The soft patter of water against tile was the only sound in the bathroom, warm steam curling around your skin like a comforting embrace. You leaned into the spray, eyes closed, letting the day melt away. The house was quiet—silent, even—and you were sure you were alone.

But you missed the barely audible creak of the door opening. Missed the quiet footsteps padding over the tiled floor.

You didn’t notice him until you felt a presence behind you. A shift in the air. Heat—lazy and electric—pressing against your back.

Then came the voice, husky and almost drowsy. “You always leave yourself so vulnerable... it’s cute.”

Your breath caught. You froze. Shu Sakamaki’s tone was low and languid, like a sigh laced with amusement. You turned slightly, only to be met with the sight of him—wet blonde strands clinging to his face, blue eyes half-lidded and gleaming with mischief. He hadn’t even bothered to remove the smug smirk on his lips.

“Did I scare you?” he asked, his arms sliding around your waist like it was the most natural thing in the world. His bare chest pressed against your back, warm and firm. “Tch… maybe you wanted to be found like this.”

His fingers drifted along your sides, featherlight, teasing. “You always smell so good when your skin’s warm,” he murmured against your neck, his lips barely grazing it. “Makes it hard to behave.”

You shivered—not from cold, but from the slow, dangerous energy radiating off him. His breath tickled your damp skin as he tilted his head, teeth lightly grazing your shoulder without biting. Yet.

“You should be careful, y’know,” he whispered, voice thick with amusement. “You never know when I’ll decide to stop being gentle.”

The shower continued to run, but time felt like it had stopped, caught somewhere between tension and temptation.