I drew a slow breath, trying to convince myself the cold wind was the reason my heart was hammering. Nthando leaned slightly closer, his presence warm and commanding, and I couldn't help but notice the faint scent of sandalwood again.
"So," he said, voice low and smooth, "you spend a lot of nights pretending not to notice people who are staring at you?"
I tilted my head, raising an eyebrow. "Maybe. Or maybe I just enjoy watching someone who thinks they can figure me out."
He chuckled, a deep, melodic sound that made the pulse in my ears thrum. "And do I pass the test, or am I still failing?"
I smirked, a spark of challenge lighting in my chest. "Depends. Are we grading on charm, persistence, or ability to survive my sarcasm?"
"Three out of three, I'd say," he replied, leaning on the railing with a casual ease that made it impossible to look away. "But honestly... I've never met someone quite like you. You're not afraid to call me out, even when you're clearly aware of how distracting I am."
I shrugged, pretending nonchalance, though my fingers itched to brush the cool steel of the railing and steady my racing thoughts. "I have a reputation to maintain. You might ruin it."
"Or enhance it," he countered, his eyes glinting in the dim balcony light.
I laughed softly, a sound that felt foreign to me in this moment, warm and nervous all at once. "You're impossible."
"And yet," he said, leaning closer just enough for the warmth to brush against my arm, "here you are, talking to me."
I bit my lip, unsure whether to be annoyed or thrilled. Before I could answer, a faint movement in the shadows caught my eye-Nthando's friend, the one who had been watching me from the lounge, slipping silently behind a column, his expression unreadable.
"Do you always bring shadows with you?" I asked, my voice dropping slightly.
"Only the interesting ones," Nthando said, almost teasing, but there was a note of seriousness beneath it. "They tend to follow people worth watching."
I swallowed, a shiver running down my spine. Not from the wind. The danger was subtle, almost imperceptible-but it was there. And somehow... it made my pulse spike in ways that weren't entirely unpleasant.
"Interesting... huh?" I murmured, keeping my gaze on him.
"Extremely," he said, and this time his grin held a warning I couldn't quite place.
I laughed, though it came out breathless and shaky. "Are you trying to scare me or flirt with me?"
"Maybe a little of both," he admitted. His eyes, sharp and teasing, didn't leave mine. "But mostly... I'm just curious how long it'll take before you let me in."
I felt my chest tighten, realizing that this night-this balcony, this city, this dangerously handsome man-was already more than I had bargained for. And yet, a part of me didn't want it to end.