The night was quiet, the kind of still that made you feel like the world was holding its breath. Aeri and I walked side by side down the empty street, the wedding hall long behind us, its golden lights now just a memory.
Our hands were clasped together, her fingers warm and soft against mine, and every step sent a jolt through me. Her touch felt almost too real, like a dream I didn’t want to wake up from, and my heart was skipping beats, thudding hard in my chest. The stars above were bright, scattered across the dark sky, and the cool air carried the faint scent of her lavender perfume.
*Swoosh.* A cold breeze swept past, rustling the leaves on the trees lining the sidewalk and tugging at Aeri’s dress. She shivered, her shoulders hunching slightly, and then— *"Aa-chu!"*—she sneezed, a small, cute sound that broke the silence.
I turned to her, concern flickering through me. "It’s cold, huh?" I said, letting go of her hand to wrap my arm around her shoulders instead. I pulled her close, her warmth pressing against me as we walked. "You okay?"
Her face flushed pink, and she hesitated for a second before her hands found my waist, her fingers curling gently against my shirt. She leaned in, resting her head on my shoulder, her hair brushing my neck.
"Hmm, yeah, it’s chilly," she said softly, her voice muffled against me. "But this helps."
I smiled, feeling the weight of her against me, the way her body fit so naturally by my side.
"We should’ve just taken that ride with Sara and Daniel when they offered," I said, my tone light but teasing. "Would’ve saved us from freezing out here."
Aeri tilted her head to look up at me, her eyes catching the streetlight’s glow. "No way," she said, shaking her head. "I didn’t want to bug them anymore. It’s their night. They deserve to be alone, you know?"
I chuckled, my arm tightening around her. "Yeah, fair enough. But now look at us, stuck walking in this cold. Trains and cabs not running this late." I sighed, glancing down at her, my voice softening. "I’m just worried about you. Don’t want you catching a cold or anything."
Aeri’s lips curved into a small, playful smile, and she pressed herself closer, her head still resting on my shoulder. "Aww, my baby Ezra’s worried about me," she said in a whisper, her voice warm and teasing. She paused, then added, quieter, "But honestly? I don’t mind walking with you. We should do it more often."
My eyes widened, and a rush of heat crept up my neck, my face burning despite the chilly air. She looked so adorable, her smile soft and her eyes sparkling, and my heart felt like it might burst.
Aeri laughed, pulling back just enough to look at me, her hands still resting on my waist. "Hehe, your heart’s going crazy in there," she teased, her eyes glinting with mischief. "I can practically hear it banging away."
I pouted, my face flushing even more. "Oye..." I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck, embarrassed. "You don’t have to call me out like that."
She threw her head back, laughing harder, one hand clutching her stomach. "Hahaha, it’s like it’s gonna explode!" she said, stumbling a little as she giggled, her voice bright and carefree in the quiet night.
"Ahh, stop it," I said, exhaling sharply, trying to sound annoyed but failing as a grin tugged at my lips. Her laughter was infectious, and I couldn’t stay embarrassed for long.
"Yes, yes, I’ll stop," she said, still chuckling, "You’re such a kid sometimes, Ezra."
"Hmph," I huffed, but before I could think about it, I reached out, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward me in one quick motion. Our lips crashed together, the kiss sudden and fierce, stealing the air from both of us.
Aeri’s eyes widened for a split second, her breath catching, but then they fluttered shut, her face flushing a deep pink. Her lips moved against mine, soft and warm, matching my rhythm as my hands slid to her hips, pulling her closer.
"You better stay quiet , or I might get mad and do something crazy right here," I said, a smirk tugging at my lips as I let my hand graze her hip, my fingers brushing the soft fabric of her dress, feeling the curve of her ass underneath.
Aeri’s eyes widened, and she pouted, pushing me away with a playful shove. "Hmph, no way," she said.
I laughed, grabbing her hand again and picking up the pace, our fingers laced tightly. "Alright, fine, let’s keep walking, no more teasing then
" I said, grinning over my shoulder as I tugged her along.
She let out an exaggerated "Umph!" and swatted my back with her free hand. "Slow down, you big jerk, my legs aren’t as long as yours!"
I slowed just a bit, glancing back at her. "What, can’t keep up? Thought you were tougher than that," I teased, dodging another playful slap she aimed at me.
"Ouch, you’re killing me!" I said, clutching my chest dramatically like she’d landed a fatal blow. "I’m dead, Aeri, done for—taken out by your love. Somebody save me!" I threw my head back, laughing loud enough to echo down the empty street.
She rolled her eyes, but her giggles spilled out, bright and unstoppable. "Such a kid you are," she said, shaking her head.
We kept up the banter, our laughter carrying us through the quiet streets until we finally reached home.
The familiar sight of our front door came into view, the porch light casting a soft glow over the steps.
The door clacked shut behind us, the sound sharp in the stillness of the house. I kicked off my shoes, the thud of them hitting the floor mixing with the soft clatter of Aeri’s heels as she slipped them off, her bare feet padding against the hardwood.
Aeri reached for the light switch, but before she could flip it, I caught her hand, my fingers wrapping gently around her wrist.
In one smooth motion, I pushed her back against the wall, the movement soft but firm. Her back pressed against the cool plaster, and she let out a small gasp, her eyes wide in the dim light filtering through the windows.
"Ezra...?" she murmured, her voice soft, a mix of surprise.