Touch me
1050 Words
7:47 A.M.
Amara made sure she walked into the office building looking composed and relaxed.
She didn’t rush, neither did she slow down.
Her watch read 7:47 a.m.
On entering, the receptionist did not look at her shoes, or her dress.
She looked at Amara’s face in silence, then at the clock, then back to Amara’s face.
Word sure spreads fast around here.
Amara raised her shoulders high and strutted into the waiting room.
Dr. Meyer was already waiting near the hallway, the last place she saw him.
He wasn’t alone. Next to him was a man in a navy suit holding a thick folder.
His expression looked quite unnatural.
“Miss Kade," the man said smoothly. “Before we proceed, your signature is required.”
A thick document slammed into her hands.
“And you are?” Amara asked, not backing down.
“Head of legal department," the suited man answered.
Amara flipped the pages. Legal language, confidentiality clauses, financial penalties, breach of contract, termination and many more.
A line written in blood red ink caught her attention, “Breach of confidentiality will result in immediate legal actions and compensation claims.”
Amara smirked with her teeth.
“You move fast.”
The suited man smiled politely. “So do assumptions," the man stretched out a pen to Amara. “Certain precautions are just necessary.”
She collected the pen and signed the document.
Not because of trust, simply because she refused to look afraid.
Dr. Meyer held her gaze a second longer than necessary.
“Be careful," he mouthed.
Of him? Of the club? Of Kairo?
Amara couldn’t ask.
She was guided to the treatment room alone, the door was slightly ajar.
She pushed it open and walked in.
Kairo was already there, seated alone near the window, overlooking the scenery outside.
He didn’t turn around immediately.
“You’re early," he said.
Amara glanced at her watch. It read 7:57 a.m.
“You said eight," she responded.
His mouth tilted slightly, then he faced her.
There was no chaos today, no distant Kairo, no bleeding trainer or broken trays. Just controlled stillness.
“Close the doors.”
She reached for the handle, then hesitated.
Reflection from a glass wall at the far end of the room caught her attention.
There was movement. Silhouettes danced behind the frame.
Amara had seen this before at her university during training. It was a one-way observation panel.
Her stomach tightened.
So much for signing a contract… it was all a test.
Kairo noticed Amara’s hesitation and his gaze hardened immediately.
“Are they still here?”
She nodded.
The door by the side of the room opened up, Dr. Meyer, accompanied by the suited legal officer from earlier stepped out.
“It was just a precaution," the legal officer said.
Kairo stood slowly. The air chilled instantly.
“I’m not some guinea pig you guys can just lay up for observation.”
“No, no, it’s not like that …”, Dr. Meyer tried to explain.
Kairo’s eyes narrowed.
“Leave.”
“It’s … it’s protocol, sir," Dr. Meyer tried again.
Kairo took another step forward.
“I said leave.”
Silence followed.
The two men hesitated.
Then left.
Amara slowly closed the door behind them, head bent low.
The click echoed louder than it should have.
This time, the room truly belonged to just the two of them.
Kairo turned back to her, motioning for her to come closer.
“Touch me," he said quietly.
Amara didn’t move at first. The shock was evident in her eyes.
“You don’t even know what we’re assessing.”
“I’m assessing you.”
Her pulse skipped a beat. She hated that it did.
Without thinking, she walked forward slowly.
Each step she took weakened her physically.
Standing so close to him, he felt bigger.
Her fingers hovered over his shoulders.
His eyes tracked the movement, waiting to catch a glimpse of hesitation so he could crash out.
He saw none.
She placed her hand against his bare skin firmly.
It was warm, solid.
Her heart was thumping wildly in her chest.
His jaw tightened, but he didn’t flinch, he didn’t jerk.
Instead, his breathing changed.
It became shallow, deeper, slower.
Her touch unlocked something inside him.
“Again," he said quietly, his breathing laborious.
Her body moved on instincts. Her hands slid slightly down the curve of his shoulders, to the muscle near his collarbone, and gave it a squeeze.
‘This is too intimate. What am I even doing?’
Amara tried to retract her hands.
His fingers closed firmly around her wrist in an instant.
Her breath caught in her chest.
His thumb pressed against her pulse. Testing, waiting.
Their faces were closer now.
Amara didn’t realize when that happened.
“You’re not afraid.” His voice had gone raspy.
Amara met his gaze, “Should I be?”
His eyes dropped to her mouth for just a split second.
That was all it took.
The air changed drastically.
It became heavy, charged.
His grip tightened against her wrist.
His other hand lifted, hovering near her jaw. Not touching, almost.
Her heart was pounding so loudly she feared he could hear it.
His breath was hot against her cheek.
He leaned in.
The space between them could barely fit a thread.
Amara parted her lips before she could stop herself.
His gaze darkened. Like he was fighting some inner turmoil.
He wanted to do it, to lean in and close the gap.
Instead, he stopped.
Control returned to him. He didn’t move away, he lowered his voice and said, “You don’t understand what you’ve gotten yourself into.”
Her fingers rested on his skin.
“Then explain it," she whispered.
He stayed mute for half a second.
“I don’t share control.”
Amara didn't pull away.
“If you're afraid of losing control," she said quietly. “Maybe you were never in it in the first place.”
Something dark flickered in his eyes.
For a split second, Amara braced for impact.
Instead, he let go of her wrist.
“Eight a.m. tomorrow," he said, stepping back like nothing had just happened. “Don't test me again.”
Amara was finally able to breathe when he turned away.
- Writer
