“AJ, would you hold me?” she asked, but before the words had even fully left her, he pulled her into his arms.

There was the steady beating of her heart and the warmth of her breath on his skin. It had been so long since he had held a woman like this. A part of him wanted to take this so much further, to let themselves fall into the darkness of the night and let the shadows bring them reprieve from the stark illumination that came with the light of their truths; but ignoring reality didn’t keep it from reappearing in the morning.

She leaned back slightly and pressed her lips against his. Their breaths mingled, mixing into a heady storm of want and fear. She broke their kiss, gently pushing him up to sitting. “I have to go, AJ.”