Page 110 of The Order of the Bitter Hunt

“It’s fine.”

I place my hand over his, even though I don’t know how much comfort it can bring. I’m cold, and he’s warm. He can’t crave my touch the way I do his, but he leans into it, anyway. I think I spot a small smile on his lips.

“It’s scary, but we’re here together. We can’t lose sight of that.”

He turns his head, finally looking at me. “We won’t. Even if I have no one else, I have you.”

“You do.”

“And you have me too.”

There’s comfort in the quiet.

After a few moments, we leave the car. I don’t realize where we’re going until we’re already on the path. Walking to my dormitory seems like the obvious answer, but I feel hesitation between us.

We stop at the diverging roads, and I meet his gaze with an uncertain look. He mirrors it with a perplexed expression of his own.

The wind blows through his hair, mussing his styled tresses. “Do you uh… wanna come over?”

I’m relieved I don’t have to pose the idea myself. That would be impolite, and I already had to do it once before, thanks to the demon attack. There’s no reason to join him now, but I want to keep him close.

“I thought you would never ask.” I take his hand and pull him toward his dormitory—the exact opposite way of mine.

“Oh?” He laughs. “You’ve been waiting for it? You had no trouble inviting yourself last time.”

“That was an emergency.”

“What if I say this is an emergency?”

“Then I’ll ask what sort of emergency this could be.”

His thumb rubs against the back of my hand, trailing fire with every stroke. “I want to be alone with you.”

The words are simple, but there’s weight behind them, and the butterflies in my stomach don’t come from fear—instead, they’re creatures of desire. The hint of anxiety in my bones comes only from the fundamental misunderstanding of what we are.

Does he realize what he means to me? Do I mean the same to him?

I swallow thickly. “Then it’s your lucky day.”

Stumbling into Jun’s dormitory is becoming familiar. I peel off my outer layers, leaving them on the coat rack by the door, and pad into the room.

“Do you think…”

I turn to face him, lifting a brow. “Yes?”

“We can shower together,” he says, his eyes flashing red. It’s gone before I know it. “If you want to.”

“I didn’t realize you were so interested in water conservation.” I smile slyly and bend over to peel off my stockings. “Good for you.”

“You still have a lot to learn about me.” He steps closer, his eyes never leaving mine, and kneels on the floor before me.

“Is that so? I’ve known you for a long time, Jun-seong Park.” I stand upright, perfectly still. “But I look forward to you teaching me more.”

His touches are tender as he finishes the job I started, fingers grazing against my thighs and calves as he removes mystockings. He’s never looked better than he does here, staring up at me with darkened eyes, parted lips, pure hunger.

I touch his horns, such a fleeting act, and he’s back on his feet with preternatural speed.

It’s strange to be with Jun—feelings of knowing, without ever speaking, pass between us. There’s a need to devour in his eyes that speaks for itself, and I nod, permitting something he doesn’t have to put into words. I expect him to claim me, to show how ravenous he is, but the heated touch doesn’t come.