Friends With Benefits
They stayed like that for a moment—too close, breathing the same air, neither of them quite ready to move. The room felt different now, warmer somehow, as if the silence itself had weight. Elara’s pulse was still unsteady, her chest rising a little faster than she wanted it to. Damien noticed. He always noticed. He was the first to speak. “Wow,” Damien said quietly, exhaling as if he hadn’t realized he was holding his breath. A faint, crooked smile tugged at his lips. “That was… a lot.” Elara shifted her weight, suddenly aware of how close they still were. She took a small step back, just enough to reclaim space without fully breaking whatever had just passed between them. “A lot?” she repeated, lifting her chin slightly. “What exactly is that supposed to mean?” Damien watched her car
- Writer
