SEDUCTIVE EMBER'S || HEESUN 𝟏𝟖+ ||

Sought - Chapter 14

The bedroom was dimly lit, with only a small lamp on the nightstand providing a warm glow. Sunoo laid in the large bed, his head slightly raised by fluffy pillows as he rested against the headboard.

The fever that had overwhelmed his body just a day prior had finally broken, though he still felt weak and fatigued. As he slowly blinked his eyes open, he noticed a figure sitting in a chair beside the bed.

Heeseung sat with his eyes closed, head tilted back against the chair. His chest rose and fell rhythmically with each breath. He studied the older's face, taking in the worry lines that creased his forehead even in sleep.

Sunoo shifted under the blankets, the rustling sound causing Heeseung's eyes to flutter open. He immediately leaned forward in his chair, hand coming up to feel Sunoo's forehead.

"Your fever seems to have gone down quite a bit." Heeseung murmured, a small smile playing on his lips. "How are you feeling?"

The younger's head pounded little as he tried to sit up in the large bed. The soft blanket that had been draped over him slipped down, exposing his shoulders to the cool air.

He shivered, clutching the blanket tightly around himself once more and struggled to fully wake up. Behind him, Sunoo felt the dip of the mattress as a warm hand gently touched the back of his neck in a soothing caress.

He inhaled sharply at the contact, every nerve tingling. The hand pulled back carefully, as if not wanting to startle him. Sunoo's own hand drifted up to rest lightly where the touch had lingered, craving more of that comforting warmth.

Heeseung's warmth.

"You must be hungry. I'll tell the maid to bring food for you." the deep voice of older murmured gently, already moving away. Sunoo glanced up slowly to meet the concerned gaze, waiting apprehensively for anger or scolding over yesterday's rash actions.

But Heeseung simply stood and left the room without another word, his footsteps fading down the hall. Sunoo stared after him, confused.

"Is he not angry with me?" he wondered, drawing his knees to his chest. Feeling significantly better than the previous day, he noted the medicine bottles left beside the bed.

"He must have been worried..."

Guilt twinged inside Sunoo at the realization. Soon a maid entered carrying a tray of food, interrupting his thoughts.

"Thank you." he said sincerely as she set the meal before him with a kind smile, he picked at the plain food, lost in thought once more.

"Where is he now?" The question slipped out before he could stop it, surprising himself. He shook his head, focusing on the bland meal.

"I am delirious from the fever, that's all." he muttered under his breath. Still, he couldn't ignore the strange ache in his chest.

"Sir, is downstairs." the maid informed him. He nodded absently, trying to convince himself he didn't care.

After eating what little he could, he settled back against the pillows and the maid cleared away the dishes. Exhaustion still clung to him, though he had woken so late that sleep now eluded him.

Restless, his thoughts drifted back to the same person again and again.

Heeseung.

"Won't he sleep here tonight?" He wondered, a nervous flutter in his stomach.

He did not know why this thought had unsettled him. He wants to push away the image of the man that kept returning to his mind, to focus on recovering, but it seems like it's no use.