Kiss Me Like You’re Not Married.

Tae-hyun's POV

The next morning after their first time actually crossing the line. Tae-hyun had suggested they go to the park. He was in an awfully good mood and the call they had last night only made him more pleased since Joon-won had been talking about how good it all felt none stop.

The car smelled like coffee, strawberries, and toddler shampoo.

Min was in the backseat kicking his feet, munching on biscuit sticks while humming off-key to the cartoon theme playing from the Bluetooth. Seo-yeon was in the passenger seat, adjusting her sunglasses and sipping her oat latte.

Tae-hyun?

Grinning like a fool at the road.

It was embarrassing.

He knew he should tone it down, sit up straighter, lower his smile, act like he hadn't just spent half the night getting absolutely ruined on someone else's desk. But he couldn't help it.

His body still ached in good ways. His lower back held the faintest pull. His thighs were tender. And his neck—

He reached up to scratch the side of it instinctively, fingers grazing that spot under his neck that Joon-won liked to kiss.

He kept one hand on the wheel, the other discreetly dragging down to unlock his phone where it sat in the center console. A single unread message flashed from the top.

Joon-won:

'I bet you're still sore.'

Tae-hyun exhaled through his nose, biting back a smirk.

He tapped back a quick reply when Seo-yeon wasn't looking.

'I can still feel your fucking teeth. You know where.'

"Hmm?"

Tae jolted, quickly locking the phone.

Seo-yeon was turned toward him now, eyes shaded behind her sunglasses, but her brow arched.

"You're oddly chipper this morning," she said, lips curving. "You win a bonus and not tell me?"

Tae chuckled. "Nope. Just… good sleep, maybe."

"Hmm," she hummed suspiciously, then turned around to check on Min. "Or maybe someone finally signed that stubborn Hanmi contract."

He smiled, eyes still on the road. "Yeah. That could be it."

Min suddenly squealed from the back. "Appaaaaa! Look! Look at the truck!"

A small pink ice cream truck drove past them in the next lane, playing a happy jingle. Tae-hyun glanced over and laughed, raising a peace sign to Min in the rearview mirror. "You want to stop for ice cream later?"

"Yes!!"

"Say please."

"Pleaaaaaaase!!"

Behind his warm laugh, his phone vibrated once more. When they stopped at a red light, Tae glanced.

Joon-won:

'Didn't realize my teeth were a problem. Want me to use my belt next time instead?'

His eyes widen at that unexpected mention of the belt and he coughed.

Seo-yeon side-eyed him.

"You've been on your phone a lot lately," she said. "Usually you hate texting."

"It's just—work stuff," he lied.

"You're not secretly cheating, are you?" she joked.

Tae-hyun froze.

Even though her tone was clearly teasing, something in his stomach twisted.

His jaw tensed a little, but he smiled anyway, giving her a look.

"If I was cheating, I wouldn't be this obvious my love," he said with a low laugh.

She rolled her eyes playfully and turned back to Min, completely unfazed.

But Tae-hyun's grip on the steering wheel tightened for just a second.

When she was distracted again, he picked up his phone and typed under the dashboard with his thumb.

'Seo joked about me cheating. Didn't laugh.'

He pressed send.

Another soft buzz.

Joon-won:

'Relac Tae-hyun. She doesn't know.. she won't know.'

Tae-hyun stared at the screen. A pulse went through him.

Then—

"Appaaaa! We're here!!"

Min was pointing excitedly at the playground through the car window.

Tae-hyun inhaled, forced a brighter smile, and parked.

He stepped out of the car and opened the back door to help his son out.

Seo-yeon came around to grab Min's bag and water bottle.

Tae lifted the boy into his arms, planting a kiss on his soft, chubby cheek.

And still.. behind it all, his mind was in a dim office, golden light on his skin, Joon-won between his legs, breathing him in like sin.

He shouldn't want more.

But he did. God, he did.

After a few minutes, they've arrived at the park and Min-jun was sprinting out the car and straight to the playground with his arms in the air happily. Making both parents to chuckle at his cuteness.

The playground was bustling with weekend families, kids screaming at the top of slides, parents sipping iced drinks on benches, and sun filtering through the tree leaves in swaying dapples. Tae-hyun sat on a bench with Seo-yeon beside him, Min climbing a mini rock wall in front of them with a plastic crown on his head, shouting something about being king of the mountain.

Tae-hyun chuckled, legs stretched out, his arms resting loosely on the backrest behind her. He was watching their son, but he wasn't watching. His eyes moved, but his brain flickered like a stuck radio, snippets of moans, skin on skin, the subtle click of their wedding rings against each other as Joon-won pinned his hand to the couch last night.

"You haven't told me anything about work lately."

He blinked. Taken slightly back by her sudden question but she wasn't wrong. He hasn't been talking to her as much as he did before, but he definitely was talking to Joon-won more.

Seo-yeon tilted her head toward him, one leg crossed over the other, sipping her drink with a mild curiosity. Her tone wasn't accusing more like something she'd just noticed.

"Yesterday was a long day," she added. "You stayed late, didn't even come home on time, and now you're in a fantastic mood."

His heart skipped, but he smiled lazily. "That's true."

She squinted. "What, did something happen?"

Tae-hyun leaned forward, elbows to knees, forcing a sheepish little laugh. "Alright, fine. I didn't want to jinx it, but… there's this property downtown I've been eyeing. You remember the old one across from the convention center?"

She nodded slowly.

"I finally got the seller to agree. It was a mess, they kept flipping between brokers, but I stayed on it. Had to stay back late last night to get the docs signed and finalized."

"Seriously?" Her eyes lit up. "That's amazing!"

He grinned, even if his mind flashed to Joon-won fucking him onto the desk and he hummed pleasantly.

"Yeah," he said, "feels so good. That one was stubborn."

She turned to face him fully now, hand brushing his thigh. "You should celebrate."

"I kind of already did," he muttered before he could stop himself, then cleared his throat when she raised an eyebrow. "I mean — in my head."

"Well, maybe you should actually go out. Treat yourself."

He tilted his head, amused. "By doing what?"

"Drinks, food — I don't know. I'll even text Ha-eun," she said suddenly, pulling her phone out with enthusiasm. "She always complains her husband works too much. I'll tell her Joon should let you drag him out for a night. You guys both deserve a break!"

That's when the blood in his face drained just a little.

He hesitated.. too long.

Seo-yeon glanced up from her screen. "What?"

"Nothing," he said quickly, looking back at Min. "I just… thought you didn't like me going out late. And I didn't think you were that fond of him either."

"You weren't either," she laughed, tapping her phone with a wink. "But you seem to have changed your opinion lately."

Tae-hyun's throat felt dry.

He chuckled under his breath, trying to play it cool. "Yeah, well. People surprise you."

She squinted at him suspiciously, then smiled like she was onto something. "You're always so grumpy when someone's your type."

He turned sharply. His heart dropping at her unexpected words. "What?"

"Your business type," she corrected, giggling as she nudged his shoulder. Unaware completely that she was spot on and missed the way he reacted. "You're mean to people until they become useful to you. Classic Tae."

He let out a relieved breath and gave a sarcastic little hum.

Meanwhile, his hand reached subtly for his phone when his wife was texting Ha-eun.

He swallowed. Thumb hovering. Then typed:

'She wants to send you and me out to celebrate a deal I made up just for her as an excuse for last night. She's texting your wife as we speak. Fucking kill me.'

Another buzz.

Joon-won:

'Tell her yes. I dare you.'

He bit back a real laugh this time, and Seo-yeon glanced sideways as she placed her phone back down.

"What?" she asked, amused.

"Just…" he hesitated, then smirked, "the idea of drinking with Joon-won. Might actually be funny."

"Oh wow." She blinked. "You really like this guy now."

Tae-hyun gave a small shrug, the faintest, knowing smile tugging at his lips.

'You have no idea..' he thought to himself as he let his eyes wander off to Min-jun who was running around with some other kids.

"Okay," Seo-yeon said after a pause, stirring the melting ice in her cup, "so tell me what changed."

"Hm?" he murmured.

"About Joon-won," she said casually. "You used to act like he annoyed you. You used to complain every time his name came up."

Tae-hyun blinked, caught mid-sip of water from Min's cup. His thumb nearly pressed the lock screen on his phone too hard.

"I still find him annoyingly stuck up," he said coolly.

She gave him a look. "You were smiling when you agreed to the outing with him just now. You only do that when I send you a meme."

Tae-hyun let out a soft, dismissive scoff, eyes narrowing faintly. "He's just been easier to talk to ever since the house tour last time. He was speaking a lot."

"Really," she mused, tilting her chin. "Because Ha-eun says he barely talks at all outside of meetings."

Tae-hyun's fingers tightened around the water cup. "He's different at work."

Seo-yeon gave him a sharp glance, the corner of her mouth twitching. "Different? Now that's interesting."

He caught the glint in her eye too late.

"Wait," she grinned, "don't tell me. You like him now."

"I don't dislike him."

"You're defending him."

"God, Seo-yeon—"

"I'm just saying," she shrugged innocently, eyes twinkling, "first you thought he was too cold. Now you say he's easier to talk to, you smiled like he's a friend, and you're suddenly okay going out for drinks with him even though you only met him twice over dinner? Sounds like a crush."

Tae-hyun choked on his breath.

"I swear to god," he muttered, "say that louder and Min-jun will start repeating it."

She laughed, elbowing his side.

But Tae-hyun couldn't even fake a grin this time. His jaw ticked faintly, fingers drumming on his knee. Every mention of Joon-won's name lately made his skin feel tighter. His ring heavier.

He realized just how stiff he'd gone, posture rigid, back straight, barely looking at her.

Too stiff. Too obvious.

He forced a breath, then sank a little lower on the bench, legs stretched out again as if he was finally relaxing. His voice came a touch smoother.

"I think we've just… figured out how to talk since last time."

She glanced at him with faint amusement. "And here I was thinking you just had a type."

"What?"

"People who challenge you," she said, brushing her hair behind one ear. "You've always gravitated toward that. Anyone who won't let you win so easily."

The corners of Tae-hyun's mouth twitched, a dry smirk curling. If only you knew.

He thought of being bent over, breathless, voice caught in his throat while Joon-won's mouth pressed against his skin like punishment.

"I think it's good," she added lightly. "You're less… tight-lipped lately."

That pulled a real laugh from him, short and a little choked. He didn't realize how much he'd been holding in his expressions until she pointed it out.

Before he could reply, a small figure came stumbling back from the sandbox, cheeks pink, hair a wild puff of sweat and dust.

"Appaaa," Min-jun whined cutely, dragging himself toward their legs. "I'm hungry."

Tae-hyun opened his arms automatically, and Min collapsed forward like a puppet with cut strings, tiny arms wrapping around his dad's thigh.

"Let's go get food, baby," Seo-yeon cooed, reaching down to adjust his crown.

"Nooo," Min mumbled into Tae-hyun's jeans. "Too tired."

Tae-hyun ruffled the top of his head, one hand still clutching his phone under the bench. His thoughts all over his place. How own wife was teasing him now and planning a whole outing with someone she thought so innocently of being around her husband, so trusting.

Tae-hyun's jaw clenched to keep from his thoughts too as Min nestled closer.

He slipped his phone into his pocket, cleared his throat, and hoisted Min-jun up onto his lap.

Seo-yeon glanced sideways before humming. 

"Anyway," she said cheerfully, standing up and brushing her hands together, "you owe me lunch now that I practically brokered peace between you and your sworn enemy."

Tae-hyun rolled his eyes, shifting Min's weight higher against his chest. "He wasn't my enemy."

"Sure." She smirked. "But when this outing goes down and you have fun enough that I hear you two went out together again, I'm texting Ha-eun and calling it a double date."

He froze for a split second then chuckled, fake and hollow. "Don't even joke about that."

"Ohhh, did I hit a nerve?"

"You'll hit the ground if you keep talking."

"Mm. You really do like him now."

He groaned, looking away, though a faint grin lingered against his will.

Min-jun yawned against his neck and snuggled closer.

And somewhere under all the jokes and teasing, Tae-hyun's heart thrummed dangerously steady, not just because of how much he wanted Joon-won again…

…but how easy it was to lie. And laugh. And look happy.

And how none of it felt like guilt anymore. Just anticipation as he continued on with his day along side his wife and son.

.

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Joon-won's POV

Three days had passed since Tae-hyun told him the calls needed to slow down.

"She's onto me," he'd whispered during their last one. "Keeps bringing your name up. Laughing. Saying she 'you like him now.' I can't… risk that."

Joon-won hadn't argued. He respected caution. Still, it left a strange ache in his chest.

The texting didn't stop though, if anything, it escalated. Silent pictures of coffee mugs, tailored pants hugging hips, flushed collarbones after a shower. One-liners that felt like fingertips sliding down his chest under a conference table.

He'd read them while brushing his teeth. In the car. In between meetings. Even during Eun-woo cartoon hour with one eye on the screen and the other flicking to messages from a man he shouldn't crave the way he did. That continued for a the rest of the week. He had told Tae-hyun he had missed havin their late night calls but when he saw how worried Tae was he joked about it and brushed it off.

Today, they were out together. Ha-eun had suggested they take Eun-woo to a restaurant near the park. A sunny afternoon, the soft hum of chatter, the tinkling of glasses. Eun was chewing on sweet potato fries, completely fixated on a sticker sheet. Joon-won was sipping black coffee with one leg crossed over the other, neat and casual in his gray slacks and navy polo.

And Ha-eun?

Glued to her phone.

She hadn't stopped smiling for a full minute. Then came the soft giggle, the kind she did when she read something cheeky or ironic. Her finger tapped furiously across the screen.

"You're unusually giddy," Joon-won said, eyebrow raised, setting his cup down. "What's going on?"

She looked up from her phone, still smiling. "Seo-yeon's texting me."

He stilled for a breath.

"She says her husband just closed a big sale. He told her a few days ago, but apparently she just found out the details today." She rolled her eyes fondly. "Typical men. Anyway, he's been acting happier ever since last night with what he had achieved, and she asked if I'd be okay with you going out to celebrate with him."

His head tilted, casual. "Celebrate?"

"Like a drink. Or two. She said Tae-hyun told her he's against it at first but she convinced him, she wanted him to go out but hasn't had the time or excuse in ages."

Joon-won blinked slowly, keeping every muscle still as if he didn't already hear it from Tae-hyun that his wife is setting them up to hang out as "friends". "You're saying… she asked you to let me go?"

"Well—" she chuckled, "not in those exact words. But yes. I think she wants Tae-hyun to enjoy himself, and she thinks maybe it'll be easier if you went with him. Old-fashioned bro bonding."

Joon-won's lip twitched faintly. He picked up his cup again, took a calm sip. "You know I don't drink much."

"Exactly. Which is why you should go. Maybe this time you'll actually relax." Her voice turned teasing. "Or have you really turned into a strict, boring old man?"

He glanced at her over the rim of his cup. "I'm not strict. I'm efficient."

"Mmhm," she hummed. "And no fun."

Joon-won set the cup down slowly. "I have a schedule, Ha-eun."

"You also have a life," she retorted playfully. "Come on. You always say you don't have time for friends ever since we graduated college, and now one actually is appearing into your life and you're making excuses?"

He lifted a brow, lying smoothly through his teeth. "Tae-hyun's not exactly a friend. We barely know each other. Only met twice."

"You were enjoying his company last time at our house Joon-won," she said slyly, eyes narrowing as she nudged his leg with her sandal under the table. "I've noticed."

His gaze sharpened for a flicker of a second, 'had he slipped?' but he covered it with a scoff. "That's only because our wives are friends. And I still barely speak to the man."

"Well, you're going to fix that," she said firmly. "You both clearly need the break. Besides, I told her I think it's a great idea. Men need company too. You'll be less tense when you come home after a proper chat."

He exhaled, the performance perfect: reluctant, reasonable, detached.

After a pause, he finally shrugged and reached for his wallet. "Fine. One drink."

Ha-eun's grin stretched wide like she'd just won a match. "Knew it. You'll thank me later."

He didn't reply, just gave her a tight-lipped smile and leaned back in his seat, draping one arm across the chair's back.

From the corner of his eye, he watched her unlock her phone again.

Texting Seo-yeon, no doubt.

Giving them permission.

He rolled his thumb against the edge of his wallet, heart ticking louder under his ribs.

This time… no hiding.

No sneaking.

No excuses.

Just them.

And that night?

He was already picturing Tae-hyun's mouth around the rim of a glass. His flushed throat after a sip. The quiet flush in his cheeks when he'd lean closer and whisper something filthy under the guise of a joke.

Joon-won smiled to himself.

"Are you smiling now?" Ha-eun teased, catching him.

He turned his head, smooth and composed.

"I'm just thinking of what I'll drink when we celebrate," he said.

But he wasn't.

He was thinking of whose lips he'd kiss when said celebration was over and done with.