(Y/N) POV:

Baking is a form of stress-relief, it's about zoning out everything else and focusing solely on the precision required to create a perfect batch of triple chocolate muffins in this case, but it turns out to be awfully hard to zone out my surroundings when the presence of two of my mates silently demand my attention, draw my eyes to them time and time again.

But Jiminie is nothing short of excited earnest as he trails behind me, peering over my shoulder marvelling at even the simplest of actions, it's not only incredibly sweet but the way his words brush across my ear when he asks me a question out of curiosity, the slightly cool breath fanning across the shell of my ear and the nape of my neck makes my brain threaten to short-circuit and the answers to come out jumbled and slow.

And after the third fumble when he leans over to speak, the flour slightly overflows and I have to dump it back in to remeasure it. I stop though and turn to stare at Jiminie and the way his sweet smile morphs into a look of utter innocence, eyes wide and lips curved up slightly.

"Yes?" he asks, looking for all the world as if he has no clue why I've stopped baking to look at him.

"Jiminie, stop purposely trying to distract me. Go sit down somewhere if you're going to keep doing this." I say half-exasperated and half-fond.

He shoots me a wounded look, eyes widening and lips jutting out in an adorable pout.

And I nearly melt. Nearly.

"But I'm not trying to. Let me stay." He wheedles. And I huff and relent, gesturing to the counter instead where he happily perches, looking at me from a higher vantage point, legs swinging slightly as he smiles.

And this time it's easier to get to work, to measure out the ingredients, to whisk, sift and fold the mix until I have a deep chocolatey cake mix sitting in the large glass bowl and when I turn to get the muffin cases, I return to find Jiminie lifting a victorious finger drenched in cake mix which he then proceeds to lick at and suck clean.

"No more until I've filled the cases."  I warn him, as his hand comes inching back slowly and though he pouts and complains, he also complies.

And when I've finally finished placing the trays in the oven, with Jinnie oppa gently nudging me out of the way and doing it himself with a soft plea in his eyes, I turn to go clean the ingredients lying around, taking note of the time, flitting about the kitchen in the usual ease and manner that I would do as if I was at the Ims nest.

The thought of them suddenly flashes through my mind, and I stop mid-step guiltily. I haven't contacted them for a while, and I feel shame burn through me- hot and searing as I realise that unintentionally I might have ended up pushing them aside slightly. And the thought and realisation sits heavily in my gut.

I don't know how and if the feeling transmits through the bond because in the next instant Jiminie calls out worriedly from his perch on the counter.

"What's wrong?" he calls before making his way over anyways, gently taking hold of me and nudging me into the stool adjacent to Jinnie oppa's, who has also twisted to face me.

"I feel guilty. I feel like I've forgotten about the Ims- even if it was for a while." I say, whispering down to my fingers which I can see are stained slightly with the ingredients.

I find my chin being tipped up so I can look at Jiminie, who's standing in front of me our knees touching.

"Don't feel bad and let it wallow. Make it better." he says, voice warm and words gentle advice. It does make sense, rather than hiding away and wallowing in the guilt I can act on the guilt to make it better.

I have a lot of explaining to do on our next family dinner night. Actually I'll meet them before that and make amends.

And I nod, appeased by his gentle words.

But his fingers come to tap at my lips in a gentle reprimanding manner.

"Smile then. I don't like seeing you sad." He says my lips curve up against his fingers. And without thinking I gently peck them, a tiny gesture but the widening of his eyes that suddenly flash red has me overthinking- too soon? Maybe he didn't like it?

But he smiles sweet and fond and I lightly peck it again, reaching over to grasp at the wrist of that very hand, feeling smooth skin under my touch- slightly warm to the touch.

"Jiminie thank you again, you help more than you know." I say, words genuine- because so easily he put a stopper to those feelings that could've bubbled up and overflown, but he's given me a solution so easily- it's as if I'd been waiting for it.

I lean forward to press a kiss to his cheek, lips lingering slightly- unwillingly detaching, fingers rubbing small circles into the inner skin of his wrist- where I can see the faint trace of veins. It's an unconscious gesture of rubbing at the skin, slow and exploratory but Jimin's other hand comes to grasp mine, an interlocking of hands.

His words come out deeper and slightly hoarse.

"Don't do that." He says.

I tilt my head questioningly at him.

"Your touch drives me crazy. So don't tease." He says words a mixture of sweet pouty whine and a groan.

His words make my body shiver with anticipation, suddenly feeling the way his knees are touching mine as something that's creating distance between us, when all I want is for him to be closer. And the way Jinnie oppa is silently next to me, his presence powerful and demanding by my side adds to the tension slowly beginning to build and mount in the room- suffocating and cloying almost, taste of it almost tangible.

"What if I'm not teasing? What if I say you're making me go crazy?" I whisper, suddenly overcome with the urge to get closer, to taste those soft lips against me.

His eyes flicker between red and brown, as if torn between his instinctual needs and a level-headed rationality he's trying to keep a hold on.

"Don't hold back Jiminie, please." I say.

And then there's a low deep groan slipping out of those sinful lips and before I know it he presses our lips together in a quick, smooth move, hand falling to cup my face as he pecks my lips once, twice. Leaning back to see any hesitation, any reluctance.

"You taste sweet." I say, because with his lips come this slightly chocolatey taste, his eyes flutter- reddening as they fall to look at my lips and then draws my face towards his, sealing them together again.

JIMIN POV:

I chase after those lips, sweet and softer and equally responsive under my own. My lips can't stop kissing her, feeling the soft warmth of them mould and meld to my own, moving against mine in a slow, exploratory sync. My lips trace the curve of hers, teeth catching on her full bottom lip and tugging at it slightly- teeth scraping with the slightest pressure, swallowing the breathy gasp that it elicits and tug and nip at it again with slightly more pressure, tongue slowly coming out to lave over it, soothe the sting and rove over the slightest indent that's formed, lips already returning to their plush shape. My tongue traces her lips before delving into the seam between them, teasing and coaxing, trying to gain entrance but enjoying the slight push and pull game as she leans back and I follow, hands going to part her thighs so I can stand in between them. I lean forward, her head tilting back slightly as my tongue insistently dips into the seam of those lips and she finally parts them with a breathy exhale, her fingers slowly trailing up to wind their way around the nape of my neck, tugging me closer with a silent plea. My tongue sweeps around the crevices of her hot, sweet mouth, carefully exploring the insides of her mouth and entangling her tongue with mine in a slow, sensual pace- groaning deep into her mouth when she relinquishes control of her tongue and allows me to dominate the kiss, veins burning with the fiery need of just her and the airy sense of completion she brings to my soul. And my lips trail down hers again, showering them with short butterfly pecks before slowly moving to kiss along her jaw and gently scrape my teeth against the softness of her ear, moving down again to adorn the slender column of her neck with my lips- feeling the way her pulse speeds up and they linger there- feeling her life thrum so wildly, so enticingly under them. My fangs itch to emerge, nose scent-drunk with the headiness of her sweet natural scent that fills them, threatens to overwhelm everything but sheer need, feeling nothing but that intoxicating, overwhelming need of claiming her fully.

There's a soft voice crooning to us, deep and gentle. Jin hyung. And when I raise my head, I can see those lips glistening, swollen slightly and the slight flush on her cheeks, the way her mouth is parted as she gulps in air, chest heaving and eyes shining and pooling with the mirror of my own feelings. Jin hyung is gently cooing as he shifts her closer to him, winding his arms around her as he draws her onto his lap.

"Beautiful mates. I'm so lucky." He breathes even as he embraces her, just relishing and basking in her presence, his other hand coming to intertwine with mine and tug me closer so the three of us are close to each other.

(Y/N) looks at me with sparkling eyes, those swollen lips parting in a wide smile and she quickly tugs me forward to press a peck to my lips, the act so quick I wonder if I imagined the brief pressure of lips against my own before she leans back, comfortably resting and reclining into Jin hyung's chest.

I groan as I look at the tempting sight of the two of them, one flushed and the other composed and the way both of them look at me, Jin hyung with a knowing teasing smile and (Y/N) with a sweet, shy one- a slither of the sight of her as our sweet adorable flustering mate.

And within that very instant I resolve to myself to try my best to make her a blushing, flustered mess- and to coax those beautiful sounds out of her more.

My eyes narrow onto her as a challenge. My personal mission to pamper and spoil and love her until she's a cute mess is my goal. And to score some more cuddles. Lots and lots of cuddles.

And then the timer goes off, shattering through the companionable silence- oven turning off now that the muffins are done.

(Y/N) startles and makes to move out of Jin hyung's lap but he seems unwilling and reluctant, a sad pout on his lips even though she can't see it.

"Oppa I need to get them out." She huffs, gently tapping at the strong forearms tugging her insistently back into the cradle his body had made for her.

He sighs and relents, arms painstakingly slow in the way they unravel- her own actions hurried and quick as she bustles towards the oven.

And even as hyung trails after her, saying he'll help- she's surprised when the oven door pops open automatically and the tray slides out.

Her face breaks into an awed expression, eyes silently roving the walls as if she'll be able to assert where the house's presence comes from- but it's running through every part of it anyways.

"I love the house." She says, voice bright and excited, followed by a bright tinkling laugh.

And then Jin hyung freezes in his steps, my elbow slips off the counter. 

Because suddenly I realise that we'd never gotten around to putting the timer on. 

And with my own laughter bubbling out, I realise we've been played. By the house who wanted a bit of the attention of our baby mate.

And it had taken it, given the bright amazed expression she sported.

The house was proving to be a competitor in our attempts to snag her attention. We needed to up our game.

But that didn't mean watching Jin hyung glare at the walls wasn't amusing. Because he looked petulant at the distraction- and who knew what would've happened if the house hadn't interrupted?

JIN POV:

The way (Y/N) looked when she loved- eyes sparkling, lips parted and neck arched ever so slightly was alluring, entrancing enough to push aside the majority of my frustration towards the house. Sure I had heard the others complain about the blatant favouritism they said the house had used, but now it was openly taking her attention away.

But her awed look made it all worth it. Even if the house had snatched my opportunity to hold her close and just enjoy her presence. I had barely gotten to silently marvel at the way she slotted perfectly onto my lap and had allowed herself to be tugged there when the timer had gone off.

A timer none of us had incidentally set.

Maybe my date with (Y/N) was best done outdoors.

Without any interruptions.

And the thought spurred me into action. To think of a date where I could have (Y/N) to myself.

And my eyes landed on her carefully transferring the muffins to a wired-rack, gently smacking Jiminie's hand away, in a motion I knew too well. She chides him- telling him they're too hot, concern furrowing her brows but his answering giggles smoothen them out.

The sight of her at the nest was perfect and complete. She belonged here.

And soon enough, I hoped we could bring that invitation in front of her. So we could live as completed souls. Together. Mates. As I'd been yearning to for since the very beginning. Since the day I'd learnt I had seven souls tethered to mine.

(THERE YOU GO! BAKING DATE COMPLETE! I REALLY, REALLY HOPE THE KISS WASN'T READ AS SOMETHING THROWN IN BUT RATHER EASED INTO THE PLOT- SO IF IT WAS WEIRDLY INTRODUCED OR SOMETHING DO LET ME KNOW! AND LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS TOO- GOOD AMOUNT OF FLUFF OR NAY? AND WHERE SHALL JINNIE TAKE HER!! THE HOUSE KEEPS PLAYING GAMES AND JINNIE ISN'T HAVING IT- HE DOESN'T WANT THE HOUSE THIRDWHEELING ALONG HAHA. LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT! WE STILL HAVE HOBI, JIN AND TAE LEFT FOR DATES- COS KOOKIE AND YOONGI SHARED ONE, JOON HAD THE GARDEN DATE AND JIMIN TOO IN A WAY FOR THE DANCE DATE! STAY SAFE LOVES AND TAKE CARE!)

Our hearts are easily wounded and injured which is why we so hesitantly give it away, but when we do those hearts live fully, intensely and without restraint.

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3