Games

The studio lights were bright, the air thick with the scent of expensive cologne, and the laughter coming from Kole's mouth was just a little too real.

Jackson watched from the side, jaw tense.

Kole was in his element-mic in hand, perched casually on the armrest of a couch, legs crossed, smile easy. The guest was Jung Minwoo, freshly minted heartthrob of Korea's latest action drama, all sharp jawline and smug eyes. And he was flirting. Openly. Shamelessly.

"You've been working out for this role?" Kole asked, eyes flicking over Minwoo's arms, lingering.

Minwoo smirked. "You noticed?"

"Hard not to," Kole replied, voice dropping a half-octave. His lashes fluttered. He fluttered.

Jackson nearly choked on air.

Rina, beside him, whispered, "You're clenching your teeth so hard I can hear it."

Jackson didn't answer.

Minwoo leaned closer. "Want to feel for yourself?"

Kole chuckled-light, teasing. "Don't tempt me."

And he touched him. Briefly. Just a hand on Minwoo's bicep, but it was enough to make something twist inside Jackson's chest.

Heat. Annoyance. Maybe both.

When the interview wrapped and cameras stopped rolling, Kole turned to Minwoo again.

"You're good on camera," he said.

"So are you," Minwoo replied. "Maybe we should grab dinner. You free after this?"

Kole tilted his head, pretending to consider. "Maybe."

Jackson moved.

Before he even realized what he was doing, he was at Kole's side, one hand slipping around his waist, the other landing hard on Kole's lower back.

"Kole," Jackson said, tone cool, lips pressed in a smile that wasn't kind. "We're late for our next stop."

Kole blinked, surprised-but he didn't pull away.

Minwoo raised a brow. "I didn't know the husbands traveled together."

Jackson's fingers tightened.

"We're inseparable," he said smoothly.

Kole turned to look at him. Their faces were close. Jackson could feel the warmth of Kole's skin, see the glitter of mischief in his eyes.

"Oh?" Kole asked, all innocence. "Since when?"

Jackson leaned in, so close only Kole could hear. "Since I watched you eye-fuck a man on camera for fifteen minutes."

Kole smiled-sharp and slow.

"Jealous?" he whispered.

Jackson didn't answer.

He didn't have to.

---

Back in the car, Kole leaned against the window, lips curled in smug satisfaction.

"So," he said, "what was that back there? A performance? Or something else?"

Jackson didn't look at him. "You're not funny."

"Oh, I'm hilarious," Kole replied. "Especially when you get all possessive. You don't like sharing, huh?"

Jackson's jaw flexed.

Kole's voice dropped. "You want me to flirt with you instead?"

Silence.

Then Jackson turned to him, eyes burning.

"Don't play games you can't handle, Kole."

Kole smirked, but there was a flicker-something behind his eyes. Curiosity. Heat. Maybe the tiniest bit of fear.

He loved games.

But Jackson?

Jackson played to win.