It was Ember's first time alone in Dylan's room, and she couldn't help but take in every little detail. The walls were painted in deep, moody shades of gray, with black and gold accents adding an air of sophistication. The bed, dressed in sleek black sheets, stood against a striking feature wall—a large circular cushion of black velvet with golden geometric strips stretching across half the space. The design was bold, yet undeniably elegant.
Two towering windows spanned from floor to ceiling on the adjacent wall, allowing soft light to filter through. Beneath them sat a small, stylish sofa, positioned as if inviting someone to sit and take in the view. Her gaze shifted to a semi-transparent black glass door, nestled against the wall by the windows. Through it, she could make out a walk-in closet, a grand mirror reflecting the dim lighting, and another door beyond it. But what lay behind that second door?
Curiosity stirred within her. Even with her injured ankle, the urge to explore was irresistible. Balancing on one foot—more hopping than walking—Ember made her way toward the closet. Her fingers lightly brushed against Dylan's neatly hung clothes, and she noted with surprise that, despite his room's dark aesthetic, there wasn't a single black shirt in sight.
So, he likes black—just not on himself, she mused, a small smile tugging at her lips.
She was just about to reach for the mysterious door when—
Creaaak.
The sound of footsteps sent a jolt of panic through her. Heart racing, Ember turned and frantically tried to hop back to the bed. But in her rush, her balance wavered. With a startled gasp, she toppled onto the bed, landing in a tangled heap of limbs and blankets.
Just then, the door swung open. Dylan stepped inside, his sharp gaze locking onto her sprawled form. Amusement flickered across his face as he crossed his arms.
"What are you doing?" he asked, one brow arching in playful curiosity.
Ember struggled to sit up, but her body refused to cooperate. Before she could attempt again, Dylan stepped closer, towering over her with a mischievous grin.
"Hahahaha!" His laughter filled the room, rich and unrestrained.
"Hey! Help me!" Ember protested, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.
Still chuckling, Dylan finally reached out and helped her up. His amusement, however, was far from over. He covered his mouth, trying to suppress his laughter, but another "Ha ha ha!" escaped before he could stop it.
"Can you stop laughing?" Ember muttered, pouting slightly as she shot him a glare.
"Okay, okay," Dylan said, holding up his hands in mock surrender, though the sparkle in his eyes betrayed his amusement.
Trying to salvage some dignity, Ember straightened her posture and attempted to play it cool. "I was just... a little tired, so I thought I'd lay down... but, as you can see, my body wasn't exactly cooperating." She looked away, embarrassment creeping over her.
Dylan laughed again, shaking his head. "If you need my help, you can just call me," he said, his tone shifting to something more serious. "Why are you pushing yourself?"
Ember's blush deepened at the way he was looking at her—so intently, so concerned. She lowered her head. "I know, but... it's just a small thing."
"It's a small thing, yes," Dylan agreed, his voice gentler now, "but right now, you can't do it alone. So let me help you."
Their eyes met, and for a moment, neither spoke. Ember's heart fluttered at the sincerity in his gaze. Slowly, she managed a small, shy smile. "Thanks," she whispered.
Dylan cleared his throat and straightened, shifting the mood. "Ahem! Eat first," he said, moving toward the table near the sofa where food was set up. Before Ember could protest, he effortlessly scooped her into his arms, carrying her as if she weighed nothing.
"Dylan—!" she started, but he ignored her, gently placing her on the sofa.
"Let's eat," he said, handing her a bowl as he settled in beside her.
As Ember reached for the bowl, Dylan swiftly stopped her, a teasing grin playing on his lips.
"Let me feed you," he offered, his voice laced with amusement.
"My leg is injured, not my hands," Ember countered, her tone playful.
Dylan pouted dramatically, turning his face away like a sulking child who wasn't getting his way. Ember had to bite back a laugh. Now he's copying my angry face! she thought, amused.
Clearing her throat, she put on a serious expression. "Ahem! Ahem! Baby, my hands aren't washed yet," she declared. "How am I supposed to eat with dirty hands? Can you help me with that?" A mischievous smile danced across her lips.
Dylan raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Didn't you just say your hands aren't injured? You can feed yourself."
Ember huffed dramatically. "Okay, if you don't want to feed me, I'll just go wash them then," she said, making a show of pushing herself up to stand.
Before she could even lift herself, Dylan's hand wrapped around hers, gently but firmly pushing her back down. In one smooth motion, he pulled her onto his lap, his strong arms holding her in place. Ember's breath caught, her heart pounding as heat rushed to her cheeks.
He didn't meet her gaze. Instead, his voice dropped to something softer, something that sent shivers down her spine.
"Let me feed you," he murmured, the teasing edge in his tone replaced by something more tender, more sincere.
Without looking at her, he picked up the spoon, carefully blowing on the steaming soup to cool it. Ember's pulse quickened as she watched him, her eyes tracing the curve of his lips, the way his brows furrowed in concentration.
At that moment, Ember couldn't tear her eyes away from Dylan's lips as he gently blew on the soup. The way they moved, the soft curve of them—it was almost hypnotic.
"Ember," Dylan called, but she was too lost in her thoughts to hear him. Only when he reached out and patted her hair softly did she blink back into reality.
He lifted a spoonful of soup toward her, his movements tender, his gaze warm. She hesitated for a moment, then accepted it. As she swallowed, a playful thought crossed her mind. With a teasing smile, she tilted her head.
"Aren't you hungry? You're too busy feeding me," she mused.
Dylan chuckled, his voice rich and soothing. "I'll eat after I'm done taking care of you."
But that answer didn't satisfy Ember. With a lighthearted determination, she reached out, taking the bowl and spoon from his hands. "Your turn," she said, scooping up a spoonful and offering it to him.
Dylan hesitated for just a second before accepting. Their eyes met, and in that simple act of sharing, something unspoken passed between them—an intimacy that needed no words. Soft smiles lingered on their lips as they continued, taking turns, their world shrinking to just the two of them.
When they finished eating, Ember's gaze flickered to Dylan's face. A small smudge of soup clung to the corner of his mouth. Without thinking, she reached out to wipe it away, but before her fingers could touch his skin, he caught her hand gently.
Their eyes locked.
The air between them shifted, growing thick with something electric, something undeniable. Ember barely had time to process the moment before Dylan leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a delicate, lingering kiss.
This time, she didn't pull away.
She kissed him back, their connection deepening with every second. Dylan's arms tightened around her, holding her as if she might slip away. He pulled back just enough to let her breathe, then pressed his lips to hers again—gentle yet insistent, allowing her space while keeping her close.
Then—buzz buzz!
Dylan's phone vibrated against the table, breaking the spell. The name "Emir" flashed across the screen, snapping them both back into reality.
Their moment was over.
For now.
When Dylan saw Emir's name flashing on the screen and felt where things were headed between him and Ember, he hesitated. With a sigh, he pulled away and muttered, "It's important."
Without another word, he stepped out to take the call, heading straight for the balcony. The cool night air brushed against his skin as he ran a hand through his hair. He needed a moment—to clear his mind, to stop himself from making the same mistake again.
Meanwhile, Ember remained on the sofa, her heart still racing from the kiss. A wave of warmth rushed to her cheeks, and she quickly buried her face into a pillow, attempting to hide her embarrassment—even from herself.
Dylan redialed Emir, who picked up almost immediately.
"Hey, Dylan! I've been calling you for a while, but you weren't picking up. What are you up to? Don't tell me I'm interrupting some quality time with Ember, huh?"
Dylan rolled his eyes. "When are you going to stop teasing and just tell me why you called?"
Emir laughed. "Alright, alright. You know I'm heading back to Turkey for my birthday on the 23rd of September, and I want to wrap up that photoshoot we started. The last scene is still waiting. If you're free tomorrow, can you stop by so we can finish it?"
"Alright, I'm free. Just let me know the details."
"Oh, my lovely friend, I knew you'd make time for me!" Emir teased.
Dylan smirked. "Stop it. Bye, Emir."
With that, they exchanged quick goodbyes before Dylan hung up. Taking a deep breath, he stepped back inside.
His eyes immediately landed on Ember, still curled up on the sofa, her face hidden in the pillow. A soft smile tugged at his lips.
Approaching her, he gently pulled the pillow away, revealing her flushed cheeks. With a playful smirk, he asked, "Why don't I take you somewhere fun?"
Ember blinked, surprised, then instinctively glanced at her sore foot.
Before she could protest, Dylan effortlessly scooped her into his arms.
"Dylan—!" she gasped, but he ignored her, carrying her toward a small room.
As the door opened, Ember's eyes widened in awe.
"Wow, you have your own mini theater at home. That's amazing," she whispered, taking in the cozy space, the plush seats, and the massive screen before them.
"Yeah," Dylan replied, leaning back comfortably. "I don't go out much, and my parents—who are in the entertainment industry—actually built this for themselves."
Ember's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, so your parents are actors too?"
Dylan smiled. "You could say that."
Intrigued, Ember tilted her head. "Where are they now?"
Dylan shrugged, his voice dropping to a playful whisper. "I'm not exactly sure, but I know they're on vacation. If they were here, they'd probably be wandering around... spying on us."
They both laughed, the moment light and effortless. Then Dylan turned to her, his eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"So, what do you want to watch?"
Dylan had been expecting Ember to pick a romantic film—something soft and heartfelt that would give them an excuse to steal glances, maybe even hold hands. He was already picturing the perfect cozy moment.
But then—
"Let's watch a horror movie!" Ember said excitedly, her eyes shining with enthusiasm.
Dylan's dream of a romantic date shattered instantly. He forced a smile, hiding his disappointment. "A horror movie, huh? Yeah… sure, great choice."
As the film began, Dylan did his best to keep his cool. But as the eerie music swelled and the suspense built, he started shifting uncomfortably in his seat.
Then it happened.
A bloodcurdling scream erupted from the screen, and Dylan shot out of his chair with a yelp, his entire body jolting in fear.
Ember immediately paused the movie, turning on the lights. She reached for Dylan's hand, giving it a few gentle pats to calm him down.
"Hey, it's okay," she soothed, her touch warm and reassuring. She took one look at his flushed, panicked face and couldn't help herself—before she knew it, she pulled him into a tight hug.
Dylan's heartbeat pounded against her, rapid and erratic, but as she held him, it slowly steadied.
When she finally pulled back, she noticed something that made her smile—his ears had turned completely red.
He averted his gaze, clearly embarrassed.
Ember bit her lip, holding back a laugh. "Are you… scared?" she teased.
Dylan cleared his throat, sitting up straighter. "Me? No way. I was just… caught off guard."
Ember chuckled. "Right. Totally believable."
Dylan groaned, covering his face with his hands. "I can't believe this."
Ember just grinned, secretly loving this new side of him.
"I'm sorry," Ember said softly, her voice laced with guilt. "You should've told me you get scared during horror movies. I wouldn't have picked one."
She handed him a glass of water, watching as he took it with a grateful nod. His hands were still slightly trembling, but he was trying his best to play it cool.
As he sipped, Ember's mind raced for a way to lighten the mood. Then, an idea struck her. With a small smile, she switched the screen to a lighthearted cartoon—one she used to play for her younger brother whenever he got scared. She hoped it would work the same magic on Dylan.
At first, Dylan scoffed, clearly embarrassed. "Really? A cartoon?"
Ember just shrugged, suppressing a giggle. "Trust me, it helps."
Despite himself, Dylan slowly became engrossed in the animated scenes, his tension melting away. Soon, he was watching like a child, completely captivated. Ember couldn't help but laugh, finding his adorable, childish side unexpectedly endearing.
Time passed quickly, and before they knew it, night had fallen. Ember had dozed off, her head resting on the armrest while Dylan remained glued to the screen.
Noticing her peaceful expression, Dylan hesitated for a moment before carefully picking her up, cradling her in his arms. He carried her to her bedroom and gently tucked her under the blankets, making sure she was warm.
Just as he turned to leave, Ember stirred, her fingers reaching out in half-sleep. She caught his hand, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Stay here… You'll be scared alone."
Then, just like that, she drifted back to sleep.
Dylan froze, his breath hitching. He stared at her peaceful face, feeling an unfamiliar warmth spread through his chest. He knew she was right—he probably would have nightmares if he slept alone tonight.
With a soft sigh, he hesitated only a moment longer before finally slipping under the covers beside her.
And for the first time, Dylan and Ember shared the same bed, their breaths falling into the same rhythm as they drifted into sleep—side by side.