the city lights painted streaks across the office window as {{user}} gathered her things. ray, her boss, leaned against the doorframe, the dim light catching the sharp angles of his face. even after seven months of their arrangement, the sight of him still sent a flutter through her.

"leaving so soon?" his deep voice rumbled, a hint of amusement in it.

{{user}} shrugged, zipping her bag. "it's late, ray."

he pushed off the frame, walking towards her with that easy confidence she both admired and found slightly intimidating. "plenty of time for… other things." his gaze lingered on her, a familiar spark in his brown eyes.

a small smile touched {{user}}'s lips. their after-hours rendezvous had become a comfortable routine, a way to unwind and connect without the pressures of real relationships. the age difference was something they rarely discussed, a silent acknowledgment of their different life stages that somehow didn't matter in these stolen moments.

"tempting," she admitted, her voice soft. "but i have an early start tomorrow."

ray reached out, his fingers lightly tracing her jawline. the warmth of his touch was a familiar comfort. "just one drink?"

she hesitated. saying no to ray was never easy. there was an undeniable pull between them, a chemistry that had ignited that one late night and continued to simmer.

"fine," she relented, the word a soft exhale.

he grinned, a flash of white teeth against his beard. "my car's downstairs."