Page 60 of Gumiho Kiss
She wanted to believe him, but fear urged her to run, to hide, to strike him down before he could harm her.She shook her head to dislodge the thoughts, but she couldn’t bring herself to lower the blade.“How can I trust your word?”
He covered her hand with his own, then guided the dagger to his heart.“Because if you carved this out, you’d find your name written upon it.Take it if you don’t believe me, but that is the truth.A truth I’ve tried to deny for so long, not only for fear of hurting my friend, but also because I didn’t think you could possibly feel the same.”
He released her hand but didn’t move away, waiting for her to answer.Or to strike a killing blow.Knowing her secret identity made him a terrible threat.If he told the authorities, she’d be forced to flee for her life.
Yet he hadn’t.Instead he’d quite literally placed his life in her hands, knowing full well how easily she could end it.
What room was left for doubt when he had such faith in her?Chin Sun tossed the knife aside, lips twisting into a smirk.“There’s no need to be so dramatic.”
Hyun Soo laughed again, then his expression shifted, all traces of humor stripped away to reveal something that sparked a fire in her veins.He bent forward slowly, as if waiting to see if she’d retreat again.
When she didn’t, his gaze dropped to her lips, his intentions quite clear.
Chin Sun raised an eyebrow at his hesitation.“Don’t tell me you’re not brave enough to follow through.Again.”
Hyun Soo’s mouth crashed into hers like swords on a battlefield, stealing her breath and overwhelming her senses.Surprised by his fervor but not about to be outdone, she responded to his kiss hungrily.Two could play at this game.
He smiled against her mouth and deepened the kiss, hands sliding around her back and crushing her against him.Chin Sun gripped his shoulders, pleasure radiating through her as their lips fought for dominance.
She felt her fox bead rise in his chest and happily accepted it into her mouth, a shot of power bursting through her at its safe return.Yet there was a new energy humming within it unlike anything she’d ever experienced.It tasted of sunshine and sweat, betrayal and desire, hardship and joy.Was this what it felt like to consume human lifeforce?
The taste was almost as intoxicating as Hyun Soo’s kisses.But not quite.Chin Sun would have to figure out all the effects of the additional lifeforce later.That could wait until after they were done kissing.
But Hyun Soo stilled in her arms.He pulled back.“Lady Lee, what—” Something flashed in his eyes, and he stepped out of her embrace.
“Mr.Park?What’s wrong?”
He pressed his fingers to his mouth, forehead wrinkled.“I ...What did you just do?”
Guilt rapped at the door of her heart, but she refused it entrance.“What are you talking about?”
“You ...you did something to me.I—” His eyes rolled back into his head, and he slumped forward.
Chin Sun caught him as he fell, holding him up easily with her gumiho strength restored.“Mr.Park?”She patted his cheek, panic building in her chest.“Park Hyun Soo!”
It couldn’t be.There was still time.
She forced her bead back up into her mouth and spat it into her hand.It was cool to the touch, as small as a robin’s egg.But its glowing blue light was so blinding she almost couldn’t look at it.Full of human lifeforce.
“No ...”
The grim reaper said Hyun Soo had eighteen days, and it had only been eleven.Hyun Soo had to be all right.He had to?—
“Finally decided to take back your bead, I see,” came a deep voice.
Chin Sun whirled around, tensing at the sight of the grim reaper himself, smirking on the other side of the clearing.His black robes fluttered in the breeze, the only indicator that this specter was still flesh and blood.
“Nauri, what’s—what’s wrong with him?He should still have some time left.”
The grim reaper vanished, then reappeared directly in front of her, crossing the clearing in a span of seconds.He squinted at Hyun Soo, then shook his head.“I’m no expert on fox beads.Perhaps I miscalculated how long he had.”
His words were nonchalant, but then his face darkened, cold eyes locking on to hers.“But you better hope he just passed out from the energy transfer.”He grabbed Hyun Soo’s wrist.“His pulse is very weak.”
“Can you help me?Please,” she pleaded.She knew she sounded pathetic, but maintaining her dignity no longer mattered.All she cared about was saving Hyun Soo.
The grim reaper clucked his tongue, as if offended that she would even ask.“That’s not my job.”
He was gone a second later, but his voice carried on the wind.“I’ll be watching to make sure you keep him breathing though.”
