Butterfly

14. The Chlorine

"Dinner was good, Sandra."

She smiles at me, picking up our plates. "Thanks. You want to watch a movie or something before bed?"

I check the time. "Actually...I think I'm going to go for a walk."

"A walk?" Sandra turns from the dishes, raising her eyebrows. "This late?"

"It's only eight." I blink at Sandra innocently and she sighs.

"Go ahead. Be back before nine."

"Thanks. I'll see you." I disappear before she can change her mind, tapping on Jimin's door. He opens it immediately, shirtless, his hair wet.

"Why are you always shirtless when I'm here?" I blink at him and he chuckles slightly, stepping aside for me to come in.

"I just got back." He shakes his head vigorously as he closes the door, flinging chlorine-scented water at me. I wrinkle my nose, the scent turning my stomach.

"You haven't showered yet."

Jimin nods, a smirk pulling at the corners of his lips. "Why? Want to join?"

I shake my head, my stomach churning at the scent of the chlorine. "I'll wait here while you do."

He grins, gently pushing me against the wall, leaning forward to brush a kiss to my lips, and my stomach turns at the taste of the chlorine. I push him off, pressing my hand to my mouth so I don't throw up, and he notices my expression, his eyebrows furrowing in worry. "Hey, you okay?"

I shake my head, unsteady on my feet. "Go shower."

"No, what's wrong?" He takes my hand, pulling me gently into the living room of the apartment, and I swallow, my hand still covering my mouth tightly.

"Chlorine." I barely get the word out when my stomach turns again and I close my eyes briefly. "Just go shower."

Jimin hesitates, then his hand leaves mine. "I'll be right back, okay?"

"Just go." I find the sofa, stumbling to sit on it, my hand clamped over my mouth. I open my eyes, trying to focus on what's right here, right now, and I find the hairband on my wrist, pulling it back, the snap, the slight sting of pain helping ground me in reality.

I let out a shaky breath, hearing the sound of the shower start, and I lean back against the cushions. It's fine. I'm fine, damn it.

The shower turns off and Jimin appears in the doorway a minute later, in a loose white T-shirt and sweatpants, rubbing his damp hair with a towel. He gives me worried glance and I smile slightly, embarrassed.

"Good shower?"

He lets out a breath, shaking his head at me, flopping down next to me on the sofa. "You worried me."

"I'm fine."

Jimin shakes his head. "You weren't."

"I am now."

"Liar."

I smile a little, turning to face him. "How was your meet?"

"It was good," he speaks carefully, his eyes on mine. "Placed third, men's freestyle."

"Nice."

Jimin nods, stretching a bit. "I'm crazy sore, though."

I chuckle a bit. "Yeah, I'm not surprised by that." I reach out, gently rubbing his shoulder, and he lets out a soft noise, his muscles relaxing slightly under my touch.

"Damn, that feels good." Jimin moves slightly so his back is to me and I run my fingers over his shoulders, feeling the tension, rubbing the knots in the tissue. Jimin groans slightly, tilting his head to the side, and I move my hands down his back, the muscles moving under my fingertips.

Jimin shifts, turning to face me, then presses a kiss to my lips, his teeth catching my bottom lip, and I run my hands over his shoulders again, feeling the rumble in his chest as he groans slightly at my touch.

"I can't have a serious conversation with you when you do that." He murmurs the words against my lips and I smile a little, pulling away.

"If you'll turn around, I'll massage your shoulders."

Jimin turns, and I reach out, running my fingers over his shoulders, his muscle. He pulls his shirt off, and I stop, pulling my hands away, slightly shocked.

"You can't do it right with a shirt on," he mumbles the words and I almost want to laugh, because if he hadn't been so focused on his stiff shoulders right now that would have been the perfect opportunity for one of his lewd jokes.

I reach out tentatively, my fingers skimming his bare skin, and Jimin lets out a soft sound at my touch. I move my hands further down, feeling his back arch slightly at my touch, the feeling addictive, the way he responds to my hands skimming his body even though this is just a simple massage, not even anything sexual.

It's almost as if Jimin reads my mind as he opens his heavily-lidded eyes, turning to smirk slightly at me. "You know, ninety-five percent of guy-girl massages end in sex."

I snatch my hands away from his shoulders, wrinkling my nose. "Really?"

Jimin chuckles, grinning at me lazily. "No, I made that up, I just wanted to see your reaction."

I hit his shoulder, the resulting smack sounding a lot louder when there's no barrier of cloth between my hand and his skin. Jimin chuckles, turning to face me. "If that's what you're into, whatever."

"God, what is wrong with you, I hate you." I shake my head at him, wanting to cover my blush with my hands but not wanting to give him the satisfaction, and Jimin grins.

"You don't hate me. You're smiling again." He reaches out, brushing a thumb over my cheek, and I push his hand off, flushing.

"Stop it."

"Fine." He pulls me to him, meeting my lips with his, hard. I inhale slightly, not expecting it, and he smirks against my lips, pulling away after only a brief second. "If you really want me to stop, I will."

I hit his chest, gripping his shoulders to pull him closer, moving so I'm in his lap.

"Quit teasing and just kiss me already."

Jimin smirks, his lips meeting mine, his hands moving to my thighs. My phone starts buzzing on the couch next to us and we jolt apart, laughing a little, as I reach for it, not moving from where I straddle Jimin, running my fingers through his hair.

"Who is it?"

I glance down at the phone. "Sandra." I sigh a bit, swiping to answer. "Hey."

"Where are you? It's almost ten."

"Oh. I totally lost track of time, I'll head home."

"How far are you? I can pick you up, I don't want you walking back alone this late."

"Uhm, I...actually stopped by Jimin's to ask him something about calculus a couple minutes ago."

Jimin chuckles, his hands caressing my thighs gently, his voice low enough she won't be able to hear him. "Now you're failing math?" I press my hand over his mouth, trying not to laugh.

"Oh! That's fine, no rush."

"See you in a minute." I hang up and Jimin smirks at me, his fingers tangling in my hair.

"That was oddly hot."

"I - what?" I blink at him and he chuckles, pretending to be innocent.

"Hm?"

I smack his chest, pulling away, standing. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"I'll be at your door at seven." He grins at me, then pulls me against him, kissing me so hard I'm lightheaded when he pulls away. "See you in the morning."