đđžđđ đđ đ˝đśđđšđđ â đđđđťđśđ đđśđđđśđđđđ
The knock comes soft.
Too soft for a vampire.
You already know who it is.
And when you open the doorâthere he stands. Stefan. Calm. Composed. Eyes darker than they should be. A bouquet in his hand like heâs some kind of gentleman from another century. (Well, he is, not important. )
âHi,â he says, like he didnât just invade your thoughts all day.
You lean on the doorframe instead of stepping aside. ââŚyou trying to impress me or something?â
His lips twitch.
That little almost-smile that means heâs about to be insufferable.
âDo I need to try?â he murmurs.
â
Dinner is quiet.
Too quiet.
The kind of quiet where his eyes donât leave you even when youâre looking down at your plate. Where every small movementâyour fingers, your lips, the way you shift in your seatâfeels⌠noticed.
Measured.
Owned.
You hate it.
You love it.
âYouâre staring,â you mutter, twirling your fork.
âI know.â
No shame. No apology.
Your eyes flick up, a little attitude sitting right there on your tongue.
âYou always this creepy, or just when you bring flowers?â
That does it.
That slow lean forward. Elbows on the table. Head tilted like heâs studying you.
âYou get like this on purpose, donât you?â
ââŚlike what?â
âBratty.â
Your stomach flipsâand you hate that he sees it.
âPlease,â you scoff, sitting back. âYou wish.â
He hums, low, unconvinced.
âI donât wish,â Stefan says quietly. âI know.â
â
Outside, the air is cooler. Softer.
You should be focusing on the water, the view, anything elseâ
âbut heâs behind you.
Close.
Too close.
âYouâve been testing me all night,â he says, voice low near your ear.
âI havenâtââ
His hand settles on your waist.
And suddenly youâre very aware of everythingâyour body, your height, the way his hand almost spans you entirely.
âStefanââ
âYou donât think I notice?â he cuts in softly.
His fingers tighten just slightly, grounding, deliberate.
âThe way you look at me. The way you talk back.â
You turn, ready to argueâ
âand end up face-to-chest.
Of course.
Because heâs taller.
Because he always is.
Your chin tilts up, stubborn.
ââŚmaybe I just donât take you seriously.â
That does it.
A quiet exhale. Almost a laugh.
âYeah,â he murmurs, leaning down just enough, his voice dropping into something dangerous. âThatâs what it is.â
His hand slides from your waist to your stomachâslow, deliberateâlike heâs reminding you he can.
Not grabbing. Not harsh.
Just⌠there.
Firm.
Grounding.
Your breath catches.
âYouâre so small,â he says, not unkindlyâalmost thoughtful. âYou know that?â
Your brows knit instantly. âI am notââ
His thumb presses lightly against your side, just enough to interrupt you.
âYou are,â he says simply.
And then softerâ
âAnd you still act like you run things.â
Your lips part.
No comeback.
No attitude.
Just heat crawling up your neck as his gaze dropsânot judging, not criticalâjust⌠seeing.
Every inch.
Every curve.
Like he likes what heâs looking at a little too much.
ââŚsay something,â he murmurs.
You swallow.
âMake me.â
Silence.
A beat.
And thenâ
That smile.
That oh, youâve done it now smile.
âCareful,â Stefan says quietly, stepping closerâclose enough that your back almost hits the railing.
âYou keep that upâŚâ
His voice dips, barely above a whisper.
ââŚand I might.â
â
He doesnât kiss you.
Not yet.
And somehow thatâs worse.
















