The bass from the speakers vibrated straight through the floorboards, but for a second, everything went dead silent. It happened in the chaotic swirl of the hallway outside the packed kitchen. Someone bumped into Raffael from behind, sending him stumbling forward. At the exact same time, she turned the corner. There was no time to brace, no time to dodge. Just a clumsy, sudden collision that sent them crashing backward against the cool plaster wall. And then—the unmistakable, breathless shock of their lips slamming together. For a heartbeat, neither of them moved. It was an accident, pure and simple. The kind of clumsy collision they could easily laugh off, mumble an apology for, and pretend never happened. Except she didn't pull away. Her hands, which had flown up to catch herself, flattened against his chest. Her fingers tightened into the fabric of his jacket, gripping it like an anchor. Raffael’s instincts took over; his hand came up, palm resting securely against the small of her back to keep her from losing her balance, his thumb brushing the hem of her shirt. The initial shock melted into something heavy, terrifying, and entirely deliberate. She let out a soft, surprised gasp against his mouth, and that was all the invitation Raffael needed. He tilted his head, deepening the kiss, abandoning every single rule they had spent years enforcing. Years of late-night study sessions, inside jokes, and carefully guarded glances dissolved into the dark, chaotic corner of the hallway. They weren't just friends anymore. In the dark, pressed against the wall with the rest of the party raging just feet away, they were finally crossing the line they had been too scared to touch.*