Friday night, and the rain had finally stopped. I had set up a cozy little movie night in the living room—blankets, popcorn, and dimmed lights. Ethan plopped onto the sofa beside me, smirking.
"You really went all out, huh?" he teased, reaching for a handful of popcorn.
"Of course!" I replied, nudging him lightly. "It's movie night. You're supposed to relax… and maybe enjoy my company a little."
He chuckled, leaning back, but not too far—too close for my comfort. My heart started racing. "Relax, huh?" he murmured, eyes glinting with mischief. "We'll see about that."
The movie started, but honestly, I could barely focus. Ethan was right beside me, his shoulder brushing mine every few seconds. Each accidental touch made me shiver, heart hammering.
Halfway through, he reached for more popcorn, his hand brushing mine intentionally. I gasped softly, and he smirked. "What was that?"
"Nothing!" I stammered, hiding my flushed face behind a blanket. "Just… popcorn!"
He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Uh-huh. Popcorn." He leaned slightly closer, and suddenly his knee touched mine. My breath hitched.
"E-Ethan…" I whispered, glancing at him. "The movie… I mean… watch the movie!"
He smirked, ignoring me. "I am watching… you."
I groaned, hiding further under the blanket, though my body betrayed me—heart racing, palms sweating. He leaned a little closer, and the warmth of his arm brushed against mine.
"Stop teasing me!" I exclaimed, but the nervous laugh escaping my lips betrayed my frustration.
"Teasing? Me?" he said, mock innocence in his voice. "I'm just… accidentally close."
"Accidentally!" I echoed, but I couldn't stop glancing at him. The way his eyes softened during the movie, how his hand occasionally lingered near mine… every gesture was charged.
Then, during a quiet scene, he stretched slightly, and his fingers brushed mine again. This time, I didn't pull away. My heart raced, and I realized… I wanted to feel his touch, even if it was dangerous.
He looked at me, eyes dark, intense. "You didn't move," he whispered. "You like it, don't you?"
"I…" I swallowed, cheeks burning. "Maybe… a little."
His smirk turned into a soft smile. "Good," he murmured, brushing his thumb across my knuckles. "Because I'm not planning to stop."
Contract marriage, rules, boundaries… all of it felt distant tonight. What mattered was this—us, close enough to feel sparks, and yet pretending we weren't falling into something far too real.
And as the movie played on, my heart knew one thing for sure: every touch, every brush, every glance was pulling us closer… and neither of us was ready to resist anymore.