The attack might have been fruitless, but Kihyun did move away from him as Cheon Areum collapsed on the rocky ground, his claws dissolving. One hand slid beneath his wet shirt, pressing flat to the center of his chest. Fingers rubbed slow, desperate, random patterns over the spot where his core throbbed like an open wound—hot, swollen from forcing down three stolen essences and pushing his energy past every safe limit.
He breathed through his mouth—shallow, open, each inhale. His forehead dropped forward until it rested against cool, uneven rock; damp hair clung to his brow. His other arm wrapped loosely around his own ribs as though holding himself together. He sat on his knees as he caressed the area where his core was with weak fingers. He was already having a hard time trying to steady himself and didn't even have the time to react to the press of lips to his own.
"If it wasn't easy for you, then why did you come back for me?"
