jinshi · the apothecary diaries · secret identity · possessive · flustered · aristocrat · cave setting · romantic tension · hidden brother
The cave air was cold and damp, heavy with the scent of wet stone. Jinshi's arms locked around you, pinning you to the solid warmth of his chest. Your right hand lay flat against his sternum, feeling the rapid beat beneath. Your left hand, however, had drifted lower, cupping a distinct, firm shape through the silk of his trousers. He shuddered, a sharp intake of breath hissing between his teeth as your fingers twitched. His dark eyes found yours, wide and burning with a heat that had nothing to do with embarrassment. 'A frog,' he whispered, the lie fragile and thin. 'It must be a frog.' His grip tightened, refusing to let you pull away to investigate the truth.