Summary: When an FIA reporter accidentally captures the attention of both Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc, she becomes the center of a rivalry neither driver is willing to lose.
I honestly dk if u'll do it or not. But can u write on anime world? Im a huge anime fan. How abt smth with Gojo sensei?
Infinity Between Us | Gojo Satoru
Summary: Gojo Satoru has faced curses, death, and impossible odds, but nothing terrifies him quite like falling hopelessly in love with the shy girl who can't even meet his eyes.
I honestly dk if u'll do it or not. But can u write on anime world? Im a huge anime fan. How abt smth with Gojo sensei?
Infinity Between Us | Gojo Satoru
Summary: Gojo Satoru has faced curses, death, and impossible odds, but nothing terrifies him quite like falling hopelessly in love with the shy girl who can't even meet his eyes.
I think Carlos is a big ass guy, so how abt a fic where reader has a big ass and carlos cant resist it
Love yuu x
Summer Heat | C.S55
Summary: A carefree beach vacation in Spain turns into a week of playful teasing, stolen glances, and undeniable chemistry between Carlos and his girlfriend.
Warnings: NSFW, 18+, Reader Has A Big Butt, Flirting, Romantic Tension.
The hotel room was quiet when you returned from the beach.
The golden glow of sunset filtered through the curtains, painting everything in warm shades of orange and gold.
You dropped your beach bag near the door and stretched lazily.
Carlos closed the door behind him.
The click echoed through the room.
When you turned around, you immediately caught him looking.
Again.
You laughed.
"Seriously?"
"What?"
"You've been staring all day."
His mouth twitched.
"I had a very difficult day."
"A difficult day?"
"Very."
You crossed your arms.
"How tragic."
"It was."
His gaze swept over you before returning to your face.
The amused look in his eyes made your stomach flutter.
"You have absolutely no sympathy for me."
"Nope."
Carlos shook his head dramatically.
"Heartless."
You walked toward him.
"Poor Carlos."
"Exactly."
"Such a victim."
"The biggest victim."
You couldn't help smiling.
The closer you got, the softer his expression became.
That playful confidence never disappeared completely, but there was something gentler underneath it now.
Something that always appeared when the two of you were alone.
His hand found your waist automatically.
Like it belonged there.
Like it always would.
The movement felt natural.
Comfortable.
Familiar.
You looked up at him.
The sunset light caught in his dark eyes.
For a moment neither of you spoke.
The teasing faded.
The laughter faded.
Leaving only the quiet awareness of each other.
"You know," Carlos said softly, "Spain looks good on you."
You smiled.
"Spain?"
"Mhm."
"Not the sunshine?"
"That too."
"The beach?"
"Also that."
You laughed.
His smile widened.
"But mostly," he said, brushing a loose strand of hair behind your ear, "you."
The warmth that spread through your chest was immediate.
Carlos had a way of saying things that sounded effortless.
Natural.
As if he wasn't even trying.
Which somehow made them affect you even more.
"You can be very charming when you want to be."
"When I want to be?"
"Yes."
His eyebrows lifted.
"So I'm not always charming?"
"Definitely not."
Carlos gasped dramatically.
You laughed.
Then he pulled you closer.
Not urgently.
Not impatiently.
Just enough that the distance between you disappeared.
The room suddenly felt much smaller.
The sounds of the city drifted through the balcony doors.
Waves crashing somewhere in the distance.
Music floating from a nearby restaurant.
Everything felt slow.
Warm.
Comfortable.
Like time itself had decided to relax.
Carlos looked down at you.
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"What?"
You narrowed your eyes.
"Why are you smiling?"
"No reason."
"Liar."
He laughed quietly.
You loved that laugh.
The real one.
The one that only appeared when he was completely relaxed.
The one that made his entire face light up.
The one you could listen to forever.
Without thinking, you reached for his hand.
His fingers immediately intertwined with yours.
A simple gesture.
Yet somehow intimate.
Comforting.
You rested your head against his shoulder.
Carlos pressed a kiss to the top of your hair.
The gesture was so natural that neither of you even acknowledged it.
It simply happened.
Like breathing.
Like gravity.
Like all the little habits two people developed after loving each other for a long time.
Outside, the sun continued sinking toward the horizon.
Inside, neither of you felt any rush to move.
For once there was nowhere to be.
Nothing to do.
No schedules.
No flights.
No interviews.
No racing.
Just the two of you.
And Carlos seemed perfectly content with that.
His thumb traced lazy circles over your hand.
You felt him smile against your hair.
"What?"
"You know exactly what."
"I don't."
"You do."
You tilted your head back.
His expression gave him away immediately.
That look.
The same one he'd been wearing all week.
Equal parts affection and complete fascination.
You burst out laughing.
Carlos groaned.
"I've been caught."
"Again."
"Again."
The two of you laughed together as the Spanish sunset painted the room gold, and for that moment, nothing in the world felt more perfect than simply being there together.
I think Carlos is a big ass guy, so how abt a fic where reader has a big ass and carlos cant resist it
Love yuu x
Summer Heat | C.S55
Summary: A carefree beach vacation in Spain turns into a week of playful teasing, stolen glances, and undeniable chemistry between Carlos and his girlfriend.
Warnings: NSFW, 18+, Reader Has A Big Butt, Flirting, Romantic Tension.
The hotel room was quiet when you returned from the beach.
The golden glow of sunset filtered through the curtains, painting everything in warm shades of orange and gold.
You dropped your beach bag near the door and stretched lazily.
Carlos closed the door behind him.
The click echoed through the room.
When you turned around, you immediately caught him looking.
Again.
You laughed.
"Seriously?"
"What?"
"You've been staring all day."
His mouth twitched.
"I had a very difficult day."
"A difficult day?"
"Very."
You crossed your arms.
"How tragic."
"It was."
His gaze swept over you before returning to your face.
The amused look in his eyes made your stomach flutter.
"You have absolutely no sympathy for me."
"Nope."
Carlos shook his head dramatically.
"Heartless."
You walked toward him.
"Poor Carlos."
"Exactly."
"Such a victim."
"The biggest victim."
You couldn't help smiling.
The closer you got, the softer his expression became.
That playful confidence never disappeared completely, but there was something gentler underneath it now.
Something that always appeared when the two of you were alone.
His hand found your waist automatically.
Like it belonged there.
Like it always would.
The movement felt natural.
Comfortable.
Familiar.
You looked up at him.
The sunset light caught in his dark eyes.
For a moment neither of you spoke.
The teasing faded.
The laughter faded.
Leaving only the quiet awareness of each other.
"You know," Carlos said softly, "Spain looks good on you."
You smiled.
"Spain?"
"Mhm."
"Not the sunshine?"
"That too."
"The beach?"
"Also that."
You laughed.
His smile widened.
"But mostly," he said, brushing a loose strand of hair behind your ear, "you."
The warmth that spread through your chest was immediate.
Carlos had a way of saying things that sounded effortless.
Natural.
As if he wasn't even trying.
Which somehow made them affect you even more.
"You can be very charming when you want to be."
"When I want to be?"
"Yes."
His eyebrows lifted.
"So I'm not always charming?"
"Definitely not."
Carlos gasped dramatically.
You laughed.
Then he pulled you closer.
Not urgently.
Not impatiently.
Just enough that the distance between you disappeared.
The room suddenly felt much smaller.
The sounds of the city drifted through the balcony doors.
Waves crashing somewhere in the distance.
Music floating from a nearby restaurant.
Everything felt slow.
Warm.
Comfortable.
Like time itself had decided to relax.
Carlos looked down at you.
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"What?"
You narrowed your eyes.
"Why are you smiling?"
"No reason."
"Liar."
He laughed quietly.
You loved that laugh.
The real one.
The one that only appeared when he was completely relaxed.
The one that made his entire face light up.
The one you could listen to forever.
Without thinking, you reached for his hand.
His fingers immediately intertwined with yours.
A simple gesture.
Yet somehow intimate.
Comforting.
You rested your head against his shoulder.
Carlos pressed a kiss to the top of your hair.
The gesture was so natural that neither of you even acknowledged it.
It simply happened.
Like breathing.
Like gravity.
Like all the little habits two people developed after loving each other for a long time.
Outside, the sun continued sinking toward the horizon.
Inside, neither of you felt any rush to move.
For once there was nowhere to be.
Nothing to do.
No schedules.
No flights.
No interviews.
No racing.
Just the two of you.
And Carlos seemed perfectly content with that.
His thumb traced lazy circles over your hand.
You felt him smile against your hair.
"What?"
"You know exactly what."
"I don't."
"You do."
You tilted your head back.
His expression gave him away immediately.
That look.
The same one he'd been wearing all week.
Equal parts affection and complete fascination.
You burst out laughing.
Carlos groaned.
"I've been caught."
"Again."
"Again."
The two of you laughed together as the Spanish sunset painted the room gold, and for that moment, nothing in the world felt more perfect than simply being there together.
Can u pls write a fiction with charles where he looses a race just like the one u did with lando
Thank u xx
After Monaco | C.L 16
Summary: After losing his home race, Charles comes home furious, restless, and desperate to forget, and you become the only thing capable of distracting him.
Can u pls write a fiction with charles where he looses a race just like the one u did with lando
Thank u xx
After Monaco | C.L 16
Summary: After losing his home race, Charles comes home furious, restless, and desperate to forget, and you become the only thing capable of distracting him.
Summary: After a year of marriage, Lando and his wife celebrate their very first Eid together, discovering that love, laughter, and stolen kisses might be the sweetest traditions of all.
Warnings: NSFW, 18+, Fluffy romance, Married couple dynamics, Lots of teasing and flirting, Domestic sweetness, Eid celebrations and Islamic traditions.
"You look..."
His voice disappeared.
She laughed.
"Lando?"
"You look ridiculously pretty."
The laugh that escaped her was soft and embarrassed.
Yet her cheeks immediately turned pink.
A year.
They'd been married for an entire year.
And somehow she still blushed whenever he complimented her.
It was one of his favorite things in the world.
He walked toward her.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Like he was approaching something precious.
Something sacred.
Something that belonged entirely to him.
Her eyebrows lifted.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Because you're my wife."
"That's not an answer."
"It is."
She rolled her eyes.
Lando reached her.
Then immediately wrapped both arms around her waist.
A small squeak escaped her.
"Lando!"
"What?"
"You haven't brushed your teeth."
He buried his face in her shoulder.
"Don't care."
She laughed harder.
"You are disgusting."
"You married me."
"I know."
"Worst decision of your life."
"Definitely."
Lando gasped dramatically.
"How dare you."
She giggled.
And just like that, his heart melted.
Again.
Their first Eid together.
Lando had been looking forward to it for weeks.
Actually, months.
The moment Ramadan started, she'd been excitedly explaining every tradition.
Every meal.
Every prayer.
Every little detail.
And Lando had listened to all of it.
Not because she expected him to.
But because she lit up whenever she talked about it.
And Lando loved anything that made her happy.
Especially when she started rambling.
She got this adorable habit where her hands moved around dramatically while talking.
Like she physically couldn't contain her excitement.
Lando thought it was the cutest thing ever.
Even if he'd never admit that out loud.
By seven in the morning, the kitchen looked like a disaster zone.
Okieeee I was thinking Charles and y/n throwing a xmas party and y/n teases him with her outfit or something.
I'd loveeee to read ittttt!!
Under the Mistletoe | C.L16
Summary: At a glamorous Monaco Christmas party, Charles Leclerc watches his dangerously teasing girlfriend steal every gaze in the room, and by the end of the night, jealousy, tension, and desire finally snap.
Drivers, engineers, sponsors, celebrities, the entire ballroom overflowed with expensive perfume, champagne, and designer clothing. A towering Christmas tree stood near the center of the venue, decorated in Ferrari red and gold.
And every single person in the room looked at you when you entered.
Charles noticed immediately.
How could he not?
Menâs heads turned so fast it was almost offensive.
Even women stared.
You walked beside him confidently, one hand looped around his arm, your heels clicking softly against the marble floor. The slit of your skirt shifted every time you moved, exposing more skin than Charles felt emotionally prepared for.
âYouâre squeezing my hand,â you whispered.
âBecause Iâm angry.â
âYou were fine five minutes ago.â
âThat was before half the room started undressing you with their eyes.â
You bit back a smile.
âOh my god,â Charles muttered. âYou enjoy this.â
âA little.â
He looked down at you sharply.
You only shrugged innocently.
âMaybe I enjoy knowing my boyfriend gets jealous.â
Charles leaned closer, voice dropping low enough that only you could hear.
âYouâre playing a dangerous game tonight.â
A thrill danced down your spine.
Good.
That was exactly what you wanted.
It got worse once the other drivers arrived.
Pierre Gasly hugged you first, cheerful as always.
âYou look incredible,â he told you warmly.
Charles instantly frowned.
âThank you,â you said brightly.
Pierre noticed Charlesâs expression and laughed. âRelax, mate.â
âHeâs been glaring at everyone all evening,â you informed him.
âCan you blame me?â Charles muttered.
Then came Lando Norris.
And unfortunately for Charles, Lando had absolutely no self-preservation instincts.
âBloody hell,â Lando said when he saw you. âThat outfit is insane.â
Charlesâs jaw tightened.
You burst into laughter.
âThank you, Lando.â
âNo seriously,â he continued, oblivious. âCharles is definitely fighting demons right now.â
âI am sitting right here,â Charles deadpanned.
Okieeee I was thinking Charles and y/n throwing a xmas party and y/n teases him with her outfit or something.
I'd loveeee to read ittttt!!
Under the Mistletoe | C.L16
Summary: At a glamorous Monaco Christmas party, Charles Leclerc watches his dangerously teasing girlfriend steal every gaze in the room, and by the end of the night, jealousy, tension, and desire finally snap.
Drivers, engineers, sponsors, celebrities, the entire ballroom overflowed with expensive perfume, champagne, and designer clothing. A towering Christmas tree stood near the center of the venue, decorated in Ferrari red and gold.
And every single person in the room looked at you when you entered.
Charles noticed immediately.
How could he not?
Menâs heads turned so fast it was almost offensive.
Even women stared.
You walked beside him confidently, one hand looped around his arm, your heels clicking softly against the marble floor. The slit of your skirt shifted every time you moved, exposing more skin than Charles felt emotionally prepared for.
âYouâre squeezing my hand,â you whispered.
âBecause Iâm angry.â
âYou were fine five minutes ago.â
âThat was before half the room started undressing you with their eyes.â
You bit back a smile.
âOh my god,â Charles muttered. âYou enjoy this.â
âA little.â
He looked down at you sharply.
You only shrugged innocently.
âMaybe I enjoy knowing my boyfriend gets jealous.â
Charles leaned closer, voice dropping low enough that only you could hear.
âYouâre playing a dangerous game tonight.â
A thrill danced down your spine.
Good.
That was exactly what you wanted.
It got worse once the other drivers arrived.
Pierre Gasly hugged you first, cheerful as always.
âYou look incredible,â he told you warmly.
Charles instantly frowned.
âThank you,â you said brightly.
Pierre noticed Charlesâs expression and laughed. âRelax, mate.â
âHeâs been glaring at everyone all evening,â you informed him.
âCan you blame me?â Charles muttered.
Then came Lando Norris.
And unfortunately for Charles, Lando had absolutely no self-preservation instincts.
âBloody hell,â Lando said when he saw you. âThat outfit is insane.â
Charlesâs jaw tightened.
You burst into laughter.
âThank you, Lando.â
âNo seriously,â he continued, oblivious. âCharles is definitely fighting demons right now.â
âI am sitting right here,â Charles deadpanned.
Summary: A 20 year old heiress living beside retired Formula 1 legend Lewis Hamilton in Monaco finds herself drawn into a dangerous, intoxicating romance that neither of them can resist.
Warnings: NSFW, 18+, age gap romance (Reader is 20), emotional tension, jealousy, possessive behavior, late night intimacy, sensual scenes, power imbalance themes, luxury lifestyle, emotional conflict, implied sexual content.
You started seeing him everywhere.
On morning walks.
At the marina.
At charity events your father dragged you to.
And every interaction carried the same unbearable tension.
Long looks.
Lingering touches.
Smiles that meant too much.
It became a game.
A dangerous one.
Your father never noticed.
Or maybe he trusted Lewis too much to imagine it.
That made it worse somehow.
Because Lewis clearly knew exactly how wrong this was.
Yet he kept looking at you like temptation itself.
The first time you entered his house, it was raining.
A violent Mediterranean storm crashing against Monaco.
You had been swimming.
Your father was in Paris.
And the electricity in your villa went out.
So naturally, you walked next door.
Soaked.
Cold.
Barefoot.
Lewis opened the door wearing gray sweatpants and a black T-shirt.
You immediately forgot every coherent thought youâd ever had.
His gaze dropped slowly down your body.
Your wet swimsuit clung shamelessly beneath your thin cover-up.
Rainwater slid down your legs.
Lewis exhaled once.
Slowly.
"You cannot show up looking like this," he said.
Your pulse jumped.
"My powerâs out."
"Thatâs not what I meant."
Heat flooded your cheeks.
But he stepped aside anyway.
"Come in before you freeze."
His house smelled like cedarwood and expensive candles.
Modern.
Elegant.
Massive windows overlooked the sea.
Music played softly somewhere upstairs.
You tried not to stare.
Lewis handed you a towel.
Your fingers brushed.
Again, that tiny spark.
That impossible awareness.
"You hungry?" he asked.
"A little."
"Kitchenâs this way."
You followed him.
Which was your second mistake.
Because watching Lewis move through his own space felt strangely intimate.
Comfortable.
Dangerously domestic.
He cooked while you sat at the marble island counter.
And for the first time, he looked relaxed.
No cameras.
No public image.
Just Lewis.
Warm laughter.
Quiet teasing.
Sleeves rolled up.
You wanted to touch him so badly it physically hurt.
Eventually he noticed your staring.
"Youâre thinking too loudly."
You swallowed.
"Sorry."
"Donât apologize."
His voice dropped lower.
"Just tell me."
The storm thundered outside.
Your heartbeat became deafening.
"I think about kissing you constantly," you admitted.
Silence.
Lewis stopped moving.
Very slowly, he looked at you.
Every trace of humor disappeared from his face.
"You shouldnât say things like that."
"Why?"
He approached the counter.
One step.
Then another.
Until he stood directly in front of you.
Too close.
Dangerously close.
"Because Iâve spent weeks trying not to think about you exactly the same way."
Your breath caught.
The room suddenly felt smaller.
Warmer.
Lewis rested both hands beside you on the marble counter.
Trapping you gently between his arms.
"Youâre twenty," he murmured.
"I know how old I am."
His jaw tightened.
"And your father-"
"Isnât here."
That did it.
Something inside his restraint snapped visibly.
Lewis closed the distance abruptly.
His hand slid against your jaw.
Warm.
Steady.
Then he kissed you.
And suddenly nothing else existed.
The kiss was slow at first.
Tentative.
Like he was giving himself one final chance to stop.
Then you kissed him back.
And restraint disappeared completely.
Lewis made a rough sound against your mouth before pulling you closer.
Your hands gripped his shirt instantly.
Every inch of him felt warm.
Solid.
Real.
His thumb stroked your cheek while he kissed you deeper.
Like heâd been thinking about this for weeks too.
Maybe months.
You forgot how to breathe.
Forgot the storm.
Forgot Monaco.
Forgot your own name.
All you knew was him.
The way his mouth moved against yours.
The way his hand slid carefully along your waist.
The way he whispered your name like it already belonged to him.
When he finally pulled away, both of you were breathing hard.
Summary: A 20 year old heiress living beside retired Formula 1 legend Lewis Hamilton in Monaco finds herself drawn into a dangerous, intoxicating romance that neither of them can resist.
Warnings: NSFW, 18+, age gap romance (Reader is 20), emotional tension, jealousy, possessive behavior, late night intimacy, sensual scenes, power imbalance themes, luxury lifestyle, emotional conflict, implied sexual content.
You started seeing him everywhere.
On morning walks.
At the marina.
At charity events your father dragged you to.
And every interaction carried the same unbearable tension.
Long looks.
Lingering touches.
Smiles that meant too much.
It became a game.
A dangerous one.
Your father never noticed.
Or maybe he trusted Lewis too much to imagine it.
That made it worse somehow.
Because Lewis clearly knew exactly how wrong this was.
Yet he kept looking at you like temptation itself.
The first time you entered his house, it was raining.
A violent Mediterranean storm crashing against Monaco.
You had been swimming.
Your father was in Paris.
And the electricity in your villa went out.
So naturally, you walked next door.
Soaked.
Cold.
Barefoot.
Lewis opened the door wearing gray sweatpants and a black T-shirt.
You immediately forgot every coherent thought youâd ever had.
His gaze dropped slowly down your body.
Your wet swimsuit clung shamelessly beneath your thin cover-up.
Rainwater slid down your legs.
Lewis exhaled once.
Slowly.
"You cannot show up looking like this," he said.
Your pulse jumped.
"My powerâs out."
"Thatâs not what I meant."
Heat flooded your cheeks.
But he stepped aside anyway.
"Come in before you freeze."
His house smelled like cedarwood and expensive candles.
Modern.
Elegant.
Massive windows overlooked the sea.
Music played softly somewhere upstairs.
You tried not to stare.
Lewis handed you a towel.
Your fingers brushed.
Again, that tiny spark.
That impossible awareness.
"You hungry?" he asked.
"A little."
"Kitchenâs this way."
You followed him.
Which was your second mistake.
Because watching Lewis move through his own space felt strangely intimate.
Comfortable.
Dangerously domestic.
He cooked while you sat at the marble island counter.
And for the first time, he looked relaxed.
No cameras.
No public image.
Just Lewis.
Warm laughter.
Quiet teasing.
Sleeves rolled up.
You wanted to touch him so badly it physically hurt.
Eventually he noticed your staring.
"Youâre thinking too loudly."
You swallowed.
"Sorry."
"Donât apologize."
His voice dropped lower.
"Just tell me."
The storm thundered outside.
Your heartbeat became deafening.
"I think about kissing you constantly," you admitted.
Silence.
Lewis stopped moving.
Very slowly, he looked at you.
Every trace of humor disappeared from his face.
"You shouldnât say things like that."
"Why?"
He approached the counter.
One step.
Then another.
Until he stood directly in front of you.
Too close.
Dangerously close.
"Because Iâve spent weeks trying not to think about you exactly the same way."
Your breath caught.
The room suddenly felt smaller.
Warmer.
Lewis rested both hands beside you on the marble counter.
Trapping you gently between his arms.
"Youâre twenty," he murmured.
"I know how old I am."
His jaw tightened.
"And your father-"
"Isnât here."
That did it.
Something inside his restraint snapped visibly.
Lewis closed the distance abruptly.
His hand slid against your jaw.
Warm.
Steady.
Then he kissed you.
And suddenly nothing else existed.
The kiss was slow at first.
Tentative.
Like he was giving himself one final chance to stop.
Then you kissed him back.
And restraint disappeared completely.
Lewis made a rough sound against your mouth before pulling you closer.
Your hands gripped his shirt instantly.
Every inch of him felt warm.
Solid.
Real.
His thumb stroked your cheek while he kissed you deeper.
Like heâd been thinking about this for weeks too.
Maybe months.
You forgot how to breathe.
Forgot the storm.
Forgot Monaco.
Forgot your own name.
All you knew was him.
The way his mouth moved against yours.
The way his hand slid carefully along your waist.
The way he whispered your name like it already belonged to him.
When he finally pulled away, both of you were breathing hard.
Dark fic with charles leclerc please and thank you xx
The Quiet Places He Watches You | C.L16
Summary: A tender love story curdles into something haunting when devotion crosses the line into possession, and she never sees it coming.
Warnings: NSFW, 18+, Dark Romance, Intense, Gut Wrenching, Stalker Charles.
You first met Charles on a rainy afternoon that felt like it had been written for you.
You were standing under the thin shelter of a bookstore awning, hugging a worn paperback to your chest, waiting for the rain to soften into something kinder. The city blurred around you, umbrellas passing like ghosts, headlights melting into gold streaks, and you remember thinking how small you felt in all of it.
Thatâs when he appeared.
âHere,â he said softly, holding his umbrella just enough to cover both of you.
You looked up, startled.
He was⊠composed. Not in a cold way, no, not at all. There was something warm about him, something intentional. Dark coat, clean lines, a quiet confidence that made space instead of taking it.
âYouâll catch a cold,â he added, almost apologetically.
You smiled, because thatâs what you always did when someone was kind to you.
âThank you.â
That was all it took.
Charles had seen you long before that moment.
He knew you liked that bookstore. Tuesdays and Thursdays, usually around four. You lingered in the poetry aisle longer than necessary, running your fingers along the spines like you were searching for something you couldnât name.
You never noticed the man who stood a few rows away.
You never noticed how he never picked up a book.
You never noticed how his eyes never left you.
âDo you come here often?â you asked him, as you walked together beneath the umbrella.
You meant the bookstore.
He heard something else.
âSometimes,â Charles replied.
He was careful with his answers. Always had been. Truth, but softened. Truth, but incomplete.
Heâd pause, like he hadnât expected to see you, though heâd been sitting in his car across the street for fifteen minutes, watching you through the window.
âWhat a coincidence,â heâd say.
And youâd laugh.
You always laughed.
Charles learned you in pieces.
The way you stirred your coffee three times, always clockwise.
The way you tucked your hair behind your ear when you were nervous.
The way your smile faltered just slightly when you thought no one was looking.
He noticed everything.
He collected you.
âI run a business,â he told you one evening.
You were sitting across from him, candlelight trembling between you like something alive. Youâd started calling these meetings âdates,â though neither of you had said the word out loud yet.
âWhat kind of business?â you asked.
He tilted his head, considering.
âInvestment. Mostly.â
It was easier that way. Simpler. Clean.
You nodded, impressed.
You didnât ask more.
You never asked enough.
Charles knew where you lived.
Of course he did.
Heâd watched you walk home more times than he could count. Always from a distance. Always careful.
Your apartment building had a faulty lock on the back entrance.
Heâd discovered that on the third night.
The first time he stepped inside your apartment, he didnât touch anything.
He just stood there.
Breathing you in.
It was quieter than he expected. Softer. Like the space itself had been shaped around you.
Your shoes were by the door, slightly uneven.
A blanket draped over the couch.
A glass half-full of water on the bedside table.
Charles moved slowly, reverently.
Like he was walking through a sacred place.
He didnât stay long.
He never stayed long.
âYou make me feel safe,â you told him once.
The words slipped out of you, unguarded.
You were lying beside him, your head resting on his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
He went still.
Safe.
Heâd spent his entire life being something else. Something sharper. Something that made people step back instead of lean in.