2 ❤️🔥 The Cloud's Embrace of Trust
Content Warning: This chapter contains explicit sexual content and intimate scenes. Reader discretion is advised.
Yun Yuhua lay still on the ground, her gaze fixed on Seo Ju as he undressed her, each movement slow and deliberate, as if savoring the moment. His lips brushed her skin where the fabric had been with a soft kiss, like a vow to remember every inch of her. One hand slid gently to untie the knot of her jeogori, while the other traced her body with reverence, soft, almost hesitant, as though she were something sacred he feared to break. The firelight flickered across her, the warmth seeping into her chilled limbs, and with each gentle stroke, her body awakened, a quiet heat spreading beneath her skin.
Seo Ju's eyes lingered on her, not just admiring the beauty before him, but the woman who had unknowingly dismantled the walls he had spent so long building. He had confessed his fear to her not long ago, a vulnerability he had never shown before, and she had accepted him, seen him—not as the Crown Prince or the mask he wore, but as Seo Ju, the man. Her gaze had shifted then, from caution to trust, from wariness to a deep, unspoken understanding. And it was in this moment that he finally allowed himself to feel the same, free to love her completely, to admire her, and to be his truest self.
As his fingers untied the knot of her jeogori, the fabric slipped down her shoulders, revealing the smooth curve of her breasts, the delicate hollows beneath her arms. Seo Ju stilled, his breath catching as he drank her in. The firelight danced on her skin, casting a soft glow over her, and for a moment, he could not move. He leaned down then, pressing a kiss to the slope of her collarbone, his lips tracing a path slowly toward her chest, as though learning her all over again.
His hand moved lower, fingers searching for the ribbon of her chima. With a swift tug, he loosened it, letting the fabric slip down her hips, exposing the rest of her to the night air. He sat back, his gaze lingering, a quiet reverence in his eyes. Yun Yuhua, flushed and breathless, turned her face away and covered her eyes with her hands.
Seo Ju's laughter was soft, low, and full of affection.
"What are you hiding from?" he asked, a teasing look in his eyes, yet there was a tenderness that made her heart race.
He was already undoing the ties of his own robe, his movements slower now, more deliberate, as if giving her the time she needed. When he leaned in again, his body now bare, he hovered above her, wordless, his silence speaking volumes. The weight of his gaze, heavy with emotion, made her heart race. What was he thinking? What did he feel in this moment?
Yun Yuhua peeked at him, and his face was close—close enough to steal her breath, to steal her thoughts. He reached for her wrists, gently pulling her hands away from her face.
"Yuhua, will you trust me?" he asked, his hands steady as he held her, unwavering in his actions.
"I trust you," she whispered unsteadily. Without another word, he slid his hands beneath her arms, lifting her into his lap. She gasped as her body settled over him, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Seo Ju!" she shouted while her eyes squeezed shut and her body found its place over him. Her breasts swayed in front of his face, and he cupped one, his thumb brushing the hardened peak, sending a ripple of sensation through her. He was gentle, his touch tender, but it was clear he was no longer holding back.
On the other hand, he positioned himself, the head of his length pressing against her warmth. His gaze never left her face as he guided her slowly down, inch by inch, until he was fully inside. The sensation was overwhelming, both sweet and intense. She moaned, her body stretching to accommodate him. It stung, but it was fleeting, replaced by a deep, burning heat that filled every part of her.
For a moment, neither of them moved. They were both caught in the quiet intensity of the connection, the world outside fading away. Then, Seo Ju began to move, his thrusts slow, deep, each one filled with intent. She gasped softly, the heat between them building, the sharp edge of discomfort slowly giving way to something more. Each movement brought them closer, until it felt as if they were no longer two separate beings, but one—a shared rhythm that spoke of their deepest desires.
Her breath caught with each deep, deliberate stroke, blurring the lines between pain and pleasure, until the pain faded, leaving only the warmth of their unity. She moaned softly at first, then louder, as the tension in her body began to melt away. With every breath, every whisper of his name, she realized she was no longer hiding from him. She had given him her heart the moment he had shown her his own.
In this moment, there was no more hesitation, no more fear. Seo Ju was no longer just a prince or a mask. He was the man she loved, the one who held her heart in his hands, gently but completely. His breath hitched as he bit her lower lip, a silent affirmation that, after all the waiting, it was finally happening.
"I love you," he whispered, his disbelief tangible as her body trembled beneath him, the overwhelming sensation making her scream his name.
When morning came, Yun Yuhua was asleep, bare beneath Seo Ju's robe. Seo Ju lay next to her, watching her peacefully, taking in every detail of her–her eyelashes, her nose, the softness of her lips, the warmth of her skin. As Yun Yuhua slowly opened her eyes, she smiled at Seo Ju. His lips curved gently as he brushed her cheek with a kiss.
"Your brothers could be worried if we stay here for too long..." Seo Ju whispered. Yun Yuhua chuckled as she reached for his waist and cuddled.
"Let them worry..." she replied. Seo Ju chuckled as he placed his lips over her head, yearning for her warmth against their bare skin.
"Then let's do it again..." he whispered against her hair. Yun Yuhua's eyes flew open, and she sat up. Seo Ju laughed and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her back down.
"You are right—they may be worried," she relented. Seo Ju smiled and kissed her lips, his hand slipping to the back of her neck, pulling her closer. Their kiss deepened, slow and heated, as if the world outside had ceased to exist. Yun Yuhua's breath hitched, her fingers threading through his hair as the warmth between them intensified. When they pulled apart, their lips lingering for a moment, Yun Yuhua gasped.
"Seo Ju..." she whispered, her chest rising and falling with every breath. He didn't answer with words. Instead, he kissed her again, his body pressing hers down gently as he leaned over her, the kiss slow, fervent, and full of promise. Seo Ju slid his hands toward her wrists and pulled them above her head.
"Just before we go..." he whispered. Yun Yuhua turned her head to the side with a small pout.
"Whatever... as if you would stop," she said, as her eyes glistened and her cheeks were burning red. Seo Ju smiled and kissed her ear to whisper.
"You know me too well..."
As the morning sun rose higher, they quietly dressed with the silence between them being full of unspoken warmth. Seo Ju held her hand as tightly as possible on the way home. When Tian Ke and Qian'ai became visible in the distance, Yun Yuhua let go of Seo Ju's hand and ran to them.
"Yuyu!" Tian Ke and Qian'ai yelled. She smiled brightly and hugged them both.
"Ke Gege... Li'ai Gege. I'm back!" she cried with happy tears. Tian Ke and Qian'ai were overjoyed with her, relieved to finally see her safe and alive.
"I'm glad you're safe... I'm very glad," Tian Ke whispered. Yun Yuhua nodded beneath their chins.
"I'm happy to see you guys again..." she replied. They pulled away from each other and laughed freely.
"Let's go back before Ae-shim and Ruqi worry themselves sick," Qian'ai said with worry. They giggled and nodded. Then Tian Ke turned to look at Seo Ju, who stood silently with a smile. Tian Ke walked to him and bowed respectfully, not just as a brother but as a man.
"Thank you for putting your life on the line for my sister..." Tian Ke said softly and genuinely. Seo Ju nodded.
"Anyone would have, for her..." he replied sadly. Tian Ke ached from guilt and shame.
"But as a Joseon's Crown Prince, you shouldn't have. This was supposed to be our duty as her brothers," Tian Ke admitted. Seo Ju's chest tightened at the phrase Crown Prince. He had never found joy in the position, nor in the life it demanded.
"I was a man before I became the Crown Prince. So please, address me as you always have," he solemnly stated. Tian Ke and Qian'ai exchanged a look, noticing the weariness in Seo Ju. With a smile, Tian Ke patted his shoulder.
"If you truly love my sister, treat her well. If you don't, you already know me. I'll make sure you pay," Tian Ke teased. Seo Ju smiled and, after seeing Tian Ke's playful grin, couldn't help but laugh. Yun Yuhua smiled, feeling the warmth of their closeness. The acceptance, the openness of their love, and the contentment in each other filled her heart completely. Seo Ju shifted his gaze to Yun Yuhua with a gentle smile full of trust and freedom.
"I'll treat her well..."
They gathered their belongings from the safe house that Seo Ju had arranged and hurried back to Gaeseong. Tian Ke and Qian'ai didn't explain what happened after Seo Ju and Yun Yuhua fell. They couldn't, really—it was all too... strange to explain. The moment they reached Gaeseong, Jinji was at the inn's entrance. When they locked eyes, Jinji ran to him without hesitation.
"His Majesty has called for you," Jinji stated urgently. Seo Ju smiled irritably. His eye twitched uncomfortably. His smile turned into a smirk.
"Very well. Let's depart," he responded. Jinji bowed and turned away to grab the horses. Seo Ju turned to Yun Yuhua, who was staring at him. She smiled softly to warm him up.
"Have a safe trip," she said, understanding his longing eyes. He smiled and pulled her in for a kiss on the cheek. Qian'ai saw the kiss and froze. Qian'ai debated whether to get angry, irritated, or happy about the interaction between them.
"No need to kiss," he gritted his teeth, holding back his overprotectiveness. Yun Yuhua and Seo Ju chuckled.
"I'll be back... I promise," Seo Ju whispered. Yun Yuhua nodded.
"I'll wait," she replied.