Chapter 51
Ha… really? He took that and ran with it.
He used her words so easily once they were out of her mouth.
The fresh scent of his skin fogged up her nose. Her face, at the end of his gaze, felt like it was burning up.
Her heart pounded so wildly she felt it might devour her whole.
But still—what was he thinking, doing this to her? She really thought her heart might give out at this rate.
“Okay, I get it now. You want to act selfishly.”
“No, not yet. I’m not done.”
“What else do you want to do? Want to flick me on the forehead or something?”
“Would I want that?”
“Then what?”
Seonghun turned his head back to its original position, ran his large hand through his hair, and replied:
“I think I need permission for this one.”
“What?”
“What do you think? Don’t you get the hint?”
She did. The moment he asked, she knew.
From the instant his hand touched her face, maybe she had been waiting for this.
Yes. I was waiting for you to kiss me. I think I really was.
She reached out and pulled Seonghun’s neck toward her.
Her arms wrapped around his thick neck as she soaked in the fresh scent of his skin and the warmth radiating from him.
Maybe that was all she wanted—just to hold him like this.
“Ha… are you going to kiss me?”
She whispered into his ear, unable to press her lips to his, holding him tightly instead.
There was still a wall between them, one she didn’t yet dare to cross.
“If you do it first.”
“….”
“Do it, Gam Jeongyeon.”
Gasp.
Suddenly, Seonghun pulled her into a tight embrace. Like a big dog clinging to its owner, he wrapped his strong arms around her.
He held her so tightly it was hard to breathe.
With his large frame hunched over, she thought her waist might snap.
“Hey, w-wait. You’re crushing my chest.”
Then, still holding her, he plopped down on the chair, and she ended up sitting astride his lap.
An awkward position… or rather, a suggestive one.
Thank god she was wearing jeans. A skirt would’ve made this even more embarrassing.
Even with pants on, it was impossible not to feel where their bodies touched.
Seonghun rested both hands on her waist and pleaded softly:
“You kiss me first, Jeongyeon.”
“…Huh…?”
“Come on, hurry.”
His gentle urging left her dazed.
There was nothing forceful in his voice or demeanor—so why did it feel like he was pressuring her?
Like she was under a spell, she reached out and cupped his sharp jawline.
Ha… the warmth and softness jolted her to reality.
She had truly brought her hands to his skin.
She leaned in toward his refreshing scent, the warmth of his breath brushing over her lips.
“Mmph.”
The moment their lips met, heat surged through her body.
It felt like boiling blood was rushing to the top of her head.
Like she had been yearning for him all this time.
Like this closeness had been painfully missed.
His lips were sweet. Lee Seonghun—as a man—you were dangerously sweet.
You, not as a friend, but as a man, excited me.
Even the breath passing between their lips sent tingles down her spine.
How could you become such a sweet man to me?
Your scent clung to my lips. Your moist lips grazed mine, exploring gently.
You slipped into me like a serpent coated in honeyed venom.
“Mmh.”
It felt good. Your kiss. The way you slipped inside and consumed me.
She could feel Seonghun’s desperate desire—his aching hunger for her.
His possessiveness burned. His wet lips clung like claws.
Before she knew it, her fingernails dug into his broad shoulders as they kissed.
One of his large hands cradled the back of her head, not letting her escape.
The other slid down her back in a tantalizing motion.
“Ha… ah…”
She felt like she could be devoured right then and there.
Seonghun’s hand slipped under her T-shirt. His warm touch grazed her back, making her flinch.
It felt so good it was almost unbearable. But also… too dangerous.
She pulled her lips away. If someone were to walk in right now—it’d be mortifying.
“Hey…”
She looked into his disoriented eyes and imagined her own state—swollen lips, messy hair, disheveled clothes.
He stared at her and whispered roughly:
“Jeongyeon, I want to hold you.”
Gasp. She understood what that meant.
His burning eyes said it all. That kiss had tied them together in a feverish tension.
But still… she couldn’t let herself become an animal right here, right now.
“No… not here, not now…”
She felt like she was going crazy.
She wanted to take him. She wanted to hold his fragile body tight and lose herself.
She wanted to bury her face in his messy hair, swallow his shaky breath, lick his flushed skin all night long.
What am I supposed to do? I feel like a damn pervert.
Trying to suppress the beast within, he asked Jeongyeon:
“When will this end?”
“Why? You planning to… see me today?”
Just see?
No, I want to slowly, thoroughly… take you.
“I want to be with you today, Gam Jeongyeon.”
“You… but… I think you’re misunderstanding something…”
“Hah. After all that crying and kissing, now you think it’s a misunderstanding? What, are you going to say what we feel is just another mistake?”
“No, not that. I admit it. I feel you—as a man. Deeply. Completely. My nerves scream that you’re a man to me.”
“Then what am I misunderstanding?”
Jeongyeon narrowed her cat-like eyes, stepped off his lap, and calmly asked:
“Are we dating now? Are we in a relationship?”
He crossed his legs and shoved his hands into his pockets—trying to hide the tension that hadn’t settled yet.
“Don’t you want to be? You still want to call us friends while looking at me like that?”
“We can’t be friends. Not anymore. But… I can’t date you either. Not now.”
“Why not?”
The sharpness in his eyes said she’d better have a good reason or there’d be consequences.
“Same as before. Your background. Your world.”
“You cried like that just to say this again?”
His teasing made her burst out in frustration.
“Hey!!!”
Yes, she cried. Ugly, messy tears.
“And after all that… we’re back to square one? Your family, your background? Because you’re about to be in the public eye again? Because of your parents?”
“Your mom—she’s like an aunt to me. She’s watched me grow up. Treated me like family. She would never have imagined this between us. She might feel betrayed.”
“So we’re stopping because of my mom? Doesn’t it feel like you’re just making excuses now? Or is that really all the love you have for me?”
If I didn’t care, would I have cried like that? Would I have kissed you at work?
“You being an actor—fine. Actors date, too. Your dad? It’s not like we’re getting married. If it’s just dating, we can keep it quiet. That’s fine.
But your mom… I’ll see her often. I’ll have to lie to her. If she ever finds out… how do I face that betrayal?
She even met the guy I was supposed to marry.”
