Chapter Text
Jeonghan fucked into Laura with everything he had, her body arching up to meet him like she couldn't get enough.
“Fuck, so good, Jeonghan-ah,” she moaned, her voice breaking into these little gasps that drove him wild, “my baby is doing so good.”
God, the way she said that, all husky and needy made him bury his face in the curve of her neck, inhaling that mix of her perfume. Her nails raked down his back, sharp enough to sting but in the best way, sending sparks through his skin.
“Go harder, baby,” she urged, her legs wrapping tighter around him, pulling him deeper.
Jeonghan picked up the pace, thrusting harder, faster, feeling her tighten around him in response.
“You like it?” he growled against her skin. “You drive me crazy, woman.”
She squeezed him then. “I'm gonna cum,” she whispered, her fingers digging into his shoulders like she was holding on for dear life.
“Fuck, do it,” he rasped, his own release building urgently.
They came together in waves. Her crying out his name, him groaning into her hair as he shivered on top of her, every muscle trembling with the aftershocks.
For a moment they stayed just like that.
Jeonghan pulled away slowly, reluctantly slipping out with a soft hiss. He peeled off the condom, tied it off, and tossed it into the trash by the bed without looking.
His heart was still pounding, but now there was this quiet hope creeping in as he turned back to her. Maybe tonight would be different. Maybe she'd stay, curl into him, let him hold her like he wanted to. He reached out, tracing his fingers lightly down her arm, then leaned in to kiss her shoulder.
“Did you enjoy it?” he asked.
Laura smiled up at him. “Of course, sugar. I loved it.”
The nickname made him bold.
“Wanna stay over?” he asked, trying to keep it casual, but his voice came out a little too hopeful.
She shifted closer, pressing a kiss to his mouth. Jeonghan chased it desperately, his hand coming up to cup her face, not wanting it to end.
“I can go another round in like 10 minutes” he mumbled against her lips.
She pulled back with a chuckle, kissing his cheek instead. “Another time, okay? I gotta go.”
And just like that, she was sitting up, grabbing a towel from the chair and wrapping it around herself, hiding all that skin he'd just been worshiping.
Jeonghan flopped back against the pillows, groaning. “Ugh, why?”
It came out whinier but damn, he didn't want her to leave. Not yet.
She turned, still smiling. “Jeonghan-ah, we are not dating. Don't act like my boyfriend.”
He propped himself up on his elbows, frowning. “What's wrong with becoming my girlfriend? We have fun, don't we?”
“We have fun,” she agreed, tying the towel a little tighter. “But I have other people I have fun with too.”
That stung. Jeonghan sat up straight, the sheets pooling around his waist. “Oh, come on! I thought this sleeping together stage would lead to a mutually exclusive relationship. I didn't know we were treating this as an open friends-with-benefits thing.”
Laura shrugged, grabbing her clothes from the floor. “Who knows? Maybe I'll end up choosing either one of you.”
“This is so unfair,” he shot back. “Who is this other guy? Is he better than me?”
She chuckled, shaking her head like he was being adorable. “There's no better option. If I want it soft, I come to you. If I want it rough, I go to him.”
“What? Excuse me?” Jeonghan blinked. “I like rough too!”
Laura smirked. “Only when I ride you, though.”
He sighed. “Whatever.”
She laughed softly and ruffled his hair. “I'm gonna take a shower and leave.”
With that, she headed to the bathroom, the door clicking shut behind her.
Jeonghan stared at the closed door. He flopped back down, rubbing his face.
This sucked.
Why couldn't she just see how good they were together?
His thoughts spiraled, replaying the night, the way she'd moaned for him. Only for him, right? But no, apparently not.
Then her phone buzzed on the bed, vibrating insistently. He glanced over, not meaning to snoop, but it lit up with Instagram notifications. Curiosity won, he leaned over, peering at the screen.
Seungcheol: Hey babygirl, coming over tonight?
Seungcheol: Don't tell me you're with that lame guy again.
Jeonghan's jaw tightened.
Seungcheol : You know I'm better than him.
Seungcheol: Remember that night I made you cum 5 times? Can he do that?
His blood boiled hot and furious.
What the actual fuck?
★★★
Jeonghan had been pissed before in his life, sure, but this? This was a whole new level of humiliation-rage simmering under his skin, the kind that made his hands twitch and his knee bounce.
He sat in Joshua’s kitchen, scrolling through his phone with a glare.
“Stop shaking your leg like that,” Joshua said without turning around, stirring something in a pot that smelled annoyingly comforting. “You’re making me nervous.”
Jeonghan shoved a hand through his hair, and snapped, “God, I’m so fucking pissed !! Who does he think he is?”
Joshua paused mid-stir. “Are you talking about me?”
“No,” Jeonghan growled and whipped his phone around so Joshua could see the screen. “This guy !!”
Joshua leaned closer, squinting. “Seungcheol? Who’s that?”
Then he turned back to the stove.
“My worst nightmare,” Jeonghan muttered. “Laura’s sleeping with him too.”
That made Joshua whip around so fast the spoon nearly flew out of his hand. “What the fuck? I thought you guys were gonna become a couple!”
“Yeah! Me too!” Jeonghan threw his free hand up. “But noooo, apparently she loves having fun, and she’s having fun with two people while she decides who she wants. Like we’re on a fucking reality show.”
Joshua blinked. “And she told you about the other man? She made you look at the competition?”
“No,” Jeonghan scoffed. “She doesn’t know. I saw some messages. And I saw his ID on her phone. And I decided to check him out. Thank God it’s a public account.”
Joshua crossed his arms, staring at him like a disappointed mother. “That’s called stalking..not that I disapprove. But it really is stalking hannie.”
“Who cares!” Jeonghan shoved the phone at him, almost shoving his own dignity along with it. “Look at him and his muscles! Like who posts shirtless gym pictures like this? What a slut.”
Joshua’s eyebrows shot up. “Muscles? Shirtless? Damn, show me.”
Of course he sat down next to him, interest sparkling like this was some entertainment segment.
Jeonghan sighed and handed over the phone.
Joshua scrolled once and his jaw dropped. “Whoa. Fuck, that’s huge!! Wow!!”
“Ew, don’t say that.”
“Don’t be homophobic.”
“I’m not being homophobic,” Jeonghan snapped. “I’m being ‘my-best-friend-thinks-my-competition-is-hot’-phobic.”
Joshua laughed, clapping him on the shoulder. “Come on, Han. I know you’re straight. But you don’t have to be gay to appreciate this. Even a straight man can appreciate this. Look—”
He tilted the phone again to show him, and Jeonghan reached out, too fast…and his thumb slipped.
Double tap.
The bright little heart popped up like it was mocking him.
Jeonghan froze.
Joshua froze.
absolute deathly silence.
“Oh my God,” Jeonghan whispered, “Shit. Shit. Shit. What do I do?!”
“Unlike it!” Joshua shouted, grabbing his arm like they were defusing a bomb. “Quick!”
“Oh God, oh God, oh God,” Jeonghan muttered, hands shaking violently now as he scrambled back onto the picture. “I just liked a shirtless picture of my competition. Fuck—”
He unliked it, slammed his phone down on the table face-first, and buried his burning face in his hands.
God. Fuck.
He was never recovering from this.
He stayed frozen for a good ten seconds, palms still over his face, like maybe if he stayed completely still the universe would rewind ten minutes and stop him from humiliating himself.
Joshua, being Joshua, gently pried one of his hands away like a kindergarten teacher dealing with a child who’d dropped their ice cream.
“Hey,” Joshua said softly, “maybe he didn’t see it.”
Jeonghan peeked through his fingers. “You think so?”
“Yeah. Come on. He’s probably in the gym right now bench-pressing a car or whatever. He’s not sitting there refreshing his notifications.”
Jeonghan exhaled shakily and nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, he must’ve not noticed.”
He sat back in the chair, shoulders relaxing maybe half a centimeter. “Anyway… what should I do? Should I post gym photos too?”
Joshua snorted. Then he snorted harder. Then he full-on burst into hysterical laughter, wheezing like he’d been attacked by the suggestion.
He laughed for so long Jeonghan checked the clock.
Tears actually rolled down Joshua’s cheeks.
“What’s so funny?” Jeonghan snapped, even though he already knew what was coming.
“Honey,” Joshua gasped, gripping the side of the counter like he needed support, “what gym? You don’t go to the gym.”
Jeonghan’s mouth fell open. “I could sign up for a gym just to take pictures!”
“Oh my god,” Joshua wiped his eyes, still giggling. “Still not gonna compare to those huge arms. You’ll walk in there and take, like, two pictures of yourself on the treadmill before passing out.”
“I hate you,” Jeonghan muttered.
“No, you don’t,” Joshua said sweetly, patting his cheek like he was a fragile child. He went back to the stove. “Okay, but seriously… we have to think of something else.”
Jeonghan slumped deeper into the chair. The kitchen light suddenly felt too bright, too revealing of all his flaws.
“Something else like what?”
Joshua tapped the spoon on the edge of the pot, thinking. “Wait—what even is her type? Because you and that guy are like complete opposites.”
Jeonghan groaned into his hands. “She said she goes to him for rough sex and comes to me when she wants something soft.”
Joshua snorted instantly.
“Don’t laugh,” Jeonghan snapped, his voice cracking embarrassingly. “I’m being serious.”
“I know, I know,” Joshua said, still grinning like a menace. “But it’s just… wow. The duality of that woman.”
“This is hell,” Jeonghan whispered.
Joshua turned off the stove and leaned back against the counter, arms crossed. His face softened into that “best friend honesty hour” expression Jeonghan always dreaded.
“Listen. You showing off muscles you don’t have isn’t gonna do anything. She’s not choosing him because he’s bigger or rougher or can deadlift a small horse. She’s choosing him when she wants that vibe. She chooses you when she wants soft.”
Jeonghan blinked. “So what, I just stay soft?”
“No,” Joshua said, grinning way too brightly now. “You take soft, fuckable photos.”
Jeonghan stared at him. “What does that even mean?”
“Exactly what it sounds like,” Joshua said, stepping forward and grabbing his shoulders like he was about to teach him a life-changing skill. “You don’t need muscles. You need soft boyfriend fantasies. Messy hair, loose shirt slipping off one shoulder, sleepy face… something that screams ‘come ruin me gently.’”
Jeonghan felt his soul leave his body. “I’m not doing that.”
“Oh, you absolutely are,” Joshua said, already reaching for Jeonghan’s phone again. “We’re rebranding you.”
“I—uh—I don’t… photograph well?” Jeonghan tried weakly.
“You’re a model,” Joshua deadpanned.
Jeonghan groaned loud enough that the windows probably rattled, slumped so far down in the chair his spine might never recover.
“Yeah, well, modeling is different,” he muttered, waving a hand vaguely. “That’s, like… professional. Angles. Lighting. People telling me what to do. I’m not good at… at… seducing a camera on purpose.”
Joshua blinked. “You literally flirt with every camera that looks in your direction.”
“That’s not true.”
Joshua lifted one eyebrow. “Remember the Dazed magazine shoot? The photographer told you to ‘look soft’ and you practically made out with the lens.”
Jeonghan’s face burned. “I was following instructions.”
“Exactly,” Joshua said. “So now I will be giving instructions.”
“Oh my god,” Jeonghan whispered, dread pooling in his stomach.
Joshua dragged a stool beside him and sat. “Okay. First step. Stop panicking. Second step. Accept that you’re hot. Third step. Channel your hotness into pictures that scream ‘cozy, vulnerable, absolutely breakable in the best way.’”
“Joshua.”
“Hmm?”
“I want to die.”
Joshua patted his knee sympathetically. “Totally valid. But we’re posting something.”
Jeonghan ran his fingers through his hair, anxiety buzzing under his skin. “This is insane. I don’t even know what I’d post.”
Before Jeonghan could protest, Joshua grabbed him by the wrist and tugged him up from the kitchen chair. “Get up and go take a warm shower first.”
“For what?” Jeonghan asked, dragging his feet like a child being taken to the dentist.
“So your hair will be wet, and you’ll look flushed,” Joshua said, already planning ten steps ahead. “And I just have to do some light makeup.”
“Ugh, whatever,” Jeonghan muttered, rolling his eyes but secretly a little curious, a little hopeful. “You better make the pictures look good.”
“I always make you look good,” Joshua called after him as he walked away.
Jeonghan walked into Joshua’s bathroom—god, even the bathroom smelled like Joshua, like citrus and something annoyingly calming.
He quickly stripped, stepping into the shower. The water was hot, uncomfortably hot, exactly how Joshua would want it so Jeonghan’s skin flushed in that soft-pink way fans always lost their minds over.
He let the water run over his shoulders, over his hair, trying not to think about how insane this all was.
He put on the bathrobe after, tugging the collar closer to his neck, hair dripping onto the fabric.
Then he stepped out.
of course, Joshua was already in his closet digging through clothes like a stylist prepping for a runway show.
He turned around, caught sight of Jeonghan in the robe, and immediately whistled. “Woah. Maybe we should just take pictures of you in the bathrobe.”
“Nope,” Jeonghan deadpanned. “Not happening.”
“Fine,” Joshua rolled his eyes. Then he tossed a pair of white shorts and—oh god—something pink and tiny. A top that looked like it had been crafted from a single napkin.
“Wear these.”
“How do I put this on?” Jeonghan said, holding the microscopic pink thing between two fingers like it might contaminate him.
“Put it on like a tube top,” Joshua said. “And there are two satin strings—you tie them behind your neck.”
“It’s strapless!?”
“Not strapless,” Joshua sighed at him. “The strings. Behind your neck. Please use the one functioning brain cell.”
“Okay, fine.” Jeonghan grumbled and went back into the bathroom, wrestling himself into the stupidly tight shirt that hugged way too much skin. At least the shorts were loose. Thank god for small mercies.
He stepped out. “Like this?”
Joshua grinned. “Perfect.”
He walked toward Jeonghan holding two small things. First, he opened blush and brushed it lightly across Jeonghan’s cheeks, making them go from naturally flushed to heartbreakingly soft.
Then lip gloss.
Joshua uncapped it and spread it over Jeonghan’s lips.
“Fuck, why does it sting?” Jeonghan flinched.
“It’s plumping gloss,” Joshua said cheerfully. “Makes your lips all juicy and desirable.”
“Oh, great,” Jeonghan muttered. “So they were flat and undesirable before.”
Joshua ignored him. “And your hair is perfect too. Thank god you still haven’t cut it.”
“I’m growing it out for a shoot next month,” Jeonghan said defensively. “And it barely reaches down my neck. I can’t even tuck it behind my ears. It sticks up everywhere like a baby octopus.”
Joshua chuckled. “Why do you think I asked you to wet it? To tame that octopus, obviously.”
“Ugh,” Jeonghan groaned again and walked out. “Where are we doing the photoshoot?”
Joshua was wiping the lens of his phone. “Get on the couch. Lie down.”
“Couch?”
“Yeah. If you’re on the bed you’ll look desperate. We don’t want desperate. We want subtle.” Joshua waved dramatically. “Like a casual ‘oh just chillin’ on a Sunday’ energy.”
Jeonghan sighed but lay down on the couch, head resting against the armrest, bending his knees a little. “Like this?”
Joshua looked at him… and actually breathed out.
“Fuck yeah,” he whispered. Then under his breath, “Making me reconsider my type in men.”
“What?”
“Nothing,” Joshua said quickly, lifting his phone. “Pose candidly. Look away. Look dreamy.”
Jeonghan obeyed, because of course he did—he was a professional, and his body always knew how to fall into gentle, effortless beauty when instructed.
Joshua snapped a few shots, humming approvingly.
“Perfect,” he said, moving around him. “Now go on your stomach, prop up your elbows. Maybe scroll your phone. Or—ooh—a magazine.”
He tossed a magazine at him. Jeonghan caught it, rolled his eyes, but posed exactly the way he was told.
Joshua clicked several photos, muttering things like “yes, good, fuck, this is gold.”
Then he stepped closer.
Closer.
Directly over him.
“Okay,” Joshua murmured. “From down there, look directly up at the camera.”
Jeonghan hesitated. “Um… the angle will look like I’m giving head—”
“Yeah, sweetie,” Joshua said proudly. “She’ll get nostalgic. Won’t she?”
Jeonghan sighed. “…Well, yeah.”
“Just do it. She’ll love it.”
“Fine,” Jeonghan grumbled. “Last picture. I’m uncomfortable in this shirt.”
He looked up at the camera, eyes doe-soft, lips glossy and parted.
Joshua took ten photos in three seconds. “Okay. I’m done.”
They spent nearly half an hour editing, adjusting lighting, picking the softest one, making sure the photo looked effortless but also gorgeous.
Then Jeonghan posted it on Instagram.
Caption: thinkin’ about you ♡
Joshua leaned back, satisfied. “Wow. See? She’ll take one look and think, ‘This is the only thing I’ll ever want. Why would I ever want it rough?’”
“I can be rough too…” Jeonghan mumbled.
“Hmm,” Joshua said, opening Seungcheol’s profile again. He tapped another shirtless pic with absurdly large arms. “But not as much as this dude. Look at that.”
“Don’t irritate me,” Jeonghan said, reaching for the phone…and of course, because fate hated him, his thumb hit the like button.
He froze.
Joshua froze.
God froze.
“SHIT SHIT SHIT this can’t keep happening!” Jeonghan panicked, unliking it instantly. His heart was in his throat.
He stood so fast the couch moved. “This was such a bad fucking idea!! She’s never gonna pick me over that hot buff dude. Fuck this! I’m going home.”
“Wait, the food—”
“I’m gonna starve myself and cry about Laura. Thank you very much,” Jeonghan said, already storming into the bedroom to change.
He threw on normal clothes in record time and left Joshua’s apartment without waiting for a reply.
He stomped toward his car, feeling like his insides were vibrating from stress. Then his phone buzzed.
A text from Laura.
Laura: I saw it, now fucking delete it.
His heartbeat spiked.
Jeonghan: I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Laura: You in that slutty pink shirt, babyboy. You posted it for me, didn’t you?”
Jeonghan: What makes you think that? Maybe I have another woman to simp over me.
Laura: haha. Cute. delete it.
Jeonghan: No. Do you hate it that much?
Laura: sugar, you look so fucking edible.
Jeonghan’s entire body went warm.
Jeonghan: then come have a taste of me then.
Laura: ahhh I can’t tonight. I already made plans with the other man.
His jaw clenched.
Jeonghan: then fuck you, i’m not taking down the pictures. Go screw him. Who cares.
There was a pause.
Laura: fine, fine, i’ll come over in 20 minutes.
Jeonghan: deal.
A grin spread across his face, giddy, stupid, uncontrollable.
He practically ran the rest of the way to his car, heart beating with victory.
★★★
Jeonghan floored it the whole way home like a man possessed, tires squealing around corners, heart beating fast against his ribs because twenty minutes suddenly felt like a lifetime when Laura was maybe (finally) choosing him.
He burst through his apartment door already panting, slammed it shut and immediately ran for the fridge. Cold water bottle in hand, he chugged half of it in one go, throat burning, leaning his forehead against the cool bottle like that could calm the absolute riot going on in his chest.
Twenty minutes, she’d said.
It had been thirty.
Thirty-one now.
Where the hell was she?
He paced, phone clutched so tight his knuckles went white, refreshing her chat like an idiot.
Maybe she changed her mind. Maybe Seungcheol flexed once and she went running back. Maybe—
The doorbell rang.
Jeonghan ran, actually ran and yanked the door open mid “hey—” and then every word died in his throat.
Laura stood there in a red dress so tight it should’ve been illegal, neckline plunging deep enough to make his brain flatline, curls bouncing over one shoulder, lips painted the same shade as the dress. She looked like pure fucking trouble wrapped in a bow made of bad decisions.
“Fuckkk,” slipped out of him, low and wrecked.
She smirked, stepping inside. “Happy now? I cancelled on him last minute just to get here.”
Jeonghan’s stomach twisted, half victory, half pure jealousy. “You… you got all dressed up like this for him? Not for me?”
Laura kicked the door shut behind her.
“Don’t be jealous, sugar,” she murmured. “I’m right here, aren’t I?”
That was it.
Jeonghan surged forward, hands finding her waist, spinning her until her back hit the wall with a soft thud. He kissed her like he was drowning, like if he didn’t pour every jealous, desperate, stupidly-in-love ounce of himself into her mouth she might vanish.
She moaned into it, fingers curling into his hair. He dragged his lips down her jaw, her throat, sucking hard enough to bruise, marking her because tonight she was his, damn it.
Laura gasped. “Sugar, why are you being so rough for?”
He answered by sucking another hickey just under her ear, hands sliding down to grip her hips hard enough she couldn’t escape.
She laughed breathlessly, grabbed his jaw and yanked his face up, forcing him to meet her eyes.
“Calm down,” she ordered, thumb brushing over his bottom lip, smearing the gloss Joshua had spent perfecting.
Jeonghan tried to chase her mouth again, whining low in his throat when she held him still. “Yoon Jeonghan. Focus.”
“You’re so fucking hot,” he rasped, “I can’t focus, are you kidding me?”
Her eyes flicked over his face and that smirk came back. She tilted his chin with two fingers, studying him. “You still got that makeup on.”
He swallowed, suddenly shy even though his dick was already aching. “I look good?”
Laura’s gaze was hungry. “Yeah, baby. So good.”
She let go of his face, grabbed his wrist instead, and dragged him toward the bedroom. One push and he was falling back onto the mattress, bouncing once before she climbed over him.
The straps of her dress slid down her shoulders slow enough to be torture.
“I’m gonna keep you here all night, Jeonghannie,” she whispered, rolling her hips just enough to make him groan.
He gripped her thighs, fingers digging in. “You won’t go to him after this?”
She leaned down until her lips brushed his, red dress riding up, curls tickling his cheeks. “Hmm. Not tonight.”
Jeonghan smiled into the kiss she finally gave him, his hands sliding up her back like he could keep her there forever if he just held tight enough.
Soft boy 1.
Gym boy 0.