Chapter 7

Lee Sung stared intensely at her face, then once again clung to her lips.

“W-Wait.”

Her protest was swallowed by Lee Sung’s lips. His body came even closer, and her head bent back so much it hurt.

One of his large hands locked around the back of her neck, making it impossible for her to move.

It was Lee Sung. Her best friend, Lee Sung. And yet, in this moment, Lee Sung felt overwhelmingly like a man.

His lips entangled with hers again, swallowing her breath, and her lips parted easily without resistance.

Huff. His body, carrying a masculine scent, leaned in toward her. His damp flesh kept pressing against hers, and losing her bearings, she lost her grip on his waist. Then, one hand slipped down.

Holy shit!

Of all places, it landed at the center of Lee Sung’s pants. Gasp. What is this? Did he shove a baton into his pocket?

At first, she was puzzled. She couldn’t imagine that something so large and hard was evidence of Lee Sung’s arousal.

So, she curiously groped it.

“Mmgh.”

Lee Sung let out a lascivious moan, and that’s when she stupidly realized it.

This was proof that he wasn’t suffering from erectile dysfunction as she had once suspected.

She pulled her hand back as if burned and scooted her hips away. Narrowing her large eyes, she looked at him through a hazy gaze—half watching, half dazed.

“You… what are you doing?”

“I told you it wasn’t like that. So many times.”

She couldn’t bring herself to look at the bulging tent in his pants anymore and mumbled awkwardly.

“But then, why…”

Why was this desire so fiery and intense? It wasn’t like she was his girlfriend—they were basically like siblings, just best friends—and yet just one kiss caused all this?

Then why? His ex had misunderstood him so badly.

Even though it was just a brief touch of her palm, a brief glance, even within the range of her various learning and experience, Lee Sung’s aroused presence stood out. No—it was unmatched.

So why? Why did he get accused of erectile dysfunction?

“I told you. I just didn’t feel like it.”

“You didn’t feel like it? But right now, you’re so far beyond feeling like it… Ah! Is it that? You get turned on from kissing but once it gets serious, you get nervous and it doesn’t work… it dies down? That’s it, right? I’ve heard some guys are like that. But your kissing is killer.”

“My kissing was killer?”

Ah, that slipped out. Her inner thoughts. Embarrassment started to rise, but she forced herself to act tough.

“Decent enough… So tell me. Isn’t that it?”

“Want to find out? Since we’ve already kissed, I think I could use your help.”

Why the hell was Lee Sung showing her this seductive side? He just came back from being dumped and looked ready to lose his mind. He looked like he wanted to break.

Why was he adding fuel to the fire?

“What if I’m using you out of revenge? Because I’m pissed seeing them mess around, and I’m doing this with you, her ex?”

“I’m using you too. You’re clearly helping me. Aren’t you?”

Why did he raise his eyebrows sexily and make his eyes sparkle like that? Today, Lee Sung didn’t feel like her friend. And the alcohol still clouded her judgment.

Words of rejection didn’t come. She chose the next best thing.

“We can’t go all the way.”

Meaning the ultimate act of intimacy between a man and a woman, full union. Sex. That was off limits.

Lee Sung smirked and repeated her words.

“All the way? Oh, you mean the thing I’ve never done before? If that’s off the table, then everything else is fair game?”

“Try me.”

Whether Lee Sung could feel arousal beyond just kissing a woman—or more specifically, her, his friend—she didn’t know.

But she was curious.

Because the kiss had made her tremble in a good way.

“I think I need to take this off first. Is that okay?”

Ah, wait. That’s a hard place to start. Strip in front of Lee Sung? That’s way too embarrassing and shameful.

But… even imagining it made her feel strange. Strangely aroused.

Come to think of it, she had stripped in front of Lee Sung before. It was a long time ago, and he might not remember, but she couldn’t look him in the eye for a while after that.

It was the day their university club went on an MT trip. She arrived late and went into the empty girls’ room to change into her swimsuit, taking off her clothes piece by piece.

Even her bra hit the floor, and she was left in only panties.

Click. The door opened. She hadn’t locked it. That was her mistake. Lee Sung stood in the doorway.

For a moment, both of them froze. A very brief moment felt like eternity.

She had the top of her swimsuit in hand and quickly tried to cover her chest with the flimsy fabric.

Useless effort. That tiny scrap of cloth couldn’t cover the round shape of her chest, the sharp red peak that stood up, or her long legs and beige underwear.

She couldn’t even curse, as she often did to calm her nerves. Before her dry lips could open, the door closed.

Click. From beyond the closed door, Lee Sung’s calm voice offered an explanation.

“I didn’t know anyone was in there. They said the place would be empty.”

She clasped her hands over her unsettled chest and shouted loudly, pretending to be unaffected.

“Forget everything you just saw. Got it?”

He didn’t answer, maybe because he had already left. She kept patting her racing heart down.

How long ago was that? She was twenty then. So it was nine years ago. Almost ten.

Would Lee Sung even remember that brief moment?

She took the towel off her shoulders first. The air conditioner had dried her clothes a little, but they were still damp.

“I got caught in the rain. I should probably shower.”

“I like you like this. Don’t shower.”

Lee Sung replied in his calm, deep voice. Normally, she could read his emotions just by looking at his eyes. But now? She couldn’t read anything.

It felt like her heart was sinking into her throat. She hesitated and asked,

“You’ve never done it before… so how do you know you like me this way? I probably smell.”

“We’ve seen each other at our worst plenty of times. Who knows? Maybe this is my kink.”

“Hah… Can you really go through with this?”

“Of course not all the way.”

She had reminded him herself, but it still felt like he was admitting his own complex.

“Because you can’t, anyway? Right?”

Lee Sung didn’t deny it and smiled, reaching out his large hand.

His fingers touched the ends of her hair that had fallen near her chest. Those long fingers hovered just above her chest, and she felt flustered.

Her chest felt like it would swell up from tension. This didn’t make sense. Lee Sung’s new side kept throwing her off. He said he’d never spent a night with a woman. Had she been too comfortable with him because of that?

His fingers moved from the ends of her hair to the back of her neck.

His large hand gently gripped her neck. Then Lee Sung’s lips moved in closer.

Something felt off. She was trembling too much. This wasn’t right. Just as his lips were about to touch hers, she urgently whispered,

“I… I can’t kiss you. I think I’m getting a reality check.”

Her heart was pounding too hard.

“Then is it okay if I touch you?”

His sharp eyes pierced into hers from a breath away.

She’d seen him chug that beer can earlier. How drunk was he? Would he remember all of this? Could she avoid regretting this moment?

She didn’t know today. So she nodded.

Lee Sung’s lips changed course and moved toward her earlobe, whispering:

“What about… touching with lips?”