35| Rekindled Connection

Sophie didn't know how long they had been kissing before Jessica's soft knock on the door interrupted them.

Ethan composed himself quickly, deciding to call it a day and take Sophie home.

As they walked through the office together, Sophie suddenly felt self-conscious. All the bravado she had earlier seemed to evaporate. Now, there was only a shy, fluttery feeling in her chest, a quiet awareness of Ethan beside her and what had just happened between them.

Everything about him felt electric—the subtle way their hands brushed when he pressed the elevator button, the steady way he held the door for her, and the care he took to make sure her seatbelt was fastened securely in the car.

Her heart raced when she caught him glancing at her, and she felt as though she was holding her breath, her cheeks burning as he adjusted the seatbelt near her shoulder.

Ethan settled into the driver's seat, starting the engine with a soft hum. The car ride was silent, but it wasn't an awkward silence—it was charged, heavy with all the emotions still hanging in the air.

Sophie, usually quick with words, found herself completely at a loss.

What could she even say?

Thank him for kissing her like that?

Just the thought made her blush, and she felt an instinctive urge to touch her lips.

She couldn't stop thinking about how it felt—his arms around her, the way his lips had moved against hers with so much passion and intent.

She wondered if he would kiss her again.

What would it feel like?

The memory alone sent a shiver down her spine.

Underneath the warmth of those thoughts, though, a question lingered in the back of her mind: What now?

What did this mean for them? For their relationship?

Thinking about it too much was overwhelming, so she pushed the thought aside. Maybe, for now, she could just enjoy the moment.

Because despite the uncertainty, she felt incredibly happy.

Ethan, glancing at Sophie out of the corner of his eye, could see that she was lost in thought.

Her expression was soft, almost dreamy, and it made his chest tighten.

He was just as lost.

He could still feel her kiss, like an imprint burned into him.

The memory of how she had melted into him, her lips so soft and inviting, played over and over in his mind.

He had kissed her, fully and completely, and now that he had crossed that line—now that he had tasted what it felt like to truly hold her—he didn't know how he would ever pull himself back.

Every detail lingered in his senses: the warmth of her body against his, the intoxicating scent of her hair, the way her hands had clung to him.

The memory alone was enough to drive him mad with longing.

He couldn't stop reliving the way she had kissed him back, her fervor matching his own.

The thought made him tighten his grip on the steering wheel, his knuckles white.

How the hell was he supposed to resist her now?

The silence between them was thick, brimming with unspoken words and unacknowledged feelings.

The soft hum of the engine and the rhythmic passing of streetlights did little to ease the tension.

Every so often, their eyes would meet in the reflection of the rearview mirror, and it felt like lightning shooting through him.

Each glance spoke of the kiss.

Of the emotions neither of them had yet dared to voice.

Ethan's resolve was crumbling.

The torture of the silent car ride was unbearable.

He wanted her closer again, to erase the space between them entirely.

Every fiber of his being ached to reach for her, to say what he had been holding back for far too long.

The weight of his feelings pressed heavily on him, and he felt an almost desperate urge to lay them bare—here and now, before he lost his nerve.

As soon as they arrived home, the tension that had simmered during the car ride finally erupted into action.

The front door had barely clicked shut behind them when Ethan turned, pulling Sophie into a kiss so fierce it made her knees weak.

This was pure, unfiltered desire.

Ethan's hands cupped Sophie's face, his thumbs brushing gently against her cheeks as his lips moved hungrily over hers.

Sophie responded with equal fervor, her fingers weaving through his hair, pulling him closer.

The heat between them was undeniable, and their kisses grew more fervent, more desperate.

They stumbled into the living room, never breaking their embrace.

Ethan's hands roamed over Sophie's back, feeling the softness of her skin through the fabric of her dress.

Sophie's hands explored his broad shoulders, his chest, the firmness of his muscles beneath his shirt.

Every touch, every kiss was a promise, a declaration of everything they had been holding back.

Ethan guided Sophie toward the couch, his lips trailing down her neck, leaving a trail of fire in their wake.

Sophie arched into him, her breath coming in quick, shallow gasps as his hands moved to the hem of her dress.

She felt as if she were drowning in him, in the intensity of their connection.

Just as things were about to escalate, Ethan's phone rang, the shrill sound piercing the bubble of intimacy they had created.

Ethan tried to ignore it, his lips returning to Sophie's, but the persistent ringing forced him to break away, frustration flashing in his eyes.

"Damn it," he muttered under his breath, reaching into his pocket to grab his phone. He glanced at the caller ID, his jaw tightening.

David.

Sophie's chest rose and fell rapidly, her cheeks still flushed from their heated exchange. She could see the conflict in Ethan's expression as he answered the call, his voice strained.

"David, this isn't a good time."

David's voice was loud enough for Sophie to hear the excitement in it.

"Ethan! I'm glad I caught you. We're on our way over. The gang's all here, and we thought we'd swing by for a bit."

Ethan closed his eyes, taking a slow breath through his nose, his fingers tightening around the phone.

"Now? Can't it wait?"

"Nope. We're already on our way. See you in ten."

The line went dead.

Ethan slipped his phone back into his pocket with a frustrated sigh, then turned to Sophie, his blue eyes filled with a mixture of longing and regret.

"I'm sorry," he said softly. "David and the guys are coming over. They'll be here in ten minutes."

Sophie felt her heart sink ever so slightly.

She had been so caught up in the moment, in the intensity of being near Ethan, and now the thought of company arriving felt like an interruption.

Still, she forced a small smile.

"It's okay," she said, trying to sound more composed than she felt.

Ethan stepped closer, closing the small space between them.

His hand lifted, fingers brushing against her cheek with a tenderness that sent her heart racing.

His touch was light, almost hesitant, but his gaze held her captive.

"I promise, Sophie," he murmured, his voice low and full of conviction.

"We'll finish this. Later."

Sophie's cheeks flushed at his words, at the intensity in his eyes.

She didn't know how to respond, her breath catching in her throat.

The way he looked at her, the way he touched her—how was she supposed to survive this?

How was she supposed to live with this man?

This man who could make her feel so much at once—frustrated, captivated, utterly undone—all with just a look and a touch.

Ethan smiled softly, his thumb tracing an absentminded circle against her cheek before he finally stepped back, leaving her both relieved and aching for more.

"I'll get the place ready," he murmured, glancing toward the door.

-------

Don't forget to vote and leave a comment

🩷🩷