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“Jeno!” Jaemin calls out, precariously balancing three parcels in his arms as he locks the front door with his elbow and slips out of his shoes. “Your stuff is here!”
There isn’t an immediate verbal response, but Jaemin can hear the slight creak of their bedroom door opening and closing and the muted yet rapid sound of sock-clad footsteps against wooden floors as they scurry down the stairs. In a matter of seconds, Jeno makes an appearance in their foyer and ushers his way over to Jaemin with all the pent up energy of a puppy eagerly awaiting its owner. He frowns when he’s met with a barrier of boxes between him and his target so Jeno doesn’t think twice as he takes the boxes out of Jaemin’s hands, tossing them to the ground without care before crowding his space.
“You’re so reckless,” Jaemin says with a laugh as Jeno’s arms slip around his waist, pulling him in with no preamble. “What if you just shattered everything you bought?”
“I don’t care about anything else now that you’re home, kitten,” Jeno easily replies, leaning in for a quick peck on the lips. “Especially when you’re back early.”
“No traffic.” Jaemin hums in delight, lips left tingling. “One more please,” he sweetly requests, to which Jeno happily obliges. He swiftly maneuvers them forward until Jaemin’s back collides against their front door, eliciting a minor grunt from the impact. The action is rougher than intended, but it’s to be expected when this is the moment Jeno has been waiting for all day long. He’s never been one to keep his strength in control, especially when he’s restless from counting down every second of every hour of sitting behind a computer screen with a stiff neck and aching shoulders, barely tolerating the monotone voice of his direct superior until the moment he’s able to feel the smoothness of Jaemin’s skin beneath his fingertips. Now that he’s got Jaemin back in his arms, there’s no stopping Jeno from giving in to his greedy desires.
But just as he’s about to lean in to claim his precious prize, Jeno freezes, completely entranced by a view so mesmerizing he’s left speechless, breathless at the unexpected shift in the air. It’s nothing Jeno hasn’t seen before, nothing he hasn’t felt before, but for some reason today is different, a heavy weight of desperation pressing down on his lungs that only one person in the world can alleviate.
There stands Jaemin Na, encompassed by the evening sun that gleams through the stained glass detailing of their door, an array of colors highlighting his heavenly glow. Jaemin is beautiful every second of every day, but moments like these, when the sun hits just right and glistening pools of chocolate stare directly at him, it all sends Jeno’s heart into a frenzy, gratitude rapidly flowing through his arteries to the whole expanse of his body.
What good deed did Jeno perform in a past life to be granted the privilege of having this ethereal creature looking right at him? Maybe he saved an entire country from defeat against oppressors or he rescued a baby and its mother from a burning building; whatever it was, Jeno doesn’t intend on letting this privilege go to waste. He’d be honored to get lost in his boyfriend’s big, bright eyes for the rest of his life.
Boyfriend.
Huh.
Usually that title fills Jeno with pride, yet for some odd reason today it leaves an unpleasant aftertaste. But he doesn't have time to dwell on it when he feels a tug at his collar, breaking him out of his trance and reminding him of the task at hand.
“Come on,” Jaemin urges, patience running thin. “Kiss me.”
A single sample is never enough to satisfy their cravings, so Jeno dives in to hungrily devour those pink, plump lips like a man deprived of sustenance for weeks on end. It feels like an eternity has gone by since Jeno has had his fix so he takes his time to really savor the sugary taste of his boyfriend’s mouth from the inside out.
Jaemin’s tongue always carries the residual flavor of the green apple Jolly Ranchers he’s been addicted to since before they ever even met. For years Jaemin has been swearing that he’d cut back on the sugar, but Jeno can always detect the evidence in every passing kiss. If Jeno himself had the power of restraint he would call Jaemin out on it, but that’d be like the pot calling the kettle black; Jaemin is addicted to candy, but Jeno is addicted to Jaemin and his sweet lips.
When Jaemin inevitably pulls away to catch his breath, there’s a dreamy look in his eye, like an addict who’s been sated after suffering from withdrawal. It’s a feeling Jeno recognizes all too well; even seconds apart is too much to bear.
“I missed you,” Jaemin softly voices as he plays with the strands of recently dyed gray hair behind Jeno’s neck, still damp from his habitual evening shower. Occasionally his fingers graze the clasp of Jeno’s necklace: a black leather strap with a metal pendant hanging in front that's got the initials JM engraved.
(Jaemin has a similar one, but with the initials JN tucked underneath his shirt.)
“I missed you too, kitten.” Jeno emphasizes the statement by tightening his arms in a possessive grip around Jaemin’s body. “I’m never letting you go to work ever again.”
From this close, Jaemin can easily breathe in Jeno’s scent. He smells so pure, so clean, like the jumbo sized citrus shampoo and Snuggle fabric softener they bought in bulk at Costco when they first moved in. Jaemin loves being welcomed home this way, with Jeno bundled up in his worn out university hoodie with the faded school logo plastered across his chest, gray sweatpants, and glasses nestled on the bridge of his nose. It’s so unembellished and simple but Jaemin wouldn’t have it any other way; Jeno in his natural state looks like an absolute dream come true.
“What do you say?” Jeno playfully bargains. “Wanna quit your job and stay home with me?”
Jaemin huffs out a laugh at the absurdity. It’s been several months since he’s started his new job as a pastry chef in an upscale hotel downtown, but Jeno is still reluctant as ever to let him go. “Who’s gonna help you pay the bills then?”
This is the point where Jeno usually backs down, reluctantly giving in to rationality, but that’s not what happens today. Today, there’s a challenging glint in Jeno’s eyes, ready to defy the natural order of their relationship. “We managed a whole year of me being the only one of us able to work, didn’t we?”
“What?” Jaemin blinks, a bit taken aback by his answer. This back and forth of Jeno trying to convince him to quit his job is part of their daily routine, a joke that Jaemin entertains because it’s endearing. But today Jeno’s tone is different from their usual banter. Today, his rebuttal is a bit more thought out, like he’s actually taken the time to really weigh out the pros and cons of something they know is out of reach for them at the moment.
“Did you forget the living hell we went through to pay for everything?” Jaemin asks with genuine concern.
“You make it sound like things were so much harder than they really were,” Jeno confidently says, confirming Jaemin’s suspicions. His answer is calculated and well rehearsed. Instead of giving in with a cute pout that Jaemin has to kiss away, Jeno is reciting his words with tenacity.
He’s practiced.
“Yeah, we had to cut back on some luxuries, but it's not like we were on the verge of bankruptcy. I mean, just look at where we are now!” Jeno gestures towards their surroundings. “If we can buy a house on one person’s salary during a world wide fucking pandemic than we can do anything!”
“Maybe, but that doesn’t fill in the major dent we made into our savings account,” Jaemin says as the voice of reason.
“You worry too much, kitten. Why won’t you just let me take care of you?” Jeno questions, cradling Jaemin’s pretty face in his hands.
“We can’t always get what we want,” Jaemin replies but his voice fades out to a mere whisper at the end, already hypnotized by the darkness cast over Jeno’s hooded eyes.
Fuck, Jeno is really using all his best tactics today.
“Sure we can. Just think about it,” Jeno whispers in Jaemin’s ear, voice dropping down a few octaves as his hands slide down to Jaemin’s lower back, pulling him in closer, engraving the image directly into Jaemin’s brain.
“You won’t have to get up early in the morning anymore. It’ll be just the two of us, slowly waking up together with no one else around. You can even stay in bed all day like the pillow princess that you are and I’ll give it to you all the time, hard and steady, just the way you like it,” Jeno lowly mutters as his mouth trails down the expanse of Jaemin’s neck, etching the fantasy into his flesh. “You wouldn’t have to leave the house ever again because I’ll give you everything you need.”
“Are you seducing me or trying to keep me hostage?” Jaemin chuckles, the vibrations of it reberating against the warmth of Jeno’s breath.
“Does it matter?” Jeno mutters, gently nibbling at Jaemin’s Adam's apple.
‘No, not at all,’ Jaemin wants to say, but he’s so overwhelmed by Jeno’s hands caressing the slight curve of his hips beneath his shirt, the strands of Jeno’s hair tickling his chin. He feels too much too quickly, the intensity of it all giving him whiplash.
“Jeno,” Jaemin weakly pleads, grabbing the front of hoodie to garner his attention. “Jeno, I can’t breathe.”
“Hm?” Jeno retracts from his neck, thoroughly confused. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Jaemin answers, but his eyes seem lost, darting back and forth across Jeno’s face like he’s trying to restabilize himself. “I’m gonna go take a shower,” he decides, stepping out of Jeno’s threshold and heading towards the living room. It’s a cowardly decision to run off instead of talking things out like they normally would, but Jaemin’s been thrown completely off balance. There’s this underlying sensation in Jeno’s touch that shocks his system, and while he usually welcomes the jolt of affection, today is different. He just can’t put his finger on what that difference is.
“Kitten, wait,” Jaemin hears Jeno calling after him. There’s really no use in walking away, not when Jeno has never had any qualms with chasing after him.
“I’m sorry,” Jeno latches on to Jaemin from behind, peppering his shoulder with soft kisses and a yearning for forgiveness. “I’m sorry if I upset you. I love you. Please don’t walk away from me.”
“I’m not upset,” Jaemin assures, turning around to face his boyfriend whose brown eyes are whirling in worry. He loops his arms around Jeno’s neck and pulls him down to press a kiss to his cheek. “I’m not upset, ok?” he repeats.
“Ok,” Jeno concedes, resting his forehead on Jaemin’s. “I believe you,” he says, and even though they both clearly feel the tension still in the air, Jeno doesn’t comment on it.
Neither of them say a word as Jaemin makes his way upstairs and Jeno follows, silently sitting on the bed and keeping a watchful eye over Jaemin’s every movement across the room.
“Please stop pouting,” Jaemin cuts through the silence.
“I’m not,” Jeno says with a very prominent pout.
Jaemin sighs, making his way over to stand right in front of Jeno who sits cautiously on the edge of their bed. “I promise I’m not upset, ok?”
“Then why do you keep leaving me?” Jeno whines.
“Don’t be so dramatic. I’m not leaving you.” Jaemin reaches to grab Jeno’s chin and pulls him in to kiss away his silly little worries as consolation. “Give me a few minutes to freshen up, ok? Then we can do anything you want.”
At this, Jeno perks up. “Anything?”
“Anything,” Jaemin seductively purrs, pressing a promising kiss at the corner of Jeno’s mouth before sauntering off into the adhering bathroom of their master bedroom and locking the door behind him with a resounding click.
Jeno stares at the barrier between them for a few seconds, trying to tame the traces of heat brewing in the pit of his stomach. The thrill of chasing after Jaemin has never fully gone away since Jeno first laid eyes on him, and he doesn’t expect the fire to ever die out. The innate need to touch and taste every inch of Jaemin’s existence will forever burn in the depths of Jeno’s soul.
Right now though, he needs to wait, so he drops down on the mattress like dead weight, catching his breath. Jaemin has always consumed every inch of his existence, but today something in the universe has shifted off its axis. It’s a bit unnerving, especially with Jaemin’s unusual reaction. He must be feeling it, too.
Grabbing the phone that’s charging by the bedside table, Jeno checks the time. When he’s greeted by an image of himself on the screen, he belatedly realizes that he’s actually had Jaemin’s phone all along. At this point it’s become such a common occurrence to accidentally switch phones between them that they don’t even know whose phone belongs to whom. He and Jaemin have matching phone cases, and once again, in the haste of Jaemin finally prying himself out of Jeno’s warmth to make it to work on time, he must have grabbed the wrong phone by mistake.
The thought alone makes Jeno smile fondly. He loves the way Jaemin looks in the morning with unruly hair and crusty eyes, the way he stretches his limbs like a cat basking in the sunlight. Even Jaemin’s grumpy cursing as he reluctantly shuffles towards the bathroom to brush his teeth is endearing.
After a year of spending slow mornings together, it's become almost unbearable to settle into the new normal of watching Jaemin get dressed and head out the door to work. The separation is even harder to deal with than that one time during their Junior year of college when Jaemin moved to Paris for a semester as part of an exchange program- and they hadn't even been dating yet.
Getting together with Jaemin wasn’t an easy feat. His heart was heavily guarded, an outcome from getting hurt one too many times from past lovers so it’s no surprise that the first time Jeno had ever asked Jaemin out, he was met with an outright rejection.
The initial refusal to pursue a romantic relationship stung, but there was something so intriguing about Jaemin that Jeno knew he could never stay away so he kept close on the basis of friendship. He was determined to peel back every layer in Jaemin’s icy facade until he was granted access to the broken pieces in Jaemin’s chest and could help mend the wounds back to health. It wasn’t until two years after they graduated college that enough trust was built and Jaemin finally succumbed to the inevitable, but it was worth the wait.
It’s funny to think about how far they’ve come. Their lives are now so intertwined with one another that Jeno wouldn’t be able to pinpoint where the line between two individuals blurred into one pair even if he tried.
In the six years they’ve been living together, Jeno has learned everything there is to know about Jaemin, from how he likes his eggs cooked in the morning (fried, with crispy edges and a runny yolk) to how he prefers doing his laundry (light and darks separate, cold water and a low tumble in the dryer) to memorizing the full extent of Jaemin’s various morning routines. (If Jaemin goes all out with the detox clay masks and hair treatments, he’ll be in the bathroom for at least forty-five minutes. And if he decides to give Jeno a treat and shave every inch of his body, then Jeno is banished from his own bathroom for hours. He can’t find any room to complain though because running his hands all over Jaemin’s baby soft skin is always worth the wait.)
Another thing Jeno has learned in their years together is that Jaemin needs space to properly gather his thoughts and only when he’s ready is he willing to talk. Giving space isn’t exactly Jeno’s strong suit, not when it comes to Jaemin, but he puts it in practice to the best of his abilities. So to pass the time, Jeno decides to drag himself back downstairs and retrieve the packages that Jaemin had brought in.
Lifting up the boxes, he brings them over to the living room and sets them on their coffee table. Luckily the packages aren’t all that heavy to begin with so there’s little chance that anything inside was damaged In his rush to get a bite out of Jaemin. But as Jeno remembers the reason he had ordered all these things in the first place, a bit of shame spreads across his face and down his neck.
Nothing says ‘happy birthday, mom!’ like tossing her gifts to the floor in a desperate urge to fuck.
Well. What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. Hopefully the gifts themselves will make up for the tiny mishap.
Last year, Jeno’s mother had told him and his older sister that she didn’t want any gifts for her birthday. She gave this whole spiel about wanting them to be more responsible with their money and simplifying their lives, especially at a time when the world was going through hardship. After not seeing each other in person for almost a year, she insisted that she’d be satisfied with finally spending an entire day together as a family from the safety of their home. So Jeno, being the obedient son that he is, took her words to heart and arrived fully vaccinated and sans gifts.
Yeeun, on the other hand, disregarded that whole lecture and showed up at their parents' place -still vaccinated, of course- but also bearing not one, but two gifts- extravagant ones at that. And as much as Jeno’s mother assured him that she was perfectly fine with not getting anything from him, it was impossible to miss the way her eyes lit up at her new designer bag and matching shoes or the smug look on Yeeun’s stupid face.
No way in hell was Jeno making that mistake again. He has been carefully curating gifts as early as three whole months ago- and there’s still another six weeks until his mother’s actual birthday.
Shipping directly from California? China? Australia? No problem. They’d get here in time.
This time around, Jeno is going to shower his mother with so many gifts that she won’t know where to put them all. He’ll make sure his mother doesn’t even remember that she has a daughter. Jeno shall rise from the ashes, emerging as the favorite child once again. That’ll show Yeeun!
(Not that he was pouring in all this effort just to rub it in his sister's face, of course. Not at all. Jeno is doing this to show his mother just how much he loves and appreciates her- ya know, all those sappy things that mothers love to hear and that a filial son should provide.
But if he just so happens to beat Yeeun at her own game along the way, well, that’s just killing two birds with one stone.)
Tearing the tape off the first box, Jeno tosses out the overly excessive crumples of packing paper inside and onto the ground. He’s ordered so many things from so many places that he doesn’t even remember what he bought. One by one he starts pulling out each item, carefully removing it’s plastic packaging and setting them aside to recycle.
Some items Jeno vividly remembers buying, like the leopard print faux fur coat and black leather purse he ordered from Givenchy.
What he doesn’t recall is picking out two pairs of the exact same model of sunglasses in different colors but he just shrugs it off. Most of these things were selected on nights when Jeno just couldn’t fall asleep or in the middle of Zoom meetings where he was bored out of his mind so it makes sense that he’d carelessly put random things in his cart.
Buying gifts turned out to be a lot more expensive than he thought, especially the ones that were meant to impress, but Jeno figures it’s worth the price if he can gloat in Yeeun’s face.
(And to make his mother smile of course…)
Still, that didn’t stop him from having items lingering in his cart for several days, contemplating on whether or not he was satisfied with his choices. Even after Jeno gets the approval from Jaemin that everything was perfect, he’d still simmer in his doubts until one day he decides to throw all caution out the window and pays for everything all at once in the middle of a work presentation he was only half listening to.
(Jeno’s worked hard to maintain a good credit score, damn it. He can afford to splurge every now and then!)
The next box contains accessories from a boutique that Jeno first visited with Jaemin and his parents in New York a few years ago. That had been the first time Jeno had joined Jaemin’s family on an overnight trip and they created many happy memories from it, from catching a show on Broadway (The Phantom of the Opera- a cliche choice but a showstopper) to getting drinks at a fancy rooftop bar (nothing like sipping dirty martinis with your potential father-in-law while your boyfriend and his mom get tipsy off of sangria).
But the most unforgettable moment had to be when they randomly came across this quaint little shop and Jaemin shrieked from how much he loved everything in it. A lot of the jewelry they have now, including the matching necklace around Jeno’s neck, came from this boutique. It’s become a favorite of theirs, so much so that they’ve formed a tradition to always stop by this boutique whenever they made a quick trip to Soho.
From this package, Jeno pulls out a pair of jewel encrusted earrings and a matching necklace for his mother to flaunt whenever she accompanies his dad for his work parties again. There’s also a scarf and matching mittens knitted with burgundy yarn and intricate stitching along its borders to help keep his mother warm during the upcoming cold New England winter.
(The matching navy and purple beanies with tassel ear flaps and rainbow linked bracelets Jeno finds at the bottom don’t seem like something that’d be up his mother’s style, but he supposes they have their own charm.)
The last box holds some of the more practical gifts. Jeno knew how desperately his parents needed a new knife set, especially after Jaemin secretly complained to him over how dull the knives were the last time they visited his parent’s house and he helped make dinner.
A new balance for the kitchen windows? Check.
Pretty patterned kitchen towels? Check.
A new custom made apron? Check.
Two new… kitten hoodies?
What?
“What’s with that face?” Jaemin asks as he emerges refreshed and pristine from upstairs and settles onto the couch.
Jeno looks up from where he’s sitting on the ground, and– wow what are words again?
Jaemin’s mere presence makes Jeno’s brain turn to mush, heart rate exponentially increasing to dangerous levels. It should be concerning how quickly he’s rendered to a pile of nothing, but then again, it’s hard not to be entranced when Jaemin looks so damn delectable.
Jaemin’s tangerine-colored hair has been fully dried, delicately falling across his forehead in feathery wisps and his dawns a black silk robe left untied, exposing his chest -his deliciously firm chest- that’s still partially flushed from his scalding hot shower. Tonight Jaemin has opted to wear nothing but black Armani briefs underneath, the ones that hug his narrow hips just right and oh god - what was the question again?
“Huh?” Jeno lets out, dumbstruck.
“Your face,” Jaemin repeats, a shy flush to his cheeks. “You look so conflicted. Did you not like what you got for your mom?”
“Oh. No, it’s not that,” Jeno shakes his head, finally getting a grip on himself. “The gifts are fine. It’s just…” He takes his glasses off and replaces them with the pink metal framed Givenchy sunglasses. “What do you think of these?”
“Hm,” Jaemin seems to ponder. “Give them here,” he orders, so Jeno obeys, pulling the sunglasses off his face and placing them in Jaemin’s outstretched hand. He watches as Jaemin puts them on, ruffling up his hair and posing for dramatic effect.
“How do I look?”
“Perfect,” Jeno answers without hesitation, even if his vision is slightly blurred.
Jaemin flashes a wide grin, pleased. “So what’s the problem?”
“I don’t think my mom would wear them,” Jeno points out. “Should I just return them?”
“You could,” Jaemin says, removing the glasses and tapping them against his chin in deliberation. “Or!” he snaps his fingers with an epiphany. “We could just keep them for ourselves!”
“Um. Sure,” Jeno blinks, oblivious. “But what do we do with everything else?”
“Let’s see,” Jaemin slides off the couch to sit beside Jeno on the floor and scans over everything laid out on the table. “I’ll take the pink ones and you take these,” he places the gray sunglasses in front of Jeno.
“Ok but-”
“Hush,” Jaemin cuts him off. “Let me finish.” He quietly begins sorting everything into three separate piles.
The Givenchy coat and purse, the earrings and necklace set, the burgundy scarf and mittens, the knives, balance curtains, towels and apron are set in one pile, all very clearly for Jeno’s mother.
The pink sunglasses, the purple beanie, one of the rainbow link bracelets and the black kitten hoodie are set in front of Jaemin while the matching sunglasses, the matching navy beanie, the matching rainbow bracelet and the matching gray kitten hoodie are placed in front of Jeno.
And that’s when it all clicks.
“You picked these out yourself, didn’t you?!”
“Bingo!” Jaemin cackles victoriously. “Took you long enough!”
“No wonder the total was so high,” Jeno laughs in disbelief. He should have seen this coming. Since the beginning of their relationship, Jaemin has had an affinity for buying things in pairs for them to share, a habit that has increased tenfold within the last year. ”Didn’t you just berate me over our financial expenses?”
Jaemin scoffs. “As if you were even listening.”
“Well you could have just asked me to buy all this if you really wanted it. You know I can never say no to you.” Jeno is always willing to indulge in anything that makes Jaemin smile. The meaning behind these things, as little as they may seem, speaks volumes; they belong to one another, and for all intent and purposes, Jeno wants to keep it that way.
“I know, but where’s the fun in that?” Jaemin laughs, airy and lighthearted like there was never any tension to begin with. “Maybe this will teach you a lesson in double checking your cart before buying things online.”
“Yeah?” Jeno scoots closer, resting his chin on Jaemin’s silk covered shoulder and sliding a hand over his bare thigh. “You’re trying to teach me a lesson?” he asks with a suggestive wiggle of his brows.
“God, you’re insufferable,” Jaemin shoves Jeno away, but he can’t hide the fondness spreading across his face.
“Then why are you tricking me into buying us all these couple things, huh?” Jeno says, unafraid to tease. “You dying to let the world know you’re mine?”
Jaemin clicks his tongue. “You wish.”
“Oh yeah?” Jeno challenges, pressing his entire body weight against Jaemin’s side until they lose balance and topple over. Jaemin attempts to crawl his way out but Jeno is quick to take advantage of the extra muscle he’s acquired over a year of quarantining to keep his boyfriend locked in place. With Jaemin successfully trapped underneath, there’s no way for him to escape. “What’s wrong? Don’t wanna be my kitten anymore?”
“Nope. I wanna be free to roam the streets,” Jaemin maintains his defiant stance despite their current position. “I belong to no one.”
“Is that right?” Jeno chuckles, rubbing the tip of his nose against Jaemin’s cheek. “‘Cause right now it looks like you’re mine.”
It’s a simple statement, an absolute fact that Jeno has religiously indoctrinated into Jaemin’s core but again that overwhelming feeling of being burned from the inside out comes back, this time tenfold. Not willing to back down, Jaemin tries to wiggle his wrist out from where Jeno has them pinned against the floor, but to no avail. He tries taking a deep breath but either his lungs are stubborn or he’s instinctually giving in to his masochistic tendencies, because his brain waves don’t register a single trace of oxygen. He’s suffocating in everything that Jeno gives him, sanity held out far from his reach. It’s all too much.
There’s no point in physically struggling when Jeno has the clear advantage so Jaemin resorts to whipping out his ultimate line of defense. With pouty lips and glistening doe eyes, Jaemin looks up at Jeno, the kind of look he knows always makes Jeno bend to his every whim. And just as expected, the effect is immediate.
“I’m doing it again, aren’t I?” Jeno panics, loosening his grip around Jaemin’s wrists, concern etched all over his face. “Am I hurting you?”
“Yes,” Jaemin whimpers. “No. I don’t know.”
“I’m sorry, kitten,” Jeno apologizes, leaning in to press butterfly kisses on every patch of skin he can reach in their position- anything to wipe off the frown from such a beautiful face. “I love you, Jaemin. I love you more than anything else in the world. I’d never want to hurt you.”
“I know,” Jaemin murmurs, suddenly bashful. It’s the way Jeno says these kinds of things with so much sincerity and so much pride that gets to him. Right from the beginning Jeno has been confident about how he felt. There’s never a single trace of uncertainty in his declarations of affection, not even a fleeting hint of doubt behind his words. But even Jeno’s unwavering commitment isn’t enough to eradicate Jaemin's greatest fear.
“Talk to me, kitten.” Jeno pleads when Jaemin remains quiet far too long. “What’s going on that pretty little head of yours?”
Jaemin gulps, feeling far too vulnerable. “Nothing.” He turns his head, biting his lower lip. “It’s stupid.”
“Your feelings are never stupid,” Jeno argues. He moves off Jaemin’s body and pulls him up to sit, giving him some much needed room to breathe. “Tell me what’s on your mind.”
There’s a lot going through Jaemin’s mind, but he can’t really find the words to properly formulate his current sentiment. It’s not easy to explain the dilemma that’s been internally brewing for years now. His life has led him here, to this brand new house that has never been inhabited by anyone else but he and Jeno, to the living room decor that’s littered with traces of all the people in their lives that helped them reach this point.
The velvet couch set was a gift from Jeno’s parents. Chenle bought them the brand new smart TV currently mounted above their fireplace. Mark and Renjun chipped in for a state of the art surround-sound system as a housewarming gift. Jaemin’s mom had hand sewn the curtains covering the windows herself while his dad helped install the abstract light fixture hanging from the ceiling. On the wall there’s a collage of photos that Yeeun printed and arranged herself, each containing the memories frozen in time. Donghyuck strategically hung it high enough to hide where Jisung accidentally punctured a hole in the wall when they spent the day helping situate the furniture.
Every single one of them played a part in turning this house into a home for them and Jaemin is thankful, he really is. And maybe he’s asking for too much but he can’t help but feel greedy, not when there’s still one thing missing to complete a perfect picture.
“I just,” Jaemin looks down, fingers fidgeting on his lap. “I’m not trying to rush you or anything,” he prefaces. “But don’t you think it’s time we got married?”
Jeno blinks, stunned. “...Married?”
“I know we said we’d wait until it was safe to have a wedding with our friends and family,” Jaemin rushes to explain, “but whenever we think everything has gotten better, another wave hits and I just- I hate waiting,” he sighs, heavy and loaded with remorse.
Jeno takes Jaemin’s left hand from his lap and presses a gentle kiss to his devastatingly bare ring finger. “Trust me, kitten. I hate waiting, too,” he admits. “Is that why you’ve been buying more couple stuff lately?”
“I know it’s silly,” Jaemin rests his head on Jeno’s shoulder. “But it makes me feel better when I wear something knowing that you have the same thing. It’s like I belong to you.”
“That’s not silly at all,” Jeno reassures, pressing a kiss to the crown of Jaemin’’s head. “You belong to me as much as I belong to you.”
Jaemin lets out a heavy exhale, the kind that’s loaded with underlying guilt. He doesn’t resent Jeno in the slightest. He knows that Jeno isn’t going anywhere, but the need to set things in stone gnaws away at his waned patience.
“Then why haven’t we gotten engaged yet?”
Marriage was something Jeno and Jaemin discussed quite frequently in the beginning of their relationship, so much so that their friends started placing bets on how soon they’d suddenly show up with matching rings.
From the moment they started dating, everything was a complete whirlwind, a surge of emotions that were determined to make up for all the time they felt like they'd lost from tip-toeing around each other for so long. They kissed before their first date even started, skipped the mindless fucking at the end of the night and went straight into making love, falling apart in each other’s clutches with spotted vision and falling asleep on cum stained sheets.
A week of wearing nothing but Jeno’s clothes left Jaemin’s apartment gathering dust from being uninhabited, two weeks until Jaemin started to bring his own belongings into Jeno’s place, and less than a month for Jaemin to break his lease and live with Jeno permanently. They seamlessly transitioned from being old friends to becoming a single unit, hopelessly in love.
But the complications of life changed the route they were striving towards, causing them to push things back.
At first there was the prospect of acquiring funds for rings which they ended up using to pay off hospital bills when Jaemin needed treatment for a herniated disc. A couple surgeries and another whole year of enduring physical therapy, things started to look up for them again.
But then Jeno’s grandfather passed away, followed by Jaemin’s grandmother a year after, losses that affected them deeply and made them feel unable to celebrate a happy occasion after a tragedy. Time and family helped heal the heartache, and just when they thought it was finally the right time to gather everyone and publicly proclaim their commitment to each other, the pandemic hit.
Once the entire world practically shut down, they weren't able to plan out an elaborate celebration like they initially wanted. With restaurants forced to close, Jaemin was out of a job and had to depend on Jeno working full time. Because of this, Jeno had to refrain himself from finally getting engagement rings and used that money to invest in more practical necessities.
After being confined in a one bedroom apartment downtown for over a year, both Jeno and Jaemin knew the most logical choice was to splurge on a house, because as much as they loved being wrapped up in each other, they still needed the space.
Now Jeno regrets giving into the haste. By making decisions under the guise of urgency, not only did he not give Jaemin the ring he deserves, but he had forgone all the logistics that come with an engagement- including the very simple yet very important task of asking Jaemin for his hand in marriage.
But now they've finally reached a sense of stability both financially and professionally, there is no excuse for Jeno to put off taking the most important step in his life.
“That’s it,” Jeno mutters to himself as realization dawns on him. “That’s it!” he exclaims, rejoicing.
“What’s it?” Jaemin recoils, taken aback by Jeno’s sudden outburst.
“It’s time, kitten,” Jeno announces, eyes wild like a madman. “It’s finally time!”
“What do you mean it’s– Jeno!” Jaemin shrieks from being pulled up from the ground so abruptly and slung over Jeno’s shoulder. Jeno’s hold on him is sturdy as he carries Jaemin back upstairs, but Jaemin still clings to the back of Jeno’s hoodie, slowly getting dizzy from the blood rushing to his head while hanging upside down.
“Jeno Lee! Put me down this instant!” he demands, flailing his legs and smacking his fist on Jeno’s back but Jeno is unaffected and continues with his fervent path until they’re back in their bedroom.
Jeno tosses Jaemin onto their bed, effortless and easy, like he didn’t even break a sweat and normally this fact would cause a spark of desire but right now Jaemin is just utterly baffled at Jeno’s drastic reaction.
Jaemin opens his mouth to demand an explanation but he reels back when he sees the dark mist casting over Jeno’s expression, eyes scanning Jaemin’s body from head to toe.
“God, I could cum just from looking at you,” Jeno mutters, enticed by the sight of Jaemin laid out on their sheets and so much skin exposed. “Too bad we don’t have the time,” he laments.
“Don’t have time for what?” Jaemin asks but at this point Jeno is back to his hurried movements, pulling out an armful of random clothes from their dresser and dumping them on the bed.
“I love what you’re wearing, kitten, but you need to change right now if we’re gonna make it on time,” Jeno says in a rush.
Jaemin just stares at him, still perplexed.
“Well?” Jeno signals at the heaping pile of clothing. “Go on. Get dressed!”
“No!” Jaemin crosses his arms, defiant. “Not until you tell me what the fuck is going on!”
Jeno groans, exasperated. “If you don’t get dressed right now then we won’t make it to the courthouse in time!”
“And why would we be going to the courthouse?”
“Because today’s the day!” Jeno declares. “Today is the day we get married!”
Jaemin is left mouth agape, right eye twitching slightly. “Are you crazy?!”
“I’ve always been crazy when it comes to you, kitten!” Jeno frantically tries to reason. He scrambles to kneel beside Jaemin on the bed, taking his hand and placing a kiss on his knuckles.
“To see you every day, to just be near you is such a privilege and I thank you for trusting me to be the lucky one that gets to wake up next to you day after day. You are so beautiful, Jaemin, inside and out. So beautiful I can barely stand it,” Jeno’s voice cracks, wild eyes glazed over and far away.
“It kills me to watch you leave every morning, but it’s okay because you always come back to me and I feel alive again. But today? The moment you came home and I looked at you, my skin was crawling with this need to be all over you, more than I usually do. At first I didn’t understand what it meant, but after opening those packages and listening to how you feel, I finally know why I feel this way.”
Jeno tightens his hold around Jaemin’s hands, so tight they start turning a darker hue and Jaemin can barely feel the way Jeno’s fingernails dig into his skin. “You can’t just be my boyfriend anymore. I love you too much. I need more. We need more,” Jeno solemnly insists, voice shaky and the moisture accumulating into his tear ducts threatening to overflow. “Jaemin Na, would you give me the honor of marrying you?”
“I–” Jaemin hiccups, voice caught in his throat. The overwhelming feeling is back, lungs restricted from airflow to the point where Jaemin feels lightheaded like he was still being carried upside down, but this time Jaemin’s body doesn’t reject the sensation. Instead, he feels like he’s flying high on a cloud, far away from all the obstacles they’ve ever had to face.
Jaemin grabs the front of Jeno’s hoodie and pulls him closer, crashing their lips in an explosion of gratitude, of affirmation, of love. “Yes,” he softly mutters in between kisses. “Yes, yes, yes,” he accepts and with that single word Jeno feels over the moon, ready to climb the highest mountain and shout to the world beneath him and the heavens above that Jaemin Na is about to become his husband, that he’s agreed to spend the rest of his life with Jeno, that Jaemin actually said yes.
“Come on,” Jeno pulls away before he gets too carried away. “Let’s get dressed so we can go make it official,” he says, but Jaemin tightens his grapes on Jeno’s arm and tugs him back onto the bed. “What are you doing?” Jeno blinks, confused. “We need to get to the courthouse before they close.”
“Oh baby,” Jaemin chuckles, gently grabbing Jeno’s face between his palms and pressing the most tender kiss to his rosy lips. “You’re so cute.”
“This isn’t the time, kitten. We gotta go soon,” Jeno pouts and Jaemin is so endeared by his determination that he can’t help but to press kisses all over his face, on his pouty lips, the confused furrow of his brows, the tip of his nose.
“We’re not getting married today, Jeno.”
“What?” Jeno softly says, and he sounds so devastated that Jaemin can practically hear the way his heart threatens to shatter at the revelation so he quickly moves into action.
“I would love to marry you right this second but that’s not how this works, baby,” Jaemin carefully explains, as assuring as he can. “We can’t just show up at a courthouse and get married like it’s the 1930’s. There are certain steps we need to take if we want to do this legally.”
“Oh,” Jeno frowns, disappointed. “So what do we need to do?”
“Well, first we need to make an appointment at the city clerk’s office to apply for a marriage license which we can do online. Then–”
“Perfect! Let’s do it now!” Jeno interrupts, reaching for his phone -or Jaemin’s phone, he can’t really remember at the moment- that’s still plugged into the charger. He searches for the official website for the city of Boston, browsing through the different categories until he finally finds the section for marriage registrations, specifically the online booking application. It takes him to a new window filled with all the available time slots, but the one Jeno zeros in on is the one with the shortest wait time.
“How does 9AM on Tuesday sound to you?”
“Tuesday?” Jaemin repeats. “Jeno, that’s tomorrow! We both have to work!”
“So what? Ask Jaehyun to cover for you. I’m sure he’ll do it without asking too many questions. And I can just use one of my sick days,” Jeno schemes as he hastily confirms the appointment. “The sooner we can get married, the better, right, kitten?”
“Yes, you’re right,” Jaemin softens up, pressing another tender kiss to Jeno’s cheek. “I’ll text him right now.” He takes the phone from Jeno’s hands and types out a quick message to Jaehyun.
“Just think,” Jeno says dreamily. “By this time tomorrow, you’ll finally be my husband, and we’ll be consummating our marriage on this very bed.”
Jaemin shakes his, thoroughly amused. “I hate to break it to you, baby, but we’re not getting married tomorrow either.”
“What?!” Jeno whines incredulously. “But we just booked the appointment!”
“Yes, for applying,” Jaemin clarifies. “We need to show up in person with our ID’s, social security and pay the monetary fee. Then we have to wait three days for our marriage license to be issued and we can either pick it up at the clerk’s office or they can mail it to us. Only then can we actually pick a day to get married.”
“Why is this so much work?” Jeno complains, face planting onto the mattress with a groan.
“Oh come on, babe. You can’t give up now. Here, help me fill out this Pre-Intention Form.”
“Eloping looks so much easier in the movies,” Jeno grumbles but pliantly lets himself be guided onto Jaemin’s chest as he starts filling out the form. His ear is pressed against Jaemin’s warm skin and the sound of his heartbeat helps ease the frustration that’s built up. Just laying here in bed, Jaemin’s arms around him comfortingly with only the sound of their mingled breathing and Jaemin’s fingertips tapping against the screen of his phone filling the room helps calm Jeno down, if only offering a few minutes of peace.
When Jaemin finishes filling out all the information needed for their form, he tosses the phone aside and cradles Jeno’s body closer to him, pressing a gentle peck to the top of his head. The action fills Jeno with warmth but also brings forth guilt, that once again it’s Jaemin taking the initiative when it should have been he who steps up, when Jaemin is the one who deserves all the happiness and love in the world.
“I’m sorry, kitten,” Jeno mutters into Jaemin’s skin, pressing a faint kiss right below his collarbone. “I’m so sorry for making you wait so long.”
“I’m the one who should be apologizing for making you wait,” Jaemin sighs. “You’ve always known we were perfect for each other, but I was too stubborn to realize it. I’m sorry I didn’t see it sooner.”
“No, no, you should never apologize, kitten,” Jeno scoots upwards to be at eye-level with Jaemin. “Don’t you know by now that I’d be willing to wait an eternity for you if it means being with you at the end of it?”
“I do know,” Jaemin says, honestly, eyes just as bright as the day they met when they were barely twenty years old at a kickback at Johnny and Jaehyun’s place.
If anyone had told Jeno that he’d live long enough to see the day where that pretty boy sitting on the couch sandwiched between Mark and Donghyuck - the one with pastel pink hair and glitter speckled over sun kissed skin, the one that took Jeno’s breath away with a single gaze from the behind the rim of his red solo cup- would one day love Jeno back enough to want to spend a lifetime together, he doesn’t know if he’d believe it. Jeno can barely believe it now, even with Jaemin pulling him in for languid kisses, the sugary, Jolly Rancher taste of his tongue mixed with minty toothpaste fully taking over Jeno’s senses.
Without separating their lips, Jeno carefully maneuvers Jaemin so his back is pressed against their sheets. Jaemin goes willingly, the air of his sharp exhale ghosting over Jeno’s upper lip. He’s always so sensitive, so responsive to even the most miniscule touch. Jeno runs his hands up Jaemin’s sides, sliding up to his shoulders to slip off the barrier of the satin robe. They separate briefly to properly remove the garment and toss it carelessly somewhere on the floor before they’re back at it, a constant push and pull as to who will submit to who. They’re equals in their power, both eager to give and take, but today the cards are in Jeno’s favor.
“Let me do it, kitten,” he breathes against Jaemin’s lips, hot and heavy. “I’ll give it to you just how you like it. Just like I promised.”
“Please,” Jaemin submits, eyes pleading. “I want it. I need it.”
“I know,” Jeno complies, leaving a trail of markings from Jaemin’s neck down the jutted hip bone, fingers teasing at the waistband of his snug briefs.
“Please,” Jaemin begs, as pretty as always, and Jeno has never been one to deprive Jaemin of the pleasures in life so he gives him what he wants without putting up a fight. Jeno pulls down the fabric, tantalizing and slow down Jaemin’s mile long legs and past delicate ankles, feasting on the sight of Jaemin’s cock laying slightly curved against his flat stomach, growing harder by the second as he watches with hooded eyes as Jeno momentarily climbs off the bed to shed his clothing.
Jaemin starts to feel restless as each layer of clothing disappears off Jeno’s body, and when a there’s no obstruction from his chiseled form, muscles that have only become more prominent as the years go by, faint happy trail that guides his vision straight to where Jeno’s cock hangs thick and heavy, Jaemin lets out a needy whimper, almost pathetic.
“I’m here, kitten,” Jeno assures as he crawls back over Jaemin, easing him with a hungry kiss, whispering words of comfort and praise into Jaemin’s flesh before going back down and wrapping his big hands around Jaemin’s cock. The slide is a bit dry, so Jeno spits to diminish the friction, making the motion of his fist gliding up and down the hardening shaft easier to maintain. The feeling is nice, but never as good as being enveloped by Jeno’s mouth, hot and wet and just enough suction to have Jaemin withering and panting, hips bucking up ever so slightly.
But Jeno keeps Jaemin rooted in place, one hand holding him down firmly while he continues to take Jaemin deeper, until the tip breeches the back of his throat. The taste is heavenly, so much that it leaves Jeno salivating, tears gathering in his eyes as he watches his beautiful Jaemin through damp lashes heaving and on the verge of release. Jaemin nearly sobs when Jeno pulls off, legs kicking like a child on a tantrum as Jeno firmly holds him at the base.
“Why’d you stop?!” Jaemin demands, irritated.
“Shhh. There’s no need to rush things, kitten,” Jeno presses a chaste kiss to the swollen tip. “I’ve got the rest of my life to make you feel good,” he vows, lifting up Jaemin’s cock to give a hard suck where his sac lays heavy and full of cum. “God, you smell so good,” Jeno whispers with reverence, pressing his nose directly against Jaemin’s taint and taking a giant whiff. It’s so lewd and dirty, and Jaemin tries to close his legs as a reflex, but Jeno won’t have it.
He spreads Jaemin’s legs wider, making him cower from the embarrassment. Jaemin is always a bit shy in the beginning, but with a bit of coaxing all modesty and shame will be thrown out the window.
“Don’t move,” Jeno orders as he gets up to retrieve the bottle of lube from their bedside drawer- green apple flavored, as sweet as Jaemin’s tongue.
When he turns back to scan over Jaemin from head to toe, Jeno is pleased to see such a display of obedience. Jaemin hasn’t moved an inch, eyes shut as he tries to regulate his breathing, but the moment he feels a slick finger prod his hole, Jaemin sucks in a harsh breath, eyes wide open with surprise.
“Oh my god,” Jaemin pants at the sensation of being carefully stretched open, the alternation between Jeno’s long fingers pressing into him just enough to tease and Jeno’s tongue prodding his entrance, occasionally sucking at the rim and making Jaemin’s eyes roll back. The familiar coil in gut begins to build up, but once again, right when Jaemin is ready to explode, Jeno leaves him high and dry, so close but not enough.
“Jeno,” Jaemin cries, tears gracefully falling down his perfect face, the most beautiful face Jeno has ever seen.
“My pillow princess,” Jeno chuckles, wiping the dampness from Jaemin’s cheeks with the pad of his thumb before pressing a kiss to the delicate cheekbone. “I’ve got you, ok? I’m never letting you go.”
“Ok,” Jaemin answers with all the trust in the world.
Jeno presses another quick kiss to Jaemin’s lips before he moves to lube up his cock, the anticipation making his skin crawl. It’s a tight fit, but they’ve done this so many times that they’ve learned how to make it work. Jeno lifts one of Jaemin’s legs over his shoulder, and revels in the little gasp Jaemin lets out as the tip initially breeches past his rim. The grip of Jaemin’s body is so strong that it takes a few attempts before he can fully adjust. Jeno pulls out then pushes back in, going in a bit deeper each time until he’s fully sheathed inside Jaemin’s vice like warmth.
It hurts each time, so much so that Jeno has to gently massage right by Jaemin’s pelvis to alleviate the pain for a minute or two before he can stroke Jaemin back to full hardness, but that's just what happens when there’s so much to take. It’s a good kind of pain, the kind that Jaemin revels in. Jeno’s thickness reaches the deepest parts of him that no one else has ever been able to reach, the stretch around his rim almost unbearable but Jaemin wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Jeno,” Jaemin whispers, reaching out to pull him in closer. “I can’t wait to marry you.”
“Me too,” Jeno says, voice shaking and eyes glistening. “I’m so lucky to be yours.”
“You’re mine,” Jaemin agrees wholeheartedly. “And I’m yours. So make me yours Jeno. Make me yell it out for the world to hear.”
Jeno nods, adjusting his position before he starts a solid pace, deep and steady, just the way Jaemin loves it. Now that Jaemin is fully relaxed and completely succumbed to the pleasure, the drag of Jeno’s cock is much more fluid, and it’s so much easier to lose control. The more Jeno picks up speed, the louder Jaemin’s moans resonate within the walls of their home. His incessant wailing competes with sound of the headboard banging against the wall, Jeno’s thrust relentless and powerful.
“Fuck,” Jeno grits between his teeth. “I’d do anything to be inside you all the time,” he confesses between grunts. “Feel so perfect around me.”
“Jen-” Jaemin chokes, “Jen, I’m close.”
But it’s much too soon to end things, so Jeno abruptly pulls out, nostrils flaring ever so slightly from the sight of Jaemin’s gaping hole, puffy and red around the rim. The view is so fucking bewitching that Jeno has to tighten his fist around his own leaking cock to prevent himself from cumming right then and there.
At this point Jaemin is full on bawling, an endless stream of tears running down his face and onto the pillow case. “Please. I can’t take it anymore,” he begs. “Please let me cum.”
“Ok, kitten. I promise to make you cum,” Jeno finally concedes because he’s so in love with the angel underneath him, so weak for the man with disheveled hair, cock fully hardened and twitching, tip leaking profusely and a sheen of sweat glistening all the way from his forehead to his firm chest from getting robbed of yet another climax. And quite frankly, Jeno is so worked up that he’s not sure he can last much longer anyways.
“I love you,” Jeno mutters, sealing their mouths together in a messy exchange of saliva and lube before he pulls back to grab Jaemin’s thighs and push them against his chest. Now that Jaemin is incoherent and muddled with pent up passion, his demure facade is long forgotten. Now he’s confident enough to reach behind his knees and spread himself further, inviting Jeno in with no shame. But Jeno won’t have it. Tonight is all about Jaemin.
“I’ll do it,” Jeno insists, freeing Jaemin’s hold of his legs and hoisting them around his elbows instead, raising Jaemin’s lower half slightly off the mattress. “All you gotta do is lay there and take it.”
Jeno aligns himself against Jaemin’s loosened hole and slides back in with no resistance. He starts off slow, relishing the smooth glide within the confines of Jaemin’s heat, before gradually picking up traction, and in no time Jeno’s pistoning his hips at full speed while Jaemin unravels into a sobbing mess beneath him. The blunt tip of Jeno’s cock grazes Jaemin’s prostate with every thrust, and it’s so good, so perfect, that he’s blabbing all sorts of nonsense.
“Yea- Fuck, there! Right there! Fucking breed me, damn it!”
And as if it wasn’t enough to picture a near future of being Jaemin’s husband, suddenly Jeno envisions a life in which he and Jaemin have children of their own. It’s such a vivid image that Jeno’s mind starts playing tricks on him, begins to conjure up the image of Jaemin’s stomach being so full of cum that it expands until it's completely round, so much cum that there’s no way it won’t take and get Jaemin pregnant.
“Fuck,” Jeno growls, thrusts becoming more and more frantic. He’s almost there, but he’s determined to put Jaemin first, to keep his promise to make Jaemin feel good. He lifts Jaemin’s legs up and pushes them forward, nearly bending him in half. Every muscle in Jeno’s body is crying out from the exertion, but it’s worth it to hear the screams of pleasure from Jaemin, to feel the way his body tightens up around Jeno before Jaemin is finally allowed to savor the sweet relief of letting go completely, spasming so intensely from the force of his orgasm that had been denied for so long.
Jeno hisses at the sudden clenching around his cock, so deliciously tight that it doesn’t take long until he’s spilling thick spurts of cum into Jaemin’s abused hole. Jeno presses in as deep as he can, grinding his hips in small circles to wring out every last drop. Jaemin whines at the movement, feels utterly spent and overly sensitive, but he doesn’t ask Jeno to stop, doesn’t complain when Jeno just falls on top of him like dead weight. He does what he’s been ordered to do from the beginning- he just takes it.
“Mmm,” Jaemin hums after finally calming down, pleased. “If that’s how you’re gonna fuck me everyday then maybe I will quit my job.”
“Really?” Jeno props his chin up Jaemin’s chest, looking up at him with imploring eyes.
“You’re so cute,” Jaemin giggles, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too, kitten,” Jeno says back, and it feels so good to be on the receiving end of Jaemin’s love. If he could, Jeno would hop into a time machine and tell his twenty year old self to be patient, that the pining and the heartache was only temporary, that it’s worth the wait because in ten years he’ll be in bed with the man who’s so much more perfect than anyone Jeno could ever dream of.
At age thirty, it’s Jeno and Jaemin cuddling in a post-coital haze, bedroom floor littered in piles of clothing, sharing everything from matching phones and bags and shoes to sharing slow sweet kisses beneath fuzzy blankets, worshiping every inch of their bodies by several more rounds of making love into the late hours of the night.
“Ya know,” Jaemin brings up when he finally catches his breath, “there one we’re still missing.”
“...Kids?” Jeno answers, dreamily.
“What? No! I meant matching rings!”
“Oh,” Jeno says, mildly disappointed. “So no kids then?”
“Eventually, yeah,” Jaemin answers after a contemplative pause. “Kids would be nice someday.”
“Wait, really?!”
“How about we focus on one life altering event at a time, alright?” Jaemin laughs, and it’s the most beautiful sound in Jeno’s world. “Now go to sleep. Thanks to you we gotta get up early tomorrow.”
“Sorry,” Jeno apologizes, even if he isn’t really sorry. He can’t wait to marry Jaemin Na.