Page 344 of Scarbound

Noeul looked away. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“Say things just because you think I need to hear them.”

Duri gently turned his face back. “I’ve thought you were beautiful since I was a teenager. Unfortunately, trauma didn’t cure me of having eyes.”

A laugh escaped Noeul before he could stop it. “Brat.”

Noeul kissed him again.

The remaining clothes disappeared slowly, between kisses, nervous laughter, questions, pauses, and hands learning where they were welcome.

When Duri touched him, Noeul discovered he could say slower. And Duri slowed.

He could say wait. And Duri waited.

He could pull him closer. And Duri came closer.

Later, they lay tangled beneath the sheets, warm and breathless, Noeul’s head resting against Duri’s chest. Duri’s fingers moved lazily through his hair.

Noeul listened to his heartbeat. Silence didn’t feel empty.

“I was afraid you’d forget me,” he admitted.

Duri’s hand stopped. “Forget you?”

“It was months, Duri.”

“I’ve been in love with you for years, hyung. A few months wasn’t going to fix me.”

Noeul smiled against his chest. “Poor thing.”

“Exactly. Have some sympathy.”

Noeul lifted himself enough to look at him. Duri’s green eyes met his. Noeul traced his cheek slowly. “I didn’t forget you either.”

“I know.”

“How?”

“You stole my hoodie.”

Noeul froze. Duri grinned. “You knew?”

“Of course I knew.”

“And you didn’t say anything?”

“I liked knowing you had something of mine.”

Noeul narrowed his eyes. “You’re disturbingly sentimental.”

“You wrote me a love letter from France.”

“That’s different.”

“How?”