Chapter 7

The moment I lost my balance, I felt myself tipping backwards but before I could hit the ground, he caught me.

Strong arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me sharply against him. The sudden force knocked the air out of my lungs as my body collided with his.

His hands stayed there.

Firm. Unmoving.

Holding me tightly against him as if letting go wasn’t even an option.

We were pressed together.

Far too close.

My breath hitched as I instinctively reached out, grabbing onto his bare shoulder to steady myself. But instead of helping, it only made everything worse.

His skin was hot.

Not just warm but burning.

Hard. Almost unreal beneath my fingertips.

My fingers trembled slightly as they brushed against the tattoo on his shoulder the one I had secretly wanted to touch since I stepped into the garage.

And now that I was..... I couldn’t pull away.

“Didn’t I tell you to be careful?”

His voice came out hoarse. Lower than usual.

Rough.

Yet dangerously soft at the same time.

A shiver ran down my spine.

Slowly, hesitantly, I lifted my gaze.

And found him already looking at me.

Our faces was dangerously close. Too close.

Close enough for me to feel the uneven rhythm of his breathing hitting against my lips.

Fuck.

The word echoed loudly in my head.

His eyes darkened the moment they locked with mine.

My heart slammed violently against my chest, completely out of control. I was sure, absolutely sure that he could hear it. Feel it. My breathing had turned erratic, almost desperate, my chest rising and falling right in front of him.

His gaze dropped.

Slowly.

Deliberately.

With no expression on his face, he watched me, watched every shaky breath I took.

And neither of us moved. No one even tried to move.

He didn’t let go.

It was as if he had forgotten.

Or maybe......

We didn't want to remember.

His long fingers shifted slightly against my waist, brushing the bare skin just above my jeans where my crop top failed to cover me. The touch was subtle but it burned.

His grip tightened just a fraction. I could feel his hot fingers brushing over my skin.

And my body reacted before my mind could stop it.

I squirmed.

A dangerous, unfamiliar feeling curled low in my stomach, making my breath hitch again. I felt something I shouldn't have.

“Mr. Kim... ” I whispered.

My voice was barely audible.

But it was enough.

Something in him snapped.

His jaw tightened instantly, the softness vanishing as quickly as it had appeared. Regret flashed across his face, clear, sharp and undeniable.

And just like that.....

He let go.

He stepped back immediately, as if the distance between us was necessary. As if staying any closer would be a mistake he couldn’t afford.

The sudden absence of his warmth felt worse than it should have.

Colder.

Empty.

He crouched down to pick up the tool I had stepped on, his movements controlled, almost too controlled. His eyes briefly flickered toward my feet, scanning them.

For a moment, it looked like he wanted to touch.

To check.

But instead, his hand clenched into a fist.

“Did you injure your foot?” he asked, not looking at me.

His voice had returned to normal.

Flat. Distant.

As if nothing had happened.

I blinked, forcing myself back to reality. Heat rushed to my face as embarrassment crawled up my neck. I stepped back quickly while pushing my hair behind my ear just to give my hands something to do.

“N-No.....  I’m fine,” I replied, trying but failing to sound calm.

He nodded.

A small, polite smile appeared on his lips.

And then he turned back to his work.

As if I wasn’t even there.

As if that moment hadn’t existed.

Silence filled the space between us. The sudden atmosphere felt heavy, suffocating and uncomfortable.

He didn’t say anything else.

So neither did I.

I stood there awkwardly, my heart still racing, my legs still slightly trembling. The lack of acknowledgment made everything worse. If he had just said something, anything, it might have eased the tension.

But he didn’t.

And it left me alone with my thoughts.

No.

I need to get out.

I shouldn’t stay here.

Not with him.

Not like this.

But leaving without saying anything would make it even more awkward.

“I.... I haven’t blow dried my hair yet. I’ll go first Mr. Kim.”

The excuse came out quickly.

He turned his head slightly, glancing at me.

His face was expressionless.

But his eyes softened a little.

Just a little.

He gave a small nod before turning away again.

And that was it.

I didn’t wait any longer.

I left the garage quickly, my steps faster than usual, almost like I was running away. The distance between us grew with every step, but the feeling didn’t fade.

If anything, it followed me.

I entered the house and shut the door behind me, pressing my back against it as I tried to steady my breathing.

My legs were still trembling.

What the hell was that?

Was I really in his arms just a few seconds ago?

I closed my eyes tightly but it only made things worse.

The mind started getting flashback of that moment.

His face so close to mine.

His breath against my lips.

The way his hands held me.

I lifted my fingers to my lips, touching them lightly.

And guilt hit me instantly.

I could still feel it.

His breath.

Lingering.

My waist felt strange.

Warm.

Almost numb.

As if his hands were still there… still holding me.

His fingers brushing slowly against my skin.

His grip was tight almost possessive

My breath caught.

Was he.... lost too?

Did he feel it?

“No... no....”

I shook my head quickly, trying to push the thoughts away. My hands ran through my damp hair in frustration.

I shouldn’t feel like this.

This is wrong.

He’s not like that.

This wasn’t.... intentional.

It was an accident.

He didn’t mean any of it.

He’s not that kind of man.

It’s just.....

If he had let go sooner then.....

I wouldn’t be standing here, thinking about all these..... forbidden things.

But....

I didn’t want him to let go.

My heart skipped violently at the realization.

“Aahhh.....” I groaned softly, gripping my hair.

“What’s wrong with me?”

_______

Author POV

The moment she left the garage, he turned.

Instinctively.

As if something in him refused to let her go that easily.

But she was already gone.

The space she had occupied stood empty, leaving behind nothing but silence and the chaos in his mind.

The silence that followed wasn’t peaceful anymore.

It was suffocating.

He turned back toward the car, placing a hand against it to steady himself as he exhaled deeply, his shoulders following the rhythm of each breath. His other hand came up to rub his temple, frustration was piling up with each and every second passing.

“Damn it.....”

He cursed under his breath.

He grabbed the tool and threw it onto the table. It clattered loudly, the sound echoing through the garage.

“What did I do.......”

He stood there, staring at nothing.

Jaw clenched.

Breathing uneven.

His shoulders rose and fell with each breath, tension coiled tightly within him.

He could still feel her.

Her warmth.

The softness of her body pressed against his.

The way she held onto him.

Like she trusted him.

Like she needed him.

His fingers curled slowly into a fist.

The memory of her voice echoed in his mind.

“Mr. Kim…”

Low.

Soft.

Shaky.

His jaw tightened further.

He closed his eyes briefly but it didn’t help.

But it actually made it worse.

The memory became even more clearer.

The way she had been breathing in his arms.

The way her fragile body fit so perfectly against him.

His breath hitched.

His fingers were still burning from the  sensation of her waist beneath them. The softness. The warmth.

He clenched his fist harder until his knuckles turned white.

Guilt twisted inside him.

Along with something far more dangerous.

Something he didn’t want to name.

He shouldn’t have held her that long.

He shouldn’t have noticed the things he did.

The way her lips parted when she breathed.

The way her body reacted to his touch.

He shouldn’t have.

But he did.

And that was the problem.

He slapped himself for even thinking about this.

“It won't happen again ”

To be continued