Amanda’s Holiday Temptation
Christmas lights glow overhead as Amanda drifts through the store, arms full of wrapped possibilities and silk ribbons. The air smells like pine and perfume, warm despite the cold waiting outside. She’s in no hurry — she never is when she knows she looks good.
She feels his attention before she sees him. The pause in his steps. The way his gaze lingers just long enough to make her smile. A casual comment near the ornaments turns into conversation, and suddenly they’re standing closer than strangers usually do.
Amanda teases without trying. A soft laugh. A glance over her shoulder. She leans in to show him something glittering on a nearby shelf, close enough that he can feel her warmth. The music hums around them, festive and slow, like it’s encouraging bad decisions.
They wander together through the aisles, brushing hands when they reach for the same thing, bodies aligning too easily in narrow spaces. Amanda lowers her voice, playful and deliberate, enjoying the way his focus sharpens with every word.
In a quieter corner of the store, away from the crowds, the tension thickens. His attention isn’t subtle anymore — and she doesn’t make him pretend it should be. A shared look lingers. A breath catches. The moment stretches, charged and unmistakable.
When Amanda finally steps away, it’s with a slow smile and a promise hanging in the air. She leaves with her bags swinging at her side and a heat beneath her coat that has nothing to do with the season. Some holiday encounters aren’t meant to be wrapped — just remembered.