The evening was creeping in, painting the sky in hues of pink and purple, as I prepared for the date. My nerves were on edge, which wasn't something I was used to. I'm Ciara, the demon warrior who doesn't give a damn about anything, let alone something as trivial as a date.
But tonight felt different, and the anticipation was gnawing at me. I wanted everything to be perfect, not that I'd ever admit that out loud.
The garden was already set up, just like Zephara had suggested. The lanterns were strung up in the trees, casting a soft glow over the stone paths and the beds of vibrant flowers.
A small blanket was laid out on the grass, with a basket of food and a bottle of wine waiting in the center. The whole scene was annoyingly romantic, but if this was what would make Aeliana smile, then I'd do it.
I adjusted my jacket for the hundredth time, making sure I didn't look too overdone or too casual. Fuck, why was this so hard? I'd fought in battles with demons, faced off against some of the most dangerous enemies imaginable, but this this was something else. I was nervous, and that was pissing me off.
Finally, it was time. I made my way to Aeliana's quarters, each step feeling heavier than the last. When I reached her door, I hesitated, my hand hovering just inches away from knocking. Get a grip, Ciara. It's just a date.
But as much as I tried to convince myself of that, I knew it wasn't just a date. It was a chance to see where things could go, a chance to figure out what the hell was happening between us.
I knocked, the sound echoing in the quiet hallway. A few seconds later, the door opened, and there she was. Aeliana stood there, looking like something out of a dream. She was wearing a simple dress, nothing too fancy, but it hugged her figure in all the right places.
Her hair was loose, cascading over her shoulders, and her eyes... God, those eyes. They were bright, warm, and when they landed on me, I could feel my heart skip a beat.
"You look... amazing," I managed to say, feeling like an idiot for being so tongue-tied.
Aeliana smiled, a hint of shyness in her expression that I wasn't used to seeing. "You don't look so bad yourself, Ciara. Where are we going?"
"You'll see," I said, offering my arm in a half-joking manner. To my surprise, she took it, and the warmth of her touch sent a jolt through me. This was going to be one hell of a night.
We walked in silence for a bit, the tension between us thick but not uncomfortable. It was the kind of tension that made my heart race, the kind that made me hyper-aware of every little movement she made, every brush of her arm against mine.
I could feel her presence next to me like a physical force, and it took all my willpower not to just stop and kiss her right then and there.
When we reached the garden, I led her to the spot I'd set up. The lanterns flickered softly in the evening breeze, and the scent of blooming flowers filled the air. Aeliana looked around, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Ciara... this is beautiful," she whispered, her voice filled with genuine awe.
I shrugged, trying to play it cool even though her reaction was making my chest swell with pride. "It's nothing, really. Just thought you might like it."
"I do," she said, turning to me with a smile that nearly knocked the breath out of me. "I really do."
We sat down on the blanket, and for a moment, neither of us said anything. The silence wasn't awkward, though. It was filled with something unspoken, something that had been building between us for days.
I handed her a glass of wine, trying to ignore the way my hand trembled slightly as our fingers brushed. She took it, her touch lingering a second longer than necessary, and I couldn't help but wonder if she was feeling the same way I was.
"This is nice," Aeliana said after taking a sip. "I didn't expect you to do something like this."
I raised an eyebrow, smirking a bit. "What, you think I'm incapable of being romantic?"
She laughed, the sound like music to my ears. "No, it's just... I didn't think this was your style."
"Yeah, well, I'm full of surprises," I said, trying to keep my tone light, even though my heart was pounding.
We talked for a while, the conversation flowing easily despite the underlying tension. We talked about everything and nothing, from our training sessions to our favorite memories.
I learned more about her in those few hours than I had in the entire time we'd known each other. She was smart, funny, and had a way of seeing the world that was so different from my own. It was refreshing, and before I knew it, I was genuinely enjoying myself.
At one point, I reached over to pour her another glass of wine, and our hands brushed again. This time, neither of us pulled away.
I looked up, meeting her gaze, and the air between us seemed to crackle with electricity. Her eyes were locked on mine, and I could see the same desire in them that I felt burning in my own chest.
"Aeliana..." I started, my voice barely above a whisper.
She didn't say anything, just leaned in closer, her lips inches from mine. I could feel her breath on my skin, could see the way her chest rose and fell with each shaky inhale. The world around us seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of us in that moment.
And then she kissed me.
It was soft at first, almost hesitant, but then I responded, and the kiss deepened. I felt her hands move up to cup my face, and I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her closer until there was no space left between us. Her lips were soft, warm, and they tasted like the wine we'd been drinking, sweet and intoxicating.
For a moment, everything else disappeared. There was no more tension, no more uncertainty, just the feel of her against me, the way she fit so perfectly in my arms.
The kiss was gentle, but there was an intensity to it, a hunger that had been simmering beneath the surface for far too long. I felt her fingers tangle in my hair, and I deepened the kiss, letting my own desire spill over.
When we finally pulled apart, we were both breathless, our foreheads resting against each other. Her eyes were half-lidded, her lips swollen from the kiss, and I couldn't help but think she'd never looked more beautiful.
"That was..." she started, but I cut her off with another kiss, this one softer, more lingering.
"I know," I murmured against her lips, my heart pounding in my chest.
We spent the rest of the evening just like that, talking, laughing, kissing, and just being in each other's presence. The tension that had been there before was gone, replaced by something softer, something that felt a lot like hope.
As the night wore on and the stars began to twinkle overhead, I couldn't help but feel like something had shifted between us. This was more than just a date, more than just a night of fun. This was the beginning of something, something that scared the hell out of me, but also something I didn't want to run from.
When it was time to leave, we walked back together, our fingers entwined. There was a comfortable silence between us, the kind that spoke volumes without needing words. I walked her to her door, hesitating for just a moment before leaning in to give her one last kiss, soft and sweet, a promise of more to come.
"Goodnight, Aeliana," I said, my voice softer than usual.
"Goodnight, Ciara," she replied, her eyes twinkling with something that made my heart skip a beat.
As I walked away, I couldn't stop the grin that spread across my face. The date had been perfect, and for the first time in a long time, I felt... happy. And as much as I hated to admit it, that happiness had everything to do with Aeliana.