It's Way Too Late To Stay Locked Up Inside Ourselves

Epilogue

Se-ri felt pricks of light on her eyelids. She squeezed them tight and nestled deeper into the warmth encircling her. I want to stay in this dream. Here she could imagine the weight of Jeong-hyeok's arm around her; the rise and fall of his chest against her back. She could delay the dread of awakening to the empty place beside her.

Then she felt a kiss pressed to her shoulder and the realization hit. Her eyes fluttered open. Se-ri reoriented herself in the present. He was here in her bedroom. She was not wearing any clothing. Last night flooded back all at once. Her toes flexed at the memory.

"Good morning," Jeong-hyeok murmured against her skin.

The golden light streaming through her window illuminated the light hairs on the arm very much curled around her right now.

Se-ri turned to face him; her eyes still hazy with sleep. Jeong-hyeok was propped on one elbow, looking at her.

"You're here."

His eyes crinkled at the corners as Jeong-hyeok smiled at the obvious and yet momentous statement.

"It's good to be here."

Then he slid his hand across her bare stomach under the sheet.

"I seem to remember something about what happens when you're the last to wake up in your bed."

She smiled and inched even closer to him.

"Oh?"

His fingers traced lazy circles on her belly as he leaned in to kiss her neck.

"Mmhmm."

Se-ri felt a bolt of anticipation as she recalled how he had reciprocated for her boldness that morning long ago. After last night, she felt like an addict; a year of longing had given way to a hunger that could not be satiated.

"Remind me..."

He huffed a small laugh and then opened his lips onto her skin as his hand slid between her legs. Se-ri threaded her fingers into his hair and sighed happily as she sank deeper into the pillow. She knew exactly what he planned to do. Se-ri welcomed surrendering to it.

His fingers stroked her inner thigh; there was a gentle purpose in his movements now. Se-ri closed her eyes as she gave into the dreamlike state that he was returning her to with his caresses. He made his way down slowly; at first kissing her breasts, swirling his tongue around. Then he pressed his mouth into the curve of her stomach; warm and wet, it hinted at what was to come. Se-ri moved her fingers through his hair as his lips leisurely traveled down her body. She felt heady at the lack of urgency —- there was nothing in the back of her mind whispering that this could be the last time; no desperation to seal every detail into her memory. She could simply lose herself in his touch and know that there would be a next time.

His hair feathered back against her palms as he then slipped away to kiss the tender inside of her thigh. She opened her eyes again, thrilling as always at watching the dark waves moving lower and lower until he closed down onto her. Her legs fell open into his arms and she sighed again as his fingers curled around her thighs. The cords of his forearms tightened as he grounded her in his grasp; the muscles in his back began to move in service of her pleasure.

Se-ri's head fell back as she sank into his embrace. His tongue was slow and loving— there was no rush. She tingled at the way he slowly seemed to envelop her. Everything about the way he moved his mouth signaled to her to take her time. And so she stretched her arms above her head and closed her eyes again. The tender suction below began to coax the coil of want from within - it unfurled gently as if she might float away once she was satisfied. Her hips began moving with him. He stroked her thighs and her belly as his mouth encouraged her to give in to the slowly building tension of his touch. She luxuriated in it - a steady hum of pleasure coursed through her as he devoted all of himself to her.