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I try to concentrate on mixing together the ingredients for bungeoppang, but that's proving hard to do with Namjoon breathing down my neck.

A sigh escapes me when I realize that he isn't going to let go. Some days his never ending hugs were like a koala bear's. Then other days they're more on the side of a python. Today is a python type of day. He'd learned to position his arms around my ribs in the right places so that it wouldn't set off my tickling reflex and once he got them there, it could be hard to get him to let go.

"Namjoon. I can't move. This needs to get done before we can go." In the back of my mind I wonder if the reason he's unwilling to let go was to keep us from going to this dinner tonight.

"Mm." His arms loosen a fraction, but still nowhere near to releasing me.

"Yah!" I fuss, starting to get annoyed. "I'm serious. Go sit at the table and watch me from there, you creep."

"You're mean." he murmurs into my neck. It might have felt nice if I wasn't feeling so smothered.

"Seriously, you're making me ma-"

"Kitty?"

The spoon I'm holding gets shoved forcefully back into the bowl holding the mixture as I let out an irritated groan. "What?" I snap.

"Can I kiss you?"

This unexpected question makes me pause. We've never kissed. Aside from that one crazy night that I'm still trying to forget. From the beginning we'd both agreed to take it slow and so far I'd been happy with that. I like him far too much to allow myself to jump in too quickly and so by pacing myself, I gave my feelings more room to adjust and grow. It was comfortable. I was comfortable.

Although I can't deny that I have thought about it. A lot. I wonder now if Namjoon has dwelt on the subject as much as I have. One would assume so since he was the first to bring it up, when all he'd ever been for the past weeks was a gentleman.

He wants to kiss me now, and he's asked for it as I'd informed him he would have to do. I also want it. So I should let him kiss me...now how do I say yes and not be completely embarrassed by it?

There's no way around that.

Not just my face, but it feels as if my whole head burns as I give a short nod and murmur a soft yes.

Previous irritation towards him now forgotten, I stand and wait before wondering if I should turn around to face him. That would probably be ideal but his arms are still holding me tightly, without much leeway for me to do that.

I open my mouth to question this but then snap it back shut almost immediately when I feel his lips on my neck. On that same spot again. What's up with him and that spot?

The first kiss is gentle, but short. The next one is just as soft, but this time is accompanied by a hot tongue that darts out and swirls over my skin and sets all my nerve endings on fire. I struggle to not make a sound and I'm not even sure why. Embarrassment? Maybe. But then I remember that Namjoon's personality can flip sometimes and his eyes become different.

"Don't agree to things you don't understand. I might just do it."

"Did tickle?"

If a sound comes out of me and I unintentionally spur him on, would he flip like that again? The idea intimidates and evokes a curiosity in me.

The third kiss takes me by surprise when lips move gently, tongue glides effortlessly and teeth carefully nip. Not enough to leave a mark (hopefully) but just enough to catch my attention.

My control falters and my small gasp makes it's way out of my throat. Didn't he say he's never dated? How did he know how to make me feel this good? Too good.

"T-that's-" I stutter when his lips, just his lips this time, lightly press over the same area he bit. "That's enough." I manage to get out.

"Mm." his arms give me one last cuddle before loosening. "Sorry. Did I do too much?"

How he easily slips back into being a gentlemen, I'll never understand. "No." I studiously avoid his gaze and go back to mixing, if a bit forcefully.

"What's wrong?" his head appears over my right shoulder to peer at my still burning my face, uncomfortably close.

Seriously, why isn't he even slightly embarrassed that he just tongued and bit my neck? Jesus, a new wave of self consciousness washes over me again just thinking that. And here he is, just smirking—wait, smirking? This little shit.

The next thing he says nearly knocks me over. "Can I kiss you for real now?"

Don't say yes.

Why would you say yes?

It would be stupid to say yes.

Don't say yes.

The spoon clatters back into the bowl.

"Yes."

My mouth is stupid.

As is my body, which is now turning to face him. What am I doing? Why can I not control myself? Since when did he get so damn attractive? All I know for sure is, he better fucking kiss me right now.

There isn't a hint of hesitation in his movements. One of his hands comes to rest on the side of my neck, over the exact same spot he'd just kissed. The other wraps around my waist and pulls me in. He leans down and his face is now so close I can count his eyelashes if I wanted to.

I close my eyes and we both move in—

And then I scream and push him away when the phone in his hoodie's front pocket vibrates and tickles my stomach.

Namjoon seems angry—an expression I've never seen on him when he pulls the phone out and answers it.

"What?" he grumbles.

"Hyung!" Taehyung's voice is loud and excited since Namjoon put it on speaker. "Where are you guys? When will you be here? Does Y/n like Coke or Pepsi better? What's her favorite game?"

Since the questions started Namjoon's hand had pushed his glasses upward so that he could rub the bridge of his nose in agitation. "Taehyung, we said we'd be there at six, that isn't for another two hours. She prefers water and she isn't picky when it comes to games."

Only two hours to make my damn bungeoppang now and with Namjoon here it'll take twice as long. Determined not to waste any time I find the strainer and go back to cooking.

An hour and forty five minutes later we're standing on the front porch of Namjoon's abnormally large house. I'm just now reminded that I wanted to ask if he's rich and that it's probably important that I make sure he isn't an ninety-year-old ahjussi.

"Are you nervous?" he stops to ask in front of the door.

"Not really." I shrug. "Are you? You've been acting weird about it all week."

"No." That same smirk from earlier appears on his face, striking up a curious suspicion in me. What was that about? Why does he look so...satisfied?

"Why not?" I question him with narrowed eyes. There's something going on.

"Kitty?" he's taken a step forwards and closed most of the distance between us, causing me to hold the plate of pastries closer to my chest.

"What?"

"Can I kiss you?"

"Here? Now?" my eyes move to the right, toward the still closed front door. "I-"

"Just a peck?" he reassures and begins to lean down, slowly so as to give me time to back away if I want to.

I don't want to. Butterflies make my belly feel funny the closer he gets and slowly my eyes begin to drift close...and then I jump back quickly when the door flings wide open to reveal a happy Taehyung.

"Hyung! You're finally here! Y/n, or is it Kitty now? I'll take that." He smiles brightly and accepts the plate from me, ushering us inside.

Taehyung doesn't seem to notice or care what he interrupted, so I'm thankful for that at least. Namjoon, however, looks mad as hell and is glaring a hole in the back of the younger guy's head. For some reason it makes me snort which brings the glare in my direction, but I meet it by poking out my tongue.

Taehyung ushers us into the living room where Jin, donning a fuzzy pink sweater, is shoving a sleeping Yoongi off of the couch so we can sit down.

Wait, what?

I stare as Yoongi grumbles and then simply moves to another chair where he almost instantly falls asleep again. Fascinating.

Momentarily I blink as I can't help but to stare at his sleeping form, getting the strangest feeling that I'm forgetting something. Whatever. Not important!

Where are the kittens?

"This is Jungkook!" Jimin suddenly presents a younger boy with dark hair and a cute, round face that has yet to shed all of his baby fat. My inner crazy lady threatens to squeal at how cute he is but I hold back so as not to terrify the poor kid.

His bangs flop against his forehead when he bows politely and utters a quiet greeting, giving me the idea that he's probably shy. We've only exchanged simple hellos before his nose twitches a few times and wrinkles.

Jungkook's curious wide eyes flit to Namjoon. "Hyung, she doesn't smell anything like you said. She smells like you." he states bluntly.

For some reason all the guys in the room freeze, including Namjoon, who I can feel has tensed up beside me. It would be great if someone could explain what was going on. Damn dog men and their stupid scents.

"Kookie," Jin is tight lipped as he regards the younger male. "That's rude to point out."

"How come?" Jungkook's eyes are round and innocent. "Namjoon-hyung's smell is all over her-"

"KOOKIE," Jin was smiling but there was nothing kind about it. "Humans don't like it when you smell them."

"But Jin-hyung! How come she smells like that?"

This is when Yoongi (apparently awake now) breaks out into sadistic laughter, earning himself a few pointed looks.

The entire room's atmosphere is so strained and I have no idea why. Jungkook looks just as confused as I feel, Jin looks almost desperate to shut him up, Jimin and Taehyung both are blushing and looking anywhere else other than me, Hoseok seems torn between wanting to laugh and wanting to scold Jungkook, Yoongi appears to be having the time of his life, and Namjoon is smirking and looks very proud of himself. Who knows why.

Well apparently everyone knows why except for me.

I just want to know where the kittens are.

Then something strange happens. It's only for a second so I could be wrong. But for a moment there, just as everyone was looking in a different direction, Jungkook's eyes meet mine. He smiles and the longer I meet his stare, the clearer I can make out something sinister in there. I get the feeling that he isn't nearly as innocent as his hyungs believe him to be.

....What?

Whatever. Where's my bungeoppang? And the fucking kittens?

With a sigh I bypass all of them and plop on the couch, quickly locating the desserts I'd brought along on the coffee table and pulling one out.

Everyone stares.

I don't care because HOLY CRAP when did I get this good at cooking? The pasty melts in my mouth and I nod in appreciation of myself and my dad's recipe.

"Noona—can I call you noona?" Jungkook is now seated beside me and again appears innocent. At my nod of agreement he smiles brightly and asks for a piece of the dessert in my hand.

I'm moving to hand him some when Jin's disapproving voice stops me.

"Not before your supper, Jungkook."

Jungkook crosses his arms and pouts adorably. "Oh come on, Hyung!"

"No means no." he says sternly. A loud pinging sound of an oven timer fills the house and Jin jumps excitedly and squeals, "my wings!"

Once he's gone I sneak Jungkook a pastry. We eat them together through a fit of giggles like naughty children.

The next thing I know, Jimin and Taehyung are with Jungkook on the couch surrounding me and they've thrust a photo album into my lap. Hoseok moves to sit on the coffee table in front of us and it all feels very claustrophobic. I can hear Yoongi laughing in the distance as Namjoon is in the beginnings of some sort anxiety attack, I'm assuming since they're all so close.

But none of these things is of importance because right now there are pictures of baby Namjoon in front of me and in ninety percent of them he's completely butt-ass naked.

"WHY WOULD YOU PULL THIS OUT?" Namjoon's voice is shrill and annoyed as he attempts to rob me of the photo album, but a giggling Hoseok is there to slap his hands away.

"OH MY GOD!" I squeal when I flip the page to see a toddler version of my boyfriend, naked except for a pair of cowboy boots and a matching hat.

It gets better. Naked baby Namjoon in the bathtub, naked toddler Namjoon sprinting through some grass, naked baby Namjoon with a waterfall of drool coming out as he chews on a toy, naked one-year-old Namjoon covered in chocolate cake on his first birthday.

Why was he always naked? Does it matter? No!

This is the new best day of my life.

Jimin is laughing uncontrollably and is bent double as he turns the pages for me. "Wait Y/n, there's better."

Namjoon is now physically held back by Hoseok and Yoongi is rolling in laughter on the floor, seemingly thrilled with his discomfort. No one pays attention to Jin calling us for dinner.

Why are all of his friends so sadistic? Who cares!

Jimin has flipped to a page where Namjoon is in his awkward, hitting puberty stage. It's a school picture and he appears extremely uncomfortable in his own body, which displays signs of acne, crookedly cut bangs and shiny braces lining his teeth.

"Aw!" It's comes out of my mouth before I can stop it. "He's cute."

This is met with a huge uproar of disagreement from all the boys, including Namjoon for some reason.

"You think that's cute?" Jungkook's evil side has reappeared and he smirks before turning the pages of the album. "Then look at THIS."

Again it's Namjoon in his awkward years, still with all those other unattractive aspects, but this time he's wearing polka dot suspenders that are holding up a pair of tiny short shorts.

WHAT?

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Edited 8/31/21