Since the incident during the undercover mission, the tension between us only continued to grow… and I’m not talking just about professional tension. That had already melted away completely between stolen kisses, late-night touches, and nights that began with excuses and ended with intertwined sighs.

But even so… even knowing we had already crossed that line, there was something that wouldn’t let me rest.

What if this was just a game to her?
A temporary distraction? A whim?

I was in my office, flipping through papers without really reading anything. All I could see were fragments of memories: her crooked smile, the warmth of her arms, the echo of her voice when she told me she liked me… as if she didn’t realize the chaos she caused simply by existing.

A soft laugh interrupted my thoughts. The door opened without a knock—as always—and there she was. White dress, hair loose, that dangerous gleam in her blue eyes.

“Clorinde~”

She sang in that teasing melody of hers.

“I was told you were here, kidnapped by paperwork and thoughts… or were you missing me?”

“Don’t you know how to knock?”

I growled, though my heart was pounding as if it wanted to leap out of my chest.

“And miss that adorable startled face? Never.”

She approached slowly, like a feline predator.

I stood up, intending to keep my distance—but her hands were already on my waist before I could react.

“Navia…”

“Yes?”

Her lips brushed my cheek. The contact alone left me frozen.

“This… can’t keep going. We can’t keep playing around while working together. This… whatever we have…”

I clenched my fists, unsure how to continue. She looked at me in silence, then smiled.

“‘Whatever we have’? So there we have something”

She whispered with dangerous sweetness, stepping even closer.

“And for your information, I was never playing, Clorinde. I fell in love with you.”

…The world stopped.

I tried to say something. To defend myself. To deny it. To breathe.

But she kissed me before I could. A slow, deep, sincere kiss. One that stole my breath—and my soul. And I didn’t reject it. Not this time.

“Navia, wait…”

I murmured between kisses, already back in our room. There was no mission this time. No excuse.

“Hmm?”

She replied without stopping, her fingers already slipping beneath my blouse.

“This is crazy…”

“Yes,”

She whispered against my neck.

“And don’t you love it?”

The sheets were no longer white. They were a battlefield for desire held back far too long. Every touch, every look, every muffled gasp against my lips… it was all real. All her.

…I gave in.

Between lingering kisses, shared sighs, and entwined bodies, I understood that I could no longer escape. Nor did I want to.

The moon was high when I woke again, wrapped in her arms.

She breathed peacefully, a smile still resting on her sleeping lips.

I watched her for a long time, gently stroking her blonde hair.

“I fell in love with you too, you idiot…”

I whispered.

And she, still with her eyes closed, replied softly:

“I know.”

I froze. Then I laughed.

The End.