Evaline:
I returned to my room, feeling much better when I left to invite Kieran just minutes ago.
A couple of empty cartons were sitting neatly in the hallway outside my room, indicating Draven had already begun clearing things out. And the mont I stepped inside, I froze.
Right by the windows, beside the marble fireplace and the cushy couches, was standing a stunning Christmas tree. It was towering majestically, and its thick green branches were dusted in artificial snow. It wasn’t decorated yet, but even bare, it was perfect. Regal. Warm. Beautiful.
My eyes softened.
There were so wreaths placed around the room.
My eyes searched for Draven and I found him upstairs. He was in the middle of fixing a lush green garland, wrapped with red ribbons and pinecones, over the railing.
"You work fast," I called out with a teasing lilt in my voice as I closed the door behind .
He glanced down at with a smirk. "Efficiency is a love language, sweetheart."
I smiled and climbed the spiral staircase, heading up to the cozy upper level of my bedroom where he was working. I hadn’t had a proper chance to relax in this part of the room since I arrived on Friday. The snug reading nook with leather armchairs, the floor-to-ceiling wooden shelves filled with hardcovers and ancient scrolls, the arched glass window that frad the snowy sky - it all looked like sothing straight out of a winter fairy tale.
I had planned to spend so quiet ti here today... but now that the tree and decorations were happening, maybe I would have to move that plan to tomorrow.
I walked to the nearby bookshelf, running my fingers over the spines.
"So?" Draven asked casually. "What did Kieran say?"
I didn’t turn around. "He said he’ll join us shortly."
I barely finished speaking when I felt his presence behind before I even saw him. His arms circled my waist from behind, pulling gently away from the shelf and turning toward him.
My heart skipped.
I didn’t resist, but I glanced toward the top of the stairs. "Draven," I whispered, my voice barely holding back a nervous laugh. "The door is unlocked... Kieran might walk in any mont."
"And I’ll know when he does," he said in a low and dangerous voice, just before he kissed .
It wasn’t a soft kiss.
He kissed like he was starving. Like this might be his last mont with . His hands gripped my waist tighter, and when I pushed gently at his chest, it wasn’t to stop him... it was because I couldn’t breathe. My head was spinning, my heart roaring in my chest.
"Draven..." I tried again between breaths, lips brushing against his, "we shouldn’t..."
But he shook his head. "I missed you," he said, his forehead resting against mine. "Fuck-I don’t even care if we get caught."
And honestly, I might not care either... at least, not in that mont. I was aching for him too.
The last ti we were this close was Saturday night, when he had snuck into my room just to say goodnight. Since then, there had been no private monts, no stolen kisses or hugs. More than a day had passed and nothing.
So, I gave in.
My arms curled around his neck, and the mont my lips t his again, everything else lted away. He deepened the kiss, his fingers tangling in my hair, and I felt my knees go weak. My back bumped gently against the bookshelf behind , and still, we continued kissing.
If he hadn’t pulled away when he did, I wasn’t sure I would have stopped. His breathing was ragged as he stepped back. His jaw was clenched tight as he returned to fix the garland on the railing like nothing had happened.
I stared at him, my lips tingling and mind fogged. And then I heard it - the sound of the door opening downstairs.
I moved closer to the stairs and looked down just in ti to see Kieran stepping inside.
Of course.
That’s why Draven pulled away.
I cleared my throat and descended the staircase like it hadn’t taken everything in to act normal.
"Hey," I greeted Kieran with a gentle smile.
He nodded, looking around the room. "Wow. You have made so progress."
Draven walked down the stairs behind . "Of course I did. You think I woud wait for your slow ass?"
Kieran rolled his eyes and smirked. "Please, like you know how to decorate a tree beautifully."
The three of us ended up spending the next hour and a half decorating the tree... and honestly, it was the most fun I had in days.
Kieran brought up a playlist of soft jazz and classic carols. Draven complained about how glittery everything was. I may or may not have thrown a handful of fake snow at both of them when they started bickering.
Draven held up two ornants. "Which one for the front? Reindeer or this ridiculously sparkly snowflake?"
"Reindeer," Kieran and I said at the sa ti, then exchanged a soft smile.
By the ti we were halfway through, snow started falling outside. Not the soft, romantic kind... but heavy, blinding flurries.
I moved closer to the window, worry filling my heart. "Oscar..."
I barely said the na when the door opened again.
And there he was.
Wearing a thick black coat, his hair damp with snowflakes, he stepped in like the snowfall was rely an afterthought.
He smiled, and I smiled back, holding myself still. If Kieran hadn’t been standing right there, I might have already run into Oscar’s arms. But I didn’t. I just smiled - soft and warm - and he returned it before his eyes started scanning the room.
"Looks like a snowstorm threw up in here," he said dryly, glancing at the glitter-covered floor and ornant boxes.
Draven snorted. "Then wait till we hang the lights."
We all laughed.
By the ti the clock hit one, we were heading downstairs for lunch. River joined us as well. He said nothing to , and I said nothing to him, not like we were talking before this anyway. I didn’t even look at him. Not because I was angry anymore, but because I didn’t know how to.
As soon as lunch ended, River stood up. "Kieran, I need you in the study. It’s urgent."
Kieran gave an apologetic look and followed him.
And just like that, it was only and my two mates again.
Back in my room, Draven walked in first... and turned the key in the door behind us with a solid click.
I raised a brow. "You locked the door?"
He turned to face with that slow, wicked grin of his. "You didn’t think I was going to let anyone interrupt us again, did you?"
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