Jeongguk couldn't believe it was all happening. He was lying on his stomach, completely naked, in sheets that smelled of magnolia blossom. His chest was pressed against Taehyung's, and his fingertips marked intricate patterns on his smooth, swarthy skin, caressed by the rays of the sun creeping in through the curtains. The tattoo artist stared at him with dark eyes, slender hands stroking his exposed back, running his fingers just above the line of firm buttocks, now covered only by a thin sheet.

"I still can't believe it," Jeongguk whispered, running his fingers over the tattoo on the man's chest. His fingertips almost unconsciously outlined the shape of a child's hand, tattooed on caramel skin, so that after a while his soft lips pressed a gentle kiss in exactly the same place. He could have sworn that, as he did so, he could feel Taehyung's heartbeat under his lips. "I know she'll be back anyway, but I'm glad we can spend time together before..."

Before the storm breaks out, he finished mentally, but when he looked back into those dark, almost black irises of the man beneath him, he knew Taehyung was thinking the same thing.

Both of them knew very well that sooner or later they would be confronted with reality, and then it would not be nice and pleasant at all.

"Did she tell you exactly when she's coming back?" Kim asked.

"No. She said she started a project in Japan and wants to stay until she finishes it. Two or three weeks, most likely. I'll probably hear again from her soon..." he explained. "I hope you haven't had enough of me yet, and I can stay here..." he added, lowering his voice to a seductive whisper, then curved his lips into a gentle arch.

His fingers moved from Taehyung's tattoo a little lower, a few centimeters down, and after a while, gently teasing a sensitive nipple pierced by a silver piercing. As he did so, he found the dark irises again. Their impenetrable blackness seemed to deepen even more with each subsequent relentlessly slow rubbing of the thumb. Jeongguk could have sworn that Taehyung stopped breathing for a moment and his black irises turned into liquid fire.

"Gguk..." the tattooist gasped in a low, guttural voice still tinged with morning hoarseness. His hands involuntarily tightened on the white sheet that still covered the young CEO's bare buttocks.

"You are not fed up with me sleeping in your bed, taking your clothes, eating thing from the fridge..." he asked, still teasing his sensitive nipple with his thumb on. "I use your cosmetics and disturb you during shower..."

"Gguk, I love that you sleep in my arms. You look damn sexy in my clothes, you make me delicious breakfasts and even better dinners. I like it when you smell like my shower gel and I like it even more when you disturb me from taking a shower, so I can apply this gel by myself to your sexy, naked body."

"You know how to seduce me, Mr. Kim," the brunet confessed, biting his lower lip.

"I have some doubts about who's seducing whom here, Mr. Jeon," the tattoo artist replied with a sexy smile.

Jeongguk huffed gently under his breath, then pulled himself up on his strong forearms and grasped the tattoo artist's lips with his, giving him a tender kiss.

"And how am I going?" He asked right next to his lips.

"I think you should try a little harder," Taehyung provoked, smirking.

Jeon smiled back, then gripped Kim's bottom lip with his teeth, tugging gently at it, tearing a sexy purr from his lips. Without waiting for further encouragement, he moved his lips lower, trailing them along the exposed neck, protruding collarbones decorated with mandala, finally sticking out his tongue and running its tip over the sternum. After a while, he ended his erotic journey on his left nipple, which had previously teased his fingers. This time, however, he sucked on it, dancing his tongue around the cold piercing for a moment, finally gently biting the sensitive nipple with his teeth.

He could expect many reactions to such a sensual attack, but the tattoo artist tugged hard on him, swapping them so quickly he could barely register it, and he was lying under him, pinned to the bed, and Kim was breathing heavily over him, his hands tightly gripping his wrists.

They slept naked practically every day, wanting to feel the warmth of their bodies when they fell asleep against each other. This time also their bodies were devoid of any clothing. Nevertheless, Taehyung straddled him without the slightest embarrassment, pressing his body against his, wrapping his slim, tanned thighs around Jeongguk's narrow hips.

The brunet parted his lips, but before any words rolled from his mouth, Taehyung's lips joined with his in a long, greedy kiss. Jeongguk involuntarily groaned right into his mouth. He wanted to grasp his tattooed body with his hands, pinching his fingers on the man's ass, but his grip was so tight that he wasn't able to yank them out. The tattoo artist was surprisingly strong. He had proved it many times before, locking him in a strong, relentless grip, but it was extremely stimulating for him.

Kim, as if reading his mind, pushed harder against him and rocked his hips gently against his, rubbing against him, and he only grunted sexually in response. When the tattoo artist moved away from his lips, they were both breathing heavily. Their hot breaths mingled into one.

"Jaesung is still asleep," the redhead said quickly, staring directly at those beautiful, hot-chocolate-colored irises.

"He'll probably wake up soon," Jeongguk whispered, instinctively moistening his lips as his excitement rose.

"Then I'll be quick," Tae replied, and the brunet laughed.

The tattoo artist pressed their lips together in another hot kiss, sipping the sweet taste of his melodious laugh from his lips. He ran his tongue over his lower lip, pleading for access, and Jeongguk didn't hesitate for a moment. He parted his lips, letting the tattoo artist's pierced tongue slip into his mouth. His kiss was hot and strong and so damn perfect. He kissed him for a long time, still pinning his palms above his head, clenching his fingers on his wrists, to finally take his right hand and trace it along his strong thigh, looking for the most sensitive spot. As long, tattooed fingers wrapped around the young CEO's hardening cock, a long, sexy moan escaped his lips.

Taehyung gripped his fingers tightly at the base and ran his hand along the entire length, and after a while pressed his thumb against the sensitive head. Jeon arched his back while pushing his hips forward more to intensify the sensation. The tattoo artist caressed him for the last time in his father's office, his body seemed to need to feel his touch, as if that was the only way he could survive. He felt his skin literally burn, and he would break into a thousand tiny pieces at the touch of his slender hands. When the redhead's thumb pressed against the damp head again, an erotic groan of pleasure rolled from his lips, so eagerly drunk from his mouth by Kim, who quickly clung to his lips.

As they kissed, the sound of the door opening crept into Taehyung's ears, so he quickly took his hand away and, cursing under his breath, looked towards the entrance. After a while, as he had expected, a little person appeared, dragging a pink bunny behind. So he leaned forward slightly and placed a quick kiss on Jeongguk's lips.

"I'm sorry," he whispered quickly, in an almost audible voice, then slipped off of him. "Good morning, Little Tiger," he said to his son, who was peeking through the gently open door.

The boy's dark hair was still tousled from the pillow, and his tiny body was clad in navy blue pajamas with brown teddy bears. In his right hand he was clutching Cooky, which he got from Jeongguk.

Taehyung reached out and opened the drawer, reaching for the fresh boxer shorts, then quickly slipped them over his naked body and got out of bed. He approached his son, who stood intimidated in the threshold, and crouched down in front of him, dropping to his level.

"Did you have a bad dream, honey?" He asked in a warm voice, studying his son's face. The toddler nodded. "Want some banana milk?"

"Yes. Jae wants," the toddler confirmed. "Can Googie also have banana milk with me?" He asked, and Taehyung laughed softly.

"Sure he can, honey. So maybe we can go to the kitchen together and prepare the milk, and Gguk will come to us soon, huh?" He suggested, then opened the door a little harder and let his son move towards the kitchen. When he looked back, he saw Jeongguk get up from the bed and, completely naked, open a drawer with underwear. He studied his plump buttocks for a moment. "If you want some more sleep..." he began, shifting his gaze to the man's athletic thighs. He could write poems about them, and still wouldn't be able to describe how sexy Jeongguk was.

"I don't want to sleep. I don't want to miss any time I can spend with you," he replied quickly. "Go with Jae, I'll be with you soon."

Taehyung looked at him for a moment longer. He didn't know why, but some words occurred to him that he hadn't told anyone before. But he swallowed it without saying a word, then left the room.

***

"Okay, who else wants a pancake?" Taehyung asked, turning the pie in the pan.

Today he decided to make breakfast and let Jeongguk enjoy the weekend off. The choice fell on banana and oatmeal pancakes. Fortunately, the recipe was simple, and it didn't take long to make them, so Tae often made breakfast like this when he was in a hurry to get to work and the little one insisted on pancakes. The brunet also apparently thought they were tasty, because he was already eating another ruddy pie.

"Jae!" The toddler shouted, lifting both hands. Taehyung laughed and placed the cake removed from the pan on a pink plate with the face of his favorite Cooky.

"Just be careful, because it's still hot," he warned, even though he knew Jaesung couldn't have asked for better care.

"What do you want this time?" Jeongguk asked. "Honey?"

Taehyung grabbed the jar and moved it towards the young CEO, and the boy smiled gently at him. Jaesung had not left the Jeongguk one step since they started eating breakfast. Even now, he was sitting on his lap, watching excitedly as the dark-haired man scooped golden goo on a wooden honey dipper. The man placed a large amount of honey on the cake, then set the dipper aside and ran a hand through the boy's dark hair.

"You can eat," he said gently, and Jae quickly grabbed the fluffy cake in his hands to bite into it with a satisfied grunt. Jeongguk looked at Tae, who was busy frying another pancake, and for a moment he stared at his bare, ink-covered back for a little longer than necessary, his gaze lingering on the delicate dimples just above the line of his boxers. "I'd like to go buy some gift on the way... Maybe some flowers at least..." he said finally. His fingers moved almost unconsciously over Jaesung's dark strands, combing them delicately.

Taehyung looked at him from under the curtain of long lashes and tossed the pancake on the plate he had prepared.

"Gguk, you really don't have to," Kim replied.

"But I want to. My mother always taught me that you can't go to visit someone empty-handed," he explained quickly. "At least I'd like to buy flowers. I made a horrible first impression, but I can at least make a good second impression, huh?" He added, then cautiously slipped out from under Jaesung and headed towards the tattoo artist. "Sit down and eat, I'll fry the rest of the pancakes," he offered, knowing Kim hadn't eaten a single one so far.

"There's no need to. You always make breakfast. Let me spoil you today," saying that, Taehyung placed a gentle kiss on his lips. Jeongguk's mouth tasted sweet like bananas and honey. "Are you stressed?" He asked suddenly, watching him closely. He was concerned that if the situation caused too much stress or the boy became excessively anxious, he might have a seizure again, and he didn't want to be the cause of his anxiety. He wanted to be the cure for all of this. "If you don't want to, we don't have to go. I'll just say we'll come another time. I know it's fast, and I don't want you to feel forced to go or..."

"Tae, I want to go there with you," he said gently. "Besides, I already told your mom that you are amazing at oral sex, can't it get any worse?" He said, huffing aloud at the memory of these events.

Taehyung laughed out loud as well, throwing his head back. His low, melodic voice filled the living room, bouncing off the walls. The tattoo artist tossed another pancake on his plate and turned back to Jeongguk, staring at him coquettishly from under a curtain of thick lashes.

"Do you really think I'm amazing at oral sex?" He asked, even though he was sure Gguk certainly liked what he was doing. He had no doubts about it.

"Hmmm, I almost don't remember... I guess you'll have to remind me," he teased.

"Oh, admit you love it," the tattoo artist groaned, wrapping his arms around the young CEO's narrow waist.

Jeongguk stared into his dark eyes for a moment, then snorted and slapped his chest lightly.

"Why do you ask if you already know?"

"Because I want to hear it from those beautiful lips."

"You are amazing," he confirmed, then kissed him long and tenderly.

"Jae is done!" The boy suddenly called, drawing the attention of both men.

Taehyung turned off the burner and looked at his son. His face was covered with honey, as were his hands, but his lips were arranged in a big smile. The tattoo artist laughed and reached for the wet wipes, then walked towards his son to clean his face.

"Did you like it, darling?" He asked, running his hand over his son's hair.

"Very much!" The boy confirmed, then extended his hands towards his father. "Jae's sticky," he said, and the tattoo artist laughed softly again and obediently wiped the boy's hand. "Daddy?" The little boy suddenly asked after a moment of silence. The tattoo artist looked at him.

"Yes, Tiger?"

"What is olar sex?" Jae asked, and Taehyung almost choked on his own saliva, not believing his ears.

Jeongguk laughed out loud, unable to stop himself, and the tattoo artist shifted his gaze to him, silently pleading him to help him out of this awkward situation. The brunet slipped his hand into his dark hair, then put his hand on his shoulder and looked him straight in the eyes.

"You know what? I guess I'll go take a shower. We should start getting ready, because we'll be late eventually..." he said, then walked away quickly, disappearing from the room before Taehyung could protest.

***

Jeongguk grabbed the last piece of marinated beef with his chopsticks and slipped it into his mouth. The meat was perfect, he hadn't eaten anything so delicious in a long time. He swallowed his food and held out his hand for a glass that still had some red wine left in it. He took a few sips, then set the dish on the table. He put down the chopsticks and looked at the woman who sat across from him. Jiyoo, as if sensing his gaze, lifted her head and for a moment their eyes crossed. The woman smiled softly at him.

Her features were gentle, as were those dark eyes lined with long lashes. Dark hair tied in a loose bun and a smile so appealing that it was impossible to resist it.

"Thank you. It was really delicious. It's been a long time since I had eaten meat that well seasoned. I think I already know who Tae learned to cook so well from," he said, looking at the tattoo artist who sat next to him.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it. Taehyung said it was one of your favorite dishes, so I couldn't serve anything else," the woman replied, returning his smile, then got up from the table and started picking up the plates.

Seeing this, Jeongguk jumped up quickly from his place to help Tae's mother. He moved closer to her and held out his hands towards her.

"Please, let me. I'll do it," he protested quickly.

The woman chuckled, then reached out and stroked his cheek lightly, smiling gently at him. The gesture was so tender and maternal that Jeongguk blinked rapidly several times, feeling his throat tighten in emotion. He couldn't remember the last time someone had made him feel like this with a simple touch. The concern and warmth in her eyes brought to his mind the image of his mother's.

"You're a guest here, Gguk. You don't have to do this," she said finally, taking her hand away.

Jeongguk could have sworn he felt disappointed for a moment that the little caress was so short-lived. They spent the entire afternoon at Taehyung's mother's house. Jiyoo turned out to be really wonderful. Thanks to her, Gguk felt at ease, and most of all he felt no pressure. He knew that the woman was not judging him, on the contrary, she seemed genuinely interested in who her son was seeing.

"Please, you've been working so much on this dinner. At least that's the way I can say thank you," the brunet explained, taking the plates from her hands.

"Okay, but only if you stop talking to me so officially. It sounds like I'm at least sixty. Call me by my name," she offered, surrendering.

"Okay, ma'am," Jeongguk replied, and when he realized he had used the title again, he laughed softly and bowed to her again. "All right, Jiyoo," he corrected himself.

The petite woman smiled, then picked up her glasses and started walking towards the kitchen, and Jeongguk quickly followed in her footsteps. The kitchen was small, but very tastefully decorated, with bright, warm colors. He put the dishes on the island, then turned to Jiyoo.

"I'm sorry," he blurted out suddenly.

The woman furrowed her eyebrows together, not knowing what the boy was trying to apologize to her for. Jeongguk, seeing her questioning gaze, moistened his lips, gathering courage, then ran his hand down the back of his neck.

"I didn't make a very good first impression," he began cautiously. "I wanted to apologize again for what I said then."

Jiyoo laughed out loud at his words, then waved her hand, showing that he shouldn't care.

"Oh, Gguk. It's really nothing. I admit it was quite funny."

"What I said... About your son. I don't want you to think that what we have in common..." He broke off, not knowing how to express his feelings for Taehyung. "He is very important to me..." he finally confessed. "Him and Jae."

"I know, Gguk. You don't have to say it. I can see it in the way you look at him, how you look after Jae. That tells me more than a million words," the woman replied. "Besides, I wasn't born yesterday. I know my son is sexually active. You are young and in love, it is understandable that you also want to feel physical closeness. This is an important part of any relationship."

Jeongguk felt his throat tighten again, and his heart began to feel strangely tight. Jiyoo said something else, but he was unable to register the words. There were only a few words the woman had spoken in his ears.

Young and in love...

For a long time, he only heard these words in his head. It wasn't until he realized Jiyoo was watching him that he broke free from his thoughts and smiled apologetically at her.

"You are very important to him, Gguk. You are the first person Taehyung decided to bring home after Jiwon. The first person he allowed close his son... After the disappearance of Jiwon... Tae suffered a lot and become distant. He did not admit others close to himself. After that, he probably even forgot that in addition to being a dad, he was also a young man who deserves to share a life with someone. To be happy. And I know you make him happy."

"I know you raised him yourself too, and you really did a fantastic job. Taehyung is wonderful. Not only is he a great father, he is also a great man. I was so lucky that he noticed me at all," Jeon admitted.

They were silent for a moment, as if letting the words get imprinted somewhere in their consciousness. Until a few months ago, Jeongguk was convinced that he should be grateful for what he has, that he should expect nothing more from life. He had money, a fiancée, and a seemingly perfect life, yet he couldn't say he was happy. Whatever he was doing, he was still missing something. Now he had almost everything he had always dreamed of, thanks to one man. Taehyung had given him so much that he couldn't even put this into words.

"Jiyoo..." he began suddenly uncertainly. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course you can," the woman agreed.

" Did you... When you found out that Taehyung... that he was bisexual... Did you feel disappointed or... I don't know. What did you think then?"

"I think that even when we didn't talk about it, the thought was somewhere in my head. Even as a little boy, Taehyung showed an interest in both genders. I know that after Jiwon disappeared, he became more interested in men. And maybe if he got into a relationship with a woman, everything would be easier for him. A single father finds a mother for his child - shouldn't that be what an ideal relationship should look like in the eyes of the majority of the population? But Taehyung was never like the others. He never went with the flow, he did not act as others expected him to. Perhaps it's my fault. Because I also always went against the tide and raised him that way. I told him, 'Don't listen to others, listen to what's here,'" she pointed her finger at Jeongguk's left breast, exactly where his heart beat hard. "I want my child to be happy. Whether his other half is a man or a woman," she finished, looking him straight in the eye.

Jeongguk wanted to say something but was unable to. His throat felt as tight as never before. What would he give to have such support in his family. He knew his mother would say something similar, but she wasn't there, and she couldn't stand in his corner when he finally told the truth about himself to his family.

"I'm sure your family wants you to be happy, too," Jiyoo suddenly said in a firm voice, as if reading his mind.

"I-I'm not so sure about it," he gasped, blinking his eyes rapidly, trying to hold back the tears that were gathering at them. "But thank you. For being on our side."

"Can I?" She asked, smiling gently and spreading her arms. Jeongguk nodded and let the woman's tiny arms encircle his in a tender embrace.

His arms rose almost involuntarily to return the hug. He lowered his head slightly as he inhaled the floral scent of Jiyoo's perfume. He did not even know how long the woman hugged him, he pulled away gently only when he noticed that they were no longer alone. He looked up to meet Taehyung's onyx irises, who stood in the kitchen doorway with Jae in his arms, watching them with a beautiful smile.

"I can see that Gguk made you fall in love with him too," he joked. "You see, and I told you that one evening is enough, and you're gone," he added, approaching them.

"Yes. It's impossible not to love him. He's a wonderful boy," Jiyoo confirmed, smiling knowingly at her son.

"Jae is already falling asleep, so I guess we'll be going," he said, nodding at the boy sleeping in his arms.

Jeongguk looked at Jae's head resting on Taehyung's shoulder and almost involuntarily stretched out his hand to stroke the sleeping boy's hair. The little one had closed eyes, his mouth was arranged in a small pout. He looked so cute.

"He had a lot of attractions today. Let's go back," Jeongguk confirmed. "Give him to me, I'll carry him to the car."

"Tae, it doesn't make sense for you guys to drag him now since he's already asleep," Jiyoo said suddenly. "Let him stay here overnight. I'll take him to kindergarten tomorrow morning. And you will come home calmly."

Taehyung looked at his mother, then shifted his gaze to Jeongguk, as if silently asking what he thought about it. They haven't had a single moment to themselves since last weekend. The vision of returning home just for the two of them seemed extremely tempting.

"I think a moment just for yourself will do you good," the woman added, seeing the two men looking at each other.

"Are you sure it won't be a problem? You know I don't want to throw my responsibilities on you," Tae said carefully.

"Come on, Tae. You know it's a pleasure for me to take care of Jae," she protested. "Give him to me, I'll put him to bed, and you guys go home. It is not so late yet, you will be able to spend a nice evening together," saying that, the woman took the boy from her son's hands and walked with him towards the exit. "Oh! And there on the table you have mochi. I packed them especially for you," she added, pointing to the package on the table-top, then continued on. She was about to leave the kitchen when she stopped and turned to face them again. "Gguk, my son is lucky to find you," she smiled softly as she spoke, then disappeared down the hall.

Taehyung reached out and grabbed Jeongguk's hand, interlocking their fingers.

He was the luckiest man in the world.

***

Taehyung stuck the tip of his cigarette into the yellow-orange flame his lighter had just spit out, then inhaled hard, forcing the tobacco to catch the fire. Sensing the familiar nicotine taste, he closed his eyes for a moment. He had a lot of work today, and he felt exhausted.

For two days, he had been working on a large project that would cover his client's entire back. The man was concerned about time, so he tried to do as much as possible in the shortest possible time. As a result, practically all day today, he only took one break to take care of his physiological needs. He hadn't eaten since this morning. Fortunately, Jeongguk once again treated him to a delicious, nutritious breakfast, which he devoured as quickly as Jae.

He slipped the lighter into the pockets of the black Levis and slipped his sunglasses over his eyes. The breeze chilled his worn-out body pleasantly, blowing the locks of red hair. He was wearing a bandana today, but still a few unruly strands fell into his dark eyes. Taehyung raised his cigarette to his mouth and inhaled again.

As he slowly smoked his cigarette, he glanced to his left from time to time for the familiar black car he expected to see here shortly. It was slowly becoming their routine, and he loved it.

They woke up naked, cuddled in their hot bodies in fragrant sheets. While one of them would wake Jae up and help him get dressed, the other took a shower, then they took turns, and one of them was making breakfast, giving the other time to pull himself together. They ate breakfast together, taking advantage of the few short moments they could spend together, then together they drove Jaesung to kindergarten while Gguk drove him to the studio. Sometimes, when he had to be in the office earlier, they left after breakfast. This week, Jeongguk worked much shorter than last time, so when he was done, he picked Jae up and came to him.

When he took one last puff and, after extinguishing his cigarette, he threw it into a nearby garbage can, he saw the stunning silhouette of a black Mercedes. He smiled to himself and carefully watched the machine approaching him. Jeongguk slowed down and drove the last few meters almost at a snail's pace, as if teasing him.

As the car finally came to a stop in front of him, the young CEO rolled down the passenger side window and leaned forward to look at him. A beautiful smile adorned his lips.

"Are you looking for someone?" The tattoo artist asked, smiling mischievously.

Through the dark glasses that still obscured his eyes, Jeongguk couldn't see his dark irises, but he was sure there were playful sparks dancing in them.

"I heard that an incredibly handsome tattoo artist works here, so I decided to come and see for myself..." he replied in a serious tone.

"And did you find him?" He continued, trying to hold back a smile.

"I'm not sure. He's supposed to be tall, very handsome. He has dark eyes, piercing gaze, tattooed arms, and he is damn sexy..." he enumerated.

"I think I may have seen that guy... And does this man have something very characteristic about his appearance? Any specific hair color? Maybe some piercings?"

"Ah! Yes! He has," Jeon confirmed, mocking enthusiasm, then smirked at him mischievously. "He has such beautiful dimples in his cheeks when he smiles," he added, looking him straight in the eye.

Hearing this, Taehyung opened the car door and slid quickly into the driver's seat, only to connect their lips in a hot kiss in the blink of an eye. Jeongguk laughed right into his mouth, pulling him tighter towards himself.

"Namjoon's not really so sexy," the tattoo artist muttered, tearing himself away from his lips, and Jeon laughed again, throwing his head back as he started the engine. "Hi, Little Tiger," Tae said, ruffling his son's hair with his hand. "How was kindergarten? You are a bit late today. I was already getting worried."

"Oh, you know. I went to pick up Jae and I had to flirt with Sunmi for a while, and then I met one of the boys' mom, and she couldn't help but admire how fit my thighs are..."

"You can't tell me such things, Jeon," Tae protested, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Why? You are jealous?" He asked, still teasing him.

"Why do you ask when you know I am?"

"Because I like it when you say that," he admitted.

Taehyung leaned towards him, then brought his face close to his ear and bit gently his earlobe.

"I'm jealous of you, Mr. Jeon," he muttered right into his ear.

As he pulled away from him, he could have sworn he saw a slight flush on his face, but the boy kept his full seriousness.

"Where are we going?" He asked, seeing that they were not heading towards the apartment.

"Sunmi said the kids were learning to play xylophone in kindergarten today, and apparently Jae has a real talent for that," Jeon explained. "On this occasion I am taking you to the park and for ice cream."

"Really, son?"

"Yes! Jae was playing xylophone," he confirmed, proudly flexing his chest.

"Oh, Daddy is so proud of you," he ran a hand through the boy's hair as he spoke. "I guess you really deserve some big ice cream, huh?"

"Yes! Yes!" The toddler squeaked, and Taehyung laughed out loud, turning back in his seat.

"I did well today, too," he said suddenly, glancing at Jeongguk.

"Ah yes?" Jeon muttered, smiling involuntarily. "You want a reward too?"

"I don't know if you can buy my reward in a pastry shop..."

"Who knows, if you are good, maybe I will come up with a more appropriate reward."

"I'm counting on it, Mr. Jeon," saying so, he grabbed Jeongguk's hand, then pulled it toward him and placed a gentle kiss on top of it.

***

"Oh, how delicious it was!" Taehyung judged, then, placing the chopsticks on his plate, he dropped to the back of the chair.

"You probably didn't eat anything today. You should take better care of yourself," Jeon scolded him, putting the last piece of kimchi in his mouth.

"Let me guess, you ate a super fancy ten-course dinner?" Tae asked, teasing him.

"Two-course dinner in theory," Jeon replied. "Although if you count coffee for one and cannolis with cream for two, then even three course."

"Now that you're on your lunch break with Jimin, let him at least bring you dinner."

"I don't want Jimin bringing me dinner. I prefer to eat it with you," he answered quickly, then reached out and ran his thumb over the tattoo artist's lower lip, picking up any remaining sauce, then slipped it into his mouth.

"So you can lick the sauce off my lips?"

Jeongguk rose slightly from his seat, then reached out his hand and slid it under the tattoo artist's chin, lifting it gently, only to slide his tongue over Kim's lower lip after a few seconds. After a while, he pressed their lips together in a light but extremely sweet kiss.

As he pulled away and fell back into his seat, his dark irises were still fixed on those of Taehyung's. He liked the way the red wisps fluttered gently in the wind, occasionally slightly hiding his beautiful eyes.

"You know that you just kissed me again in public?" The tattoo artist asked suddenly. "Not a long time ago you would not have dared to do it..."

"All this people, they are strangers to me. I don't care what they say," Jeongguk replied confidently. "My family... This is different. Strangers... Let them think what they like."

Taehyung reached out and quickly grabbed Jeongguk's hand, lacing their fingers together. He remembered well how, not so long ago, the boy had pushed his hand away, scared that the waitress might see it. Now he was holding his hand steadily, gently stroking the tattooed back of his hand with his thumb, looking him straight in the eye.

"Just see how far you've come. I'm fucking proud of you, Gguk," Kim said.

Jeongguk was silent for a moment as he reflected on the tattoo artist's words. True, he has changed a lot in the last few weeks. He gained confidence, learned a lot about himself, and felt better and better in his own skin. He was aware that there was still a long way to go, but he was glad of these changes.

"You know," he began suddenly, after a moment of silence. "When I was in Paris, I met a man. I had a mess in my head and didn't know what to do with myself, so I just got dressed and left the hotel. I don't even know how long I've been pacing the streets of Paris. It was almost midnight when I suddenly heard someone laughing. The laugh was so wonderfully natural, so uninhibited, I had to find someone who could laugh so freely. It turned out to be a couple. Two men. They hugged, kissed... They were so happy that I couldn't take my eyes off them. Then one of them came up to me and asked me what was the name of that boy I think of..." Jeongguk paused, letting a soft laugh escape his lips. "I was surprised he thought I was thinking of another man, but he had no doubts about it," that said, Jeon looked Taehyung straight in the eye and smiled gently at him. "I was thinking about you then. About how I wish I had the courage to hold your hand and kiss you and laugh as loud and freely as they do."

"And you will be. I'll do anything to make it happen."

"You're already doing enough, Tae." That said, Jeon held out his hand again, then stroked the tattoo artist's cheek. "I was just thinking... I don't know if I have the courage to do it, but... I think I'd like to try to send my works..." he finally confessed in a slightly uncertain voice. "For this contest..." he added, even though he knew the tattoo artist certainly knew what he meant.

"Really?" Kim asked, his lips forming a radiant smile.

"I don't know if I can make it, but I'd like to try... I'd like to draw you again if you agree to be my model."

"You know you don't have to ask, Gguk. I'll do whatever you want."

"What if I want to draw some nudes as well? Y-your tattoos..." the brunet said, lowering his voice.

The tattooist's right eyebrow lifted involuntarily, and a soft laugh escaped his lips.

"Is that some new way for me to undress for you?" He teased, smiling mischievously.

He never had any problems with his body. He assumed that no matter what it was, everyone was beautiful in their own way. And even though he never had too much defined muscles, he liked his body. The tattoos that adorned it were part of who he is.

Jeongguk had drawn him many times, but only once completely naked, and he remembered well how he felt then. He liked the way the boy's dark irises slide along every curve of his body, as if he wanted to memorize him.

"You are beautiful. Your body, your tattoos... You're like a work of art. I would like to show others how I see you."

"Well. Just say when," Kim agreed, bringing his hand to his mouth to place a gentle kiss on the back of his hand. His lips were soft and warm.

"Dad, Jae's already eaten," Jae said suddenly, stuffing the last piece of his food into his mouth.

Jeongguk looked at the boy and saw that his whole face was covered in red sauce. He laughed aloud at the sight, then picked up some napkins and helped the boy wipe any remaining sauce from his face and hands.

"Are you full?" He asked.

"Yes!" the little one answered quickly. "Ice cream!" He added, grinning.

"Do you still have room in your belly for ice cream?" Tae joked, looking at his son affectionately.

"Jae always has a place for the ice cream!" The boy exclaimed.

Taehyung laughed out loud, then looked at Jeongguk.

"I don't think we have a choice after all. We have to go find an ice cream shop." So saying, he wiped the remains of the sauce on his mouth with a napkin and tossed the crumpled paper on his plate, then rose from his seat. "Come on, Tiger," he ordered, reaching out his hand to his son.

Jaesung grabbed his hand and carefully slid down from the stool. Jeongguk took out his wallet and left a few bills on the table, then put it in his pants pocket and followed them. As he aligned his pace with them, he grabbed the boy's other hand.

The ice cream shop was a short distance away, they only had to walk through part of the park. Jaesung jumped up and down every now and then and laughed out loud each time Jeongguk and Taehyung lifted his tiny body into the air.

"Dad! Swing!" He suddenly called as they passed a small playground.

"A swing?" Kim repeated, teasing his son. "I thought you wanted ice cream..."

"Jae wants a swing and then an ice cream," the toddler said in a confident voice, dragging his father toward the playground.

"I don't know after whom he is so bossy?" Taehyung said, rolling his eyes before letting his son drag him onto the sand, heading towards where the two swings were located.

Jeongguk followed, laughing under his breath at the wonderful relationship Taehyung had with his son. He loved watching the tattoo artist deal with the little one. When they stopped at the swings, however, it turned out that Jae could not swing on them alone. The equipment was more suitable for older children, and as a result, Jeongguk took a seat on one of the two swings and took Jae on his lap. He swayed for a moment, just like they did when he first took care of him.

Taehyung stood to the side for a long moment and only stared at them. His face lit up with a beautiful wide smile, and his eyes sparkled brightly. Fiery red hair blew gently in the breeze. He looked much younger now, carefree even.

"Sit down," Jeon said, pointing to the other swing.

Taehyung stared at it as if for a moment wondering if he should do so. As a result, however, he approached the second swing and took his place on it, then pushed himself off the sand with his feet, setting it in motion. A light breeze blew pleasantly around his body, now clothed only in a short-sleeved T-shirt, and tugged at the red strands that were sticking out from under the black bandana.

He shifted his gaze to Jeongguk and continued to swing as he stared at him, absorbing the sight of him. Thick, almost black hair gently tugged by the wind, which from time to time slid its invisible hand into the black strands, gliding over them with adoration. Milky skin, gently gilding in the rays of the afternoon sun. Lips so soft and wonderfully familiar, curved into a soft smile, every now and then parting a little more to let a beautiful, melodic laugh break out of them. Strong arms that held someone who until now was his whole world, taking care of him like no one else could.

He wished this moment would last forever.

He wanted to always see him like that — happy.

Jeongguk, as if sensing his intense gaze, lifted his head and crossed his gaze with him. He stared for a moment, that beautiful broad smile still on his lips. Seeing his seriousness, however, he suddenly became serious and gripped the swing chain with his hand, slowing its movement.

"Is something wrong? Why are you looking at me like this?" He asked uncertainly.

"It's nothing. Just moments like this... I wish it could last forever," he confessed.

Jeongguk held his hand out towards him, letting his fingertips trace the contours of his perfectly cut lips.

"Why are you talking like it's going to end soon?" He asked.

"I'm afraid it's too perfect to last forever..." he gasped softly. "I'm afraid that when we least expect it, everything will fall apart like a house of cards..."

Jeongguk swallowed hard, struggling against the feeling of his throat closing.

He felt it too.

These were his biggest fears, verbalized in one painful sentence.

He wanted to say something that would make them both believe they could weather any storm, but he didn't know the words that could express what he felt about him, so he leaned forward and pressed their lips together in a tender kiss, trying to indulge in this way what he could not verbalize.

The whole world around them seemed to spin and disappear as if there was no one and nothing but them. Just hot lips rubbing against each other in a tender kiss that expresses more than a thousand words.

And for that brief moment, it really seemed to him that they could weather even the greatest storm.

"G-guk?" A clearly surprised voice said from a few paces away.

Jeongguk moved away from Taehyung, heart galloping in his chest, and turned back, meeting the familiar gaze of dark eyes.

Was their house of cards collapsed and turned to dust in this very moment?

***

Ayashee:

Do you think our Taekook house has crumbled to dust?

Who showed up at the park, and what will his / her reaction be?

Will this change anything in our Taekook's relation?

I'm curious what you think.

Thank you for the stars and comments!

xoxo