Three days passed like a dream—a blur of group study sessions, library corners, rushed meals, and far-too-long eye contact across cluttered desks. Liora, Kael, and Riven had fallen into a rhythm that was deceptively academic on the surface, but under it… there was a current. A constant hum. A heat neither of them dared to name.
In the library, late afternoon sunlight filtered through the tall windows, casting golden patterns across the floor. Their table, tucked in the back, was always theirs. Liora sat between the two, trying to focus, trying not to notice how close their knees came under the table, how Kael's breath changed when she leaned forward, how Riven's eyes darkened whenever her hand brushed his by accident—or on purpose.
She was starting to crave the accidental.
Kael leaned over to point at her notes, his voice low. "This part here—you could tighten the argument. Want help rewriting it?"
She nodded, too aware of how close his mouth was to her ear.
And then it happened. A light touch under the table. Fingers grazing her knee, slowly sliding higher.
Her breath hitched. Kael didn't look at her—he was still explaining something, but his hand was very much not academic. When his fingertips dared to slip between her thighs, a jolt ran through her.
She grabbed his wrist, firmly. Her voice was steady, but her pulse wasn't.
"Not here. Not now."
Riven looked up from his laptop, raising a brow. "Everything okay?"
Liora forced a casual smile. "Yeah. We were just discussing… my section."
Riven smirked but said nothing, though his eyes flicked to Kael's hand, now respectfully returned to the tabletop.
The assignment continued. Words were typed. Pages edited. But everyone's thoughts were elsewhere.
Later, as the boys excused themselves to the washroom, the tension shifted.
Inside, Kael leaned against the sink, exhaling.
"You felt that?" Riven asked, arms crossed.
Kael chuckled. "She's into it."
"Into you, maybe."
Kael shook his head. "Not just me. She wants both of us. She's just scared to say it."
Riven looked away, contemplative. "So… should I back off?"
Kael turned to him, smirking. "Only if you want to miss the best thing that could happen to us."
Riven hesitated. "Can I… take her to my apartment?"
"Do you want her just for yourself?"
"No," Riven admitted. "But I want to start slow. Maybe you can join later."
Kael considered it, then nodded. "I trust you. Just… prepare her. Ease her in."
"And if she says no?"
Kael's face softened. "Then we stop. No games. But I don't think she will."
Back at the library, Kael went to the canteen to grab something for them all.
Riven returned first. The moment he sat down beside her, his fingers brushed over hers. Soft. Testing.
"You okay?" he asked, his voice husky.
Liora nodded, feeling heat crawl up her spine. "Yeah. Just… distracted."
He trailed his fingers along her arm, rubbing the fabric of her sweater, his touch gentle but electrifying. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to catch her breath.
"You feel warm," he murmured. "Want to finish the project at my place? Might be easier to focus. Less crowded."
She opened her eyes. "Time's running out."
He smiled. "Then let's not waste any more of it."
Kael returned just in time, placing snacks and drinks on the table. "Got enough for everyone."
Riven met Liora's gaze, silent question still hanging.
She looked at both of them. Then at the snacks. Then back again.
"Let's go," she said.
---
Riven's apartment was quiet. Dim lamplight cast soft gold shadows across the walls, and mellow music played low from his speakers—something instrumental, calm, like the evening was trying too hard to pretend it wasn't buzzing with tension.
Liora stepped inside first, setting down her bag as Kael followed behind, holding the snacks like it was a peace offering. Riven locked the door, his gaze lingering on her before he turned toward the kitchen.
"Drinks?" he asked, already heading for the fridge.
"Water's good," she replied, her voice lower than usual. Controlled.
Kael set the snacks on the coffee table, watching her from the corner of his eye. "You okay?"
She nodded but didn't speak.
Truth was—she wasn't sure what this was anymore. A study session? A subtle game? A triangle of heat and looks and barely-there touches that set her skin tingling?
They all gathered on the sofa, laptops out, pages open, screens glowing. On paper, they were finishing their project. In reality—none of them could focus.
Kael sat on one side of her, Riven on the other. Their thighs brushed against hers with every shift, every small move. She was acutely aware of their presence, of the way Kael's arm rested along the back of the couch behind her, his fingers almost touching her shoulder.
Riven passed her a drink, and as she took it, his fingers grazed hers—deliberately. Slowly.
Goosebumps.
An hour passed like that. Maybe two. Words were said—about sources, formatting, deadlines—but they were mechanical, background noise to the storm building between them.
And then, Kael leaned in, whispering something into her ear. His breath was warm. "You keep fidgeting."
She swallowed hard. "I'm fine."
"No, you're flushed," he teased. "Want some air?"
She turned her head slightly—and found her lips almost brushing his. Kael didn't move away. His eyes were heavy, dark.
But it was Riven who moved first. His hand slipped over hers, thumb grazing her palm. She turned toward him, startled—but he wasn't smiling. He looked serious. Intense.
"You don't have to pretend you're not feeling this," Riven said, voice low. "We see it too."
She couldn't answer.
Kael's fingers brushed her neck. "Liora," he said gently. "You don't have to choose. Not tonight."
Her chest rose and fell quickly. "What if I can't handle it?"
"Then we stop," Riven said immediately. "You say the word, we stop."
"But," Kael added, "if you want this… we're here. We're not going anywhere."
The room felt smaller. Hotter. Her body was already wound tight from days of lingering stares and teasing touches, from the way her skin remembered every glance, every near-touch. Now, the offer was right here. Spoken aloud. Tangled with promise.
She didn't answer right away. Just leaned back against the couch, breathing out slowly. Her hands resting on her lap—until Riven's hand gently covered one again. His thumb moved in small circles. Kael's hand found her knee, rubbing slow and steady, sliding just high enough to make her eyes flutter shut.
She didn't say yes.
But she didn't say no, either.
And they took that as permission.
Their touches turned softer, more careful. Kael leaned in, kissing her shoulder through her sweater. Riven's lips brushed her temple. Each of them waiting—watching—for the smallest sign that she'd pull away.
She didn't.
"We'll stop here for now," Riven said, his voice like velvet. "Just… be with us tonight. No expectations."
Kael leaned back, arm still behind her. "Let's finish the snacks. Then maybe… some music. Something lighter."
Liora exhaled, finally smiling. "Yeah. I'd like that."
They didn't rush. They didn't push. But that night, the boundaries between the three of them faded a little more—with every laugh, every soft touch, every whispered word that wasn't about assignments or grades.
And tomorrow? Tomorrow could wait.