Bella

I spooned some of the soup carefully into my mouth. Jin had prepared a delicious cream of chicken soup when we decided to stay in this Friday night. The week had flown by, and the awkwardness of four days ago seemed forgotten.

My eyes never strayed from him as he sat across the table from me working on his laptop. I knew that there could not possibly be any man more handsome in the world. Not only that but his body was the stuff of dreams--his wide shoulders, his solid chest, his sculpted abs! I looked down when I felt my cheeks grow warm as I thought about what had just happened earlier in his bedroom.

I had missed him so badly after not seeing him for three days. When I entered his apartment, I had pulled him down for a kiss. I had run my hand to the hem of his shirt, moving my fingers softly over his skin.

I had kissed his neck, nipping softly, then a little more forcefully when I felt he was not responding. I heard him inhale, but he had not made any other move.

"Jin," I had breathed into his neck.

"What?"

"You know what."

"No, I don't."

I had traced little circles underneath his shirt, bringing my hand from his back to his stomach. He still had not moved, not even when I had kissed his lips.

"Jin," I had murmured into his mouth.

"What?"

"Don't you want to...touch me?"

He had gasped when my fingers dipped beneath the waistband of his pants. "Yes," he breathed. Still, he did not make any move.

I stopped kissing him. "Jin, what's wrong? Don't you want to make love to me?"

"Wouldn't you rather talk a bit first?" he had asked, looking down at me with a smirk. "I mean, conversation is always better than--"

"Oh, you idiot!" I hissed. It was then that I pulled him to the bedroom, pushed him down on the bed, and laid my body over his. "Now's not the time for talking."

His face had lit up with a smug smile. "Whatever you say, baby. You know  I love you and would do anything for you." He rolled me over and made quick work of removing all my clothing. I gasped before all thoughts just flew out of my brain and only sensations remained.

Bringing myself back to the present, I glanced up at him and saw his gorgeous dark eyes staring back at me. He had noticed my blushing. My spoon made a loud clang as I dropped it into the bowl in surprise. He always took my breath away.

His lips curved into a smirk. "Are you okay? You're looking at me as if I'm your next course. Do you want to go back to bed, or will the table do?"

"You're so conceited," I mumbled and looked down at my soup.

"Your face is all pink, so I must have guessed right," he said.

"It's because the soup is hot," I replied indignantly.

"No, it's because I'm hot." He puckered his beautiful, plump lips and blew air across the table toward me.

I couldn't help but laugh. "Honestly, Jin. You think very highly of yourself, don't you? Do you think you'll ever stop being so arrogant?"

"You call it arrogance," he replied, "but I call it confidence. I know what I am, and I know what I can do." He motioned with his chin. "Finish your soup and get your strength back. I'm almost done with my work. When we go back to the bedroom, I plan on taking my time. I apologize for that rush job earlier. I just couldn't help myself. But now you're in for a real treat, darling." He winked at me.

"You are so conceited," I repeated with a playful huff.

"But you love me," he said huskily, his eyes piercing mine.

"I love you," I said breathlessly. Maybe I had been too negative lately. How could I not love this man? He was always there for me. If I was not feeling well, he would stay with me. If I was hungry, he would cook for me. If I was behind on my work, he would study with me. Maybe I should help him with his work.

"What are you working on?" I asked.

He frowned slightly. "My team is putting together a mock proposal for a marketing campaign that connects two corporations and promotes their collaboration through a branding and promotion strategy that is mutually beneficial."

I felt my eyes go wide. "Uhh, okay. I wondered if I could help...maybe."

He shut his laptop and grinned at me. "Thank you for the offer, sweetheart. There is something you can definitely help me with."

I took a long drink of water. "Really? Of course. What can I do?"

His eyes looked completely dark, and his tongue swiped at his full lower lip slowly. "Well, you can start by taking off your clothes."

"Jin!"

"Hey, you jumped me earlier," he protested. "How come it was okay when you initiated it, but it's not okay if I do?" The pout of his beautiful lips made him look like a child. "I don't think you're playing fair, darling."

"This was not what I meant," I said.

He had already gotten to his feet and was pulling me out of my chair. "You said you wanted to help me. I can already think of, oh, about five different ways you can help."

I protested as he half-pulled me to the bedroom. "Let me go! Jin! Jinnie! Wait a second!" I didn't want to laugh because then he would not take me seriously.

"I wish I could, but I can't wait another second," he said and flung me onto the bed.

Then his cell phone rang loudly from his back pocket. He hesitated for a bit then reached to see who was calling. His expression immediately sobered. He turned away from me and answered his phone.

"Mina? Hello."

I immediately sat up, wondering who Mina was and why his attention had shifted to her.

Jin sat next to me on the bed, intently listening to the caller. He frowned. "Okay. Thank you for calling. No, no, it's not late at all. I'm glad you were the one to call me instead of--yes, thank you so much. Oh, I see. Thank you for telling me. Yes, I will do that. Yes, tomorrow. Thank you."

He ended the call and stared at his phone. "That was my father's secretary. My father is in the hospital and wants to see me."

"Oh," I whispered. "What happened?"

"The doctors said it's a mild heart attack, but they're still running tests," he replied, his eyes shocked and concerned. "He's asking for me. I have to go see him."

I leaned my head on his wide shoulder. "Of course, sweetie. You have to go."

He kissed the top of my head. "I suppose I do. I'm expected there tomorrow."

I wrapped my arms around him and held him. "Okay."

"I haven't seen him in years," he said, his voice cracking. "It's so out of the blue. But I never thought...I didn't want..."

I patted his back. "I know, sweetie. Just go see him, and don't worry about what happened in the past. I know that you will do what is necessary to help him."

He pulled me into a tight hug and didn't let go for a long time.  

When he walked me back to  my apartment--I couldn't stay over tonight since he had to pack--I sensed a slight change in him.  It was as if he had already left me even though he was still holding me tightly in his arms.