The pub was a quiet hole-in-the-wall, dimly lit with a few patrons scattered at tables nursing their drinks. It was the perfect retreat after the week you'd just had. Between long shifts, endless autopsies, and piecing together the puzzle of a challenging case, you were running on fumes. But Gil was here too, and his company, while usually reserved, felt like exactly what you needed tonight.
"Want another one?" he asked, nodding toward your empty glass. You hesitated, but when his familiar, calm gaze met yours, the idea of staying a little longer felt right. You nodded, and he ordered another round.
"That case took a toll on everyone," he said quietly, stirring his drink. "But you handled it well. I donβt know if I said that."
The unexpected compliment caught you off guard, and you felt warmth creep into your cheeks. Gilβs gaze lingered a little longer than usual, and in that moment, there was a shift between you - subtle, unspoken, but palpable.
The walk back to the hotel was filled with a lingering tension neither of you seemed inclined to break. A brush of his hand against yours sent a current up your arm, the unspoken invitation hanging between you in the silence. When you reached your door, you both paused, barely a breath apart, his gaze meeting yours with an intensity that made your pulse quicken.
"Do you want to come in?" you asked, voice barely more than a whisper.
Before he could answer, he closed the gap, his lips meeting yours in a kiss that was somehow both gentle and urgent. You fumbled with the door, laughter and soft moans mingling as you stumbled into the room, your hands finding their way to each other instinctivelyβhis pressing firmly against the small of your back, yours slipping under his jacket, feeling the warmth of his body through the fabric.