Lingering Tastes and Unspoken Desires

Adrian sat in his office, his fingers absentmindedly twirling the delicate silver earring between them. Thea's earring. He had found it on the passenger seat of his car after dropping her home that morning. It was small, elegant, with a tiny sapphire embedded in it—something that suited her perfectly. He smirked to himself, thinking about the way she had slept in his arms, the way her warmth had lingered against his skin even after she was gone.

His phone buzzed, pulling him from his thoughts. It was Edwin.

"So, how are you feeling, lover boy?" Edwin's teasing voice came through the receiver.

Adrian rolled his eyes. "I'm fine. The fever's gone. Thanks for making Thea check on me."

"Oh, don't thank me just yet. So, holy moly, she stayed at your place for the night? That's huge, man. You need to take it slow."

Adrian scoffed. "It wasn't like that. She was just taking care of me."

"Yeah, yeah. Keep telling yourself that. But let's be real—having her in your arms again must've felt like a fever dream, huh?"

Adrian exhaled, rubbing his temple. "I don't have time for your nonsense, Edwin. I have a meeting soon."

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say, man. Just… don't mess this up."

Edwin hung up, leaving Adrian staring at the earring again. He tucked it safely into his drawer, shaking his head. *Thea.*

---

When lunchtime arrived, Adrian wasn't expecting Thea to show up at his office, but there she was, standing in the doorway in a light blue dress—his favorite color. Her long black hair cascaded down her back, and the only makeup she wore was a soft red lipstick. Simple, yet utterly breathtaking.

"You didn't have to come," he said, standing as she walked in, holding a small bag in her hands.

She raised an eyebrow. "You were sick. You barely ate anything last night. I figured you could use a proper meal."

Adrian smirked, taking the bag from her hands. "Home-cooked?"

"Of course. I made your favorite," she said, taking a seat across from him at the small table in his office.

He unwrapped the containers, the rich aroma of freshly cooked food filling the space. His stomach growled involuntarily, making Thea chuckle. "Guess you were hungrier than you thought."

They ate in comfortable silence at first. Thea had made a simple yet delicious meal—grilled chicken, rice, and vegetables, paired with a side of her perfectly spiced sauce.

"This is just as amazing as I remember," Adrian murmured, savoring the taste. "You really haven't lost your touch."

"Of course not," she teased. "Unlike you, I don't forget the important things."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, really? Like what?"

"Like how you used to hate vegetables until I started making them like this," she pointed out, a knowing glint in her eyes.

"Okay, fair point," he admitted.

A small speck of sauce clung to the corner of her lips, and before she could wipe it away, Adrian leaned in, brushing his thumb against her skin, removing it slowly. The touch lingered for a second longer than necessary, and their eyes met.

Thea's breath hitched slightly as his fingers trailed down, barely grazing the curve of her chin before pulling away.

"You had something there," he said, his voice lower than before.

Thea swallowed, her heart pounding. "Thanks."

Adrian smirked but didn't say anything. Instead, he casually reached into his pocket and, without a word, slid something into her palm.

She looked down to see a small, neatly wrapped piece of dark chocolate.

Her eyes widened slightly. *He still remembers.*

She looked up at him, her lips curving into a soft smile. "You kept this in your pocket? Just in case?"

"Maybe," he shrugged. "Or maybe I just knew you'd be here."

She unwrapped the chocolate and popped it into her mouth, letting it melt on her tongue. "Still as smooth as ever, huh?"

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "Only for you."

Thea shook her head, laughing softly. "I should go before your students starts thinking I'm distracting you."

Adrian smirked. "Oh, they already know you're a distraction. I'm just good at hiding it."

She rolled her eyes, standing up. "See you later, Mr. Carter

Adrian stood as well, walking her to the door. As she turned to leave, he caught her wrist gently, making her pause.

She looked up at him, their faces close—too close.

"Wear this color more often," he murmured. "It suits you."

Her cheeks warmed, but she didn't look away. "Maybe I will. If you behave."

He grinned, finally letting her go. "No promises."

She shook her head, laughing as she walked away, leaving Adrian watching her go with a smirk playing on his lips.