4

I'm in a hot tub.

Steam surrounds me, obscuring my view – that is until I feel warm hands wrap around my waist from behind, and spin me slowly in the water.

I turn to find Jungkook behind me, his sexy, chiselled abs and chest on full display. I run my hands over his body, exploring every inch until he cups my chin in his strong hand and pulls my face to his, claiming my mouth in a deep, slow kiss.

I can feel his thighs under mine, his hips arching up to meet mine, and his cock growing hard, pressed against my warm, wet opening.

Fvck, I want him so badly.

I want him to tear off the thin swimsuit I'm wearing, thrust up into me and take control of my body.

He shakes my shoulder, his hand warm and familiar on my skin. I arch my back, lean into him, moaning slightly, thrusting against him as he shakes me again, harder…

"Taehyung," he whispers, and I groan faintly.

"Taehyung."

I start awake, jolting upright at the desk.

Papers fly everywhere as I sit up, and one sticks to my forehead.

I jerk it free, gasping, startled and confused. Where am I?

The location materializes one piece at a time.

The computer, in sleep mode in front of me.

The stack of papers I'd made it halfway through.

The pile now scattered across the floor.

And of course, the man standing beside me, visible out of the corner of my eye.

My cheeks burn hot I could start a forest fire.

I clear my throat. "Jungkook," I greet him, still blushing hardcore.

At least he's smiling a little. And, to my surprise, he's cradling Haru in the crook of his arm, feeding him a bottle of warm formula. Haru is sucking away happily, his eyes closed in pleasure, making little mmm-mmm noises that make my heart melt.

I blink at Jungkook, still figuring out my surroundings. "Sorry," I croak, my voice thick with sleep. "What time is it?"

"Almost eleven," he whispers.

I wonder why he's whispering for a second until he points with his eyes toward the baby stroller. I glance over my shoulder and see he's turned the stroller into a makeshift crib. Areum is already fast asleep in it, curled up, a smile on her face as she dreams.

"Are you okay?"

How did he get her to fall asleep without Haru beside her? Normally I can't make one relax without the other one being within sight.

When I glance back at him, he's smiling fondly at Areum. God, this man knows the way to a new Daddy's heart.

"Yeah. Of course. Thanks for waking me," I murmur. Then I stiffen, worried. Oh god. "Did you say eleven?" I blurt, grabbing for my cell phone. Crap.

"Yes. What's wrong?" His brow furrows.

Oh shit.

I got here at 6 pm.

I'd been planning to leave by 8 to catch the last bus out to my neighbourhood in the suburbs. It's such a long ride, and there are so few public buses that still run the route.

Now it's way too late – buses here stop running at 11 pm, at least out into my neighbourhood.

"I've got to get a cab," I mumble, hurrying to gather my things, stuffing baby items into my bag willy-nilly. "I missed my bus. Crap crap crap."

He stops me with a gentle hand wrapped around my wrist. "Taehyung."

I glance up at him panicked and wide-eyed, I'm so worried I don't even notice how close we are, or how concerned and sympathetic the expression on his face is.

"It's going to cost a fortune at this hour, with the mark-ups, and the whole Uber being banned thing." I'm babbling, I know it, but I can't stop myself. Argh. This is the worst possible first impression I could make on my future boss!

"Don't worry about it—" he starts to say, but I interrupt him.

Who even knows if he wants to be my boss after this display. "I'm so sorry," I add again, cutting over him. "I'm an idiot."

His frown deepens. "You don't have a car?"

I hesitate, embarrassed. Then shake my head.

He blinks. "Why on earth not? Do you have your license?"

I grimace. "Of course I do," I retort, a little annoyed. Then I rub my temples. "I can't afford a car. Not with the insurance, and repairs and gas and everything…"

"You take buses everywhere?"

I bob my head. "But they won't be running this late, so I'll have to call a cab… Which is fine, I just, I didn't expect—"

He's already shaking his head, so hard I'm afraid he's going to drop Haru.

Of course, he's got better hand-eye coordination than me, so he doesn't.

"Just stay here for the night."

My eyes nearly bulge out of my head. "What? No – I couldn't – I mean, the twins need their beds, and…"

"I have a spare room," he says. "There's a crib in there already. Plus a twin bed for you. Stay."

His eyes bore into mine. Who could say no to gaze like that?

"I insist."

A little shiver of desire races down my spine. I remember my dream, too little too late.

The hot tub, his strong, warm body pressed hard against mine, his hands taking control of me, pulling down my swimsuit and tracing the outline of my hole, his fingertips just barely brushing my lips…

I shiver again. "It's too much," I try to protest, but it sounds weak.

Fragile.

He's already walking away, carrying Haru into the apartment. I pick up Areum carefully, making sure not to wake her from her sleep.

Together, he and I tiptoe across the penthouse, to a small door at the opposite end.

He wasn't lying. He has a whole spare room, made up and tidy, the bed neat, and a crib beside it.

Extra-wide, too, just like the one I have them in at home.

Why does he have all this stuff here? Does he have kids too?

That would explain why he's so good with them.

He holds Haru like an experienced father, not a first-timer just encountering their first baby.

He lays Haru in the crib, and I notice my son is already snoring faintly. He fell asleep while Jungkook was carrying him, and somehow, magically, he doesn't wake up when Jungkook lays him down.

I place Areum beside him, and we stand side-by-side next to the crib for a moment, watching them wrap their tiny hands around one another's and sigh in their sleep, content.

Then, without a word, we tiptoe out of the room together, as one, easing the door closed behind us.

"Are you sure about this?" I ask him in the hallway.

"Trust me, Taehyung."

He glances over at me. His eyes travel up and down my body, and for a suddenly startled second, I wonder if he's thinking the same thing that I am.

About the space between us – or lack thereof right now.

About how easy it would be for me to take one step closer to him, wrap my arms around his neck and lean into his body.

He's staring at me almost hungrily as he wants me as badly as I want him.

For the first time since long before I had the kids – since before my last string of shitty exes, one guy who told me I wasn't hot enough for him after the next – I suddenly feel attractive. No, more than attractive.

I feel sexy as hell, the way he's undressing me with his eyes.

"Okay," I respond, belatedly. Surely he's noticed how out of breath I am, how long it took me to reply. How intently I'm staring at his chest. He's watching me the same way, taking in my body.

We want each other. I can feel it, taste it…

He leans closer, and my lips part, my eyes dropping to study his mouth. His three-day stubble stands out, dark against his tan jaw, and his mouth parts slightly too, like he's about to close the last few inches between us…

"Sleep well," he says. Then he brushes past me up the hallway.

I stand there, frozen, staring after him. Until I hear the distant slam of a door and realize he's gone into his bedroom suite.

What the hell was that? I wonder, gazing down the empty hallway.

I shake my head. Doesn't matter. He's giving me a job, and a place to stay for the night to boot. That's all I need to know for now.