Chereads / The heartbreaker perfect match / Chapter 242 - I was just hers

Chapter 242 - I was just hers

The sunlight filtering through the window was warm and golden, casting a gentle glow over the room.

Aeliana lay nestled against me on the oversized chaise in my private sitting room, her head resting on my shoulder, her legs tangled with mine.

The soft fabric of the blanket draped over us was the only thing separating us from the world outside. For once, I allowed myself to let time slow, each moment savoured as though it were the most precious thing I owned.

Aeliana stirred slightly, her fingers idly tracing circles on my arm. "You're too quiet," she murmured, her voice carrying that half-dreamy quality that always made me smile.

"Just thinking," I replied, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. Her auburn hair still carried the faint scent of lavender from the bath we had shared earlier. 

"About what?" she asked, lifting her head just enough to meet my gaze. Her green eyes sparkled with curiosity and the kind of love that made my chest ache in the best way.

I shifted slightly so I could cup her cheek, brushing my thumb over her soft skin. "About how lucky I am to have you here. After everything that's happened… I don't want to let you go."

She leaned into my touch, her lips curving into a small, content smile. "I'm not going anywhere," she whispered, though there was a shadow of something unspoken in her eyes. It wasn't worry exactly, but it was enough to make me wonder.

"Is something wrong?" I asked, tightening my arm around her.

She hesitated for a moment before shaking her head. "No… it's just, my parents are expecting me. They wanted to see me today."

The words felt like a tiny pinprick to the perfect bubble we'd created. I knew her family was important to her, and I didn't begrudge them wanting to ensure their daughter was safe and well after everything she'd endured.

But the thought of her leaving, even for a little while, made something twist inside me.

"Do you want to go?" I asked carefully, though I wasn't sure I wanted to hear the answer.

She smiled gently, her fingers brushing over my cheek. "I want to stay here with you."

"Then stay," I said quickly, not bothering to hide the desperation in my voice. "Just for today. Let's forget the rest of the world exists. Please."

Aeliana's expression softened, and she slid her arms around my neck, pulling me closer until our foreheads touched. "Alright," she said softly, her voice a promise. "Just for today."

Relief washed over me, and I tightened my hold on her, savouring the warmth of her body against mine. "Thank you."

She laughed lightly, the sound bright and soothing. "You're acting like I've made some great sacrifice. There's nowhere I'd rather be than here."

I smiled, letting my hands wander down her back in slow, lazy strokes. "You say that now, but wait until I drag you into a nap."

"Oh, no," she teased, arching a brow. "Anything but that."

We both laughed, the sound filling the quiet room and chasing away any lingering tension. I shifted us so we were lying back more comfortably on the chaise, Aeliana's head resting on my chest.

The steady rhythm of her breathing and the gentle rise and fall of her body against mine was enough to lull me into a sense of peace I hadn't felt in ages.

For hours, we stayed like that, talking about anything and everything—or sometimes nothing at all.

I learned little things about her I hadn't known before, like how she used to sneak out of her lessons as a child to play in the gardens, or how she had always dreamed of having a small wedding surrounded by close family and friends.

She blushed when she admitted she'd already imagined how I'd look waiting for her at the altar, and I couldn't resist kissing her then, soft and lingering, until the world faded away.

The afternoon sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting the room in warm, amber hues. We'd moved to the bed by then, tangled together beneath the covers like it was the only place we were meant to be.

Aeliana's fingers played idly with the strands of my hair as I traced patterns on her bare shoulder, the silence between us comfortable and filled with unspoken love.

"You're perfect," I murmured, breaking the quiet.

She tilted her head to look at me, her cheeks tinged pink. "You're just saying that because you're in love with me."

"Damn right I am," I said, leaning in to kiss her again. Her lips were soft and tasted faintly of the honeyed tea we'd shared earlier.

When I pulled back, her gaze lingered on me, searching for something. "Ciara?"

"Hm?"

"Do you ever think about what life would be like if none of this had happened? If we didn't have to fight so hard just to be together?"

The question gave me pause, and I considered it for a moment. "Sometimes," I admitted. "But then I think about how much stronger we are because of it. How every battle, every scar, brought us here. And honestly? I wouldn't change a thing."

Aeliana's smile was small but genuine. "Me neither."

We fell into another stretch of quiet, the kind where no words were needed because we already understood everything that mattered. I closed my eyes, content to simply hold her, when she suddenly shifted, propping herself up on one elbow to look down at me.

"What?" I asked, amused by the mischievous glint in her eye.

"You're going to fall asleep again," she accused lightly. "And then I'll have to fend off whoever comes knocking on the door."

I grinned, pulling her back down beside me. "Let them knock. Today is ours."

She laughed, her head resting against my shoulder once more. "You're impossible."

"I'm yours," I corrected, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

The hours stretched on, the outside world feeling farther and farther away. We stayed wrapped up in each other, stealing kisses and soft touches that felt more like home than any place ever could.

I lost track of time, of everything except the way she made me feel: whole, unbreakable, loved.

But as the sky outside began to darken, Aeliana's expression grew more thoughtful. She sat up slightly, looking out the window with a wistful smile. "I should probably—"

"Don't go, Aeliana," I said quickly, cutting her off. My hand reached for hers, holding on as if letting go would shatter the fragile peace we'd built. "Stay."

She turned to me, her green eyes filled with both love and uncertainty. But when she smiled and leaned down to kiss me softly, I knew I had convinced her. For now, at least, she was mine.

Aeliana's soft kiss lingered on my lips, her hand cupping my cheek as if trying to reassure me without words. When she pulled back, her emerald eyes locked onto mine, a gentle warmth in their depths.

It was a look that held all the things I'd ever needed: love, patience, and a quiet strength that steadied my chaotic soul. 

"Alright," she said softly, her voice like a melody. "I'll stay."

Relief coursed through me, and I let out a breath I hadn't realised I'd been holding. My fingers tightened around hers, unwilling to let go, as though releasing her would somehow invite the world to intrude on our stolen moment. 

"Thank you," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. 

Her lips curved into a small, amused smile. "You make it sound like I'm doing you a favour." 

"You are," I admitted. "Every moment I have with you feels like a gift I don't deserve."

Aeliana's cheeks flushed a soft pink, and she ducked her head slightly, her shyness peeking through. "You're terrible at taking compliments, you know that?"

I grinned, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "Not as terrible as you are at hiding when you're embarrassed."

She swatted my arm playfully, laughing, and the sound was enough to banish the heaviness that had been lingering in the air.

It was incredible how she could do that how she could brighten even the darkest of moments with just a laugh, a smile, a touch. 

We settled back into the plush pillows, her head finding its way to my shoulder again.

The sun was beginning its slow descent, casting a warm, golden light across the room. It painted her auburn hair in fiery hues, making her look every bit as radiant as the bride she should have been today. 

The thought brought a pang of guilt, and I tightened my arm around her. "I wish I could've given you the perfect wedding," I said quietly.

She shook her head, looking up at me with a soft smile. "We'll have our day, Ciara. When the time is right, and we're not fighting for our lives every other moment."

I chuckled at that, though the truth of it stung. "You'll still have your dream wedding. I'll make sure of it."

"I don't need a grand ceremony," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "All I need is you."

Those words struck something deep inside me, leaving me momentarily speechless. How had I been so lucky to find someone like her? To have her love me despite my flaws, my failures, my scars?

"I love you, Aeliana," I said, my voice thick with emotion.

Her smile widened, and she reached up to brush her fingers along my jaw. "And I love you, Ciara. Always."

The promise in her words wrapped around my heart, grounding me. For once, I wasn't a warrior or a princess or someone weighed down by duty. I was just hers. 

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