Chapter 135 Everything that matters
IRIS
After a short drive, he stops at a quiet meadow just on the edge of the forest, the kind of place that seems pulled from a dream.
The grass is soft and green, dotted with little white and yellow wildflowers, and there’s a blanket spread out with a wicker basket waiting. A small bouquet of daisies sits in the middle, tied with a thin ribbon.
“You did all this?” I ask, eyes wide, voice barely above a whisper.
He shrugs casually, though I know the lie immediately. “I had some help. But mostly… I just wanted it to be perfect for you.”
I feel a rush of warmth at his words and the way his eyes hold mine. “It’s… it’s beautiful.”
He steps closer, lowering his voice. “Not as beautiful as you.”
I laugh nervously, brushing my fingers over my dress. “You say that a lot.”
“Because it’s true,” he replies simply, then his gaze drifts over the meadow for a second. “Iris… I can’t believe this is real. All of this, us, me, you, t feels surreal. Like… like I’m dreaming.”
I pause, searching his face, and feel my own chest tighten. “I feel the same. It’s… everything’s different now. Better. But it’s all happening so fast.”
“Fast,” he repeats softly, stepping closer. He lowers his hand, brushing the back of his fingers lightly against mine. “But I want this. Every second of it. You’re mine, Iris. And I’m yours. Somehow… in every way that matters.”
Heat rises to my cheeks at his words, and I look down at our hands entwined. My wolf hums under my skin, thrilled at his possessiveness, and I feel my body relax into his warmth.
We settle onto the blanket, the basket open between us, and he pulls out an assortment of foods: fresh fruits, cheeses, bread, and chocolate. My stomach growls, and I laugh, feeling more at ease.
“You’re eating like I’m not going to feed you again tomorrow,” he teases, slicing a piece of cheese for me.
I bite it, cheeks warm. “I’ve been starving.”
“You’ve been resting,” he says softly, eyes never leaving mine. “I wanted you to have energy for… tonight. For us.”
I swallow hard, heart racing, and feel my wolf stirring beneath my skin. “Energy for us?” I echo, voice low.
“Yes,” he says simply, leaning closer. His hand brushes a strand of hair behind my ear, fingers lingering. “Tonight, I want every moment to be ours.”
I feel a shiver run through me, my chest tightening as he studies me with those golden eyes. “You make it sound like it’s magic,” I murmur.
“Maybe it is,” he replies softly, voice like silk. “Being with you… it’s everything I didn’t even know I needed. And now that I have it… I can’t imagine life any other way.”
I glance down, heart hammering, before looking back up at him. “ I feel the same.”
He smiles, slow and deliberate, and my chest flips. “You do?”
“Yes,” I whisper, fingers brushing against his hand.
His expression softens, and he leans closer, forehead resting against mine. “Iris…” His voice drops to a low, trembling rumble. “I love you.”
The words hit me like a wave. I feel my chest squeeze, tears threatening to spill, and yet I laugh softly, breathless and relieved. “I love you too, Darian.” I whisper back, voice shaking but certain.
A slow, tender smile spreads across his face, and he lowers his mouth to mine. The kiss is soft at first, testing, tasting, like discovering a new rhythm. My hands find his shoulders, clutching him lightly, while my wolf hums, vibrating through every nerve ending.
The kiss deepens, and my body aches deliciously under the press of him. Every brush of his lips, every shift of his body against mine sends sparks through me, and I find myself melting into him. His hands cup my face gently, thumbs brushing my cheeks, and I feel like I could stay here forever.
We break apart just long enough for me to gasp, leaning against his chest. “That… was…” I trail off, words failing me.
“Passionate,” he murmurs, voice low and rough, pressing his forehead against mine again. “Exactly what I needed.”
I laugh softly, nuzzling his chest, feeling the heat of him through my sundress. “Maybe I need just a little more.”
He shakes his head, smiling against my hair. “We should probably go,” he murmurs. His hands hold mine gently, but there’s a weight to his tone. “Before… before the night gets away from us.”
I glance up at him, sensing the double meaning, feeling my wolf stir beneath my skin with awareness.
He kisses my forehead, lingering, and I feel every ounce of tenderness and desire in that one gesture. “Come on, Iris,” he murmurs, hand brushing mine again. “We need to go home.”
I stand, brushing the grass from my dress, and look at him with a mixture of anticipation and longing.
He offers his arm, and I slide mine through his, leaning into his warmth. The walk back to the car is quiet, but the air between us is charged with unspoken promises, the anticipation of everything that awaits us. Every glance, every brush of our hands, feels like an electric current.
As he opens the car door for me, I pause, turning to look at him. “Tonight feels… like everything,” I whisper.
“Everything,” he agrees softly, his thumb brushing my hand in reassurance. “Because it is, Iris. It’s us. Every second. Every heartbeat. Every moment that matters.”
I step into the car, heart pounding, fingers entwined with his. And as the engine hums to life, I know that tonight isn’t just a date. It’s the beginning of something real, something unshakable. Something… ours.