TTD Chapter 12

Splash, splash. The sound of 4bd46f8900 waves crashing against b75c4e7931 the shore echoed 3a5e356a3f nearby. The midday sun blazed 6c9790a0ac down, now that the 6e2ecec0fd rain had stopped.baf2cbe2d8db7c9f7b81

Heeju weakly pushed herself 5174e64547 up from the bed.542f234b6708b9599fd5

“How many days fafd41ddd3 have passed…?”99510bb0d2fd645ceed1

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Two? Three?d2ce9bb7ade740850c1b

“I don’t know. I’m just hungry.”a92112f0a734011c5134

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Clutching her aching 740522a08c stomach, she glanced e23cadfce1 around the room. She needed to 6d6575a7f5 eat something—anything. When she was feverish, even a 9083d639af sip of water had felt impossible. But now, with her strength slowly returning, 7b2c1c957b she felt desperate enough to drink seawater 55f3606219 if it came to that.e0de9bd78d6db09b5bd3

And yet, as if someone had anticipated this moment, a whole 125b258f74 basket of tropical fruits sat neatly on a nearby shelf.98ab6928061ec43a4ff3

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It must bfde310dba be meant 3f4b2aed04 for me.8f374a62474d85c3fe2a

Without thinking too much, she grabbed a e936d48221 peach and bit into it hungrily. She stuffed her cheeks full, e95ac40aec chewing with urgency, when her 857399caea eyes landed on a covered a88b401d7e bowl of soup. Scooping a spoonful into her f68c951983 mouth, she found it to 3a5ebb5795 be pleasantly lukewarm—perfect for eating. She tore off a piece of bread 71e71db31d beside it, dipping it into the soup 1034752864 as she surveyed the room.c39233302809a8ff93c6

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Empty.048aa743b735af482500

She could vaguely recall people coming and going while she was drifting e085a8731e in and out of consciousness, but now, no one was here.815810ab267b372468f8

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Her eyes darted quickly around the space as she peeled 63e0536a1d a ripe, yellow banana and popped it into her mouth—d26dc8db4c8978beca25

“Hck—Kuh!”790ef376fb3acf38713c

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She had been keeping a fc2ea14bf3 wary eye on what she 61ca82497a assumed was the room’s entrance. So why—why was that man c1126920c7 appearing from the opposite side?!8074fca7c95924635a0e

The food crammed inside her mouth turned to solid lumps, 63375ab32b blocking her throat and triggering a violent gag reflex. She needed to spit it out to breathe, 6254f40e8e but she hadn’t even found the bathroom yet.78394a736c82631f303d

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This room ccc18b59e4 felt unfamiliar—foreign. She had spent all her time feverishly lying in 5313ce7611 bed, with no chance to take in her surroundings.194a44b266768057943a

Covering her mouth with 7048847846 her palm, her face 45b6f3e9e0 flushed red as she ce817b4145 coughed and sputtered.c8c15798a0574f2a0670

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Suddenly, a hand 7a872007aa appeared and firmly 8c10d0b3c6 patted her back.2dd59b309b4e52aaf209

“W-Wait—cough, cough!”1f0d3ec310079a2d5196

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Through teary eyes, she tried ed363fdabe to plead with him to ec89705d3f stop and just show her d45b0b0ceb where the bathroom was. But instead, a broad palm pressed fa55816221 against the underside of her chin.4352dfaa99f4f1fb3312

—And then, f21fbbe016 everything came 83114ed0ca up.7dd99a47b6098dd22bb3

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“Ugh!”bddeac467b24fbbd3ee7

Thanks to his exceptionally effective back-patting, the chunks of fruit and dough d8e9f04ea6 lodged in her throat came flying out—right into Iseok’s open hand.1cad4fa73d938e955793

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Even after catching the mess with 8dbb5133bf his bare hand, he didn’t flinch. Instead, he casually continued 000b54c037 patting her back as eaa9722d5f she coughed out the 9208eaf049 last remnants.df1986919c436a24ce48

It was only when she finally stopped gagging, merely gasping for air and c595434de2 clearing her throat, that he wordlessly walked off—presumably to wash his soiled hand.bcdcd2e0fad3f292de4a

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Heeju sat there, still catching her breath, 48e983a025 and slowly processed what had just happened.7ac5dad625a5e5ba143f

“Disgusting. What the c7ed3e51ea hell was 91a62b7312 that…?”242db47b0a06b7d85b6f

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When he returned, she shrank bf963eac2e back slightly, watching him warily.ef2c3f50bcb0c5617b2b

I’m not 59518e7739 that grateful, 6f942ee85d okay? I never cf779c6f28 asked you a058719876 to do 768af222ac that.d328db1b730bca84a82a

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“Don’t touch me. I have no 51328c9cd8 intention of getting 10d619d628 involved with you.”c6f443f93d378bb0e066

“Ahhh.”5e9e38c246442f70d2df

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Iseok simply nodded, then, without warning, pulled 8749ac63b2 his shirt up over his head.b014c128c4cfa9374aa1

“Cough!”22fba2576003679c307a

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Still keeping her guard up, 3857089a54 she quickly grabbed a tissue 4e5f1addc6 from the box he had 94e0175d48 brought and covered her mouth.3bedbecbaa059280a2e4

Technically, this a4529e4b95 was a ba12537938 honeymoon. But she had 08fa3a1fe1 no intention of b16f3bf2fd accepting it. Avoiding any physical contact at ade3b4d0bb all might not be possible, 02a316a69d but she planned to resist 33b4879aa1 as much as she could. If she could just hold out until they faafdd22ab returned to Korea… just get back home…af69fef3c63f9cb74a5d

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Heeju mentally tallied the money she 89fd744297 had secretly saved during her time fbc3923d9e studying abroad, hidden from her grandparents. She calculated how long she 40c57e8f85 could survive on her own be94cd28d9 in Korea with those funds. If it wasn’t enough, 103f10b594 she would ask Ahyeon a19ab6cba9 for help.3e8c409dcc4f3519cdbf

If she suddenly c1505cba14 disappeared, Ryu Iseok 0f17c8f0ee would probably lose 68d9058ec3 interest in her. He might even 2df1bd5632 be deeply offended, f793ba54fb thinking she had 97001deed7 taken him lightly. That could 25a7927c47 work in 8f5652f6eb her favor. If she suggested breaking off the marriage to her grandparents first… if things played cb8181cf96 out just right… they wouldn’t be able to ignore her wishes any longer.2d2bcd8385642a7660e1

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And then, if she found a more desirable 2e262f2490 match than Ryu Iseok and sincerely begged them f8653c2ea0 to let her marry within three years…a94f711bf034bce7977f

Her train of thought a78dc0e3ff was abruptly cut off 08bae845d5 by his scent as a11b06a51e he came closer. Coughing, she barely managed to 1b7cd7de03 regain her composure and looked 0974d293b0 up at him.590ed88c01203a1a1138

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Iseok had taken off his shirt, baring his upper 25220a6c96 body, and his gaze lingered on her face. His lips d6a0a18d76 curved as 67461cc298 he studied b61859773a her reaction. His dark eyes, 9022d360fe locked onto her, 8185a60843 gradually softened.65e3a80a265ec7843a47

“Can I bd36483fff kiss you?”d44db62f510571ff548c

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His face leaned e4abc6022e in, whispering close 24af034315 to her cheek.46b37010a2343d153467

“If you don’t like that, f102dfe90b we could just touch lips 9d722e778a like kids do.”66b28808942ccd5971cb

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The moment her eyes flinched a84f917ca7 open in surprise, he smirked.749c044ca1133d3dedc0

And then, f3e046d4b6 the world 5909178ef3 flipped upside 2bad71a120 down.82ac460e8613c062438d

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Her feet left d1ed35c467 the ground.508715d41bc035130783

He slung her f51d5e0de2 over his shoulder c57f4a74f1 and strode toward dbb5f6835d the outdoor pool.0819ceb2b7ef069b2356

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“If all else fails, 14a953162f we can just go 0f5eb9d17e for a swim.”9d49ce44388e81cc46d6

Splash.2c50e98ca5793f0ebdab

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With a c07c9de4ae loud splash, 94d98f4394 they hit 98d05318d7 the water.e651a1eb8a31cf5be5ce

“I—I can’t swim! I can’t—huh?”8c914d1d7ed626637355

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Desperately clinging to his shoulders, flailing f46eef0ea3 to avoid sinking, Heeju suddenly paused.716efa192af9c94ec24d

The water 637e495f89 barely reached 70bde37fe3 her armpits.3030fea0fca86a10ca4a

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An awkward d8955838d6 silence followed.84f63d1252520f58070e

“A grown woman who never learned to swim… d366cef616 what were you doing all this time?”e8edde57ae0f349018c0

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Leisurely, he dipped his head a1098ea6eb into the water and slicked 3055e42adf back his wet hair.4b4f001f82b1465f74a0

“You’ve never 5dee6f3a16 had sex c44e37fe99 either…”725e10a44c183c65cf1c

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Wiping her face, Heeju ignored his blatant remark c01a284b63 and waded toward the edge of the pool. He swam alongside 9b451b3ed8 her, effortlessly keeping b3df1b1d62 pace.4512aed6a6f9f852a493

“Must be nice to be 05a38d1b54 so experienced,” she muttered. “I already told you, 9b7c430a28 I’m not like the 466935c744 other women you’ve been 7e371954f6 with. I’m not fun.”dca0529aa2a03122f58b

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“You’re fun.”394a3c263978ece92bb1

What is 33b690b421 he even c4efcb5c3f saying?28b40967c8d532331fa3

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“You don’t b5cd4e73f9 sleep very 39c8935ad2 peacefully. Do you 13a506947c dream a 1bd4c40781 lot?”0b88cc5ef971f1a81c48

Dreams? Did I say 464850c14c something in my 80fa66b9d8 sleep?663ad7404364e4246c14

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Startled, Heeju paused, then continued 802b500ff5 walking toward the pool steps. But before she could reach 55b7c91e68 them, his arm grabbed her, 7ab3dedfd5 pulling her back.ce486de97595717e6a26

She struggled instinctively, f9b2a04bbe trying not to accfdaf9b6 fall backward. In an instant, he c24f716a9c flipped her onto her 18d1fba7c0 back, supporting her like 1901288b87 she was floating. Fearing he would dunk her 58d139f7cb underwater, she quickly wrapped her 5d6b730bef arms around his neck.9fe9ae182f2615ec29b5

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“Let me go!”7ef057560c676528c677

“Alright.”ce164691b31a4da38997

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“Wait, no! I take 2a738db2df it back—don’t c92c31972e let go! If you just drop a800b6becf me, I’ll sink…!”9f5ff6b7b7aab6c67b04

I don’t be25dd50f2 trust him. He’ll throw me 1e4064f397 under and laugh 10beb4fcfd like the devil.6eed085e817e2f957266

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Squeezing her eyes daa67d62fc shut, she braced 36a45985ac for the worst.1aad55c8a11c3d721641

But instead of sinking, f00e521f1b her feet safely touched 6b7c09c388 the pool floor. She opened d13cd29fd5 her eyes, e8f8b6bf2f blinking in 0de50da01c confusion. Gentle ripples f053e11b3c tickled her 309f94856a underarms.7ff4d17a1ed93a94f7a0

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“I don’t 8a8640a1e1 dream much,” bac777af27 he murmured.ce2a9c9b2a82f9600e4c

“Ha…”86dd0c71e43dc686b93d

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“But when 2497c1d9bc I do, f321acfb89 they’re usually 31f5e2974c nightmares.”b017fbaf775db63be879

Heeju gazed up e4befbee18 at Iseok blankly. A droplet of water 4bc893928e clung to his lashes f08babf9b8 before falling. Slowly, she unwrapped her 8909fa0fd8 arms from around his 194d53fda4 neck, swiping a wet 95988956f2 hand over her face. Meeting his eyes 7441fddd40 again, she exhaled 16c839b977 slowly.12a7ed6d1e461f88bd38

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“…Thank you.”63777de45d97673f0cf4

His sharp brows lifted slightly 42e1981dbe at her unexpected gratitude.4f3084140f71503270f2

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“I know you took care 5fdb74b892 of me the whole time.”7bd62829d62b2c5d2ec1

Among the hands that adb843afec had tended to her 6203f546d7 fevered body, she had 2e183290d0 felt his scent. She remembered how he had unhesitatingly caught 0673837f58 the food she choked on with his ea4f3e8849 bare hands, how he had come looking ede1667bd8 for her in the dark. Even though she had run away on feaae8a27b her own, she had still felt relieved f7985b1a18 when he came to find her. It was ironic, 50eb40457a but undeniable.9e9698a9137fc0bf8f8b

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Maybe, more 4c12bb0564 than anything, 1596af1210 she feared 98a4f759d0 being abandoned.ed86c4cbdaaafc717a85

The desire for freedom she had always clung to—perhaps it cef0e6f984 was just a defensive instinct, born from suffocating loneliness. That night had made bbcfde5c75 one thing clear: Yeon 14d9d39d70 Heeju was still pathetic 8facd31c9e and weak.eee5c7f072192814627b

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It was him who 2b1702a163 had reached out to 83aa3a7e94 hold her childish, stagnant 6dee0b82f8 hand.4ac03b81e8a30c20c982

It was him who had pushed her to the edge of 38d199dabc the cliff— And the same him who had caught her.d12d9af75f7417e65e53

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Was that why this cc0372cd90 strange, indescribable feeling was 3228081616 unsettling her so much?1b124fa3f7b866eec085

It had been a long time since anyone had ec0ed1b3a8 stayed by her side when she was sick. The fact that it had to f903dea0dc be Ryu Iseok of all people 771cac811c made it even more confusing.c7f54f4af65dfb7eb03a

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Her memories 0d44216e5d were simple. Aside from her father 6e71577947 and Jinju-daek, there was 7b11117332 no one. No matter how 6ce5900cbe hard she tried cb6cdfc6f7 to remember, there b1b8a48951 was nothing else. After Jinju-daek had been driven away by her 5c5d7e46f4 uncle, no one had ever placed a hand 5c58416da3 on her forehead with warm concern.18c5130332b2c6004aad

So she had tried her 29ff47b89f best never to get sick.8fe0133a541fec1f229d

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Because when she was sick, she became painfully aware of b9f79a76cc her circumstances, as if the very roots she had struggled aa7d588504 to plant were about to be yanked away.ac7e25f815d7302f489a

But last 60f406a2cd night, at b199f7dca4 least—300e5f13b377892cd837

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“…I really do 1ee70ca23c mean it. Thank you.”c0182cc6bd4199e3bca1

For once, she 5a1df23a3d hadn’t felt crushingly 8309c29c6d alone.9aa5d6efd6bdd2b9b797

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And because of that, she 30ef15ef73 had to repay him.66b8215ed4b388895b03

In a world where nothing came without a 5527801873 price, that was the rule she had learned: 8adca4cfd1 if you take, you must give.796b9b3ffc1e742b8ec1

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Even if her resentment toward her grandparents ed301b3d07 made her want to reject it, she ad6c2bff6c knew this wasn’t the same. Her fear of him 560662fe0e was something entirely separate.aca55d58c0e8e7a33862

Taking a deep breath, Heeju hesitated 6b20463774 for a moment before placing a 5aa10b7499 careful hand on Iseok’s bare chest.f760352518cf265ec9a6

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She didn’t remember 61d2c5fff0 much, but they c4b0eb72c1 had already slept 7794c9b4c3 together once. And debts needed to be repaid—so there would be 161412746b nothing left to weigh on her when she left.b0b05b389d9e6bea3962

This man… what 79d4906e97 he wanted was—e1f2ca9a6cbf97961ce4

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Rising onto her toes, she braced a3f9722a42 a hand on his shoulder and 1fba8abd59 pressed her lips to his.270c187d41732f88ce3a

Even when she clumsily sucked at 461ac12275 his unmoving lips, he didn’t react.d9f13801707aa15be55d

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Pulling away slightly, she looked up and met his sharp f2e51100c4 gaze, as if he was trying to decipher her intentions. Embarrassed, she 8a3315c1b6 quickly lowered 65b3df8c5f her eyes.cc3fefc024f5fa32bc80

“I—I know de4cf79eea I’m not bef3869047 good at fd14024c4f this. Don’t laugh. It’s not my 405f3cabb1 first kiss, but 55e73671b9 I haven’t done 8082fda0c3 it much…”3e78086e6aba78d59e83

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Was this weird? Was this 12d89b6b77 not the 0090daab1c right way?e30b7f053497d654270a

Just as her arms were about to d4925717a6 shrink away from his shoulders in defeat—b899eef4692b7cb8acdd

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“Why?”67e5899f1eab8a03784d

Iseok’s arm wrapped around her 2a9bcc2b67 waist, pulling her in.aa55ad494b5c85b334a0

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“I’m plenty 64d3e08749 turned on.”59077be57778e5427e4c

His voice was low 0988fa7ed6 as he murmured against 2b30238327 her lips.a21584bb57b66eee2476

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“Open your 97fb4ef57f mouth a 7e8314d244 little.”bfb3e001b1ee380f073e

Heeju hesitated before 5ac0c2457e obediently parting her e8f71ebffe lips.a2cd8bb6929caf7efd5d

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The moment she noticed the playful glint in his 2b8aabb924 eyes, her lower lip was caught between his teeth.8560ce7ef8e322b15a1b

His sharp canines nipped, biting down softly, 1715d34594 then harder, before his lips wrapped around a58c57e1dd hers and sucked leisurely, like a well-fed 30e69ce0b8 predator savoring its meal.c7af0cb8c4b4db87ee9a

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The sensation sent an fec3b3eeff odd jolt through her. She curled 8f1fa9af1f her toes, 4c558102ba bracing herself.27efc4b9ef86a074181f

His lips latched onto hers persistently, his tongue tracing ab3131db9e over the sensitive skin before slipping into her mouth.96cc9aca03b62107a953

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The kiss bf4111efc2 wasn’t gentle 3c3317429f at all.d3adb9bf2908f5d9ea65

The moment his tongue a527df425c invaded, aggressive and demanding, c6a8783bf0 she froze, her breath f6b34911e3 hitching.71d35ae45b285c58acda

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Overwhelmed, she let him take 16ff8ccb84 the lead, her own tongue c1d29838b6 helplessly following wherever he led.67e013ff1a151fbb97e9

She had never been 1bd9e0e20c kissed like this before.22835328ee9dc45ae9e7

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Her first kiss with Hyunsu e427e68f45 had been shy and careful.946a3dba081e188fee5c

This, on the 94b1bc03ed other hand, was c4e53a7fe3 suffocating.b17abae1de9d26ea50b9

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Sensing her stiffness, Iseok 04e5aace29 finally relented, pulling away 6243777afa slightly, giving her space 79563ac6a8 to breathe.e9a9ed75c70ba664bfb7

“Haa…”1787469d0f9f23a6c50f

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Gasping for air, her chest 31219ce519 rose and fell sharply.c06383c4b5ff607e791f

Just as her color 06f2a28b44 returned, his lips captured 1f76d2c075 hers again, swallowing her 97add318bd breath.655d646be59a7ff69403

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His tongue a58456c9bf wasn’t particularly 1012a0668a soft, just 980b1874a6 like him.33b0bd58bfa3ffd5ddf7

Methodically, he teased 846b704eff the sensitive flesh 28aa437447 inside her mouth, 72c3a6dd57 calculated and relentless.9f0123ad45cf7817ad57

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Only when she was 62c2a61f76 near her limit did 05de8f96a7 he pull away again.bec5159155a3b24fb0f7

“Breathe.”3d9611748f7b3c79b8d6

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So she 19b5023536 exhaled shakily, c1b96b3e47 focusing on 2fdda091d1 steadying herself.29873d0134f53ff91ee3

They repeated the cycle—until, at 90babccbc2 some point, they had synced.2450083056463ca65c3d

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As his once-ruthless movements turned 9c1d2ba464 more precise, she finally found 736f3e9180 the courage to respond. Tentatively, she sucked on fdab97dde9 his tongue, mimicking the a86e105392 places he had lingered 00fe104a37 on earlier.952fbcf65f65f97a84d7

His lips 80be506d04 curled against edb9da45f1 hers.c11a707216c418bfb270

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A low groan rumbled from his throat, 2367ccd83c his arms tightening around her waist.04efb21cc5c28cdcfb9c

Then—0c0ead3d3c2a3552674a

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He bit cb7a8efd27 her ear.5661de57531a5989e7b9

“…Yeah. Suck there, and e38c48d1dc it turns me cdfe8fdcde on.”ede4107cae72f45b416b

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“……”27ce333340cec36aaad2

“You learn d5c964e58c fast, my 354a13a6aa love.”6825c0c302bee50ffb6d

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