“Good,” he says as he guides me back into his embrace. “I’m glad we’ve resolved the travel plans.”
I don’t have time to answer before he acts. It doesn’t matter—now is definitely time for the kissing.
I’m not sure if it’s because there’s a time limit before he leaves, but I don’t think I’ve ever gotten in bed faster with a man in my life. Jihoon murmurs against my neck, his breath warm. I put my hand on his chest and am momentarily distracted.
“Why are you so smooth?” I lean down to check. Totally hairless.
“Laser treatment.” He kisses my shoulder, then lets his tongue trace a wandering path. “Easier than shaving all the time.”
“How about…” I reach down, and he grabs my hand.
“How about you’ll find that out soon enough?” He pins my hand down and tickles me until I’m laughing so hard, I’m breathless, then watches intently as my giggles trail off into little gasps before I pull him down to kiss me. His hand releases mine and drifts down my side as he plants kisses along my throat.
Then he dips much farther down until I’m breathless for a very different reason, and there’s nothing else in my mind but him.
Twenty-Five
Two very satisfying hours later, Jihoon’s phone buzzes, and he rolls away from where he’s curled against me. Because another human in my vicinity is looking at their phone, I have no choice but to look at mine. I lean over, grimacing at the stiffness in my legs, and grab it from the side table. Hidden among the notifications I set last night to keep informed of StarLune and Min posts—and there are many—is a text from Hana. It’s a GIF of Jihoon dancing, featuring hip thrusts.
That’s where he gets it from. Practice. I approve, feeling his muscles tense and relax as I outline the gorgeously detailed tiger tattoo on his back with my fingers. That there are memes of the man currently in bed with me is as disturbing as you’d expect. He’s a public figure who shares his life with a huge and devoted fan base. A terrible and extremely unwelcome feeling rears up, and although it’s not one I like to recognize, it’s easy enough to identify: inadequacy.
Jihoon leans over and brushes my hair away so he can kiss my shoulder before he buries his face in my neck. When he speaks, the words flutter against my bare skin. “My flight is booked for tonight.”
Having fantastic sex with Jihoon right before he leaves indefinitely for Korea is not going in my Best Decisions Hall of Fame, but I regret nothing. I shake off the anxiety about what will happenafter today to look at what’s happening now, in the moment, or at least in the next few hours.
“Want me to come to the airport with you?” I shiver, and he glances up at the air-conditioning vent before tugging the covers up to my neck.
“I’d love that. No one will see you in the car.” He kisses me again, then brushes the tip of his nose against my cheek. He’s so affectionate, I can’t stand it, and I try not to think about the StarLune fame stuff.
Not happening. The question bursts out before I can stop it. “Do you sleep with your fans?”
“Ari, never.” Jihoon turns over to gather me tighter into his arms but pulls away to get off my hair after I squeal. He retakes his spot once he gathers it up and tucks it away.
“Really?”
“None of us would.” He kisses my temple, then rests his forehead against my cheek as his hand strokes along my side. “It would be a huge controversy, a scandal. Too risky, and to have a relationship with a Starry would be stressful. You would be worried about disappointing them once they knew the real you, not the idol.”
His comments trigger another thought. “Money.”
“What about it?” He ghosts little kisses along my arm.
“You’re rich.”
More unrepentant kisses. “I am.”
I yank my arm back and glare at him. “This whole time, you could have been eating in five-star restaurants, but you pretended to be poor.”
“I wasn’t pretending,” he says. “I have money now. For a long time, we didn’t. As trainees, we lived in a crowded dorm. Even after our debut, we ate ramyeon and lived in two rooms for the five of us. The ceiling leaked over Xin’s bed when it rained.”
“Really?”
“He had to sleep with a bucket.” Jihoon rolls onto his back,bringing me with him so I lie on his chest. “Idol life doesn’t last long either. My money is in boring investments.”
I recall one of the videos from my rabbit hole last night. “Don’t you collect vintage watches?” One of them had cost over a half a million dollars.
“Those are investments.” Jihoon clasps his arms around my lower back and moves the conversation on. “Kit hyeong and Daehyun would like to meet you properly at lunch, with no lies between you.”
My stomach growls loud enough to vibrate between us. He laughs. “Hana will come as well.”