Page 271 of Scarbound

When they finished, Noeul sat on the edge of the oversized bed. Duri remained standing. “You want me to stay until you sleep?”

Noeul nodded. Duri sat beside him, leaving space between them. Noeul looked at that space. Three weeks ago, he had needed it. Tonight, it felt too wide. “Closer.”

Duri moved slightly.

“More.”

Another few centimeters.

Noeul rolled his eyes. “You’re ridiculous.”

“I’m being careful.”

“I know.”

Noeul shifted until their shoulders touched. For a few minutes, neither spoke. Then Duri asked in a barely audible voice, “Can I hold your hand, hyung?”

Instead of answering, Noeul reached for it. Their fingers interlaced naturally. Duri’s thumb moved once over the back of his hand. Noeul allowed it. When sleep finally began pulling at him, he moved closer again. Duri stayed still. Noeul rested his head against his shoulder, then slowly curled into his body.

Duri exhaled. Noeul heard the relief in it.

“Danke, Duri.”

Duri smiled. “Bitte.”

“Gute Nacht.”

“You practiced.”

“No.”

“You absolutely did.”

Noeul’s eyes were already closing. “Shut up.”

Duri laughed quietly. Sleep claimed them both.

Before the sky turned blue, Noeul woke first. Duri slept beside him, one arm loosely around his waist. Noeul remained still for several minutes. Duri was everything he had once imagined love should feel like. So why did the hollow remain?

Noeul carefully lifted Duri’s arm and slipped out of bed. He went to the living room and made coffee. Everyone else was asleep. The quiet suited him. He stood near the windows, watching the city before sunrise. A while later, footsteps approached. Duri stopped several feet behind him.

“Good morning, Noeul hyung.”

Noeul turned. Duri looked exhausted. “You should be sleeping.”

“So should you.”

Noeul lifted his coffee. “I tried.”

Duri went to the machine and inserted another capsule. “Bad dream?”

“No.”

Duri waited. Noeul settled onto one of the stools at the counter. “Sleep isn’t what I need.”

Duri turned to face him fully. “Then what do you need?”

Noeul stared into his coffee. “I don’t know.”