TTD Chapter 12

Splash, splash. The sound of waves crashing 88212b0566 against the shore echoed nearby. The midday sun b14daf9602 blazed down, now 8ccbaab21c that the rain 94f553de47 had stopped.ac71ca69d377b3f8fc50

Heeju weakly pushed herself c3cfdc7ba0 up from the bed.2d51bda3ece137711d0f

“How many days c8a1d921e5 have passed…?”e849c803e7a1e1431283

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Two? Three?089839aa3f78993888ec

“I don’t know. I’m just hungry.”1316eaa66d13e6aaabf7

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Clutching her aching 4c326ec3c1 stomach, she glanced eec27f4c9f around the room. She needed 50bdb449bd to eat ed5e07dcb0 something—anything. When she was feverish, even a b3d3653eea sip of water had felt impossible. But now, with her strength slowly returning, she felt desperate 3cea579475 enough to drink seawater if it came to that.79914f5b4292b2090c5a

And yet, as if someone had anticipated this moment, a whole eebefa6478 basket of tropical fruits sat neatly on a nearby shelf.a463b77e483064fe277a

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It must 56597888cc be meant ce35acd63f for me.316c49d5f6636a42ef81

Without thinking too much, she grabbed a 420d02b888 peach and bit into it hungrily. She stuffed her cheeks full, db0389ddf0 chewing with urgency, when her bdf7dacaf1 eyes landed on a covered ee8afe3cb1 bowl of soup. Scooping a spoonful into dace742ea2 her mouth, she found ad42d3a206 it to be pleasantly 6084e9a51b lukewarm—perfect for eating. She tore off a piece f0b6835257 of bread beside it, dipping b235d834a8 it into the soup as 69bacb577b she surveyed the room.42d6c4ac8c579b6b42ef

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Empty.cb520d26ada6abe4082f

She could vaguely recall people coming and going a414275c8f while she was drifting in and out of fdd8401c11 consciousness, but now, no one was here.b276bbd8375e836815cd

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Her eyes darted quickly around 672a7a7868 the space as she peeled e8622b153f a ripe, yellow banana and 200aa6adc5 popped it into her mouth—54d50eea89d887568c88

“Hck—Kuh!”a79695d2a4a4e39720aa

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She had been keeping a wary eye on cf4ec62c6e what she assumed was the room’s entrance. So why—why was cfe573842d that man appearing 0d123b626a from the opposite 24e3a1bc9c side?!c6ff80442f1836b2bfcd

The food crammed inside her mouth turned 7d51ae749e to solid lumps, blocking her throat and 1231c6f02a triggering a violent gag reflex. She needed to spit it out to breathe, 9a71331a7b but she hadn’t even found the bathroom yet.3ef6788218c953d908bb

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This room 705f46c25d felt unfamiliar—foreign. She had spent all her time 1ee2536bee feverishly lying in bed, with no b7dc6487da chance to take in her surroundings.5fd0c5f143136df189f1

Covering her mouth with e705066919 her palm, her face 623eb90662 flushed red as she a2a963e2b7 coughed and sputtered.a965f380bffd2b717793

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Suddenly, a hand 6527c1f218 appeared and firmly f4ebb2ae74 patted her back.dd52182d3462ba74e98f

“W-Wait—cough, cough!”dc948bbf40afb24bf7fb

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Through teary eyes, she tried e718c3c3bb to plead with him to f3b411c882 stop and just show her 1488c5c622 where the bathroom was. But instead, a 63ce3c19e2 broad palm pressed 4cac141239 against the underside 6a48e59822 of her chin.cba4a374d426178ba295

—And then, 7f140611f6 everything came fa4ece73f6 up.2f9fec76b27d9d8bb0c4

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“Ugh!”087a884e6e4fd7982161

Thanks to his exceptionally effective back-patting, the chunks of fruit and dough aa07617684 lodged in her throat came flying out—right into Iseok’s open hand.5ae68ade257e37ac8b6a

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Even after catching the 8c8596882b mess with his bare 57e4df93a2 hand, he didn’t flinch. Instead, he casually continued fc87dbde9a patting her back as b792f617a9 she coughed out the 86fcb4f9b4 last remnants.60148217e012078b3579

It was only when she finally stopped f452fcb47c gagging, merely gasping for air and clearing 94f6a391a8 her throat, that he wordlessly walked off—presumably 520ab922f2 to wash his soiled hand.75d860defc9cd4f354bd

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Heeju sat there, still catching 868b1d9643 her breath, and slowly processed 9877d609a3 what had just happened.dccb6f792dde25888484

“Disgusting. What the hell f14cc31c5c was that…?”6312e0785657a25fe625

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When he returned, she c8386c8189 shrank back slightly, watching 45deb4750b him warily.a0d5c16baa5062098934

I’m not 4cbd42291d that grateful, ba0266ce9a okay? I never asked b016052ed2 you to do 928d0f00f8 that.11697a8b2964d1792f58

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“Don’t touch me. I have no 62dcb2c1d9 intention of getting b5be1b7772 involved with you.”0013a6c40d17d403094a

“Ahhh.”450a348de58574ed4e71

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Iseok simply nodded, then, without warning, pulled 7d1e23cd47 his shirt up over his head.57ca6aae9bcb1b800a1a

“Cough!”0a705ff2aa678849bb35

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Still keeping her guard up, she quickly ba688edddd grabbed a tissue from the box he 2c5f143907 had brought and covered her mouth.8d4567bdd1b820668a55

Technically, this fefb80cab2 was a 0d951ad370 honeymoon. But she 6ff0be6cc7 had no ea052a93f5 intention of ee6a709400 accepting it. Avoiding any physical contact at b97179ea0e all might not be possible, e398f1500a but she planned to resist cf37769fb1 as much as she could. If she could just hold 257e17e970 out until they returned to 80b725e2cc Korea… just get back home…29a592345e3ec6f5a0fc

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Heeju mentally tallied the money she c55667f114 had secretly saved during her time 8f25373669 studying abroad, hidden from her grandparents. She calculated how long she could survive on 49bbcea884 her own in Korea with those funds. If it wasn’t 627c526075 enough, she would 82e7a01fb4 ask Ahyeon for 20fc0776a7 help.b4cd8b8984562ba04947

If she suddenly 8a7d733232 disappeared, Ryu Iseok 43bd0af4ca would probably lose 7d1f179f7b interest in her. He might even 872dad9666 be deeply offended, 528f2e73b6 thinking she had fdf83a2424 taken him lightly. That could c3965096b9 work in c017dbc7dd her favor. If she suggested breaking off the marriage to her 8701874557 grandparents first… if things played out just right… they 0a9a2b4bfa wouldn’t be able to ignore her wishes any longer.eb04e791dc7d6f5679f1

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And then, if she found a more desirable match than Ryu Iseok b942f0e1e2 and sincerely begged them to let her marry within three years…1569d01d9da67325e674

Her train of thought 0f855b0fcf was abruptly cut off 8852411b51 by his scent as bf00243a64 he came closer. Coughing, she barely managed to 7451b0f29f regain her composure and looked d176a64ef2 up at him.e7c321cebdc65e6e08a6

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Iseok had taken off his shirt, baring his upper 60049a55d0 body, and his gaze lingered on her face. His lips 8a80390e54 curved as 0b97a66e9d he studied fea1661f32 her reaction. His dark eyes, ac0dadd75a locked onto her, 6ce97e2e0b gradually softened.1587d84874cb8659b1f9

“Can I fd89b6e23f kiss you?”3e5c6461e87779295472

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His face leaned 2e802421f2 in, whispering close efdd927324 to her cheek.d048a481fa6d58383a7b

“If you don’t like that, we could 589a966a83 just touch lips like kids do.”dc422338f1a1591e89bc

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The moment her eyes flinched f579564828 open in surprise, he smirked.3a96dc346f856f77a7c3

And then, the 6c1c6688d4 world flipped upside ddd0c89a46 down.70d050eba6abdb604bf8

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Her feet left b069875831 the ground.27db4990d55ed74cd64b

He slung her over fc001eacf1 his shoulder and strode ecc30f869a toward the outdoor pool.72318af22fa9dc2a4300

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“If all else 308bec5d5f fails, we can a427dd8066 just go for 3b2ed22309 a swim.”b4d7e6d308bba967918b

Splash.e7cf002a88a695992274

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With a loud splash, 0296fabe65 they hit the water.d32aa15f51b3ed667c5f

“I—I can’t swim! I can’t—huh?”20b61fe3143a564a997d

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Desperately clinging to his shoulders, flailing 9b4ece76cd to avoid sinking, Heeju suddenly paused.6590f1bab0fdf0932991

The water e61232a8e2 barely reached a778e7ef3a her armpits.8c0f83682ef27ac08819

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An awkward 38670de807 silence followed.adf8386f26a43c58c690

“A grown woman who never 829efdddee learned to swim… what were f1a46ab2cf you doing all this time?”770712021199ddaf3ac2

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Leisurely, he dipped his head into the 68ed5cf2b2 water and slicked back his wet hair.a65fcb2ffb3222817825

“You’ve never 2c05f9518b had sex 700be4e150 either…”a95ee3dc67dc9b798975

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Wiping her face, Heeju ignored his 838c5b5edc blatant remark and waded toward the da840367c6 edge of the pool. He swam alongside 432e68c17a her, effortlessly keeping 026336a53e pace.90677e0ddd743a552cf0

“Must be nice 78cfc46f5f to be so 6a021a19ec experienced,” she muttered. “I already told you, I’m a74b8d06d0 not like the other women bf006c3ccc you’ve been with. I’m not fun.”e87fc559942df1fc4989

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“You’re fun.”aa35f3572483dc0d4212

What is 5596976f92 he even c3a1f11df9 saying?39f6c0cfae96fedc9570

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“You don’t sleep 130ab7c7f8 very peacefully. Do you f4a7757858 dream a 22e4015cc6 lot?”817c23369964fbd29e6e

Dreams? Did I say 8f86da1875 something in my 7638306e1a sleep?8e0aa3f1b38d5c687cdd

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Startled, Heeju paused, then 0be185d21c continued walking toward the 515b646fbc pool steps. But before she could reach b9d04486ec them, his arm grabbed her, ddde9bd482 pulling her back.61a700f920bff218e3fd

She struggled 84266c3d9e instinctively, trying 50249f54cd not to 377dafbacb fall backward. In an instant, he flipped ab11a873af her onto her back, supporting 76851f6ec9 her like she was floating. Fearing he would dunk 5150c6be12 her underwater, she quickly 9621977adb wrapped her arms around f72b397d5b his neck.b954a31b7f064c07811b

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“Let me go!”684022b6796bf6154694

“Alright.”4ac523e5776ea15a70f9

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“Wait, no! I take 03bd1d02a8 it back—don’t 1b334f3708 let go! If you just drop 4dfacfece7 me, I’ll sink…!”1c88d8b044ae83bb6beb

I don’t e5684738b7 trust him. He’ll throw me 479ba8f389 under and laugh dfcf071775 like the devil.339a689211224539931a

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Squeezing her eyes shut, she 333be90ae1 braced for the worst.d2c5862e18a3239db509

But instead of 19d63e5bf2 sinking, her feet cd2e6e16f5 safely touched the c665b71ef4 pool floor. She opened 74f360c6a7 her eyes, 216a94c6e7 blinking in c38511db4e confusion. Gentle ripples tickled 7e7a5b00f7 her underarms.e84bcb0e4a55f6d2eae8

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“I don’t 383c3ec7e8 dream much,” 949d3e07f7 he murmured.6aaa2378482fb244023f

“Ha…”a0de12c8454fd15d115a

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“But when I e4373d0ee1 do, they’re usually 4d0ba8a098 nightmares.”bb2b771c8df1638104dc

Heeju gazed ef9ee44150 up at 67f54525da Iseok blankly. A droplet of 970a2025f7 water clung to 26b24cf9bf his lashes before 560d8b6292 falling. Slowly, she unwrapped her arms from around his 3aa41a74db neck, swiping a wet hand over her face. Meeting his eyes again, bdf93456d5 she exhaled slowly.95cd13c04739e50504ca

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“…Thank you.”5b452462264d54904201

His sharp brows c3b3fb2982 lifted slightly at 7ce3114533 her unexpected gratitude.1eb1a798cd5378323dc1

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“I know you 928d31e75a took care of 3b9c3b6648 me the whole cc0c4c1ede time.”536c751f9e8dbe2ef2df

Among the hands that 801e0e9785 had tended to her ba9414d45c fevered body, she had 9403dafcfa felt his scent. She remembered how he had unhesitatingly caught the food she choked on with 37339fd413 his bare hands, how he had come looking for her in the dark. Even though she had run away on 6f24f04e54 her own, she had still felt relieved f81a7e66d1 when he came to find her. It was ed5e4227b9 ironic, but a95dd5670b undeniable.aa08bf9592d7595d7df5

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Maybe, more than 0a9a81641f anything, she feared ff9174dda4 being abandoned.41bf94acd40ae2ba01e7

The desire for freedom she had always clung to—perhaps it 1dcd328892 was just a defensive instinct, born from suffocating loneliness. That night had made one thing clear: 6d369589cb Yeon Heeju was still pathetic and weak.5bcd1e280933db8b56e2

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It was him who had d789c6e413 reached out to hold her cbf868d749 childish, stagnant hand.426d0e538190bb1b1f12

It was him who had pushed her to the edge of 446c511ae3 the cliff— And the same him who had caught her.04f4e11c4ab95176a7fd

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Was that why this strange, indescribable 17190b48c7 feeling was unsettling her so much?ccacac39d9f90129ab0f

It had been a long time since anyone had 9922db39c9 stayed by her side when she was sick. The fact that it had to be Ryu Iseok 8c6bafdd00 of all people made it even more confusing.ec60f89377bf6e5b6fe1

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Her memories d2b77ab001 were simple. Aside from her father and 4e4d54fd07 Jinju-daek, there was no one. No matter how hard she tried f0d5b6ec6a to remember, there was nothing else. After Jinju-daek had been driven away by her uncle, no one 287e71d3a4 had ever placed a hand on her forehead with warm concern.a3e9986d97e825f4d7ae

So she had 799b6ad5b5 tried her best 7ddcbfd451 never to get 4dbc2b3799 sick.c6e4dd3fc31ad90c1972

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Because when she was sick, she became afcd90b8f5 painfully aware of her circumstances, as if 48aef35532 the very roots she had struggled to dca0c9d64d plant were about to be yanked away.a6d94b99e22ebd078814

But last 84fb928813 night, at 49f9d6f87e least—5ac175b03bf992b313ff

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“…I really do da81176fc1 mean it. Thank you.”716cd357f4ec9cc6ec2a

For once, she hadn’t d45674594b felt crushingly alone.f1caa36f652028fa232a

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And because of that, she b8bb1b0e4a had to repay him.e4c31f5aebbe4af6b6d5

In a world where nothing came without a price, that was 7cfb666ac4 the rule she had learned: if you take, you must give.f7255fa465f4798416be

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Even if her resentment toward her grandparents made her want ac072a006e to reject it, she knew this wasn’t the same. Her fear of d16e4aec2a him was something ff57e55764 entirely separate.f3c50822db0a7b2b23e4

Taking a deep breath, Heeju hesitated for a moment ada3c61938 before placing a careful hand on Iseok’s bare chest.513786c3f4091c6a7169

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She didn’t remember 14df35b364 much, but they 1ccfe53434 had already slept afa201987a together once. And debts needed to be 6f144dcdee repaid—so there would be nothing 07ec86f87d left to weigh on her 54b2ff201b when she left.7118bc96e7ded4c3ec6e

This man… what 23bd4911e4 he wanted was—4896663d6feb293762b9

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Rising onto her toes, she braced a hand on 30e07322d6 his shoulder and pressed her lips to his.9542aeb7adaf8bb63b73

Even when she clumsily a81b3391d9 sucked at his unmoving 48c0e01f76 lips, he didn’t react.a430304351c3601a8a91

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Pulling away slightly, she looked up and met his sharp 768c3bfee1 gaze, as if he was trying to decipher her intentions. Embarrassed, she quickly 6f15fc9231 lowered her eyes.7afa9c53c96fa2a6d05c

“I—I know I’m e1e98ca5bc not good at b9447e9d4f this. Don’t laugh. It’s not my first 0977401407 kiss, but I haven’t e9f36f5bd9 done it much…”172c2054a17577d19a4d

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Was this weird? Was this ac007782ad not the e269edcbeb right way?5185f5ae607096df69de

Just as her arms were 2f87325bcf about to shrink away from 6064746adf his shoulders in defeat—398c2cb952994ebbf847

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“Why?”0484d904b745c80cf163

Iseok’s arm wrapped 52b8d5ce81 around her waist, f6336c0624 pulling her in.7eb658d04b367f49dcef

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“I’m plenty 8cea10d974 turned on.”5f6723ce8fa10b1cdf20

His voice was low d550faa99c as he murmured against 4ffcc2b1c9 her lips.6be89ec8dd5af851a47b

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“Open your 3914aa9f4f mouth a 83cc703522 little.”e96caba214d1d7cf8cd4

Heeju hesitated before 72c2986229 obediently parting her 2062afed30 lips.9113bab6818db3c687ae

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The moment she noticed the playful 24675197e4 glint in his eyes, her lower 7908d1b3dc lip was caught between his teeth.aa3fa665ffe56d3b1920

His sharp canines nipped, biting down softly, then harder, before his lips wrapped 1ffb7d9cd6 around hers and sucked leisurely, like a well-fed predator savoring its meal.f8a3a4611af4c5c053b9

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The sensation sent an 94cd994d72 odd jolt through her. She curled her e8d1b495f4 toes, bracing herself.98893735b8af045d13d3

His lips latched onto hers persistently, his tongue tracing 7a8b6a9104 over the sensitive skin before slipping into her mouth.9411ff50e4170bcdcfbd

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The kiss 266ff96f0a wasn’t gentle c8973493a5 at all.b02e8e68c6179ac86646

The moment his tongue invaded, 3b3774b607 aggressive and demanding, she froze, 4a85a39af5 her breath hitching.961c2c8ad007520f5867

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Overwhelmed, she let him 86d730a70e take the lead, her 280757a643 own tongue helplessly following deb5375519 wherever he led.b118c92f91a66b73eb5d

She had never f73b8a5d31 been kissed like 33b82a02cd this before.65260d861699564e6e5b

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Her first kiss with bef8f37885 Hyunsu had been shy 247da6b7e8 and careful.b2331cdb51315d07c526

This, on the other 750d1690df hand, was suffocating.9155bfcaaa3ab52dfec8

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Sensing her stiffness, Iseok b11d4baa67 finally relented, pulling away fe445282f4 slightly, giving her space 9002485639 to breathe.ef66b2d0c76f95a6cc47

“Haa…”ae57f4040775d3113b83

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Gasping for air, 950044445b her chest rose 95aee6e3a8 and fell sharply.2473fad3507b02e8dd5e

Just as her color returned, his lips 7dea62739f captured hers again, swallowing her breath.ade1d2cd44d5809b1094

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His tongue wasn’t b0e5bf9805 particularly soft, just b53f8ecaa7 like him.c37319cd8f92a40ed224

Methodically, he teased the sensitive flesh a1d6156b7d inside her mouth, calculated and relentless.540b8818f9fc4bcdb106

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Only when she was d482b5f59c near her limit did e7f3e3993e he pull away again.928c811565145cff16ee

“Breathe.”256f9a023fd3741906e3

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So she exhaled shakily, 37040b770b focusing on steadying herself.2cd03a189c2ca1d42be7

They repeated the 54983936cd cycle—until, at some 8c598b7583 point, they had cba71a583a synced.a0472cfb8b52f6d168b3

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As his once-ruthless movements turned 99d30daacf more precise, she finally found 41795eaa91 the courage to respond. Tentatively, she sucked on his tongue, mimicking e08926094d the places he had lingered on earlier.76de50f0f318452e60ec

His lips 840439f28f curled against 3660321ae9 hers.148dde9d95918ae2dee9

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A low groan rumbled from his throat, 262415db5e his arms tightening around her waist.03fa950fa76983bdc4c8

Then—b33882968334a30dccfb

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He bit fe3a8e2edc her ear.4d118483ef75e310aafb

“…Yeah. Suck there, and it 5143c52858 turns me on.”eaf2a77c1b4b2681d24c

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“……”4ec7fc4d40fb50b73bc7

“You learn 7d608fe173 fast, my 98549e1629 love.”75d2f1b3967c9c8fe99e

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