Chapter 1 – Side Story
Autumn has arrived.
Sua sat by the window where warm sunlight streamed in, opening the window halfway. The cozy indoor air was refreshed by the cool autumn breeze flowing in. Her hair, naturally pushed back, swayed gently in the breeze.
“It feels nice.”
A smile naturally formed on Sua’s lips.
The sky was clear and bright on this autumn morning, perfect for reading a book.
Looking out at the beautifully decorated garden outside the window, Sua picked up the book that was placed on the table and flipped through the first few pages. The rustling sound of pages turning echoed pleasantly in the living room.
“Balie, A Month, Dreaming Time.”
As the yellow cover flipped open, Sua’s eyes softened at the elegantly written title in calligraphy on the white pages. This book was the first one Sua had taken full responsibility for since joining Yoon Dam Publishing – from recruiting the author, planning, to editing.
Today, this book will be available in bookstores nationwide.
Even though Sua had checked it countless times and knew exactly what was on each page without needing to read, she still bowed her head and looked at the book once again. It never got boring. Although she didn’t have children, it felt like her own. Just looking at it made her feel affectionate.
“Ahem.”
As she examined the book, Sua was startled by a fake cough from behind and instinctively shrugged her shoulders.
“Sua.”
She hadn’t even realized who was approaching while she was focused on the book.
“What are you doing that you didn’t even notice me coming?”
A low voice resonated in her ears as strong arms pulled Sua from behind. Her back touched a firm chest. The sound of her heart beating, whose it was, she didn’t know, echoed loudly: thump, thump.
As the man who embraced her was her loving husband, Hyun-oh. He was always the one to wake up early in the morning, but today he seemed tired, so Sua quietly got out of bed without waking him up.
When did she get up? When had he been behind her? Hyun-oh laughed at Sua’s question.
“I woke up and found my wife missing.”
“You should’ve slept more. You said you’re not going to work today.”
He had returned from a business trip yesterday and didn’t arrive home until after 2 a.m. It seemed like he hadn’t had a proper sleep for a few days due to excessive work.
Hyun-oh’s usually neatly arranged hair was slightly disheveled, covering his smooth forehead. Underneath, his deep, dark eyes gazed at Sua. His usual demeanor, strict and unsmiling at work, softened in front of Sua. Perhaps it was because of the long coldness between them or because they had overcome the crisis of divorce, but he had become even gentler than before.
“I couldn’t sleep without you beside me.”
Hyun-oh leaned his chin on Sua’s shoulder, and his rough beard lightly brushed against her skin. Sua’s neck turned red at the continuous stimulation.
“It’s only thirty minutes until you have to go to work.”
“But I still have time.”
With those words, Hyun-oh pulled Sua closer to him. Then he stood up.
“Oops.”
Suddenly, Sua clung to him, and a surprised sound escaped her lips as she was lifted off the ground.
“Let me down. I’ll walk. Okay?”
“I don’t want to let go of you even for a moment while I’m walking.”
At his words, Sua finally burst into laughter. Seeing her bright smile, Hyun-oh narrowed his eyes.
“Why are you laughing?”
“I didn’t expect you to say something like that. Really…”
Such affectionate words were unfamiliar to her. Hyun-oh was her first love and her first relationship.
Words that always felt unfamiliar and awkward. But still, it was nice.
Hyun-oh’s eyes, fixed on Sua’s face, twinkled.
“I didn’t know either. I never thought I could say such awkward words.”
He never let Sua out of his sight for even a moment when he spoke. After looking at her affectionately, he opened his lips to speak again.
“But strangely, it doesn’t feel awkward. When I’m with you, a corner of my heart heats up, and these words just come out naturally.”
“… ”
“I know, me too.”
Hyun-oh chuckled.
“It’s strange that even I find myself strange but I can’t help it.”
With Sua securely in his arms, he walked briskly across the living room. Sua had intended to get down, fearing that she might be too heavy, but she was speechless at his sweet words. She just leaned her head against his chest and entrusted her body to him.
As they entered the bedroom, Hyun-oh gently placed her on the bed. The firm mattress wobbled slightly, causing Sua to drop the book she was holding.
Thunk.
The book, which had been held precious in Sua’s hands just moments ago, fell to the floor with a loud noise. However, no one paid attention to the sound. After laying Sua down, Hyun-oh climbed onto the bed. His well-toned body cast a long shadow over Sua.
“Hyun-oh…”
With her hair slightly disheveled, Sua lay on the bed and looked up at him. Soft skin peeked through between the rumpled clothes.
“Ha…”
As if unable to bear it any longer, a hot breath escaped Hyun-oh’s lips. His eyes, looking down at her, had lost the warm light they had just moments ago and were now burning with intense desire.
And his slightly twisted lips.
He ardently desired Sua.
She knew without him saying it.
After living together again and resolving misunderstandings, she could read his thoughts just by looking at his face.
Every time she saw Hyun-oh’s expression like that, Sua’s heart raced. She knew how warm and soft his lips were just by looking at his smiling lips.
But…
Sua’s gaze, lying down, shifted to the clock behind Hyun-oh.
7:15. Although she had woken up earlier than usual today, she still had about 30 minutes to prepare for work. Even though Hyun-oh had a day off today, Sua had a normal workday.
“Hyun-oh, I don’t think we can.”
“What can’t we do?”
Even though he knew what she meant, Hyun-oh pretended not to understand, erasing his smile and asking. Then he reached out and brushed her hair back with his firm fingers, trailing them lightly over her neck. His fingertips gently touched her collarbone.
Even though it was just that, Sua’s body trembled with excitement at the touch.
“What I want to do right now.”
“What am I…”
Bending down, he approached Sua’s ear. His hot breath was so close to her earlobe that it tickled.
“What do I want to do?”
“You know, even though you know.”
“Tell me. I really don’t know, so tell me, Sua. Okay?”
As he spoke, Hyun-oh’s wet lips brushed against Sua’s ear. A flush rose quickly from her earlobe to her neck and down to her collarbone. The sensation of his touch was intoxicating.
“Hmm. It’s bad.”
At Sua’s faint moan, he chuckled softly, his low voice resonating through her body.
“Sua.”
“…”
“Why can’t we? I feel like I’m going crazy with thirst.”
Although it was Hyun-oh who said he was thirsty, Sua’s lips felt dry at the sound of his soaked voice. She swallowed dryly and finally opened her lips.
“We don’t have much time.”
“We have 30 minutes. Still.”
“But…”
Sua opened her eyes slightly.
Their contact wouldn’t end in just 30 minutes.
Whether Hyun-oh was considering Sua, who had never been with another man before meeting him, or whether he enjoyed watching her go crazy with pleasure.
Whenever they had physical contact, he persistently and relentlessly explored her body. Until Sua screamed incoherently, begging him to stop or begging him not to stop, lost in sharp pleasure.
