Chapter 66

The girls’ dining table was covered in fabric swatches, sketches, laptops, and half‑finished coffees. Everyone was deep in discussion about tour outfits – silhouettes, colours, quick‑change logistics – and you were… well, you were trying your best.

You sat beside Dani, chin propped in your hand, pretending to follow along as Lara talked about stage lighting and how certain fabrics would reflect differently. You nodded like you understood, even though you absolutely did not.

After ten minutes, your fingers started tapping on your knee. After fifteen, you were twirling a loose thread on your sleeve. After twenty, you were biting your nail and staring at the ceiling like it might entertain you.

Dani noticed, of course. She always did.

Her hand slid under the table, brushing your knee gently. “You okay?” she murmured without looking away from Megan’s laptop.

“Bored,” you whispered back.

She hid a smile. “I know. Just a little longer.”

You sighed dramatically, slumping in your chair.

And then… you got an idea.

You shifted slightly, letting your knee bump hers. Dani didn’t react at first – she was mid‑sentence, explaining something about quick‑change zippers – but when you nudged her again, she shot you a tiny warning glance.

You pretended not to see it.

Your foot brushed hers.

Then again.

Then you traced the side of her ankle with your toes.

Dani’s inhale was small but noticeable.

She leaned toward you just enough to whisper, “Y/N… behave.”

You widened your eyes innocently. “I’m sitting here.”

“You’re not,” she muttered, trying not to smile. “You’re being distracting.”

You grinned and let your hand drift under the table, resting lightly on her thigh, just enough to make her posture stiffen for a second.

“Y/N,” she whispered again, this time with a soft laugh in her voice. “Cut it out. I’m trying to talk.”

You pouted, pulling your hand back dramatically. “Fine.”

You went back to twiddling your fingers, pretending to be the picture of innocence.

But then Dani leaned back in her chair, stretching slightly as she listened to Lara explain something about fabric weights.

And that’s when your second idea hit.

You leaned in slowly, like you were about to whisper something important into her ear. Dani tilted her head toward you instinctively, expecting a comment or a question.

Instead, you let out a soft, warm breath right against the shell of her ear; just a slow exhale that sent a shiver down her spine.

Dani froze.

Her hand, which had been resting on the table, curled into a fist.

Her shoulders tensed.

Her eyes widened just slightly — the tiniest crack in her composure.

You pulled back with the most innocent expression you could muster.

Dani shot you a look that said ‘you’re in trouble and I can’t deal with you right now and please stop’ all at once.

You sat back smugly, crossing your legs like you hadn’t just ruined her ability to focus.

Megan glanced between the two of you, eyebrows raised.

Lara smirked knowingly.

Neither said a word.

The meeting dragged on for another twenty minutes – or rather, it dragged for Dani, who kept shifting in her seat, clearing her throat, and shooting you warning glances that only made you smile wider.

Finally, Megan closed her laptop. “Okay, that’s everything.”

Dani was out of her chair before anyone else even stood up.

She grabbed your wrist – gently but with purpose – and murmured, “Come with me.”

You blinked up at her, all faux‑innocence. “Why?”

She gave you a look that was half exasperation, half flustered affection. “Because you’ve been impossible for the last hour.”

You let her pull you down the hallway, her hand warm around yours, her steps quick like she’d been waiting the entire meeting for this moment.

When she shut her bedroom door behind you, she leaned back against it, exhaling like she’d just run a marathon.

“You,” she said, pointing at you with a shaky little laugh, “are trouble.”

You stepped closer, smiling. “You love it.”

She shook her head, cheeks warm, eyes soft. “I do. But you made it very hard to concentrate.”

You wrapped your arms around her neck, leaning in just enough to make her breath catch again. “Maybe I was bored.”

“And maybe,” she murmured, sliding her hands to your waist, “you’re going to find a better way to entertain yourself next time.”

You grinned. “Or I’ll just keep bothering you.”

She laughed, pulling you closer. “Yeah. I figured.”

———-

who wants to be punished??… I DO !!!!!

huh…

what…

nvm