Page 141 of Ruthless Touch

I’m barely through the door by the time Gun kicks off his boots, already rolling up his sleeves as he heads toward the kitchen.

“You’re cooking?” I ask, dropping onto the couch and watching him move from the fridge to the stove.

“Don’t sound so shocked. You know I like keeping you fed.”

“I thought we’d order in.”

“No way. Tonight’s too special, Goyangi-ne.”

“Okay. Then call me your assistant. Just so long as I don’t have to do anything stove-related.”

He laughs and then gestures to the pile of vegetables on the counter. “Then get to cutting. Use those assassin knife skills.”

Before long, Gun has the kitchen—and the rest of the loft—smelling like spices and savory pork belly.

We manage to come together to create a traditional Korean dish known as Bossam, the veggies I’ve cut actually pairing well with the main course. We pair it with egg and kimchi fried rice, and soon we’re digging in at the table.

“What’s the verdict?” he asks as I take my first bite.

I’ve already gone for a second, swallowing my mouthful. “One day your culinary skills are going to rub off on me.”

“I might have to give you cooking lessons. In the buff.”

“Stop it!” I laugh, shaking my head. “We areNOTgetting freaky in the kitchen!”

“Why not? There’re so many options. We have a whole bottle of honey, Goyangi-ne.” He wiggles his brows in his usual teasing manner and almost makes me choke on my bite of pork belly.

It’s one of the things I appreciate most about Gun—he can add humor and playfulness to just about any situation.

Something I didn’t know I secretly craved until now.

After we’re done stuffing our faces and the dishes are abandoned in the sink, Gun puts some slow R&B on the TV.

He dims the lights and holds his hand out to me. My brows raise in question, but I let him take hold of me.

“Dance with me,” he says.

“You mean like the first time?”

“Exactly like the first time. Except this time, you’re not planning to kill me.”

“Bold assumption.”

He pulls me close in the middle of our loft. His palm settles at the small of my back, fingers splaying possessively. My arms loop around his neck, my gaze on him.

We start swaying together to the music, barefoot on hardwood with the city glittering beyond the windows like scattered stars.

It really does mirror that night we met at Eclipse—the chemistry and closeness between our bodies.

The way the rest of the world seems to fall away as we focus on each other.

On that dance floor it was fire and passion. But tonight it’s that and more.

It’s us together like we never imagined would be possible. Just him and me swaying to the music and savoring the fact we’ve found each other.

I rest my cheek against his shoulder, breathing him in. “We made it.”

“We did. It was one hell of a crazy ride, though. Including the parts where you threw a knife at me.”

“And when you shoved that pipe down that guy’s throat. Very romantic.”

“He had the audacity to touch you, Goyangi. I should’ve made him suffer more. No one touches my feline but me.”

I smirk and tip my head up for a kiss he more than happily gives me.

We dance like this ’til the song ends and another one begins, trading kisses and making each other laugh.

It’s more than I ever could’ve imagined. A happiness that reminds me even enemies can fall in love.

THE END