“I’m going with you.”
Jungkook turned around and stared at Bora. “You most certainly are not.” His tone brooked no argument. It surprised her. He had only ever been gentle with her. But she could hear an edge to his voice now. And his face, when she locked eyes with him, was stern.
“Bora, I will not endanger you. I already sent word to my father that you are not to be touched. But I haven’t heard his response yet. And I have no idea what I’m walking into.”
“Don’t do it,” she begged him with sudden passion. She rushed across the room towards him. “Please. Please, Jungkook. You don’t have to do this!” She stopped right in front of him and gazed up at him out of her wide, dark eyes.
He smiled sadly down at her. “How am I ever to have you if I don’t?”
“Can’t we run away together?” she asked. “Go into hiding? You’d be willing to, wouldn’t you?”
He nodded. But then his face fell. “I haven’t enough money to do so effectively. They would find us. My only chance is to work for your father.”
She shook her head. “He’s ruthless. He wants you dead. You’re walking into a trap. With no defense.”
“I have to go.” His voice was insistent. Steady.
“No. You don’t. Give me up.” She couldn’t bear the thought that he might die for her.
His face softened in tenderness, and he suddenly grabbed her by the arms and hauled her up against him. His mouth descended and found her own in a hot kiss that burned her all the way to her core. Those strong arms came around her and drew her even closer to his heart. She melted in his arms.
She reached up and tangled her fingers in his dark locks. She was sighing. She was dying. At the thought that she might never see him again. So she leaned into that kiss and gave him everything she had. She completely opened up her heart to him. He could feel it. Flowing through her lips.
He devoured her mouth for a moment. But then his kiss turned tender. His lips played along hers with gentleness and something else. Something indefinable that made her want to cling to him forever. Never to let him go.
“Stay with me tonight,” she begged him, murmuring against his mouth.
Could she entice him to forsake her father’s meeting to join her in her bed?
“No,” he whispered across her lips. He drew away from her to stare down into her lovely eyes. “I told you that you are worth the wait. I will not join you in your bed until I’ve put my rings on your finger.”
A sob broke loose from her lips. “But you will never get the chance! He won’t let you marry me.”
“Who said I was going to ask his permission?”
“What?”
“Will you marry me today?”
Her heart stopped. “Jungkook.”
She began to cry. If she married him, her father would kill him for sure. She would be signing his death certificate. She shook her head.
“I cannot.”
He furrowed his brow. “You would be with me, but you won’t marry me?”
She nodded. “He wouldn’t know if I slept with you, but if I married you, he would kill you. No questions asked.”
“But what if I gave you a baby?”
She sighed. She knew that was a possibility. Her blood ran cold as she considered what her father might do. She nodded her head.
“This is why I broke up with you. You can’t have me, Kookie. Not if you want to live.”
Kookie.
She had called him that a few times. The corners of his mouth lifted in a rueful smile. He wanted to hear his pet name on her lips many more times. He longed to marry her. And to give her that baby.
Her last words echoed back to him.
“I don’t want to live. Not without you.” He sighed.
Then he drew her near again. He brushed his lips across hers. “I will find a way,” he promised her. He whispered into her ear, “I will find a way to free you from your father.”
Her gaze dueled with his. “And if you don’t?”
“I will.” Once again, his tone allowed for no argument.
It chilled her. Underneath all of his softness, there was a vein of steel. Gwan steel. She took a little comfort in it. Perhaps Kookie would find a way to set her free. And himself too. Maybe, just maybe, she could have him.
“Say it again,” he whispered against her lips a moment later.
She drew back. Perplexed, she frowned. “What?”
His lips curved in a sweet smile. “Call my name one more time. The one you gave me.”
Now she was the one smiling. She couldn’t say that adorable name without her lips curving upward.
“I love you,” she whispered. “Kookie.”
