Chapter 17: Nobody Sleeps

I stood up first.

The rye was down to an inch, and the fire had settled to coals.

"Rule four," I said.

They both looked up at me from the floor.

"Nobody sleeps in my bed." I took off my glasses and put them on the mantel. "I'm repealing it."

Hyunjin's mouth opened.

"Tonight nobody sleeps at all," I said. "That's the new rule. Bring the lamp."

I pushed my bedroom door wide open and left it that way.

The lamp went on the nightstand, and the room went gold.

Nothing was hidden.

The sheets were old flannel and the quilt was my grandmother's.

The tabby sat on the dresser, judging us.

"Out," I told her. She went.

Hyunjin stood in the doorway, so tall that he filled it, with the light behind him.

"Nobody likes a tall man standing in my light," I said.

He grinned, slow and delighted.

"Then I'll stand somewhere else."

"No. Come here. I've changed my mind. You can stand in my light all you like."

He crossed the room in two steps.

I took his face in both hands and kissed him hard.

He made a noise against my mouth and picked me up by the waist.

My feet left the floor.

"Put me down. I'm forty-nine."

"No."

He carried me to the bed and put me on my back.

Chan came in behind him and sat on the edge of the mattress.

He took off my boots, one lace at a time.

"You're slow," I said.

"I'm thorough."

He pulled my jeans down my legs, and I lifted my hips for him.

Hyunjin was already pulling my hoodie over my head, and my band tee after it.

Their hands were everywhere. Chan's were rough and square and Hyunjin's were long and quick.

I lay there in my bra and underwear with the tattoo bare on my chest.

Neither of them looked away from it.

"Three of Swords," Hyunjin said.

He put his lips on it, right over the heart.

Chan pulled off his shirt, and I saw the bandage, and the bruise, yellow and green around the edges.

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