You don't have to say you love me
You don't have to say nothing
You don't have to say you're mine
Honey
I'd walk through fire for you
Just let me adore you
Oh honey
I'd walk through fire for you
Just let me adore you

***

Jeongguk looked around curiously, his eyes slowly glancing over all the exhibits on display, but nothing seemed appropriate. There was still something wrong, and he couldn't make a mistake. It almost felt like he was choosing an engagement ring again, except that this time he knew exactly what he wanted. Unfortunately, he still hasn't found it. He sighed loudly, then pivoted on his heel and started to walk down the next aisle.

He had spent at least an hour here, strolling across the white, shiny marble floor. His elegant shoes from the new Versace collection rattled loudly against the stone floor every time he took the next step. He moved fairly quickly, taking long, springy steps, and the young saleswoman was almost running around in her high heels to keep up with him.

"Maybe I can advise you on something, Mr. Jeon?" The girl asked, almost running in his footsteps once again.

Jeongguk looked at her over his shoulder, dressed in another well-cut suit. The girl was young, probably around his age, and dressed in an elegant, pink, chiffon, a little see-through blouse that showed a bit of her underwear. For this, she chose a black pencil skirt above the knee and high, black heels. Her dark hair was tied in a high ponytail. She looked really smart and certainly knowledgeable in her trade, but Jeongguk felt annoyed that knowing his name, she was all over him all the time. He hated it. In addition, considering her age, he was convinced that she certainly hadn't read about him in any trade magazine, but rather in some inferior tabloid that had proclaimed him "South Korea's most coveted bachelor" for the umpteenth time in a row.

"I don't like anything here," he replied shortly, not wanting to waste time on unnecessary explanations. "I mean... Everything looks great, but it's not what I'm looking for," he explained, seeing her surprised expression. He didn't want to be a complete snob, but he knew he wouldn't find what he needed here. He lifted his hand and ran it over his jet black, smoothly combed hair, pondering for a moment what he should do, then turned his gaze back to her. "Where do you keep your best models?" He asked suddenly as an idea struck him. "I need something better than what I have seen so far."

"The best models are in the second room down there..." Before the girl could finish, Jeongguk was already heading in the indicated direction. So she broke off and quickly ran in his footsteps, chasing him again in high heels.

After his visit, she should get a raise for kilometers traveled chasing him, Jeongguk thought, a bit amused.

But he had no intention of slowing down. He was determined and had no intention of leaving empty-handed. He was walking quickly, passing the corridor separating him from the indicated room in several long strides. As soon as he stepped over the threshold and saw what was inside, his lips curved into a smile.

Had he just found what he was looking for?

He took a few steps forward, going deeper into the room and at the same time reducing the distance between him and the target object. Instinctively, he reached out and let his fingertips slide over the cold, shiny surface. He could almost feel his fingers tingling, like the feeling he felt when he wanted to paint something. He quickly turned to the girl who was just crossing the threshold of the room.

"What is this model?" He asked, looking back at the chosen car again.

"This is our newest model. The first luxury SUV with the Hyundai logo - Genesis GV80. Under the hood is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that develops 300 hp. The interior of the GV80 looks even more impressive, with top-quality materials and a fine finish using leather and wood. In addition, the GV80 uses Active Noise Control technology, which digitally reduces noise in the cabin while driving, thus reducing road noise to a minimum."

"Do you have it available in black?" He asked, and the girl nodded. Jeongguk smiled again. "I want one," he said confidently.

"Its cost..."

"Cost doesn't matter," he interrupted her. "I would like to arrange the necessary formalities as soon as possible and take the car today."

"Of course. I'll take care of all the documentation in a moment," she nodded. "Maybe then let's go to my office. Please go ahead," saying that, she motioned Jeongguk to go ahead.

The brunet nodded and moved in the indicated direction. They walked in complete silence for a while, but Jeongguk could feel her eyes on his back. He was used to lustful looks and puppy eyes, which women gave him more than once.

It used to flatten him, then bored him, and now it didn't matter anymore. He didn't care if he was a total catch in her eyes, or whether she found him sexy, athletic, or some other adjective. He didn't care if, by looking at him, she imagined a house and a bunch of children while she wallowed in his money. He didn't need admiration, it was enough to think that when he got home he would be able to cuddle up to the finest arms that had been made and breathe in his soothing scent.

"I heard that you also have car accessories for purchase here. Do you have a car seat?" He asked suddenly, still not stopping.

"Oh!" The woman called behind him. "Is your fiancée expecting a baby?!" She squeaked excitedly.

Hearing her words, Jeongguk stopped abruptly almost in mid-step, then slowly turned towards her. He measured her carefully with his eyes, as if he still did not believe what he had just heard.

"I recently read an article in which it was written that you will be getting married soon and..."

"I'd be grateful if you would sell the car, not stick your nose in my private life," he said firmly, irritated by her meddles. "You have this car seat, or should I look elsewhere?" He asked again.

The girl was clearly ashamed and only quickly nodded to confirm his words.

"Yes. I apologize. We also have car seats," she managed after a moment, still clearly embarrassed.

"I want the best you have," he said quickly, then continued on.

***

Taehyung said goodbye to the client, then watched him go until he disappeared outside the studio door. He looked down at his hands, still clad in latex gloves, then began to take them off. He slipped them off his hands and threw them into the basket. He was fucking tired. It was really late, but he got an extra client today to have some extra cash to fix this piece of shit which he called his car. However, he could not afford to buy a new car, when even the repair of this trash was beyond his financial capacity.

This morning it was Jeongguk who drove him and Jae. It was also him who was to pick up his son from kindergarten. When the boy offered to pick him up when he left the office. Taehyung didn't even protest. He knew Jeon would get his way anyway, and the truth was, he had no one else to count on without troubling his mother.

He quickly cleaned up all the equipment and sanitized the station, then grabbed his leather jacket and draped it over his shoulders. As he left, he glanced at his watch. Jeongguk should come get him right away. So without delaying any longer, he hurried out of the studio, saying a few goodbyes to Yoongi.

As he stepped through the ragged door and looked around, he didn't see a black Mercedes anywhere. So he leaned against the wall and put on his dark sunglasses. He felt the packet of cigarettes with his hand and took one out, then slipped it between his lips. He leaned down gently and set it on fire, taking a hard drag.

He smoked a cigarette for a moment, letting his thoughts search for Jeongguk. He couldn't wait to see him again. Just the thought of his beautiful hot chocolate irises made his lips curl into a gentle smile. As he raised the pipe to his mouth again, he caught a glimpse of the black SUV out of the corner of his eye, slowing down as if it was about to park. He didn't even know why, but he looked at it with interest.

The car was beautiful. The black body gleamed in the sun, as did the shiny grille on the front. The car looked brand new, like it had just rolled out of a car showroom, and was probably damn expensive. He had never seen such expensive cars around here. Perhaps that was why he turned his attention to it. He followed the black Hyundai with his gaze for a long moment, surprised that the car slows down ahead of him, as if the driver was about to speak to him. Only when the car was literally in front of him did he look at the windshield, which slowly began to lower, revealing the driver.

"Can I give you a ride, handsome?" The brunet asked, and Taehyung took one last puff, then quickly stubbed out his cigarette and ran towards the car.

"Hyundai?" He said, clearly surprised. "Which friend did you rob this time?" He joked, smiling broadly.

Jeongguk switched off the engine, then looked at Jae, who was still sitting in the back seat, and got out of the car. Taehyung followed him with his eyes until the boy stopped only a few centimeters in front of him. The young CEO was still wearing elegant clothes, but what he enjoyed was that the brunet had already shed his suit jacket and tie, and several top buttons on his designer shirt were unbuttoned, revealing his slender neck. The boy grabbed his black T-shirt and placed a tender kiss on his lips.

"Good morning, Mr. Kim," he muttered against his lips.

"Good morning, Mr. Jeon," the tattoo artist replied, smiling
to him.

Jeongguk slipped his hand into the tattoo artist's and clasped their hands together, then turned towards the car.

"Do you like it?" He asked, watching the red-haired man carefully, whose dark eyes were staring intently at the black body of the car.

"It's beautiful," he admitted. "Whose car did you take this time? Hobi's?"

"No. This time, I allowed myself to borrow a car from some sexy tattoo artist..." He replied, staring at Taehyung's face.

Hearing his words, the tattoo artist shifted his gaze to him and drew his eyebrows together, not understanding the meaning of the businessman's words.

"Whose car is this?" He asked again.

"Yours," Jeon replied without batting an eye.

"Are you kidding?" Kim asked, laughing nervously. He had expected the brunet to tell him he was making fun of him, but Jeongguk was completely serious. "Gguk, tell me you're kidding me," he added quickly, while the brunet was still silent.

"I bought that SUV today..." Jeon began cautiously, after a pause. "For you."

"Gguk..."

"You don't like it?" He asked, his nervousness growing.

When he bought this car, he was convinced Taehyung would be delighted. He knew the boy would definitely enjoy a sports car, but he had to think about Jae as well. This SUV was perfect.

"Sure, I like it," he answered quickly. "It's really... It's damn beautiful, but... Gguk..."

Jeongguk wrinkled his nose slightly and drew his eyebrows together. He had not expected such a reaction. He shifted nervously from foot to foot and looked him straight in the eyes, as if trying to read what was going on in his head.

"What is wrong?" He asked.

"Gguk, I can't accept it... It's wonderful, but..." He broke off and sank his hands into his fiery red hair. "Shit, Gguk, a car like this costs a lot of money. I can't take it..."

"Of course you can," he protested quickly, taking a step forward. "You need a car, and I can buy it for you," he said as if it were the most obvious thing in this world.

"Gguk, I know that you can afford such a car, but it's too much. I can't take that kind of money from you," he tried to reason with him.

"I'm not giving you money. I give you a gift. You gave me a gift too, remember?" Saying that, Jeongguk grabbed the tattoo artist's face in his hands, forcing him to look him straight in the eye. Taehyung snorted at his words, as if what he said were ridiculous.

"I only gave you charcoal to draw..."

"We both know it was more than a simple charcoal, Tae. You don't even know how much this means to me and how much you've done for me. How much you do for me every day."

"That's a hell of a lot of money. Perhaps others expect you to buy them expensive gifts, but I... I really don't want your money, Gguk. For me, you could have nothing and I don't expect..."

"Tae, look at me," Jeongguk interrupted him. "I know you don't care about my money and, God knows, I adore you even more for it, but please let me help you. You and Jae need this car. Look how much he likes it." While speaking, he pointed to the toddler sitting in a car seat in the back seat. The boy was holding his beloved rabbit in his hands. "This car is equipped with noise reduction equipment. Jae will be able to sleep if you drive for a long time, or if you come home late, or if he just wants to watch his favorite cartoons. That junk made a lot of noise," he spoke quickly, trying to give as many facts as possible to convince the tattoo artist to accept the gift. "I also bought him a new car seat. I saw that in the old one, the stripes began to fray. Something could happen to him, so... I want him to be safe. And... That car was still breaking down. It is unknown when it would break down again. It's really dangerous. And I won't be able to sleep if you're not safe... You and Jae... I..."

Before he could add anything else, tattooed hands gripped his white shirt. Taehyung pulled him close and kissed his trembling lips. After a while, his hands went higher, grabbing the brunet's face, while his pierced tongue found its way to the inside of his mouth. He could feel Jeongguk's body still trembling, so he kissed him hard for a long time, as if to reassure him that he was by his side and nowhere to go, as if to give him air from his lungs to calm his anxious breathing.

He understood why the boy reacted so emotionally. The mere thought that he and Jae might have had a car accident made all the memories come alive. Taehyung didn't even know how long he kissed his lips. Only when he felt Jeongguk's body stop quivering did he move away slightly and rest his forehead against his, letting his hot breath hit his saliva-wet lips.

"It's all right, Gguk... It's all right..." he whispered in a low, warm voice, as if trying to calm him down. "I promise, nothing will happen to us."

"If you don't want to take a gift like that from me, take it as a loan," Jeon finally choked out, finding the gaze of his dark onyx irises again. Taehyung smiled gently, then stroked his thumb over his cheek.

"We both know that even if I worked day and night for the next few years, I would never be able to afford such a car. I'm even afraid to think how much you've spent on it."

"Then you will repay me in a different way. I said I need a model to draw..."

"I guess I'll have to pose for you until I'm ugly and wrinkled, huh?" the tattoo artist joked, still stroking his cheek tenderly.

"You'll never be ugly. You'll be one of those ridiculously handsome oldies who are incredibly hot."

"Okay," Tae agreed, staring right into his eyes. He reached out and brushed a strand of his dark, almost jet black hair aside, tucking it behind his ear. "Then I will pose for you as long as you like."

"Naked too?" Jeongguk asked, and Taehyung laughed out loud, throwing his head back.

"Naked too," he nodded.

"Tae..." Jeon began suddenly, his voice clearly uncertain. He moistened his lips as he felt the unease flooding through him again. "T-there is something else you could do for me..." he confessed. He was silent for a moment, but still Taehyung didn't press him, as if he knew what he wanted to ask was very important to him. "This Friday... This Friday is the tenth anniversary of my mother's death..." he explained, feeling his throat closing again under the influence of emotions.

"Oh, Gguk..." Kim whispered. "Do you want to honor it somehow? I don't know how you usually do it... Do you want me to go with you or would you rather be alone? I can take Jae and..."

"No," he protested quickly. "I don't want to be alone. I would like..." The boy fell silent again, clearly struggling with his emotions. Taehyung could have sworn his body was trembling slightly. "I'd like to go to visit her grave," he confessed.

"Then we'll go there together," the tattoo artist replied, not seeing the slightest problem. Jeongguk, however, looked at him as if he was about to confess something terrible, and for a moment felt a grip of anxiety in his stomach.

"The problem is... I've never been there... I mean... Only on the day of the funeral. Every year on the anniversary of her death, I want to go there, but I can't... When I tried to leave the house... I was having a panic attack. Sometimes so strong that I couldn't breathe, I heard the sound of crumpled metal, my mother's scream, mingled with my own. I could feel the taste of blood in my mouth. Usually I ended up huddled on the bathroom floor for such a hell of a long time it made my limbs go numb."

"You don't have to go there to honor her memory, Gguk," Taehyung said softly. His dark eyes were filled with care and love. "We can do it some other way..."

"I really want to go there," the brunet admitted. "I have made a lot of progress, I am dealing with my attacks much better. I'd like to try to go there, but... I need you to be there with me. I can only do this with you."

"Alright. We'll do it together, okay? If we fail, nothing will happen. I'll be there for you, okay? I promise whatever happens, I'll be there."

Jeongguk just nodded to show that he understood. He was having so much emotion right now that he wasn't sure he was able to utter any words. The tattoo artist reached up again and stroked his cheek lightly, and Jeon almost involuntarily nestled into his warm hand, clinging to his touch.

He was a goddamn lucky guy.

***

Taehyung looked around, then, making sure the road was clear, turned left and entered a small parking lot. Without a word, he switched off the engine and looked at the man sitting next to him. Jeongguk was silent all the way. He has hardly spoken since they left the apartment. In fact, from the morning he was incredibly quiet, even absent.

Taehyung was not used to it and felt a bit uncomfortable. The brunet usually laughed a lot when they were together. Especially when the three of them were spending time as a family. He used to chatter a lot with Jae, and fool around with him and joked a lot. And Taehyung loved hearing that beautiful, melodic laugh that filled every corner of their apartment.

Even when there were times when they were silent, the silence between them has never been awkward or uncomfortable, quite the contrary. He loved the moments when they would just sit together in his studio and paint, or just lie in bed together, cuddled up against each other. At times like this, words weren't necessary. Sometimes he even thought that if he spoke up, he would ruin this perfect moment. He loved holding him in his arms and just listening to his steady breathing and loud heartbeat, so much similar to the one that beat in his chest.

But now he looked at him worried. The young CEO's lips were tightened in a narrow line, his body was tense almost to the limit, and his hands were placed stiffly on his athletic thighs. Fingers tightened on his black jeans, almost as if they were going to tear the fabric apart and dig into the smooth, milky skin. His gaze was absent, his breathing oddly irregular. Looking at him, Taehyung was concerned that Jeongguk might soon have one of his attacks, and this made him feel almost physical pain. He didn't want to see him like that. He wanted to be able to take his pain away.

"Gguk... We are here," he announced finally, breaking the dead silence.

Driving here, he didn't even turn on the music, only occasionally chatting to his son, who was sitting in the car seat in the back seat. He wanted to let Jeongguk gather his thoughts. He knew that the boy was certainly struggling with his thoughts, and that he was tormented by unpleasant memories of the events from ten years ago. It certainly wasn't easy for him, but he was damn proud of him.

When the boy didn't answer, he drew his eyebrows together and looked again at Jeongguk's hands, which were now clenching painfully hard on his thighs. The young CEO's chest began to rise in an even more restless rhythm.

"If you don't want to, we don't have to go there..." he said gently. "If you can't go there, nothing will happen."

Jeongguk was silent a moment longer, trying to calm his breathing. He felt the invisible vise clamping on his throat once more. He clenched his hands tighter, as if afraid that if he didn't, he would fall into a black abyss in a moment. Again he felt that characteristic metallic taste of blood in his mouth, and the bile almost rose to his throat. The world began to spin and everything went dark before his eyes.

He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to focus on Tae's soothing voice, reassuring him he was there, and the moment he thought he was going to slide down into the black abyss just as he had done a million times before, he felt the warmth of his hand on his. Taehyung covered his hand with his, lacing their fingers together. Feeling that touch, he wanted to cry for a moment. As his name rolled off the tattoo artist's lips once more, the blackness in front of his eyes began to fade.

"Gguk, we don't have to go there," the tattoo artist repeated with obvious concern.

Jeongguk looked at their clasped hands. The tattoo artist's thumb caressed the back of his hand all the time. The man's touch was extremely gentle, but also very tender. He looked a little higher, finding the gaze of his onyx irises. Taehyung was visibly worried, a look of unease on his face, wiping off the beautiful, slightly rectangular smile he loved so much. Even though the boy wasn't smiling, there was something incredibly soothing in his gaze, some reassurance that whatever was going to happen, he was with him. Nobody had looked at him that way before.

"No," he managed finally, feeling the pressure in his chest ease a little. "I want to do it. It's just... I need another moment..."

"We have time. We'll stay here as long as you like. We're in no rush," Kim explained quickly, then looked at his face. The boy looked a bit better. He no longer looked as pale as he had been a moment ago, but his body was still very tense and his breathing was disturbingly uneven. "Can I... Can I do something to help you?" He asked carefully. He didn't want to press him, but he couldn't watch the boy struggling so much. He felt an almost physical pain at the sight.

"Just talk to me... Whatever... Your voice..."

"All right, Gguk. Look at me. I'm here. With you and for you... Do you hear me?" So saying, the tattoo artist gently cupped his chin, turning his face toward him. "I know what you experienced was terrible, but you are here with me. You don't even know how grateful and happy I am... That I can look at you now, that I can keep your hand in my... You're damn strong, even if you sometimes think it's different..." he said in a soft, warm voice, soothing with his timbre the shattered nerves of a young businessman.

As he spoke through his mouth, Jeongguk's breathing became more steady and even. After a while, Taehyung leaned gently forward to rest his forehead on his and let the brunet's breath crash against his parted lips. He didn't even know how much time they had spent like this, it was only Jae's quiet whining, who felt confused as to why they were still not getting out of the car, only broke him out of this strange trance.

"Are you alright?" Kim asked, stroking Jeongguk's cheek as the brunet nodded.

"Yes. I think we can try..." He replied, his voice still uncertain.

"Okay. I'll take Jae, and you stay here a little longer. You do not need to rush. Get off when you're ready, okay?"

Jeongguk nodded again to show that he understood. He wasn't sure if he would be able to say more. He watched Tae carefully as he opened the SUV's door and began to undo his son's seat belt to take him out from the car seat. As he did so, he closed the door, leaving Jeon alone in the car. The brunet exhaled loudly, trying to control the trembling of his body.

Thanks to Tae, he managed to control his attack, but he still wasn't sure if he could move at all. He felt as if he tried to stand up, his legs would not obey him. He felt proud to have made it this far. For the first time since his mother's accident, he was close enough to stand over her grave. On the one hand, it terrified him, and on the other, he knew that he really needed it. He couldn't back down now.

He shifted his gaze to the tattoo artist, who was still hanging around the car. Now, however, he was leading his son by the hand towards the old woman who was selling flowers. He crouched down in front of his son and talked to him, most likely wanting to help him choose a bouquet. Jeongguk couldn't take his eyes off his gentle gaze and beautiful smile.

As he stared at it, it seemed that everything was happening in slow motion, as if the world wanted to let him see even the smallest detail. So for a moment he admired his long, thick lashes, which from time to time obscured those beautiful onyx irises. Fiery red strands gently blown by the wind, only to fall softly on the tanned forehead in a moment. Soft lips now arranged in a beautiful, slightly rectangular smile. Strong hands so gently embrace his son's shoulders.

Taehyung, as if feeling his gaze on him, lifted his gaze over Jae's shoulder and for a brief moment their eyes met. His gaze was filled with a concern and tenderness he had never seen in anyone, but there was something else in his eyes. Something he has not seen before - faith.

Taehyung believed he would succeed.

He believed in him.

Jeongguk moistened his chapped lips and swallowed hard. It felt as if something was pinning him to the seat, even though he wasn't even wearing a seat belt. He closed his eyes and recalled Tae's voice - that low, soothing baritone that soothed his senses every time. After a moment, he exhaled loudly and carefully stretched his hand toward the grip. He slowly lifted his eyelids and looked down at his trembling hand.

Taehyung believed in him.

He had to do his best not to let him down. In order not to disappoint himself.

He let his fingers slowly grasp the handle that unlocked the door and, almost holding his breath, pressed against it. As a soft click crept in his ears, heralding the opening of the door, his heart began to beat erratically. He could feel his own unnaturally rapid breathing, heard the sound of his own blood in his ears, but still he forced himself to slowly get out of the car. As he took his first steps, his legs felt as if they weren't his, as if his body was being guided by some strange force.

He fixed his gaze on Tae's profile, focusing all his attention on him, and slowly walked the distance between them. The tattoo artist was now tying a shoelace in one of his son's shoes and hadn't even seen him. When he finished tying the bow, he looked at his son's face and smiled gently at him, ruffling his dark hair with his hand.

"What flowers do you want?" He asked, still looking closely at his son's face and running his fingers through his soft hair again, brushing it away from his dark, die eyes.

"Calla lily" a voice said suddenly behind him.

In an instant, Taehyung turned his head to the direction from which he heard a familiar voice. Seeing Jeongguk, he immediately got up from his crouch. Not for a moment did he take his eyes off those chocolate irises of the man standing in front of him. The young CEO moistened his lips, feeling his nervousness lessen, as if the proximity of the tattoo artist had calmed him down.

"My mom... She loved calla lily," he explained.

Taehyung smiled gently at him, then reached out his hand and let his long fingers intertwine with those of Jeongguk.

"You're here," he whispered. "I knew you could do it," he said, and he stroked the man's cheek with his hand, scratching the corner of his mouth with his thumb. "What flowers do you want to buy for her?" He asked. "Did she like any particular color? Maybe white? They look really beautiful."

"White will be perfect," he agreed.

The tattoo artist allowed Jae to pick flowers. After a while, he took them from him, still holding Jeongguk's hand, and handed them to the woman who was selling the bouquets. He smiled gently at her and asked her to make a small bouquet of them. When the woman finished, he paid and thanked her with the same radiant smile.

The bouquet was modest. The green flower stalks were tied only with a pearly shiny ribbon, but it looked beautiful nonetheless. Even though it wasn't Jeongguk who decided what it should look like, it was perfect.

Taehyung handed the flowers carefully to his son, and Jae wrapped his tiny hands around the stems. He held the bouquet carefully so that he would not to crumple the white flowers, and he looked so damn cute that Jeongguk for a moment forgot all the anxiety he had felt before. He stared at the boy until he felt a gentle embrace as the tattoo artist tightened his fingers around his hand. He instinctively shifted his gaze to him, and smiled softly at him.

"Do you know where we should go?" He asked carefully.

When Jeongguk asked him to come with him to the cemetery a few days ago, he told him that he was only here on the day of his mother's funeral. So he wasn't sure if the boy knew where his mother's grave was. Jeon, however, nodded, so he moved forward, still holding his hand in his. The boy clearly relaxed, but he still looked tense and was paler than usual.

Though he wasn't sure where to go, Taehyung led the way, leading Jeongguk by the hand. Jae was walking on the other side of him, jumping up and down happily, clutching a bouquet of flowers in his hands. They walked the narrow path in complete silence. The strong sun hurt his eyes, but he refused to wear sunglasses. He wanted Gguk to see his eyes, as if that would reassure him that he was there for him. So he squinted his eyes almost all the time, trying to protect his pupils from the intrusive light, and at the same time he looked gently from side to side, trying to find the right place in case the boy did not remember exactly where they should go.

Jeon, however, remembered the road all too well. Even though he hadn't been here in ten years, he was almost able to tell how many steps he had to take to get there. He knew where the damaged tiles were on the ground and where the crooked tree was. He didn't know where he had such memories from. Perhaps because he was staring at his black, elegant shoes the whole time during the funeral ceremony.

He remembered the whole time he thought he could see blood stains on them. He felt sick, his whole body trembled. When he was allowed to throw flowers on his mother's coffin, he felt as if he would faint and fall into that black pit, letting himself be swallowed by the eternal abyss. So he threw them, squeezing his eyes shut tight, then just run away. He ran almost blindly, the way he couldn't see through the tears pressing down to his eyes.

His family found him at the main gate. He sat huddled on the rain-damp earth, not worried that he would get his elegant suit dirty. He was shaking, unable to stop himself from crying. He wasn't even sure who found him then. He thought it was Seokjin, but he was so shaken he couldn't even register his words. Then once again it seemed to him that he was dying. He opened and closed his mouth like a fish for a moment, desperately trying to get the necessary oxygen, but he couldn't.

Knowing that he was close, he slowed down reflexively, as if he feared he would get a seizure this time too. Taehyung looked at him immediately, his slender fingers gripping his hand tighter. Jeongguk swallowed hard, then moistened his chapped lips. He wasn't sure if he could say any words.

"It's here?" Taehyung asked, speaking the words for him, and Jeon merely nodded gratefully.

They stood motionless for a moment in complete silence. Kim waited for Jeongguk to be ready. He didn't want to pressure him. The brunet tensed again, his whole body was tense almost to the limit. The tattoo artist released his hand from his, and the boy looked at him with obvious horror in his eyes, as if he feared that the moment Taehyung's hand had stopped touching his, he would fall into darkness and nothingness, as he did every time during a strong attack. The tattoo artist, however, took a step forward, standing so close that their bodies were almost touching, and he grasped his face in his hands.

"I'm here, Gguk," he said, looking him straight in the eye. His sweet breath hit Jeongguk's chapped lips. "I'm here."

They stood there for a moment longer, saying nothing more. It was only when the tattoo artist felt the young CEO's body loosen up again that he carefully took his hands away and took a step back to be able to look at him.

"Will you take my hand?" Jeon asked softly, stretching his trembling hand towards him.

He didn't care how stupid and preposterous his request sounded. How pathetic it can be in the eyes of others. A grown man who asks someone to hold his hand because he is afraid he will not be able to cope on his own. Taehyung, however, without hesitation, clasped their hands again, then lifted his hand and placed a gentle kiss on top of it.

"I'll hold you as long as you like," he said in a low, soothing voice, then began to lead him gently down the aisle.

Jeongguk let him lead him, putting foot by foot carefully, as if he wasn't sure his legs wouldn't obey him. Seeing his mother's grave, he almost held his breath, and his fingers tightened again on Tae's tattooed hand. The tattoo artist approached the tombstone cautiously and stopped, but did not release his grip even for a moment.

Jeongguk stared at his shoes for a moment as if to make sure there were no blood stains on them this time. Only after a few long minutes was he able to lift his head and look at the tombstone. The gaze of his dark eyes immediately found the black and white photograph of his mother, and his free hand rose to his mouth, covering it so that a soft sob would not escape from his lips. But it only took a moment for him to feel tears roll down his cheeks.

"Why is Googie sad?" Jae asked suddenly, looking at him with his large, frightened eyes.

Jeongguk quickly wiped his tears away with his hand, then crouched down in front of the boy and looked at his face.

"I'm touched," he explained. "I haven't been here for a long time, and I'm glad that I was able to come here."

"What's here? Who is this?" The boy asked, pointing his finger at the black-and-white photograph.

"This is my mum. Remember when I told you she was in heaven? When I come here, I'm closest to her, and I miss her a lot, you know?"

"Is that your mom? She has the same eyes."

"You're just like your daddy too."

"And your mom will be back?" Jae asked.

"No. My mom can't come back. She has very important things to do in heaven," he explained gently.

"And my mom is in heaven too?"

Jeongguk, not knowing what to say, glanced surreptitiously at Tae. He did not want to interfere with what the man wanted to tell his son about Jiwon. He didn't know how much of it all he really told the little one. Taehyung also crouched down in front of his son and placed his hands on his hips.

"Little Tiger, your mom is not in heaven," he began cautiously, not quite knowing how to explain to the little one why she was not here. "It's just that your mom didn't know how to be mom. She was very young and was not ready for this responsibility."

"Will she come back?"

"I don't know, honey," he admitted truthfully. He reached out and ran his fingers through his son's dark hair.

"And if she comes back, Googie won't live with us anymore?"

"I hope that even when that happens, Gguk will still stay with us," Taehyung smiled gently, stroking the young CEO's hand.

"I don't want her to come back!" Jae suddenly exclaimed, almost bursting into tears, and lunged at Jeongguk. He wrapped his arms around the man's neck, snuggling into his strong arms. "I want Googie to stay with us. I don't want mom! I want two dads!" He cried.

"Oh, Little Tiger," Jeongguk whispered, hugging his tiny body. "I also want to stay with you. You don't even know how much I love you," he confessed before he realized what he really said.

He wrapped his arms around him tighter and rose from the ground, cradling him tightly against his strong chest. Jaesung pressed his face against his neck, and he almost involuntarily began to stroke his hair with his hand. He looked up to meet Tae's onyx eyes.

I'd love to stay with you so much, he thought, grabbing the man's tattooed hand to weave their fingers together again.

***

Taehyung was lying on his back, holding Jeongguk in his arms. The fingers of his right hand glided gently over the milky skin of the boy's arm. It was quite late, but they were still awake. They only lay on the bed in the bedroom, cuddled up against each other. The tattoo artist leaned in gently and brushed his lips against his bare shoulder, his lips sliding over the smooth skin.

"How do you feel?" He asked softly.

"Amazingly good. That day... You don't even know how horrible that day has always been for me. For the first time in ten years, I feel calm, as if... as if I had finally done what I should have done a long time ago. I have wanted to go there so many times..."

Taehyung placed a tender kiss on his shoulder again.
"You don't even know how proud I am of you. You're fucking strong, Gguk. You don't even realize how much."

Jeongguk twisted a little tighter, resting his bare chest on the tattoo artist, and looked him straight in the eye.

"I couldn't have done it without you," he confessed. "I can't even put into words how much that means to me."

The young CEO stared directly into his eyes for a moment. His fingertips almost unconsciously began to mark the intricate patterns on the tattoo artist's chest. He liked the way his chest rose and fell in a slightly quickened breath at his touch. He loved the warmth of his naked body against his. He shifted his gaze to his hand and glided with fascination along the black lines of the mandala, then moved his fingers a little lower and traced the shape of Jae's little hand, forever inscribed in the tattoo artist's caramel skin.

He could still hear the words Jae told him that he wanted him to be his father, and he wondered for a moment what it would be like if it were true. Lisa didn't want kids. He was almost convinced that he would probably never be a father, and thanks to Tae it was possible. He really felt like Jae was his baby too.

He leaned down gently and pressed his lips against the tattoo artist's caramel skin, kissing it exactly where he felt the man's strong heartbeat. He could have sworn his heart would stop for a moment, only to start beating with redoubled power. Before he could tear his lips away from his body, he felt the tattoo artist's long, slender fingers slide into his curls, still damp after a shower. Taehyung gripped his head tightly and pulled him up, bringing their lips together in a tender, greedy kiss.

Jeongguk parted his lips without being asked, silently allowing the tattoo artist's agile tongue to slip into his mouth. Taehyung didn't wait a moment. He kissed him determinedly, rubbing his tongue against his in an erotic dance. Only when the lungs began to rebel, he gently pulled away from him. He looked at the face of the man lying on top of him and brushed his dark curls.

"You'd look great with long hair," he said gently, twirling one of his black strands around his finger.

Jeongguk's hair was now much longer than when they first met, but it made the young CEO look even better.

"Yes? Are you saying this because you like to pull my hair when we make love?" Jeon asked, lashes waving innocently. His fingers began to mark the patterns on Tae's chest again.

"I say this because you would look damn sexy in a man bun," Taehyung replied, kissing his lips quickly. "And because I love pulling your hair when we make love," he added, still against his lips, letting his hot breath hit Jeongguk's saliva-wet lips.

The brunet laughed gently and placed a kiss on his lips.

"What else would you like?"

"I like everything about you. I would like you to do what you want and be yourself without fear that someone will not like it."

"What if I want to get more tattoos?" He asked, looking him straight in the eyes. "Or some piercing?" He added, then shamelessly ran his hand over his pierced nipple, teasing it with his thumb.

"It's surprisingly exciting, even when you just talk about it," the tattooist replied, curving his lips into a sensual smile. "You know what I thought when I first saw you naked?"

"What?" Jeongguk bit his lower lip to suppress a smile.

He loved it when he felt wanted. He had hardly ever felt like this with Lisa. He knew women thought him a good-looking man, but he also knew that his money and name gave him half of his lure. As Taehyung looked at him, he felt that characteristic pressure in his lower abdomen. The tattooist looked at him as if in his mind he was undressing him in a million different ways. He didn't look at him as if he wanted to drag him to bed, like some women. He looked at him as if he remembered what it was like to be in him, to taste him, and like he couldn't wait to be alone with him. As if he was ravenous, insatiable.

"Your body is fucking sexy, but looking at it... I dreamed of being able to tattoo you and then glide along each line with my hands... my tongue..."

As Taehyung spoke these words, his voice became even lower than usual. It caressed his senses in such a way that Jeongguk could almost feel a thrill of pleasure running down his spine with each word that softly settled on the tattoo artist's tongue, then emerged through slightly ajar lips.

The young CEO looked at him enchanted. He was once again captivated by the black, velvety depth of his eyes with full eyebrows and heavy black lashes. His gaze was captivating, almost mesmerizing. His dark swarthy skin almost seemed to glow in the dim light of the room. His lips full and soft, glistening with a thin layer of saliva, his teeth flashing white as he smiled at him. His smile, sexy and so damn beautiful.

"Do you know where I would most like to make you a tattoo?" He asked, seductively caressing each vowel with his tongue.

Jeongguk didn't even know why, but he felt the words settle between his thighs. He shifted uneasily and moistened his lips as he felt his excitement rising. He loved how fucking sexy what the tattoo artist was saying was.

"W-where? " he choked out with difficulty.

Taehyung said nothing, just smiled at him so damn sexy that his stomach flipped a few times and his breath caught in his lungs. The tattoo artist rose on his strong forearms and swiftly turned them around, almost throwing Jeongguk on his back. He did it so nimbly and quickly that the brunet did not have time to say anything. Only a faint moan escaped his lips as the tattoo artist's strong body pinned him to the soft mattress.

Influenced by what Kim was doing, the pulse of the young CEO accelerated, he was laughing, and his breathing became shallow. He said nothing, it seemed to him that words were unnecessary. The air seemed almost electrified with their desire. The tattoo artist grasped the sheet that used to covered Jeongguk's hips and pulled it aside, exposing the young businessman's naked, cream-colored skin. For several long seconds, his dark eyes glided over the smooth skin of his thighs, only to find the gaze of the chocolate irises.

The brunet was staring at him with intense eyes, his chest was rising in chaotic breathing. Kim smirked as he parted the man's thighs tighter, sitting between his legs. He leaned forward and ran his fingertips over the taut skin on his right thigh, sliding slowly up from the knee, guiding his hand along Gguk's inner thigh. He looked at his skin adoringly, as if he were just looking at the most beautiful canvas an artist could ever get.

"I dreamed of making a tattoo on your thigh..." he finally confessed, filling the room with his low, deep baritone. "I'd like to see the black ink climb up your strong leg..." That said, he pushed his tongue out of his mouth and ran it along the inside of Jeongguk's thigh, as if he could see exactly what he wanted to tattoo, marking the curve of the tattoo with his tongue. "The ink entering your hip," he continued, running his tongue over the man's hipbone, then running it over the tense muscles in his abdomen. "And ending right here," he added, kissing the boy's toned abdominal muscles, which were now contracting with excitement sweeping through his body. He looked up and gave him a sexy smile.

Jeongguk grabbed his shoulders and pulled him over, bringing their lips together in a hot kiss. He kissed him hard, enjoying the taste of his lips and tongue. This man tasted like everything he had ever been denied, but what he had so desperately wanted all these years. He tasted like sin. Like hope. Like the promise of a better tomorrow. Like redemption.

Like Taehyung.

"I don't know how you do it, but even though you're so close, it's still not enough..." the tattoo artist whispered, letting his words crash against Jeon's soft lips. "I miss you whenever I lose sight of you."

"Maybe that's what it should be like? When you're in a relationship with the right one... You want more and more. You can't get enough, and you never get enough."

"You're like a drug to me, Gguk. Addictive. Dangerous. And every day I want more and more..." That said, Taehyung marked the outline of his lips with his fingertips. "And... I miss you..." he confessed. "I love these crazy moments that we spend together. Sex in my studio, in TJE, in Jimin's Ferrari... God, that's fucking amazing. You are amazing, but I want to kidnap you somewhere where we will be alone and have all the time to ourselves. I want to be able to taste you again, as we did when we first made love here. I want to sculpt in you, like in clay. Run your hands over every curve of your body and memorize you each time with the determination as if it were our first and last time."

"I want it too, Tae. It's so easy to lose yourself in you..."

"Maybe we'll try to get out somewhere? Just for a day. Let's just run away somewhere."

Jeongguk laughed gently at his suggestion.

"I'd like to, but you know we can't just drop it all and run away."

"So maybe, although you will call sick and spend the whole day in bed... I think your ties have already missed you... They are still in my drawer, and they are complaining that we are neglecting them..." saying that, the tattoo artist bit his lower lip as he gazed at him sensually.

"Oh, that's very rudely of us," Jeon replied with a serious voice. "We should probably make it up to them somehow."

Taehyung reached out and opened the top drawer where he always kept the ties he had taken from Jeongguk. The brunet followed his movements carefully, almost holding his breath, but did not protest. When the tattoo artist returned to the bed a moment later with a tie in his hand, he instinctively moistened his lips and looked nervously at the door.

"You think Jae is sound asleep?" He asked, looking back to Taehyung.

The tattooist almost involuntarily began to strain the black material in his strong hands. Seeing his forearm muscles tighten, Jeon shifted nervously. The temperature in the bedroom felt as if it had gotten unbearably high.

"I think we have to find out," the tattoo artist snorted, grabbing his right wrist.

Until now, they hadn't used such things when Jaesung was home. Usually they only made love in the shower when the little one was asleep, or they fondled naked in bed, trying to keep as quiet as possible so as not to wake the kid. Jeongguk would be lying if he said that he did not miss it. It was fucking exciting. He loved it when Taehyung tied his hands, pulled his hair and gave him strong spanks. He loved it when he could swear and groan, showing how damn good he felt when the tattoo artist slid his throbbing cock into him.

He fucking missed it.

The tattooist lifted his hand and began tying it to the headboard of the bed. Jeongguk watched with fascination how confident his movements were, as if he had done it a million times already. After a short while, Kim grabbed his other wrist and did the same. The knot was strong, but not strong enough to hurt him.

When Taehyung finished, he stepped away from him slightly and smiled, admiring his masterpiece with satisfaction. He loved the view. Without waiting any longer, he approached him and gripped his bottom lip with his teeth, sucking hard on it, then tugged it, almost causing him pain, but that only excited him more. As a soft moan escaped the young CEO's lips, Taehyung smiled again. After a few seconds, his lips moved along the man's neck, leaving a delicate layer of saliva on it. As he reached his protruding collarbones, he pulled away gently and looked him straight in the eye. There was something mysterious in his gaze, a soft, mischievous smile playing on his lips.

Jeongguk parted his lips to speak, but before he could utter any words, the tattoo artist's agile tongue moved over his right nipple. His piercing was cold, his mouth hot. Feeling Taehyung's teeth clench on the sensitive nipple, Jeon cursed softly, instinctively tugging his hands. The ties only tightened stronger around his wrists, cutting into the delicate skin.

Satisfied with his reaction, Tae chuckled softly, filling the bedroom with his low, smooth voice before sliding down without the slightest hesitation. Before the echo of his melodious laughter had faded away, those perfectly cut lips of the tattoo artist shamelessly sucked on the head of Jeongguk's cock, causing a fire in the young CEO's body, consuming every, even the smallest cell in his body.

Taehyung had no intention of wasting his time gratifying him with his hand or lazy, slow licks along the shaft of his cock. So he allowed Jeongguk's semi-hard member to squeeze through his lips and slid it over his pierced tongue into his mouth. The tattoo artist danced his tongue around the sensitive head, deliberately teasing the sensitive frenulum with his piercing, and Jeongguk jerked his hands again while pushing his hips forward to the sensual meeting of his lips.

"Tae," he choked out with difficulty.

He felt as with every stroke of the tattoo artist's tongue, excitement was born in his stomach, then burst into almost live fire in his loins. Kim wasn't going to spare him. He sucked him hard, pushing his cock deeper and deeper with each movement. Jeon felt as if he were going to go mad in a moment, and knew that he was close to fulfillment. Tilting his head back, he closed his eyes and let out a soft sigh fall from his parted lips. He knew that all he needed was for Taehyung to dance a few more times around his cock, to come into his sinful lips, and he couldn't wait to feel this sweet fulfillment.

Suddenly, however, the tattoo artist jerked away from him, letting his throbbing dick just slide out of his mouth. Jeongguk opened his eyes and looked at him, surprised and so damned disappointed with the sudden loss of warmth of his lips.

"No, no, no..." he groaned in disappointment. "Don't stop."

The tattoo artist smirked, then ran his tongue over his lower lip as if to drink his taste. For several painfully long moments, he merely stared at the young CEO, absorbing the sight of him. He liked the way the man's naked chest rose and fell in rapid breathing, the way his thigh muscles trembled gently. He knew Jeongguk was close to orgasm, but he wanted to tease him a little. He wanted to bring him to the edge of insanity, then make the pleasure of fulfillment literally engulf him.

He reached out his right hand, slid it between his slightly sweaty thighs, and gripped the man's balls with his fingers, tearing a muffled curse out of his mouth.

"Did you say anything?" He asked, teasing him.

"Tae, please," the brunet whined.

With a devilish smile on his lips, Kim wrapped his fingers around the shaft of Jeongguk's cock, clenching his fist around it, and immediately began to move it up and down his manhood. The brunet, almost instinctively, moved his hips, pushing them out to meet this wonderful caress. For a moment, Taehyung watched as the men's hips rose, and the throbbing cock pushed through his tattooed hand, leaving a layer of pre-cum on it.

"Oh, Jesus," Gguk groaned in frustration as his cock pushed its way through the tattoo artist's clenched fist again, "Please, Tae, give it to me. Don't tease me. I am begging you."

"What do you want, Gguk? Tell me what to do," the tattooist said without taking his dark eyes away from him.

"I want to feel your lips again, your tongue... I want to come in your mouth. Please. I want to feel you again."

Kim said nothing, he just leaned over him with a mischievous smile, and suck his lips on his sensitive head again. After a while, he pushed his throbbing cock into his mouth as deep as he could. As the head hit the back of his throat, Jeongguk's back arched and his hands tugged at the bindings again.

Taehyung looked up and looked him straight in the eye, sucking on him greedily, and Jeongguk pushed his hips up again in response. The tattoo artist had to take this as an encouragement as he sucked on him even harder, purring sexy, sending vibrations straight into his throbbing cock.

Jeon wanted to sink his fingers into his fiery red hair, but the ties prevented him from doing so. Instinctively, he clenched his hands around them, feeling the black material almost cut into the delicate skin of his wrists. But he didn't care. He didn't care if there were streaks or abrasions on his skin, he felt so good he was under the impression that he was going to go crazy if the tattoo artist's nimble tongue, at least once again, whirled around his cock.

"Oh yes. More..." he gasped, catching a breath between trembling lips.

Once again that day, he felt his whole body tremble. This time, however, he trembled with the pleasure that slowly crept into every, even the smallest, cell of his body. And nothing else mattered. He's the only one. Everything about him belonged to the man who sat on the bed between his strong, trembling thighs, sucking him as well as if his whole life were going to depend on it, without taking his onyx irises away from him.

He wanted to scream when the wave of orgasm overwhelmed him, but he held back, biting his bottom lip hard. Tearing at the bonds, he arched his body into a sexy bow, coming right into those sinful lips of the tattoo artist. Taehyung sucked on him until he was sure he had drunk every drop. It wasn't until his chaotic breathing began to even out a bit that he pushed his cock out of his mouth, then danced around his head with his tongue to make sure he licked it clean.

"I love your taste on my tongue, Mr. Jeon." Taehyung licked his swollen lips as he spoke those dirty words.

"Kiss me," the young CEO instructed, and the red-haired man stood up on his knees without hesitation and, taking his face in his hands, pressed their lips together in a hot kiss.

Jeon parted his lips and Taehyung stuck his tongue in, deepening the kiss. The brunet sucked on his tongue, tasting his own sperm mixed with this unique taste of a man that he could not get enough of. It didn't bother him. On the contrary. It excited him even more. As they kissed greedily, the tattoo artist's hands moved to his left wrist, releasing him from the bindings. It was enough for Jeongguk to feel his hand released, and he grasped the tattoo artist's face with it, pressing their hot lips tighter.

"Make love to me," he whispered into his lips.

Taehyung smiled at him, then moved his hands to his right wrist to undo the tie, when suddenly a soft sound of a door opening crept into his ears.

"Fuck," he swore, quickly moving away from Jeongguk and covering him with the sheet he had tossed aside earlier. He himself quickly picked up clean boxers from the drawer still open and slipped them on, then headed for the door. He opened it and smiled gently at the sight of his son. "Hey darling. What happened?" He asked softly, crouching down in front of the boy. "You woke up?"

Jae was wearing pajamas and his feet were bare. His hair was badly tousled from restless sleep. He pressed a pink stuffed animal against his chest.

"Jae had a bad dream," the toddler said. "I dreamed that my mom came and wanted to kidnap me."

"Oh, Little Tiger. Come to daddy," saying that, he took the boy in his arms and ran his fingers through his hair, and after a while he placed a gentle kiss on his forehead. "Nobody's gonna kidnap you anywhere, hm? I'll never let that happen. You're safe here."

"Okay," nodded the toddler, shaking his head vigorously. "And why is Googie tied?" He asked suddenly, pointing his finger at the sight behind his father.

Taehyung turned immediately on his heel and met Jeongguk's dark eyes staring at him with obvious horror. He was apparently trying to untie the knot when Jae noticed him. He froze at the sound of his words, not knowing what to do. His right hand was still tied to the bed frame with his tie, and the fingers of his left hand were clenched against the black fabric. Kim laughed a little nervously, then looked back at his son.

He definitely did not foresee this.

"Gguk..." he began hesitantly, trying to come up with some proper explanation for this strange situation.

How was he to explain to his son why there is a naked man in his bed, tied to the frame of the bed with a velvet tie?

He swallowed hard and smiled nervously.

"Gguk, he was afraid that he would eat from the fridge at night, so he asked me to tie him down... so that... so that he wouldn't eat. You know it's very unhealthy to eat so late," he lied.

He felt like an idiot telling his son something so ridiculous, but that would have to be enough. He couldn't think of anything better.

"Why don't we go to your room and daddy will lull you to sleep, huh, Little Tiger? It's late, you must be very sleepy," he said, almost praying that his son wouldn't protest and ask more awkward questions. He wanted to prevent the situation from becoming even more awkward than it was right now.

"Okay," agreed the little boy.

Taehyung smiled apologetically at Jeongguk, then left with his son in his arms and headed for his room. He put Jae to bed and covered him. Having sat down next to the bed, he grabbed the little boy's hand and held him until the little one fell asleep. Only after making sure that Jaesung was asleep, he got up from his seat and placed a gentle kiss on his son's forehead. He turned off the lamp that was on the cupboard next to the crib and left the room, closing the door carefully enough not to wake the little one with excessive noise. He walked down the hall that separated him from the bedroom and went in, then closed the door behind him.

When he turned on his heel, his eyes immediately found Jeongguk. The young businessman was still sitting completely naked on the bed. His hips were covered only by a thin sheet, which he tossed over him in a hurry when he heard the door open. His right hand was already untied from the bed, and he still held the black velvet material in his hands. Seeing this, Taehyung smiled at him, then covered the distance between them in a few long strides. He climbed onto the bed and, without asking permission, pressed their lips together in a greedy kiss. Jeongguk groaned right into his lips.

"Remind me tomorrow to buy some lock on the door," he joked, genuinely amused, and Jeongguk slapped his chest.

"It's not funny, Kim," the brunet scolded him.

"They say things that shouldn't be done, taste best. It's probably true, because you tasted heavenly..."

"Tae..."

Before Jeongguk could answer or protest, Taehyung kissed him greedily while pulling his naked body over him, then turned them so that the young CEO lay on his back on a soft, fragrant mattress, and he locked him in the cage of his tattooed arms. He laughed out loud, wrapping his strong arms around the tattoo artist back and his legs around his narrow hips. His dark hair was scattered on the white sheets, his dark eyes sparkled brightly, his lips curved into a beautiful, radiant smile.

"You're crazy and fucking unpredictable," he said, looking him straight in the eye.

"It's all because of you... and for you..."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I think you know, Gguk," Taehyung stroked his cheek with his fingertips, then leaned in to kiss his soft lips. "I want to be the first and last man to get close to you in this way. I want to be able to admire your beautiful smile every day, listen to your laughter and admire how you draw. I want to make love to you, swim between your thighs, and then fuck you hard till you scream with delight. I want to hold you in my arms and protect you from all the world that will try to hurt or destroy you."

Jeongguk held out his hand, and this time he stroked the tattoo artist's cheek, gliding lovingly along the line of his jaw, then tracing the outline of his perfect lips with his thumb. For a moment, he wondered what it would look like for those beautiful lips to form those three short words.

"Would you really do all of this for me?" He asked, even though he knew the answer.

He had no doubt that Taehyung would do anything for him. He could feel it, in every kiss he gave, every touch he made, he could see it in his impenetrable eyes, but still he had a hard time believing that someone like Tae would want someone like him. He wanted to tell him how it made him feel, but he couldn't put it into words.

"Do you have any doubts about that?" the tattooist replied.

Taehyung looked him straight in the eye, he was totally serious. The brunet parted his lips, wanting to say something, but the words stuck in his throat, dying softly on his tongue. All that filled the room in the twilight now was the loud beating of his heart, trying to tell him the right words.

"I don't know what to say..." he managed, however.

The lie nearly hurt his throat, but he said nothing more. For a moment, he thought he saw something strange in Tae's gaze.

Sadness?

"You do not have to say anything, Gguk," he replied softly. "Just let me adore you."

***

Ayashee:

The next chapter of The Taste Of Ink is behind us.
This time a bit more nostalgic and sad.

Thanks to Tae, Gguk is finally slowly settling with his past.
Will this help him finally move on?

Do you think our Taekook are already in love with each other?
Or maybe one of them is still unsure of his feelings...

Do you think they should finally dare to name what really is between them?
Will such a confession complicate their situation?
What if one of them finally dares to confess the true feelings and all he would get in response is silence?

xoxo