Selena's eyes held a subtle glimmer of amusement, a light that caught Tara entirely off guard as she fell into that gaze she'd once been so enchanted by. She felt herself slipping into a reverie until the sharp sound of Selena's knuckles tapping the table jolted her back to reality.
Tara, worried Selena might notice her momentary distraction, quickly replied, "Today, let's visit Grace Hill Chapel. I'd like to say a prayer—people say it's very spiritual there. Would you go with me?" Her words tumbled out a little too fast, the effort to cover her embarrassment showing through.
Selena raised a brow, lips quirking into a teasing smile. "Since you said 'let's,' it wouldn't be polite for me to decline, would it? Besides, I have no plans today anyway, so why not?" She rose from her seat, pulling on the coat draped over the chair. "Shall we?"
Tara blinked, a bit surprised. "Already? Aren't you going to do your makeup or something?"
Selena was dressed simply—a soft turtleneck sweater, plain jeans, and a fitted black wool coat. The look was far from the refined image she remembered, and yet, as she looked closer, Tara had to admit that even without makeup, Selena radiated a natural elegance.
Selena lifted her chin, arching a brow. "No makeup today; I don't feel like it. Is that a problem? You seem awfully invested in my looks."
The Selena of today was freer, living on her terms with a natural ease that hadn't been there before. Tara could sense that this version of Selena was genuinely happy—and she couldn't help but wish she would always be this way.
With a soft smile, she replied, "Not at all. You don't need makeup to be stunning, anyway."
As Selena settled by the window with the light breakfast Tara had ordered, she took her time eating while watching the morning winter scene outside. Winter landscapes had often seemed lifeless to her over the past five years; either barren and gray, or blanketed in endless white, a season that mirrored her own feelings of loneliness. Every winter had reminded her of that last, painful one, a time when she'd lost everything that mattered to her.
But this morning was different. The world outside felt brighter somehow, as if the winter wasn't so bleak this year.
Selena sipped her coffee, a slight smile on her face as she watched a worker clearing snow from the road. She barely noticed when Tara emerged from the bathroom, droplets of water glistening on her dark lashes. Tara's eyes flicked to the breakfast table and the half-finished cup. "Why didn't you finish your milk?"
Selena's attention shifted, meeting Tara's gaze and spotting a small bead of water on her lashes, sparkling like a tiny diamond. She felt an unexpected impulse and raised her hand. "Lean down."
Curious, Tara lowered her head without question.
Selena leaned closer, her fingertips hovering just over Tara's face. Tara didn't flinch, her dark eyes fixed on Selena's in a gaze so steady and trusting it nearly made Selena falter.
"Close your eyes," Selena murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Without hesitation, Tara's eyes closed. Her long lashes brushed lightly against Selena's fingertips as she delicately wiped the droplet away. She took a breath, her hand lingering for just a second longer than necessary, gently grazing Tara's closed lids. The touch was tender, a barely-there moment, but enough to make her heart race.
Tara let out a small shiver, feeling the warmth of Selena's fingers trace her eyelids, leaving a tingling sensation in their wake. For a moment, Selena simply admired her, recalling all the times she had gazed into those same eyes and seen both fierce desire and unyielding love.
Tara finally broke the silence, her voice slightly rough. "Is it gone?"
Selena, feeling almost reluctant, pulled her hand back. "Yes. You can open your eyes now."
When Tara did, there was a gentle, affectionate light in them, her eyes sparkling as though they held every fond memory she'd ever had with Selena. She smiled broadly, childlike. "Thank you, Selena."
Selena, trying to compose herself, muttered, "You weren't worried I might poke you in the eye?"
Tara chuckled softly. "No. If you wanted my eyes, I'd happily give them. Although, I think I'd have to keep one."
Selena looked at her, bemused yet strangely touched by the strange, possessive sentiment. "Only one? Why would you need to keep one?"
Tara reached out, hooking her finger beneath Selena's chin and gently tilting her face upward until their gazes met. Her fingers were still cold from the sink's water, the chill causing a thrill to run down Selena's spine. Tara's expression was both playful and intense, an almost haunting allure in her gaze.
"So I'd still have one eye left," Tara said softly, her words slow and deliberate, "to watch you live, happy and radiant, in this world."
Her voice held a reverent quality, and her gaze was full of longing. It made Selena's breath catch, her heart pounding wildly at the depths behind those words.
If only you knew, Tara thought. Those five years were hell; it was her pain and memories of Selena that had pushed her to dark places, even leaving scars she could barely bring herself to look at now. She didn't need both eyes; even a glimpse of Selena's happiness would have been worth it.
When the conversation turned back to the breakfast table, Tara's gaze lingered on the unfinished glass of milk. "So why didn't you finish the milk?"
Selena, thankful for the change of subject, answered, "I was full. But if you haven't had breakfast, you can finish it."
A faint trace of lipstick still stained the rim of the glass. Tara took it, letting her lips press over the mark, tasting the slight sweetness of the milk mingling with the faint trace of Selena's lipstick.
"Gladly," Tara murmured, her lips lingering for a second, a slight, self-satisfied smile on her face.
Selena watched as Tara set the glass back down, a barely-there grin tugging at her lips. It wasn't often she felt this way, and watching Tara's playful gestures made her heart skip. There was an unspoken desire that she could barely keep in check, a wild impulse to kiss away the traces of milk from Tara's lips.
But she forced herself to turn away, biting down on her inner lip to stop the thought from spiraling further. It was all she could do to rein herself in.
Tara finally finished and set the glass back on the table, a quiet, "Shall we go?" breaking the spell of the morning. Selena finally lifted her gaze, unable to look at Tara's face for too long, lest she give herself away.
Standing up, she massaged the slight ache in her neck, not missing how Tara's eyes tracked the movement. "Are you all right?" Tara asked, her voice laced with concern. "Didn't sleep well?"
"Not at all," Selena replied, rubbing the back of her neck and hoping Tara wouldn't notice her nervousness. But her mind darted back to those ridiculous, maddening thoughts she'd had earlier, and she quickly shoved them away before they could reveal themselves on her face. She waved Tara off, handing her a small bag. "Ready? Let's get going."
With a grin, Tara took the bag, raising a brow as she glanced down at Selena's slightly flustered face. Her smile grew as she watched Selena stride quickly toward the door.