Page 57 of Show Off

He leans back in his seat, pulling me close to his chest. He’s stroking my hair, leaving my breasts achy with need. “I guess it is.”

I’ve killed the moment, haven’t I?

But then his voice rumbles low, soft and intimate in my ear. “I don’t know, Lana. I thought I had it all figured out.”

“How’s that?” His hand on the back of my skull feels gentle and strong. “Had what figured out?”

“What it meant to be a good guy. Honesty, right? Truth.” He shifts in his seat, snuggling me close to his heart. “But deep down, all I’ve ever wanted is to protect the people I love. Ji-Hoon. My parents’ honor.” He pauses, maybe mentally tallying his short list of loved ones. “My uncle Korain. Maybe that’s why I stayed away. I didn’t want to remind him of everything we lost.”

That makes sense. I know we’ve just slowed things down, but that’s okay. It’s funny how Dal can go from white-hot heat to soft, glowy warmth in the span of a heartbeat.

I’m right there with him. “That’s maybe why I got into public relations.”

“Yeah?”

“I think so.” I’m trying to make this make sense. It’s hard with his heart thrumming low in my ear. “The chance to cushion things however I could. To make everything a little bit…I don’t know.” He kisses my ear and I lose my train of thought. “Softer,” I say, with a sigh. “Softer for everyone else.”

“That makes sense.” He kisses me again, lips brushing the lobe of my ear. “I guess blunt honesty felt like kindness to me. Less distance to fall, you know?”

“Yeah.” I consider his history. Not just the accident, but his love life, too. “That’s why your girlfriend’s betrayal stung so much.” I deliberately don’t say Cherri Chiffon, not wanting her here in the car with us. This feels too personal, too intimate. “Why it hurt when your uncle tried to put a positive spin on your worst nightmare.”

“Perhaps.” Dal turns his head, and his breath stirs my hair. Is he smelling me? After a long while, he takes a deep breath. “That’s what I love about you, Lana.”

Love?

He must feel me stiffen, but he doesn’t take it back. “For someone who doesn’t know you, it’d be so easy to peg you as a harmless bit of sunshine fluff. Someone who doesn’t get too deep, you know?”

“Hey.” Pretty sure I just got insulted. Maybe I should re-hook my bra.

“But you’re not like that at all.” Dal’s arm stays tight around me, and I relax. “You’re smart and you’re thoughtful, and you spend so much energy protecting everyone around you.” He kisses my forehead, breath ruffling my hair. “You deserve someone protecting you.”

“Thank you.” Tears sting my eyes, and I blink them back. “This wasn’t meant to be a mushy hookup.”

“Sorry,” he says, cupping my cheek to kiss me. “Want me to fix it?”

“Fix what?”

His eyes flash with mischief as he grins. “Hang on.”

“What?”

Dal puts both hands on my shoulders as his smile turns sly. “Ready?”

“For what?”

“This car thing to get real.” He lifts off his seat and bounces down hard, making the Honda sway. “You’re right,” he says, bouncing with vigor. “The rocking makes it better.”

“You’re ridiculous.” I laugh and then bounce back into my own seat. It’s a little rough with my boobs shifting braless beneath my top, but I like it. I feel free and unfettered and a little breathless by the time we stop bouncing.

He’s laughing as he draws me close. “You’re really something, you know that?”

“So are you.”

This time when he kisses me, it feels like he means it. His palm glides up my ribcage and keeps going, skipping my breast altogether. Talented fingers take a languid journey up my arm and over my shoulder, continuing until his fingertips brush my cheek.

“So beautiful,” he whispers, drawing back to look me in the eye. “Not just here.” His thumb skims my cheekbone and I shiver. “But here.” As his hand drops down to the center of my chest, I shiver again. “Inside and out, Lana. I hope you know that.”

I nod, though it wasn’t a question. “Kiss me again.”

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