—"You really put the professional in professional cuddling, don't you?"

≣

Jungkook was supposed to have two weeks and six days to mentally prepare for his first cuddling session. Two weeks and six days. That would have been enough time to convince himself that he was a confident, open-minded guy who could try—and be good at—something beneficial like alternative touch therapy. That would have been enough time to bolster as much confidence as possible.

But right before leaving for work this morning, just four days after booking his first session, Jungkook had received a call from The Cuddle Sanctuary saying Taehyung could meet him sooner thanks to a last-minute cancellation. And boy, was it sooner. It was too soon, in fact. It was for six-thirty tonight.

Had it occurred to Jungkook that he could keep the original appointment? That he didn't have to accept the offer to move up their session? Of course not. Rather than concoct an excuse and say he couldn't make it tonight, he had thanked the receptionist and confirmed he would arrive right on time—six-thirty on the dot, yes, thank you very much.

Damn it.

He was supposed to have two weeks and six days.

Was Jungkook a little dramatic for thinking he needed three weeks to get into the right headspace? Maybe. After all, it was just cuddling. It was only holding a man who could very well be the most attractive person he'd ever seen. It was nothing but feeling and embracing his new hyung's body against his own. It was, at most, touching and being touched by Taehyung.

It was nothing.

Fuck, it was not nothing.

The whole practice of cuddling, the concept of letting down his guard long enough to share and receive comfort, was new to Jungkook. It was unknown. He didn't necessarily have the most experience with opening his arms and welcoming another into his personal bubble. There hadn't been many opportunities where he felt comfortable inviting someone so close that they'd share the same air as him. So to finally get the chance . . .

Jungkook was nervous.

What if he was bad at it? What if he couldn't relax? What if Taehyung thought he was too rigid and tense? What if he accidentally elbowed Taehyung in the gut or put too much of his body weight against him? God, Jungkook was going to look like an incompetent amateur who couldn't do something as simple as cuddle, wasn't he?

If only he had step-by-step instructions or a rulebook that gave a methodical approach to cuddling like a pro. Because Jungkook thrived when he had a clear understanding of how things worked; he became a more self-assured version of himself who was always in control. That's why he did so well in investment banking—he knew the rules, interpreted the trends, and identified patterns that would lead him toward success. He was the best of the best when he had a perfectly crafted game plan.

But he had no game plan for this. None whatsoever. All he had was a duffel bag with his hastily packed cuddling outfit and a shitload of anxiety over what was yet to come.

Fuck, why didn't he accept the refund when he had the chance?

That question echoed in his mind all day at work, but the thing was, Jungkook already knew the answer. All he could think about was the answer to that question. He thought about it as he researched alternative investments, scouring financials and building custom analyses to determine the best portfolio. He thought about it when he joined Jin for lunch, nodding his head to his mentor's stories but not truly listening. He thought about it when ordering his third coffee of the day, the combination of caffeine with his pre-existing nerves making him overly jittery. And he thought about it when he glanced at his watch—five after six, shit—and felt his heart drop to his stomach.

It was because of Taehyung.

Taehyung and his soothing presence. Taehyung and his warm fingers and soft caresses. Taehyung and his gentle words spoken in his deep, comforting voice. Taehyung and his incredible ability to transform tension and stress into a blissful tranquility.

It was all because of Taehyung.

And thanks to that man, Jungkook was now leaving work way too early for a Tuesday—it was now ten after six; he probably should have stayed until eight to finalize a presentation—all so he could go snuggle. Cozy up. Cuddle. In no world did he have time to spare for this, yet here he was, repeatedly pressing the down button in the elevator bank so he could skip on over to The Cuddle Sanctuary.

What had his life come to?

Before Jungkook could ponder that philosophical mystery, one of the elevators chimed and opened its doors. It was empty, thankfully; he didn't have to worry about whacking someone with his backpack or duffel as he stepped inside and punched the button for the lobby. No, all he had to worry about was the countdown to his first cuddling session. Was he going to arrive too early? Would that be weird if he did? Where would he change? What if his cuddling outfit wasn't cuddly enough? What if he wasn't cuddly enough and—

"Hey, hold the elevator!"

Jungkook recognized that voice, so he lunged forward and shoved his hand between the closing doors. The cool metal grazed his skin before promptly reopening, revealing a well-dressed and cheerful Jin. Even after a long, busy day, the older man always appeared untroubled. Seriously, his suit showed no signs of wrinkles and his hair remained perfectly smooth and styled. Maybe those were the perks of actually liking your job.

Jin's eyes lit up as he entered the elevator and scanned Jungkook from head to toe. "Am I seeing things? Is my little mentee actually leaving work at a reasonable hour?"

"If by leaving at a reasonable hour you mean sneaking out, then yes," Jungkook replied as the elevator started its descent from the fifty-second floor. "I'll have to log back on later tonight."

Jin let out a conspiratorial hum. "Well, at least you're leaving the office before the sun sets. And voluntarily, too."

Voluntarily . . . An image of Taehyung flashed in Jungkook's mind. Yeah, he wouldn't call any of this voluntary. It was more of an uncontrollable and inescapable compulsion, an inexplicable urge that drew him in like a siren's song.

Jungkook didn't think he had enough time—or nerve—to explain all of that to his mentor, so he changed the subject instead. "Where are you headed? Another happy hour with a client?"

"Close guess," Jin revealed with a grin. "I'm meeting one of my brothers for drinks."

"The art collector? Or . . .?" Jungkook pursed his lips, trying to remember details about Jin's family. Maybe he was forgetting something, but he didn't recall hearing much about Jin's other sibling—his youngest brother.

And apparently, he wasn't going to learn more now, not as Jin nodded and said, "Yeah. Namjoon is in town for a nineteenth-century Joseon exhibit. It has statues . . . or tapestries . . . or something. You should come with me. He'll be in Jeju with us in a couple of months, so it would be good for you two to meet beforehand."

The elevator stopped at the thirty-sixth floor, allowing two more people to step on. Jungkook pressed his body into the back corner, trying to take up as little space as possible, as he dropped his voice and said, "Thanks, hyung, but I can't. I have this . . . thing."

"What thing?"

Jungkook should've known that his very curious and very nosy mentor would pry for more information. "It's private."

"Private?" Jin cocked his head to the side. "You're going on a date, aren't you?"

A startled laugh pushed out of Jungkook's lips, causing the people in front of him to glance his way. He politely nodded to them, slightly apologetic, before leaning closer to Jin and saying, "No. This is definitely not a date."

"No?" Jin studied Jungkook again, his eyes looking from his suit to his duffel bag to his suit again. Finally, with eyebrows high on his forehead, he asked, "What's in the bag?"

"A change of clothes."

"For a date?"

"Hyung, no," Jungkook retorted as the elevator stopped again to let three more people on. "I'm not going on a date."

Jin waved his hand in the air to dismiss that notion. "Fine. Whatever you say. But you shouldn't change for your not-a-date. The suit is a good look on you."

Jungkook glimpsed at his clothing. He wore a rather bland suit today, a dark gray blazer and pants set complete with a crisp, white dress shirt and a gray silk tie. In his mind, it was nothing special. It was just his usual uniform.

"I can't wear a suit where I'm going," Jungkook replied as he tugged at his tie, fractionally loosening the knot. "No street clothes allowed."

"Oh, my god," Jin blurted, drawing the attention of the other five people on the elevator. "You're going to a nudist party, aren't you?"

"What the hell, hyung?" Jungkook whispered feverishly, heat rushing to his cheeks as he stared up at his mentor with wide eyes. "No. I am not going to a nudist party, and I am not going on a date!"

"Someone is touchy."

"I am not—"

The elevator pinged then, signaling that they had reached the lobby. Finally. But before Jungkook could escape the confined space—not to mention his mentor—Jin threw an arm around his shoulder and said, "Whatever you're up to—date or no date, clothes or no clothes—have fun, okay? You work hard. You deserve to let loose and relax."

Relax. Yes. That was precisely what Jungkook was going to do. He was going to pay for someone to unravel each one of his worries, to touch him until all the tension faded away. Wait. That didn't sound right.

"And tomorrow," Jin continued, still talking as he directed them outside of the building, "if you just so happen to wear the same suit as today . . . No judgment."

"Goodbye, Jin hyung," Jungkook singsonged over the blaring traffic, waving off his mentor as he took off in the opposite direction. Good to know Jin had nothing against the good old walk of shame, but god, all Jungkook had planned was innocent and gentle and mutually pleasurable—ah, in a platonic way—cuddling.

Just cuddling.

The journey to The Cuddle Sanctuary took much less time than Jungkook remembered; the mix of anticipation and apprehension seemingly converted his blood into jet fuel, allowing him to defy space and time to arrive at the sanctuary in just under eight minutes. But that was totally fine—it was great, in fact. Because now he wouldn't have to rush to undress and then re-dress and then pack up his suit and then store his duffel somewhere and then wait for Taehyung to get him. It was all just great.

As Jungkook stepped through the doors of The Cuddle Sanctuary, he immediately noticed a couple of differences from his first visit. For one, it wasn't so quiet. Subdued classical music added to the random pattern of splashes from the water fountain, the melodic tones giving the sanctuary a spa-like atmosphere. And two, the sanctuary wasn't empty. A smiling receptionist greeted him with a wave, beckoning him over to the front desk.

"Welcome to The Cuddle Sanctuary," the receptionist said, her voice chipper compared to the serene environment. Jungkook quickly recognized her as the girl he spoke with on the phone this morning as well as a few days back. "How can I help you?"

"I have a session with Taehyung at six-thirty," Jungkook told her, rubbing his suddenly clammy hands down his pant legs. "My name is Jeon Jungkook."

The girl nodded and turned her attention to the computer. After a couple of seconds of typing and clicking, she made an affirmative sort of noise. "This is your first time, yes?"

"You could tell?" Jungkook asked as he self-consciously looked down at his body. Did he give off a vibe that screamed cuddling novice or something? Or did his clothes give it away? Shit, was he supposed to change before arriving for his session?

"Ah, no," the girl replied with a soft laugh. "A note on your profile says you're a new client."

Jungkook's lips twitched up at the corners. "Right."

The girl looked back at her screen. "I see you already acknowledged our code of conduct online, but let's confirm a few admin items. Can I see your ID? I need to verify that you're at least the legal age of consent."

Pulling out his ID card, Jungkook handed it to the receptionist. "Have minors tried to book sessions before?"

"A few times, yeah. We've had touch-starved teenage boys thinking we offered other services and young girls daring each other to schedule time with our male cuddlers," she explained, closely studying his information. "Our owner does everything by the book, though—always has us check IDs—so thankfully, we haven't had any issues."

From what little Jungkook knew of Jung Hoseok, he certainly got the impression that the sanctuary owner was a reputable sort of man.

After a couple of seconds, the girl returned his ID and continued her line of questioning. "Can you confirm that you're free from any mind-altering substances and are fully able to give consent during your session?"

"Yes. I'm clean."

"And if you have any diagnoses or conditions that would affect your cuddling session, do you agree to disclose that information to Taehyung?"

"Nothing comes to mind, but if that ever changes, then yes."

"Perfect. One last thing," the girl added, quickly glancing at whatever information was on her screen. "You requested one of our designated rooms for your session, correct?"

"Yeah, that's right," Jungkook affirmed. When he was here last week, Taehyung had covered the three possible meeting locations: The Cuddle Sanctuary, Taehyung's place, or Jungkook's apartment. Jungkook had quickly ruled out going to Taehyung's—he barely knew his hyung—and had realized he wouldn't be comfortable welcoming Taehyung into his home. Not yet, at least. So in the end, it was an easy decision.

"Do you require or prefer any special accommodations? Extra pillows . . . blankets . . . a massage table?"

"A massage table?"

The girl nodded. "The Cuddle Sanctuary is primarily known for our cuddling services, though some of our professional cuddlers—Taehyung included—are also certified massage therapists. So if you'd like, Taehyung can help work out any kinks you might have."

Jungkook blinked once and then twice. "Any . . . kinks . . .?"

It was at that particular moment, of course, that a deep and familiar voice spoke from behind him, the unmistakable rumblings of a laugh coloring its edges.

"Your muscles."

A shiver raced up Jungkook's spine and each one of his nerve endings tingled in . . . in . . . something. Recognition, maybe? Or perhaps surprise? And his stomach was clenching . . . no, pooling with warmth . . . no, fluttering. Fuck, was his body always going to react to Taehyung's voice?

Completely forgetting about the receptionist, Jungkook spun on his heel and met Taehyung's gaze. Well, he was pretty sure he met Taehyung's gaze. His new hyung's hair was rather unruly today, with dark curls falling in front of his eyes. Jungkook had this weird urge to reach out, to sweep back the strands so he could get a better glimpse of Taehyung's face. But that wouldn't be appropriate . . . right?

Somehow, some way, Taehyung seemed to read Jungkook's mind. He slowly brushed a hand through his hair, pushing it back over his forehead and revealing his sparkling eyes. And those eyes . . . Fuck. They lazily traced over Jungkook's face, gradually skimmed down his neck, then unabashedly roamed all over his suit. And when they finally danced back up again, they were glittering with delight.

"I didn't think you'd show up," Taehyung said as he smoothed back his hair once more. "Thought you'd ditch me for another Excel spreadsheet."

"Have I surprised you, then?"

"You're constantly surprising me."

Those words resulted in Jungkook's stomach doing the whole clenching, pooling, fluttering thing again, though he tried to ignore the odd sensations. He instead eyed Taehyung's clothing—plaid linen pants with a matching long sleeve button down . . . were those pajamas?—and raised his shoulder with his duffel bag. "I need to change."

Taehyung dipped his chin, his eyes briefly flitting to Jungkook's tie, before starting to walk backward. "So the suit isn't your cuddling outfit?"

Jungkook instantly followed, meeting him step for step as they headed toward a hallway. "You said a cuddling outfit consisted of comfortable clothes. Do you really think this is comfortable?"

"All fitted and snug like that? Probably not," Taehyung replied, one corner of his mouth lifting. Before leaving the main area, he looked at the receptionist and asked, "Room seven, right?"

"Right," she said. But then, to Jungkook, she added, "Unless you do want that massage table?"

Jungkook shook his head because, well, baby steps.

Taehyung guided them down a hallway lined with doors, only turning once—or maybe twice—to ensure Jungkook was still following. When they reached the end of the hall, he pointed to a door labeled changing room and said, "You can get dressed in here. Use any of the open lockers to store your personal belongings, but make sure to set a lock combination. Once you're ready, meet me in room seven."

Jungkook wasn't sure if he'd ever really be ready, but he swallowed the comeback and offered as genuine of a smile as possible. It probably came across as fake as hell, but hey, he was trying.

Once in the changing room, he stripped off his suit with shaky hands and exchanged the stiff fabric for a loose white tee, worn sweatpants, and his favorite toe socks—his cuddling outfit. When discussing some of the logistics last week, Taehyung had explained that there weren't too many restrictions or requirements when it came to cuddling outfits. So long as Jungkook wore a minimum of a tank top and shorts that covered the top of his thighs, he would be fine. Oh, and he had to change into clean socks. That was a non-negotiable rule.

With his cuddling outfit on and his stuff locked away, Jungkook immediately pushed through the changing room door. He didn't want to focus on his unsteady breathing or how his heart was now lodged in his throat or how his muscles were practically quivering with uncertainty. If he did any of those things, he would never get the courage to join Taehyung. So he rolled back his shoulders, pretending he was this suave and unflappable guy, and strode across the hall into room seven.

And then he froze.

And it wasn't because he wanted to observe their designated cuddling room, a rather impersonal space with white walls, sparse furniture, and dim lighting. It wasn't because of the crooning jazz melodies playing from a hidden speaker system. It wasn't even because of the obnoxious amount of blankets and pillows stored in the corner of the room. No . . .

It was all because of Taehyung.

Taehyung was sprawled across a couch, his long legs spread wide and his arms casually draped over the back. His head rested against an over-stuffed pillow, revealing the slight dipping of his Adam's apple as he quietly sang along to the music. And his eyes were half open, almost as if he were on the verge of falling asleep. He looked so at home here, so at ease, almost as if cuddling was Taehyung's calling in life and he was doing the world a favor by offering up his arms and services.

And Jungkook, by some twist of fate, was now going to experience those arms firsthand. Good god.

"Your duality is astonishing," Taehyung commented, his eyes snapping to Jungkook's before dipping down to roam over his cuddling outfit. "You're finance guy one minute and then cuddle bun the next."

"I'm not—" Jungkook broke off in a huff. He had a feeling arguing would get him nowhere. "Do you give all your clients nicknames, or am I just special?"

A low and throaty chuckle pushed past Taehyung's lips. "Well, you're the only client I've gotten thanks to wearing tight pants at a bar, so I'd say that makes you very special in my mind."

Not that again. "Hyung—"

"I know, I know. I'm sorry," Taehyung cut in, removing the pillow from behind his head and then hugging it to his chest. "It's all out of my system now."

Jungkook raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"I promise," Taehyung said, his tone a fraction softer. "It's just that you're so fun to—"

"Tease?" Jungkook guessed.

Hooking his chin over the pillow, Taehyung shook his head. "To talk to."

That simple admission caused a wave of warmth to crash over Jungkook's body, washing away his faux confidence and leaving him feeling too exposed. Too vulnerable. He became uncomfortably aware of how he lingered in the doorway, all hesitant and uncertain, like he could run for the hills at any moment. And he wasn't going to—no, he was here; he was going to see this through—but walking into this room would officially end his countdown. It would finally be time to slot his body against Taehyung's and cuddle.

And for the second time today, Taehyung seemed to read Jungkook's mind. "Ready to begin?"

No. "Yes."

"It's your choice whether to close the door or keep it open," Taehyung said, jutting his chin toward where Jungkook stood. "Whatever you're comfortable with."

Jungkook figured he'd be antsy if other people walked by and peered in during their session, so he promptly stepped inside and shut the door. And now that he was fully in here, there was no reason to delay joining Taehyung. So he made his way toward the couch, which was really a loveseat with extra deep cushions, and sunk down beside Taehyung.

"How are you feeling?" His hyung asked, angling his body so he was better facing Jungkook. "If it's too warm or cold, I can adjust the thermostat."

"No, it's fine. Perfect, really. And I'm fine. I, uh, just . . ." Jungkook fiddled with the hem of his shirt. "I don't know how to start. Should I come closer or . . .?"

"Let's talk a bit first. Okay?"

"Oh. Um, yeah. Of course. Talking is good." God, did Jungkook sound like an idiot or what? "Whatever you want to do."

Taehyung gave a small smile. "This session is all about you and what you want to do. You are in charge here."

"Right," Jungkook said, quickly lifting his lips into his own forced version of a smile. Under his breath, he added, "No pressure."

"There is none," Taehyung was quick to reply. "There are no expectations with this. No judgment. This is a completely safe space where you can do what you want rather than what's expected."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean . . . Instead of worrying about what others think, I want you to feel safe exploring and enjoying touch. I want you to listen to your body and tune in to what you're feeling."

Tune in? Well, right now, Jungkook felt like he was on the edge of a cliff where one wrong step meant plummeting to his doom. But he probably shouldn't reveal that, so instead, he nodded his head and said, "I haven't really done any of that before, but I . . . I'll try."

"That's all I ask," Taehyung responded with a nod of his own. "Now, onto a couple of ground rules. First off, no matter what, we're going to practice consent at all times. That means adhering to whatever boundaries we set and not touching each other without asking beforehand. And because this is all about you and your wants, I'll follow your lead. You dictate how and when you want to be touched, and I will respect that."

Jungkook swallowed. "What if I don't know how I want to be touched?"

"Ask for what you think might feel good."

"And if I don't like it?"

"Then you have to tell me. Our sessions will only be successful if we're talking to each other and being completely honest," Taehyung said, setting aside his pillow before drawing his legs onto the couch and sitting cross-legged. "So if you don't like what we're doing, or if something is going numb or feels awkward, tell me. I'll listen. And I'll make sure to constantly check in, too, okay?"

While Jungkook was reassured by Taehyung's words, he was also a bit overwhelmed. Sure, he appreciated the emphasis on communication. He understood why all of the decisions were up to him. But how could he say what he wanted when he didn't even comprehend the options or possibilities? How could he touch and be touched when he had absolutely no frame of reference?

Not wanting to get too in his head, Jungkook forced those thoughts to the back of his mind and found a pillow of his own to hold. "Yeah, checking in will be good."

"Good. And there's another thing I wanted to bring up. We kind of talked about this last week, but now that you're officially my client . . ." Taehyung cleared his throat. "We should probably talk about it one more time."

Jungkook nibbled on his lower lip, watching how Taehyung's features hardened. "Okay."

"This," Taehyung began, pointing back and forth between their bodies, "our sessions, any contact we have . . . It's platonic. We can touch to provide comfort to each other, but our intent can't be to stimulate or intentionally arouse."

Jungkook gripped his pillow a little tighter as he mumbled, "Right. Of course."

"But . . ."

"There's a but to this?"

Taehyung gave him a pointed look. "You should know that it's not impossible for cuddling and, well, touch, to sometimes lead to arousal. It's actually kind of natural and is nothing to be ashamed of. But by agreeing to work together, we agree not to act on it if it happens. Does that make sense?"

Jungkook's tongue felt heavy in his mouth, but he managed to say, "Yep. Yeah. Perfect sense."

"Okay. Great. Now onto boundaries."

When Taehyung said they were going to talk for a bit, he wasn't kidding. Jungkook had assumed they would immediately start spooning or contorting into one of the oddly named positions in The Cuddle Sutra. But this—the discussion of rules and the blunt honesty—was good. It was comforting . . . and professional.

That thought made Jungkook release a hushed laugh. "You really put the professional in professional cuddling, don't you?"

"That's kind of the point," Taehyung said, sharing a soft laugh as well. "I mean, I hope my clients feel like they're just cuddling with a close friend, but this is my job. It's my responsibility to build an environment that feels safe and comfortable for us."

"A carefully negotiated experience," Jungkook murmured, remembering what Taehyung had told him last week. "I get that now. But yeah. I'm not sure if I have any. Boundaries, that is. I haven't really tested anything before, so . . . I don't know if anything will be sensitive or off-limits."

"We'll learn along the way, then. But—"

"There's a but to this, too?"

"But," Taehyung repeated, eyebrows lifting expectantly, "you do have one personal boundary we should discuss."

Jungkook tilted his head to the side. "I do?"

"You do. I do. The area between our navels and our upper thighs is a no-touch zone. I'm sure you understand why."

Oh. Duh. "Yes. Yeah, completely clear on that."

Taehyung hummed in acknowledgment, smoothing a hand down his shirt and letting it linger around his lower belly. "As for me, my stomach is a sensitive area. I don't like hands-on contact there unless I specifically ask for it or unless an unconditional trust is in place."

"No touching your stomach. Got it," Jungkook replied without hesitation. Would he have touched Taehyung's stomach anyway? Probably . . . not? Oh, shit. Would Taehyung touch his stomach? If he did, would he like it? Should he ask for that right away so he knew the answer?

"Alright," Taehyung said, interrupting Jungkook's spiraling thoughts, "that's everything I wanted to cover. Did you have questions on anything we went over? Or was there anything we didn't go over that you wanted clarity on?"

Did Jungkook have any questions . . .? Yeah. Yeah. "How long is the session again?"

"An hour."

An hour of cuddling with Taehyung, oh god. His stomach—that Taehyung may or may not touch—yet again did the whole clenching, pooling with warmth, fluttering thing in anticipation. Or horror. Jungkook didn't know which.

Taehyung pulled out his phone and spent a couple of seconds tapping on the screen. "I set two alerts. One will go off at the fifty-minute mark, letting us know we have ten minutes to wind down. The other will signal the end of our hour. Do you have any other questions before we start?"

"Nope. I'm good. I'm ready." Jungkook was a lying liar that lied. He was absolutely not ready.

But Taehyung set down his phone, looking back up at Jungkook with shining eyes, and gave one of his captivating smiles. "Great. Our sixty minutes start now."

Great.

▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎

》 V A L E N W R I T I N G 《

The first cuddling session is around the corner! Who's excited? How do we think it will go?

I loved shedding some light on professional cuddling in this chapter. Thanks to all of my research, I learned that professional cuddling truly requires so much thought and communication—which I love! Seriously, all of the talking, consent, and establishment of boundaries is something that all relationships should be formed around, no matter the type of relationship.

We definitely learned a lot here, but there is still more to come! Let me know if anything we learned surprised you and what you are looking forward to most!