Closer Than This...(vsoo)

46.

Something shifted between them...a quiet understanding that everything they had been through could be left behind, just for tonight. The world outside seemed to disappear, leaving only the two of them.

Taehyung stood up, walking over to her and extending a hand. "Dance with me," he said, his voice low but steady.

Jisoo blinked, surprised by the request but then smiled. "Here? Now?" she asked, almost laughing at the absurdity of it.

"Why not?" Taehyung's smile was one of those rare ones, warm and inviting. "It's just us. No one else."

She took his hand, letting him guide her to the makeshift dance floor they had created by the patio, the soft light of the lanterns casting shadows across the sand. They moved together in a rhythm that felt natural, as though they had always belonged in each other's arms.

As they swayed to the imaginary music, Taehyung pulled her closer, his hand resting on the small of her back. His lips brushed against her ear as he whispered, "I've missed this. Us. I don't want to lose this connection, Jisoo. I need you, more than you know."

The sincerity in his voice melted any remaining walls she had around her heart. Her hands rested on his chest, and she could feel the warmth of his body, the steady beat of his heart under her palm. They moved in sync, lost in each other, as if the world had stopped spinning just for them.

By the time the night had deepened, the two of them were wrapped in each other's arms, sitting on the sand by the water, a comfortable silence between them.

"I know it's been hard," Taehyung said, his voice steady despite the emotion behind it. "But I promise, I am not going anywhere. I'll be here. Always."

Jisoo looked at him, the vulnerability in her eyes matching his. "I just needed to remember what we had," she whispered.

"And you will," he promised, pulling her into his embrace. "We'll make sure of it."

In that moment, all the chaos, all the stress, and the pain of the past few months seemed to fade away. They were no longer just the CEO and his wife, the business partners fighting for control.

They were two people who had found their way back to each other, despite the world around them. And for the first time in a long while, they were simply themselves...together.

The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow on the room. The quiet of the villa had settled into the apartment they had returned to, but the peace they had found during their weekend away still lingered in the air.

Jisoo woke up first, the warmth of the sun on her skin stirring her from her sleep. She glanced to the side, where Taehyung lay beside her, still lost in his dreams. His face, usually so composed and guarded, was relaxed in the quiet morning light.

For a moment, Jisoo just watched him, her heart swelling with an emotion she couldn't quite put into words. The past few months had been difficult, but this weekend had reminded her of the man she had married...the man she had fallen in love with. The man who had shown her tenderness and strength in equal measure.

She reached over, gently brushing a strand of hair away from his forehead, smiling at the simplicity of the moment. There was no rush, no pressure...just the two of them, together.

As she moved to slip out of bed, she felt a hand grab hers, pulling her back.

"Where are you going?" Taehyung's voice was husky from sleep, but there was a softness to it that made her heart skip a beat.

"I was just going to make us some breakfast," Jisoo replied with a smile, though she could feel the warmth of his hand still holding hers, keeping her close.

Taehyung chuckled softly, his eyes still closed as he tugged her back to him. "Stay," he murmured, his voice almost childlike in its desire to keep her close. "Let's just... be like this for a while longer. The world can wait."

Jisoo laughed softly, feeling her heart flutter at his words. "You're turning into a softie," she teased, but her voice was gentle, fond.

Taehyung cracked an eye open, the corners of his lips curling into a small smile. "Only for you," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

She melted at that, her earlier resolve to get up vanishing. Instead, she nestled into his arms, enjoying the quiet, the comfort of his embrace. For the first time in a while, there was no pressure. No responsibilities. No obligations. Just the two of them, in a simple moment of peace.

Jisoo sighed contentedly, her head resting on his chest as they lay in the stillness of the morning. She could feel the steady rise and fall of his chest beneath her, the calm rhythm of his breathing. There was a quiet intimacy to it...one that spoke more than words ever could.

"I've missed this," she whispered, her voice barely audible, as if afraid to break the tranquility of the moment.

Taehyung's hand gently stroked her hair, his voice soft and steady. "Me too, Jisoo. I don't want us to lose this. Whatever comes, we'll face it together."

She smiled softly, feeling the truth in his words. She didn't need grand gestures or elaborate promises...just this. Just him.

As the morning wore on and the sounds of the world outside slowly began to creep in, they finally got up, but not without lingering for a few more moments. The weight of the weekend, the peace they had found in each other, had given them a newfound strength to face the challenges ahead.

But for now, in the quiet of the morning, they had each other. And that was enough.

Maybe or maybe something was waiting for them.

Like Calm before Strom.

Like Tranquility before Chaos.