The moment Aeliana said "yes," it was as though the entire world around me paused.
Every sound from the gentle breeze rustling through the grass, the distant hum of the night, even the soft flicker of the candle flames all of it faded away, leaving only her and the echo of that single, life-changing word.
My heart surged with joy, and I could feel a smile stretching across my face, one that I couldn't control even if I tried. I'd imagined this moment, sure, but hearing her actually say yes? It was better than I could have ever pictured. Aeliana, my Aeliana, was mine.
I shifted closer to her on the picnic blanket, my breath catching slightly as I took in the sight of her her cheeks flushed, eyes shimmering in the candlelight, that mischievous yet vulnerable smile playing at the corners of her lips.
I wanted to memorize every detail, every flicker of emotion in her eyes.
"I... I didn't think you'd say yes," I admitted softly, my voice barely audible, but I knew she heard me.
Aeliana's smile widened, and she reached out, her fingers brushing lightly against my arm, sending a jolt of electricity through me. "And why wouldn't I?" she teased gently, her eyes sparkling with that familiar playfulness. "You're kind of hard to resist, Ciara."
The way she said my name, with that softness, that warmth it sent my heart soaring. I leaned in just a little, feeling the magnetic pull between us grow stronger.
"You make it sound easy," I whispered, my gaze flicking down to her lips before meeting her eyes again. "But I've been... I've been wanting this for so long. You don't know how much."
Aeliana's hand slid from my arm to my cheek, her thumb tracing the curve of my jaw. "Maybe I do," she murmured, and then she closed the space between us.
Her lips met mine in the softest, most delicate kiss, and it was like everything else in the world disappeared. I'd kissed Aeliana before playfully, teasingly but this... this was different.
This kiss held all the promises we hadn't said aloud, all the emotions that had been building between us for so long. It was gentle yet intense, filled with a tenderness that made my heart swell.
I kissed her back, my hands sliding around her waist, pulling her closer as I deepened the kiss, pouring everything I felt into that moment.
Her lips were warm and soft against mine, and I could feel her melting into me, her body relaxing as she leaned into the kiss. My heart was pounding so fast I thought it might burst, but I didn't care. I was kissing Aeliana, and that was all that mattered.
When we finally pulled apart, both of us were breathless, and I couldn't help but smile at the sight of her slightly dazed expression. "Wow," she whispered, her fingers still resting on my cheek. "That was..."
"Perfect," I finished for her, my voice barely a whisper.
She laughed softly, and the sound made my heart skip a beat. "Yeah," she agreed, her eyes meeting mine with a tenderness that made my chest ache. "It really was."
For a few moments, we just sat there, holding each other, the world around us a peaceful, distant hum.
The picnic, the stars, the night they all faded into the background. All I could focus on was Aeliana, the way she felt in my arms, the way her breath came in soft, contented sighs, the way her fingers absentmindedly traced patterns on my back.
"Is this real?" I found myself asking, my voice soft and filled with wonder. "Or am I dreaming?"
Aeliana chuckled, her fingers brushing a strand of hair away from my face. "If this is a dream, I don't ever want to wake up."
Her words made my heart flutter, and I leaned in to kiss her again, this time slower, savoring the moment, the taste of her lips, the warmth of her skin.
She kissed me back just as slowly, her hands sliding up to cup my face, pulling me deeper into the moment.
It was everything I'd ever wanted, everything I'd ever dreamed of and more.
After a while, we broke the kiss, and I rested my forehead against hers, our breaths mingling in the cool night air. "I could stay like this forever," I murmured, my hands still resting on her waist, holding her close.
"Me too," she whispered back, her fingers gently tracing my jawline. "But I'm afraid we'd have to get up eventually. You know, real life and all that."
I groaned softly, not ready to let go of this moment just yet. "Real life is overrated," I muttered, making her laugh again.
For a while, we just sat there in comfortable silence, the night wrapping around us like a blanket.
The sky was clear, the stars twinkling brightly above us, and the soft glow of the candles illuminated Aeliana's face, making her look even more beautiful if that was even possible.
I reached out, taking her hand in mine, and gave it a gentle squeeze. "This was... amazing," I said, my voice quiet but filled with sincerity. "I've never felt like this before. With anyone."
Aeliana smiled, her thumb brushing over the back of my hand. "Me neither," she admitted, her voice just as soft. "I didn't think I could feel like this."
There was a vulnerability in her voice, one that made my heart ache. I knew Aeliana was strong, confident, but beneath all that, there was a tenderness, a softness that she rarely let anyone see.
The fact that she was letting me see it, that she was trusting me with it, it meant everything.
"I don't want to screw this up," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
"You won't," she replied, her eyes meeting mine with a sincerity that made my chest tighten. "We won't."
I smiled, leaning in to press a soft kiss to her forehead. "You're right. We won't."
For a few more moments, we just sat there, holding each other, the world quiet and still around us. It felt like time had stopped, like nothing else mattered but us.
Eventually, though, I knew we had to leave. As much as I wanted to stay there with her forever, reality was waiting. But that didn't mean we couldn't enjoy the rest of the night together.
I pulled back slightly, looking into her eyes. "Shall I take my girlfriend home?" I asked, my voice dropping to a teasing, sexy tone.
Aeliana's cheeks flushed, and she smiled, biting her lip as she nodded. "Yeah," she whispered, her voice soft and filled with warmth. "Let's go home."
As we teleported into the familiar living room of Aeliana's house, I could immediately hear the faint sound of voices coming from the kitchen. I smiled to myself, already bracing for what was about to come.
Aeliana's parents were... enthusiastic, to say the least, and I had a feeling this was going to be a very amusing encounter.
Aeliana, standing beside me, was trying to keep her composure, but I could see the slight tension in her shoulders, the way she shifted nervously.
It was adorable. She could face down the most dangerous threats with ease, but the thought of dealing with her family? That was enough to make her uneasy.
"Relax," I whispered, leaning close to her ear, letting my breath tickle her skin. "They love me, remember?"
Aeliana rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "That's what I'm worried about," she muttered under her breath.
Before we could say anything else, her mother appeared in the doorway, eyes lighting up the moment she saw us. "Aeliana! Ciara! What a surprise!" she exclaimed, rushing over to greet us with a wide smile. Her excitement was palpable, and I could already feel the wave of energy about to hit us.
Her father wasn't far behind, following her into the room with a big grin. "Well, well, if it isn't our favorite duo," he said, giving me a knowing look. He had always liked me, probably more than Aeliana was comfortable with. "And here I thought you two were just 'colleagues.'"
I glanced at Aeliana, who looked like she was about to die of embarrassment, and decided to just go for it. "Actually, we're dating now," I announced, casually, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
There was a brief pause, and then Aeliana's mother squealed. "Oh my god! I knew it!" She clapped her hands together, practically bouncing on her feet. "I told you, darling! Didn't I tell you?"
Her father grinned, looking smug. "You did, you did. But I had my suspicions, too." He turned to Aeliana with a teasing smile. "Took you long enough, kiddo. We thought you were going to stay single forever."
Aeliana groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Please stop," she mumbled, her voice muffled.
"Oh, don't be embarrassed, honey," her mother said, waving a hand dismissively. "We've always liked Ciara. You couldn't have found a better match."
I chuckled, wrapping an arm around Aeliana's waist, pulling her closer. "I agree."
Just then, Aeliana's younger sister, Lily, appeared from around the corner, her eyes going wide as she spotted us. "Wait... wait, wait, wait!" she said, holding up her hands. "Are you telling me—" She pointed at us, eyes wide with disbelief. "You two are actually dating?"
Aeliana sighed heavily. "Yes, Lily. We're dating."
Lily's face lit up like a Christmas tree. "Oh my god! This is the best thing ever! I've been shipping you two for *so long!*"
I snorted, and Aeliana shot me a look. "You're not helping," she muttered.
I shrugged, grinning. "I think it's cute."
Aeliana's mother stepped forward, placing a hand on my arm with a warm smile. "Ciara, dear, you can stay here for tonight if you'd like. We'd love to have you."
I raised an eyebrow, amused, as Aeliana groaned again. Well, this was going to be fun.