~Jay's ~
Jay watched Elena as she hesitated, and for a moment, he thought she might refuse his invitation. He could see the wheels turning in her mind, the internal debate she was having. He knew it was a risk—suggesting they spend time outside of work. But he also knew that if he didn't push, nothing would change. And something in him was certain that if he let her slip through his fingers now, he'd regret it.
Her answer came with a small, almost imperceptible sigh. "Fine," she said, the word coming out more reluctantly than he expected. But there was something in her voice—something fragile—that made him smile. It was progress.
"Great," he replied, stepping closer. "How about I pick you up at seven?"
Elena nodded but didn't immediately respond, her gaze lingering on the floor for a moment, lost in thought. Jay could tell she was still wrestling with herself. She was trying to act like everything was fine, like she was in control, but he could see through the act. She was just like him—too proud to let anyone in, too afraid to admit that sometimes, she needed help.
"Alright," she said finally, lifting her head to meet his eyes. "Seven. But I'm not making any promises."
Jay chuckled, not the least bit deterred. "I'll hold you to that." He winked, and despite her best efforts to hide it, Elena's lips twitched in a smile.
They both stood there for a moment, an unspoken tension hanging between them. Jay wasn't sure what it was, but there was something in the air tonight that felt different. More intense. Like their worlds were finally starting to collide in ways that neither of them could ignore.
When Elena broke the silence, it was with a slight frown, her arms crossed defensively over her chest. "You know, I'm not the kind of person who just… hangs out after work. I don't do 'casual' very well."
"I'm not asking you to," Jay said, his voice reassuring but laced with a quiet intensity. "I just want to spend time with you, Elena. No work. No expectations. Just… getting to know each other better."
Her eyes flickered, uncertainty flashing across her face. But then, just as quickly, it was gone. She was a master at hiding what she didn't want to show, and Jay couldn't help but admire the way she kept her guard up. But there was something else in her eyes—a flicker of curiosity, perhaps—and that gave him hope.
"I'm not sure how much you'll actually get to know about me," Elena replied, her tone teasing but guarded. "But we'll see."
"That's all I'm asking for," Jay said. He took a step back, giving her space. He didn't want to push too hard, not yet. But the fire in his chest—the desire to get closer to her, to peel back the layers she hid behind—was impossible to ignore.
"Well, I'll let you get back to whatever it is you do," Jay said with a grin. "I'll see you at seven?"
Elena nodded, but there was a faint hesitation in her movement. As if she were silently weighing the decision one more time. Finally, she met his gaze, her expression softening just a fraction. "Yeah. Seven."
~Elena's ~
Elena couldn't stop thinking about Jay as she sat at her desk, the hours slowly ticking by. The truth was, she had been expecting him to push for more, to make her feel like she had no choice but to agree. But instead, he'd done the opposite. He'd given her the space to make her own decision, to decide whether she wanted to let him in.
And for reasons she couldn't explain, she found herself wanting to let him in. She didn't know why. She hadn't let anyone in for so long. She was always the one who kept things at arm's length, the one who stayed in control, who worked tirelessly to make sure she never had to depend on anyone else. But with Jay, she didn't feel that same urgency to protect herself.
It terrified her. It should have terrified her.
But it didn't.
She glanced at the clock on the wall. Just a few more hours before she was supposed to meet him. She had already changed into something casual, but not too casual—just enough to avoid feeling like she was putting in any extra effort. She wasn't going to let Jay think she cared about what he thought.
But then, why was she so anxious?
The answer was simple, but not one she was ready to confront: she wanted to be seen. And Jay was the only one who seemed to notice the parts of her that she tried to keep hidden. It was a strange, uncomfortable feeling. She had always prided herself on her ability to control the narrative, to make sure no one could see the cracks beneath the surface. But with Jay, it felt like the cracks were already exposed, and yet… he didn't judge her for it. He didn't expect her to be perfect.
That thought alone left her with a knot in her stomach.
When she finally left the office, she made her way to the front entrance of the building, her heart unexpectedly racing in anticipation. It had been a long time since she had done something spontaneous, something just for herself. And while she wasn't ready to admit it to Jay—or even to herself—this felt like the start of something new. Something she couldn't control.
As she walked out the door, she spotted Jay leaning against his car, waiting. He looked relaxed, at ease, as if he had all the time in the world. He was looking at her with that same warm, almost knowing smile, and Elena couldn't help but feel a flutter in her chest.
"You look great," he said, the words coming easily as he opened the door for her.
She raised an eyebrow, trying to hide the fact that his compliment had caught her off guard. "Thanks," she replied, her voice quieter than usual. She slid into the passenger seat, her hands gripping the seatbelt a little too tightly. She had no idea why she was so nervous, but the tension between them felt palpable now, like the air around them was charged with unspoken words and desires.
Jay closed the door and slid into the driver's seat. "So, how's work been? You know, besides the whole 'too busy' thing you've got going on."
Elena chuckled, though it was more out of nervousness than amusement. "Same old, same old," she said, her voice casual. But as the words left her mouth, she realized they didn't feel true. It wasn't just work that had been weighing on her lately. It was everything.
Jay glanced over at her as he started the car. "You know, you don't have to pretend around me, Elena. I'm not some stranger."
Her breath caught in her throat at his words. She wanted to brush him off, to tell him she was fine, to give him the same answer she always gave everyone else. But something in his eyes made her stop. She wasn't ready to open up, not yet, but she could feel the walls she had built around herself slowly starting to crack.
The drive to the bar was quiet, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Every so often, Elena would glance over at Jay, only to find him looking at her with that same intensity, as though he were waiting for her to say something. Waiting for her to let him in.
And, for the first time in a long time, Elena found herself considering it.
~Jay's ~
The drive to the bar was quiet, but the air between them was thick with something unspoken. Jay could feel it—the electric charge between them. It was the kind of tension that made his pulse race, the kind that made every glance at her feel like a small betrayal to his self-control.
He had been keeping his distance, but the closer they got to the bar, the harder it became to pretend like he wasn't aching to reach over, pull her closer, and kiss the life out of her. He wasn't the type to act on impulse, but with Elena, every instinct he had was telling him to make her his. To make her see how much he wanted her.
It was maddening, the way she pulled at him without even trying. The way she made him crave something he couldn't quite put into words. It was like a simmering heat building beneath his skin, a kind of hunger that intensified every time she looked at him with that fire in her eyes. The playful teasing, the way she acted like she didn't care when he knew she did—it was all part of the game. But Jay wasn't the type to back down from a challenge.
As they pulled up to the bar, he could see her glancing around, as though she was trying to act cool, trying to hide her nerves. He wasn't fooled, though. Elena had walls, but they weren't as strong as she thought.
He stopped the car and turned to her. "You alright?" His voice was low, almost too soft, but there was something in the way he looked at her—something that made her breath catch in her throat.
She met his gaze, and for a moment, he thought she might hesitate, might pull back. But then, with a small but telling smile, she nodded. "Yeah. Let's go inside."
They got out of the car, and as they walked toward the entrance, Jay couldn't help but notice how Elena's hips swayed in that effortless way of hers. Her movements were smooth, almost sensual, as if she knew the effect she had on him. She wasn't wearing anything particularly revealing—just a simple dress that clung to her in all the right places—but to Jay, it was as if every inch of her skin was calling out to him.
When they walked into the bar, the atmosphere was buzzing with energy—laughter, clinking glasses, and music that seemed to pulse in rhythm with the thumping of his heart. But all Jay could focus on was her.
She was standing too close, her shoulder brushing against his with every movement, and he could feel the heat of her body through the thin fabric of his shirt. She was doing it on purpose, he knew. She was testing him, making him crave her more with every subtle touch.
~Elena's ~
The moment they stepped inside the bar, Elena felt an unsettling shift. There was something in the air between her and Jay, something more than the casual flirtation they'd shared earlier. It was the kind of tension that made her feel like she was on the edge of a precipice, one small step away from falling into something she wasn't sure she could control.
She could feel Jay's eyes on her. She could always feel him watching, his gaze hot on the back of her neck, making her skin prickle with awareness.
It was maddening. And yet, she couldn't help but lean into it, as though the heat of his stare was pulling her in, tethering her to him in a way she couldn't explain. She was starting to realize how much she wanted him—wanted to feel his touch, his lips, the heat of his body pressed against hers.
But she wasn't sure if she could let him in. Not completely. She had spent years building walls around her heart, keeping everyone at arm's length. And Jay… Jay made her want to tear down every single one of them.
As they took a seat at the bar, Elena tried to steady her nerves. She ordered a drink—something strong, something that would help dull the edge of her thoughts. But even as the bartender placed the glass in front of her, Elena felt Jay's presence beside her like a shadow she couldn't shake.
She took a sip of her drink, her fingers lightly grazing the rim of the glass, but the moment her eyes met his, her body went still. He was staring at her with that intensity, his lips curved into a small, almost predatory smile. He wasn't looking at her like a colleague. He was looking at her like he wanted more.
Her pulse quickened. Her body betrayed her, her breath catching in her throat as she tried to act casual. "So," she said, her voice a little rougher than she intended, "you really know how to make a girl feel special, don't you?"
Jay leaned in slightly, his breath warm against her ear. "I don't have to try too hard with you, Elena." His voice was low, smooth, and laced with something dangerous. "You're impossible to ignore."
She swallowed, trying to mask the effect his words had on her. The way his proximity was making her stomach flutter, making her crave something she wasn't sure she could handle. "Is that so?" she teased, her voice soft but sharp, her eyes challenging him to keep pushing.
"You know it is," Jay replied, his voice thick with desire. His hand brushed against hers, just enough to send a jolt of electricity through her body. Elena tried to ignore it, but the heat spreading through her veins was undeniable.
There was a flicker of something in his eyes—something that made her heart race. He wasn't playing anymore. This wasn't just casual banter. It was something more. Something more dangerous.
And she was starting to realize that she didn't want to fight it.
~Jay's ~
Jay could feel the fire between them growing hotter with every passing second. Elena was pushing him, testing him, but she wasn't backing down. And it was driving him wild.
She was playing a game, he knew that, but what she didn't realize was that he was better at this game than she was. Every smile, every touch, every look—they were all deliberate, calculated. But even Jay wasn't prepared for the way his body reacted to her.
He watched as she took another sip of her drink, her lips parting just slightly as she tilted her head back. It was a simple action, but to Jay, it was like an invitation. A dare.
Without thinking, he reached out, his hand brushing against her thigh just above the knee. It was a subtle touch—one that might have seemed innocent to anyone else—but to Elena, it was anything but.
Her eyes widened for a split second, and Jay could see the shift in her. She wasn't as composed as she wanted to be. She was just as affected by him as he was by her.
"Stop playing with me, Elena," he murmured, his lips dangerously close to her ear. "I can feel you wanting this just as much as I do."
Elena's breath hitched, and for a moment, Jay saw the flicker of hesitation in her eyes. But then, just as quickly, it was gone, replaced by something darker. Something that made his pulse race even faster.
She leaned in closer, her lips brushing against his ear as she whispered, "Prove it."