Ethan's eyes locked with Roman's, and the noise of the rooftop party dulled into a distant hum. For a long, suspended moment, the rest of the world simply ceased to exist.
Their hands remained clasped—warm, firm, steady. Neither moved to let go.
Roman broke the silence first, his voice smooth and low. "It's nice to meet you, Ethan."
Ethan gave a faint smile, something unfamiliar stirring inside him. "Likewise… Roman."
They stood there, still and steady in the chaos. Ethan took in every detail—the slight crinkle at the corners of Roman's eyes when he smiled, the soft curl of his dark hair at the nape of his neck, the elegant cut of his jaw.
And Roman was watching him, too. Watching him like a man reading a secret only he could understand. His gaze lingered on Ethan's piercing blue eyes, the scar that traced lightly across his jaw, the quiet tension beneath his calm exterior.
Their eyes met again—and this time, it wasn't just attraction. It was a current, raw and undeniable, surging between them.
Ethan leaned in slightly. "Want to get out of here?"
Roman's lips curled into a slow, mischievous smile. "Thought you'd never ask."
Without another word, Ethan laced their fingers together and guided him through the crowd. The rooftop lights faded behind them, replaced by the pulse of the city below.
The night air was crisp, and the silence between them was anything but empty. It was charged.
They walked several blocks, neither speaking much, but every brush of Roman's fingers against Ethan's set his nerves alight. Ethan had been with people before, but nothing had ever felt quite like this. Like gravity itself was pulling him closer.
Eventually, they stopped beside a sleek black car. Ethan opened the door with a flick of his wrist, nodding. "After you."
Roman slid inside with effortless grace. Ethan rounded the car and got behind the wheel, starting the engine. The hum of the motor filled the silence as they pulled into the night.
Streetlights streaked past the windshield, painting the interior in shifting hues of gold and shadow. Roman watched him—not nervously, but curiously, like he was deciphering Ethan's soul.
"Where are we going?" he asked, voice soft, teasing.
Ethan glanced over, smirking. "Anywhere you want."
Roman raised an eyebrow. "Surprise me, then."
Ethan chuckled under his breath, turning off the main road and toward the outskirts of the city. The high-rises gave way to trees and rolling hills. The deeper they drove, the more the world felt like it belonged to them alone.
Roman's hand brushed his.
A spark shot up Ethan's arm.
He didn't pull away.
Instead, he eased the car to the side of the road and stopped. The headlights cut through the trees, but everything else was darkness. Silence. Expectation.
Roman turned to him, brows raised. "Something wrong?"
Ethan's voice came out rougher than he intended. "I couldn't keep driving."
Roman tilted his head. "Why not?"
Ethan met his gaze. "Because I wanted to kiss you."
Roman blinked, then smiled. Soft. Genuine. And very, very dangerous.
"I was hoping you would."
Ethan leaned in, his heart racing. Their lips met—slow at first, uncertain.
Then everything exploded.
It wasn't rushed. It wasn't desperate. It was the kind of kiss that made you forget who you were, where you came from, and what you were supposed to do next.
The city, the mafia, the wars—all of it disappeared.
There was only this moment. Only them.