Anne took a slow breath, pushing past the ridiculous heat rising in her chest. He was good—too good—at setting the game in his favor. She knew it was time to change that.
She grabbed another card, flipping it over before he could react.
The Fool.
Sebastian arched an eyebrow. "Bold."
Anne smirked. "Figured I'd take a risk." She leaned forward, mirroring the way he had closed the space between them earlier. "My turn, then."
Sebastian just nodded, waiting.
Anne tapped a finger against the table, pretending to think. "Alright. Since you're so confident—what's something that could actually shake you?"
For the first time since they started playing, Sebastian's smirk faltered. It was slight, almost unnoticeable, but she caught it. His fingers curled slightly against the tabletop, like he was considering how much to say.
She had him.
Anne grinned, about to tease him even more when—
He laughed.
Not a chuckle, not a huff—an actual laugh, rich and low, the kind that made her stomach flip for absolutely no reason. Was it his real smile? Or does this guy ever laugh for real?
"Nice try," he murmured. "But you forgot something."
Anne narrowed her eyes. "What?"
Sebastian leaned in, close enough for her to feel the ghost of his breath against her skin.
"I don't lose."
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
Sebastian tilted his head slightly, watching her expression shift. "But since you asked... Fine. I'll give you an answer."
He lifted his hand, and for the first time that night, he touched her—just barely, fingertips brushing along her hand. She froze.
His voice dropped lower. "What shakes me? Simple."
His fingers slid away, leaving a trail of heat in their wake.
"You."
Anne was frozen. She didn't blink nor move. This guy is actually the real demon.
Sebastian leaned back like nothing had happened, pushing the deck toward her. "Your turn."
And just like that—
She was the one losing the game.
He took a card from the deck. A Queen. Putting the card down, he looked at her slightly. He had been calm throughout the game, alternating between two facial expressions. But Anne didn't give in, didn't let herself notice that he was winning mentally. She straightened up, leaning on a chair.
"Come on, DM, ask." she told him.
Sebastian looked at her. But he didn't move his gaze. As if he wanted Anne to shiver from his gaze that contained some coldness but also... dominance.
Without looking away, he spoke. "Did you blush because of the heat or because of me?" leaving a slight smirk.
She hadn't expected such a question. Nor could she even control her red face anymore. She looked away, realizing that she shouldn't let him control her with words.
"You still need a lot to achieve that." She looked at him with all the courage she had.
He looked at her with a raised eyebrow and smiled slightly. "Okay. Then we should get going." He emphasized to her.
Taking her coat and walking down the hall in silence. She was pleased that she had managed to trick him and that this game was over. But the truth had reached her thoughts.
Sebastian grabbed the doorknob, but he paused. Before he opened the door for them to leave, he had something on his mind.
"You know it's not nice to lie. Especially if you know you're going to get caught." Then he looked over his shoulder at her.
But before she could answer him, he continued. Looking directly at her.
"With your answer, you meant to say it was from the heat. On the other side, when you entered the room you shivered from the cold. Your hands were cold, so your body temperature was not able to make you blush. If you think I'm wrong." He put his finger under her chin. "People always look to the side when they lie." With that, he moved her jaw slightly to the side and returned it. And then he turned and opened the door. Waiting for her to come out first.
She didn't realize that she had fallen into an even bigger trap.
The cool night air did absolutely nothing to settle the heat still lingering at Anne's cheeks.
Sebastian walked beside her, hands in his coat pockets, completely at ease—like he hadn't just said something that short-circuited her brain.
Smug bastard.
She exhaled sharply, stuffing her hands into her hoodie. "So. That game was rigged."
Sebastian hummed. "Was it?"
"Yes." Anne shot him a look. "You're a DM. You should know when a game is unfair."
Sebastian glanced at her, the streetlight catching on his glasses. "Would you have played if it wasn't?"
Anne opened her mouth—then shut it.
Damn him.
He was right. She would've.
Because she liked it.
She liked the back and forth, the push and pull, the way he kept her on her toes but never pushed too far. He was calculated—like he knew exactly when to hold back and when to let something slip.
And that was the problem.
She didn't know how to win against someone like that.
Sebastian suddenly stopped. "Hold still."
She blinked, following his gaze to a streetlight flickering above them.
Anne frowned. "What?"
Before she could react, he reached out. Fingers brushing a strand of hair away from her face. A shiver shot down her spine. She couldn't move.
Sebastian's fingers lingered for half a second before he pulled back, completely unbothered.
"Better," he said simply, like he hadn't just set her nerves on fire.
Anne exhaled, slow and controlled, before rolling her eyes. "Right."
They kept walking, but something had shifted. The silence wasn't awkward—it was... charged.
Sebastian finally broke it. "So. What happens next?"
Anne raised an eyebrow. "With what?"
Sebastian shot her a knowing look. "Our deal."
Her stomach twisted. Oh. That.
She tried to keep her voice casual. "You said the lowest stake was a date."
Sebastian nodded. "I did."
Anne glanced at him. "So... you're collecting already?"
Sebastian shrugged. "That depends."
"On what?"
Sebastian smirked. "On whether you're stalling or accepting."
Her breath caught.
He wasn't playing anymore.
This was real.
And for once—she didn't want to win.
She shoved her hands deeper into her hoodie, hiding the stupid grin threatening to creep onto her face. "Fine. Name the time and place, DM."
Sebastian chuckled, tilting his head toward her. "Oh, trust me."
"I already have."
And with that—
The game had only continued.