Page 37 of Kiss Me

Soon after, I fall apart as well. Tania’s arms tighten around me, holding me to her as I come.

It takes longer than I expect to breathe normally.

Once I do, I can only think of one word.

“Shit.”

CHAPTER 9

Tania

“Are you cold? Should we go back upstairs?” Taehyun asks while my head lays on his bare abdomen in front of the lit fireplace.

“This is perfect.” I pry my eyelids open and peer up at him.

He’s propped his back against the couch. He stares down at me while running a hand through my braids. The flames from the fire reflect in his dark orbs. It reminds me of what we did upstairs not too long ago in his bedroom.

“What’s that laugh about?” he asks.

I shrug and turn to stare at the fire again. “I can’t believe I just slept with you.”

He grunts. “Baby, I was there and there wasn’t a wink of sleep involved.”

He laughs when I slap his chest.

“Are you always so damn literal? You know what I meant.”

His hand stops moving, and he props his body to the side to get a better view of my face. “Do you regret it?”

The question alone isn’t what surprises me. It’s the genuine tone in his voice. There’s almost a hesitancy, as if there’s a possibility of my not enjoying what we did together.

“No regrets at all,” I answer honestly.

If I’m not mistaken, I feel him release a breath like he was holding it, awaiting my answer.

“You don’t regret bringing me back to your bachelor pad?” I tease. “I can only imagine the number of women you planned to have in here.”

My comment is in jest because I know this isn’t a serious thing for Taehyun. It’s just a Christmas-break fling for the both of us.

He snorts. “You’re the only woman who has or will be in this cabin during my time here.”

My breath hitches at his declaration. The urge to make a joke to make light of his response is on the tip of my tongue. But I can’t do it.

Particularly, not when I look up to meet his gaze again and see that fire burning in his pupils. This time, it’s not just the reflection from the fireplace. There’s a fire in them that, if I were a less sane woman, I might mistake for genuine emotion.

I adjust my body to sit next to him and lay my head on his shoulder once he wraps an arm around me. We’re both still completely nude, underneath the throw blanket from the couch.

Though I’ve known this man for only a day, it’s strange how close I feel to him. I shouldn’t. It doesn’t make any sense. Yet, I did completely break down in his arms only a few hours ago, revealing things I haven’t told anyone else.

Not even my dad, who, at one point in my life, I considered my best friend.

“Do you miss her?”

I meet Taehyun’s gaze as he looks down at me.

“Who?”

“Your mom,” he says, his eyes locked on mine.

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