(Sam Kerr and Kristie Mewis)
The noise of New York City hummed outside as Sam Kerr and Kristie Mewis sat together in a small, cozy restaurant on the Lower East Side. The warm, dim lighting cast a soft glow over their faces, and the low murmur of other diners filled the room like a comforting blanket. They had been here before, but tonight felt different—charged with a subtle, unspoken tension that neither had fully acknowledged yet.
Sam glanced across the table at Kristie, who was absently running her fingers along the rim of her wine glass, a small smile playing on her lips. It was a smile that made Sam's heart skip a beat. She had always been drawn to Kristie, from the moment they met—her confidence, her warmth, the way her laugh seemed to light up the darkest of days. But something had shifted between them recently, something that made Sam's chest tighten in both excitement and fear.
Earlier that day, they had found themselves tangled together in bed, their bodies moving in perfect rhythm, driven by a passion that neither had anticipated but both had secretly longed for. It was supposed to be simple—no strings, just two people finding comfort in each other. But now, as they waited for the check, Sam could feel that simplicity slipping away.
Kristie caught her gaze, and for a moment, the world seemed to fall away. There was something in the way Kristie looked at her now—something softer, more vulnerable. It was as if the walls Kristie had so carefully built around herself were crumbling, revealing the depth of what she felt. Sam's breath hitched, and she knew, in that instant, that she couldn't pretend anymore. Something had changed, and she couldn't ignore it.
"Sam," Kristie said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I think..." But the words trailed off, lost in the air between them, as if Kristie wasn't quite ready to say what was on her mind.
"I know," Sam replied, her voice equally quiet. "I feel it too."
They lingered for a moment longer, their gazes locked, before the spell was broken by the arrival of the check. Sam reached for it, but Kristie's hand was quicker, brushing against hers. They both laughed, the tension momentarily lifting as they bantered over who would pay. But as they stepped outside into the cool night air, the weight of their unspoken words settled over them once more.
The city seemed quieter now, the streets almost empty. Sam fell into step beside Kristie, her hands stuffed into the pockets of her jacket, their shoulders occasionally brushing as they walked. Kristie was looking ahead, her face unreadable, but Sam couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to change—something big.
They reached Kristie's apartment, the familiar building now feeling like the setting of something new, something they hadn't quite defined yet. Kristie unlocked the door and stepped inside, pausing just long enough to give Sam a questioning glance, an invitation.
Sam hesitated, her heart pounding. She knew that if she followed Kristie inside, nothing would ever be the same. But then she saw the way Kristie was looking at her—hopeful, a little scared, but ready—and she knew she couldn't walk away.
Kristie lit a candle as Sam closed the door behind them, the soft glow filling the room. The light flickered over Kristie's face, highlighting the contours of her cheekbones, the curve of her lips. Sam crossed the room in a few quick strides, her hands finding Kristie's, pulling her close.
"Stay with me," Sam murmured against Kristie's lips, her voice raw with emotion. "I don't want you to leave."
Kristie responded with a kiss, soft at first, then deeper, more urgent, as if trying to pour all her feelings into that one moment. They moved together, slowly making their way to the bed, where Sam pulled Kristie down beside her, holding her close as if she could somehow keep this moment from slipping away.
They lay together in the dark, the only sound the soft crackling of the candle on the nightstand. Sam could feel Kristie's heartbeat against her own, steady and reassuring. She pressed a kiss to Kristie's temple, her hand tracing lazy circles on her back.
"Kristie," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Don't go."
"I'm not going anywhere," Kristie replied, her voice soft but firm. "I'm right here, Sam. I'm not going anywhere."
Sam smiled, closing her eyes as she held Kristie close, the warmth of her body a comfort Sam never knew she needed so badly. As they drifted off to sleep, Sam realized that whatever this was—whatever it was turning into—was worth holding onto.
And as the candle burned low, the flickering light casting shadows on the walls, Sam knew that she had found something special, something real. Something that she wasn't ready to let go of. Not now, not ever.
