The Devil's Lover

Chapter 9: The Date

Choi Seuljin was Glorious G's biggest investor, which meant he could stroll into the club at any minute. Tonight though, there was no sign of Choi Seuljin during Jayce's entire shift.

Not that Jayce was actually looking for him.

It was probably for the best. Jayce felt like he needed to regroup, to collect himself before speaking to Choi Seuljin again after their spontaneous hang-out last night. (At a Dairy Queen. The universe probably thought it was funny.)

Jayce had long since quelled the small disappointment he initially felt when, twenty minutes until midnight, Choi Seuljin made an appearance, standing a few feet away from the employee's dressing room.

The second Jayce got close enough, the first thing Seuljin told him was, "I lied."

A sliver of panic bloomed in Jayce's chest. "Lied about what?"

"Last night wasn't a friend thing. I mean it was, but now it's not."

The panic disappeared, replaced by confusion. Jayce might still be a little lightheaded. He had finished the night off with a main stage performance showcasing advanced moves on the pole; moves most customers had probably never seen a male stripper in Glorious G do before. It procured him a lot of tips—the most he's ever gotten while pole-dancing—but it also sent him backstage feeling dizzy. The shower he took afterwards was quick and barely stopped the light nausea settling in his stomach.

"What are you trying to say?"

There was a slight hesitation from Choi Seuljin. It was the most nervous Jayce had ever seen the man. He didn't have his usual bravado when he took tentative steps forward, and Seuljin lowered his voice though they were alone in the hallway, "If you're not too tired, I was hoping that you'd like to go out with me right now... On a real date?"

Jayce Terrell did not blush and duck when being asked out by handsome men. He refused to.

Still... this was Choi Seuljin. Seuljin asking him out on a date sent a flutter of something down Jayce's chest. He was fumbling awkwardly with the strap of his duffel bag before he could register that he was doing it. "You're kidding, right?" Seuljin had to be. There was no way—

"No, not at all. I want to take you out on a date."

There was that panic again. The excuses came fast, slipping out easily from Jayce's tongue with years of practice turning down other men, "Mr. Choi, I'm sure you have more interesting ways to kill time, and even more interesting people to keep you company."

"I told you to just call me Seuljin." Choi Seuljin still didn't seem like his normal, cocky self just yet, but he smiled like he was trying to convince Jayce otherwise. "It's not so late, there's plenty of things to do in the city. And, truthfully, your company is the only one I'd prefer to have right now."

Another one of Jayce's co-workers came out of the dressing room before Jayce could react to the last part of Seuljin's statement. It was a newly hired stripper, Curtis. Jayce hadn't gotten a chance to speak to him yet since the slender man had only started working two days ago, but Curtis nodded at Jayce in acknowledgement, then he nodded at Seuljin with clear recognition in his eyes.

The fact that Glorious G's newest employee knew who Choi Seuljin was only managed to steel Jayce's resolve. He waited for Curtis to go through the back exit, and then Jayce proceeded to remind both Seuljin and himself, "Mr. Choi, you're my boss. I can't be seen like that with you. Rule or no rule, people will talk. They'll think I'm f*****g you just to get favors."

Unlike Jayce, Seuljin didn't think it was a big deal. From his perspective, it probably wasn't. "Yana and Aren Gallant are still your bosses." Seuljin looked past Jayce's shoulders, checking that nobody else was about to exit the dressing room before returning his gaze on Jayce. "I know I should've waited for a better time to ask you out, but this kind of makes sense right? Most things between us have been unexpected so far. I won't force you to go out with me, but if you do say yes and after tonight you still think it's too weird, if you think you can't handle people's judgments and speculations, then we can go right back to being just friends. I swear, on my honor."

Jayce crossed his arms over his chest. "On your honor, huh?" Choi Seuljin had said that whole speech without once stuttering, and it made Jayce think that the man probably ran it through his brain a few times before actually saying it out loud.

The mention of being friends made the image of Seuljin leaving Glorious G's doors with another man after Jayce had finished that Champagne Room with Nihad resurface in Jayce's mind. Before he could think it through, Jayce asked, "When you say just friends, are you pertaining to the sort of friendship you seem to have with other people?"

Seuljin smirked. There it was. "If you'd like. I can guarantee you'll also benefit greatly from an arrangement like that—as I've sort of proven to you."

Jayce made a face that told Seuljin he did not find that funny. "Look, if this is just your way to get into my pants again–"

Seuljin's expression shifted from lecherous to sincere in less than two seconds. "This isn't about that."

Jayce snorted.

"Okay, fine, I suppose I obviously can't deny this is also about that," Seuljin conceded. "But truthfully, I enjoyed spending time with you last night. The whole day I kept thinking to myself that I'd like to do it again."

Jayce had come home with his chest feeling ten times lighter after eating ice cream with Choi Seuljin. That whole time, he'd felt like he could be entirely himself and not be judged for it, as opposed to when he was having dinner with William. Fran had asked if his chipper mood meant that the date went well, and Jayce had to break it to her that he most likely would not be falling in love with the heir to Cameron Industries. He didn't mention Choi Seuljin to his aunt because... well...

"I guess I enjoyed it too," Jayce confessed.

The grin he received was expectant. "So, is that a yes to going out with me right now?"

Jayce blurted out one last attempt to sway Seuljin—or himself. "I'm not even dressed properly." In black sweatpants and an oversized jumper, he clearly planned to head straight to bed, not spend the night out on a date.

Choi Seuljin was dressed in the most casual outfit Jayce had seen him in by far. The man wore a snug sweater, white collars of a dress shirt inside peeking out. He was in dark jeans and plain white sneakers which nearly had Jayce doing a double-take. Those shoes didn't seem like Seuljin's style at all (probably because Jayce had only ever seen him in fancy dress shoes), yet the man effortlessly pulled them off.

"You're dressed fine for what I have planned for us," Seuljin said reassuringly.

When William had asked, Jayce needed to rationalize his thoughts just to say yes to a date.

But when Seuljin asked, Jayce didn't need to do that. Thinking about going on a date with Seuljin actually made Jayce feel giddy. While there was nervousness present, it was a far away thing that Jayce couldn't really pay any attention to. He had no idea if it was because he and Seuljin had already gotten very familiar with each other during that heated, spur of the moment session in the employee's restroom, or if it's because Jayce might have just the tiniest crush on Choi Seuljin (which, honestly, seemed inevitable).

"Fine. One date." Jayce said, hoping that he was not making a mistake. He then quickly added, "But s*x is off the table."

Seuljin seemed pleasantly shocked when Jayce said yes, and then he pursed his lips at Jayce's other sentence. "Alright, duly noted."

Jayce narrowed his eyes at the mirth in Seuljin's eyes. "Choi Seuljin..."

Seuljin gestured for them to leave, a cheeky grin on his face. "It's just Seuljin."

Jayce had driven Pumpkin to Glorious G earlier, and for a minute he couldn't figure out what to do with his motorcycle, not really keen on leaving Pumpkin in the parking lot. It wasn't a problem apparently, because Seuljin had already arranged for the valet to keep Pumpkin in the underground garage for the night.

"That means you're driving me home?" They're inside Seuljin's car—not his Aston Martin One-77, but an Audi R8. Jayce kept himself from asking how many cars Seuljin owned.

Seuljin didn't take his eyes off the road, but his lips were quirking to the side while he responded, "Unless you plan on leaving with someone else tonight?"

The investor drove just like how he did everything else; focused but laid-back, sure of himself even when he was making hard turns with only one arm.

Jayce found it insanely attractive.

He continued to stare at Seuljin's profile. It was a very nice side profile, so he was only taking his fill. "You cut your hair today?" The edges of Seuljin's raven hair were a bit shorter than when they saw each other last night.

"I did." Seuljin threw a glance his way, his soft chuckles barely audible above the song playing on the radio. "And here I thought you barely paid attention to me. It's nice being with someone who notices the little things." He was obviously teasing.

"You wish."

Seuljin laughed.

Surprisingly, Jayce hadn't felt uncomfortable during the ride. Being caught enjoying a large cup of vanilla ice cream by himself would have meant that he would feel more uneasy being in close proximity to Choi Seuljin, but in fact he felt the opposite.

"Are you still staring?" Seuljin asked, knowing the answer. He looked ecstatic about it. "You're making me blush here."

Jayce turned his head to look out the passenger side window and chose not to comment on Seuljin's words, hating to inflate the man's ego any more than he already has. "Where are you taking me?"

"We're going downtown." Seuljin paused. "I didn't even mean for that to be dirty. Heh."

Ridiculous. Jayce hadn't expected Seuljin to be this ridiculous. It was both hilarious and mind-boggling.

Conversation between them felt so natural that Jayce thought if they happened to become stuck in traffic, it wouldn't be so terrible.

They did not get stuck in traffic. They made it to Flatstick Pub in Downtown Seattle without having to stop the car for more than a minute. Seuljin pulled up into an empty parking spot (now using both hands). He turned off the engine before asking Jayce, "Have you been here before?"

"A couple of times." Jayce unbuckled his seatbelt with a smirk of his own, buzzing with excitement. "You are so going to regret challenging me to mini golf."

Seuljin only levelled his challenge with a devastating grin. "Bring it on, Terrell."

Inside, inviting music played as the whole place reached the peak of their business hours. They both ordered craft beer, because everybody who came to Flatstick Pub ordered craft beer. By the mini-golf courses, couples and groups were playing, others were playing duffle board or cornhole. Seuljin steered Jayce to one of the less-crowded areas, the warmth from his hand seeping onto Jayce's shoulder.

"Do you know how to play mini golf?" Jayce raised an eyebrow as Seuljin placed a pink golf ball onto the fake grass of the eight hole, completely disregarding the fact that they had to start at one.

Seuljin took a sip of his craft beer while waving his hand dismissively. "There are no rules when playing mini-golf," he said after placing his cup down.

"This doesn't feel right." Nevertheless, Jayce put his own drink onto the holders provided and got into stance. He angled the face of his putter and, after getting a good look at the layout of the course, swung his arms slightly backwards to strike the pink golf ball. It rolled forward, up onto the platform, and went into the hole in a straight line.

Jayce looked at Seuljin as he stepped off the course. "Are we at least keeping score?"

"Oh, we're definitely keeping score. Winner gets bragging rights." Seuljin quickly replaced Jayce's place and, after finding his stance, managed to swing with force that made the golf ball bounce several times on the platform and then directly into the hole.

They moved to another course, this time to the tenth hole, because there were people still playing on the ninth. Jayce didn't even feel bothered by it, deciding to go with the flow.

"Do people really think that you're sleeping with me just to get ahead?" Seuljin asked while Jayce got into position.

"They probably think I'm the one giving head," Jayce mumbled out before he could stop himself, the joke crude but still too good to pass up.

Seuljin huffed in disbelief, Jayce merely swung his putter. The yellow golf ball rolled up the incline and then took a sharp left, narrowly missing the hole.

"This course is rigged," Jayce said in faux defense.

"How did I know that you'd be this competitive?" Seuljin shook his head minutely, smirking. Jayce had already moved towards the golf ball when Seuljin continued to press, "Tell me. Does it bother you that your co-workers think that?"

Jayce shrugged. "It's normal. I know a couple of other people in Glorious G who sleep with rich customers all the time." He applied little force to his swing, and the golf ball made it into the hole this time. "It wouldn't be the most bizarre thing if they thought I was sleeping with my boss." Jayce pointed his putter at Seuljin. "You are still my boss. Technically. You could fire me."

Seuljin parried Jayce's putter like they were having a sword fight. Jayce moved off the platform so Seuljin could start his turn. "I don't think I could ever get you fired," Seuljin informed him. "You're the best dancer at Glorious G. You've got the most regulars, and people look forward to your stage all the time."

Jayce's cheeks became warm. The group on the course beside theirs were noisy, egging each other on constantly. It reassured Jayce that the group wasn't paying attention to their conversation. "It's probably because I dress in stripper clothes and do pole tricks that most male strippers in the club don't want to try. The customers like seeing something... I don't know, exotic?"

"It's easy to put on something different. You, however, are confident in whatever you decide to wear and during whatever performance you decide to give." Even while making his point, Seuljin got the golf ball into the hole in one swing.

"I'm really not as great as you make me seem." Jayce didn't say it to be humble, it was just the truth. He had a more unique take to how he did his job, yes, but it didn't make him better than his co-workers. Seuljin had probably placed Jayce on some sort of pedestal, and Jayce did not deserve that.

Seuljin hopped off the platform, taking his drink and looking Jayce right in the eye. "You know, I figured from last night that you've got some things you're working through. But in Glorious G, you're almost a completely different person. Not a single ounce of self-doubt. I don't think I've ever spoken to someone who sat in a b**m outfit the same way they would sit while wearing pajamas."

Jayce pulled Seuljin by the arm all the way back to the first hole—just in time too, since the group near them had finished their course and were moving to the next.

"Not that I'm embarrassed about what I do, but let's at least try to keep our voices down for the sake of public decency."

Seuljin snickered at Jayce; honest to God snickered. "It's quite different getting to know you as Jayce Terrell when I first met you as J."

"How do you know J isn't what you're after then?" It's a fair question. Jayce wouldn't deny that he changed aspects of his personality whenever he was working.

The question was meant to put Seuljin off his game, maybe make the man grapple a bit. Jayce should have known by now that it would take a lot more than that to render Seuljin speechless. "It's simple. When I knew you as J, I only ever wanted to sleep with you. Last night, I got to know you as Jayce Terrell, which leads us to today—the first time I ever asked you out on a date."

It made sense. It made so much sense that it also made Jayce speechless.

That was the best answer Seuljin could have ever come up with.

Jayce was still holding onto Seuljin's arm. Realizing, he promptly let go and cleared his throat. "My turn?"

"I'm not going to mention how utterly impressed you are by my answer—"

"You just did," Jayce sighed.

"—because I have a proposition," Seuljin continued, pretending he didn't hear the interruption. "Aside from bragging rights, how about when I win—"

"If you win."

"When I win, I also get your number." Seuljin was full on grinning.

Jayce lightly leaned on his putter, a hand on his hip. "What do I get if I win?"

Seuljin lifted his glass near his mouth. The drink was nearly halfway gone. "What do you want?"

Jayce watched Seuljin take a long sip, watched the long column of his neck and the bob of his Adam's apple. That's how he decided, "I want to know the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to you."

Seuljin choked (lightly) on his craft beer. He placed the cup down onto the holder and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "I was not expecting that. That's what you want?"

"It was your idea," Jayce rebuked, grinning without meaning to.

Seuljin made a show of rolling his shoulders backwards. "Alright then." He extended his hand out. "We shake on it."

Jayce took the slightly larger hands in his. He was pretty sure that Seuljin could feel his calluses. Seuljin's own hand was unblemished and warm. "Prepare to lose, Mr. Choi."

They started properly this time with the first course out of eighteen holes total, even taking note of how many strokes they each took using the scorecard. After the sixth hole (with Jayce currently winning), they'd figured things out about each other not because they were aiming for it exactly but because the opportunity just presented itself.

They were on the third course when Jayce noticed, "You're left-handed?"

"I'm ambidextrous," Seuljin said after swinging with his left arm positioned in front. He got the golf ball into the hole in one go.

"Show-off," Jayce scoffed lightly.

Choi Seuljin sighed, pretending to be troubled. "It's like a sickness. I just have so much talent, I can't control it."

Jayce made a face at him.

They were in the seventh marked hole when Seuljin asked, "You stopped wearing your cross?"

Jayce paused from hitting the golf ball, using his index finger to pull out the thin chain of his cross necklace hidden by the high neckline of his top.

Seuljin hummed. "I just remembered that I haven't gotten the answer to my question regarding that yet."

Because Jayce was in a particularly good mood, he found himself replying honestly, "Well. Since you're dying to know, I was raised as a Roman Catholic."

Seuljin made an acknowledging sound to that, less of a reaction than what Jayce had expected. They continued, fueled by friendly competition and good-natured ribbing. The questions thrown at each other didn't feel forced like how first conversations on first dates usually were.

Jayce's mind couldn't stop comparing Seuljin to William. The back and forth between Jayce and Seuljin was actually doing something for Jayce, unlike when he and William were making small talk.

His golf ball missed the hole by a lot just then. Jayce mentally reprimanded himself.

In the end, Seuljin won, and Jayce was competitive. Naturally, losing made him frown. But the action was hollow; he didn't feel actual disappointment. In fact, he enjoyed seeing Seuljin this excited to get his number for crying out loud.

"That was the most intense game of mini golf I've ever played," Jayce told Seuljin once they had decided to leave Flatstick Pub already.

They both got inside Seuljin's car to get away from the frigid winds, with Seuljin opening the passenger's side door for Jayce to step in. Once the man was seated in the driver's seat, he held out his unlocked iPhone, swaying it near Jayce's face. "I believe we made a deal?"

Jayce rolled his eyes for show but took the phone. He created a new contact, punching in his number and adding his full name. He gave a quick glance at Seuljin. "You know, you could have just asked me for my number."

"Yeah, I know." Seuljin took his phone back and inserted the car key. He wiggled his eyebrows at Jayce as he turned the engine on. "But it's much more fun to get it this way."

The ride to Jayce's apartment was much more tame. They still asked questions, but they were the type of questions that didn't really require a lot of thinking to answer. How long have you been here in Seattle? What's your favorite cuisine? Is this restaurant any good? Do you actually know how to drive a car?

"I am a great driver," Jayce replied to that one.

Seuljin nodded slowly. "Yeah, on a motorcycle. But what if you're driving a car?"

"Why? You gonna let me drive your expensive car, Mr. Choi?" Jayce did not usually smirk, but the expression on Seuljin's face allowed him to do so.

"If you can guarantee you're a good driver, I don't see any problem with that."

Jayce gave the instructions to his apartment. Seuljin made a huh sound once they pulled up on the curb of the three apartment buildings all built side by side. "You live near where you work."

They unbuckled their seatbelts simultaneously. "Why do you think I willingly rode a motorcycle in the first place?"

"Probably to drive innocent men like me out of their minds," Seuljin said as they both stepped out of the car.

Seuljin walked Jayce up the steps leading to the front door. Jayce suddenly felt another wave of giddiness, his hold on the railing tightening. He knew what was to come (sort of), but Jayce didn't want to assume. Plus, he really didn't want to be the one to make the first move. He'd already done so during that time in the employee's bathroom.

They stopped a few feet away from Jayce's front door, a single lightbulb casting dark shadows on the sharp points of their faces. Seuljin once again looked like the wary version of himself as he and Jayce faced each other.

Jayce bit his lip. "I don't know if you actually enjoyed tonight, but thank you for bringing me home."

Seuljin huffed out a sudden laugh, a slightly visible puff of cold air appearing in the space between them. "Jayce Terrell, I had a great time with you. I thought that was obvious." He readjusted the coat he was wearing, tugging on his ear in a sudden show of sheepishness. "It's weird. I don't usually get this nervous after first dates. Most of the time, I can automatically tell whether a person likes me or not."

Jayce raised an eyebrow. "You go on many first dates?"

"Okay, that was obviously the wrong thing to say."

It made Jayce chuckle. "Well, at least it's a bit of a heads-up, huh?" Though his joking tone was obvious, deep down Jayce wished that he was wrong.

Seuljin looked at him a long time. Then, just as Jayce was starting to get the feeling that he might've offended the man, Seuljin started to say, "I don't recall the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to me, but the most recent one happened in a nightclub."

Three seconds passed before Jayce realized why Seuljin had said that. "I didn't win at mini golf," he reminded Seuljin.

"Yes, but you're getting the story." Seuljin cleared his throat. "When I first came to Seattle, I chose to go to a nightclub called Trinity. I dressed nicely, even styled my hair. I left my house feeling good about myself and how the night would go. I got to Trinity, and there's this narrow hallway near the entrance where a couple was making-out—you know, as humans usually do. So, I proceed to scoot past them, but upon pressing up the wall, I suddenly feel something sharp poking my bottom, followed by the sensation of my pants ripping."

Jayce brought a hand up to his mouth to stop himself from smiling too widely. "Oh, God."

"Right. In the restroom, I confirmed that there was this huge rip on the part covering my butt. There was an actual part of the fabric hanging down and exposing my underwear. The cherry on top? I happened to be wearing bright red boxer briefs that night."

The image of composed and sophisticated Choi Seuljin with ripped pants and bright red boxers out was too much, and Jayce couldn't help but laugh. He barely managed to keep himself from cackling to avoid waking the neighbors. "Oh, oh no. That sucks."

Seuljin himself was grinning at the memory. "I decided to just go home after that. The walk to my car was a bit mortifying."

"That's a whole different definition to the term walk of shame."

Once Jayce recovered from his laughing fit, he realized that Seuljin was looking at him intently again. There was another silence, but this one was charged with something. It had Jayce frozen to his spot, waiting for Seuljin to speak.

"Is kissing you also off the table?"

Jayce didn't trust himself to speak, so he shook his head in response. He wanted to kiss Seuljin.

The lead in was slow. Seuljin's arms snaked around Jayce's waist, then paused before their lips could touch, like he was waiting to see if Jayce would change his mind.

Once their mouths were pressed together, Jayce wound his arms around Seuljin's shoulders. That alone spurred Seuljin on. The kiss wasn't rushed, their lips moving slickly and slowly against one another, mouths opening for each other's tongues. Their wet noises were loud in the silence of the night, and it made Jayce lightheaded the same way pole dancing does.

Once Jayce started pressing his body closer, Seuljin eased them both away. "Off the table, you said? I'm trying to be a gentleman."

Jayce evened out his breathing, pretending he didn't want to lean right back in. Everything about their date had Jayce feeling adventurous, wanting to see if he could make Seuljin lose his composure. " Would you still be a gentleman if I got on my knees and offered to blow you right here?"

Jayce wouldn't actually do it since he's not a fan of voyeurism (despite his job as a stripper), but he wanted to see how Seuljin would react to it.

Choi Seuljin's eyes widened, throat bobbing at the imagery. His fingers tightened where they held Jayce's hip bones. Without warning, he lowered his head and leaned right back in for a kiss which knocked the breath out of Jayce.

It felt like minutes before Seuljin broke the kiss. "I am going to leave before I cave into that offer."

Jayce hummed, steadying himself at the sudden loss of warmth. For lack of something to do with his hands, Jayce fished out his apartment keys from his duffel bag. "I wasn't offering. It was simply a question."

"Hm. You told me not to expect anything to come from that one time we, you know..." Seuljin gestured vaguely. "Should I abandon all hope that you'll say yes to a second date?"

"You have my number, don't you?" It was a better way of saying please do call me, because after tonight I think I like you even more.