A Taste Of Midnight

37

As the first light of dawn softened the edges of the dark room, Jungkook lay deeply asleep, his breaths steady and calm, his chest rising and falling in a gentle rhythm. Seokjin, still and watchful beside him, remained wide awake, his senses heightened by the quiet intimacy of the moment. He hadn't moved from his spot, his gaze fixed on the man beside him, studying the subtle movements of Jungkook's face, the soft sighs that escaped him, and the warmth that radiated from his skin.

With a careful hand, Seokjin reached out, tracing a feather-light path with his fingertip from the top of Jungkook's head, down the bridge of his nose, over his lips, and slowly down to his chest. Jungkook shifted slightly, shivering at the touch, but did not wake. Seokjin's touch was impossibly cool against Jungkook's warmth, a reminder of the otherworldly difference between them, yet it felt strangely fitting-as though he was grounding himself in the life that Jungkook's body held.

Seokjin's gaze softened, his eyes lingering on Jungkook's peaceful expression, unguarded in sleep. The vulnerability struck a chord within him, stirring something he rarely allowed himself to feel. Leaning forward, Seokjin lowered his head, resting it gently on Jungkook's chest. The steady beat of Jungkook's heart pulsed through him, a quiet, rhythmic sound that felt grounding, almost soothing.

He closed his eyes, letting himself sink into the sensation, each beat a reminder of Jungkook's humanity, of the precious fragility he held. It was a sound Seokjin hadn't allowed himself to linger on in centuries-the simple, steady rhythm of a mortal heart. It was intimate in a way that felt far deeper than any connection they'd shared before, binding them in a moment of calm vulnerability.

As he lay there, Seokjin felt the stirrings of something he hadn't acknowledged for a long time-a sense of attachment that went beyond hunger, beyond the thrill of seduction or conquest. This was something raw, something that touched the buried remnants of the life he had once known.

In the stillness of the room, Seokjin listened, savoring each beat, each breath, each reminder of what he was risking by letting this man into his world. And as Jungkook's heart beat steadily beneath him, Seokjin allowed himself, if only for a moment, to imagine a world where he could hold onto this warmth-this fleeting, fragile light-without fear of it fading.

Seokjin slipped silently from the bed, leaving Jungkook in deep, undisturbed sleep. His bare feet padded softly against the cool floor as he straightened, his bare form catching the dim, filtered morning light that managed to seep into the room. The estate was perpetually cloaked in shadows, thick drapes blocking out most of the sunlight to maintain the comforting dimness of his world.

He reached for a nearby robe, slipping it over his shoulders and loosely tying it around his waist before he left the room. The hallway stretched before him in familiar darkness, yet the quiet house somehow felt different this morning-warmer, perhaps, as he moved through it with a sense of purpose.

Seokjin entered the kitchen, his eyes scanning the sleek counters and spotless appliances. He hadn't used any of it in ages. Vampires didn't cook, and his kind had no need for kitchens filled with pots, pans, and the usual human necessities. But he found himself with an odd urge to prepare something, a gesture of sorts for the human still asleep in his bed.

He was in the midst of opening cabinets and drawers, hoping for any trace of human ingredients, when he heard a soft chuckle behind him.

Jimin leaned casually against the doorway, taking in the sight with an amused smile. "Well, isn't this a sight I never thought I'd see-Kim Seokjin rummaging through his own kitchen, half-dressed, looking for food."

Seokjin shot him a withering look, pulling open another cabinet only to find a collection of empty crystal decanters. "Believe me, this isn't exactly how I intended to start my morning," he replied dryly, though there was a faint smirk playing at his lips.