Owned by My Bodyguard

📖 Chapter 4: Don’t Let Go

The night pressed heavy.

Jae-min stared at the ceiling, his eyes wide, every nerve awake. Joon-ho lay still beside him, breathing calm and deep. Their hands were still touching—barely.

Jae-min could’ve pulled away hours ago.

But he didn’t.

And neither did Joon-ho.

02:47 AM

A sharp cry tore through the silence.

Jae-min jolted upright, gasping for air, hands shaking. The images from the dream—blood, screams, a gun pointed at his face—flashed behind his eyes.

He couldn’t breathe.

“Jae-min.”

The bed shifted.

A hand gripped his wrist—strong, steady.

“Jae-min. Look at me.”

Joon-ho’s voice was close, deep, gentle. That was new.

Jae-min turned to him, wide-eyed, his chest rising too fast.

“It was just a dream,” Joon-ho said.

“It... it felt real,” Jae-min whispered. “Someone grabbed me in it. And said they were coming for me.”

His voice cracked. Joon-ho’s grip tightened—not painfully. Firmly. Assuring.

“No one’s coming for you,” Joon-ho said. “Not while I’m here.”

Jae-min blinked at him, the room spinning less now.

“You always this comforting to your clients?” he asked, voice raw.

Joon-ho’s eyes didn’t move. “No. They usually don’t need it. And I usually don’t care.”

“Then why now?”

A pause.

“You’re different,” Joon-ho said. “You make too much noise in silence.”

Jae-min let out a breathless laugh.

He didn't realize he was crying until Joon-ho’s thumb brushed under his eye.

Soft. Careful. Like he was afraid to break him.

Their faces were inches apart.

“You don’t have to act like stone all the time,” Jae-min whispered.

“And you don’t have to act like fire.”

Another pause.

Their eyes locked.

And suddenly, the air between them didn’t feel safe anymore. It felt hot.

Jae-min leaned closer, slow, testing. Joon-ho didn’t stop him. Didn’t move. Didn’t breathe.

His lips hovered just near Joon-ho’s. Close enough to count heartbeats.

And just when he was about to close the distance—

Joon-ho pulled away.

“Go to sleep,” he said, voice tight.

“Coward,” Jae-min whispered.

“Temptation,” Joon-ho replied.

Jae-min stared at his back as Joon-ho turned away from him.

But his hand stayed on Jae-min’s wrist.

And didn’t let go.

[End of Chapter 4]

📌 Next Chapter Tease (Chapter 5):

Jae-min wakes up tangled in Joon-ho’s arms

An unexpected visitor shows up at the apartment

Joon-ho’s protective instincts explode — and jealousy rears its head