The Invisible Leash
Lee Han buried his face between Park Mina’s legs and began the grooming. Park Mina squeezed her eyes shut, her face flushed with shame. As the sharp razor blade grazed her sensitive skin, a moan escaped her lips before she could stop it. Once he finished, Lee Han traced his fingers over her now-smooth skin.
“I’d like you to keep it groomed like this every day. For my sake, if not your own…”
Lee Han’s tone was as gentle as a lover’s. Park Mina nodded and offered a faint smile.
A few days passed, and grooming became a part of her daily routine. Her hands grew accustomed to moving the razor in front of the mirror. She even felt a strange sense of satisfaction when she looked at her clean, smooth lower abdomen. Whenever she reported to Lee Han after finishing, he would flash a bright smile and pull her into a tight embrace.
“You really are amazing, Mina.”
Soaking in the praise, Park Mina felt a wave of happiness as she held onto him. Conversely, on the rare occasions she forgot, Lee Han would react with indifference, as if he had lost all interest. Fearing his cold demeanor, she could never afford to be lazy with her grooming again. Before she knew it, striving to please Lee Han had become second nature.
As time went on, Park Mina developed a habit of unconsciously fiddling with the choker. It was as if she were confirming her connection to him, thinking of him. The choker bound her to Lee Han like an invisible leash.
Lee Han’s words and actions slowly began to dominate Park Mina’s perception. She felt the urge to resist, but she couldn’t bring herself to take off the choker he had given her. The realization that she was his possession settled deep within her. In the end, she had no choice but to be led by his every word and action, as if pulled by a tether.
The choker, which had felt awkward at first, now felt like an inseparable token of love. She felt more and more as if she couldn’t live without Lee Han. Her deepening sense of subordination eroded her sense of self, transforming into a distorted affection for him.
***
Park Mina headed to the Management Office before work. She hadn’t been wearing the rope as often lately, as it left marks on her body that would ache for hours. However, meeting Lee Han before her shift had become a daily ritual. His words, “Have a safe day,” lingered in her ears, serving as the reason she could endure the day.
When she carefully opened the office door, Lee Han welcomed her warmly.
“Mina, shall we try something different instead of the rope today?”
Park Mina looked at him with a puzzled expression. Yet, she soon found herself undressing. It had become natural for her body to react to Lee Han’s words before her mind could catch up.
Lee Han brought out something. It looked like a small tampon, but Park Mina realized what it was immediately. It was a female sex toy. She was so shocked that she couldn’t even scream.
“Manager, I really don’t think I can do that. Please, try to understand.”
Her voice trembled, but her tone was firm. It was a refusal that would have been unimaginable under normal circumstances. Lee Han paused for a moment, then stared at her with cold, piercing eyes. Park Mina flinched and bowed her head, bracing herself for his icy voice.
But instead, Lee Han approached her with a gentle smile.
“I know you’re anxious, Mina. But I believe you can do it.”
Park Mina was taken aback by his unexpected reaction. It felt as though the excuses she had prepared were scattering into the wind.
“But… I don’t have the confidence for something like that. I’m too scared.”
She gave a vague answer, still watching him cautiously. She had been prepared to face his cold glare, but Lee Han instead cupped her face in his soft hands. It felt as if her breath had been stolen away.
“You’re my special woman, Mina. I’m certain you won’t disappoint me.”
For a moment, Park Mina’s resolve wavered. She had expected him to be cold, and his tender words and actions left her confused. The fear that she might be abandoned if she refused even this began to bloom.
“…Can I really do it? I’m so afraid…”
She still felt uneasy, watching his reaction. Lee Han nodded and wrapped his arms around her waist. She felt the strength draining from her entire body.
“Of course. You can do it, Mina. Because I believe in you.”
Meeting his expectant gaze, Park Mina felt tears welling up. She couldn’t bring herself to betray that look. With trembling hands, she picked up the device. She was terrified of crossing this line, but her desire to keep Lee Han was desperate.
Park Mina accepted the device with shaking hands. Feeling Lee Han’s gaze on her, she slowly spread her legs. Her face burned with shame. She carefully brought the device closer and began to push it in, much like inserting a tampon. Her body flinched at the cold, foreign sensation. As it slid deeper, she was engulfed by a strange, overwhelming feeling.
“Nng…”
A moan escaped her lips. It was shameful, but she couldn’t stop. Looking at Lee Han, she met his eyes, which were burning with desire. Having fully inserted the device, Park Mina gasped for air.
That was when Lee Han stepped forward and gently pulled up her underwear. His touch was soft, but the look in his eyes as he gazed down at her was that of a predator eyeing its prey. With her lower abdomen exposed, her face flushed with humiliation. Lee Han watched her, almost as if savoring the sight of her nearly naked form. A chill ran down her spine at the touch of his hand as he adjusted her underwear and stroked her stomach.
Lee Han pulled Park Mina into an embrace and patted her back. Held in his warm arms, it felt as though all her worries were vanishing. Tears burst forth. She was terrified of what she had done and what might happen in the future. But the emotion rising from deep within her was different. Submitting to Lee Han was giving her an inexplicable sense of pleasure.
Lee Han held Park Mina tightly as she sobbed, gritting her teeth. The comfort he whispered into her ear was incredibly sweet.
“Don’t cry, Mina. You did well. You are truly a special being.”
Her heart raced at the praise. She was so desperate for his validation. If it was for him, she would do whatever he wanted. A sense of misery washed over her at the thought, but at the same time, she felt a strange sense of relief. Clinging to him until she could barely breathe, Park Mina muttered in a voice tinged with resignation.
“Never… please, never abandon me…”
There was no answer. Lee Han simply stroked Park Mina’s back as if soothing a tired child. His eyes, fixed on something in the distance, were utterly cold.
Park Mina’s heart pounded as if it would burst throughout her commute. She couldn’t believe she was going to work wearing such a device. It felt as if the gazes of the people around her were scanning her body. She had the delusion that everyone knew about this shameful device inside her. The foreign sensation she felt with every step amplified her anxiety. The faint vibrations she felt as she walked stimulated her from within, and a strange, erotic sensation washed over her. She was terrified that someone would notice.
As soon as she arrived at the office and sat in her chair, she flinched at the vibration transmitted to her lower abdomen. The soft, humming stimulation tickled her inner walls. Her face flushed at the erotic sensation. Even in this humiliating situation, her body was reacting honestly. She felt dirty and ashamed. Her lower abdomen grew increasingly hot. She was so terrified of being discovered that she couldn’t even bring herself to stand up.
When lunchtime arrived, she couldn’t even bring herself to go to the cafeteria. She just sat at her desk, pretending to be busy with work. Then, feeling the urge to urinate, she secretly headed to the restroom. With trembling hands, she carefully removed the device, and at that moment, a sharp jolt of pleasure shot through her entire body. She hurriedly covered her mouth to stifle a moan. It was clearly a shameful and degrading act, yet she felt disgusted with herself for trembling at the stimulation. To be doing something like this in the company restroom… Tears welled up in her eyes.
Lee Han’s whisper suddenly came to mind. That’s right, all of this was an expression of love. If she kept telling herself that, it was bearable. Ignoring the truth she didn’t want to admit, she sought comfort in the word “love.” Otherwise, she felt she would fall apart. She swallowed her tears, chewing on those words. Even while her mind rejected it, a corner of her heart desperately wanted to believe them.
She felt she could endure anything to have Lee Han’s love confirmed. If this relationship wasn’t love, then she would be nothing more than an infinitely dirty and wretched existence. That fact terrified her. Suppressing her aching heart, Park Mina reinserted the device. Looking at her pale face reflected in the mirror, she gritted her teeth. She desperately wanted to believe that all of this was love, that it was love. Quietly wiping away her tears so no one would see, Park Mina returned to her seat with a staggering gait.
The mouse in her hand slipped. She had no choice but to believe this humiliation was love. Comforting herself, Park Mina gritted her teeth and typed on the keyboard. Trying her best to act like she was fine, as if nothing had happened.
On her way home, Park Mina barely managed to walk, conscious of the eyes of others. Her entire body felt as if it were burning from being tormented by the device’s stimulation all day. Her lower abdomen ached, and she was damp between her legs. Her heart raced, fearing someone might notice her state. She kept her head down and pushed through the crowd with quick steps.
Fortunately, the darkness of the night hid her appearance. Her face, reflected in the light of the streetlamps, looked pale and exhausted. Her sweat-drenched hair clung to her forehead. The vibration from her lower abdomen showed no signs of stopping. With every step she took, the device dug deeper, stimulating her. She bit her lip to hold back a moan.
When she finally arrived at the Management Office, Lee Han welcomed her warmly. A sense of relief washed over her as she met his gentle smile.
“Mina, you had a hard day, didn’t you? Come here.”
Her nose stung at his tender voice. As she was held in Lee Han’s arms, all her tension seemed to melt away.
‘Yes, this is enough. I’m doing well.’
Looking into Lee Han’s warm eyes, Park Mina reassured herself. She convinced herself that enduring this pain to have his love confirmed was the right thing to do. She deluded herself into thinking it was a process of being recognized as a special being.
Lee Han’s hand stroked her back. It was a blatant, lustful touch, as if he were fondling a toy. But Park Mina tried her best to ignore that fact. She wanted to believe that all of this was proof of love. Repeatedly drilling it into herself, she buried her face in Lee Han’s chest.
She felt miserable, realizing she had become a puppet dancing in Lee Han’s palm. Yet, she couldn’t leave his side. As long as she clung to the fantasy of being loved, it was a swamp from which she could never escape. Swallowing her tears, Park Mina hugged Lee Han even tighter. Desperately, as if clinging to his body heat.