...in a cage

..."you know what, I don't mind at all!"

.

.

As if by some unspoken agreement, they both sat resting their backs on the sofa each holding a glass of wine in their hand..

Why did her lapse of attention have to happen now, was it the new look, did she inhale something in the dye having stayed in the salon for hours..

Up until now she's never had problems with her desires, she kept it in check by not thinking about it. Buried under near depression, sadness, tiredness and what felt like being stock on a wheel, like a mouse in a cage, she had no time to think of intimacies on any level.

Su turned staring at her for several long seconds like he was trying to figure out what she could be thinking.

"You don't have to fight to hide how you feel around me." He said at last.

Tale turned towards him to see him smiling at her, a smile filled with understanding. "I'm fighting myself."

"Do you want to talk about what is going on with you?" He asked finally.

"Well-" She sat up as she tilted her head imperceptibly and try to find the right words to describe what she was actually feeling. "-no, I'm not entirely sure." She lied. She was too embarrassed right now to voice it out.

"We could head on upstairs, I have no doubt I can make you certain in minutes," He watched her eyes go round in shock and her mouth fall open and enjoyed every bit of it.

The frown he's now come to know and like started to form on her face as she stood up after giving him an almost gentle shove. "You are...How can you just say that?" She tried to sound annoyed and failed, so she headed for the door but not before he saw her try to hide a shy smile.

He was in her way in seconds. He grabbed her hands and pulled her towards him.

"It's always entertaining to see you flustered, you know," he said on a whisper.

"Shut up while I'm still nice," Her tone was soft but her voice steadier than it had been few moments ago letting him know she was okay.

His plan worked. With Tale, all one needed to do to distract her from her thoughts was make her flustered.

She now leaned against his chest closing her eyes and breathing in the scent of him mixed with the smell of books.

"Hey," he lifted her head to hold it in his hands, keeping her face close to his. "I am not blind to the fact that this all new to you and I'm sorry you have to battle your feelings. But remember, you run the show, you get to say and decide when and where, I'm ready when you are," she gave him a weak smile and a nod placing a hand on his face.

Her face turned serious. "How about...now, here?" Tracing a finger at the hem of his shirt, her touch was feather light but it sure sent waves through him.

When his eyes grew wide with shock it was her turn to laugh. She freed her hands from his and ran for the door, unsuccessfully for the second time that night, no thanks to his long strides.

He grabbed her arm and turned her towards him in one swift move. It amused him so much that she was already back to her normal self and enough so to play him like that. "You just broke my heart, that was a petty move."

"I make no apologies, like my people do say. Do me , I do you," she laughed a little and let our a sigh.

Su smiled back and absently stroked her hair. He cupped a hand under her chin and lifted her face to his. At this very second he couldn't remember her ever looking more beautiful. "This color suits you well," he complimented her again.

A smile was starting to form on her lips but like some sort of character switch she closed her mouth and looked rather serious. "What are we doing, you should be in bed," she broke free from him shaking her head in the negative.

"What?" Su Yan looked genuinely lost for a moment.

"Uh, long day at the site, you need at least a good six hours worth of sleep, now off to bed."

She said it in a tone that didn't leave room for argument, so he said nothing.

"Come on," she said leading the way to the door.

"Can I get my wine at least?" They both turned back to look at the bottle that was sitting coldly on the floor.

She went back to pick it up as well as the glasses, downing her own drink she had left idle at once.

Su Yan grinned and walked out of the library with Tale following closely behind.

"Sleep well okay," she greeted without stopping as they reached in front of the door to Woo Jin's room.

"Wait," he called. She turned with raised brows, a half empty wine bottle in one hand and two empty glasses in the other.

For a second they just stood there looking at each other then he walked towards her. Awareness snapped into her eyes when she knew what he was about to do.

He gave her a kiss on her forehead and another on her cheeks, and a last one on her lips as quickly as he had started it.

It took more more strength for her to not hold on to drop the bottle and glasses she held on to than it did quitting her job.

"Good night, beautiful." He turned and left , closing the door to the room quietly behind him.

How was she to keep her desires and hormones in check when he just goes ahead and do that all the time she wandered, still standing in the spot he had left her. "God help me, or not." She whispered.

She turned and headed for the kitchen before finally retiring to the room that now felt like hers with a smile on her face.

Once she stepped inside with a child- like giggle she allowed herself a moment to do a little silly dance before finally going off to bed.