrored that motion on the other side. When you recentered yourself and bent at the waist to touch your toes, completing the last position in the combo, a childish smirk pulled at her lips. 

In the tight shorts you wore, your ass looked undeniably, certifiably fantastic. She couldn’t help but stare; her hands balled into fists at her sides, wishing to touch you. 

“Got it?” You asked, interrupting her dirty thoughts. 

“Definitely,” she nodded singularly. 

Lie number two.

Unconvinced, you crossed your arms and raised your brows, silently instructing her to demonstrate what you’d done.

When you traded positions and she began, she already had the stance wrong. Her arm soon pointed in the wrong direction, stretching completely different muscles than the position was intended to. 

A sigh slipped past your lips.

This was going to be a long process.

—

A Century Later

“You’re so close, baby,” you whined, “...just a little more for me.”

Dongie’s heavy breathing filled the living room, interrupted only by a weary groan. 

“Y/N, no more… I c-can’t.”

Her muscles strained, sorer than she ever thought possible. A thin sheen of sweat coated her skin, making her effort plain to see. You’d had her in about a hundred different positions in the past hour alone, and she was spent. 

“Do you want help?”

She leaned down a little more and peered at you through her legs, unamused. 

“I want my girlfriend to stop being a sadist and let me rest.”

“Have you forgotten that you’re the one who asked for this?”

You took a few steps forward, approaching her. 

“I didn’t know they were teaching you methods of torture there!” She defended herself. “I never would’ve asked you to show me if I knew it’d be like this.”

“Yah,” you soothed, pressing up behind her. Your hips brushed against her ass as you settled your hands along the dips of her hips. “Quit complaining, will you?”

She tensed at the new sensation, not expecting it. Her trembling legs enjoyed the relief that your strong presence provided, though, so she allowed herself to ease into you. You took some of her weight, holding her. 

“Use your arms,” you instructed. “Pull your chest in close to your legs.”

“I’m gonna snap if I move, Y/N,” she quipped, grumbling. 

You shook your head, though deep down her complaining was endearing. Perhaps you had been a little too overzealous for her first session. 

“I’ll help, then,” you promised, as you moved your right hand upwards. It traveled across her back, trailing all the way up to her neck. You grasped it gently, allowing your fingers to wrap around the base of it just enough to guide her. 

As you pressed her down further into the position, bending her forward more, you used your other hand to ease her further back into your front. With a little patience and urging, her chest brushed her thighs, just as you directed. 

Her tired muscles jumped against you, high strung and aching for rest; heat radiated from her in steady waves. She was spent.

“Breathe, jagi,” you reminded. That’s the number one rule of stretching, after all. 

She blushed, both from her arousal and your oblivion. 

“How can you expect me to do that when you’re touching me like this?” She asked airily. Her ass rubbed against you a little more, searching for friction as if to further demonstrate her point.

A smirk graced your lips at that, growing in time with your ego. You rutted into her ever so slightly – teasing her.

“You’re evil,” she asserted. 

You simply bent forward a little, pushing her further into the position while simultaneously allowing her to feel your toned abdomen against her back. She whined at the feeling, pushed to her limit but in the best kind of way. 

“Alright,” you relented, standing back up once you decided she’d had enough. “We can take a break now.” Your grin was evident in the words.

Instead of uprighting herself, too, she simply fell over. She hit the carpet with a soft thud, crashing onto its cushiony surface. 

“Finally,” she practically moaned, reveling in the way that the fibers soothed her skin. They welcomed her in, bringing comfort to her overexerted body. 

You peered down at her, still smiling. Such a rookie. Aside from her constant bickering and complaining, she really had been a good sport; she saw everything out until the very end, wanting to impress you and learn some new things in the process.

With that in mind, you resolved to reward her by getting some water for her while she rested.

Her arm was thrown across her eyes as she laid on her back, dramatically splayed out as if she’d been shot. It prevented her from noticing you leave or come back, so when her chest was met with a chilly few droplets of water, she shouted.  

“AISH–”

"Oops…" you played. She peered up at you with a judgemental glare before taking it out of your hands. 

"Pabo." She tutted. 

You sat down at her side, watching her take a few long sips. Her throat bobbed gently as she swallowed, with the sweat there shining in the soft light of the room. 

A couple droplets of the water spilled past her lips, rolling down to her jaw. You reached out and wiped them away with the back of your fingers.

"Better, my love?" 

She screwed the cap back on and swallowed the last bit of the chilly liquid in her mouth, in no rush whatsoever to answer you.

"Not yet." 

You stuck your tongue in your cheek. "Why not?" 

"Because I'm wet," she complained, pouting. 

Your head shook in faux annoyance, but you scooted closer to her anyway. You brought a hand up to her chest and wiped away the water that remained there from your prank. 

"There. Problem solved," you declared. 

Wordlessly, she grabbed ahold of your hand and shook her head. She guided it downwards, slipping beneath the band of her spandex until it made contact with her soaked core. 

"This kind of wet, Y/N." 

“O-oh,” you stuttered, understanding. 

The desire in her darkening eyes should’ve been enough to tell you that much already, but sometimes you truly were oblivious. She found that both endearing and frustrating; but right now, the latter of the two was winning out.

She sat up on her elbow, keeping your hand where it was as she moved in to kiss you for the first time tonight. You leaned down, meeting her in the middle to make things easy for her. 

The entirety of the embrace was full of intimacy, from the way she urged your fingertips closer to her entrance, to the softness of her lips as they moved in time with your own. Her tongue met yours languidly, still holding onto a bit of remaining chill from her earlier sips of water. A hint of peach flavor made its way into your mouth, too, courtesy of her chapstick. 

She pulled you in closer as she laid back down on the carpet, not wanting to break the kiss for even a second. You had teased her far more than she appreciated all night, and she was ready to put an end to it. 

Her body was warm as you laid down at her side, giving into her prompting. Seeing as that you were clad only in a sports bra and shorts, she had ease of access to you; her free hand wandered, taking advantage of the opportunity it was presented with.  It easily slid beneath the band that wrapped around your ribs, coming up to cup your breast. She kneaded it, letting out a soft sigh into your mouth at the mere feeling of you; sometimes she was convinced she could get off just by touching you. 

Your fingertips dipped inside of her, and you couldn’t hold back the moan that resounded in your chest at how wet she was. Her warm walls begged you to go deeper as they pulsed around you, clenching particularly tightly when you kissed her harder. 

It brought a smile to your face to know – to feel – just how much she needed you. Such a rewarding notion.

She whimpered into the kiss when you slid them in further and pressed your palm to her clit, allowing the swollen bud to attain some much-needed relief. 

Her hand in your bra stopped its movements, and the impatient one that laid against yours in her shorts paused, too; she completely surrendered herself to you, focusing her attention on the pleasure that you were providing. 

You didn’t mind it, though; it was sweet to see her like that. Someone typically so untouchable, so above it all, completely and utterly in need. All flushed and restless, incapable of ignoring her desire; as if in heat.

She released your bottom lip from between her own after gently tugging on it, and she shifted closer in your embrace, wanting to feel you close. Every hitched breath, every writhe – she needed to feel it all. 

“I think I deserve a little reward after all of this teasing,” she noted raspily, breathless. “Don’t you?”

You nodded, admiring the blush on her cheeks. She fought to keep her eyes from shutting in an effort to continue looking at you; but she caved in when you brushed against her g-spot. You knew all the right ways to touch her.

"Name it, and it's yours." 

Her hips rocked, taking you in deeper again. 

"I want your mouth, too," she answered. "Please," she whined, placing emphasis on it. 

She knew you could never say no when she did that. 

…but that was as much of a blessing as it was a curse. If this time was like any of those in the past, she wouldn't be able to walk properly in the morning. 

That was a sacrifice she was more than willing to make, though, come to think of it. 

Feeling merciful, you wasted no time in easing out of her and stripping her of her shorts and panties. When the cool air hit her glistening center, she whined pathetically. Her legs closed out of instinct, reluctant to share her warmth with the world. 

But you placed your hands on her knees and slowly parted them, slotting yourself in between. As you leaned down to kiss her again, they wrapped around your waist, keeping you snugly in place and causing your clothed pelvis to rub against her clit when she urged you forward. The material was soft, but offered just enough roughness to provide the friction she wanted. 

You rutted a few times, meeting her impatient grinding halfway. Poorly-stifled moans slipped out of her mouth, wrapped around curses and pleas for you to go harder.  

“Be patient, jagi,” you smiled against her lips, putting a hand on her hip to slow her movements. She fought against it briefly, determined to attain relief; but you didn’t budge. “If you keep on like this, you’ll cum before you can ride my face.”

She huffed defeatedly when you pulled away from her, taking your heat and scent along with you, but when she noticed your hands tugging at the sides of your bra, every complaint in her mind faded away. She watched in silent admiration as you slipped it over your head and tossed it somewhere behind you, putting your chest on full display for her eager eyes. 

She reached out to you, and you took her hand in your own and led it to your breast, guiding her to touch you. She kneaded it harshly, almost as a punishment for you taking your sweet time. 

You moaned at the feeling and leaned down again, kissing her deeply as you slid two fingers back into her pussy. Her teeth tugged at your lower lip, nibbling on it as she struggled to breath properly between kisses; she soothed the pain away with a swipe of her warm tongue, filling your mouth with her sweet taste. 

You skimmed your lips lower, down and over the sharp curve of her jaw, kissing silent praises into her soft skin along the way. The path you blazed ignited her, bringing her to life; she trembled beneath you, feeling the weight and strain of her impending release in her muscles. She was aching for it. Something so close, so promising. Every mark you painted onto her made her wetter – each inspiring another desperate buck of her hips.

You worked her up so steadily that once you'd finally reached her thighs and peered up at her with those mischievous eyes of yours – merely looked at her – she almost came undone on the spot. 

Her shuddered breaths were reminiscent of your earlier torture lessons (as she so fondly deemed them), and so for her sake, you decided to be gracious. 

She'd waited long enough.

With one final glance up at her, you dove in, giving her her reward. 

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