Chapter Text
Ha Jin let her thoughts drift pleasantly along with the water lapping over her body, head tipping back against the tub and nearly touching the tiled wall. The peony scent of the bubbles floated up, tickling her nose. Idly, she wondered if she had enough ingredients to make their meals the next day or if it was time for another trip to the grocery store.
I did use the last of the rice for the lunch boxes this morning… though I could always make some sort of noodle dish.
So lost in her thoughts, Ha Jin didn’t notice the new presence in the room until a hand reached out to smooth her wet hair back. Blinking, she mock frowned at the face smiling down at her.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
So’s smile twitched into a smirk. “It’s not obvious?”
“This is ‘me’ time,” she retorted with a raised eyebrow.
“And now it’s ‘we’ time,” So replied easily. He remained crouched by the side of the bathtub, flicking bubbles at her. He made his handsome face as pitiful as possible, widening his eyes and jutting out his bottom lip. “I had a hard day at work.”
“Poor baby.” Ha Jin reached out to tweak his cheek. “Acting cute won’t get you a pass. I invented that pout.” She nudged his lip back into place.
So looked genuinely petulant for all of a second. “I come bearing gifts,” he tried instead.
“I don’t accept bribes.”
He snorted. “Since when?”
“Are you attacking my character?” she asked, putting an affronted hand over her heart.
“I’m calling out your weakness for sweets.”
From behind his back, So produced a bottle of wine and two stemmed glasses. A bag emblazoned with her favorite brand of candy hung from his wrist.
“Hmph.” She gave him a cool once-over, her perusal ending at the knowing smirk about to bloom on his lips. She thought to reject him right then, but her weakness for both her boyfriend and sugary deliciousness won out. “Chocolate first.”
So did as requested with an exaggerated bow. He hid a grin when Ha Jin eagerly took out a box decorated with the same golden markings. She handed back the now empty bag, which So set aside along with the wine and glasses. His clothes quickly followed suit.
Ha Jin was preoccupied with a mouthful of crunchy wafer and smooth chocolate, though she got more than a glimpse of bare skin out of the corner of her eye. Squeaking, she slid further down until her blush was mostly hidden by bubbles. Space in the tub became that much smaller when So stepped in, scarcely disturbing the water’s surface. Ha Jin was reminded of So’s prowess at stealth. Her boyfriend was annoyingly light on his feet in any situation; he often used it to his advantage to catch her off guard.
Ha Jin straightened with a jerk when one of So’s limbs slid in between hers, shaking her from her thoughts. She trapped his leg between her knees before he could stretch further and reach a particularly sensitive spot. He wiggled his toes and Ha Jin reflexively splashed him with a squeal.
So sputtered, slicking his hair back away from his face. Ha Jin gulped as the drops left glittering trails of water down his skin.
I played myself.
“What was that for?”
“You know what!” Ha Jin gave his leg another squeeze, narrowing her eyes. Raising her nose in the air, she turned her head and plucked another chocolate ball from the gift box.
Before she could take a bite, So caught her wrist and redirected her hand, swallowing the treat whole. A shiver ran down her spine as his lips nipped the ends of her fingers.
“Hey!” Giving her head a rough shake, she tried to dispel her thoughts from traveling in a certain direction.
So then snatched her other wrist before she could splash him again. “That won’t work twice, darling.” This time he did smirk and she inwardly cursed how delectable he looked in that moment. “No more chocolate for you.”
“You know better than to come between me and my chocolate.”
Ha Jin made no move to escape his grasp, and only leaned forward in challenge. So followed her lead, leaning in until their foreheads were just about to touch. Neither of them dared to look away.
“I brought you your chocolate,” So said. He grabbed another piece from the box she had attempted to hide behind her on the edge of the tub. Ha Jin tried to take it back when he popped the candy in his mouth. He chewed and swallowed as she gasped in outrage. “And I can take it away.”
The words had barely left him when Ha Jin snuck in and stole a deep kiss, tasting the chocolate on his tongue. She pulled back a moment later but not before giving his lips one long lick for good measure.
“I have other means,” Ha Jin replied. She couldn’t help but feel a little smug at the dazed look in her boyfriend’s eyes.
“… so do I.”
So had recovered all too quickly, his hand twining into the wet strands of her hair. He pulled her in once again with a gentle tug, her sudden outburst of giggles startled into pleased moans, while the candies and still unopened wine bottle were forgotten in favor of something much, much sweeter.