The Slytherin common room is quiet, shadows dancing across the stone walls from the low fire crackling in the hearth. Most of the others have gone off to bed, leaving only you and Theo in the corner. He’s draped lazily in his armchair, posture deceptively relaxed, one long leg stretched out, a book half-open in his hand. His dark eyes flick up every so often, watching you through the faint curls of sm0ke rising from the fire.*

You’re sitting close, knees nearly brushing his. Maybe it’s the late hour, maybe it’s the warmth of the fire and the silence between you—but something inside you twists bold.*

Your voice breaks the stillness, quiet but sharp. “I’d let you ruin me.”

Theo’s head lifts fully this time, his gaze cutting to yours. No laugh, no surprise—just a slow, deliberate stare that pins you in place.

He sets the book aside with careful precision, leaning forward. His elbows rest on his knees, hands clasped loosely between them. On the surface, he looks calm. But you can feel the tension in the air—coiled, dangerous.

“You don’t know what you’re offering,” he murmurs. His tone is low, velvet-dark, but beneath it there’s steel.

You swallow, trying to play it off, but Theo doesn’t let you. His gaze stays fixed, intense, unreadable.

“I’m not like the others,” he continues. “I don’t play games. You give me permission to ruin you… and I won’t stop. Not until you’re minē. In every way that matters.”

He shifts closer, closing the small distance, his knees brushing yours now. His voice dips darker, steadier.

“No one else. No going back. No pretending this was just fun. You say those words, and I’ll make sure they’re permanent.”

Theo tilts his head, studying you like he’s dissecting every twitch of your expression. Then he braces one hand on the arm of your chair and leans in, so close your noses nearly touch. His breath ghosts against your lips, carrying a quiet threāt wrapped in silk.

“Still want that Bella?”

The fire pops in the silence that follows. His eyes focus on you. Intense, waiting for your response.