Page 129 of Paradox
“And what do I get out of it?”
“The pleasure of seeing me happy.”
“Doesn’t seem like a fair exchange.”
In one movement, I’m squatting with my legs on either side of Eden’s waist. “I’m not gonna suck your dick for it.”
“Why? Cause you already do it for free?”
“Exactly.” I give a toothy grin, and jump off him completely. “Now get the chocolate.”
“I’m not sure I appreciate you being so demanding.”
“Bullshit.”
“It’s true.”
I roll my eyes because who is he kidding.
Grabbing the top of the closest dining chair to the kitchen, I drag it behind me. Once I’ve opened the pantry and put the chair in place, I turn back to Eden with my hands clasped in front of my chest. “Oh please, most wonderful, kind and caring man who has let me stay with him. Would you please do me the tremendous favor of allowing me to use one of your most prized chocolates?”
Standing at the bottom of the stairs with his arms crossed, Eden stares at me with a less than enthused expression, and my heart sinks.
“What's wrong?”
“I want you to stop expecting me to askhow highevery time you tell me to jump.”
I'm down from the chair in a heartbeat and wrapping my arms around his waist only a second later. “Idon’texpect you to do everything for me.”
“You’ve developed a pretty strong assumption that I’ll give in to you every time.”
My eyebrows knit together. “Is this… Um… Do you want us to have a fight?”
“I want you to quit exploiting how much I wanna keep you happy.”
“You’re the one who said—” I stop myself and take a step back. “I'm sorry. I've clearly read this whole thing wrong. You tell me all the time that you like it when I'm a brat, so I was just playing it up.”
“I'm serious, Jin. I give in to you—”
I breathe in a playful gasp. “Don’t you dare finish that sentence. We tease each other. You pick on me all the time just to get a reaction. And you are definitelynotthe one who always gives in. I gave into you three nights ago—and every night since. I’ve gotten so little sleep I struggle not to fall asleep every time I sit on the sofa.”
He holds onto a smug, tight-lipped grin for far longer than he needs to. “You don’t complain when it’s happening.”
“Because there’s nothing to complain about." I place my hand on his chest. "I love our time together.”
“Me too.”
I start circling my finger. “But you’re still denying me. And it’s getting embarrassing.”
“I remember everything you’ve ever said to me. And it’s coming, I promise. But I won’t let it be like my first time.”
“But we both want it.”
“And I wanna give it to you exactly how you’ve asked.”
I bop him on the chin with my finger. "You’re not making any sense.”
“I'm sick of talking about this.” He runs a frustrated hand through his hair as he turns away from me. “You bring this shit up every few days, and… fuck. I’m falling hard as a fucking rock for you, Jintae, so our first time is gonna be as fucking memorable as I wanna make it. And I don’t wanna hear another thing about it. At all. No more. You’re nineteen, so it’s my responsibility to make sure you’re ready, not yours. Because no matter how much you think you know about the world, you don’t know shit. People can talk all they fucking want, but I need to know.” He pounds his hand against his chest. “Ineed to know that I treated you right.”
