02
Tae Hyun had toured Gyeongbokgung Palace once during a school trip to Seoul before he became an idol. The memory surfaced as he first stood in the vast foyer of the Park family’s Bel Air mansion. As a child, the palace’s scale had amazed him. Its grandeur was a glimpse of a world beyond his own. Yet even as an idol, the lavish stages he’d commanded and luxury hotel suites he’d stayed in paled before the expanse of marble and gold displayed before him. He couldn’t name the architectural style, only that it radiated a cold opulence. Even the most extravagant destinations he’d seen felt quaint in comparison. It was the sort of wealth that built legacies handed down through generations. A slow ripple of unease rolled through him as the realization hit. He’d never truly known the world he’d entered by loving Jason.
Jason was too preoccupied by the funeral reception to notice Tae Hyun’s discomfort. That was understandable, but it still left Tae Hyun to navigate the sea of unfamiliar faces alone. He felt their curious eyes on him as he was led through the foyer to the grand, elaborate gardens that lay beyond. Seong Min and Seong Hyeon, ever watchful, shot him knowing glances. After all, they were outsiders, too.
So, with a barely stifled sigh, Tae Hyun slipped on his well- practiced mask and mingled. Years of performing had honed his smiles, polite nods, and carefully measured words. He took a few sips of champagne as a calculated indulgence to dull his rising anxiety. Losing control wasn’t an option, not with so many eyes intent on watching him for any sign of faltering. But they could watch him all they liked. Tae Hyun was born for the stage. He never faltered.
Tae Hyun’s anxiety finally melted away the moment Jason took his hand and led him from his father’s office. “All of this space was just for the three of you?”
Jason sheepishly nodded. “My father used to tell me stories of the tiny K-town studio he and my mother lived in when they first moved to the States. He claimed the whole place would’ve fit inside his office.”
Tae Hyun was no stranger to cramped quarters. He’d shared a tiny dorm room with five other trainees for years. He could easily imagine what that was like. “And then he built all this?”
Jason nodded again. “My father was an asshole, but he was undeniably brilliant in business. Ruthless, too.” He opened a door further down the hall. “This is the lounge,” he explained, ushering Tae Hyun inside.
With all its dark woods and polished gold and brass fixtures, the office may as well have been a boardroom. The lounge’s warm tones and vintage charm were much more inviting. Sleek leather chairs and a plush sofa sprawled beneath a teak-paneled ceiling. Floor-to-ceiling windows showcased the manicured grounds outside. And a chrome-accented bar anchored the far corner.
Jason made a beeline for the bar. “Want a drink?”
“Absolutely.” Tae Hyun grinned. “You wouldn’t happen to have soju, would you? ”
“Do we ever.” Jason retrieved a familiar frosted bottle with a black and silver label from under the bar.
Tae Hyun’s eyes widened as he recognized the high-end brand. “Sabi?”
Jason smirked. “Sort of. Look closer.”
Tae Hyun squinted at the bottle, spotting the silver block lettering beneath the familiar crown logo. Sabi Brightstar Label. “Whoa. You have your own soju brand?”
Jason chuckled, pulled the cork cap, and poured a shot. “My father tried to buy the distillery outright. They refused, so he commissioned his own batch instead.”
Tae Hyun accepted the shot, wary of drinking room-temperature soju. He always drank it chilled. Then again, he always drank it cheap, too. But it slid down like silk, with barely a hint of burn and a touch of sweetness. “Incredible. Do they sell this?”
“Not a drop.” Jason grabbed a shaker and filled it with ice. “It’s exclusive to my father. He uses it for gifts–” He cut himself off with a sigh as he handed Tae Hyun his chilled soju. “He used to give it away. I should probably cancel the contract.”
Tae Hyun savored his next sip, the chill cutting out the burn entirely. “Are you sure? This is really good. How much is left?”
“Plenty.” Jason grinned as he found the Kingston bottle and poured himself a drink. “This bar is where my mother taught me to make her gin and tonics. Dad had the office. She had her lounge.” He downed the bourbon and poured another. “She used it for her bridge games, book clubs, and entertaining the wives of dad’s latest business conquests.” He topped off Tae Hyun’s soju. “But don’t let the relaxed vibe fool you. She ruined plenty of lives in here. ”
Tae Hyun nodded, understanding well enough. He’d never met Jason’s parents. But an angry, domineering father and a subservient mother with a wicked streak didn’t sound that much different from his own. “You wouldn’t know just by looking. Everything seems so peaceful and pleasant.”
Jason harshly snorted. “I’ve seen more than one executive housewife driven to tears in this room.” He swallowed the rest of his bourbon before setting his glass on the bar. “Ready to keep exploring?”
The games room was next. It was clearly a younger Jason’s domain. A giant TV screen, dark and dormant, dominated the far wall beside a silent, state-of-the-art sound system. Vintage arcade cabinets stood a vigilant watch behind a pool table covered in pristine felt. The room was a shrine to the restless energy of privileged youth that Jason admitted he hardly ever used.
“Once I started filming the first Monday Night Club movie, I was hardly ever here.” Jason chuckled. “And when I was here, I was usually in the lounge. Especially when my folks were out of town.”
Tae Hyun lightheartedly snorted away a pang of envy. “I would have loved this when I was younger.”
“What kid wouldn’t?” Jason elaborately shrugged. “But I was too busy acting like a spoiled movie star brat back then to care.”
Tae Hyun playfully chuckled. “Back then?”
“Ha ha.” Jason’s mock exasperation couldn’t hide the truth in Tae Hyun’s teasing. “If you think I’m bad now, you would’ve hated me before.” He shrugged again. “Let’s keep going.”
After a quick peek at the gym, a sun-drenched space full of pristine, dazzling chrome and powder-coated black steel, they stopped at the kitchen. A small army of white-clad figures weaved between prep stations and towering appliances–a flurry of activity under the bright, industrial-style lighting. The room’s sheer scale was intimidating–an endless expanse of marble and stainless steel designed to feed a multitude. It made even Jason’s kitchen, the largest Tae Hyun had ever cooked in, feel cozy by comparison. A pair of servers loudly protested when Jason casually walked up to grab a pair of sandwiches from one of the trays they were setting out until he assured them it was his house.
Jason finally led Tae Hyun up the backstairs as they ate their stolen sandwiches. The upstairs corridor was just as refined as the rest of the house but somehow felt less opulent and more lived in. Their final stop was Jason’s teenage bedroom. The space was a muted echo of a life put on hold. Sleek and stylish, yes, but devoid of the messy vitality Tae Hyun would’ve expected. A perfectly made designer bed. A gaming console still in its box beneath a vast wall-mounted TV. Only the framed posters from Jason’s movies proclaimed it his space. It felt oddly sterile, as if any youthful rebellion had long ago moved elsewhere.
Tae Hyun managed a weak smile. “It’s nice.” He knew the words were hollow.
Jason snorted with bitter amusement. “It never looked like this when I lived here. Now it’s like a museum exhibit for a dead celebrity.” He wandered to his bed and sat, patting the space beside him. “Come on, sit.”
Tae Hyun softly frowned. “Are you sure? There’s a lot of–”
“I’m sure,” Jason cut in, “that at least one of the Songs is guarding the stairwell. And all those assholes downstairs will be better off without me. Sit. Please. ”
Tae Hyun dipped his chin as he edged closer to the bed. “As you wish, hyung.”
Jason grabbed Tae Hyun’s hand and yanked him onto the bed. “Don’t start with that,” he playfully growled, low and dark. “I’ve had enough people kissing my ass today.” Then he sighed and helped Tae Hyun sit up. “And I know this whole thing has to be as weird for you as it’s been for me,” he added, tight and simmering with barely contained tension.
“Maybe, yeah.” Tae Hyun brushed his bangs from his face and laid his hand on Jason’s thigh. “But I’m more worried about you, hyung.”
“Eh. I’ll be okay,” Jason flatly replied, entirely unconvincing.
Tae Hyun shook his head as he slid back far enough to reach Jason’s shoulders. He gently squeezed the taut-wire muscles, earning a low, quiet moan. “I know you’ll be okay. But I’d like to help you get there.” He squeezed again, harder than before. “You’ve been going nonstop since we got to Los Angeles. And I think this is the first time we’ve been alone together for more than five minutes.”
“I know. I’m sorry. And that feels fucking amazing.”
“Don’t be sorry. It’s hardly your fault.” Tae Hyun tapped Jason’s shoulder. “Now, take your jacket off and lay down so I can properly work on these.”
Jason nodded, quickly sliding off the bed to remove his jacket. “Should I take off my shirt, too?” He shared a sly grin. “I wouldn’t want to get it all wrinkled.”
“Really?” Tae Hyun pushed one eyebrow skyward, unable to resist the chance to turn the tables and tease his boyfriend. “At your parents’ funeral reception?”
Jason’s cheeks rapidly darkened as his grin fell into a frown. “Okay, yeah.” He softly rubbed the back of his head–his typical apology-flirt move. “This probably isn’t–”
Tae Hyun jumped up and covered Jason’s mouth. He’d hardly been exaggerating when he complained that the pair hadn’t been alone together in days. Worse, it had been even longer since they’d last had sex. Propriety demanded they hold off on any bedroom antics and return to the reception. After all, they were officially in mourning. But, right then, Tae Hyun was too worked up and horny to give a shit about propriety. And he’d long ago gotten used to taking advantage of whatever fleeting moments of privacy he could manage.
“Stop. It’s perfectly fine, hyung. In fact–” Tae Hyun loosened Jason’s tie and pulled it off. “I’ll help.” He tossed the tie aside and started unbuttoning Jason’s shirt, stopping after three buttons. “I said I’d help. You can do it, too.”
Jason nodded, his fingers anxiously fumbling with his shirt buttons. “Are we really doing this here?”
“Giving you a back massage?” Tae Hyun nudged him toward the bed. “Yes. Now, on your stomach.”
Jason obeyed, landing with a muffled thump that barely disturbed the pristine linens. Tae Hyun’s gaze followed him, a flush of heat in his ears as he loosened his tie, the knot easily slipping free. His jacket came next, carelessly tossed aside. Then he unbuttoned his shirt, revealing glimpses of tanned skin as it fell open, before rolling his sleeves up his forearms. Finally straddling Jason’s waist, he softly dragged his knuckles up the sides of Jason’s back before finding his grip on those tense shoulders. He dug his thumbs in deep, rewarded by a satisfied moan muted by Jason’s pillow.
“That’s better,” Tae Hyun muttered.
Jason’s moaning continued, growing louder and more urgent as Tae Hyun’s fingers kneaded deeper. As his touch lingered on Jason’s shoulder blades, the scent of his cologne–a mix of citrus and something warm and woodsy–filled Tae Hyun’s nose.
“Oh, shit,” Jason murmured. “That hurts so good. Don’t stop.”
Tae Hyun anxiously clucked his tongue. “You should’ve said something about your back. I knew you were stressed, but–”
“Less commentary and more rubbing, please.”
Tae Hyun swallowed his comeback. Jason needed his support, not his judgment. And he’d more than earned it, sacrificing nearly everything to follow Tae Hyun’s dream of a solo concert tour. So he pressed his fingers deeper, focusing on the knots of tension in Jason’s lower back. He was rewarded with a chorus of groans and a breathtaking view of Jason’s well-muscled back. A deep longing nearly overcame him as he envisioned giving Jason more than a simple massage. He closed his eyes as he worked the muscles, imagining himself ripping off his shirt and retracing his path back to Jason’s shoulders with his tongue. A rapid thickening in his crotch forced his eyes open, pushing his focus back on the scene that lay before him.
“I can feel that, you know?”
Too late. Tae Hyun played innocent. “Feel what?”
Jason chuckled. “Something pushing against my ass. Unless you’ve got another hand you’ve never told me about–”
Tae Hyun playfully smacked Jason’s ass. “You’ve never complained about my secret hand before.”
Jason laughed. “If you don’t stop rubbing it against me, I’ll have to make you stick it in me.”
“Hyung.” The room seemed to shrink, the air thickening with a silent electricity. A traitorous warmth bloomed in Tae Hyun’s chest, warring with the voice of reason. Jason had hardly even spoken about losing his parents, his grief a hidden storm behind his polite smile. Was what he wanted even okay? “Roll over.”
“What? What do you–”
Tae Hyun smacked Jason’s ass again. “I said, roll over.” He climbed off and knelt beside him. “Now.”
“Yes, sir.” Jason complied, flipping onto his back to reveal his own throbbing bulge.
Tae Hyun lunged for Jason’s belt, unfastening the buckle before doing the same with his pants. Then he snuck his fingers under the waistband of his underwear and tugged them both down. Free of constraint, Jason’s cock jumped to attention, a dew drop of precum glistening on the tip. Tae Hyun didn’t hesitate, quickly catching it with his tongue. He savored it for a delicious moment, mesmerized by the heartbeat throb of Jason’s cock and the musky aura of its scent, before opening his mouth and engulfing the whole thing.
A low groan rumbled through Jason’s body, surprise giving way to something raw and needy. Jason threaded his fingers through Tae Hyun’s hair as his mouth descended. He sealed his lips around the base, ignoring the tickle of Jason’s neatly trimmed pubic hair, and sucked hard. Jason closed his fingers around a thick lock of Tae Hyun’s hair as he slowly raised his head, running his tongue along the shivering shaft until it was coated in his saliva. Then he lifted off Jason’s cock, shining and wet, and smacked his lips.
“Delicious.”
Jason jokingly pouted. “Is that all I get?”
“Absolutely not.” Tae Hyun grinned, moistening his finger on the tip of Jason’s cock and gently running it between his abs. “There’s still so much stiffness to work on.” He bent forward, resting on his right hand as he aimed his mouth for Jason’s nipple. A tongue flick across the tip, and Jason violently bucked. Tae Hyun stopped. “Good hyungs lie still.”
“Sorry, I–”
Jason hissed as Tae Hyun returned to his nipple. He sucked it between his lips, lightly biting down and attacking it with his tongue. Every motion was measured and calculated. The tension in Jason’s frame coiled tighter under his practiced touch. Each exhale brushed his skin, laden with desperate determination.
Tae Hyun’s free hand found Jason’s cock, stroking it in time to his heaving breath. Then he shifted across Jason’s chest, leaving a trail of tender kisses leading to his other nipple. Jason’s body shuddered, a guttural moan escaping his lips as Tae Hyun licked, suckled, and bit down. There was no hesitation, only a fierce desire to consume, to offer a distraction from the grief clawing at him. He stroked Jason’s cock faster, matching the intensity of his pounding heartbeat, his hand slick with precum.
“Wait.”
Startled, Tae Hyun stopped stroking and looked up. “What’s wrong?”
But Jason lay with his eyes closed, pleasantly grinning. “Nothing’s wrong. I just don’t want to cum yet.” His grin spread a fraction wider. “Not till I’ve had a go at you.”
“Hyung, I–”
“No, no. Listen to your hyung.” Still grinning, Jason opened his eyes and sat up, balancing on his elbows, and nodded toward Tae Hyun’s crotch. “I can see that thing’s waiting to be set free. ”
Tae Hyun hesitated, his rational mind fighting his desire. Fuck it. With a reckless surge of lust, Tae Hyun lay back, stripping off his shirt while Jason fumbled at his pants, finally opening them and tugging them down. Then Jason shifted, pushing forward until their chests brushed. His mouth met Tay Hyun’s with a needy urgency, his teeth catching Tae Hyun’s lip in a sharp, possessive bite. Tae Hyun’s surprised gasp became a moan as Jason’s hand found his cock, gripping it with a desperation that mirrored his own.
Tae Hyun rolled, pushing Jason back so they could lay side by side. His hand returned to Jason’s cock as his tongue pushed past Jason’s lips. Heart pounding, breath heaving, a fiery warmth gathered between them as they kissed, stroking one another in a furious rhythm that Tae Hyun knew would make him cum soon. Then he came, almost without warning, his ecstatic howl swallowed by Jason’s hungry mouth. Jason came next, echoing Tae Hyun’s cry as his warm cum splattered on Tae Hyun’s hand and hip.
Tae Hyun finally rolled onto his back, resting his hand on his belly where Jason’s cum could run off and pool. “Holy shit.”
Jason’s laugh rang with a newfound lightness as he lay back. “Yeah. I’m glad the garden’s on the other side of the house.”
Tae Hyun’s breath caught in his throat. “Don’t even joke about that, hyung. It’s bad enough that we did that during the funeral reception, but–”
“But, nothing.” Jason’s reply, strong and confident, held the firm certainty it had lacked for days. “I needed that. You needed that. And my parents are gone, so they can hardly complain.” He patted his chest. “Come here.”
Tae Hyun could argue against the timing, but his complaint faded as he nestled against Jason. He relaxed his head on Jason’s chest, still buzzing from his lingering arousal. “I suppose you’re right.”
“Of course I’m right.” Jason’s gentle squeeze held more than just playful affection. “You know, that’s the first time I’ve had sex in this room.”
Tae Hyun never would’ve believed that when they first met. But he’d learned since then that much of Jason’s reputation was false—much, but not all. “Are you serious?”
“I was hardly ever here.” Jason’s sigh was heavy in the room’s quiet stillness. “And I never wanted to subject anyone else to dealing with my folks. Now that they’re gone–”
Tae Hyun gently traced the hard line of Jason’s abs, letting their intimacy soothe his unspoken worries. “Now, this place is yours.” He paused, his next question heavy in his throat. “What do you want to do with this house? Move in?”
Jason’s soft chuckle rumbled through his chest. “Fuck, no. What the hell do we need with a house this big? And in Bel Air, of all places? No. Fuck, no. I’ve already got a house.”
“Okay.”
“Maybe I’ll sell it,” Jason doubtfully suggested, followed by another sigh. “But it’s low on my priority list right now. I’ve got so many other things to deal with first.”
“Yes.” Tae Hyun already knew what he wanted to suggest and what the response would be. Still, he had to try. “About that. I think we should postpone the tour.”
“What?” Jason’s whine betrayed his surprised confusion. “No fucking way. Why would you even want to do that?”
“It’s like you said,” Tae Hyun carefully replied. He pressed closer, seeking strength and offering reassurance. “You’ve got so many things to–”
“Absolutely not,” Jason replied, firm and final. “You’ve worked way too hard on this tour. A lot of people have. And a lot of people are depending on it. On you. Not the least of which are your fans.”
Tae Hyun sighed. “I don’t want to leave you to handle things all by yourself. Not after everything you did for me.”
Jason softly exhaled. “I appreciate that.” He pressed an impossibly tender kiss to Tae Hyun’s forehead. “But it’s the last thing I want. Besides, I won’t be alone. I’ve got Naomi and Seong Woo.”
Tae Hyun heard Jason’s words but remained unconvinced. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. And it shouldn’t take more than a few days to get everything handled–a week at most. Then I can join you on the road.”
Despite Jason’s confidence, Tae Hyun’s unease lingered. But Jason was right. The tour was more than just him. It was hard to admit, but the timing wasn’t his to control. And he didn’t actually want to postpone it. He just wanted to be there for Jason more. A strange mix of disappointment and relief tempered his worry.
“Okay,” Tae Hyun finally conceded. “But the moment you can, you’re joining me.”
“Count on it.”