The campervan side door was slid open. We were parked under a tree, the sun baring down above us, the beach spread out everywhere we looked. It was idyllic. Sophia was asleep on a blanket under the tree and we were taking the chance to catch up on a few dishes in the tiny campervan sink. Or I was. Tae was distracting me by standing really close behind me, pressed up against my back, hands tight around my waist, chin resting on my shoulder. He dried the dishes as I put them down on the kitchen bench, the only time he moved his hands away from me.

"Do you know we can't even go 10 minutes without touching unless people are around," I asked, reaching for a towel to dry my hands.

"We should fix that. How about we make it at least every five minutes," he answered, turning me so I was facing him.

"I like the sound of that," I replied, reaching up for a kiss, his hands anchoring me at my hips. As we pulled away, my mind was ticking. "Or...," I said, a tiny idea and smile creeping across my face.

"Or...," he asked, tilting his head a little and narrowing his eyes like he often did when he was asking a question.

"Or we could go 24 hours without touching at all."

His mouth dropped open and he frowned. "Why on earth would we want to do that," he asked, hands coming up to rest either side of my neck as he used the pads of his thumbs to rub small circles across my collarbone.

"Why indeed," I wondered silently, closing my eyes briefly as I relaxed into his touch. And then I got back on track. "Think about it. Why do you touch me?"

"Because I can't help myself. And," he paused, biting his lip with a smirk, "and because I know what my touch can do to you."

I cleared my throat and smiled ruefully at him. "Yes, the little touches definitely heighten things for later when no-one is around. But doesn't that mean, after 24 hours without touching, things could be amazing?" My cheeks pinked a little at my words but I looked at him, knowing we could talk about anything.

He grazed his fingers across my cheeks, lingering for a moment on their heat. "'Things' are always amazing aein," he said, following his fingertips with his mouth, leaving his lips pressed against me for a moment. And then he pulled away. "But I'm always ready to try new things. It won't be easy though, it's natural now to be connected to you whenever I can without even thinking. When do you want to start?"

"Now," I answered, taking a breath and stepping away even as his touch was still fresh on my skin.

"Oh really?" His eyes were large and a little heated and I blinked as I looked away, taking another step away from him. "With no final kiss," he asked, pouting.

"I think we'll manage Tae," but yelped as he grabbed me and pulled me in, ghosting his lips lightly across mine as he held me as close as he could. The lightest of touches still ignited my body and I reached for his shirt, fisting it in my hands as I connected our lips properly.

"Oh will we," he asked with a grin when we both pulled away, no longer touching, breathing accelerated. "I wanted something to hold onto for the next 24 hours even if you didn't need it."

"Apparently I needed it too," I said, tongue coming out between my teeth.

"I know," he whispered into my ear, close enough to feel his breath but not making contact.

"Oooooh, this is going to be fun," I thought.

Six hours later I realised it wasn't. We had almost gone to hold each others hand or kiss too many times to count, smiling and pulling away each time. And each time, I felt a little more annoyed.

"How are we going to sleep tonight without touching," I asked Tae. The bed wasn't very big, a small double that was normally perfectly fine for how we slept snuggled up to each other. Not so good for giving each other space.

"You and Sophia could sleep in the bed and I'll sleep on the sofa."

I laughed. It was barely big enough for Sophia. He wouldn't fit even if he folded himself up like a pretzel. "That won't work."

"Remember, this was your idea. We could stop if you want." His low tone flooded over me and I was so very tempted to give in.

"No, no, I want to see this through to the end," I answered, unsure if either of us actually believed that.

"Right, so I could sleep in the front, make up a bed on the van seats?"

"That would be even worse. We could put blankets and pillows between us so we can't touch in bed?"

"Yes, let's do that," Tae replied quickly and I smiled as I turned away.

As we climbed into bed that night, I scrunched myself up against the wall, as far away from Tae as I could get. He crawled from the foot of the bed up through the middle, barely missing brushing against me as he almost, 'accidentally', fell against me in the process. He was looking down as he moved, amused with his smirk only partly hidden as he moved to the far side of his side of the bed.

We turned to face each other in the bed, half a metre apart. It felt like an ocean and only a fingertip away at the same time. There were two pillows running the length of the bed and we both had our faces resting on the top one, knowing that if we stretched out just a little bit, we'd meet in the middle.

"How is this so easy for you," I asked, rolling my eyes as his laugh came back, low and quiet.

"Who says it's easy? I'm just better at hiding my expressions."

"Grrrr," I replied, sliding back away from the middle of the bed, frowning.

"No frown lines jagiya, I'm going to keep reminding you it was your idea."

"It's only about another 14 hours, it will fly past."

He propped himself up on his elbows, reaching over to tuck some hair out of my face as I pouted and stopping himself just in time. "You are counting down?"

"Aren't you?"

"No," he said, sounding less than convincing.

"OK then," I answered. "Night Tae."

He was about to turn the lamp off when I reached my PJ top up and over my head. "It's a warm night right?" His mouth dropped open and his hand fell away from the lightswitch.

"Night baby," I said again, leaning over, dangerously close to him, so I could turn the light off instead.

There was silence in the darkness and I settled against the pillow, hearing him rummaging around, rustling and turning over a few times. Then he exhaled into the black, the puff of air forceful and I stopped myself from laughing.

"Are you OK oppa," I asked quietly, a smile on my lips.

"Yes," he answered and I heard him roll over onto his stomach.

"Are you sure," I said, enjoying this more than earlier.

"Yes Marley, I'm fine," I heard, muffled from where he had buried his head under his pillow.

"That's good then," I replied. "Sweet dreams."

"Grrrr," and this time I did chuckle a little as I closed my eyes.

As the light came in the edge of the blind the next morning, I stretched, then flinched away as I realised my hand had brushed against Tae's side. Holding my breath I checked to see if he had woken, stirring but eyes not opening properly and I let the breath out as his breathing evened out again. That was close, I thought, fingers tingling under the first contact we'd had in almost a day. But that felt like weeks when it was something that had become as easy as breathing.

Would he notice if I moved his hair out of his eyes so you could see his face properly? While he slept, his whole body relaxed and he looked boyish, a pout often staying on his lips. My hand came up to hover around his head and I paused a moment while I decided if I could get away with it.

"Are you cheating," Tae asked, opening one eye and smiling at me, tongue coming out to rest on his bottom lip.

"Not at all," I answered, pulling my hand away, pretending to stretch.

"Hmmmmm," he said, leaning up on his elbows. "I can't believe I don't get a good morning kiss today."

"You could stop this plan then," I suggested, hopefully.

"No, no, then you'll win," he said with a laugh.

"Will I though? This doesn't feel like a win," I replied, furrowing my brow, looking at his lips. I wanted them on mine.

"And another reminder. Your idea."

"Dumb idea," I pouted in reply.

"I agree, but...," his voice petering off.

"But," I asked, looking at his face which had a very specific expression on it. Desire.

"But, it's working," he said quietly, eyes on yours.

"It is," you asked, wriggling closer before remembering you had taken your top off the night before and the sheet was beginning to slip. To let it or not was the question in this game you were playing.

"I am very, very ready for your touch. My body feels electric," he said softly, intently, his eyes blazing.

I swallowed, my breath catching in my throat, a tingle spreading throughout my whole body. I nodded.

"Am I the only one then," he asked and I shook my head from side to side, slowly, eyes connected with his and his pupils grew large in response as we stared for a moment.

"OK then," he said flipping back the covers and climbing out, eyebrows wiggling at me as my mouth fell open at his long, bare legs. He pulled on a t-shirt and some shorts over his boxers, disappearing through the privacy curtain as I flung my hands across my eyes.

"Only six more hours," I muttered to myself, under my breath.

"I'm counting down jagi," he called back, greeting Sophia who had just woken up.

Tae seemed determined to make those hours as difficult as possible and I was hoping they'd go quickly. They didn't, dragging with each almost brush of his hand or breath near my ear as he stood far enough away but tantalisingly close. He was a menace. I'd taken to moving further away for self preservation or putting Sophia between us at the very least, a tiny three year old barrier. But everything was still heightened and that was the plan anyway, no matter how frustrated I was feeling.

Leaning my head back for a moment, closing my eyes, I anticipated when we would be able to touch again, whether we would take our time or if it would be heated. Whether we would just kiss and would that be enough. How his lips would slide over mine when we could finally feel each other. Good grief, it's been less than a day, I thought to myself, rolling my eyes.

"Your face aein," I heard from nearby and flicked my eyes towards him. "I can read every part of it," smirk clearly visible on his features.

"And," I said, feeling bratty as I put my hands on my hips, glaring at him.

"And I like that you're feeling this like I am."

"Who says I am feeling anything?"

His small chuckle showed me I wasn't fooling either of us.

We lunched on leftovers from the tiny campervan fridge, making a small meal of chopped up vegetables, fruits and bread before tucking Sophia into bed. She was quickly out for the count, thumb in her mouth, leg sticking out from the thin covering I'd placed over her. I opened a window before heading outside to where Tae was. I found him sitting on the ground under a tree, legs sprawled out watching as I carefully closed the van door behind me.

He looked relaxed and I grinned at him, earning a lazy smile in return. I grabbed some washing to hang over the make shift clothesline we had strung up, knowing the sun would dry it in quick time today. It was going to be another beautiful afternoon and I smiled to myself at the thought of how free this trip felt.

There was a beeping noise and I looked around to find where it was coming from. Tae reached for his phone and pressed a button, standing up. "That's my alarm."

"Alarm," I asked as he took a step closer.

"Yes, to tell me our time is up." His voice was low and my heart began to beat faster.

"You set an alarm so you'd know," I laughed lightly, my voice coming out unnatural, liking that he'd done that, ready for it to be over.

"I needed to know, it was enough time without you."

"You weren't without me," I answered, aware of how many steps it was between you, mentally calculating how many seconds it would take to reach for him.

"It felt like it Marley."

Neither of you got any closer and you weren't sure why when the day without his touch wasn't fun at all. But here you both stood, not moving, not saying anything. Just looking at each other. Finally, when his gaze seemed to get too intense, my eyes faltering under his, I spoke. "Do you want to up the stakes?"

He looked confused, brow furrowing slightly, eyes blinking like they did a little when he didn't understand.

"I mean, do you want to make it 48 hours?"

His mouth dropped open for a moment and then he snapped it closed. "Why would we do that," he asked, screwing his lips together.

"Well, how do you feel now, after 24 hours?"

"Right now, annoyed with you," he said forcefully.

I laughed at the look on his face.

"It's not funny jagi, why would you ask that?"

"Well, apart from annoyed, how do you feel?"

"Frustrated. I want you." His words were direct and sent a spark straight to the centre of my body.

"I do too, I'm itching to touch you." He took a step closer and I stepped away causing him to pause.

"Then why are we waiting," he asked, looking sulky, lips coming out as he pulled a face.

"Because I'm thinking how much better it could be if we waited even longer," I answered, fluttering my eyelashes at him and he sighed.

"Marley, I'm pretty sure you wanted to stop after a few hours."

"Yes, well, after yesterday I got better at being patient," I answered, grinning at him.

"Oh did you," he replied, reaching for the hemline of his shirt and lifting it a little.

"What are you doing," I asked, swallowing as I saw hints of his caramel skin. He was flapping it a little and I couldn't take my eyes from the movement.

"It's a little warm, I'm just cooling myself down."

"Hmmm, subtle," I said, finally dragging my eyes from his stomach to his face, seeing the smirk.

"Still think 48 hours is a good idea?"

"Sure," I said, mentally kicking myself for the suggestion. Now I might have to follow through with another day of waiting and that was one of the dumbest ideas I'd heard.

"OK then," he said and took two steps backwards, increasing the distance between us. He was smirking and I was now really annoyed with myself, so I looked around, trying to find something to do, anything to distract me so I wasn't so frustrated. Noticing a few toys Sophia had discarded earlier, I bent down to pick them up. Out the corner of my eye I noticed Tae twitch, reaching to adjust the sweatpants that were hanging low on his hips and realised the position I was in, butt tilted up with my back to him as I grabbed the toys from the ground. Taking an unnecessarily long time to do it, I grinned to myself as I saw his tongue come out then disappear to poke inside his cheek, hands coming to rest inside the pockets of his pants.

Standing up I turned with a smile, hands full of toys.

"Are you finished," Tae asked.

"Finished what?"

"Punishing me."

"Am I? I wasn't doing it on purpose," I answered.

"Yes you were," he replied striding towards me, grabbing my waist as the toys tumbled back onto the ground and his lips anchored to mine. I sighed into his touch, the intense cravings from the last day dissolving as his hand captured my back, pulling me tight against himself, even as he walked us backwards to lean against the nearest tree. But the cravings were replaced by other emotions as the last 24 hours were poured out into each other. As the feelings flooded my body, I let them in, the stress my body felt from having to avoid his was gone as the sensation of his hands and lips invaded me again. I had missed it, after such a short time. I'd really have to admit to myself that I was infatuated but I think we both knew that already.

Eventually we pulled away slightly, both smiling and far less frustrated than a few minutes earlier.

"So not 48 hours then," I asked as he smoothed my hair, tucking some strands from my face and behind my ear.

"No, no, no, no," he replied, running the words together firmly. "I'm not listening to anymore ideas about anything like that."

"Oh really? I had some good ideas but if you say so."

"I say so, that was too long."

"I win then," I said with a grin.

"Maybe we'll both be winners since I gave in first," he commented, grazing his thumbs across the fullness of my cheeks.

"How can we both be winners," I asked as he pressed himself fully against me, moving his hips slightly against mine and I understood.

"It's not just your simple touch I want," he breathed into my neck and ran his nose across my collarbone, chasing it with his lips as they attached to my shoulder and I closed my eyes as I felt every movement of his lips sliding across my skin. Every fibre in my body was electrified, more than normal and I had to admit, not touching him for the last day probably added to the need I felt now. I needed to feel him, all of him. Everything was heightened.

Tae glanced from side to side over my shoulder, searching with his head for something, his hands never leaving my body. He was muttering something under his breath and I tuned into his words. "Where to go, where to go," he was mumbling.

"You want to go somewhere," I asked, thinking I wasn't sure now was the time.

"It's not a want. I need to go somewhere private with you," he said into my ear, intention very clear in his tone before scouting the area again, as my body clenched in anticipation. The area was wide open, we'd parked here because it was a beautiful view and expansive so we could see anyone coming and going. It was very exposed.

"Gah, why did we park here," Tae said quietly in frustration.

"Oppa, it's OK, we have tonight," I replied, placating as I traced his back lightly with my fingers, calming him even as my body shouted at me that tonight was too far away. My self control seemed to have disappeared a long time ago when it came to Tae.

"I know but tonight is not now and I want you now, it has already been too long," he answered, tasting my lips again. "How do you feel about being naked in public?"

"Taehyung," I said loudly with a chuckle and then hushed myself, looking towards the van to see if there was any movement. "Behave."

"You know I can't behave with you," he said, taking my hand and pulling me behind the tree. "Here, I can cover you with my body and it would just be my butt hanging out."

"Yes, because someone taking a picture of Kim Taehyung's butt won't make the media," I replied, rolling my eyes. I was slowly losing the passion and fire from earlier at all this shuffling around.

"What about the towel Sophia uses for swimming, the one that is like a blanket with a hat? I could put it over the both of us?"

"You are getting very creative Tae but considering how short she is, it will not even cover your stomach."

"Well, alright then," he said with a frown and sighed.

"I do have an idea though," I said, thinking. I didn't like seeing him annoyed, even if it was of our own doing. The whole no touching thing was meant to be a little bit of extra spice between us, not that things weren't already great. And besides, I liked the intimacy as much as he did. His eyes lit up at my words, opening his mouth then closing it and tucking his lips into a thin line while he waited for me to explain.

"I think," I started, cheeks a little pink, "the beach shelter might work."

"Yes," he said instantly, grinning.

"Wait, I haven't explained yet. It's pretty small."

"Don't care, anything will work jagi, kaja."

He let go of my hand, walking over to the van and opened the side compartment, electing to leave it open rather than risk the thump it made when we closed it. In his hand he had the pop up beach shelter we used to keep Sophia out of the sun. It was small but at least it was enclosed on three sides.

Flicking his wrist, it popped up with a flourish and the moment it did, he turned it round so we could still see the van and then dropped to his knees. Crawling inside, he held out his hand to me, beckoning me inside with raised eyebrows.

"Keen much," I asked as I followed, thankful it was under a tree as the plastic heats up in the sun and we would likely already be sweating. Or at least I hoped we would. He didn't reply with words, patting his lap so I'd climb on top, facing him. I'd assumed that's what would happen, the shelter too short to lie down, a ball of flutters in my stomach at the thought. It was one of my favourite ways of being with him, as close as we could get while we stared at each other and we usually took our time when I was on his lap, not racing to the end. I loved that connection, it really felt like we were creating love with our movements.

As I slid on top of his thighs, I traced his face with my fingers, feeling the moustache and beard that he'd let grow and shaved and let grow again. One of the things about not working currently meant he could grow facial hair and that changed up his look a little. He still looked incredibly noticeable to me and usually wore a mask and hat just in case but I loved the way his scruff scratched against my body when he was using his mouth on me. So now as my fingers found his chin, I rubbed my thumb across it and he reacted like he always did, smirking, proud that he could grow it longer. I thought it was cute that something so basic gave him a thrill but it wasn't cute the way he was looking at me now, the smirk changing to a more intense gaze as his arms pulled me in, as close as he could.

"Is this private enough for you," he asked, rubbing his nose against mine, lips coming close to brushing my lips but always a breath away, not touching. My hands slid down from his chin to his neck, the pulse under my fingers faster than normal. The passion that had waned earlier was coming back with each beat under my fingertips and I moved my hands across his collarbone, anchoring one on each shoulder, leaning back a little to take him in with my eyes.

"This could be perfect," I replied, as he leaned forward to capture my lips and I didn't let him, teasing as I pulled away while he tried to chase my mouth.

"You don't want me to kiss you," he asked, surprised.

"Oh I do. I'm just reliving the no touching rule for a moment but just with my lips."

"So mine don't have that rule though," he asked, attaching them to my neck, sucking gently.

"No, you're fine to do, do," I stuttered out, not able to finish my sentence as his tongue licked across where he had been sucking.

"I definitely plan to do, do, you," he smirked at his own joke. "Now let me get some of those clothes off us before my whole body explodes with wanting you," and he set about stripping us both of our bottom half, the tiny shelter bumping around as we moved in the confined space. It wasn't romantic, it was a little clumsy but it was funny and as he tugged me down onto his lap again, reaching for my face, we were both laughing. Until our bare skin touched each other that is and then we weren't laughing anymore. Instead, every part of my body was aching to be connected to his and it was all I could think about, wiping the smile from my face and replacing it with want. And very quickly the tiny shelter cocooned us inside as we heated up from the sun and each other.

"What were these other ideas of yours," he asked, even while his skin still glistened from our fire.

"You want to hear them now," I asked, licking my lips which were puffed from all his attention, body still clingy to his, coming down from our high.

"I want to at least take back what I said. This idea was great."

I broke out in a huge laugh, attempting to silence myself against his shoulder so Sophia didn't wake up.

"So is it 72 hours next time then," I teased as he pulled my mouth in again for another kiss.

"Aniyo! 24 hours was too long but different ideas might be good."

"Oh, they're definitely good," I replied, kissing the corner of his mouth, then the other corner, as his lips turned up into a smile.

"You still constantly amaze me nae sarang," he said, arms still anchoring me to himself, even as the sweat made us stick together. Our top halves had been stripped away at some stage too, I couldn't even remember it happening, too caught up in the caresses. But I didn't want to move now, enjoying our skin against each other for as long as we could.

"My feelings are still as real as when I first told you I loved you," I answered, wanting him to know it again.

"Mine are definitely stronger than that day. And not just because of the sex we just had. I'd love you even if we didn't touch for months just because you're you." He was looking loved up, a soppy grin on his face and I smiled at him. He didn't seem to realise what he had just said.

"So, no touching for 24 hours isn't easy but we could not touch for months and that would be alright?"

He was thinking, I could see the cogs turning over in his head and then he realised, beginning to shake his head again. "No, no, I take that back. The no touching thing is not something I want to do again anytime soon. What I meant was, well, I was trying to be cute."

"I understood Tae, you were being sweet. It isn't just about the physical stuff for me either, that's just part of it."

"A big part of it," Tae replied, running his hands down my side.

"Well, yes, we do seem to make it a big part of our relationship. But honestly, even when that slows down, I'll still want to be around you all the time."

"When it slows down? Will that happen?"

"It might, I mean, it seems to have for my friends and my sister. It's likely to happen with us as we get older." I didn't comment on my relationship with Matty and he didn't ask. That I kept to myself.

He looked astonished though. "I can't imagine not wanting to touch you all the time. Like all the time. It's like I'm, ah, what's the word? Like with alcohol or sugar?"

"Oh, do you mean addicted? Like you want to have it all the time?"

"I was more meaning I'm addicted to you but maybe to your touch too."

"Like I said oppa, you're very sweet."

He ran his hands from my sides, down my hip and over to rest on my backside, still bare as I had stayed on his lap. "I can be sweet but you know I can be not sweet too. Do we have time for round two," he asked, eyebrows raised in a question and cheeky grin, illustrating his point.

I looked over my shoulder to see if the van was moving, usually a sign that Sophia was stretching like she did in the few minutes before she surfaced. All still seemed quiet which was surprising. We hadn't been that quiet ourselves. "If you can be quick."

He laughed. "I really didn't think a quickie was a real thing that anyone would want. I enjoy taking my time with you but I'll have you anyway I can, in any amount of time I can," he laughed before sliding his mouth over mine. The no touching might have been a little like torture but I had to admit it had worked out well for both of us in the end. Especially now as his hand roamed down my chest, mouth following and I closed my eyes, surrendering to the moment.