Forbidden Cravings

The night was quiet, the kind of still that made you feel like the world was holding its breath. Aeri and I walked side by side down the empty street, the wedding hall long behind us, its golden lights now just a memory.

Our hands were clasped together, her fingers warm and soft against mine, and every step sent a jolt through me. Her touch felt almost too real, like a dream I didn’t want to wake up from, and my heart was skipping beats, thudding hard in my chest. The stars above were bright, scattered across the dark sky, and the cool air carried the faint scent of her lavender perfume.

*Swoosh.* A cold breeze swept past, rustling the leaves on the trees lining the sidewalk and tugging at Aeri’s dress. She shivered, her shoulders hunching slightly, and then— *"Aa-chu!"*—she sneezed, a small, cute sound that broke the silence.

I turned to her, concern flickering through me. "It’s cold, huh?" I said, letting go of her hand to wrap my arm around her shoulders instead. I pulled her close, her warmth pressing against me as we walked. "You okay?"

Her face flushed pink, and she hesitated for a second before her hands found my waist, her fingers curling gently against my shirt. She leaned in, resting her head on my shoulder, her hair brushing my neck.

"Hmm, yeah, it’s chilly," she said softly, her voice muffled against me. "But this helps."

I smiled, feeling the weight of her against me, the way her body fit so naturally by my side.

"We should’ve just taken that ride with Sara and Daniel when they offered," I said, my tone light but teasing. "Would’ve saved us from freezing out here."

Aeri tilted her head to look up at me, her eyes catching the streetlight’s glow. "No way," she said, shaking her head. "I didn’t want to bug them anymore. It’s their night. They deserve to be alone, you know?"