Natalia's eyes fixed on the pill, widening slightly.

"What is that?" she asked, voice barely above a whisper.

I crouched down in front of her, bringing my eyes level with hers. "Insurance," I murmured. "So, let's play a little game. A test of willpower." I held up the pill between my thumb and forefinger. "We each take one of these. We go to my room. And we wait. The first one to break... the first one to initiate any physical contact, no matter how small... loses."

I leaned closer, my breath ghosting over her lips. "And the loser," I whispered, watching her pupils dilate, "does whatever the winner wants. No questions. No limits. No safe words."

Natalia stared at me, her chest rising and falling rapidly. I could almost see the war raging inside her—pride versus desire, anger versus arousal. Her eyes darted between the pill and my face.

"What do these do?" she asked, her voice husky.

"They enhance... sensitivity. Make you hyper-aware of every sensation. Every breath of air against your skin feels like a caress. Every actual touch feels like..." I let my words trail off, a knowing smile playing on my lips.

Natalia swallowed hard, her throat working visibly. A slight flush crept up her neck. Her nipples hardened, pushing against the thin silk of her camisole. She was already losing, and the game hadn't even started.

"Well?" I prompted, arching an eyebrow. "Or is the mighty Ice Princess afraid she might melt?"

That did it.

"Fine," she spat, a defiant whisper.

I gave her a slow, satisfied nod. "Good girl." I stood up, turning toward my bedroom. "Two minutes. My room."

I walked away without looking back, hearing her quick, shallow breathing behind me. Inside my room, I switched on the bedside lamp, casting the space in dim, amber light and long shadows. I took off my jacket and hung it carefully on the back of my desk chair, then sat on the edge of the bed to wait.

A minute later, the faint, muffled beat of a pop song drifted from Natalia's room. Soundproofing. Smart girl. I smiled to myself.

The door opened, and Natalia stood silhouetted in the doorway. The thin straps of her camisole highlighted her delicate collarbones, the fabric ending just above her navel, revealing a strip of toned stomach. The matching shorts barely covered the top of her thighs.

Her expression was carefully composed, but I could see the slight tremble in her hands as she closed the door behind her.

I stood, creating distance between us. Held out my palm with the small pink pill sitting in the center.

"Last chance to back out, Princess."

"I'm not the one who's going to break."

She walked over, took the pill from my hand. Our fingers brushed momentarily, and we both flinched at the contact.

Interesting. Already primed for this, are we?

We swallowed the pills simultaneously, washing them down with water from the glass on my nightstand. Then we took up positions on opposite sides of the room—me by the bed, her near the door.

The System's interface flickered in my vision.

[APHRODITE'S VIRILITY PILL]

[Effect: Enhanced stamina, sensitivity, and performance active for 6 hours. WARNING: Side effects may include heightened emotional response, temporary attachment formation, and in rare cases, visions of the goddess Aphrodite offering unsolicited relationship advice.]

What the actual fuck? Visions?

I barely had time to process this new information before a warm flush began spreading through my body, starting at my core and radiating outward. My skin prickled with heightened awareness. The soft cotton of my t-shirt suddenly felt like a thousand gentle fingertips dragging across my chest. The slight breeze from the room's air circulation became a sensual caress against my face.

Holy shit.

Across the room, I could see the effects beginning to take hold of Natalia too. Her breathing quickened, a visible shudder running through her body. A faint pink flush spread across her collarbones, creeping up her neck to her cheeks. Her eyes, locked on mine, were dark with dilated pupils.

"How long..." she whispered, then had to clear her throat. "How long until it takes full effect?"

"About five minutes," I replied, my voice rougher than I intended. "But we're already feeling it, aren't we?"

Natalia's tongue darted out to wet her lips, and the simple motion sent a jolt straight to my groin. I shifted my stance, trying to appear casual despite the growing tightness in my jeans.

"The rules are simple," I continued, fighting to keep my voice steady. "No touching. The first one to break loses."

"And if neither of us breaks?" Natalia challenged, her voice breathy.

I smiled slowly. "Then we both lose... and both win."

The room felt like it was getting warmer by the second. I could see beads of sweat forming along Natalia's hairline, one droplet trailing slowly down her temple, along her jaw, down her neck... disappearing beneath the silk of her camisole.

My mouth went dry. I forced my eyes back up to her face.

"Comfortable, Princess?" I asked, a taunt in my voice.

Natalia's eyes narrowed. She reached up and gathered her hair, lifting it off her neck in a deliberate motion that made her back arch slightly, pushing her breasts against the thin fabric of her top.

"Perfectly," she replied, her voice sugar-sweet poison. She released her hair, letting it fall in a cascade around her shoulders. "How about you, My King? Feeling the pressure yet?"

I let my gaze trail down her body, slow and deliberate, taking in every curve, every shadow, every inch of exposed skin. When my eyes met hers again, I didn't bother hiding the hunger in them.

"The night's just beginning, Princess," I said softly. "Let's see who breaks first."

The pill's effects were ramping up with each passing second. Every tiny sensation was magnified tenfold—the weight of my clothes, the brush of air against my skin, the thudding of my own heartbeat.

And under it all, a hunger growing more insistent by the moment, demanding to be fed.

This was going to be the longest night of my life.

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