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Chapter 7: A Beautiful Heart – July 1, 2019

Yunyeong leaned back until she was lying on the ground.  Staring up at him as he bent over her.

“This isn’t you,” Jungkook informed her.

“What?”

“This idea you have in your head.  This girl that is neither funny nor fun.  That isn’t you.  You are funny.  You are fun.  I saw it.  Hidden in your artwork.  You’re beautiful, Yunyeong.  And I don’t just mean this pretty façade you call your face,” he reached up and slid his fingers down her cheek, creating havoc along all her nerve lines.  

“I mean,” his hand dropped to clasp hers.  He lifted it until he could drop it across her heart.  Then he splayed his fingers out over hers.  “I mean, here.  You have a beautiful heart.  And I long to see more of it.”  

He bent his head close to hers and whispered in her ear.  “Will you let me see it?  Will you let me in, Yunyeong?”

She closed her eyes.  She wasn’t sure if she was trying to block him out or make it easier to concentrate on him.  The beautiful boy was devastating her heart.  His words matched his face.  Beauty for beauty.  

How was she supposed to resist such an onslaught?  She could reject a gorgeous face.  She could repel a man full of charming words.  She could even repulse a mind bent on abusing her.  But how was she supposed to stop a sweet boy with the voice of an angel, the words of a poet, and the face of a Greek god?  

And the heart of a true hero.  That was the hardest part to resist.  The lover that lurked in those deep, obsidian eyes.  The gentle soul bent on wooing her.  How on earth could she resist Jungkook any longer?

She opened her eyes and gazed into those captivating orbs of his.  It was the expression lurking in them, born of a twin fear – that she would reject him outright now and never give him another chance – a deep sorrow that tugged at her heart and decided her instantly.

“No one else knows that I make sketches.  Please don’t tell anyone.  Not even Yun.”

His eyes searched hers earnestly.  “I won’t,” he whispered.  “I promise.”

He was still bent over her, his hand continuing to press down on top of hers.  Over her heart.  That wildly beating organ.  Could he feel her racing pulse?  Had he any idea of the effect he was having upon her?  Her lungs might have recovered, but would her heart ever overcome the onslaught of his eyes, his voice, his beautiful face, and his lovely heart?  She trembled.

Jungkook noticed and furrowed his adorable brow.  “Are you cold?”  He sat up all the way and drew his hand away from hers.  “I have no coat to give you.  All I could offer you is my arms, but…”  He wasn’t looking at her.  He was staring at the ground.  “You probably wouldn’t take them.”

He sounded pitiful.  Suddenly, she laughed.  Surprised, he glanced up at her.

“And what is your reason, sir, for wanting to give me your arms?  Just to warm me?  Are you going to detach them first?” she quirked one chocolate eyebrow at him.

He glanced down at his frame as though considering it.  She giggled.  His eyes met hers again.  

“I fail to see how they would offer much warmth without my torso too.”

She sobered for just a moment.  He’d gotten too hot halfway through their run and had removed his shirt.  It was now tied around his waist.  His very trim, and eminently gorgeous, waist.  But it was the sight that met her eyes when they traveled north that had stolen her breath at first glance.  

He worked out.  A lot.  Quite clearly.  Her eyes had taken in the clean lines of his abdominal muscles.  And the artist in her had wanted to sketch them.  She had, in fact, snapped a mental picture so that tonight she could.  

She frowned.  She still couldn’t find the sketch she’d drawn of his face.  No matter how she had searched her sketchpad or her bedroom, she had come up empty-handed.  She’d even checked the kitchen.  Where could it be?

She sneaked a peek now at that glorious abdomen.  And sighed.  Jungkook was watching her.  His lips quirked.  

“Would you like it?” he breathed.

She saw the mischievous gleam in his eyes and knew that he was aware that she was not unaffected by his masculine beauty.  But it made her angry.  For she knew how such a feeling could be twisted and abused.

“No!” she cried out.  “I would not!”  Instantly, she jumped to her feet.

Jungkook frowned.  What had just happened?  They’d been teasing each other.  She’d been laughing.  Finally.  Inexplicably.  And now…she was angry with him again.  He didn’t understand her at all.  Would he ever?

In one fluid movement, he followed her.  His shirt fell off in his hasty scramble.  But he didn’t notice.

“I — I’m sorry, Yunyeong.  What did I do?  Did I make you feel uncomfortable?  I would never want to.”

She was turned away from him.  But she could feel his fingertips biting into her arm as though electricity was flowing from his skin into hers.  She closed her eyes.  Would she never forget?

“Please.  Let go of me.  And…put your shirt on.”