Boldly Curved

Chapter 3

The warm glow of the chandelier bathed the dining room in soft, golden light. Laughter and conversation filled the air as the family gathered around the large dining table.

Damien's parents Robert and Maria sat at the head of the table, smiling fondly as they watched Tae chatter animatedly with the other relatives.

His voice, soft and cheerful, brought an undeniable warmth to the room, and Maria, in particular, doted on him throughout the evening.

kook, however, sat quietly beside Tae, his posture rigid, a tense expression on his face. His gaze occasionally flickered to his parents, then to Tae, but for the most part, he remained composed—at least on the surface.

What no one at the table knew was what was happening beneath it.

Tae’s hand, deceptively soft and gentle in its outward appearance, was anything but under the table. His fingers were tracing slow, teasing circles on kook’s inner thigh, dangerously close to places that made kook’s breath hitch every time the pressure increased.

kook’s legs were pressed tightly together, trying to create a barrier, but Tae’s persistence made it impossible to ignore the heat building in his body.

"Tae," kook muttered under his breath, his voice low and full of warning, but not loud enough for anyone else to hear. His grip tightened on the fork in his hand, his knuckles turning white as he fought to maintain his composure.

"Yes, princess?" Tae replied softly, his tone sweet and innocent, completely at odds with the mischief playing out under the table.

He didn’t bother looking at kook, his eyes focused on Maria, who was talking animatedly about some family tradition, but the smile on his lips—oh, it was devilish.

kook’s jaw clenched as he shot Tae a sidelong glare, but Tae continued as if nothing was out of the ordinary. His fingers squeezed kook’s thigh a little tighter, his hand drifting higher.

kook shifted uncomfortably in his seat, feeling the familiar heat crawling up his neck. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could endure this without losing his composure.

Just then, one of kook’s aunts, an older woman with a soft, curious smile, turned her attention to him. “So, kook,” she began, her voice light, “you’re so successful now, both in business and… other ventures.” She chuckled, clearly hinting at kook’s not-so-legal dealings, but no one dared to speak of that in front of Maria and Robert. “Surely someone as accomplished as you must have someone special in your life by now?”

kook froze. His body tensed even more, and for a moment, the pressure of Tae’s hand on his thigh seemed to intensify tenfold. The room grew quiet, with several relatives now turning to him, waiting for his response.

He opened his mouth, fighting the urge to grind his teeth. “No,” kook replied flatly, his voice clipped. “I’m not seeing anyone.”

Tae’s hand stilled, just for a fraction of a second. Then, without missing a beat, he squeezed kook’s thigh even harder, his nails digging into the skin slightly.

kook nearly flinched, but his expression remained cold, though the tension in his body was more than palpable.

The relative who had asked the question seemed about to follow up, but Tae, ever the opportunist, leaned in dramatically, his hand sliding higher still.

He turned to the relative, his eyes wide and offended, though a playful smile tugged at his lips.

“Excuse me?” Tae’s voice rang out in mock disbelief. “Then who am I, princess?” He cast a pointed look at kook, his eyes gleaming with mischief.