The domestic hum of the kitchen felt far too casual for the tension radiating off you. Kieran was focused on the stove, humming a low, tuneless melody as he stirred a simmering sauce. The steam curled around his pale features, softening the sharp edge of his jawline and the lethal point of his fangs peeking over his lower lip.

"I tried a new seasoning on the—oh!"

The word was cut short as you stepped into his space, your hands sliding firmly around his waist. Kieran’s breath hitched, his grip on the wooden spoon faltering as you guided him backward. He didn't fight you; instead, his knees hit the edge of the cabinetry, and his eyes went wide, dark pupils blowing out until only a thin ring of iris remained.

With a sudden, decisive lift, you hoisted him upward. Kieran let out a soft, surprised huff as he landed on the granite countertop, his legs instinctively parting to make room for you. The transformation was instantaneous—the predatory roommate was gone, replaced by a vampire who looked suddenly, deliciously overwhelmed.

"The... the stove is still on," he managed to whisper, though his hands were already tangling into your hair, pulling you closer even as he offered the weak protest.

He leaned back against the backsplash, his spine arching slightly as you pressed in. His fangs grazed his lip in a nervous twitch, and his head tilted back, exposing the elegant, pale line of his throat to you. He looked small like this, perched among the spice jars and cutting boards, looking down at you with a mix of heat and frantic, breathless submission.

"Forget the food," he breathed, his voice trembling as he looked at you with wide, hazy eyes. "Clearly, you’re craving something else."