CHAPTER 97: PLAYING WITH FIRE (18+)

Jae’s hand suddenly shot out and grabbed Yuna’s arm with a sharp tug that made her yelp, stumbling forward until their noses were almost touching.

The surprise hit her like a jolt, her breath caught somewhere between a sharp little annoyance and something else, something hotter and faster, like a pulse racing under her skin.

Her cheeks flamed before she even had time to think about it.

Jae leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a low, teasing whisper. "What do you think would happen if someone caught us like this?"

Yuna’s eyes darted around the quiet hallway outside his dorm. The space was empty and still, the silence heavy, almost like it was holding its breath, waiting for something to explode. She barely dared to meet his gaze and whispered, "We’d be in trouble.

A slow, confident smile curved his lips. "Maybe. But worth it, don’t you think?"

Her throat tightened with a flutter of nervous excitement. The tension between them was thick, but it didn’t feel like danger. More like an electric spark ready to set something alight.

She swallowed hard and nodded, voice barely above a whisper but steady. "Yeah. Yeah, it would be."

Jae smirked, just a little, the kind of smirk that made her heart skip. Then he pulled back just enough to reach into his inventory, fingers flicking through the contents.

With a quick motion, he tossed his shadow cloak over her shoulders. The dark fabric swallowed the soft glow of the hallway lights, wrapping her like a secret nobody else could see.

"Better not tempt fate," he said, voice low and casual.

Yuna tightened the cloak around herself. The fabric was cool, soft against her skin, with the faint scent of smoke and earth clinging to it, like a memory of the wild. The cloak felt like a shield, grounding her somehow, making her less exposed.

Side by side, they slipped through the door. Their fingers brushed lightly, and neither pulled away. The soft click of the lock echoed behind them, sealing them inside the quiet dark of Jae’s room.

Inside, the dim light wrapped around them like a familiar blanket. Yuna shrugged off the cloak and let it fall to the floor, her movements slow. Without thinking, she stepped closer, sliding her arms around Jae’s waist from behind

Warmth bloomed through her fingertips, the steady thump of his pulse vibrating under her palms. She breathed in, catching a faint scent of wood smoke and something uniquely him.

"You smell good," she murmured, voice soft and steady, like sharing a secret.

Her hand slid lower, bolder now, tracing the curve of his hip and slipping beneath the waistband of his pants.

She rubbed slowly, feeling the hardening beneath her touch, the tension building between them like a live wire.

A low groan escaped Jae’s lips, rough and deep, equal parts warning and pleasure. "Stop playing with fire," he muttered, voice thick.

Yuna twisted just enough to flash him a grin. "I love fire," she teased, eyes sparkling with mischief.

Before she could react, Jae spun her around. His fingers locked tight around her waist as he lifted her effortlessly off the ground.

The sudden weightlessness made her gasp, then laugh, light and breathless, her heart racing as he carried her across the room like she was nothing more than air.

When he dropped her gently onto the bed, the air shifted, charged and electric, crackling with tension neither of them tried to hide.

"Hey," she protested, eyes wide, hands braced on his chest as if to steady herself. "Don’t treat a princess like that."

He chuckled, leaning down to press a slow, deliberate kiss just beneath her ear. The skin there was soft and warm, and she shivered as a delicious chill ran down her spine.

His voice was a husky whisper, close enough to set her veins on fire. "What were you saying?"

Yuna sniffed, words tangling in the quiet between them. She tried to find the right thing to say but her lips trembled, betraying her nervous excitement.

Jae pulled back a little, a slow smile curling on his lips. His fingers slid beneath the hem of her skirt, gently lifting one leg, the touch light but full of purpose.

"Look at this," he said, voice low and full of admiration.

She felt the weight of his hand, warm and steady against the coolness of her skin. His lips followed, pressing soft kisses to her thigh that sent a ripple of shivers through her body

"Ohh," she breathed out, a soft moan escaping her without warning. The sensation was almost hypnotic, the gentle touch like a breeze on a cold morning that made her skin tingle.

His kisses moved slowly downward, tracing a deliberate path over her skin. When he reached her feet, he paused, eyes flicking up to meet hers with a teasing smile that made her heart pound harder.

Then he bent down and kissed each toe with gentle, worshipful care, as if worshipping something precious.

The sweet shock of sensation sent a shiver shooting up her spine and made her breath catch.

Just as slowly, he kissed his way back up, retracing the path with the same careful attention until he reached her thigh again.

His hands moved softly, exploring and memorizing every curve beneath his touch.

Yuna’s heart hammered in her chest, the world narrowing to the warmth of his mouth, the weight of his hands, and the quiet rhythm of their breathing filling the room.

She closed her eyes for a moment, soaking in the feeling, her mind buzzing with the mix of nerves and desire.

This was madness, she thought, but the kind of madness you never want to wake up from.

Jae’s lips brushed her skin again, slow and teasing. His voice, when he spoke, was thick with something dangerous and sweet. "You have no idea what you do to me."

She bit her lip, trying not to smile too much. "Maybe you don’t either."

A chuckle rumbled from deep in his chest, and he pressed his forehead gently against hers.

"Let’s just say," he whispered, "I’m willing to find out."