“You like being on top?” Eun Gi asked, trying to sound casual while his insides churned and his heart thrummed.
“Mhmm.” She kept up that maddening movement against him. “Is that okay?”
“Yes!”
Tessa giggled as his voice cracked. He coughed and died a little inside.
“It’s very okay,” he assured. “How do you be on top with another girl?”
“Strap-ons are a thing that exists.”
A helpless sound escaped him, too many images filling his head.
“I’m wearing so many clothes.”
“Well,” said Tessa, “I imagine I could assist with that.”
His stomach clenched, breathing shifting. She bit her perfect bottom lip and slid down. Every fractional movement of her body, her face, her hands, had him hyper focused on each infinitesimal touch.
Do not embarrass yourself, he ordered his body. Blood roared in his ears as she undid the button and zipper of his jeans.
A single raised eyebrow asked a silent question that threatened to melt his brain out his ears.
He nodded slowly, and she freed him easily from the confines of the fabric, planted a hand on each thigh and delivered a hot lick up the length of him. A gasp, groan and curse blurred together as his hips bucked.
She slid up his body and set her palm on his chest. “Guide me if you want something different, okay?”
He barely managed an “Mhmm” before she inched down and brushed her hair to one side. Eun Gi stared at the ceiling, trying to not move too much, to not simply explode when she put her mouth on him again.
Tessa wriggled his pants down and off, dropping them to the floor. Her nails scraped soft trails across his thighs. Goose bumps covered his skin and he couldn’t control the shiver as she moved around him. Even the warmth of her breath set him off.
“Fuck,” he whined. “How are you so good at this?”
Tessa’s head popped up. “I did research.”
“You did…” He paused, confused and amused.
“Research.” She blushed hard. “Don’t look at my search history.”
Eun Gi laughed, burying his face in his hands. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to laugh. I wasn’t expecting that answer.”
“What did you think I’d say?”
“I don’t know? Maybe that you were naturally gifted.”
She closed her mouth over the tip and swirled her tongue. His voice evaporated into a shudder.
She lifted her head again. “Well, I am that too.”
When he pawed at her helplessly, she took each hand in turn and pressed them palm down against the bed. His fingers clenched the sheets, and sweat coated his brow as her tongue worked in ruthless tandem with her hands.
He tried to stay still, met with the press of her nails on his thighs if he lost control of himself. Every breath dragged like sandpaper through his lungs while she pulled his taut, sensitized body to the edge of release before hurling him over it.
Sensation and awareness of the rest of the world slowly returned. Tessa stretched out next to him, her palm resting on his chest.
“How was that?”
“Good. It was…” he rubbed his face, “…so, so good.”
Eun Gi rolled towards her and snared her in his arms.
“I was worried I’d do it wrong, so I spent most of the morning looking up some very questionable things.”
“You didn’t have to do that.” He nuzzled her throat exactly how he’d learned she liked, loving the hitch in her breath and the clench of her fingers against him. “I’m not complaining that you did though.”
“I think it’s your turn now.” He nipped her shoulder. “You’ll have to let me recover a bit, but in the meantime, I can promise to give you my undivided attention.”
“Oh? I do love attention.”
Reverent fingertips slipped over lace and skin and satin. Tessa’s eyes were luminous, mouth parted, tongue darting out to moisten her lips.
“Want to climb on top?”
Her pupils flared wide at the suggestion, expression shifting even as her self-consciousness shrank her into herself. Cupping her cheek to draw her closer, he kissed her softly.
“Hey,” he whispered. “You never have to do anything you’re not excited about. I’m happy to be here regardless of what happens.”
Tessa let out a laugh. “You’re so sweet. I’m just awkward.”
“You’re doing great. You’re intelligent, accomplished, and beautiful.” Each word was punctuated with a kiss. “Be confident, and take whatever you want from me.”
Eun Gi found himself flat on his back with Tessa’s palms on his chest. The way she bit her lip had him squirming. Moving the pillow out of the way as she maneuvered up his body, he helped each thigh slip over his shoulders until she hovered above him. She braced her hands on the wall, and he pressed down against the top of her thighs until his tongue could reach.
Tessa jerked at the first contact, nails scraping the wall, hips shaking, curses pouring out of her mouth. A desperate sound prompted him to stroke soothing fingers up her waist. He stayed unrelenting at the crux of her thighs until she vibrated in his hands.
The moans and gasps she made saturated the air around them. He felt the exact moment she came, her weight sinking against him while she cried out. He looked up to a face twisted with the intoxicating dregs of pleasure. A spike of lust shot straight down his spine.
When the spasms retreated, she flopped to the side, nestled in the pillows. He moved to wipe off his mouth, but her hand stopped him a second before she devoured him. She was demanding, searching, and he surrendered happily to it.
“More,” she growled against his lips.
He shivered head to toe at the fire in her eyes. Nudging him towards the headboard, she climbed straight into his lap, leaning to whisper in his ear, “I came prepared.”
Reaching into the drawer of the side table, she pulled out the box of condoms they’d purchased in Jeju. Her eyes were dark and enthralled as he rolled on the latex.
Nervousness blended with obvious hunger on her face.
“Nothing you don’t want,” he reminded her. “You’re in charge.”
He groaned as she tentatively brushed their bodies together. Gazes locked, and she lowered herself, enveloping him in heat. His fingers dug into her hips.
Tessa paused, still and silent, save for her salacious breathing in his ear. Then she started to move, undulating a steady rhythm that stole his thoughts.
The sounds she made drove him crazy. Thoughts of anything except her body chasing its pleasure on his melted away. His mouth traced patterns on whatever skin it could reach and sometimes her fingers grazed through sweat-laden strands of his hair, guiding his mouth to other spots that had her gasping his name.
She pulled back a little, dropping her forehead to his. “Oh my God, this is so much more effort than I remember. I should have taken the work outs more seriously.”
“I did tell you there would be advantages to a partner with stamina.” He grinned, pressing a kiss to her shoulder as he helped her lie back onto the bed. “I’ve got you.”
Tessa held the sheets in a vise grip while he ground their hips together.
“Please,” she begged.
Eun Gi indulged in the intimacy of being so close, her body sinking beneath him, every inch of skin pressed together and slicked with sweat. He kissed her until they were both breathless.
Whimpers echoed in his ear as he slipped away, nudging her hips to the end of the bed before rejoining their bodies at a new angle. Her legs hooked his waist, shaking and insistent. His thumb moved in steady circles over her most sensitive point, coaxing her higher, even as his own body gave itself over in a surge of pleasure. He clung to her trembling thigh and kept his hand moving until she clenched around him, dropping over the edge to join him.
He collapsed to the bed and pulled her sweaty form against him.
“Sleep now,” he murmured against her shoulder.
&n
bsp; Tessa laughed and grabbed her phone. She nestled closer, and he could see a message from Sung Soo on her screen from ten minutes ago that Min Jae was ready for dinner.
“No sleep. It’s time for dinner.” She pushed his hair back from his brow, stealing another kiss. “You helped me work up an appetite, and I’m starving.”
Showering together to save time was a mistake. Distractions happened. Tessa’s phone buzzed incessantly with reminders from Min Jae that he was starting to wither away from hunger. It was only when Eun Gi accidentally hip checked the temperature knob, dousing them with cold water, that they actually finished washing and got out.
They were derailed again when Eun Gi helped her with lotion. By then Min Jae was calling, and Eun Gi snatched the phone to answer on Tessa’s behalf.
“We’re coming, calm down.”
“Hyung, I’m starving. I ate all my snacks and my tummy has been growling for an hour.”
“Go without us then and we’ll meet you there.”
There was silence for a moment.
“Soo-hyung said that’s rude, so we’re waiting and I’m dying.”
Tessa took the phone out of Eun Gi’s hand. “My favourite dongsaeng wouldn’t be rushing his noona, would he?”
“Never ever,” said Min Jae.
“Good. We’ll be there in five minutes.”
Tessa hung up and started to get ready in earnest.
Eun Gi smiled. “Accepting Min Jae as a little brother?”
“Hard to avoid.” She grinned. “He’s a sweetheart.”
When they got upstairs, Min Jae had his head poking out his door to watch for their arrival.
“They’re here!” He called back into the room and was halfway down the hall by the time Hwan and Sung Soo joined them.
Min Jae looped an arm around Tessa and spun her in the other direction.
If the others noticed the increased proximity over dinner between Tessa and Eun Gi, they didn’t say anything. Min Jae ate himself into a food coma, and the group got more than a little tipsy on soju.
It was dark by the time they left, but the moon glowed bright enough to navigate by. The beach was empty, and they opted for a slow meander across the rain-damp sand on their way back to the hotel. Min Jae kicked off his shoes and somehow managed a half-dozen cartwheels before collapsing regretfully onto his back.
“I’m going to throw up,” he groaned.
Tessa plunked down onto the sand and used his shoulder as a pillow. “That’s what happens when you’re a toddler in a grown man’s body.”
“Noona, don’t be mean. I’m dying.”
“Is this what we’re doing now?” Hwan flopped onto the sand next to Tessa. “I’m cold.”
Tessa rolled over and snuggled up against him. “Better?”
“Absolutely.”
“I’m supposed to get priority cuddles.” Eun Gi pouted and sat down next to them. “Husbands get dibs.”
“Husbands are inconveniently located. Liquor makes me touchy. Hwan is convenient for touchies.”
“We can’t stay on the beach all night.” Sung Soo toed at Min Jae with his shoe.
“Join the pile,” Tessa ordered.
Sung Soo sighed and settled in on Min Jae’s other side. “Why are we doing this?”
“Do we need a reason?” Tessa asked.
Eun Gi curled up around her, using the curve of her waist as a pillow. “I like the beach. I used to come here a lot to get away.”
Tessa grabbed his hand, planting a kiss on it before nestling his arm across her chest. Each heartbeat danced against his palm.
“I feel a little sick,” she mumbled.
“Don’t throw up on me!” Hwan wriggled away. “I’m a sympathy puker.”
“Good to know.” Tessa snuggled closer.
Eun Gi poked at her. “We should get back to the hotel.”
“Too far. Carry me.”
“Okay.”
He hoisted her up, sand raining all over the others. Tessa laughed, delighted, and looped her arms around his neck. His heart thrummed hard as she rubbed their cheeks together. Eun Gi spun them, and she held on tighter, laughing until she started to hiccup.
Min Jae climbed on top of Sung Soo. “Hyung, carry me too.”
“You’re too heavy,” Sung Soo wheezed as he was crushed into the sand. “I’m weak.”
Hwan crawled over and squatted. “Climb on.”
Min Jae lit up like a Christmas tree and jumped onto Hwan’s back, toppling them both.
Halfway back, Eun Gi transferred Tessa to piggyback, and she clung happily, humming in his ear for the rest of their walk. Sung Soo, the only one of their group unladen, was in charge of doors.
Alone in their hotel room, Tessa’s clinging turned amorous, and she nipped his earlobe as she slid down his back. A shiver raked up his spine and goose bumps erupted across his skin. Eun Gi turned in her grasp and kissed her cheek. When she dove in for more he took both her hands in his and stepped farther away.
“You’ve been drinking.”
“And?”
“We’re not doing anything until you’re sober.”
“But I’m needy. We already did stuff today. We can do more stuff now.”
“Well, if you’re still needy in the morning, I’ll be more than happy to assist.”
She puffed her cheeks and pouted.
He pulled her into a hug. “Sorry. I need you to give me the go-ahead when you’re not full of soju, otherwise it doesn’t count.”
He scooped her up, and she latched on.
“Come on, let’s go rinse off the beach.”
“Why aren’t you drunk too?” She held on to his shoulders on the way to the bathroom. He set her down on the vanity and arranged the small trash bin next to her.
“I’d wager I have significantly more drinking experience than you do.”
When the water was warm, he transferred her to the edge of the tub and rinsed the sand off her feet. He helped her into pajamas too, though she was not helpful in the least with that endeavor.
Tessa squeezed his cheeks between her hands. “You are so cute. Why do I love you so much?”
She kissed him and then flopped back onto the bed. He was certain his face was a canvas of wide-eyed alarm. An invisible hand grabbed hold of his heart to give a sharp squeeze.
Calm was the furthest from how he felt, but he maintained the facade long enough to tuck her into the blankets. She nestled in contentedly and was asleep instantly while he was about two minutes off a full-blown panic.
Grabbing his phone, he slipped out into the hall and hit the call button, waiting for Sung Soo to answer while he swept towards the elevators.
“Hello?”
“Are you awake?” Eun Gi asked.
Sung Soo laughed. “Obviously.”
“Can I talk to you?”
“Of course. Are you okay? You sound a little strung out.”
“Uh, a bit. Can we go somewhere?”
“Sure. Let me get dressed. I’ll come to you.”
Eun Gi stepped off the elevator.
“I’m already outside your room.”
Sung Soo answered the door half-dressed to let Eun Gi inside. “So, what’s going on?”
Eun Gi opened and closed his mouth a half dozen times before finally spitting it out. “I slept with Tessa.”
“Slept with, or slept with?”
His blush was answer enough. Sung Soo pursed his lips.
“She also kind of said she loves me.”
Sung Soo’s jaw dropped. He blinked, confused. “Kind of? Is that bad? What did you say? When did this happen?”
“About three minutes ago.”
“Eun Gi.” Sung Soo sighed. “Did you run away as soon as she said it?”
“She’s asleep. She didn’t even notice me leave.” He wandered onto the terrace, looking out at the moon reflecting off the water. “I didn’t say anything. She’s a little drunk and didn’t even mean it.”
Sung Soo stared at him so long Eun
Gi shifted uncomfortably.
“Why do you think she didn’t mean it?”
Eun Gi shrugged.
“That’s not an answer.” Sung Soo frowned. “Some people get more honest when they’ve been drinking. Have you been around her before when she’s been drunk?”
Eun Gi thought back to when they’d shared champagne on their wedding night, how easily what she’d wanted had come out after the liquor loosened her tongue.
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean she meant it this time.”
Sung Soo crossed his arms and sighed. He sat down in one of the patio chairs and used his gaze to order Eun Gi to do the same.
“Are you saying this because you don’t want it to be true or because you do and you’re afraid?”
Eun Gi tucked himself into the chair, wrapping his arms around himself. “Hyung, I—”
Sung Soo reached across the small distance between them and set a comforting hand on the back of Eun Gi’s neck, smiling softly at him.
“It’s okay to be nervous. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it were true. The important thing now is how you feel about it.”
“I don’t know.”
“Don’t you?”
“I’m not good at this sort of thing.”
“Oh, trust me, I am well aware.” Sung Soo chuckled. “You clearly feel something for her. You’re protective, and you go out of your way to make sure she’s taken care of. We’ve all watched you together. If you’re not in love with her yet, then it sounds like you’re not far off.”
“Hyung, I’m scared.”
“That’s okay. Honestly, love is scary. I can’t give you much in the way of advice about this because I haven’t been there. Even though you two had an unconventional start, you’re building a pretty solid foundation.”
“You think so?”
“I realize I only have an outsider’s perspective on this,” said Sung Soo, “but I’ve seen the change in you. You still struggle with the same things you always did, but you turn to her for comfort too. You would never be vulnerable with her like you have been if you didn’t trust her. That’s one of the most important things in any relationship, romantic or not. If you feel like you can trust her, and I think you can, then you have a good chunk of what you need to make it work.”
Heart and Seoul (The Seoul Series Book 1) Page 24