Lingering Desire

Desire. It hovers in the air, like an unexpected deep breath, an electric touch between elbows, the blush that comes to one’s cheeks that is mirrored in another.

You touch without touching, you breathe without breathing. You enjoy the space between you, the heat that rushes through you as you hover in this space – just the two of you, together, alone.

You look into each other’s eyes, longing to close the distance, but obligations, restrictions, expectations blur the view. Your bodies are an inch too close, but not close enough – but neither of you dare close the gap.

At the end of the night, neither of you move, but the clock chimes, breaking the spell. You say farewell, hoping one of you reaches out, but both of you hesitate in that hope, so you never do. So you part, a little bitterness left in your mouth, a small disappointment in your heart.

You smile, knowing you didn’t give into temptation, but you also sigh, because you wanted to.

The distance between you stretches, but the connection remains unbroken. You turn to see them turn to see you. They wave at you, and you wave back, knowing you will see them again in the same place, pushing and pulling until one of you makes that move so both of you would fall into each other’s arms.

But for tonight, you linger in the desire. And that’s enough.

–
Image source: deviantart.com/nami64/art/innocent-touch-342532804
First written December 7, 2018.
#357