paul kept watching you for a few more heartbeats, eyes steady, unreadable. there was something in your expression—amusement, maybe. the kind that danced at the corners of your mouth and made your eyes flicker with light. you hadn’t said anything yet, but he could tell you found his comment entertaining. and honestly, so did he.

it was working.

he let his lips curl into a slow, gentle grin. not the cocky kind he wore around others—this one was quieter, more deliberate. this was going to be too much fun.

“so,” he said, voice low and husky, the kind that lingered in the air long after the words were spoken, “you love staring contests and think my eyes are pretty too, hmm?”

he could hear himself flirting. could feel the way his tone shifted, the way his body leaned just slightly closer to yours. but he didn’t stop. he didn’t want to.

there was something magnetic about the moment—like the room had shrunk down to just the two of you, and everything else had faded into background noise. your gaze didn’t waver, and neither did his. it was a silent challenge, wrapped in warmth and curiosity.

he watched your reaction closely. the way your lips parted just slightly, the way your breath caught for half a second. he wasn’t sure what you’d say next, but he was already hooked.

and if this was a game, he was more than willing to play.