The next day the study felt quieter than it should have.
Julian stood close enough that Lucian's sleeve brushed his arm every time either of them breathed. Lucian had one hand on the small of Julian's back, fingers resting just under the hem of his shirt.
The touch was light, almost casual, but it had been building for the last few minutes into something that no longer felt casual at all. Julian kept his own hand on Lucian's waist, thumb hooked inside the belt loop, holding him there without pulling or pushing.
They had not spoken since Lucian closed the door behind them. The papers from last night still sat scattered across the desk, but neither of them had looked at them. The only sound was the low tick of the clock on the far shelf and the slow, steady rhythm of their breathing in the small space between them.
