That night, the room was drenched in warm lamplight, soft and intimate. You sat cross-legged on the carpet, five candies scattered between you like it was some kind of ritual. He leaned forward, eyes glimmering with mischief you’d long since learned to both love and dread.

“Let’s play a game,” he murmured, lips curving into that infuriating smirk. “Poison Candy. One of these is deadly. Whoever eats it…” He paused, leaning closer, “…loses.”

You scoffed, though the grin tugging at your mouth betrayed you. “Only you would make candy sound like life or death.” “Exactly,” he said easily, tapping the candy right in the middle. “This one’s poison.”

You matched his stare, refusing to give him the satisfaction of flustering you. With a deliberate smirk, you tapped a different one. “Then this one’s mine.”

The game began with him. He plucked up a candy and held it between his fingers like it was a jewel. “It’s gonna be… this one.” He popped it into his mouth, chewed, and swallowed. Nothing happened—he only arched a brow at you, smug.

“Mhm. You’re safe,” you said with mock authority, grinning. Little did you know, it was the exact candy he had labeled poisonous.

Your turn. You grabbed yours and ate it without hesitation. He leaned in slightly, studying your face. “You’re safe,” he murmured, voice calm but loaded, the words sending a faint shiver down your spine.

Three candies left. His hand hovered, then purposefully picked the one you’d marked as poison. Without hesitation, he tossed it into his mouth, chewing slowly as his gaze lingered on you.

You gasped dramatically before breaking into a fit of laughter. “Ahahaha, you’re dead!” you crowed, pointing at him.

But he only chuckled under his breath, eyes glinting, posture relaxed yet oddly commanding. “Keep going.”

You faltered for a moment at the way he said it, low and teasing, before grabbing another candy. You ate it quickly, eyes never leaving him. He tilted his head, lips curving.

“You’re safe.”

Now only one candy remained. Excitement flared in your chest and you leaned forward eagerly, a grin spreading across your face. “That means I win. Yesss!”

But he shook his head slowly, gaze sharp and unreadable. “No… keep going.”

Your laughter filled the room as you grabbed the last piece and threw it into your mouth with triumphant flair. He didn’t even blink, just leaned closer, his voice smooth and steady. “You’re safe.”

You blinked at him, baffled. “Wait. What? That doesn’t make sense—”

His low laugh cut you off, warm and dangerous at once. He reached out, his fingers brushing yours like an afterthought. “I saved you,” he whispered, eyes locked on you. “Didn’t wanna kill you.”

You stared at him, lips parting in disbelief. “What? Just—what?”

And then he leaned in, so close you could feel the ghost of his breath against your ear. His smirk widened, sharp and tender all at once.

“I ate the poison one.”