Thank you for waiting for this chapter. It gets quite intense here, so now I'm definitely changing the rating of this story to "M" - but what the hell? It was already a bit like that anyway. Enjoy and please feel free to leave your thoughts.

Also, I'm sorry Zen, please forgive me for writing this about you ;D

Ciphertext – Chapter 18: Kink 1.0

Zen studied the expression on Eun-ji's face. Did she really want to mess around with him after what had just happened with Luciel? He couldn't believe that her heart would change so quickly.

"Emily, listen. I don't know what's going through your head right now, but … what about Seven? Aren't you worried about hurting his feelings?" he said, a radiant sense of warmth coming through in his voice.

Eun-ji furrowed her brows. "No, I'm not worried about that! He hurt me first, reeling me in and then just pushing me away so selfishly! There's no reason for me to be involved with someone like that." She took a deep breath and met Zen's eyes. "I'll have all of you, right here, right now."

Zen was in shock hearing her words. How could she be so forward with him about engaging in, what was obviously meant to be a sexual act.

"You know, I'm the kind of guy who likes to take things slow. Going out on dates, getting to know each other a bit … I mean, do we … have to rush into this sort of thing? Even if … even if you really do like me."

Somehow he started to feel embarrassed about his gentlemanly side. Beside his busy work schedule, maybe this was why he hadn't had any luck finding a girlfriend recently. His mind was flooded with thoughts.

Don't women like to be serenaded with flowers, movie tickets, nice dresses and romantic home-cooked dinners? I want to save her from the kind of men who would just take advantage of the situation.

But what about Seven?

Eun-ji inched closer to him. "Like I said, I want you." She took one hand and ran her fingers through his hair, removing the thin band that was keeping his pristine white locks in place. His hair fell around his shoulders and across his back. He looked almost angelic, if not for the devilish red of his eyes. He was so tall that she had to stand on her tiptoes to reach his ear, just like she had done with Luciel. "I want you right now," she purred, teasingly.

Zen was flustered and tried to keep calm, but she was already making him feel vulnerable.

"E-Emily. I'm so afraid … that the beast within is going to wake up soon."

"Then let it!" Eun-ji declared, a little triumphantly. "I want to witness the beast within you."

Zen's face reddened and his pulse quickened tremendously. "Do you really not mind if I get turned on by this? It's not a very gentlemanly thing to do after all …"

Slipping both hands around his waist, she could already feel the strong, muscular shape of his abs without even needing to move very far. "Why the hell would I mind? I want you to be aroused. Let me give you the pleasure you've been seeking."

"No, well … it's just … you seem very proficient at this …"

Eun-ji laughed. "You must be joking. My first time was just yesterday," she noted, not ceasing as she worked her way up his torso, lightly squeezing around each and every detail.

No way! Seven was her first? And now she's all over ME like chocolate sauce engulfing a brownie! How did this happen?

Now he was even more curious. Was it just her hormones trying to find their feet? Did she just find him insanely attractive and wanted to live out the fantasy just this once? Or was there something more to it than that?

"So, you're practically a virgin then?" he asked, a slight sheepish grin spanning his face.

Eun-ji scoffed. "It's not like I wanted to be that way … really."

"It wasn't a criticism," he confirmed. "I actually think that's a good thing."

"Are you trying to compliment me?" she said, debating whether she should feel offended by his comment or not.

"I guess so." He actually wondered about this himself. He turned his face in the other direction slightly to break eye contact for a moment. "But, to tell you the truth … my first time was when I was 17. Back in those days, I was more rebellious, in a motorbike gang, hanging around with some bad people and well …I met this really cute girl and one thing led to another and-"

Eun-ji pulled his face back gently so that they were locking eyes again and put a finger to his lips. "Shhh. I don't need to know the details … Hyun. You're changing the subject a bit, aren't you?"

He gulped as she spoke his real name. It had been a long time since anybody had used it. Her obscure, yet alluring hazel eyes were already starting to rouse the beast within him, there was no denying that.

Guiding him into his own kitchen, Eun-ji pushed him hard against the oven. Their bodies were so close to one another now, and Zen was looking down at her as she gazed up lustfully at his handsome face. His eyes, which had been filled with doubt, were now like burning fiery orbs ignited by the physical connection that had been fostered between them. The t-shirt she was wearing was slightly too loose and he got a sneak preview of her breasts as they pressed softly against his firm upper body.

"Emily. You're really waking up that beast now, you know. You're so small and yet the way you captivate me is so intense."

"I'm so 'small'?" she echoed, looking a little pained.

Zen lost his sense of composure for a second as he noticed what he had said. "Oh no, I didn't mean your breasts or anything. It's just that-"

"Really? I didn't even mention them. You brought that up by yourself," she said. "Do you not like small ones?" Eun-ji made more of a conscious effort to press against him, letting him feel her womanhood. She hoped this might convince him otherwise.

"No, it's not that!" he almost yelled, trying to prove his innocence. "Well, I mean … if I have to have a preference, maybe I do prefer them bigger," he admitted, embarrassed to be telling her the truth of his very shallow thought process.

With that, Eun-ji tore away her t-shirt, exposing her red lace bra, which was also Rika's. "Take a good, long look at these!" she asserted. "Is anything wrong with them?"

Zen felt his nose tingle and twitch as he eyed the perfectly round, small breasts before him. The blood rushed to his head and he started to feel faint. But gripping onto the handle of the oven door, he managed to prop himself up.

Her skirt was also starting to inch its way up her leg as she brought one knee up and wound herself around his hips like a snake. He was now fully aware of the throbbing bulge that had formed beneath the tracksuit bottoms he was wearing and she was grinding her thigh into it, knowingly.

"Nnhh …" he whimpered, unable to contain his animal instincts.

"Well?" said Eun-ji, eager for a response. "Are they any good now?"

Zen spluttered a little as he tried to catch his breath. "Y-Yes. They're actually … beautiful." He smiled as best he could despite the massive sense of discomfort that had graced his trousers. "I regret saying anything, so please … please stop teasing me now."

She put her left hand onto his crotch, feeling how his cock was practically as hard as his torso. "You want me to stop teasing you?" she giggled. "I don't think so. Didn't I say I was going to tie you up?"

Remembering how this had all began, Zen's head spun with dread. What was she going to make him do?

"Emily. I … I don't mind being tied up, but I just want you to know that this is not something I do regularly. I usually go a bit softer when it comes to sex."

"Who says we're going to have sex?", she said, throwing him an unnervingly innocent glance. "Should I let you have me?"

Zen was confused. She'd just forcefully ripped off her own t-shirt, they were up against each other like superglue, and he was overloading with desire. What else could all this possibly lead to if not sex? He moved forwards and took her face in his warm, slender hands.

"I think you should let me have you, because I really can't take the suspense anymore."

Eun-ji was a little taken aback by this. His eyes were serious and his body was impatient. He seemed to be burning his deep passion into her, flame by flame. She wondered what she was doing.

"I want to tie you up," she repeated, convinced that it was her desire to own him.

Zen understood. "Okay. Alright, I'll let you tie me up if that's what you really want to try. But please don't go overboard with it. After all, it's part of my job to keep myself looking good, not just for this sort of thing or for my own vanity." He closed his eyes and drew her in for a kiss, but she stopped him midway.

"Hmm. I don't think you deserve to kiss me just yet", she teased, pouting a little. "First, let me find something to restrain you with. Then, I'm going to tie you to this oven. Don't move a muscle." She fondled his hair lightly before letting it run slowly through the gaps between her fingers.

His heart fluttered. "Hey! What do you mean? I just wanted to kiss you …"

She brought her face close to his and their noses touched. But she wouldn't kiss him. "Don't be so greedy, my little Hyun."

He smirked. "'Little?' You haven't seen anything yet. I have a treat in store for you."

Eun-ji hitched up her skirt and flipped it as she walked away, revealing her matching red lace underpants. Zen balked as he caught sight of how they fitted her so perfectly, not leaving much to the imagination. She had prepared for her revenge on Luciel so well. Her acting was even more perfect than his own acting career and he hadn't even realised.

Zen was stuck with his back against the oven, his body frozen in excruciating wait. He didn't know what she would do if he were to move. He was obeying her every command. It was a strange feeling, but one that he might be able to get used to if she would continue to indulge him like this, and then perhaps it would develop into something more like a relationship.

What they were doing was certainly backwards, but he figured, it all could work out for them. He knew that things would be awkward between him and Luciel if and when this came to light, but right now, this was like some heavenly dream sequence. The beast within would not be tamed until his hunger was completely satisfied.

Eun-ji returned from the other room, her skirt removed and her lace underpants were starkly visible. They showed off her legs brilliantly and Zen obviously appreciated the beauty of the young woman standing before him.

"I found this tie," she said, showing the black silk one she was referring to. "But you don't seem like the type of guy who'd wear a tie."

"Oh that?" He tried to remember why it was in the house. "Jumin left it here once when he had to go on a business trip. We had been discussing how he wanted to help me out financially, to get my career jump-started and then-"

Eun-ji sauntered over to him and put her hand over his mouth, stopping him from talking. "Shhh. I don't need to know the details."

He tried to take her hand away as he mumbled something nonsensical.

"What did you say?" she asked.

Managing to free his face, he ended up gasping for breath. "Why won't you just let me finish the story?"

She yanked both of his arms above his head.

"Okay, okay. So you don't need to know the details, but please don't be too rough on me, okay?"

Silence.

"Emily … What are you doing?"

Eun-ji took the silk tie and wrapped it around the upper oven door handle and his wrists, loosely at first. She observed the way his arms were so firm and manly, but yet so slender in appearance. Then, his white hair was just falling around him in such a delicate way, it was awe-inspiring, almost mystical. He was somehow even hotter, being all submissive like this. She tightened the bonds around his hands, ensuring that it really wouldn't come loose.

"What are you going to do to me?" he said.

She wanted him.

Even more with every second.

To suffer.

She walked over to the drawers, rifling through them for something interesting. As she bent over, purposefully, to check a bottom drawer, Zen couldn't help but drool at the sight of her ass; it was so perfectly adorned in dark red lace and he had to admit that red was one of those colours that turned him on immensely. That bulge in his trousers wasn't going away anytime soon and it wasn't like he could just sort the problem out by himself. He felt like she'd kill him if he tried. How long did she plan to make him wait?

Finally, Eun-ji stood up, seemingly having found what she was looking for.

"What do you have there?" questioned Zen, concerned that she might be using something too dangerous to 'torture' him.

She showed him the implement in her hand. A whisk. "I'll use this to teach you a lesson," she exclaimed, wandering back over to where he was confined.

"Maybe I'll whisk you away instead," Zen punned, much to his own amusement. He let off a slight chuckle as he said it. "Ah, I quite liked that one."

Eun-ji looked annoyed. "Well, I didn't like it! Don't even dare to make stupid puns in front of me!" she bit his nose quite hard and brought the whisk quickly down onto the aching member beneath his tracksuit bottoms.

"Shit!" he yelled. "Wh-what the hell was that?" He wasn't even going to try and be a gentleman at this point. "That fucking hurt! What are you thinking?"

"You've been such a bad boy. I had to punish you." There was hatred in her eyes now.

Zen's heart was beating at such a ridiculous pace now. It was no longer lust, but fear that was crippling his insides. "B-but. If we're going to play this game, can't you at least only go as far as teasing me a bit? Please, please, please don't use physical violence like that!"

She was insistent. "Did you really think I'd tie you up if I didn't want to inflict violence on you?"

"Not all BDSM has to be like this Emily …" Zen's eyes were still watering from the pain in his nose and crotch. He looked so resentful and timid all of a sudden, like a white rabbit caught in a car headlight. "Just reconsider your strategy here … that's all I'm asking."

Really … what is she thinking of doing to me?

Eun-ji crouched down and pulled everything he was wearing on his bottom half to the floor. Zen let out a gasp as he felt a brisk chill whip around his naked flesh without warning. "Why should I listen to you?" she said, monotonously. "I'll just enjoy playing with your body. You don't even know my real name and you never will."

Zen raised an eyebrow. "You mean, you're not really called Emily?" he mused, but then shook this revelation away, returning his attention to the more pressing concern of her domineering demeanour. "Whatever your real name is … you can't just use me as you please. We have to create a level playing field during this kind of thing. You know, there should be rules that we can both agree on."

Eun-ji fumed with disgust. "Oh? Is that right? Don't you think you're just being a bit pretentious since you have more experience than me?"

Zen was lost for words. "Not at all. I don't … understand what's happened to you? You were such a nice, sweet and innocent girl before. Please tell me why you're being like this!" he begged.

"NO! I WON'T LET YOU DICTATE TO ME! JUST LET ME DO WHAT I WANT. FUCKKK!" Eun-ji screamed at the top of her lungs and repeatedly hit Zen with the whisk in several places. The harsh beatings were leaving marks all over him. He felt tears welling up in his eyes for the first time in so many years. The swearing was equally as biting coming from her mouth as the strikes themselves.

Stop it …. Please … you're damaging me … and I can't get the message through to you …

"Emily … STOP IT NOW! UNTIE ME RIGHT AWAY!" The only way he could think to reach her was to match her loudness and conviction.

Suddenly, she ceased and dropped the whisk onto the lacquered floor beneath her. Then, she proceeded to unfasten the tie around his wrists and the handle. She hung her head low, her beautiful brown hair falling listlessly over Zen's torso. Her body shook furiously as she let bitter tears flow out and seep through his clothes.

She tried to speak, but couldn't form the words. "Zen … Zen … I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry."

Zen's heart calmed down a bit. Flexing his hands to return the sensation to them, he reluctantly placed a hand onto her shoulder to comfort her. "No need to apologise, although I'll admit that you really did go too far with things. I just know that you're hurting inside, aren't you? Looks like Seven's really gone and messed with you."

She shook her head in denial. "No, it's not his fault. It's down to me to change things with him."

"Well it is, and it isn't … I mean, his job is confidential in nature, so he can't just start a relationship with someone so easily. I think you need to recognise that." He paused and rubbed her arm a little to warm her up. "On the other hand, I think he needs to have more faith in himself. There's something wrong with that dude if he won't appreciate you." Zen was still slightly aroused, even after the beatings, but this was absolutely the wrong time to take advantage of her so he refrained; a true gentleman even at a time like this.

Eun-ji looked at Zen, a little understandingly. She was so fragile that he feared she might break at any moment.

"Don't give me those eyes," he said. "Or I'll want to keep you for myself and take away all your anxieties." He laughed to hide the pain that was coursing through his veins. "After all, I understand what's it's like to be shut out, but … I also know that I'm not the one you're supposed to be with."

"Zen. This must have all been so much harder for you to stomach, but … I'm sorry, you're right and … thank you."

Smiling, Zen felt a tear fall down his cheek. "Yeah, you're going to be fine."