The side of his arm ran up the front of her button-up.

His sleeve slightly snagging a mid-button for just a millisecond, like a rubber band leaving a shockwave through her body…

The shifting fabric like some kind of abrasive across her tender skin on the front of her body, before his palm slightly grazed her collarbone, then darted back down to her forearm, squeezing it. His touch was electric, the sensation branching through her like lightning finding ground.

Daniel said, “Hey, lightning must have hit the backup raceway. It’s okay,” he said after pausing. “I think the system down here just gets power separately.” His voice was a soothing balm to her frayed nerves, his presence a comfort in the darkness.

Daniel didn’t even realize what he had just done, but Juniper did. Her breath was as if in suspended animation, her right toes curling, making her stand taller. Every nerve ending in her body seemed to come alive, hyper-aware of his proximity and the way his touch lingered on her skin.

“Ooh, ooh, good,” she said to Daniel, her voice barely above a whisper. She could feel the heat emanating from his body, the way his breath ghosted across her cheek as he leaned in closer.