It was past midnight. The penthouse was still. No one city Noice. No voices. Just the hum of distant traffic and a soft ticking clock somewhere in the walls.
Lev couldn't sleep.
He walked out of the guest room, barefoot, wrapping his arms around himself. The cool floor touched his skin, grounding him. His oversized T-shirt hung loosely, brushing his thighs.
He just needed water. Nothing else. But fate never played fair. As he turned the corner near the kitchen---
He froze. Dimitri was already there. Leaning against the counter in dark joggers and a plain black t=shirt, sipping from a glass of whiskey like he owned the night.
Lev blinked. ''You always lurk in shadows?''
Dimitri smirked. ''You always walk around looking like temptation?''
Lev cheeks flushed. ''I didn't know anyone was awake.''
Dimitri tilted his head. ''You're not sleeping well.''
Lev hesitated. ''Neither are you.''
Silence settled between them again.
Lev stepped closer, reaching for the water bottle in the fridge. Dimitri didn't move --- but h9is eyes followed every motion. Every curve. Every shift. {That some tension returned} Not loud. Not fast. just.....electric.
Lev leaned against the other counter, drinking slowly. ''You used to look at me like this before,'' he said quietly. ''The night of the party. You were already watching me then.''
'I wanted you then,'' Dimitri said bluntly. ''Still do.''
Lev inhaled sharply. ''That night....I was drunk, I wasn't thinking.''
''I was. Every second.''
Lev's eyes flicked it him. ''don't do that.''
''Do what?''
''Make it sound like it meant more than it did.''
Dimitri stepped forward. Not to close. But close enough for Lev's breath to catch. ''It did.''
Lev's fingers curled around the bottle. ''Stop.''
''You keep saying that'' Dimitri whispered. ''But you're not moving.''
Lev's heart thudded. ''I should go back to bed,'' he said, voice weak.
Dimitri reached out slowly, brushing a strand of hair from Lev's face. ''You're shaking,'' he murmured.
Lev stepped back. Barely.
Dimitri didn't follow. He just stood there, watching him. Like he was memorizing every line of his face. Every expression.
''why do you do this?'' Lev asked, voice cracking slightly.
''Because you still feel like mine,'' Dimitri answered low and rough.
The air tightened. The seconds stretched.
Then---Matev's soft murmur echoed faintly from down the hall.
Lev blinked like he'd come out a trance. ''I need to check on him,'' he said quickly, brushing past.
But his shoulder brushed Dimitri's chest, and for a heartbeat...neither moved.
Just breathing.
Just heat.
Just everything unsaid.
Lev walk away fast. Back to the guest room. Back to silence.
But in the hallway, Dimitri stood alone. still starting after him. And behind his cold eyes-----
{That fire hadn't gone anywhere}