𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐗

Rising Smoke

>  Hi y'all

> Firstly, this chapter is long and a little angsty (maybe, more than a little) but it was definitely difficult to write. 

> Secondly, I didn't want to drag the past too long so this is the last flashback chapter. We'll get to the better stuff in the next :D 

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A Week After the Dinner Footsies and Garden Shenanigans.

Never let it be said that Park Chaeyoung did not know how to be a tease. She gave as good as she got, and she was getting plenty. Sitting outside in the sun, under the shade of her umbrella, she surreptitiously watched over the top of her specs, the three sweaty men in combat not more than twenty feet away. This was certainly nothing new for her. In fact, she had often come out as a child and watched the men train and fight together while reading a book or munching on food. The men were just as used to her presence there. And as she had mentioned, she was like a little sister to most of them.

But today was a different day. She held her tall, chilled glass of lemonade against the skin of her neck, that was hot both from the sun and the show proceeding before her. And boy, was it a show! Jungkook was fighting two men simultaneously- his Hulky bodyguard, Namjoon (whose name she had learned when Jungkook had cursed it out in the middle of a heated make out session, being interrupted by his clearing throat. One shall not even get into her reaction to being discovered like that), and Nik, one of Anatoly's best men.

She had heard around the house, whispers about the new Korean man, about how lethal and sharp he was, how smart and well-acclimated with the business. People were starting to respect his name. Those who didn't respect it were the ones who feared it. She had kept her ears to the ground and heard it all, feeling a secret thrill that the same man was her almost lover, too. For an entire week, they had been stealing kisses and moments, mostly in her spot in the garden. Sometimes he would pass her in the corridor and press her against the wall, ravishing her mouth with his desire swirling in his eyes, and walk away before someone could catch them. Sometimes, she would sneak past Jimin and go to his room on the other side of the house, and they would talk a little and kiss a lot. It was dangerous and stupid but it was also hers. And when they were in company, he acted completely polite and cordial, like he didn't know the taste of her mouth, the sounds she made when her desire rose, the way she impaled his shoulders with her nails trying to get closer to his body.

But as much as she had heard about him, she had never seen him in action. That was being corrected quite thoroughly right now and she was gawking. Unabashedly. Although Namjoon and Nik were both absolutely huge, and that was saying something considering the sheer size of Jungkook himself, they were both no match for his skill. His shirtless body moved with panther-like grace, fast and swift and fierce, attacking before the two opponents even had a chance to defend themselves. Chaeyoung was on the edge of her seat, both with anticipation and arousal, watching the naked muscles unleash themselves completely, in a manner he never did with her. For all his growly caveman tactics, Jungkook's touch on her was delicate but firm, a nod to her own smaller size and maybe some tender feelings. She hoped.

Jungkook knew she was watching them and he was putting forward a really good performance. Show off. She grinned slightly.

Within five minutes, he had them disarmed and down on the soft grass with a triumphant grin on his face. She watched him move around like a caged tiger, cracking his neck, the bruise on his ribs, courtesy of the one good kick Namjoon got in, turning an ugly shade of bluish-purple. She didn't even want to look at the other two, shuddering.

Then, Jungkook turned his body. To all the guards standing in different places around the area, it would seem like Jungkook was looking at the house, lost in his thoughts. But she knew better. She knew he was taking her in, lounging on her seat in a gauzy white tank top and jeans shorts, taking in her reaction to the fight he put up. A wicked smile crossed her face as she slowly picked up the glass from beside her and held the cooling beverage right against the side of her neck, opening her lips in a slight exhale and watched him clench his jaw with hooded eyes. She'd give him a show, too.