Chapter 87 - Lodging House (3)

"How are you?" Long Jie asked her back.

Song Luli thought for a moment. She was so terrified earlier that day that she nearly soiled herself, but watching Long Jie head into the warehouse, alone, caused her to numb that fear. Nothing meant more to her than seeing him safe. But if he were ever to go down, she was willing to go down with him.

"I'm better, now that we're all safe," she said to him, entwining his fingers with hers, feeling his warm skin on hers, feeling his presence. She watched as her hand danced with his, and she noticed his eyes locked on their fingers. There was something intimate about holding hands, even if it sounded simple, it was more than that.

Song Luli loosened her grasp; her hand began to travel towards his broad chest, making circles around his dragon tattoo. It was a long serpent-like creature with four legs and a curled tailed. The head stuck out its tongue, appearing to be vicious, defensive. Song Luli admired the intricate details of the art.

"Is there a meaning behind the dragon?" she asked him with a whisper full of breath.

Long Jie looked into her eyes. "There are many," he replied.

Song Luli's eyes glinted. "What are they?" she asked curiously.

"Family," he answered. "Long, as you know, means Dragon."

He then paused, reminiscing a time. "But my mother once created two paintings of a dragon. It was a gift for my father and I. That very weekend we tattooed it to our bodies." He laughed. "But of course, my mother thought that we were insane to get it this large. But I wanted it; I wanted to be reminded of where I came from, of who I am," he finished.

"You wanted to be reminded of your family," Song Luli repeated, astonished. "That's lovely."

Long Jie placed his hand over hers, pressing it against his skin. He looked into her eyes again, unwaveringly. "A family that you're a part of," Long Jie reminded her. "You're as much of a Long as you are a Song, Luli."

"Song and Long," Song Luli replied with a lingering smile. "It rhymes."

Long Jie laughed.

But Song Luli didn't join in the laughter because she began to feel nervous. Her mind needed to wrap around the fact of what she was going to say to him next. But she had to tell him, needed to say to him.

"Jie," she called out to him, grabbing his attention.

Her heart began to pace quicker than she imagined. Long Jie noticed her expression, and it made him worry.

"Did I say something wrong?" he asked her.

"No!" Song Luli replied. She tightened the grip around his hand.

"Then what is it?"

"I remember!" she told him suddenly.

Long Jie's brows softened; his chest began to rise and fall. "Remember what, exactly?" he asked her.

"I remember everything!" she blurted out, taking both his hands in her, kneeling on the bed. "I remembered meeting you again. I remembered you helped me in an uncomfortable situation; I remembered you helping me from embarrassing myself more than I already did. I remembered kissing you and wanting more of it."

Long Jie propped himself on both his elbows, his eyes widening; his mouth opened, lost for words. He was about to say something, but Long Jie swallowed his words when Song Luli pressed her lips on his.

Long Jie stilled, shocked but happy.

He slowly reacted by closing his eyes, cupping her face with both of his hands, deepening it. Her tongue slid over his, causing him to shudder. She leaned forward, and he circled his arms around her waist, gliding a hand underneath her shirt.

Long Jie's body began to feel excited, so he broke the kiss to whisper against her mouth, "You have to tell me this now? Last time we got into this situation, you said the walls were too thin."

Song Luli kissed the arch of his neck, laughing mildly. "I don't care anymore," she said over his now-marked, red skin. She was straddling his lap, circling his shoulders. Long Jie met her eyes, "Does this mean...?" he began, but couldn't finish. Does this mean she loved him?

Song Luli seemed to have read the question on his expression. She nodded, smiling, meeting his winter-blue eyes. "I'm not good at admitting my feelings," she told him, feeling shy, but determined to speak. "But I want to tell you that you have captivated me. And that everything in my being—my body, my heart, and my soul is yours. I am undone by you." She paused to take in his expression. "You scared me today, and what terrified me was not being able to say these words."

"Luli—" Long Jie began.

"I love you," she cut in, confessing from her heart. She then released a deep breath, feeling relieved. She was able to say it without cowering. It was such a strange but blissful feeling. She and Long Jie came a long way from that marriage meeting, and there were many moments where she believed this point wouldn't happen, even though she secretly yearned for it.

Long Jie lifted her from his body. He quickly put on a shirt before taking her hand. He nudged her to follow him. Song Luli was confused, but she obeyed, and he led her down the stairs to the reception desk. It was late already, and the owner came out in her nightgown and cap with an annoyed expression.

"Can I have another room?" Long Jie asked the owner.

The owner blinked slowly, eyeing Long Jie. She then glanced at Song Luli, who put on a friendly smile before the older woman looked back at Long Jie again. She sighed, grabbing some keys. "There's a rec room outside; a few minutes walk from here. I suggest bringing a flashlight and some blankets."

Long Jie took the keys, as well as the blankets and flashlight. "Thank you," he told the owner hurriedly. He grasped Song Luli's hand again before they walked towards the back of the lodging house.

Song Luli held the flashlight when they stepped outside, lighting the way. The older woman was right; the rec room looked like a small cabin, and it wasn't far from the house.

Song Luli flashed the light at the sliding doors. There were cobwebs in the corners. "It looks like no one entered the room in months," she observed. But Long Jie was the first to go in, ducking underneath, entering the room. Song Luli followed.

She then flicked on the lights, finding the place to be stunning. It was rustic-styled with a traditional touch. In the middle of the room was a red moon door that divided the space between the rec room and a fireplace.

The chill picked up, and Song Luli realized that there might not be much insulation in the walls. Long Jie placed the blanket over her shoulders. He then approached the fireplace, finding pieces of firewood bundled up and covered. He put them in the fireplace, lighting a match, trying to start a fire to warm the room.

Song Luli then sat down on the floor, watching him, and she was thankful that they brought more than one blanket. And not because she needed the extra layers, but she needed something to cushion them with for later...