The kiss

Ariana blinked, her breath hitching. Her heartbeat spiked at the sudden closeness of his face—handsome, intense, entirely too close.

"Not quite," she murmured, forcing herself to hold his gaze. Her back pressed firmly against the car, the cool metal contrasting the heat rushing through her veins.

Luiss smirked, his eyes gleaming with something unreadable. Slowly, deliberately, he reached out, twirling a strand of her hair between his fingers. The small, intimate touch sent a shiver down her spine.

"We still need to decide some things," he said, closing the remaining distance between them.

Ariana's eyes flickered to his lips. She knew this moment mattered—more than it should, more than she was ready for. She activated the 'Attraction' Buff.

Then, just as she expected him to kiss her, he stopped an inch away. Teasing. Waiting. Leaving the decision in her hands.

Fucker.

She cursed silently, hating the power play yet unable to resist it. A war waged inside her, but desire won in the end. With a frustrated sigh, she leaned in, closing the gap between them.

At that exact moment, a soft Ting echoed from the system. The sound barely registered before Luiss's lips curved into a knowing smile against hers.

He wasted no time. For some reason, he wanted her more than he was willing to admit. There was a weird sensation taking over his head. A strange fever of desire and attraction. 

 A strong hand slid to the nape of her neck as he deepened the kiss, his tongue tracing over her lips, demanding entry. 

Possessive

Demanding 

Controlling,

Ariana moaned softly, parting her lips, letting him in.

The world blurred. Passion swallowed them whole.

Luiss's hands cradled her face, his thumbs brushing over her cheeks as he devoured her mouth with slow, thorough strokes. Her small hands fisted in his shirt, holding on for dear life. Somewhere in the haze of heat and longing, she forgot—forgot this was just a prompt from the system. For that fleeting moment, it felt real.

Her knees weakened, threatening to buckle, but he was there. An arm wrapped securely around her waist, pulling her flush against his hard frame. His warmth, his scent, the sheer dominance in the way he held her—it was overwhelming.

Nothing else mattered.

Not her transmigration.

Not her status.

Not the system.

Not even the risk of someone catching them.

Only this kiss.

By the time their lips parted, Ariana was breathless. Her face burned with a deep crimson blush, her chest rising and falling in ragged pants.

Luiss, in contrast, looked maddeningly composed. His breathing had only slightly changed, but the smirk on his lips told her everything.

"Now we're getting somewhere," he murmured, his voice smooth, knowing.

Ariana swallowed, her mind spinning. "I... I should head back. Elias must be waiting for me."

Something in Luiss's expression shifted. His jaw tightened, his dark eyes narrowing. "Who is Elias?" His tone was sharp, edged with something dangerously close to possessiveness.

"My brother," she said quickly, a desperate explanation.

The shadow in his gaze remained, flickering with something unreadable before he exhaled and stepped back, lifting his hand from the car.

"I'll let you off then," he said, but the way his eyes held hers told her one thing—this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

...

Ariana stepped into the elevator, pressing the button for her floor with slightly trembling fingers. Her legs were too weak to even consider the stairs. The lingering heat of Luiss's touch still clung to her skin, his scent refusing to leave her senses.

As the doors slid open, she took a deep breath and walked out, heading straight to her apartment.

Inside, Elias was waiting. The moment he saw her, his shoulders relaxed, and he let out a breath of relief.

"You're back," he said, his voice carrying the weight of unspoken worries.

Ariana arched a brow, smirking as she reached out and ruffled his hair. "You're the little one here. Don't act like the elder sibling."

Elias bristled at the remark, frowning. "Didn't you say yesterday that we're supposed to support each other during tough times?"

"I did," she admitted, laughing softly. "Silly, I was just teasing you."

Without waiting for a response, she disappeared into her room, slipping out of her outfit and into a soft, comfortable nightdress. The loose fabric felt like a relief against her heated skin. But the moment she stepped back into the living room, she found Elias still seated, his expression set in deep contemplation.

She groaned internally. She knew that look.

"What?" she asked, flopping onto the couch.

Elias crossed his arms. "The outside world is cruel. Especially when it comes to dating."

Ariana rolled her eyes. Here we go.

"I need to make sure you went out with someone trustworthy," he continued, his tone serious. But that was just the beginning.

"How old is he?"

"Where does he live?"

"Where did you meet?"

A series of rapid-fire questions tumbled from his lips, each one sharper than the last. His concern was obvious, but so was his relentless curiosity.

Ariana groaned, rubbing her temples. "Ugh... I'm regretting telling you."

Elias, unfazed, kept his expression neutral. "If you don't want to answer, fine. But whenever you go out with him, you need to inform me first."

Ariana sighed in surrender. "Alright, little Elias," she teased, reaching out to ruffle his hair again. "You should save all this worrying for your exams instead of me."

Elias grumbled, swatting her hand away, but the small smile tugging at his lips told her he wasn't truly upset.

And just like that, despite the storm in her mind, Ariana felt a small sense of peace.

For now.