Page 183 of Scarbound

“Then why are you staring at me?”

“Because I’m trying to remember whether I’ve died and this is some kind of reward.”

Noeul rolled his eyes. “Fine. Keep it on,” he said while he reached for Duri’s shirt himself.

He caught the hem and slowly pulled it upward. Duri lifted his arms without a word, letting Noeul draw the shirt over his head before tossing it onto the other end of the sofa.

For several seconds, Noeul forgot he was supposed to say something. There were more tattoos. Ink stretched across Duri’s shoulder and continued over part of his chest, another design tracing his side. Duri leaned back against the sofa, watching him.

“Well?”

Noeul touched the tattoo on his shoulder first. His fingertips followed the dark lines slowly, tracing them toward his chest. Duri’s breathing changed.

Noeul noticed. That sent an unexpected rush of warmth through him.

He moved to the tattoo along Duri’s side. “This one too?”

Duri nodded.

“When did you get it?”

“Last year.”

Noeul traced the edge of it. Duri caught his wrist. Not hard. Just enough to stop him.

Noeul looked up.

“If you keep doing that,” Duri said quietly, “I’m going to have a very difficult time behaving.”

Noeul’s heart kicked harder. “Who asked you to behave?” Noeul smiled. It lasted approximately two seconds.

Then Duri kissed him.

Noeul laughed against his mouth as Duri guided him backward onto the sofa. Duri followed, bracing himself above him rather than letting his full weight settle against Noeul.

For a moment, they simply looked at each other. Duri’s hair had fallen forward over his forehead. His lips were slightly swollen from kissing, his tattoos exposed beneath the warm apartment light.

Noeul had never seen him like this. Or maybe he had never allowed himself to look.

Duri lowered his head and kissed him again. Noeul’s hands went instinctively to his bare shoulders. Warm skin beneath his palms. He slid one hand down Duri’s back, feeling muscle move beneath his fingers, then returned to the tattoo at his shoulder.

Duri kissed him deeper. Noeul responded without thinking, one hand moving into Duri’s hair as he pulled him closer. There was nothing hesitant about the want moving through him now. And strangely, that didn’t frighten him.

Duri’s hand moved from Noeul’s waist to his side. Noeul shifted beneath him, drawing him closer. Then Duri’s mouth found his neck again.

Noeul’s fingers tightened against his shoulder. Duri immediately lifted his head.

“Still okay?”

Noeul stared at him, breathing hard. “Yes.”

Only then did Duri lower his head again.

Noeul closed his eyes as Duri kissed his neck, his jaw, then returned to his mouth. He could feel how much Duri wanted him. But Duri wasn’t taking anything.

Every time Noeul moved closer, Duri followed. Every time he hesitated, Duri waited.

Noeul had been kissed with anger before. With desperation. With grief. He knew what it felt like to have someone else’s feelings pressed against him so strongly that there was barely room left for his own.