Unexpected (12 page)

Noel laughed at their antics and waved
goodbye as they filed out of the apartment, leaving her alone at last with Kai
who instantly snatched her into his arms for a long, lingering and much-needed
kiss. When they broke away, Noel slightly swayed trying to find her feet. The
kiss exhilarated but she was still exhausted.

Kai seemed to understand. “I am so sorry
Jahgi
. You are not used to such a long flight then you had to wait.
Come.” He took her hand and led her down a short hallway to his bedroom. He
opened the door and ushered her inside.

Kai’s room was a comforting mix of the
traditional with some modern touches and once more way out of her price range.

“Boy, I guess living here has its
perks,” she said as she eyed the metal and glass computer desk and touch screen
desktop computer. There was also a keyboard and guitar on the opposite side by
the large picture window. It was dark outside and the lights of the city
twinkled beneath her.

The bed was simple yet elegant raised
black lacquer affair with a comforter of blue and brown geometric patterns
topping it. Without thinking, and because she was so tired, she plopped down
onto the bed and nearly fell back; it was like sinking into a warm cloud. She
sighed blissfully.

“Memory foam,” she purred. “You suck.”

Kai sat down next to her, his face a
questioning mask. When she saw his puzzled expression, she chuckled lightly.
“I’ve always wanted a big and comfortable bed like this. I might have to figure
out how to get it through Customs.”

He lightly stroked her cheek. “Rest now
Jahgi
,”
he crooned softly. “Anything I can get you before you sleep? Are you hungry?”

“I would like a bath or a shower. I feel
really sticky.”

Before she could say a word, Kai scooped
her up and walked her a few steps to the adjoining bathing area which, once he
placed her lightly upon her feet, made her gasp in awe when he switched the
light on.

“Oh my,” was all she could manage as she
stared open-mouthed at a bathroom which could have easily been featured in some
interior design magazine. Glass and soft gray marble tile were everywhere, the shower
stall so large that at least four people could have fit comfortably. Kai turned
on the taps to the huge sunken tub as Noel stood and watched, admiring the
brief view of his taut buttocks. She watched as he sprinkled a handful of
mineral bath salts into the water then rose to face her.

“The salts are from a hot spring in the
mountains,” he explained. “I usually soak in the tub after a long workout.” He
squeezed her hand. “I’ll bring your suitcase into my room while you’re bathing.
Is there anything you need in it like toiletries or something to sleep in?”

Noel eyed the slowly filling tub, then
Kai. “You’re not going to stay and keep me company,” she teased, suddenly
feeling not quite so tired once the thought of how much fun two people could
have in the water entered her mind. “I mean, it’s a big old tub and there’s
easily room for two.”

With sure and deft fingers and feeling
far more daring than she’d ever had in her life, she began unbuttoning her
blouse. She watched Kai’s reaction beneath shadowed lids as one shoulder was
bared, then the other.

“You’re sure you’re not too tired,
Jahgi
,”
Kai asked, his voice deep and sultry now as he moved to close and lock the
bathroom door, effectively sealing them inside, “Because I really need to be
inside of you right now.”

Noel ran a seductive tongue over her
lips. “Then what are you waiting for?”

Eyes darkened with lust and longing as
he made short work of the rest of her clothes. Noel didn’t care about the few buttons
that popped off in his haste. It had been too long for her as well and she
needed him too.

For a moment he paused to admire her
body, the luscious dark skin so supple and so damn perfect with those sweet and
wicked curves that made him want to keep her permanently naked. The puckered
nipples were the color of rich, ripe plums. He stripped quickly, stepped over
then inside of the tub, turned on the jets and held his hand out for her to
join him.

They sank into the warm, swirling and
fragranced water, lips joined in a kiss that greeted as well as allowed each of
them to know how much they missed each other. Kai’s hands cupped her full
breasts as thumbs stroked her nipples. Noel’s eyes fluttered from the drugging
caresses as his lips traveled from her mouth to the juncture of throat and
shoulder.

“Oh Kai,” Noel moaned, her fingers
entwined in his hair as his mouth closed over a pebbled nipple. “I missed you
so much, baby.”

 In response and agreement, his
lips drew harder on the nub. The pulling motion caused heat to build between
her legs. She felt Kai hard and hot against her body as he pulled her over his
thighs to straddle him. His mouth claimed hers over and over again as they
rubbed against each other, the sweet friction spiraling higher and higher. Deft
fingers toyed with her swollen peaks then trailed down slowly, surely until his
thumb lightly stroked her clit and she gasped.

“Like that,
Jahgi
,” Kai teased.
“You look so ready for me to be inside of you.” The thumb continued its sweet
assault as fingers strayed lower. “Do you want me inside of you, bay-bee?”

“Please Kai, please…”

Spurred by the naked need in her voice
and his own desire, Kai grabbed the condom he’d been smart enough to leave on
the rim of the tub, ripped the foil packet open, rolled it onto his cock then
lifted Noel onto him and slid home with a masculine groan of pleasure that
harmonized with hers.

“
Shibbal
, shit,” he cursed as her
walls gripped him tightly. “You feel so damn good Noel.”

Kai’s hands fastened around her waist
and he slid her body up and down his length as hips met hips, thrusting and
sliding deep and hard. Her sweet curves and welcoming sheath worked in tandem
to bring him closer to orgasm. He gripped the cheeks of her butt as their
coupling grew wilder and wilder. The water sloshed violently around them as
Noel moaned, sobbed and used words that he’d never heard from her lips but
which inflamed him even more to take her over the edge then follow her over it.

He buried his face at the juncture of
throat and shoulder as she rode him with wild abandon. With one final thrust
Noel screamed her climax. Kai let out a hoarse shout, a few seconds later, as
he exploded deeply inside of her. It wasn’t enough and he kept thrusting until her
hot walls squeezed him again as she came again.

For some moments, Kai and Noel lay
bonelessly, the water caressing their spent bodies still warm. They inhaled
deeply, trying to slow their rapid heartbeats. Leaning up slightly he kissed
her swollen lips.

“Welcome to Korea,
bay-bee
.”

Noel giggled mischievously. “This is
my
kind of welcome. Can we do it again?”

An insistent chime startled Noel from a
very deep and satisfying slumber. She yawned, stretched as much as Kai’s long
and lean body would allow her and tried to ignore the noise. They hadn’t talked
much last night, having spent much of it going at each other like rabbits. Noel
giggled quietly, thinking that she must have been seriously sex-starved. She
was a little shocked at how brazen she’d been when she took Kai’s cock in her
mouth. She’d only done that once before, but inexperience did not stop her from
blowing her lover’s mind until finally he flipped her onto her back and worked
her body until she was practically screaming his name.

The chiming continued and Noel groaned.
She had no idea what time it was, but the annoying repetition seemed
uninterested in ceasing any time soon. She lightly nudged Kai in an attempt to
wake him, but all she got in response was a grunt and another light snore. The
chiming continued.

“You mean I’ve got to get out of this
nice, warm bed,” she groaned as she rolled over and up. Muscles lightly twinged
from last night’s rather vigorous lovemaking. Feet sank into the luxurious
carpet as she padded naked to her suitcase and grabbed a pair of flannel pajama
bottoms, her bra from last night and a tank top. She dressed quickly and hoped
that whoever it was didn’t have a great sense of smell. She knew she was
practically reeking of sex and probably looked like it too. Just to be on the
safe side, she grabbed Kai's deliciously thick terry bathrobe that hung on the
back of his bedroom door, belted it and made her way through the hall to the
front door. The chime was still ringing.

“Okay, okay,” she shouted as she peeked
through the security hole. In the hallway stood the rest of TL4 in sweats and
looking far too chipper without coffee.

She opened the door and they spilled
inside. “Don’t you have a key or something, G.K.?”

He looked a little sheepish. “Well yeah.
But I forgot it. I was going to come back last night but…”

“But he thought you and Kai were getting
busy,” piped in Kibum with a huge shit-eating grin. Noel’s jaw dropped and her
face flushed with embarrassment. Just as they were standing around the entryway,
she heard Kai’s voice from the living room.

“
Jahgi
, where did you go? Where’s
my good morning…”

Noel turned to see a glowering Kai in
blue pajama bottoms, his feet and chest bare, and scratching his head. He
looked from Noel to the guys standing in front of him.

“Why the hell are you all here,” he
asked, clearly not pleased to see them so soon. “Do you have any idea what time
it is?”

“It’s six o’clock,” Young said,
completely ignoring Kai’s glower.

“G.K. forgot his key,” Noel answered soothingly
as she placed a hand on his arm.

“Well get it and go,” Kai barked. “We
don’t have to be anywhere until later and as you can see, I’m busy.” He grabbed
Noel around her waist and pulled her to him.

Boom wasn’t cowed by his band mate’s
angry glare nor could he keep the amusement out of his voice. “Well good
morning to you too, Mr. Grumpy,” he said sarcastically. “I thought having Noel
here would put you in a nicer mood.”

“It would,” Kai growled, “If you would
get out and let me finish waking my girlfriend up properly.” He said something
in Korean that caused four sets of eyes to widen, then break out into knowing
smiles. Those smiles made Noel blush again.

After making kissy faces and other
gestures at the pair, the group made their exit. Kai sighed in relief, then
turned his attention to the woman in his arms.

“You have on way too many clothes,
Jahgi
,”
he said, his fingers instantly undoing the belt of the robe. “I am also very
horny so let me finish what we started last night.”

A searing kiss and Noel had no
complaints as he led her back to the bedroom, the little garments they’d worn
to answer the door left in a hasty trail behind them.

It was around noon when the two of them
were finally fit for company. G.K. and Young were busy in the kitchen having
decided to make breakfast, or brunch, for their guest.

“And don't worry, they’re actually good
cooks,” Boom told her as he helped them gather the ingredients.

Noel sat at the breakfast nook, Kai’s hand
in hers as the room filled the scents of fried eggs which sat atop a bowl of
rice,
kimchi
, red bean soup,
galbi
fried short ribs and
pajong
,
Korean pancakes. It was, Kai explained a traditional Korean breakfast.

Upon her first taste of the pajong, Noel
moaned with delight. “Oh my god you guys, this is amazing!”

G.K.’s smile was sincere. “
Kamhapsmnida
,
Noel. Thank you.”

Of course Young was his ever-confident
self. “We’re good cooks because we have to be. We can’t always go out to
restaurants.”

Kai squeezed Noel’s hand. “I can cook
too
, Jahgi.
I could have made you breakfast.” Kwan laughed at him. “You
can only make sandwiches and rice balls. That's not breakfast.”

“If the sandwich was ham and egg,” he
began sheepishly.

As the guys poked fun at Kai’s less than
stellar culinary skills, Noel leaned over and placed a quick kiss on Kai’s
lips.

“I would have loved your breakfast,
Kai,” she reassured him, “No matter what it might have been.”

“But you like theirs more,” he mock
pouted. “Like they said, I'm not much of a cook, so how can I compete?”

“Well,” and Noel trailed her tongue over
her lips as she whispered in his ear. “There are quite a few things you do
exceedingly well baby. I hope you’ll want to do them again tonight.”

Kai stole another kiss and Boom groaned.
“Cut it out you two, I’m going to be sick.”

At Noel’s insistence, she helped with
the cleanup. They tried to object, but she wouldn’t be swayed as she rinsed the
dishes and placed them inside the dishwasher.

Unfortunately, they had another day of
rehearsal which left Noel to her devices for the afternoon. Kai balked at
first, but she wouldn’t allow him to skip practice for her sake.

“You can take me sightseeing
afterwards,” she told him, his look rebellious after she’d showered alone and
dressed. “I saw some shops within walking distance so I won’t go far. Plus I
have my handy dandy guide to basic Korean if I need to ask for the bathroom.”

Just as she’d hoped, the frown turned
into a warm and loving smile. He took her into his arms once again, amazed at
how right she felt there. “Okay, but take your cell and call me if anything
happens or you need me.”

She tapped him lightly on the nose. “You
sound like a father.”

His lips brushed against her cheek. “No,
just the man who loves you.”

In spite of being in the middle of a
country she’d only heard or seen in passing, Noel enjoyed her adventure alone.
She knew she stood out, but for the most part everyone was very friendly
towards her and some of the people she’d met spoke decent English. Many of the
Korean women were so cute and fashionable and she enjoyed seeing the various
styles and trends. As expected, her attempts at Korean were met by polite
smiles, giggles and lots of hand gestures.

Everything was so new and so novel and
she took as many pictures as she could, Seoul being a heady mix of the
traditional and the ultra modern. She couldn’t help feeling giddy. Who could
have ever thought that little old Noel Wright would be jet-setting it in Seoul
and the girlfriend of one of the hottest pop stars in Korea? No wonder Rachael
was so jealous.

There were the familiar stores she
recognized like Nike, The Gap and American Apparel, but most of the boutiques
she browsed in were unknown to her. They were a fashionista’s wet dream, though
few of the clothes were designed to fit her height and ample curves. Still,
there were plenty of stylish accessories that had caught her eye, including a
pair of lapis-inlaid hoop earrings that she simply
had
to have. There
was also a gorgeous blue leather satchel she didn’t need but bought anyway
because it was a bargain.

She bought herself a milk tea at a
stylish café and sat under an umbrella to enjoy the day and to people watch. It
still felt like a dream.

Later she bought gifts for each of the
guys; scarves for both Kwan and Boom, a collegiate-looking sweater for G.K. who
was curiously partial to the preppy style and a pair of stylish sunglasses for
Young. Noel wanted something special for Kai, but nothing she saw suited her
until she came across a custom t-shirt booth. After looking through a folder
full of designs, most she didn’t understand since they were in Korean, she
finally found exactly what she wanted and had two made up, one for Kai and the
other for herself.

Kai spent the first half of practice trying
not to worry about Noel. He was torn between calling to check on her at every
break, and just blowing off rehearsal altogether. His bandmates noticed his
preoccupation and did their best to keep him busy.

When they broke for lunch, he was more
than ready to take off and look for Noel when

Chunhei waltzed into the studio. His
eyes instantly targeted hers.

“Where were you yesterday,” he demanded.

He saw her swallow nervously as he edged
in closer. “I was at home.”

Kai's jaw tensed. “Was there an emergency
at your house? A fire perhaps?”

“No,” she replied defiantly with a small
raise of her thin jaw.

“Were you ill?”

“No.”

“Then may I ask why you did not pick up
Noel from the airport as we agreed?”

“I forgot.”

His eyes narrowed as the rest of the
group crowded around them. “I see.”

“I do not think that you do,” Chunhei
replied coolly. “You’re so blinded by that
girl
that you do not even
notice what’s in front of you!”

Kai folded his arms defiantly. “Oh, I
think I
do
see, and it could still never happen between us.” Chunhei
rocked back on her heels as if she’d been physically slapped. “I am sorry if
you want something from me that I can’t give, but I’ve chosen Noel. And how
could I ever be with someone I cannot trust?”

He strode from the room, leaving the young
woman shaking and near tears. When G.K. offered a comforting hand, she slapped
it away rudely. “I do not need your sympathy,” she spat and dashed from the
room. The sound of sobbing followed her down the hall.

For a few moments no one spoke. G.K. turned,
following the path Kai had taken. He looked at his cousin, his expression
sober. “I liked her even though I knew she wanted you. But she’s not worth my
love if she’s not even loyal.”

“It was my fault,” Kai said. “I should
have just picked Noel up myself. I shouldn’t have brought Chunhei into it.”

“You didn’t know Chunhei liked you,”
Kibum said firmly as he and the others approached. “And she works for us. It
isn’t as if we have her picking up our clothes or bringing girls to our
apartments all the time. Now, let’s finish rehearsal so you can go back to your
Jahgi
.”

Noel was kicking back on the couch
reading a book when the guys returned in a somewhat subdued frame of mind that immediately
dissipated when they noticed all the shopping bags on the floor. She rose to
greet Kai with a kiss.

“What did you do,
Jahgi
,” he
quipped. “Buy everything in Korea?”

Noel tapped him lightly on the nose. “If
you’re going to act that way you won’t get your gift.”

His eyes softened. “You didn’t need to
buy me anything.”

She reached up and placed a kiss on his
lips. “I did too. But I bought gifts for all the guys.”

Kibum cheered. “Ooh, a gift for me?”

Noel laughed at his earnest expression.
“Of course. Yours is in the red bag.” Kibum set to opening the aforementioned
bag immediately and wrapped the brightly colored scarf around his neck. G.K.
gave Noel a quick hug at his gift.

“Thank you Noel,” he said as he modeled
the preppy cardigan over his clean white t-shirt. “Maybe I should wear this
onstage.”

Young popped the shades Noel had
purchased on the bridge of his nose. “I look like Will Smith, don’t I?”
Everyone laughed since they knew the Men in Black series were his favorite
movies. “I make these look good.”

Noel placed the last unclaimed bag in
Kai’s hands with a shy blush. He opened it and pulled out a black sleeved
baseball t-shirt and matching cap. The front of the shirt read
Kai + Noel
…
saranghae
.
The cap had their names embroidered on the brim.

Before she could say a word, Kai took
her in his arms and whispered “thank you” in her ear. “I’ll wear this tonight
when we go out.”

“You can’t,” she protested pulling away
from him. “You’ll end up in the gossip papers or something!”