Chapter 57

“What? What’s that look?”

“It’s the ‘I can’t live without you’ look.”

He read me perfectly. Why is he so good at picking up on things, Seongheun?

“Why did Director Koo talk like that? Like you were in big trouble…”

“Oh…”

Because I missed you.

Because it was the only way to see you in my packed schedule.

Because if I got a little hurt just to see you once, it’d be worth it.

A few hours earlier

“Hit me hard. Break something if you can. Or at least make me collapse. It’s the last scene anyway. Let’s skip the wrap party tonight.”

He firmly instructed Changshin.

He wanted to cause some trouble for the director, who only cared about avoiding accidents on set.

The usual wrap parties after filming wore out the cast and crew.

If his injury canceled the party, it’d give the staff a break from their exhaustion.

Changshin, half-joking, showed concern for his safety.

“You sure? This could be dangerous.”

“Just don’t kill me. I need to see Jungyeon’s face.”

“Ugh, you lovesick fool. I kinda don’t want to save you.”

And so, the final action scene began. He and Changshin gave it their all to get the perfect shot.

When the director called “cut,” Changshin swung a prop knife at his shoulder. Just hard enough to cause a minor injury.

It was risky, but he pulled it off like a pro.

They rushed to the hospital. When they got there, he realized his phone was missing. His manager had left it at the set.

He wanted to tell Jungyeon he was coming to see her. To ask for a little time.

As the doctor checked his wound, Changshin tried to ease his worry.

“I’ll call Jungyeon for you. Focus on getting treated.”

No, he added to his worry. Who knows what that guy would say?

“Don’t scare her, got it?”

“Just focus on your treatment.”

Maybe he shouldn’t have trusted him. When Changshin came back from the call, he looked nervous, like he’d messed up and couldn’t fix it.

Jungyeon’s eyes glared at him with resentment, but they were so cute. He wanted to hug her and melt her heart. Never let her go.

“They said you were badly hurt… I was so scared. My aunt came with me. And Mom too.”

“What? Even Mrs. Sung and your aunt?”

“They were with me when I got the call. Do you know how worried we all were? My heart was racing the whole way here. I was too shaken to drive, so Mom drove. They probably… noticed. I was freaking out too much.”

Jungyeon’s jumbled words all pointed to one thing.

“You were so shaken you couldn’t drive?”

“Yes!”

“You didn’t tell me how you felt, and you weren’t scared you’d lose me forever?”

“Why would you say something so scary?”

He hit the jackpot. Seongheun’s mysterious gaze said it all.

“I was so scared… thinking something happened to you… that you’d leave me… that my feelings wouldn’t reach you… that I’d lose you forever… I imagined all sorts of things…”

Her frantic confession came back to him vaguely.

She was reminding him of that clumsy confession.

“So tell me. Make it hit me.”

Now’s your chance. Confess properly this time.

“Make it hit me.”

What grand words could he say to reach her?

The whole way here, fearing he’d lose her, felt like facing hell.

How could he explain that burning feeling to her?

Unable to explain the overwhelming emotion, she said just one thing.

“I love you.”

Jungyeon’s sweaty forehead, her teary eyes, her pale face, her frightened expression.

She ran to him and finally said the words he’d been longing for.

“Seongheun. No, Heun… I love you.”

He understood the meaning of her saying he was precious to her.

He felt the depth of her intense, pure emotions. Back then, and now, she was trembling.

“I checked you weren’t hurt, and I should be mad for being tricked. But I was just… happy. On my way here, I realized how much you mean to my life… so desperately. You’re like a pillar in my life. If you were gone… I… I… Anyway, I love you that much. Okay?”

Her heart was pounding. Confessing love to a friend she’d known for nearly 30 years.

The ticklish words tumbled out, then turned to embarrassment.

Her excited confession ended shyly.

Ugh. So embarrassing.

Seongheun chuckled, his eyes smiling as he called her.

“Jungyeon.”

“…What?”

“Can I kiss you as much as I want?”

She confessed so seriously, and he’s talking about kissing.

But why… why does his sneaky intention excite her?

“Hey, now’s not the time for that, is it?”

“When you’ve got me like this?”

His bare torso was so bold.

His broad shoulders and strong, raw muscles made anyone standing in front of him feel small.

She’s the one who undressed him, yet she’s the one feeling shy.

Seongheun was sitting on the bed, still taller than her.

She grabbed the collar of his shirt, hanging below his shoulders, and pulled it back up.

That brought her close to him. His fresh scent tickled her nose.

An impulse surged.

She pulled his collar, drawing him closer. His face lowered to hers. His lips brushed against hers.

His soft lips pressed between hers. His heavy desire tangled with her heart.

She reached out with her tongue, touching his lips. The sensation of his soft lips was thrilling.

“Ha…”

You’re making it impossible, Jungyeon.

If you light the spark, I’ll explode. You know that. I’ve held back for nearly 30 years.

I don’t think I can hold back anymore.

If I was a puppy who sat or stood on command, now I’m a hunting dog ready to bite its master.

“Haa—”

In an instant, Seongheun’s lips parted, his warm breath slipping into her.

Their lips locked, intertwining.

His flesh invaded hers, bringing tension and intense pleasure.

His large hand cradled her head, the other pulling her waist. Her delicate body was trapped between his strong legs.

His saliva wet her, his tongue licking and savoring her, so sweet.

When his flesh touched her tongue, it felt like an electric shock.

His desire gripped her soul, caressing and claiming her. His possessive touch explored her.

His kiss was delicate yet bold.

His sensitive lips were both predator and prey.

It’s all good. Everything is good.

He wanted to possess her, to bring her into him, driven by instinct.

Feeling his heavy weight, wanting to stroke his twitching muscles.

Her hand rested on his firm chest. Dizzying pleasure spread through her trembling fingers, scratching his muscles.

Suddenly, his lips parted, and he teased slyly.

“Should we get a private room?”

When her nails scratched his chest, a thrilling desire surged through him.

Is there such a thing as addiction to intimacy?

After seeing her secret self, feeling her most intimate movements, knowing the ultimate climax of becoming one with her, he’d become a pervert obsessed with that moment.

Jungyeon looked at him, flustered but intrigued.

“Am I being too much?”