Chapter 51

Marley POV

I was curled up on the couch watching TV when I heard the door close. It was very late and you could tell his stress levels were high when he walked into the room, letting out a long sigh as he ran his hand through his hair, leaving a rough mess behind. "Are you ok?" I asked, rising from the couch and going over to wrap him in a hug.

He hugged me back tightly, letting out another long breath. "Lots of things happened today," he replied. "It was a long day so I'm glad to back with you. I thought you'd already be in bed."

I leaned up to kiss him and he relaxed into the embrace, kissing me back before pulling away again. "I'm sorry, my mind is racing. There was a lot we talked about to plan for the next few months and I'm thinking about it all."

He needed something to take his mind off what ever was going on and I thought for a moment, while stroking my thumb across his hand. An idea popped into my head, daring for me but something I thought he'd appreciate so I looked him in the eye, forcing him to make eye contact as I reached down to his waist, feeling for his belt buckle. He breathed in quickly, a small twitch at the corner of his lips the only thing that betrayed his feelings. As I released the belt pin and began to pull it out of the belt loops, I had an idea and rolling with it before I could change my mind, pushed him back to sit on the couch. Straddling his lap, I reached down to pull the belt the rest of the way out as he leaned his head back against the couch, surprised at my boldness, watching my deliberate movements as his hands came behind me to my butt, anchoring me against himself.

Leaning forward, so my chest brushed against his, I kissed the underside of his jaw. Then, I reached behind my back to unhook the clasp on my bra, pulling it out my sleeve in what I hoped was a sexy move. His eyes grew large, teeth coming to his lip momentarily with a huge smile as he watched all my movements before his face became passive again. However, he did swallow and beneath my hips, I felt an unmistakable stirring. Smiling, my eyes becoming hooded with the power I was beginning to wield, I looked down at his face, never getting used to how beautiful he was, before I carefully began to unbutton my top. My fingers fumbled on the last button and his hands came up to help as it fell open, causing his hands to linger on the skin around my belly button, his eyes pointing down at his hands and not at my chest, a faint flush of colour on his cheeks.

I wagged my finger at him to let him know not to touch and he raised an eyebrow, his tongue in his cheek as I took his hands, putting them behind his head so that he reclined and could enjoy the show. Hopefully I gave a good enough performance for him, nerves kicking in but determined to help relax his stress levels as much as I could. Maybe we'd both enjoy it.

"I have some news for you," he said as I leaned in to capture his mouth, his words getting muffled on my lips.

Sitting back, I raised an eyebrow. "And you want to tell me it right now?"

He laughed. "Well, not exactly but I can't really keep it in any longer and I had no idea I'd be walking into this."

I slid back on his thighs so we could see each other properly and he sat a little taller from where he'd sunk into the couch, holding my back after checking with a smirk that he was allowed to touch me now after all.

"And...," I asked, waiting somewhat impatiently considering what had been about to happen.

"It's good news for us. We're taking a break."

I frowned, turning the words over in my head. "Who is we?"

"BTS." He answered, squeezing my hand. "We've been talking about it for years as obviously we need to do military service really soon and all of us have other things like acting and solo albums we want to do. But the timing has been tricky until now things are falling into place. We're tired from working so hard for all these years so we're ready. Namjoon wants to get married soon, I want to do my first solo album and so do most of the others. So, we've been told it's OK to tell those we need to tell before it is officially announced next week. We have a date in mind that we'll start doing group projects again in a few years time when we've all finished serving."

"What does that mean though," I asked, my brain ticking over with the unexpectedness of his news.

"We will announce the news officially then do the month of promotions. After that, we will all go to the military over the next year or two and fit our projects around that. For us, you and me, we can talk. We need to decide when I go to serve."

"I don't really get a say in that Tae, this is your decision."

"No jagi, this is an us thing. You're part of my world now and my future. What I want to do is travel with you for a bit before I go into the military so I can take those memories with me. I'll write some music while serving and when I come back to you, we will be stronger for the time apart."

My eyes filled with tears at the thought. I wasn't ready, it sounded so soon but I knew some of the band would have to enlist straight away because of their ages. At least we had a few more months to work out how we could make this work.

"Baby, I think this is a good thing," he said, thumbs wiping away a few stray tears that had fallen. "I was always going to have to do it. There couldn't be a bigger test than time apart like we will have to endure and we'll be stronger on the other side. You'll be back home doing everything you need to do for Sophia and I do get a little leave during that time so we will see each other. And it's not like we won't have phones to video call."

"I'm just surprised. And thinking. It's so soon, I'm sorry, I'm being selfish."

"I won't go until sometime next year but we can talk about that so we're both OK with it. In the meantime, won't you travel with me Marley? There are so many places I want to take you and things I want to do with you. Paris in Spring, New York in Autumn for a start."

I smiled weakly, thinking it sounded amazing but the reality wasn't going to pan out like that. "I think considering the media, we won't be able to just go anywhere and do anything we want, at least for now."

"I suppose you're right. But we will definitely spend as much time as we can together once I'm back from the promotions. I'll come to New Zealand again, meet your family."

"Why don't you travel with me instead?" I asked, sliding back towards him so we were flush against each other. It meant I had to lean back to see his face but I had his warmth and body close which is what I needed in that moment.

"Didn't I just ask you that?" he said with a small smile.

"No, I mean, come to New Zealand and travel in my world. Let's get a campervan. It's quiet there, people will likely leave us alone in most places and we can go under the radar there more than Europe or Asia. Travel with me Tae."

"Yes," he said, leaning in for a kiss on my neck, the slight scruff of his beard brushing against my skin.

"Yes? You don't need to think about it?"

"Nothing to think about. You, me, Sophia, travel, nature. I can capture so many memories there with you. You're right, New Zealand will be one of the best places to take a few months exploring. Lets do it, it will give us lots of time together to plan what the next few years look like."

Part of me thought the worst. It would give us time to work out if the next few years would even be a possibility considering we had only known each other a short time or if the differences would mean it was all just a happy distraction in a beautiful moment of time and not destined to last. But I shoved that all down inside myself and wrapped my legs around his back, anchoring our bodies together.

"OK then," and I poured everything into our embrace.

"It's good news aein," he said, when we finally broke apart, lips plumped from our emotions.

"Lots of time with you? Definitely good news," I said, still processing.

He moved a little under me and I wondered if I could carry on with my lap dance from before he'd told me or if I was too distracted and in my head to give him what he needed. When he kept moving, to gently slide me off of him and onto the couch, I frowned.

"Don't pout baby, I'll be right back," he said, striding out of the lounge as I wondered about whether I should do myself up, settling on at least a few buttons at the bottom of my shirt. While I was looking down and fastening them, he came back, sitting next to me. "Don't do too many up, I intend to carry on again after this," he said, meeting my eyes with a grin then looking down.

"After what," I replied, following to where his eyes were pointing.

"Do you know what these are?," Tae asked, opening a box and I saw two matching rings nestled inside. My heart skipped a few beats but I swallowed, finding the words to reply.

"If I'm not mistaken, they're rings."

He rolled his eyes at me. "Yes, not wedding rings but couples wear them here to show they are together. I would be honoured if you'd wear one with me. There's no-one else for me."

I nodded, overcome as he took the smaller one out of the box, finding a finger it fit on and putting it there. He took the matching one and did the same, wedding ring fingers for both of us still bare. I held my hand up and looking it the petite ring, matching to his more solid one. "It's beautiful but won't people spot them if we're ever in more photos, another reason to connect us?"

"I don't care anymore. And, until I come out and say anything officially, whatever anyone says is just guessing. We'll say whatever we want to say when the time is right."

I was looking down, admiring my ring again when he took my hand in his. Reaching for my chin, he tipped my face up towards his so he could reach my lips, easily sliding our mouths into a caress. "This makes me incredibly happy Marley that you are wearing it. For me, it's a promise of future plans. I know it's only the start and I know there is so much ahead that we need to work out but I want to do it all with you and I really do want this for us. When I see that ring on your hand, it will remind me, we're in this together. And when we are apart, I'll look at my hand and know it's only for a short time."

"I love you Tae, more than I thought I could ever love again." Sliding back onto his lap, I wrapped myself into him as tightly as we could fit while dressed. "Thank you, for loving me like I needed, with all my baggage and for being patient when I freak out about every little thing. You have been a gift and I love you with everything I have."

Our lips, were leisurely, comfortable, familiar as they moved against each other, softened with moisture and increasing the fire that had been burning since he walked in the door. "Marley, earlier.."

"Mmmhhhmmm?" I asked, kissing along his neck as he tilted his head back a little.

"What were you going to do?"

"After I'd danced on you, you mean," I answered, grinning against his skin.

"Ah yes, that was very, very nice to walk into. Maybe I didn't say that properly at the time."

"Well, the plan was to relax you, however you wanted," I said, pulling back, running my hands through his hair, rifling it with my fingers.

"Is that still the plan," he asked, running his hands up my side to sit on my ribs, his touch light, sending a chill through my body. His eyes were bright, his lips glossy and full as he gazed at me with adoration in his eyes and I couldn't believe I was the reason for that look.

"Absolutely. Shall we go back to where we left off," I asked, the intensity of his eyes, causing me to look away.

"If you mean, you, in my lap, undressing for me, then yes please," he replied. "Where do you want me to put my hands," he asked with a smirk.

"Behind your head and don't move them until I tell you to," and his eyebrow went up at my words, his body responding instantly and I knew by the end of the night, we'd both be satiated, in each others arms and more in love. Leaning forward again, I began to unbutton the remaining buttons on my top and his responding smirk sent a thrill of anticipation through to my core. Much more in love and very, very satisfied.

**Only 3 or 4 chapters left now, I'm feeling a little sad, have enjoyed writing their story, hopefully you've enjoyed reading it**