Twenty minutes later, as Janet lay on her couch, the faint knock on her door startled her. She sat up, her heart skipping a beat. It was late—too late for casual visitors. She hesitated for a moment, then padded softly to the door, her bare feet silent against the hardwood floor.
Peeking through the peephole, her breath caught. It was Mike. His familiar silhouette stood tall and confident in the dim hallway light, his hands tucked casually into his coat pockets.
She didn't even think. Her hand flew to the lock, fumbling slightly as she turned it and pulled the door open. Before she could say anything, Mike stepped forward, his expression intense, his gaze locking onto hers.
"Mike—" she started, but her words were cut off as he closed the space between them in one swift motion. His hands found her waist, pulling her toward him, and his lips crashed into hers with a mix of urgency and tenderness.
Janet responded instantly, her arms wrapping around his neck as she melted into him. The world outside ceased to exist—there was no time, no space, just the warmth of his body against hers, the way his lips moved with hers like they were meant to fit.
As they pulled apart for a brief moment, their foreheads resting against each other, both catching their breath, Mike's voice was low, almost a whisper. "I couldn't wait. I had to see you."
Janet smiled, her fingers brushing against the collar of his coat. "I'm glad you came."
Without another word, he leaned in again, capturing her lips in another kiss, and she pulled him inside, closing the door behind them as their embrace deepened. The room seemed to fill with an electric charge, the tension and emotions that had built up between them now unleashed in the quiet sanctuary of her apartment.
For the first time in what felt like forever, Janet let herself stop thinking, stop questioning. She let herself feel—fully, deeply, and without hesitation.Janet pulled Mike further into the apartment, the door clicking shut behind them as they stumbled together toward the couch. Their kisses grew more fervent, each one charged with the kind of energy that came from emotions left unspoken for too long. His hands moved to her waist, steady and firm, as though anchoring her in the moment.
"Mike," Janet murmured between kisses, her breath hitching as his lips trailed to her neck. Her hands found their way to his collar, tugging gently at his coat until it slipped off his shoulders and fell to the floor. "What are you doing here?"
He pulled back slightly, just enough to meet her eyes, his chest rising and falling with deep breaths. "I couldn't stop thinking about you," he said, his voice low and honest. "The texts, the night we shared, everything… I just couldn't stay away."
Janet's heart raced at his words. She searched his face for hesitation, for doubt, but found none. Instead, his gaze held a mixture of tenderness and desire that made her knees weak.
"You didn't exactly give me much of a warning," she said, her lips curving into a teasing smile.
Mike grinned, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Would you have let me in if I had?"
She laughed softly, her fingers tracing the edge of his shirt collar. "I guess we'll never know."
He leaned in again, his lips brushing hers as he whispered, "I like not knowing."
The words sent a shiver down her spine, and before she could respond, his kiss silenced her once more. They moved together as though no time or space could separate them, their connection reigniting with a force that felt both familiar and thrillingly new.
Janet found herself lost in the moment, but somewhere in the back of her mind, a flicker of uncertainty lingered. This wasn't just about desire or chemistry—there was something deeper between them, something that terrified her as much as it drew her in. She had seen glimpses of their futures, flashes of paths they might take, and the weight of that knowledge pressed against her like an invisible hand.
But tonight, she decided, was not the night to dwell on what might happen. Tonight was about them—here and now.
Mike's lips pressed against hers again, grounding her in the present. He pulled her closer, his touch gentle yet insistent, as if silently telling her she didn't have to carry the weight of everything alone. And for the first time in a long while, Janet let herself believe it.
As they sank onto the couch together, her thoughts quieted, replaced by the warmth of his embrace and the feeling of something real, something undeniable, blossoming between them.The Next Morning
The pale morning light filtered through the curtains, casting soft patterns across the room. Janet stirred, her senses slowly sharpening as she became aware of the warmth beside her. For a moment, she simply lay there, letting the quiet hum of the city outside mix with the steady rhythm of Mike's breathing.
Her eyes opened, and she turned her head slightly to find him lying on his side, his face relaxed and peaceful in sleep. The sharp confidence he carried during the day softened here, replaced with an openness that made him look almost boyish. She watched him for a moment, caught between disbelief and the simple comfort of having him here.
Janet shifted carefully, not wanting to wake him, and slipped out of bed. Her bare feet touched the cool floor as she grabbed a loose sweater draped over a chair and pulled it on. The apartment felt still, calm in a way she rarely experienced. Yet, beneath the surface, her mind buzzed with questions.
What now? What did this mean for them? For her?
She padded softly into the kitchen, putting on a pot of coffee, her hands moving automatically through the motions. As the machine sputtered and the rich aroma filled the room, she leaned against the counter, her thoughts racing.
Last night had been... intense. Unexpected. And yet, it had felt right. But now, in the clarity of daylight, Janet felt the familiar pull of uncertainty. Her abilities, her visions, the monk's cryptic guidance—none of it fit neatly into the kind of normalcy Mike seemed to represent.
As she poured herself a cup of coffee, the soft creak of the bedroom door caught her attention. She turned to see Mike standing in the doorway, his hair slightly tousled, his shirt rumpled from sleep. He gave her a sleepy smile that made her heart skip a beat.
"Morning," he said, his voice low and warm.