SWEETHEART

Chapter-39

HI

The car rolled to a smooth stop beside the same serene lakeside, the gentle ripples of water shimmering under the fading sunlight. A soft breeze whispered through the trees, rustling the leaves in a rhythmic dance. It was their place-untouched by the world, where silence spoke louder than words.

Jeongguk turned off the engine but made no move to step out. Instead, he leaned back in his seat, tilting his head to the side as his dark gaze settled on Taehyung. The younger, feeling the weight of his stare, fiddled with the hem of his sweater, his heart pounding in the quiet.

"How was your day? ," Jeongguk murmured, his voice smooth yet laced with something deeper.

Taehyung nodded slowly, glancing down. "Good...."

"Really? But I missed you. "

Taehyung's cheek turned more red. "I missed hyung..too."

Taehyung bit his lip-then immediately stopped, remembering Jeongguk's words from earlier. But it was too late. Jeongguk's hand was already on his jaw, tilting his face up.

"I told you not to do that," Jeongguk whispered, his thumb brushing over Taehyung's lip again, lingering. His voice was softer now, but his eyes were anything but.

Taehyung felt breathless, trapped in the intensity of Jeongguk's gaze. "I... I didn't mean to," he stammered, his own hands gripping the fabric of his jeans.

Jeongguk leaned in, their noses almost touching. "Liar," he murmured, his lips curving into a barely-there smirk.

Taehyung's chest tightened as Jeongguk's fingers traced his jawline, slow and deliberate. His touch was featherlight, yet it sent shivers down Taehyung's spine.

"You make it hard for me to control myself, sweetheart. I might take you right here, right now." Jeongguk admitted, his voice nothing but a deep whisper, his breath fanning against Taehyung's skin.

Taehyung's throat went dry. "H-hyungie..."

Jeongguk hummed, his thumb dragging down to Taehyung's chin before he finally pulled away, leaning back in his seat. His smirk was gone, replaced by something softer.

"Come here," he said, opening his arms slightly.

Taehyung unbuckled his seatbelt quickly and moved into Jeongguk's embrace. The older wrapped his arms around him, pulling him close as Taehyung settled against his chest.

For a while, they just sat there, wrapped in each other, listening to the quiet sounds of the lake, their hearts beating in sync.

"I wanted to ask you about Namjoonie hyung. "

"Baby-"

"Let me complete, hyungie."

Jeongguk nodded by looking into his eyes.

"I wanted to ask but I won't. Because I know you guys would let me know when the time is right. And till then, I'll pray that whatever it is.. gets subsided real soon. "

With that Taehyung's grip on the elder tightened more.

Jeongguk smiled hearing his wife. His mature wife. His sweetheart.

Jeongguk held Taehyung close. The warmth of his embrace, the steady rise and fall of his chest, and the faint scent of his cologne all wrapped around Taehyung like a cocoon.

Jeongguk's fingers trailed lightly along Taehyung's spine, sending shivers down his back. "I missed you," he murmured against Taehyung's temple, his voice softer now, almost vulnerable.