leo let out a low, amused hum, her teasing lingering between them like the faint trace of her perfume. he tilted his head slightly, lips curling into that easy, unbothered grin. his eyes stayed locked on freya's, unflinching, letting the moment stretch just enough before answering, voice smooth and careless, “occupational hazard.”
it was the truth, after all. people fell in love for all kinds of reasons, — most of them having little to do with him and everything to do with their own fantasies. but he wasn’t about to break the spell by saying that.
his is gaze dipped briefly as she took another slow sip of her wine, letting it linger on her tongue like she was savoring the moment, or maybe just gathering courage.
that pulled a quieter laugh from him, something darker, edged with interest. his eyes roamed lazily down her frame before returning to her face, noting the blush blooming on her cheeks despite all her words.
“and you don’t look stupid to me at all, freya” leo said, voice dropping just slightly, like they were already sharing a secret.
but before he could lean in and push the game further, her elbow brushed the base of the wine glass, and just like that, a wave of deep red tipped over, splashing across her dress and his pants in one clumsy cascade.
leo just stood there, entirely unbothered, watching her with that same amused calm. the corners of his mouth twitched upward as she cursed under her breath, her panic only making the whole scene more endearing.
could she actually make spilling wine look sexy? apparently, yes.
when she fumbled for a napkin, hands moving frantically to dab at the wet fabric on his leg, not even sparing a thought for her own soaked clothes, leo gently caught her wrist midmotion, his touch steady, fingers cool against her warm, anxious smooth.
“relax,” he said quietly, his grin widening. “things like this happen, you don’t need to buy me new pants.”
he could feel the pulse of her embarrassment, the way her heart seemed to be racing as she sat back down, hands covering her face like some nervous kid.
leo laughed under his breath, leaning a bit closer, eyes dropping pointedly to the wine stained fabric clinging to her skin before dragging back up to meet her gaze.
for a second, he just stared at her, head tilted slightly, expression softening into something more deliberate. his tongue wet his lips slowly, his gaze sweeping her from head to toe and then lingering, unapologetically, on her eyes.
“you keep talking like that…” he murmured, voice a little rougher now, “and i just might.”
he stood then, smooth and relaxed, offering her his hand. the movement was simple but sure, the kind of gesture that didn’t need explanation.
“come here…” taking her flirting as an opening, he reached for her fingers, and when he had hers slipped into his, he gave the lightest tug, guiding her up to stand in front of him. His palm brushed the woman's waist briefly before he leaned in, his voice dipping to that quiet, dangerous place that made people listen whether they wanted to or not. “turn around for me.”
he said it softly, almost coaxing, his curiosity about her now tangled tightly with something far more electric.
because clumsy or not, freya had just made things a lot more interesting.