Touched Without Touching

Alexander started the car as we drove out of the compound and onto the road. His hand gripped the steering wheel, his eyes fixed ahead, occasionally darting to glance at me.

I sat curled slightly toward the window, my cheek resting on my palm as I watched the morning light stretch thin across the windshield. All I could think about was last night. Not because something happened, but because it almost did. And that somehow made it even more unforgettable.

It all started when we turned off the lights after we had gotten ready for bed. We had climbed into bed, and it instantly became weird. Not the bed part, but the quiet that followed. We both lay still, wrapped in the blankets, our bodies barely touching. His arm was draped loosely behind me, not quite around me, like he was giving me the option.

I took it. I slid closer, resting my head against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. He didn’t say anything, but his hand curled gently around my waist, pulling me in. And tha