Ritual

“Ah, Juzo, tonight was so much fun,” Eunha giggled, her voice bubbling with warmth. You grinned, unable to hide the satisfaction of seeing her glow like this.

Inside her apartment, she flopped onto the deep, cushy couch, sinking into it with a dramatic sigh. She tilted her head toward you, lips curling mischievously, and patted the empty space beside her. The moment you sat down, she leaned over and brushed her lips against your cheek. You answered with one of your own, and soon the soft exchange became something more—your mouths found each other in a sudden, hungry kiss.

Her moan vibrated against your lips, soft but intoxicating. You pressed closer, one hand sliding down the curve of her face, trailing over her waist, until it slipped boldly under her skirt. Your palm found the supple shape of her backside, and she arched toward you, deepening the kiss with a heat that made your chest pound.

Your mouths broke apart only long enough to gasp for air, her breath hot and uneven as her eyes blazed into yours. You dove back in, lips crashing against hers again, harder this time. For a moment, she met you with equal fire—then her hands shot up, seizing your face.

Her grip was firm, holding you just an inch away, lips glistening, pupils wide.

“Wait,” she panted, her chest rising and falling against yours. “I… I have to tell you something before we go any further.”

You freeze, her hands still cupping your face.

“Okay,” Eunha says, drawing in a deep breath, “so… when I’m dating a guy, I have this little ritual I do before we ever sleep together.”

You nod slowly, trying to look supportive. “Alright. I’m listening.”

She bites her lip, then blurts out, “Okay, don’t freak out.”

You can see the worry in her eyes, and the urge to calm her spills out before you can stop yourself. “Bunny, it’s fine.”

Her ears flush pink at the pet name, and she gives you a look equal parts flustered and dangerous. “...don’t think you can distract me with cute names.”

“Wasn’t trying to,” you say, though you definitely were.

Eunha inhales again, steels herself, then blurts out in one go: “Before I let a guy sleep with me, I have to peg him first.”

Silence.

Your brain short-circuits for a second, then reboots. “…Why?”

She folds her arms, pouting like you just asked the dumbest question on Earth. “Because if I’m going to be super vulnerable with someone, I need them to be just as vulnerable with me. Fair’s fair.”

You blink, then lean back a little. “Wait, hold on. Did you just say, boyfriend? As in—exclusive?”

Eunha shrugs, but the little smile tugging at her lips betrays her. “Yeah. You’ve been really sweet and caring. Plus, my girls love you. So I figured… we should make this official.”

Your chest tightens at the word official, but you manage to croak out, “Uh… can I have a little time to think about it?”

She nods without hesitation. “Of course. Take all the time you need, wolf.”

You blink. “Wolf?”

Eunha grins, sly and teasing again. “Yeah. If I’m the bunny… you’re my wolf.”

You shake your head, half-laughing, half-overwhelmed. “That’s… that’s not how predator-prey works.”

“Shh,” she whispers, smirking as she leans closer. “It works for us.”