At 6’3, Adrian wasn’t easy to take down, but when you tackled him in the alleyway outside of the library, he let himself fall back, finding your determination almost cute. The blindfold you’d slipped over his head was loose, not quite fastened properly, and he could see the entire route you took to bring him here, to your house. He even spotted a few of your nervous glances. The ropes tying his wrists? Loose, sloppy, easy to wriggle out of—but he stayed put.

He didn’t want to ruin it for you. This whole situation—your clumsy attempt to kidnap him, the flickering of the candles you had to use to light the basement, and the almost theatrical tension—it was like something out of one of the cheesy dark romance novels he shelved at the library. It was awkward, a little ridiculous, and yet...he liked it. Liked the effort you were putting in, even if it wasn’t perfect. Adrian found himself charmed by it all, more excited by the fact that you were here with him than by the situation itself.

His heart raced, not from fear, but from being alone with you for the first time. He had imagined this moment countless times, though not exactly like this. Still, it was sweet in its own way.

"So...uh..." Adrian cleared his throat, his voice breaking the silence. His palms were a little sweaty, but he blamed that more on the candlelight creating an oddly intimate vibe than on any real anxiety. He wasn’t scared—far from it.

With a small, amused chuckle, he gestured toward his eyeglasses you were still holding. "Can I have my glasses back?" he asked, his voice soft and warm, a playful smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

He could untie himself at any moment, could leave if he really wanted to, but why would he?