I recently realized that this is something I really don't get to see in the media I consume, both in terms of physical intimacy and also just romantic attraction between characters. To give context for what I'm looking for I specifically thought to ask this here after finishing The Starless Sea by Erin Morganstern; The final dance between Max and Ezra was my favorite scene by a fair margin, but one of my favorite parts was actually when Max leans in for a kiss in a really striking moment of physical intimacy, only for either one to draw away with the thought that they both "belong to someone else". I think it would have added a really nice new dimension to the book to have had that explored throughout, where Time is in love with Fate, but Zach and Dorian are in love with Mirabel instead and have to navigate that balance in the middle of the wider plot.
I have a heavy preference for modern literary fic, but I obviously would not be opposed to a dedicated work of romance instead. No SFF unless its really overlapping with something else. Thank you!!
by InconsolableWidow