The front door of Dazai’s family home swung open with a creak, letting in the cool night air and the fiery storm that was me, Lila Voss. My older brother, Ethan, trudged behind, lugging our overnight bags like he was doing me some grand favor. I could already feel the tension brewing as I stepped into the dimly lit living room, the familiar scent of old wood and Dazai’s cologne hitting me like a punch. There he was, lounging on the couch, all long limbs and sharp edges, his dark eyes flicking up to meet mine with a smirk that could cut glass.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the Voss siblings gracing my humble abode,” Dazai drawled, his voice dripping with mock reverence as he unfolded himself from the couch. “To what do I owe the pleasure, princess?”
I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes. “Don’t start with me, Dazai. I’m only here because our parents ditched us for some fancy conference. Trust me, I’d rather be anywhere else than in your creepy little lair.”
“Creepy? Ouch.” He clutched his chest dramatically, stepping closer until I could feel the heat radiating off him. “And here I thought you’d be thrilled to spend a night under my roof. Or, you know, under me.”
I scoffed, shoving past him to drop my bag on the floor. “Keep dreaming, creep. I’d sooner sleep on the porch than anywhere near you.”
Ethan, ever the unhelpful mediator, chuckled as he flopped onto an armchair. “Play nice, kids. I’m not in the mood to referee your weird foreplay all night.”
“Foreplay?” I whipped around, my face flaming. “Ethan, I will end you.”
Dazai grinned, leaning against the wall with an infuriatingly smug look. “Oh, come on, Lila. Don’t act like you haven’t fantasized about tearing into me. I can see it in those fiery little eyes of yours.”
“Bite me,” I snapped, turning away to hide the blush creeping up my neck. God, why did he always know how to get under my skin?
The bickering simmered down as we settled in, but the air stayed thick with unspoken jabs. When it came time to sort out sleeping arrangements, Ethan stretched out on the couch with a lazy yawn. “I’m taking this spot, no arguments. You two can figure out the rest.”
I stared at him, incredulous. “Are you serious? You’re ditching me to sleep with Mr. Broody over there?”
Ethan smirked, propping his head on a pillow. “Hey, maybe you two can finally work out all that pent-up frustration—don’t pretend you haven’t thought about it.”
My jaw dropped, heat flooding my face as I sputtered for a comeback. Ethan’s knowing grin only made it worse, sealing my fate with a wink. I wanted to throttle him, but instead, I grabbed my bag and stormed toward Dazai’s room, my heart pounding with a mix of rage and mortification.
I knocked on his door with a heavy sigh, already dreading the night ahead. Dazai opened it, dressed in a loose black t-shirt and sweatpants, his hair mussed like he’d just rolled out of bed. He rolled his eyes dramatically. “Pass through, princess. Don’t make this weirder than it already is.”
“Trust me, I’m not thrilled about this either,” I muttered, brushing past him into the small, cluttered space. His bed loomed in the center, unmade and far too intimate for my liking. We climbed in, each scooting to opposite edges like the other was contagious, the mattress dipping awkwardly under our combined weight. The silence was suffocating, broken only by the faint hum of the house settling.
Dazai, never one to let a moment of peace linger, grabbed the remote and flicked on the small TV across the room. A horror movie started playing, all eerie music and shadowy figures. He smirked to himself, clearly noticing my stolen glances at the screen despite my best efforts to look uninterested.
“Scared already?” he teased, his voice low and taunting. “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you from the big bad monsters. Or are you more afraid of me?”
I shot him a glare. “I’m not scared of anything, least of all you. Turn it off if you’re just gonna be a jackass about it.”
“Nah, I think I’ll keep it on. Let’s see how long it takes for you to crack, tough girl.”
I rolled my eyes, pulling the blanket up to my chin and trying to ignore him. But as the movie ramped up, a sudden jump-scare—a grotesque figure lunging at the camera—sent me jolting forward with a gasp. My hand shot out instinctively, landing on Dazai’s stomach, my fingers slipping under the hem of his shirt and brushing against warm, taut skin. I froze, mortification washing over me as I stammered, “I-I didn’t mean to—oh god, I’m so sorry!”
Dazai’s hand snapped around my wrist before I could pull away, his grip firm but not painful. His mocking sneer sent a shiver down my spine as he drawled, “What’s this, pervert? Can’t keep your horny little hands to yourself?”
I yanked at my wrist, my face burning. “Let go, you idiot! It was an accident!”
“Oh, no, no, no,” he said, dragging my hand higher, forcing my fingers to graze over the hard planes of his abdomen. “Go on, admit you’re a total creep. Describe exactly what you’re touching, or I’m telling your brother every dirty detail.”
My breath hitched, humiliation clawing at me as I stumbled over my words. “I—I don’t even—your skin, okay? It’s... it’s warm, and—and firm, I guess. Can you just stop now? Please?”
He tilted his head, his smirk widening. “Firm, huh? Keep going. What else? Don’t skimp on the details, Lila. I wanna hear it all.”
Tears pricked at my eyes as I choked out more awkward descriptions, my voice trembling with every word. I hated him for this, hated how he always pushed me to the edge. But just as I felt myself breaking, something shifted in his expression. The taunting edge faded, replaced by something softer, almost regretful.
He released my wrist and rolled over, hovering above me, his weight braced on his forearms. His hand came up to brush my cheek, the touch so gentle it stole my breath. “Hey, I’m sorry,” he murmured, his gaze raw and unguarded. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’ve loved you for so long, hid it behind all this crap. This isn’t a joke—your brother’s known from the start. Be my girl, please?”
I stared at him, my mind reeling as I stuttered incoherently, unable to process the shift. Loved me? Dazai? The guy who’d spent years tormenting me? My heart raced as I tried to form a response, but nothing came out.
“Hey, breathe, it’s just us,” he coaxed, his voice tender now, a stark contrast to moments before. “Take your time, I’m right here.”
I swallowed hard, my voice shaky as I managed a quiet, “Yes. Okay, yes.”
A slow, genuine smile spread across his face, and in one fluid motion, he pulled me atop him, my body pressed against his as he murmured sweet nothings into my ear. “Pick one, yeah? My spitfire, my wildfire, or my little storm—which suits you best?”
I let out a shaky laugh, still reeling. “I... I don’t know. Wildfire, maybe?”
“Wildfire it is,” he said, his hands tracing soothing circles on my back. “You’ve got no idea how gorgeous you are, how you’ve had me wrapped around your finger for years. I’ve been a mess over you, Lila. A complete, hopeless mess.”
We stayed like that, tangled together, the horror movie long forgotten as years of hidden feelings spilled out in the quiet of the night. His warmth, his words, the steady beat of his heart under my cheek—it was overwhelming, intoxicating. And for the first time, I didn’t push him away. I let myself fall, just a little, into whatever this was becoming.
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