CLOSE TO YOU • jp + sb [1]

02.01 | THE START *

CHAPTER ONE

     JAMES and Selyna gripped each other tightly against the kitchen counter, the remnants of the afternoon fading into a distant buzz as they lost themselves in one another. They had just moved in to their new flat and had spent the entire day unpacking. His hands tangled in her long hair, pulling her closer, while hers explored the contours of his back, tracing the muscles beneath his shirt.

The flickering light above cast soft shadows across their bodies as the heat between them grew, a palpable energy that seemed to fuse their very souls. Selyna pressed her body against him, the warmth of her skin igniting his desire. Each kiss deepened, tongues entwining as they savoured the taste of passion mixed with the sweetness of sugar from their earlier trip to the bakery.

"Here?" Selyna whispered, a teasing smile playing on her lips as she brushed her fingertips along his jawline.

With a playful grin, James nodded, his fingertips trailing down to the hem of her shirt, lifting it slowly to reveal the soft skin beneath. He leaned in, kissing his way from her collarbone down her stomach, his breath mingling with hers as she gasped softly, arching her back and letting her eyes fall shut in bliss.

Just as he reached the waistband of her jeans, the kitchen door swung open abruptly, the unnatural squeak of the hinges slicing through the air. Sirius Black walked in, a lopsided grin on his face, clearly ready to crack a joke about their newfound domesticity. But his expression froze as he took in the scene: James, face buried in her stomach while unzipping her jeans, and her breathless gasp mixing in the air.

"Shit! I—uh—didn't mean to interrupt!" Sirius blurted, his voice cracking a little as he quickly turned on his heel, his face a picture of shock and what could be considered disgust.

Selyna's eyes widened in horror, her face flushed with embarrassment as she pulled her shirt down, trying to cover the moment that had just been so intimate. "Sirius!" she exclaimed, horrified, her heart pounding.

James, still on his knees, groaned in frustration. "Sirius, have you ever heard of knocking?" he growled, the heat of the moment evaporating but leaving a slight tension in the air.

Sirius chuckled nervously, eyes wide and hands raised defensively. "I swear I will never, ever walk into a room without knocking again!"

"Seriously, mate." James exclaimed, struggling to retain his composure as he stood up and straightened his clothes. "What are you doing here anyways?"

"I was just bringing some drinks! I thought you might like to celebrate moving in," Sirius replied, still laughing to himself as he backed out the door to wait in the living room, shaking his head in disbelief or perhaps frustration. "You two seem... busy."

As the door clicked shut, the air was thick with a mix of embarrassment and exhilaration. Selyna wrapped her arms around James, burying her shameful expression in his shoulder. "Well, that was unexpected," she giggled embarrassingly.

"Yeah, just a typical day with Sirius," he replied, pulling her closer, a playful smirk crossing his lips. "You think we can pick up where we left off?"

Selyna looked up at him, her cheeks still flushed, eyes wide with shock at his words. "James Potter!"

     SELYNA stood on tiptoe, her fingertips barely grazing the edge of the high cabinet where James had stashed the wine glasses. She tried stretching even further, but the glasses remained tantalizingly out of reach. It was a small yet frustrating hurdle in an otherwise successful evening. The apartment was filled with the warm buzz of celebration as Sirius, Remus, and Peter had come over to celebrate their recent move. Despite the festive atmosphere, Selyna couldn't shake her embarrassment from earlier that day.