Ch 32

<32>

 

1 month before that day (4)

 

The floating consciousness continued to sink into the deep sea. While sinking to the bottom, a dull pain in his lower back caused his submerged consciousness to half-awaken, and his heavily closed eyes fluttered. Someone was warming his unresponsive hands with a gentle heat.

 

Eunho could tell who it was without even opening his eyes. His tightly closed eyebrows slowly lifted with a soft ripple. Contrary to his expectation that it would be morning, a dim shadow of night stretched long across the ceiling.

 

His body wouldn’t move as he willed, as if his bones had been disassembled and reassembled. Why was it so hard? Hot, dry breaths escaped from his parted lips and dissipated into the air. The skin around his lips was completely dry, covered in hard flakes, and for some reason, a fishy, stale taste lingered in his mouth.

 

He was dehydrated. His throat felt like he had swallowed a handful of sand, scratchy and dry to the point of agony. Eunho slowly turned his brown eyes from side to side, his gaze stopping at one place. An anxious pair of eyes, filled with worry, had been following Eunho, watching him since who knows when.

 

Eunho slowly took in Yoonjae, who was looking down at him with concern, his eyes still hazy with sleep.

 

His lips moved, but he couldn’t easily find the words. Even his breath sounded like metal scraping, and he squeezed out a few words from his swollen throat, but the ends of his words were dry and cracked, making them sound terrible.

 

“Are you… okay?”

 

His expression was somehow subdued. He stroked the back of Eunho’s hand, then raised his upper body and moved closer. Soft, tender lips touched Eunho’s still feverish forehead and then pulled away.

 

“That’s what I should be asking you. Are you okay?”

 

His low, firm voice sank deeply to the floor. It was clear he hadn’t spoken in a long time. Yoonjae, who was making eye contact from close range and giving a faint smile, swept Eunho’s disheveled bangs back.

 

Eunho’s pale white cheeks, devoid of color, looked so pitiful that the weariness was palpable. Eunho kept furrowing his brow and trying to clear his throat, so Yoonjae put an arm behind Eunho’s lower back to lift his upper body, then brought a water cup nearby to his lips. Eunho placed his hand over Yoonjae’s hand holding the glass. The cool water, like rain in a drought, slowly flowed down his esophagus.

 

His parched throat moistened, and Eunho swallowed before whispering softly to Yoonjae, who was gently laying him back down.

 

“…What time is it?”

 

“Ten thirty.”

 

“Not much… time has passed.”

 

Just before losing consciousness, Eunho remembered the lights in the garden turning on outside the darkening window, making the room bright enough to distinguish objects. At Eunho’s slow, dragging speech, Yoonjae raised the corners of his mouth and frowned.

 

“It’s Friday today.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“You’ve been asleep for a whole day. I took care of the leave, so don’t worry.”

 

So that’s why his back hurt so much. When he slightly raised his body to drink water, his whole body ached as if he had done intense exercise the day before.

 

Unlike yesterday, when he had no sensation below his waist, today a persistent, dull pain kept touching his spinal nerves. He felt something slick and moist beneath his lower back, where the fever was intense. It seemed Yoonjae had applied ointment. Come to think of it, a small bandage was adorably stuck on the back of his hand. Eunho lifted his wrist and looked around with half-closed eyes, and Yoonjae’s hand came close to his pale face.

 

“You were severely dehydrated.”

 

After being squeezed for half a day, Eunho’s body collapsed and his consciousness blurred. Yoonjae, becoming frantic, called the medical staff to replenish his fluids and put a pheromone dome over him, speeding up his recovery throughout the night. However, Eunho’s stamina, which had fallen to the bottom, did not easily improve, burning Yoonjae’s insides black.

 

“Eunho.”

 

The deep, resonant voice was softer and sweeter than ever. There was an unidentifiable anxiety in Yoonjae’s eyes as he checked Eunho’s complexion. Why was that? Wanting to know the source of the anxiety, Eunho slowly blinked and tried to come to his senses.

 

“Do you remember anything?”

 

Eunho, groaning at the pain in his swollen throat, nodded. He had lost consciousness from exhaustion since late afternoon, but he remembered relatively many scenes. Eunho let out a stale sigh.

 

Being in heat, he didn’t think his excitement would subside with just one or two rounds of sex. But he didn’t expect it to continue until night without even a short break. After ejaculation, blood seemed to rush back quickly, increasing the size again and pushing into the end of his flesh, but the peak of pleasure couldn’t come down and kept soaring. Eventually, his ejaculate turned into clear water, and the continued excitement led to exhaustion. Yoonjae hesitated for a moment, watching Eunho nod, and then continued.

 

“How much do you remember?”

 

“…The knotting.”

 

“You remember a lot.”

 

He was worried that he wouldn’t remember the knotting, but fortunately, he knew and didn’t seem too surprised.

 

Yoonjae was silent for a while, then unbuttoned his shirt and turned his head to the side so that Eunho could see his neck clearly. A faint blue pattern was engraved like a seal below his neck, which was usually smooth without any marks. Eunho immediately recognized what it was.

 

“…You imprinted…?”

 

Yoonjae nodded. Eunho touched his left neck. There was nothing to feel, but there was some pain, so it seemed he had imprinted while he was unconscious. Only then did Eunho understand why he had been so anxious all along. Unlike his usual personality, he had committed a huge act without the other person’s consent, so it was understandable.

 

Eunho grumbled softly in a weak tone. He didn’t have the slightest intention of yelling, but he wasn’t in a mental state to welcome and be happy about the imprinting either. In fact, his mind was blank as if his thoughts had stopped. He had just grabbed Yoonjae, hoping to get through the heat, but he had caused an irreversible major accident.

 

“I can’t submit my resignation letter.”

 

“I told you I’d reject it.”

 

A smile returned to Yoonjae’s face as he carefully examined Eunho. Because he had imprinted without Eunho’s consent, he was prepared to kneel and take it until Eunho’s anger subsided if he punched him or swore at him. But contrary to Yoonjae’s worst-case scenario, Eunho’s reaction wasn’t that bad.

 

“I can’t even say let’s break up while crying.”

 

“That’s why I imprinted.”

 

His heart, which had been burning, melted away. As he smiled with a sly joke, a sigh of disbelief slowly escaped. Yoonjae immediately backed down at Eunho’s sigh.

 

“A joke… well, not entirely a joke.”

 

At his confession, which was a mysterious mix of half-truth and half-joke, Eunho clenched his fist and tapped his chest. He smiled silently as he expressed his desire for compensation, thinking that this was the least he could do to feel less wronged.

 

“Eunho.”

 

In that moment, his dark eyes became moist. A lump of emotion welled up in a corner of Eunho’s heart as he looked into his eyes. He was so fond of the way he held up and gently stroked one hand with the bandage on it, as if it were gold or jade, that he blankly let go of his mind.

 

“I told Chief Yoon about us beforehand. I thought it would be necessary.”

 

While Eunho slept for a whole day, Yoonjae also took a vacation and reorganized his thoughts. Eunho, who had been placed at the edge of Yoonjae’s mind, had become the closest person and formed the center axis after time had turned back. His head was complicated. After imprinting, the most worrying thing was Eunho’s feelings, but also Choi Seryeong. He didn’t want to expose Eunho to Seryeong for a certain period of time. To hide him as much as possible, he needed someone to watch over Eunho and help him nearby, and Chief Yoon was the only person.

 

“I don’t know if you’ve heard, but… my granduncle seems to be passing away soon.”

 

Eunho had heard about it. He had lasted much longer than the time the doctor had predicted, but everyone knew that Chairman Choi’s life was nearing its end, as his condition was critical. Thanks to this, Yoonjae was reluctantly summoned once or twice a week.

 

“We’re going to change the company name at the next general shareholders meeting. We’re already separated from Yuseong Group, but we’re preparing to completely separate when my granduncle passes away.”

 

At the mention of changing the company name, his hazy mind cleared. Unlike Chairman Choi’s wishes, Yoonjae was not planning to join hands with Seryeong. Even though Seryeong always treated him like an uninvited guest and harassed him, he had endured and tolerated it because of his granduncle, Chairman Choi.

 

Chairman Choi had transferred some of his shares to his son, but if he made up his mind, he could take away all of Yoonjae’s shares. Yoonjae resented Chairman Choi for throwing him into the middle of a jungle where predators were lurking and leaving him to fight alone, but as time passed, he was grateful to him. Thanks to him, he had learned how to survive on his own. The reason he was lowering himself now and obediently yielding to the sharp-edged Choi Seryeong was to give Chairman Choi’s last journey as much respect as possible.

 

Eunho listened to Yoonjae’s future plans and thought of Hyukpil Sunbae. It was true that he was fighting a lonely battle in the cousin’s management war. Why was he telling him such important information? He wondered, widening his eyes and focusing his gaze, and Yoonjae, who had paused for a moment, blushed and carefully opened his mouth.

 

“As soon as things are settled, I’d like to have a small wedding with just Eunho’s parents on the island of Capri in the Mediterranean.”

 

Was this an extension of a dream, or had he misheard? As Eunho opened his mouth to ask again, Yoonjae’s warm palm touched his face.

 

“It’ll take about three months. Can you wait until then?”

 

“…Did you plan this while I was asleep?”

 

Eunho raised his hand and very slowly stroked his cheek. What on earth had he been thinking about all day? His eyelashes fluttered over his trembling eyes. Yoonjae nodded silently.

 

“I’m sorry for hurting you.”

 

After imprinting, when his mind became clear, he noticed Eunho’s disheveled state. When he washed him, he saw that the bruises and handprints that had formed in various places had already turned into marks. What was even more surprising was Eunho’s response. He was overwhelmed by an indescribable shock at the fact that he hadn’t left a single scratch on his body, when he hismelf had acted like a beast.

 

“I didn’t know I would make things so hard for you.”

 

Usually, when his heat returned, he would get a prescription and stay home for a day or two to cool down on his own. He checked once more to make sure that the pheromones that flowed out thickly wouldn’t harm others.

 

It was the first time he had been with someone during his heat. When Eunho hugged him, he felt joy at wanting to have Eunho, but on the other hand, he was worried because he didn’t know how uncontrollable he would be.

 

Eunho, looking at Yoonjae’s face, which was full of dark clouds, swallowed a faint smile and clutched his abdomen as if something was pulling at it.

 

“I also, didn’t know Executive Director couldn’t control himself this much.”

 

Eunho frowned and said slightly mischievously. Yoonjae’s expression darkened even more, like a thunderstorm with lightning.

 

“Ah, I can’t even joke.”

 

His throat was still swollen and rough, but his condition was returning as his mind cleared. Eunho raised his upper body and reached out his arms to Yoonjae. Hold me. He got up from his seat, leaned against the bed, and hugged him tightly. Every time he deeply inhaled his pheromones, the aches and pains all over his body gradually improved.

 

“Don’t set a time limit, and proceed slowly with what you want to do first.”

 

“Eunho.”

 

Eunho didn’t want to interfere with the big picture he was drawing. It must have been something he had been planning for a long time, and he couldn’t bear to see it go wrong and collapse. The financial structure may be better at Yuseong Venture Capital, but Yuseong Group was by no means an easy place. Choi Seryeong’s younger sibling, Choi Youngjae, would shake Yoonjae with his 17% stake. He would have to fight with all possibilities open, but he didn’t want to interfere with him just because he had imprinted.

 

“Don’t rush and ruin things. I’ll wait.”

 

The hand holding Yoonjae’s back crumpled his clothes and twisted them around his finger.

 

“I’m good at waiting, you know that.”

 

“I can’t stand it. And I don’t want to be shameless either.”

 

At his firm words, Eunho’s round shoulders heaved greatly. Yoonjae stroked Eunho’s back, touched the line of his spine protruding under the thin fabric, and then pulled away. Come to think of it, he had starved Eunho for over a day.

 

“Are you hungry? Do you want to eat something?”

 

Eunho’s hair swayed as he nodded. He had only had water, so he was starting to get hungry. His body kept drooping listlessly, probably because he lacked the energy to expend, so he wanted to eat, regain his strength, and talk with him all night long.

 

***

 

Feeling the approaching heat, his moist lips parted slightly. A moist tongue, parting his lips, easily found his hidden tongue and groped it, and his fluttering eyelashes quietly fell.

 

Eunho experienced a distant illusion as he swallowed the rushing breath and saliva. It was so good that it made his heart flutter. Every time his small touches gently touched his heart, he couldn’t help but want to cling to him. As a hand dug through his hair and supported the back of his head, his neck gently bent. Yoonjae was constantly passing his pheromones to Eunho.

 

After imprinting, Yoonjae observed Eunho even more carefully. Sometimes he acted like a person who was anxious to do anything for him. He made a mess of the kitchen, saying he would cook for him, which he never did before, applied ointment morning and night, and tried to carry him around even though his arms and legs were fine. Eunho firmly said that he was fine now, making Yoonjae sulk.

 

Yoonjae strictly adhered to a life of abstinence throughout the weekend, except for light skinship. Yoonjae had watched Eunho collapse from exhaustion, so he tried to endure until his body had completely recovered. It was his own will to be careful because he felt so sorry for making him suffer, but from Eunho’s point of view, he was secretly twisted.

 

Eunho, who was upset with Yoonjae for only leaving a light peck and trying to leave, deliberately grabbed his cheek and bit his lips fiercely. You can do a little more. After slurring the end of his words and helping him cross the line, he slowly pushed in, but Yoonjae seemed to have a hard time enduring Eunho’s temptation. After sharing a deep kiss with Eunho, he would go to the shower room or fitness room, perhaps embarrassed, to relieve his aroused lust.

 

Eunho, whose body had returned to its normal condition, stood in front of the island counter and sent Yoonjae, who was wondering what to make, far away to the living room. He felt shameless to keep him in the kitchen all weekend just because he was the owner of the house, when there was no housekeeper.

 

Should he grill fish? Eunho could eat fish without any problems, and it was a great side dish without any seasoning, so it was perfect. He opened the refrigerator and freezer, and sure enough, there were fish of all kinds. He gave up on the frozen fish in the freezer, which was difficult to thaw, and chose mackerel and hairtail from the refrigerator.

 

“Are you going to grill fish?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Yoonjae, who had been talking to Chief Yoon for a long time, slyly approached, drawn by the fishy smell coming from the kitchen. Even though it was an easy task that only required pre-seasoning, putting oil in the frying pan, and heating it up, he wondered what he was so worried about. Yoonjae, who had been standing for a long time with his brows furrowed, slyly intervened, turned off the induction cooktop, and brought the oven grill. Ah, he could grill it in the oven. As Eunho stood there with his lower lip curled, he slowly placed the fish pieces on the grill with tongs.

 

“You’ll get hurt if the oil splatters.”

 

Yoonjae, saying that he would leave the kitchen soon, placed the fish pieces sparsely on the grill, adjusted the temperature and time, and then left the kitchen.

 

When he placed the well-grilled fish in the center of the pre-prepared side dishes, a plausible dinner was prepared. When he moved a piece of the plump body to his front plate and handed it to Yoonjae, the corners of his mouth curved into a thin arc.

 

Even while talking about company matters, Eunho refrained from talking about Yuseong Group as much as possible. When he heard Yoonjae’s past stories, he could fully guess that he had suffered a lot, so Eunho no longer asked him about his past in detail.

 

Eunho stood in front of the sink to pre-wash the dishes he had finished eating. Even though he hadn’t prepared much, there was a pile of dishes. It was Yoonjae who grabbed Eunho, who was taking out the rubber gloves, and turned him around. At his words that he would do it to help with digestion and that he should rest, Eunho put down the rubber gloves and walked out of the front door.

 

The cool night air was the perfect temperature for a walk. As Eunho approached the crickets chirping at the edge of the wall to get a better look, their chirping gradually subsided, as if they felt threatened by his presence. Eunho turned and sat on the wooden bench in the middle of the garden. After waiting for a long time after initiating a video call, a face he missed so dearly appeared on the screen.