By Zephyria 
Tae-hwon could only pat Kwon Rae-i’s back and let out a bitter sigh. The arm wrapped around his waist was heavy, and the clinging body was also large. Kwon Rae-i was so grown up like this, no longer a child, but it was a mystery why he looked so cute.
Even though Kwon Rae-i is now aware that Tae-hwon is not the familiar ten-year-old young master he remembers, and Kwon Rae-i himself has repeatedly emphasized this, and Tae-hwon can no longer think of him as a child, he still can’t help but find him adorable. He doesn’t quite understand why Kwon Rae-i burrowing into his arms like this seems so innocent.
‘I’m thinking too much.’
Tae-hwon turned his dark eyes to Kwon Rae-i’s peacefully sleeping face. He stared intently, tracing the gap between the past and the present. His nose had grown longer, his jaw more angular, his features generally bolder and more handsome. One might say his face had gained depth.
He truly is beautiful.
His delicately closed eyelids. His elegant eyelashes, each strand gracefully extended. His softly closed, well-shaped lips were those of a nobleman, and his skin was as smooth and clear as a pearl, without a single blemish. And he always smelled so good.
Tae-hwon raised the hand that had been patting him and slowly brushed back his hair. The white strands that had covered his forehead flowed through his fingers and fell behind. Tae-hwon continued to stroke Kwon Rae-i’s hair along his temples, caressing it as if it were something precious, before stopping.
The tip of his ear was caught in Tae-hwon’s fingers.
‘…’
A round, white ear. The shape of his earlobe was so neat.
He didn’t want to know why he was feeling this way. He had already gone beyond a physical relationship with Kwon Rae-i, had sucked and licked his Dick and given it all, so why was he suddenly feeling resistance towards this white ear? If it was just a simple erogenous zone. Even if it wasn’t, ears weren’t really a part that warranted hesitation. Not a significant part to feel reluctance about.
‘Am I being conscious of it?’
If he was being conscious, what was he being conscious of?
Why was Woo Tae-hwon hesitating now?
‘Young master…’
…….
Tch.
Tae-hwon clicked his tongue sharply. Then, he pinched Kwon Rae-i’s ear hard as he slept soundly.
“Eep!”
The soft ear stretched, and Kwon Rae-i woke up with a start.
“Tae, Tae-hwon, what are you doing?”
“…”
Tae-hwon didn’t react. He silently watched the bewildered Kwon Rae-i before turning his back to him and adjusting his position. He straightened the blanket, covered himself, and closed his eyes. Kwon Rae-i, still dazed from sleep, blinked his sleepy eyes and asked.
“Huh? What’s wrong…? Can’t you sleep? Did you have another nightmare?”
“…”
“Ah, are you thirsty? Should I get you some water? Or… uh, are you uncomfortable? Do you want to sleep alone? Why did you wake me up?”
Tae-hwon remained silent. Kwon Rae-i hugged Tae-hwon from behind, nuzzling his neck and kissing it.
“Did you want to put it in? Do you want to do it now?”
Ugh, why does the conversation always go there?
“No. Just go to sleep,” Tae-hwon finally said, exhaling deeply. Kwon Rae-i, still seemingly puzzled, continued to kiss Tae-hwon’s neck and ear, moving his hand down from his waist to his lower abdomen. He slowly stroked his skin, then gently touched between his thighs with his fingertips.
“Wasn’t that why you woke me up…? Then what is it? I get anxious when you don’t say anything.”
“Ha…”
“Do you not like me anymore? Do you want to run away? Now.”
“No. It’s just… there was a bug there.”
“A bug… really?”
“Yes. My hand just moved without me realizing it. I’m sorry for waking you up, young master. Just go back to sleep.”
Kwon Rae-i nibbled on Tae-hwon’s earlobe suspiciously, pushing his fingertips deeper. He tickled and pried at the flesh of his thighs between his legs. It was a spot Tae-hwon was very sensitive to.
“Okay. Then, Tae-hwon… shall we sleep with it inside tonight? I put the lubricant on the inside before bed, and it’s so slippery, it feels like it’ll go in easily.”
“I told you to sleep. Just go to sleep.”
“I’ll just leave it in. I won’t thrust, really.”
“Do you think that’s possible? Stop talking in your sleep and take your hand away.”
Tae-hwon jabbed Kwon Rae-i’s side with his elbow and scolded him, then took his hand, which was wandering around his lower body, and placed it gently around his waist. Then, realizing what he was doing, he chuckled in disbelief and shook off the hand. How naturally he had wrapped it around his waist.
“Just sleep.”
“Tch… Okay. Lullaby, lullaby.”
Kwon Rae-i spoke in a childish tone, as if deliberately acting cute, and put the hand that Tae-hwon had shaken off back around his waist. Then, he pulled him in tightly, trapping him in his arms. Tae-hwon groaned. His ribs felt like they were being crushed.
“Good night.”
“Yes. You too, young master.”
“I’ll secretly put it in when Tae-hwon falls asleep.”
“Huh?”
“Secretly, when you’re sleeping deeply. Just a little…”
“…?”
His sleep-talking was quite bizarre.
How could he secretly, just a little, put in that huge thing? His nonsense was so varied.
Tae-hwon was so dumbfounded that he just said, “Heh, do as you please,” and closed his eyes. Thankfully, or perhaps not, he didn’t think of the nightmare he had been having. The night was deep and quiet, Kwon Rae-i was by his side, and a cold wind, heralding winter, was blowing outside the window.
Everything was a passing moment.
Soon, morning would come, Kwon Rae-i would grow, and the seasons would change quickly.
A moment that would eventually change.
Now, it was just a fleeting settlement.
Like a train station where trains come and go.
‘…’
Slowly, Tae-hwon fell asleep. This time, he didn’t dream and slept deeply.
And several hours later, in the morning, he woke up with a start, startled by the pressure of a Dick being thrust into him from behind. There was no way he could secretly, just a little, do that while he was sleeping. Tae-hwon paid the price for uttering those unnecessary words and started his morning. Another difficult day was about to pass.
***
Having stairs in the house was quite helpful for rehabilitation. Just climbing the stairs helped to restore strength to his legs.
The wounds on both legs had healed, and he no longer limped, but he felt restless if he didn’t exercise regularly. Tae-hwon climbed the stairs from the first to the third floor whenever he had the chance. He couldn’t go beyond the fourth floor because there was a huge iron gate, like the ones installed in front of entrances, on the landing leading from the third to the fourth floor.
‘There must be a reason why it’s blocked off.’
It had been over two months since Tae-hwon had started living with Kwon Rae-i in this house, but he had never been up to the fourth floor. Since Kwon Rae-i had put bars on it, he figured it was a place Tae-hwon shouldn’t go. Kwon Rae-i would be horrified and angry if he even got close to the entrance, so he didn’t want to go beyond the blocked-off area and fuel his anxiety.
Tae-hwon wanted Kwon Rae-i’s mental state to be stable more than anything else.
He wanted him to come to his senses and see reality as soon as possible. Once the illusion was shattered, he wouldn’t coddle Woo Tae-hwon like he did now…
“Tae-hwon. Are you done with your 15 sets?”
Kwon Rae-i, who had been watching Tae-hwon climb the stairs from the third floor, held out a glass of water and a towel. Tae-hwon drank the water he offered, quenching his thirst, and wiped the sweat from his forehead with the towel.
“Yes. I’m finished now.”
“You’re really consistent. It seems like you’ve almost regained your leg strength now?”
“I think so. But it’s kind of strange… I seem to have better physical strength and endurance now than when I was twenty.”
“Ah. That’s probably true. Tae-hwon at thirty was really strong.”
“Was I that strong? How much…?”
“Well, to the point where there was no one who dared to oppose you?”
“I see.”
Honestly, it didn’t really feel real just hearing it, but Woo Tae-hwon at thirty must have been quite something. Chairman Kwon Jung-il’s direct right-hand man, the Gyeongjeong’s hitman, the leader of the action team. If he had succeeded, he had succeeded, and if he had fallen, he had fallen. How he became so strong…
“Above all, Tae-hwon’s swordsmanship was amazing. It’s just that you injured your sword-wielding right arm, which is the problem.”
“Yes…”
“Well, it doesn’t matter. You won’t have to wield a sword anymore. If you keep up with your rehabilitation, you’ll be able to live a peaceful everyday life with me.”