In a hurry, I grabbed Danmokbi, who was about to leave. If I let him go like this, I felt like I wouldn’t be able to face him due to embarrassment later.

“Wait a moment, Master! I’ll be out quickly! Please wait a moment!”

Rushing out of the barrel, I roughly wiped off the water from my hair and body with a towel. Then, I quickly put on the clothes I had brought and ran out.

When Danmokbi, who was in front of the door, saw me running out and met my gaze, he blushed and quickly turned his head. Feeling embarrassed myself, I opened my mouth, fidgeting with my fingers.

“S-so, w-why did you come?”

I almost bit my tongue while speaking. I was never this nervous, even when I confessed! How could tension reach this level!

Fortunately, or unfortunately, Danmokbi seemed just as embarrassed. He stammered, his face turning red.

“N-no, I haven’t talked much with Yeoni…”

“Oh, I was thinking the same.”

Considering our emotions, we really couldn’t communicate well! I raised my head and looked at Danmokbi.

Danmokbi’s black pupils, meeting mine, shivered as if a storm had arisen. Danmokbi, who was lightly biting his lips, glanced at me, and then he took off his coat and draped it over me.

“You might catch a cold. First, wipe yourself properly and come out.”

“I was too surprised…”

True to Danmokbi’s words, water droplets were still falling from my hair, which I hadn’t properly wrung out. As I lowered my head to check the hem of the coat, the thin fabric was soaked, revealing the skin beneath.

‘Ugh!’

This is probably why he gave me the coat! I squeezed the front part of the coat tightly with my hands like a silkworm, covering myself. Danmokbi sternly cautioned me.

“Never come out in front of others like this.”

I burst into laughter at his words.

“Hey, of course not. If it weren’t you, I wouldn’t even rush out while bathing.”

In response to my words, Danmokbi widened his round eyes, meeting my gaze.

“Are you saying I’m special?”

“Well, yeah.”

It’s obvious, isn’t it? I was about to say that, but I shut my mouth. Danmokbi placed his finger on my lips.

Holding a finger like a sword, he carefully pressed my lower lip, then slowly moved it to the side and gently pressed my cheek.

What kind of joke is this? Slightly furrowing my brows and lifting my head, Danmokbi brushed away water droplets flowing down my sideburns and said.

“Don’t answer. I might misunderstand.”

Danmokbi stared at me for a moment and said.

“I want to get closer to you, and if I see your white cheeks, I want to bring my finger close. Even now…”
His hands, which had been fixing my hair and brushing away the water droplets falling on the coat, slowly covered my nape. Due to the cool nape from coming out of the bath, his palm felt surprisingly warm.

For a moment, Danmokbi, who had been looking at me like that, awkwardly smiled and removed his hand.

“…Since I’ve seen your face, it’s fine now. Quickly go in and rest.”

He turned around. Unconsciously, I reached out and grabbed the hem of his clothes. Due to the wind, one of his hands was released, and the hanging edge of his coat unraveled, exposing one shoulder.

“U-uh, Master.”

Danmokbi looked back at me. I clenched my fist.

“It’s not a misunderstanding.”

“What?”

“I’m saying it’s not a misunderstanding.”

I swallowed my saliva. Too tense, my fingertips tingled, and my heart felt like it would jump out of my lips, but I had to say these words.

“I also… want to.”

If I don’t say it, Danmokbi won’t know.

At my words, Danmokbi stiffened like a rock. After a moment of staring blankly, Danmokbi scratched his head, furrowing his eyebrows.

“Yeona, I’ve been hearing strange things since earlier.”

Oh, really. I mustered up the courage, and now I hear strange things!

“I want to as well!”

I tightly held Danmokbi’s arm. And with all my strength, I pushed my heel against his.

Thump.

Our lips touched and then separated.

Even though we just kissed, my heart was pounding so fast, and it felt like my whole body was vibrating. With a flushed face, I looked at Danmokbi. The moment our eyes met, flames seemed to spark in Danmokbi’s eyes.

His firm arms tightly wrapped around my waist and pulled me towards him. Our lips met as my lips, pressed against his chest, touched his lips.

The warmth spread throughout my body through our lips. His large hands hugged my waist tightly, supporting my back firmly.

I embraced his neck, and we shared a passionate kiss.

After a while, he adjusted the angle and pressed our lips together. Danmokbi, who had been kissing me for a long time, left a moist kiss on my nape, whispering my name like a puppy.

“Yeona. Yeon.”

Hearing my name being called by him felt incredibly sweet. I laughed lightly and caressed his head.

“Yes, Master.”

In response to my cheerful voice, Danmokbi finally raised his head and met my gaze. Glancing at me, he muttered softly.

“…Really, you keep provoking me.”

Provoking?

“Because you seemed shy, I honestly said it. I also want to be close to you in various ways.”

“Various ways…”