Moonflower – Chapter 42: Startled

She sighed and reached over him to pick up the cup of tea.  She was so thirsty.  The next thing she knew, she was flat on her back, her arms pinned above her head by two strong hands.  A man straddling her.  Again.

Jungkook was panting as he gazed down at her with glazed eyes.  He was clearly barely awake.  

Her heart had flown into her mouth, sliding along her sore throat to get there.  She stared up at him with wide eyes.  The expression on his face had terrified her into silence.  His countenance was stern and foreboding.  

A moment later, he blinked, and the look fled.  He gazed down at her.

“Jina?  I’m sorry,” he mumbled.  

He climbed off of her and lay down next to her.  He ran his fingers through his short hair.  He closed his eyes and concentrated on breathing.  His heart was still galloping.  

He had been caught in the middle of a dream.  It had been so real.  He had felt the man’s hand graze his head, so Jungkook had pinned him to the ground.  Sitting on top of him and holding his arms down.

Except that, apparently, it hadn’t been a man Jungkook had straddled and pinned to, not the ground, but his own bed.  He had terrified Jina.  Again.  He bent his head, his chin coming to rest on his chest.

“I am so sorry.  I am so sorry,” he muttered the words over and over.

Words no one had ever spoken to him.  Words his appa had never uttered.  Though he had had a lot of reasons to.

“I was dreaming.  I thought you touched me.  I mean, he touched me.  I was just defending myself.”

“I did touch you.  Accidentally.  I was reaching for the tea.  I brushed your head.”

His eyes met hers.  “I’m so sorry.  I must have terrified you.”

She took a deep breath to still her racing heart.  “You certainly surprised me.  I didn’t expect to be accosted in bed.”  She stared into his eyes.  “Though it seems perhaps I should expect it, huh?  Hazards of being with a soldier, I suppose.”

He furrowed his brow.  “You’re not upset?  You’re taking this extraordinarily well.”

She shrugged.  “I imagine you couldn’t help your response.”

His eyes locked with hers.  “I’m just glad I didn’t hurt you,” he spoke with emotion in his voice.

Her heart quaked a little.

“You did not.  I’m fine.”

He breathed out a long breath.  “Do you feel any better than last night?  Are you recovered?”

“My throat is still sore.”

“Oh!  You said you needed tea.”  He sat up and grabbed the cup and held it out to her.

She took it and began to drink it thirstily.  After about a minute, she had downed the entire cup.  She smiled at him and handed it back to him as she murmured her thanks.  His fingers brushed hers as he took the cup out of her hand to replace it on the table.

Their eyes connected as their fingers touched.

Had he felt what she’d felt?

Had she recognized the lightning that had just flown between them?

She cleared her throat and lay back down.  She still felt exhausted.  She closed her eyes.  She’d just begun to relax when she felt Jungkook settle in right behind her.

He wasn’t touching her, but she had the distinct impression that he wanted to.

 

This Post Has One Comment

  1. Lucia

    Yes, finally starting to talk a bit….. BTW, how often do I say that communication is important 😂

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