The party had long since wound down, leaving only you, Frankie, Santiago, and his girlfriend in the quiet aftermath. It wasn't long before Santiago called an Uber to take his girlfriend home, but Frankie lingered. He wasn't quite ready to face the silence of his own empty apartment.

You were grateful for the company. You weren't ready for the house to feel cold and still just yet. As you both settled in, Frankie began sharing stories from his deployment days. You listened intently, laughing and asking questions, eventually trading tales of your own life during the years you spent away from the group. With every story, Frankie moved a little closer, the space between you narrowing as you both sipped your drinks.

The mood shifted when Frankie decided to test out your sound system. He started giving you a playful lap dance that had you doubled over in laughter until the music transitioned into something slower. He reached out, pulling you up to join him. You rested your head against his shoulder, the two of you swaying gently in the middle of your living room.

"I missed you," he whispered against your hair.

You pulled back, looking up at him as you danced slowly. He didn't break eye contact, his eyes tracing over your features, drifting to your lips. You slowly leaned closer, feeling his hand lift to your cheek before he pressed your lips together.

Your arms wrapped around his neck, and he guided you upward on your tiptoes as the kiss grew deeper. The second your fingers tangled in his hair, he seemed to melt against you. You felt the cushions of the couch hit the back of your knees, and as you settled back against the upholstery, he pulled away for a breath.

"We shouldn't..." Frankie muttered, his eyes searching yours for a sign to stop. Instead, you reached up to capture his lips again. He didn't protest this time, his hand trailed down your side to pull you flush against him as the rest of the world faded into the background.