Chapter Text
"Hot, right, Rick? I heard everyone's thirsting after a piece of that ass," Leo grinned, snapping a photo as the model, Jeong Taeui (if he was listening correctly), walked by.
Ilay scanned the man's soft features— doe eyes, slim nose and pink lips. He was most definitely out of the usual pool of models that Jenevsca leaned towards, harbouring a playful spunk beneath the otherwise kind demeanour. But aside from that, Ilay couldn't possibly gauge what might've been so appealing about this boy to the masses.
Not bothering with a reply, Ilay merely continued assessing the models, eyes hollow with boredom. In reality, he wasn't even sure why he was here in the first place; this job was assigned to his employees, not him. Although if he had to admit, sitting around all day was considerably better than listening to his brother's constant nagging about diligence and reputation etc etc
His gaze shifted from Leo's camera to the figure approaching them, with a very familiar face beside them.
One of the many staff members smiled, lightly patting the shoulder of the one next to her. "Mr Riegrow? I know your company has been scouting for models recently, and we thought we might offer one of our best. You might already know him, but if you don't, this is-"
"Jeong Taeui," Ilay completed, standing up as the said model stuck out his hand, grinning up at Ilay.
He was tall, slightly taller than usual for a Korean, yet was still dwarfed by Ilay's height, forced to crane his neck up to compensate for the at least 20cm gap between them. Under the soft glow of the overhead lights, Ilay could distinctly make out the light layer of makeup, what with his glossy lips and sharp eyeliner. Jeong Taeui was oddly....beautiful.
Even for a man.
"Wow, I heard you were tall, but I didn't think you were this tall!" Taeui exclaimed, busily shaking Ilay's hand. "We could swap roles with a face as handsome as yours, pretty boy."
His manager elbowed him harshly in the side, hissing something in Korean before turning back to Ilay as she shook her head apologetically. "I'm so sorry, he's just excited."
Ilay nodded, watching Taeui roll his eyes as he scanned Ilay up and down. His manager frowned for a moment, tilting her head quizzically at Taeui before making a subtly exasperated face, moving to converse with Leo instead. Their conversation blurred out while Ilay stepped closer to Taeui, somewhat amused to feel lips gingerly brushing against his ear as he leaned up to whisper, "You look like you have a praise kink, you know?"
If Ilay had choked on his own saliva hearing that, it was for only him to know. He shook his head to himself before he smirked at Taeui's blithe statement, whispering back, "Maybe praise me, and you can find out for yourself."
"You-"
"-Taeui! Stop whatever that is and sign the damn contract," his manager exclaimed, then muttering under her breath, "Geez, I don't get paid enough to deal with this bullshit."
Leo also glanced at Ilay, quietly reiterating the deal of the advertisement with the brand to him.
When Taeui finished signing the tablet, his manager yanked him back, forcing another smile onto her face. "Apologies, but we should get going. The show is beginning soon!"
Taeui abruptly writhed out of her grip for a moment, tugging Ilay down to cheerily demand, "Don't look away from me, pretty boy."
Only as Ilay nodded did he rejoin his manager, a loud squeal escaping his lips when she pinched his ear, obviously scolding him.
His skin prickled under the weight of an obvious stare, twisting to see Leo's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"What."
Leo seemed to snap out of it, waving his hands frantically to dismiss whatever thoughts he had, saying, "No, no, it's nothing!"
Ilay raised an eyebrow, a crooked smirk still stuck to his mouth.
Pretty boy, huh? He's definitely something else....
"He's towards the end, isn't he?" Leo mumbled, reading through the listings.
Shifting in his seat, Ilay sipped at his water, shallowly watching the other models walk by. They were doing their job, and, yes, they did it well, but apart from that, they were nothing special. It'd be quite disappointing if that were the case with Taeui as well. Though taking into account his personality, that didn't sound like it would be the case.
Ilay glanced up, straightening a little as Taeui stepped onto the runway. As one of the few models in the listing that happily endorsed androgynous style, Taeui certainly stood out, what with his outfit being built almost entirely in black, yet there was nothing about it that was flat or simple. The jeans were heavily distressed, torn open in long, jagged slashes that exposed layers beneath, the fabric fraying and curling as if it had been worn hard and altered deliberately.
The denim sat low and loose through the legs, giving the silhouette movement, while metal chains draped from the waist and hips, catching the light with every step. A structured, corset-like belt cinched his middle, pulling the chaos of ripped fabric into a sharp, controlled shape.
Above it, a sheer black long-sleeve top clung close to his skin, soft and translucent in contrast to the roughness of the denim. The sleeves stretched down his arms, adding a sleek, almost delicate layer beneath the heavier pieces. The balance between exposed skin and covered lines felt intentional — revealing without being fragile, bold without being careless.
His boots were thick-soled and heavy, rising solidly from the floor, their chunky platforms anchoring the outfit with weight and authority. They made his stance feel grounded, almost defiant, as if he had planted himself exactly where he wanted to be. Accessories finished the look: subtle metal hardware, dark textures, and a cap pulled low, adding a casual edge that kept the outfit from feeling overly constructed.
But it was something about his walk, the way his strides were loose and detached, that was so very entertaining. So much so that, even if Ilay wanted to, he couldn't have torn his eyes away from Taeui.
It was only as Taeui almost finished his round that he caught Ilay's eye, blowing him a kiss.
Ilay froze for a second, movements stuttering before he picked up his bottle to take another sip of water.
To his side, Leo gaped, eyes twitching in something along the lines of jealousy. He blinked at Ilay, slumping back into his seat.
"Damn, the things I would do to fuck someone as gorgeous as him..." Leo mumbled, unable to rip his eyes away from Taeui's arrogant smile.
Ilay hummed in acknowledgement, fingers tapping away at his chair.
Had he reached rock bottom? No, seriously, when was the last time he had gotten laid? Because sexual frustration had to have been the only reason he was now here, waiting outside the entrance of the photoshoot's studio. It was already out of character for him to conjure up some random excuse to oversee the session, much less for him to personally wait for the model like he actually cared.
Ilay decisively ignored the incessant buzz of his phone, instead pocketing it to faintly observe the sluggish traffic. In fact, it was only when he registered the resounding clack of heels on concrete that he broke away from his stupor to glance up, breath catching in his lungs at the sight of Taeui absolutely fucking decked out.
Yes, most of the time, his style was a mix of feminine and masculine, often leaning towards something more feminine (if Ilay remembered the interview correctly, it was something about gender stereotypes that Taeui so thoroughly hated). He'd always be dressed up, even if it were just him going grocery shopping, outfits perfectly styled. But as this particular job required him to model a brand that heavily relied on sex appeal, Taeui was all dolled up, the look borderline something femme fatale— even completed with red-bottomed stilettos.
Though Ilay couldn't have cared less about fashion, this outfit specifically was something he would definitely be demanding to see Taeui in again. It was oddly simple, long, loose-fitting pants that were creaseless, emphasizing his lanky legs as well as covering the heels until Taeui stepped forward.
A heavy belt was slung around his waist, delicate silver chains hanging from the loop, while they wrapped around the beige blouse neatly tucked behind it. To finish the look, as if the heels, or the gold anklet that clinked with each movement wasn't enough, a choker sat flush against his neck, dusky topaz glinting in the sunlight.
Ilay couldn't make out Taeui's expression behind the thick-rimmed, rectangular sunglasses, but he was certain it was the same snarky one he always greeted Ilay with. A soft chuckle escaped his throat when Taeui skeptically raised an eyebrow at Ilay's presence.
"Why are you here? I know I'm technically working under you, but last time I checked, you don't need to oversee the shoot," he grumbled, pushing his sunnies back to rest on his head. As he did, Ilay could see the dark eyeshadow adorning his eyelids, gently set above the pigmented kohl. His cheekbones shimmered, presumably from highlighter, and looked sharper than ever. But even among all that, warm doe eyes gazed at him with duplicitous innocence, thick eyelashes fluttering.
Fucking hell.
This fox was going to be the end of him.
"Or are you here to look hot and keep me entertained, cuz, you know, I would actually appreciate that, it's so boring on set," Taeui wistfully mused, eyes locked onto the way Ilay's shirt clung to his biceps.
"Something like that. What can I say? I like to keep an eye on my company's prized projects," Ilay replied, guiding Taeui inside the building. His arm was as heavy as the belt was around his waist, gently stroking his tanned skin through the gaps of the fabric tied together.
When they entered, some of the assistant staff exclaimed lightly, pulling Taeui away from Ilay's hold and ushering him into the changing rooms.
"Don't get bored without me, pretty boy," he called out, waving his hand.
Ilay chuckled darkly, eyes lingering on the door he knew Taeui was behind for just a moment too long before making his way over to the manager. This deal was actually one of their most successful ones, just from the sheer following Taeui had accumulated in all his time as a clothing model. Considering this, it wasn't too surprising for the owner of a company to unexpectedly show up on set, but seeing as though that owner was Ilay, it certainly was a bit of a shock.
He nodded to his own employees, who were already expected to be there, settling down onto the seat beside the photographer.
Or, in other words, the seat closest to Taeui.
It didn't take long for the make-up artists to touch up his skin and face, considering Taeui walked out just a few minutes later and took his place in front of the camera.
Ilay paused, blinking for a moment.
"Didn't you look at the catalogue?" Taeui laughed, soaking up his reaction while twisting by the torso to prop his chin up with his hands and gaze mischievously at Ilay. His eyes twinkled with mirth as he kicked his legs up behind him, fishnet stockings shifting with each precarious movement. "I only wore pants here because I do have enough situational awareness to not roam the streets, looking like a stripper."
The mini skirt sitting on his hips had large, black sequins stitched onto the fabric, gleefully flashing under the bright lights of the studio. It was almost as if they were laughing at Ilay for being so ignorant.
He groaned softly, leaning over himself to massage his temples. Though not exactly the best choice in the moment, his eyes remained glued to the lithe yet toned legs a mere meter away from him.
"Nice, Taeui! Could you lie on your stomach and hitch a leg up? Yeah, like that, and just adjust the skirt so you can see the lace of the lingerie, mhm, perfect! Okay, guys, just fix the lighting, and we can start the next round!"
The lighting technicians got to work while Taeui hummed to himself, playing with the tussels of the carpet. When he glanced up, the seat where Ilay was sitting was empty. His phone was still there, meaning Ilay hadn't left the building, just gone off somewhere for a bit.
Taeui frowned, cranberry red lips pursed contemplatively, before shrugging internally. Maybe Ilay wasn't the type who enjoyed getting teased- actually, considering his reputation of sleeping with half the industry, that wasn't surprising.
Rolling his eyes, Taeui set his gaze back to the camera, falling back into the sultry demeanour he was more adjusted to. How boring without an audience...
"Alright, that's good! We can wrap up now, thanks for your hard work, Taeui," the photographer said, gesturing to the staff beside him.
Taeui smiled, making his way over to his change room. It had been an hour, and Ilay still hadn't come back. Though if he was one of those fucking bigots who couldn't handle a little androgyny, then maybe it was good riddance.
Still. Taeui couldn't help but hope that wasn't the case.
He sighed to himself, entering the room. Before Taeui could even look up, his back was slammed against the wall, and soft lips swallowed his startled gasp. As if by instinct, his hand carded through silver locks, gently tugging at them while a low moan leaked out. Ilay was relentless, driving deeper and deeper until Taeui was propped up by his sinewy arms, legs wrapping around Ilay's waist.
Taeui looped his arms around Ilay's neck, fervently kissing him back, as his body thrummed with restless heat. Ah, goddamnit, he didn't want to just be some other whore on Ilay's list to knock down. The tongue sucking on his was tempting, but Taeui had an arrogant mettle that not just anyone could break.
He suddenly yanked Ilay's head back by the scruff of his neck, a subtle smirk tugging at his lips from the sight of his lipstick smudged along Ilay's mouth. Ilay's eyes darkened at the disruption, a low groan escaping his throat.
"Put me down, pretty boy. I don't like manhandlers," Taeui instructed, toying with the sensitive hairs of Ilay's nape.
Ilay acquiesced, albeit begrudgingly, utterly surprised when Taeui shoved him back with oddly robust strength, pushing him back till he found himself in one of the chairs, staring up at Taeui's grin.
"You should learn what consent is, Ilay. That wasn't very nice of you, you know?" Taeui crooned, walking past him to gaze at his debauched reflection in the mirror. Behind him to the right, Ilay sat, eyes tracking the way his choker moved with each word Taeui spoke.
"It's unfortunate I'm so tired. Otherwise, maybe I might've been into that," he continued, slowly untying the ribbons holding his satin blouse together. "And you disappeared on me! You missed the best part of this photo shoot, Ilay."
His expression was tinted with faux disappointment, lips curled down into a sulk.
"Oh my, I think the knot is stuck, could you help me, Ilay?"
Taeui waltzed over to Ilay, presenting the loose "knot" of the ribbon, pupils glinting with amusement. When Ilay's hand lingered in the air, expression cold yet desperate, Taeui didn't hesitate to climb onto his lap, straddling him.
"Aren't you going to help?"
He leaned down, gently stroking his hair back, pressing a firm kiss to his cheek— left, then right, forehead, chin, eyelids; Taeui happily left the kiss of his lips all over Ilay's face, smiling to himself when the fabric of his blouse finally slipped off, satin falling off like water.
"What are you-..."
Ilay's fingers played with the lace of Taeui's camisole, reverently tracing against his skin.
"You'll be good for me, right, pretty boy?" Taeui purred, tilting Ilay's head up. He smiled sweetly at the dazed look behind Ilay's indifferent expression, pressing a chaste kiss to his lips. His eyes lowered, gazing at the prominent bulge in Ilay's pants.
"I told you; I don't like manhandlers. But you seem nice and obedient, I like that."
The cold gleam of white gold glinted from under the lace of his camisole, dark Mozambique garnets vehemently spitting out the dim lights from where they sat on his piercings— red against the supple pink of his nipples.
Ilay tilted his head up, groaning softly when Taeui grinded against his clothed erection, gripping tightly onto his waist. "My eyes are up here, Ilay," he teased, covering Ilay's hand with his own.
When Ilay pulled Taeui in close, lips almost brushing across the delicate lace, he laughed quietly, carding his fingers through Ilay's hair.
"What do you want?"
"To fuck you," Ilay murmured, teeth grazing at the piercings through the shirt. They gripped onto the angular stones, gently pulling them up.
"Mmm, that doesn't sound right, pretty boy." Taeui watched how Ilay gazed up, still busily sucking his nipples through his camisole, eyes forlorn the way a puppy's might be. "Try again for me."
"I want to unwrap you, my Süßer," he rasped, grinding against Taeui's ass.
"Better," Taeui smiled, soothingly stroking Ilay's hair. He leaned in, pressing another sweet kiss onto Ilay's neck, sucking at the pale skin. "Red looks so good on you, Ilay. You know, I really like looking at pretty things. But you know what I like even more?"
Ilay paused, locking onto their reflection in the mirror. His face was absolutely smothered with lipstick kiss marks, shirt askew and creased from how hard Taeui had been gripping it. He let out a soft groan before asking, "What?"
Taeui pulled away, the thin strap of his camisole slipping off his shoulder as he did.
"I like keeping pretty things all to myself. Otherwise...well, otherwise I don't want them."
He pouted a little, batting his eyelashes up at Ilay.
"You only get to unwrap me if you're mine."
Tracing his finger down Ilay's neck, Taeui unbuttoned his shirt, slowly but surely, until his eyes could latch onto the firm muscle of Ilay's chest. Biting down on his lip, he smiled slightly, tipping Ilay's chin up with a knuckle.
"What...What do I have to do to become yours...." Ilay rumbled, eyelids falling shut as he leaned into the touch.
"Nothing," Taeui suddenly chirrupped, clambering off Ilay as he dusted his clothes. He swept up his blouse in one fluid motion, tying it back up. "You do nothing. You get nothing until I decide if you deserve to."
He spun around, cheerfully waving dismissively at Ilay.
"If I'm being honest, sometimes I want to step on you, Reigrow. Not because you annoy me, but because I'm sure you'd look so sexy underneath me," Taeui sang, pivoting on his heel and strolling out the door. Though Ilay's face was so deliciously pathetic, Taeui had things he needed to do.
"Now then...bye bye, pretty boy."
The low-hanging sashes of his satin shirt billowed behind him, gossamer fabric shimmering under the light. Taeui's hips dipped with every step, emphasising the slim waist that stared back at Ilay with mischief. As his figure retreated, the steady click of his heels did as well, signalling his abrupt departure.
Ilay sat there for a moment, jaw clenched in utter frustration, but as his gaze landed on his own reflection in the mirror once more, he chuckled darkly, fingertips lightly brushing over his red-stained lips.
Ah, sometimes the sweetest fruits were the ones left to become ripe, he thought pleasantly, making his way out the door as well to faintly track Taeui's car.
Really, he must've been a pathetic sight considering the amount of stares his face, ruffled hair, and half-undone shirt elicited. It probably wasn't even that, actually. It was probably the ridiculous smile on his face and the dreamy glint in his eyes that had the staff tripping over themselves in shock.
Then again, though, most of them were used to Taeui's antics. Besides. Quite unfortunately, they'd be stuck seeing that pitifully love-struck expression until Taeui finally gave in, so it was best that they got used to it.