Author's Note: I have the house to myself as I write this so I get to watch football. I don't know why I wanted to say that but here it is. This might be one of the longer stories I have written for BoF. I know what I want to do with it. Let's see if the characters work with me in the way I hope they will. So far so good.
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Taemin spent himself for an unknown time. Every time he woke up and felt the woman beside him, his body roared to life. Storm never stopped him. Sometimes she made it worse by sucking his skin or his nipples. That sent more pleasure through him and it made it so much worse that he swelled more than possible.
They never talked and it made it so much more enjoyable. He had to figure out what she liked best then use it. But since she didn't talk it was harder to do so he had to figure it out by touch and expression. She was expressive so it made it easier.
He leaned down and pressed to cheek to hers as he waited for his body to stop erupting. She turned his head and kissed him as he went back to his normal size. The make out session was sweeter than the sex.
He rolled to his side and pulled her close. The adrenaline made his head pound. He was also having a hangover as well. The combination was potent. His fingers traced random patterns on the skin of her belly as he kissed her shoulder.
Storm sat up after a moment and reached over to her side table. Taemin watched through half lidded eyes as she grabbed his phone. His fingers were twirling on her hip as she took his phone and typed something on his screen. She handed it to him over her shoulder then rummaged through her drawer.
/I need to get to the studio. You should go to class. I'd hate for you to miss because of this./
He laughed and rolled over to toss an arm over her waist, propping his head up of her arm. "Are you kicking me out?" She shook her head. He took her hand and laced their fingers. She looked down at them then up at him. "Storm, do you regret this?"
She took his phone again. /Do you?/
He looked at her. She was chewing on her bottom lip. It was the first time he had seen something other than gentleness. She was clearly upset by some thought he couldn't read.
"I could have left when I woke up the first time but I'm still here. Do I look like I regret anything?" he asked.
She typed on his screen again. /I'm not doing this with you again./
Taemin watched her get up and disappear from the room. Something about that conversation had dropped the mood. He didn't understand what was behind the outburst, but he knew he wasn't going to be able to let her go just like that.
Getting up, he followed the sounds from down the hall. She was in the shower. He opened the door to the room and fragrant steam rolled out. He went in and pulled open the shower door. She was unaware that he was there until he wrapped his arms around and pulled her against him. She didn't fight him but she didn't melt into him like she had during the night. He kissed her neck up to her ear, taking a moment to tease it with his tongue.
"I'm not using you, Noona, nor do I want to hurt you," he said as his hands spanned her belly. He kissed her behind her ear then trailed it down her jaw until he found her mouth.
Storm wasn't the type to be swayed by words, but both actions and words by this man said the same thing. Yes he'd been drunk when he had been brought to her place but he had known what he had been doing. Nothing had said that he was lying to her.
He was gentle even now. Last night he had made sure she was comfortable. It was what a beginner did. She was certain last night had been his first time as well. He wasn't going to hurt her and she was certain he didn't have a violent bone in his body.
It may have been his first time, but he was really good at kissing. He knew just what he had to do to make her want more. She didn't know if he had kissed someone before or if it was his first time at that as well. Whichever it was, he did it well. His lips were tender no matter where they were. He barely used his teeth but when he did, he immediately soothed the ache with his tongue. It was intoxicating and addicting.
The shower took longer than normal because Taemin wanted to play. He tried to kiss every inch of skin he washed but ended up crashing to the shower floor. Storm laughed at him then sat in the floor with him. She washed his face then rinsed it. He smiled at her then took her face in his hands to kiss her again.
"Go out with me tonight," he proposed. She looked at him as water dripped down his face. "It will be just the two of us. I won't let my guards anywhere near us. We can do what you want?"
Storm looked at him and shook her head. Everything had been done backwards. Usually they would be in a relationship before they slept together. There was no point in doing anything else now. Plus he was the prince whose family had already started the wedding proceedings. She would be viewed as the woman who broke up a happy family. Her family had been ripped apart by another woman and she had no inclination to be labeled that.
She stood and turned off the water. Stepping out of the shower, she grabbed the towel off the rack and wrapped it around herself. Taemin watched her leave the bathroom. He wasn't going to give up on going out with her. He may have done things backwards but he wasn't going to give up. But something had passed through her mind as he asked her out.
He walked out after a few minutes. Storm was already dressed and getting ready to leave. Her bag was on the couch by her coat and she was going through it. She pointed to the bedroom when he stopped in the living.. When he walked in, he found a pile of clothes on the bed as well as his phone.
/These belong to my brother. He's your size and I don't think he'll miss them. Put them on until you get home./
He didn't argue with her. There was no need. She was going to be stubborn but she was still nice. She wasn't going to let him go home via the walk of shame. Not that it mattered. Everyone knew he had stayed with her.
He had just bagged his clothes and walked out to the living room when she walked over to the door and put her shoes on. He grabbed his jacket and ran to do the same. She looked at him then flipped off the lights and walked out.
They took the elevator down to the first floor in silence. Taemin realized she was standing in the corner away from him. She was worrying the bottom lip as she stared at the reflective doors. She obviously did that when she was thinking hard about something.
When the box dinged and the doors opened, Storm stepped out ahead of him. She was outside before he even realized what was going on. He smiled and ran to catch up with her, taking her hand in broad daylight. He knew the press would be on the lookout for him and anything he did, but at the moment he didn't care.
"Do you take the bus or a cab?" he asked. She pointed to the bus with their clasped hands. "I still have my bus pass. Do you want to ride together? It could be fun." She shook her head. "All right. I guess I'll see you off here."
Storm stopped him right in the sidewalk. She looked at him like she didn't want him to go alone. With her free hand she motioned to him. It took a second for him to realize she wanted his phone. He handed it over without a fuss. He watched her unlock his screen and pull up his messages. Her fingers flew across the screen for a second before she handed it back.
/I don't think that's a good idea. You don't know what someone will do to you. Anyone would be out for your head since they know who you are./
Taemin smiled at the concern that filled not only the text message but her eyes as well. He looked through the other messages on his phone. She had texted Onew to come get him. No matter how much she said they weren't going to be connected again she still took care of him.
Reaching up, he pushed a stray curl from her face. "Where should we wait until Onew gets here?" She pointed to the coffee shop on the corner. He smiled and tugged her along. "Then let's eat."
Storm once again let herself be dragged by Taemin. He was very convincing when he was happy, and since he had been with her he had been smiling. He didn't care that she didn't talk. He was learning to read through the silence. That was scary. Only Jax had been able to do that. She didn't know what she would do if another person could read through the wall she had put up.
Taemin knew the happy mood was gone as they walked into the coffee shop. He ordered two Americanos and muffins then led her to the far booth. He sat with his back to the door and hunkered down so no one would see his hair. He was very recognizable. He pulled out a notepad and pen then set it in the middle between them.
"Let's take some time to get to know each other. Obviously you know me. I'm not sure anyone hasn't heard of me," he said.
She took the pad from him and he watched as she scribbled some Hangul on the page. They said that a person's handwriting was indicative of who they were. Storm was a perfectionist and artistic simply by the strokes of her hand. She was also focused based on the look on her face. He could see her tongue peeking out the side of her mouth as she wrote.
After a few moments, she held up the notepad with basic information written across it.
/My name is Storm Montgomery. I'm twenty-six years old and have an older twin brother I live with. I'm from Hawaii with Pacific Islander descent. I majored in art at California Institute of the Arts and graduated with honors. I moved here two years ago with my brother and have no plans on leaving./
Taemin nodded as he chewed a piece of his muffin. So she was older than him. He really couldn't tell sometimes but she was four years older than him. That wasn't too bad. He could deal with that.
"Was I the first guy you slept with?" he whispered. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and that made him smile. He was. "Don't worry. I won't tell anyone. But I'm honored whether you believe me or not." She blinked slowly at him, as if waiting for him to continue. "What are you working on at the studio? I haven't been there since Thursday."
She flipped the page and scribbled something down. /I was blowing glass./
He frowned at the answer. "You can do that?" She nodded then pointed to the line where she had majored in art. "It was your sequence? They had that at the school?"
This time she shook her head, a bright smile popping up on her face. She scribbled again. /No, it wasn't the sequence, but it was an elective. I picked it up two semesters and never looked back. It's amazing what I can do with fire, glass and my breath. You'll have to come watch sometime./
Taemin took her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. "You don't have to ask me twice. Will you be working on it tonight?" She nodded.
Storm was taken aback as he tightened his hand on hers and pulled it around the edge of the table. Either she went with him or her belly was rammed into the table. She decided to go with him and the second she did, he dragged her to him. His mouth found hers instantly and he kissed her so hotly that she thought she was going to melt.
His taste was so potent now that she was lost. She couldn't help but kiss him back. They were at the back of the coffee shop so no one would see them unless they came in search of them. They were completely covered. But if they didn't stop, there might be some police charges.
"What in the hell are you doing?"
Taemin opened his eyes and saw Onew and Yi Jeong at the end of the table. He sucked on Storm's lip as he pulled away. Lifting his hands, he ran his thumbs along the edges of her mouth then kissed her mouth gently one last time. She looked at him, and he smiled gently at her.
"That didn't take any time. How long did it take you, hyung?" he asked as he ran one had slowly down Storm's leg.
"I was already on my way here when Storm Noona text me. The question is what are you doing when you have a soon-to-be fiancé?" Onew asked.
Storm turned to look at him then abruptly stood. Yi Jeong already had her bag and coffee. He remembered telling her that his parents were trying to get him to marry, but he didn't realize how shitty he'd feel when it was said with a sober mouth. Obviously she had forgotten as well as she looked at him.
"Noona?" He didn't dare stand because it would bring unwanted attention. As it was they were already getting some curious stares. That could be because of Yi Jeong as well.
Storm looked down at Taemin. He looked upset. She remembered in his drunken haze he had told her that his family was trying to get him married, but she had figured he had already given up on that.
Her abrupt departure had nothing to do with Taemin. It had everything to do with the fact that she had gotten involved with him knowing who he was and what he meant to this country. It would make sense that his family would want a pedigree to marry their nation's sweet prince.
Instead of being angry, she was embarrassed. She was just like Julia Stiles in the Prince & Me. She was caught with him and now had to make a decision. But the biggest question that hung between was would he follow his parents' wishes and enter into an engagement with the woman they had chosen? If he did she wasn't sure what she would do.