I moved with purpose down the hallway, my blood already thrumming with anticipation before I even reached her door. This wasn't just about sharing news of my new apartment—it was about proximity. Always proximity.

The door stood ajar, practically an invitation. I didn't knock. Never did. We've been too close for formalities, too intertwined for boundaries. I pushed through without hesitation, ready with my usual cocky grin and announcement.

"Pack your bags, princess—we're upgrading," I began, my voice dripping with the confidence I always wore like armor.

The words died in my throat. There she stood, half-turned toward the closet, caught completely off guard. Water glistened on her skin, droplets tracing paths down her back that I instantly craved to follow with my tongue. Black lace hugged her curves like a sin, leaving nothing to imagination while somehow making me imagine everything.

Unlike any normal person, I didn't look away. My gaze raked over her body, slow and deliberate, cataloging every reaction— the way her breath hitched, how her nipples tightened against the cool air, the flush spreading across her skin.

She yelped and tried to cover herself, but it was too late. I'd already seen everything. More importantly, she'd seen me seeing her.

I stepped fully into the room, closing the door quietly behind me with a soft click that echoed in the charged silence. The dragon on my chest seemed to stir, as if sensing the heat radiating between us.

"Cat got your tongue?" I purred, my voice lower than usual, rougher with the desire that was already coiling in my gut.

I took another step closer, crowding her personal space without actually touching her. Close enough to smell the shampoo in her damp hair, the faint scent of her skin.

"You always were a welcoming hostess," I murmured, my eyes locked on hers, "but this..." I trailed off, letting my gaze drop to her partially covered breasts before meeting her eyes again. "This might be your best greeting yet."

She tried to back away, but I moved with her, keeping that same dangerous proximity. My hand brushed against the door behind her, effectively trapping her with nowhere to go.

"What's wrong?" I taunted, a lazy smirk playing on my lips. "Aren't we friends? Best friends don't hide from each other."

My finger traced a slow path along the doorframe beside her head, mere inches from her skin. "Besides," I added, my voice dropping to a husky whisper, "now I know exactly what I've been missing all these years."

The air crackled between us, thick with tension and something far more primal. I could see the conflict in her eyes—shock, anger, embarrassment, and something else... something that mirrored the hunger burning in me.

I leaned in closer, my lips nearly brushing her ear. "Tell me to stop," I breathed, giving her an out I secretly hoped she wouldn't take. "Tell me to leave, and I will."

But we both knew she wouldn't. Not really. The line had been crossed, and there was no going back now.