89

Jungkook

Our hands were entwined together, he was pulling me somewhere.

"Where are we going?" I asked for probably the tenth time.

"You'll see," Taehyung patiently replied.

I had no idea where 'that' somewhere was because he wouldn't tell me.

We walked down the hall toward his office, "We're going to your office?"

"No."

I was about to ask again when we stopped two doors before his office. I glanced up at Taehyung, waiting for him to explain.

"You have never been in here, right?" he asked, gazing down at me intensely.

I shook my head, "No. It's always locked."

"Today is an important day. I guess you can say this is another tradition," Taehyung explained.

Confused, I stared at the door as he unlocked it. He pulled me inside, closing the door behind us. The room was dark, the curtains were drawn down, hiding the sun. Taehyung walked to the window and dragged the curtains away, letting the sunlight infiltrate the room. It cast a golden glow around us.

I had to blink several times, trying to adjust my eyes to the sudden light. Taehyung had made sure to position me toward the wall and the first thing I saw was the large portraits.

There were two portraits that I realized were of Seung-won and Se Ah, they looked young in the photos. My eyes widened and I let out an audible gasp. The first portrait had Se Ah sitting on a chair while Seung-won stood beside her, his hand on her shoulder. They were both looking at the camera. Se Ah had a small smile on her face while Seungwon looked intense and serious, almost vicious.

In the second portrait, there was only one addition - A small boy sitting on Se Ah's lap.

When I saw her rounded pregnant belly, I instantly knew the little boy was Taehyung. That portrait was taken when Se Ah was pregnant with her princess.

Tears blurred my eyes at the thought.

A princess they never got to meet.

Seung-won had the same expression as the first, I wasn't surprised that he looked like the very killer he was. I stared at the second portrait for a long time, my eyes on Se Ah and Taehyung.

He was a chubby kid, such a cutie, he looked so serious in that picture like he knew this was something important.

My heart ached at the thought of Taehyung that had to grow up so fast. He never had a chance to enjoy his childhood. His mother's death had caused him to spiral down so fast toward the dark side.

Taehyung wrapped his arms around my waist, his lips placing wet kisses down my neck. I felt his warmth behind my back before he even pulled me into his embrace. He was always touching me, holding me, showering me with love.

I was the happiest when I was in his arms.

"You were so cute," I muttered, still staring at the portrait.

"Yeah?" he questioned curiously lifting a thick brow.

I laughed at that one, "You're cute."

"No. I'm hot. Sinfully deliciously sexy. Remember?"

I shook my head, "I should have never said that. You're always going to remind me of it, aren't you?" I said with a sigh.

This man.

Taehyung had such a huge ego and was so damn arrogant.

I shouldn't feed into this arrogance, but then again, whatever I said was the truth.

And he knew it.

"Say it again," he demanded.

"No," I chuckled at the demand.

Taehyung nipped at my neck playfully and felt his hips moving against my back and my mouth fell open, thrusting against my back, letting me feel his hard length.

"Oh my God," I hissed when he laughed.

"Say it," Taehyung ordered teasingly.

His hand made its way to my cock and I froze when his other hand made contact with my nipple. He softly dragged his fingertip over it through my shirt.

"You are impossible, Taehyung."

I couldn't stop the moan when he played with my hard nipple, pinching and tugging at the pebbled point.

"Not exactly what I want to hear, kitten," he returned huskily.

"Your body is made for sin. You are deliciously sexy," I quickly said as he continued to tease me.

His slow ministration stopped.

"Do you want to sin then? Now?"

I took a deep breath, the invitation was quite inviting.

I loved the idea but I shook my head.

"No. Because that's not why you brought me here. After you explain, then maybe we can go back to our room and I will let you have your way with me."

"Hmm… I think that's a good deal. You won't be able to walk tomorrow, though. Is that good with you?"

He was making it more impossible to resist him. Turning around in his arms, I smiled at the goofy smile on his face.

I kissed his lips slowly before pulling away, "You can just carry me around. That's what you do most of the time anyway."

"You make a good deal, Kim Jungkook," he said proudly.

Taehyung loved calling me by my full name.

It was a way to remind himself that I was truly his.

After all the heartbreak, I was finally his in every sense of the word.

"You taught me well, Kim Taehyung."

We stared at each other, both wearing silly smiles - Blue to brown.

His loving gaze finally moved from mine to the portrait behind me. His expression changed, a wave of pain took over. I hugged him, trying to take some of his pain as my own.

"I'm sorry, Taehyung," I whispered in his chest.

His arms went tight around me, "Don't apologize, Jungkook. You have nothing to be sorry for."

I hiccupped back a sob, his unwavering love for me always made me speechless. I cried softly in his chest, trying to find my words.

"It still haunts me, Taehyung. To know that it was my family who destroyed yours. I still wonder how you can look at me and not hate the mere sight of me. How can you love me when I am the offspring of the man who killed your mother?"

His hand caressed my back soothingly when he spoke, his words held power and strength.

"It's not your fault. I'm not going to blame you for this. You ask me how can I love you? Well, I don't know. I don't know, Jungkook. I don't need a reason to love you. All I know is that I can't live without you. When I look at you when I see your smile or hear your laughter…it's enough to make me feel at peace. You calm me. I can't be without you. It's simple… there is no me without you."

I stayed silent, letting his love cocoon me in a safe embrace.

"You wanted to know why I brought you here?"

I nodded and waited for him to continue.

Taehyung sighed and slightly pulled away, brushing my tears away.

"It's because it's our turn to be on that wall."

"It's your turn to take that seat, as my King. My equal. It's another tradition for the Kim family. Something we have been practising for decades. For some families, their partners hold no power but for us, our life partners are our Kings and Queens. Our equals. Our.." Taehyung paused, looking slightly shocked by emotions, "Angels."

Taehyung continued before he kissed forehead sweetly, "The photographer will be here in a few hours. By tomorrow morning, our portrait will be on that wall."

"I'm your husband… in every way," I stated tearfully.

"Yes, you are, Angel," he replied with a small smile.

He turned me around so my back was to him, holding me close, we stared at the two portraits.

"And you are not only the King of the family but you have four families and thousands of men under you... They all belong to you too," his lips were so close to my ear as he whispered his next words, "And the Jeons, the Ganpeh, are yours too. They are at your feet. You are above them, Angel. I made sure of that."

A shiver ran through me.

His voice was rough and held a hint of hard dominance.

I swallowed nervously.

"This is a bit overwhelming, Taehyung. Months ago, I had nothing and now I have more than I need or want."

"You have everything you deserve, Jungkook."

My heart soared and closed my eyes with a relieved and happy sigh.

"You are amazing, my love. Do you know that? Sometimes I feel like it's all a dream. Like you aren't real. You can't be real."

He stiffened behind me, my eyes snapped open at the sudden change, "I'm not amazing, Jungkook. I'm far from amazing. If you knew what I had done… then you wouldn't say that."

I turned in his arms, looking at his cold face, "What are you talking about?"

"I'm a killer, Jungkook," he stated, staring at my face intently.

Taehyung was looking for my reaction.

"I know that," I replied softly.

"I have killed for years and I will keep doing it for this family. To protect my empire ad to protect you and our future kids. It's who I am," he explained quietly.

"I know."

"No. You don't. You don't know, Jungkook. You have no idea of the things I have done. I'm not an amazing man. I'm a monster," he continued, looking slightly heartbroken, "I don't deserve you."

My hands went to his chest, "Stop saying that. Just stop, Taehyung. I get to decide if you deserve me or not. I say you deserve me. Just like I deserve you."

Taehyung let out a dry laugh, "So innocent, Angel. I'm tempted to keep you that way. I don't want to drag you into the dark side with me but I can't let you go either."

"Taehyung-" I started, but he shook his head, cutting me off.

"If I were a good man, I would have let you go to have a good life. Not trapped you here with me."

"It's my choice, I decided to stay here with you. I chose you," I quickly fought back.

Taehyung was just being plain ridiculous now. He brought his hand to my face, his thumb caressed the underside of my eye, slowly dragging his finger to my cheek.

"I'm not any better than your father or Byungchan. You ended up falling in love with the monster that even demons like Byungchan fear - the real devil."

My eyes widened, my lips parting in shock, "You don't mean that. Stop it!" I screamed. "Don't ever compare yourself with them. Do you understand?"

Holding his collar, I glared at the man I desperately loved.

How dare he lower himself to their level?

"Tell me, Taehyung. Have you ever taken a person against their will? Rape them until they're unconscious and couldn't move? Let his men rape them for kicks? Have you ever chained a man to a wall and beat him up… just for the thrill of it? Whipped them until he puked from crying too much?" I questioned fiercely.

Before he could answer, I continued.

"Byungchan did all of that to me and more. I know the difference between a good man and the Devil. You might be a killer, a monster, but you are a good man."

My tears ran freely down my cheeks.

I wanted Taehyung to believe me.

I was desperate for him to believe me.

Grabbing his cheeks, I stood on my toes until our faces were closer, our lips were mere inches apart, "You said you have trapped me here but tell me if I ever want to leave… if I ever want to leave this place, will you let me go? What if I can't bear to stay on this estate any longer… or stay with you? What if I chose to leave, would you let me go?"

He sucked in a shocked breath and looked pained, like I had shot him, took his heart and trampled over it.

"Even if it fvcking killed me, I would be so tempted to tie you to our bed, I would let you go. Only if that's what you wanted and made you happy but not after fighting for us," he choked out like the words were hard to say.

I nodded, already knowing that would be his answer.

I took his lips, and he let me lead the kiss.

I kissed my husband slowly and softly, pouring all my love in that one kiss.

"And that's exactly why you are different from Byungchan. You two can't even be compared in the slightest bit, my love," I breathed against his lips.

His arms wrapped around me so tightly that it was almost impossible to breathe.

"You won't leave me?"

I shook my head, "No. I won't. It was used just for an example," I muttered.

His heart drummed faster against mine, I rubbed his chest, trying to soothe him.

"Don't ever compare yourself with them. I know you have killed, I know you will kill again. It doesn't scare me. Because I know in the end when you come back home you will hold me in your arms and make sweet love to me… showing me exactly how much you love me," I continued softly, this time my lips on his chest, right over his beating heart.

"Always," he vowed.

I smiled.

"I love you, my Saviour."

"I have done horrible things, Jungkook but my love for you is true," he confessed.

"How horrible? Tell me," I demanded.

"I almost killed a man in front of his wife and daughter. I made them watch as I tortured him. I have killed more men than I could ever count. I cut Yoongi's tongue out."

He paused when I flinched at the visual.

"I made him bleed for hours. I cut off Jihoon's dick. I tortured them until they were unconscious and could barely breathe."

Taehyung bent his head down and continued.

"And I ripped Byungchan's fvcking heart out of his chest with my bare hands," he hissed in my ear. "Is that what you want to hear, Angel?"

"They were all bad men. They deserved it, Taehyung."

I shook my head again.

"Go ahead. Say it, Jungkook. I'm a monster. Your husband is a killer," he goaded.

"I know exactly who you are. I married you knowing what you do and how you do it. I'm not surprised. Just a little overwhelmed with the information. You're right. You are a killer. You are a monster." I paused.

His eyes widened, he took a step back as if I had burned him.

Taking a step forward, I crowded his personal space again.

"But you are 'my' monster. Mine."

Taehyung sucked in a surprised breath, his shoulders sagging.

"Do you understand what I'm saying? I accept you for who you are. You are mine. All of you. I would appreciate it if you stop lowering yourself. I decide what I deserve and I say we deserve each other."

Taehyung was silent for a moment, his expression deadly.

And then he threw his head back and laughed.

Pulling me into his arms, he buried his head in my neck.

"You are crazy for loving me. You can't back out now. It's too late. I'm never letting you go, Angel."

"I don't want you to let me go," I murmured, burying deeper into his chest.

"Good," he replied arrogantly.

We hugged, both of us refusing to let each other go.

I felt so warm and loved in his embrace that if someone tried to pull us apart, I would fight them.

I will kill them.