After a while, I rose to refill my coffee, stretching my stiff shoulders. "Want a refill?" I asked casually, lifting my mug.
He glanced up, surprised by the offer, but nodded. "Thanks."
I crossed to the kitchen, letting the scent of freshly brewed coffee ground me. There was something... strange about today. Easier. We'd been working together for months, but the guarded walls seemed thinner now—more transparent.
When I returned, placing his cup carefully by his side, his fingers brushed mine—just briefly, just enough to spark awareness between us. His gaze flicked up, sharp but unreadable.
"Thanks," he said quietly.
I nodded, trying not to linger, though my pulse quickened at the intensity of his gaze.
