Kai strides purposefully back to the set, clutching the chilled cup of a fresh iced americano in his hand. His thoughts simmer with irritation, a mix of frustration and annoyance twisting his features.
"What a stuck-up bastard." He mutters to himself, a wry smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Can't stand it when those below him have any free time, huh?"
He tightens his grip on the cup, feeling the cool condensation seeping into his palm, grounding him.
In the realm of entertainment, Jin Daewon emerges as a rising star, his talent illuminating the screen as a supporting figure in the beloved murder mystery series Silent Witness. Despite his undeniable charm and striking good looks, Daewon's journey to stardom has yet to grant him the spotlight of a leading role, perhaps explaining why he's appearing on A-List.
Kai reenters the StarScope building, the cool, air-conditioned breeze providing a welcome relief from the sweltering July heat outside.
The corridors are a maze of doors leading to various dressing rooms and green rooms, the walls lined with posters and framed photos of past productions. This part of the building is quieter, a sanctuary away from the chaos of the main set. His footsteps echo softly against the polished floors, and he savours the relative privacy, a momentary escape before the demands of the day pull him back in.
A door swings open with unexpected force, slamming into Kai's face and sending him stumbling backward, the drink nearly slipping from his grasp.
Just before disaster strikes, strong arms wrap around him, steadying his balance with a firm yet gentle touch.
Kai looks up, meeting the icy gaze of man he's never encountered before.
The man exudes a magnetic presence, his complexion luminous beneath the soft glow of hallway lights, his icy blue eyes sticking out in the winterscape of his face. His thick, neatly groomed brows frame his face with a touch of intensity, while his white hair falls in perfect snowy branches, styled with a precise middle part that speaks of effortless elegance.
His lips, full and perfectly shaped, with a natural curve that hints at a confident and charismatic smile, part slightly as he regards Kai with concern, revealing teeth as pristine as his demeanour.
With a voice as smooth as silk, he offers an apology that sounds like a melody in the quiet hallway.
"I'm so sorry. Are you alright?"
Kai blinks, momentarily lost in the stranger's presence. The man's aura is magnetic, his mien both poised and approachable. The faint scent of a fresh citrus cologne– is it cologne?– wafts between them, mingling with the aroma of coffee and the tension of their unexpected encounter.
For a moment, the chaos of the hallway fades into the background, leaving only the two of them in a shared moment of unexpected intimacy.
Kai recognizes the man before him as Haneul, one of the guests on A-List, though beyond his role as the lead singer of a band, Kai knows little about him. He's got a nice face and, according to what Kai's heard while on set, a nice personality, but Haneul's icy gaze holds a depth that Kai finds unsettling, their intensity contrasting with his friendly demeanour and charismatic smile.
"It's you." Kai remarks, his voice tinged with nonchalance as he adjusts his grip on the iced coffee. "Thanks, I guess."
Haneul's smile doesn't falter at Kai's blunt acknowledgment.
If anything, it grows wider.
"I'm flattered you remember me." He replies smoothly, his tone teasing. "Must have made quite an impression."
Kai furrows his brows, unsure how to respond to Haneul's unabashed confidence.
"What?" He manages with a scoff.
Undeterred, Haneul continues to regard Kai with an unwavering gaze, his smile now holding a hint of something deeper, something that stirs an unexpected flutter in Kai's chest.
Kai feels a chill run down his spine, but he stands his ground.
"What do you want?" He snaps, irritation lacing his voice. "I've got to bring this drink back-"
Before Kai can protest further, Haneul grabs his wrist and pulls him back into the room he just exited. The motion is swift, leaving Kai little time to react.
Haneul deftly takes the iced americano from Kai's hand and sets it on a nearby table, his movements fluid and decisive.
In an instant, Kai finds himself pinned against the door, Haneul's knee wedged between his legs, pressing his thigh firmly between Kai's legs.
A gasp escapes Kai, his eyes widening.
Haneul leans in closer, his icy blue eyes glittering with a mixture of amusement and something darker, more primal.
"Do you know how good you smell right now?" Haneul murmurs, his voice a silky blend of teasing and desire.
Kai's confusion is palpable, his mind racing to comprehend the abrupt shift in their interaction.
"What the fuck are you talking about?" He demands, his voice shaky but defiant.
Haneul's lips curl into a mischievous smile as he leans in, his breath warm against Kai's ear. "How about we–"
Before he can finish, Kai's fist connects with Haneul's stomach in a swift, controlled motion. Haneul doubles over, clutching his abdomen, a look of confusion and surprise etched across his handsome face.
"What is wrong with you, you shitty mutt!?" Kai yells, his voice unwavering, eyes blazing with fury rather than fear.
Haneul looks up at him, still bent over and wincing.
"What is wrong with me? Ah, no… yeah, I deserved that, my bad..." He admits, his tone sheepish.
Haneul straightens up slowly, rubbing his stomach with a chagrined smile. Kai stands his ground, eyes narrowed, heart pounding.
He doesn't trust Haneul, but he also doesn't see him as a threat.
"You're stronger than you look," Haneul says, chuckling sheepishly. "I guess I shouldn't underestimate you."
"Damn right!" Kai replies, his tone firm and confident, the fire in his eyes unwavering. "Try that again, and you'll get more than just a punch."
Haneul raises his hands in mock surrender, his grin never fading. "Lesson learned. I'll behave, I promise. I'm sorry if I came on too strong. I just couldn't resist."
Kai tilts his head, eyebrows knitting together in confusion. "Resist what?"
A playful smirk tugs at Haneul's lips as he steps even closer, his breath brushing against Kai's skin. "You, of course. You are adorable."
Kai's face scrunches up in confusion, his brows furrowing and his mouth parting slightly. He looks like he's ready to punch Haneul again, but Haneul acts before that can happen.
Haneul's smile turns playful, his eyes sparkling with mischief as he steps closer to Kai, their bodies almost touching. The scent of something uniquely Haneul fills the space between them, intoxicating and irresistible.
"I'm flirting with you, Kai." He says, his breath ghosting over Kai's skin. "Can't you tell?"
Kai's heart quickens at the proximity, his cheeks flushing with a mix of apprehension and excitement. It's a different kind of thrill, unlike the adrenaline rush he feels when he's in a fight.
This is unfamiliar territory.
"Flirting?" He repeats as he struggles to process Haneul's words. "I thought you wanted to fight?"
For a moment, Haneul is confused, "Why would I want to– nevermind."
He laughs softly, his fingers grazing Kai's cheek, the touch gentle but rousing. He leans in closer, his lips hovering just a breath away from Kai's ear.
"Yes, flirting." He murmurs, his voice low and husky, resonating with an intimate promise. "With you, Kai. Only you."
Their closeness sends a shiver down Kai's spine, his senses overwhelmed by the heady scent of Haneul's pheromones. It's intoxicating, dizzying, and Kai can't help but feel drawn to Haneul like a moth to a flame.
For the first time in his life, Kai finds himself reacting to pheromones in a way that leaves him breathless and bewildered.
For the first time in Kai's life, he finds himself reacting to an alpha.
"Is that so wrong?" Haneul murmurs.
Haneul's touch is firm and possessive as he grips Kai, his fingers exerting just the right amount of pressure to send shivers through Kai's body. With each squeeze, Kai's breath hitches in anticipation, his body responding eagerly to Haneul's bold advances.
Kai's cheeks flush a deep crimson at Haneul's comment, his heart fluttering erratically in his chest as he tries to maintain a façade of indifference.
"I-I don't care what you think." He stammers, his voice betraying the rapid pace of his heartbeat.
But despite his words, Kai finds himself unable to resist Haneul's advances, his body responding instinctively to the alpha's potent pheromones. It's a sensation unlike anything he's ever experienced before, the heady scent of Haneul's pheromones flooding his senses and sending shivers of want racing down his spine.
As Haneul's lips trace a path down Kai's neck, the omega can't help but gasp, his body arching into the alpha's touch as he surrenders to the overwhelming sensation of their shared closeness.
It's as if a dam has burst within him, releasing a flood of pent-up longing that threatens to consume him whole.
He's never reacted to pheromones until now– his heats felt more like a pesky fever to him rather than arousal.
So why now? Why is his body thrumming with desire at the mere touch of Haneul's lips?
As Haneul pulls back slightly, a look of surprise flickers across his face.
"You're an omega?" His question, laced with curiosity, hangs in the air as he takes in the unmistakable scent of omega pheromones emanating from Kai's skin.
Haneul's confusion seems deeper than just discovering Kai's status as an omega; there's something more, a layer of astonishment that Kai can't quite decipher. But in this moment, lost in the intoxicating blend of their pheromones, he doesn't have the sense about him to care.
Haneul's breath mingles with Kai's, warm and inviting, as he leans closer.
"You hide it well." He murmurs, a teasing edge to his tone, but the sincerity in his eyes betrays his true feelings. "Why didn't I notice it before?"
Kai swallows hard, trying to steady his racing pulse, but his voice is firm as he says, "I don't hide anything."
Haneul chuckles. His leg presses firmly between Kai's thighs, the friction of his powerful muscles causing a tingling sensation through Kai's body.
"You're so interesting, Kai."
With each movement, Haneul's height advantage becomes evident as he effortlessly lifts the omega off the ground. Their bodies press together in a dizzying frenzy of desire, the heat between them almost palpable.
Kai gasps, his hands clutching desperately at Haneul's broad shoulders for support.
Haneul's hands roam freely over Kai, gripping and squeezing with possessive urgency. The alpha's touch is rough and demanding, igniting a fire deep within Kai's core as he surrenders completely to the overwhelming sensations of their embrace. Each touch, each caress, seems to burn away the barriers Kai has built around himself, leaving him vulnerable and yearning.
With a deft movement, Haneul pulls Kai's white t-shirt up over his head, baring the omega's chest to the cool air of the dressing room. Kai's cheeks burn with embarrassment at the sudden exposure.
The sensations are overwhelming, each touch sending electric jolts through Kai's body.
Amidst the heady pleasure, Kai is overwhelmed by a cold citrus scent, fresh and invigorating, like someone had flung open a window on a crisp winter's day. The aroma is intoxicating, seeping into his senses and causing his mind to go blissfully blank.
Just what is that lovely smell?
"Oh," Kai gasps, his voice a breathless plea amidst the rush of sensations. "Stop..."
To his surprise, Haneul immediately complies, pulling away.
Kai's heart races with confusion and disappointment as he watches Haneul retreat. A part of him longs for the return of the alpha's touch, even as another part recoils in uncertainty.
Kai stands there, his chest rising and falling with each ragged breath, his mind consumed by a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.
He had always been the brash one, the one quick to anger and even quicker to throw a punch. Physical contact had never been about pleasure; it had always been about dominance, about asserting his strength and establishing his place in the world.
Yet here he is, his body humming with a strange energy, his skin tingling with the memory of Haneul's touch.
It doesn't make sense.
Why is he reacting like this to some guy he barely knows?
Why did the mere thought of Haneul's hands on him cause goosebumps to bloom on his too sensitive flesh?
But amidst the confusion, there is also a sense of longing, a yearning for something he can't quite name. For the first time in his life, Kai finds himself craving intimacy, craving connection in a way he had never experienced before.
No, it wasn't the first time.
It's something that's always been there, just under the surface.
With a shy and hesitant voice, Kai admits, "I-I've never done anything like this before."
A vulnerable pause hangs in the air as Kai waits for Haneul's response, his heart pounding with uncertainty. Beneath the surface, a hint of longing glimmers in his eyes– a silent plea for understanding and acceptance.
At Kai's confession, a surge of arousal courses through Haneul, darkening his icy blue eyes with desire. A wide grin spreads across his lips, predatory yet filled with warmth.
"Cute." He breathes, the word dripping with lust as he closes the distance between them once more.
Their bodies press together, each touch creating another wave of desire within their bodies. Haneul's hands roam freely over Kai's heated skin, igniting a fire that blazes with newfound intensity.
"You sure you want to continue, Kai?" Haneul murmurs, his voice low and husky with desire. He watches as uncertainty flickers in Kai's eyes, the omega grappling with his conflicting emotions.
Sensing his hesitation, Haneul leans in, his breath ghosting over Kai's ear.
"Mm, okay. How about this." He suggests softly. "If you really, really want me to stop, then how about you say the word peaches?"
"Peaches?" Kai repeats.
"Yeah, peaches!" Haneul smiles reassuringly. "So I know that I definitely have to stop whatever it is I'm doing. How's that sound?"
"But," Kai continues his faint protests as Haneul continues to touch him. "I don't get it. We don't know each other, and, well… You're a celebrity, right?"
"Like I said," Haneul murmurs, his voice rich with desire, "I think you're cute."
Each word is laced with a subtle undercurrent of longing, his tone soft and intimate as he gazes into Kai's eyes.
The words hang in the air between them, charged with an undeniable tension that sends Kai's heart racing. There's a warmth in Haneul's voice, a sincerity that Kai can't help but find captivating.
"Is that not reason enough?" Haneul adds, his voice barely above a whisper as he brushes a stray lock of hair from Kai's face. There's a gentleness in his touch, a tenderness that leaves Kai feeling breathless and light-headed.
Kai's blonde bangs curtain his eyes as he looks down, his cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and excitement.
"I don't know." He murmurs softly, his voice barely above a whisper, his breath hitching in his throat.
As he slowly raises his gaze to meet Haneul's, his long lashes fluttering against his warm cheeks, a spark of anticipation ignites within him. There's a raw, unspoken desire burning in his eyes, an eagerness to explore the unknown with the alpha before him.
And as their eyes lock, a surge of need courses through Haneul, his own desire mirroring Kai's in a tantalising dance of passion and longing. Without hesitation, he leans in, capturing Kai's lips in a searing kiss that sets their senses ablaze.
The kiss is a whirlwind of passion, a melding of heat and need. Kai's hands find their way to Haneul's shoulders again, clutching at the fabric of his shirt as if grounding himself in the intensity of the moment. Haneul's hands slide down Kai's sides, his touch igniting a trail of fire along his skin
Kai's mind spins, the world outside their intimate bubble fading into oblivion. All that exists is the intoxicating mix of Haneul's scent– cold fresh citrus, frosty air, and the subtle musk of leather– and the searing heat of his kiss. Kai's body responds instinctively, pressing closer, seeking more of the alpha's touch.
Haneul's hands roam freely, exploring the planes of Kai's body with a possessive hunger. He deepens the kiss, his tongue teasing and coaxing Kai's to dance with his. A low moan escapes Kai's lips, the sound swallowed by Haneul's eager mouth.
Kai's skin glistens under the dim light of the dressing room, his flushed complexion accentuating the contours of his slender yet sturdy frame. Despite his smaller stature and omega designation, there's an undeniable strength to Kai's physique, evident in the subtle definition of his muscles and the confident way he holds himself.
With each rise and fall of his chest, Kai's sculpted torso is revealed, the play of shadows and light accentuating the curves and lines of his body. His arms, though slender, are adorned with lean muscle. Even in repose, there's a sense of coiled energy about Kai, a quiet intensity that belies his unassuming appearance.
Kai leans heavily against the door, his back pressed firmly against its cool surface.
Suddenly, the door they had been leaning against swings open. Kai falls backward, his body careening into the solid mass of someone's chest. Caught off guard, he blinks rapidly, his gaze trailing up slowly to meet the eyes of none other than Daewon.