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Kitty wore a path into the sand. Her sandals had long since been discarded somewhere and the night breeze had made a mess of her hair which was currently blowing into her hair and eyes. With a frustrated grunt she shoved the mass of waves aside in a failed attempt to wrangle the untamable locks through sheer will alone. Sheer will and her boiling blood.
I know you mean well but you're trying to fit into a world you don't understand.
Her footsteps faltered, breath hitching just slightly. Why hadn't she said anything? She should've snapped back right there on that fancy yacht. She should've told Mr. Moon off and put him in his place. She was good enough. She could fit in. She belonged!
Her shoulders dropped.
But did she? She really didn't have it in her to lie to herself anymore. Or pretend to be something she wasn't. At least not here on this beach where she was alone. It was true that she had been messing up all summer. She'd failed to make things easier for the tour staff with her clumsiness. None of them had been charmed or even very fond of her perkiness either. In fact she knew they found her presence to be a nuisance. Mr. Moon might not have said it out right but she wasn't dumb. She could read between the lines.
He thought she wasn't good enough. Definitely not worth the extra money he had to fork out because of her unexpected presence on the tour. And certainly not enough–not worthy–worthy– of his youngest son. His Heir.
The love of her life.
Kitty's arms wrapped around herself protectively as she recalled the spark of disappointment in Minho's eyes when she accidentally spilled that drink on Eunice. She'd really just wanted to help.
Things had been...good. For the most part anyway. A little awkward but mostly good. In fact when it was just her and Minho and everything unspoken between them then it was downright euphoric. Then she could just bask in the soft rumble of his voice and revel in how freely they could touch each other now. They were so close to crossing that final boundary.
But, of course, it was her fault for messing that up too. She really had the worst luck and timing. Every time she tried to tell him how she truly felt, what she truly wanted, they were interrupted. And the rare times when they weren't, she found herself overwhelmed by a deep sense of dread. Of fear.
She didn't even know why. She wanted this. She wanted him. She didn't think she'd ever wanted anything more. But did he want her?
She knew how he had felt about her at one point. He'd confessed it to her himself. But so much had happened between then and now. She messed up so much so how could he possibly still have those feelings for her? She had to be wrong. She had to be reading too much into his looks and touches and soft smiles. She had–
"Kitty!"
She started violently at the voice, her heart leaping to her throat as she spun to face the person it belonged to.
Minho.
Her breath stalled.
He made his way toward her at a quick pace, his face twisted with worry. Although she couldn't miss the relief in his dark eyes. It was only then she realized that she'd left the party without informing anyone.
How long had he been searching for her? She couldn't even remember how long she had been out here. But it had definitely been a while. How had he even found her?
"There you are, Covey," he paused to catch his breath when he finally stopped in front of her, just a foot away. Kitty could do nothing but stare in disbelief. At his wind blown hair, his untucked shirt and his wrinkled jacket. He was a mess. Did he even realize? She knew how much he loved his appearance. How much work he put into making himself look good. Yet he constantly ruined it for her.
So how could she be wrong about his feelings for her. And why the hell was she so terrified?
Minho straightened and gave her a quick once over before levelling her with a stern glare. "Why on Earth did you run off like that without telling me? You think it's easy to find you on this massive ass beach? Look!" He reached down and pulled off one side of his shiny black shoes, turning it up side down. Sand poured out. "These cost three thousand dollars, Covey! I know you're not aware of how much that is with your limited knowledge on finances but it's a lot! And now they're ruined thanks to you!"
He tossed the shoes aside. Probably wherever hers were. She didn't follow the objects flying through the air to find out anyway. Instead she stared at the boy in front of her, her heart rate rising the longer she held his annoyed gaze. Because why was he always...here? How did he always manage to show up right on time? And how could he not see that every time he appeared just when she needed him–needed someone– she couldn't help but fall even more deeply in love with him.
Even while he was currently insulting her knowledge and yelling at her about shoes, she just...
"Are you even listening to–oof!"
Minho's entire body rocked back, barely able to catch his balance or kelp himself upright as she tackled him. The moment her body aligned with his, warm and solid and there, Kitty breathed a long sigh of contentment. This was what she needed. Just them. Together. No background noise. No fear.
Just warmth and safety.
Her arms tightened around his back instinctively as she burrowed her face into his chest, inhaling is familiar expensive cologne. The only thing that made the moment better was when he quickly got over his initial surprise and tentatively returned her hug. His heavy arms wrapped around her shoulders, one large hand gently petting her hair.
"What's wrong?"
Her eyes drifted close at the soothing vibration of his voice against her cheek. She shook her head. "Nothing. Just...thank you."
She could hear the frown in his words. "For what?"
"For..." She took another long breath. "Just for being here."
Minho pulled back just enough to meet her eyes. "Why'd you run off? Was it my dad? I saw him talking to you earlier. I swear to god if he–"
Kitty quickly shook her head. "No, it's not..." She sighed softly. "I mean, yes, he's a jerk but–"
Minho instantly stiffened, his expression morphing into something murderous but she quickly tightened her hold on him before he could storm back to the yacht and cause a scene.
"But–" she reiterated, "I'm okay."
"What did he say to you?"
"It doesn't matter. I'm fine. I promise."
"Covey."
"I'm really fine."
She could tell he didn't believe her for one second but as always, he didn't push any more. Instead he expelled a harsh breath through his nose and nodded.
"Okay." He gave her another stern look. "Since you don't want to tell me what he said then I'm just going to assume it was nothing good. You don't need to take anything he says seriously, okay? I never do."
"Okay," she offered him a reassuring smile, her heart fluttering when his gaze softened and his lips hooked up on one side.
She knew the exact moment he realized what she had been realizing. That they were still holding each other. She could feel it in the sudden stillness of his body, all frozen except for the shallow rising of his chest and his fingers that's grazed the back of her neck and flexed. Her breaths tightened as his gaze dipped before bouncing back up and she shamelessly watch the way his throat bobbed a hard swallow.
Her entire body warmed. From the tips of her ears all the way to her toes. Her blood flowing like syrup through her veins. Her breathing sharpening. And when her lips parted, Minho's eyes followed the movement, as if he couldn't help himself. Her heart accelerated at the thought of him being just as helpless as she was.
"Minho.." She spoke his name on a soft breath.
He leaned in. To hear better? Or just to be closer? It didn't matter anyway.
"Yeah?"
"I..."
She tried to think, to remember what she was supposed to say. She had rehearsed her confession countless times yet when it was finally the perfect time to be brave and deliver it, her brain was completely blank.
"I'm..." She tried again.
"Kitty." He just said one word. Softly. Encouragingly.
Her breath stuttered at it. She couldn't deny that she loved when he used her last name. She really did. It was their thing. In fact her heart leapt knowing that there was something only he called her. Something just between them. And yet...
There was always something that shifted in the air when he used her name. It shouldn't even make sense because that's what everyone she cared for addressed her as. Her preferred nickname.
But Minho. It was different with him. Because she knew Kitty from him meant something infinitely deeper. Something real. No pretenses. No walls. Just emotions and truth.
So she needed to be truthful to him too.
She sucked in a breath. It failed to calm her racing heart. Failed to give her the right words.
"Our friendship means–"
Minho stilled. Her heart dropped as his eyes widened for all of a second before filling with disbelief. Kitty quickly tried to continue but she stumbled over her words seeing the walls forming in his eyes as he yanked away from her. Like she disgusted him.
Panic slithered through her flesh. "Minho–"
He took a couple steps away from her and combed his fingers through his hair. She noticed the way his hands trembled. Seeing that only made her feel worse.
She was messing this up so badly. "Minho–"
"I don't know what you want from me, Covey." He couldn't sound more defeated if he tried. She shook her head. "I don't know what game you're playing but I don't want to do it anymore, okay?"
She gasped. "This isn't a game–"
He exploded. "Then what is it?!"
Kitty could only blink, stunned at his outburst. Minho rarely raised his voice. Especially at her. How did this get so bad so quickly? She needed to regain some semblance of control before–
"What is this then, Covey?" he gestured between them, his voice notably softer. "Hm? What are we doing then? Are we still friends? After everything?" He took another step away and Kitty felt the distance like a chasm opening between them. "Why did you ask to join me is nothing is even going to...?" His breath caught over the words.
Kitty couldn't seem to find her words. She took a step forward, needing to physically close the space between them even if she couldn't do the same emotionally.
Minho stepped back, widening it.
He shoved his hands into his pockets. "I...you have to know how I..." His gaze was accusing. "Is that why?" He jabbed on in halted sentences. But she didn't need him to say everything. She knew. "Because you know how much I...you know I would do anything for you? But that...that doesn't give you the right to play with my feelings–"
She quickly shook her head, vehemently denying it. "That's not–! I'm not–! I–!" She grappled for words. "You're my friend, I would never...!"
He scoffed. "Friends." He spat the word out like it personally offended him.
Kitty's panicked was rising to dangerous levels. "That's not what I–"
"Then what?!"
She flinched this time. Because this time he didn't lower his voice. This one he advanced. Furious. Hurt. "Just stop with the mixed signals already!"
"I'm not–"
"Yes, you are! And I've had enough of it, okay! If you can't even–!"
Kitty didn't let him finish. She didn't even think. She just moved, letting her instinct take over. She closed the space between and reached out, grabbing his cheeks. Minho didn't resist when she pulled his face down to hers, effectively cutting off his words and simultaneously shutting down her brain when his mouth smashed against hers.
Time instantly slowed. Or ceased to exist altogether.
Soft.
It was the only word that Kitty could think of.
Minho's lips were the softest lips she'd ever felt.
He inhaled sharply against her but didn't pull away. He didn't touch her either.
That wouldn't do. She needed him to kiss her back. She desperately needed all that passion from a moment ago to be channelled into his mouth and hands. She knew for a fact that he was good at it. She'd witnessed him in action many times. With Madison. With Stella.
She envied them. And now she needed this. They both needed this. It was long overdue.
Kitty pulled back slightly. Just enough to meet his eyes and face the storm of emotions she found within them. Surprise. Fear. Anger. Disbelief. And need. So much need and so many questions swirling around inside those dark depths.
She would answer them later. The time for talking was over.
"Kiss me."
Her soft command seemed to kick start his brain. He moved, haltingly, his hands settling on her waist almost unconsciously. Pleasure swept through her as he dragged her as close as he possibly could. Until there was no space between them. Until Kitty's body fit against his like the puzzle piece that had been missing.
"Kitty–"
She shook her head. No more talking. If she didn't try to explain then there would be no more risk of messing this up.
Kitty rocked up unto her toes, until they breathed the same air, noses and lips brushing past each other. Minho's hold tightened to something almost deliciously painful. A soft sound left him. She couldn't quite place it. A whimper or maybe a moan. Definitely something full of the same emotion tightening her chest in that moment.
"Minho," she urged.
He was already leaning in, his mouth slanting across hers, their breaths catching together, eyes falling closed as instinct and senses took control.
And Minho kissed her.
Not softly or slowly or even gently. He attacked her like she'd been starving him all of his life. Like this was their last moment on Earth and he would never have another chance. He kissed her breathless. Senseless. She should have been attempting to breathe but she could only try to keep up. To give back as good as she got while savoring the smell and taste and feel of him. Everywhere. He invaded every one of her senses. He overtook her mind.
She wanted nothing else in life.
Because in that moment there was nothing better than her and him under the stars with the wind messing up their hair and the sand in their toes. There was nothing better than the ache in her heart and the fuzzy feeling in her soul and her brain chanting finally finally finally!
Kitty's toes gave in. She rolled back onto her soles. Minho followed her, refusing to break their kiss.
"Minho," she gasped, gently pushing at his chest. Because as much as she wanted him to kiss her forever, her lungs were screaming at her that she was still, in fact, human and needed that annoying thing called air.
He obliged, pulling back barely an inch. Just enough for them to greedily gulp in a few mouthfuls of air. Close enough that his lips still brushed against hers with each breath. His forehead rest against hers, his chest heaving even more violently than hers.
Kitty stared, mesmerized by his breathlessness. Gently–reverently– she brushed his hair away from his face, her fingers skimming over his soft pale skin. His cheeks. His swollen lips. Lips she'd just kissed.
He leaned into her touch, encouraging her explorations, those heavy lidded dark eyes catching hers. Her breath shook, heart swelling with something soft. Something large. Something she knew all too well. And she could see the same emotions reflected in his eyes.
She didn't need to hear the words that she could see written all over his face. She didn't even need to guess what emotions cloaked his entire body. That look–like he wanted to drown in her–was louder than thunder. She could only wonder if he understood her emotions too. Could he tell how much her heart longed for him? Or how much her body ached for the warmth of his? Or how desperately she wanted to say everything in her heart?
She couldn't tell.
Because Minho was already leaning back in for seconds. His kisses now softer and slower than the last as he savoured the limited time they had on this beach.
Kitty would tell him.
The tour was over. School started in two days and this moment was too precious to risk ruining with her words. But she would definitely tell him everything she'd been wanting to say for months.
Right now however...
She sighed contentedly as he left gentle kisses across her jaw and down her neck before returning to her lips.
Right now she was more than satisfied with just him in her arms, the gentle breeze at their backs and their mouths moving in time to the gentle lapping of the waves.