Page 191 of Paradox
Eden’s hand tightens on my shoulder, and I look up at him.
With nothing needing to be said between us, he turns back to Carey. “March first.”
His smirk is sly but understanding as he gives me another once over. Then he gestures to his brother’s leg. “I don’t suppose that’s Korean forI’m fucking my best friend’s little brother, but I don’t wanna talk about it?”
As he gazes down at his wrapped calf, Eden’s hand slides from my shoulder until his fingers are inside the rolled waistband of my sweatpants. “Only the first bit.”
“Then expect a lot of questions.”
“Maybe the whole thing then.”
The brothers share a sympathetic—if not forced—laugh as Carey turns towards the door. “I’ll sort him out, I promise.”
“And you expect him to listen?”
Staring off into nothingness, Carey nods; "Yeah. I do,” and opens the door.
As soon as it’s shut, I run over to lock it, and see their argument pick back up when Carey nears Tek's truck.
“Get the fuck over here.”
I run my fingertips over my exposed stomach, then lower until I start feeling hair. When I finally turn around, Eden is on the sofa with his flannel off and his sweats pushed down. A condom wrapper is already on the cushion beside him and I watch with wide eyes as he rolls the rubber down his length.
“How the hell are you already hard?”
“I’ve had a semi since you told me I could fuck you as soon as they left.”
I lick my lips and walk to him. “You know, the curtainsareopen?”
Eden grabs my ass and pulls me forward until my shins hit the sofa. “Let them watch.”
“Do you really mean that?”
“I don’t care who sees us together. And Tek is a fucking liar. I’m not ashamed to be with you. You’ll never be a secret becauseI’ll never hide you. I love you, Jintae. And I want the whole fucking world to know.”
Climbing on top of him, I wrap my arms so tight around his neck he has to reach up to loosen them. “I’m not sure if it’s real yet.”
Eden guides me to sit down so he can look at me. “It’s real. And this is it. It’s me and you from here on out. I’ll take shit from your parents, but not from anyone else. And I’ll never stop fighting for us, or for you. Because I want you to have everything.”
“I don’t need anything but you.”
“All the more reason for it.”
“Don’t be silly.”
Eden raises my chin; “I’m not,” and kisses me.
It’s soft, and hard at the same time.
So full of promises.
So full of love.
“Were you being serious? About what you said before?”
Eden smoothes back my hair. “About what exactly?”
Nerves and self doubt well up inside me. “Never mind.” I shake my head dismissively and lean back in to kiss him.
