"What in the hell is shadow protocol?" Jess asked. We were all sitting around the kitchen table as Jimin relayed what had happened outside. Basically, a local paparazzi had discovered that the guys were staying at the house and had been camping out trying to get pictures. Since he was on private property when Jae-Ho found him, he didn't really have a leg to stand on legally when his camera was broken. The problem is that they didn't know if he was the only one.

"Shadow protocol," Taehyung began to explain, "is what we have to go through when we are trying to disappear from the public eye, moreso than normal. Basically, we have to make it seem like we have left the house and moved on elsewhere."

"Why don't you just actually go somewhere else?" I couldn't help but wonder.

"We used to," Jimin responded with his arm around me, "but it became harder and harder the more recognizable we've become. When we are in major cities, security is ironically very easy. We would stay at upscale hotels that are used to celebrities and take security very seriously. In smaller places like this, we are limited to the few loyal contacts that we've had for years. Someone is always wanting to leak our whereabouts for an easy buck."

I recalled his words when I had first arrived and he thought I had paid money to know his location.

"So somebody leaked your location?" Jess started to panic, "Guys, you know that nobody in my family would do that. We-"

"Calm down, Jess, we don't think that at all," Hobi reassured her.

"Yeah. It was probably someone that saw one of us on the beach earlier. It happens." Taehyung spoke up. "So basically the way shadow protocol works is we lock up. We hunker down with all the lights off and we stay inside. It stinks. No going to the beach, no swimming in the pool, nothing. Luckily this house has a decent basement and we can watch movies in the theater room and hang out down there in the evenings. No lights, no music, nothing on the first or second floors." Taehyung paused and looked around at everyone before continuing, "Ugh! This sucks! How am I gonna get through the next several days with you two horndogs if you both have a woman to keep you company?"

Taehyung pulled at his hair. Jimin and Hoseok looked at each other and laughed.

Jess and I traded looks and I felt my face grow red with embarrassment. I turned my head towards Jimin and realized he was staring at me. I started to get heated in a different way. He dropped his eyes to my lips and I stuck my tongue out to lick them in almost an involuntary manner. Jimin groaned and Taehyung cleared his throat.

"Okay, guys. Not yet. Seriously. This blows."

I felt bad for Tae. But I didn't think anything could dampen my thirst for this man. Jimin was sex. He was pure sex.

"All right, Tae," Hobi spoke up. "We'll be good. Won't we, Jimin?" Jimin glared at a smiling JHope, clearly not on board with this whole behavior plan.

"Whatever," he grumbled, "Let's just start getting things ready."

We set about to lock up the house, all doors locked and all lights out. We moved my car from the front drive to the garage and that was all locked and secured as well. I went to my room and set out the items I would need for later when I was ready for bed. We'd be able to come up here to sleep but no lights. So I needed to go ahead and set out clothes and make sure I had everything ready.

"What are you doing?" I heard that seductive voice in the doorway. I smiled as that familiar tingling that he caused started up again.

"Just getting everything ready for tonight." I responded. He pushed off from the doorway and walked across the room to me. He nipped me on the lips and grabbed my hand, pulling me with him.

"Nah, you're sleeping in my room tonight." He remarked, "and you'll be naked."

"Oh." His comment caught me by surprised and I suddenly found myself eager to go to sleep.

We went down to the basement where everyone else already was. I was surprised to see that Jae-Ho was also down there. He was pacing in the corner with his phone to his ear. I wonder what kind of life that must be- to always have to be working? Or were there other guys? I had only seen him with Jimin but I knew the other guys had bodyguards also. Did they work in shifts? Were there more than three? He ended his call and walked over to us. The three guys perked up, eager to hear what he had to say.

"Was that Hitman?" JHope asked.

"Yes, that was Mr. Bang," Jae-Ho responded, "It looks like you will be in shadow for a week."

All three boys groaned.

"I'm sorry guys," he continued, "you know I don't make the rules. It's for your own safety. If something changes, I'll let you know. Otherwise," he held up his phone, "you know how to reach me."

He started to head upstairs, out of the basement and presumably, out of the house.

"Um," I spoke up, stopping him. "Jess and I can still go out right?"

"Unfortunately, maam, I'm afraid that isn't possible. Unless you leave and go stay somewhere else, you've been seen with Jimin and Jess has been seen with Hoseok. There is nothing I can do. You either leave and cease contact for the next week or you have to stay in shadow with them." With those words, Jae-Ho gave a slight bow forward and marched up the stairs.

"I'm sorry," Jimin said sadly, "I'll understand if you wanna leave."

I looked at him like he was crazy and wrapped my arms around his neck. "I'm not going anywhere for the next week." I was rewarded with a huge smile and a simple kiss to my temple.

"Then how about a movie guys?" Jess suggested. And we all made our way into the swanky home theater room.