Archive of Our Own

Hanbin always knew he was meant to help others.

Even when he was a kid, he was quick to solve problems and understood those around him differently. He sought solutions and often improved situations rather than escalating them.

It was his parents who suggested becoming a therapist. They figured honing his skill would result in him growing into a career that he would enjoy. His parents believed that doing what you loved made things better and improved one's quality of life.

Hanbin’s taken the courses, he knows it’s true.

Hanbin also took their advice. Determined to become one of the best mental health therapists Seoul has to offer. He started off strong, received grants, and published numerous papers, all before his graduation. He was an upcoming star.

Somewhere along the line, his focus shifted. After drunkenly giving a friend sex advice, Hanbin found himself being propositioned by a well-renowned sex therapist who all but begged him to study under them.

He hesitated, of course. How would he explain it to his parents? But the paycheck far outweighed the temporary discomfort, and with the help of his mentor, he managed to open his own clinic.

Hanbin has been working as a sex therapist for about three years now. Becoming someone who helped others was his goal all along.

Sure, his initial goal was to help in a different sort of field, but life had other plans for him. A place where his skills and knowledge would be used to help others unlock potential in other ways.

His degree hangs on his wall next to his many other certifications and awards. He keeps them framed and accessible. Mostly for his newer clients who think he’s just spouting nonsense when he makes a suggestion.

It isn’t easy being a sex therapist. There are days when Hanbin encounters clients who simply don’t want to be helped. Then there are others that remind Hanbin why he’s one of the very few therapists of his kind in Korea.

Hanbin is just settling in for the afternoon when Matthew notifies him that his five o'clock clients have just arrived and are in the waiting room. He checks his calendar briefly and closes his eyes, preparing himself for what’s about to take place.

Patience is essential in his line of work. He has to come off as understanding while also firm. The topics they speak about within the four walls of his office are confidential and, for some of his clients, hard to speak about to themselves, much less to a stranger like him. Hanbin tries to make the space inviting and comfortable for his clients, establishing a line of trust with everyone involved.

Sometimes, Hanbin sees exactly why certain people need help. It doesn’t mean it’s easy to help them. The clients arriving fall into that category of desperately needing help.

His five o'clock clients are early. They always are. They’re four sessions in, and according to the plan Hanbin wrote out for them, they somehow still have a long way to go. At one point, he even started to doubt if they were even trying.

Hanbin tells Matthew to let them in, reaching for his water and taking a long swig of the cool drink before swallowing, then inhaling for ten seconds and exhaling for ten seconds.

He’s going to need all the patience he can get with these two.

Mister and Mister Song are newlyweds. Hanbin has been working with them before their wedding. When they first arrived, Hanbin couldn’t see why they turned up here in the first place. Both were in their prime, healthy, and above all, madly in love with each other. It wasn’t until he sat them down and learned about them individually and as a couple that he began to see where their struggle came from.

Mister Song Joon works as an accountant. He’s an only child, shy yet somehow has a plethora of friends who tend to dote on him as if he were a child. Mister Song Donghyun is the eldest child of five, works as a fitness instructor, and is extremely extroverted. They’re patient and understanding with each other. Something Hanbin doesn’t see often in couples. Hanbin still hadn’t seen the problem until he asked the million-dollar question.

What was their sex life like?

The answer was nonexistent.

As it turned out, neither of them had any prior sexual experiences before getting together, and as a test of strength and loyalty, they agreed to hold off on partaking in any acts until their marriage. A romantic sentiment and the reason why they came to Hanbin before the wedding.

They came in search of a better understanding. A sort of layout on how their first time should go, wanting to hear it from an expert rather than fumbling through it themselves. Sometimes Hanbin feels more like a glorified sex instructor than the sexual therapist he is.

He recommended a few things for them to try out before the wedding. Providing them with an in-depth outline on what they can do and how to do it. Last week, Hanbin wished them luck on their wedding and honeymoon. This week, they’ve mysteriously found themselves back here.

Plastering a smile on his face, Hanbin prepares himself for whatever is about to enter his door. Before they left for their wedding, Hanbin stressed the importance of their first time feeling natural and told them not to stress about the small things. Simply enjoying each other.

He cares for his clients, he really does. But these two have a way of misinterpreting even the simplest of instructions. Hanbin fears he’s in for a long session with these two.

As normal, Donghyun holds the door open for Joon. They walk in with tense smiles on their faces and sit in their normal seats. At this point, Hanbin assumes they’ve mentally assigned themselves. The new additions to their ring fingers don’t go unnoticed by Hanbin, but they lack the post-marital glow Hanbin had hoped for.

“Joon, Donghyun, how have you two been since our last session?” Hanbin starts. It’s only been about two weeks; surely they must have gotten something done in that time.

“I’m sure you’re surprised to see us back so soon,” Joon starts with a shy smile. “We were having such a great time during our honeymoon, we even brought you pictures!”

Joon pulls out his phone and, after a few taps, passes it over to Hanbin, motioning for him to swipe. After gaining the couple's approval, Hanbin sifts through the romantic honeymoon photos before reaching the end. Hanbin would kill to have a day off where he could go on a vacation somewhere like this.

“It looks like you both had a wonderful time,” Hanbin states, passing the phone back to Joon and waiting for the real reason they’re here and not at home.

Donghyun tends to be the spokesperson for the two of them. Hanbin looks to him first, and thankfully, Donghyun takes his expectant look as an indicator.

“We had an amazing time together on the island. The thing is, on our wedding night, we couldn’t reach the next phase.” Hanbin had an inkling that was the case. “We tried everything.”

Hanbin doesn’t doubt that they did. When they initially came to him seeking guidance, Hanbin dedicated his time to finding a simple yet reasonable solution for the couple who wanted to wait until marriage.

They aren’t his first. Hanbin has had a total of four couples who sat in those very seats with the same issues. The difference is that those couples all managed to complete the act when the time came.

The thing about Donghyun and Joon is that they like to hold their hand over the fire to feel the burn. They like the feeling but don’t want to mess it up by doing something wrong.

Joon chimes in while Hanbin processes the information he’s been given. “We tried out some of the exercises you gave us while on our honeymoon, and they didn’t exactly go as planned.”

Hanbin holds back the numerous comments that threaten to escape. Those exercises were just that, exercises. They weren’t meant to continue them on their honeymoon; they were just precursors to the actual event. He tells them just that with a patient tone, trying his best not to sound like he’s talking to children.

“We know,” Joon says with a slightly shy expression. His face flushes red, and Hanbin quickly reassures him that this is a judgment-free zone and he’s here to help. “It’s just when it came down to doing some of the stuff you recommended, we were sort of…nervous.”

“It made performing difficult with us both on edge,” Donghyun continues, reaching for his husband's hand and clasping it in between his palms.

Hanbin still isn’t surprised. They aren’t the first or last of what he likes to call couples stuck in the first stage of their sexual relationship.

He’s developed a method. After years of research, Hanbin separated his clients into two stages. The immature bloom stage and the blossoming stage. Flower terms seemed to make more sense to his editor when he wrote the book about his methods, and somehow it just stuck.

The immature bloom stage is where Joon and Donghyun are right now. Too terrified to try anything new, but not unwilling. He can see it in their eyes, a longing for this kind of contact and the disappointment that all of their previous attempts have been failures.

They’re desperate, and now that they’ve failed to consummate their marriage, they’re willing to do whatever it takes.

“We’ve been talking amongst ourselves and have decided it’s best we go the demonstration route with our therapy session.”

Hanbin grabs his water bottle, nodding around the spout as he thinks. He doesn’t offer the demonstration to everyone. He wasn’t even sure he wanted to include them in his packaging. It was his mentor who recommended he add it in for those who need it. Joon and Donghyun need it.

“We have the money for it.”

Hanbin doesn’t doubt that they do. The giant rings on both of their fingers are dead giveaways that they’re swimming in money. The real issue is that there is a reason he broke their plan into a step-by-step plan. Introducing them to the workings of sex so quickly would be like giving them an abundance of coffee and forcing them to chug it down.

They’ll become so obsessed with the feeling that they simply won’t stop, and then Hanbin will have to provide them with countermeasures so that they don’t somehow end up hurting each other.

On the other hand, if they finally complete the act, Hanbin will be able to reduce their sessions to once a month before releasing them.

“You're sure you want to do the demonstrations,” Hanbin confirms, wanting to make sure they know what they’re getting into. The demonstrations tend to be invasive. He stands and watches the pair perform menial acts under protective layers and then gives them the proper tools to ensure success.

“We know the terms and conditions,” Donghyun answers with certainty. “You know so much about us already, we don’t mind you helping us through this, too.”

Hanbin should be flattered, but all he feels is a sinking feeling of dread. He sends them back out to Matthew to go through with the payment and the paperwork. They still have half an hour left of their session, and Hanbin supposes it’ll be enough time for just one demonstration.

Reaching into the side of his desk, he pulls out one latex glove and slides it over his hand. He isn’t too thrilled about touching a married man, he certainly won’t be, but he does have to point and guide.

They rejoin at the entrance of a hallway just a little ways down from his office. The demonstration room, also known as room D, is set up to look similar to a hospital room with a similar flat bed set up and storage space where blankets, lube, toys, and many other materials are organized.

Hanbin guides them into the room and lets them take in the new area. He grabs the short rolling chair and takes a seat with his notebook in hand for the notes he plans to take.

“Mister Joon, please lie down on the table and slightly part your legs. ”

This is a professional setting. They aren’t there to get it on with Hanbin in the room. He just needs to light the spark. He’s learned that almost every couple has a spark, and once it’s lit, things are smooth sailing from then on.

He passes Donghyun a white sheet and has him drape it over Joon, who is instructed to pull his pants down to his ankles. They’re both nervous. Not because he’s in the room, but something must have gone very wrong for the two of them to be so on edge. Briefly, Hanbin remembers Donghyun's retelling of their fingering exercise, where he somehow shoved three fingers to start, which didn’t end well for Joon.

“Bend your legs,” Hanbin says gently, trying to ignore the way Joon seems to shiver at his words. Joon bends his legs, putting his heels on the edge of the bed. Reaching over and rummaging through the cabinet, Hanbin grabs a small bottle of lube with his gloved hand and passes it to Donghyun, who looks flustered.

“You two have done this before, right?” Hanbin asks cautiously. He hopes so. It’s on their very short list of things to try out before the wedding.

Joon looks away, and Donghyun clears his throat before looking at Hanbin. “We haven’t really tried anything else below the belt since that last time.”

“You’re married,” Hanbin says before he can hold himself back. They’ve been married for a week. They’ve been preparing for said wedding for two weeks. Hanbin should have known something was up the moment Donghyun said they were too nervous to even initiate the act.

“Yes, and we’ve been very content with kissing and other stuff.”

“Other stuff…” Hanbin starts slowly, waiting for Donghyun to elaborate. How much worse can this get?

Glancing at Joon, Donghyun rubs his knee as he continues. “We tried some of the stuff on your list. Hand jobs, just above clothes, blow jobs, which also took place with our clothes on.”

Forget the immature bloom stage. Whatever is before that, that’s where these two are. Hanbin doesn’t even want to ask how they managed to blow each other with their clothes still on. He gives them a clipped nod and tells Donghyun to squeeze some of the lube on his fingers. They’re just going to have to address the other items later.

“Just use one for now,” Hanbin coaches from where he’s sitting a good distance away from the bed. He writes down all that they’ve told him so far while also giving them careful instructions.

“Slide it in gently. It isn’t going to be easy at first, but the goal is to get him used to the feeling before inserting the second one.”

The hope is that they both enjoy this enough to become curious. Really, that’s what Hanbin’s whole practice is about. Pushing the boundaries of two, sometimes more, people’s curiosities and seeing what comes out of it.

He’s really hoping that, after discovering the magic of his prostate, Joon will manage to convince Donghyun to try other things. Less above the belt and clothes on, and more towards what they really came here for.

These two have been quite tricky for Hanbin. After their consultation, Hanbin suggested they take things slowly. They weren’t even touching each other back then. He’s looking to shock them into it. A blunt force of realization on what they’ve been missing out on.

Donghyun slides his finger in after Hanbin’s direction, and Joon's breath hitches just a little. His eyebrows pinch together, and he’s far too tense. It’s unfamiliar, and Hanbin understands that much. They haven’t tried this out before, and chances are Joon might have tried it on himself, then panicked and figured he should wait for Donghyun.

They’re both painfully shy about sex but desperate for it. Hanbin can’t believe they’ve only come this far in the sessions they’ve had. At some point, he knew it would come to this. Having to walk them through the act.

“Talk to him,” Hanbin tells Donghyun when Joon whimpers again. “You don’t want him freaking out. This may just be a simulation of the real thing, but remember this isn’t a test or supposed to be complicated. It’s supposed to be freeing and rewarding for both of you.”

Donghyun doesn’t know what to say, but he does try. He compliments Joon, tells him how pretty he looks, and how he feels on the inside. Both of their faces burn, and Hanbin rolls away, giving them a little more space. When Joon seems to have relaxed, Hanbin tells Donghyun to add another one and waits.

A muffled moan pierces through the quiet of the room. “I’m sorry,” Joon whimpers, and Hanbin is quick to reassure.

“It’s supposed to happen,” Hanbin reminds him, giving Donghyun an approving nod. “In and out,” he instructs Donghyun, who appears to do just that. They’re running out of time, but Hanbin needs to get this done before their session is over, or else they’ll come back and insist he finish what he started.

“Now slow down, aim with purpose. You might find his prostate now, you might not, but that’s why you can practice at home,” Hanbin tries to stress the importance of the at-home part.

Joon's legs shake under the sheet, and as hard as he tries not to make any noises or movements, it’s impossible with his husband's inexperienced fingers prodding inside of him.

“Oh,” Joon whimpers suddenly, eyes widening. He lets out a shuddering breath and they stare at each other for a moment too long. Hanbin is immune to these kinds of things by now. The first time he experienced it, he did pat himself on the back for being such a good instructor, then embarrassment kicked in as the couple began to do it again and again, like Donghyun is right now.

“It looks like our time is up,” Hanbin says with a kind smile. The pair turns to look at him. Joon with glassy yet satisfied eyes and Donghyun with a nervous smile. “You can wash your hands there, and there are a few other things in the drawer for you to clean up with.” He points around at the listed items before heading to the door.

“Next time you come, you can update me on your progress, then we can modify the plan once more.”

Closing the door behind him, Hanbin heads back to the waiting room in hopes that he has a few extra minutes before his next client arrives. He approaches the area where Matthew is currently engaged in a heated conversation.

“I completely understand, sir,” Matthew says with a slightly impatient tone. He gives Hanbin an irritated look before pointing to the phone, a new client. “I understand it’s serious, but he really is booked for the next six months. The next appointment I can get for you is the first week of-”

Whoever it is cuts Matthew off. He covers the mouthpiece and mouths a list of swears that leave Hanbin giggling soundlessly. Hiring Matthew as his secretary was the best idea he’s ever had. Whoever said working with your best friend was a bad idea clearly never met Matthew.

“Sir, like I said, I understand. However, we can’t squeeze you in for a consultation until then.”

Hanbin realizes Matthew is reaching his limit. His leg bounces under the desk, and the frown deepens to the point where he’s afraid it’ll become permanent. Deciding to put Matthew out of his misery, Hanbin waves his hand and motions for him to pass the phone over.

“Actually, the lead therapist is right here. He’ll answer any further questions. Please hold.” He presses the mute button and looks at Hanbin with pity. “Good luck, the guy is a grade A asshole. Far worse than that noisy lady and her stuck-up fiancé from last month.”

Hanbin snickers and reaches for the phone before pointing to room D.

“Joon and Donghyun are in there right now. Please go and make sure they haven’t continued the wonderful world of exploring each other on my bed.”

Matthew makes a face, but it’s a small price to pay for not having to get back on the phone again. He starts down the hallway, and Hanbin takes his place in the chair. Pressing the unmute button, Hanbin holds the phone up to his ear.

“This is Sung Hanbin, lead therapist here at In Bloom clinic. How can I help you?”

Hanbin expects an immediate attitude. He braces himself for whoever is on the line to pick up where they left off, but instead, he’s met with silence before a rough voice breaks through.

“Hello, I’m Min Jinwoo. I’m calling to schedule a consultation for my boyfriend and me.”

Logging into his system from Matthew’s computer, Hanbin pulls up a temporary file. He makes one for every potential client, needing to see all the information in front of him before he makes a decision.

“Can you give me a summary of your situation?”

There’s hesitation, and this Hanbin does expect. Many of the people who call instead of just scheduling an appointment online do so as a test for themselves. They’re sure that if they hear someone’s voice, they’ll manage to talk themselves out of going through with it because of embarrassment or shame. Often, it’s the ones who really need help who stick to scheduling an appointment if they can get one.

“If you’re trying to get bumped up six months early, I think it matters a little bit,” Hanbin points out, fingers hovering over the keyboard as he waits for Jinwoo’s explanation.

Many of the men and women who call in for a consultation tend to be embarrassed about what they’re doing. It takes a really strong person to admit they need help and a stronger one to admit they need sexual help from a stranger. Whatever it is, he had to have exhausted all possible options.

“It’s my boyfriend,” Jinwoo finally reveals. “We’ve reached a point in our relationship where I don’t think he’s completely satisfied with what we do. This sucks now that I’ve said it out loud,” he lets out a frustrated sound, and Hanbin gets it more than Jinwoo may know.

That used to be him. Sure, it was temporary and took place when he was just discovering what sex really was, but he also had doubts and fears long after his first time. It’s why he ended up becoming so knowledgeable on the topic and eventually landed here. Creating a safe space for people to figure out the answers to their questions became his new dream.

Matthew hadn’t lied. His schedule was booked for the next six months, but after what he just went through with Joon and Donghyun, Hanbin is sure he can manage to squeeze Jinwoo in.

Switching Jinwoo’s file from temporary to client, he searches his calendar for his most flexible day.

“Can you come in next Friday for a solo consultation?” Hanbin asks.

“What time?” Jinwoo replies, sounding a little bit more at ease.

They set up an appointment for late in the afternoon, and as a result, Hanbin has to work late with one of his other clients to make up for it. It’s a small price to pay for gaining a new client. He can’t wait to start on this one.

Right on cue, Donghyun and Joon exit the demonstration room with a silently raging Matthew following behind them. They dip their heads silently and rush out the front door, not bothering with a proper goodbye.

“Sometimes I hate how good you are at coaxing people into defiling each other on that bed.”

“Were they?” Hanbin asks in a hopeful tone. If so, he might just have solved their problem.

Matthew shakes his head. “Nope, just fingers in places where they shouldn’t be.”

Hanbin frowns. He’ll be seeing them again very soon.

*~*~*

The image of Min Jinwoo that Hanbin created in his head doesn’t quite align with what he looks like in person.

On the phone, Jinwoo sounded like another Donghyun. Someone confident but timid. He imagines a muscular build and professional clothing, and at the very least, he got the clothes right.

To start, he’s slightly taller than Hanbin is, slightly muscular, but you wouldn’t be able to tell until he took his jacket off. He’s nervous but played it off well by putting on a poker face that’s hard to see through. Hanbin marks these things down in Jinwoo’s patient folder before he even sits down.

After they’ve exchanged pleasantries, Hanbin gets down to business, flipping his notepad to a fresh page and uncapping his pen. When he’s ready, Hanbin asks the first question.

“How about you start by telling me a little bit about yourself.”

Hanbin finds it’s easier to get people to open up about these sorts of things when they start with a positive topic. Talking about himself will ease Jinwoo into the session.

“There isn’t much to tell,” Jinwoo starts sitting comfortably in his chair. “I’m a hard worker, dedicated to my job and my boyfriend. I frequent the gym but have a major sweet tooth, and I’m not an animal lover.”

All things that could mean a lot or nothing at all. Hanbin still makes note of all of them. He checks off the first question, then moves to the next one swiftly.

“Now, how about you tell me about your partner?”

Jinwoo immediately breaks into a smile as an image of his boyfriend pops into his head. It’s clear Jinwoo has a certain level of fondness for his partner, which only makes his reason for being here harder.

“He’s amazing,” Jinwoo says with sparkling eyes. “Sometimes I still can’t believe I managed to win over someone as attractive as him. My friends all think he’s a little bratty, sometimes antisocial, but they just don’t get him like I do.”

Hanbin nods and writes all of that down. A positive mindset about his significant other means the relationship is fairly strong. His friend's opinion of his partner doesn’t bother him either, which means he’s sure to defend him in the face of an opposing viewpoint.

“How long have you two been together?” Hanbin asks, suddenly curious.

Jinwoo runs a hand through his wavy hair with a small smile. “It’ll be two years in five weeks.”

Hanbin whistles at him and writes that down too. Long term, strong foundation, and yet rocky sex life. There’s a reason for that, and Hanbin wants to know why.

“How about you tell me a bit about why you sought me out. You mentioned it a bit on the phone, but I need a better understanding in order for me to help.”

Jinwoo looks almost stressed just thinking about it. Hanbin gives him time to organize his thoughts, knowing this can’t be easy for a man like Jinwoo to just come right out and admit.

“Everything was going so well for us. I don’t even know when things changed, if I’m being honest.” Jinwoo laughs bitterly as he thinks about it.

“What changed?” Hanbin pries a little. He needs to see Jinwoo’s view before he starts on any theories.

Jinwoo’s bitter laugh dwindles into a wry smile.

“I can’t really answer that. I didn’t even notice it myself until recently. Sometimes I feel like he wants me, and other times I feel like he’s just going through the motions.”

“Going through the motions?” Hanbin pushes, writing it down with a few question marks.

Jinwoo shrugs and looks down at the tiled floors. “Yeah. I like to think we have a pretty exciting sex life, but when it’s all over, he doesn’t have that glow he used to get.” Jinwoo looks at Hanbin, and he can see that this is something that’s been bothering him for a while.

Hanbin taps his pen against his desk. “Have you two talked about it?”

“We have,” Jinwoo nods quickly. “When we first started going out, all we did was mess around. Somewhere, it stopped being enough for him or even me. We had a pretty serious conversation about it a few weeks ago, and we’ve tried different things since then, but…We love each other, this is just a small crack in our foundation, and I just need a bit of help mending it.”

“Well, you’re at the right place to make that happen,” Hanbin says with a reassuring smile. “We have some time left. How about you tell me a bit about what your current sex life looks like?”

Jinwoo thinks for a bit before smiling a bit.

“We do it about twice a week on a good week. He works with teenagers. He’s some big shot music instructor for some fancy junior orchestra, and so he tends to come home tired.”

Hanbin jots that down. “And what do you do?” Work tends to be a stressor for some couples. When one is working too much, it can impact their willingness to put in the effort.

“I’m currently a business major working at my father's company.”

No wonder he had enough money for the initial deposit. Hanbin jots those things down, too. It sounds like he harbors a bit of animosity towards his partner's job based on how he describes it. He’s glad he doesn’t have to work so hard, but it’s clear work is a sore topic for him since his partner is so accomplished.

“Are you older or younger than your partner?” Oftentimes, this question reveals half of the problem on its own. The closer his clients are in age, the harder it is to find what might be working against them.

“I’m thirty-three, he’s twenty-six.”

Hanbin applauds himself for holding back his facial expression. He can see why work is a tense topic. With Jinwoo’s boyfriend being so well accomplished and much younger than him, he’s sure Jinwoo wants to fill in the blanks where he can. Not to mention Jinwoo being in his thirties already. Just like that, a thought pops into Hanbin’s head.

The final question is the easiest. “Do you two live together?”

Jinwoo shakes his head. “No, um, we were supposed to move in together last spring, but his job promoted him. He’s been busy, and so either he comes over to my apartment, or I go over to his. He’s been stressed out lately, so we’ve been-” Jinwoo stops.

“Remember this is a safe space. This is exactly why you’re here. Feel free to tell me all the details you possibly can, it’ll help me develop a plan on how to go about your therapy.”

Jinwoo pulls himself together a bit before continuing. “He’s been stressed out quite a bit, which somehow decreases how often we see each other outside of us having sex.”

“That must be difficult,” Hanbin tried to empathize. “How long do you two tend to engage in intercourse?”

Jinwoo shifts in his seat. He’s uncomfortable, which usually means a lie is approaching. He’s gone through these questions enough to know when someone is comfortable with giving the truth or ready to lie.

“A couple of hours, I believe,” Jinwoo says. So it must be less than that.

“And are you satisfied with how it ends?”

The expression on Jinwoo’s face lightens. “Very, he’s…he’s amazing,” Jinwoo tapers off, embarrassed by his own confessions.

“And does he seem satisfied with the ending?” Jinwoo's expression clouds, and Hanbin marks that too.

“I guess that’s why I’m here. While I find our sex life fulfilling, I get the feeling that he wants more from me.”

That’s about all Hanbin needs to know.

From what he’s gathered, Hanbin has an inkling about what’s going on here.

It sounds like Jinwoo’s boyfriend is beginning to become far more than he can handle, which is taking a toll on their relationship, even if Jinwoo would never say it out loud.

To start, he hasn’t used the boyfriend's name yet. Something Hanbin sees often with patients who have something to hide or simply wish to focus on themselves during the session. Hanbin did not force the issue, but he did notice it. He talks about his partner's job as if he’s proud, but his sentences are laced with sarcastic words like big shot and fancy. He’s also dating a younger man, which is a challenge on its own.

Younger means more energy, and at twenty-six, it’s clear Jinwoo’s partner certainly knows his way in bed if the expression that crossed Jinwoo’s face at the memory is anything to go by. Jinwoo is satisfied, his partner clearly isn’t, and yet they’re still together, which means they’re willing to work it out.

“I would like to see you again,” Hanbin says, making sure to have Matthew find time in his schedule for Jinwoo and his partner. “If you would please bring your boyfriend during our next visit, I would really appreciate it. It will help with making sure the treatment plan is suitable for both of you.”

“Thank you,” Jinwoo says with a relieved sigh. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“It’ll all work out,” Hanbin tells him. “I know it will.”

Jinwoo sets up his next appointment with Matthew, who sends him a polite yet threatening email for forcing him to switch Hanbin’s schedule around. Hanbin can’t help it.

Something about this guy made him curious.

Something about Jinwoo’s boyfriend piqued Hanbin's interest even more. He can’t wait to see the guy who’s been taunting Jinwoo’s thoughts. There’s nothing Hanbin loves more than bringing two people closer together.

*~*~*

It’s the little wins that truly matter to Hanbin.

When he first started his practice, Hanbin was burdened with providing results. To other researchers, helping the clients was important, but not as much as publishing a paper or getting credited in a journal. Hanbin had to ignore some of the people he admired most in order to grow his practice into what it is today.

As such, even the tiniest bit of progress improves his day significantly. Any move in the right direction is one step closer to the end result. For Hanbin, it’s good enough.

He just got news from Joon and Donghyun that they’ve been properly trying out the tips and tricks Hanbin gave them and are working their way up to the actual act.

Their improvement is a cause for celebration. Hanbin almost thought they’d never even reach this point without another demonstration. Brimming with happiness from their minor success, he tells Matthew they can head out for drinks after work and bounces into his office with a smile on his face.

Scanning his schedule for the day, Hanbin notes that he has his first office session with his newest clients, Jinwoo and his boyfriend. Scanning over the appointment file, Hanbin’s eyes catch on an unfamiliar second name. Pressing the call button on his phone, Hanbin waits for Matthew to answer.

“I’m not a coffee boy,” Matthew answers, causing Hanbin to laugh.

“I’m not asking for coffee. I’m looking over Min Jinwoo’s file, and there’s a Zhang Hao listed here. He gave you his boyfriend's name?”

Matthew hums and talks on his keyboard, pulling up the file as well before answering. “Yup, Zhang Hao, age twenty-six, is his partner.”

Hanbin clicks off the file. “He never said his boyfriend's name during the session, and I never pushed the issue. It was kind of odd.”

Matthew makes a sound, and Hanbin laughs. “That is going to be a rough session for you,” Matthew says with a pitying tone.

Most couples who avoid using their partner's name during consultations tend to be jealous by nature. Hanbin had to deal with quite a few of those as well. Clients who fear their significant other will form an attachment to him rather than focusing on each other.

“I’ll get you that coffee.”

Out of everyone who works in Hanbin’s office, Matthew might be the only one who truly understands him. They shared a dorm in college and even now, an apartment as rent in Seoul is insane if you’re not loaded with money. Matthew knows a bit about what Hanbin does. He’s helped him study and might even have a better understanding of some of the topics that some of the other therapists Hanbin has hired part-time.

Slipping into his office, Hanbin prepares himself for the day. He does some paperwork before his first client arrives. A woman and her husband, who have been looking into bdsm practices and needed assistance. Now, Hanbin hasn’t tried it out himself, but he has done the research and provides them with an in-depth guideline, as well as a few locations they can try out where he has connections with the owners. They meet once a month for a slight recap, and from what they’re telling him, it’s been going well. He won’t need to see them much longer.

His second clients for the day happen to be his favorite. Two women who’ve been together since high school and are interested in a polyamorous relationship. From what Hanbin was told, they’ll be bringing in their third today. Typically, he refers his female clients to female therapists if they find it more comfortable, but these two have been with him so long that there really are no secrets. His work with them is less sexual and more on the normal therapist side. He does have the qualifications for that, and he puts them to good use, helping them navigate some of the hardships of their relationship.

His third client is an older couple. They’re in their early fifties and have been married for almost half of that time. For them, their love life seems to be dwindling, and Hanbin provides them with a simple way to continue an active love life that fits with their ages.

The more he looks at it, the more impressed he is that he’s managed to gain such a wide age range of clients. Their session ends right on time, and Hanbin sips at his coffee before taking a moment to gather himself before his next client arrives.

Picking up his phone, he calls Matthew.

“Who’s next on the list?” Hanbin asks. His eyes are strained from looking at his computer screen for too long. He has two more clients, but this late in the day, his excitement from earlier has dwindled into almost nothing.

The loud sound of Matthew clicking away at his computer hits his ears and causes him to wince. “Your next appointment is the new couple. Actually, they’re here right now.”

Hanbin’s eyes fly open, and he sits up in his chair. “Send them in,” he says with excitement. Gaining new clients is always fun for Hanbin. He gets to play detective for the first session, figuring out the clues that give him insight into the couple before him. He quickly scans over his notes from Jinwoo’s last visit and tries to take note of the things he said about the boyfriend. Jinwoo’s friends say he’s bratty and antisocial. Hanbin wonders how true that is.

Matthew pushes open the door, and the couple steps inside. Hanbin finishes scribbling down a few questions to ask the boyfriend before standing to shake their hand. His eyes glide up, expecting to see Jinwoo first, and instead they land on someone else.

“Mr. Sung, this is my boyfriend, Zhang Hao.”

The sound of Matthew closing the door is what shakes Hanbin out of whatever daze he’s caught himself in. He reaches out his hand and plasters a respectful smile on his face. The hand that shakes his is slightly warm, and the sweet yet expensive scent of his cologne seems to fill the air.

“Please, just call me Hanbin,” he tells both of them, motioning for them to take a seat. His pen flips in his hand, and Hanbin itches to write down something on the boyfriend's side of his notebook.

He hadn’t expected this. It’s not often that a client manages to catch him off guard, but Zhang Hao is absolutely beautiful. Even the word beautiful doesn’t seem to capture what Hanbin is looking at. It takes more than a little bit of effort to drag his attention away.

“Jinwoo has explained a bit about your relationship,” Hanbin starts, looking between the two of them. “He expressed his concern and requested my help in seeking a solution.”

This is good. He’s staying on topic and maintaining his professional boundary. Hao isn't as impressed. He doesn’t look too thrilled to be here, eyes cutting between Hanbin and Jinwoo with an accusing sort of attitude.

“He told me he came,” Hao replies, glancing at his boyfriend. “I told him it wasn’t necessary.”

Torn between replaying the sound of Hao’s voice in his head and processing his words, Hanbin does the latter. He can see why Jinwoo was so hesitant to come. His boyfriend seems to be the solve it ourselves type of person. This isn’t the first time Hanbin has encountered this kind of dynamic.

“Do you believe there is a problem with your sex life, Mr. Zhang?”

Hao meets Hanbin’s gaze with a cold and calculating look. But somewhere, hidden in those eyes, the truth reveals itself when his eyes flicker away for a fraction of a second. He does.

“I believe this isn’t a major issue. We’ve been together for almost two years now, it's something we can overcome.”

“I don’t doubt that,” Hanbin says, looking to Jinwoo as a slight warning. He’s going to have to push a little to see what comes of it. “Many couples' sex lives tend to lose its spark after the honeymoon period.”

Hao looks at Jinwoo with a weird expression. “It hasn’t lost its spark. We’re just into different things. That’s all.”

Hanbin writes that down without looking away.

“I’ve heard a bit from Jinwoo, but I’m curious as to how you’d define your sex life.”

“Normal.” One simple word, yet it holds far more than he realizes. Hanbin knows what normal is for people who’ve been together for quite some time. By definition, normal means lots of common positions.

“Missionary?” he asks, looking down at his notebook. The silence he’s met with answers his question.

“We’re romantics, Mr. Sung. I don’t need a fancy position to get off. But if that’s what gets you going…”

He’s defensive. Bratty. Hanbin sees it now. Jinwoo tries to hide his smile, but the corners of his lips tug a bit. He loves this.

“Nothing is wrong with normal,” Hanbin cuts in politely. “Not that it matters, but I believe romance is a key part of a relationship. Moving on, Jinwoo tells me you’ve been swamped at work lately.”

Hao nods curtly. He doesn’t want to be here, but Hanbin can see he cares enough about his partner to go through this for him.

“He also tells me that because of your stress levels, you two have been more intimate as of late. Can you tell me what it was like before?”

Hao exhales deeply and meets his boyfriend's eye. “What do you want to know?”

“Anything you want to share with me. How long it lasts, and comforts, discomforts, if you’re satisfied with the ending.”

That last one is going to be important. Jinwoo already expressed feeling as if Hao isn’t fully satisfied with how they ended things. Even if Hao lies, Hanbin knows enough to pick up on it.

“It lasts for about an hour, I guess,” Hao says with a nonchalant shrug. Jinwoo’s first lie. “It’s pretty comfortable. Jinwoo isn’t exactly small, but I can handle it. No real discomforts.” Hao’s first lie, his eyes look away, unable to meet either of their gazes. “I’m pretty satisfied with how it ends.” His body language says otherwise. He isn’t looking at Jinwoo anymore, fingers tapping against the chair as he finishes his sentence.

Jinwoo gives him a panicked look. It seems he picked up on it as well.

“How often do you participate in minor sexual acts?”

“Such as?” Jinwoo pipes up.

“Kissing, foreplay, messing around,” Hanbin adds to lighten the tension in the room.

Hao bites his lip and looks away, and Jinwoo simply sighs. Another sore topic for them. Hanbin figured as much. From what he’s gathered, Hao works quite often, and when they do see each other, it’s to immediately release the built-up stress. There is hardly time for a natural buildup when your sex life is a match to a gasoline-soaked fuse.

“I’m going to ask something of you two. It’s just a minor request, and feel free to say no if it makes you uncomfortable, but I think it would help if I had a sort of baseline for your reactions.”

“A baseline? To see how we react to what?” Hao is not too thrilled with the idea.

“There’s no need to panic,” Hanbin says evenly. “It’s just a kiss. You can tell a lot from how two people feel about each other from watching an act as simple as kissing. Body language doesn’t lie.”

His logic makes enough sense for Hao to give a sharp nod and for Jinwoo to agree.

“Right now?” Jinwoo asks, and Hanbin nods.

“The session is coming to a close. It would be helpful for me to develop a rough draft of a plan if I understood your level of comfort with each other.”

“We’ve been together for two years,” Hao reminds him.

Hanbin nods at him. “And I understand that, really, I do. This is just to see where I should start. I have an idea right now, but I just want to confirm it.”

Jinwoo answers for both of them with an easy okay. He turns his head, and Hao does the same. They meet in the middle with what appears to be a familiar kiss, one that Hao sighs into just a little bit before they pull back.

“So?” Hao asks, sitting back in his chair. “What did you get from that?”

He’s waiting for Hanbin to say he’s wrong. That they’re madly in love, and Hanbin doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

“I’ll see you two next week,” Hanbin says with a kind smile. Hao nods, standing up while Jinwoo thanks him for his time. They make their way out the door, and Hanbin leans back in his chair, covering his eyes with his hands.

After he’s gathered himself, he looks back down at his notes and makes some corrections. Jinwoo’s friends were right about one thing: Hao certainly has a mouth on him. He appears to be the dominant one in the relationship, but Jinwoo tries his best to maintain control.

Jinwoo lied about how long they’ve been having sex for. When Hao said one hour, it almost sounded typical, almost as if he had counted the exact hour before. He’s far from satisfied with their sex life. Jinwoo was spot on, but Hao would have never told him if Jinwoo didn’t bring it up.

Above all that kiss.

It’s clear Hao’s lips are sensitive, yet for some reason Jinwoo doesn’t know that. Hao kissed him like he wanted more, and Jinwoo kissed him because of a command.

Hanbin’s prediction about them was so exact that he almost couldn't believe it. Jinwoo doesn't understand Hao, but he wants to. From where he’s sitting, there are a few ways he can make that happen. It’ll be all Hanbin thinks about until he finds a solution.

That and the way Hao looked at him for the first time.

*~*~*

“How did it go with the new couple?”

Hanbin wanted to relax and celebrate Joon and Donghyun’s minor win, but there truly is no rest for those who are dedicated to their jobs. Drinks were canceled, and Hanbin and Matthew found themselves trapped in the office into the late hours of the night, filing, organizing, and keeping house.

By the time the week comes to a close, they haven’t had a moment to breathe. Matthew complained for hours about Hanbin’s sudden change to his schedule to fit Jinwoo and Hao. He ended up having to switch up an entire day just to make room for them.

Wanting to show his appreciation for his hard-working friend, Hanbin suggests they order in, placing a large order of food and drinks to make it up to him.

They’re sitting on their living room floor, eating takeout and drinking beer like they’re living back in their dorms. Hanbin would have cooked something homemade since Matthew loves his cooking, but he didn’t have it in him to cook tonight, and he’d be damned before he let Matthew get anywhere near that stove after the mint chocolate tteotbokki he tried to poison Hanbin with. It only took one time for Hanbin to ban Matthew from the kitchen for life.

Hanbin believes strongly in patient confidentiality, his notes, however, are encrypted on software that only Matthew and one other staff member have access to. He knows Matthew read the file to prepare for the next session. He’s qualified, after all. They have their own confidentiality between them. What happens in the apartment stays in the apartment, and they’ve been through so much together that they know not to break that trust.

“You read the notes when you filed them. They seem to be going through what all normal couples go through. Mr. Zhang simply needs more from Jinwoo, and he hasn’t realized that yet.”

Matthew gives him a smug look. “Oh, Mr. Zhang, is it?” Hanbin rolls his eyes, preparing for Matthew to start up on his teasing. He’s been holding it in well all week. Hanbin was worried Matthew would try to bring it up the same day, but Hanbin had been so worn after his sessions that he passed out right after returning home.

“And what did Mr. Zhang have to say about the session?” Matthew inquires.

He wasn’t thrilled. Hanbin could see it written all over his face; he wasn't happy about being there.

“We get people like him all the time,” Hanbin says instead. “Embarrassed or those who simply don’t see the point in getting to the root of the problem.”

Matthew hums in response. “You think it’s their age?” He asks. “Jinwoo is thirty-three, it could be an impending stamina problem,” he comments while taking a bite.

Hanbin shakes his head. That isn’t a problem. Jinwoo is fit, he has the energy Hanbin is sure of. After two years, Jinwoo should know what his partner likes by now. Hanbin doesn’t doubt that he does, but something must be missing if they’ve made their way to him.

“I think Mr. Min just hasn’t figured out how to appreciate his partner just yet or how to try things his way.”

Matthew doesn’t respond, sipping his drink and biting back his response.

Hanbin’s chopsticks pause mid-air, and he squints his eyes at Matthew. “What is it?”

“It’s nothing. I’m just wondering if you’re interested in appreciating Mr. Zhang the way his boyfriend can’t.”

“Matthew,” Hanbin says in a warning tone. They know not to do things like this. Talking about patients is one thing, but…fantasizing. That’s something else entirely. It hinders the therapy not only for the patient but for Hanbin as well.

“I know you’ve noticed how attractive he is.”

“We get a lot of attractive clients. It doesn’t mean I want to sleep with any of them, especially when they’re here with their significant other.”

Hanbin isn’t above admitting Hao is attractive. He lingered on his mind all week, even when Hanbin tried to ignore it.

Matthew scoffs. “I didn’t say that, Hanbin. I'm trying to help.”

Hanbin doesn’t see how this is helping him. All it’s doing is pushing thoughts into his head that he’s been trying so hard to keep out. He’s noticed how attractive Mr. Zhang is. He’s gorgeous, and that’s putting it lightly. Jinwoo said during the consultation that he couldn’t believe he landed Hao. Hanbin wouldn’t believe anyone who managed to get him.

Hao is independent. He knows what he wants but can’t quite ask for it. Two years leave room for compliance. They get used to the same routines, and it becomes far too comfortable for them to change.

Both Hao and Jinwoo are reaching points in their lives where settling down becomes appealing, and finding other people to start over with is not. Hao is going to work it out with Jinwoo because he loves him and doesn’t want to start love all over again, even if it means they continue like this.

“How is this helping?”

Matthew puts down his bowl and looks at him with a grin. “I know you want to do the right thing and go all textbook on them, but I’ve seen the notes. Loveless kiss? Shortening sex time, one person not wanting to admit they aren’t satisfied? You know what this all leads to, too.”

Hanbin groans. He does know. Passionless sex isn’t something he is unfamiliar with when it comes to his clients. Some couples don’t even realize they’re just doing it to release stress without properly enjoying it.

“Now what would be more satisfying? Giving it to them straight or knowing your suggestions could be giving your little crush the best orgasm of his life.”

“That’s unethical,” Hanbin murmurs. “I’m going by the textbook.”

Matthew smirks, pushing himself to stand.

“How are you going to handle this?” Matthew inquires around a mouthful of food. “It takes a lot to catch your eye, and you aren’t exactly one to move on so quickly.”

“They’re a couple, a committed one. I’m here to help them, not try to break them apart. There’s no handling, I’m going to do my job.”

“I figured,” Matthew says with a groan. “Just to be clear, I wasn’t proposing you make a move on him. It just sucks because he’s totally your type.”

For a moment, Hanbin lets himself admit it.

“He really is.”

*~*~*

For the first time since he met Joon and Donghyun, Hanbin finds himself beyond excited to officially start with his newest clients.

Matthew often associates Hanbin with a mad scientist when he gets new clients. Obsessed with finding the solution and eager for any opportunity where he can put his skills to work.

It took some time, but Hanbin managed to develop a rough treatment plan for these two. It took him days to do it and lots of second-guessing. He plans on explaining it to them today while also giving the first demonstration. That way, they can practice at home with the hopes of being ready for the second phase by the next session.

He’s in the middle of setting his desk up for his next clients when Matthew lets him know that they’ve arrived. Hanbin had prepared himself mentally for the couple. More importantly, for Zhang Hao, who seems to be a lit fuse whenever he feels cornered.

The couple walks in, and for the first time since Hanbin met them together, he realizes what an interesting couple they make. While Hao’s features are softer and more elegant, Jinwoo’s features are harder and a little more rugged. They complement each other in an interesting way, and it’s enough for Hanbin to jot it down.

“So, Mr. Min, Mr. Zhang, how are we doing today? And be completely honest.”

“Nervous,” Jinwoo pipes up. “And please just call me Jinwoo the way you have been.” Hanbin nods and adds that to his note.

Then he looks over at Hao. He looks put together, pouty lips drawing his attention with a glossy sheen that makes his lips stand out. Hanbin forces his gaze to meet his eyes and finds that Hao is already fixing him with an intrigued expression.

“I’m ready to see what you come up with,” Hao answers plainly.

“You don’t think this will help you both,” Hanbin states plainly. Hao shifts in his seat, slightly uncomfortable with Hanbin voicing the obvious. “I can assure you my methods are backed by research, and I have a clientele list a mile long of recommendations who have confirmed my treatment plans do work.”

Hao doesn’t appear to be surprised by this. He must have done his research. Many non-believers of his practice tend to.

“Jinwoo expressed in the treatment box that you two are open to demonstrations on methods that may help progress the treatment plan.”

They both nod quietly, and Hanbin turns the folder of his set treatment plan so that they can see. He tried to write it as simply as possible so that there wouldn't be any misinterpretations. A newer version, after Joon and Donghyun somehow managed to get lost using the plan he gave them.

“I’ve developed a three-step treatment plan for you two to follow. Now this is three steps, but that does not necessarily mean it will take three weeks to complete.” He remembers Joon and Donghyun and mentally grimaces. “The first step will be re-learning about each other.”

“Why is that necessary?” Jinwoo cuts in. “I think I know what my boyfriend likes.”

Hanbin flips his pen, resisting the urge to let out the passive-aggressive questioning of “do you?” Instead, he gives Jinwoo a polite smile.

“Everyone evolves at some point in their lives. Sexual preferences can be the same way. What Mr. Zhang liked a few years ago may not necessarily be what he finds pleasurable now.”

Jinwoo’s expression hardens slightly. Hanbin recalls Hao mentioning them being into different things. He’s going to have to circle back to that.

“The second phase will be what I call reintroducing the spark. These will be a series of at-home exercises you both can try out with the intention of slowly building back that desire for each other.”

He circles the last point with his pen and tries not to break into a smile when they both take note of the last line. He’s going to get to that point in a minute.

“The last phase will be using both phase one and phase two to discover your new normal.” He makes a point of looking at Hao, who refuses to meet his eyes. “And yes, that does say no non-penetrative sex until phase three.”

“I’m sensing a flaw in this plan. Of course, if we’re pent up, our sex is going to be better,” Hao points out, challenging Hanbin with a stare.

“I never said you wouldn’t be engaging in sexual acts. I'm sure I don’t have to be the one to tell you that you don’t need to have penetrative sex to come.”

An aborted retort dies in Hao’s throat, and something passes across his face, like he’s just remembered that.

Hanbin has to gather himself quickly. He looks at Jinwoo instead and stands, mind reeling from Hao’s reaction. He notes a solo session with Hao in his notebook and ushers the two of them out of the room. He has Yuna, his second secretary, brief them on what will be taking place during the demonstration while he takes a moment in his office.

Things might be worse than he thought.

Making his way to the demonstration room, Hanbin prepares himself mentally once more. He knocks a few times and pushes the door open after a few seconds. Hao is right where he’s instructed to be. The bed is lowered enough for Jinwoo to approach when the time is right.

“Phase one is re-learning each other's preferences,” Hanbin says in an even voice. “Now this might be awkward and a little uncomfortable, but that’s the point. Keep in mind I am a neutral party here simply to observe, take note, and relay the information to you afterwards.”

They signed consent forms, but Hanbin likes to remind his clients just in case. He gives them the routine speech. If they’re ever too uncomfortable, they can switch to a new exercise or end the session.

Then they begin.

He starts by having Jinwoo join Hao on the bed. It’s a modified version of a hospital bed. Wide enough to hold two grown adults. Their clothes will be staying on. Though Hanbin has had a few encounters with patients who get a little carried away and hands end up slipped under shirts and such.

None of which has been a problem. Hanbin has been doing this long enough that nothing phases him or turns him on during a session. This is his profession, and he’s learned to separate his work from his interests.

“We started with a kiss last session. Let’s see how that works out.” Jinwoo nods, and Hao breathes out deeply. His head lies back against the cushioned yet firm bed as Jinwoo hovers on top of him. Hanbin has his notebook in hand and watches, assessing, as they kiss.

He watches Jinwoo’s expressions. He’s tense, which is to be expected when someone’s watching you make out with your boyfriend. But then Hao coaxes him, slipping his tongue past Jinwoo’s lips and sighing. It’s a little sound, just an exhale really, but Hanbin’s focus shifts completely to Hao a little too fast.

There's a familiarity to the way they kiss, but it seems almost robotic. Hao knows how Jinwoo wants to be kissed, and so he kisses him like that. Jinwoo knows Hao’s every move, and so he moves before Hao has too. Writing that down, Hanbin calls for them to stop.

He doesn’t dare look at Hao, keeping his focus on Jinwoo before starting up his next exercise.

“The next part is understanding your partner's weak points. The places that turn them on. Where is he most sensitive?” Hanbin asks, reading the question from his notebook.

Jinwoo looks at Hao and pushes out his lips a bit. “His neck is pretty sensitive.”

Hanbin writes it down and then points in Hao’s direction with his pen. “Can you show me?”

Jinwoo complies easily, and Hao tilts his neck. Hanbin can see where Jinwoo brushes his lips along Hao’s neck. Hao certainly reacts, his fingers twitch by his side, and he breathes a bit harder, but it isn’t until Jinwoo brushes a little higher up just along the bottom of Hao’s ear that he gasps.

“Good?” Jinwoo asks, looking in Hanbin’s direction.

“Perfect,” Hanbin replies, adding that in the notes. “Anywhere else?”

It takes Hanbin ten minutes to realize he was right about this, too. Whatever Hao was into when they first got together, he’s long over it. Jinwoo only manages to get one thing right, which happens to be Hao’s inner thighs.

Other than that, it was time after time of watching Hao lie patiently on the bed, often forgetting he’s supposed to be reacting to save his boyfriend from the crushing embarrassment of not knowing what he likes at all.

By the time their session is up, Hanbin has learned one thing that makes a world of difference when it comes to understanding these two.

Hao isn’t hiding his lack of interest in his boyfriend sexually. He’s very obvious about it, even if he doesn’t mean to be. They just chose to ignore it.

They return to Hanbin’s office, where Hanbin looks at the mess of scribbles on his notepad. This is going to be a pain to file later, but he’s gotten a new piece of the puzzle.

He hasn’t said much yet, and he can tell his silence makes Jinwoo anxious. What he’s about to say next isn’t about to reduce that anxiety, but he has to get it out before he forgets.

“If possible, I was wondering if I could do a solo consultation with Mr. Zhang.”

Jinwoo sits up straight, his guard raised as he looks at Hao. “Why is something wrong?”

Hanbin gives him a patient look. “There’s no such thing as wrong here,” Hanbin reminds him. “We typically consult both partners individually to get a broad view of what could be going on.”

Jinwoo sits back but hardly relaxes. He was right about this, too. Jinwoo hides it pretty well, but it’s clear he’s quite protective of Hao. He doesn’t like the idea of Hao coming back here alone, and if it were Hanbin in his shoes, he wouldn’t either. But he’s the professional here, and in order to help them, he needs to see where Hao’s head is.

“You can schedule it with Matthew, preferably before our next session.” He passes them a slip to give to Matthew and sinks into his chair as the door closes.

Hanbin has much to think about. For one, Hao and Jinwoo are far beyond just loveless sex. It’s almost as if they’re both in denial or, at the very least, Jinwoo is. His session with Hao is going to be tense. It is a good thing, on the other hand.

He’s been doing this work for three years, and not once has he ever felt like this after a session. Winded like he’s run a marathon and burning from something other than the heat that’s blasting in the office.

Watching Hao today woke something inside of him. Every gasp Hao let out, the brief seconds where Jinwoo did something right, and Hao couldn’t help but praise him with his reactions left Hanbin clinging to every movement. He swallowed his wrong desires more than once as he prayed the heat would continue to spread through his body and not focus itself south.

Whatever he feels for Hao is stronger than a casual attraction to a patient. Hanbin has known want before. Just never like this.

*~*~*

Hanbin doesn’t have nearly as much time to prepare for Hao’s solo session as he needs.

The only available day falls just two days after the paired session with Jinwoo. In those two days, Hanbin throws himself into work to distract himself from the fact that he’ll be in this very room for an hour with Hao alone.

He’s gone from casually concerned to obsessed in just one session. What he deemed a simple attraction to a good-looking man has turned into Hao staring in every fantasy of his.

It’s wrong, and Hanbin certainly doesn’t have experience with being so mentally attached to a client like this.

Matthew believes it's a sign that Hanbin needs a break. That he isn’t really obsessed with Hao at all, and that helping other people improve their own sex lives while his remains nonexistent, created an opportunity for him to latch on to the first good-looking man he can find and want more.

He might be right. Hanbin just doesn’t have the time to figure out how right he is. With his desk organized and the time ticking, Hanbin hardly flinches when Matthew opens the door.

“He’s here. Should I send him in?”

Hanbin has prepared himself for this moment. He has a list of general questions to ask Hao and just that. After his questions, he will send Hao on his way and modify the treatment plan.

He has his own treatment plan for himself as well. Limit contact with Hao and focus solely on the treatment plan for Hao and his partner. It’s foolproof, and Hanbin is sure of it.

He tells Matthew he’s ready and grips his pen in his hand as he waits for Hao to arrive. The door opens once more, and Matthew lets Hao in before closing the door and leaving them completely alone.

“Mr. Zhang," Hanbin greets, standing and stretching out his hand. Hao shakes it with a neutral expression on his face.

“You call Jinwoo by his name.”

“You haven’t expressed for me to call you anything else,” Hanbin replies carefully.

Hao hums and then takes his seat. “Just Hao is fine.”

Hanbin nods and writes it down even though he might not even need a reminder. Hao looks different on his own. It isn’t like Jinwoo dims Hao’s shine, but by himself, Hao’s presence seems greater. He fills the room with his aura, and without the distraction of his boyfriend, Hanbin sees details he didn’t notice before.

“I have a few questions to ask about your sex life if that’s fine with you.”

Hao motions for Hanbin to continue, and Hanbin clears his throat, looking at the first line. These are ordinary questions he asks all his patients during consultations, but for some reason, asking Hao puts him on edge.

“I’ll start with the easiest one. How satisfied are you with your current sex life?” Hanbin expects the pushback he gets.

“You’ve asked me this before?” Hao replies, crossing his legs.

Hanbin knows that. Only last time Jinwoo was there, giving off nervous waves of energy. “I’m hoping this time you’ll be a little more truthful about your answer.”

“You think I lied?” Hao asks with a glare. He is more than on edge. His posture is rigid and his eyes hard as he scans Hanbin’s face. Hanbin isn’t sure if it’s because of him or the situation in which he’s found himself.

“I think,” Hanbin starts tentatively. “That any man who says they’re satisfied wouldn’t have reacted the way you did during the last session.”

Hao rolls his eyes. “I was nervous. Didn’t you say it’s natural to be nervous during these sorts of tests?”

“I did. I also said I’m here to help you, which I would love to do properly.” Hao’s lips thin, and Hanbin continues. “How satisfied are you?”

“Very,” Hao says with a slightly irritated twinge to his voice. He’s lying. Most people do. He’s learned how to get around that, too.

“Have you ever had to fake an orgasm with your partner?” It’s on the list, Hanbin can ask.

Hao splutters. He doesn’t look upset. More like surprised Hanbin would even ask him that. Most clients he’s approached with this question end up so stunned that they reveal the truth. Hao is stunned and silent.

“There’s no need to be embarrassed or even feel like you have to say it out loud. Have you?”

Hao hesitates, and they stare at each other, knowing what that means. Hao doesn’t have to say much else, and Hanbin doesn’t have to ask again. He does have to establish that line of trust, abolishing the habit of lying during the session, and so he does.

“Given the question I just asked you, how satisfied are you with your sex life?”

This time, Hao inhales deeply before rushing out his answer. “It isn’t the same as it was when we first got together.”

“And what was it like when you first got together?”

Hao leans against one of the armrests and sighs.

“It was exciting. Different. I’ve always gone for older guys, they tend to know what they’re doing,” Hao confesses. “Jinwoo was untouchable.”

“Meaning?” Hanbin says writing while Hao speaks.

Hao looks almost upset when he reveals, “I've been told I tend to go for things I can’t have.”

Hanbin’s pen freezes, and he looks up slowly. “So he was someone you couldn’t obtain easily. A challenge. That certainly increases the thrill.”

Hao nods his head, sinking his teeth into his plump bottom lip before he continues. “It did. He’s the son of a business tycoon. I didn’t even know who until a few months after we got together.”

“So you liked the power you gained from obtaining someone you perceived out of your reach.”

“No one is out of my reach, Mr. Sung. That was the mentality I had back in my youth.”

Hanbin laughs. “You’re only twenty-six.”

“Exactly. I’m in my mid-twenties. It doesn’t take a genius to know that settling down is more appealing at this stage in my life. I met Jinwoo when I was twenty-four. I knew what I wanted.”

“Commitment and longevity,” Hanbin nods along.

Hao agrees. “He gave me that. He also gave me the excitement of dating an older man, which quickly dwindled into where we are now.”

“And where are you two right now?”

His fingers fiddle with the end of his expensive dress shirt. Then he smiles. “Missionary.”

“Normal,” Hanbin remembers with an understanding smile. “There’s nothing wrong with that.”

“So you keep saying,” Hao mutters, and Hanbin sees the problem then and there. It isn’t either of their faults.

“You want that excitement back,” Hanbin continues.

Hao shrugs. “I want someone who can give me what I want without me having to ask for it,” Hao sighs. “Apparently, for Jinwoo, that is equivalent to me not being satisfied.”

“But you aren’t satisfied, and it’s taking a toll on both of you. I think you know why.”

Hao meets his eyes for the first time since the topic turned into this serious mind game.

“I guess I was a little pissed off that you guessed it early on,” Hao says with a frown. “I’m not into the same things I was when we first met. Some things haven’t changed, but others have, and Jinwoo doesn’t change.”

Hanbin writes that down, but the statement truly hits him only after Hao has said it. Hao has gone through many changes, but Jinwoo hasn’t. That explains the robotic feel of their relationship. Jinwoo is still attracted to Hao, but the same can’t be said for the other way around.

“I don’t doubt that,” Hanbin says with a kind smile. “At the very least, we can still try to improve things between the two of you.”

Hanbin’s mind works overtime as it processes everything. Hao is miserable, that much is clear. He’s trying to pretend he isn’t, but gives himself away quite easily now that Jinwoo isn’t here.

“I just have one more question,” Hanbin says with an easy smile. “During our session, I mentioned using other sexual methods as a form of stress relief. You had a pretty interesting reaction.”

Hao crosses his arms, putting a barrier between them. “Just ask if you want to know. It’s not like I can hide much from you.”

“I’m trying to find the right way to ask,” Hanbin confesses. He doesn’t want to offend or make Hao feel uncomfortable, but he does want to know.

“It’s fine,” Hao says with a heavy exhale. “It isn’t a secret if you’re asking. Jinwoo knows, too, it’s actually how he found out we’ve been having problems.”

Hanbin writes it down while nosing along. “You have to have sex in order for you to come,” Hanbin stated bluntly.

“Yeah,” Hao replies, slightly embarrassed. “I guess we need more help than I thought.”

Hao runs his hand through his hair, and Hanbin can tell this is something he’s never had to admit out loud. He hasn’t even said it. Hanbin had to read between the lines.

“What do you suggest now that you know this big secret?”

Hanbin isn’t one for telling people how their relationships should go. He’s here to give sex advice and listen. But at the very least, if Hao insists on staying with his boyfriend, something has to change.

“Find something that turns you on,” Hanbin suggests. You can do it by yourself or with Jinwoo. Create a space in your head where things feel different, pleasurable.”

“Pleasurable,” Hao says with a small smile. “I think I can do that.”

“Excellent. I’ll see you and Jinwoo at our next session to progress to phase two.”

“Okay, I’ll find that space, Mr. Sung.”

“Please call me Hanbin,” he calls after Hao. The door closes, and Hanbin reviews everything he just went through.

This isn’t the first time he’d experienced this before. One-sided love typically occurs before two people get into a relationship, not during. It isn’t fully affecting them yet if they can still have sex, but it’s going downhill fast.

Matthew slips into his office moments later. His last client canceled, and for the first time in days, they got to go home early. Hanbin needs this. He needs to relax after everything he just heard.

“Is everything okay?” Matthew asks. “Mr. Zhang looked a little less grumpy when he left. I’m assuming you managed to recommend something helpful.”

Hanbin makes a noise in the back of his throat, staring at all the notes he has on his desk. Nothing went the way he planned for it to go.

“I told him to find something that turns him on.”

Matthew gives him a coy look. “Tell me you didn’t just tell your patient to mentally cheat on his boyfriend.”

Hanbin did so unknowingly. Hao isn’t attracted to Jinwoo right now, and Hanbin can only wonder what Hao will find to fill that gap. “If he still has a shred of love for him, he won’t.”

He hopes Hao doesn’t take his advice. He was wrong for giving it, even if he did it to help the patient.

Somewhere in the back of his mind, a delusional thought enters his head. He could do it. He could be the thing that turns Hao on. He knows how to even without all the fancy methods he’s learned.

Just one moment alone, Hanbin thinks as he closes Hao’s file. That’s all it would take.

*~*~*

There’s nothing more humbling to a therapist than surrounding themselves with other therapists.

Hanbin finds himself at a bowling alley days later with Jiwoong, Taerae, and Matthew. They’ve all gone into different specialties, which works out perfectly when they need advice. They never talk about their patients, but sometimes it’s good to rant to someone who’s forced into keeping your secrets.

“Anything new?” Jiwoong asks Hanbin. He’s got him alone at the arcade while Matthew and Taerae battle it out in a winter takes all battle with the pins. “You look stressed, and that’s unusual for you.”

“I’m always stressed,” Hanbin says, focusing on the claw machine in front of him. “Nothing about my job is easy.”

“Since when was giving sex advice hard?” Jiwoong laughs. “Last I checked, you were the most desirable man on your college campus for a reason. You certainly know what you’re doing.”

It’s ironic coming from Jiwoong. He’s Hanbin’s mentor. The one who pleaded for Hanbin to carry out his legacy.

Jiwoong got into the practice early. He had a strange fascination for this kind of therapy and participated in an accelerated program, which resulted in him graduating early and opening his own clinic long before Hanbin came into the picture.

He had been guest lecturing when the rumors started about Hanbin, and after meeting him, he decided Hanbin was the one he was looking for. Since then, Jiwoong has made it a habit of inserting himself into Hanbin’s space whenever he thinks Hanbin is stuck.

He’s usually right.

Hanbin tilts his head, not giving anything away. “That doesn’t mean much when you’re faced with the difficulties I’m faced with.”

“Temptation?” Jiwoong asks, reading him like a book. He hates how good Jiwoong is at that. Jiwoong knows better than anyone how hard it is to deal with feelings you shouldn’t have. “Who is it?”

Hanbin doesn’t look away. “Can’t tell.”

Jiwoong looks at the machine, then he smiles. “Sung Hanbin hung up on a client. I never thought I’d see the day.”

“Maybe I really do just need to get laid,” Hanbin groans, switching the topic before Jiwoong can get a better read on him. The toy he won falls into the box, and Hanbin pulls it out. A cute little red panda plushie that somehow reminds him of someone. “It’s been a while.”

“You’re pretty picky with the people you sleep with,” Jiwoong tells him with a snort. “Tell you what, how about we all ditch this bowling alley in exchange for something a little more fun?”

It sounds like music to Hanbin’s ears. They manage to drag Taerae and Matthew away from their game, promising to make it up to them with drinks.

They head to the closest bar they can find, and Hanbin finds that drowning his sorrows in liquor isn’t the best way to get away from his troubles, but it does the job.

Hanbin isn’t even drunk when the pretty boy from across the room approaches him. He’s pretty, not from Korea, and fits the description Hanbin is going for tonight.

He slips away from the group, ignoring their complaints, and wonders how he does it. Hanbin simply doesn’t know. He’s charming, he supposes. At least this guy seems to think so. The guy clings to him, giggling at his every word. It bothers Hanbin for some reason, but he has to do this or else it’ll be worse for him later on.

He’s got an hour before Matthew stumbles his way back to the apartment with his own hook-up, and so he takes full advantage of it. Burying all the dirty thoughts he has about his client inside of this stranger, whom he’s starting to feel sorry for. The guy doesn’t seem to care. Not when he’s moaning so passionately underneath him.

“Fuck, you’re so good at that,” the guy groans, and Hanbin believes it. In his line of work, if he didn’t know what he was doing, it would be a concern. It stops being sex for him halfway through. His mind switches to sex therapist mode, and he finds the quickest way to make this guy come. When it happens, Hanbin pulls out still hard and realizes he's screwed when he thinks morbidly that he could handle this on his own with nothing but the image of a certain client's face.

“Am I not good enough for you?” The guy laughs, not that he seems disturbed by the fact. He looks completely wrecked, and Hanbin supposed that in this guy's mind, only the best hookups end with him leaving like that. “Someone on your mind?” He teases.

“Maybe,” Hanbin admits. “Sorry about that.”

“No need to apologize. It’s just going to be hard finding someone to beat what you just did.”

“Thank you?” Hanbin says, unsure of how to reply to such a compliment. The guy grabs his things and tries his best to look like anything but disheveled as he heads out.

The regret is instant. He shouldn’t have done that.

Hanbin opts for a cold shower, not wanting to admit to himself how easy it would be to come with just the image of rosy red lips, plump and glossy, and the addictive sway of hips that Hanbin is sure wasn’t on purpose.

He doesn’t dare think of his name when he fists his dick, then drops it with a frustrated groan. The water cascades off his skin, swirling down the drain, and Hanbin only wishes his thoughts could go with it.

There’s no doubt about it. He wants Hao. He just can’t have him.

*~*~*

There are good days, bad days, and days where Hanbin swears nothing will go right.

To start, he woke up on the wrong side of the bed. After a long night of tossing and turning and then waking up with a hard-on, his usual routine is thrown off by the icy cold shower he’s forced to take before work. He drives him and Matthew to work, only to find three of his clients already sitting in the waiting room.

“I’m so sorry,” Yuna apologizes as Hanbin rounds the corner. “The power shut off last night while I was sending out confirmation emails, and I somehow sent a mass confirmation email to everyone scheduled for today. stating their appointment was this morning.”

Another client shows up, and Hanbin is forced to start his day early. He takes his first client, leaving the task of updating and modifying the schedules for the day to Matthew and Yuna.

Sitting behind his desk, Hanbin doesn’t even have time to sip his coffee before Joon and Donghyun make their way inside.

“How have you two been?” Hanbin asks with a pleasant smile. It’s been some time since he’s seen them. They’ve had to reschedule due to Joon’s business meetings.

“We’ve been amazing, actually. It took some time, but we’ve finally gone below the belt and explored just like you recommended,” Donghyun says proudly.

Hanbin almost lets out a sigh of relief. This just might change the rest of his day. “That’s amazing news. How did it go?”

The excited smiles waver just a bit, and Hanbin knows exactly what those looks mean. He’s seen them too many times not to. Somehow, someway, these two did something they weren’t supposed to and ended up with an undesired result.

“You see, last week we were in the mood to try something new, and I noticed blow jobs were on the list. We followed your instructions step by step and tried to do everything correctly,” Joon says, playing with his fingers.

“Tried?” Hanbin asks patiently. There were only three instructions. Don’t push yourself, avoid using teeth, and go slow and steady.

Joon nods, burning with embarrassment. “I ended up choking and sort of bit his…” he motions to Donghyun's dick, and Hanbin winces on Donghyun's behalf. He can’t imagine that kind of pain right now.

“Before it happened, it was going very well,” Donghyun chimes in. “We’d like to try again, we just need a bit more guidance.”

It takes Hanbin the entire season to go over proper blow job etiquette in hopes that they don’t end up in the hospital, again, from what Joon accidentally confessed later on.

The rest of his day continues like that. Problem after problem, and trying his best not to down his coffee too quickly. By the time Matthew opens the door for his next client, Hanbin is so drained he doesn’t even register the familiar greeting until Jinwoo and Hao come into view.

“Rough day?” Jinwoo asks, taking a seat. Hanbin gives them a tense smile and tries to shake off the brewing irritation. He isn’t mentally strong enough to deal with these two right now.

“It’s getting better,” Hanbin says reassuringly. “Now, tell me how phase one has been going.”

The couple looks at each other, and Jinwoo speaks up. “It’s been good. We’ve been re-learning each other like you suggested and have learned things we didn’t know before.”

That’s the first good news he’s heard all day.

“What about you?” Hanbin asks Hao. “How is phase one going? And your assignment?”

Hao looks a little brighter than he did before. “It’s been a lot better now that I tried out what you recommended.”

Hanbin scribbles that down, and the force of his pen is so hard that the dark ink bleeds into the paper. It seems Hao has found his happy place. They’re about to see just how happy it makes him in a second.

“Very good. Now phase to highlight phase one, but in other aspects of your sex lives. Today I’m going to give you the chance to model and learn using phase one to enhance phase two.”

The couple nods, and Hanbin stands motioning to the door for them to follow. He meets Matthews' eye on his way down the hall and holds his breath. This isn’t going to be easy. They enter room D, and Hao sits on the bed fairly quickly.

“You’re already in position,” Hanbin says with a smile. “Since the main concern here is Hao, I’m going to have you take on the giving role,” Hanbin says to Jinwoo.

He pulls out a blanket from one of the closets. It’s lightweight and cooling, making what Jinwoo is about to do easier on him.

“Using what you’ve learned from phase one, I want you to demonstrate activity one.”

The pair looks at him with matching expressions. They look uncertain. It’s the usual look Hanbin gets before his clients try it out and realize there’s a method to his madness.

“While you’re in here?” Jinwoo asks.

“I can leave. But it does help if I take note of Hao’s reactions afterwards. Not to mention using the information you provided me, I’ll be able to give advice as well.”

Jinwoo nods and looks at Hao, who seems on board with the idea. The sheet is opened and covers Hao’s lower half as he works his way out of his pants. They’re calm. Too calm. Jinwoo heads underneath the blanket, and Hanbin immediately takes note of Hao’s expression. He’s nervous, slightly tense, eyes still open as he watches Jinwoo move. Not at all the expected behavior of someone about to get their dick sucked.

“Are you okay?” Hanbin asks gently, and Hao nods his head. He inhales sharply, and Hanbin figures Jinwoo has begun. He can see Jinwoo moving under the blanket, hear the quiet sounds of his mouth working around Hao.

He wouldn’t be able to tell from the way Hao reacts. He winces, hand hovering above the blanket for a second before falling beside him. He sits up a bit and finally closes his eyes, but it isn’t because he’s being pleasured. It’s almost as if he wants it to end.

He can’t see Hao like this. Something inside him won’t let him.

“Remember your assignment,” Hanbin whispers gently. His feet move before he can even stop himself, and he stops beside Hao under the guise of assessing. “Close your eyes and relax.”

Hao follows his orders. His breathing is uneven, but mostly from trying too hard to enjoy whatever is happening much lower down.

He wants to make this better for Hao, but it isn’t his place. He isn’t the one under the sheet right now. Jinwoo is. Hanbin could make the pace Jinwoo is moving at feel amazing for Hao, but Jinwoo isn’t him either. But if he was-

“Jinwoo, try slowing down a bit.”

Jinwoo listens quickly, his pace becomes languid and careful.

Hao’s expression relaxes almost immediately. He lets out a stuttered sigh, and his pants take an airy turn. Hanbin watches in fascination as Hao finally enjoys it, even if he isn’t enjoying Jinwoo’s actions wherever he’s gone, mixed with the new movement, it's enough. His head tilts back against the bed, and Hanbin is forced to drink in the object of his desires right in front of him.

“Holy shit,” Hao whispers, biting his lip to hold back his moans. His expression relaxes, and his lips part as his back arches against the table. His leg twitches under the sheet, fingers tightening against the edge of the bed as his breathing quickens. “Shit, Ha-” he stops, jolting up and pressing his hand against Jinwoo’s head above the sheet.

Hanbin blinks, as he watches Hao’s orgasm run its course, resulting in the prettiest chorus of moans he’s ever heard. He has a new problem. His notepad covers it, but Hanbin knows the moment Hao opens his eyes, he’s going to see it.

“I’ll give you two a minute,” Hanbin says, heading for the door. It slams behind him, and so does the one to his office. The hard outline of his cock strains against his work pants, and he groans. He presses his back against the door and already feels bad for what he’s about to do.

In three years, this has never happened, Hanbin thinks, unbuttoning his pants. In three years, Hanbin has been the definition of controlled, he criticizes unzipping them. In three years, he’s never even felt a single spark of arousal towards any of his clients, Hanbin remembers as he wraps his hand around his aching dick.

Letting out a choked exhale, the memory of Hao’s plump lips rushes to the front of his mind. They parted just enough for Hanbin’s sick mind to imagine things it shouldn’t. Like Hao’s lips wrapped tightly around the head of Hanbin’s cock.

Jinwoo didn’t know how to get Hao off. Hanbin did. He was the one who knew Hao wanted it slower. He was the one who told Hao to find what turned him on.

Precome drips from the head of his dick, and Hanbin shakes his head in complete denial. They should take his license for this. He doesn’t deserve to help others when he’s so focused on helping himself.

His head falls back against the door, not wanting to face his own actions as he works his hand faster, tightening his hold to the point where he can imagine it being Hao, wet and so inviting.

He gasps as his orgasm hits him hard. Come shoots out, landing on the ground in an amount Hanbin can’t even fathom. He’s been holding himself back because he knew what it would mean. It’s too late to hold back now that he’s seen Hao in that position.

He lets his breathing slow back down before grabbing the tissues by the door. He cleans up the mess and gets rid of the evidence. Washing his hands in the adjoining bathroom, then sitting behind his desk. Clearing his throat, he dials Matthew’s number.

“Could you please bring Jinwoo and Hao to my office?”

Matthew agrees and doesn’t push him. The door opens moments later, and the pair look almost as mortified as Hanbin feels. He should have been there to go through the notes with them. Leaving creates an opportunity for situations like these.

“What do your notes say?” Jinwoo asks as they take a seat. Hanbin clears his throat and looks down at the paper. There isn’t anything on it except their names, previous notes, and phase two. Every point he was meant to take note of doesn’t exist.

“I believe you two have a clear understanding of phase two,” Hanbin says, looking at Jinwoo with what he hopes is a smile. “Continue to practice at home, and when you feel comfortable enough to move on to phase three, we can start the process for that.”

“Thank you,” Jinwoo says with an awkward laugh. Hanbin means to ease his worries, but his mind is all over the place.

“Didn’t you say you needed to take note of the reactions afterwards?” Hao asks. Hanbin can’t look at him. He doesn’t need or want to know what Hao looks like right now. “Did you manage to get everything?”

Again, Hanbin didn’t get a single thing written down. But he does have to answer, so he makes something up.

“It’s clear the method I gave you works, and Jinwoo has also learned more about your preferences, so I didn’t need the reaction after. I’ll see you both during our next session.”

As they leave, Hanbin wonders where everything went so wrong. He stares at his door. The very door he got off against just minutes ago, and just looks.

The method he gave Hao works, but Jinwoo still doesn’t know how to get Hao off. They’re far from ready for the next phase.

*~*~*

Hanbin never meant to tell anyone about what happened that day. Especially not Jiwoong, who seems to have a niche for prying the truth out of him.

Swallowing the drink in his glass, Hanbin never stood a chance against Jiwoong. From the moment the older walked into their apartment, Jiwoong had been itching to bring up Hanbin’s problem.

He shouldn’t have told Jiwoong about the failed hookup. He dug his grave with that one. But he had been so distraught over the fact that he was crushing hard on a client, he needed advice.

“So you did your job.”

From someone other than Matthew.

Once again, Hanbin finds himself between the two of them. Taerae had a client emergency and left, which only shifted the focus to Hanbin, who was quiet all night. They didn’t have to pry much. Hanbin kept his mouth shut until Matthew said the name Hao, and he just blurted it all out, unable to keep it in.

Matthew was on the side of Hanbin’s dick. He saw nothing wrong with Hanbin releasing his frustrations. Sure, he was a little grossed out that Hanbin decided his office floor was the perfect place to release it, but Matthew was fully supportive of whatever methods kept them from getting sued.

“It could have been worse. You could have pounced on him while his boyfriend was still in the room,” Matthew adds.

They all know Hanbin would never do that. No one in their right mind would. But it could have been something subtle. A lack of awareness on his part could have led to a simple touch that shouldn’t have happened. Which is why Jiwoong is at a crossroads with his decision.

“It’s good that you got it out, as Matthew said, but this really has gone too far.”

Hanbin knows it has. He should have referred the two to another therapist in his clinic the moment he realized what he felt for Hao was stronger than just thinking he’s pretty. But Hanbin was determined to help them work things out. He still is. If not because it’s his job, then just to prove he can mold Jinwoo into at least half of the man Hao deserves.

“They have one phase left,” Hanbin says pitifully. “Using everything I’ve given them to get the end result they’ve been hoping for.”

“And what's going to happen when what turns Hao on becomes something he desires more than his boyfriend?”

By then, it’ll be up to those two to determine where they want to go from there. They’ll be long gone, and Hanbin won’t have to worry about it anymore.

“I’m only here to help them have better sex, not to fix their relationship.” Though he’s starting to believe the first one might not even be attainable. Jinwoo couldn’t even make Hao come the way he did before Hanbin stepped into the picture.

Jiwoong groans. “From where I’m sitting, it sounds like you want them to fail.”

“I don’t. My clients deserve to be happy,” Hanbin says with as much certainty as he can muster up. Jinwoo is a nice guy, and Hao is an amazing person. They have a life together, one that Hanbin is simply a temporary stop in.

“I don’t know,” Jiwoong says, looking at Matthew. “Something tells me this Hao guy isn’t the type to lie to someone for long. Something has got to give between the two of them, and maybe they break up, maybe they don't, but you need to talk to Hao about what he thinks about when he’s with his boyfriend.”

“I don’t feel like I have the right to know,” Hanbin frowns. He shouldn’t insert himself any more than he already has.

Matthew joins in once again after hearing both sides. “I’m with Jiwoong on this one. You’re his therapist, it's actually your job to get into his head. Only you can determine whether the thing that turns him on will impact their relationship.”

“And if it does?”

Jiwoong gives him a remorseful look.

“Then you have to tell him to stop.”

*~*~*

The hardest thing about Hanbin’s job is often doing the right thing.

This isn’t the first time that Hanbin’s managed to land himself in a situation where he has the choice to do the right thing, and he’s hesitant.

He once had a couple that came to him with a simple problem of not being able to get off together. After multiple sessions and trying out different things, one of the clients finally admitted it wasn’t something that could be fixed.

She didn’t love her boyfriend anymore, nor found him attractive. Hanbin gave his professional advice and suggested she tell him the truth. It didn’t end well. She blamed him for making things worse, and in the end, Hanbin was forced to remove them from his clientele.

It still haunts Hanbin to this day. How love can switch off so quickly, and how easy it is for people to push the blame on others.

He doesn’t want that to happen here, but he also knows things for Hao and Jinwoo won’t get any better unless real progress is made.

Doing the right thing isn’t easy, but it’s something that needs to be done. He needs to find out what Hao thinks about when he’s with Jinwoo and, unfortunately, tell him the reasons why he should stop.

He calls Jinwoo first. Deciding to take ten minutes of the session to see where his head is before calling Hao in separately for the next ten. After that, he can see where they are and either proceed to phase three or switch their plans.

“It feels weird being in here without Hao now,” Jinwoo jokes while taking a seat. “He’s usually right there challenging you or questioning your methods, but I think he’s really warming up to you.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” Hanbin replies, opening the file. “So tell me, Jinwoo, how has phase two been for the two of you?”

Jinwoo smiles brighter, probably the brightest it’s been since he’s been coming here.

“It’s been amazing. I have to admit I was a little hesitant about your methods, but they seriously work.”

“How so?” Hanbin asks with a relieved smile. “What’s changed?”

Jinwoo sits back and relaxes. “Hao’s changed. He’s more receptive to the things we try. He’s eager. It feels like when we’re done trying everything, he’s happier.”

“Good, that’s the goal.” Hanbin has to admit, as glad as he is to hear it, he’s also slightly bitter that it’s working so well. He’s a little too good at his job.

On the other hand, he hasn’t damaged their relationship at all. From the sound, it sounds like they’ve gotten stronger. All the worry leaves his body as Jinwoo continues to give him a rundown on the exercises Hanbin recommended.

“We also tried the thing you recommended to Hao. You’re amazing, by the way.”

Surely Jinwoo doesn’t mean he’s also found something that turns him on. Hanbin was sure it was Hao. Things could become very complicated if the two of them begin to separate themselves from their relationship just to get off. It seems like his advice only made things more complicated for them.

“I mean, he recommended it at a really weird time. I actually almost got upset for a moment before he told me it was something you told him we should try.”

“I’m not quite following,” Hanbin says, tapping his pen against his notepad. “Walk me through it.”

“Okay, we were testing the sensitivity of his thighs thing that you wrote down in our plan.”

Hanbin does remember writing that down.

“And while we were doing it for some odd reason, he closed his eyes and said your name,” Jinwoo continues, laughing like it’s the funniest thing in the world.

Hanbin doesn’t laugh. He isn’t sure what’s funny about your boyfriend mentioning another man in bed. It isn’t uncommon. He’s had a few clients mention their partner bringing up his suggestions during the act, but they call him “the therapist”, never his name.

“I stopped, of course. No man wants to hear their boyfriend calling out their therapist's name. But Hao reassured me he just remembered you recommended some sort of mind thing to help him focus, and that I should do it too. He was just telling me about it.”

Fuck, Hanbin thinks, panic growing inside of him. This was exactly what he had been trying to avoid. Hao must have misinterpreted his instruction to find something that turned him on.

“You were so right, by the way. He was so into it by the time we finished, he couldn’t even speak.”

“I’m glad it worked out,” Hanbin replies with a tight smile. “Thank you for the update. You can wait in the waiting room.”

Jinwoo grins and heads to the door. Hanbin runs every possible scenario in his head. He never told Hao to do that. Didn’t even write it down. There are only so many reasons you’d say someone else’s name, and Hao is smart. He didn’t even hide it, and if it is what Hanbin thinks it is, Jinwoo didn’t even realize.

When he calls Matthew to let Hao in, Hanbin decides then and there that he has to ask about. He can’t let Hao leave this room without warning him about the dangers of what he’s doing, even if it was Hanbin who recommended it.

The door opens, and Hao steps inside. The soft click of his shoes as he makes his way to Hanbin’s desk almost matches the tapping of his pen.

“Hao, how have you been?”

“Good,” Hao answers in response. He looks relaxed as he settles into the chair. He really is beautiful. Hanbin thinks for a second before snapping back into therapist mode.

“So tell me, how has phase two been going?”

Nothing seems out of the ordinary with Hao. He crossed his legs like normal, he isn’t tense or anything, but Hanbin knows something is different.

“It’s been an adjustment.” A completely different response than Jinwoo’s. An adjustment can either mean something good or bad. Jinwoo says they’re doing great, but Hao’s opinion appears to be different.

“In what way?” Hanbin pushes a little.

“Jinwoo’s been trying a lot harder. He’s been having a lot of fun testing out the things you wrote down in our plan.”

Hanbin writes it down. “And how do you feel during those moments? Pleased, interested, immersed?”

“Certainly immersed but just not in the way he wants,” Hao says, looking at Hanbin.

“Do you stay in your head a lot during these moments?” Hanbin asks, and when he looks up, Hao is smiling. Those exact words must mean something. Jinwoo had used them, and Hanbin repeated them to get a reaction out of Hao, which he did.

“What did he tell you?”

Hanbin has to remind himself that this is his office and everything he says is for his client and nothing more. He doesn’t have to mention it. He could leave it alone, but Jiwoong was more than right. Hanbin needs to get inside Hao’s head, or this could take a horrible turn.

“That I recommended a part of the exercise that wasn’t on the detailed paper I gave you.”

Hao doesn’t look ashamed of what he did.

“There wasn’t room for him breathing down my neck in the place that turns me on,” Hao says with a shrug.

“I was curious about that, actually,” Hanbin says, trying to give away the fact that he’s trying to invade the space that should be for Hao alone. “Can you tell me what that space looks like for you?”

“I don’t think you want to know,” Hao answers with a wry smile.

Hanbin can’t give up just yet. “It would help me develop the next phase.”

Hao thinks, plush lips pushed out as he debates telling him.

“It’s hard to think about it when I’m not in that kind of state,” Hao says eventually. “You’ll have to ask me again during the demonstration.”

Hanbin’s pen spins on his hand as he tries to think of another way to pry it out of him. He could wait for the demonstration, but by then Jinwoo would be in the room, and Hao would be less likely to tell him.

“This is killing you, isn’t it?” Hao asks. He doesn’t want to make Hanbin’s life difficult, but he's having fun doing it.

“I can wait,” Hanbin insists. Their time is up, and Hanbin switches to the second part of the session.

Leading Hao out the door, he asks Matthew to call Jinwoo to room D. The room is prepared for their arrival. The necessary materials are laid out on a small table near the bed. He had Matthew set it up in hopes that today’s session would go smoothly. He can’t have a repeat of the last session.

“Have you ever had clients who reach phase three so quickly?” Hao says, taking in the room. Nothing has changed besides the white sheet and the bottle of lube, but he scans everything as if it were his first time here all over again.

“Don’t worry, you two aren’t having sex, simply simulating foreplay.”

This isn’t the first time Hanbin has had clients who worry about the results. They end up pleased with phase two and think that by completing the act, they’ll revert to where they were before. Hanbin needs them to pass phase three so he can release them.

“Do you still need to take note of our reactions and such. Will you be coaching Jinwoo again?” Hao asks with a slightly flirty tone.

“I didn’t really need that much coaching,” Jinwoo huffs, wrapping a hand around Hao’s waist and pulling him close.

“I’m just messing with you,” Hao responds. “Phase three looks like a big deal, and I just want to make sure we’re ready.”

Jinwoo laughs in slight disbelief. “He’s the therapist here, Hao. He knows what he’s doing. I think we’re ready.”

“I agree with Jinwoo,” Hanbin comments, guiding them to the table. Even though he knows they aren’t. “What you’re feeling right now is simply a surge of adrenaline. You’re associating this room with what happened during the last session, it happens.

Hao takes his seat, leaning back on his hands while parting his legs slightly. The action draws attention to his long legs, and Hanbin looks towards Jinwoo in hopes he doesn't get caught staring.

“Now for phase three, it’s combining phase two and one to reach your desired outcome, your new normal,” Hanbin says, gaining a smile from Hao, who remembers normal used to be a touchy word for him. “At some point after this session, the two of you will be engaging in intercourse which will be different from how it used to be.”

“So what does being in here have to do with that?” Jinwoo asks with a laugh. “Wouldn’t it be better if we just went home and got to it?”

The therapist side of Hanbin would say yes if they were really prepared for phase three. The reality is that Hao isn’t quite ready for that just yet. He is required to help them through the early stage of phase three, in which he’s given them a step-by-step guideline of possible moves and positions that may enhance the actual act. He’s hoping to catch a glimpse of what happens during their exercises.

“This is just to see if the tools I’ve given you are being used correctly,” Hanbin informs him. “Do you remember what was third on the list of exercises?”

Jinwoo nods and stands between Hao’s legs quite boldly. Hao doesn’t move to tighten his legs around Jinwoo’s waist, and Hanbin pretends not to notice that either. It’s another clear sign that Hao isn’t up for what they’re about to do.

“He didn’t even get the sheet out yet. Slow down.” Jinwoo laughs at Hao’s scolding but doesn’t move, nor does Hao tell him to.

Exercise three was simply combining blow jobs and fingering to double the amount of pleasure the giver gives. He added it in hopes that it would help. He’s not so sure how much it helped now.

He gets the sheet off the table and passes it to Jinwoo, who spreads it over Hao’s lower half. He isn’t as shy as he was the first time, but Hao is just as tense.

“Whenever you’re ready," Hanbin says, notebook in hand. Hanbin watches as Hao’s expression pinches immediately. He reviews the one note he did take last time and remembers Hao wasn’t a fan of Jinwoo’s mouth on him then either.

“Okay,” Hao blows out, legs spreading wider.

Hanbin can’t see anything, not that he wants to see Jinwoo in a place he’s imagined himself, but once again, he gets the feeling that something is going very wrong.

“You have to relax, pretend I’m not here,” Hanbin says with a shaky voice. “Tell him what you’re thinking.”

Hao doesn’t say a word to Jinwoo. Instead, he turns to look at him with a frown. “I thought you were the one who needed to know what I’m thinking.”

Hanbin curses internally. Technically, he is.

“Come closer, so I can tell you,” Hao says, closing his legs around Jinwoo’s head a bit. “This room is pretty big, and it’s not something I want to say too loudly.”

“Shouldn’t I know too?” Jinwoo questions from below. He lifts the sheet, and Hao’s expression shifts. Hanbin’s heart pounds as he takes in the soft strip of skin he was exposed to.

“You’re kind of busy,” Hao says sweetly, pulling it back down.

Hanbin chooses then to step forward. He leaves a good distance between them, ready for anything, including having another reaction to Hao in this setting.

“A little closer,” Hao purrs, and Hanbin takes another step using his notebook as a shield. Hao’s hand reaches for him, and Hanbin can’t do anything but watch as pretty fingers splay across his stomach, gliding up until it reaches the collar of his shirt.

He isn’t a bad person, Hanbin thinks as Hao pulls a bit. He’s listening to his client.

“You wanted to know what turns me on?” Hao whispers so quietly that Hanbin almost doesn’t hear it. He pulls a little stronger, and Hanbin leans down willingly. Hao’s breath fans over his lips, and up close, Hao’s lips are far plumper than they looked. “It’s you, Mr. Sung.”

“You’re mistaken,” Hanbin answers in a small voice. “This happens all the time. I get clients who think hitting on an expert will solve their problems, but it doesn’t.”

Hanbin tries to be the better man. If not for himself, then for the people who need him to keep his license so that he can continue providing them with his care.

Hao makes it incredibly hard.

“We both know this isn’t just me making a move on you. You’ve wanted me since the moment you laid your eyes on me.”

So he noticed. Hanbin figured Hao was used to watching others. He teaches teenagers after all. Being observant comes with the job. Not only that, but Hao is intelligent on a whole other level.

Hanbin may have been able to fool Jinwoo, but he failed with Hao.

“That doesn’t mean anything,” Hanbin says, trying his best to keep his voice down. Jinwoo hasn’t picked up on much. Between the sheet and Hao’s thighs, pressing against his ears, they’re playing a risky game.

“Tell me, Hanbin, if it were you,” Hao starts, and Hanbin sees his thighs tighten a little more around Jinwoo’s head. “And I gave you the chance to find where I’m most sensitive, where would you look?”

Hanbin shouldn’t. There aren’t cameras in here, but what he’s thinking about doing to Hao on this table is very wrong. Hao’s glossy lips close the gap between them just enough for him to leave a barely there kiss, and Hanbin’s cock fills embarrassingly fast.

“Don’t be shy, it’ll take him forever to make me come, but something tells me you can do it in less than that,” Hao breathes against his lips. “It’s a shame you can’t. Why don’t you help him out again?”

Hanbin could, and he really wants to.

So he does.

The notebook is placed off to the side on a small rolling table, and his lips find the very area Jinwoo missed the first time. He runs his tongue along the sensitive spot just below Hao’s ear, and just like he predicted, Hao shivers, fingers clenching around the fabric of his shirt before releasing and going lower.

A hand wraps around his, dragging it to the edge of his shirt, and Hanbin wasted no time at all, given the permission. His fingers slip under the fabric, and his hands slide along Hao’s stomach and subtle abs.

“Kiss me,” Hao mouths, and Hanbin takes the risk. They move slowly, small kisses that eventually work their way up to longer, sloppier sliding of their tongues. “More,” Hao moans quietly, and Hanbin isn’t sure what else to do than give it to him.

Resting a hand above Hao’s head, Hanbin wraps his other arm around him, holding the feverish skin of his back as Hao arches against him. A hand presses against the bulge formed in his pants, and Hanbin doesn’t see a way out of this. Hao works fast, he unbuttons them, shoving his hand down Hanbin’s pants and groaning when he finally gets a hand around him.

“Fuck, you’re huge,” Hao sighs against his lips. “Bigger than he is.”

Hanbin’s cock jerks in Hao’s hold, and fuck that line shoots straight to it. Their position is terrible, but Hao doesn’t seem to care as he slips his hand lower and pulls along Hanbin’s length. He bites back his moan, choosing to focus on the sensitive parts of Hao’s body, and despite it not being the most sensitive, plays it safe by sucking and kissing along Hao’s neck, careful not to leave marks.

“Yes, yes fuck,” Hao whimpers out when Hanbin’s teeth graze along his skin. His wrist twists around Hanbin’s dick, using the dripping precome to ease his palm. “Shit,” Hao mumbles when Hanbin threatens to bite down. “You have to come first.”

He does, Hanbin realizes. The thought of being caught by Jinwoo is enough to have Hanbin’s cock twitching, groaning quietly as his come spills against Hao’s hand and on his wrist a bit.

The hand pulls out, and Hanbin watches in absolute disbelief as Hao’s tongue flattens along his own wrist, dragging along the spattered come and gathering it on his tongue. His leg twitches and his eyes roll back as he pants and whimpers.

Hanbin lets himself watch the whole thing this time. His eyes refusing to look away from Hao as he sucks the come off his fingers using that same hand to push Jinwoo off him from under the blanket.

He looks down at Hanbin's pants, and Hanbin jumps into action. He buttons them up, snatching his notebook and pen.

“I’ll leave you two to get cleaned up,” he says, looking at Hao, who simply grins.

Hanbin heads for the door and pushes it open, running straight into Matthew, who already looks concerned.

“Did everything go well? You’re over your time.”

“I am?” Hanbin says with a panicked voice. It only takes one good look for realization to cross Matthew’s face. “Give me ten minutes to finish up with them, and I’ll take whoever’s next.”

Matthew nods slowly, and Hanbin isn’t sure if he knows or if he’s guessing what went down, but he can’t even wrap his head around it himself.

He makes it back to his office and sits down with a grimace. His underwear is sticky with whatever come Hao didn’t catch, and he still has two more clients.

On the other hand, he’s never done anything like that in his life. Hao’s hand was wrapped around him so well. The taste of his skin still lingers on Hanbin’s tongue and the press of his lips. Just thinking about it, Hanbin feels something he shouldn’t.

The door opens, and Jinwoo walks in first. Hao follows after, and for once, he looks the picture of satisfaction.

“So are we officially ready for phase three?” Jinwoo asks, reaching for Hao’s hand.

Even with everything that happened, he still needs to do the right thing.

“Not quite,” Hanbin answers, truthfully. Jinwoo isn’t pleased with his response, but Hao is. Their gazes meet in a secret exchange that Hanbin breaks first. “It seems you haven’t quite grasped phase two.”

“I made him come on your exam table,” Jinwoo says with slight irritation. “Wasn’t that the point? He liked it so much he shook. I’d say we have a pretty good understanding of phase two.”

Hanbin isn’t sure what to say, and Hao knows as much. He gives Hanbin a look, one that asks, “What are you going to say next?” and Hanbin clears his throat, trying his best to tell the truth without upsetting Jinwoo further.

“The point was to understand the tools and how to use them. There were a few moments where Hao’s body language reflected your hesitation to use the tools properly.”

Jinwoo scowls, and Hao reaches for his hand.

“That just means we have to practice more,” Hao tells him with a reassuring pat. “We’re almost there.”

They aren’t, but Jinwoo is already fuming.

“Actually, I was hoping to speak to Hanbin alone about some of our exercises,” Hao tells Jinwoo gently. He’s already upset, and Hao’s soothing voice hardly does much to calm him down. “Remember this is for us.”

He’s lying, and Hanbin doesn’t need to be alone with Hao after what they just did in the demonstration room. He opens his mouth to redirect Hao to simply calling when Jinwoo stands, with a bitter mumbling that he’s their therapist and heading to the door.

“That was unnecessary,” Hanbin tells Hao as the door closes behind Jinwoo. “There’s nothing to talk about.”

Hao rests his chin on his hand and fixes Hanbin with a weighted look. Suddenly, the temperature in the room increases, and Hanbin can’t sit still.

“I’m going to be very honest with you right now. I owe you that much after making your life difficult when I first arrived.”

“I appreciate your honesty,” Hanbin says politely. “But you really should go.”

“I will,” Hao promises. “But first, tell me the truth about whatever this is.”

Hanbin frowns. “This isn’t anything, you know that, right? You’re my client, and I’m your therapist. You’re here with your partner to improve your sex life.”

“What if I don’t want that anymore?”

“Hao,” Hanbin says in an exasperated voice. “You love Jinwoo just as much as he loves you.” The words feel like ash in his mouth, but it’s the right thing to say to a client.

Hao doesn’t respond, and when he does, he looks almost as tired as Hanbin feels.

“I wish someone cared about me,” Hao says with a weak laugh. “Someone kind and caring who found me attractive.”

Alarm bells sound in Hanbin’s head. Doubt doesn’t look good on Hao, nor does feeling unwanted. Hanbin doesn’t think when he speaks, and he really should.

“You’re beautiful, there’s no need to doubt yourself. I’m sure you couldn’t fathom the amount of people who want you.”

“Do you want me?” Hao asks. He doesn’t look hopeful, simply curious. “Your answer won’t leave this room. I just want to know.”

Hanbin should send him away. There’s no need for him to answer something as pointless as this.

“I want you.”

Just like that, the barrier between client and therapist breaks. Hao’s lips tug into a little smirk, and he leaves Hanbin with a gift of his own.

“I want you too.”

*~*~*

Hanbin has two new clients today.

He recently ended therapy with two couples and, as a result, had an opening that needed to be filled. There’s a list a mile long of potential clients, all of whom have been on the waiting list for months.

This is how he knows things are taking a terrible turn. Because not even an hour after he releases his clients, he gets a professional email from Hao, wondering if he has an availability to consult two friends of his who seem to be going through a rough patch in their relationship.

Hanbin should have said no straight away, but because it’s Hao, he lingers just long enough for Matthew to catch him and tell him to give it a try.

He sits at his desk, a new file pulled up on his computer screen as he waits for the new clients to arrive. According to Hao’s email, they’re close friends of his. He’s known them for years, and very recently they’ve begun dating.

It isn’t very often that new couples stumble into sexual problems early on. The transition from friends to partners can be a bit tricky if not done correctly. He’s pretty excited to meet these two.

Matthew doesn’t warn him when they arrive. His office door simply cracks open, and Matthew gives a brief notice that they’re here before two people enter the room.

The first thing that Hanbin realizes is that they complement each other extremely well visually. Their tall proportions and sculpted faces are almost a little too perfect. Their styles couldn’t be any different, but their accessories match. He gets a pretty good feel of their personalities before he even asks their names.

“I’m Sung Hanbin.” He stands, reaching to shake both of their hands.

“Kim Gyuvin,” the tall and colorful one, introduces with a large smile. “And this is Kim Ricky.”

“Shen,” Ricky corrects, nodding his head in Hanbin’s direction. “He’s been doing that a lot since we started dating. Foreshadowing is what he’s calling it.”

Actually, these two couldn’t be more different.

“Well, I don’t know much about your situation. Hao only told me that you needed my help.”

“He tells us you’re really good at putting things into a new perspective,” Ricky says, leveling Hanbin with an unreadable look. “He admires you quite a bit.”

Hanbin feels his skin heat with the compliment. Given how they started, he wasn’t sure if Hao liked him at all. Though after their last session, something he’d been trying hard and failing to think about, he knows Hao’s feelings for him are identical to his own. But this isn’t about them. It’s about the rift and Gyuvin.

“How about you two start by explaining what’s going on?”

Gyuvin sits up straight, and Hanbin knows he’s in for one heck of a performance from this one. Gyuvin is far more animated than Ricky is. Ricky seems to be the type who needs to warm up to you first, which is perfectly fine with Hanbin. They warm up to him eventually.

“We started dating one month ago,” Gyuvin starts. “We were friends for years, and everyone thought we’d be good together, but we just didn’t think we could work it out.”

“But you did,” Hanbin says with a kind smile.

Gyuvin beams. “We certainly did. Ricky’s never been in a long-term relationship with anyone else before, but at the very least, I assumed the one thing we wouldn’t have to worry about is our sex life,” Gyuvin continues sheepishly. “It turns out we’re far more different in that area than we thought.”

“Different how?” Hanbin wonders aloud. The pair looks at each other before Ricky finally chimes in.

“He’s overly horny.”

“Am not,” Gyuvin almost shrieks. “I’m a normal amount, it's just I’m really into you, and I mean, look at him.”

Gyuvin gestures in Ricky’s direction, and, well, if he were a few years younger, he could see why Gyuvin is so heavily attracted to Ricky. Like Hao, there’s a silent grace to his beauty. All he has to do is sit and stare, and already he gains most of the attention, especially Gyuvin’s.

Ricky reaches for Gyuvin’s hand, and although he’s still pouting, Gyuvin takes it. “Our issue is he’s always in the mood, and I’m not.”

“What do you mean by that?” Questions are the only way he’ll get any answers. Today is going to be filled with questions like these.

“Gyuvin’s been in a relationship before me. I haven’t. I wasn’t really interested in dating or sex before Gyuvin.”

Now that is interesting. Not entirely uncommon, but certainly Hanbin’s first time dealing with a client like this.

“How often would you two say you have sex?”

“We don’t really keep track of things like that,” Gyuvin admits nervously. “We kind of go with the flow of things.”

Hanbin sees that becoming a strain very quickly.
Gyuvin is understanding, and Ricky seems to be willing to find a middle ground, but still…

“If you don’t mind me asking, what was your sex life before Ricky like?”

Gyuvin gives him a nonchalant shrug. “My ex and I were long-distance for a while. Maybe once or twice a month.”

So pent up and now dating his insanely attractive boyfriend isn’t helping much in that department either.

“I think I’d like to start with a solo consultation with Ricky first before I make any plans for both of you.”

“So you’ll be our therapist?” Gyuvin asks. “We were told you’re very picky and not to get our hopes up.”

“Eh, I figured we’d make it.”

Hanbin looks at Ricky, who doesn’t look surprised at all.

“Anything for Hao, right?” Ricky continues in a hushed voice. He knows. Hanbin isn’t sure how much Hao has told him, but whatever he did tell him seems to have shaped Ricky’s perception of him. Gyuvin appears to be completely unaware.

“You can set up your appointment with Matthew,” Hanbin replies.

He planned to take them to distract himself from Hao. A challenge is bound to keep him busy, but from the looks of it, Ricky doesn’t seem to be the holding back type.

This is the second line Hanbin managed to cross as a result of not being able to control himself when it comes to Hao.

He needs to rest his mindset.

He needs a break.

He needs Jaehyun.

*~*~*

Hanbin has long phased out of his party boy era.

Back in college, if he wasn’t nose deep in his textbooks, he was out with friends who managed to drag him to a party or stuck cramped in someone else’s dorm.

He’s managed to put those drunken nights behind him. There is no time to nurse a hangover when you have clients who depend on you, and Hanbin isn’t as strong as he used to be.

Occasionally, when he finds the world completely blurs and he needs to let off a little steam, he calls up someone who knows just how to drag him out to have fun without analyzing him.

“Do you plan on hiding next to the bar all night?” Jaehyun asks once he’s close enough. Unlike Hanbin, Jaehyun has already made his rounds. He’s hit the dance floor, bought drinks, has been bought drinks, and managed to gain a small group of partygoers who are waiting for him right now.

“I thought we came out to have fun tonight,” Jaehyun teases him. He glances at Hanbin's safety drink and shakes his head with a laugh of disbelief. “Oh no, this isn’t it.”

He orders Hanbin something different, and after Hanbin rejects his offer to hit the dance floor, he makes him promise to at least try to let loose tonight.

Jaehyun thinks Hanbin came here to leave with someone. Hanbin came for the opposite of that. He came to look at all the people he would have left behind in the past. After his last failed hook up, Hanbin has accepted his dick has taken a liking to Hao despite never being in him. He’s down astronomically bad for the guy and still doesn’t know why.

It isn’t like he knows much else about Hao. He only knows what Jinwoo has told him and the few additional details that slip through the cracks. He knows what Hao likes and dislikes, which is one thing about him that he knows better than Jinwoo right now. It isn’t anything to be proud of. At the end of the day, Hao leaves with Jinwoo. He tries out the things Hanbin recommends with Jinwoo, and Hanbin is stuck here alone.

He gave Jaehyun ordered a dirty look before deciding it can’t be any worse than the last one he had. It’s bitter and exactly what Hanbin doesn’t need right now, but he finishes it anyway and cuts himself off mentally.

With Jaehyun distracted and the pleasant buzz from his two drinks settling in, Hanbin searches for an escape. He finds the bathrooms and decides to stop there before heading out for the night.

“Whoa, careful,” an easy voice says to him when Hanbin manages to stumble into them. The person turns around, and Hanbin can’t believe his eyes. “It’s you.”

“It’s me,” Hanbin answers lamely.

Hao stands in front of him, dressed in an outfit that’s almost far too appealing for a place like this. He’s in all black, then again, so is most of the people with him. The satin dress shirt is unbuttoned dangerously low. Hanbin follows every bit of fabric until he lands at the cuffs that are unbuttoned and rolled up, revealing wrists and hands decorated with silver jewelry and nails adorned with adorable little stickers.

“At a loss for words, Mr. Sung?” Hao says quietly enough for just the two of them to hear. Hanbin’s throat dries, and Hao laughs, grasping his arm and pulling him a little to his table. “How about you meet my friends?”

“Oh, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Hanbin replies. It’s too late. Hao’s friends are already staring at him with expectant looks. He can’t run away now.

“This is Sung Hanbin,” Hao announces to the group, and a cascade of smiles and gasps dominoes through each of them.

One of his friends looks beyond surprised to see Hanbin here. “The therapist?” He asks, and Hanbin winces. “He’s a lot younger than you described him.”

“You talk about me?” Hanbin whispers. Hao is close enough that he doesn’t have to move far. Hao moves closer when he realizes Hanbin is talking to him. Too close.

“I share a lot of my thoughts and feelings with my friends.”

Hanbin can tell. They all seem familiar with him.

“Are you here celebrating? I should let you get back to it.”

Hao’s hand slips down his arm, and if his friends notice, they don’t say anything at all.

“It’s my birthday,” Hao confesses with a small laugh. “They wanted to take me out. This isn’t my scene.”

Hanbin figured as much. Hao didn’t seem like the going-out type of person from what he gathered during their sessions.

“Where’s Jinwoo?” Hanbin asks a little too loudly. He isn’t sure why, but he has a strong desire to come off as a respectable person. It might be the fact that Hao hasn’t let him go, or the fact that they seem to drift closer to each other rather than apart.

“He’s out of town for some work convention,” Hao shrugs. “I forgot to call the office to let you know we won’t be able to make our next session.”

“It’s fine,” Hanbin says, filing that bit of information away for later. “I have to revise your plan anyway.”

Hao hums and doesn’t respond. He smells good and feels far too warm for Hanbin to want to let go. He has to. Hao’s friends are staring, and it’s beginning to make Hanbin feel uncomfortable since he accidentally invaded their time with their friend.

“I should go,” Hanbin says even though he doesn’t want to. “I came here with someone.”

Hao’s hand slips, his eyebrows furrowing as he looks at Hanbin.

“A friend,” Hanbin corrects for no reason at all. Jaehyun can hold his own. Jaehyun probably forgot all about Hanbin already, but he needs to get out of here and now. He doesn’t like the way Hao is looking at him. Actually, he likes it too much.

The vibrant atmosphere of the club they’ve found themselves reuniting switches between upbeat and sultry. Hao matches the sultry vibe a little too well.

“I’m just about finished here,” Hao says, glancing at his friends, who all start to disperse on command. “Are you sticking around?”

Hanbin was planning on leaving. He goes to shoot Jaehyun a text and finds Jaehyun has left him one of his own. He leaves side by side with Hao, who waits for his cab beside him.

“I wasn’t expecting to see you here tonight,” Hao says as they stand in the warm summer heat. “Not that I’m complaining.”

“This was the last place I’d expect you to be,” Hanbin says with a chuckle.

“I know how to have fun,” Hao bites back playfully. “I’ve been told I’m a lot of fun.”

“By Jinwoo?” Hanbin asks, unable to contain himself.

Hao doesn’t appear bothered by his question. In fact, he looks amused that Hanbin would respond with something so bold.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Hao replies with a teasing lift to his voice. “The kind of fun I used to have with my boyfriend would bring you to tears, Mr. Sung.”

Hanbin tries his bed to pretend that he didn’t stir something inside of him. He counters with the one thing he knows best.

“And what kind of fun was that?”

“That depends,” Hao responds. “Are you genuinely curious, or are you asking as my sex therapist?”

Hanbin pursed his lips. “A little bit of both. I’m allowed to be curious.”

The cab pulls up just before Hao can provide him with an answer to his question. He supposes he’ll never know, and truthfully, Hanbin doesn’t need to. He’s already learned too much about Hao. Like the way his lips feel against him and the taste of his lip balm.

“How badly do you want to know the answer?” Hao asks before he enters the cab. Hao rests his hip against the door, and Hanbin knows he has two choices.

“As your therapist, I suggest you don’t withhold information.”

Hao’s lips quirk into a smirk. “The answer is confidential. We’re going to need a more private location to discuss this matter.”

“How far is your apartment?” Hanbin asks as Hao lowers his head to get into the cab.

“Fifteen minutes.”

Hanbin curses his lack of self-control.

“Mine is closer.”

*~*~*

In a world where Hanbin has the decision to make the right decisions, it appears he’s only meant to make the wrong ones.

His apartment is only five minutes away. He could have taken a few seconds out of that to text Matthew, but he simply couldn’t stop glancing at Hao.

The tension in the cab fills every corner. Even the cab driver continues the route in silence, occasionally looking in the rear-view mirror. By the time they pull up to his apartment, Hao is looking at Hanbin, silently waiting to see if Hanbin wants to go through with this or not.

“It’s just the answer to a question,” Hanbin says lightly as he ushers Hao into the elevator. “We can consider this an extension of our session.”

“Are you charging me for this, too?” Hao jokes, and Hanbin manages a breathless laugh that dies the second he reaches his door. He types in the passcode and pushes the door open, hoping it’s at least a bit tidy.

He wasn’t expecting to bring Hao back here. He wasn’t expecting to meet Hao at all. He went to the club to try not to think about him but there he was.

Shoes are removed and Hanbin manages to get Hao into his bedroom without Matthew making an appearance.

His room is clean, reasonably sized, with a comfortable bed pushed up against the wall. Hanbin isn’t self conscious about it, but with Hao in here look at all his things doesn’t know how to react.

“Are you ready to find out that answer?” Hao asks Hanbin. He sits himself down on Hanbin’s bed, making himself comfortable. Hanbin remains standing, which forces Hao to look up at him through his thick, dark lashes.

“Yes. What did you mean by the fun you two used to have?”

Hao licks his lips. His pretty pink tongue coating his already shiny lips with a new coat of spit that Hanbin longs to lean down and taste.

“We were careless back then,” Hao starts without much interest. “It was new and amazing, and I wanted him so badly.”

Hanbin can see that. There isn’t much Hao doesn’t go for once he sets his eyes on it. Right now, he’s got his eyes set on the front of Hanbin's pants.

Hao reaches out, and his hand doesn’t land where Hanbin thought it would. Instead, he reaches for the center loop of Hanbin’s jeans, wiggling a finger through it and using it to draw Hanbin closer.

“So you took control.”

Hao laughs quietly. “He could hardly keep up with me. But he did try. I guess that’s where our problems started.”

Hanbin watches with hooded eyes as Hao brushes his lips along the front of his pants. His dick twitches pathetically at the barely there feel of Hao’s warmth, imagining what it would feel like to sink into Hao’s slick mouth.

“I’m sure you’ve noticed it by now. There are things Jinwoo just isn’t good at, things I was prepared to ignore until you appeared.”

Hanbin can’t remember any of those things right now. Not with the hot puffs of Hao’s breath bleeding through his jeans.

Hao nuzzles against the growing outline, bringing Hanbin closer. Just enough so that he can press a proper kiss over where his dick is.

With his heart pounding and not sure what to do next, Hanbin simply opts for keeping up with Hao’s answer.

“There are some things you just can’t teach,” Hao whispers faintly over his growing bulge. “This might be one of them.”

Hao holds his thighs with both hands, tongue coated in spit as he licks over the outline of Hanbin’s cock. The damp spot left behind cools quickly, but not all the way. Hao is back on him, lips stretching over the outline as he sucks just a bit.

He’s right. Hanbin wouldn’t be able to teach this level of seduction if he tried. Hao unbuttons his jeans and Hanbin meets him halfway to unzip them. That same tongue teases the strip of skin along the waistband of his underwear and Hanbin quivers at the feeling.

Hao works the jeans down just enough to get to what he wants. His eyes sparkle as Hanbin’s dick strains against the material of the underwear.

“Would you like for me to demonstrate?” Hao asks. Hanbin would be damned if he said no. He nods his head and feels almost weak as Hao pulls his underwear down, reaching for his cock and taking it into his hand fearlessly.

Hao licks along the skin, moaning softly before finding the head of his dick. He toys with him. Running the fat head of Hanbin’s cock along his tongue, making sure Hanbin gets the proper visual. It’s fucking sinful. That’s what it is.

“F-fuck,” Hanbin stutters when Hao inches down on him. He sees his dick disappear between Hao’s lips and feels it when it eventually hits the back of his throat. The constricting of Hao around him almost makes Hanbin want to pull out, afraid he’ll hurt him. But it feels so good, Hanbin only manages to run a hand through Hao’s styled hair before his grip tightens.

Hao doesn’t go as deep the second time. He works his mouth around most of Hanbin, using his hand to cover the rest. His hands and mouth work together and Hanbin feels less like the expert here with Hao’s skilled movements.

His eyes lose focus when Hao finds the sensitive part of his cock, sucking against him and swirling when Hanbin’s hips jerk forward. If Hao doesn't stop soon, Hanbin is going to come in his mouth.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” Hanbin warns. He knows his dick isn’t as small as others and he’s learned not everyone can handle it.

Hao doesn’t seem to care. He shoves Hanbin down his throat. His moans are mixed with the wet sounds coming from him sucking around his cock and Hanbin has never seen something so erotic in his life.

When Hao pulls back, he’s teary-eyed, and his once light pink lips are a dark red that should be concerning but only serves as a bigger turn on. He did that to him. Hao looks like this because of what he’s doing to him.

“I want you to come down my throat,” Hao tells him, tonguing along the underside of his dick. That’s exactly what Hanbin’s been trying to avoid.

“That’s not safe,” Hanbin says gently. “We hardly know each other.” Saying it out loud strengthens that boundary line.

Undeterred, Hao makes his next move. The already partially unbuttoned shirt loses the last few buttons standing. It’s shrugged off and Hanbin can only stare as Hao rids the rest of his clothes fairly easily with a seductive flow.

That boundary line?

Hao shatters it.

“Do it on me.”

“Hao,” Hanbin groans. He wraps a hand around himself, his dick is slightly tacky from Hao’s drying spit, but he couldn't care less about the way Hao looks lying properly on his bed. Hanbin steps out of his pants, meeting Hao halfway in a kiss similar to the one they shared in the demonstration room.

Hanbin doesn’t have anything to prove when he hovers over Hao, but he does anyway. He sucks on Hao’s bottom lip, tugging until he fears he’ll pierce through it with his teeth. He kisses him hard, loving every sound of pain and pleasure Hao gets out.

Meeting Hao’s enthusiasm, Hanbin kisses him the way he dreamed about. Paying extra attention to the kiss-sensitive lips that push back with equal vigor.

Hanbin has him. Hao is right here, not with Jinwoo, and it feels like a dream when Hao bats his hand out of the way, gripping Hanbin’s dick firmly and stroking him.

The world turns fuzzy for Hanbin. Hao’s lips move down his neck, sucking harsh marks along his skin and leaving behind clear evidence of what they’ve done.

Hao’s head falls back against the pillows, holding unwavering eye contact as his hand moves more quickly.

“Oh shit,” Hanbin pants recklessly. His eyes squeeze shut as he rocks faster into Hao’s hold. “Yes, fuck. I’m gonna come.”

His warning hardly finishes before he does. Hot come spills, rolling over Hao’s fist and dripping along his bare stomach, fulfilling Hao’s wish and once again burying Hanbin deep into the hole he’s created.

“How can you do it so easily?” Hanbin pants, looking down at Hao with burning curiosity.

“Do what?”

“Cheat on your boyfriend of two years.”

At the very least, Hao looks slightly remorseful. He wipes his hand on the sheets, searching for the right words to say.

“I guess I could ask you the same thing,” Hao replies. “How could you involve yourself with a client? I know I’m your first. The first client you’ve compromised your practice for. You’re scared of how much you want this.”

“It’s not like I wanted this to happen. It snowballed right before my eyes.” Hanbin tells him. It's a pathetic excuse. He certainly could have tried harder to find someone else to attach his fantasies to. But Hao isn’t just beautiful. Hanbin couldn’t quite understand him or why he was so attached.

“I know that,” Hao says, hooking a warm leg around Hanbin’s waist. “You might have been right. I was attracted to your vast knowledge of how to please people.”

Somehow, hearing it stings more than Hanbin thought it would.

“But it stopped being just that at some point.” Hao looks almost frustrated with himself when he admits it. “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who’s paid this much attention to me before.”

“Isn’t that a good thing?” Hanbin asks. “You seem like the type to constantly want attention from your partner.”

“It’s ironic that the guy I’m with hasn’t noticed a fraction of the things about me that you have.”

Hanbin grimaces. “That doesn’t mean what we’re doing is right.”

Hao drags him in close by his waist. “It’s too late for you to take it back.”

“I’m not-”

“We’ve already gone this far,” Hao says gently, looking up at him with a heated expression. “If you’re sure about not taking it back. Prove it.”

“Are you sure?” It’s a test of some kind. Of his dedication and commitment to seeing this through, or something else Hanbin doesn’t know. He just wants to pass.

Hao glances at his lips, his own twitches into a smile. “If you can, I’ll let you in on a little secret.”

Hanbin falls for Hao’s words. Giving in to both of their desires. Hanbin takes what he wants, lips clinging to Hao’s soft ones, drawing the sweetest of moans from his lips. He pulls back only to grab the necessary materials.

“It’s unopened?” Hao realizes with bright eyes. “Don’t tell me you haven’t been with anyone.”

“I have,” Hanbin admits, opening the box. Hao’s lips downturn, and Hanbin puts the smile back on his face with a new kiss. “He wasn’t you.”

“I’m sorry.” Hao doesn’t look sorry at all. “Was he any good?”

Hanbin chooses not to answer that. Leaving Hao guessing. The truth was, Hanbin had been so thrown off by not coming with his hook-up that he tossed the condoms, not wanting to try again. It was Matthew who bought these as a gift after Hanbin’s confession to getting off with Hao.

This is new territory for Hanbin. He’s only ever interacted with Hao on a surface level. Hao doesn’t make it easy for him either. He lifts his hips, pulling down his pants while Hanbin holds his breath.

“I always wondered if it would be different,” Hao says. Hanbin finds himself moving closer, soft legs parting willingly before him.

“What?” Hanbin asks. He squeezes lube on his fingers. Looking down, Hanbin feels hypnotized by the view of Hao spread out before him. He moves then halts, looking up at Hao, who nods.

“You’re the expert, you tell me. Is this going to be different?"

Hanbin doesn’t answer that either, simply laughing as he presses their lips together, tasting the last remains of Hao’s lip balm before sucking it off. He slips his finger along Hao’s rim, not pushing in, pressing a teasing pressure against him.

Hanbin lifts his head long enough to watch Hao’s expression. He’s done it quite a bit since he started working with him.

There’s no need for him to look. “Oh,” Hao gasps. His eyebrows pinch slightly, but not because of discomfort. He lets out a stuttered breath, moaning when Hanbin circles his hole with his thumb.

Hanbin switches his fingers. It’s the first time he’s wanted to watch someone as he pleasured them.

As a sex therapist, Hanbin deals with people who are into different things. Sometimes it’s Hanbin’s job to find out what those things are, other times, Hanbin just knows.

With Hao, it’s a bit of both. He learned what Hao didn’t like from his partner and, by default, just knows other things. When he pushes his first finger in, Hanbin takes his time, wanting Hao to feel the change, the difference.

Hao clenches around him before relaxing a bit and letting Hanbin slide deeper. He pushes the second one in, and Hao moans, encouraging him to move them by shoving his hips in Hanbin’s direction.

“One more,” Hao urges him, eyes rolling back as Hanbin stretches him out. He pushes the third in on Hao’s command, and Hao arches, squeezing down and forcing Hanbin to stop.

He can’t pull his fingers out, but he doesn’t stop. His fingers flex inside of Hao, pressing against the spot that makes Hao scramble for something to hold on to. He chooses Hanbin, one hand threading through his hair, keeping his lips on him, and the other slides along Hanbin’s back.

Hanbin shoves his fingers in further despite Hao trying to stop him. Hanbin gives him a moment to relax, focusing on Hao's shallow breathing and the way he flutters around his fingers.

“That’s perfect,” Hao mumbles, followed by a sharp gasp when Hanbin pulls his hand back slowly. “A little too perfect.”

He can’t help it when he reminds Hao, “This is supposed to be a pleasurable experience.”

“You’re going all therapist-like on me,” Hao sighs. “I like it.”

He’d rather keep this up for much longer, loving the way Hao refuses to let him go. It’s Hao who stops him. An impatient whine and Hao’s tugging on his hair are good enough signs for Hanbin.

He pulls his fingers out. “Do you want to do it like this?” Hanbin asks with a smirk. “I wouldn’t want this to be normal.”

“Something tells me your version of missionary is anything but normal,” Hao replies. “I want it like this. You like to look at me.”

“Because you’re gorgeous,” Hanbin responds without hesitation. “From the moment I saw you, I couldn’t look away.”

“I know,” Hao tells him. “You weren't discreet.”

Hanbin blushes, distracting himself by rolling the condom over his dick to avoid facing Hao.

“You know, he noticed,” Hao tells him. It makes Hanbin pause. “He always joked about how you looked at me. About how he was so lucky to have someone that even you couldn’t have.”

It isn’t much of a joke anymore. Hanbin lines himself up, and Hao waits, looking between them and then up at Hanbin.

“Wait. If you could have me, would you want me?”

“Yes.” It’s a no-brainer. Hanbin wants Hao. Not just because it’s him, but because there’s something about him that draws them together. He couldn’t resist then, and he can’t now.

“Then show me how you would do it if I were yours.”

Hanbin pushes in. Torn between moaning and staying quiet, Hao pressed his lips against Hanbin’s shoulder, muffling his first moan.

“Don’t hold back,” Hanbin tells him. He’s halfway in but shoves his hips the rest of the way in one hard thrust.

“Fuck, yes,” Hao cries out. He clings to Hanbin, gasping and melting underneath him.

It’s better than Hanbin imagined. He fits perfectly inside of Hao, cock ramming against Hao’s sensitive spot slowly before he gradually picks up his pace. Hao tightens around him, moaning in time with his thrusts before their hiccupped consistency becomes long, passionate renditions of Hanbin’s name and helpless ah’s.

Hanbin figured Hao wasn’t being entirely truthful during their first session. He was defensive about the way they fucked. Driven by lust, Hanbin thrusts in repeatedly. His arm wraps underneath Hao’s slightly arched back, his hoarse moans mingling with Hao’s increasingly desperate ones. Hao likes it like this, Hanbin is sure of it. He likes feeling wanted so desperately.

His cock drags against Hao’s prostate, and a rough and depraved shout hits Hanbin’s ears.

“I don’t need to ask if you like this,” Hanbin says, far too cocky for his own good. “I don’t need science to get you off.”

“I’m…fuck, Hanbin, please.”

“Don’t beg,” Hanbin says, lapping at the damp, salty skin of Hao’s neck. “Come, I’ll handle it.”

Hao writhes beneath him, unable to lie still when Hanbin gets a hand around his leaking cock. Dull nails comb along his back as Hao searches for something to keep him whole.

“You’re so good at this,” Hao whines breathlessly. His heels dig into the bed as he rocks down on Hanbin’s cock and then into his tight hold.

Hanbin knows what Hao looks like when he’s about to come. Tension coils in his stomach, and he curls into Hanbin, heavy pants followed by a sudden scream of pleasure.

Just like he predicted, Hao comes, and it’s anything but quiet. He doesn’t stop, not even when Hao begins to shake. Those pretty lips capture his own, and Hao tightens, helping Hanbin reach his own orgasm with anticipation.

“I don’t think I can let you go after this,” Hanbin admits, pushing Hao into the mattress. “I can’t go back to the way things were after this, I'm sorry.”

“You won’t have to.”

Hao forces him to look at him when he comes. Hanbin sees his own reflection in Hao’s dark eyes. Sweaty, flushed skin and heavy eyelids, biting his lip as he emptied into the condom with an animalistic groan.

“Ready to find out that secret?” Hao asks as Hanbin’s orgasm pulsates through him. “You’re going to love this as my sex therapist.”

“Oh shit,” Hanbin groans, his ears are buzzing as the cooling inside him unravels. It feels far too good for Hanbin to stop moving inside of him.

“You should be proud, really,” Hao continues in the softest of voices. “You’re the first person to make me come this hard in almost three months.”

Hanbin’s eyes widen further. “I thought.”

“We can talk about it later,” Hao says, dragging his finger through his own come. He reaches lower, and when Hanbin pulls back with the intention to drive back in, he stops him with a hand on his cock.

“You said you wanted me, Hanbin,” Hao starts dragging the condom off him. “Now you have me.”

“You have a boyfriend,” Hanbin says, blinking with sudden clarity. Deep down, he feels a part of him darken with the realization that he slept with a taken man. It’s soothed by Hao’s soft caresses.

“I can fix that.”

Everything feels so good but so confusing. He wants to stay like this with Hao for as long as he can, but doubt still builds in him.

“What does that mean?”

“I don’t think I’m going to make it to phase three with him,” Hao tells him, motioning to the box of condoms. “Care to demonstrate why?”

*~*~*

The thing about doing something you know you shouldn’t have done is that it never leaves you.

Hanbin has never felt so at ease and yet so haunted at the same time. He feels like everyone is watching him. Like everyone knows and is just silently judging him for not being able to keep his hands away.

It starts with Matthew. He doesn’t mention it. Doesn’t mention the loud echoes of Hao’s moans that lasted well into the early morning. Doesn’t bring up the fact that Hao slipped out the front door just minutes before Matthew caught Hanbin closing it behind him. He doesn’t say anything.

Matthew simply gets into the passenger's seat like he normally does. He tells Hanbin all about the movie series he watched last night, offhandedly mentioning the headphones he wore the entire time. He talks animatedly in the passenger's seat, occasionally glancing at Hanbin to make sure he’s listening. Hanbin can feel his eyes lingering on the hickey left behind. But still he says nothing.

The clinic is the same way.

Hanbin and Matthew arrive side by side. He drops Matthew off and, despite feeling like his world has tilted on its axis, makes sure to strike up a quick conversation with Yuna, who gives him a once-over before telling him to have a good day. It isn’t what she said but how she said it that stuck with Hanbin. Her not-so-subtle smirk when she took in his unusually disheveled look.

By the time he reaches his office, Hanbin is a mess of nerves. Only Matthew knows who he was with last night. His practice isn’t compromised. He tries a few breathing exercises before deciding he’s ready for the day.

“Let in the first client,” Hanbin notifies Matthew. No one knows the truth. Hanbin plans to keep it that way.

The thing about that is the truth has a funny way of making itself known.

Hanbin pretends for a week.

He pretends everything is fine, carries out his normal schedule with the looming threat of Matthew confronting him, Hao contacting him, or worse, Jinwoo popping up out of nowhere.

By the end of the week, the breathing exercises stop working. He enters the clinic and skips his good mornings for the first time since he opened the clinic and heads straight to his office. He notifies Yuna, not Matthew, to let his first clients in because at least she doesn’t know. Matthew is reaching his limit, and Hanbin feels the confrontation coming, so he tries to avoid that, too.

Joon and Donghyun enter his office in their ritualistic fashion. Donghyun opens the door, Joon walks in and sits first, Donghyun makes the first comment.

“You'll be pleased to hear we finally managed to put all our worries behind us,” Donghyun says, holding Joon’s hand.

It happened. Hanbin always knows when it does. The air of innocence around these sorts of clients tends to lift like a veil. They can’t stop touching, and they both look at each other as if they’ve discovered a whole new world.

Hanbin sits up a little straighter in his chair, looking at them with a hopeful expression. The little wins, he finds, they make a world of difference. He needs them to say it, though.

“We finally managed to have sex, with your guidance, of course,” Joon confesses bashfully. “One day, we woke up and just thought it was time. You were right, we came together naturally. It’s thanks to you that we were prepared for it. Thank you.”

Swallowing down his emotions, Hanbin fixes a singular nod. He feels strangely involved with these two. Their success lifts an immense weight off his shoulders.

It proves he’s a good therapist, and right now he needs as much proof as he can get.

“Congratulations, you two,” Hanbin says with a proud smile. “I know you had it in you. Continue whatever it is you’ve been doing, and now that you’ve reached the final phase, we can see each other a little less.”

The three of them laugh. They’re aware that they stressed Hanbin out more times than they haven’t. It’s probably why Hanbin feels so attached to them.

“It was different than what we thought,” Joon adds. “I didn’t know we’d be so…after we did it the first it just felt like-”

“You couldn’t stop?” Hanbin teases. “Perfectly normal for couples who are new to it. Just remember not to overdo it. It’s new and fun, but you should know when to hold back so that you don't get hurt.”

The words coming out of his mouth stall Hanbin for a bit. Things would have been much easier if he had taken his own advice.

He sends Joon and Donghyun on their way to update their appointments. Once a month for a few more months should do the trick.

Hanbin goes through the rest of his day on autopilot. Clients come and go, and Hanbin throws himself into their files to distract himself from this moment.

He’s got a break before his final clients of the day. Their session was switched because of Hao’s work schedule, and honestly, Hanbin couldn’t have dreaded anything more.

Hao said he would handle things. He had been vague, and Hanbin had been so consumed in Hao that he hadn’t even questioned what any of it meant.

Before their arrival, Matthew makes his move.

He slips through Hanbin’s office door, closing and locking it behind him before making his way closer with crossed arms.

“Look, I've been giving you space.” Which, for Matthew, is a big deal. He doesn’t leave things to linger, preferring to confront them head-on. “I know whatever happens today isn’t going to be easy for you.”

“What makes you think that?” Hanbin tries.

“The fact that you spent hours locked up inside your bedroom with Hao five days ago, and the fact that he hasn’t called you once.”

Hanbin closes his file. “How did you know that?”

“Because he called me.”

Hanbin doesn’t want to know why Hao called Matthew. He’s already thinking the worst. That Hao really did just use him for his experience, and that night was a lie, or worse, a figment of his imagination. But he knows it was all real. He saw the marks, the evidence of Hao being there with him.

“Matthew-”

“Don’t be too hard on him,” Matthew cuts him off. “He doesn’t deserve that.”

“I would never,” Hanbin says with all the sincerity he has. “Neither of us is right about how we went about this, but I’m not going to blame him for it.”

Matthew gives him a sad look. “Would he really leave Jinwoo?”

Hanbin doesn’t know. He would leave anyone for Hao in a heartbeat, but Hao isn’t him. Hanbin had something he wanted, and Hao took it. He told Hanbin from the moment he met him that when there’s something he wants, he goes for it. Hao wanted Hanbin, and he was too weak to resist him.

“It’s not up to me.”

Hanbin’s phone rings, and it’s Yuna telling him his final clients for the day have just arrived.

“I’m rooting for you two,” Matthew tells him.

“Even though we’re wrong?”

Matthew shrugs. “I just believe these things happen for a reason. Jinwoo doesn’t deserve this, but I sensed your connection with Hao the moment you couldn’t stop talking about him.”

“Good to know you support cheating,” Hanbin says, looking at Matthew weirdly.

“I don’t,” Matthew says with a firm voice. “But I support you and saw something that first day that you didn’t. Hao’s been mentally checked out from Jinwoo for longer than they realized. They held on just to say they tried, and I’m pretty sure…” Matthew shakes his head and starts for the door.

“You’re pretty sure what?”

Matthew laughs as he reaches for the doorknob.

“I’m pretty sure Hao knows something you don’t.”

Hanbin’s door opens, and Matthew leaves. In his place, Jinwoo and Hao enter with Yuna closing the door behind them.

“Jinwoo, Hao,” Hanbin greets standing up. Jinwoo can barely muster up a smile but Hao looks at ease. He usually does. Jinwoo wears his emotions on his sleeve, Hanbin’s learned that.

Hanbin spent days thinking about what to say to them. How would he start the session, knowing what he did with Hao? He's come up with nothing, and so he lets them lead.

“I’m afraid it seems this might be our final session, Mr. Sung.”

Hanbin doesn’t move. His eyes glance at Hao, who speaks to him through his eyes. “Let him speak,” Hao’s eyes seem to say.

“Unfortunately, Hao and I are no longer together,” Jinwoo laughs bitterly. “It sort of feels like two parents coming together to tell their kid they're getting a divorce, really.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Hanbin says with a distant voice. He clears his throat and tries again. “I hope it isn’t anything I did with your treatment.”

He wishes he could take that back.

“Nothing like that,” Jinwoo says, looking at Hao and then at the ground. “It seems our problem can’t be fixed after all. I’ll just let Matthew know.”

Jinwoo can hardly look at Hao. He gets up and leaves, closing the door with a little more force than necessary.

And then there were two.

“What did you say to him?” Hanbin asks carefully. Hao stands up too, and for a moment Hanbin thinks he’s going to walk right out of the door.

He does the opposite. He crosses that final client and therapist boundary in Hanbin’s office, rounding the large wooden desk and perching himself on the edge of the desk closest to Hanbin.

“The truth.”

Hanbin doesn’t get a lot of that often. He’s had bad experiences with clients not wanting to tell their partners the truth or the whole truth. They leave that burden for someone else or simply watch everything fizzle and burn right before their eyes.

“I told you I don’t regret what we did. I wasn’t about to hide it either. I told him everything.”

“Everything?” Hanbin says in a panicked voice. Just like that, his practice goes up in flames right before his eyes.

Maybe he deserves it. He knew the risks and still went for Hao anyway. Whatever happens to him will be his own fault, no one else’s.

“I told him that I met a man, an unexpected man that made me see stars,” Hao says in a gentle voice. “I told him that our relationship was real and that even though I wasn’t in love with him anymore, he’s still someone I consider a friend.”

“You friend-zoned him?”

“I broke up with him,” Hao says, knocking Hanbin’s arm with his knee. “He was pissed. Started naming guys I’ve interacted with trying to guess who it might be.”

“And did he?” Hanbin asks.

Hao shakes his head. “I didn’t even give him the chance. I told him it was you.”

“How did he take that?”

Jinwoo didn’t seem particularly upset with Hanbin when he came in. Unlike the way he interacted with Hao, Jinwoo actually looked him in the eyes.

“He was stunned silent,” Hao says with a small laugh. “Jinwoo was always jealous of you for some reason. He was jealous of everyone, but mostly you.”

“It tends to happen when you take your partner to see a sex therapist,” Hanbin rattles off. “Most men take one look at my picture-less desk and see me as a threat because I’m not married with three kids and a dog.”

“They have every right to,” Hao says with a teasing expression. “When you want something, you don’t hold back either.”

Hanbin supposes that it was true.

“What happened, in the end?”

Hao slips off the desk, easily finding his way into Hanbin’s lap and for the first time in a week he feels calm having Hao so close.

“He gave up,” Hao whispers, eyes shifting around Hanbin’s face. “Jinwoo didn’t want to make it work with me. It was an ego boost for him. His friends hated me because they wanted me, his parents loved me because of the fame I tagged onto their name.”

“That’s why you didn’t want to come,” Hanbin realizes, remembering how annoyed Hao was during the first session. “Because you knew.”

Hao nods in response. “He tried everything you recommended just so he could say he was the only one who knew how to make me feel.”

“He thought phase two was working.”

“It wasn’t working. I just got creative with my lies. I told him what he wanted to hear and in turn he got to tell me he tried.”

“Three months,” Hanbin whispers. Remembering what Hao told him.

“Like I said, Jinwoo and I have been out of love for a while. Loveless sex? It was a lot like that. Two people using each other to get off. He only came here because it was taking a toll on our relationship and his family was starting to realize that.”

“Is that what you told Matthew?”

Hao grins and says, “I told him I was sorry for being so loud that night and that too.”

Hanbin’s jaw drops a little and then he laughs. Hao joins him and it all feels so surreal he can’t help but finally take what he wants without remorse.

Their laughs die down as Hanbin kisses him. He’s helped so many people in this very office, he never thought he’d be helping himself one day.

“I’m finally yours Mr. Sung,” Hao says with a suggestive tone. “What do you plan on doing with me?”

“I think you’re ready for phase three,” Hanbin says with a weak groan. Hao circles his hips against him with a devilish smile.

“I knew I’d get there eventually.”

It isn’t easy explaining the rest to Matthew. Hanbin does try but-

“I sent her home the moment Jinwoo left alone,” Matthew huffs. They’re on their way to the car, Hao tucked against Hanbin’s side giggling at Matthew’s dramatics. “I can’t believe you two. You seriously lose all self control around him.”

“You knew that already,” Hanbin reminds him sheepishly. “And it isn’t like you heard anything. The walls are soundproof for a reason.”

“I felt when that ugly paper weight fell off your desk.” Then he stops. “Actually, that was a service to the community. I’ll let it slide.”

Hanbin shakes his head. He loved that paper weight but he loved the sound of Hao falling apart under him more.

“Well we have a date to get too.”

“Already?” Matthew asks. “But tonight is hotpot night. We’re meeting up with-”

“Right, Jiwoong and Taerae,” Hanbin says as it flies into his head.

“I could eat,” Hao shrugs. “If you don’t mind.”

Before he can stop him Matthew’s eyes light up and he’s already saying too much.

“You have a fan base waiting to meet you. You had Hanbin turned upside down for weeks.”

Hao smiles, he already knew. Something tells Hanbin Hao and Matthew together are going to make his life much harder than it used to be. At least his best friend and pending boyfriend are getting along.

“Oh what’s happening with Gyuvin and Ricky?” Hao mentions just before they separate. Hao came to the appointment in his car and promised to meet them at the restaurant. It's ten minutes away but even that feels like too much time apart.

“I’m seeing Ricky next week.”

“Good,” Hao says, giving Hanbin an excited smile. “Careful with them, they’re technically your step kids now.”

“You didn’t tell me you had kids,” Hanbin shouts playfully alarmed. They get further and further away as Hao heads to his car.

“Now you know!”

He disappears into his car and Hanbin joins Matthew who is already inside of theirs.

“Does that mean I’m an uncle now?”

“What? No!” Hanbin says turning on his car. He’s got to be really careful with Ricky and Gyuvin. But he’s an expert, it’s what he does.

“So it all worked out in the end,” Matthew says with an exhausted sigh almost as if it were him these things were happening too.

“Just wait, I’m sure your love story will be just as exciting as mine.”

Matthew gives him an odd look. “You hooked up with your client and then stole him from his boyfriend.”

“There was no stealing,” Hanbin says, heat rising in his face. “They were already on the fence.”

“The fence you hoped over to take his boyfriend?”

Hanbin shakes his head as he pulls into the road.

“I can’t wait to see who ends up reeling you in.”

Matthew cackles. “I can’t be tamed Sung Hanbin. I’d like to see someone try.”

Hanbin would too, but for now he has his own man to worry about.

One Week Later

Shen Ricky is an enigma to Hanbin.

He’s been in the office for a total of ten minutes, and yet Hanbin still can’t figure him out. This…it’s never happened before. He’s tried every angle he can and yet he can’t break him.

“What do you do for work?” Hanbin asks politely.

“I’m an artist.”

Then silence follows.

“What do you do for fun?”

“I watch dramas.”

More silence.

“Okay,” Hanbin says slowly. “We can start with the real reason you’re here.”

“Gyuvin,” Ricky says and Hanbin sees a flash of light in his eyes.

“Right. What does your current sex life look like?”

For the first time since his arrival, Ricky cracks a smile.

“Nonexistent.”

Hanbin pales. “But I thought…”

“We never said we have consistent sex. Most of the time we try other things.”

“Other things?” Hanbin echoes weakly.

“Matthew said you’d react like this,” Ricky says with an adorable giggle that almost warms Hanbin’s cold heart.

He isn’t sure what’s scarier.

The fact that Ricky is friends with Matthew or the fact that he’s got another Joon and Donghyun on his hands.