𝐍𝐎 𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐋. ᶜʰʳⁱˢ ᵇʳᵒʷⁿ

𝐗𝐕𝐈𝐈𝐈. 𝐃𝐎𝐆 𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐄

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐨𝐭𝐞!
𝐄𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲♥

Aria and Nasir sat in her living room, the dim glow of the TV casting soft shadows across the sleek decor. The movie playing was Love Jones, one of Aria's favorites. She had insisted on watching it, calling it "a classic," but Nasir barely paid attention.

His head rested in her lap, her manicured fingers gliding lazily through his curls. Every now and then, her nails would gently scratch his scalp or tug at the ends of his hair, sending shivers down his spine. It was soothing, almost too soothing. His eyelids grew heavier with each passing second, but he refused to give in completely.

"You gonna fall asleep on me again?" Aria teased, her voice soft as she glanced down at him.

"I'm up," Nasir mumbled, though the drowsiness in his tone betrayed him.

"Mmhmm," she hummed, a small smile playing on her lips as she continued her ministrations.

He'd been at her place since the moment his plane touched down. He hadn't even gone home—not really. He and Camille were still locked in their silent standoff, neither willing to make the first move. But that didn't mean he wasn't keeping tabs on her.

Thanks to the cameras he'd installed, Nasir saw everything: when she came and went, what she was doing in the living room, even who showed up at the house. It wasn't right, and he knew it, but something about knowing her every move gave him a twisted sense of control.

"You good?" Aria's voice pulled him from his thoughts.

"Yeah," he said, shifting slightly in her lap.

"Just thinking."

She quirked an eyebrow, her fingers pausing for a moment. "About what?"

"This new project I'm about to start." he lied smoothly, not wanting to open that door.

Aria wasn't stupid, though. She could see right through him.

"A new project, huh?" Aria said, a hint of amusement in her voice. "Are you sure? Your vibe's been off since you got here."