Three Strikes - Chapter 3 - 4K (Patreon)

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He keeps it together fairly well until the actual pool party starts. Because Jin decides it’s time for their annual floaty-fight championship.

Now, at first that may not sound horny, but when you’re face to face with a hot shirtless guy on top of a floaty, trying to push them off while having to excessively touch their wet body, yeah. His plan is to just lose from the very beginning so he doesn’t have to go up against Jeongguk.

Another boner and he’s in full fishing gear, and that’s just nightmare fuel.

However, when he’s up on the gay unicorn ready for battle, he didn’t think Hoseok would be that bad. Jimin just sits there and Hoseok flails and screams and falls into the water. He didn’t even have to push.

Shit.

“Nice work Jimin-ah!”

“I didn’t do anything?”

“And you did it so well.”

Jin says, clapping for him. A one-man applause.

“There he sits, undefeated. The blonde bandit. Who will take him on?”

Jin continues, making up names on the spot.

Taehyung is the first to take it upon himself, big smile on his pretty face as he climbs on top of the gay unicorn as well. Jimin doesn’t even have to look to feel that negative energy spreading from the edge of the pool. When he dares to look, Jeongguk is staring intently, pushing his tongue into his cheek.

Ah, shit.

“Hey, eyes on me.”

Taehyung says, turning his face towards him by his chin.

Damn it, how can someone be this hot? It’s ridiculous. Jimin really is trying his best to keep his distance but Taehyung evidently doesn’t care. He’s either completely unaware, or he just loves making Jeongguk jealous. Either way, Jimin is fucked. He has to deal with that passive aggressive big-eyed beefy hotshot every day.

“Isn’t that cheating? You can’t touch each other yet.”

Jeongguk calls from the side, obviously not having it.

“Let me read.” Jin says, opening a non-existent book in his hands and flipping the pages. “Nope, there’s nothing here about that. It just says Jeongguk shouldn’t be such a jealous loser.”

Hoseok and Namjoon snicker. Jeongguk seems to want to object, but when his eyes meet Jimin’s he’s suddenly too shy, crossing his arms and averting his gaze.

“Ready, go!”

Taehyung is on him fast, and Jimin startles, his automatic reaction kicking in from years and years of martial arts. Within a second Taehyung is cast off of the floaty, splashing into the water.

Fuck! That wasn’t supposed to happen.

“Another player down! The blonde bandit doesn’t know his own strength! Who dares to face him?”

Jin calls, clearly loving to play this role, chilling on his own floaty with a cocktail in his hand.

Yoongi seems to want to come, but Jeongguk is in the water already. Probably to take revenge for Taehyung. Fuck, this is the exact situation he wanted to avoid. This is hell, this is terrible.

Jeongguk climbs on top of the gay unicorn and Jimin watches his tanned body dripping wet, swimming pants ridden up to expose his strong thighs, muscles bulging, and life is suddenly amazing, life is beautiful.

Jimin is positive he’s making heart eyes, which isn’t essential to win floaty fights. Jeongguk in contrast looks like he’s ready to pounce, dark brown eyes focused, body hunched a little bit, like a predator.

“Ready, go!”

Jeongguk, despite looking like he’s going to attack, stays still. And Jimin can’t do anything. He can’t throw himself in the water, but he also doesn’t want to touch. So they just stare at each other, waiting for the other to strike first.

His tactic is to just let Jeongguk push him in, get it over with, but the longer it takes, the more the other guys start to yell at them from the sides to get a move on. So, Jimin hesitantly reaches out, no force behind his attack, just grabbing Jeongguk’s wrists and trying to push him off.

It’s futile, Jeongguk huffs and lets him struggle, a hint of a grin on his lips because Jimin is really terrible at this. Jeongguk just pulls, making Jimin slide closer to him on the floaty and that’s bad. Their knees touch, and the balance is off, the floaty threatening to capsize, but Jeongguk then pushes both of them back, resulting in him landing half on top of him.

Fuck.

Jimin feels blood rush to his cheeks as he hears whistles from the side, and feels Jeongguk’s body press against his own. He can even feel the fucking nipple piercings grazing against his skin and ugh

Fishing gear fishing gear fishing gear.

Before he can recover and find his balance, Jeongguk’s hands wrap around his waist, and he’s pulled into the pool. The cold of the water does nothing compared to the warmth of Jeongguk’s hands still around his waist when he reaches the surface. And the deep breath he takes has nothing to do with being underwater, and everything to do with Jeongguk taking it away.

“The blonde bandit is defeated! Jeon Jeongguk is disqualified by throwing himself in the water as well. Who will become the floaty king? Yoongi, get up on that old gay unicorn!”

Jimin zones Jin’s voice out, not willingly, more because Jeongguk is scanning over him with those big beautiful eyes, hands still around his waist.

“You okay hyung?”

no. He is not okay. He is looking at a soaking wet, sun-kissed god. Why does Jeongguk have to look at him so intensely?

“Yeah, I’m good.”

He nods quickly, out of breath. That’s also as far as his conversational skills go. Which is better than usual really, he can’t complain.

Jeongguk silently takes him to the side of the pool and lifts him up by his waist out of the water, like he weighs nothing. A surprised gasp leaves Jimin’s lips at the display of strength, and he has to shut his brain down from coming up with all different type of scenarios involving being lifted up.

He is sure he is as subtle as a brick being thrown at a window when he watches Jeongguk lift himself out of the pool next. Speaking of bricks, he needs to get the fuck away from Jin’s line of vision.

He stands up and makes a beeline to the kitchen, hiding his half-hard cock behind his hand. It’s ridiculous, why is he so hormonal? It’s like he’s a teenager again, the smallest thing getting him riled up. Inflation valves and being lifted up. Someone give him a clown’s nose.

A half-full bottle of tequila catches his eye. What better to crush boners than alcohol? Plus, he needs a few shots to forget what it feels like having Jeongguk’s nipple piercings brush against his skin.

“Jiminie! Pour some for us as well.”

Hoseok calls. Jimin looks over his shoulder, seeing Hoseok, Taehyung, and Jeongguk stroll in after him. It seems he can’t catch a break tonight. He bites the inside of his cheek as he lines up 4 shot glasses, pouring some tequila in each.

When he hands them out, Hoseok and Taehyung look at him expectantly.

“What?”

“Are you serious? Is this how you shot tequila?”

Taehyung asks, eyes wide.

Jimin looks at the glasses, then at the bottle, wondering if he’s missing something.

“Yeah?”

“You’re not serious.” Taehyung says, eyeing his shot glass. “Naked?”

Jimin looks down at his swimming trunks in panic, but he hears Taehyung face-palm then.

“Not naked like that, oh my god.”

“Americans..”

Hoseok shakes his head, as if Jimin is the pinnacle of an uncultured American civilian.

“I’m Korean-“

“This is just an insult to the gay community.”

Taehyung says, pointing at his glass and putting it down on the counter. He then walks towards the fridge, grabbing a lemon.

“Can’t believe he handed me a naked tequila.”

Taehyung mutters under his breath, deeply insulted. At the same time Hoseok rummages through some cupboards, and takes a pot of salt.

Jimin is completely lost as he watches Taehyung cut some lemon pieces. He looks at Jeongguk who’s nervously gnawing at his bottom lip, which just makes Jimin nervous as well.

“Look. This is the magic of tequila shots.”

Hoseok explains, shaking the salt. Taehyung joins then, putting a piece of lemon between his own lips. Hoseok then opens the cap, and puts some salt on Taehyung’s shoulder. It kind of looks like they’re gonna perform a ritual. Jimin doesn’t know much about witchcraft, but apparently it has to do with the gay community.

“Watch and learn.”

Hoseok says, giving him a wink before he licks the salt of Taehyung’s shoulder, downs his shot, then pulls Taehyung close by the back of his neck and puts his mouth on his.

What the fuck.

Hoseok seems to just suck on the lemon while Taehyung holds it for him with his mouth. Both have their eyes closed as if it tastes good, and it looks like they’re kissing. Heat flares up Jimin’s face, and he isn’t sure he’ll survive if he ends up having to do this with Jeongguk.

If he gets hard again and Jin sees it, the result is worse than not surviving even.

“That’s how you do it.”

Hoseok says, taking a step back. Taehyung takes the lemon out of his mouth and nods enthusiastically, like it’s just fun and games. Jimin is completely speechless, he thought America was more out there regarding partying and drinking, but now he’s experiencing culture shock.

“Get over here Jimin, it’s your turn.”

Taehyung says, grabbing him and putting some salt on his shoulder. He wants to object but a piece of lemon is pushed into his mouth and he just stands there like a sack of potatoes, cheeks burning.

Taehyung laughs at how lost he looks, stepping closer.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be careful.”

Taehyung is anything but careful. Jimin feels his big hand wrap around his hip, and then a hot tongue lapping up the salt off his shoulder. All he can think about is Jeongguk’s glare he’ll get after this, and the worst part hasn’t even come. After Taehyung downs his shot, he gives him a grin before leaning in and putting his mouth on his to suck on the lemon. Their lips barely touch, but Jeongguk clears his throat already.

“That’s long enough.”

He says, grabbing Taehyung by his shoulder and pulling him back.

“Ah Jeonggukie, don’t ruin the fun.”

Taehyung says, mischievous glint in his eyes. As Jimin expected, Jeongguk’s mood is as sour as the lemon he still has in his mouth. He quickly spits it out.

A big dark cloud hangs around Jeongguk, which Taehyung for some reason seems to find hilarious. Hoseok is also snickering at the mood change, and just puts a new piece of lemon in Jeongguk’s mouth.

“Don’t worry, it’s your turn now.”

Hoseok says, patting Jeongguk’s head before grabbing the salt and putting some on his shoulder.

“Go on Jimin. Experience culture.”

Hoseok says, pushing a quite stiff looking Jeongguk closer to him.

It’s terrifying. He’s usually all for slutting around, but Jeongguk seems quite pissed, and he’s not entirely sure he should be the one doing this. Clearly, Jeongguk doesn’t like sharing Taehyung, and Taehyung is completely unaware of this.

Fuck.

He bites on his lower lip as he gets encouraging nods and thumbs ups from Hoseok and Taehyung.

“Are you.. are you okay with this?”

Jimin asks, just to check. It seems that just pisses Jeongguk off more, eyebrows furrowing, soft grunt leaving his lips as he can’t talk with that piece of lemon.

“Oh Jimin don’t worry, he gets like this all the time.”

Hoseok says, waving his hand in dismissal.

Jimin feels a little burdened as he gets closer, thinks that he should just get it over with. He wraps his hand around Jeongguk’s waist, tries to do it quickly, but as soon as he licks over Jeongguk’s shoulder, his body lights on fire. The taste of salt, sweat, and the swimming pool mix on his tongue.

Jeongguk’s body feels hot under his fingers, and he accidentally takes a little longer than he needs to. Only when he hears a few oh’s of realisation from Hoseok and Taehyung, does he quickly retract, cheeks burning.

Right, the lemon.

He looks up at Jeongguk, who’s negative gloom seems to have dissipated, big curious eyes now on him. that stupid lemon in his mouth.

Jimin curses under his breath, curls his hand around the back of Jeongguk’s neck and goes for it. The sourness of the lemon doesn’t dull the electrifying experience of having his lips touch Jeongguk’s. He instantly melts, eyes falling closed, head tilting slightly.

Two warm hands wrap around his waist, much like moments ago in the pool, and it still has the same effect because Jimin is a weak man. He loves the feeling of being pulled closer, especially for a kiss that is not a kiss. He’s literally sucking on a lemon here, but it’s still better than kissing Kyle, or whatever his name was.

He makes sure to suck that lemon dry, taking his sweet time, taking as much as he can without actually just pushing his tongue down Jeongguk’s throat like he desperately wants to. When he pulls back he doesn’t even dare to look at Jeongguk, red blush tainting his cheeks as he looks at Hoseok instead.

“There, I did it.”

He says, voice an octave higher than normal. There’s a big grin on Hoseok’s lips as he hands him a shot glass.

“Forgot this, sweetie.”

———————

“Wait, you forgot to take the shot?”

Yoongi asks, laughing louder than Jimin has heard him do before. He is laughing at him, like, painfully hard.

“Don’t laugh, I just ran away to not get laughed at by Hoseok and Taehyung.”

He says, hiding his face in his hands. He had just taken the shot and excused himself to go back outside, avoiding eye contact, followed by the cruel laughter of Hoseok and Taehyung.

Yoongi still laughs though, gums showing as his balloon crown falls from his head when he throws his head back. Right, he became the floaty fight champion.

“Are you always so pathetic when you have a crush?”

“Excuse me? Pathetic?”

“You just took a body shot without taking the shot.”

Jimin pushes his tongue into his cheek, still tasting the lemon, and then he groans. Because he is pathetic. Completely fucked that up just now. How is he ever gonna face Jeongguk again?

“How do you approach your crush then?”

He asks, just to avoid talking about Jeongguk. Yoongi finally stops laughing, although he snickers through his response.

“Me? I just tell them I like them.”

“Just like that?”

“Yeah, works every time.”

Jimin hums, impressed. He’s never taken the direct approach. Never had to really, he always had whomever he fancied wrapped around his finger. They confessed after a little bit of sweet talking. That’s the thing, his charm is his silver tongue, but around Jeongguk his tongue turns to lead and all he can say is “nice weather.”

Making cocktails proved disaster, sunscreen rubbing leads to boners, sharing valves idem. And apparently even sucking a lemon out of Jeongguk’s mouth is not working in his favour.

Maybe Jin was right. Maybe he should have paid attention to his fish story. Maybe then he’d know how to impress Jeongguk with a fish.

“So, you’re going for it then?”

Yoongi asks, sipping his whisky. Who even drinks whisky at a pool party? Jimin takes a sip of his piña colada, immediately pissed because his piña colada is so good, why is Jeongguk allergic?

“Hm?”

“Jeongguk. You still want to go for him? Even though you’re going back to America?”

Ah.

Jimin had conveniently tried to forget about that while his lips were on Jeongguk’s (and a lemon). Alcohol is starting to kick in a little, and with that comes a wave of unease.

Realistically, he knows he shouldn’t. Jeongguk is sensitive, not over his ex, believes in true love. He seems pure. And Jimin.. well.. he’s anything but that. He likes to make pretty boys his, never really out for love. He wouldn’t know what it’s supposed to feel like, never wondered either.

Then there’s Taehyung too. Whatever it is, Jeongguk seems to have his eye on him, and Taehyung seems completely unaware. Yet, Jeongguk also doesn’t mind having his hands on him, didn’t seem to mind him sucking a lemon from his mouth, so there’s mixed signals there too.

Jimin makes a strangled noise, runs his hands through his hair in frustration.

“Just be honest with yourself. Do you want to be Jeongguk’s boyfriend?”

Yoongi asks.

The question shouldn’t be so hard. It’s a simple yes or no, but Jimin just shrugs.

“I haven’t even had a normal conversation with him.”

“Well, maybe you should work on that instead of trying to get into his pants.”

“I’m not trying to-“

Jimin stops his sentence as Jeongguk walks by, eyes magnetically pulled towards his sun-kissed torso, nipple piercings, sleeve tattoo, back muscles..

“Nevermind, I am trying to.”

“Well, put it on hold. Talk to him and see what you want, then make a decision.”

Put it on hold.

Jimin sighs as he downs his Piña colada, not looking forward to conversing with Jeongguk. What is he even supposed to talk about?

———————

“Do you like.. sea creatures?”

Jeongguk blinks at him, his big brown eyes slightly hazy from the alcohol, but still not hazy enough to hide the confusion in them.

It’s 4 am and Jimin decided after 5 more Piña coladas that the time to converse is here and now. Here meaning in the door opening of Jeongguk’s bedroom, where Jeongguk had said he’d go to just 10 minutes ago, leaving the party downstairs.

“I mean.. as much as one can like sea creatures..”

Jeongguk says, wiping his wet hair with a towel. He smells like honey shampoo, freshly showered, wearing sweatpants but no shirt, because, Jeongguk never wears shirts, ever.

“How.. how much is that?”

Jimin asks, talking to Jeongguk’s nipple piercings.

“Uh.. I like seeing them, but I’m not opposed to eating them.”

Right. That’s a good statement. Jimin wholeheartedly agrees.

“Mm.. ‘specially eel, tastes good.”

He says, holding onto the doorframe, eyes sliding down to Jeongguk’s abs, his v-line. His skin is so smooth, no trail of hair to be seen, a nice caramel colour in the dim light.

“Hyung, why are you here?”

Jimin’s ears perk up when Jeongguk calls him hyung, and he feels a familiar warmth spread through his chest.

“Came to say goodnight..” He says, looking down at his feet, then looking back up. “Also.. sorry for earlier. The tequila..”

Jeongguk’s eyebrows furrow.

“Why are you sorry?”

Good question. Jimin bites on his tongue as his mind flashes with images of Jeongguk from 10 years ago.

“I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable.. I mean, I’m like a brother to you.. and you obviously like Taehyung.”

He says, laughing a little to make the situation less tense, but Jeongguk only clenches his jaw, not amused.

“You’re not though. And I don’t like Taehyung.”

Jeongguk says, dropping his towel on the floor, stepping in front of him.

Jimin’s brain catches up a little later than usual, and suddenly he’s face to face with a big chest and pierced nipples, making his ears burn up.

“Do you like him, hyung?”

Eyes are up there, they’re up there.

There’s that negative gloom hanging around Jeongguk, making his stare even more intense. He hates how he has to tilt his head up the slightest bit, intimidated by Jeongguk’s strong presence.

What was the question?

Does he like Taehyung?

Jimin shakes his head.

“No, not like that. He’s sweet, but, not my type.”

Jeongguk blinks, negative gloom gone in an instant, eyes wider than before.

He’s pretty close, Jimin notes. They’re standing pretty close. Like one would usually see in a crowded club, they’re both leaning against the doorframe, talking as if they’re whispering secrets to each other.

“Oh.”

Jeongguk just says, not having anything more to add. His big brown eyes make Jimin unable to think, brain turning to mush. His eyes drag lower. There’s a tiny little birthmark just under Jeongguk’s lower lip, looking quite enticing.

Shit, he didn’t come here for that. He was trying the not-getting-into-his-pants approach.

“Anyway..” He says, taking a deep breath and leaning back a little. “Just wanted to say goodnight.”

Jeongguk also leans back, expression unreadable as he nods.

“Right. Goodnight.”

Usually this is where one then turns and leaves, but they both just stand there, waiting for something else.

And, what evil can a hug do?

Hugs are friendly.

They’re friends.

Jimin goes in for a hug, snaking his arms around Jeongguk’s neck. Hugs are so not friendly. The way Jeongguk’s strong arms wrap around his waist, that’s disrespectful to anyone trying to not get into someone’s pants. Jimin feels his cheeks burn up considerably, and then the heat spreads through his body.

A nervous, giddy laugh escapes his lips as he feels how Jeongguk flattens his palms on his back.

“What?”

Jeongguk murmurs, voice vibrating pleasantly against Jimin’s ears. They’re still hugging even though Jimin is well aware that this is hugging overtime. Friendly hugs don’t linger like this.

He feels his heart in his throat as he shakes his head. If he’d try to talk right now he’d just bring up sea creatures again. And he’s finally got his face squished against Jeongguk’s shoulder, smelling his honey shampoo and feeling the reminder of the sun on his hot skin.

Definitely hugging overtime. If this was a football match people would be booing on the sidelines.

Jeongguk squeezes him tighter, leaves no space between their bodies and that’s a clear red card violation. Nipple piercings brush over his skin and Jimin is a fucking mess. He gasps, one hand sliding up to the back of Jeongguk’s neck, needing to hold on to the hairs at the nape.

That in turn makes Jeongguk’s breath hitch, his big warm hand sliding up Jimin’s back. Even worse is the way Jeongguk then turns his head a bit, and Jimin can feel his nose caressing along his neck, breathing him in.

Fuck.

The not-getting-in-his-pants approach has the complete opposite effect. Apparently sea creatures are a turn-on for Jeongguk. Jin tried to tell him all along.

He’s in serious trouble, thinking about his moral compass. His moral compass in the form of Yoongi, asking him what he wants from Jeongguk. And then there’s his dick, fattening up in his shorts just because Jeongguk is holding him close and breathing him in.

It’s a tough call, but he eventually detaches himself from Jeongguk, blush dusting over his cheeks. Jeongguk blinks at him with his big confused eyes, which is just unfairly attractive.

“Uh.. goodnight. I..”

Jimin makes a hand gesture that supposedly means something, he’s not sure, he’s completely under Jeongguk’s spell. He takes hesitant steps back, trying to put as much distance between them as possible, then stumbles over the threshold.

“Hyung!”

Jeongguk calls, wanting to help, but Jimin stabilises himself just in time from falling.

“A-all good! Don’t worry!”

He says quickly, burning up with embarrassment. He then quickly bows to Jeongguk without looking at him and closes the door for him. For a second he just stands there, closing his eyes tightly in embarrassment and cringe, before he turns around, only to be met by Jin.

Oh no.

The hallway is only dimly lit, but he can see how Jin’s gaze lowers, and Jimin is a second too late covering his visible bulge.

It’s all in slow-motion. His eyes widening, Jin’s lips curling up into an evil smirk. The way his hand appears from behind his back with a fishing hat. Jimin shakes his head, whispering voiceless no’s, but Jin just nods his head yes, evil laughter filling the hallway.

Jimin quivers in fear when the hand approaches, his fate sealed the moment the fishing hat is placed on top of his head.

He lost.

“I’ll see you at 6 o’clock.”

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