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The prince lay quietly in the bed as his eyes perused the face of his slumbering beloved.  His fingers itched to pick her up and deposit her next to him.  On his bed.  He didn’t like watching her try to sleep sitting up.  She was wearing herself out over him.  He frowned.

If only he didn’t have this blasted hole in his shoulder, he could make her comfortable.  His eyes tenderly slid along the contours of her countenance.  A most beloved face.

Jong Su couldn’t imagine his life without this girl now.  He fervently hoped that nothing ever pulled them apart.  Sook Myeong was such a stubborn, little creature.  He never knew in what mood he was going to disturb her.  One moment, she was prickly; the next, she was melting in his arms.

He grinned.  It was part of her charm.

He’d always enjoyed a good challenge.  And Sook Myeong was definitely that.

She grunted suddenly and began to slip sideways.

Alarmed, he called out fiercely, “Sook Myeongie!”

She stopped sliding. 

“Sook Myeongie!  Wake up!”

He moved his injured arm, reaching for her.  He winced.  His shoulder still ached.  And now he was disturbing its peace with this small movement.  Still, he carried on.  His hand came to land on her knee.  He shook it.

“Sook Myeongie, look at me!”

Her eyes popped open, and she sat straight up.  “Hrmm.  What?”  Her eyes cloudy, she glanced at him. 

He smiled at her.  “You fell asleep in your chair.”

“What?  No, I didn’t.  I’m wide awake.”  She yawned.  Then she glanced down at his hand on her knee.  And felt herself melting. 

Until she realized that he’d moved his injured side. 

Her eyes flew wide.  “Jong Su!  Why are you touching me with that hand!”  She reached out and tenderly picked it up and settled it back on the bed along his side. 

“You were about to fall out of your chair,” he murmured dryly.  Disappointed that he was no longer caressing her knee.  “I had to do something to prevent you from injuring yourself.  You weren’t responding to just my voice.”

She sniffed and sat up straight.  “Well, I’m awake now.”

“Come lie down with me.”

Her eyebrows shot straight up.

“Sook Myeongie,” his soft voice stroked her adoringly again.  “You are clearly exhausting yourself over me.  I am not happy about this.  Come.  Lie down.  Sleep.  You’ll be right here with me should I need you.”  His gentle voice continued to touch her sweetly.

“But…your sister,” she spoke nearly silently as her eyes traveled to the far corner of the room.  Then her eyebrows shot up again as she found it empty.  Her gaze slid around the room trying to find her quarry.

“Has gone to bed with her husband.”  His lips quirked upward in sudden humor.

Her eyes found his again.  Immediately.  “What?” she asked in sudden astonishment.  “My brother left me alone…in a bedroom…with you?” 

He watched in delight as her entire face flushed a beautiful crimson.

“Indeed,” he murmured appreciatively.  “It seems that he approves of our union.”

Sook Myeong cleared her throat nervously.  “We’re not married yet.”

“‘Tis a pity.  Because I can think of several wonderful things that I’d like to do in this bed with you,” he murmured provocatively.

And she was provoked.  Very.  “Jong Su!” she rebuked him.

“At least, this time you dropped the ‘Prince,’” he smiled.

Her cheeks continued to bloom as his eyes continued to caress her for several provoking seconds.  But then he sobered.  And inhaled sharply.  Before patting the bed next to him.

“Come.  I promise not to touch you.  Please.  Sleep by my side.  It pains me to see you so exhausted,” he murmured kindly.

She furrowed her brow.  But his words had compelled her.  She stood up and crossed to the other side of his bed before standing to gaze down at it for a few seconds.  Longingly.

“Sook Myeongie,” he whispered enticingly.  “Come.”  His hand slid across the covers before tugging them back to open the bed to her.

With a deep sigh, she met his loving gaze before she gave gracefully into him.  And climbed into that comforting bed.  Using his free hand, he pulled the blanket up over her, helping her to settle in next to him.  He smiled with contentment as his eyes slid her way. 

Then his hand slid down under those covers.  To seek out her own.  When his fingers finally brushed against hers, he sighed happily again as his hand embraced hers.

She gasped softly.  “Your highness!  You promised not to touch me.”

He smiled.  “Please, Sook Myeongie, won’t you, at least, allow this poor invalid to hold your hand?”

Her heart melted.  “Poor invalid?” she scoffed.  “Imperious prince, more like!”

He chuckled.  “Not half as imperious as my princess,” he murmured affectionately before closing his eyes again.

A wide smile spread across the blushing countenance of his princess.  Just a few moments before they both fell asleep.