"Sorry, if I ruined your dinner," Suga says and quickly departs.

I let out a soft sigh as the room is quiet for several seconds and look down at my hands that are clasped together on the table. Tae leans towards me and rubs my upper arm gently. His contact is comforting and welcoming.

"Kookie, do you need me to stay and help you clean up?" Jimin asks as he starts gathering things from the table. Before I respond Tae speaks.

"Jimin, I'll stay with him and make sure everything gets put away," Tae says as he continues to rub my arm.

"No Jimin, I'm fine. Tae will help me. Please take some of those leftovers home."

"Jimin, I'm sorry. I've never seen Suga so reactive and intent on being rude. I have no idea what's going on with him," Tae says looking over to Jimin and slowly shaking his head.

"It's okay Tae. I got a bit overheated myself and may have gone too far. Please accept my apologies. Kookie knows how I can get," Jimin says looking down at the table gathering up plates and silverware while giving Tae fleeting eye contact.

Suddenly Tae laughs. "Hahaha" as Jimin and I look at each other.

"Jimin, Suga has met his match with you. He was completely shut down and I'm sure you gave him a lot to think about. He's fine, I'm just glad that you both are okay. However, Jimin, you are a force to be reckoned with," Tae says as Jimin laughs, and I smile tentatively.

Similar to the Tommie Chen situation I didn't do a good job defending myself. At the moment I felt frozen. I have lots of thoughts now on how I might have responded. But Tae and Jimin came to my defense. Yet, while I appreciate Jimin and Tae's support, I can't help but wish I was stronger in those moments.

"Thanks, Tae," Jimin says as he then goes into the kitchen after removing all the plates, silverware, and the dessert.

"Kookie, I'm so sorry I didn't tell you about Tannie," Tae says. "You didn't know. I brought a can of his special diet food for later and several of his treats."

I reach over and take his hand. "I just wanted it to be perfect for you, Tae. I wanted you to see a different side of me and Suga just pointed out the privileged celebrity," I say lowering my head.

"Hey, so what if you're privileged? So is he. You know we're wealthy. Yes, our space is smaller but that's because it's what we've known. We were trying to hold onto the past. You know, our parents and the small-town feel."

Jimin walks in, gives me a hug and a kiss on my head. He then hugs Tae before he starts to leave.

"Kookie, I left you something on the table by your bed for later. Talk with you tomorrow," he says and leaves as I look puzzled with what that might be.

"Tae, you were saying," I say as I divert my attention back to him.

"Kookie, let's go sit on the couch," I nod as he takes my hand and slowly leads me to the living area as Tannie follows. "Just a minute," he says as I sit on the couch. He opens a small bag that is insulated and takes out what appears to be small cubes. He places them on the floor and Tannie eagerly eats them. He then takes out a small portable dish and pours water in it for Tannie. He's such a beautiful man and it warms my heart to see him care for Tannie.

He then sits next to me on the couch thigh to thigh.

"Kookie, I was just saying that while I have grown up on a farm in a small town, I really like the city. It has its perks. I think I could live between both places. I like the people, the limitless quirky shops, and all the restaurants. It's a perfect place for a foodie like me," he says with a chuckle and a light in his eyes.

"My God being so near to the ocean is wonderful. But what I love about it most is you," he says smiling at me softly, taking my hand and gently caressing it as he looks into my eyes.

I feel an inner warmth throughout my body, and I cannot conceal a smile that gives my feelings away. I look away and then back at him. I feel self-conscious yet so seen by this man.

He likes it here and he likes me. He leans in as his smile softens more. My heart skips a beat hearing this and my jaw aches from smiling.

"Kookie, we've gone on 5 dates if we count tonight loosely," he says.

"Very loosely," I respond with a giggle as he continues showing his beautiful big boxy smile.

"Although our time together has been short, I feel I know you."

Oh my god, is he going to ask me to be his boyfriend? My heart beats rapidly as I hang on to his every word and lean in towards him.

"Kookie, would you do me the honor of being my boyfriend? Dating me seriously and exclusively. I'd like to be in a committed relationship with you," Tae say as his expression shifts to soft and loving."

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out. I nod, and then a whisper escapes, "Yes, Taehyung, yes."

He immediately pulls me onto his lap and kisses me softly as I wrap my arms around his neck. He tastes so good as I immediately surrender to his tongue. We kiss passionately for a few minutes as I'm again swept away.

"How about a glass of wine?" I say as he nods.

"Tae, pour me a glass. I want to get out of this shirt and put something on more comfortable. I'll be right back," I say as he nods.

I actually skip down the hall and text Jimin. "It's official, I have a boyfriend!" I then grab a pair of relax fit jeans and a fitted but comfy t-shirt.

I start to walk out the room and hear a ding from my phone. Jimin responds to my text with a line of the hand clapping emoji's as I chuckle. He then asks if I saw what he left me. I turn and walk over to table and there's a small brown paper bag. A gift, I thought. I reach in the bag and pull out a tube of lube and string of condoms.

Oh my god, I immediately cover my mouth with my hand and stifle my laugh as I bend over. I shake my head and pour all the items into the drawer and shut it. I start to walk away and then I stop and think. I want him and I'm pretty sure he wants me. So why not be with him? I giggle as if it's silly, but is it?

I hear another ding and it's Jimin again. "Have fun," his message says. I take in a deep breath and slowly release it. I respond, "Will do."

I run over to my dresser and search for something special. I then find it. A pair of fire red silk pajamas pants.

I slide into them and choose a soft to the touch fitted cotton tee shirt with a drop V neck that exposes my collar bones. It is nearly a perfect color match to my silky red pajama pants. The tee shirt is short and stops just below my waist band. I quickly brush my hair back and put on a bit of fragrance before leaving.

Tae is waiting for me and I go to him. He looks up at me and immediately sits at full attention as his mouth drops open. Instead of sitting next to him I slowly straddle him as his eyes widen in surprise.

I kneel with my arms at my side in a submissive position. My eyes are hungry for this man as is my body. I do not speak.

"Fuck, Kookie," he says in a deep breathy voice as he looks at me with soft lustful eyes savoring my image. I hear his breath quicken as his chest rises and falls quickly. We are both heavily panting.

His hands start at my shoulder with just his fingertips, as if he wants to make sure I am real. As his hands slowly glide down my arms, I release a soft gasp. They move over to my back and downward towards my waist as I close my eyes and moan in a low voice.

My own breath quickens. He then looks at me with eyes that ask for permission. Slowly, I nod. His strong hands slide over my ass gently squeezing my cheeks as I moan to the sensation of his touch.

"Oh God, you're so beautiful" he whispers as I smile and slowly lower myself onto his lap. All the while maintaining eye contact. He pulls me into a slow delicious kiss. Our tongues battle briefly as I fall back and allow him to dominate. The way I like it. The way I want it.

We both moan into the kiss as our heat and passion increases. He then starts kissing my neck, moving methodically from my chin to my neck. As his hot wet tongue sets me ablaze, I whimper with need as I spontaneously roll my hips into him. He moans loudly and I follow feeling his hard cock press into mine.

He then grabs my hips firmly and presses me down into him. The room fills with our moans as we grind and kiss. He then pulls back and looks at me.

"Do you want to stop?" He says as he breathes rapidly.

I smile and pull him close and whisper in his ear. "I want my boyfriend to fuck me," I say as I again grind into him as he closes his eyes, moans and licks his lips.

"Oh god, yes," he says. He lifts me without effort and carries me towards the bedroom as I wrap my legs around him while softly sucking on his neck as Tannie follows.

"Tae, what about Tannie?" I says with a giggle.

"Do you have blanket he could lay on?"

"Of course, in that closet," I say pointing.

He lays me on the bed as I pull up on my elbows and watch him. This man is so beautiful.

Quickly, he makes a soft space for Tannie outside the door. He pets his head and says "down." Tannie lays down and Tae returns to me. "He'll soon be asleep."

Tae then looks at me and I hear a small gasp as if something is wrong. His face softens and he looks disappointed.

"Kookie, we need to wait. I-I didn't expect this tonight," he says. I'm confused. "I don't have condoms or lube. I'm sorry," he says as I chuckle.

"God, I want you so bad baby." Tae groans.

I toss my arms around him and whisper. "Jimin left me an expected surprise this evening. Open that drawer," I say as Tae looks puzzled.

He pulls open the drawer and a smile sweeps across his face.

"That is some brother, Kookie. Now where were we?" he says as he hovers over me and takes my lips.

*The heat will continue in Chapter 24.