Touch Therapy: Where Hands Go, Bodies Beg-Chapter 351: Private Time

The alcohol had taken full effect now, and Harin and Mirae were well beyond tipsy. They’d migrated to the floor, leaning against each other with the coordination of two people whose boundaries had dissolved along with their inhibitions. The conversation, which had started relatively tame, had devolved into something more uninhibited, more revealing.

"You know what I’m saying?" Mirae was saying, her words slurring together, her hand gesturing wildly. "It’s like—people think the entertainment industry is all glamour and perfect images, but behind the scenes? It’s messy. People are messy."

"Tell me about it." Harin’s head was lolling back against the sofa, her eyes half-closed. "I’ve seen things that would make your hair curl."

Mirae leaned in closer, her voice dropping to something meant to be confidential but was actually quite audible. "Like this thing with Han Seo-yeon—you know her, right? The rookie actress who’s been getting all that attention lately?"

"Sure, I’ve heard of her." Harin nodded vigorously. "Pretty girl. Good actress."

"She is, but she’s got drama for days." Mirae shook her head. "We were filming this variety show together, right? Just before we started shooting, she finds out her boyfriend’s been cheating on her. Like, full-on affair with someone in her own friend group. She completely fell apart."

"That sucks." Harin’s sympathy was genuine, if somewhat alcohol-enhanced.

"It was bad." Mirae continued, her expression serious despite her inebriation. "We’re in the middle of filming, and she’s trying to hold it together, but every time they call cut, she’s just weeping. Thank god it was a variety show—those things are designed for spontaneity, so a few NGs weren’t the end of the world. The audience probably just thought it was part of the act."

"Smart thinking."

"But then." Mirae’s voice dropped even lower, as if sharing a particularly juicy secret. "After the shoot, when everyone else had cleared out... she just broke down. I mean, really broke down. Crying so hard she couldn’t breathe, makeup running everywhere, completely undone." 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Harin’s eyes widened. "What did you do?"

"What could I do?" Mirae shrugged. "I took her to my dressing room, tried to calm her down, offered her water, talked to her about how guys are trash and she deserves better. But nothing was working."

She paused for dramatic effect, then continued. "So I did what I had to do. I kissed her."

Harin’s jaw dropped. "No way."

"Yes way." Mirae nodded solemnly. "And one thing led to another, and before I knew it, we were... you know. On the couch in my dressing room, clothes mostly off, hands everywhere. It wasn’t planned, it just happened."

"Did it help?" Harin asked, fascinated.

"It helped a lot." Mirae’s lips curved into a satisfied smile. "Afterward, she was completely different. Calm, focused, ready to face the world again. And ever since then? She’s been following me around like a puppy. Calls me ’unnie’ constantly, wants to be near me whenever we’re on set, looks at me with these big adoring eyes."

"Wow." Harin shook her head. "You really turned her gay."

"I didn’t turn her gay, I just... showed her another option." Mirae laughed. "But seriously, the things she can do with her tongue? For someone who claimed she’d never been with a woman before, she picked things up remarkably fast."

Lee Seo-yeon listened to the story with rapt attention, her own alcohol consumption making her more receptive to the details. She’d heard stories about the entertainment industry before, of course—gossip and rumors were unavoidable in her social circles—but this was different. This was personal, raw, unfiltered.

And hearing her name mentioned repeatedly, even if it was about someone else, was having an unexpected effect on her. Every time Mirae said "Seo-yeon," her body responded, a flush of arousal spreading through her, heat pooling low in her belly. It was ridiculous, really—she knew they weren’t talking about her, knew this Han Seo-yeon was a completely different person. But the sound of her name, spoken in the context of sex and intimacy and pleasure, was doing things to her she hadn’t anticipated.

Joon-ho noticed. Of course he noticed. He was observant at the best of times, and now, with her sitting next to him, he couldn’t miss the way her breathing had changed, the subtle shift in her posture, the flush coloring her cheeks.

His hand moved beneath the table, finding her thigh through the fabric of her lounge pants. Seo-yeon didn’t pull away—couldn’t have pulled away if she’d wanted to. His touch was warm, possessive, his fingers tracing patterns on her skin that made her shiver.

"Something interesting you?" he murmured, leaning close enough that his breath brushed her ear.

"They’re just..." Seo-yeon struggled to find words, her mind distracted by his hand. "They’re sharing stories."

"I can hear that." His fingers moved higher, slipping beneath the waistband of her pants, exploring the sensitive skin beneath. "But I think there’s more to it than that. I think you’re enjoying this more than you’re letting on."

He wasn’t wrong. The combination of the alcohol, the intimate atmosphere, the explicit conversation, and now his touch—it was all combining to create a heady mixture of arousal and anticipation. Seo-yeon found herself shifting in her chair, unconsciously moving to give him better access.

"Maybe," she admitted, her voice breathless.

"Good." His satisfaction was evident. "Because I plan to take full advantage of that later."

His hand continued its exploration, his fingers brushing against her most sensitive places, teasing her without giving her the release she was beginning to crave. Seo-yeon bit her lip to keep from making any sound, her eyes fixed on Harin and Mirae, who remained oblivious to what was happening right beside them.

Yura had been watching them with amusement, her own alcohol intake making her more relaxed than usual. But as she observed the state Harin and Mirae were in, she decided it was time to intervene.

"Okay, you two." Yura’s voice was gentle but firm as she addressed the pair on the floor. "I think you’ve had enough for tonight."

"No way." Harin protested, though without much conviction. "We’re just getting started."

"You’re both going to regret this in the morning." Yura moved toward them, offering her hands to help them up. "Trust me—I’ve been there. Come on, let’s get you some water and get you settled in the bedroom."

Mirae allowed herself to be pulled to her feet, swaying slightly. "I’m not that drunk."

"You’re very that drunk." Yura’s tone was affectionate. "Come on. Water first, then sleep. You’ll thank me tomorrow."

With some reluctance, both women followed Yura’s instructions. They were guided toward the bedroom, their movements unsteady, their protests weak. Yura stayed with them, ensuring they drank water before settling onto the bed, their consciousness fading quickly as the alcohol caught up with them.

The apartment grew noticeably quieter without their voices filling the space. The chaos of earlier had given way to something more subdued, more peaceful.

Not long after, Saena emerged from her room with Nari in her arms. The baby was awake and hungry, her small face scrunched in demand, her tiny fists waving in protest.

"I think someone’s ready for her midnight snack," Saena said, her expression soft as she looked down at the infant. "She was sleeping peacefully, but she just woke up and she’s not happy about it."

Yura immediately went to them, her attention shifting to her daughter. "Let me take her. You’ve been doing so much already tonight."

"It’s fine, really." Saena started to protest, but Yura was already reaching for the baby.

"No, I want to." Yura settled Nari into her arms, the infant immediately calming as she recognized her mother’s scent and warmth. "You’ve been wonderful, Saena, but I need to do this too. It’s part of being a mother."

She turned to Seo-yeon, her eyes warm. "You stay here. Enjoy the rest of your night with Joon-ho. There’s no need for you to worry about any of this."

Seo-yeon nodded, understanding the implicit invitation. "Thank you, Yura."

"You’re welcome." Yura’s smile was knowing. "Have a good night, both of you."

With that, she carried Nari toward the nursery, Saena following close behind. The two women disappeared into another room, leaving the dining area to Seo-yeon and Joon-ho.

The silence that followed was profound. Where before there had been laughter and conversation, the clink of glasses, the sounds of drunken revelry, now there was only the soft hum of the apartment’s systems, the distant sounds of the city filtering through the windows.

It was just the two of them now.

Joon-ho’s hand was still beneath her pants, his fingers still teasing her, though he’d slowed his movements with the departure of the others. Now, with privacy assured, his touch became more deliberate, more focused.

"So," he said, his voice low in the quiet room. "It seems we have some time to ourselves."

Seo-yeon turned to face him, her eyes meeting his across the small distance between their chairs. The arousal she’d been feeling was still there, building steadily beneath his skilled touch, but there was something else too—a sense of anticipation, of possibility, of the moment stretching before them like an unwritten page.

"We do," she agreed, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Good." His fingers found exactly the right spot, drawing a soft gasp from her lips. "Because I have every intention of making the most of it."