“Nothing.”
“You’ve looked at me six times in the past ten minutes.”
“Have not.”
“Have too.” Leyden’s lips quirked. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”
Connor closed his laptop. “I’m noticing things.”
“Things?”
“About you. Your hands. Your face. The way you move.” Connor rubbed his neck. “It’s different than before.”
Understanding dawned in Leyden’s expression. “Different how?” He seemed genuinely curious.
“I want to touch you. Not just hold hands. I want…” Connor gestured vaguely. “I want to feel your skin. See what your shoulders look like without the shirt. Watch you move.”
Leyden’s scent sharpened with arousal, flooding the office. “Connor…”
“That’s the problem. I’m not saying I’m ready for sex.” Connor held up a hand. “I just wanted you to know. I’m noticing. Wanting. Whatever this is, it’s new.”
“Okay.” Leyden’s voice came out strained. “That’s…okay. Good. Great, actually.”
“You’re aroused.”
“You just told me you want to see me without a shirt. Of course I’m aroused.” Leyden shifted in his chair. “But I can handle it. Keep noticing. Take your time.”
Connor nodded slowly. “This might be what attraction feels like. For me, I mean. It’s not like those romance novels describe. Not overwhelming or consuming or…”
“It doesn’t have to be.” Leyden leaned forward. “Whatever you feel is valid. However it develops is perfect.”
The certainty in Leyden’s voice settled something anxious in Connor’s chest.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me while I go to the bathroom. I won’t be a minute.”
Connor chuckled as Leyden made a hasty exit.
/~/~/~/~/
That afternoon, Connor retreated to the bedroom while Leyden was busy with a conference call. He pulled out his laptop and navigated to Ace Shifters United, scrolling through recent posts.
A thread caught his eye.“When does attraction start for you demi folks?”
Connor clicked, reading through dozens of responses.
“After about three months of friendship, I suddenly wanted to kiss him. It built from there.”
“It was gradual. Like watching the sunrise. Didn’t notice at first, then suddenly the sky was bright.”
“Two years into my relationship, I woke up one day and realized I wanted sex. Not because I should, but because I genuinely craved my mate.”
“For me, emotional connection is the on-switch. Once I feel safe and bonded, physical desire follows. Slowly. Gently. But it comes.”
Connor read post after post, recognizing snippets of himself in the words.
One response particularly resonated:
“People expect desire to be instant. A lightning bolt. For us demis, it’s more like a garden. You plant seeds (emotional connection, trust, safety), water them (time, patience, respect), and eventually flowers bloom (physical attraction). Some gardens bloom faster than others. Some take years. But the flowers are no less beautiful for taking their time.”
