Jina opened the door and slipped inside her bedroom. Immediately she was caught in Jungkook’s gaze. It was beckoning her. She knew that light. And what it meant.
In response to its call, she crossed the room. She climbed into bed with him. He reached a hand out towards her. His fingers danced upon her knee making her yearn for him. For more of him. She swallowed. It was a little terrifying how quickly he seemed to be consuming her with his delightful presence these days.
“You just got off duty?” she whispered in the morning light.
He nodded. Her eyes met his. Flames were leaping in his gaze. More intensely than she’d ever seen them before. They had shown up the first time four days ago. Shortly after their first kiss.
Over the last couple of weeks, she had learned just how tender her husband could be. She had also learned something about the fire behind his temper. Not every passion needed to be nipped in the bud. There was a glorious fire roaring on the inside of Jungkook. One she delighted in being consumed by. She had uncovered the treasure hidden inside of his heart.
As she turned towards him, he suddenly closed the distance separating them in a heartbeat and began to devour her mouth with his own. She sighed into that delicious mouth as it teased hers with sweetness. His strong arm dragged her length up against his.
“Jungkook?” she murmured against his lips.
He ignored her as his lips left her own to feather light kisses along her throat. Increasing her desire for him. She didn’t even understand what she was feeling. Only that she wanted more of him. Whatever that meant.
Jungkook had been taking his time with her over the last few days. They’d shared their first kisses days ago. He had remained tender and sweet, gently leading her along the path to his ultimate goal.
“Did you lock the door?” he breathed against the base of her throat as his lips grazed her skin.
Her heart leapt and began to race. He could feel her pulse increase beneath his mouth. His lips curved into a smile.
“Jina,” he crooned tenderly, “there’s nothing to fear. I swear I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do. But if you’re ready…”
Was she ready?
A moment later, as his lips found hers again and his fingers discovered a particularly sensitive spot, she decided she was ready. Jungkook was her husband after all. And she loved him.
Suddenly, she tore herself from his embrace and sat straight up.
She loved him.
This was the first time she’d admitted it to herself since before he’d threatened her with a broomstick. Since she’d actually gotten to know the real man and not just the image she’d watched for months.
Frowning, his brow furrowing, Jungkook sat up too. The sheet slid down to his lap, and her eyes met the beautiful expanse of his bare torso. She swallowed. He was so gorgeous. She wanted to reach out and run her fingers along the grooves of his muscles.
“Jina?” he whispered hoarsely. “What’s wrong?”
Had he pushed her too far? He’d been taking things painfully slowly. Excruciatingly slowly. For her sake.
She turned to gaze up into his eyes. A sober light in her own.
“I love you.”
He blinked. Jina had just admitted that she loved him! He felt something tender and sweet engulfing his heart in a warm flood.
She moved towards him. Stirring the scent of apples again. And increasing the heat of that wave. For just a moment, he remembered the comforting softness of his eomma’s presence. And he recognized that Jina reminded him of her.
Yesterday echoed in his heart and mind. Jina hovering over him, her long, midnight tresses flowing over his cheek as he had lain right here in this bed. Recalling the tender presence of his eomma’s hair brushing his cheek when she kissed it as she tucked him – a tiny boy – into his bed each night. Jina was only the third person in his life to treat him with gentleness. Certainly, only the second woman to influence him in such a way. Mari had been just a girl when she’d bandaged his knee. So that left his mother and…Jina.
Now she had uttered the precious words only his eomma had ever before spoken to him. He simply stared at Jina as an avalanche of tender emotions assaulted him. It was too much for him. He hadn’t expected to hear his wife say such wonderful words to him.
She reached up and slid her arm around his neck again. Her eyes were trying to probe his, but his gaze had slid away. He was staring off into space. Her heart sank. Had she lost him?
She knew it was too much to expect him to reciprocate her feelings already. Let alone to speak them. But she hadn’t expected him to block her out. She stifled her disappointment. And tried to quash her hurt. With a sigh, she turned her face until her mouth found his. She began to kiss him gently.
But after a few moments, she could feel him withdrawing from her. She tightened her hold around his neck and began to kiss him more passionately.
“Jina,” he murmured against her lips since he couldn’t evade her touch.
“What?” she whispered against his mouth.
“Jina.”
Finally, she gave in to him and drew back until their eyes met.
He could see the hurt in her gaze. He smiled fondly at her as he lifted his hand to cup her jawline softly. His thumb brushed across her cheek as his eyes traced its lovely lines.
Then his eyes met hers.
“I…” he paused, “love…you.” He’d had to force the words out, but he had finally bitten off each one so she could chew on them.
Her eyes widened in shock. “What?” she breathed, astounded.
He blinked. “I love you too, Jina. I’m so glad King Yoongi forced me to marry you.”
A giggle escaped her lips. “I despaired of you ever saying that.”
“What?”
“Any of it.”
He drew her near and whispered against her lips, “I mean it. All of it. I love you.”
He buried his face in the crook of her neck and breathed on her throat. Sending a billion tingles to dance along her nerves. She shivered mightily. He noticed.
“Let me warm you up,” he murmured as his lips found hers once more. While his hands helped her to remove her clothes.
An hour later, one incredibly happy husband murmured into the ear of his equally satiated wife, “Can we snuggle until you have to leave for work?”
She nodded happily. Then she lifted her face to his again. They kissed a few more times, then Jungkook pulled her up against him and buried his nose in her hair. Surrounding himself with the comforting scent of apples once more.
So hard to say those words