Moonflower

Chapter 53: Warmth

Jina was cowering in bed. There were two possible outcomes she'd have to face tonight. Either Chanyeol would defeat Jungkook, and he would come for her and do all he had threatened to do...

...but for the knife in her hand.

Or...Jungkook would deal with him and then return to deal with her.

Either way, she was toast. She hated it, but she was trembling right now. Her blade was in her hand under the blankets. Whichever man came for her, he'd find a nasty surprise if he attempted to hurt her. She might be too weak to effectively fight either of them off of her, but she could at least blind a man with her knife.

She didn't really believe Jungkook would hurt her. Not in the same way that Chanyeol would, given the opportunity. But she didn't want a spanking any more than she desired to be raped. She was three years older than Jungkook, for goodness' sake! If someone was going to scold the other in their relationship, certainly she had earned the right! He wasn't even seventeen yet. What did the boy know of life? Nothing. Not one single thing.

—

The king's words were echoing in his ears as Jungkook opened his door that night.

"Don't give her a reason to hate you too."

"She has been mistreated her whole life by men."

Is that why she hated Jungkook so? And why she wouldn't heed his warnings? What did Yoongi know of Jina that Jungkook was still ignorant of?

Jungkook slipped into his room and headed for his bed. She was lying in it. Her back to him. Feigning sleep most likely. But he knew she was awake. There was no way she'd be sleeping after what had happened in the hallway.

He stopped to remove his hanbok and shirt before sliding between the sheets. He lay in the semi-darkness staring at the back of her head. She had left one candle burning by the door. Considerate of her. So he didn't trip over something on his way to bed.

The light of that tiny candle illuminated the outline of her body. He lay quietly for a few moments. Waiting. To see what she would do. She did nothing. So after a couple of minutes, he feigned a snore. Then he waited again.

Still, nothing. So he snored again. It was met with silence. So he reached for her. He slid his hand over her hip. Then down.

"Stop," she hissed. "Don't touch me."

Her voice was as cold as ice. How on earth would he ever get children from this woman? She hadn't even allowed him to kiss her yet.

He refused to move his hand. It lingered on her hip.

"Jungkook," she warned. "Let go of me."

He ignored her. "We need to discuss your behavior earlier tonight."

She rolled towards him. "My behavior?" her voice snapped.

"I told you to stay in my room! I thought you understood what you were risking."

"What do you care? You won't even take your own hand off my hip. What do you care if another man touches me?"

His anger fomented. "You belong to me! My hand has a right to be on your hip! Another man has no right to you." His voice was biting, but his touch was still gentle.

"Are you going to demand your rights then tonight?" She had her knife ready. Her fingers were curled around the handle.

Suddenly, his anger evaporated. Just like that, it was gone. He had detected a tremor in her voice.