Dara left me all alone.

I woke up with the glaring emptiness of her side on my bed, our bed. , I really messed up last night. I wish I could get along with her idea that Ilwoo doesn’t like her, but I can't. He really looks at her differently, like he wanted to be close to her.

I brushed a hand all over my face as I sat up, feeling more cold as the blanket fell down on my waist. If only I played my cards right, I would have had Dara panting under me last night and waking up between her thighs this morning.

And now I have a massive .

What am I, a freaking teenager? I have a girlfriend who should be taking care of this, but all I have is my trusty old hand right now.

I soothed my raging need for release as I pumped myself thinking of Dara. Just the thought of her lips travelling down my crotch with wet kisses already had me pumping like a madman.

And when I felt the sticky jetting off my , I exhaled heavily as I craved for Dara’s tiny hands wrapped around me instead.

Time for a second round on my shower...or just a cold shower maybe.

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Dara’s cute little is perched on the kitchen counter when I left my room. Her legs are swaying back and forth, looking on at the expanse of my kitchen. I smelled freshly baked bread and saw the brown bag, which only meant my girl did not really leave me. She just went to get our breakfast from our trusty baker boy.

She has her back against me, so I slowly crept to her with my arms circling her waist.

“I thought you left.” My nose instantly buried in her neck and I get the whiff of her natural scent. You’d think after two rounds of dealing with my morning wood would be enough, but here I go again with my rising to the occasion.

Dara set her coffee cup beside her and combed my hair as she pressed a kiss on my right temple. “You know I won’t do that to you, right?”

And how those words bring calm to me.

I really should settle my mind when it comes to her. Dara won’t hurt, won’t leave me. Not anymore. 

Especially with what I have in place for the coming months. The thought made my heart beat faster and my grin widened. 

“I have bagels and coffee for you, babe.” She whispered tenderly to my ears as I continued to nestle on her chest. She feels good. So ing good, I can live my life just this way.

“Eight more minutes, baby.” I muttered as I let my lips start showering her chest and neck with kisses that tell her how much I adore her.

I can feel her giggling as it vibrates on her chest and that made me cup her cheeks and go for the kill. Just the feel of her soft lips on mine is already making me feel dizzy. God, I don’t ever want to be away from her. Not in this lifetime.

When our lips parted, my heart opened up to her. Time to set things right. “I’m sorry about last night, Dee. I’m an inconsiderate .”

Dara’s eyes glistened before me as she brushed the stray hair around my face and latched our foreheads together. “I’m sorry for giving you a hard time too. I was just so tired last night and I wasn’t really in the mood to talk about it.”

“There’s nothing to talk about. It was all on me, baby. I know you can handle yourself just fine. But will you promise me one thing, Dee?”

Her eyes searched mine, as if trying to guess what I wanted to tell her. “If it’s beyond reason, sure.”

I grinned back at her. I love it when she’s feisty like that. Makes things interesting in bed, like how I wanted this talk to end.

“Tell me if anyone’s making you feel uncomfortable, okay? I can’t stop you from being around guys who’ll definitely see how you’re the most beautiful girl in the world.”

Her eyes rolled at that, and her hand slapped my chest lightly.

“But if ever someone starts making you feel uncomfortable, let me know right away, okay? Let me take care of it, of you. Because that’s what I will be doing from now on. I’ll take care of you.”

She bit her lower lip to stifle a huge smile, I know that for sure. In lieu of an answer, she wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me for a kiss.

And now my promise is sealed with a kiss.

--------

I tried to bargain one more night with Dara, but she pleaded heavily for personal space. And after rounds of rumpling my bed to make up for the cold night and morning we just had, I decided to let her go.

Besides, I need to restock my groceries.

Hoon asked if I could join his trip to the grocery earlier, but my nap turned to a full-blown three-hour sleep. After apologizing to him and Jinwoo, I headed out in the cold night to do my task.

Walking to the corner store of our building, I took out my phone and called Dara.

“Hey, baby. Did I wake you up?” Dara said she wanted to sleep the entire weekend before returning to my place for another week on Monday. I considered asking