Thanks for all the responses. I love to read your comments, especially your suppositions and ideas of what might happen next. Don't forget to do your one liners please. Have not had any yet. I am not sure when there will be the next chapter. However, promise to do ASAP, hopefully either the end of this week or some time next week.
He guarded her, like a proper Woodalchi would. He was not in the same bed with Eun Soo like her lover, he was her watchful protector for the night. Her presence still left him longing, and the comfort of her body next to him was lacking and making him want it so much more. He has learned to control this powerful draw for closeness, but took no pleasure or pride in this achievement. Only next to her he felt at ease and whole. Just at her side, just guarding her made his senses confused and swayed his attention in the wrong direction: her chest rising gently with each breath she inhaled, her lashes trembling so slightly as she dreamt, the outline of her cheek and the soft blush of the skin against the white of the pillow, her arm that had fallen off the side of the bed with palm open up and fingers curling toward him… He gasped as his KI flared involuntary just as his eyes traveled along her body and he felt the sensation against his skin, as if there was no distance between them.
His love and need for her was encompassing. The depth of his feelings revealed by this small, but considerable enough distance between them, surprising even Choi Young himself. Can a woman complete him so fully that he had not other wishes left to fulfill besides being with her every day and every moment of his existence till his eyes shut forever?
He was stunned by the silence surrounding them, not a cricket or a dog bark, not a squeak of the wooden floors or the door opening by the gust of wind, not another person's sound. Were they truly alone or was it that the rest of the house inhabitants were so peacefully and deeply asleep it was as if they were not there?
A cold shock of realization hit his spine – he dozed off, his eyes were closed. Alert instantly, he leaped to his feet, panting loudly and scanned the room around. Eun Soo turned on her side and the cover slid off her back, exposing her naked arms and shoulders, her skin only protected by the thin tank she wore underneath her sweater. The room was empty, curtains drawn and the door locked, just as he had left it. He sighed and fixed her blanket, sitting on the bed next to her and before covering her completely, allowed his lips to place a kiss on her shoulder. This helped a little with his anxiety and he settled calmly into observation.
"Stranger," she turned to him abruptly, eyes open and awake, "I need to go check on Min Ho. After concussion, sleeping can be dangerous. I doubt that Hee Jun can keep him entertained long enough, his blabbering can put anybody in a coma, just to take a break." She quickly threw away the cover and sat up.
Choi Young only stared, not opposing. He still felt guilty about the injury he caused to the actor and he should be the last person to prevent a well qualified doctor from observing him, however, he did not want her to go. Almost too forcefully, he turned her face and kissed her deeply, making her jolt and tremble at the strength with which he held her closely and his lips attacked hers. Her taste, her smell were electrifying, his eyes closed, he surrendered and let the kiss guide him. Eun Soo was so soft and yielding, letting his tongue and lips move freely, enjoying this powerful take over even more than he did. Her mind shut and her body asked for more as she pulled away and stared at him, breathing heavily. "I… we… I wish…"
"Imja, sorry." He restrained his lips from linking with her again. He knew well at this point there would be no stopping if they touched like that again. He knew it too well. "Go, just go. I will come shortly."
Shaken by this quaking passion, which surged within her without any way out, she braced herself, crossing her limbs across the chest, and tilted her head to calm before seeing a patient. She quickly pulled on her jeans and a sweater and ran the fingers through the hair to make herself look at least presentable, if not well groomed. She brushed her hand over Choi Young's shoulder, looking at him for a moment and went to the door, unlocking it. He waited till she exited and pressed a fist against his chest, where his heart was jumping still not able to slow down. "Focus, focus Choi Young," he ordered himself and with a willful thought restrained his KI, which trembled and quieted. He got up and taking light steps followed her to Lee Min Ho's room.
He found the boy half seated in his bed, with a small reading light on a bedside table, eyes closed, while holding a script that he was reading. Eun Soo was beside him and observed him with a serious frown on her pale face. She silently motioned for Choi Young to approach and as he leaned closer, whispered, "Poor guy really tried to stay awake. He had a long day. I think it is safe for him to sleep for a bit. I will stay and watch."
"Then I will stay and watch both of you." Choi Young arranged a couple of extra pillows, he found at the foot of the bed, on the floor and pulled a comfortable armchair for Eun Soo as well. Without any more talk, he leaned against the wall.
Jae Su would not really harm them, his gut was telling him not to worry. He knew that person's heart – pained and tormented heart – which was not a heart of a murderer. However, the cold eyes of an assassin he felt on his back that time in Goreyo dropped suspicion in the center of his heart. A man with such icy cold eyes could kill, he was aware of it, having felt his own gaze freezing a couple of times. He just hoped that these people could rest before the new day.
The wait was killing him. After many nights of deep and healthful sleep next to a woman, he was able to revert back to his old half asleep half awakened state with his senses on high alert. It was just like old time. With a sword on his lap, he slept to get strength, the old Choi Young catching a shuteye as often as he could, ready for action nevertheless. His reaction did not betray him as his iron grip curled around a thin wrist and he heard a scream of pain. His eyes opened right after and he saw large and frightened eyes of the woman towering above him. Her wrist was held firmly by him mid air as she was reaching for his shoulder and her mouth was open in shock, lips quivering, hurt and offended. "Stranger?"
"Imja!" He let go. It all took just a few seconds, but the damage was done and he hurt her. "Sorry, so sorry," he immediately undid his fingers and her hand dropped down, dangling, as her eyes filled with tears. "I reacted before seeing it was you. It is a horrible old habit." He tried to explain himself, while not even able to meet her eyes out of shame.
"I was just trying to wake you. You've never done that before." She got over the initial shock and was rubbing her wrist that showed his print. "I will have a bad bruise. I suppose it is good that I don't need to wear short sleeves for a while." She tried to joke, but it was clear, this incident affected her.
"Imja, listen." He got up and pulled her for a close hug, kissing and caressing her hair. "I would never ever hurt you again. It was an unforgivable mistake. I usually feel your presence, but I guess I was sleeping too well… I have not done this in a while and my body just overreacted."
She smiled into his chest and he could feel her forgiveness, just by the way her body softened in his hold.
"You've been having a hard time," she said and touched his hair lovingly. "I can tell, you are not yourself."
Was he? Or he was finally himself and the man who lived with her happily was not him, just a version of himself he concocted to adapt to this new world and to give himself an excuse to stay next to her. That was the problem. He could not tell right now. After his encounter with Jae Su, he remembered things left a long time ago in the dust in the outskirts of his memory. How he came to be who he was, the things that started the vicious circle of death and survival and the lonely existence that he had been enduring till he met Eun Soo. He was not as soft and loving as she thought him to be. He, too, had ice that could freeze his soul and move his sword to kill. He was that kind of man, not just somebody with a skill, but somebody who tested that skill many times and if not for his ability to kill, he would not be standing here today, alive and hugging this woman.
"Eun Soo-ya," he said softly. "There are so many things you don't know about me. I had to clean my sword off blood before. And I have seen things that still shudder my insides at the thought. I am not who you think I am. I am a danger to you."
"Nonsense!" She glared at him, angrily. "I've felt your essence, I've been connected to you. I know your soul. You are not that person, Choi Young. It is just a part of who you are. And I accept it with all my heart. Even though you have not told me, maybe, one day you will. I shall wait patiently. Next to you – is the safest place for me. We both will be more in danger if we are apart, in danger of truly losing ourselves." She spoke very softly, whispering almost, as the actor was still nearby sleeping, but her voice carried a powerful conviction that penetrated through his doubt and confusion and cleared it all right away.
"Sorry." He repeated, "And thank you."