She opened her eyes and met his awaiting ones.
"Why?” she asked jokingly, angling her head to make sure they had direct eye contact with one another. “You think I'm too pretty to be single?"
He laughed at her question, effectively making her blush. "I'm just wondering why that little heart of yours is so stubborn that you've never given any guy a chance to take care of it."
She frowned at the labeling of her heart as “stubborn.”
"Because I meet guys like Exhibit A," she replied with teasing judgment in her eyes.
It didn't take long for Tae Hyun to realize that she was referring to him as “Exhibit A.”
His eyes widened in shock.
"Me?"
The look on his face said it all: he couldn't believe her line of reasoning.
Yoori nodded as if that was the obvious answer.
"What's wrong with me?" he asked defensively, the drunkenness in his eyes somehow escalating with unbridled passion.
It was probably because Yoori was close to being wasted by alcohol because she wasted no time listing her gripes about him.
"You're impatient, insensitive, sarcastic, blunt, argumentative, and more importantly…you're mean."
He made a rude noise. Snow fell off his face when he lifted a chin at her. "You just described yourself, Princess."
It was Yoori's turn to be defensive.
"How am I mean?" she asked, snow falling from her face as well.
"You're impatient, insensitive, sarcastic, blunt, and argumentative. As I recall from a reliable source, all those qualities equate to someone being mean." His eyes became more defensive. "And you're drunk, not blind. How can you say all those things about me when you're laying down on rose petals while being surrounded by snow and Christmas lights?"
Yoori grimaced in guilt. He had a good point.
"But you asked what was wrong with you!" she combated weakly.
Tae Hyun regarded her with judgmental eyes. "Now I know why you're single. You don't have a single romantic bone in your body."
Her mouth dropped at his blunt statement. "That's not true!" Even though it was, she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of being right. Just because he could make her weak in the knees didn’t give him the right to diss her nonexistent mating ritual skills.
"Do you even know how to flirt?" It was like he was jabbing her with an eraser. It wasn't enough to harm her, but it was enough to annoy the hell out of her.
"Do you?" It was a stupid question because she knew he could. He could do it well in fact.
"Do you really have to ask that?"
She closed her eyes in annoyance, heeding the fact that she shouldn't have asked him such a dumb question. Moving back onto the topic of “abilities to flirt,” she said, "Well, of course I know how to flirt!"
"Prove it."
"P – Prove it?"
Tae Hyun nodded with a deviously seductive smile. "Prove it, Princess. Command my unyielding attention. Make me yearn for you. Make me wonder how I ever made it this far without you. Make me think about how miserable I'll be without you. Steal my stubborn heart."
"Wh – Why do you have so many bullet points?"
Tae Hyun closed his eyes in exasperation. "Just prove it," he said impatiently. "I dare you."
"Fine, I will!" Yoori shouted, though she didn't even know where to start. She took a moment to awkwardly stare at his smug face before she gave him a big fake smile, flipped her hair to the side and leaned just a little bit closer to him.
She’d show him...
"Hi, I'm Princess Choi Yoori," she said sneakily, happy that he would have to call her that name if he were to play along with the flirting. Her smile turned into a sexily awkward, but still somewhat sexy smile. "What's your name?"
"Getting attacked by ducks," he replied, holding in a chuckle of laughter.
Her sexy smile faded at the ridiculousness of his pseudonym. "You're 'Getting attacked by ducks’?"
The seriousness on his face remained. "Yeah…do you not like it?"
She spotted the challenging glimmer in his eyes. He was clearly trying to ruin her game.
That experienced bastard.
Well, she'd show him!
"No, no. I like 'Getting attacked by ducks.' I –" She halted and glared when she realized what he tricked her into saying. Not wanting to be made a fool and getting very impatient with him for messing with her, she shouted, "Give me another name!"
"Fine," he complied with a sheepish smile. "Then you can call me 'Sex.'"
Yoori stopped smiling at once.
"Which do you prefer, Princess Choi Yoori?" he prompted with a silky voice. He more than enjoyed the sight of her socially awkward self coming into play.
She gaped at him in bewilderment. "Do I prefer 'Sex' or 'Getting attacked by ducks’?"
She struggled to answer while trying to maintain her “game.” There were no fruits of labor for her valiant efforts.
"I—I—I…Hey Kwon Tae Hyun!" she bellowed when she concluded there was no “game” to be saved. "How am I supposed to flirt when you’re ruining my game?"
The nerve of this jerk!
"Okay, okay…" he mediated seriously. He rose up slightly, propped his elbow on the wooden foundation and rested his cheek onto one hand. He was gazing down at her directly now.
"Tae Hyun,” he replied charmingly, ready to enjoy her efforts. “My name is Kwon Tae Hyun."
Pleased that he was being cooperative, she reorganized her thoughts and sported another sexy smile.
Round 2!
She moved closer to where she was laying strictly beneath him. Staring up at him, she made sure the lashes of her big brown eyes would flutter every now and then to further exude the sex appeal she was trying to present. Apparently the effort gained its desired effect when Tae Hyun stiffened up marginally. He clearly realized she was a bit more aggressive than he originally gave her credit for. Though surprised, he seemed impressed with such aggressiveness. If she didn't know better, she would've thought he purposely led her down this topic of conversation with the sole intention of trying to get her to flirt with him...
"So Kwon Tae Hyun," Yoori began, making sure her sultry eyes held his. The snow and petals around her were definitely helping her appear more alluring. "Do you do all this for other girls often?"
"Only you, Princess Choi Yoori," he replied, his voice as alluring as ever. So alluring in fact, Yoori actually felt her heartbeat triple in speed.
Don't get flustered, Yoori, she coached herself. Show him who he’s messing with...
Keeping composure, she grabbed a blue rose petal and continued with her plan. She was determined to make him flustered.
"Why only me, Kwon Tae Hyun?" she asked again, this time running the rose petal over his chest. Though he was fully covered by the black jacket, she could've sworn she felt his muscles tense up in exhilaration when she did this. His face, however, remained as composed as ever.
"Because you're worth it," he replied, lifting his hand up and allowing it to caress her hair. Then, he allowed his single hand to cup her cheek. His free thumb continuously caressed her cheek as she froze at his actions.
Sweet Jesus, how was she going to survive this?
"Tae Hyun," she began uneasily, her cheeks reddening against his gentle touch.
Damn him for flirting back.
"Yeah?"
"If I didn't know better…I'd think that you're smitten with me already," she bluffed easily, trying so hard to regain her composure. It was working slightly… but only slightly. "Are you sure you want to see me flirt? I might drive you insane."
His eyes sparkled at this proposal. "Do your worst, Princess."
"You're drunk, aren't you?" she accused, catching the sparkle of adoration in his eyes. "That's why you're looking at me like I'm candy."
"So what if I am drunk?"
She knew he had to be. That was the only reason why he would be so flirty and touchy with her. At least that was what she tried to
convince herself of.
She didn't answer his question. She was still in competitive mode and her only goal was to win over him.
Her fingers found the zipper to his jacket. Helping herself, she started unzipping it. Very slowly, she allowed the tantalizing sound to ring through his ears before she stopped midway and allowed her hands to stroke the exposed area of his bare chest. He was wearing a white buttoned up shirt underneath and had left a few buttons undone.
"Has anyone told you how good looking you are?" She made sure her nails dug into his shirt when she asked this.
"No one like you," he replied, the composure on his face wavering when she moved her fingers about.
She knew this moment would be the perfect moment to give him a pick up line. "You're so hot, you'll burn me alive."
"We'll burn each other alive," he corrected, his breathing growing heavy.
"How is it possible that you don't have a girlfriend right now?" she asked, very much curious. He could have any girl he wanted. She didn't understand why he was still single.
He smiled, stroking her face. He didn't answer her question. He merely posed questions of his own.
“What would you do right now if I told you that you're the most amazing girl I've ever met?" She froze at his statement as his fingers ran through her snow-frosted hair. "Or if I told you right now that I've been so good all week because I wanted you to get your revenge on me for being your boss. That I wanted you to have your fun so that when this week ends, we can start over on a clean slate." His fingers moved along to her cheek, the flush of it heating up to its core. "Or what if I told you that I can't imagine life without you and that I've fallen for you?"
"I would have to test you to see how genuine you are," she replied, still in her flirting and competitive mode.
She was certain Tae Hyun was also in this competitive mode. She wasn't going to lose to him. She refused to. No matter how weak she felt, she wasn't going to lose to him.
"Test me?"
Yoori nodded, her head moving a couple of rose petals as she did this. "Short set of questions…bullet points…"
He smirked, knowing what she was planning on asking him. "Ask away."
Yoori smiled, allowing the silence to embrace them before beginning...
"Have I commanded your unyielding attention?"
"It's unwaveringly yours."
"…Made you yearn for me?"
"I've never wanted someone more."
"…Wondered how you came this far without me?"
"It was such a long journey without you."
"…Made you think about how miserable you'll be without me?"
"The thought rips me apart."
"…Have I stolen your stubborn heart?"
"Every inch of it, baby."
He answered every question without hesitation. The swiftness left Yoori overwhelmed with awe. He was amazing with his words, she'd give him that much. Even under acting pretenses, he was able to steal her breath away in more ways than one. His voice was also sexy to boot.
Damn him. Damn him for making her lose her senses.
While the silence and the grace of the snow suspended over them, Tae Hyun made sure to keep his enrapturing eyes locked with her for the entirety of the time they laid there. Seconds later, just when more snow began to descend upon them, he lowered himself, stopping only when his lips lingered above her yearning ones.
His warm breath hummed around her lips, leaving her breathless. She fought to keep her mouth from puckering up in anticipation. No matter how hard she tried though, she couldn't control herself. She was losing. She was losing to Tae Hyun's charms.
He dipped lower for her lips. “Have I stolen yours?"
Lost between a world of acting and a world of desire, Yoori's mind was entirely blank. All that she cared about were his lips. His amazingly gorgeous lips that were now descending down to claim hers.
Nothing mattered anymore.
Nothing mattered but him.
She parted her mouth right when their lips were ready to meet. She finally uttered words that would no doubt drive Tae Hyun insane.
"Every inch of—"
She was about to finish her sentence when something startling occurred.
Cracck.
Their eyes enlarged in sober urgency when they heard it.
Craccccck.
The sounds of wood cracking apart…
Craccccccccccccck.
The bridge was breaking apart!
"HAUL ASSSSSSSSSS!" they both shouted, awoken from their little dream world.
Tae Hyun grabbed Yoori's hand and without delay, they scurried off the deteriorating bridge like bats out of Wonderland Hell. Yoori screamed for dear life as they jumped back onto solid ground. Regaining their balance, Yoori and Tae Hyun watched in horror as the deteriorating bridge broke apart. The Christmas lights attached to it blinked in terror while the rose petals on it dove into the awaiting water. Shortly after, the sound of rumbling filtered into the sky and it was followed by a loud splash!
In a matter of seconds, the once solid bridge collapsed into the pond, splattered a billion drops of water into the sky, and submerged into the abyss before Yoori and Tae Hyun could even blink in disbelief.
It was long moments later, as the snow continued to peacefully frost over their heads and the pond remained as calm as ever with rose petals swimming above it, that Yoori parted her shocked lips.
“I think that this is a sign that we shouldn't hang out over a slew of water," Yoori said listlessly, clearly recalling the leaky boat incident at the lake house.
"One of these days,” Tae Hyun provided mindlessly, his face pale from what just took place. “The world is going to drown us."
When Yoori gathered her senses and rationale, she turned back to Tae Hyun. He seemed to have also gathered his senses.
"I can't believe you took me out on a faulty bridge," she accused, the drunkenness returning to her eyes.
He gaped at her, the drunkenness also returning to him. "This is my fault?" Cursing in disbelief, he turned around and started to venture out of their secret garden. "I can't believe this…" he groaned to himself.
"This is the last time I lay anywhere with you!" she declared, following him as he travelled back out into the trees.
Apparently their little Winter Wonderland was more than over.
"As I seem to recall, the breaking occurred on your side. Why didn't you notice?” Tae Hyun accused.
"How could I notice anything when your drunken self was leaning over me? You were my distraction!"
"Distraction?" He nearly tripped over a tree branch when he shouted back at her. "Who the hell was running a freaking rose petal down my chest?"
"You dared me to be flirty!"
"I dared you to flirt. I didn't dare you to tease me!" His pace accelerated.
She jumped over a bush and snorted rudely. "I wasn't the only one teasing, Mr. Touchy Fingers!"
"Oh, here we go again," Tae Hyun stated, already running up a small hill.
Yoori was ready to yell something else at him until she saw that once he reached the top of the hill, he tumbled over slightly.
"Tae Hyun!" Yoori shouted, eyes wide with worry. Running up the small hill, she rushed to Tae Hyun, who was lying on his side on the ground. "Tae Hyun! Tae Hyun! Are you okay?" she cried frantically, turning him onto his back and gently slapping his face awake. "Tae Hyun!” she called, trying to shake him awake. “Are you okay? Wake up, wake up!"
Opening his drowsy eyes, he groaned. "Shit…I think I drank too much."
Her concern for his safety was mixed with lividness.
"You…you idiot!" she screamed, shaking him with worry still pulsing within her. If he couldn't handle the damn alcohol, why the hell did he force himself to drink so much? "Why'd you drink so much to the point where you can't even stand now?"
"I wanted to get you drunk," he slurred, his eyelids seemingly becoming too heavy for him.
"Why?"
"‘Cau
se you lie too much when you're sober."
"I lie too much?” Yoori was flabbergasted. “What are you talking about?"
Rather than answering, Tae Hyun merely groaned in weariness. She realized then that he was a lost cause. She wanted to win and get the guy drunk but she didn't want to take care of him.
Damn it. Damn the shittiness of her luck.
"Let's go home," she whispered, still trying to shake him awake. She made the effort to lift his arm up and wrap it across her shoulder. While holding him close to her, she stood up and allowed him to use her as a crutch to stand up.
"Can I sleep on the warm bed tonight?" he asked meekly, nearly tripping over when they began to walk out onto the pathway.
"Yeah, your punishment ends at midnight," she replied, finding it difficult to hold onto him. It didn't help that she was faintly drunk herself.
"Good,” he conceded, his hands digging into his pocket for his car key. “Let's go home."
"You're not driving!" Yoori said at once, grabbing the keys from his grasp.
"I'm fiiine!" he slurred, trying to hold onto the keys but to no avail.
She made sure the keys were out of reach. "No! Friends don’t let friends drive drunk!"
"What'd you just call me?" he screamed, his face grimacing when she referred to him as a “friend.”
"I'm going to call Kang Min," she declared, ignoring him. Still holding on to him as best as she could, she took out her Blackberry and began to dial.
"Why?" Tae Hyun asked absently.
"So he can come pick us up…duh!" She grimaced at her usage of the word “duh.” Apparently she had too much to drink as well. It wasn't enough to get her drunk off her ass, but it was enough to mess with her vocabulary and apparently give her mood swings with Tae Hyun.
"Oh…" Tae Hyun nodded before saying, "Well, call Jae Won too! Someone needs to take the Mercedes back!"
"Oh ho, ho, ho, yeah,” she agreed, pressing the Blackberry closer to her ear. “I don't want to leave my poor baby here."
Tae Hyun narrowed his drowsy eyes onto her. "Hey Santa Claus, did you just call my car your baby?"
She paused before nervously laughing. "Err, I meant yours."
No, she loved his car and she definitely meant her baby.
The Fall of Gods (A Welcome to the Underworld Novel, Book 2) Page 27
