As we drove back to the castle, I couldn't help but replay the scene on the hill in my mind. What the heck was I thinking? Was I really about to kiss Ciara? No, I couldn't let that happen again.
The whole situation was insane. The gentle hum of the car's engine was the only sound, punctuated by the occasional rustle of leaves as we passed through the forested path leading to the castle. My hands greeped the car seat tightly, knuckles white from the tension coursing through me.
I felt like I was losing my mind. But that moment had been so intense, so undeniably sexy. Ciara looked so... amazing. I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts, but they kept drifting back to how close we had been, how my heart had raced in those final seconds before the bird interrupted us.
The memory of her breath, warm and sweet against my skin, made my pulse quicken all over again. I could still feel the ghost of her presence, the heat of her body so close to mine.
"What's wrong with you?" Ciara's voice broke the silence, her tone a mix of curiosity and amusement.
"Nothing," I lied, my voice coming out harsher than I intended. "Just tired."
Ciara snorted softly. "Right. You look like you've seen a ghost."
I didn't respond, focusing instead on the road ahead. The trees thinned out, revealing the castle's imposing silhouette against the night sky. My mind raced, grappling with the conflicting emotions that Ciara stirred within me. She was infuriating, a heartbreaker who took pleasure in playing with people's feelings, yet here I was, almost falling into her trap.
When we finally reached the castle, the silence between us was thick and heavy. Each of us lost in our thoughts, we went straight to our shared room. I needed a shower, needed to wash away the confusion and the lingering sensations from that almost-kiss. The air inside was cool and still, the flickering candlelight casting long shadows on the stone walls.
Ciara went into the bathroom first, leaving me to stew in my thoughts. I paced the room, my mind racing. How could I let this happen? I was supposed to be the rational one, the one who kept things professional.
But Ciara, with her charm and that damn smirk, was getting under my skin. I could hear the water running, the rhythmic sound almost hypnotic as I tried to calm the turmoil within me.
Minutes felt like hours. I could picture her in there, the water cascading over her body, washing away the grime of the day. I shook my head, trying to banish the image, but it only grew more vivid. How did she do this to me? How did she get under my skin so effortlessly?
When Ciara finally emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in a towel that barely covered her toned body, her hair damp and wild, I felt my breath catch. She moved with an easy grace, her movements fluid and unhurried, as if she were fully aware of the effect she had on me.
She looked at me with a predatory gleam in her eye, like she wanted to devour me right there. My stomach fluttered, and I quickly averted my gaze, grabbing my things and heading into the bathroom. "My turn," I muttered, my voice barely audible.
The hot water did little to calm my nerves. My mind was still a chaotic mess of thoughts and emotions. What was happening to me? I wasn't supposed to feel this way about her.
She was infuriating, a heartbreaker who thrived on leaving a trail of broken hearts in her wake. I wasn't going to be one of them. The water pounded against my skin, but it couldn't wash away the confusion and longing that Ciara had ignited.
I took my time in the shower, hoping Ciara would be asleep by the time I got out. But when I emerged, dressed in my pajamas, she was still awake, lounging on the bed with a book.
Her eyes followed me as I moved around the room, an intensity in her gaze that made my skin tingle. The atmosphere was charged, every glance and movement laden with unspoken tension.
"Rough day?" she asked, her voice low and teasing.
"Something like that," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.
Her smirk widened, and she set the book aside, stretching languidly. "You look tense. Need some help relaxing?"
I shot her a glare, my heart pounding. "I'm fine, thanks."
She chuckled, a sound that sent shivers down my spine. "Suit yourself."
Dinner was a tense affair. Ciara's mothers, Thalia and Lucie, joined us, and their presence did little to ease the tension.
Thalia, with her striking white and red hair and black horns, and Lucie, with her warm blonde hair and green eyes, were the picture of a perfect couple. They radiated a calm and warmth that felt starkly out of place against the storm brewing inside me.
They couldn't keep their hands off each other, constantly flirting and touching. It was both endearing and infuriating, especially given the current turmoil in my own feelings.
"So, how's it going with you two?" Thalia asked, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
I nearly choked on my food. "What do you mean?"
"You look a bit weird today, did something happen?" Lucie said with a knowing smile.
I rolled my eyes. "No, nothing."
Thalia ignored her, leaning in closer. "Are you sure? Maybe you just need a little help."
I felt my cheeks burn, memories of the near-kiss flashing in my mind. "I think we're fine the way we are."
Ciara smirked, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes. "Yeah, we're just great."
Dinner couldn't end fast enough. The tension between Ciara and me was palpable, and every touch or glance from her mothers only heightened it. I was relieved when we finally finished, though the tension didn't dissipate. The walk back to our room felt like walking through a storm, every step charged with unresolved emotions.
Back in our room, the atmosphere was charged. Ciara watched me with that same intense gaze as I moved around, getting ready for bed. I tried to ignore her, tried to focus on anything else, but it was impossible. Her presence was overwhelming.
"I think I'm going to sleep on the couch," I said, grabbing a pillow and blanket.
"Scared to share a bed with me?" she teased, though there was an edge to her voice.
"No, just... prefer the couch," I muttered, making my way to the other side of the room.
I could feel her eyes on me as I settled onto the couch. It was uncomfortable, but I'd take discomfort over the confusing mess of emotions Ciara stirred in me any day. I closed my eyes, willing myself to sleep, but my mind kept drifting back to her, to the almost-kiss, to the way she looked at me.
Finally, sleep claimed me, but even in my dreams, I couldn't escape the chaos Ciara had brought into my life.