Seoul Spankings
a microscope.”
    “Ah,” she purred, delight mingling with pretend sorrow. “Honor in Korea is a sacred thing, you know. I will have to teach you a lesson.”
    I danced with impatience, primed from her earlier lessons with the meat. This time, I didn’t need any incentive to accept the swats cracking like slightly soggy gunshots. I hoped I wasn’t blushing. “What if someone hears?”
    “Hears? I don’t think you should worry about hearing. What if someone sees?”
    Hyunkyung split the borrowed hosiery at the seams, working deft fingers into panties now drenched with desire. She grabbed and squeezed, kneading my virgin flesh and slapping as if to tenderize. Hungry for a taste too slow in coming, I rocked back and forth on her thigh, willing her to satisfy me.
    She spanked, slowly at first and building into a controlled burst of energy. My heart raced as I crossed my legs in the effort not to climax in her lap. Then, just as I could not bear one more second, she cupped my chin and lowered her mouth toward mine. Gently, at first, exploring the meeting of our lips for the first time. The smoky taste of grilled meat lingered on her lips, and I dared to anchor my fingers in her hair and draw her toward me.
    And then a voice called out in the darkness, the way God’s voice must have called out to Adam and Eve after they discovered nakedness.
    “Ee Sajangnim? I smelled something burning, and I worried when I saw the unattended grill. Are you all right?”

 
     
     
Chapter Eight
     
     
    Indigo bolted from my touch, throwing her skirt down and soaking the hem. I couldn’t make out whether her face showed shame, but my own cheeks burned. Like a wayward schoolgirl, I followed the voice back to the picnic site.
    “It’s late,” I apologized. “We should go home.”
    Minhee bit her lip. “Of course, Ee Sajangnim.” She tutted at Indigo’s torn stockings and wet skirt, but she avoided asking unwanted questions. Minhee might not have been Miss Cha, but she was a serviceable substitute. “Here’s a dress for you to change into,” she said, holding out a yellow chiffon creation perfect for Indigo. The butter-yellow full skirt and draped gathers around the neckline were an inspired choice for Indigo’s pink complexion. I pretended to look the other way as she changed into the new dress. The layers of skirt floated in a graceful shimmer, and it hurt to restrain myself from touching her.
    Han princess arrested for sexually assaulting foreigner.
    I hated to take her back to the city, even if it meant we could have privacy. The stench of sewer and piled-up garbage bags always made me long for the countryside. Father had raised me to be a Seoulite, but Halmoni ensured I would never forget her roots. My roots.
    What would Halmoni have said about the peanut debacle? Would she have laughed it off as more ridiculous media frenzy, or would she have muttered that I wasn’t too big for a switching?
    Within minutes, Minhee had installed Indigo and me back into our reclining chairs. I accepted the pink floral damyo and tried to sleep, but every nerve vibrated with desire. I wondered whether Indigo felt the same, or if she appreciated the interruption. Had I taken things too far? Would she run, screaming, to the airport tomorrow?
    The airport . “Minhee-ssi.” I sat up.
    “Yes, Ee Sajangnim?”
    “Cancel her ticket for tomorrow. She’ll stay with me.”
    Minhee hid her surprise or lack of surprise. “Yes, Ee Sajangnim.”
    I lay back in the chair, humming to myself. Indigo had fallen asleep already, worn out by the long evening. All the better to have fun once we arrived. I grinned and forced myself to breathe deeply. Within minutes, I joined Indigo in sleep.
     
    ***
     
    When Minhee woke us up, it took me a few minutes to understand her words. The uncomfortable, desperate throbbing under my skirt made it difficult to stand up, let alone walk. I let Minhee think it was due to going barefoot by the stream.
    “Here,” she

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