He felt her stir beside him as she awakened. It was just a slight movement, but he felt it. He had always been hyper aware of her. Aware of every little movement, of every little sound she made. He laid still and waited to see what she would do, wishing he could read her mind. What was she thinking? Was she already regretting everything they had just done together in this bed a few hours ago? Had she put up her walls like she had done after their kiss the other night in her apartment? Or like she did a few days ago when she had slipped out his bed and left him while he slept. He had felt her then too, but because he had been sick, he had been too tired and too weak to try and stop her from leaving.
Shin Hye smiled. She didn’t want to wake up from the beautiful dream she was having. She just wanted to lay there and luxuriate in the feeling of being close to a warm body. She missed this feeling of waking up next to him, of having his arm laying possessively across her naked body. He had always been like that, possessive and territorial. And in a way, that was comforting to her, it made her feel wanted. She allowed herself a few more seconds to savor the feelings of being close to him before she had to open her eyes to a new day.
For the second time in a week, she snuck out of his bed while he was asleep. Sliding her body sideways, she slipped her body from under his outstretched arm, careful not to wake him. She paused when she felt his arm tense, but after a few seconds and he didn’t move, she slid all the way out of the bed. She stretched gingerly, aware of aches and pains in her body that she hadn’t felt in a long time. She didn’t dare look to the other side of the bed because it would be a temptation. It took all her willpower to not climb back into the bed and snuggle up to him as she had done in the past.
Opening his eyes to slits, Min Ho watched her move around the room trying to be quiet, while gathering up her clothes. Was she going to to say good bye after she dressed or was she going to sneak out like a thief again? Should he let her know he was awake. Would that make any difference to her?
As he watched her quietly leave the room without a backward glance, he had his answer. She was going to sneak out like a thief. She regretted last night as she warned him she would. He was a fool to hope otherwise.
He rolled over onto his back and blew out a long breath after the bedroom door closed. Maybe it was for the better that she left. He needed time to think, to evaluate their relationship. They were going to have one, he had no doubt about that. But what sort of relationship? He didn’t know that yet. Not without some honest answers from her.
She may have regrets about last night, but he didn’t. Holding Shin Hye in his arms and making love to her was still a soul searing experience, physically and emotionally. He had never had an emotional connection with anyone like what he had with her. Only she had ever made him feel that need to possess and own another person so completely that you ached when they weren’t there. Her betrayal eight years ago had gutted him, leaving him emotionally barren. He had tried to erase her from his mind, but he hadn’t been able to, no matter how hard he tried.
He heard the beeping of the security alarm as the front door was opened, then closed again.
Dammit! He couldn’t believe she would leave just like that, without saying a goodbye.
Throwing back the sheets, he jumped out of bed and sprinted for the bedroom door. She damn well couldn’t leave. She owed him answers. She had a lot of explaining to do and it had better be damn good.
As he sprinted across the living room to get to the front door, the thought crossed his mind that he was naked, but he quickly weighed the risks and decided he would take it. Throwing open the front door, he raced down the hall to the elevator just as the door closed, shutting him out. Leaving him to bang on the metal casing.
Shin Hye couldn’t believe her eyes as she saw Min Ho race across his apartment and disappeared out the door. She had just stepped into the kitchen to start a pot of coffee when she heard the bedroom door open. Then she watched him streaking across the living room to the front door and opening it, without a stitch of clothing. That kind of behavior was unlike him. Was he chasing after her? She felt a small fluttering in her tummy at the thought.
Min Ho’s mind was already thinking of how quickly he could get ready and head over to her apartment, so he was surprised to see her standing in the kitchen doorway waiting for him. Relief swept through him when he realized she hadn’t left him after all. She was going to stay and fight this time.
She held his stare as he approached her. She looked good standing there dressed only in his discarded shirt, legs bare underneath. Face, free of makeup. Lips, red and swollen from his kisses. Hair, tousled and tangled from his fingers running through them. He searched her face for a clue of what she was thinking, but she didn’t give anything away in her expression.
Stopping in front of her, he cupped her face and kissed her. She opened her mouth for him, allowing the kiss to deepen. His tongue swept inside her mouth finding hers. Her need for some sort of connection was just as great as his as she softly returned his kiss.
“What was that for?” Shin Hye eyed him warily when he pulled back from the kiss that had weakened her knees.
“Good morning.” He smiled, choosing not to answer her question.