Empress Handbook

Chapter Twenty-Eight | To Have and To Hold

Taehyung moves his lips down Yeoreum's neck, evoking a warm ticklish sensation to dart down her spine.

Yeoreum nervously looks at the clock. It's 11:30—the time she normally takes her contraceptives. It's unsafe for Taehyung to touch her, especially because he never uses physical protection, and she struggles to find the chance to request it.

"Focus," Taehyung says, nibbling her lower lip.

Yeoreum sits up when she realises Taehyung has already generated a reaction. She tries to hide from his kisses, but he just anchors himself to bury his head between her breasts.

"Aren't you really busy?" Yeoreum murmurs. "Don't you have work to do?"

Taehyung easily pins Yeoreum down on the bed. He wipes the lipstick smear from his chin and squeezes Yeoreum's backside.

"Yes, that's correct," Taehyung says. "But firstly, I would like to do you."

"Kim Taehyung," Yeoreum stammers.

Taehyung chuckles and curls his fingers around her dress zip. Yeoreum subconsciously leans towards his chest.

"Yeoreum," Taehyung whispers, his deep voice gruff with lust. "You should know by now that I'm turned on when you say my name."

Yeoreum sighs at the determination in Taehyung's eyes. There is no way out.

"Taehyung, Taehyung, Taehyung?" Yeoreum scoffs, giving up on escaping. "Did that do anything to you?"

Taehyung lets a moan and tugs Yeoreum's dress to the ground. "You inflicted this upon yourself," he says.

Taehyung treats every one of Yeoreum's tender spots with a sort of solemness that scares and excites her simultaneously. It's probably the oxytocin, Yeoreum reminds herself while she grips his waist.

After, Yeoreum lays on the bed with Taehyung's shirt loosely hung over her as she catches her breath. Taehyung hunkers down to examine Yeoreum's swollen ankle, his eyebrows tightening as he sees the redness.

The swelling is just as bad as before, if not worse. With an incredibly timid motion, Taehyung ventures a finger to her ankle. It is as soft as a poke, but Yeoreum immediately tugs her leg back with a shriek.

"Sorry, Yeoreum. I'm so sorry," Taehyung utters. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

"Your Majesty, please try and be more covert with your murder plans," Yeoreum says sarcastically.

Bitterness dims Taehyung's face, but he quickly conceals it with a smile. "Are you sure you don't want to put ice over it?" he says as he braces his arms around her.

Yeoreum pushes her arms against Taehyung to wrestle him away, knowing that he won't budge.

"No, I don't."

"What's with that attitude?" Taehyung whines. "You were hugging me mere minutes ago, Yeoreumie."

"Fuck off," Yeoreum snaps. "I'm fine."

"Fine then," Taehyung says, slackening his grip. "Stand up and show me you're truly fine."

"Fine."

Yeoreum rises to her feet with her hands clasping the bedpost for support. The soreness around her hips and thighs quivers her steps, but she still manages to push herself forward. Yeoreum pulls her hands away from the bedpost as she inches forward, but before her feet can fully reach the ground, she loses her balance and plunges backwards. Promptly, Taehyung catches her in his arms.

"See, you can't even stand properly," Taehyung chides.

Yeoreum pushes him away. "That's not because of my ankle. That's because you—"