I hurried down the hallway, my heart pounding in my chest as I made my way out of Ciara's room. The air felt charged, like the moment just before a storm, and I could still feel the lingering warmth of her presence on my skin.
I had barely made it out of there in one piece, and I was torn between exhilaration and the persistent nagging voice in the back of my mind telling me to keep my cool.
"Get it together, Aeliana," I muttered to myself, fumbling with my keys as I approached my car. The cool night air did little to calm the heat rushing through my veins.
I was trying really trying not to let my thoughts spiral into dangerous territory, but the memory of Ciara's intense gaze, the way her lips had hovered just inches from mine, made it nearly impossible. It didn't help that she'd been so damn direct. Who the hell says something like that so casually?
I finally managed to unlock the car, practically diving into the driver's seat as if that would somehow distance me from the feelings clawing at my insides. "You're acting like a schoolgirl with a crush," I groaned, leaning my forehead against the steering wheel for a moment before starting the engine.
As I pulled out of the driveway and into the quiet streets, I couldn't help but laugh at myself. It was ridiculous. I was supposed to be the level-headed one, the one who kept her composure no matter the situation.
But one night with Ciara, and I was a mess an excited, jittery mess who couldn't stop replaying every second of what had just happened. Her words, her touch, the way she'd almost lost control…
"Stop it," I hissed, shaking my head to clear the thoughts. "Just stop it."
The drive to my parents' house felt longer than usual, every red light giving me too much time to think. By the time I pulled into the driveway, I was more than ready to collapse into bed and forget the entire evening if only that were possible.
I stepped out of the car, taking a deep breath as I looked up at the familiar windows of my childhood home.
The lights were still on, which meant my parents were likely waiting up for me. I sighed. The last thing I needed right now was a round of questions, especially when I wasn't sure I had the answers.
Sure enough, as soon as I walked through the front door, I was greeted by my mother's concerned voice. "Aeliana, darling, you're home late. Is everything okay?"
I plastered on a smile, hoping it didn't look as strained as it felt. "Yeah, everything's fine, Mom. Just a long day."
She didn't look convinced, and I could see my father peering at me over the top of his newspaper from the living room. "You seem… a bit flustered," he remarked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm not flustered," I lied quickly, waving off their concerns as I slipped out of my shoes and made my way to the kitchen. "Just tired, that's all."
I could feel their eyes on me as I poured myself a glass of water, trying to ignore the way my hands were shaking slightly. Damn it, Ciara. Why did she have to get under my skin like this?
Before my parents could press any further, a new voice joined the fray, dripping with amusement. "Oh, she's flustered, alright," my younger sister Lily chimed in, sauntering into the kitchen with a knowing smirk on her face. "And I bet I know why."
I shot her a warning look, but she just grinned wider, clearly enjoying herself. "You've got that look, Aeliana. The 'I've-just-been-tangled-up-in-something-I-can't-handle' look."
"Lily," I hissed, my face heating up. "Not now."
"What? I'm just saying," she teased, leaning against the counter. "You were with Ciara, weren't you? I can tell by the way you're acting all jumpy and weird."
My mother's eyes widened slightly, and my father set down his newspaper completely, giving me a curious look. "Ciara?" my mother repeated, her voice laced with interest. "As in… the Ciara?"
I groaned, feeling the walls close in on me. "Can we not do this right now? It's late, and I'm exhausted."
Lily, of course, wasn't about to let it go. "Come on, Aeliana, spill. What happened? Did she finally make a move? Or were you the one who—"
"Lily!" I interrupted sharply, my patience wearing thin. "Enough."
But my sister wasn't easily deterred. "Aww, don't be so uptight. It's cute that you're all flustered over her. I mean, she is ridiculously hot, so I get it. But you really should relax a little."
I downed my water in one gulp, hoping it would help cool the fire burning in my chest. "I'm going to bed," I announced, setting the glass down with more force than necessary. "Goodnight."
As I turned to leave, I heard Lily's laughter follow me out of the kitchen, and I could feel my mother's concerned gaze on my back. Great. Now they were all going to think I was in over my head because I was. And Lily, with her sharp intuition, knew exactly why.
I practically stormed up the stairs to my old bedroom, slamming the door shut behind me as I leaned against it, letting out a long, frustrated breath.
My mind was still racing, the remnants of the evening with Ciara swirling around in my head. What the hell was I supposed to do with all these feelings?
I paced around the room, my thoughts jumping from one thing to the next, trying to make sense of everything. I was excited there was no denying that.
The way Ciara had looked at me, the way she'd practically begged me to stay, it had sent a thrill through me that I hadn't felt in… well, ever. But at the same time, I knew I had to be careful. Ciara was intense, unpredictable, and her world was dangerous.
As I finally crawled into bed, pulling the covers up to my chin, I tried to push it all to the back of my mind. But it was no use. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her her smirk, her eyes burning with that fierce energy, her hands gripping my waist like she couldn't bear to let go.
I groaned, burying my face in the pillow. "This is ridiculous," I muttered. "You're acting like an idiot."
But no matter how much I berated myself, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between us tonight. Something big.
And as much as I tried to ignore it, a part of me was already looking forward to whatever came next no matter how complicated it might be.
Eventually, the exhaustion won out, and I felt myself drifting off into a restless sleep, my dreams filled with fragments of what had happened tonight and what might happen tomorrow.
But even in sleep, one thing was clear: I was in deep, and there was no going back now.
The moment my eyes closed, I was lost to the dream before I even realized I'd fallen asleep. The room around me faded into nothingness, replaced by a different kind of darkness one that was warm and pulsing, like the heartbeat of something alive.
I felt heat wash over me, a familiar intensity prickling at my skin. My breath caught, and when I looked up, there she was Ciara, standing just a few feet away, her eyes locked onto mine with that same fierce hunger I'd seen earlier.
Except this time, there was no hesitation in her expression, no restraint. She looked like she wanted to devour me.
The dream felt so real, every sensation sharp and vivid. I could feel the air growing thick with tension, a heady mix of anticipation and desire that made my skin flush.
My heart pounded in my chest, loud enough to drown out everything else. I tried to move, but it was like my body was rooted to the spot, held in place by the weight of her gaze.
"Ciara…" I breathed, my voice coming out in a shaky whisper. I wasn't sure if I was calling her name or begging for her to come closer. Maybe both. She took a step forward, and I could see the corners of her mouth curl into a slow, knowing smile a smile that sent a shiver down my spine.
She didn't say anything, but she didn't need to. The look in her eyes spoke volumes. She moved with that same predatory grace, closing the distance between us in an instant.
I could feel the heat radiating off her body as she reached out, her fingers brushing against my cheek, trailing down to my neck. Her touch was electric, and I felt a jolt of something primal surge through me.
"Stay with me," she murmured, her voice low and husky, sending a delicious shiver down my spine. Her breath was warm against my skin, and I felt myself leaning in, unable to resist the pull of her presence.
She leaned in closer, her lips hovering just above mine, and I could feel the heat radiating from her, a dangerous fire that seemed to promise both pleasure and pain. My heart was racing, and I was caught in the intoxicating haze of her scent, her closeness, her everything.
But just as her lips brushed against mine, everything shattered. I jolted awake with a gasp, my heart pounding in my chest, my skin burning with an unmistakable heat.
My room was dark, the reality of my surroundings slowly seeping back in, but the feeling of her lingered—like smoke, like a ghost, like a promise unfulfilled. I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breathing, trying to shake the lingering sensation of her touch from my skin.
"Damn it," I muttered to myself, pressing a hand to my forehead, feeling the heat there. "What the hell are you doing to me, Ciara?"
Sleep was impossible now, the dream still vivid in my mind, and I was left wondering just how much more of this I could take.