“So, you wanted to take a walk?” Yoonah eyes me cautiously as we head down the patio steps to the rose garden, and I slide my arm in his and tug him against my side. His body is warm and strong, yet he feels a little taller than memory serves. I’m still sensing his hesitation around me even after a two-hour lunch filled with laughter.“I think we needed to clear the air and talk a little, don’t you?” I nudge against him, trying to bring him out of himself because I can feel how he’s being guarded. Jyeon agreed I needed my time alone to talk this out without interference and suggested a stroll.“Jyeon told me, you know….. everything. The amnesia, well, the fake amnesia…. The island. What happened with Claire these past weeks and the general shit you two have going on. Guess I am still out of the loop, just like before.” His tone is deflated and a little tense.“He did, huh? It’s not l

We stay that way for a moment, my arms snaking around him to return the love and closing my eyes to savor how amazing his touch always feels. Always at peace and content in his arms now. He draws back and cups my face with one hand, edging us slightly apart so we are semi-cuddling.Jyeon lifts my chin, so my eyes flutter open, and sinks a passionate kiss on me, molding his lips to mine and pressing us tightly together. Kissing me with longing and need while teasing my lips open, we move to full French making out with exploring tongues and heavy breathing, losing ourselves in each other. Forgetting we are standing in the middle of the dining area. My body revving up in heat and hormones, and my pulse rate rises as every one of my nerve endings respond to him.Jyeon pulls away first, leaving me breathless and dizzy from kissing me senseless, and rests his nose against mine so he can gaze deeply into my eyes once more. The air crackles between us. I am so responsive and f

“So, did you enjoy your vacation?” Tom seems oblivious to the impending newcomer glaring his way and my obvious discomfort and need to escape. My heart is doing the rhumba because Jyeon looks exactly like a guy who will not be polite and idly walk by.“It wasn’t really that kind of vacation…. I need to get the shack opened and changed. It’s nice to see you again, have a good day.” I make to hightail it away from him, aware Jyeon is less than ten feet from us and rapidly closing, when Tom catches him out of the corner of his eye, and his entire expression stiffens. He inclines his head, recognition spreading across his face, and adopts a similar unfriendly frown to my idiot man.“We meet again.” Jyeon slides up with a cocky smirk, catching me mid escape by the upper arm, and tugs me into his side so he can lasso an arm around my shoulders. It’s such an obvious move to show off who’s woman I am. He leans

I stare out over the distant water, leaning on the railing of the highest viewpoint of the island, lost in thought. I came walking after Greta and I were done talking to clear my head, and I found myself climbing up to observe my world from above.“Hey, you. I've been looking for you. You left your cell at the shack.” Jyeon’s voice filters through my mindless haze, and I break into a genuine smile, warmed by his appearance and instantly lighter by his presence, as though he brought the sun back into my shadows. “Sorry I took longer than  I intended to. Yoonah was weirdly sociable and made me go for lunch to have some brother time before heading back. I figured I shouldn’t refuse, given his aversion to my company for the last ten years.”Jyeon slides up behind me, turning me back to the railing in his arms so he can step up against my back and wind them around me. He lays his chin on my right shoulder, so his cheek meets mine, an

“You ready?” Jyeon helps me out of the passenger seat onto the gravel driveway, and I blow out my air. So not ready for this, even though I told myself a million times on the way here I was. It was not that long a trip by boat and then car to get here, but the island feels so far away. My palms are clammy, and my heart rate is abnormally fast. My nerves are jangled, and my insides are all knotted up and clenched inside of me, adding to the tension of my stiff body. I’m a mess.“It’s the first time I’ve been here since….” I trail off, peering up the hill into the cemetery, and swallow hard. Fighting tears, I can feel building behind my eyes.“I know…. You had a hard time coming here, so it’ll be emotional since it’s technically your first time. Even though you think you are stronger now, it’s different when you’re here. Standing where she is.” Jyeon curls my hand in his, taking t