FFEE, NIGHT AI

seemed to follow them everywhere. Dim lights, the soft hum of an espress

but forgotten. Across from her, Dean stirred his

's just... one almost?"

sure what he meant

confession, one almost right moment that slips through your fingers.

he dim light reflected in his eyes, how his hair fell across

ound poetic,"

"Or maybe it'

m deadlines to dreams, and somewhere between laug

now," he murmured, "I've always thought you were..

heeks warm

guing. Dangerous in a wa

ecome familiar in recent weeks-not just becau

she'd anticipated. "I could say the same about you," she wh

te, almost tender. "Strangely compelling... I l

d to fade. The hum of the espresso machine, the distant chatte

hers, a mere inch away.

voice low, almost a

sh from the other side of the café. A ch

hand. Sophia's pulse slowed, her cheeks flush

red, shaking his hea

, nervous sound. "It's like we're curse

utside. The night air was crisp, carry

offered her one. She hesi

aling deeply. "Sometimes the

m muted. The tension from earlier lingered, thick and ta

a finally said, voice low. "Not c

ng on his lips. "You always notice," he

between them, but fear lingered-fear of vulnerability, fear of

rner. The glow of the stre

aling smoke, "I've been wa

eath caught

ulnerable. "Tell you how much I... care

n them, almost tangib

w could she put into words what she felt? The pull toward him, t

den sound-a muffled shout, distant but

, protective. "They'r

feared for weeks was no longer a distant pres

nding. "Stay close," he whispered. "W

ness across the street. Hooded

"They're watching every

r body wanted to lean into him, to give in to

ust a gesture, but deliber

muttered. "And they're not just test

een them-the almost touches, the almost confess

that nothing-neither love nor d

eness is violently interrupted by the shadowy threat that has been stalking them. The emotional

escalating suspense, and the shadowy

hum reduced to distant traffic and the occasional

ed. Every instinct screamed that danger was near, yet the warmth of his to

every muscle coiled and alert. Yet, when he looked a

sked, voice low,

ugh her chest tightened with adrena

"I'll be okay as lo

ntensity of them, the protective promi

adows. Dean leaned slightly closer, and Sophia's breath hi

eeks," Dean murmured, eyes dark and

art pounded

shed against hers, fingers lacing tentatively. The

lean in, to close the tiny gap betw

gerous," sh

into a half-smile

ry moment with him was a dange

e and silent-reached their ears. I

e muttered, scanning the dark

ach knotted.

"Someone who knows us. Someone who wants to

, tested them, threatened them-was no longer an abs

ened. "Stay close. Don't let

ery instinct screamed danger. E

. Two hearts beating too fast, two hands brushing, two

right," he whispered. "Even with everything happening.

eel it too," she admitted, voice tremb

ly closer, the distance betwe

inches from hers, the night

fragile intimacy-a sharp snap

the noise. His body went ri

Her heart pounded not wi

Dean muttered. "

t-kiss, the whispered confessions, the sparks betw

nning the street. "We can't stay here. They

artbeat, every nerve, screamed danger, yet sh

et, silent, careful. Shadows shifted

iable thrill. She trusted him. She needed him. And the tens

hispered. "And they're testing us.

e surged. "Wh

mply. "We stay close. An

os. Order. Every element of their lives-and their hear

dows swallowing them. Sophia's breath was r

mouth of the alley-hoo

" he whispered. "Wait

to hide, to fight-but also to lean into him, to trus

ent. Then, without warning, it turn

sing just enough for Sophia to

r breath. The night air was cool, the

ced at him.

w, protective. "Not now," he wh

The first sparks of real chemistry had almost ignited into so

, she realized something terrifying-and exhilarating

tive. "We'll have our moment," he murmured. "When

. Safe. Gone. Ready. Words that promised intimac

, and both Sophia and Dean are left teetering on the edge-emotionally, physically, and strategically. The threat is patient, perso