The Line

The Silence that followed was suffocating with what she had just done.

Daniel looked down at the phone on the table, then slowly brought his eyes back up to hers. He stopped smiling and the way he looked at her made her whole body go tense.

"Didn't take you for a rebel, Selene."

"I'm just tired, I don't want to deal with a lecture right now."

"You're sure about that?" he asked quietly. "Because once he realizes you're ignoring him, it's not going to be a fun conversation."

"I know."

Daniel leaned back against the cushions, watching her silently for a moment before he spoke. "You're really not going to call him back?"

Selene sighed softly. “No Daniel, I won’t.”

Suddenly, she reached for her coat on the chair, needing to break the silence before it got uncomfortable.

Then she stood up from the couch, gathering her purse and phone off the table. As she turned toward the door, her heel got caught in the rug, causing her to slip and stumble forward.

Daniel was off the couch instantly. He caught her by the forearm, his fingers wrapping around her jacket sleeve to keep her steady before she could hit the floor.

"I've got you.”

"I'm fine," she replied quickly, without pulling away.

Standing right in front of him, the distance between them was completely gone. She could feel the warmth radiating off him and the smell of charcoal clinging to his t-shirt. Daniel didn't let go of her arm. Instead, his grip loosened slightly, until his fingers rested against her wrist.

Selene was unable to move as she she looked directly into his eyes.

"Daniel..."

"Selene.” he said softly. "Tell me to back off, and I will."

Her mind told her to pull back, to walk down those stairs and drive away. But her legs remained planted on the floor. The feeling of not being touched by a man for the last five years seemed to crash down on her all at once, leaving her all hot and bothered for his touch.

Daniel raised his free hand, and traced his index fingers against her jaw, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. His fingers lingered on her skin, as he tilted her face up slightly, stepping half an inch closer until his breath practically touched her lips.

For a few seconds, Selene let her eyes close. She let herself stand there in the quiet studio, inches away from a man who saw her for who she actually was.

.

Then the cold reality of her life came rushing back immediately, she opened her eyes, and quickly pushed away from him.

"I'm married, Daniel."

Daniel went completely still, his eyes moving from her hand on his shirt up to her face before he quietly stepped back.

"I know.”

"I have to go now," Selene whispered.

"Alright, let me walk you out."

He followed her down the stairs, and unlocked the back door, stepping aside as she walked out into the quiet alley.

Selene stepped onto the pavement and wrapped her coat tight around herself, turning back to look at him as he held the door.

"Thank you for showing me the piece," she said. "And for the water."

Daniel nodded subtly. "Drive safe, Selene."

She walked straight to her car, got in, and locked the doors behind her. Sitting in the driver's seat, she took a deep breath to calm her racing heart before starting the engine and pulling out onto the street.

The drive through the city was long, and at every red light, she found herself glancing towards the passenger seat where her phone laid. Cassian hadn't called again, and knowing him, that was worse than him blowing up her phone.

She drove in silence, her mind still stuck on the way Daniel had looked at her, how his warm fingers held onto her. She couldn’t help but wonder what his lips would taste like against her.

Selene shook her head and sighed; Get a grip Selene.

About twent minutes later, she pulled up to her house and the gates slid open automatically. She drove inside onto the large parking area and turned off her car.

Grabbing her things from the car, she slammed the door and walked towards the front door.

The foyer was pitch black when she walked in. Selene slipped her heels off at the entrance, holding them by the straps in one hand as she began walking silently across the floor toward the staircase.

She gad only taken a few steps when she heard the sound of a switch turn. The entire living area flooded with bright light immediately.

Selene stopped dead in her tracks, her heart leaping into her throat.

She turned around just to see Cassian sitting in the armchair near the window. He was dressed in just his regular work clothes, and a glass of wine between his fingers.

His eyes locked onto hers as he took a drink from his glass, then he stood up and started walking towards her.

Cassian looked at her flushed face, then down at the heels in her hand, before bringing his eyes back up to meet hers. "Where are you coming from, Selene?"