"I want to know why you do it."
"Why I do what." he asked, stripping off his overcoat.
He flung it over the back of the couch without much thought as he began unbuttoning his shirt.
"Why you always save me. Every time I'm in trouble you always come...
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The chill of Merene's morning seeping through the sheets is what woke me. Groaning softly, I stretched, extending an arm out to pat the unexpectedly empty half of the bed where I knew I should have found my bonded. Blinking tiredly, I forced my eyes open, grateful for once for the fog that obscured enough of the blinding bright rising sunlight. I knew someone had opened the curtains on purpose. I lifted my head, searching the quiet room only to realize my suspicions were correct. I was alone.
I rubbed my eyes, trying to work the sleep out of them as I sat up. A gentle caress under my jaw made me pause, but as quickly as the touch came, it disappeared. That was... strange. A sudden whip of the curtains across the room made me jump. I tugged the bed sheets to my chest as if they would protect me as the room was once again plunged into darkness.
"What the-"
"Hmm. I guess he wasn't kidding when he said they have a mind of their own sometimes."
I jerked my head to the right, finding Yunho leaning against the doorframe to the bathroom. The light of the bathroom behind him was the only source to filter into the room now, bathing him and I in the soft yellow glow. He wore nothing except a pair of leather pants that clung low to his narrow hips, the ties in the front undone as if he'd slipped them on without even bothering to finish the job. The shade of his hair was darker after bathing, the wet strands clinging to his forehead. His arms were crossed over his bare chest while his eyes were trained on the curtains that were still swinging with the aggressive closure moments earlier. I swapped my attention between the two, still unsure what exactly just happened.
"What are you talking about?"
Slowly he dragged his gaze over to me.
"Yeo's shadows."
Another slow drag over my cheek sent goosebumps skittering across my flesh. I could feel them around me, buzzing excitedly with Yunho's acknowledgement of their presence. The third caress brushed my throat, triggering a full body shiver. I bat away the few tendrils reaching for me again, frowning as Yunho chuckled.
"Are they always like this?"
He shrugged. "You'll have to ask Yeosang. They're an extension of him after all. We'll have you learn to wield them properly soon enough."
"More training." I grumbled, turning my attention back to him. "Is that why you're up so early?"
"No rest for the dedicated."
The noise I let out was noncommittal as I raked my eyes over him again. His hair was beginning to dry, bits of it curling slightly in an adorable way that was very non-Yunho in fashion. Toned upper body on full display, still deliciously damp from the humidity. Leather pants hugging his thighs tightly, only to loosen around his waist where his ties hung open teasingly. There probably should have been some shame with how openly I ogled him, but one glance whisked the thought away when I noticed he did the same to me.
