Henry sat on the living room couch, controller in hand, eyes locked on the screen—but his thoughts were far from the game. He couldn't shake the image of Rose lying there, half-asleep, half-exposed. He tried to focus, pressing buttons and forcing his attention on the game, but her curves and that red lingerie kept flashing in his mind like a glitch in his system.
Just then, her voice sliced through the haze.
"Are you ready for another round with me? I'm sure I'll win this time."
Henry looked up, surprised by her sudden challenge. She was standing there, back in her usual playful mood, making it feel like nothing had happened. He let out a laugh—part relief, part excitement.
"Bring it on," he said with a grin. Then, without thinking, he added, "But if you lose again… you owe me a kiss."
He froze, shocked at his own words.
Rose tilted her head. "I owe you what?"
He blinked. Did she not hear it? Thank God.
"N-Never mind," he stammered, covering quickly. "If you lose, you owe me a treat. Dinner. That's fair, right?"
Rose raised an eyebrow, walking over to sit beside him. "I'd love that. Still better than the hard tasks you usually give me," she teased, rolling her eyes.
They dove into the game, controllers clicking furiously, laughter echoing through the room. But Rose lost—twice—and the second defeat had her tossing the controller onto the couch in mock frustration.
"You cheat! I swear you do," she groaned, standing up.
Henry laughed. "Or maybe I'm just really good. And now… free dinner for me."
As he stood, he reached out impulsively, grabbing her hand and pulling her close. His other hand slipped around her waist, drawing her against him until there was no space left between their bodies.
His voice dropped, low and smooth.
"So… where are you taking me for dinner tonight?"
Rose's heart jumped. The closeness. His voice. His hands. It caught her completely off guard. She pushed him away quickly, taking a step back.
"If you want someone to hold like that, or be all… intimate with," she stammered, eyes a little wide, "go find yourself a girlfriend."
Henry smirked, hands raised like he meant no harm. "Too bad you know I don't have one… and I can't seem to find one, either."
He didn't know what made him pull her close like that. It was like something else had taken over—like some part of him had finally acted on the thoughts he'd buried for too long.
But seeing her flustered, heart pounding, made something shift in him.
He cleared his throat. "Anyway… I'll keep it light tonight. We'll save the dinner for another day."
With that, he turned around, walked off, and closed his door quietly behind him—leaving Rose standing there in the silence, with her thoughts louder than ever.