"When Steel Meets Silk"

ger just metal-it was a symbol, a challenge. Emilia's words echoed in his mind: Balance. Elegance. Strength. He had bu

was right. Steel could bend. It could curve. It

just maybe,

aken on a softer form, its ribs arcing in elegant, fl

adjustments when he heard the fa

ofessional, but there was something different in the air this time. The

pt over the workbench, he

n, stepping back to give her room

steel. Her touch was more reverent this time, as if she were seei

ened at her praise.

she said softly, almost as if speaking to h

an intimacy in her tone, a vulnerability that m

g about the corset, are

tinued to trace the steel's curves, her fingers

oken words. They were both dancing around something deep

ork?" he asked, his vo

of clothing," she replied, her eyes lifting

re was something in her eyes, something that made him

come. Instead, he found himself stepping toward her,

ring to his lips before quickly looking

didn't p

ick, charged, as if the space between

," he m

nted to close that distance. How much he wanted

ing himself to step ba

lence. "I'll need to see the final pr

ustration and desire that twist

lingering on him as if she were seeing hi

lked out, her presence linge

at the steel corset on the workbench. He could feel

g a masterpiece or setting himself u

s certain-this w