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A World of our Own

Page 30

by Kate Alexandra

Oh.

“Yes,” I replied, squeezing my eyes shut for a brief moment.

“The one we got you for Christmas,” he said, as though I’d forgotten.

Faded now and baggy, the GVibes logo on the back below the word ‘Crew’ was still prominent. As was my name emblazoned on the front.

“Yes,” I repeated.

I toed the carpet, tightening my arms around myself.

“You look good, Kaiya,” he said slowly. “I like it on you.”

“What do you want?” I said heavily, trying to ignore the way heat crawled up my neck.

“Let me in.”

“Joon,” I hissed, peering down the corridor. “No.”

He blinked and frowned, as if he really thought that was going to work. “Why not?”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “I’m not alone.” I could still hear the shower running.

Jihoon’s face darkened as his eyes narrowed. He took a step forward and leaned into me, trying to look over my shoulder, but I blocked him and crossed my arms.

“They assigned us roommates for the duration of the tour.” And then, in a moment where I must have blacked-out, I muttered, “Caveman.”

His eyebrows drew together for just a second before his entire face softened as he looked down at me. I kicked myself, even as my chest ached, and I clenched my fists.

“You shouldn’t be here, what if someone sees?” I said in a low, urgent voice.

Hurriedly, I stuck my head out into the corridor again, glancing both ways. One side was clear, but there was a group of people just getting off the elevator.

“Shit,” I hissed, yanking him by the arm and pulling him further in to the room so I could close the door, even as my brain was screaming that I couldn’t just hide him in my room. Fuck!

“Wait until these people leave, and then go!”

My hand was pressed against his chest, and as soon as I realised, I dropped it as if it burned. The doorway was narrow and he moved, backing me up until my foot hit the wall. His lips quirked, and he was so close that I smelled the alcohol on his breath, that tell-tale sweet scent mixed with the notes of his cologne.

“Jagi–”

I inhaled raggedly and pushed my fingers against his smiling mouth.

“Don’t call me that,” I whispered, ignoring the way my fingers trembled against his lips as I pulled my hand away.

Quicker than I could react, he grabbed my wrist, holding it gently. He brought my hand to his mouth and pressed soft kisses against my fingertips, one by one, his eyes holding mine hostage. He got all the way to my pinky before I had the willpower to pull away. He watched me, and grinned.

“Where’s my chocolate, Kaiya?” He emphasised my name and in his mouth it sounded dark and forbidden.

I shook my head and took a deep breath. How drunk was he? “What the hell are you talking about?”

“It’s Valentine’s Day.”

A bolt of comprehension made me huff a quiet laugh as the memory came to me. I’d been in Korea for our first Valentine’s Day, where I had discovered that they celebrated the holiday a little differently to what I was used to. It was customary for women to get men chocolates, and he’d demanded that I go out and buy a box. I’d gone and bought him the most ostentatious, frou-frou box of truffles I could find. It had cost me a fortune, but it had been worth it to see him bent in half, laughing. I smiled at the memory, and Jihoon mirrored me so easily that it was as if I could hear the echo of his laughter. The memory was as bitter as it was sweet. I clenched my fists tight enough that my fingers ached.

“You shouldn’t be here.”

“I want my chocolate,” he said quietly, reaching out to brush my hair behind my ear.