"…I don't want to leave," she admitted, the blush rising again in her cheeks.
Silence fell again, but it was different this time—heavier, charged. A single word could shatter it, but neither of them said anything.
Instead, Alex reached out slowly, brushing a thumb against her hand where it rested on her thigh.
"You really are too kind for someone like me," Alex murmured.
Emily didn't respond with words—just a look, soft and steady, her eyes holding his like they were searching for something in him.
He leaned in.
And she didn't move away.
Instead, her eyes fluttered shut just before their lips met.
Alex's breath mingled with hers as their lips met—soft at first, hesitant, like testing a long-forgotten memory.
But Emily didn't pull away. In fact, her hands reached up slowly, fingers curling into his shirt as she leaned in, deepening the kiss. That timid, quiet girl he remembered was still there… but so was someone bolder, someone who had waited for this moment.
The world outside faded—rain pattering faintly on the windows, wind whispering through the trees. All that existed now was the quiet intensity between them.
Alex's hand cupped the back of her neck, guiding her closer as he tilted his head, their kiss growing heavier. Their breaths quickened, and she shifted onto his lap without thinking, the motion smooth and natural, like her body remembered even if her mind tried to forget.
Fingers fumbled at fabric. His palm traced the line of her waist beneath the oversized hoodie she wore. She shivered—not from cold, but anticipation.
Clothes were forgotten piece by piece. The couch creaked as they moved, tangled together, lips brushing skin, gasps replacing words. It wasn't rushed, not this time. This time, Alex was aware of every breath she took, every small sound she made when he touched her, kissed her, held her.
And Emily… Emily had never seen this side of him. Quietly intense, protective, confident—but not arrogant. As if the accident had burned something away… and awakened something else.
Their second night together wasn't like the first—this wasn't impulsive, messy, or awkward. This was deliberate. This was raw. This was two people who knew they were doing something they might not come back from… and choosing it anyway.
Hours later, when the heat had faded and sweat clung to their skin like a second blanket, Emily lay curled into his chest, breathing slow and deep. Sleep pulling her down.
Alex stared at the ceiling, his fingers lightly tracing her bare back.
He hadn't planned this.
But now that it happened, he wasn't letting anyone else have her.
Alex gently lifted Emily in his arms, her skin still warm from their closeness. She blinked up at him, surprised—but didn't resist, simply nuzzled her face against his neck.
"Let's get you to bed," he murmured softly.
He carried her into the small bedroom, the moonlight spilling through the curtains as he set her down on the mattress with care. She pulled the sheets up around her chest, watching him as he slipped in beside her, wrapping an arm around her waist.
He held her close, her back against his chest, as their breathing slowly synced in rhythm.
No words were spoken. There was no need.
Just a warm silence between them as the rain outside finally eased.
Emily blinked slowly, eyes growing heavier by the second. Her thoughts drifted, tangled and conflicted.
"I don't know if I should be happy about the accident or not…" she thought quietly, glancing at his sleeping face. "The Alex I knew was distant… but this one… this one holds me like I matter."
She felt his hand tighten gently on her waist, even in sleep.
A faint smile touched her lips as she nestled in closer.
"Whatever happens next… at least for now, I want this."
She closed her eyes, letting the warmth of his body lull her into sleep.
Morning sunlight filtered in through the half-closed blinds, casting warm stripes across the modest bedroom. Birds chirped faintly in the distance, the only sound besides the soft rustling of sheets.
Alex stirred first.
His eyes blinked open slowly, adjusting to the brightness. It took him a second to remember where he was—not just the house, but the feeling of another person curled up beside him.
Emily.
Still asleep, her back pressed gently against his chest, hair tousled, lips slightly parted. She looked peaceful, vulnerable in a way that made something tighten faintly in Alex's chest.
"…Damn."
Alex lay there for a moment longer, eyes tracing the ceiling's grain as golden sunlight painted soft stripes across the bed. He wasn't usually the type to linger after waking. But this morning… was different.
Her warmth beside him. The way her hand rested gently against his chest.
"I really got her, huh?" he thought, a strange, quiet satisfaction blooming in his chest.
Carefully, Alex slid out of bed, taking care not to disturb Emily. She let out a faint sigh, curling into the spot where he'd been, still wrapped in the warmth of shared sleep.
He stepped into the bathroom, letting the water run for a moment as he splashed cold water on his face. His thoughts, however, were anything but cool.
"Damn… she really does have a body under those baggy clothes." He shook his head, a faint smirk forming on his lips. "Shy, modest, cute as hell—and hiding something that fine? Yeah, I'm not letting her go anywhere."
He'd never been possessive before. Not really. But Emily was different. She saw him—cared for him—even when he barely cared for himself. "If she wants to keep wearing oversized hoodies, fine. But only I get to see what's underneath."
Meanwhile, Emily stirred awake.
The bed felt oddly light without Alex beside her. Her fingers reached instinctively to his side, only to find a warm absence. Her eyes opened slowly.
"…Alex?" she murmured sleepily.
She sat up, the blanket slipping slightly down her shoulders. Looking around, she spotted his shirt tossed on the nearby chair. And faintly, from down the hall, the sound of soft humming and the clinking of utensils reached her ears.
He's up already? she thought, blinking.
Then it hit her. Last night.
Her fingers gently touched her lips as memories flooded back. Her face turned red immediately.
"That was… me? Did we really…?"
She glanced around, her heart fluttering, a little embarrassed, but not in a bad way. "I hope he doesn't think it was just a one-time thing… I mean, we've always been close, but last night felt… different."
Still dazed, she padded off to the bathroom to freshen up as well, thoughts running wild behind her blush.