Page 59 of A World Apart (Between Worlds #1)

T hankfully, my prediction turned out to be wrong, as when I awoke the next morning, I felt rested and more clear-headed than I had the previous night.

It was still early. Jihoon and I had agreed he would get here around mid-morning, so I took my time having a shower and blow-drying my hair.

I’d just sat down in the living room to read a book when a knock at the door sounded, echoing so loudly in our small apartment that I startled, dropping my book on the floor as I jumped to my feet.

It couldn’t be ? no one had buzzed from the street.

The knock came again, and I hurried towards the door, remembering at the last second to check the peephole, hearing Becka’s stern voice in my head, but a moment later, opening the door with so much force it was a wonder I didn’t pull it off its hinges.

I threw myself at Jihoon, who caught me with a winded ‘oof.’ I buried my head in the crook of his neck, inhaling deep, shuddering breaths. He chuckled quietly as he wrapped his strong arms around me more firmly.

“Did you miss me, jagiya?” he murmured, pressing a kiss to the side of my head.

I could only nod, no space yet for words .

“Come on,” he said, “let’s go inside.” He moved his hands down to grip my thighs before hoisting me up.

I wrapped my legs around his waist as he walked us into my apartment, kicking the door shut behind him.

I marvelled at his strength as he carried me into the kitchen, koala-style, before gently depositing me onto the counter that separated the kitchen from the living room.

Face-to-face now, I ran my eyes over every inch of him, greedily taking in the details I’d missed so much.

The way his hair curled around his ears, how his nose scrunched when he grinned, the smell of him ? like clean laundry and soap.

His dark blue hair was covered by a beanie, which I swiftly took off, running my hands through his longer hair.

“I like this.”

“I think it makes me look like a peacock,” he said, making me laugh.

I frowned then. “Wait, how did you get in?”

“A nice man and a very old chihuahua let me in.”

“That’s Carlos and Milo,” I grinned. “They live downstairs.”

“Milo was very fond of me,” Jihoon casually pushed my thighs apart, moving closer between them as he ran his fingers across my cheeks to tangle in my hair.

“Hmm, he’s not the only one.” I sighed in contented relief as he pressed his lips against mine, a slow, exploratory kiss, the kind you fall into and just stay awhile in.

I wound my arms around his neck, drawing him so close to me that his chest pressed up against mine, our breaths mingling until I could no longer tell when each of us inhaled or exhaled.

But eventually, one of us, I wasn’t sure which, pulled back. Jihoon rested his forehead against mine, both of us content to just… be still.

“Oh wait!” I gently pushed Jihoon back so I could jump off the counter, leaving him standing there with a dazed look on his face as I dashed into my bedroom. I grabbed the parcel off my bed and walked back to the kitchen, trepidation building with each step.

“What’s that?” He nodded at the brightly coloured thing I held so tightly.

I bit my lip and I debated playing it off, but then, cheeks colouring, I thrust the crinkly thing at him.

“Happy birthday.” My face burned as I ran through all the reasons why it was a stupid present, now that I came to think about it .

But Jihoon just held out his hands, taking the wrapped gift and looking at it as if it was the best thing he’d ever received. A smile stretched across his face so wide, that on anyone else it would look affected, but on him it looked joyous.

“Can I open it now?” His eyes pinned me to the spot. I nodded, fiddling with the ring on my finger.

He carefully peeled off the hastily applied sticky-tape, folding back the edges of the wrapping paper until he was able to slide out the thing inside. He looked at it for so long I thought he was going to ask me what it was.

“This is the book you told me about.” Not a question.

“Yeah. I found a Korean book store in the city and they had a translated copy, so... I wanted you to have a copy. I know it’s not-”

“It’s perfect. Thank you.” He put the book on the counter ? a Korean translation of the Time Traveler’s Wife ? my favourite book, and pulled me in towards him.

He kissed my forehead and smiled down at me, the kind of smile that made everything else disappear.

The apartment, my job, his job, the weeks of separation.

Everything outside the bubble of this moment right here.

But just like Clare in the novel I’d given Jihoon for his birthday, I was all too aware of the passage of time so, reluctantly I pulled back just enough to ask; “Are you hungry? I made pastries.”

He grinned and kissed the tip of my nose. “Starving.”

We ate breakfast together at the kitchen counter, barely letting go of each other, even as we ate.

We held hands, or stroked each other’s arms, and my heart even skipped a beat as he put his hand on my knee, so casually it was as if it had always belonged there.

My cheeks ached from smiling so much while trying to eat, and when I said as much to Jihoon, he laughed and said he had the same problem.

We ended up rubbing our sore cheeks, laughing together.

The laughter came easy, the kind of light-headed giddiness of first dates and exceeded expectations. The bubble of joy that seemed so unpoppable.

When we moved over to the sofa, it seemed natural to fall into him, leaning back against his chest as I doodled my fingers up and down his strong arms while we talked about everything, and nothing .

He told me what it was like to film music videos ? surprisingly repetitive, hot, uncomfortable and not nearly as much fun as it seems, apparently.

I told him all about filling in for the guitarist for the Smoking Guns.

He laughed so hard that I jiggled up and down, which made me laugh until we were both crying.

Eventually, we settled. His heartbeat against my ear lulled me into a calm so still I almost fell asleep. I might have actually fallen asleep, even if only for a little while. I was loathe to move, feeling more peace in this moment than I had in so long.

But I had plans. And they were good plans.

So, I reluctantly peeled myself off of him, smiling to myself at his groan of disappointment.

“I know my apartment is super entertaining, but how would you like to celebrate Halloween in LA?” I raised an eyebrow at him, at the same time appreciating the image he presented, reclined on the sofa, one arm behind his head. I mentally shook myself. Focus.

“What did you have in mind?” His voice was rumbly, and judging by the way he was looking at me, he had seen the way I’d checked him out. So, to not get any more distracted, I stood up and put a couple paces between us.

“Carnival.” Just one word, but so many images.

Jihoon sat up. “I’m listening.”

“Stay here.”

I walked into my bedroom and stripped down to my bralette and boy shorts, making sure my bedroom door was firmly closed.

I pulled out the bag I had tucked into a drawer and took out the costume from inside, pulling it on as carefully as possible, grateful it was essentially a soft, stretchy jumpsuit.

Once in, I spared a glance at myself in the mirror on the back of the door, giggling as I turned from side to side.

When I opened the door, I peeked my head out to make sure he was where I’d left him.

But it was better. He was slouched on the sofa, head lolled back, mouth slightly open and clearly asleep.

I tiptoed back into the main room, closing my bedroom door behind me to minimise the light coming in through the window, then padding over to the window in the kitchen and closing the blinds.

I winced at the soft snicking sound they made as they clacked together .

Once I’d eliminated all the light I could, I crept back over to Jihoon.

I stood in front of him, pulled my mask down over my face and flipped the small switch on the box in the small of my back.

Then I gently ran a finger down his nose.

He twitched, but didn’t wake, so I did it again.

When I saw him stir, I pulled back and posed.

His eyes blinked open, once, twice. On the third time they focused on the image in front of him, causing him to jerk and let out a startled cry.

I laughed and began to do a silly dance, making the colourful tube lights on my jumpsuit jerk around, like I was a fluorescent stick man.

Jihoon soon recovered and began to laugh. He stood up and closed the space between us until he could reach out and touch the costume I wore.

“This is so cool!” He grinned, tracing the colourful tubes up my arms, across my collarbone and down the centre of my chest.

Suddenly breathless, I was fascinated by the play of colour across his face, the way the light reflected in his eyes, broken apart like a fractured crystal.

“I have one for you, too.” I said, my voice muffled under my mask. I pushed it up my face so it held back my hair on my forehead.

“Oh really?” he raised an eyebrow.

“It’s on my bed. Wait here, I’ll get it for you.” I spun on my heel and quickly retrieved the second costume from my bed, trying to calm the way my pulse raced. This man barely had to look in my direction and I was panting. I shook my head at myself and rejoined Jihoon in the living room.

“Here,” I said handing him the folded costume.

“It’s a jumpsuit, you just pull it on,” I explained, pulling at the material to show him.

“You can get changed in the bathroom, or my room or… here.” Jihoon pulled off his shirt in the middle of my living room.

Going by the look on his face, he knew exactly what he was doing, and hell if I was going to turn around. Let him tease, I wasn’t mad about it.

He smirked at me, while I just hoped I wasn’t drooling. Surely the shock of his overwhelming sex appeal would wear off at some point, but clearly not today.

He dropped his t-shirt on the coffee table, the muscles in his arms flexing. I drew in a shallow breath as I stared at him, unable to look away. His toned stomach tapered to a narrow waist, where his jeans hung low dangerously low. Heat flushed through me, and I realized I hadn’t exhaled .

Jihoon wasn’t done. As his fingers reached for the buttons on his fly, I squeaked and slapped a hand over my mouth. Jihoon laughed, a rich, velvety sound I could have wrapped around myself.

It made no sense that I was still this affected. I’d seen him in less before. Considering the things we’d done in that villa in August. You’d have thought I’d be capable of being a bit more brazen by this stage, but, nope.

“Breathe, Kaiya,” he rumbled, a second before dropping his jeans to a puddle on the floor.

“You know exactly what you’re doing,” I accused, my words more breath than speech.

He chuckled. “Yes.”

“Cruel, beautiful man.”

He cocked an eyebrow at me, then took two steps towards me that were more prowl than walk.

“Oh, but I can be so much nicer.” He reached out a hand, and hypnotised by the promise of sensation, I swayed towards him. Then, coming to my senses just as his fingers grazed the skin of my throat.

“Nope, stop that right now!” I hopped back a step, putting some much-needed space between us.

“Stop casting your sexy-magic on me and put your damn costume on. I want to go to the carnival!”

“Sexy-magic?” Jihoon snickered, picked up the costume, and stepped into it, grinning at me the whole time.

“Yes. Sexy-magic. I will not elaborate further. Would you like some help with that?”

“Please.” He turned, presenting the broad expanse of his back to me where the wires of the lights were tangled in the fabric. I deftly untangled them before testing the battery pack for good measure. As the lines of his body lit up like a Christmas tree, he laughed in delight.

“This is so cool. Thank you for getting this.”

I smoothed my hands over his back. To straighten the fabric, obviously.

“You’re welcome. Shall we go now?” I looked down at my watch. “It might take us a while to get there in traffic. ”

“Where is it?”

“In West Hollywood.”

“West Hollywood?” He turned around to face me and waggled his eyebrows at me. “I have very fond memories of that area.”

“Me too, so let’s go make some more.” I lightly shoved him towards the door, making sure to grab my backpack and his mask on the way out. Jihoon chuckled, the sound warming my heart.