Chapter 69: Morning Ties

The first thing Ji-hye felt was warmth. It wasn’t the kind of heat from the morning sun—it was heavier, steady, and entirely human. As her lashes fluttered open, her vision was still hazy, her mind not quite awake. The faint scent of skin, the steady rhythm of a heartbeat against her cheek... she realized she was curled into Joon-ho’s arm, her body tucked perfectly against his side. Her eyes felt heavy, but the soreness in her waist was impossible to ignore. Even her thighs had a faint ache, and between them... she shifted slightly, and a shiver ran through her. Her pussy was tender, every small movement making her aware of the lingering stretch, the faint, sticky heat that told her his cum was still there. The memories came back all at once. How she’d clung to him like she couldn’t get enough. How she’d begged for him to go deeper, harder. How she’d cried out, shameless, like a woman starved. Her cheeks burned instantly. But instead of pulling away, she stayed still. His arm was firm around her waist, his chest a solid wall against her back. There was a quiet safety in his hold, a security she didn’t want to break. And then she felt it—thick, hot, pressing against her stomach even through the thin sheet. His cock was hard, heavy with the kind of throbbing insistence that only came in the morning. She swallowed. The same cock that had pushed into her womb last night, filling her until she couldn’t think straight. She still couldn’t quite believe she’d been able to take him—every inch—and survive the night. Her thoughts turned reckless before she could stop them. Maybe... it wouldn’t be so bad to retire from volleyball. To just... stay here. To let him fuck her whenever he wanted. To get pregnant with his child. The thought made her chest tighten and her thighs squeeze together involuntarily. She quickly shook her head—mentally at least. She was letting her mind wander too far. She shifted again, trying to shake the feeling, but the movement made him stir. His breathing changed, and before long, she felt him stretch slightly beside her. "Mmm..." His voice was deep and rough from sleep. "You awake?" She turned her head, a little guilty. "Did I wake you? Sorry." His lips curved faintly, eyes still heavy-lidded. "It’s fine. I have to get up soon anyway." He glanced at the clock on the wall and gave a soft huff. "Almost time." She hesitated, then leaned in for a slow kiss. It wasn’t urgent, just warm and lingering, his lips moving lazily against hers. When he pulled back, he slid out of bed. The blanket slipped away, and Ji-hye’s eyes immediately dropped before she could stop herself. He was still naked—still hard. The sight of him in the soft morning light made her pulse trip over itself. She tried to push herself up, an impulse to reach for him, but the moment her waist twisted, a sharp ache made her wince. He caught the motion instantly. "Lay down," he said firmly. "You’re still sore from last night. Rest." She flushed but obeyed, sinking back into the pillows as she watched him. He grabbed his boxer shorts, pulling them up over his hips. "What do you want for breakfast?" he asked as if the night before hadn’t happened at all. "Black coffee... and maybe something light," she answered quietly. "Got it." She watched him leave the room, the broad lines of his shoulders and the easy confidence in his walk making her chest feel oddly full. It’s not bad... being his woman, she thought before she could help it. They ate together at the dining table, the quiet morning making everything feel unhurried. The clink of cutlery against plates, the faint hiss of coffee cooling in their cups, and the muted rustle of the early breeze through the half-open window made it almost serene. Ji-hye found herself stealing glances at Joon-ho now and then—at the way his broad shoulders shifted when he leaned forward, at the casual calm he carried even in something as ordinary as breakfast. But the peace didn’t last. From the hallway came the soft, dragging sound of bare feet against the wooden floor. Harin shuffled into view, her hair an unapologetic mess of tangled strands, eyes narrowed against the light like she was fighting the morning itself. She wore one of his oversized shirts—so big it hung halfway down her thighs, but not enough to hide the fact that she wasn’t wearing panties underneath. Ji-hye’s eyes flickered down automatically before she caught herself, blinking once. Harin didn’t seem to notice—or didn’t care in the slightest. She gave a long, slow yawn that made her shirt shift dangerously, bent to pick up a crumpled pair of panties from the sofa, then lazily tossed them onto the armrest instead of putting them on. She made her way to the table and dropped into a chair with the kind of heaviness only a hangover could cause, resting her forehead in one hand. "Ugh... my head..." "Hangover?" Joon-ho’s voice carried a hint of amusement as he stood, already moving toward the kitchen. "Mhm..." Harin let out a low, pitiful groan, like just speaking was too much effort. A moment later, he returned with a steaming bowl of hangover soup, setting it down in front of her without a word. Harin lifted her head enough to take in the scent, her expression softening immediately. She cupped the bowl with both hands, letting the rising steam wash over her face. "Ahhh... bliss..." she murmured, as if the warmth alone was already curing her. She took a small sip, then looked up at him with a slow, lazy smile that was equal parts gratitude and flirtation. "It’s nice having a man take care of me." Ji-hye’s lips curved faintly as she lowered her gaze to her coffee cup, hiding the way that simple statement resonated with her. She understood it too well—the quiet comfort of being looked after, of not having to be strong all the time. After a few more bites, Harin set her spoon down with a soft clink and leaned back in her chair, one hand absently rubbing at her temple. "What’s the plan today?" she asked, her voice still carrying that slow, morning drawl of someone who hadn’t fully shaken off the night before. "I’ll send Ji-hye to the training camp," Joon-ho replied, glancing between them as he took another sip of his coffee, "and I need to finalize the volleyball team recovery program. The schedule’s tight, so I want it wrapped up before we head back." Harin gave a slow, deliberate nod, her eyes half-lidded as if even thinking too hard might worsen her headache. "Good. Because I’m doing nothing today. Just... existing. My head’s pounding, my body’s heavy, and I think I’m still at least twenty percent soju from last night." The corner of his mouth lifted into a faint smirk. "Fine. Rest. I don’t need you passing out somewhere inconvenient." She made a small noise of amusement, leaning her cheek against her hand again. "Don’t worry, I’ll confine myself to the sofa. But you better check if I’m breathing every so often. Could be a matter of life and death." He shook his head, amused, before glancing at Ji-hye, who was quietly finishing the last of her toast, listening to their banter with a slight smile. "When are we going back to Seoul, anyway?" Harin asked suddenly, breaking the comfortable quiet. She’d finished her soup by then, lazily stirring the last bits with her spoon before setting it down. Ji-hye had just returned from her shower at that moment, stepping into the dining room dressed in her fitted sports uniform. Her hair was still damp, the fresh scent of her shampoo faint in the air, and tiny droplets clung to the ends. She paused in the doorway when she caught the tail end of Harin’s question, curiosity flickering across her face. Joon-ho glanced up at her, then back to Harin. "Soon," he replied simply. But then he hesitated for a fraction of a second before adding, almost offhandedly, "One of my other women messaged me last night. She needs some care." The shift in the air was instant. Both women froze. Harin, who had been slouched in her chair moments ago, sat up straight. "Who?" He smirked faintly. "You should know her. She’s pretty popular." Harin didn’t bother with follow-up questions. She reached across the table with sudden energy, snatched his phone out from where it rested beside his coffee cup, and unlocked it with the practiced confidence of someone who clearly knew his passcode. "Hey—" Joon-ho started, but didn’t make a real move to stop her. She swiped into KakaoTalk, her finger scrolling through his chat list until she found the most recent name. Her eyes locked on it—and her jaw dropped. "Kwon Mirae?" Her voice went up an octave, incredulous. "You mean the Kwon Mirae?" Ji-hye’s eyes widened, and she stepped closer, leaning in over Harin’s shoulder. "Wait... the national sweetheart? That Kwon Mirae?" Joon-ho’s only response was a low chuckle, sipping his coffee as though this was all perfectly ordinary. The two women exchanged a loaded glance—half shock, half an almost begrudging curiosity that bordered on excitement. Harin was the first to speak again, her tone firm. "We want to meet her." "Yeah," Ji-hye added, surprising herself with how quickly she agreed. "If she’s really your woman, we definitely have to meet her." He set his cup down and leaned back in his chair, completely at ease. "Maybe you will. Could be sooner than you think." Ji-hye’s shoulders relaxed, but there was still a tiny pang in her chest. "It’s... a little sad, leaving here. Going back to Seoul." "Don’t worry too much," he said, his voice steady. "If South Korea makes it to the Olympics, I might go with you. As part of the medical team." Her face lit up instantly. "Really?" "Really." For a moment, the air between them was warm again, comfortable in a way that made the earlier tension fade. "Alright," he finally said, checking the time. "We need to go soon. Training camp’s waiting."