"I love you." Artemis whispered in her ear, as his perfectly manicured hands slipped her jacket off her shoulders, exposing her skin to the cool night air that spilt through the open window. His mouth gently, but immaculately (the genius showing through) followed the jacket, brushing first in the center of her throat, trailing along the right side of her collarbone, up over the arc of her shoulder, down the inside of her upper arm, sliding down to her wrist, before finding the palm of her hand, pressing his lips against the very center. She felt a tingle accompanied by a shiver, traveling through her entire body as if by electric shock. It hadn't always been this way, she reflected, remembering when their kisses had been awkward and brief
A/N: In the above, they were nineteen. During the flashback, they will be sixteen; then a jump to age seventeen. Aurora is short, with thick, straight, sandy hair. She has green eyes and a button nose. She is intelligent, but nowhere near genius. Aurora's mother, Christina, is friends with Artemis's mother. Artemis and Aurora had always known each other, however, only recently did they become parts of each other's lives. They flirt back and forth, spend time together, etc. but have never actually confided their feelings to each other.
~~FLASHBACK~~
Hey, Artemis?"
"Hay is for horses Aurora. No wonder you spend so much time with me. You look up to me as a person with an advanced vocabulary and almost stupendous intelligence." He smirked at her, knowing how much the correction irritated her. She responded with a scowl.
"You know what I meant."
"Actually I do not know what you mean… Or did you mean I knew what you meant?"
"What? Oh, never mind." She was used to him teasing her with his riddles. This one was probably about her grammar. Aurora really liked Artemis, but sometimes he took his own intelligence too seriously. However, she knew it was his way of telling her he liked her, so she put up with it. It would have been nice if he'd told her outright, but would he ever actually say it? Nooo. His pride was too big. I mean great. His pride was too great? Ugh. She'd have to ask Artemis on that one, but she had pride too. No way would she stoop to give him what he wanted- the admission that he was smarter.
"Artemis Fowl," She said exasperated.
"Yes?"
"My parents are having a dinner tonight, and they asked me to extend an invitation to you. That is, if you want to come."
"Only me?" He pretended to look gratified.
"Your parents and Butler too."
"You mean my parents and Butler are also invited. Or maybe it would be simpler to say "My whole family." She rolled her eyes. Tonight was going to be a blast with the ornery mood he was in.
Review please, and a huge thanks for reading!