Familiar Strangers

After years of dancing around two friends take the next step.

Ben wiped down the counter with deliberate slowness, watching the way Angela moved at the other end of the bar. She was new, but he'd known her since high school. She had only come back to their hometown 2 weeks ago, and still learning the rhythms of The Leaping Frog. Tonight, though, she seemed relaxed, almost playful, sliding a tray of glasses into the washer with a grin.

“You’re starting to get the hang of this,” Ben said, tossing her a towel.

Angela caught it with ease. “What can I say? I have a good teacher.”

He smirked, pretending to polish a glass. “Careful. Flattery like that might make me think you actually enjoy working with me.”

Her green eyes sparkled, a teasing glint he hadn’t missed before. “Maybe I do.”

The words hung between them, warmer than they should have been, and Ben suddenly became aware of how close they were standing, only the bar’s width keeping them apart. He cleared his throat and set the glass down. “Shift’s over. You want to hang back? I’ve got a decent bottle of whiskey upstairs.”

Angela hesitated, then nodded. “Why not?”

His apartment sat just above the pub, simple but comfortable. Angela followed him inside, her gaze drifting across the small living room before landing on the kitchen table. A square box wrapped in silver paper sat there, untouched.

“You’re one of those who keeps an unopened present out in the open?” she asked, pointing at it.

Ben rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s from my ex. Haven’t decided if I should open it or throw it out the window.”

“Ah,” Angela said softly, her expression unreadable. “Bad ending?”

“Let’s just say...we didn’t part on good terms.” He gestured toward the couch. “Want to sit?”

She settled onto the cushions while Ben dimmed the lamps. “Gotta set the mood lighting,” he joked. “Otherwise you’ll think I’m interrogating you.”

Angela laughed, the sound warm and soft. “Mood lighting, huh? Should I be worried?”

“Not unless you have safe words.” He smirked, watching as her cheeks flushed.

“You didn’t just say that,” she muttered, shaking her head.

“Oh, I did. A couple of friends.” he paused, leaning against the wall, arms crossed “they’re together. Lesbians. They told me once about safe words, how important they are. I figured...maybe I should check, you know, just in case.”

Angela buried her face in her hands but peeked through her fingers, laughing despite herself. “You are impossible.”

“And you’re blushing.”

“Because you’re ridiculous.”

He shrugged, fighting the grin tugging at his lips. “Still. If you’ve got one, I should know.”

Angela shook her head, unable to hide her smile. “You’d be the last person I’d ever need a safe word with, Ben.”

The statement was quiet, but it shifted something in the air. Ben’s heart kicked hard against his ribs. He moved closer, lowering himself onto the couch beside her.

“So,” he said, softer now, “do you still like wildflowers?”

Angela blinked at him. “You remembered that?”

“Of course I did. Junior year, prom night. I asked what flowers you’d want if someone showed up at your door. You didn’t even hesitate with wildflowers.”

Her lips parted, surprise flickering across her face before giving way to something tender. “I can’t believe you remember that.”

Ben tilted his head, watching her closely. “I remember everything.”

The silence that followed wasn’t awkward. It was heavy, charged, as if both of them were circling something unspoken. Angela shifted slightly, her knee brushing his. The contact sent a ripple through him, stronger than it should have been.

“Angela...”

Her gaze met his, steady but soft. “Ben.”

They didn’t move at first, just stared. Then, almost in unison, they leaned in. The kiss was slow, tentative, but the moment their lips touched the quiet between them shattered into heat.

She gasped softly against his mouth, and he deepened the kiss, his hand brushing her jaw before sliding to the nape of her neck. Angela’s fingers gripped his shirt, pulling him closer.

When they finally pulled away, their breaths mingled in the small space between them. "I've been wanting to do that for a long time," Ben whispered, his forehead resting against hers.

Angela smiled, "Me too."

Ben reached for Angela's hand, his fingers entwining with hers. "You know, I've been thinking about us a lot lately. About how we've been each other's rock for so long."

Angela nodded, her thumb tracing patterns on the back of his hand. "We have. Through everything."

Ben took a deep breath, his eyes searching hers. "I was wondering...what if we took that next step? What if we let ourselves explore this connection between us?"

Angela's heart skipped a beat. "Are you asking me to be more than friends, Ben?"

Ben leaned in, his lips capturing hers in a deeper, more passionate kiss. Angela melted into him, her body pressing against his as they explored each other's mouths with a newfound hunger. Their hands roamed, tracing the curves and planes of each other's bodies, memorizing every inch.

As they kissed, Ben's hands found their way to Angela's waist, pulling her closer. She could feel the heat radiating from his body, the firmness of his muscles beneath his shirt. Her own hands explored the contours of his back, feeling the strength and power hidden beneath the surface.

Ben's lips left hers, trailing kisses down her neck, sending shivers of pleasure through her entire body. His hands moved to her breasts, cupping them gently, his thumbs brushing against her nipples through the thin fabric of her dress. Angela gasped, her head falling back as waves of sensation washed over her.

"Ben," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I want you."

Ben looked up at her, his eyes dark with desire. "I want you more, Angela. "


Word Count: 968
Prompt: Round 370 (August 24-30): Wildflowers, Unopened Present, Mood Lighting, Safe Words
Written for: "The Weekly Quickie Contest"