CHAPTER EIGHT
After months of editing and repackaging and releasing teaser dates and having those dates pushed back repeatedly due to scheduling conflicts, the music video for Emotion was finally being released. Days prior to the worldwide release, there was a pre-release and viewing party at YG headquarters. A few days later, they would all head to YGEX in Japan and repeat the process.
Tonight, the little group of five would be together once more. The party started at 7:30pm according to the invites they’d received the week prior. Jiyong had been trying to convince Seunghyun for the better part of the afternoon that they should really get out of bed and start getting ready without much success. He glanced over at the clock beside the bed. The blue numbers taunted him. It was 4:47pm and he knew they would need to be there early to deal with press and media. Jiyong let out a small groan of frustration at having to leave their blissful cocoon to face the world again.
Meanwhile, Seunghyun couldn’t keep his hands or lips off of him. He trailed his mouth along Jiyong’s jaw and down his throat, peppering the soft flesh with delicate kisses making the younger man arch and gasp under him.
“Baby—” a broken distracted whimper, “We… need… to… uhhh! … get… ready…” his words punctuated with husky little moans as Seunghyun continued to wring pleasure from his flesh with his skilled mouth and fingers.
Seunghyun knew he was right, but the intensity of his passion for the man writhing beneath him dominated his reason. They’d be late and fuck the consequences because right now he had one sole purpose and nothing would sway him from his mission. He murmured a low “uh-huh,” against his skin as he continued to caress him; the pads of his fingers tracing filigreed patterns across the burning planes and curves of Jiyong’s skin. Jiyong succumbed to his ministrations as his needy little gasps and whimpers increased.
Seunghyun lips twitched into a small grin against his skin, “You want me to stop, sweetheart?”
“Don’t you… fucking dare… stop, baby,” Jiyong pleaded and rocked his hips in a slow arc against him before pulling Seunghyun up to kiss him again.
Seunghyun gently swiped his tongue across Jiyong’s mouth, a small grin teasing the corners of his lips as he did. He flicked his tongue gingerly across his bottom lip, then the top repeating the flicking motion in turn. Jiyong grew agitated at Seunghyun’s little game and caught his tongue between his teeth at the next teasing swipe. Seunghyun yelped in surprise before Jiyong sucked the captured muscle back into his mouth. Seunghyun kissed him earnestly, the silken slide of his tongue against Jiyong’s setting him further alight.
Seunghyun pulled back and quickly slicked his fingers with lube as Jiyong rocked his hips in a slow circle against him again, his head dropping back giving Seunghyun a breathtaking view of the delectable expanse of soft honeyed flesh before him. They didn’t have much time but Seunghyun was never going to rush preparing Jiyong no matter how much he whined or whimpered or begged or told him they’d be late. Seunghyun’s breath caught in his throat as Jiyong slammed down against his fingers, head thrown back, mewling and writhing. He was beyond beautiful and Seunghyun could have selfishly fallen apart right then and there.
Once Ji was adequately prepared, Seunghyun slowly entered him, the air always sucked from his lungs each and every time he pushed into his tight heat. Jiyong stilled as Seunghyun slowly pressed forward, fingers gripping Jiyong’s hips so hard as he filled him that they would no doubt leave tell-tale bruises tomorrow. Seunghyun slowly pulled Jiyong up so that he was straddling his lap, Seunghyun’s favourite position.
“Move, baby. I’m ready,” Jiyong panted and leaned in to kiss him fiery and slow. Seunghyun slowly rolled his pelvis up while pulling Jiyong down onto his length.
They made slow passionate love for the third time today. They swore after this time, they would get out of bed and start getting ready.
*
“Hyung! Stop fidgeting!” Jiyong admonished as Seunghyun twitched in his grasp.
“Just hurry up and stop pulling it so tight,” Seunghyun shot back impatiently and slapped at his lightening fast hands in frustration.
“Aish! How am I supposed to make it straight if you keep moving? Now,” Jiyong inspected his work with a self-satisfied grin, “that’s much better. Perfect, if I don’t mind saying so myself!”
Seunghyun quirked an eyebrow at his boyfriend and turned to the mirror to inspect the work for himself. He had to admit that he was right. His tie was sitting perfectly – almost as if the fabric had no choice but to obey the instructions laid down by Jiyong’s nimble fingers.
Seunghyun turned to face him again and pulled him in close, arms circling his waist.
“Thank you, sweetheart,” he husked against his ear before leaning his head down to press his lips against the corner of his mouth sweetly. Jiyong pushed him back giving him a demure pout.
“Stop it or we’ll never get out of here, gorgeous,” Jiyong flicked his eyes up at him and Seunghyun’s face lit up with a wicked grin. Jiyong quickly shut him down with a small amused scowl.
“You’re insatiable!” Jiyong teased as Seunghyun pulled him close again.
“Can you blame me, beautiful?” he asked hoarsely as he caressed his cheek, his eyes conveying all the ways in which he adored him. Jiyong felt his heart quiver under Seunghyun’s loving gaze. “Just look at you. I can’t help it,” he said tenderly as he cupped Jiyong’s face and drew him in for an affectionate kiss.
Jiyong eventually broke away, his face flushed and his amplifying desire for his love barely concealed. It simmered under the surface of his skin and threatened to overwhelm him.
“That’s not exactly playing fair, baby. We’re going to be… late… and… and…,”
Seunghyun leaned back with his arms folded across his chest, tongue ghosting across his bottom lip as he waited for Jiyong to finish his sentence. Jiyong was lost for words, his eyes drawn to his lovers’ mouth and the brief flash of pink just beyond those finely bowed lips. He felt his throat go dry and he swallowed thickly in a desperate attempt to work some moisture back into his mouth. Jiyong’s phone buzzed in his pocket, almost on cue, and broke his trance.
“Shit. I need to go. He’s waiting for me downstairs,” he said matter-of-factly. Seunghyun nodded, smiling deviously as he approached him again.
“C’mon, sweetheart. Let’s get you out of here before I change my mind—” he stopped mid-sentence when Jiyong glowered at him.
“Hyunnie, don’t start,” Jiyong whined, waggling a finger at him. “Tonight is going to be hard enough, so just hold that thought until later when I can do something about it, sweet boy.”
Seunghyun chuckled and beamed at him, dimples on show. Jiyong wanted to drown in the flood of warmth that swirled in his chest whenever Seunghyun smiled at him that way. He was breath-takingly beautiful – as ever his Eros incarnate – dressed in a gorgeous black Armani suit and it took every inch of Jiyong’s willpower to walk away from him now.
Jiyong moved to pull the front door open but Seunghyun held it closed.
“Nope. I’m afraid you didn’t pay the toll,” he said with a wolfish grin. Jiyong turned to face him and rolled his eyes. Seunghyun really could be an insufferable dork and it only served to make him love him more intensely than he already did. Jiyong smiled, knowing full well what the toll was but asking, and wanting it, anyway.
Seunghyun leaned in to press his lips against Jiyong’s. It was sweet and delicate and Jiyong felt a little whimper break unbidden from him when Seunghyun pulled him close and tentatively licked at the seam of his lips. Jiyong slid his hands around his neck to hold him closer still.
Seunghyun pulled back, smiling down at him. “I love you, Ji.”
“I love you too, Hyun,” Jiyong replied as his heart swelled and thundered against his ribs, his hands sliding down his boyfriends’ impeccably clothed torso.
“You should really go, Ji. I’ll see you there, sweetheart,” Seunghyun sighed and kissed his forehead and slid his arms from his waist before stepping back looking sheepish and insanely adorable. Jiyong steeled himself as he quickly made his escape, the door closing firmly behind him. He checked his reflection in the lift to make sure his face wasn’t too flushed by the time he got down to the car.
While they paid their 24-hour on call secret security drivers in cash to keep their movements under wraps, they tried to be discreet in terms of not giving too much away. They figured that if the exorbitant amounts they paid were enough to keep them silent, they were acutely aware that there might also be others willing to pay more for them to divulge what they knew. They understood that discretion was paramount.
Jiyong climbed into the car and gave his directions back to his apartment where he was due to be collected by a different driver and taken to the event. He was filled with a mixture of overwhelming love for Seunghyun; his lips still tingling where Seunghyun’s had been minutes ago, and excitement for tonight’s event. At least his band mates and work colleagues would keep him occupied while they were at YG headquarters.
Except for the fact that they were premiering the music video for Emotion. His chest tightened when he realised he’d be watching Seunghyun on huge screens around the office. He’d be reliving the events from that day all over again and in full view of his band mates and colleagues. He took a few deep breaths to steady his nerves and steel his resolve. He quickly raced to his apartment to await the call from the next driver, which gave him time to gather himself for the night ahead.
*
The five were together again and were the shining stars of the show. They’d each arrived separately and in fairly quick succession. The gathered crowd applauded their arrival as blinding camera flashes made everything as bright as midday, burning their retinas as they stopped to pose for photos before they made their way inside. The three eldest had their sunglasses firmly in place to protect them from the onslaught, the maknaes never did so it took them a little while to adjust once they were inside.
They were quickly ushered into the party at the top floor. More polite applause as the lift doors opened and they were welcomed inside. Before long, the president had called them up on stage to share a few words about the music video they were about to debut. Seungri hogged the limelight and had the assembled crowd eating out of the palm of his hands. Jiyong smiled at the youngest giving him a congratulatory thumbs up. Not least at the memory of the party Seungri had taken them to a couple of years ago that started everything.
Once the introductory speeches were concluded, a screen descended from above the stage and the room darkened. The screen bloomed to life with four little pips signalling the opening sequence as they each took their seats in front.
At the opening bars of the song hit, the room started clapping along to the beat cheering as each of them appeared. Both Seunghyun and Jiyong watched with rapt attention at each other’s smouldering sensuality on screen. Jiyong bit the inside of his lip so hard he swore he tasted blood. Seunghyun held his breath, seemingly losing the ability to regulate his breathing when he did draw oxygen into his lungs. Thankfully, no one was paying them any mind at that point.
The room erupted with wild applause and cheers at the conclusion of the music video and the lights came back up. Jiyong noted that most of the room had watched in excitable awe. Seunghyun’s heated gaze on-screen had a number of female staff members discreetly fanning themselves while Jiyong chewed on his bottom lip to try to keep his own rising heat in check.
Jiyong recalled the director’s words all those months ago and he was right. The fans really were going to lose their shit. Of course, it was given a 19+ rating, as they always suspected and with good reason. They all looked incredible and dripped undeniable carnality on screen. The choreography was incredibly suggestive as was intended and they all hit their marks perfectly. It was going to be a runaway success.
As the night wore on, the constant crush of people wanting their attention was starting to wear thin. Jiyong needed some air so headed out to one of the balconies to be alone. Seunghyun found his way out to be by his side shortly thereafter. He leaned up against the railing next to him as they looked out into the night.
“I wish this night was over already,” Seunghyun huffed out, an amused smirk spreading across his lips.
“Yep,” was all Jiyong could manage in response. Seunghyun seemed to know exactly what was on Jiyong’s mind. Probably, if not definitely, because the same thing was on his. It was still hard wanting each other as much as they did and not being able to act on it in a public arena, but it was getting easier. Not by much, but they were coping. When they were secreted away from the world, they more than made up for it.
“No doubt the others will wanna kick on, I’m sure we can find reasonable excuses to leave. Like we always do,” Seunghyun said the last part with a cautious glance over his shoulder and Jiyong laughed.
“Yeah, I’m sure we will,” he responded, sucking his bottom lip in behind his teeth. Seunghyun shook his head at him.
“Unfair!” he pointed at him and laughed deep and throaty. Jiyong sighed at the sound as it reverberated through him, a little shiver travelling down his spine. They heard the door opening behind them and were quickly joined by Youngbae.
“What’s unfair, hyung?” he asked Seunghyun smiling.
“Nothing important, dongsaeng. Ji was just being cruel and unusual. I’m heading back in,” he said, clapping his hand on Youngbae’s shoulder and smiling at Jiyong. Jiyong nodded as he made his way back inside as he cast his eyes over the luminescence of the city beneath them.
“Everything okay, Ji?” Youngbae asked his voice tinged with concern.
“Everything’s brilliant, Bae. More than I could have ever anticipated,” Jiyong responded brightly.
“Awesome. You coming back in?” Youngbae asked.
“Yeah, I just need a minute. Go ahead, I’ll be there soon,” Jiyong smiled as he turned to face Bae. “Keep an eye on that maknae, okay?” Youngbae laughed and nodded as he pulled the door open and disappeared inside.
Jiyong turned to face the city again. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. Everything really was brilliant and he thanked his lucky stars for whatever it was he did to deserve this life and Seunghyun’s love.
*
They had taken some time into settling into the mantle of boyfriends and lovers, but it felt like the most natural thing in the world. None of their band mates or colleagues knew that ‘the thing that they sometimes did’ when they were out had developed into a far more enduring and marvellous something. Not just yet.
They found a way to inhabit the old patterns of feigned indifference when it was necessary. It was difficult at first, given how hard it was to willingly extract themselves from each other, but it had almost become second nature whenever they were in public. The stark contrast between their public and private lives always gave them a little thrill.
Behind closed doors, small details became their private language. The way Seunghyun loved falling asleep to Jiyong stroking the inside of his wrists, long fingers delicately tracing intricate patterns along the sensitive skin. The way Jiyong squirmed and giggled as Seunghyun trailed delicate kisses along the insides of his ankles and the curve of his instep.
Jiyong revelled in the fact that he gets all of Seunghyun to himself, not just the public persona but the most secret and intimate parts of him. Secret skin that is never on show, skin that only he gets to see. He knows that it’s just for him and always will be.
*
Whenever work drew them apart, Seunghyun made a small ritual of placing one of the matching gold Cartier love cuffs around his left wrist and the turquoise band around his right before kissing each of his eyelids, the tip of his nose and the corners of his lips.
“Never forget, I’m here,” Seunghyun said as he pressed his lips against the pulse points on each of Jiyong’s wrists. “And here,” he said as his lips gently grazed his throat, his tongue languidly teasing the soft flesh making Jiyong shudder and sigh. “And most important of all, here,” he would say as he laid a dizzying trail of kisses from his neck down against his left pectoral above his heart.
As cheesy as it was, it always made Jiyong smile, little currents of elation swirled through him whenever Seunghyun repeated the little ritual – their ritual – when work loomed. Jiyong always promised that he could never forget as he linked his fingers with Seunghyun’s and kissed him affectionately.
Jiyong and Seunghyun had also made pacts to ensure that they reconnected as soon as humanly possible whenever they had to be apart due to their rigorous schedules.
When being in the midst of work got too much and a sly smile or a smouldering glance simply couldn’t convey their overwhelming affection, when they needed simple contact, it was easy to pass it off as fan service. A lingering glance, a tender brush of fingers, or a protective arm slipped around a tiny waist. One would over react and push the other away, smiling widely and laughing at the lengths they’d go to just to get close. It became a little game to see how far they could push.
Sometimes, they’d turn their affectionate attentions on the maknaes just to make them squirm. Seungri always made the biggest fuss whenever Seunghyun made a beeline for him, gripping him in an overly tight embrace or roughing him up. Daesung was a little less concerned about his hyungs amorous attentions and was able to hold his own if – and often when – the roughhousing commenced. Youngbae would just look on and shake his head, laughing at the scenes playing out before him and was silently thankful that the maknaes were the focus of their affectionate pranks.
*
Every time they were thrust into the limelight, either together as a group or separately, they’d blaze under blinding lights with their band mates, in the eyes of the world and in the company of their colleagues. Their clandestine love silently coiling around their hearts and thrumming in their veins, mute and undetected by the world at large.
Only the keenest of observers may have detected the minute nuances in their body language, all the little things that spoke volumes about how deep in this they both are. Said observers might also note how much brighter they smiled and how their eyes lit up in the presence of the other. How a longing glance may have lingered for a split second too long, how roseate blooms stained their cheeks as a result and the quiet hand-hidden giggles that constantly threatened to give way and erupt into raucous laughter at any given moment.
But only the most observant would notice the little things that were expertly concealed from prying eyes. This was the secret language between Jiyong and Seunghyun, as it was and as it would continue to be and it was as natural as breathing to them.
When time permitted, fingers reacquainted themselves with the planes and dips of heated skin; tongues busied themselves savouring their taste as they expressed their love in ravenous slow motion. They fell apart together as they sunk into the downy depths of their love, wrapped in the cocoon of exquisite passion until sleep claimed them.
And in the serene spaces they often fell into after making love and right before they fell asleep as they settled into the warm embrace of their hearts’ desire, they would often give up silent prayers of thanks to the universe for one another.
~FIN~
RantyPants! 