Winter Hearts

Fall for Me

Siana felt herself getting chills, and opened her eyes to find Taekwoon still lying in her arms. His eyes were closed, but his fingers were lightly drawing circles on her back. She stretched, feeling her relaxed muscles shiver. Stretching brought her closer to him, and she felt his hand tighten against her back, his fingers splaying over her skin as he pressed her against him. HIs eyes still closed, he tilted his head and they found themselves kissing again.

She pulled back after a moment, sighing deeply. He opened his eyes just as she looked down at their legs.

"I see you kept your pants on, just like a gentleman," she observed, looking at him out of the corner of her eye.

"I was in a rush," he murmured, turning slightly to lie on his back, letting her lay half across him with her head on his shoulder and her leg between his.

She rested her palm on his chest, letting it lay in the hollow of his sternum. His skin was like alabaster, pale, flawless and taut over his chest muscles. She smelled soap. Sex.

"I have my priorities," he murmured, laughter in his breathy voice. She loved that she could hear it sounding in his chest, through her ear that lay against his body.

She loved that he had come to see her when he did.

She remembered that they were supposed to talk, and that something had been bothering her about him before she found him sitting on the steps.

Oh yes.

"You have to catch me up on everything that has happened. What's been decided. Hongbin and Panos told me about things I didn't know. And then you guys suddenly going to Athens... it's a little sudden," she said.

Leo nodded, sombrely.

"I meant to tell you last night, but you put your hands on me."

She looked up at him with a cocked eyebrow.

"I think it was you who turned up here and said nothing and pouted and looked at me like you needed help," she said, tartly.

He smiled, biting his lower lip and making his eyes crinkle at the corners. He turned a little towards her, suddenly eager, boyish.

"And you obliged so thoughtfully," he said, as if she were the kindest being in the world. "I really, really, REALLY appreciated the help you gave me."

She giggled, ruffling his hair.

"Anytime you need help, just let me know, baby," she teased. He laughed too, and kissed her forehead. She found that somehow touching, as if he meant it to mean she was precious to him.

"So, shall I tell you what I should have told you straight away?" She nodded, and waited as he cleared his throat, staring up at the ceiling as he began to recount what had happened when he got back last night. He told her about the other clips, what was in them. He told her about how the company had set its internet hounds on the trail and come up with nothing. He described being in a state of shock listening to the plan of action management had come up with. He quietly told her about how the boys had shown him solidarity, and how he had been glad that Hondbin had been willing to play messenger to Kkomae on his behalf.

She could sense his emotions rising, and she let her palm stroke his chest over his heart. He paused, taking a deep breath.

"Even now they're editing the parasailing footage. It should be released by the time we finish in Athens. The boys may have posted their updates already, too."

She nodded, thinking that their secrecy had been pointless in the first place. Perhaps they had anticipated too much attention from the public to allow them to fully decompress, incognito.

She felt a relief that someone had taken control of the situation, and that the plan was easy, open and satisfied curiosity.

"Kkomae got in touch with the Korean embassy and asked them if we could arrange a casual state dinner. There will be press there and we will be making a donation to a charity here. Then... a recorded tour of Athens. That will take two days. We may have an extra day or two before we come back."

Siana nodded. She would be arriving in Athens while they were recording the tour.

"I will be there too, I'm meeting my friend Min - you heard me talk about it. Maybe, if she's okay with it and you're all okay with it, we can meet up there, before we come back. She will be visiting here for a few days also. But.. there's been a development, I think. Panos is upstairs letting everyone know about it."

Leo looked at her sharply, and they realised without speaking that their idyllic tryst was over. It was time for them to get up to speed together, and for him to leave soon.

Siana pecked him on the nose, looking at him with serious eyes.

"So yeah, it will be a long time before we get to be together like this. At least a week."

He frowned, his eyes a little sad.

"But I think I will need your help now more than ever."

"You've done fine without me before."

"I didn't need your help before."

She smiled, knowing that their gentle silliness was becoming tinged with sadness, and the knowledge that they wouldn't be able to be close for a while made the prospect of separation depressing. She couldn't bear the thought of them both languishing over being apart when they would be surrounded by good friends and exciting things to do.

"Don't be sad. Think of the boys. Focus on the fun and the work. Athens is beautiful and dirty and rude and kind. Be your silly self on camera. My friend will be here and coming to see me. I can't make her feel disappointed in my behaviour with her."

She still her hand and touched his cheek.

"We'll be fine."

She sensed him liking what she said, and he took her hand and kissed it.

Then, he slowly, slowly, pushed her off the sofa until she was a giggling heap on the floor. He rolled to the edge and looked down at her, his expression deadpan.

"I like it when you fall for me," he said.