Isa POV

"I said no horror movies," Temi says, staring at the TV remote cursor lingering over The Conjuring movie.

I turn to look at her, a slight smirk on my face. "Are you sure? It's a really good movie. It's based on a true story, even."

Temi's scowl deepens.

"I'm just teasing," I say quickly, still unsure of just how far I can push Temi's buttons. She could shut down on me at any moment and we would be back to being how things were before last night. That's the last thing I want right now.

It's strange. Things have definitely shifted between us. There seems to be a better understanding that we have for each other. I don't know what this means for us exactly, but I do know that Temi is actually talking to me now. She isn't staying hidden in her room 24/7, and I like this. I would hate to do something that could potentially change this.

"Do you have anything in mind?" I ask Temi as I continue scrolling through various movie titles, none of them even remotely catching my interest.

Temi doesn't respond for a while, and I continue to scroll through the movie selection.

"Can we watch the first Iron Man movie?" Temi finally says.

"Okay," I reply. I type in the movie name in the search bar and put it on before leaning back into the living room couch.

Temi and I are sitting on the couch, but on opposite ends, as seemingly far away from each other as possible. I don't know if this is intentional on Temi's end, but I don't want to push it. So for now, I stay strictly on my end of the sofa.

We have a pizza box spread out before us. I reach over and take a slice, watching Temi from the corner of my eyes. She mirrors my actions and takes a smaller slice from herself, and we eat silently as the Marvel opening credits play.

"I used to watch this movie all the time with Grace," Temi suddenly says about 15 minutes into the movie, "well not just this movie. Marvel movies in general. We had a tradition of binge-watching them during Christmas time."

I turn my head slightly so I am looking at Temi. Her hands are in her lap and she's staring straight ahead at the TV. I have no idea what she is thinking and I cannot read her expression.

"Would you like us to watch something else?" I ask.

"No, this is fine," she simply says. Her voice is distant and sounds faraway.

I stare at Temi for a few minutes longer, but I don't even think she notices. Her eyes are glued to the TV silently.

I turn back around and it seems the mood in the room has changed. It's tense, and a newfound awkwardness seems to hang heavy in the air.

Temi has barely even touched the pizza and I'm not sure what to do or say.

"So, um, who's your favorite Marvel superhero?" I ask in a desperate attempt to ease the tension getting thicker by the minute.

"Black Panther," Temi answers almost instantly, a small smile lighting up on her face. "I remember when the movie first came out. It was really a time. Grace and I saw it like 10 times." She pauses then, shaking her head and laughing, "Grace loved it so much. She even said she would dress up as Black Panther for the opening night screening once the second movie comes out..."

Temi trails off, and I swallow hard.

"I'm sorry, Isa, Temi says quietly, laughing awkwardly. "I don't mean to make everything suck."

"You have nothing to apologize for. Take all the time you need," I say, and I mean every bit of it.

Temi nods, but does not continue speaking. We both go back to watching the movie before us and soon get pretty invested as the movie picks up.

As the movie progresses, the night seems to get colder. At some point, Temi reaches over for the blanket that I have draped over my lap.

I extend the blanket to Temi and move closer so the blanket covers her fully. Temi mirrors my actions, snuggling up closer to me till our arms are slightly brushing underneath the blanket.

I feel the contact immediately and it feels like a lightning bolt has been shot up my arm. I swallow hard to keep the electricity now coursing through my being at bay. My head seems to grow cloudy and I feel lightheaded for a moment.

I am a bodyguard. I've served in the military. I've even been in combat. Yet, I'm being broken down by the smallest touch. This is ridiculous.

Temi, on the other hand, seems unbothered, her eyes are glued to the television while I have a silent panic attack beside her.

I shift a little so our arms are no longer brushing against each other and I can breathe better. However, a few minutes later, Temi leans her head onto my shoulder, and I instantly freeze up.

I don't move. I don't even breathe. I just watch the way Temi's braids fall into her eyes when she moves her head and the scent of her hair oil now infiltrating my nose. I gulp and clear my throat quietly, trying to think straight.

For a few moments, I sit there like a statue, unsure of what to do or how to react. A million thoughts are floating through my head, but none of them are something that I should probably say outright.

Then, in a bold move, I reach my arms around Temi's shoulder and pull her closer so more of her body is resting on me. Temi doesn't pull away. She doesn't recoil or push back. She lets it happen, snuggling further into me.

My head is spinning. I'm clearly way in over my head.

"Let me know if you're uncomfortable," I say, surprised at just how level and clear-headed my voice sounds, given the fact that I am literally imploding within myself right then.

Temi looks away from the screen, turning her head so she's looking right at me. Her face is barely inches away from mine as her big brown eyes lock with mine. Her lips are plump, a bit chapped in places and I find my eyes drifting towards them severally.

I swallow hard, forcing myself to breathe normally.

"I'm really comfortable," Temi says, her voice low, soft, "I haven't felt this comfortable in a while."

I don't know what to say, so I just keep staring at her, blinking stupidly.

"You're really warm," Temi says, pressing her body closer to mine. All I can really focus on is the feel of Temi's body against mine. It feels so good. Her body is cold and I instinctively wrap my arms around her, pulling her closer.

"You're freezing," I say, voicing my thoughts.

"I'm anemic, so I'm always cold," Temi responds, laughing slightly, which gets a slight grin out of me.

"I should know that. It was included in your file," I say, because I don't know what else to say.

I fear how Temi will react. I still remember her anger the last time I brought up her file. But to my relief, a slight smirk spreads across her face.

"I don't think it's fair how you know all these things about me, but I hardly know anything about you," Temi says, the smirk still etched onto her lips and her doe eyes staring up at me. This is a part of her I have never seen before. Flirtatious Temi.

"What do you want to know?" I ask. I reach up and push a braid out of Temi's face, leaving my hand lingering. Temi leans into my hand, so I now have her face cupped in my hand.

There's a mischievous glint in Temi's eyes, and it frightens me. I'm usually not one to feel small, but that is exactly how I feel at that moment. I feel helpless and a servant of Temi's will. Whatever she wants me to do, I will do it. Whatever she wants, I will give it to her. This thought both excites me and scares the absolute shit out of me at the same time.

"Why are you so warm?" Temi asks, rubbing her hand slowly up and down my arms under the blanket. "You're like a furnace."

"Um," I stutter, trying to keep my mind away from the sparks I am now feeling all over my arms, "I'm not anemic?"

It's a dry joke, but Temi giggles. She's smiling so hard, exposing her teeth, and I mirror her actions, looking down at her.

I'm aware of Temi's face still resting in my hand and her hands rubbing all over my arms. I'm aware of our bodies touching, entangled with each other, and I wonder if she feels how fast my heart is beating.

We're looking at each other. Staring into each other's eyes. Neither of us are saying anything to the other.

Temi's eyes are filled with want. She's not concealing it in the slightest and I slowly feel my bottom region start to grow warm.

I move my head towards her slightly, and amidst the desire in her eyes, I see a hint of panic. I immediately stop in my tracks. I'm sure my eyes mimic that panic as I realize what I was about to do.

"This part of the movie is great," I say, turning my head back to the Iron Man movie, diverging my eyes away from Temi.

I can feel Temi's eyes on me for a little while longer, but she soon turns as well and focuses on the movie.

We sit there in silence for the rest of the night. Not saying another word to one another, with our bodies touching under the covers.