It happened in a small, almost forgettable moment. She reached for balance—perhaps leaning in to stand, or steadying herself as the room tilted slightly—and her hand landed on his shoulder.
It should have been brief. A quick press for support, no more. But once her palm rested against him, she didn’t let go. She felt the firmness beneath his shirt, the way his body held steady under her touch. And instead of pulling away, she left her hand there, holding him longer than she needed.
He noticed, of course. How could he not? Her fingers curled lightly, not gripping, but settling, claiming space as though it belonged to her. The warmth of her palm seeped through fabric and into him, and for a moment, time slowed around them.
She told herself it was practical—that she simply needed a second longer to balance, that there was no harm in it. But deep down, she knew it wasn’t about balance at all. It was about wanting to feel him, about savoring the quiet intimacy of touch. Her body betrayed her, leaning just slightly closer, her breath brushing near him as though drawn in by gravity.
He didn’t move away. His stillness was an answer, a quiet permission. The air between them grew charged, their closeness humming with possibilities neither dared name.
Her thoughts raced. What if someone saw? What if he noticed the tremor in her fingers, the way her thumb lingered against the curve of his shoulder? Yet the risk only deepened the thrill. She liked how solid he felt beneath her hand, how easily her body seemed to trust the contact.
When she finally let go, it was slower than necessary, her fingers trailing as though reluctant to leave. The absence of his shoulder beneath her palm made her suddenly aware of how much she had enjoyed the closeness. She clasped her hands together, feigning composure, but inside she ached with the echo of the touch.
It had been small, fleeting, almost innocent. But for her, it was more. It was a reminder of what it felt like to lean into someone—not out of need, but out of want. And in that stolen pause, she realized she didn’t want the feeling to end.