Yoongi lifted me into his arms, carrying me with a quiet tenderness. A shadow lingered in his eyes. "Let's go home," he murmured. I let the comfort of his embrace lull me, surrendering to exhaustion as he placed me gently in the passenger seat. As he drove, his face betrayed a storm brewing beneath his calm—anger, hurt, and protectiveness mingling together as he stole glances at me.
When I opened my eyes the next morning, a dull ache throbbed through my head. The duvet felt heavy and foreign, my skin bare beneath it. Panic flashed briefly, then faded as I saw Yoongi sitting at the edge of the bed, arms crossed, his eyes locked onto mine. I could feel the intensity radiating from him.
"Good morning," I ventured, trying to sound lighthearted, a smile tugging at my lips despite the nervous energy knotting in my stomach. But Yoongi's face remained unyielding.
"Good morning?" His tone was low, each word a restrained blade. "Do you think that covers it? You were out of control last night. You lied to me, ended up in danger, and I had to watch as you were almost taken from me." His voice trembled slightly.
I bit my lip, my gaze dropping to the floor. "I… I'm sorry," I whispered. "I shouldn't have lied to you; I just… wanted a night of freedom."
Yoongi exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair in frustration. He leaned closer, his voice trembling with raw vulnerability. "Freedom? Is that what you think you need?" He brushed a stray strand of hair from my face. "Do you understand what could have happened to you? If I hadn't been there…" He stopped, his hand falling back.
"I'm so sorry," I murmured, my voice cracking as I reached for him. "Please… don't hate me."
He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. He took my hand, the warmth of his touch grounding me. "I don't hate you," he whispered, his eyes softening. "But you need to trust me. You mean more to me than you'll ever know."
The weight of his words hung in the air. Then, his eyes hardened. A shiver ran down my spine.
Yoongi's expression shifted. The softness dissipated, leaving a hardened mask. A shiver ran down my spine. "You lied to me, went behind my back, and put yourself in danger. Do you have any idea what could've happened?" Each word was a cold blade.
"I just wanted a night of freedom," I whispered, guilt clawing at me. "I thought it would be harmless fun."
"Harmless?" His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "Do you know what it felt like to hear that you could've been taken away from me? To know you were out there alone?" He clenched his fists.
"I'm sorry… I never meant for things to go this far," I said, my voice trembling.
Yoongi closed his eyes, breathing deeply. When he looked at me again, the hurt and anger remained. "Sorry won't erase what happened. You broke my trust."
A tear slid down my cheek. "Please… don't hate me, Yoongi."
"I don't hate you." His voice softened momentarily, but his grip on my arm tightened possessively. "But you need to understand the consequences. You're mine to protect. That means I set boundaries for your safety, not to restrict you."
A knot of fear twisted in my stomach. "I'll never do it again… I swear."
Yoongi's hand lifted to my face, his thumb brushing away a tear. "I don't think you understand yet," he said quietly. "This isn't about a simple apology. You need to feel the gravity of what you've done. You'll be punished."
Fear made my voice tremble. "W-what will you do?"
Yoongi's jaw clenched. "You'll find out soon enough. You'll learn not to lie, not to defy me, and to trust that I always have your best interests in mind." He took a step back.
The mixture of guilt, fear, and a strange thrill left me breathless. "I'm sorry, Yoongi… I truly am."
"Sorry isn't enough, but it's a start," he replied.
Yoongi's eyes bore into mine. "You think you can talk your way out of this? Trust me; I know you too well. Don't think I'll forget." He paused. "Next Sunday, you'll be right here, and I'll make sure you remember why you need to listen to me."
"I know, I know…" I whispered, my voice breaking slightly as I reached up to grasp his wrist, desperate for any reassurance. "I just… I hated what happened last night. I don't need to be punished to understand that I made a mistake. Please, Yoongi."
Yoongi's jaw clenched, his grip on me tightening slightly, and for a fleeting moment, his expression softened as he looked down at me. "You say that now. But what happens next time, when you think you can get away with something else, just because I let you off easy?"
I shook my head vigorously, guilt flooding through me as I met his gaze. "No, there won't be a next time. I promise, Yoongi. I'll never put myself in that position again."
He studied me in silence, his fingers tracing gentle patterns on my cheek, his expression unreadable. "I believe you. But this time, the punishment isn't negotiable."
A shiver ran through me. I nodded.
Yoongi gave a small nod. "Good girl. Now, get up, freshen up, and take those pills for your hangover. You've got a lot to think about." His eyes bore into mine. "And don't think you can hide from me. You need to face the consequences."
A rush of adrenaline surged through me. I was still naked under the duvet. "I-I will!" I stammered, scrambling to cover myself as I darted from the bed.
I hurried into the bathroom, the cool air hitting my skin. My heart raced. This weekend would test the limits of my freedom, and there would be no escaping the lessons he had in store for me.
The gravity of his words hung in the air, a reminder that my freedom had limits, and the stakes were higher than I'd realised.
After a moment, his voice softened. "Hurry up in there, Baby. You'll need some breakfast to go with those painkillers."
I laughed softly, feeling both a thrill of defiance and the comfort of his presence.