This story is dedicated to you if you have ever been abused by someone bigger, stronger, and seemingly more powerful than you. You are not alone. You are infinitely precious. And the trauma you endured is not your fault. Know that you are so loved. And whatever trauma you have been through – it does NOT define you. You are a beautiful rose, a lovely lily, a most precious gem.
Rated M for Mature. This story deals with some difficult topics and involves some graphic situations.
“I need to go home for a little while. But I don’t really want to leave you alone. Would you like to come with me?”
She’d probably have to face all of the members of BTS if she went with him.
“Do they know?”
He shook his head. “I haven’t told any of them anything yet. But I want to talk to them about it. I would like them to meet you. Will you come with me?” His deep voice was so soft.
She nodded. She ought to be thrilled. She was going to meet BTS! All of them! But she knew that her presence was likely to cause some problems.
“Yoongi. We’re likely to get backlash from a lot of people when this goes public. Are you sure you want to stand by me? I remember how people attacked not only Jungkook but also his friend when he took her to dinner. And there wasn’t anything more than friendship between them!”
His eyebrows quirked upward. “Is there more than friendship between us?”
She blushed. He chuckled inwardly.
“For my part…yes,” she whispered. “Though, you probably don’t feel that way.”
“You’re wrong,” he intoned gruffly.
Her eyes flew to his own. Then they widened in surprise. “You – you like me?” she asked in an astonished whisper.
“Very much.” His eyes held her own. “I really want to kiss you. But I don’t want to hurt you. And I realize we barely know each other.”
She stood gazing longingly up at him. With anyone else, she would have felt awkward. But she had idolized this man for so many years. And spun pretty dreams around him. And then, when he had entered her life for real, he had been everything a hero should be. Except for that moment of sarcasm that had cost her everything. She sighed. No one was perfect, it seemed. Least of all, her.
But Yoongi had proven himself to be her knight in shining armor. He seemed to be truly trustworthy. So she stood on her tiptoes and returned his kiss of last night. Her lips brushed across his soft cheek.
Yoongi’s eyes fluttered shut as her mouth brushed along his skin, awakening feelings he was trying to rein in. He stood, rooted to the ground, balling the fist that rested at her waist. Thankfully, years of self-control came to his rescue as desire snaked through his gut. But underneath that sharp emotion was a sweeter one. It was spiraling up out of his heart and wrapping itself around her. He rather suspected that it was love. At the very least, a deep kind of respect. Honor.
He wouldn’t do anything to dishonor this girl. So he reached for her hand and led her towards home.
—
A while later, they entered his residence. A home he shared with six other men. He had texted all of them to call them to a meeting. In their kitchen. Jin was already making dinner. In fact, he was just putting all the dishes on the table as they entered the room. Six curious heads turned to greet them.
Yoongi cleared his throat. “Guys, this is my friend, Stasia.”
Anxiety was spiraling in her gut. She felt like she was going to throw up again. This was too much. Meeting them under normal circumstances would have been overwhelming. But under these? What was Yoongi going to say?
“Hey, guys, this is my new girlfriend. She was sexually assaulted three nights ago by her old boyfriend”?
She was about to turn tail and run when a quiet voice greeted them from behind.
“Yoongi, where did you meet this delightful girl?”
Julieta’s sweet voice instantly calmed Stasia’s nerves.
“Hey, sis, I could use some help here,” another sharper voice commented from out in the hallway.
Yoongi sighed with relief. Tia and her sister had come to his rescue. He had called Julieta earlier in the day to fill her in. She had called Jin and arranged this dinner. Yoongi needed the reinforcements. He was sure Stasia did too. Now she wasn’t surrounded by only men.
