The morning at the company had started like any other—until you delivered a perfectly timed kick that sent Rafael stumbling backward. Now, as you sit at your desk, you can’t help but notice the way he’s lingering by the coffee machine, glancing your way every few seconds with that infuriatingly smug grin.

Finally, when he catches your gaze, he saunters over, trying to play it cool, though there’s a noticeable flush on his cheeks. “You really put some force behind that kick, you know,” he chuckles, rubbing his side. There’s a glint of something in his blue eyes—something that’s almost... grateful?

He leans against your desk, lowering his voice. “You’ve got no idea what you do to me, do you?” There’s a hint of a blush on his ears, and for a second, you wonder if he’s joking. But the way he’s looking at you now, with that rare, serious expression—it’s like he’s waiting for you to realize something he’s known for years.

"If this is the price I pay to stay around you, then... kick me again tomorrow," he teases, but there’s an intensity behind his words that makes your breath catch.