The room was still a sanctuary. The world outside seemed to have vanished, swallowed by the slow-burning candles around what remained of them. Skin on skin. The scent of sweat and oil. The sound of intertwined breaths.

Zoey was sitting astride Victor's thighs, their bodies still glued together from the previous round, their hearts beating out of sync. He held her with his arms, his fingers tracing soft patterns on her back, as if he never wanted to forget her.

"What is this between us?" she ...