Kwon Taekjoo sprawled out on the bed, his body slick and sticky with sweat, undoing all the effort he had put into his shower.
Despite the air conditioner humming in the background, he couldn't seem to cool down.
As he stepped out of the bathroom, his legs were so weak and shaky that they could barely hold him up.
He had already lost track of how many times he had had sex with Zhenya. Not even animals in heat could withstand the kind of frenzy they had just shared.
And it wasn't as if they'd been apart for years... it had only been a week since they last met. Almost two years had passed since he and Zhenya had started seeing each other.
It was enough time for most couples to crave some alone time, but, strangely enough, Kwon Taekjoo's impatience seemed to grow stronger with each passing day.
Maybe Zhenya's
insatiable sexual drive was rubbing off on him.
A groan escaped his lips as he rolled over onto his stomach, his hips sore from the relentless pressure they had endured.
But worse than the pain was the feeling of the sheets sticking to his clammy skin.
All he could do was frown because he was too exhausted to do anything but
catch his breath.
His mind was hazy, his vision blurry, and dizziness swirled around in his
head. Blindly, he reached for the other side of the bed, but found it empty.
The sound of running water came from the bathroom. The bastard had screwed him until he was nearly unconscious, and now he was enjoying a nice shower by himself.
Unable to resist the overwhelming fatigue, his eyelids drooped. Sleep began to take over as his consciousness faded little by little.
By the time he lost track of time, the steady sound of the water stopped.
Moments later, he sensed Zhenya's presence as he opened the bathroom
door and stepped out.
For a moment, Zhenya's gaze lingered on Kwon Taekjoo's figure before quietly leaving the room.
From outside, the faint clatter of dishes could be heard.
For some reason, though it disturbed Kwon Taekjoo's rest, it didn't irritate him as much as he thought it would.
A few minutes later, Zhenya returned, casting a large shadow over Kwon Taekjoo's face.
The bed dipped under the weight, and the cold touch of a glass pressed against Kwon Taekjoo's cheek.
In his drowsiness, Kwon Taekjoo let out a chuckle, realizing this had become part of their little routine.
"... Now you won't even let me sleep?"
Kwon Taekjoo murmured as he opened his eyes.
His voice was hoarse and rough from fatigue. He cleared his throat a few times, but it didn't help much.
"I thought you said you wanted a drink earlier."
"Yeah, but... calmly."
"Could it be any calmer than this?"
Kwon Taekjoo let out a soft sigh and grabbed the glass of whiskey swirling in front of him.
Groaning, he struggled to sit up.
Zhenya grabbed Kwon Taekjoo by the shoulder and turned him around, pressing his lips to his in a kiss.
The strong taste of cigar smoke entered Kwon Taekjoo's mouth, making his
already sore throat worse.
Instinctively, he pushed Zhenya's arm away in disapproval, but Zhenya just laughed and took another drag from his cigar.
In the past, the mere smell of the smoke would have gotten on his nerves and given him a headache.
But now, the familiar
aroma seemed to calm him, perhaps because of his connection to Zhenya.
Kwon Taekjoo watched Zhenya intently over the rim of his whiskey glass, taking a slow sip.
Zhenya's skin seemed to glow more than usual, probably because he had just come out of the shower.
He showed no signs of exhaustion, but there was an unusual calmness in his
demeanor.
Between the two of them, Kwon Taekjoo was undoubtedly the more active one in bed. But lately, the gap in their stamina was becoming more and more noticeable.
It wasn't just because Zhenya was younger—after all, it wasn't like Kwon Taekjoo was ten years older— but it seemed as if Zhenya had been blessed with a greater endurance.
"What are you thinking, Taekjoo?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're looking at me like you want to bore a hole in my skull. Am I that pretty?"
Zhenya tilted his head with a mischievous smile. His pale blonde hair slipped across his smooth forehead, still damp with droplets of water.
Kwon Taekjoo clicked his tongue in reproach as he watched him.
"You always say that. Don't you get embarrassed?"
"Seems like a lot embarrasses you when we know each other inside and out."
Zhenya's hand caressed his warm, flushed cheek. Kwon Taekjoo flinched at the unexpected coolness of his touch.
Maybe Zhenya had taken a cold shower. His hand slowly slid down to Kwon Taekjoo's neck, drawing a low moan from him.
The hairs on his back and neck stood
on end.
"Even if you don't say it, I already know what you like and what you want me to do,"
Zhenya murmured, his hand continuing downward.
His fingers grazed beyond Kwon Taekjoo's collarbone, tracing the curve of his chest.
Then, without warning, Zhenya squeezed one side of his chest, digging his fingers in firmly.
At the same time, Zhenya's lips gently pressed against Kwon Taekjoo's forehead in a tender kiss, completely at odds with the roughness happening below.
It was as if the two movements were
entirely disconnected—his face soft and affectionate, while the rest of him remained ruthless and powerful. Even Zhenya's appearance reflected this contrast, as a face so delicate didn't
quite match the hard, muscular body beneath.
For a brief moment, Kwon Taekjoo decided to let Zhenya do whatever he wanted with him.
Zhenya's fingers found Kwon Taekjoo's swollen nipple and began to rub it. Kwon Taekjoo's shoulders tensed at the sensation.
It was hard to tell whether it was pain or pleasure he was feeling. Zhenya's gaze locked onto the bite marks he had left on Kwon Taekjoo's skin.
His tongue unconsciously ran over his lower lip as his throat quivered. Sensing the shift in Zhenya's mood, Kwon Taekjoo quickly pushed his hand away before things could escalate further.
"Stop groping me. It hurts, you bastard."
"What? Your tits hurt just because I touched them a little?"
"Tits...? What?"
That filthy mouth of Zhenya's seemed more in sync with the lower half of his body than with his pretty face.
Kwon Taekjoo gave his cheek a light pinch as if to scold him.
"You'd look so much more damn pretty to me if you cleaned up that mouth of yours."
"What did you say?"
"You still don't understand what I'm saying in Korean? If you're that curious, then learn the damn language,"
Kwon Taekjoo teased, flashing a smile.
He then held out a hand in front of Zhenya's face.
Zhenya immediately understood the hint
and handed him the cigar he had been smoking. Kwon Taekjoo took it without hesitation, inhaling deeply.
The thick smoke traveled down his throat and settled heavily in his lungs.
In the past, Kwon Taekjoo would've taken just a couple of puffs before setting it aside.
But now, he calmly enjoyed his whiskey with the cigar nestled between his fingers.
Zhenya flashed him a sweet smile as he lit another cigar.
"You've turned it into a habit, haven't you?"
"It's been on my mind for a while, since I haven't smoked in a long time."
Kwon Taekjoo twirled the cigar between his fingers, examining it closely before bringing it back to his lips.
"Although, of course, the cigar isn't the only thing on my mind."
As Kwon Taekjoo spoke, his dark eyes locked on Zhenya through the hazy smoke of the cigarette.
Zhenya carefully savored his words before a smile curved his lips.
Holding his own cigar between his teeth, he climbed onto the bed, spread Kwon Taekjoo's legs, and positioned
himself between them.
"You're getting all soft on me again. What happened? Did you get some praise at work for completing your mission successfully?"
"Well, something like that."
"That's good."
"Good for me. But I'm not sure if it is for you."
Zhenya tilted his head at Kwon Taekjoo's cryptic comment.
Kwon Taekjoo stared at him, then swallowed the rest of the whiskey in his glass. He toyed with the empty glass for a moment before speaking.
"Hey…"
Kwon Taekjoo paused, a rare moment of insecurity crossing his face, something unusual for him.
Zhenya's blue eyes swept over Kwon Taekjoo's face, observing him closely with a serious expression.
After a while, his features softened into a curious smile.
"What's going on this time?"
"This time?"
"You always give me that look when you're about to break bad news. And you've been hinting that you have something to say. Did they assign you another mission?"
"No, it's not that."
"Oh no? Then what is it?"
Zhenya's confusion was evident in his gaze. Even his playful smile faded as he analyzed Kwon Taekjoo's face.
His eyes lingered on Kwon Taekjoo's lips, eager to uncover the source
of his anxiety. Kwon Taekjoo opened and closed his mouth a few times before letting out a sigh.
"I need this to stop."
Zhenya's face twisted in shock, clearly taken aback by such an unexpected response.
"What do you mean, Taekjoo?"
"I need you to stop interfering with my work."
Zhenya's tense expression relaxed slightly as he processed Kwon Taekjoo's explanation.
Then, he let out a soft sigh, tinged with what seemed like relief.
"When have I ever interfered with your work?"
"Don't play innocent, you idiot."
Zhenya slowly leaned back from Kwon Taekjoo, still looking perplexed, as if it was hard for him to understand.
"Regardless of whether you think I'm interfering or helping, why are you so against me being involved? All I do is make things easier for you. None of it could ever hurt you."
"That's true if we're only thinking about me. But that's not the whole problem."
"It's not the whole problem?"
Did he really not know? Ever since he moved to Korea, Zhenya had meddled in Kwon Taekjoo's missions countless times.
Sometimes, Zhenya would even arrive at the mission site before Kwon Taekjoo, intercepting key documents or crucial information that Kwon needed… all so he could spend more time with Kwon. With Zhenya's help, Kwon Taekjoo's
missions had become child's play, allowing him a break from his once frantic life.
But all of this was a blatant violation of NIS regulations. Moreover, as a foreign diplomat, Zhenya was even more vulnerable to scrutiny and external controversy.
That's why Kwon Taekjoo had always been bothered by Zhenya's interference, regardless of how successful the missions turned out.
There had been several times when Kwon Taekjoo was furious with Zhenya for treating his missions like a joke.
After many arguments, Zhenya had opted to help Kwon more indirectly,
as he had done in Cuba.
Zhenya seemed annoyed now by Kwon's insistence on denying him
even this discreet support.
"So, you're saying you just want me to sit back and do nothing while my lover is in danger?"
"I took on this job fully aware of the risks it involves. Besides, before we met, I managed just fine on my own."
Zhenya let out a laugh of disbelief.
He seemed angry, as if Kwon Taekjoo had unilaterally decided that Zhenya was no longer allowed to play a game he had already committed to and had told him to leave.
"So, you're saying I'm just getting in your way?"
"Don't twist my words. What I'm saying is that you shouldn't put yourself in danger because of me."
"Put myself in danger? Me?"
Zhenya once again looked at Kwon Taekjoo, as if he had just said something completely illogical.
He seemed convinced that nothing like that could ever happen to him.
With a long sigh, Kwon Taekjoo fixed his gaze on Zhenya, whose expression remained cold and unyielding.
The icy look in his eyes and the tight set of his lips reminded Kwon of a sulking child.
He couldn't help but wonder how long he would have to console this 30-year-
old man as if he were a small child.
Kwon Taekjoo started to explain again, even as he let out another sigh.
"Do you think I don't know about your relationship with your family? Look, I'm not going to tell you how to deal with them or pressure you to make amends. That's your business, not mine. But I can't keep watching you create more conflicts with them just for my sake."
"Taekjoo, you're misunderstanding something. Even if you weren't in the picture, my relationship with them is beyond repair. They're insignificant people who wouldn't dare to interfere with my life."
"Regardless of that, your roots are with them,"
Kwon Taekjoo said calmly, leaving Zhenya momentarily speechless.
Zhenya's lips parted, almost as if he were about to smile, but only one corner of his mouth twitched.
He seemed utterly furious at the undeniable fact that he belonged to Russia and the Bogdanov family.
Fearing that Zhenya might misunderstand him, Kwon Taekjoo quickly added,
"And I chose to accept you as you are, fully aware of all that."
"What are you trying to say? Why are you making an issue out of something I can't even change?"
"I'm not making it an issue, you idiot. I just wanted to address it because it's something that will weigh on my mind for as long as I keep working for the NIS. The root of the problem will never go away, but I can't stand by and do nothing about it. Like my mother, I want you to
stay by my side longer, without having to worry about anything."
Kwon Taekjoo felt like he had just confessed something embarrassing, but Zhenya's face remained cold.
He simply frowned, focusing on trying to grasp the true meaning behind Taekjoo words."
"What are you hiding from me, Taekjoo?"
"I'm not hiding anything."
"No, something definitely happened, didn't it?"
"I'm telling you, nothing happened. I've been thinking about this for a while, but I never brought it up. I've been too comfortable for too long, but now I think I'm finally coming to my senses."
"Ha... Taekjoo. Do you really think I wouldn't notice if you were hiding so-...?"
"Don't start looking for excuses to come after me. Don't try to figure out what I'm doing when I'm not around. This is how it's supposed to be."
Zhenya furrowed his brow once again.
He understandably seemed confused by the sudden distance Kwon Taekjoo was putting between them, especially when they had just been passionately making love.
Kwon Taekjoo reached out and tousled Zhenya's fringe in a small gesture to ease the tension in the air.
"All I need from you is to be a loving partner, you bastard."
Suddenly, Zhenya grabbed Kwon Taekjoo's arms, his intense blue eyes locking onto him without blinking.
He seemed anxious at the serious and determined tone of Kwon Taekjoo's
words.
For Zhenya, it was hard to accept what Kwon Taekjoo was saying when he still didn't understand why.
"Don't tell me you're actually worried about my wretched excuse for siblings.
You're being too self-absorbed, Taekjoo. Even if you weren't around, nothing between them and me would have changed. What exactly are you saying you did to make things worse?"
"I won't die,"
Kwon Taekjoo suddenly declared to Zhenya, who still seemed reluctant to
easily accept his resolve.
Despite the blush that had risen to his cheeks, Kwon remained steadfast, continuing to reassure him.
"Just trust me, will you? I won't recklessly throw myself into danger again. If you just wait for me, I'll come back to you, alright?"
he insisted, demanding a response from Zhenya.
Zhenya gave him a reproachful look, clearly pained. It was as though he struggled to decide how to react, too angry to agree, yet unable to unleash his fury on Kwon Taekjoo.
"I'm not saying we have to do this forever, so calm down, idiot. I'll keep thinking about a solution. Worst case, I'll accept fewer missions."
"Fewer missions? As if you'd ever do that."
"Ugh, you bastard, you're so damn skeptical about everything. I always keep my promises, no matter what."
Despite Kwon Taekjoo's repeated efforts to placate him, Zhenya shook his head in defiance. Kwon responded with a mischievous smile, trying to lighten the mood.
"What? You still think I'm not trustworthy?"
Zhenya's hardened expression softened, and a smile spread across his lips, easing the tension between them.
"I always knew you were a cynic, but this is going too far."
Kwon Taekjoo reached out, gently cupping Zhenya's chin, and leaned in to give him a soft, tender kiss on the lips.
Their mouths met without force, in a calm, sweet kiss that brought a
pleasant warmth to their skin.
Zhenya looked at him in confusion, as if surprised by the unexpected turn of events.
"Consider it a down payment for now,"
Kwon Taekjoo joked with a grin.
In the next instant, Zhenya lunged at him. They rolled together, their limbs intertwining in a heated rush.
The glass in Kwon Taekjoo's hand slipped, and the whiskey bottle and ashtray on the table rattled with the force of their movements. The amber liquid splashed onto their bodies, soaking the sheets and their skin, but neither of them seemed to care.
All that mattered was their overwhelming desire to touch and overpower each other.
Their worries and conflicts were completely forgotten in the intense heat of the moment.