"HE DID WHAT?!"
The Duchess rose abruptly from her seat. Her piercing glare fixed on Dokja, waiting for him to expand on his explanation. But he only remained silent, his shaking hand tightening its hold on Joonghyuk's own. He couldn't meet her eyes; in his heart he knew that it was the prince and empress who did this to him. It was their wickedness that caused this whole situation to happen. But Dokja could help but feel disgusted with himself. The lingering marks on his body felt like they were burning holes into his body, Dokja's attention not able to leave them.
Her son's meekness didn't escape Persephone's purview.
Without hesitation, she seized her sword, preparing to depart for the palace. "I'm going to cut that bastard into pieces!" she declared, her voice filled with fury. That piece of trash didn't even deserve to lay eyes on her son, let alone touch him so disgustingly. The only way her son deserved to be treated was with love, treasured like the precious star he was. Yet here he sat, the stars that shone so brightly in his eyes dimmed by shame.
Seeing Dokja's growing anxiety at his mother's anger, Hades swiftly interposed, blocking her path, "My dear wife, let's calm down." Hades, though seething with anger himself, knew any hasty action against the culprits would only give them an excuse to condemn Dokja in the eyes of the public.
The Duchess fixed a piercing glare on her husband. "Calm down? Calm down, Hades?!" she erupted. Though she didn't intend to yell at him, her emotions ran high, making it difficult to contain her anger. "After what that despicable filth did to our son?!" she continued, her finger pointed at Dokja. "Look at the marks all over our son's neck and tell me to calm down again Hades, I dare you!"
"I understand, my dear wife, but going there won't change what has already transpired."
"Oh, something will change alright," she stated cryptically. She unsheathed her sword, carefully inspecting her blade. "Before the day's end, the empire will be treated to the sight of the prince's head on the end of a stake."
"Mother, please..." Dokja's voice cut through the tension, drawing all eyes towards him. "This isn't the way to go about it. If you were to go through with it, it would only give the empress the leverage she needs to get rid of us completely."
"But—" The Duchess began, ready to argue her case despite the consequences awaiting her. However, upon catching sight of her son's pleading expression, she hesitated. Not able to deny her son, especially in his time of need, she stepped back and let out a resigned sigh. "Fine..." With a heavy heart, she handed the sword to her husband and made her way towards the rest of the room's occupants, taking a seat next to Namwoon with a sense of defeat.
"Dokja's right, they have the power to turn the tables. But don't worry about it, Your Grace. Cutting that wretch up is too merciful. We can take our time thinking of a more… fitting punishment for him." Sooyoung joined in with a wicked grin. The author thought back to the day Dokja had come back home after Lee Seolhwa had been poisoned. With the bruises on his neck, it wasn't hard to connect the dots that Yoo Joonghyuk had choked him. That night, she'd started a list of all the methods she'd use to get back at the man for daring to treat Dokja like that.
Though Yoo Joonghyuk and Kim Dokja had turned over a new leaf together, she'd kept the list until now just in case Joonghyuk chose to break Dokja's heart one day. It wouldn't be too hard to implement that list on the current prince…
Seeing the dangerous gleam in Sooyoung's eyes, beside her Sangah put a hand on Sooyoung's knee and gave her a reprimanding stare, having some idea of what her girlfriend was thinking.
"But why would the prince do that? I mean, he could have anyone he desires, couldn't he? Err, no offense Hyung!" Namwoon added hastily. Dokja just gave him a weak smile, saying that it was fine.
"It may be due to the influence of the Underworld Duchy," Hades began, crossing his legs as he spoke. "The empress's distaste for us and the power we hold has been apparent for some time now. A direct attack on our duchy would be too conspicuous considering the attack on the palace that just happened, so the only way to seize our power was to take it for themselves is through marriage. Obviously, a direct proposal would be met with resistance, they resorted to... that."
The Duchess rolled her eyes at the thought of Dokja and the prince marrying. There was no way in hell she would ever align herself with the empress. Unlike her, Persephone had worked hard alongside her husband to build the Underworld Duchy to what it was today. Meanwhile, the empress left behind her a trail of dead bodies and broken promises. Her past was stained in red, and the future she wanted for the empire was darker than the deepest black.
"Their aim could've also been to drive a wedge between Joonghyuk and Dokja. It's clear that the combined strength of the Kaizenix and Underworld families could pose a formidable challenge to the royal family," Sangah speculated, her hand resting on her chin as she pondered the situation.
Dokja and Joonghyuk exchanged glances, their expressions anxious as they laced their fingers together for comfort. Sooyoung observed the interaction with a narrowed gaze, prompting Sangah to follow her line of sight. Upon witnessing the intense gaze shared between Joonghyuk and Dokja, appearing as though they were engaged in a silent conversation, Sangah furrowed her brow. Slowly all eyes turned towards the pair, who seemed to inhabit a world of their own, their apprehension palpable.
"Ehem!" The Duchess cleared her throat, interrupting the two's exchange. "Do the two of you have something else to share with us?" she inquired, her eyes bouncing between the pair.
Dokja and Joonghyuk exchanged one more glance before turning their attention to the others, their backs straightening out. Dokja took a deep breath before beginning to speak, "I'm—"
"You're going to die?!" Sooyoung exclaimed, pointing an accusatory finger at Dokja, causing everyone to pivot their focus towards her in shock and disbelief.
"Seriously, Han Sooyoung?" Sangah chastised her.
"What?" Sooyoung retorted, crossing her arms defensively. "Someone has to be ready for whatever they're about to reveal," she justified, prompting Sangah to simply shake her head in disappointment.
The room's occupants had a range of different reactions, spanning from exasperation to burgeoning anger. Hades brought the conversation back on track with a simple directive, "Continue," directed towards Dokja and Joonghyuk.
Partially grateful to Sooyoung for momentary distraction, Dokja squared his shoulders before meeting the expectant faces of everyone in the room. Sensing Namwoon's impatience, who had started to get up to refill the tea pot cup out of boredom, Dokja hesitantly uttered, "Umm... I'm pregnant?"
…
…
…
...
*CRASH*
The floral design of the once intact teapot was scattered all over the ground, the state of the teapot matching quite nicely to the minds of everyone in the room.
Perhaps in any other situation Dokja would've laughed. With how far everyone's jaws dropped, they were bound to catch flies. Especially his father. Kim Namwoon had gone still halfway through standing from his seat, leaving him in a strange, hunched position. It was kind of like those hoaxed photos of Bigfoot.
Future Dokja would regret the fact that phones didn't exist in this world, unable to rely on his memory to clearly capture the looks on everyone's faces at that moment. But present Dokja was on the verge of fainting, holding his breath as he waited for any response to come.
Feeling Dokja's body tense up beside him, Joonghyuk pulled the man closer to himself, calmly whispering for him to breathe, and that it would be okay.
That seemed to snap Persephone and Hades out of their momentary mental lapse, the duchess urging Kim Namwoon to sit back down in his seat as she gestured to the maids to attend to the spilled tea.
"Your…what now?" The duke regarded Dokja with a disbelieving stare, struggling to comprehend the revelation.
Dokja met the duke's gaze briefly before his eyes flitted down to his lap, "I'm pregnant." He was quieter this time.
Off to the side there was a sharp intake of breath from Han Sooyoung, who'd partially thought that this was just a collective hallucination. Sangah offered a comforting pat on her shoulder. She was torn between amusement at Sooyoung's reaction and concern for her well-being. Her girlfriend looked like she was having a stroke.
The duke tensed up, not knowing what to do with himself as he slowly digested his son's words and the weight behind them. He and his wife had heard of the royal family's... temperament, but neither had entertained the thought of seeing such a rumor being confirmed though their son.
In his addled state, he didn't realize that he was unconsciously glaring down Dokja until the duchess gently patted his shoulder, getting him to acknowledge Dokja's discomfort. "Since when?" the duke managed to ask faintly, still trying to process the unexpected news.
Dokja spoke up, stating uncertainty, "I don't... I think it's been about 2 weeks."
"What!? It's been 2 weeks, and you're only telling us now?" The duchess's voice started out harsh from her alarm, but Persephone made sure to soften it when she saw Dokja flinch back slightly.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know what to do and I was afraid of how you all would react, so I hesitated," Dokja admitted, his gaze fixed on the floor. Joonghyuk tightened his comforting embrace, placing a supportive hand on Dokja's shoulder.
The duchess softened at Dokja's fearfulness before approaching him and enveloping him in a warm embrace. "Oh, my child, no matter what unfolds, we will stand by you. There's no need to fear," she reassured him, all the while shooting a disapproving glare in Joonghyuk's direction. Joonghyuk, however, chose to ignore the silent reproach.
"So… have you decided what to do with it… with the baby I mean…?" Kim Namwoon piped up from his seat, finally able to snap out of his initial surprise. There was an unsure look on his face. The younger sibling really didn't know what to make of this situation. Sure, his brother had gotten himself into plenty of strange and worrying happenings over the years, but never before did he imagine something on this level of absurdity happening.
"I've… I've decided to keep the baby. I only know that I hardly know anything about how to raise a child, so if it isn't too selfish of me… I'd like to ask for all of your advice and support when the time comes"
After releasing Dokja from the embrace, the duchess placed a hand on Dokja's cheek and offered a smile.
"Of course my dear, we'll give you all the help you need," from behind Persephone, Hades gave his own affirming nod. Sangah and Sooyoung also voiced their support, though Sangah had to shake Sooyoung out of her trance. Persephone turned her smile to Joonghyuk, though it took on a sinister edge. "As for you, Yoo Joonghyuk, what do you plan to do about this?"
"Of course, I will take responsibility, Your Grace."
The duchess and the duke kept their scrutinizing gazes on the man for a moment longer for ceasing. "As you should," the Duchess huffed out haughtily.
"Mother..."
"Don't worry honey, I'm just making sure."
"To think that the rumors about the royal family's seed are true," Sooyoung said under her breath, amazed by the development. She then glanced to Namwoon beside her with a smirk, "Looks like our second young master will become the heir of the Underworld Duchy, huh," elbowing him teasingly.
Namwoon furrowed his brow as he looked at Sooyoung. "What are you talking about?"
She scoffed, as if the answer was the most obvious thing in the world. "Well, our young master here is carrying Joonghyuk's child, so Dokja might become the duchess of the Kaizenix Duchy, right?" Sooyoung joked with a mischievous tone.
Namwoon's eyes widened as he comprehended Sooyoung's implication. "Nah, I don't want to be an heir!" he cried lamentingly. He'd seen up close the stacks of paperwork and insufferable nobles that both his parents had to deal with daily to manage their duchy.
Just thinking of having to overlook the logistics, finances, and salaries of it all made him feel like crying.
Leaning in close, Sooyoung whispered into Namwoon's ear, "Hey, think about it. If you become a duke, you could make your beloved Jihye your duchess."
Namwoon's cheeks flushed as he envisioned Jihye standing by his side, in a beautiful gown. The wedding would be beautiful; Jihye walking down the aisle, maybe Yoosung could be the flower girl. Dokja would stand beside him as his best man and hand him the ring to slip onto Jihye's slender finger… (somewhere on the Kaizenix manor's training grounds, Lee Jihye felt a sudden chill overcome her whole body for a second).
"Haha... I mean, if that's really going to happen with Hyung, it seems like I don't have a choice," he stammered, his ears visibly red. Internally rolling their eyes, everyone present tactfully chose to ignore him and get back to the topic at hand.
Hades cleared his throat with a polite "Ehem..." before speaking up. "We can take the time to deal with the specifics later. I think it's best to let Dokja rest. And while he does, everyone can take a moment to digest the situation at hand," he suggested, giving a pointed look towards Joonghyuk. "Joonghyuk, please accompany my son to his room. Be gentle with him."
Joonghyuk nodded in acknowledgment. "Of course, Your Grace," he affirmed. Placing a supportive hand on Dokja's shoulders to assist him in standing, Joonghyuk addressed the others in the room. "We will take our leave now," he announced, offering a slight bow. Together, they made their way out the door, leaving the rest of the occupants to their own devices.
As they walked down the corridor, Joonghyuk moved his hand to Dokja's waist, enveloping them in a shared but awkward silence as they both grappled with the words that they wanted to say. Sensing the tension, Dokja mustered the courage to speak up first.
"Joonghyuk-ah..." he began, prompting. "I'm sorry... I truly am sorry for keeping everything from you. It's just, these past weeks have been overwhelming . I've... had to come to terms with a few things," Dokja confessed.
Tears threatened to spill from Dokja's eyes. He couldn't fathom why he was on the verge of tears at this moment, not intending to break down in such a manner. He'd steeled himself before saying his piece, repeating all the words he intended to say before letting them out, and prepared himself to accept any reaction that he'd get.
But once the words left his lips, all the emotions Dokja had tried to repress hit him at once. Seeing Dokja's distress, Joonghyuk tenderly cupped his cheeks, gently coaxing him to meet his gaze. "Shh... shh... there's no need to lament, my star," Joonghyuk murmured softly, his eyes locked with Dokja's reddened ones. "It's okay, I understand... I truly do. Please, don't worry. I'm not angry, never at you."
"But—"
Joonghyuk brought their foreheads together, his gaze filled with tenderness. "My star... I'll always be here to wipe away your tears when you need to cry, but I promise I'll never be the reason you do so ever again. If I am, I promise I'll take myself to be slashed down by your mother's blade."
Dokja let out a teary snort at that. "Pfft, if you ever do make me cry, which I doubt you will, I suspect she'll reach you first before you go to her." Dokja looked at Joonghyuk, tears still present but a watery smile gracing his flushed face. Relieved to see him in better spirits, Joonghyuk returned a small smile of his own.
"Let's head to your room and rest," he quietly urged. With a small nod, Dokja resumed their walk, both men moving in silence until they pushed through the door to Dokja's bedchambers.
Dokja settled onto the bed with a soft "umph", carding his fingers through his sheets as he relished the comforting familiarity of his own room. Meanwhile, Joonghyuk excused himself briefly to attend to the bathroom before returning. "The maids have already prepared your bath," he informed Dokja, ensuring that he could relax and unwind after the emotionally taxing events of the day.
With a soft murmur of acknowledgment, Dokja rose from the bed and made his way over to where Joonghyuk leaned against the door frame of the bathroom. Gazing at Joonghyuk with a hint of weariness in his eyes, Dokja made a request.
"Joonghyuk-ah... can you help me with my bath?"
Joonghyuk's eyes widened in surprise at Dokja's request, blinking in disbelief before responding,
"What? You're talking to me?" his mind going blank at the unexpected proposition.
Innocently nodding in response, Dokja affirmed, "Mhm... I called your name, didn't I? Now, let's go. I'm too drained to move my body," he explained softly, reaching out to grasp Joonghyuk's wrist. Joonghyuk nodded belatedly before going along with Dokja's lead with hesitant steps. Together, they made their way into the cloud of steam emanating from the bathroom, with Dokja relying on Joonghyuk for support in his moment of exhaustion.
Upon Persephone's request, the maids made sure to prepare only the highest quality of baths for the young master. Aromatic bath oils and salts were added to the water, the whole room taking on the fragrant scent of pomegranate. Bottles of high-quality soaps were set to the side for Dokja's use. Dokja closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, letting the tension drain from his body.
The opposite could be said for Joonghyuk, who only tensed up as Dokja began to strip himself of his clothes.
A subtle gulp betrayed his inner turmoil as he observed the unfolding scene. Frowning at his own lack of decorum, Joonghyuk began to look away to give Dokja some privacy. However, a wave of darkness crossed his features as his eyes landed on the hickeys decorated the delicate curve of Dokja's collarbone, a silent testament to the prince's unwanted advances. Despite the clenching of his jaw in frustration, Joonghyuk couldn't ignore the surge of annoyance that welled up within him.
After undressing, Dokja made his way to the bathtub, his back facing Joonghyuk as he gripped the edge of the tub for support. He leaned down, making sure that the bath's water wasn't too hot before he looked up to Joonghyuk and gestured towards his hair. "Joonghyuk-ah, could you wash my hair?" he requested,
As Dokja made the request, Joonghyuk's attention lingered briefly on the curve of his spine, and how small Dokja's waist was. Thankfully, both remained free of any marks. His hand could probably wrap all the way around Dokja's waist. Was he getting enough food? Maybe all the fat in his body went to his hips, thighs, and butt, with how prominent they were. Either way, his skin would probably feel warm and soft under the pads of his fingers.
Shaking himself from his reverie, Joonghyuk swiftly returned to the present moment, moving towards Dokja. He held Dokja's hand as the other slowly stepped into the tub. As Dokja lowered himself down, he let out a soft breath as he settled in and let the warm water envelope his body. Rolling up the sleeves of his shirt, Joonghyuk took a seat beside the bathtub. He retrieved the shampoo of Dokja's choice, one that smelled of vanilla. After lathering it in his hands for a moment, Joonghyuk applied it to Dokja's hair, his movements focused and precise.
The only sound that filled the room was Dokja's deep breaths and the sound of warm water brushing against his body. Joonghyuk's thoughts momentarily drifted to the intimacy of the moment, the closeness between them palpable in the quiet space. Despite the initial nervousness, Joonghyuk found solace in the simple act of caring for Dokja.
Dokja tilted his head back, both out of enjoyment for the gently scritches across his scalp and to allow Joonghyuk to wash the soap out of his hair. But this action also gave Joonghyuk another flash of the marks staining his body. As his gaze fell upon the implicating hickeys once more, a surge of protectiveness washed over him. His eyes darkened, a flicker of anger igniting within him. In that moment, he yearned to be the sole contributor of the marks on Dokja's skin, the only one allowed to kiss his lips, run his fingers through his hair, and explore every inch of his body. The intensity of his desire to claim Dokja completely consumed him, his longing evident in the charged atmosphere of the bathroom.
His gaze landed on Dokja's lips, aching to taste their sweetness, to feel the warmth of their touch against his own. The temptation was almost unbearable, the pull towards Dokja's lips magnetic and all-encompassing. Yet, as his eyes trailed back to the hickeys on Dokja's neck, a surge of guilt coursed through him.
If Dokja knew his thoughts, would he think Joonghyuk to be no better than the prince, just a selfish man seeking to claim his body for his own devices?
Feeling Joonghyuk's fingers pausing in their motions, Dokja looked over at the bathroom mirror and caught the intensity in Joonghyuk's gaze as his eyes fixated on the hickeys on his neck. Understanding the source of Joonghyuk's darkened expression, Dokja reached out, his hand gently cupping Joonghyuk's cheek. The touch served as an anchor, drawing Joonghyuk back from the tumult of his emotions and back to the present moment.
"Joonghyuk-ah..." Dokja's voice was soft and reassuring, a faint smile gracing his lips as he spoke. "You know, you can just replace those marks with your own," he suggested.
In a moment of raw emotion, Joonghyuk's wide eyes met Dokja's. He began leaning in, taking up the other man's offer, before pausing and wrapping his arms around Dokja's body, rubbing his face into Dokja's nape as he inhaled his scent.
"Are you sure? Will my touch evoke memories of that bastard? I don't want to scare you."
Dokja's hand tentatively laid on Joonghyuk's arm.
"I… I don't know. Maybe it will. But I still want to feel your touch."
Arms tightened around Dokja's body.
"Tell me if it's too much for you. I'll stop immediately."
A nod.
"Of course, I trust you."
Joonghyuk unlatched himself from Dokja, letting Dokja turn towards him. Droplets of water had collected on his eyelashes, falling like dew from plants after a passing rain shower. A beautiful flush decorated Dokja's cheeks, whether it was from the heat of the bath or the intimacy of the moment, Joonghyuk didn't care. He looked like the definition of temptation. Putting a hand under Dokja's chin to guide him closer, Joonghyuk leaned slowly into the kiss, allowing Dokja a moment to change his mind.
The distance between them closing, their lips meeting softly. As opposed to their first tryst, both men took their time getting acquainted with each other's bodies, starting off with a few chaste kisses before their lips connected fully.
Joonghyuk only deepened the kiss when Dokja requested it, Dokja clumsily licking and biting his lower lip in a silent plea for access to his mouth. His hand gently but firmly cupped Dokja's cheek, drawing him closer. They sought to delve deeper, to savor every moment of closeness. Their actions were a bit clumsy as they explored each other thoroughly, their noses bumped, and their teeth clacked together. But nonetheless, both were absorbed in each other's presence.
The hand on his shoulder gently pushed him away, and Joonghyuk backed up from the kiss. "I'm sorry, was it too much?"
Dokja shook his head with a smile.
"No, I just need to catch my breath," he reassured breathlessly, looking a bit embarrassed. Joonghyuk hummed understandingly, leaning back into Dokja's space as their shared breath mingled. At some point in the kiss, Joonghyuk's eyes had closed, so he took the time to rove over Dokja's form. The flush on his cheeks spread over his collarbone, and his eyes had become hooded. Dokja's mouth was slightly agape, his now puffy lips glistening from saliva.
With the heat of the room getting to him, Joonghyuk reached up to undo a few of the buttons on his shirt. He didn't miss the way Dokja's eyes flitted over to the section of his exposed chest, internally preening with satisfaction at the attention.
After allowing Dokja to catch his breath, Joonghyuk slowly reached up to brush against the marks on his neck. Dokja sharply inhaled as he did so.
"… May I move on this this part?" He stared deeply into Dokja's eyes as he asked for permission, searching for any sign of anxiety or hesitance. After a swallow and a deep breath, Dokja nodded.
"Go ahead. I'll tell you if I need to you stop." He tilted his head up to give Joonghyuk better access. With an anchoring hold on Dokja's shoulders, Joonghyuk gave Dokja a chaste kiss to the corner of his mouth before venturing down to his neck.
His lips landed on the offending marks, kissing them away one by one, still hesitant for the sake of Dokja's comfort. Joonghyuk lingered on the area of Dokja's pulse, feeling its rapid beat. He knew that even if the physical marks faded from Dokja's body, the events of today would leave an internal scar on his mind that would likely never go away. But perhaps if he treated Dokja with all the tenderness and softness he deserved, that scar could become just a miniscule part of himself.
Joonghyuk pulled away slightly to check on Dokja's condition, only to see the same flushed expression from before still on his face, if not even more pronounced. As much as Dokja appreciated Joonghyuk's cautiousness, a small pout still graced his expression at the pause. He brought a hand up to grasp Joonghyuk's hair, bringing his face closer to his neck to urge Joonghyuk to continue his motions.
Huffing a small laugh at Dokja's actions, Joonghyuk returned his attention to his neck, lavishing the delicate skin with a mixture of tenderness and urgency. He kisses slowly built up to licks and sucks on the exposed flesh, eliciting soft moans from Dokja's lips. The sound of Dokja's pleasure only served to fuel Joonghyuk's desire, a physical reaction evident as he grew increasingly aroused by the intoxicating mewls escaping Dokja's lips, the hand tangled in his hair tightening its grasp.
Driven by the need to claim Dokja as his own, Joonghyuk's actions became more fervent. He bit down on Dokja's neck, prompting a louder, more impassioned moan to escape from Dokja's lips. The desire to erase any trace of the prince's unwanted marks consumed Joonghyuk, replaced by an overwhelming need to leave his own marks of love on Dokja's body.
Just as he belonged to Dokja, Dokja belonged to him, and he was determined to make that known in every way possible.
Continuing his ministrations on Dokja's neck, Joonghyuk's actions intensified in a way that left Dokja in a state of blissful disarray. The heat of the moment enveloped them both, including both of their minds in a haze of arousal.
Joonghyuk's attention traveled slowly down Dokja's neck until it shifted to Dokja's nipples, his mouth enveloping one as he began to nibble and suck at it. The sudden sensation caused Dokja to jolt, a wave of pleasure making a high-pitched keen escape his lips. Joonghyuk's hands roamed over Dokja's body, settling on his waist to draw them even closer. Seeking to anchor himself in the moment, Dokja's hands found purchase on Joonghyuk's back, clinging tightly as he trembled with the intensity of their shared passion.
Without realizing it, Dokja began to dig his nails into Joonghyuk's back, leaving long scratches on his skin. Joonghyuk relished the burn, as eager to accept the marks Dokja imparted onto him as he was to leave marks on Dokja.
Dokja's desire for more only grew, his body aflame with a fervor that threatened to overwhelm him, teetering on the edge of losing control to the intoxicating sensations. With a sense of urgency, he clutched Joonghyuk tightly, drawing him closer in a silent plea for more.
Submerged in the warm waters of the bath, his length throbbed and stood at attention. His hole clenched on nothing, mourning the lack of anything filling it. Just as Dokja opened his mouth to ask for more, Joonghyuk abruptly ceased his actions, leaving Dokja bewildered as he gazed at him with a mix of confusion and longing.
"Why did you stop?" Dokja inquired, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he sought an explanation.
Joonghyuk returned Dokja's gaze, both of them breathless with passion, as he mustered the resolve to speak.
"W...we probably shouldn't go any further than this," he uttered, his voice rough with restraint.
"W-why?" Dokja questioned, his confusion evident in his gaze as he searched for understanding in Joonghyuk's words. As the realization dawned on him, a flicker of fear and vulnerability crossed Dokja's features. "The marks… did they disgust you?" he whispered, his voice tinged with uncertainty, the fear of rejection evident in his words.
Joonghyuk panicked at Dokja's question, hastily cupping Dokja's cheeks in his hands as he hurriedly relieved him of his worries. "No, my star! It's not about that," he reassured, his voice soft and comforting. However, his gaze shifted towards Dokja's stomach, prompting Dokja to follow his line of sight. Placing his hand on Dokja's stomach, Joonghyuk hesitated, his words tinged with uncertainty. "You're pregnant right now... I'm not sure if it's safe for us to continue," he explained, his eyes meeting Dokja's with a depth of emotion.
"Really…?"
"Yes, really… I want to treasure you right now, but I was afraid I might've lost control I went any further."
With a sigh of relief, Dokja leaned into Joonghyuk's chest, who reciprocated with a hug. Though, before the two could get too lost in the closeness, Dokja pinched Joonghyuk's ear between his fingers. Joonghyuk looked down to see a sulk on Dokja's lips.
"Next time say something earlier before you get me all riled up like this," he huffed out, gesturing down to his length. Though his stiffness had gone down by a significant amount in his moment of somberness, he was still at half-mast.
"Ah, I'm sorry about that my love, I can finish you off another way if you like," Joonghyuk offered, genuinely apologetic for his abrupt halt. Dokja snickered at him teasingly.
"No no, it's fine, just let it go down naturally. Though, you look like you might need more help than me," Dokja said, pointing worryingly to the prominent tent straining in Joonghyuk's pants. Joonghyuk shook his head, saying he'd also wait for it to go away.
This moment was meant for him to spoil Dokja with his affections, it'd be absurd if he focused on his own pleasure right now. As they held each other close, Dokja gazed up at Joonghyuk, a soft smile gracing his lips. With a gentle touch, he placed his hand near Joonghyuk's eyes, admiring the way they seemed to illuminate with a golden hue.
"Your eyes look beautiful like this, like pure gold."
Joonghyuk hummed at that. "You mentioned the same thing a few times before..." he murmured, his attention drawn to the nearby mirror. As he gazed at his reflection, Joonghyuk was taken aback to see that his eyes did indeed seem to radiate a golden hue, a phenomenon that had gone unnoticed by himself until now.
Dokja turned to the mirror, taking in the sight of Joonghyuk's golden-illuminated eyes reflected back at him. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" before turning to meet Joonghyuk's gaze,
Joonghyuk's eyes lingered on the reflection. "When you mentioned it before, I'd thought it was just the trick of the light," he said, a bit of wonder filling his voice.
"It only seems to glow sometimes, why do you think that is?" he asks, tilting his head in a cute way Joonghyuk couldn't resist.
With a thoughtful expression, Joonghyuk let out a soft hum before a smile graced his features as he looked at Dokja. Gently placing his hand on Dokja's cheek, he playfully pinched it and remarked, "Perhaps they're just reflecting the light of my precious star."
Dokja returned Joonghyuk's smile and simply replied, "Perhaps..."