24 – TIO

‘Is… is this not it?’

Seo Yi-kyung felt that Han Seung-jae’s expression was not good as he pulled on his arm. Seo Yi-kyung had simply smiled politely at the people he made eye contact with.

However, he felt as though something had gone seriously wrong. As if avoiding Han Seung-jae’s stinging gaze, Seo Yi-kyung brought the wine to his lips. His Adam’s apple bobbed slowly.

The banquet, which had begun in such a manner, continued late into the night.

* * *

Seo Yi-kyung opened the door to the second-floor terrace and stepped out. No one was seen passing through the U-shaped terrace. The night breeze felt cool against his flushing face.

He had sent Butler Do back first. This was not merely a gathering to briefly meet Han Seung-jae’s parents and have a meal.

Since he would be returning with Han Seung-jae, there was no problem.

“Whew…”

Seo Yi-kyung let out a long sigh. Now that he was alone, he felt as if he were finally releasing a breath he had been holding for a long time.

He had smiled among strangers, sipping wine whenever he felt thirsty. Perhaps he had drunk more than he thought because of that. His body was hot, heat rising within him.

Seo Yi-kyung hooked his finger into his tie and pulled it down.

He had been with Han Seung-jae until just a moment ago. However, seeing Seo Yi-kyung’s cheeks turning reddish, Han Seung-jae had suggested he get some fresh air. As they headed toward the second floor together, Han Yechan had called for him. Pushing Han Seung-jae, who seemed reluctant to leave, Seo Yi-kyung had told him that he would go up first.

‘It should be fine if I rest here for a bit.’

Seo Yi-kyung repeatedly wiped his face with both hands and stroked his reddened cheeks. His palms were hot. It’s just because I was too nervous and drank a bit too much wine.

“Haa… haa…”

Seo Yi-kyung loosened his tie further and undid a couple of shirt buttons. To think it was just because of the wine, his body felt strange somehow.

In particular, a pleasant scent had been drifting in on the night breeze for a while now.

‘A rose scent…’

Was it an illusion that the scent was coming from his own body? Moreover, perhaps because he had been drinking, his pheromone storage was not working at all.

‘What do I do…’

Seo Yi-kyung’s knees buckled slowly. His thighs trembled violently. As if trying to regain his senses, Seo Yi-kyung bit his lower lip hard.

Just then, the glass door opened, and the sound of footsteps approached. A large hand grabbed the shoulder of the slumped Seo Yi-kyung.

Seo Yi-kyung turned his head slowly. The face of the person standing against the light seemed to shimmer, as if underwater.

“Ha… ah…”

Strained breaths escaped from his parted lips. On Seo Yi-kyung’s lower lip, which he had bitten several times in an effort to maintain consciousness, beads of red blood had formed.

“Seung-jae…”

Because of his feverish eyes, Seo Yi-kyung could not see the other person’s face clearly. Nevertheless, he could guess it was Han Seung-jae by the white sandalwood pheromones reaching the tip of his nose.

It wasn’t that he was actively releasing them, but that they were clinging to the hand gripping his shoulder and to his suit. Even so, his pheromones felt stronger than usual. Suddenly, a desire arose to embrace him and rub his body against him. However, such a thing must not happen. He gasped for air, barely suppressing the urge.

“I think… I drank… too much wine.”

“Can you stand up?”

Huddled on the floor, Seo Yi-kyung nodded. However, that was more of a thought than an action. In reality, his head barely moved. Instead, the sound of breathing coming from his open mouth grew more hurried.

“Haa… haa…”

When he remained motionless, Han Seung-jae wrapped his long arm around his waist and pulled Seo Yi-kyung up. The more he inhaled the rushing pheromones, the more his flanks trembled slightly.

“It’s not… because of the alcohol.”

Han Seung-jae’s words sounded fragmented.

‘If it’s not because of the alcohol…’

However, his tongue failed to function properly, and his toes tangled as he tried to move, making it difficult to ask again.

As Han Seung-jae stepped outside, Secretary Park, who was coming up the stairs, came into view. He had come to convey that President Han Yechan was looking for him again.

Seeing the staggering Seo Yi-kyung, Secretary Park approached quickly.

“Are you very drunk? Shall I help support you?”

“Mmph…”

Han Seung-jae tightened the arm wrapped around the waist. Seo Yi-kyung’s body turned sharply, and his face was buried deep into Han Seung-jae’s hard chest without warning.

“Forget it, just go get the suppressants.”

Han Seung-jae’s eyes narrowed. His pupils were piercingly sharp. His face was full of displeasure.

Seo Yi-kyung, with his head buried in the chest, parted his lips. His knees kept buckling. He felt his consciousness fading due to the white sandalwood pheromones flooding his nose and mouth in an instant. His chest heaved slightly. His sunken collarbones rose and fell repeatedly.

The pheromones emanating from Han Seung-jae’s body made his brain feel not just mushy, but practically melting. Because of this, it felt as if his body were liquefying, but since a firm arm was wrapped around his waist supporting him, such a disaster did not occur.

Belatedly, Secretary Park stepped back. He was a Dominant Alpha.

“Understood.”

Because he had rushed over so quickly, he hadn’t had a chance to observe, but an excessive amount of pheromones were pouring out of Seo Yi-kyung’s body.

As Secretary Park descended the stairs and appeared on the first floor, Han Yechan asked.

“Why are you alone?”

Han Yechan glanced toward the stairs. However, no matter how long he waited, Han Seung-jae did not appear. Secretary Park answered in a calm tone.

“Director Han said he has a headache and would like to rest for a bit.”

As he served Han Seung-jae more closely than anyone, Secretary Park sensed his intentions and handled matters faster than anyone else. His lips were sealed, and his personality was prudent. This time, too, he tactfully avoided mentioning Seo Yi-kyung’s name in front of so many people.

President Han Yechan’s eyes were keen. He was likely vaguely thinking of Seo Yi-kyung, who was missing along with Han Seung-jae.

Han Yechan soon turned his head to look at the people and wore a skillful smile.

“You’ve come such a long way, and yet the hospitality is so lacking. Everything I touch becomes mine, but it seems my children are the only things that don’t go according to my will.”

“Why would you say such a thing? Director Han is so wonderful. Looking at my own child, I still have a long way to go.”

“My, I was like that when I was young too.”

Boisterous laughter spread around President Han. Secretary Park slowly distanced himself from them.

Reaching the sedan, he opened the passenger door. The driver, who had been waiting in the car all along, looked in the same direction.

Secretary Park opened a silver case and looked down at the syringe containing the suppressant. However, this was the one Han Seung-jae used. Alphas and Omegas used different suppressants.

Of all things, he had sent Butler Do back. If he had been here, the task would have been easy. Left with no choice, Secretary Park climbed into the passenger seat. Soon, the stationary sedan lit its headlights and moved, cutting through the darkness.

* * *

Click. Han Seung-jae reached back to close the door and looked down at Seo Yi-kyung, who stood with his head practically buried in his chest. He could hardly keep his balance. Han Seung-jae lightly cradled the slender waist and moved.

Inside the spacious room, there was a bed, sofa, and table prepared for guests, and expensive liquors were displayed in a cabinet. The interior, decorated by his mother Yeon So-jeong, was close to a Nordic style. Even the cushions on the sofa had different patterns.

If he went up one more floor, there was the room Han Seung-jae used to use, but he couldn’t take Seo Yi-kyung that far. This was because the amount of pheromones flowing from his body was becoming increasingly dense. He might accidentally run into someone.

An Omega in heat sends pheromones far and wide. Alphas who react to them are bound to swarm.

“Ha, haa…”

After laying Seo Yi-kyung on the cream-colored sofa, Han Seung-jae frowned. He pulled at his tie with his long hand. Blue veins popped on the back of his hand.

He looked down at Seo Yi-kyung, who was sprawled on the long sofa that could have fit two people. His entire face was red with heat.

The tie pulled down haphazardly and the buttons undone in haste. Seo Yi-kyung’s slightly exposed collarbones were sunken and heaving.

Han Seung-jae had watched Seo Yi-kyung drink wine by his side while talking with people. Although he avoided eye contact whenever their eyes met, he never let the wine glass leave his hand.

At first, he thought his face was flushing because he had drunk too much wine. That was why he had suggested he get some fresh air. Even then, he had emptied the wine he was holding.

“Seo Yi-kyung.”

A low voice echoed, but the focus of Seo Yi-kyung’s pupils was not clear. He was merely looking in the direction the sound came from.

If he had been just a little later, the situation might have been bad.

The Seo Yi-kyung he met on the terrace was on the verge of losing consciousness. Han Seung-jae, having loosened his tie, let his gaze fall on Seo Yi-kyung’s lips, which were glistening, wet with saliva. Blood had beaded there. It seemed he had struggled not to lose consciousness.

However, a heat was not something that could be suppressed by one’s own strength. It was a desire close to instinct, a struggle to release the heat surging through a burning body.

Seo Yi-kyung continued to catch his labored breath with his lips parted. His disheveled hair, the white suit he wore, the loosely hung tie, the unbuttoned dress shirt, and the rapidly heaving collarbones were white and sharp.

Han Seung-jae, who had his finger hooked in his tie, reached out. He rubbed Seo Yi-kyung’s lower lip with the tip of his thumb. Following his finger, a drop of blood traced the line of the lip.

Just then, a crimson tongue licked the long finger. Han Seung-jae stared down. The wet piece of flesh sucked his finger repeatedly. The corners of Seo Yi-kyung’s eyes were red, and the focus of his pupils was unclear. It was highly likely that his body was simply reacting.

Because his body temperature was high, his tongue was hot too. It fueled the desire to grab his head, force his cock into his mouth, and ram it in. Even without that, the rose pheromones flowing from Seo Yi-kyung’s body had been constantly eating away at Han Seung-jae’s patience.

In truth, he had no such thing as patience. He only pretended to have it.

Han Seung-jae shoved his finger into the mouth. So he could suck it better. The tongue, wetter than before, wrapped around the finger and sucked it with a wet sound.