Page 29 of Kiss Me

While I don’t have the hawking muscles, I am fit as hell. And strong.

My power on the board is a result of my natural strength and the effort I put in at the gym.

I say all of this to say that my push should’ve knocked Taehyun on his ass.

It doesn’t.

The bastard somehow has the equilibrium to maintain not only his balance before me, but also the determined look on his face.

“Just leave me the hell alone. Go tell the media whatever the hell you want.” I push him away and storm off in the opposite direction to go back to my suite.

No, I don’t truly mean it when I tell him to go tell the media whatever he wants. I’m sure I’ll regret it, but the last thing I want is for him to see me on the verge of tears and shame.

The shame that’s threatening to have me bursting out in a full sobbing fit.

Why, I don’t even know.

All I know is that I crave more gingerbread cookies, a mug of hot chocolate as big as my face, and to be wrapped up in front of the fireplace in my suite’s living room with the biggest blanket I can find.

“Not so fast—” Taehyun continues, spinning me to face him.

“What?” I yell out, throwing my arms in the air. “You’re such a?—”

The ‘bastard’ doesn’t have time to make it past my lips before long, hard, firm arms wrap around my body, pulling me into an even sturdier chest.

“Don’t move,” he suddenly says.

“What?” I push against his belly to free myself.

He doesn’t budge.

“There’s a group of onlookers across the road staring this way,” he murmurs in my ear. “If you want to keep your rouse up, I suggest you keep your face buried in my chest.”

I swallow back my reply, ignore the pounding of the muscle at the center of my chest and finally realize what he’s said is true. A group of people are walking past.

“Hey, did you lose this?” someone calls out.

Taehyun raises one of his hands, waving at the group. “Yeah, apparently someone had one too many spiked eggnogs.” He manages to shrug with one of his arms still wrapped around me, holding me to him.

“What are you going to do? It’s Christmas, right?” he says with a chuckle.

A few in the group laugh along with him.

“I’ll bring it over to you,” a male voice says, the sound of his steps growing closer.

On instinct, I tuck my face deeper into Taehyun’s body. Even the thick winter coat he’s wearing doesn’t obscure his delicious scent.

“There you go,” the guy says, handing Taehyun something.

I peek out of the corner of my eye to see him handing the man holding me my damn crutch. I completely forgot all about it.

“Thanks. I think it’s time I get this one home.” His arm tightens around me.

I moan and push out a long sigh to make things look legit.

“I’ve been there,” the guys tells Taehyun before crossing back over to his group.

“Don’t move,” Taehyun orders when I try to pull back. “They’re not out of sight yet.”

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