AOA 105

“Understood. Let’s eat.”

Only then did Baek Mugyeong pick up his chopsticks. Since it didn’t feel like he would argue further, I also began eating the jjampong. As expected, the spicy jjampong’s taste made me feel refreshed.

Halfway through the bowl, something suddenly occurred to me.

“I have a question.”

“Yes.”

“What food do you like? Let’s go eat that next time.”

I felt guilty for making him eat something he didn’t like, so I wanted to make it up to him. He had eaten something he disliked, so now it was his turn to eat something he liked. And besides, I was curious what a man so indifferent about everything actually enjoyed.

I remembered that Baek Mugyeong hated bugs. But I had no idea what he liked.

“I eat everything well.”

“There must be something you like more. I like things made with eggs. Rolled omelets or steamed egg custard. Ah, the one you made before was really good. You put in lots of ham and carrots, made a big rolled omelet, and I used to eat it often with ketchup on top. I also like omelets, egg tarts. I like strawberries too. Oh, and shrimp. Grilled jumbo shrimp with salt is the best.”

I unconsciously raised my chopsticks hand and gave a thumbs-up. Listing it all out made me sound gluttonous, but I didn’t feel embarrassed. Rolled omelets, steamed egg custard, omelets, egg tarts, strawberries, shrimp. This was pretty average.

But Baek Mugyeong’s reaction was strange. His blank face disappeared, and he showed a faint smile.

What’s so funny?

I asked with my eyes, and this time Baek Mugyeong smiled openly. The smile shone brightly on his handsome face.

“Sorry. It’s because you were cute.”

He returned the exact same words I had said earlier. Compared to all the explanations I had piled on, he said only that one line. Yet his smile stayed, and for some reason my chest stung.

“Wow… you copied what I said earlier, didn’t you?”

“That’s right. But it’s true.”

So this was why people had to live kindly. I never imagined I would hear Baek Mugyeong call me cute. Probably he hadn’t imagined it either. I reflected automatically, as if struck by sudden enlightenment.

“Tell me what you like.”

I quickly changed the subject. Talking about this any further was dangerous.

“I thought about it, but there isn’t any food I particularly prefer.”

“Really?”

“I’ll pick the next menu.”

“Then pick something you’ve never tried before. You might find something you like.”

People needed a sense of adventure. Only by trying different things could you know what you liked or disliked.

Baek Mugyeong agreed, and the meal went on. The conversation flowed normally. The earlier awkwardness was gone without a trace.

I finished the jjampong ik a good mood, and even the sweet dessert.

*

We each drove our cars home. Since it was a weekend afternoon, traffic was heavy and it took longer than usual.

When I reached the garage, Baek Mugyeong was just finishing parking. Thanks to him waiting, I parked too, and we went inside together.

The weekend housekeeper had long since gone home, so the house was empty. Without much talk, we walked until we stopped in front of the stairs. Reflexively, I turned to look at Baek Mugyeong, and our eyes met.

I remembered what had happened the last time we went up the stairs together. Judging from his expression, so did Baek Mugyeong.

“You go first.”

He, who had been a step ahead, stepped back. I glanced at him, then climbed the stairs. I couldn’t see him behind me, but I could clearly feel his presence. I even sensed that he was staring at me.

A chill ran over me like a monster was chasing me, and my legs stiffened. I couldn’t climb more than a few steps before I turned around.

Baek Mugyeong looked up at me, as if asking what was wrong.

“Um…”

“Do you have something to say?”

I did. Don’t look at me. It’d be better if you switched places. Your gaze is distracting. Things like that.

“Do you want to have sex?”

For the past two weeks, every time we had sex, it was because Baek Mugyeong had initiated it. He always asked directly if I wanted to.

Until now, I hadn’t thought much of it. But today, at this moment, looking at his face, I suddenly wondered what it would be like if I asked first. That thought slipped out of my mouth before I realized it.

Baek Mugyeong made a strange face. He looked really shocked.

I was just as flustered. I wanted to crawl into a hole. But running away would have been irresponsible.

To fix the situation, I forced down the embarrassment.

“You don’t want to?”

If he didn’t, then there was nothing I could do. But if he refused, it would be mortifying. I even thought of using pheromones to tempt him, but decided that if he said no, I would just pretend nothing had happened.

In a flash, all kinds of thoughts came and went. Honestly, every second felt like a minute.

I tried to keep my expression calm, but I couldn’t stop the heat rushing to my facf, as if it would burst.

Then Baek Mugyeong laughed out loud.

“Why all of a sudden?”

His voice carried curiosity, but also amusement.

“Because I wanted to.”

“I don’t dislike it. No, I like it.”

The clumsy attempt at seduction worked. With a faint smile, Baek Mugyeong came up the stairs with light steps. Since I stayed where I was, the angle made me look down at him standing a few steps below.

“I have a request.”

I spoke carefully, meeting his questioning gaze.

“Go ahead.”

“So… just once.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Until now, sex has always been too long. And… you came, you ejaculated several times. That’s hard on me. I also have school tomorrow. This time, I really want it to end with just once.”

Explaining every detail made me feel like my face would explode again. But remembering Friday night’s sex, I knew I had to say it.

Tomorrow was Monday, and I had a morning lecture. I wanted to avoid the disaster of missing class because I couldn’t get out of bed.

Baek Mugyeong’s expression was hard to read, but then he smiled again.

“It might not end with once. For example, you could be the one asking for more.”

“That’ll never happen.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course.”

Even if the world flipped upside down, I was confident it wouldn’t happen. But seeing Baek Mugyeong still smiling gave me a bad feeling.

“I’ll believe you, then.”

With that meaningful reply, Baek Mugyeong stepped closer. At the same time, his pheromones spread through the air.

Thanks to him, I had learned that an alpha’s pheromones carried the meaning of seduction. And that other alphas recklessly releasing pheromones at omegas was rude.

His pheromones weren’t thick enough to make my legs buckle. But enchanted by the scent, I couldn’t take my eyes off him as he slowly climbed the stairs. The strange mix of light arousal and tension still felt unfamiliar, the way goosebumps rose across my skin.

I could control my pheromones to some extent now. But whenever I felt Baek Mugyeong’s, mine spilled out almost automatically.

And I could tell immediately that he responded. Just from his eyes, I knew he wanted me. The thrill of satisfaction made my heart race.

“Are we doing this here?”

Because of the height difference, with him standing one step below, our eyes were level. His face drew closer as he asked, in an amused voice.

“Not here. It’s the stairs.”

“A kiss should be possible.”

I closed my eyes and our lips met naturally. From experience, I knew we had to tilt our faces slightly to kiss properly.

His lips were soft, his tongue hot and wet. Our tongues tangled, making sticky sounds.

When his pheromones seeped deep into me, wild and reckless impulses surged up. I wanted it fast, now, to shiver in pleasure.

At the same time, I wanted to swallow him whole. My hands gripping him tightened on their own.

*

“W, wait! What are you… hhngh, ahhh.”

It was rare to regain one’s senses in the middle of sex drowned in pheromones. Usually, it was nothing but panting through blinding flashes, heat, chills, and maddening pleasure. Rational thought flickered like fire from a lighter, then went out.

But if the position changed right after penetration, if my upper body was lifted and he ended up straddling him, then there was no choice but to snap awake.

Sweat cooled on my back and left me slightly cold. But I had no time to care.

As the position changed, hid cock inside me pushed deeper. The pressure was overwhelming. My body stretched wide, filled completely, to the point that I was scared that it might pierce right through me.

“Hhh… crazy…”

My body trembled without control. His hot hand rubbed slowly up my back, and I opened eyes I had shut tight.

Right in front of me was Baek Mugyeong’s flushed face. He too had straightened his upper body, sitting upright.

“Why are you suddenly doing this?”

“I want to try different ways. You don’t like it?”

“It’s not that… but this position feels so weird… hhh.”