Chapter 18: The Rule Still Stands
Mariano Penthouse — Afternoon
New York City
(Jay-jay's POV)
I don't know how it happened.
One second I was arguing.
The next—
I was pinned between the couch and Keifer Watson.
Again.
"This is harassment," I said, slightly breathless.
"You said it again."
"I didn't—"
"You called me an—"
I quickly covered his mouth.
"Don't repeat it!"
His eyes were smiling.
Actually smiling.
Which made it worse.
"You're enjoying this way too much."
He gently pulled my hand away from his mouth.
"Yes."
I rolled my eyes.
"Of course you are."
He leaned a little closer.
"Say it again."
"No."
"Say it."
"No."
"Jay."
"I said no—"
He tilted his head slightly.
"…coward."
My eyes widened.
"You did not just—"
"Not a curse word," he said calmly.
"That's not the point!"
"It worked."
"You're manipulating the system!"
"You created the system."
"I did not create this stupid rule!"
"You participated in it."
I groaned and tried to push him away.
"Move."
He didn't.
"Keifer."
"No."
"Keifer."
"Say it."
I narrowed my eyes.
"You're impossible."
"Still safe."
"…Annoying."
"Still safe."
"…Frustrating."
"Still safe."
I leaned closer, smirking.
"You want one?"
His voice dropped.
"Yes."
I whispered right next to his ear—
"Idiot."
He exhaled slowly.
"…still safe."
I pulled back, victorious.
"Ha. See? I can control myself."
He looked at me for a second.
Then suddenly—
He flipped our positions.
Now I was the one sitting on the couch.
And he was standing right in front of me.
Too close.
Way too close.
"You forgot something," he said quietly.
"What?"
His hand rested lightly on the couch beside me.
"You were about to say something else earlier."
I blinked.
"I wasn't."
"You were."
"I wasn't."
"You were."
I crossed my arms.
"Prove it."
He leaned down slightly.
"Say it."
"I won't."
"Say it."
"I said I won't—"
He waited.
Silence stretched.
And then—
I muttered, almost instinctively—
"…jerk."
Big mistake.
His reaction was immediate.
His hand moved to my waist—
And he pulled me up toward him.
The kiss wasn't rushed this time.
It was slower.
Intentional.
Like he wanted me to feel every second of it.
My hands instinctively held onto his shirt.
When he pulled back, he didn't move far.
Our foreheads almost touching.
"You're terrible at following rules," he murmured.
"You're terrible at making them."
"I disagree."
"I hate this rule."
"No, you don't."
"…I do."
"You keep breaking it."
"That's because you keep provoking me!"
"That's because you're easy to provoke."
I glared at him.
"You're a—"
I stopped myself again.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Go on."
"No."
"Jay."
"No."
"Jay-jay."
"I said—"
I exhaled sharply.
"Ugh, you're so—"
I clenched my jaw.
He was waiting.
Patient.
Calm.
Dangerous.
"…fine," I muttered.
"Fine?" he repeated.
"Fine."
I stepped closer this time.
On purpose.
"You want a curse word?"
His eyes darkened slightly.
"Yes."
I looked straight at him.
"Fuck you."
Silence.
A very short silence.
Then—
His hand wrapped around my waist again—
And he kissed me.
This time deeper.
Longer.
Not playful anymore.
Not teasing.
Something else entirely.
My fingers tightened against his shirt without thinking.
When he pulled back, I was slightly breathless.
"…this rule is stupid."
"You say that every time."
"Because it is!"
"And yet…"
He leaned closer again.
"…you keep losing."
I shoved him lightly.
"I am not losing."
"You are."
"I am not."
"You are."
"I am—"
I stopped.
He smirked.
"That's what I thought."
I grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.
"Shut up!"
He caught it easily.
Then dropped it and walked back toward me.
Slower this time.
Not teasing.
Not provoking.
Just… closer.
"Jay," he said quietly.
"What?"
"You don't have to pretend with me."
I looked at him.
"I'm not pretending."
"I know."
A pause.
Then softer—
"And I'm not rushing you."
My chest tightened slightly.
"I know."
"But I meant what I said."
"What?"
"I'll wait."
I looked at him for a second.
Then smiled just a little.
"…good."
He smiled back faintly.
"Yeah."
Silence settled between us again.
But it wasn't heavy this time.
It was warm.
Comfortable.
Real.
I leaned back onto the couch.
"…asshole."
He froze.
Then slowly turned his head toward me.
"…you did that on purpose."
I grinned.
"Maybe."
He walked back toward me again.
"Dangerous."
"Very."
He leaned down slightly.
"Say it again."
I smirked.
"Make me."
And just like that—
The rule still stood. ✨