25 | I Love You

"I had a vision of love and it was all that you've given to me."

~ Mariah Carey, Vision of Love

Since it's Valentine's Day, I think this chapter is very fitting ;) Hope yall enjoy! It's a long one! Please don't forget to comment, follow, and vote!!

There was a small clearing in the back of the house, enough for a back deck, fire pit, and a walkway to the stream, but the rest of the backyard was all trees. Fairy lights strung high up on the trees, along the path to the water.

"Ready to go?" Cillian asked, slipping his boots on.

She peeked up at him, coat, hat, and boots already on. "You sure? It's pretty cold out."

He shrugged, not minding the cold as much as he used to. "As long as you're okay."

She agreed with a grin. "C'mon, let's go out."

Bundled in their coats, hand in hand, they made their way outside towards the stream. It wasn't a fancy date, but it was theirs. Plus, Cillian promised to make her pizza rolls (the only thing he knew how to make) at the end of the night, though his company was more than enough for her.

"You ever heard of cold plunging?" She asked as they walked, the cold air making her breath visible.

"I haven't." He shook his head.

"Well, it's basically plunging yourself self in freezing water." She explained, her gloved hand absentmindedly tracing patterns on the back of his hand.

He laughed and asked, "why would someone want to do that?"

She laughed with him, amused he found it so funny. "I dunno, I guess there's health benefits if you keep up with it. I don't know if I could do it though."

They both came to a stop in front of the water and he turned to face her. "You want to test it out?"

She shook her head with a laugh, thinking he was joking. At his blank blink, she realized he wasn't. "Right now?"

He shrugged. "Why not?"

She looked at him, to the nearly frozen over stream, and back at him. "We don't have bathing suits or anything. What would we wear- what are you doing!?" She panicked as he casually stripped off his coat, followed by his shirt.

"Going cold plunging..." He deadpanned as if it was completely casual and normal. He paused unbuckling his belt to look at her. "You gonna do it with me?"

Her cheeks flushed and her gaze fell to the ground. "Well..." she drawled and finally decided- to heck with it. She yanked her shirt over her head and then shimmied out of her pants.

Both in nothing but their undergarments, they stood hand in hand at the edge of the water, the snow biting at their exposed toes.

"Are we really gonna do this?" She shivered, squeezing his hand.

"On three?"

She nodded, her toes on the edge of the bank. "One, two, three!"

The pair jumped into the frigid water and when they came up, they were laughing. "It's freezing!" She squealed, clinging onto him. He was tall enough to stand, but she, however, was not.

She tried to ignore her nearly bare body being pressed against his, his strong arms secure around her waist. "Your lips are already turning purple." He pointed out.

She shuddered, her adrenaline at least keeping her a little bit warm. "Well... Maybe you should warm them up." She mused with a growing smirk.

Immediately his lips met hers, kissing her passionately. He tugged both her legs up around his waist, pinning her against him, trapped in his big arms. Her fingers slid up his scarred chest and into his wet hair.

She pulled away just enough to breathily say, "Cillian?"

He hummed, planting kisses to her jaw and neck.

"I'm cold."

His warm breath tickled her neck as he chuckled, planting one last kiss to her cheek before lifting his head. "Want to head back inside for some pizza rolls?"

At her frantic nod, he whisked her out of the water, leaving their clothes behind. After a shared hot bath, the night ended with snacking on pizza rolls as they enjoyed each other's company.

•••

Cillian and Sophie didn't resist their urge to cuddle anymore. In fact, they welcomed it. Over the past couple months that they've been together, Sophie's learned that Cillian subconsciously liked physical contact when he slept. It didn't have to be much, but there was always some part of him touching her. Whether he's smooshing her to his body, intertwining their legs, or just holding her hand.

He's also the biggest. blanket. hog. He would curl the whole thing around him so she's left with practically nothing, which meant she had to inch closer to him for warmth.... which was basically his plan all along. This man would do anything to hold her close while he slept.

He scooted over closer to her side of the bed, not fully awake yet, in a sleepy daze to find her. When he didn't feel her, he scooted closer, his grabby hands reaching out to feel where she was. When he didn't feel her again, he frowned and opened his eyes.

She was gone.

"Sophie?" He called, figuring she went to the bathroom.

After a minute, the bedroom door creaked open and she padded into the room, several cookies in hand. "Sorry, I couldn't sleep and I wanted a snack." She whispered and crawled back into bed with him.

A sleepy smile graced his lips when he caught sight of her, in his shirt that was several sizes too big for her. With Sophie settled against the headboard, his head rested against her arm as she munched happily on her treats. He didn't close his eyes to return to sleep, so she offered him a cookie, which he happily received.

"Why couldn't you sleep?" He quietly asked, not wanting to disturb the silence of the night.

She sighed, her chewing coming to an end before she spoke. "A lot on my mind."

He hummed at that but didn't push her to further explain.

"Does it bother you being here?" She finally asked. "Seeing what could have been?"

"Sometimes." He replied.

With no more cookies left, she slid down under the covers, nuzzled up against his side. He readily welcomed her embrace, opening his arms for her to settle in, face pressed against his chest. She couldn't help but to trace random patterns on his collarbone, chest, and side.

"Are you sad?"

He didn't- couldn't respond right away, the feeling of her soft finger tips on his skin made his brain go fuzzy and butterflies fill his stomach. "Sometimes." He admitted, his breath hitting the top of her head as he pressed his lips against her hair. "But I'm happy now."

His teeth caught his lower lip as he thought, wondering if he should say what he was thinking out loud. His chest drew up sharply with a breath and he slowly confessed, "I don't think I could have done this alone... my whole life, it felt like something was missing."

Her eyes caught his, curiously. "Like what?" She asked, innocently, completely clueless.

He went completely quiet, and for a moment, she wasn't sure if he fell asleep. She pushed herself up on her elbow to check, only to find him already gazing at her. He causiously rolled over to face her and gently shifted his grip on her hip as if she may break.

He sucked in a sharp breath and mumbled, "I want you to know something."

She hummed in acknowledgment and encouragement.

His tongue poked out past his fangs to nervously wet his drying lips. "I want you to be happy." He told her, softly. "I want your life to be as beautiful as you. I don't ever want to be somewhere you don't want to be too. We could leave. Figure something else out if that's what you want."

Her heart swelled at his genuine confession. With a grin she whispered. "I am happy." She told him and brushed a strand of hair from his face. "You make me happy. I want to stay here, with you."

That fluttering in his stomach happened again and warmth spread throughout his face. A low hum rumbled deep in his chest as he loomed over her, causing her to lean back so she was laying down. He followed her, his claws digging into the mattress, and shoulders rounding her way as he invaded her personal space. A satisfied smile grew until his prominent canines made an appearance. "What am I going to do with you, beautiful little human of mine, hmm?"

She placed her hands on either side of his face, his scruff feeling rough under her fingertips. "What do you want to do?" She asked, curiously.

His heart skipped a beat and he leaned into her touch. "I just.... I just want us to lay down somewhere and let you touch me, and I, you."

Her curiosity disappeared at the soft, simple, innocent words. He wasn't being crude or crass, purely innocent. It was endearing to hear such innocuous words from such an intimidating man.

Her fingertips trailed down from his face, down to his neck, and his firm chest and arms. "I think I'd like that too." She admitted, quietly.

"Yeah?" He hummed, his head spinning in the best way possible.

"Mmm hmm," she mumbled and sucked in a breath when his large hand slid under her shirt, against her rib cage.

His mouth hovered over hers and she pulled his body closer to lay gently against hers. Then his hands were wandering, tracing delicate lines on her torso, her lungs compressing under his careful, searing exploration.

She leaned into the sensations, his fingers grazing her stomach and small of her back. His forehead rested against hers as they explored each other. Nothing overly sexual, just innocent touching that they craved for so long.

He didn't know love was like this. He didn't know he'd crave another person's touch. He didn't know he'd do anything to learn how to make her happy.

He wanted to learn how to touch her and where. He wanted to be the one that made her smile the most. He wanted her mind. Her strength. Wanted to be worth her time. He wanted to feel her heart racing and know it's racing because of him. He wanted every inch of her.

He wanted her.

He nudged his nose against hers and he mumbled, "I never answered your question."

She tilted her head in confusion, in a bit of a daze.

"You asked what was missing." He clairified. "It was you. When I found you, everything made sense. You were what was missing in my life."

Warmth filled her chest, too elated to know how to properly response. So instead, her delicate hands cupped his face, she pulled him close, and kissed him. Kissed him until time seemed to topple over and his head spun in an oblivion.

It was the kind of kiss that inspired stars to climb into the sky and light up the world. The kind that took forever and no time at all. With her hands still on his face, he pulled back just to look her in the eye with his chest heaving, and he confessed, "I love you."

Then she kissed him again. "I love you too," she murmured against his lips, both of them smiling into the kiss.

And she wished, more then ever, that she knew how to capture moments like this and revisit them forever.

Because this? This was everything.

And while she won't be able to revisit this very moment, she looked forward to recreating them for years to come.

If only they knew what life really had for them.

•••

The rising sun created a golden haze that softened the curves of her body, along with the marks he had left the night before. Her lashes rested against her cheeks from this angle and casted a shadow on them. The sheets were wrapped around their naked entwined bodies as he was reminded of the kisses and words that started it all.

He could never let another person so close to him like this, but.... she's so different. There's a purity to her, something that's been lacking in his life since he was a child. Innocence was stripped from him at an early age, but she made him feel he got some of it back with her. She made him feel whole. She made him feel safe. She's the only flower in the meadow for his eyes.

She felt him lightly scratching up and down her back, making her shiver and move closer to him, not completely awake yet. His hand drifted to her hip, and it settled there to pull her closer, making her inhale sharply.

He nuzzled her neck with delicate kisses, his hot breath fanning against her mark. "Good morning, beautiful." He hummed ever so innocently.

Suddenly, she was wide awake, trapped in his thick arms once again. When she didn't respond, his sharp canines grazed the shell of her ear.

"Good morning." She squeaked and ducked her head.

He chuckled and nudged her flat on her back, as he moved to hover over her, caging her in between his arms.

She shivered as the blankets were lifted off her slightly, her body being exposed to the cold air. Not completely awake yet and too cold and tired to move, she said nothing, but instead hooked her legs around his back, her arms around his neck, and pulled him down on top of her to use him for warmth. "It's cold." She mumbled, sleepily playing with his hair.

His deep chuckle had her heart skipping a beat. With his head on her chest and arms around her middle, he suddenly struggled to keep his eyes open. Why? Because she knew that running her fingers through his hair was his weakness. Her fingernails scraped against his scalp in the most soothing way and her heartbeat began to lull him back to sleep.

He shook his head and tried to lift his body off of hers, but instead he pulled hers off the bed with him as she clung to him like a Koala. He laughed and reached one arm up to take a jab at her side, causing her to squeal and fall back onto the mattress.

She pouted and shot him a sleepy glare. He just kissed her adorable pout. She huffed and rolled her eyes, before they closed once more in attempt to go back to sleep... Not on his watch.

Poke poke poke poke poke poke-

"What do you want?" She exasperated, tired of the grown werewolf poking her face like a five year old.

"Attention." He responded, truthfully.

She opened one eye to look at him. He flopped back down to lay on top of her, her hands automatically found their way back into his hair.

"We gotta get up." He yawned and pressed a kiss to her collarbone.

She tugged a stand of his hair in protest. Jokes on her, he liked it.

"I know what you're doing." He mumbled.

"What am I doing?" She sighed, cheekily.

"Trying to make me go back to sleep so you can go back to sleep."

"And is it working?"

"No."

She huffed in annoyance and bucked her hips up in attempt to make him get off of her. He smirked and sat back on his haunches so he was straddling her hips. She blinked sleepily up at him, a sight that stirred endless butterflies in his stomach. "We really do need to get up."

"Why?"

"We have the meeting."

She groaned and flopped an arm lazily over her eyes to block the obnoxious morning light. He dropped onto his elbows and came nose to nose with her, quietly drawling her name because placing a kiss to her face.

She moved her arm away from her eyes so they could scan over her husband's face. They slowly trailed from his lips to his eyes and back down. A hum sounded in the back of her throat as her voice tiredly conveyed, "You aren't exactly making me want to get out of this bed."

His eyes narrowed. She's never been so bold with her words before, but he knew what she was trying to do, the little brat. So, he decided to take matter into his own hands.... literally.

"What are you- hey! Put me down!" She yelled between her laughter while whacking him on the back, and dragged the blanket off the bed with her.

And he did exactly that, put her down, right in front of the bathroom so she could get ready. With a playful smack to her rear and one last kiss, he pulled away and headed towards the door. "I'll grab us breakfast. I love you!" He called as he left the room.

Winded, she shook her head at his antics, but got dressed with a smile on her lips anyway.

After freshening up, she met him in the kitchen. There, he already had breakfast ready. She had extra pancake batter from the day before and he's seen her cook pancakes enough times to figure it out himself- or so he thought. They were a tad burnt, but she didn't mention it.

"I just don't see how it's fair." She complained as she stabbed one of her pancakes.

His head lolled to the side to gaze at her. "What's not fair, love?"

She sighed, her legs draped lazily across his lap. "The mark."

He rose a brow, setting his plate down on the end table beside the couch, already amused by the conversation. "You said you didn't mind the marks I-"

"No, I mean the mark." She huffed, tucking her hair behind her ear. "That you get to bite me but I can't bite you."

His fingers absentmindedly trailed up and down her bare legs, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake. "I never said you couldn't bite me. In fact, if I remember correctly last night-"

"That's not what I mean." She hastily cut him off, a blush rising to her cheeks.

He continued to play dumb and hummed as he thought. "We both have quite a few bites and marks."

"Cillian." She interrupted again. "Not hickeys, the mark."

He chuckled, and it wasn't until then that she realized he was messing with her the whole time.

She rolled her eyes. "I'm just saying, it's not fair you can bite me, but I can't bite you."

"I never said you couldn't bite me." He spoke with a shrug, his voice light and teasing.

Her eyes narrowed. "Yeah, but you won't be branded like me."

"Branded?" He repeated through a laugh.

"Yes." She responded, finally getting back at him for all the teasing. "Like I'm some livestock."

"That's how you see it?" He tested with a knowing grin. "You want to make me your livestock like you are mine?"

"So you admit it!"

His fingers interlaced with hers and he brought the back of her hand to his lips to plant a soft kiss. Through a barely contained laugh, he whispered, "my lovely heifer-"

She gasped and ripped her hand away, and he threw his head back and laughed. "Cillian!" She tried to hide her smile behind a scowl, but failed miserably. Seeing him laugh so genuinely and carefree had her laughing too.

He tugged her closer to him, and she gave in, laying against his chest. "Weren't you the one treating me like a dog, calling me a 'good boy' yesterday for doing the dishes?"

"Okay, but when you think about it, you are low key a dog..."

"Mm, I'm not though."

"Mm, debatable." She teased, tracing patterns on his bare chest.

"Better a dog than a cow I guess."

"Is it though?" She tested with a cocky grin. "Pretty sure that makes you my b-"

•••

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