Page 184 of Scarbound

This wasn’t like that. Here, his wanting mattered too.

Noeul slid both arms around Duri’s neck and pulled him down for another kiss. Because he wanted him closer. Because he could.

Duri eventually broke away, breathing heavily, and rested his forehead against Noeul’s. “If we keep going like this,” he murmured, “I’m never getting off this sofa.”

Noeul smiled. “Sounds like your problem.”

Duri laughed and kissed him once more before shifting to the side. Noeul immediately missed the warmth.

Apparently, Duri noticed that too. “Come here.”

Noeul moved against him, resting partly against his chest. Duri wrapped an arm around him while Noeul returned his attention to the tattoos.

“You’re obsessed.”

“I’m examining them.”

“With your fingers.”

“How else am I supposed to examine them?”

“I can think of…”

Noeul covered his mouth with his hand. Duri laughed beneath it.

“You brat!”

Duri pulled his hand away and kissed his palm.

Noeul went quiet. Duri did too.

Outside, snow gathered against the windows. After a while, Duri traced his fingers lightly over the back of Noeul’s hand.

“You staying?”

Noeul listened to the steady beat of his heart beneath his ear. “Yes.”

Duri kissed his hair. Noeul intertwined their fingers.

CHAPTER 51

Several weeks passed without another confrontation. Noeul was still at work, even though it was past eight. It was his third consecutive day of overtime. Instead of easing, the workload kept piling up, and he estimated he needed at least two more hours to finish. He muttered a curse about his boss under his breath, made himself another coffee, and dove back into his work.

Chung-Hee was still in his office, reviewing the final details for the next morning’s meeting, his only company a cup of his favorite tea. One more pass through the presentation and he would be done. Then he noticed it. Part of the analysis the client had explicitly requested hadn’t been completed. The meeting was scheduled for eight. There would be no time to fix it in the morning.

Annoyance flared. Chung-Hee checked whether anyone from the red team was still in the office. He was almost certain Noeul was there, though he hoped, briefly, that someone else had stayed too. No such luck.

The moment Noeul saw Chung-Hee’s expression, even before he spoke, he knew something was wrong.

“Noeul, there’s a section of the analysis for tomorrow’s meeting that hasn’t been completed. Everyone else has left, so I’m afraid the responsibility falls on you.”

Noeul stared at him. He had reached his limit. “Hyung, I’ve been here since eight this morning. It’s already nine. I can’t do this anymore. Please. I’m exhausted.”

“The meeting is at eight a.m.,” Chung-Hee replied coolly. “What explanation should I give our clients? That my manager failed to deliver the presentation properly, or that a red teamer was simply too tired to cope?”

Noeul pushed his chair back. “I’m in pain. I’m starving. And I can’t do this alone. It’ll take another few hours.”

“Then you won’t do it alone.”