Chapter 187:
As Baek Joo-won carried her towards their cave, their lips locked in a passionate kiss, Seo Jae-yi chuckled.
“Are you that eager?”
“You’re pretending you’re not.”
“I would never.”
Seo Jae-yi tightened her legs around his waist and whispered in his ear, her voice husky with desire,
“Hae-wi, hurry up. I’m eager too.”
Baek Joo-won gritted his teeth at her teasing words, her voice, laced with desire, a sweet torment. He hadn’t realized how much her playful provocations could affect him.
“…Seo Jae-yi, are you sure you want to tempt me like this?”
“Hmm, whose lips were those, praising my stamina?”
“These lips.”
Baek Joo-won nibbled on her lower lip.
Their journey to the cave was… challenging. Seo Jae-yi, warm and pliant in his arms, was a constant temptation, testing his self-control.
He had to resist the urge to take her in one of the tree houses he had built along the way, despite having created them for this very purpose.
He wanted to savor her properly, on their spacious bed.
And the reward for his patience was sweet.
He finally reached the cave and gently placed her on the bed, their lips still locked in a passionate kiss.
Despite having spent the previous night entangled, he felt a surge of desire, a thrill of anticipation, as if it had been ages. He lifted his head, his gaze fixed on Seo Jae-yi, his neck damp with sweat.
She was just as aroused, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps, her eyes, the corners of her lips, and the delicate skin of her neck flushed.
He felt another wave of desire, almost overwhelming, his antlers lengthening, his fangs sharpening.
“You’re already like this, and we haven’t even taken our clothes off yet.”
Seo Jae-yi chuckled, her fingers tracing the iridescent scales that had appeared on his skin.
He moaned softly with every touch, his breath warm against her neck, sending shivers down her spine.
“I can’t imagine what you’ll be like when we’re both naked.”
“…I think you’ll be the one losing control.”
Baek Joo-won chuckled and lowered his head, kissing her. Seo Jae-yi’s hand, which had been around his neck, moved to his chest, her touch natural and unhesitating.
As if it belonged there.
“Whose fault is it, having such magnificent pecs?”
His physique, perhaps due to his non-human nature, was perfectly sculpted. He wasn’t as lean as a model, nor overly muscular; he was just… perfect.
“I’m not usually swayed by appearances, but you’re so perfect that even I’m captivated.”
Baek Joo-won smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners, at her heartfelt confession. It was a deliberately seductive smile.
“I’m glad. Enjoy it. You’re the only one who can.”
“…You’re good with words too.”
Her heart skipped a beat at his sweet whisper. She swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry, and her fingers tightened on the fabric of his robe, the fine silk tearing easily under her grip.
Baek Joo-won didn’t care that his expensive robe was being shredded. He even encouraged her, a low growl rumbling in his chest.
What did clothes matter? Seeing his lover, consumed by desire for him, was far more important.
He kissed her shoulder, her scent filling his senses.
“Hae-wi!”
Seo Jae-yi’s head fell back against the pillows, her back arching, a gasp escaping her lips. She squeezed her eyes shut, her body trembling.
“Ah, why are you… so…”
“You said you could handle it.”
Seo Jae-yi bit her lip at his words, his voice husky with desire.
“Do you even have… limits…?”
Was this even possible, even for a monster?
“I don’t know. I’ve never… experienced this before, so I have no idea what my limits are.”
Baek Joo-won chuckled, his sweat-slicked face beautiful, his smile disarming. Her annoyance faded, seeing his happy expression.
No, she had to stay strong. She couldn’t…
“Stop… before you… rupture something…”
“I would never let that happen.”
He kissed her cheeks, soothing her with his touch, and then sat up, his hands gripping her waist.
“I love you too much to hurt you.”
“…Your actions don’t match your words.”
Baek Joo-won just smiled, his expression unreadable. He was smiling more than usual, but his eyes were darker, more intense.
He was losing control.
Seo Jae-yi, now accustomed to this side of him, gripped the sheets, her knuckles white.
She probably wouldn’t be able to leave this bed for at least two days.
“I truly underestimated you.”
Seo Jae-yi muttered, her voice filled with a weary awe, after their intensely passionate night.
Two days? She had thought she wouldn’t be able to leave the bed for two days? She was barely able to speak coherently after four.
And that wasn’t the only problem.
‘I never thought I’d be the one lacking stamina.’
Seo Jae-yi, her body practically skin and bones, couldn’t help but lament her exhaustion.
She had been so sure she would outlast him, being stronger.
But…
“…”
She glanced at the man lying beside her.
Baek Joo-won, still in his half-human, half-beast form, was radiating an almost otherworldly glow. It wasn’t just because of the iridescent scales that adorned his skin.
His skin was smooth, almost luminous, as if he had been consuming some mythical elixir.
‘Isn’t the man supposed to be the one who’s exhausted after… that?’
Even if it had only been once or twice, she would have understood, but they had been together for four days and nights! He should be showing some signs of fatigue. Why was he so… energetic?
“…Hae-wi, you’re not allowed to be in that form anymore.”
Seo Jae-yi, glaring at him, his vitality a stark contrast to her own exhaustion, issued an ultimatum.
His pleasant smile vanished, replaced by a frown.
“Why? You like this form, don’t you?”
She did. His antlers, his long fangs, the scales that adorned his skin… they were all strangely beautiful, a sight that made her heart flutter.
Or rather, she had liked it, until four days ago.
“I’m afraid I might… hit you if you stay in that form.”
Seo Jae-yi clenched her fists, and Baek Joo-won, who had been trying to seduce her with his alluring appearance, closed his mouth.
“…Sorry. I can’t seem to control myself around you.”
He kissed her cheeks repeatedly, a silent apology.
Seo Jae-yi’s annoyance faded at his affectionate gesture. She hadn’t been truly angry anyway.
How could she be, when he loved her this much?
She had to indulge his preferences, having a monster as a boyfriend.
“But don’t even think about touching me for a while.”
“…What?”
Baek Joo-won, who had been kissing her gently, froze, his lips still against her skin. He wanted to believe he had misheard her, but…
“Ah, hugs, holding hands, kisses… those are fine. I’m talking about… that.”
Seo Jae-yi finished her sentence and rolled off the bed, putting as much distance between them as possible. The bed was so large that she rolled several times before reaching the edge.
“Wait, are you serious?”
Baek Joo-won, abruptly deprived of her warmth, sat up, his face a mask of disbelief.
“Reflect on your actions. Four days was too much.”
Seo Jae-yi, now dressed, glared at him.
“You enjoyed it too!”
“I did. I never said I didn’t.”
“Then why?!”
“We both enjoyed it, but I’m exhausted, and you’re… radiating vitality, like a polished egg. It’s… unsettling.”
So she was just being… petulant.
Baek Joo-won hurriedly followed her off the bed. A gust of wind swirled around him, replacing his torn silk robe with a fresh one.
He took her hands gently in his.
“But how can I not enjoy… kissing and touching my beloved? It feels good just holding your hands; imagine how much better it would be if our entire bodies were touching.”
“I’m not falling for that.”
Seo Jae-yi shook her head firmly, unmoved by his whining.
If your boyfriend is a monster, you have to train him properly.
“Reflect on your actions.”
She pulled her hands away and walked out of the room.
Baek Joo-won, realizing she was serious, slumped against the bed in defeat.
In his long life…
This was his greatest crisis.
Seo Jae-yi, finally leaving the forest dungeon after four days, went straight to Haeil Guild headquarters, more specifically, to Bulkkotgil, her beloved flower shop.
While she had been… occupied in the dungeon, Seo Won-yeong and Kim Yoo-sung had been at the empty greenhouse behind the flower shop, discussing what kind of equipment to craft with the dragon corpses.
“Unnie!”
Seo Won-yeong rushed towards her with a bright smile as soon as she entered the greenhouse.
“I thought I could see you as soon as you returned from the US, but it’s been four days! I’m so sad.”
She had rushed to Haeil Guild the moment she heard about Seo Jae-yi’s return with the dragon corpses, but she had been told that Seo Jae-yi had left with Baek Joo-won on urgent business.
She had tried to be patient, thinking they would be back soon, but she hadn’t expected them to be gone for four days.
“I’m sorry, Won-yeong. But I didn’t expect it to take that long either.”
Seo Won-yeong’s expression softened as Seo Jae-yi apologized sincerely.
“So, is the urgent business taken care of?”
Seo Jae-yi glanced at Kim Yoo-sung, who had followed Seo Won-yeong, at her softer tone. He shook his head slightly, meeting her gaze.
It meant he hadn’t told Seo Won-yeong about Park Jung-soo.
Seo Jae-yi had asked him to keep quiet until she returned, as she wanted to tell her sister herself.
“Yes, it’s all taken care of. Let’s talk about the equipment first, and then I’ll tell you what happened.”
Seo Won-yeong nodded happily, hearing that she would tell her everything.
“But…”
Kim Yoo-sung, who had been quiet, finally spoke, drawing their attention.
But he wasn’t looking at them; his gaze was fixed on something behind Seo Jae-yi.
“Baek Joo-won, what’s wrong? Why are you… like that?”
Baek Joo-won had been clinging to Seo Jae-yi’s back since they entered the flower shop, his arms wrapped tightly around her neck.