Ciara didn't give me much of a warning before she grabbed my hand, her red eyes glinting with mischief.
"Hold on," she said, a smirk playing on her lips.
"Wait, what are you—"
Before I could finish, the world around me shifted, the familiar sensation of teleportation washing over me. A split second later, we landed in a room bathed in soft purple light, the faint scent of lavender lingering in the air.
I blinked, disoriented for a moment before realizing we were in Ciara's room. The large, luxurious space was unmistakable—the walls adorned with intricate tapestries, the bed impossibly huge and draped in deep violet silk sheets.
"Welcome to my humble abode," Ciara said with a grin, gesturing dramatically to the space.
I raised an eyebrow, trying to suppress a laugh. "Humble? This place is practically fit for royalty."
"Well, I am royalty," she teased, pulling me closer. "But more importantly, it's perfect for what I had in mind."
"And what exactly did you have in mind?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer.
Ciara wrapped her arms around my waist, her grin softening into a tender smile. "Cuddling, of course. Lots of cuddling."
I couldn't help but laugh as she tugged me toward the bed, flopping down onto the plush mattress and pulling me with her.
As we settled into a comfortable position—her arms around me, my head resting on her shoulder—I felt a sense of peace wash over me. Despite all the chaos of our lives, these quiet moments with Ciara made everything else fade away.
"I can't believe it's really happening," I murmured, tracing idle patterns on her arm.
"What, the wedding?" she asked, her voice warm and teasing.
I nodded. "Yeah. It feels like just yesterday we were...well, not exactly friends."
Ciara chuckled, her chest rumbling beneath me. "You mean when you thought I was an arrogant flirt who didn't take anything seriously?"
I looked up at her, raising an eyebrow. "Was I wrong?"
She grinned. "Maybe not entirely. But I'm a reformed flirt now. All my attention is reserved for you."
"Lucky me," I said, rolling my eyes, though I couldn't hide the smile on my face.
Ciara tilted her head, studying me with a softness that made my heart ache in the best way. "You know, I never thought I'd be the type to settle down. Marriage always seemed...far away, like something for other people. But with you, it feels right. Perfect, even."
I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks and buried my face in her shoulder to hide it. "You're not the only one. I mean, I always thought I'd have time to figure things out, that it would happen someday. I never expected it to be now. But with you..."
I trailed off, not sure how to put my feelings into words.
"With me, you can't imagine waiting any longer," Ciara finished for me, her tone both teasing and serious.
I looked up at her, smiling despite myself. "Exactly."
She leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. "Good. Because I'm not waiting another moment to make you mine. Officially, that is."
We stayed like that for a while, wrapped up in each other, talking about the wedding and all the little details that made us excited. From the flowers to the guest list to the food, every part of it felt special because we were doing it together.
Ciara's enthusiasm was contagious, and soon we were laughing over the idea of Zephara and Leora trying to one-up each other during their toasts.
"I'm telling you, Zephara's going to find a way to make it all about her," Ciara said, shaking her head in mock exasperation.
"And Leora will probably encourage her," I added, giggling. "They're a dangerous pair."
Ciara sighed dramatically. "What did I get myself into, marrying into this family?"
"Oh, please," I said, poking her side. "You're just as bad as they are."
"Fair point," she conceded, grinning.
The conversation drifted to other topics, our voices growing softer as the atmosphere shifted. Ciara's fingers brushed through my hair, her touch gentle yet electrifying.
"You know," she began, her voice low, "as excited as I am for the wedding, I'm even more excited for what comes after."
I tilted my head to look at her. "What do you mean?"
Her lips curled into a slow smile, her violet eyes locking onto mine. "I mean building a life with you. Every day, every moment...waking up next to you, sharing everything together. That's what I can't wait for."
My heart swelled, and I reached up to cup her cheek. "Me too," I whispered, leaning in to press a soft kiss to her lips.
Ciara deepened the kiss almost immediately, her hands sliding to my waist as she pulled me closer. The intensity of her affection was overwhelming, leaving me breathless as I melted into her.
She pulled back slightly, her forehead resting against mine as she whispered, "I want more than a kiss."
Her words sent a jolt of heat through me, and I felt my breath hitch. Ciara's voice was soft, yet it carried a weight that sent shivers down my spine. The red in her eyes glimmered in the dim light of her room, drawing me in like a moth to a flame.
"You're impossible," I murmured, though the words came out more breathless than I intended.
Ciara's lips curved into that signature smirk of hers, one that always sent my heart racing. "You don't seem to mind," she teased, her hand slipping up to cradle my cheek.
Before I could respond, her lips captured mine in a kiss that was anything but gentle. It was fiery, insistent, and utterly consuming. Her hands slid down to my waist, pulling me flush against her as the world around us faded into nothing.
I lost myself in her completely.
The warmth of her touch, the way her lips moved against mine, the faint scent of lavender that seemed to cling to her it was intoxicating. My fingers tangled in her hair, pulling her closer as if I couldn't get enough.
Her hands moved with a certainty that made my head spin, tracing patterns on my back that sent sparks shooting through me.
I couldn't help but let out a small gasp as she deepened the kiss, her lips trailing down to my jaw and then my neck.
"Ciara," I breathed, my voice barely audible.
She pulled back just enough to meet my gaze, her expression equal parts adoration and mischief. "Too much?" she asked, though the glint in her eyes suggested she already knew the answer.
"Not even close," I replied, my voice steady despite the rapid thudding of my heart.
Her lips crashed against mine again, and this time the kiss was slower but no less intense. It was as though she was savoring every moment, every touch, every breath.
The sensation was overwhelming, a perfect mix of passion and tenderness that left me completely undone.
Eventually, the fiery urgency began to ebb, replaced by a gentle warmth. Ciara's kisses softened, her hands coming to rest on my waist as she pulled me closer to her.
When we finally broke apart, I found myself curled against her chest, her arms wrapped securely around me. I could hear the steady rhythm of her heartbeat, and it was impossibly soothing.
"You're incredible," she murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.
I let out a soft laugh, my fingers tracing idle patterns on her arm. "You're not so bad yourself."
Ciara chuckled, the sound vibrating through her chest. "You know, I wasn't kidding earlier. I really can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you."
Her words made my heart ache in the best way, and I tilted my head up to look at her. "Me neither," I whispered, my voice full of sincerity.
For a while, we just lay there, wrapped up in each other as the world outside faded into nothing. The glow of the room's soft purple light bathed us in a kind of serene warmth, and I felt a sense of peace that I hadn't known I needed.
Ciara's fingers ran through my hair in a soothing rhythm, lulling me closer to the edge of sleep. My eyes grew heavy, though I fought to stay awake just a little longer, unwilling to let the moment end.
"You're not falling asleep on me, are you?" Ciara teased, her voice low and playful.
"Maybe," I mumbled, snuggling closer to her. "But only because you're so comfortable."
She laughed, the sound warm and full of affection. "I'll take that as a compliment."
"You should," I replied, my words barely above a whisper as sleep began to take over.
Ciara shifted slightly, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. "Goodnight, Aeliana," she murmured.
"Goodnight," I managed to reply, my voice soft and drowsy.
And as I drifted off, cocooned in Ciara's warmth, I couldn't help but think that there was no place in the world I'd rather be.