Touch That Wasn'

la

morning w

ened. Like the world wasn't burning under my skin. Like I hadn

reme

breath

umming to herself, poured coffee into my mug like we were still some picture-perfect family

the tension crawling und

ase that made my stomach twist. "Board meeting, then brunch with the dono

st tig

rse, h

she couldn't see the storm behind my

and left before I

as just me an

d in the kitchen too long, pretending to wash a glass that was already clea

w if he woul

he

a room with him. His cologne, subtle and clean, found me first. T

urn

in a black T-shirt and gray joggers. Casua

ine, unreadabl

first. My throat

hands on a towel a

e to the coffee pot. "We sho

oft laugh. "W

wrapped around the mug,

ier than I felt. "Not at first. But I saw how yo

r said

stopp

No more pretending. No more dodging the words t

become?" he said, low and firm. "Of course I have.

ade me feel guilty. But

at me like you're st

ed. Once

he counter, and he was acr

t touching, just hovering. One b

id, voice tight, every word like it hurt t

" I whispered.

e somethin

y, pulling just enough to make me gasp again. His m

kiss me.

admitted. "And every time I wake

e cotton was warm from his skin. I clutched it, groun

ate yourself," I said.

spered. "More

is mouth b

Barely

len m

ot from hesitation,

just let it linger-long enough to taste regret

pulled back,

n't happ

t say a

both knew