Boundless

제 15 장

⸻

The water poured like silk over my back, slipping between the valleys of my shoulder blades and gliding over the arch of my spine. It kissed the curve of my breasts, rolling down like liquid hands, every droplet a caress. My palms were pressed against the cool tile wall, my body bowed, curved in longing.

Behind me, Jae's palms found their home on my hips, his chest flush against my back, his breath hot on my damp neck. The steam curled around us like smoke from a sacred fire, water hissing where our heat met its chill. Our skin—fevered, flushed—clung together in perfect ache.

For a moment, we didn't move.
We just breathed.
Two bodies caught in the stillness before a storm.
Our gasps were shallow, our lips parted, hearts thudding a rhythm older than memory.

The desire wasn't in the climax.
It was in the closeness.
The trembling need to feel.

I bit my lower lip until it trembled beneath my teeth. And then, like thunder crashing through silence, Jae moved.

His first thrust stole the air from my lungs.
I gasped—sharp, guttural—as pleasure exploded through me like starlight breaking into dawn. I bit back a moan that could've broken glass.

He moved inside me like a man who worshipped—not conquered.
Hard. Deep. Heavy.
But reverent.

"Ah—Jae..." I breathed, my head falling forward, my fingers clawing at the slick walls.

His hips slowed, his breath caught, and with a grunt of restraint, he pulled out—only to spin me gently, my wet hair whipping across my cheek. My back pressed to the wall now, and in one fluid motion, he lifted me, effortlessly.

I wrapped around him—arms around his neck, legs around his waist. I buried my fingers into his damp hair, tugging gently as he slicked it back with a huff, water tracing the angles of his sharp cheekbones.

His eyes met mine—half-lidded, wild with tenderness and need. Then he slid back inside me with a sigh that sounded like prayer.

I moaned, arching against the wall.
"God, yes—Jae..."

"Jesus," he hissed, his head falling against my shoulder, his hands clutching at my thighs with almost desperate strength.

Water slid between us, gliding down our torsos, blending with sweat and sound.
He thrust into me—slow and searing. And then, faster.
Harder.

Skin met skin. Moans met gasps.
Our breaths tangled like vines.

"I'm—baby, I'm close," he growled, voice hoarse and broken.
"Come with me."

I clenched, my body spiraling upward in pleasure too vast for words. My climax hit first—an earthquake.
He followed, stuttering into me with a moan that made my legs tremble and my eyes close.

I sagged into him, my limbs boneless.
My knees gave out but he held me up, steady as stone, brushing soaked hair from my eyes and pressing a tender kiss to my lips.

"It always ends this way..." I whispered against his mouth, dazed, drunk on him.

He chuckled, voice thick with adoration.
"I can't help it. I'm absolutely wasted on you."

His hands slid down to my hips, thumbs drawing soft circles. I stared up at him, and for a moment, I just drank him in—flushed cheeks, swollen lips, water cascading off his jaw. His eyes, red from the heat, gleamed with love.

"You know what I've never done?" I murmured.

He raised an eyebrow, brushing hair from my temple.

"What?"

I lowered my hand, trailing it slowly over his stomach, the sparse hair beneath his navel. I touched him. Firm. Pulsing. His.
He groaned, a dark, guttural sound that vibrated through his chest.

"W-What are you doing?" he asked, breath shaky, lips parted.

I kissed his chest, then slowly descended to my knees, the water washing over me like baptism.
He leaned his head back, moaning as I took him into my mouth.

I had never given this part of myself before—not out of judgment, but out of fear. I was always too shy. But now, I wanted to taste every part of him. I wanted to know him like this—to unravel him.

And in the way his knees weakened, in the way his moans filled the air like music—I did.

⸻

Later...

He stood by the mirror, tying his tie with practiced elegance. A man of power. Discipline. But when he smiled at me, crooked and soft, he was only mine.

"I have to go."

"Don't." My voice was small, childlike.

"I have to, baby."

"I know..." I pouted, wrapping my arms around him from behind as he fastened his shirt. The scent of his cologne was warm and familiar. Home.

"I get scared when you go."

He paused, fingers stilled at his collar.

"Why, baby?" he asked, brows knitting.

"Because you come back bruised. Bleeding. I hate it—I hate it."

He turned, holding me tight. His hands stroked my hair, grounding me.

"My father's busy with the election. Things are tense. But I'm okay. Don't worry."

But the world tilted.

Sound stretched thin.
Vision blurred.
And then—

Darkness.

When I opened my eyes again, I was in his arms. His voice echoed in my head, distant and urgent.

"Athena!"

I tried to speak, to smile, to breathe.
"I'm fine," I lied.
"Just tired."

But he knew better. He always did.

"You need to go to the hospital," he said firmly.

"Jae, I've fainted before. This isn't new..." Another lie. Half-truth, maybe. But not the whole story.

He shook his head.
"I'm not going to work if you're like this."

I sighed. He was too stubborn. Too devoted.
So I gave him what he needed.

"Go," I said gently.
"And when you come back... I'll start packing. I'll move in."

His entire face lit up like dawn.

"Wait—really? You mean it? You're moving in?"

He lifted me effortlessly, spinning me in circles, laughter filling the air. He kissed me until I forgot what fainting even meant.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?"

"I'll be fine." I smiled.
"Just... please don't fight with your father. Come home safe. I love you."

He puckered his lips like a child demanding a reward.

I laughed and kissed him sweetly.

"Promise me something?" he whispered, forehead to mine.
"If you faint again... text me. And go to the hospital. Don't wait. Please."

I nodded.

He slipped on his shoes, adjusted his jacket, and reached for his keys.

"Do you want me to bring dinner? We're out of rice. I could stop by—"

"Jae."

"What?"

"Just go."

He chuckled and kissed me one more time, then disappeared through the front door.

And I stood there.

Alone. Quiet.
And full of a knowing I couldn't shake.

This wasn't just the flu.
This wasn't just fatigue.

Something was wrong.
And I was going to find out what it was—
even if it meant facing a truth that could change everything.

⸻