Her pulse responded again. Steady but undeniably heightened.

The music playing softly in the background added warmth to the space. The lights dimmed slightly as the sun dropped lower outside, creating a gentle evening glow that softened both their expressions.

She exhaled through her nose. “What does tonight feel like to you?”

“Connected,” he replied. “Aligned. And slowly intensifying.”

Her stomach tightened quietly at the last word. “Intensifying,” she repeated.

“Yes.”

She appreciated that he didn’t dress the word in dramatics. He spoke it like a simple truth. That made the tension feel real without overwhelming her.

“What do you want from this evening?” he asked gently.

“I want to...