The next morning, I woke up feeling completely at peace. A rare sense of serenity washed over me as I lay in Aeliana's bed, the soft warmth of her body curled up next to mine.
The early morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a golden hue across the room, highlighting the faint dust particles floating lazily in the air.
Everything felt slow, gentle like the world outside didn't matter in this tiny bubble we had created for ourselves.
Aeliana was still asleep, her head resting lightly on my chest, her soft breaths tickling my skin. I couldn't help but smile at how peaceful she looked. Her usual sharp had melted away, replaced by something tender and vulnerable.
The morning silence was comforting, a stark contrast to our usual chaos, and I wanted nothing more than to stay like this forever.
As I lay there, I allowed my hand to slowly trace down her back, feeling the smoothness of her skin, the gentle rise and fall of her breathing. Every moment felt precious, like time itself had slowed just for us.
It was a new sensation, this kind of tranquility, and I found myself basking in it.
I had never been the type to crave normalcy, but here, in this bed, with Aeliana's warmth and the scent of lavender hanging in the air, I felt something stir inside me that I hadn't realized I was missing a sense of belonging.
Aeliana shifted slightly, nuzzling deeper into me. I could feel her eyelashes fluttering against my skin, a clear sign she was waking up. I chuckled softly, already anticipating her sharp wit.
"Mmm…" she mumbled, her voice still thick with sleep. "You're awfully affectionate this morning."
"I could say the same about you," I teased back, my fingers still lightly brushing her back.
She cracked open one eye, her lips curving into a lazy smile. "I'm always affectionate. You're just finally noticing."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't suppress the grin that tugged at my mouth. "Right. Because that's definitely how I'd describe you."
She lifted her head slightly, resting her chin on my chest as she gave me a playful smirk. "Admit it, you love it when I'm like this."
I raised an eyebrow, playing along. "When you're clingy? Or when you're teasing me?"
"Both," she said, her grin widening. "Though I think you love the teasing more."
I groaned. "You're insufferable, you know that?"
"Yet, here you are," she quipped, leaning in closer, her lips hovering just inches from mine. Her breath was warm against my skin, sending a soft shiver down my spine. "You wouldn't want me any other way."
I was about to retort, but she closed the gap, her lips brushing against mine with the lightest of touches, like a whisper. It wasn't a full kiss, more of a tease, and I knew she was doing it on purpose. My heart skipped a beat, and I instinctively tightened my arms around her, pulling her closer.
"Okay, now who's the affectionate one?" she murmured, a playful glint in her eyes.
"Can't help it," I replied, my voice a little rougher than I intended. "You're making it hard to resist."
Aeliana giggled softly, her laughter like music in the stillness of the room. "That's the point, love."
We stayed like that for a while, tangled up in each other, teasing, flirting. She'd brush her lips against mine, only to pull back just when I leaned in for more, her eyes sparkling with mischief every time.
I loved it. I loved how effortlessly she could shift the mood from tender to playful, keeping me on my toes.
Thirty minutes passed like it was nothing, and the room had begun to fill with more light as the sun rose higher in the sky.
It felt like we were in our own little world, disconnected from everything else, just the two of us and the soft sheets that wrapped around us.
Then, in one swift move, Aeliana rolled on top of me, her legs straddling my waist as she grinned down at me, her hair falling in messy waves around her face.
"You know," she began, her voice low and teasing, "I never took you for the cuddling type."
"I'm not," I replied, my hands resting on her hips. "I only tolerate it for you."
"Tolerate?" She pouted dramatically, though I could see the laughter dancing in her eyes. "I don't believe that for a second."
I smirked, pulling her down until our foreheads touched. "Okay, maybe I like it a little."
She laughed, the sound vibrating through me in the most pleasant way. "See? I knew you had a soft side."
Before I could respond, she leaned in and kissed me, this time with more intent. It wasn't a teasing brush of lips like before, but slow and deliberate. Her mouth moved against mine with a languid heat that sent my pulse racing. My hands slid up her back, pulling her closer, and I could feel her melting into me.
Everything about her in that moment was intoxicating the taste of her lips, the warmth of her body, the soft sighs that escaped her as we deepened the kiss.
There was no rush, no urgency. It was just us, completely lost in the moment, savoring every second.
Her fingers tangled in my hair, and I let out a low groan, the sensation sparking something primal in me. She grinned against my lips, knowing exactly what she was doing to me, and I loved it. I loved that she had this power over me, that she could unravel me so easily.
The air around us felt thick with unspoken words, with desire and affection. I had never felt so connected to someone before, so completely in sync with another person. It was terrifying in a way, but it was also the most exhilarating thing I had ever experienced.
Just as things were heating up, the door swung open with a loud creak.
"Aeliana, do you—" Her mother's voice cut through the haze, and both of us froze. "Oh my god!"
Aeliana shot up, eyes wide in shock, and I quickly tried to adjust myself, my heart pounding. Her mother stood in the doorway, her eyes flicking between us, a mix of amusement and embarrassment on her face.
"Oh," she said, awkwardly. "I, uh, didn't realize you two were... awake."
Aeliana groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Mom! A little privacy, please?"
Her mother let out a laugh, clearly enjoying this a little too much. "Sorry, sorry! I just wanted to see if you needed anything for breakfast." She gave us both a cheeky grin. "But it looks like you're all set."
I couldn't help but laugh, despite the situation. Leave it to Aeliana's mom to walk in at the worst possible moment.
"Well," her mom continued, still smirking, "I'll leave you two alone. For now."
As she closed the door, Aeliana let out a heavy sigh, flopping back onto the bed next to me.
"That was mortifying," she muttered, staring up at the ceiling.
I chuckled, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her close again. "It could've been worse."
"How?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"They could've stayed to chat."
She let out a groan, but I could see the smile tugging at her lips. "You're lucky I like you."
"I know." I grinned, leaning in to kiss the side of her head.
As the embarrassment from Aeliana's mom's surprise visit began to fade, we finally pulled ourselves out of bed. Aeliana, still red-faced but with a playful glint in her eyes, started rifling through her wardrobe.
"Alright, let's get you dressed," she said, tossing me a soft oversized shirt.
I held it up, inspecting it with a raised eyebrow. "This isn't yours, is it?" I asked with a smirk.
She rolled her eyes. "Obviously not. It's just something I had. I thought it might fit you."
I chuckled as I slipped it on. To my surprise, it fit perfectly, snug enough around my shoulders and chest but loose and comfortable in that effortless way. I turned to Aeliana, who was standing there, her eyes trailing over me, lips slightly parted.
It didn't take long for me to realize what had her distracted. The oversized shirt clung just enough to hint at the muscles in my arms and torso, and I could practically see her thoughts racing as she stood there, captivated.
"You like what you see?" I teased, flexing just a little for emphasis, watching as her cheeks flushed even deeper.
She immediately averted her eyes, trying to play it cool. "I-I was just making sure it fit."
I stepped closer to her, lowering my voice. "Right. Just making sure."
Aeliana tried to act unbothered, but her breath hitched slightly when I gently placed a hand on her waist, pulling her toward me. "You're staring again," I said, teasing her with a soft laugh.
She glanced up, biting her lip in an adorably shy way. "I'm not…"
"Mmhmm," I hummed, leaning down slightly, my lips brushing the edge of her ear. "You know, if you wanted me to show off a little more, all you had to do was ask."
Her face was an adorable shade of red now, and I couldn't resist placing a soft kiss on her neck before pulling back, enjoying the way she melted against me.
"You're impossible," she murmured, her hands resting on my chest.
"And you love it," I whispered, letting my hands slide up her sides teasingly.
She gave me a playful shove, her smile betraying her attempt at frustration. "Just finish getting ready, Ciara. I'll need you out of my space if I'm ever going to manage it."
I laughed softly, loving how easy it was to fluster her. "Fine, but don't think I'm done teasing you."