1 (idiot)

“Mmhh—ha…” I shoved him away, gasping as our lips broke apart.

My chest rose and fell rapidly. My face felt hot, burning red from both embarrassment and the force of his kiss. My lips throbbed—swollen, bitten, tortured within an inch of their life.

“Phi…” I whined, glaring at him with watery eyes. He sat there far too pleased with himself, his lips curling in a smug line.

This mean, mean tyrannosaurus.

I frowned, squirming in his lap, trying to put distance between us. But Johan wasn’t the type to let go so easily. His arm tightened around my waist, pulling me flush against him again as he buried his face against my neck. His breath—hot and uneven—fanned against my skin, sending shivers darting down my spine.

“You always start it,” he murmured, his voice low and calm in that maddening way of his, “and then act like a wounded deer when I respond back.”

Before I could protest, he tilted my chin towards him and licked my lips. Slowly. Deliberately. Like he was licking a candy.

My heart practically jumped out of my throat.“P… Jo—” I stammered, completely undone.

“Can’t I kiss my boyfriend?” His eyes glinted with mischief as one dark brow arched upward. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

I crossed my arms, glaring at him through the heat flooding my cheeks. “You love taking advantage.”

He only leaned back lazily, that sly smile not budging an inch.

This wolf.

He tilted his head, closing the space until his lips grazed the shell of my ear. His voice was barely above a whisper, rough and rich, “And you love letting me.”

My stomach did a backflip. I was about to push him away again when—

“Sir!”

I yelped. A worker’s voice cut sharply through the tension, startling me so hard I nearly fell out of Johan’s lap. He, of course, remained completely unfazed.

The poor staff member shifted awkwardly by the door, clearly uncomfortable at having walked in on… whatever that was. Well, who wouldn’t be? Two people tangled up like teenagers, making out in broad daylight, in the racetrack’s office of all places.

He cleared his throat. “Mr. Ratchata is here.”

“Mm,” Johan replied casually, glancing at me.

Panicking, I scrambled to my feet, my face burning so hot it could power a small village. But Johan’s hand shot out, catching my wrist and yanking me back. He smirked devilishly as he leaned in and captured my lip between his teeth, biting down gently before nibbling on it.

“Ouch!” I hissed, pulling away.

He chuckled darkly, that rare real smile flashing across his face. “Now you can go,” he murmured, standing up like nothing happened.

I stomped my foot in frustration, a frown forming on my face as I glared daggers at him. My heart was a tangled mess in my chest, and all I could do was curse him silently as I fled toward the washroom.

Inside, I finally caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. My hair mussed, my lips red and ruined, my expression frazzled.

I sighed, slumping against the counter. “Great… I look like I just fought a wild animal.”

It’s been nearly six months since Johan and I started dating. Six months, and I still can’t believe I, North Natchanan—the self-proclaimed prince of flirting, the attention-seeker who never let anyone get too close—would end up completely undone by this emotionally constipated iceberg.

All because of a stupid dare.

I did win that dare, technically. I got him. But why… why does it feel like he’s the one who won instead?

This sly man.

Straightening my shirt, I walked back out into the office. Mr. Ratchata was already inside, standing tall beside Johan as they flipped through paperwork spread across the desk. The air immediately felt heavier, more formal, but the moment Mr. Ratchata’s eyes landed on me, his expression softened.

“Oh, North,” he said warmly. “How have you been?”

“Sawadee khrab, Pa. I’m good!” I grinned wide, sliding into the seat beside Johan and immediately craning my neck to peek at the documents.

“Mm.” Mr. Ratchata’s brows furrowed as his gaze flicked down to my lips. “What happened there, son?” His tone carried genuine concern.

I froze. My cheeks flushed crimson.

Behind me, I heard the unmistakable sound of Johan’s quiet chuckle.

I spun around and glared at him furiously, but he only returned it with an infuriatingly amused expression—as if daring me to explain.

Swallowing my embarrassment, I ignored the question altogether. “So, um, what are you working on?” I asked instead, leaning forward to sneak a better look.

Without even glancing up, Johan flicked my forehead.

“Ow!” I recoiled, rubbing the spot.

“Little brat. Go away.”

I gasped. The audacity. The sheer audacity!

Fine!

With my cheeks puffed in indignation, I stomped toward the corner. My frown deepening when I heard Johan sigh and Mr. Ratchata scold him in a stern voice for not treating me more gently.

Deserved. Pa, please, scold him more!

“North, sit here,” Pa called kindly, patting the seat beside him.

I side eyed Johan before plopping down beside his father.Instantly, regret washed over me when the stretch made my lips sting again.

Ouch.

It's okay North, love hurts.

I mentally patted myself, resigned to my tragic fate.

The discussion between Johan and his father shifted to sponsorship deals, new car parts, and racetrack expansions. To me, it sounded like a foreign language—numbers, contracts, engines, blah blah blah. My mind wandered almost immediately.

Bored, I pulled out my phone, scrolling through Instagram. My thumb paused at Easter’s latest story—him and P’Hill at a cozy café, laughing over iced coffee. A pang tugged at my chest. Only if Johan had spare time to do little things like that with me. Dates had been rare lately. Between the racetrack and his university workload, he was constantly busy.

And me? I didn’t want to sound clingy. I wanted to be patient. So I never asked.

I sighed quietly, trying to shove the thought away.

Oh—by the way, did I tell you? Easter and Hill are dating now. Time really does fly, huh?

I continued scrolling.

My eyes drooped. The voices of Johan and Pa faded into a low hum. The warmth of the office, the soft chair, and the dull rhythm of paperwork talk lulled me deeper and deeper until—

My head lolled forward. A yawn escaped. Consciousness slipped from my fingers.

And before I knew it… I was fast asleep.

✿✿✿

Johan POV

The rustle of papers filled the room as Dad discussed the new sponsorship proposals. I was listening—half-listening—but my eyes kept flicking to the side.

North had curled up on the chair like a child, phone slipping from his fingers, head bobbing as he fought off sleep. He lasted all of five minutes before his lids fluttered shut.

I let out a quiet sigh through my nose, my lips tugging almost imperceptibly at the corner. He was hopeless. Always so restless, curious, demanding… until he wasn’t. When he finally gave in to exhaustion, the world seemed to settle around him.

Dad noticed too. His tone softened as he glanced at North. “He looks tired,” he murmured.

“Mm.” My agreement was wordless, but the warmth in my chest betrayed me.

For a moment, silence stretched. Then Dad shifted the conversation, his voice low, calm. “You’re steadying yourself well, son. Balancing studies, the track, and… him. You’ve grown more than you realize.”

I stiffened slightly. Compliments weren’t Dad’s habit, and hearing them always felt… undeserved. My eyes lingered on North’s sleeping face—his lips still faintly red from earlier, brows drawn as if even in dreams he was ready to argue.

Maybe Dad was right and maybe.....North had something to do with that.

When Dad finally left to meet another guest, I stayed behind. For a long moment, I just sat there, watching North sleep. His cheek rested on his fist, lips parted faintly as a little grumble escaped him. My chest tightened.

Quietly, I moved.

I bent, slipping an arm under his knees and another around his back. He stirred faintly, a soft sound escaping, but didn’t wake. Carefully, I lifted him, adjusting his head to my shoulder. He was warm, heavier than he looked, but it felt natural—like he belonged there.

The corridors blurred as I carried him to the penthouse, footsteps steady, movements careful so he wouldn’t rouse. By the time I reached my room, he was nestled deeper against me, mumbling something incoherent into my shirt.

I set him down on the bed gently, pulling the sheets over him. His lashes fluttered, a small pout forming on his lips. On impulse—reckless, uncharacteristic impulse—I leaned down and gave him a soft kiss.

He grumbled again, turning his face away with a small frown.

A soft laugh escaped me before I could stop it. I shook my head, pressing a kiss now to his cheek instead. His skin was warm against my lips, soft in a way that made something in me ache.

“Idiot,” I murmured under my breath, though the word carried no bite. Just a strange, quiet fondness.

I lingered for another heartbeat, watching his chest rise and fall before turning away and letting him rest.