But is it a Miracle?

Chapter 7- Simple It's Not

Marigold POV

I totally stared at the man who just blew my mind in bed... and the shower, treated me like I mattered, and then asked to stay. What did he even mean, stay. Stay for dinner, stay for more s*x, or... stay forever? I shook it off. No. He couldn't possibly truly want to be with me after one night? Granted it was an amazing night, but... I had to protect myself. If I thought Colton had destroyed my self-esteem right along with my family, Jin could devastate me without even trying.

Taking a deep breath, I pulled him in for one more searing, heart-stopping kiss, our tongues delving and twisting around each other, almost like we were fighting each other over whether he was staying or not. I broke away and forced myself to look straight into his eyes. The warmth and understanding I saw there just made me feel more terrified than ever. I could feel myself wanting to just give in.

But after my last relationship, and how much better I'd been on my own the last three years, I steeled myself to his myriad charms.

"This was supposed to be a one-night stand, no?" I said boldly, as if it didn't hurt to say it. It did. A lot.

"I don't think I ever said that, did I?" He quipped. I frowned, thinking back over our conversation. He wasn't wrong. He'd never said anything about an expiration date, just that he wanted me to be his. It was so open-ended, it really could have meant one time or forever, depending on the person. He pulled me back to his chest, running his nose yet again along my jaw before pushing it into my shoulder. "Please, Marigold. Give me a chance." s**t. I cleared my throat.

"Um, let me, um, think about it, alright?" I somehow managed to squeak out. He grinned, displaying his perfect, straight white teeth. His eyes lit with hope. Ah, dammit. I couldn't cave. I had to give myself a true chance to consider all of this, and to give this man a chance to think about whether he was really serious about being with me or not. He popped a short, sweet kiss on my lips.

"Yes, of course. Let's exchange numbers, hmm?" He held up his cell phone expectantly, and I put in my number. He sent a message.

This is from the love of your life, Marigold, he sent! My cheeks flushed with color. I saved the number to my phone as Loverboy, still certain I was considerably older than he was.

"So..." I said, unsure how to move forward from here. "I guess I'll see you around, then?" I said, walking towards the door to try and make it clear I needed space. I needed to think, and I could not do it with him in the room. I just knew I'd fall into bed with him. And as delicious as that had been, it was time to take a step back.

What I did not expect was for him to push me against the door, lifting my legs around his hips, and ravaging my mouth until I could think of nothing but this scrumptious man in front of me, his arousal throbbing through his pants against my naked core as his dark eyes burned into mine. I don't think I've ever witnessed such searing desire and passion from another person in my life. Who kisses with their eyes open, anyway? Guess we do.

He sucked on my lip, nipping it and pulling until it popped audibly out of his mouth. s**t.

"Just once more aegiya, before I go?" He whispered.

Of course, I gave in, and he reached down to release his c**k, though his pants stayed on. I sucked in a breath as he pierced my core roughly and set a brutal pace, making the door creak as he pushed me over and over into it. We cried out each other's names as we came, hard and fast together, panting. He kissed my neck where he'd bitten me, making me shiver as he took a deep inhale before pulling out and tucking himself away. He stroked my cheek tenderly.

"Don't forget about me, nae sarang. I'll be waiting for your answer." He pressed his lips against mine, chastely, and exited my apartment. I locked the door and rested against it for a moment, feeling the remnants of his last release slide slowly down my thigh.

We hadn't discussed condoms, and I probably should have insisted, regardless of IUD. I highly doubted pregnancy was my biggest concern. IUDs obviously don't protect you from STIs, and while he said he'd only had one other partner, it wasn't like I knew that for certain. I should not assume he's being truthful, since that's how you find yourself in hot water. Nothing I could do about it now, of course.

Rather than clean up like I normally would have, I padded across my dark hardwood floor to my bed, dropped my robe uncharacteristically on the floor, and climbed into my bed. I curled into a ball, pulling the pillow that still smelled like Jin to my chest, breathing in his scent. It was strange, his cologne almost smelled like he'd sprayed it again this morning. Strong stuff, but I wasn't complaining. After rubbing myself in his scent for about twenty minutes, I began to sob.

Like, ugly cry.

Why hadn't I just taken a chance on him right then? Being with him had felt so right, more right than even two seconds with my ex. I only make the point because my ex had been so wrong for me, and that's what led to me decide Jin was too. I was being unfair to this man. Who knew? Maybe every day could be as perfect as last night? Cries wracked my body as I continued to wail.

It felt like hours and I had not moved.

I should eat.

Why hadn't I been able to just have fun and let go? Then again, I don't think that's what Jin intended, but I could not help but think I'd messed everything up.

I heard a soft scratching at the door and popped up out of bed. Sliding my robe back on, cringing at how I'd just dropped it and the stickiness between my thighs, I walked to the door and opened it.

Before I could process what I was looking at, a long, lithe black cat darted past me. Not quite Maine Coon size, but rather large for a common housecat. Since he ran past with his tail forward, I was indeed able to confirm it was a he. Some of the biggest, and yet somehow appropriate, furry balls sat just below said tail. Oh, s**t. I hope he doesn't mark anything in my apartment!

I quickly closed and re-locked my door and rushed over to where he'd leapt up onto my bed, golden eyes on me. He stood at the end, clearly waiting for me. His tail flicked as if beckoning me, a very knowing and affectionate expression on his face. He was... purring? He chirped at me several times, and I found my hand stroking his velvety, inky coat without really thinking. He tail lifted as I stroked his back, and he turned back and forth, rubbing on my hip as I stood there petting him.

What a sweetheart.

I took a deep, shaky breath, and decided I needed to eat and regain my composure. As I walked into the kitchen he continued to chirp, rubbing and weaving between my legs as I walked. I couldn't help the giggle his actions pulled from my chest. I scooped him up and placed him on the counter, letting him rub his face and nose on mine before I set him down.

I know nose-rubbing is especially important to cats. They typically only have a few beings that they do it to, like particularly precious family. I was honored, really, though still a little worried about him and his huge balls spraying to mark their territory. And just like that, I was inspired to name him. I shouldn't get attached, but the moment he chirped at me, I think I was a goner. I scratched his ears and swore he had a little kitty smile as he purred.

Purring is really an addictive sound. I wish humans could do it.

"Listen here, Little Jin." His eyes jumped to mine as his tail flicked in apparent approval. "I need to make a little lunch, and I've got this lovely deli-roasted chicken. Would you like some?" He meowed in response, which I took to mean yes, then settled into a seated position with his tail around him. How regal, I thought. Silly. I chopped up enough chicken to make a little plate for him, and a chicken salad sandwich for me.

Strangely, after I set the dish in front of him, he waited and watched me work as I added cashews, mayonnaise, curry powder, finely diced celery, and lastly, chopped chives to the chicken in my bowl before mixing it and spreading the awesome-smelling result onto two pieces of this delightfully seedy multi-grain bread I loved. I also grabbed another small bowl and filled it with water for him, grabbing a grapefruit seltzer water for myself before sitting down.

Now, I know there's a thing about cats and their feet because they often use litterboxes, but I didn't get the sense that this cat stepped foot in such a thing. He was a stray, with no collar or anything like that, but he was exquisitely clean. Once I was seated and took the first bite, he finally began to devour his chicken, though perhaps that is too coarse a term. He ate so delicately. I almost felt like I had bad manners by comparison.

When he noticed I was watching him, he chirped and tilted his head at me, golden eyes warm. I blushed and cleared my throat, because it felt like he was saying is there something wrong? There was, but I was more than a little embarrassed that this... cat seemed to know it. Not that a cat was going to judge my human problems, obviously. Even if animals understood everything we ever told them, I just don't think it bothered them that much, beyond whether the humans important to them were okay or not.

Details and emotions mattered, just not in the way a human cared about them.

I'd always wanted a cat, my whole life. I loved felines.

Sadly, my parents had never allowed me to have a pet. My brother and sister did, both yappy little dogs that were poorly behaved to this day. I didn't blame the dogs, because they were a reflection of their owners and the "training" they had received. In other words, no training at all. I had hoped that when I got married, as an adult, I could finally add a cuddly ball of kitty fur into my home, but no. My douchebag ex found a whole list of reasons why we could not have a cat.

I even tried seeing if we could get a dog, hoping for some companionship, since my "husband" was constantly gone. He nixed that too, saying that since he was the one working (despite the fact that it was him that insisted I stay home), he would never spend his money on an animal.

Nope, just spent his money on mistresses and kept finances locked down so that I would have no way to find out.

Side pieces that know you are married, to me, are animals as well.

No... that's not fair. Pet is accurate, but it makes animals look bad if I say it like that.

I stroked Little Jin's head, letting his pleased purring wash over me.

No, cheating was a purely human condition, and one difficult to excuse.