You were nestled in your bed, the soft glow of the lamp beside you casting warm light over the pages of your book. The muffled sounds of laughter and conversation drifted from the living room, where your roommate, Shane, entertained his friends. You had tried to block it out, immersing yourself in the romance novel clutched in your hands.

A knock broke the stillness. You sighed, glancing toward the door. "Come in," you called, not looking up from your book.

The door creaked open, and Shane stepped inside, his curious gaze landing on you. He crossed the room with an easy confidence, stopping at the foot of your bed.

"What?" you asked, raising an eyebrow as he stood there, arms crossed.

"What are you reading?" His tone was light, but there was an edge of mischief in his eyes. Before you could react, he reached for the book. "The American Roommate Experiment?" he read aloud, a teasing smile curving his lips.

You snapped the book shut, but not before he caught a glimpse of the tabbed pages. "Hey!" you protested, but he had already snatched it from your hands.

Flipping to a page marked with a bright red tab, Shane held the book just out of your reach. His eyes scanned the words, the corners of his mouth twitching as he read. Then, his gaze flicked up to meet yours, the playful grin on his face sending a jolt of heat to your cheeks.

"Do you imagine me doing this to you?" he asked, his voice low and teasing.

Your breath hitched, and the blush you had been trying to suppress deepened. You could tell by the way his grin widened that he’d noticed.