Chapter 13

Marley POV

"This is my surprise for you," he said, opening up the door into the room next to it. A massage table was laid out in the centre with soft music playing and the lights slightly dimmed. "I hope it's alright. I wanted you to have some relaxing time."

"I love having a massage," I replied, leaning up to kiss his cheek as a thank you. He flushed slightly, pressing his lips together. "I should give you treats more often" he said, jokingly. But the unspoken tension between us could be felt in the air. "The hyung and I will spend time with Sophia so you can relax in peace. Otherwise I would've ordered a second table and joined you for a massage myself."

"Lets rain-check that one then for another time," I said, holding his eyes and he nodded softly, bringing my hand up to his lips. He stepped back, dropping my hand as there was a knock at the door and opening it, he let a lady in who bowed a few times to each of us.

"I'll leave you to it," he said, watching me as he backed away, almost colliding with the connecting door. With a laugh he called out "See you after."

I stared at the now closed door for a moment, collecting my thoughts before turning to the lady waiting.

"Hello," I said.

"Hello, I'm here to give you a relaxation massage, is that OK?"

"More than OK, hopefully I can stay awake!" I exclaimed. "It's been a few years since I've had a full body massage, definitely in need of one."

"Well, I'll go out into the hallway for a few minutes. If you would like to remove your layers, including your bra if you're OK with that, leaving your underwear on and lay face down on the table. Cover yourself with the towel and I'll be back soon to begin."

"Of course, thank you," I said, beginning to remove my shoes and socks, tucking them together under the table. By the time she knocked on the door and I told her to come in a few minutes later, I was laying face down and already thinking about my achy muscles. I was pleased I'd shaved my legs that morning though as this hadn't been in my thinking when I'd woken up and someone rubbing my legs would've made me feel very uncomfortable otherwise.

After checking how much pressure I liked and if I was allergic to any of the ingredients in the oil she was going to use, I settled in as she began to rub my back and neck, relaxing into the table.

KTH POV

Closing the door behind me with a smile, I was met with the cutest scene of Jungkook sitting cross-legged on the ground, playing a clapping game with Sophia. "Come join us Tae," he called out as Sophia giggled uncontrollably.

Hobi was watching on fondly as I sat down and said "This little doll already loves her Uncles but especially Kookie who she thinks is hilarious."

"Again, again," she shrieked as JK tickled her. Very soon both were giggling on the ground and the room was full of smiles as my friends and staff looked at the cute babies. My thoughts kept drifting back to Marley, in the room next door, having her massage. I really would've loved to be a part of it, there's something incredibly intimate about having a massage at the same time as someone else or better still, giving each other massages and I had to shake my head to leave that moment in my head and return to the present. Jimin smirked at me. " No need to ask what you were thinking about or at least who," he said quietly, coming to sit next to me."She's very pretty."

"It's not even that, although that is true of course. It's how easy it is to be around her, her life with Sophia, the sadness from the loss that she has overcome. There is so much to her, I want to know more."

Jimin looked at me for a few seconds, twisting his mouth like he wanted to say something and was holding back.

"I know you have something to say, just say it," I said, running my fingers through my hair and leaning back against the sofa.

"I worry that you're getting too invested in such a short time. She lives on the other side of the world Tae. And when you love, we all know you love hard."

"I know, I've thought about it. In fact, I've thought about almost nothing but Marley since we met. I don't know what solution there is but it isn't going to stop here, I can't let it. I don't know if it's love though yet, although when I look at her, I picture the future. How can that be after just a few days?"

"Do you know how she feels?" he asked.

I'd talked to them all about her, we had no secrets between the members and they could all tell my feelings were strong. "I don't know what to tell her. Is her loss too fresh for any of this to be OK especially with Sophia to consider?"

"I don't think she would let us spend time with her daughter if she didn't trust you and I don't think she would've spent as much time with you if her loss was still the forefront of her mind. Still, I don't know how you proceed with all of this. Please just tread carefully Tae."

He put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me in for a hug. I loved the members, they were more than brothers, more than friends and family. I knew they had my best interest at heart and knew they'd tell me the truth, even if I didn't want to hear it.

"Will you support me in whatever I choose to do?"

"Of course bro. Until the end." He squeezed my shoulder before letting go.

Just then there was a knock on the door and the staff came in with a concerned look on her face. Standing up, I walked over. "Is everything OK?" I asked.

"She started to cry and I wasn't sure what to do," she said as quietly as she could, wringing her hands together. I strode over to the connecting door, opening it before closing it softly behind me.

"Marley?" I asked, walking over to where she lay face down on the table. Her shoulders shook slightly and I reached out to take her hand between mine, running my fingers over them. "What happened?"

She cried for a few more seconds then lifted her face slightly to be heard through her tears. "You said no secrets so truthfully, it just got too much."

"Too much pain from the massage? I'm sorry if you were hurt."

"No, I mean too many feelings. The massage was wonderful but she started to massage my hands and that's something Matty used to do for me after a long day. I guess it just brought everything back."

I looked down at our hands, where I still held hers in mine, our fingers intertwined. I went to let go and she held on tight. "I didn't tell you that to hurt you or to change anything between us. I'm just being real, it still hurts sometimes."

"It's OK to cry, he is important to you still." I took a breath as I said that, a small pain shooting through me, knowing you can't hold that much love for two people in your heart. "Do you want to stop the massage?"

"I was enjoying it, thank you for orgainsing it. I just need to calm down before she finishes."

I looked down at our hands, still joined together and moved them so I was gently massaging hers with mine, not even sure if it was the right thing to do but feeling my way through this new situation.

She let out a big sigh, relaxing into my touch and I continued to press with my thumbs.

My eyes drifted to the rest of her while I worked on her hands, noticing the way her hair fell to one side, exposing the top of her back where it wasn't covered by the towel not to mention other curves that were partially visible while she lay on her stomach. I resisted the urge to take my hands and run them over her skin, enjoying the touch I had at my fingertips but resisting the urge was becoming difficult. I cleared my throat. "Shall I go and tell the lady to come back?"

She lifted her head a little and stared at me. "Yes thank you, I'm ready again. And your touch just now, that was healing too."

I smiled and placed her hands gently on the table next to her side, like I'd experienced them doing when I'd had massages. "I'll let her know to come back then," and I leaned down to pull the towel up over her shoulders to keep her warm, my fingers grazing her back as I did so. A zing sparked between us and she startled, locking eyes with me.

"Thank you," she replied, a little hoarsely and then clearing her throat she said, "Tae?"

"Yes Marley?"

"Please come closer."

And as I leaned down towards her, she propped herself up on her elbows, the towel falling again slightly as she stretched to place a kiss on my lips. "Thank you for all of this."

I glanced at her form briefly then looked away and gulped, taking a quick step towards the door as my heart galloped and a smile broke out over my face. "I think I would actually do anything for you Marley," and her answering smile stayed with me as I closed the door behind myself. Maybe there was room for her to love two people after all.

It was very quiet when I went back into the room next door, most people likely having left for their own rooms. Sophia was sitting on JK's knee, watching something on his phone. Jimin looked up and saw my smile. "Everything is OK then?" he asked softly.

"I think we're going to be able to feel our way through this. I trusted my instincts just now and it seemed like the right thing to do. I'm going to just keep doing that."

He clapped me on the back, nodding.

"Have you been having fun BugBug?" I asked her. She looked up and smiled and laughed.

"Kookie dances," she said and he nodded, standing up and swinging her into his arms to show me. He twirled her around, humming a song as he did and she wriggled in his arms, dancing along while giggling that gorgeous giggle. Then she stuck her thumb in her mouth and leaned against his shoulder and he put his hand on her back with a cute, captivated expression as he sat down again. She stayed on his shoulder and I watched as her eyelids began to droop, remembering how she had fallen asleep on me.

Jungkook went to speak and I pressed my finger to my lips, miming that she was getting sleepy. He nodded and settled into a comfortable position, setting his phone where he could operate it one handed. Jimin walked to the door, waving a goodbye and leaving JK and I alone in the room. Tipping his head slightly to the side, Jungkook saw Sophia had closed her eyes, unmoving and quietly spoke, adjusting himself into a comfortable position as he did. "You seem happy Tae."

"I am. It's strange, almost like waiting for something to take it all away. Which is silly, it's only been a few days to be this invested."

"But this is what you've always wanted. A family. All those times we talked about the future, your future was built around being a dad. I can see why you want this to work so badly. And she's the sweetest thing," he indicated Sophia who was now breathing deeply in sleep.

I sat watching them for a while, as he scrolled through his phone. JK and I were close and had shared things other members hadn't. It was a different bond to the others. Jimin was my soulmate having gone to school together and we had also shared moments that I hadn't shared with the others. But it was different with JK, we were the two youngest and he was my closest friend. Initially I was the next oldest big brother who guided him through the incredibly difficult first few years of our career and he relied heavily on me but in return, his friendship, love and encouragement had shaped me and now we felt more like peers. When we talked now, it was with years of history and growth behind us. He understood how I loved having witnessed it first hand. His opinions, like all my brothers, mattered so much to me.

"Do you think I can make it work?"

He looked up from his phone, a thoughtful look on his face."It takes both of you wanting it 150% especially with the complications of different countries and having this little one in the mix. But if you both want it enough, you can make it work. Isn't that part of what love is? Overcoming all of the obstacles and still being strong on the other side?"

"When did you grow up to be so wise Jungkook," I asked fondly, nodding along slowly.

"You guys have a lot to do with that hyung," he answered with a smile.

I was deep in thought as there was a knock at the door. Standing up, I walked over and opened it to see Marley, dressed again and standing in front of me, her hair tousled from the massage. I wanted to kiss her as she stood there in the hotel hallway, she had no idea how much but I was mindful of where we were and stepped back, letting her into the room.

She smiled at JK, seeing Sophia asleep on his shoulder.

"I'll go," he said, standing up carefully. Walking over, Marley took Sophia out of his arms with a smile, thanking him for looking after her.

"She is wonderful," he answered and then leaned close, saying something softly in Marley's ear. Her eyebrows went up in surprise but she nodded and he smiled in return, throwing a "See ya" with a knowing look in my direction as he left. I wondered what he'd said but that could wait for now.

"Did you want to put her into the bed?" I asked and she followed me into the bedroom, easily tucking her in between the sheets where Sophia didn't even move a little. "I think the Uncles tired her out."

Taking her hand, we walked back into the main area, sitting together on the sofa where she curled up next to me. It felt very natural to put my arm behind her and she leaned into me more. We already seemed to have built trust and that was going to be needed to navigate a relationship that wasn't straight forward. "I was already calling it a relationship?" I thought, wondering how things could be moving so quickly but feeling so right.

"Why do I feel so safe with you?" she asked, looking up at me.

I didn't feel like I could breathe for a moment, staring into her eyes. My finger moved on its own, trailing lightly down her cheek. I could feel the smile on my lips held a yearning, I didn't know if she could read it in my expression, I'd always been so good at hiding my feelings but I wanted to be transparent with her. "Why don't I want to leave you?" I asked in return.

She sat up crossed legged on the couch, turning to face me. I mirrored her position so that we were facing each other, taking her hands in mine. We stared at each other and unspoken, we both traced the others body with our eyes. I was memorising the colour of her skin, the shape of her nose, the way her lips parted, forming a question while she concentrated. I was captivated and I hadn't even started to explore all of her yet. Swallowing, I looked back to her eyes and saw her watching me.

"This feels intense," she said softly and I didn't know the word she used but I felt it's meaning. Nodding, I leaned towards her, seeing her eyes drift shut in surrender as our lips touched. Even more than yesterday, I felt the connection as our mouths explored the possibilities before we broke away. Pulling her over to me, we fell into a comfortable position as I ran my hands through her hair.

"At least we still have tonight, right?" Leaning in to press a kiss to her shoulder where her top fell away from her collarbone, I tasted the massage oil, sweet on my tongue.

"I like that taste," I said, pressing my lips to hers so she could taste it too.

Her eyes sparkled and she replied with a smile. "Maybe we should order some to use next time then."

We both seemed to realise instantly that we were talking as if there actually would be a next time when we hadn't talked about what would happen after I left. I went to speak and she silenced my words with her mouth, her expression easy to read. She didn't want to talk about it and truthfully, right now, neither did I. It was not going to be an easy conversation and I'd rather be living in this moment so I let our mouths continue to explore, knowing that chat would come before tomorrow.