Cassian's restraint had a gravity all its own.
Althea learned to recognize it in the smallest gestures: the way he waited for her to finish a thought before speaking, the way he let his hand hover near hers without touching, the way he held eye contact long enough that it became a tether rather than a stare. Desire, she realized, was not always loud. Sometimes it was the silence between breaths, the heat beneath patience, the intensity that simmered under measured movements.
They met in a private lounge that smelled faintly of cedar and spiced vanilla. The dim lighting softened edges, and the world outside became a distant hum. Cassian's presence was immediate, though he didn't move to close the space between them. He watched her with a stillness that made her pulse quicken.
"Do you notice how much space I leave?" he asked.
Althea considered this, her gaze tracing the line of his shoulders. "Yes. You make me aware of it… and yet, I want to fill it."
"Exactly," he said, a shadow of a smile crossing his face. "I don't force. I let desire take its own shape."
He raised a hand then, just near her arm, letting the air between them vibrate with intention. When his fingers finally brushed hers, it was deliberate, measured, and entirely without urgency. It was a touch that spoke of respect and hunger in equal measure.
She leaned slightly closer, emboldened by the restraint. He responded not by moving first, but by allowing her closeness to be the guiding choice. Every movement he made was calculated to make her feel both wanted and safe, an intoxicating balance she hadn't known existed.
By the end of the evening, they lingered at the door, close enough to feel heat pooling in the small space between them. Cassian's eyes, dark and unwavering, held hers.
"I could wait forever," he murmured, "but I won't. Only because I want you to be aware every step of the way."
Althea smiled, feeling her body align with his intent. Desire had never been so alive, so intricate. It was more than want. It was awareness. It was anticipation. And it was entirely, undeniably theirs.