Tension crackled in the air like a live wire. The argument had spiraled out of control, stemming from something as trivial as germs, yet now it felt like a storm was about to break. You turned your back to him, frustrated, arms crossed as you muttered a curse under your breath.

From behind, you could feel his gaze burning into you, heavy and unwavering. The silence that followed was thick, almost suffocating. You dared a glance over your shoulder—just a quick look—only to find him suddenly closing the distance in a flash.

Before you could even react, he was on you, his hands slamming down on the counter on either side of you, caging you in. His chest pressed subtly against your back as his face loomed dangerously close, his breath warm against your skin. You froze, your pulse quickening as his intense eyes bore into yours with an expression that sent a shiver down your spine.

"Mind repeating that, sweetheart?" he whispered, his voice low, the words dripping with a dangerous challenge. The deadly glare in his eyes made it clear—he wasn’t asking.