The sunlight streamed through the blinds of Kael's apartment, casting golden lines on the highly polished floor. But he didn't pay attention to the light; he could think of nothing else except the recollection of Liora. The touch of her fingers on the railing against hers yesterday, the blushing curve of her lips, and the red on her cheek all recurred to him with the vividness of a dream.
He stood up, stretched, and went to the balcony, hoping the chill of the air could ease the fire raging inside him. But there she stood once more, barefoot on her own balcony, a gentle breeze lifting the hair on her face, her gaze running along the pages of the book held limpily by her fingers. The mere sight of her, so plain and modest and exuding an unconscious appeal, caused his breath to accelerate.
He stood with one elbow on the railing, a few feet away from her, being conspicuously casual. "Mornin'," he called out, his tone firm but with the underlying note of curiosity that he could not quite smother.
Liora lifted her head, looking wide-eyed, then blushed daintily. "Good morning," she murmured, smoothing a lock of hair behind her ear. The small movement, so youthful and so personal, sent a chill down the length of Kael's spine. He yearned to come closer, to soak up the glow coming out of her body, to probe the line of her throat with one hand.
"You're up early," he said, leaning casually, though every muscle in him was taut with anticipation.
Yes. I like mornings," she whispered. Her eyes came to his, questioning and fearless, and Kael saw the sunlight touch the gentle curve of her cheek. "It's peaceful," she went on, the voice musical.
The corners of Kael's mouth stretched into a slow smile. "I can see that," he remarked, allowing his gaze to drift lazily, taking in the smoothness of her skin, the outline of her shoulders, and the manner in which the sunlight appeared to backlight her with a golden glow. His mind, of course, didn't remain on mere casual appreciation. He imagined touching her hair back, feeling her heartbeat against his own chest, and looking at her bask under the touch of him.
She looked down at the book and then at him. "I didn't think you'd be so loquacious," she remarked, laughing softly. There was just a thread of sarcasm to the sound of her voice that caused Kael's heart to skip a beat.
"I'm full of surprises," answered Kael, allowing his gaze to dwell just a fraction of a second too long. He could detect the barest pink flushing her cheeks. That pink, paired with the naivete in her eyes, made her completely irresistible.
There was a pause, a delicious silence that stretched between them, filled with unspoken tension. Kael's mind roamed freely, imagining the softness of her skin, the warmth of her lips, and the subtle shyness that betrayed her curiosity. He was aware of the danger in letting his desire show, but the thrill of it only made his longing sharper.
You know," he drawled, "I didn't think coming here would be that interesting." He didn't finish the "interesting," just let it hang, making her fill in the rest of the sentence.
Liora bent forward, curious, cheeky. "Oh? And why is
Kael's lips twitched. "Some neighbors prove a lot more intriguing than they look," he remarked, allowing his eye to range over her obliquely, albeit respectfully. He desired to taunt, to probe the limits of the range of her consciousness, to determine just how much her innocence could obscure the latent charm that captivated him.
She nibbled on her lower lip gently, a small move that made the pulse quicken. Her gaze flashed away and then back to him, challenging him to see but feigning obliviousness of the impact on him that she made. Kael swallowed, and the tension within him tightened further.
You're courageous," she spoke softly, almost to herself, but loud enough that he could hear it.
Kael stepped slightly closer, careful not to cross the line. "Not bold," he corrected gently. "Just… honest about what I see." His words were deliberate, layered with meaning, teasing her without breaking the fragile distance between them.
She laughed gently, the voice a sweet song, and Kael saw that the very sound of carefree laughter itself was a tempting thing. It wasn't the body alone; it was the voice, the delicate movements, and the eyes that concealed questions that as yet she had not put to herself.
They just stood there for a long time, close enough to share the heat between them, far enough away to be polite. Kael's mind wove the spaces with visions of pushing her hair away, taking her hand, and sensing the reaction of his touch on hers. He almost could've felt the beat of her heartbeat, fast and hot, and he yearned more than anything to watch her succumb to the wanting that hung between them. Finally, Liora moved marginally, taking a step backward. "I should… head inside," she remarked, the tone of her voice laced with doubt. But the glow on her cheek revealed the consciousness of the intimacy of the moment, the tension that hummed like electricity between the two of them.
He leaned forward, just a fraction, so that the shoulder just touched hers. "Of course," he breathed, and the sound of the words carried the unspoken promise. "I'll… see you later?"
She nodded, the corners of her mouth twisting upward in a sly, understanding smile. "Yes… later," she breathed, and slid inside, leaving Kael standing and staring after her, every nerve on high tension with longing.
He could not sleep that night. He thought and thought of the meeting, of how it could have gone if she had not moved away, if he had reached out and touched her, if she had let the moment sweep both of them further along some braver course. Hunger twisted inside him like a living fire, consuming thought after thought, leaving him weak with yearning.
Days went by, every meeting with Liora more intriguing than the one before. Casual hellos evolved into extended stares. Furtive caresses, a touch of a railing, and accidental closeness down the hall kindled sparks that left him gasping for air. And Liora, with shy smiles and gentle innocence, appeared to bring out a facet of herself that she didn't know existed: a cheeky, provocative wanting that echoed his own.
Kael found himself planning small "coincidences," standing near her balcony when she was watering plants, or timing his return from errands to pass her in the hallway. Every interaction was a game, a slow dance of temptation, and he relished the tension, the thrill of pushing boundaries without crossing them yet.
It was one afternoon that it started raining gently, drumming against the windows softly. Kael saw her on the balcony once more, damp hair, dress sticking to the contours of her body. Protective and lustful urges welled up inside him. Spurred on by instinct, he picked up an umbrella and went out.
"Kael?" Liora shook just the slightest bit, stunned and curious.
"It may be necessary," he said, passing the umbrella to her. Their skin touched fleetingly as she accepted it, a touch so fleeting and charged with electricity that both of them trembled. Their glance conveyed a wealth of gratitude, curiosity, and some secret message.
"Thank you," she breathed, voice gentle, almost breathlessly. "You didn't have to."
"He wanted to," he told me, voice low, slow, and taunting. "I enjoy taking care of my neighbors."
She laughed softly, a little nervous, but her eyes sparkled with unspoken thoughts. Kael noticed the way her body leaned slightly toward him, just enough to feel the warmth radiating from her. His mind raced with possibilities, fantasies of the rain, of closeness, of whispered confessions. The rain grew heavier, but they didn't budge to get away just yet. They remained, entwined in the held breath of tension, every stare and every minute movement heavy with longing. Kael's heartbeat thrummed within him, every nerve on high alert. He pictured wrapping his arms about her, having her breath on the skin of his neck, her hands stroking against him. And somewhere within him, he knew that she was envisioning the like of it, albeit that innocence still kept her from quite admitting it to herself. When the rain finally eased, Liora retreated, but the electricity between them remained. Kael watched her disappear inside, his mind ablaze with lustful thoughts and romantic longing. The slow burn had begun, a game of seduction and desire that neither of them could resist, a dance that would define the days and nights to come.