The first light of the day fell in soft rays across the room, bathing the two entangled forms on the bed in a golden glow. It is the height of summer, and dawn tends to come earlier and earlier, even in the city.

A particular bright beam settled over Jihyun's eyelids as the sun rose ever higher from behind the horizon. Inhaling deeply, he felt himself waking. Creasing his brow and lifting up a hand to shield his face, he opened his eyes and turned his head towards the alarm clock on the nightstand.

7:15 AM.

The photographer groaned and rubbed his hand over his face, rubbing his face off the sleepiness that he felt. He got home so late, more than just a bit drunk, and he still feels the aching tiredness deep in his bones.

So much for sleeping in on a Saturday, he lamented to himself. One he does not have any shootings scheduled, at that.

He lived on a spacious house up a hill, one that he picked exactly because the natural lightening was so good. For days such as this one, when the sun is his enemy, he had thick, mechanic blinds installed, which were enough to make his bedroom be swallowed in eternal night. Then again, it was his own fault. If he had only remembered to close the curtains last night…

However, last night, Jihyun had been too distracted by other, more enjoyable things to even remember something so trivial.

Blinking back the sleep from his eyes and the flush from his cheeks when recalling the specifics of their shared evening, the teal-haired man suddenly noticed the warm breath of the person lying next to him ghosting over the skin of his chest. Her head was laying atop his shoulder, her make-up staining the sheets, her hair a wild mess of curls. His arm, which is feeling quite numb by now, was curled around her, his fingers at her elbow.

Looking down at the peaceful expression on MC's face, Jihyun smiled. He softly trailed his fingers up and down her arm and kissed the top of her golden head. The woman shifted, half-awake, probably disturbed by the same sunlight that he was.

"Hmm…" Her voice was barely above a whisper. "What time is it?"

"It's not even 7:30, yet." He replied.

MC groaned softly; her pout was accentuated by a furrowed brow. "Too early."

"I know." Jihyun chuckled at the adorable way her nose scrunched up. "Snooze as long as you like. I'll go and make breakfast."

She lifted her head, her eyes still closed, and blindly tried to kiss him on the lips but caught his jaw instead.

"My hero…" She hummed happily and soon after began to breathe heavily, falling back asleep.

Jihyun laughed softly at her demeanour, pressing a quick peck to the freckles on her nose, before lifting himself out of bed, pulling on his pyjama bottoms to cover his nudity and making his way towards the kitchen.

He had always been an early riser, even amongst equally industrious people. He enjoyed sunlight too much to allow himself to miss out on as much as he could soak, even if the night before proved benefits to a more nocturne schedule. It was a habit that had nearly driven Jumin insane when they shared a dorm back in boarding school. A splash of water in his face and he was fully awake, ready for the day.

MC, however, even though she was no slouch either, had always needed more sleep than him.

"At least 8 hours a night, sunshine." She had once said to him. "How do you think I maintain my youthful complexion, hmm?"

Considering the hour they got home, and how long they stayed up after that, he knew not to rush when preparing their breakfast.

Sure enough, it was almost 8:30 when he heard MC shuffling down the stairs, bumping on the walls. Swallowing the last of his first cup of coffee, Jihyun made his way towards the kitchen counter to turn down the low heat on the stove. The pan full of eggs and sausages sizzled melodiously and the smells that filled the kitchen made his stomach rumble impatiently.

That last sound did not go unnoticed. "My, oh my, does someone have an appetite?"

The man felt heat crawl up his neck at her coquettish tone and he cleared his throat. He is hoping to keep some composure, lest she thinks him to be some sort of beast. He needed a few beers in him before he finds in himself to act so insatiable as last night.

"I could eat, yes." He tried to sound as dignified as possible.

Turning around to put the pan on the kitchen table, Jihyun nearly dropped it when MC came into his view. She was leaning against the doorframe. Her eyes half-lidded and sparkling, her smile coy, and in nothing more than his button-down pyjama shirt.

His eyes trailed from her smooth, long cream-coloured legs, over her hips, covered just so, to the deep V neckline of the shirt collar presenting him with a most enticing view.

Jihyun knew he had been staring when he heard MC giggle.

"Like what you see?" She asks, teasingly.

"I, uh…" He mentally shook himself, quickly setting the pan down as he was apparently still holding it. "Yes."

The woman practically purred. "Good. I like what I see, too."

She lets her eyes drop from his face to his waist where his pyjama bottoms rested snugly over his hipbone.

Even though they had been having encounters like this often lately, as he finds himself back in Korea and with a stable roster of clients and patrons, Jihyun still is not used to her flirtatious looks and praises. She is so lascivious, so flirty, that it was borderline embarrassing, but he supposes that shaming him in this way is the entire point of the exercise. He cannot say that he dislikes it, in any case, but he also cannot stop the heat he had felt crawling up his neck earlier to now reach his ears.

Noticing his nerves, MC closed the distance between them and placed her hands on his bare chest.

"Relax." She sussed. "I'm not going to eat you."

Her eyes found his own and she bit her bottom lip.

"Yet."

Jihyun breathed out a shaky, embarrassed laugh at her dirty little joke, appreciating her gesture. "I, uh… I love how you look in my shirt."

He tentatively enveloped her in his arms, feeling every curve of her body and watching the fabric crumple where his hands settled on the small of her back.

Her lips curled mischievously. "Hmm… Good thing you made such a hearty breakfast."

She kissed him, slow and sensual, and he saw stars. She is such a good kisser that he is afraid of asking about her experience.

"Because I too have an appetite." Her eyelashes tickled the skin atop his cheekbones. "Not only for food."

Jihyun inhaled sharply. "So, y-you're staying?"

MC kissed his cheek in answer. "If that's okay with you, yes."

"Of course!" His insides seemed to be doing a summersault. "That's definitely okay with me."