A Nicholas & EJ three-Shot (Full of Teasing & Tension)

PART 1

*****
You always let me get this close, but never closer. 
*****

EJ liked to think he was unshakable.

Calm under pressure, unreadable in every situation, always the one who never let emotions get the best of him.

But Nicholas—Nicholas was a problem.

And the worst part? Nicholas knew it.

"Relax, EJ."

EJ didn't need to look up to know that Nicholas was smirking. He could hear it in his voice, in the way his words lilted just slightly lazy, amused, knowing.

"I am relaxed," EJ muttered, adjusting his position on the couch, eyes fixed on his phone.

Nicholas hummed, unimpressed. "Yeah? Then why are you gripping your phone like it personally offended you?"

EJ refused to take the bait.

Because if there was one thing Nicholas loved, it was getting under his skin.

And he was too good at it.

The problem started when Nicholas—who had been sitting on the opposite side of the couch—suddenly moved closer.

Not just a little closer. Too close.

EJ didn't react. Or at least, he tried not to.

Nicholas leaned in, voice lower now, like he was sharing a secret. "Are you avoiding me?"

EJ scoffed. "Why would I avoid you?"

Nicholas tilted his head, his damn smirk growing. "Because you always do when I get like this."

Like this.

Meaning when he was in a mood to push boundaries. When he got too playful, too flirty, too... dangerous.

And EJ never handled it well.

Nicholas reached up, tapping a finger against EJ's temple, just barely brushing his hair.

"You're thinking too hard."

EJ tensed. Not because of the touch itself, but because Nicholas noticed.

Nicholas always noticed.

"I think you just like messing with me," EJ said dryly, finally setting his phone down.

Nicholas grinned. "You think?"

EJ shot him a look.

Nicholas only grinned wider.

Then—as if he hadn't already been pushing it—he leaned in even closer.

Close enough that EJ could feel his breath against his skin.

Close enough that if EJ moved even an inch, their noses would brush.

EJ held his ground, refusing to be the first to break.

Nicholas studied him, his gaze flickering over EJ's face like he was searching for something.

Then, with a whisper of a smile, he murmured, "You always let me get this close, but never closer."

EJ's breath hitched.

Nicholas chuckled, the sound low, amused, and entirely too satisfied.

He pulled back slightly, but not all the way. Just enough to give EJ space to react.

To push him away.

To do... anything.

But EJ didn't.

And they both knew it.

EJ wasn't sure who moved first.

All he knew was that suddenly, Nicholas was even closer, their foreheads nearly touching, tension thick enough to drown in.

His fingers brushed against EJ's wrist, featherlight, deliberate. Not enough to be casual. Just enough to be cruel.

"Are you ever going to stop playing this game?" EJ murmured, voice lower than intended.

Nicholas smirked. "Why would I stop when I'm winning?"

EJ exhaled sharply.

He could walk away. He could end it here, pretend none of this ever happened.

But then Nicholas tilted his head, just barely closing the space between them.

And that was it.

That was the moment EJ broke.

The next thing he knew, his fingers were in Nicholas's hair, gripping slightly - harder than necessary, but not nearly enough.

Nicholas's breath hitched.

For the first time, his smirk faltered.

And EJ?

EJ finally, finally smirked back.

"I win."

Then, without another word, he pulled Nicholas in