Magic Shop Volume 2: Beautiful Nightmares

Whisper (part 2)

We arrived at the river just as the rainfall hit, screeching and giggling with our bags as we scurried along to the bank in search of shelter beneath some trees.

"Hurry!" Taehyung chuckled, squeezing my hand and never letting go until we were under the cover of the leaves.

And despite it delaying our setup, nothing dampened the mood that thrived between Taehyung and me when we huddled together against a large oak.

"Shit..you ok babe?" he exhaled as he pulled me against him, shaking his head and sprinkling me with droplets of water. I nod up at him, biting on my bottom and shivering. Taehyung's gaze warmed over me and I soon forgot I was ever cold to begin with.

The waterfall was just as gorgeous as anticipated, its calming white noise effect melding with the rain put me at ease.

I was apprehensive at first about settling this far into the woods after what I'd experienced on our way out here, and even though a hint of that unease still lingered over my shoulder, being closer to Taehyung made me feel secure.

As it always did.

Thankfully the downpour let up just as the sun was sliding west, and we got to enjoy the clear ombre skies beside the water just as we settled on our camping spot.

We set up our canopy together quickly so that I could get dinner ready while Tae prepared the tent, music playing from the Bluetooth speaker he never forgot to stow in his bag no matter where we went.

Some swanky jazz instrumental plays, the nasal tone of a trumpet and piano melding with nature's soundtrack of whistling winds and rushing waters. It's oddly calming and efficient in setting the mood.

I glance up from working over our prepared meal on the tiny propane stove, seasoned steaks with rosemary and spices we had marinating in the cooler along with a simple salad and my favorite bottle of red wine, to watch my man work. He's bent over, using a mallet to secure the pegs stretching the canopy over the tent's skeleton to the ground.

I smile as I imagine us cozying up in there together, his promises of satisfaction not so subtly distracting me from turning the sirloin over in the cast iron.

"..shit..." I mutter as I remember Taehyung prefers his meat a little more pink on the inside than I do and press the center of the steak to test its firmness before removing it from the heat to rest.

The handsome carnivore in question lets out an exhale of satisfaction as he straightens up and tosses the mallet down beside the tent's entry.

"Done." he exhales. The following huff of air gave him a welcomed whiff of the steaks and it wasn't long before he was crouching in the rocks behind me, nuzzling my neck and hugging my waist. He rests his chin on my shoulder as I poke at my steak, sneaking in a kiss below my ear before whispering.

"I trust your skills, but I have a feeling these steaks aren't gonna taste nearly as good as you later.." he mouths at my earlobe. I lean away with a startled giggle, elbowing him in the gut playfully.

"Stop! And you better enjoy this damn steak. All that huffing and puffing you were doing. I know you're hungry."

Taehyung grunts as he moves from behind me to settle in the spot next to me in the dirt, leaning back to rest on his elbows and admire the scenery.

"I am. Horny too though." he sighs, sparing me a sneaky side eye that I reciprocated with a smirk. I roll my eyes, shaking my head, and going back to check the tenderness of the resting meat.

I plate our dinner along with the sides I prepared before while Taehyung works on uncorking the wine we brought.

We toasted to another year together, kissing underneath the stars and tasting the wine from each other's tongues.