Her grin returned, a little triumphant now, but softer this time. "I promise!"
Ren shook his head slightly, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. She really is relentless, he thought, glancing down at his clipboard again.
Seraphina leaned back slightly, satisfied with her tiny victory, eyes flicking toward him with a playful spark. "See? It's not so bad to take a break from being so wound up all the time."
Ren's fingers tightened lightly on his pen. Not so bad… maybe. But I'm not falling for that trick again.
The café was quiet, sunlight spilling across the counter. Seraphina perched lightly on the edge, notebook open, pencil in hand, humming softly.
"So… this step doesn't make sense to me," she said, tilting her head, voice casual but with a lilting softness. Her elbow brushed lightly against his arm as she leaned over the notebook, just enough that the movement felt almost incidental.
Ren exhaled softly, gripping his pen a little tighter. Instead of stepping back, he allowed her a fraction of space, guiding her gently so she wouldn't topple over. "Here, let me show you the step," he murmured, adjusting the notebook slightly, keeping the motion careful, measured.
She let out a small, satisfied sigh, leaning in so that a strand of hair fell across his arm. "Thanks… you make it look so easy," she murmured, the warmth of her body just barely brushing against his as she traced the equations with her pencil.
"It's just following the steps," he said, voice calm, steady and careful.
Seraphina tilted her head, pretending to study the page but her eyes flicked up at him. "You're… very patient with me," she murmured, a soft warmth in her tone.
Seraphina leaned in a little too close as she adjusted her seat, the faint scent of her perfume brushing past him. Her shoulder grazed his arm, light but deliberate, and a teasing smile curved at her lips as if she were testing how far she could push without crossing a line.
Ren felt the subtle shift immediately, the proximity, the way her voice dropped just a touch softer. He didn't move, but his jaw tightened, eyes fixed ahead. She was clever, he'd give her that. Always playing at the edge of familiarity, watching how he would respond.
When she tilted her head, her face hovering just a fraction too near his, he finally met her gaze, calm and unreadable. "You're too close," he said quietly, not unkindly but with unmistakable firmness.
Seraphina's smile didn't falter. "Am I?" she asked, her tone light, feigning innocence. But the gleam in her eyes told him she knew exactly what she was doing.
Ren kept his expression neutral, lips barely moving, but inside, his heart beat faster. Infuriating… and deliberate, he thought, letting her have that tiny fraction of space without stepping back.
"I'm not usually this slow," she said softly, letting her hand linger near his as she erased a line. "Maybe I'm… preoccupied... with something else. You have such big hands." Her gaze dipped to his hands for a moment, then back to his eyes, playful and knowing.
Ren ignored her advances, guiding the notebook again to give her just enough room while keeping control. "Then we'll go step by step," he said gently. "You take your time."
She leaned back just slightly, stretching, letting her blouse shift in a way that caught a hint of light, a faint, deliberate arch of her body. Her voice softened, dropping into a sultry murmur. "I think I like studying with you… even if it's a little… distracting."
Ren's teeth clenched faintly behind his calm mask but he allowed the minimal, fleeting touches, the brush of hair against his arm, the light press of her side, all while keeping his tone firm. He would not let it slip out of control.
Seraphina let out a low, soft hum, her gaze lingering on him just a fraction longer than necessary, a glint of triumph and mischief in her eyes. "Mmm… you're… really good at this," she murmured, her voice dropping into a teasing, intimate whisper, as if savouring the closeness and testing his restraint. "I wonder… what else you're good at…"
Ren's hand subtly shifted on the notebook, guiding her again, steady and careful. He didn't move away but he maintained the balance, a little space, a little touch, enough to let her think she was leading the dance while he held the reins firmly.
She let out a soft, satisfied sigh, watching him with that playful, knowing expression, clearly enjoying the tension she was creating.
Ren exhaled, forcing calmness over his racing thoughts, lips twitching. Relentless and utterly maddening.
Later that evening, Ren paused at the doorway of Noelle's apartment, letting the door close softly behind him. Her scent hit him immediately, the faint sweetness of her shampoo, the subtle warmth of her skin, the quiet trace of her perfume. He inhaled deeply, letting it wash over him, and for a moment, the world outside faded. Her scent grounded him, steady and familiar, a comforting anchor in a world that often felt chaotic and sharp.
Noelle looked up from her notes, tilting her head slightly at his stillness. "Ren… are you okay?"
He stepped closer, wrapping his arms around her gently, holding her against him. His face buried briefly in the crook of her neck, he inhaled again, letting the warmth of her and the scent of her fill him completely. He pressed a soft kiss to the side of her neck, nuzzling just slightly, and she let out a small, surprised sigh.
"I… needed this," he murmured, voice low and rough with feeling. "Needed… you."
Noelle's fingers curled lightly into his shirt, grounding him as much as he seemed to be grounding himself on her. "Ren…" she whispered, soft and tentative.
He kissed her temple gently, lingering for a heartbeat longer than he should have, drawing comfort from the closeness, the scent, the quiet intimacy. But his eyes flicked toward the window, the sunlight reminding him of the hours ticking by. School. Work. Responsibilities that couldn't wait.
Pulling back slightly, he rested his forehead against hers, eyes closing. "I… I can't stay," he admitted softly, bittersweet. "I have to get to school… and work. But…" His hand slid to her waist, holding her gently. "I'll come back. Soon. I need this… I need you."
"Maybe we go out on a date this Saturday?" he asked.
Noelle tilted her head up to meet his gaze, her lips parting as if to protest but she let him go, understanding the tension between desire and duty.
She nodded as he pressed a final, lingering kiss to her temple, nuzzling her neck one last time before stepping back. "I see you this Saturday," he murmured, the scent of her lingering on his skin even as he turned toward the door, carrying her warmth and presence with him like a shield against the world outside.
Ren left Noelle's apartment with her scent still clinging faintly to his skin, lingering on the collar of his shirt and the crook of his wrist.