The soft rustle of the wind through the trees was the perfect backdrop as Cassian led Seraphina outside to the porch. The sun had just dipped beneath the horizon, casting the sky in hues of pink and orange, the last of the daylight fading into a serene twilight. Soft fairy lights, strung up across the railing, flickered on, adding a touch of magic to the atmosphere. The table was set with a small, intimate meal—a spread of fresh pasta, crisp salad, and a bottle of wine Cassian had picked out just for the occasion.
Seraphina smiled, her eyes lighting up as she gazed around. The house, the porch, the peaceful surroundings—everything felt so... right. The cool air, tinged with the scent of blooming flowers from the garden, only seemed to enhance the closeness between them.
Cassian pulled out the chair for her, his hands gentle as he did. "Dinner under the stars," he said with a small smile. "I thought it might be nice to spend the evening like this."
Seraphina smiled back, settling into the chair. "I think it's perfect." She looked over at him, her eyes softening. "Thank you for this.
For everything."He could feel the weight of her words, the sincerity in them, and it tugged at something deep inside him. He had never been one to indulge in the softer things in life, yet with Seraphina, it felt as though he could. It felt natural, even necessary.
As they ate, the conversation flowed effortlessly, punctuated with laughter and long, lingering looks. The tension that had once plagued their relationship now felt like a distant memory, replaced by a quiet, profound connection.After the last bite of pasta, Cassian poured them each a glass of wine, clinking his glass softly against hers. "To us," he said, his voice low, but filled with meaning.Seraphina met his gaze, the faintest flush coloring her cheeks. "To us," she repeated, her voice soft, but steady.
She took a sip, then set the glass down, her fingers trailing along the rim. She looked at him in a way that made his heart race—a quiet intensity that held more weight than words.
Cassian's hand reached across the table, his fingers grazing hers, and in that moment, everything else fell away. There were no complications, no obstacles, just the two of them and this fragile moment they had created.
Without a word, Seraphina stood, slowly making her way to his side. She didn't need to ask for permission. She simply stepped closer, then crawled into his lap, her legs straddling him. The feel of her in his arms, the softness of her body pressed against his, was all it took for Cassian to lose himself in the moment. He cupped her face in his hands, his thumb gently brushing over her cheek as he kissed her, soft and slow at first. But soon, the kiss deepened, the need between them undeniable.
His hands roamed to her back, pulling her closer, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath the thin fabric of her shirt. Every touch, every kiss, felt like a promise—a promise of safety, of belonging, and of something more. As the kiss broke, both of them breathless, Cassian's gaze locked with hers. "Are you sure?" he asked, his voice hoarse, the weight of the question heavy between them.
Seraphina's hands slid down his chest, tracing the lines of his body. She nodded, her voice steady despite the rapid beat of her heart. "I've never been more sure of anything in my life."
Without another word, he stood up, lifting her effortlessly in his arms, and carried her inside, the intimacy of the moment only growing more intense as the door closed softly behind them. The rest of the world, for that brief, perfect moment, didn't exist.
With a quiet exhale, he lowered her to the bed, his gaze soft as he studied her. Seraphina's eyes searched his, full of trust and something else—something that tethered him to her, pulling him closer despite the storm of emotions threatening to overwhelm him.
"Are you sure?" he asked again, the question so much more than it seemed. It wasn't just about this moment, about the physical touch—they both knew that now. It was about opening up to each other in ways neither had before.
Seraphina's hands slid up his chest, the familiar feel of him beneath her fingertips grounding her.
She gave a slow, steady nod, the smile on her lips a quiet reassurance. "Yes, Cassian."Slowly, Cassian lowered himself beside her, his lips brushing against her forehead, then her cheeks, each kiss light, a feather's touch that spoke louder than words. He could feel the pulse of her heartbeat beneath his lips, the heat of her skin, and for a moment, he allowed himself to just be in this space with her, to simply exist in the comfort of her presence.
His mouth trailed down to her jawline, the kiss slow and tender, savoring the softness of her. When he finally reached her neck, his lips lingered, pressing gentle kisses against the smooth skin there.
Seraphina's breath caught, her fingers curling into the sheets beneath her, and Cassian's heart swelled. This was real. He could feel her response, the subtle shift of her body as she relaxed into him, allowing herself to melt under his touch.He kissed lower, his mouth trailing down her collarbone, pausing to admire the beauty of her exposed skin, the way the light danced across her. Each kiss was a promise—of safety, of comfort, of care.
There was no rush here. There was no expectation. This moment was theirs, and they would take it at their own pace.His hands roamed to the hem of her shirt, fingertips brushing the soft fabric as he pulled it slowly over her head. She didn't flinch. She didn't pull away. Instead, she looked up at him with an openness that made his chest tighten.
"I won't hurt you," he whispered, though the words seemed unnecessary. His actions spoke louder than anything else.
She smiled again, her voice low but confident. "I know."
Cassian kissed her lips again, this time deeper, slower. His hands traced the outline of her back, then moved lower, feeling the soft curve of her waist. Every part of her was so real, so vulnerable beneath him, and yet, there was a strength in the way she trusted him—trusted him enough to give herself completely, without hesitation.
He moved lower still, trailing his lips down her body, feeling her shiver as he kissed the sensitive skin of her inner thighs. The reaction made him pause, his breath slow and measured as he made sure she was comfortable, that she was ready for more. Her hands reached out, fingers threading through his hair, urging him closer.
"Cassian…" Her voice trembled, a quiet plea in the air between them, but he could hear the trust in it. The surety.
His mouth found its way to her core, his hands gently parting her legs, not with urgency, but with reverence. He kissed her softly, carefully, savoring the warmth of her, the softness that made her uniquely his. She moaned softly at the contact, her fingers tightening in his hair, but Cassian held back, giving her space to adjust to the new sensation."Just breathe, Seraphina," he whispered against her skin. "I've got you. You're safe here."
And she was. For the first time in a long time, they both were.
As Cassian's tongue explores the soft flesh of Seras inner thighs, his hands exposing her most intimate area. He trails kisses along her sensitive skin, inching closer to her aching core with each tender touch of his lips.
Finally, he reaches her slick folds and parts them with his tongue, savoring the taste of her arousal. His fingers caress her labia, teasing the sensitive flesh before sliding inside her. Seras hips buck involuntarily as he fills her, his digits curling to hit that special spot within.
At the same time, Cassian's mouth finds her clitoris, drawing the swollen bud between his lips. He sucks gently, his tongue flicking across the sensitive bundle of nerves. The dual stimulation has Seras head thrown back, a low moan escaping her throat as she grinds against his face.
Cassian's skilled hands and mouth work in perfect harmony to bring Seras to the brink of ecstasy. His tongue laves over her clit, circling and flicking the sensitive nub while his fingers thrust deeply into her clenching heat. The lewd sound of his digits sliding in her wetness fills the air, mingling with Seras escalating moans. Her nails dig into Cassian's shoulders as he relentlessly pleasures her, waves of intense bliss radiating from where his mouth is latched onto her. Seras hips writhe beneath him, her back arching off the bed as he coaxes her closer and closer to climax.
"C-Cassian!"she cries out, his name a breathless prayer on her lips.
Doubling his efforts and sucking her clit between his lips as he curves his fingers to rub that secret spot inside.
With a final flick of his tongue over her swollen bud, Cassian pushes Seras over the edge. Her body goes rigid, back bowing as a silent scream leaves her throat. Pleasure explodes through her in an intense, overwhelming rush. Her inner walls grip Cassian's thrusting fingers like a vice as she comes apart under his relentless touch.
Cassian moans against her quivering flesh, the vibrations prolonging her ecstasy as he continues to lap at her, riding out the aftershocks of her coming undone. When the last tremor passes, he slowly withdraws, placing one last gentle kiss on her inner thigh before crawling up her body.
Seras lies breathless beneath him, chest heaving and skin sheened with sweat. Cassian brushes damp tendrils of hair from her face, peppering her cheeks and lips with tender kisses."You're so beautiful like this," he murmurs."
Cassian gently kissed Sera, his lips lingering for a moment longer than necessary before he rested his forehead against hers. His eyes were soft as he looked at her, his breath still heavy, but there was something more now—something deeper in his gaze.
He studied her face, taking in every little detail, every curve of her skin, the way her lips were slightly parted, the warmth radiating from her body."You make me forget everything," he whispered, his voice low, filled with a kind of reverence. "I don't know what to do with myself when I'm near you."
Seraphina met his gaze, her chest still rising and falling with the rapidity of their shared moments.
She felt the vulnerability between them, how it hung in the air, unspoken but undeniable. She reached up, her hand gently cupping his face, her thumb brushing across his jawline.
"I think I make myself forget everything too," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "When I'm with you, nothing else matters."
The words lingered between them, wrapping around them like a quiet promise. Her heart was still racing, but in a way that felt different now—sweeter, lighter, as if a weight had been lifted, replaced with something new.
Cassian's thumb brushed over her cheek, his touch tender, as if he were afraid to break the fragile moment.
He stayed there, close enough to feel the warmth of her skin, close enough to hear the soft rhythm of her breath."I don't want this to end," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "But I also don't want to rush anything. You deserve so much more than what I can give you right now."
Seraphina smiled softly, her eyes shimmering with understanding. "Cassian," she said gently, pulling him a little closer. "You're giving me everything just by being here. By being yourself with me. That's all I need."
And in that moment, as they held each other in the quiet aftermath, Cassian realized that maybe, just maybe, he didn't need to have everything figured out. Maybe this was enough.
For the first time in a long time, he allowed himself to fully embrace the present. To be with her. To let the world outside fade away.
They stayed like that for a long while, not speaking, just being. And it was more than enough.