Obruche_Princess

The hum of the coffee shop was like any other a blend of clinking cups, hushed conversations, and the soft swish of the barista’s apron as they moved behind the counter. Adrian strode in, his sharp gaze barely flicking toward the order board as he walked past the line of people. His mind was preoccupied, his phone held firmly in one hand, eyes scanning through an email from his company’s legal team.

He was too distracted by his thoughts to notice the petite figure standing in his path until it was too late.

A gasp broke through the air, followed by the unmistakable sound of liquid splashing. Adrian's body jerked, the scalding hot coffee sloshing onto his dark gray suit just as his phone flew out of his hand.

“Shit!” came the voice, soft but hurried, as the person in question scrambled to steady their own coffee cup and avoid more damage. Adrian barely had time to react as a small figure stepped back, eyes wide with panic.

"I.I’m so sorry!" The voice trembled, and Adrian finally looked up to meet the wide, apologetic eyes of the person who had crashed into him. His gaze softened as he saw the clear panic on the other person’s face.

The person in front of him was a young man slender, with messy dark hair and a few stray strands falling into his face. His eyes, a warm shade of brown, flicked nervously from the coffee splattered on Adrian’s suit to Adrian’s face. His lips parted in a silent apology as he clutched the coffee cup, looking for something to say, but the words seemed to fail him.

Adrian’s frown deepened, his suit already ruined, but the surprise of the moment faded quickly. He tilted his head slightly, giving the man a once-over.

"Are you alright?" Adrian asked, voice calm yet with an edge of amusement, despite the ruined suit. He reached for the napkins on the counter to dab at the coffee stains.

The guy blinked rapidly, as if processing Adrian’s question. “Yeah, I... I mean, yeah, but oh god, your suit! I’m so sorry, I wasn’t paying attention!” His hands fluttered in the air awkwardly as he stepped forward, his movements frantic.

Adrian couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. “It’s fine, really. I’ve had worse.” His voice held a quiet authority, but something in his expression softened. He took a breath and added, “Not the first time something like this has happened.”

The young man Kai, as Adrian now saw on his name tag bit his lip and exhaled a shaky breath. "I'm so embarrassed. I swear, I’m usually more careful." He finally seemed to calm down a little, though his nervousness lingered.

Adrian couldn’t resist. “Seems like you’re a little distracted. What’s going on in that head of yours?”

Kai blinked again, almost flustered. "Huh? Oh. Just... life, you know?" He laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Work stuff... which is apparently bad luck today.” He pointed toward the stain on Adrian’s suit, his fingers twitching nervously.

Adrian’s eyebrow arched. “Work stuff, huh? What do you do?”

Kai hesitated for a moment. “Uh... marketing. At... uh, a company. Not nearly as cool as... whatever it is you do.”

Adrian chuckled again, shaking his head. “I’ll say this, though: I’m not in the marketing game. I’m actually... not great with people, so let’s just say you got me at a good moment. A coffee spill’s the least of my problems today.” His voice was smooth, almost teasing as he finally took in Kai’s nervousness.

Kai looked embarrassed but a little relieved. “Well, if it helps, I’ll pay for a new suit?”

“Too much of a hassle,” Adrian replied. “But you do owe me a drink. How about we get one sometime this weekend?”

Kai blinked, clearly caught off guard. “Wait, you mean... after spilling coffee all over you?”

Adrian smiled, a sly glint in his eyes. “Well, if you’re willing to make it up to me, why not?”

Kai’s hesitation was palpable, but there was a playful curiosity there now, his shoulders relaxing as he gave a half-hearted laugh. “I’ll be honest, I wasn't expecting that...

Between Fangs and Claws

Monday morning hit like a damn brick wall.

Kai slumped over his desk, half his brain fried from trying to avoid thinking about him. The dinner. The way Adrian had looked at him like he wasn't prey but something worse. Something dangerous. Desired.

And f**k if that didn't make things ten times worse.

"Hey, puppy," came a too-familiar voice behind him.

Kai didn't even look up. "Don't call me that."

"I can think of something else to call you," Adrian murmured, his voice a smooth caress against Kai's frayed nerves.

Kai slowly turned, glaring. "Are you seriously flirting at work now?"

Adrian smirked, completely unbothered, dressed in a crisp navy suit that hugged all the right places. "Flirting? That wasn't flirting. That was me being friendly."

"Friendly," Kai repeated, deadpan. "Right. Just like a cobra is friendly before it strikes."

"You wound me, Kai," Adrian said, placing a dramatic hand over his unbeating heart. "I'm merely trying to be a good coworker."

"You've never tried being good at anything," Kai muttered.

"Oh, I'm very good at many things," Adrian purred.

Kai flushed. And cursed internally.

They were interrupted by the project manager entering the room, thankfully. The day was a blur of meetings, design drafts, and awkward glances across the table. But the worst part wasn't the tension it was how easy it felt. How being around Adrian had become… familiar. Addictive.

After work, Kai tried to go straight home. Tried being the operative word.

He made it as far as the lobby before that smooth voice caught him again.

Kai's eyes flared. "I'm not scared of you."

Adrian chuckled darkly. "You should be."

But despite everything, Kai followed.

They ended up at a quiet overlook just outside the city. The stars blinked above, and the silence stretched thick between them.

"I hate that you're not what I expected," Kai said softly.

Adrian turned toward him, hands in his coat pockets. "I hate that I don't hate you."

Kai looked up. "What are we doing, Adrian?"

Adrian's eyes glowed faintly in the dark. "Breaking rules."

Then he stepped in closer. Not touching, just there. Too close. Too warm. Too tempting.

"But it doesn't feel wrong," Adrian said, his voice a velvet rope pulling Kai in. "It feels like something I haven't let myself want in a long, long time."

Then slow, tentative, full of fire just barely restrained, Kai leaned in. His lips brushed against Adrian's, a whisper of a kiss.

No teeth. No hunger. Just lips. Just feeling.

When they finally broke apart, Kai's voice was shaky. "If I fall for you, Adrian…"

"You already are," Adrian whispered. "And that's the real danger."

Chapter 7: The Rules We Break