They were so close, now, she could feel his breath on her face. If she dared, she could lift herself up on her toes and capture his mouth in a kiss. Her blood was suddenly pulsing in her veins, hot and fast. His pupils were blown wide and she could tell he, too, felt the effects of their proximity. Her skin burned under the heat of his hand. She licked her lips. With no small amount of satisfaction, she noted his gaze following the path of her tongue, before shifting back to meet her eyes. His lips parted briefly, as if to speak before slamming shut. He took a wide step back, removing his hand from her, and the spell was broken.
He brushed imaginary lint off of his jacket and cleared his throat. “You've probably still got marking to do, so I… I’ll see myself out, as it were.”
Since the TARDIS was only a few feet away, there was no point in offering to walk him to the door. She hid still-trembling hands behind her back. “See you Wednesday, then?”
He gave a thin smile. “Wednesday.”
After the familiar whooshing sound had ceased, Clara collapsed onto the couch. She was utterly drained and it wasn't from chasing after children in the Forest-that-was-London. Her skin was tingling with the aftershocks of the moment they had shared. She contemplated calling Danny over for a romp, but it seemed perverse to seek his touch while craving someone else’s.
Her fingers traced a path from her shoulder, down her arm, leaving a trail of goosebumps. She tried to imagine it was The Doctor’s slender hands on her, if he had not stopped himself. She pictured him tilting down to brush his lips to hers, a test to see if he would still be welcome. She would have given him his answer, framing his face (more weathered now, but no less desirable than he’d ever been) with her hands. She would have kissed him firmly, then, teasing his lips with her tongue until they parted. Clara wondered how this Doctor would taste. Sharp, savory and refined, she thought, maybe just a little bit bitter. Like a fine red wine.