Page 69 of GR8VITY

"Sure," I tell him, knowing I'd never be able to deny him even the smallest pleasure in life.

We walk the river for at least an hour in the same direction as the house. Once our ice cream is gone, he tucks his hands in his pockets, and I lock my arm through his elbow, wanting to feel his closeness as much as possible.

"Going back to what you said earlier," I start, "I think we should both be glad that you didn't grab Dav En's shoes in your rush out the door."

He chuckles, the deep sound making little butterflies take flight in my belly. "Not that my brother doesn't have good style or anything. Could you imagine, though? I'm pretty sure his feet are like four sizes bigger than mine."

I cover my mouth at the visual of poor Yoon Ji walking around like this with me in what would look like clown shoes on him. Then he just has to go and wreck me even further.

"I wouldn't have really cared either," he tells me, letting his gaze drift out over the river. "All I could think of in the moment was getting to you. If that meant giant shoes or no shoes at all. I wasn't going to let you get away."

"Why are you so sweet?" I ask him.

"Is that sweet?" he asks, turning back to me. "I thought it might come off as kind of selfish."

"Why did you come after me?" I counter.

His lips press together for a second before he answers, "Because I saw that you were upset, and I was worried about you."

"Sweet then," I assure him.

"Even though I talked you into coming back with me because not only do I not want you alone tonight or tomorrow, but also because I didn't want you away from us?" he asks in a lower tone.

"Yes," I tell him. "Even then. You can clearly see that it didn't take much convincing, yeah?"

He chuckles again.

"About what I said earlier," I start, trying to approach gently. "I answered you honestly about you feeling like home."

Stopping, he turns to face me, pulling me close enough that we're chest to chest. "And that you love me? That too?"

Tilting my chin so that I can look him in the eyes, I answer him honestly, "Yes. Yoon Ji, I don't give those words freely to anyone. I never have. So, if I say them, I mean them. But can you do me a favor and let me tell the others in my own time?"

His lips twitching gives him away. Something is up with whatever he is about to say. "Sure, I can do that."

"Thanks," I tell him, willing to wait and see what the truth reveals.

"So, you do love me?" he asks again.

My head tilts back with my laugh. "Yes!"

"You love your boyfriend?" he questions in a teasing tone.

Throwing my arms around his shoulders, I can't fight my grin even if I wanted to. "Yes, I love my boyfriend, Seo Yoon Ji."

"You're the first person who has ever said that to me that wasn't my parents or my brothers," he admits, sliding his hands across my lower back to pull me tighter against him.

"How do you do that?" I ask.

"Hmm?" he questions.

I slide the loop of his mask off one of his ears so that I can see his entire face. "Make me want to kiss you all the time."

He laughs softly. "Must be a talent."

"One of many," I remind him, feeling his deep tone down to my toes.

This time, he's the one that closes the distance between us and presses his lips against mine. I wasn't lying. I could literally spend an entire day kissing this man and never get tired of it. Lifting me off my feet, he spins us around a few times before setting me back down. He gives me another quick kiss before stepping back and offering his elbow for me to loop my arm through.