The harsh ringing, and vibrating assault, penetrates my sleep-addled brain, pulling me out of darkness, and I groan and attempt to reach for the invasive noise. Semi-aware and caught in a warm comfy bubble until it rudely awakened me. I try to roll towards it, but I’m restricted and held tight in an overly hot embrace around my waist and shoulders that brings me back to consciousness with a jolt and the memory that I’m not in bed alone.
“Goddammit,” Jyeon murmurs right at my ear, as sleepy as I am and unamused at the same interruption to our slumber. He is rolling over on top of me, so he half-flattens my tiny frame with his weight, chuckling at my ‘oofft’ noise and catching the cell phone on the bedside, sliding it to him. He braces himself on one arm just enough to let me breathe and get’s himself an elbow in the ribs for squashing me. Caging me in and hanging over me in a pose that makes me blush.
“Hello.” His voice is gravelly and lazy, and I blink open my eyes fully, adjusting to the early morning dimness to see my handsome and ruffled man leaning up on one elbow and then pushing himself to an upright position. His eyes are closed as he listens to whoever is on the other end. He pushes his free hand into his hair, propping up his forehead, and looks painfully cute at being this tired. He’s still fully dressed due to sleeping on top of the duvet last night to clarify that he wasn’t going to do or try anything with me other than sleep. His hair is flopping over his fingers, and he looks wrinkled and sexy for being rudely awoken. Even like this, half asleep, puffy-eyed, and acting like a grumpy child who’s been torn awake, I find him irresistible.
I wriggle under the sheets to free myself now he’s no longer gotten me tied up in octopus limbs with my head held fast against his or pinning me down with his unearthly body mass, and manage to adjust my nightdress and smooth down my bed hair. All night he clung to me, although we didn’t fall asleep until after three am because we kept talking about everything and nothing. I’m sure I look awful, given there were tears, lots of entangled limbs, occasional kisses, and sweating due to shared body heat all night, but it’s nice waking up beside him. It does all kinds of weird stuff to my stomach and heart rate, and I haven’t yet started to regret this decision. I keep waiting for the doubts to creep in, and I am afraid they will soon.
“Does it say who it’s from? … No…. don’t open it. Leave it on my desk for me to deal with. It’s a personal matter, not for the company.” Jyeon runs his hand over his face, scrubbing his eyes, and opens only one to check I’m still lying beside him. He throws me a lazy smile before leaning down and kissing me on my forehead with tender grazing of gentle lips before sitting back up. His expression is cheerful at finding me gazing at him, and he impulsively runs his fingertips across my cheek and then over my lips, distracting himself from the call. Igniting crazy goosebumps, I wonder how I survived a whole night in his arms without letting him seduce me completely.
“Hmmm… wait, what? … No, I’ll come in for it. I’ll be there soon, so leave it where I can find it…. Thanks. I’ll see you soon.” He hangs up his phone and slides away from me, leaving me disappointed that he won’t come back to cuddle up and go back to sleep, given it seems crazy early and I’m still exhausted. I have no idea what time it is, but it feels like it’s probably around eight am, and I know his secretary always used to start around then. She still does and is dealing with his mail.
“What is it? Are you leaving?” I can’t disguise the disappointed tone or the sadness that comes over me at him going already, and I know I’m being stupidly needy. Giving him doe eyes and a slightly pouted lip that pulls a full smile across his face. It feels like last night was a turning point for us both, and I’m not ready to get up and face the day alone for fear of the doubts creeping back in.
“Yup. WE are, so get up.” He reaches under the sheet at the bottom of the bed, catches my legs by the ankles in a firm grip, and tugs me, so I’m pulled down the bed with a little scream and yelp. Flailing like a wild cat while being lost under the sheets as they smother me.
“Jyeon!!!” I thrash about to free myself from his grip and relent when he tugs me again, right down the mattress so my feet land on the floor at its foot, and he whips the covers off me completely. I scramble to cover my skimpy negligee and tug it back down my thighs, crossing my arms over my breasts in a reactive manner and catching him eyeing me up with evident appreciation. It’s not that he hasn’t seen me naked before, but it’s been almost six years, and I’m shy around him when half-dressed.
“I hired an independent lab to dissect the car. The report’s been delivered, and for now, it’s staying between you and me until we know if the car was tampered with. Get dressed, Mrs. Park. We have to collect it and then head to mine for a shower. Bring some clothes with you.” He leans in and darts a kiss on my lips, a quickfire peck, before turning, picking up his shoes and discarded jacket, and heading for my bathroom to pull himself together. Seemingly comfortable with us being a couple again and not hesitant to act like a boyfriend. I never had any of this from him before, and it feels shiny, new, and nerve-wracking.
“Do you have any hair products?” he yells once he’s out of sight, and I panic to scramble upright and start searching for clothes I can pull on before he comes back. It was fine being dressed this way while under sheets. It’s entirely different walking around in front of him like this.
“Greta uses some, yeah… try the cabinet under the sink,” I call back, hoping he takes at least ten minutes so I can dress and yank my wardrobe open to be faced with a sea of comfy and casual clothes. I start tossing them aside to find something pretty. I’m in a mess and overly aware that I want to dress up a little and look nice for him. So in contrast from wanting to run away from him yesterday.
“Can you two pipe down…. It’s too early for this, and I only fell asleep after making sure you weren’t killing one another.” Greta mumbles from my now open door, draped in a blanket to scold us and looking like utter death. She was never good with lack of sleep.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you. We have to go out; it’s about the car. So go back to bed, and I’ll tell you everything when I return later. Enjoy the quiet.” I wave her away in a hurried fashion.
“You two are a thing now, though, right? Everything sorted last night? There was no screaming, bloodshed, or smashed things, so I assumed he was groveling. I mean… he slept here, and you look…. smiley.” She winks, stifling a yawn with a fist in her gaping mouth, and slumps against the door frame to lean her head against it. Giving me a dreamy and slightly dirty eyebrow wiggle.
“Yes, I guess we are. Nothing happened like that, though. We talked and slept…. kissed a little, but nothing sexual. Get that out of your gutter mind.” I hush my tone, raising a brow at her, and get a grin in response. I'm trying to keep my voice low in case he can hear us.
“You are two consenting adults who also happen to be already married. I’m kinda shocked he managed to keep his hands to himself while you’re practically naked.” She nods up and down my black slip of lace and reminds me I have zero time before he saunters out and yelp in realization. Rushing back to the cupboard while waving her away.
“Go. I have to get dressed… leave me be. I’ll call or text you when I know what’s happening.”
“Just one thing… Claire’s not dead, right? And you two are fine now?” She stays put, that stubborn air that means she won’t move without a response.
“Claire is fine, apparently. He didn’t stay there, but she isn’t critical or anything. He said it wasn’t a serious attempt, and I guess we’re okay. It’s too soon to say…. I’m just trying to go with the flow and take one step at a time. I have no idea what I’m doing or even want, so I’m not making rash decisions.” That’s an understatement of the century.
“Sex… Clear the air, scratch an itch, and cement that man is now yours. It’ll make you feel a whole lot better and clearer about everything. Remove all the crazy tension around the two of you and push that hoe clearly out of the picture. Jyeon is already semi-under the thumb, give him a night he will never forget, and he’ll become an obedient puppy.”
“That’s the worst advice I have ever heard come out of your mouth.” Amused by Greta’s newfound love for Jyeon and this whole do-over thing we have going on. I roll my eyes at her and fish around for an outfit absentmindedly. Yanking out a dress and boots before tossing them back as too obvious that I’m trying to impress him.
“Is it though?” She winks at me again and dodges the socks I throw at her head before turning and swooning off with a giggle. I hear her chuckling as she pads back to her bedroom across the hall. The click of the door signals she’s going back to hibernation and has zero concerns about my welfare today. I guess Jyeon won her over once and for all.
I sigh and start hauling on fresh underwear and jeans, panicking as I fumble to get something on fast and rush to kick the door shut to put a bra on. Checking outside before I close it and relax when I note the bathroom door is closed, so he probably missed that entire conversation. Thankfully.
It is just after eight am, and I have had nowhere near a decent amount of shut-eye to function correctly or think straight. I sort of envy Greta and her ability to go back to bed, but I also want to see what this report says about the car. Maybe once and for all, I could put it out of my mind, and it was nothing more than an electrical fault or a fluke. Perhaps all these years, I suspected something nobody ever did to me. It’s a possibility.
I work fast, dress in a fitted pullover, jeans, and ankle boots, and run a brush through my hair, reaching for facial wipes to fix the smudgy mess of last night’s tears. So engrossed in making myself half presentable that I completely miss the fact that Jyeon has returned, looking styled and sophisticated with minimal effort.
“You’re beautiful; you know that, right? I don’t think I ever said it to you, but you are. You always were.” Jyeon’s sexy huskiness startles me, making me jump as I spin my head around to see him taking over Greta’s pose at the door. Watching me get ready as if it’s the most mesmerizing thing he has ever laid eyes on, and I blush from the top of my head right down to my toes. Unused to open admiration from him, the way he’s looking at me heats me a little too much. Squirming to control the wave of hormones that’s been dormant too long.
“Maybe you need glasses.” I shake my head, smiling despite my rebuttal, and go back to applying some moisturizer and give myself a final look over. There's no point making a considerable effort if I am to shower soon anyway. I look like I always do, only with some tiredness, shadows, and a slightly pale complexion.
I get up from kneeling on the floor in front of my full-length mirror and brush myself down, flinching when his warm hand slides around my waist and tugs me back against him. Nestling my butt to his groin and resting his chin on my shoulder. He gazes at me in our reflection, smiling and locking eyes on mine, and settles himself comfortably as if we always did this.
“Sometimes I’m scared this isn’t real, and I’ll wake up, and you’ll have never been here. It terrifies me.”
I rest my body against him, sliding my hand over his flat on my abdomen, loving the feel of his skin and naturally hot body temperature that’s always much higher than mine. Sinking into his embrace and seeking out his eyes in the mirror.
“I know what you mean. It doesn’t feel like any of this is happening…. Like I’m dreaming, and if I wake up, I’ll be back on the island, and you’ll never have come.” It’s not something I allowed myself to think of before, but the thought of waking up and none of this being reality leaves a horrible pang in my heart, and I shiver.
It’s insane how he’s made my heart U-turn in only a couple of weeks, from loathing and pain to hope and the possibility of something I always wanted from him. I still have reservations and no real clue about our future, given I still want to go home, but I’m not going to think about tomorrow. Live for the moment. Do what Greta said, take it one step at a time, and see where we end up.
“I meant it when I said I would follow you anywhere. I lost you once and don’t intend to live through that again. I know you find the change in my heart something to doubt, but I really do love you. I need you, Sohla. I’m willing to do anything to ensure I stay by your side for the rest of my life, even follow you home.”
His words, the way he nuzzles his cheek against mine and stares at me as if I’m the most prized possession in the world, chokes me up. Tears mist my eyes as my heart swells to almost bursting, and I impulsively lift my hand and cradle his face while watching his perfect reflection.
“I love you. I never said it to you, not once in all these years, but I always did. I still love you as much.”
Jyeon’s eyes mist over like mine and his eyebrow twitches before he turns me in his arms and wraps me up in another bear hug. Held tight, as though nothing in the world could get through his strong arms and powerful body to get at me, I close my eyes to bask in how good this feels. Safe and secure, and it feels like I’m finally home. It’s becoming his favorite thing, and I’m not complaining.
Greta was right; no one in the world could ever get into my heart because Jyeon was always there. No man could replace what he is to me, even when I was heartbroken by him. Tom never stood a chance because a man always stood in front of me even when I couldn’t physically see him.
“I’ll never hurt you again. I’ll never give you a reason to doubt me or leave. Not ever again. I’ll never be so stupid to stray away and deny what you are to me. We can be happy together, I know it. I have faith in it.” It’s a murmur, almost whisper in my ear, and he turns and kisses me on the cheek, lingering and holding us together. The small affections he showered me with as a child, yet this feels much more intense.
My body warmed up with his temperature, and my heart races in happiness. It’s an acute kind of pain that comes from feeling good, not hurt, and yet it makes a lump lodge in my throat. Tears are welling up, and I’m going to end up an emotional mess again if we stay here doing this.
“We should go and get this over and done with. Finally, get an answer.” I pull away to release myself, and he leans down to touch his nose to mine, edging me close again, so our eyes meet, and I’m caught in the circle of his arms.
“I’m praying it was a mechanical fault because I don’t know what I’m going to do to a person if I find out someone deliberately tried to take you from me. I won’t be responsible for my actions.” It’s a low, gravelly truth, and a fierceness flashes through his eyes that convinces me he means it.