Chapter 19

People hesitated, wondering if it was alright to leave Cal with Ellie, but soon they quietly wished her well and left, leaving only Ellie and Cal behind. Ellie shook Cal’s shoulder as he lay slumped over the table.

“Cal, wake up. Cal?”

At Ellie’s voice, Cal slowly blinked his eyes and looked at her with a wide smile.

“…Ellie.”

“Yes, it’s me. Come on, let’s get up. You need to go home.”

Cal reached for Ellie. As his large body leaned into her, Ellie was glad she’d sent everyone else away first. If anyone had seen this, rumors would have spread.

Ellie managed to help Cal up and moved with effort. Cal clung to her, his arm wrapped around her shoulder, following as she led him.

Once outside the restaurant, Ellie looked around. It was late, so there were few people on the street. There was a hotel nearby… Ellie held Cal’s waist firmly and headed for the hotel.

“…Ellie, where are we going?”

Cal asked in a sluggish voice. Ellie wanted to answer, but all her energy was spent supporting Cal, so she couldn’t speak. All she could hope for was that Cal would move his feet properly.

What would normally take five minutes took over ten as Ellie struggled to reach the hotel. She sighed in relief as they arrived. The bellboy at the entrance hurried over when he saw them.

“Do you need help?”

“Uh, yes. Inside…”

The bellboy tried to help Ellie by supporting Cal, but Cal refused the stranger’s touch and clung tighter to Ellie.

“Ellie, don’t leave me… okay?”

“Cal, I’m right here. I’m not leaving you!”

Ellie was flustered by Cal’s plea and glanced at the bellboy. Cal, determined not to let go, tightened his arm around Ellie’s neck.

“Alright. I understand. Let’s go inside, okay? Cal?”

“Ellie…”

Despite the bellboy’s help, Cal wouldn’t let go, so Ellie had to take him inside herself.

After checking in and finally making it to the room, Ellie managed to lay Cal on the bed. Just moments ago, Cal had acted as if something terrible would happen if he let go of Ellie, but now, lying on the soft bed, he breathed evenly and fell asleep.

“Whew.”

Exhausted from getting Cal from the restaurant to the hotel, Ellie collapsed beside him. She wished she could just sleep, but she couldn’t.

After lying there for a while, staring at the ceiling, Ellie got up. She needed to go home. Before leaving, she checked on Cal again.

‘He looks uncomfortable. I’ll just take off his jacket…’

She slipped his arms out of the jacket, pulled it from under him, and hung it up. Now his shirt looked tight, so she undid the buttons at his wrists and neck. His face seemed a bit more relaxed.

“…….”

Ellie sat by Cal’s pillow and stroked his hair. She traced his smooth forehead with her fingers and gently touched his flushed cheeks. She hadn’t looked at him closely in a while, since she’d been avoiding him.

“…Good night.”

She patted Cal’s chest and started to get up, but Cal grabbed her wrist and pulled her down. Ellie tumbled into his arms, blinking.

“…Cal, are you awake?”

“Where are you going? Are you leaving me?”

He was awake, but his voice still sounded drunken.

“I just wanted you to rest.”

Cal wrapped himself tightly around Ellie so she couldn’t escape. Ellie looked up at him, a little flustered. His blue eyes, slightly unfocused, gazed at her.

“Don’t go. Stay with me.”

Cal pressed his face to Ellie’s neck and nuzzled her.

“Sleep with me. Stay by my side until morning. Don’t just leave alone… please.”

On the morning after they’d shared a bed, he’d told her he hated waking up alone. His blue eyes shimmered with moisture as he pleaded. He said he wasn’t hurt, but Ellie knew he was. She felt a surge of affection, and in that moment, she realized—

Ah, I won’t be able to push him away anymore.

Ellie stretched out her arm to pat Cal’s shoulder. It was awkward, but as she moved, Cal paused, then shifted and burrowed into her embrace. With his size, it was less like being hugged and more like being covered and pressed down.

Ellie wrapped her arms around Cal’s head, holding him close to her chest. As they moved for comfort, Ellie ended up cradling Cal’s head near her heart, while Cal wrapped himself tightly around her. It was the most secure they’d ever felt together.

“Ellie, don’t go…”

“…I’m not going. I’ll stay by your side.”

Cal’s eyes sparkled at her whisper. Their gazes grew deeper and wetter. Without thinking, they reached for each other, and their lips met. Ellie smiled as Cal’s tongue slipped inside. Chuup, chuup. The wet sound of lips filled the room.

The thin chemise Ellie wore fluttered in Cal’s breath. His breath teased her chest, making her n*pples harden. As Cal rubbed his cheek against her chest and noticed this, the tips of his ears flushed red.

“Haa…”

Ellie’s languid sigh became a trigger. Cal’s hand, which had been wrapped around her waist, slid down and slipped under the hem of her chemise, covering her thigh. Without any hesitation, his large hand moved up, gently cupping Ellie’s right br*ast.

“Mmm!”

Ellie, startled, was held tightly as Cal kneaded her br*ast. At the same time, he took the left n*pple in his mouth. The thin fabric, like butterfly wings, grew damp, revealing the darker skin underneath.

“Ah, hng!”

With sweet m*ans as music, Cal’s hands and mouth moved freely. His left hand teased Ellie’s right n*pple, while his lips and tongue played with the left. Soon, even that wasn’t enough, and Cal pulled down the thin strap from Ellie’s shoulder, gazing hungrily at her exposed chest.