Taehyung rubbed his tired eyes with the palm of his hand. He could feel the pain in the strained muscles of his neck, and the frustration growing in his veins. They spent another evening skimming over the files, trying to find something - anything - that would lead them to the trail of the unknown avenger. More hours and more days passed, and he got the impression that they were still standing in exactly the same place.

At most, they had more and more questions, the answers to which none of them knew.

The testimony recorded on the tape checked out. DNA testing of the remains found confirmed that they were indeed the eight missing boys. As a result, they were able to bring to a conclusion eight cases that may have never been solved had it not been for the nameless avenger. Instead, his case has stalled. In the last few days, they were able to track down Byung's car, but found no traces inside that would lead them to the wanted murderer. Inside, they found fingerprints of Byung and some of the kidnapped boys. No sign of the wanted man or any other biological materials, even though it was most likely this car that their villain used to transport the unconscious Byung to the slaughterhouse.

What a surprise.

In addition, they were able to determine that on the day Byung drugged Beomi in an attempt to abduct him, someone dropped Bo off at one of the animal shelters, which was near where the plumber's car was abandoned. Of course, as with the van, this also led to nothing new. No one had seen the wanted man. They checked cameras nearby, but none captured the suspect, as if the guy was literally a ghost or had vanished into thin air. So all they knew was that most likely their nameless avenger had a soft heart for animals and liked to punish those who had gotten away with their past wrongdoings.

They just had no idea how he could know about them.

Beomi's testimony didn't do them any good, well, unless they should take to heart the theory about the crazy mime who runs around town in sequins and clown shoes, bringing justice....

When Taehyung thought about it, he didn't know whether he should start laughing or crying. He didn't think he had ever come across such a tough case before. The longer he sat on the case, the more unknowns there were, and it almost drove him to white fever.

He sighed loudly and put down the file he was reviewing on the wooden floor, and leaned his back against the couch behind him. They had been sitting with Yoongi and Hoseok in his partner's apartment for several hours, studying all the materials they had collected so far. They looked through the victims' friends and family, trying to find any connections to Lin, but it looked like another dead end as well. Byung and Lin had absolutely nothing in common. So they had no idea how their avenger came across their trail. They checked to see if any of the boys' family members were ex-military or men still on active duty, but that only led them to one person, who certainly couldn't be their wanted man. The uncle of one of the boys was ex-military, but had lost a leg during one of his missions a few years earlier, so he wouldn't have been able to handle overpowering such a big man.

No other potential suspects were found.

Lifting his right hand, he moved his slender fingers through his soft, dark brown curls, letting them fall across his forehead and the long lashes surrounding his cat-like dark eyes. His gaze traveled upward to hang on the face of the clock for a few moments.

If it weren't for this nameless avenger, he might be somewhere else entirely right now....

At the very thought that there was a small bar a few blocks away that would be filled with guitar sounds in a moment, he felt a bitter taste on the tip of his tongue. He wanted so badly to be there now. Unable to resist the temptation, he closed his eyes and imagined that he was there again. He was standing in a shadowy corridor with his back leaning against the wall and his eyes fixed on only one point. That one, the only illuminated spot in the entire bar, where the one he can't and won't take his eyes off of is located. With the eyes of his imagination, he saw the sculpted muscles of the musician's back, hidden beneath a thin white T-shirt, tighten as the boy bends down to pick up the black Ibanez, and then sits down on the bar stool, nonchalantly resting the guitar on his strong thigh, before finally lifting his gaze and looking directly at him, as if he knew full well that Taehyung was already looking at him. Without taking his eyes off him, he would slowly move his fingers over the strings, caressing them with his manly hands the way he would caress his body after a performance - with adoration and longing. And he would look directly into those black as night eyes, holding his breath, still feeling on his lips the kiss that the musician had stolen from him seconds before he went on stage.

He lifted his eyelids abruptly, drawing a breath of air into his lungs, and stared at the moving hand of the clock for a long time. Jeongguk was probably ready to begin his performance. Did he look around in search of a familiar face? Did he feel the same disappointment now, realizing that he would once again go home without him?

Before he knew it, his right hand had traveled to his jeans pocket, only to clamp down on his phone a moment later. He highlighted the screen and let his thumb hover over the messenger icon he used to talk to Jeongguk. Should he text him? As a million questions ran through his head at once, the phone suddenly vibrated, and the musician's name appeared on the screen, as if he had brought him in with his thoughts. Taehyung bit his lower lip, holding back the smile pressing on his lips, and clicked the icon to display the message.

"Can you make it to my show tonight?"

Taehyung let the air out of his lungs loudly, feeling disappointment spread through every, even the smallest, cell of his body.

"Is it CK?" Hoseok asked suddenly, and Taehyung shifted his gaze to him.

"CK?" he repeated, pulling his eyebrows together. Yoongi also looked at him, and a similar incomprehension was painted on his face, as if Hoseok had suddenly started speaking to them in a foreign language.

"Well, CK. Calvin Klein. Such boxer shorts with..." Jung began to explain.

"I know what the brand is," Kim interjected. "But I don't really know what you mean..." he added, clearly confused.

Jung snorted, then got up from his current seat and moved toward the refrigerator. Taehyung led him away with his eyes, waiting for his partner to explain what he was asking. Hoseok took his time explaining. He opened the refrigerator door and leaned in gently. He picked up three cans of beer and walked back toward them. He handed the alcohol to his friends. When they took the cans from him, he opened his own, and when foam came out of the opening, he hastily grabbed it with his lips. Only when he was sure that he had saved the liquor from going to waste did he lift his gaze to Tae, who was still waiting for his answer.

"I mean your undies model," he explained. "As long as I don't forget this sight, I'll call him Mr. CK," this being said, he shrugged his shoulders, and in response Kim hurled one of the pillows that were on the couch at him. Jung twisted his body to the right to avoid the blow, while shielding the can with his hand to avoid accidentally spilling the precious liquid. "Hey, it's hard to forget such a sight!" he exclaimed, shifting his gaze to Yoongi. "I'm serious, that musician sent him a picture in just his boxers and uuuuhhuu..." he added, looking at Min, and the latter shook his head, laughing at his two friends, then shifted his gaze to Taehyung.

"If you feel like it, go to that undies model of yours..." he suggested, using Hoseok's words to tease him a bit. "We can finish it ourselves," he added, getting serious.

"No. I don't want to put my responsibilities on you," the younger man protested.

"Then make an appointment with him tomorrow," Jung interjected suddenly, and Taehyung shifted his gaze to him.

He would be lying if he said he hadn't thought about it, but he didn't know if he should. They were only supposed to have sex with each other, and that seemed too intimate.

"Maybe I don't know much, but I think hot sex with an even hotter musician is a pretty good birthday present."

"I-I don't know if I should... It's supposed to be a no-strings attached relationship, spending my birthday with him is probably not the best idea..."

"After all, you don't even have to tell him it's your birthday. Just tell him that you're off, and you want to shag with him all day," Jung replied, shrugging his shoulders as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Taehyung glanced at the clock again, as if to make sure that the time for Jeongguk's performance hadn't struck yet, and then shifted his gaze to the phone display, wondering what he should do. He didn't want to spend the day alone. Yoongi and Hoseok had already told him they wouldn't be able to make it. Yoongi had some important work commitments he couldn't get away from, and his partner was leaving for the weekend to visit his family. In addition to those two, he still had Jimin, but the latter was currently abroad, and Jin, who also brushed him off, saying he was holding a closed-door party for one of his clients. So it looked like he was going to spend the day alone for the first time in a long time.

"Call him," Jung encouraged, seeing his hesitation.

Kim lifted his gaze to him, looking directly at him from under a curtain of dark lashes. Hoseok saw in his gaze, something the boy could not hide - he wanted to see him again.

He sat still for a moment, clasping his fingers around his cell phone and staring at the message he had received from Jeongguk. Finally, he swiped his tongue across his lower lip, moistening its delicate texture, and nodded. He levered himself to a standing position and headed toward the balcony. When he stepped outside, he breathed deeply. His anxiety was mixed with that strange, characteristic excitement he always felt whenever he was about to see him. Without replying to the message, he simply pressed the green button. He waited with his heart beating hard, and when he heard the rather clear bass and sounds of heavy music on the other end, he felt like his heart would literally jump out of his chest.

"I was hoping to see you today," a familiar voice finally spoke up. He immediately sensed some new note in it. Disappointment?

"I won't be able to come today," he admitted on a long exhale, reflexively clenching his fingers tighter on the phone.

"You should regret it. Apparently, I look extremely sexy today," the musician joked, laughing lightly. There was something extremely soothing yet sensual at the same time in his laughter.

"Then maybe when you get home, you can show me how sexy you look, so that I know what I've missed," Taehyung suggested before he could realize that he had pronounced the words out loud.

Jeongguk laughed again. Louder this time. The young agent was sure that when he did so, he threw his head back and his raven-black hair danced in the wind, falling softly over his equally dark eyes.

"Oh, are you persuading me to send you another photo?" the guitarist replied with a question. "Did you like the previous one?"

Taehyung looked toward the window, peering inside the apartment, as if to make sure no one was listening to their talk. He was not used to this type of conversation. When he was in a relationship with Soohyun, probably the most indecent chat he had with him was about the number of calories in the dessert he bought.

"Maybe," he admitted, then bit his lower lip to hold back the smile pressing on his lips.

"You know, I'll honestly admit that I was hoping for some kind of small payback," the guitarist said shamelessly, and Taehyung felt a distinctive pressure in the pit of his stomach. "I still have a while to go before I get on stage, so... If you feel like it, I'd love to see what you look like at the moment..."

Taehyung laughed quietly.

"I'm at Hoseok's," he explained.

"Tell him he's a damn lucky guy," the musician replied, and after a moment the sounds Taehyung heard in the background became decidedly louder, and he could have sworn he heard someone calling Jeongguk's name.

Before he could accurately register the words, he heard the guitarist shout out an audible 'I'm coming' to someone. When the sounds quieted down again, he guessed that the boy must have been outside the bar. He had probably left so that he could talk to him in peace.

"I'm about to have a performance," he said, this time already directing the words to him.

"Yes, right," nodded Kim, and for a brief moment there was almost complete silence between them, filled only with a strange anticipation and tension.

"I really had a great desire to see you again..." the musician admitted, finally being the first to break the silence, and at this bold confession Taehyung felt something he still could not get used to - a flock of butterflies danced in his stomach.

He clenched his hand more tightly on his cell phone and pressed it to his ear, at the same time closing his eyes, as if in this way he wanted to sharpen his senses and hear the accelerated breathing of the musician. However, all he could hear with certainty was the loud beating of his own heart and his own trembling breath escaping through his gently parted lips, which were tingling with longing for the lips of the one who was the perpetrator of all these feelings.

"How much do you want me?" He asked before he could bite his tongue. He didn't know if he should ask this and whether Jeongguk would consider it too intimate a question, but the guitarist answered him with a low, sensual laugh, caressing his senses in a million ways.

"So much so that I'm just now considering canceling the concert and kidnapping you from your friend's apartment...," he admitted without hesitation. When he said this, his voice was lower than usual, dragging the syllables sexily, making Taehyung's body tremble even though they were miles apart.

"That doesn't sound like a bad plan at all," Kim flirted, biting his lower lip to hold back the smile that was pressing on his lips, and glanced toward his friends again, making sure none of them were paying attention to him.

"For us, no, but my boss would probably kill me. The bar is bursting at the seams, and they're waiting for me to start playing..." he admitted.

"Sometimes I regret that you are so good at what you do," Taehyung joked, and the guitarist answered him with a loud, extremely melodic laugh.

"I promise that the next time we meet, these nimble hands will play each of your strings..." he replied, lowering his voice to a sexy purr. Hardly had this obscene promise rolled off his soft lips, and someone called out to him again. If Taehyung recognized the tone of voice correctly, it was Namjoon, his friend's husband. "I really have to go..." the guitarist gasped.

"Wait!" Kim called. His voice sounded a little less confident than he would have liked. "Actually..." he continued, feeling time pressure. "I also wanted to ask if you would perhaps like to meet with me tomorrow? I have the day off, so..."

"Oh," Jeongguk groaned. "My boss is holding a private party tomorrow, and he offered me double to take care of the music and the bar... So..." he fell silent for a moment, and Taehyung's ears were filled with the sounds of slightly muffled music. "If I had known before..." he added, as if he wanted to explain himself.

"Sure. Don't worry about it. We'll meet another time," he replied quickly, hoping that the tone of his voice did not betray the disappointment that flooded every cell in his body in a second.

He wasn't sure if he should propose to him to spend his birthday with him. It seemed to him that perhaps it was too soon, that it was something too... personal. When he decided to ask him this question, he thought he had no expectations, but when the guitarist said he couldn't meet him, he felt incredibly disappointed. He didn't realize how much he didn't want to be alone tomorrow until he realized that this was exactly what would happen.

"In that case, I have nothing left to do but wish you good luck on your performance," he spoke up after a while, knowing that they didn't have much time left. "I'm sure your performance will be wonderful."

"Thank you," Jeongguk thanked. "See you later."

"See you, Gguk," Taehyung said goodbye and quickly pressed the red button, ending the call.

He stood still for a long moment, pressing the cell phone to his chest. He lowered his eyelids and leaned against the wall, trying to calm down. His heart was beating strangely hard. He felt the adrenaline and excitement generated by their conversation give way to the bitterness of disappointment. Only after a few minutes did he manage to move. Still clutching the phone in his hand, he moved inside the apartment. It was enough for him to cross the threshold, and he met the gazes of two pairs of dark eyes, staring straight at him expectantly. He lifted the corners of his mouth in a forced smile, but his eyes betrayed that the smile was not sincere.

"Maybe I can come to work tomorrow?" He asked, knowing full well what answer he would probably hear in a moment. "I could do overtime and go through those docu..."

"There's no way," Yoongi interrupted him firmly. "Tomorrow is your day."

"Yeah," Kim muttered, snorting involuntarily. "You and Hoseok are busy, and I have no other friends. I'll be sitting all by myself."

"You have the day off. Use this day to rest. Relax and take care of yourself. And next week we will somehow make up for it, hm?"

"Sure. You're right," Kim confirmed. "It's nothing important. Tomorrow is just another day..."

***

Taehyung sighed loudly and with a groan of dissatisfaction lifted himself to a sitting position, slowly lowering his bare feet to the floor. He moved his hand through his dark curls, combing his fingers through them to bring his hairstyle into as much order as possible, and got out of bed. He didn't feel like doing anything. He had a sincere desire to just stay in bed and spend the whole day hiding under the covers, but he knew he shouldn't do that. So he thought it's best to start with a cold shower. Perhaps that would help him clear his mind and wash the strange tension from his body. Heading toward the bathroom, he pulled his T-shirt over his head, and after a while did the same with the cotton pajama pants he had slept in that night. He didn't even bother to throw the underwear in the wash or put them aside anywhere, he simply threw them on the floor, leaving them exactly where he happened to be standing. As he did so, he snorted involuntarily under his breath. If he still lived with Soohyun, such behavior would have driven him to white fever. His ex was a terrible pedant, perhaps due to the fact that as a plastic surgeon he had to be very thorough, or maybe because he just hated disorder and chaos.

"You're not here, asshole," he muttered to himself at the mention of his former partner. "I can do what I want now," he added and, wearing only a smile, marched through the hallway, heading for the bathroom.

He was completely naked, but felt remarkably comfortable in his own skin. For a long time after his breakup with Soo, he felt quite insecure. His partner's cheating had taken its toll on him, and he lost his earlier confidence and began to pay more attention to his imperfections, especially those related to his appearance. Since he got into a fling with Jeongguk, something changed in him. He felt incredibly comfortable in his own skin again. He felt confident and sexy. When he agreed to go with him that night, he didn't think that this acquaintance would give him so much. Oh, yes, looking at him on stage, he knew that the young musician was certainly an unearthly lover and would definitely give him a night worth remembering, but he never thought that a fling with a stranger would make him feel so good.

So fucking good.

With a smile on his lips, he slipped into the shower stall and turned on the tap, letting the lukewarm water run down his caramel-colored skin, washing over his entire body from yesterday's day and night. After a moment, he poured a generous amount of shower gel into his hand, filling the bathroom with the scent of citrus, and spread it all over his body, soaping it thoroughly. As he did so, he took a small step back, sliding his head under the water. The pleasantly lukewarm water hit the back of his skull as he raised his hands, soaking his hair. His eyes closed, he tilted his head and, relishing this blissful feeling, recalled in his mind his conversation with Jeongguk from yesterday. He would be lying if he said he didn't feel like seeing him again. The vision of spending his birthday writhing in the arms of the handsome guitarist sounded remarkably tempting, but perhaps it was better this way? The musician didn't want to get involved, so he might consider it something too intimate.

He washed his hair, instinctively closing his eyes as the water ran down his face. When he had washed all the shampoo out of his dark curls, he remained under the water, keeping his head close to the shower. For a moment he stood like that without moving, enjoying the way the water ran down his naked body, slowly relaxing it. The streams rolled down from his handsome face and dark curls, onto his broad shoulders, gliding along his spine, flowing from his fingers toward his round buttocks and slim thighs. Feeling the warmer flow running down the inner side of his thigh, he imagined that it was the slender fingers of some unearthly agile guitarist dancing on his skin, and his lower abdominal muscles tensed involuntarily, and now all he could think about was Jeongguk and his promise from yesterday...

I promise that the next time we meet, these nimble hands will play each of your strings...

He raised his right hand hastily and with a quick gesture cut off the flow of water. Even when it stopped flying, he stood still for a moment, breathing heavily, only after a few deep breaths he opened his eyes. He brushed his wet hair back with his hands, brushing it away from his face, and stepped out of the stall, not even caring that the water was dripping off his body, leaving wet marks on the tiles. He wrapped a towel around his waist and approached the sink. He wiped the foggy mirror with his hand and stared at his reflection. Even though he hadn't slept much the night before, he looked remarkably well. His dark hair was almost black, curled into soft waves by the moisture, a few unruly strands falling over his dark, catlike eyes. Caramel skin glistened with drops of water.

He smiled at his reflection as an idea popped into his head and left the bathroom. Back in the bedroom, he walked over to the nightstand next to the bed and reached for his cell phone. For a moment, he just stared at the illuminated screen, wondering if he should pluck up the courage to do what had sprouted in his mind a moment ago. He moistened his lips with his tongue and activated the camera. He had never done anything like this before... He looked straight at the camera and raised his left hand, resting his index finger on his lower lip, and took the picture with his right hand. The photo wasn't as bold as the one Jeongguk had given him, but it was still very sexy. His gaze was bold, staring straight into the camera with some provocation. His index finger pressed against his soft lower lip, slightly parting his lips, glistening with saliva. Broad shoulders were bare, glistening with drops of water that here and there adorned smooth skin, and the protruding collarbones and slender neck invited for caresses. Holding his breath, he clicked the send button quickly, as if he was afraid he might change his mind. Fortunately, he didn't have to wait long for the musician's reaction. He didn't even have time to put down his cell phone, and it vibrated in his hand, signaling an incoming message, as if Jeongguk was waiting for him to speak to him.

"Holy shit! Good morning to you, too ;)".

Taehyung chuckled under his breath, then bit his lower lip, feeling a flock of butterflies in his stomach.

"I figured since you've been working all day today and can't be here, you could use a nice surprise. Do you like it?" he replied quickly. The smile still didn't leave his face.

"Do I like it? You don't even know how much I regret agreeing to work at that stupid party right now. If I hadn't promised my boss I'd help him, I'd be on my way to you by now. You're so sexy."

"Maybe you can finish it earlier?"

"I'll do my best".

Taehyung stared at his phone for a few more moments, still smiling to himself. He liked flirting with him. He liked what was between them and how he felt being close. He didn't know what to call their relationship properly, but he felt extremely comfortable around him. Jeongguk was smart and funny, and on top of all that, he was incredibly alluring. Most importantly, he was as talented on stage as he was in bed. He didn't think he'd ever felt so sexually satisfied before, and yet he still couldn't get enough of it. Just thinking about him made him feel the characteristic tightness in the lower abdomen and throbbing in the wave of his thighs, and his whole body literally seemed to be on fire.

He put his phone down and walked over to the dresser. Grabbing the white towel that had been around his waist with his right hand, he tugged on it and let the cloth fall around his feet. He slipped on his buttocks black boxer shorts, followed by jeans with a pretty big tear on the left knee. He looked at his reflection in the mirror and, slipping his hand into the dark curls, ran his fingers through them gently.

"And what now?" he asked his reflection, as if that might tell him what he should do.

He took a T-shirt out of the closet, but before he could put it on, he heard a loud and extremely insistent knock on the door, as if someone very impatient was knocking on it. He tossed his shirt on the bed and, knitting his eyebrows together, headed for the door. He had no idea what or who to expect. He crossed the living room in several long strides and approached the door. He peered through the peephole but couldn't see anything, as if someone had intentionally blocked his view with a hand, so without hesitation he simply opened the door, but what he saw made a sigh of surprise escape his lips.

"Jung? Min?" He choked out, looking from Hoseok to Yoongi. "What are you doing here?"

Hoseok stretched his lips in a wide smile and, placing his hand on his bare, still slightly damp chest, pushed him into the apartment while walking inside with him.

"You didn't think we were going to let you spend your birthday hiding in bed under the covers, did you?" He replied, raising his right eyebrow at him.

"T-that wasn't my plan at all," he lied, avoiding his partner's inquisitive gaze.

"Sure," Hoseok snorted loudly, rolling his eyes, then turned his gaze back to him and looked him over carefully from head to toe, lingering for a moment on the few drops of water that gleamed on his caramel skin. He reached out and touched one of them with his finger, stretching his lips into a wide smile and winking coquettishly at him. "Uuu, maybe you decided to crawl out from under the covers for a while... Is this how you're getting ready for me?" he teased, looking down at his index finger, now wet with water, before finally looking up and staring directly at his friend.

He stared at him for a moment, as if trying to see through him with his eyes. Taehyung shifted from foot to foot and ran his fingers through his still damp hair. He looked like he felt a bit uncomfortable with his searching gaze on him, and Hoseok could have sworn he saw a strange blush on his face.

"What are you hiding, Kim?" he asked, looking around again. "Don't tell me that handsome guitarist is hiding in your bedroom right now!" he added half-jokingly, half-seriously, deliberately raising his voice so that Jeongguk could hear him in case he was actually lying naked in his friend's bed.

As he shouted the words, his gaze instinctively shifted to the bedroom, his gaze quickly lingering on the pajama bottoms still on the floor. Following his gaze, Taehyung saw what caught his partner's attention and quickly covered the distance that separated him from the bedroom and gathered his clothes from the ground.

"I'm not hiding anyone," he replied quickly. "I just left it here while I was going to take a shower," he added, feeling the need to explain himself.

"Oh, that's a shame..." Jung sighed. "Hot sex is definitely a better way to spend a birthday, but oh well..." He shrugged and let a wide grin grace his lips once again. "What friends are for," he said, taking two cans of beer from his backpack. "Sorry, Min, someone has to drive," he said and held out the can towards Taehyung, whose gaze wandered to the clock. "It's definitely after twelve somewhere," Jung scolded him, and Taehyung snorted and, shaking his head, took the can from his friend. Min approached him and took the beer from him. He opened the can quickly and, putting it to his lips, took a few sips.

"We'll call an Uber," he explained, looking at Jung, who sighed theatrically.

"You pay," he bit back and took another can out of the backpack he'd brought with him and opened a beer as well. He sat down on the couch, looking around again. Yoongi took a seat in the chair next to him. "You look sexy now. You should send him a pic." Jung spoke again after a moment of silence, and Taehyung nearly choked on his beer. He coughed and wiped his wet lips with the back of his hand, letting a nervous laugh escape his lips.

"Wh-what?"

"Gguk," he explained, as if that wasn't obvious enough, then took several gulps of cold beer. "He sent you a sexy pic. You should thank him with yours."

Taehyung chuckled under his breath, shaking his head in disbelief. He placed his hands on his narrow hips and lifted his chin proudly, giving his friend a provocative look.

"And how do you know I haven't sent him already, hm?" he asked, teasing him, and Hoseok laughed out loud, throwing his head back as if he had just heard some incredibly funny joke.

"Sure," he said, obviously amused, but seeing a strange twinkle in his friend's eye, he immediately became serious. He narrowed his eyes and studied him carefully. "Did you send him a photo?" he cried. There was disbelief mixed with excitement in his voice.

"N-no," Kim lied, suddenly feeling the weight of his friend's gaze, and turned on his heel, heading for the bedroom. He didn't turn around, but he knew Jung was following him with his mouth open.

"Oh my god, did you really send it to him?!" He asked again, though it didn't sound like a question at all.

Taehyung, ignoring his friend's question, walked over to the bed and grabbed a black t-shirt from it, which he took out before his partner started banging on the door of his apartment. He slid it over his still-damp skin and rolled up the cuffs of his sleeves as he usually did, then turned on his heel and headed for the exit.

"Hey. Now you must tell me the truth!" Jung groaned, still not moving away from him.

As the younger continued to ignore him, he quickened his pace to avoid him in the corridor and get in his way, forcing him to stop. Kim looked up but avoided his gaze. Hoseok immediately noticed the blush on his cheeks, and that could only mean one thing.

"Oh. My. God. You actually sent him a pic!" He exclaimed, and shifted his dilated pupils to Min, who was still sitting on his seat. "He really did it!" he repeated, looking at Yoongi.

The elder leaned back against the backrest and crossed his right leg over his left, resting his foot on a slim thigh. He held a can of beer in his right hand and watched them with undisguised amusement that took the form of a wide smile playing on his soft lips.

"He sent him a naked picture!" Jung said again in disbelief.

"Not naked," Kim protested, but quickly shut his mouth as he realized he was merely confirming to his friend that he had indeed sent the musician a picture of himself.

"Ha!" Jung cried, and almost jumped with joy that his friend had spilled the word. "Well, well, well. Agent Kim... I don't recognize you..." he muttered, lowering his voice to a sensual whisper. "I don't know how to properly describe this outrageous behavior. I find Agent Kim's actions immoral and shocking. I am very shocked that Kim's agent is exchanging sexually explicit photos and messages with an extremely hot guitarist and has not told his best friends about it. Doesn't that fall under a paragraph, Agent Min?" He teased further, shifting his gaze to their boss.

"Yoongi, it's my birthday, save me," Taehyung moaned pleadingly, moving his gaze to Min, who just shook his head and laughed loudly.

"Oh, no, no. I'm having too much fun..." the other replied. "Don't interrupt each other," he added, gesturing for them to ignore him.

"Ah, now I know why I'd rather spend my birthday alone," Kim moaned as Hoseok moved closer to him and slung his arm over his neck.

"Just admit that you love us and have no idea what you would do without us..." he murmured into his ear, his lips curling into a wide smile. Taehyung snorted, rolling his eyes, and Jung pulled away from him and clapped his hands loudly. "Okay, time for another surprise! Get that sexy ass ready, because we're on our way!"

"W-what? Min? Jung? What are you up to?" He asked, looking from one friend to the other, but neither of them answered him. They both just curled their lips in cocky smiles.

Great.

This couldn't be a good sign...

***

Jeongguk took his cell phone out of his leather pants pocket and lit up the display to check the time for the umpteenth time. He had to admit that Taehyung knew how to whet his appetite. Ever since he sent that photo to him this morning, he couldn't focus on anything else. He was literally counting down the minutes until he could wash off and finally meet the sexy brunet. If it wasn't for the fact that he needed the money and really liked his boss, he probably would have found some excuse to get out of this stupid party long ago. He didn't want to leave Seokjin hanging and break his word. He looked around, then displayed the photo the boy had sent him. When his eyes saw a photograph of a brunet, he held his breath and moved his fingertip along the jawline of the man staring straight at him.

Taehyung didn't have to try to look stunning. Until now, he had no idea what he really does, but he could easily be a model for one of the Parisian fashion houses. His body was slender, his legs long and incredibly graceful, just made to wrap around his hips. Ass extremely juicy and firm, especially considering that the brunet was slim, and usually such thin people had nothing to boast about. His ass was perfect. But aside from his phenomenal body, Taehyung had a flawlessly beautiful face — a straight nose, cat eyes, and lips he could kiss for hours. His skin was smooth, flawless, a beautiful shade of warmed caramel. Still wet from the shower in the photo. Here and there he saw drops of water that he wanted to kiss directly from his body, gliding over it with his nimble tongue as he used to run his fingers over the fretboard of a guitar. Soft, brown curls curled in delicate waves, framing angelic features and fell softly on cat eyes, framed by a thick curtain of black lashes that many women would envy. Oh, and what was visible in the foreground of the photo he sent — his hands. He'd never seen anyone with more sensual hands than him. They were masculine, strong, yet delicate, slender, with the long fingers of a pianist. Looking at them, he didn't know if he'd rather suck on them and then let them dance a sensual dance inside him, or feel them glide over his body, exploring every hill and valley, then slide into his jet black hair, pulling them painfully as he gives Taehyung fulfillment, filling him to the limit.

"Someone here seems to be counting the time to leave," a voice suddenly said behind him, and Jeongguk quickly turned off the screen and put his cell phone in his pocket, feeling flushed on his cheeks, as if he was a teenager caught by a parent flipping through eighteen plus pages.

Taking a gulp of air, he turned around and leaned his buttocks against the cabinets, his face impassive. San appeared to his eyes. The bartender's handsome face was adorned with a wide smile. The boy looked him over from head to toe, lingering his gaze a little longer than necessary on his massive thighs, and Jeongguk repaid him with the same, lazily moving his black irises over his slender figure. He had to admit that San looked remarkably good today, as if he really wanted to look attractive.

"It's so obvious that I can't wait to get out of here?" he asked, though he didn't expect an answer. "You look incredibly happy to be here, though."

"Oh, you bet. As soon as Seokjin mentioned it, I volunteered myself." He admitted, and Jeongguk snorted at his words and crossed his arms over his strong chest.

"Somehow I can't believe this guy is really that handsome," he said.

Certainly not as handsome as the one I could be with right now, he added in his mind, flashing back to the last time he saw Taehyung. The boy was extremely cute when he brought him breakfast and then fell asleep in his bed. This was something completely new, but to his surprise, he didn't mind it one bit.

"Oh, believe me, he is," San replied in a clearly dreamy voice. "Don't be offended. You're like a twelve out of ten, but he... Shit!" He explained, gesturing with his hand to point to the musician's imposing figure, and Jeongguk laughed at his words.

San never hid the fact that he found him an attractive man, and not once failed to tell him that he would be more than happy to return to his apartment with him, but he had never heard him admire someone so much before. He wondered what he would say if he saw Tae. He was sure he would be just as delighted.

"He's deadly handsome, and he's a cop. It's damn sexy, don't you think?" He added, fanning himself with his hand in a slightly theatrical gesture.

"I have no idea. I've never seen a sexy cop. They only exist in the movies," he replied, clearly amused by the bartender's excitement.

He was convinced that his friend was exaggerating, because from his descriptions it appeared that this stranger was a walking god.

"Oh, today you will surely change your mind," Saying this, San winked at him and bared his teeth.

"Change his mind about what?" a voice asked suddenly, and both men shifted their gaze to Seokjin, who had just appeared in the back room doorway.

Their boss leaned nonchalantly against the ajar door and measured them carefully with his gaze. He looked great too. He had traded his comfortable, rather sporty, casual clothes for smarter slacks and an emerald-hued satin shirt that showed off his olive skin and dark hair.

"I'm just telling Gguk how handsome our birthday boy is, but he says that a handsome policeman is like a unicorn and there is no such thing."

Seokjin laughed out loud, filling the back room with his light, melodic laugh.

"You don't even know how many times I've heard that... And each of them quickly changed their minds," he admitted, genuinely amused, and the other men laughed as well. Seokjin quickly turned serious and turned his face towards them. "But..." he began in a hard voice, changing his tone from playful to stern in an instant. He raised his hand and pointed his index finger in the direction where San and Gguk were. "I'm going to warn you right away... No matter how handsome he is, he's like a little brother to me, so you two need to stay away, understand? He is out of reach for you. As soon as I hear someone is bothering him or making a move on him, he can say goodbye to the job and there will be no 'sorry'. I hope we understand each other?" He threatened, looking hard at them.

Jeongguk and San exchanged quick glances. The bartender chuckled a bit nervously, shifting from foot to foot, and the musician raised both hands in a defensive gesture.

"You don't have to worry about me, boss," the guitarist said quickly. "I'm not at all interested in him."

"Oh, I see someone here has a booty call," San joked, nudging Jeongguk in the side, but even though Seokjin chuckled to himself at his words, he could still feel his expectant gaze on him. As he pretended not to notice him, the elder cleared his throat loudly.

"I hope you got it too, San," Jin said in the same unobjectionable voice. "I'd rather not have to look for a new bartender," he added, and San raised his hands in response, as the guitarist had done a moment earlier.

"Sure, boss," he agreed quickly. "I'll be as good as an angel," he added, baring his teeth in a beautiful smile, and Seokjin returned his smile and, satisfied with the result of their chat, left the back room, closing the door behind him.

Jeongguk looked at San and watched him for a moment. The bartender's lips were still set in a gentle curve, dimples in his cheeks, and his eyes shone brightly.

If he looked like some divine creature now, he definitely wasn't like an angel.

"I suppose you don't intend to be as good as an angel, huh?" he asked, though he knew the answer before he could ask the question.

San laughed loudly and turned his handsome face towards him. The bartender was wearing a sleeveless black T-shirt that showed off his toned biceps. To further emphasize their shape, the boy rubbed olive oil into his skin, which shone on his skin, deepening its golden shade. Almost black hair fell over his forehead and narrow, cat eyes, framed by a curtain of black lashes, and a slit eyebrow raised feistily.

"Oh, I'm going to take him to my place tonight," he confessed shamelessly, and Jeongguk snorted involuntarily at this confession.

He could have expected it.

"Aren't you afraid Seokjin will fire you if he finds out about this?" He asked.

He understood what was driving Seokjin. If this boy was like a little brother to him, he wanted to protect him. So he wasn't surprised that he wanted to scare away the types who only wanted to take advantage of him, or that he wanted to drive off sexual predators who only wanted a moment of fun and guys who only saw his friend as a one-night stand before one of them takes advantage of him and abandons him, breaking his heart. Probably, if he had a younger brother, he would do the same. He had to admit he felt a bit intrigued. He knew San liked the job, but he also needed it to pay off his student loans. The fact that he was willing to risk losing his job for this cop surprised him.

"If losing my job is the price I pay for having that hot stuff shove his dick between my ass, then so be it," the bartender replied with a shrug, then a cocky grin spread across his lips. The dimples reappeared in his cheeks. "I'm willing to risk..."

Jeongguk shook his head, laughing under his breath, and pushed himself away from the cabinet, which he had been resting his buttocks against.

"Then...good luck," he said, extending his hand to him. The bartender looked at it and raised his right eyebrow questioningly.

"You're not going to hit on him?" he asked, genuinely surprised, and the guitarist laughed and shook his head.

"I have to admit I'm intrigued by your description, but I'll pass this time."

San squeezed his hand, smiling sensually. Although the musician gently withdrew his hand, the bartender tightened his fingers, holding it. Jeongguk looked up and met the younger man's dark eyes.

"I'm not going to let him go, but that doesn't mean I can't share, so if that booty call of yours would blow you off... I wouldn't mind if you guys took good care of me... The two of you."

"Thanks for the offer, San, but I think they'll pass," he replied, and the bartender let him free his hand. "I guess I like working here too much to risk my job for a moment of pleasure," he lied, not wanting to explain too much about the real feelings and intentions that drove him to make this decision. "You're all clear," he added, and as he spoke, he pointed towards the door. "I'm not going to get involved in this. As soon as the opportunity arises, I'm out of here," he explained.

"Oh, yes. I'm fucking ready for tonight." San muttered, biting his lower lip as if he'd already seen what was going to happen tonight, and Jeongguk just looked at his cell phone again to see how long he still had to stay here and after that he slipped it into the pocket of his leather trousers, sighing resignedly.

He didn't think he'd ever regretted his decision so much before...

***

Taehyung held both hands out in front of him, trying to sense where he might be. There was an open space in front of him. He felt the wind in his hair and the sun on his left cheek, which warmed his skin too much, causing discomfort. He could have sworn he could smell food in the air, as if there was a restaurant nearby, and the conversations of passers-by had crept into his ears. They must have been located in a fairly popular and busy part of the city, which could indicate some district with clubs or restaurants. They'd just gotten out of a taxi he'd practically been thrown into by two of his friends, but neither of them had said a word where they were going. What's more, despite his objections, Hoseok covered his eyes and didn't let him open them all the way here. Now they were leading him somewhere, and he was just praying that he wouldn't accidentally fall, making a complete fool of himself. He walked slowly, placing his feet carefully so as not to lose his balance. Fortunately, Hoseok supported him by the right arm, but he still felt insecure.

"Jung, I swear, if you're taking me to some strip bar, I'll never speak to you again..." he threatened, and his partner laughed loudly against his ear. He couldn't see him, but he was sure the man's head was thrown back, and even when he stopped laughing, a smile still graced his lips.

"Yoongi and I kidnapped you together, why do you assume I'm taking you to the strip club, and you won't talk to me?" he replied, clearly amused, teasing him.

"Because it's you who always come up with the worst ideas," he grumbled, his lips forming a delicate pout.

Despite biting, the elder did not stop. In response, he merely pulled Taehyung forward, leading him through some narrow alley. After a moment, however, he slowed down and grabbed his other hand.

"Watch out. Now there will be three stairs." He explained, so Taehyung obeyed his command, and they climbed the stairs together.

They walked literally a bit more, and after a while, the sound of something that resembled the sound of a door opening crept into Taehyung's ears. They must have been heavy because they quickly slammed behind them with a loud bang, accompanied by a soft gasp from Hoseok, who didn't even try to hide the effort he put in to hold them with one hand as he shoved him inside with the other. His partner led him into a room. His elegant shoes clicked on the floor. Judging by the sound that crept into his ears, it was made of wood. He instinctively drew a gulp of air into his lungs, as if trying to draw as much of his other senses as he could to work out where he was. It was stuffier inside, and there was a smell in the air of what looked like incense, and there was a distinct smell of wood and something stronger... Alcohol? He could have sworn he smelled whiskey and something more exotic. Hmm... Tequila? He also thought he smelled lemon — maybe it was the cleaner they used on the wood? And something softer, more sensual with a bit of pepper, as if someone here is wearing a really lovely cologne. The smell reminded him of only one person — an extremely hot guitarist... He held the scent in his lungs for a moment, for some inexplicable reason wanting to keep it a little longer. The place probably smelled like heaven if he had ever tasted it.

What else struck him was the pervasive silence. He was also sure that the room was unlit. He still had the scarf Hoseok folded over his eyes, but the sun was shining through it earlier. It was completely dark now. Even though no sounds crept into his ears except for the breathing of his friend, who was still right next to him, he was sure that they were not alone anymore. He couldn't explain it, but he felt someone's presence.

"Okay, handsome," Jung said suddenly. The elder let go of his arm, and for a moment he had no idea where his friend was. After a moment, he felt his slim fingers tightening on the scarf covering his eyes. "Let's take it off," he added, and with a deft gesture untied the knot, finally removing the blindfold from his face.

Taehyung opened his eyes and blinked a few times, but as he had guessed earlier, the room was completely dark, preventing him from seeing anything. He parted his lips to ask where they were, when suddenly someone forestalled him and the room he was in filled with light. It only took a few seconds for him to recognize where he was — Awake.

He froze, and the heart in his chest started beating like never before. Holding his breath, he looked at the group of men gathered at the back of the room by the bar.

"Happy birthday!" Seokjin shouted, and all he could do was part his lips and force himself to move his gaze over the gathering.

Next to Seokjin was his husband, Namjoon, and further to his right, this young, handsome bartender who had hit on him several times, San, if he remembered his name correctly. Realizing that the one he feared to see was not among them, he parted his lips and let the air he had held back escape. A breath of relief had not left his lungs for good when the sound of heavy boots hitting the wooden floor crept into his ears, and his nostrils were filled with the familiar, sensual smell with a distinct peppery note he had smelled a moment earlier.

When he finally summoned up the courage to look up, he met eyes as black as night, staring straight at him...

***

Ayashee:

One of the long-awaited moments has finally arrived...

Jeongguk found out who Taehyung is.

How do you think he will react to this information?

Will he want to withdraw from this relationship, knowing that perhaps sleeping with a law enforcement officer is not the best idea, since what he does "after hours" is against the law?

xoxo