Mattheo leaned against the doorway, that infuriatingly charming smirk tugging at his lips. “So… where is my birthday kiss?”

You rolled your eyes and crossed your arms. “You do know that it’s my birthday, not yours, right?”

“Exactly,” he said, taking a slow step closer. “So I will give you a birthday kiss.”

You laughed, shaking your head. “What is wrong with you?”

He shrugged, his grin widening. “Maybe I just like seeing you flustered.”

“You’re terrible,” you muttered, but the corner of your mouth betrayed a smile.

Mattheo tilted his head, locking his gaze on yours. “Okay… let me tell you something. I am madly in love with you.”

You raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Well… good luck with that.”

But he didn’t step back, instead he closed the space between you. “I wake up in the middle of the night… calling out your name…”

You felt your heart skip. “You’re insane.”

“I’m not insane,” he said, his voice softer now, almost vulnerable. “I just… can’t stop thinking about you. Every little thing you do, every laugh, every word… it’s all stuck in my head.”

You swallowed, suddenly aware of the way his presence made the air feel heavier. “You really think that’s going to work on me?”

Mattheo’s smirk softened into something almost tender. “I don’t care if it works or not. I just… needed you to know.”

You felt your chest tighten, and part of you wanted to take a step back and maintain the playful façade. But another part of you... was trembling at how close he was.

He leaned in slightly closer than before. “I don’t expect anything,” he murmured. “I just… want to be honest with you.”

Your lips parted slightly. “You really have no idea how dangerous you are, do you?”

His grin returned, slow and teasing, but there was still that underlying sincerity that made it impossible to look away. “Maybe. Or maybe I know exactly how dangerous I am… for you.”

You took a step back. “You’re unbelievable.”

“And yet, here I am,” he whispered, “hoping… that maybe, just maybe, you’d let me stay.”

Your eyes flicked from his lips to his eyes and back again, uncertainty battling with desire.

"So, princess, can I give you your birthday kiss?" he whispered.