"He's missed you," you acknowledge, nodding towards the absolute bundle of chaotic joy currently wrestling with Jungkook. No matter how much he likes spending time with you, there's no one Bam would rather be around than Jungkook.

They share a gleeful expression that would suggest it's mutual.

"Course he has," Jungkook says through gritted teeth as he continues to play fight against Bam before addressing him directly. Holding his head still, Jungkook gets Bam's restless attention on him for all of a second or so before he wrestles with him again. "You always miss your Daddy, don't you, huh?"

Folding your arms across your chest, in nothing but a little cropped tee and a pair of linen shorts, you watch on fondly. Hair up in a claw clip, you're every bit the girl of Jungkook's forbidden dreams. "He's been counting down the days."

Glancing up towards you with a smirk, Jungkook can't help but indulge himself in a harmless flirt. "He's a dog, gremlin. He can't count. I think you've been counting down the days."

"I've been doing no such thing."

Turning his attention back to Bam, Jungkook scratches behind his ears and coos. "Is Mummy lying, huh? Has she been counting down the days?"

The smile on your face doesn't falter, but your heart does momentarily stop when you realise what he called you.

Jungkook's eyes quickly dart to yours, lips parted, suddenly aware of it, too. "Well, I just mean, like, you're his motherly figure," he almost chokes. "I didn't mean it like—"

"Oh, no, you did," you cockily tease, just to get him a little more flushed with embarrassment. Crouching, you open your arms up wide—and right on cue, Bam comes bounding over to you. It's you now who scratches behind his ears. Coos. "Is your Daddy an idiot, huh? Yeah? Yeah, I think so too, Bammie."

Eyes narrowed, Jungkook both loves and hates how you've chosen to just tease him over his blunder. So often, it's him teasing you, and now that he's getting the same energy back, he almost doesn't know how to deal with it.

Standing, you usher Bam back over to Jungkook—and while he welcomes him back with open arms, he keeps his focus on you.

There's a cheekiness to your confidence as you walk over to pick up Jungkook's rucksack. Watching him squirm is a rare luxury, so you're gonna make the most of it.

"What?" You grin, reaching down to hook his bag over your shoulder. The proximity of your face to his is far too close. A little mascara is smudged beneath your lashes that he just knows must be on his pillows, too, and a balmy moisture on your lips from your overnight lip mask. He can smell the subtle strawberry notes. Wonders if it tastes as good as it smells.

There's a serenity to the way a strand of hair slips out of place. Jungkook would tuck it back in place, if he could think straight.

The touch of a wet nose pressing against his cheek distracts him from you, and gets a smile back on those pretty lips of his. A dimple forms in his cheek as he pulls back and away from Bam's snout, playfully scolding him. "No kisses, Bammie."

Though he's speaking to his dog, Jungkook knows he'd do well to remember it, too.

Pulling back, you hoist his bag up and turn to walk further into his apartment. "You're home early."

Finally getting up to his feet now that Bam is a little calmer, Jungkook nods. "Yeah. Just wanted my own bed."

And the girl who's been sleeping in it.

"Jiwon back too?"

"Nah," Jungkook says, hoisting his second bag with him and into the living space. His tie is off and stuffed into his blazer pocket, the dress shirt he's wearing unbuttoned to the top of his chest, revealing a thin silver chain. Shaking off the blazer, Jungkook casually tosses it onto the kitchen island, and begins to roll up his sleeves. "There was an afterparty, and she's still trying to win over the Acorn dude."

"Ew."

"My sentiments exactly."

"You not wanna stay to network?" You ask with genuine curiosity. Everyone knows mixers like the party are far better for forming connections than the conventions themselves.

Shaking his head, Jungkook doesn't feel like explaining himself. Instead, he just says, "Hit all my targets."

"Ellis?" You question, watching on as Jungkook pulls two whiskey glasses from his caddy. One for you, one for him. "You speak to him?"

As he pours out a little overpriced whisky into the tumblers, he nods. "He's coming into the office on Monday morning."

Jungkook did exactly as you had advised. Started talking with him about baseball. Found out they were expanding into the K-league. Built up a rapport with him that just naturally leant itself to the idea of a partnership.

Almost like you're his very own good luck charm, it had been a win-win situation. You'd given him everything he needed to make the biggest deal of the weekend while he was on his way home to you. Had he not been so keen to see you, he never would have met Mitch.

Fingers gently clasping the top of a glass, Jungkook passes one of the whiskeys over to you.

His head is a mess of timber and tools; construction work on the annexe taking a back seat for a little while. The blueprints are drawn out, and it distorts reality.

In his head, there's a pencil tucked in your hair instead of a claw clip, and the whiskey he's passing over becomes a warm cup of coffee. His kitchen becomes the annexe, and he becomes someone who isn't afraid of the way he feels.

But that's not reality. Barefoot in his kitchen, looking at a girl he knows better than to fantasise about, he's frightened of his own damn desire.

He knows better. Should be better.

But God damn it, he doesn't want to be.

He just wants to indulge in it.

Once he does, he can never take it back, though, and that's the scariest part of it all.

And so he swallows down his thoughts and his feelings and his unbridled need to blurt out how much he's missed you.

"That's fantastic, Kook," you softly smile, unaware of his mind-boggling dilemma, the warm sconce lighting painting you in honey and treacle; sweetness oozing from your very being.

Jungkook's always had a bit of a sweet tooth, but he fears an addiction coming on. The glacé look in your eyes and dulcet hum of your voice as you address him only confirms you're a habit that's gonna be hard to crack.

"I'm sad I wasn't there."

He nods. Raises his glass, and waits for you to reciprocate a silent cheers before taking a sip. "Me too. I wouldn't have secured the deal if it wasn't for you."

Swallowing down the whiskey, you welcome the slight burn as you shake your head. "Yes, you would have done. You're Jeon Jungkook. Making deals is what you do."

And while you're not wrong, Jungkook doesn't feel like his successes can really be considered as such without you these days. He likes having someone to celebrate with. What's the point in achievements if there's no one to share them with?

God, he doesn't know who the fuck he is, anymore.

His success is his. No one else's. That's how it's always been. He doesn't understand why he's being so pathetic about it all now.

"Wouldn't have known to approach him if it wasn't for you," he reminds you. The sound of Bam's paws pitter-patter across the floor. He's in search of bed now that the excitement of Jungkook coming home has withered into normal life once more. "Making me a better negotiator is what you do."

Rolling your eyes, you shake your head. Really, it was nothing to do with you. Research is just something you enjoy doing, and was a way for you to still impact the trip even if you wouldn't be attending.

You just didn't want him to forget you in favour of Jiwon.

"Who are you, and what did you do with Jungkook?" You teasingly accuse, narrowing your eyes. He's being far too kind.

"Nothing," he shrugs, sipping down the last of his whiskey, before turning to look for Bam. He's just using him as an excuse to get away from your questioning, but quickly realises he can't see him. "Where's Bammie?"

Glancing over your shoulder, you notice he's not in his bed by the sofa and instantly scrunch your face up.

"Oh, you did not," Jungkook groans, tipping his head back as he realises where he must be.

Darting away from the kitchen counter and into Jungkook's room, you spot Bam instantly, curled up in the middle of the sheets. Before you even have a chance to tell him to move, Jungkook is right behind you.

"What did I tell you?!" He whines, his hands coming to gently squeeze your shoulders right at the base of your neck. Shaking you, Jungkook is playful with his touches, but it's getting you flustered regardless—and when he starts guiding you towards his bed, it only gets worse. "No Bammie on the bed. And yet where is he?"

He turns your body so that you're perfectly facing his bed. There's no pretending like you haven't been letting Bam on there; the evidence is clear as day. You've been caught red-handed.

"He just missed you," you chance, hoping it will appeal to Jungkook's emotions. "If you were in Bam's position, you'd wanna sleep on his bed."

Laughing, Jungkook lets his pointed chin rest on the top of your head, his hands still firmly squeezing at the base of your throat. "I absolutely would not."

"You would," you counter. "And, hey, what's the harm?"

Turning around, you're released from Jungkook's grip without hesitation. He's careful as he watches you walk backwards, before taking a perch on his bed.

"If you don't wanna sleep in your bed 'cause of it, you can always take the sofa?" You boldly suggest. Nothing good happens after 2 AM, regardless of how sober you both may be. You're playing with fire and you damn well know it—but Jungkook is looking at you like he hasn't been warm for a thousand years and—oh, god—how he needs your warmth. Just an ember. The lick of a flame. Anything. "I'll gladly stay in your bed again."

He shakes his head. "My swamp."

"Fine," you grin. "I'll take the sofa—but just know that Bam is coming with me."

But then as a surprise to you both, Jungkook shakes his head once more. "No point in making up another bed. It's too late. I'm tired."

And I really want you with me.

You consider protesting. Consider winding him up.

Instead, you just shrug.

"Fine—but you need to shower. Don't bring aeroplane germs into bed."

"Oh, so dog germs are fine, but aeroplane germs are where you draw the limit?" He laughs, as if he isn't casually unbuttoning his shirt right in front of you.

Reaching over to Bam, you cover his ears, and he doesn't even flinch. "Don't listen to him, Bammie. You're far cleaner than a plane—" You shake your head in Jungkook's direction. "—I can't believe you're talking about your child like this."

Jungkook just smirks as he reaches the bottom of his shirt. Shakes it off his shoulders. Reveals his toned chest to you as if it's a completely normal occurrence.

"S'why we co-parent so well," he says, tossing the shirt to the chair in the far corner, eyes on yours. His half-mooned eyes are sultry in this light. Challenging. Complex and yet ever so simple.

"Emphasis on the co," you tell him, looking him up and down with an air of judgement, 'cause you absolutely cannot let yourself indulge in looking at him in the way you want to. "Co-parents shouldn't see each other shirtless."

"Close your eyes then," Jungkook dares you. "Otherwise you're gonna see me without trousers, too."

Immediately your eyes bunch up so tightly lines begin to form like vines in your skin to keep them shut. "Don't be gross."

If you didn't look so pretty, Jungkook might be offended. Instead, he laughs. "Ouch. Am I really that repulsive? I'll have you know the girls in HR would kill to be in your position right now."

"Yeah, 'cause they don't know how repulsive you truly are," you lie to both yourself and to him. Eyes still closed, you flop down on his bed and roll onto your front. "Go get a shower," you mumble into his sheets. "Plane germs will be in your hair, too."

Jungkook could reach out. Could wrap his hands around your ankles. Yank you a little closer to the edge of his bed. Could ask if you're feeling just as insane about things as he is. Could tell you off for all your teasing.

He could.

But he doesn't.

Instead, he smiles. Concedes.

"Yeah, I could do with one. I won't be long, but don't wait up. Sleep."

"How long?" You ask, sitting up once more.

"Five minutes. Ten?" He guesses, turning his back to you to retrieve his shirt so he can put it straight in his washing machine as he walks past it. "If you wanna crash on the couch instead, it's fine, too."

"Would you rather I did?"

Jungkook shrugs. "Doesn't bother me."

He's not giving you a definite answer. You're not sure what to make of it; whether or not he's being indifferent for your sake or for his.

"It's your house," you remind him, eyes wide as they try and get a read on him.

The way you're looking up at him is perfectly innocent, but in the shrouded darkness of his room, more of your skin on show than he's ever seen before, it's all a little too much. It's a miracle you can't see his heart beating out of his chest.

"Oh, so now you admit it's my swamp, huh?" He softly smiles, hiding his aching want for you ever so well. Not entirely, but enough. "Stay. Give Bammie a night of his parents together."

Your lips twitch ever so slightly, the smile that you're fighting sweetly lacing itself into your features regardless. Cheeks apple, you nod. "Go get your shower."

He nods back. Point towards your glass of water on the bedside table. "Yours?"

"Yeah."

"Fresh?"

"Yeah."

Without even so much as thinking to ask permission, Jungkook picks it up. Chugs it down. Swallows it all back and finishes with a very smug 'ah'. "Thanks."

Brows furrowed, you're looking at him with such perplexed confusion that it's hard for him not to laugh—but god, it's so much better than the way you were looking at him. Disgust he can deal with. Desire he cannot.

Jungkook leaves without another word. Knows that the longer he's in conversation with you, the longer it will take for him to be where he really wants to be. Also knows that there was a growing... 'issue' in his trousers that he really didn't want you to clock.

Bam's head lifts upon Jungkook's departure.

"Coming, boy?" He calls back, and Bam is up and off the bed within the same breath. His paws tap across the floorboards, following Jungkook out, leaving you with nothing but your thoughts.

Flopping back down, you stare into the empty darkness of Jungkook's ceiling. Light filters in through his open bedroom door frame, sounds of domestic life filtering through with it. The gentle roll of his sliding bathroom door subtly sounds, and then so does his shower spluttering into action.

"Get a grip," you whine, berating yourself for how confusing it is to exist around Jungkook lately.

You've known him for years. Have been friends for just as long. It shouldn't be this complicated. Pathetically raising your hand to your face, you give yourself a quick slap. Decide that you need to get it together. It's pure insanity to be like this over Jungkook of all people.

Glancing across to your now empty glass of water, your frown only burrows down even deeper into the muscles of your face, but it does at least spring you into action.

You'll get water, get cosy, and be asleep before he's done with the shower. Will avoid talking about anything. Safer that way. Smarter, even.

A little sleepy in your stature, you grab the glass and head down the hallway to the kitchen—or at least you do until you notice Bam's perch.

Just like always, he's sitting outside the bathroom. Has his front paws draped over the sliding door frame, head facing into the living area.

The sound you heard earlier wasn't Jungkook closing the door.

It was him opening it. Of course he'd leave it open for Bam. It was one of the first things he'd told you about when you started dog sitting for him: Bam whines when he's shut out of the bathroom.

Fuck.

It's fine. You know his apartment layout like the back of your own hand. You'll avert your eyes. Won't even think about looking in. In fact, looking in would be a gross violation of privacy. You'd be a terrible friend, and even worse co-worker (though you're also sure co-workers shouldn't share beds, either).

You're better than this.

Or at least you like to think you are. The way your breath hitches as you pass the bathroom would suggest perhaps you're not—but you keep your eyes straight ahead. Ignore the temptation that comes from your peripherals.

"Pervert," you mutter under your breath as you finally get to the kitchen island. Placing the glass down, you rest your pals on the counter side and sigh. Hang your head a little. Shake it. Look up. Glance across to the open bathroom door that's still in your line of vision, simply because it's the only light source you can see. Fail to catch yourself before it's too late.

The sliver of Jungkook on display is nothing short of Holy; a celestial being that is able to blind you of his sins.

Impossibly broad, his shoulders taper down to a waist so thin it's deserving of a ribbon wrapped around it, tied with a bow. The ridge of his spine runs like a deep valley down back, his muscles thick and defined unlike you've ever seen before. You've dated your fair share of muscle rats, but none of them have ever looked like him.

There's a delicate nature to Jungkook despite his strength. The glint of his silver chain catches your eye, and then you're focused on the tattoos trailing down his arm like the rivulets of water down his back.

With his other hand pressed to the tiles, you're a little confused. Have avoided letting your eyes venture south past the small dimples at the bottom of his back. There are some places friends shouldn't look.

But the movement of his tattooed arm in front of his body and out of clear sight is fast. Rapid. It distracts you from all sensible thought processes—or at least it does until the muscles in his back begin to tense. Your eyes drop to his legs, for one of them shakes a little.

It's only then that you realise what's happening. What he's doing. What you're watching.

Oh my God.

You practically sprint back to his room. Leave the glass on the counter. Will simply dehydrate in the night. Would prefer that over him knowing what you saw. The way he's pressed his forehead to the tiles; the thick evidence of his sins running down the tiles before the water could reach it.

Go away, you tell the thoughts replaying in your head, pressing your legs together. This is terrible. Really fucking awful, actually. You need to leave. Or at least sleep on the sofa. You can't—

"Hey," Jungkook quietly says, only for you to shriek in surprise when he tears you from your thoughts. "Jesus," he laughs. "Having a nightmare?"

Something like that.

"Oh," you hurriedly try to cover your tracks. "Yeah. No. I mean, sorry, just tired."

"Right," he laughs again, a pair of sweats slung around his hips, his back on full display for you once more as he shakes a towel through his damp hair.

Bam trots up to your side of the bed and presses his wet nose to the duvet. Sniffs a little to check if it's you, then climbs up onto Jungkook's bed. Curls up next to you.

"You've undone all my training," Jungkook sighs.

Your dog just watched you get yourself off,  you mentally scoff, knowing full well that Bam always has his head directed away from the line of vision of the shower. Can hardly say I'm the issue.

"You can retrain him when I'm gone," is all you say in reply, reaching down to scratch at Bam's head. Poor dog.

"No point," Jungkook says, climbing into bed. The weight of his body sinking into the mattress makes your tummy feel all funny. You're thankful for Bam's presence, and the way it keeps him at arm's length.

'Cause as much as you can judge Jungkook for what you saw, you're the one with evidence of your arousal in your underwear, now.

"You'll look after him again, soon enough," he continues, turning on his side towards you. "And he'll be up on here as soon as he can be."

"Well it can be a treat," you smile, turning to face him too. There's a Bam between you. It's safe. "He gets your bed when I'm here."

"So you're conditioning him to like having you around?" Jungkook grins, his eyes sleepily resting shut as he fights a yawn.

"He already likes having me around," you assure him, following suit and closing your eyes, too.

"At least that makes one of us."

"Fuck off," you softly laugh. "You love having me here."

He shakes his head against his pillow. "Can't wait for you to leave."

Which is a funny thing to say, for when morning comes, and Bam has migrated to the sofa, annoyed with both of your movements in the night, Jungkook's keeping you close. Arm draped over your waist, his bare chest is pressed to your back—of which is also now bare thanks to you taking off your shirt in your sleep, frustrated with how hot you'd been beneath Jungkook's duvet.

That's the issue with sleeping next to another person. Things are far hotter than they should be.

And when you finally wake, and notice a thick, firm greeting pressed against your ass, you realise it's hotter in more ways than one.

"Morning," Jungkook croaks when you begin to stir, waking him too. He strokes his hand against you, only to realise there's bare skin where cotton should be. He's practically groping your tits. It's curious how you don't seem to mind. Even curiouser is the way your tummy feels all funny as he does it. Fuck. Jungkook retracts his hand. Holds your waist. Squeezes. "Where the fuck is your shirt?"

"Why the fuck do you have a boner?" You groan right back, which prompts Jungkook to rapidly tear himself away from you.

"It's morning," he says, covering his embarrassment well. "Nothing to do with you, Gremlin."

Which is, of course, a lie.

Has everything to do with you.

And a little something to do with the dream he'd had about the pair of you in his shower.

It's only 'cause it had been on his brain.

If there's one thing you should remember about Jungkook, it's that he's observant. He'd clocked the glass on the kitchen counter when he'd finished off his shower last night, and the lack of one on his bedside table.

He knows you at least walked past during his shower.

And he also knows he could have shut the door. You were there, so Bam wouldn't have whined. Jungkook chose to ignore this factor. Left his bathroom open deliberately.

If you saw him? Well, that's on you.

He definitely didn't drink all of you water to give you a reason to walk past.

Definitely not, no.

"Rude," you tell him, reaching around the bed to try and locate your shirt.

You won't find it.

It's on Jungkook's side of the bed.

Neither of you realise, for neither of you know just how innately your bodies gravitated towards one another during the night. It's no wonder Bam was fed up with you both.

"It's just what happens," he assures you.

"Oh, so Jiwon was waking up to your boners every morning, was she?" You reply with a little snap.

Jungkook lazily smirks. "God, that jealousy. It's cute."

Scowling, you sit up now to properly look around for your shirt. Are pleased to see the serene look on Jungkook's face, and find your own expression softening.

"Not jealous."

Eyes still closed, Jungkook's smile prevails. "Sure. You still half-naked or can I open my eyes?"

"Keep them closed," you instruct, spotting your shirt and opting to clamber over Jungkook to retrieve it instead of getting out of bed. You quickly get yourself half-decent once more, and shake your head in disbelief over the state of how you woke up in his bed.

You've not forgotten what he said about the things that he does in his bed thinking about you. Joke or not, a seed was planted. Last night, you both watered it. If you keep this up, it'll sprout before you know it.

Jungkook thinks his annexe could do with a garden, though.

And so as you climb out of his bed and head for the kitchen, he calls after you.

"You staying for breakfast?" He queries. Normally, he orders in on the weekend—but domestication is your weakness, and he's looking to exploit it in the most gentle of ways. "I'll cook."

"Sure," you call back. "Can I grab a shower?"

"Yeah," he replies, then adds, "Leave the door ajar. You know Bam will whine if not."

It's bullshit and you both know.

But as you start up the shower and rid yourself of your clothes, you don't close the door.

Bam is still up on the sofa. He's not concerned with company at all. The door could be closed, if you wanted it to be.

Yet you leave it open regardless, and wonder how long it will be until Jungkook starts preparing breakfast by the sink.

Your back is to the door, much like his was the night before. You wash your hair. Shampoo. Condition. Clean your body with his shower gel. Let his scent cling to your skin.

Turning around as you wash the final few suds from your body, you let your lips settle into a smirk when you clock Jungkook standing right where you'd been the night before.

Behind the kitchen sink, he's without a shirt, still. The morning sunlight paints him in the most gorgeous of golden hues, illuminating every single ridge of his torso.

You can see his hands this time. He's slicing through the thick skin of a pomegranate. Should be focused on that, but he isn't.

No, his eyes are on you.

Unashamed, and unrelenting.

He lets his gaze stalk down your body. Takes in every inch of your skin. Is aware that this is forbidden. Doesn't know if he'll ever get this luxury again. There's a heaviness in his chest, and it echoes through his body. It tugs at his hard cock trapped beneath his sweats, like wishes his hand could. Like he wishes your hand could.

There's no way simply looking at a girl can get him this turned on.

But he is, and god dammit you do.

When his eyes meet your lips, he's amused to see your plump pout silently tease him.

Pervert, you mouth.

He just shrugs. Smirks, too.

Mouths right back: Ditto.

a/n:

hehehe

nothing I love more than writing just a pair of besties doing friendly things!! like watching each other shower!! totally normal!!

there's one more chapter left of this instalment, and then we'll press pause on landslides updates for a little while.

for anyone who is unfamiliar with the way I write for landslides, we basically check in with the landslides couple whenever the oc is dogsitting, so we won't see them again until she next dogsits, which will be february in-story.

there was a year and a half between the first and second instalment, but I've got time between jobs towards the end of the year so you'll probably get the third instalment then!!

okay that's all for now!! hope u liked it!! luv u byeee x