heart of ice 「 KimTaehyung * Y/N 」

Chapter 21: A Question of Forever

The city skyline glittered under the soft glow of the moon as Y/N stepped into Taehyung's car. The night air was crisp, carrying a sense of change, an undeniable shift between them. After everything—the fights, the betrayals, the pain—there was something different in the way Taehyung looked at her now. As if she was something he no longer wanted to push away but rather pull closer.

They drove in comfortable silence, the tension between them thick but not hostile. When they arrived at his house, he guided her inside with a hand on her lower back, his touch feather-light yet possessive. Y/N's heart raced as she stepped into the living room, her eyes scanning the familiar yet unfamiliar space.

Taehyung walked over to the minibar, pouring himself a drink before turning to face her. His gaze was intense, calculated, as if he were preparing for something big.

"Sit," he said, gesturing toward the couch.

Y/N hesitated but obeyed, crossing her legs as she watched him closely. "What is it?"

He took a slow sip of his drink before setting it down, then walked toward her with deliberate steps. When he reached her, he lowered himself onto one knee.

Y/N's breath caught in her throat.

Her heart pounded wildly as she processed what was happening. Taehyung, the man who had once resented her presence, was kneeling before her with an expression she had never seen before—raw, vulnerable, and determined.

"I know we didn't start this the right way," he began, his voice steady but laced with emotion. "And I know I've hurt you, pushed you away when all you wanted was to survive in this world that never stops watching us." He exhaled, his fingers clenching for a moment before he met her gaze again. "But somewhere in the midst of all our hatred, something changed."

Y/N swallowed hard, unable to tear her eyes away from him.

"I don't want to fight with you anymore," he continued. "I don't want to hurt you. I don't want to lose you." He reached into his pocket, pulling out a velvet box and flipping it open to reveal a stunning diamond ring. "So I'm asking you, not as a deal, not for the sake of business, but because I want you to be mine—will you marry me?"

Silence enveloped them, thick and unyielding. Y/N's vision blurred slightly as she stared at the ring, then back at him.

This was real.

She had fought for so long—against him, against herself—but now, everything she had ever wanted was right in front of her. And yet...

"I need time," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Taehyung didn't react the way she expected. He didn't get angry, didn't demand an answer. Instead, he nodded slowly, as if he had anticipated this.

"I'll wait," he said simply. "For as long as you need."

Y/N exhaled deeply, relief and uncertainty warring inside her. She hadn't expected that answer, and for the first time in a long time, she didn't know what to say.

But Taehyung didn't give her time to think too much.

He stood up slowly, his eyes never leaving hers as he stepped closer, caging her in with his presence. His fingers traced a delicate line down her arm before settling on her waist. "But just because you need time doesn't mean I won't remind you why I'm the only man who should have you."

The air between them crackled like electricity. Y/N barely had time to react before his lips crashed against hers.

It wasn't a soft kiss. It wasn't hesitant. It was desperate, filled with weeks—months—of tension that neither of them had fully addressed. Taehyung's hands tightened around her waist, pulling her onto his lap as he deepened the kiss, his tongue sweeping against hers in a way that made her toes curl.

Y/N moaned softly, her hands tangling into his dark locks as he tilted his head to kiss her deeper, more fervently. His hands roamed her body, fingers exploring every inch as if memorizing her. He pushed her back against the couch, pressing himself against her, letting her feel just how much he wanted her.

"Tell me to stop," he murmured against her lips, his breathing ragged.

Y/N didn't. She couldn't.

Instead, she pulled him closer, her nails digging into his shoulders as she gasped when his lips trailed down her neck. Taehyung groaned as he sucked lightly at her pulse point, his hands sliding up her thighs, his fingertips leaving a burning trail against her skin. He slowly unzipped the back of her dress, letting the fabric slip from her shoulders, his fingers ghosting over her exposed skin.

Her breath hitched as he took his time exploring every inch of her, his lips trailing along her collarbone, his hands worshipping her curves. He picked her up effortlessly, carrying her towards the bedroom, his eyes dark with hunger.

Once inside, he set her down gently on the bed, hovering over her as he peppered kisses along her jawline. "You're mine," he murmured against her skin, his voice filled with possession and desire.

Y/N arched beneath him, feeling completely consumed by him. Taehyung's hands traced every inch of her body, learning and memorizing, savoring the way she shivered under his touch. His lips captured hers again, this time slower—more possessive. He kissed her like he was claiming her, like he was trying to prove that no one else would ever make her feel like this.

He made love to her that night, slow and deep, whispering her name between kisses, showing her through every touch just how much she meant to him. The passion between them burned through the night, leaving them breathless and tangled in each other's arms.

And when the sun rose the next morning, tangled in silk sheets and each other's warmth, Y/N realized one thing:

She could keep running from her feelings, but Taehyung would never let her go.

Not this time.