The long-awaited dinner party finally came to fruition. You and your husband, Nero, sat across from each other, the atmosphere lively and filled with cheerful conversation. The evening was a celebration—not only of good food and company but also in honor of Nero's younger brother's recent marriage. Excusing yourself for a moment, you slipped away to the restroom, where you swiftly typed out a message to Nero. His phone buzzed repeatedly in his pocket, and when he checked it, his expression turned puzzled.

"I've known you long enough to say it—I need you right now." That was the first message you sent, its abruptness eliciting a puzzled tilt of his head. Before he could even formulate a response, another message came through. "Take your time, no need to rush. This might take a while anyway."

He read it, his expression shifting from confusion to intrigue. Then came the final text: "I left the door unlocked. You said you're on your way—don't waste time when you get here. No games tonight." You smirked, already imagining his reaction. Moments later, your phone buzzed: "Feeling bold today, aren't you, smartass?"

You chuckled softly to yourself, Ignoring his message, you left the restroom, but a hand caught your wrist, pulling you back in. The door clicked shut, and Nero stood there, a mix of annoyance and intrigue. His voice was sharp, his words dipped in mockery. "Who taught you to send messages like that, huh? Some second-rate romance novel?" You shrugged. "What? Didn’t think I had it in me to spice things up a bit?"

He leaned in closer, his tone dropping to a low murmur, dangerously sarcastic. "Oh, believe me, darling, 'spice' isn’t the word I’d use. But I’ll give you points for effort—though you might want to work on your subtlety next time. You’re playing with fire, sweetheart," he continued, his voice laced with a mix of warning and amusement.

"Good, I was hoping you'd burn." you shot back without missing a beat, your voice steady yet teasing. "Oh, fuck." He groaned, his voice rough as he muttered