A/N: A little bit of a short chapter, but again, I hope the material will make up for it. Enjoy, my amazing readers and reviewers! Maybe two or three more chapters to go.
EDITED
People began to pour in at around a quarter-past six – "fashionably late," they all claimed. It made Daine sigh, though she had to suppress an amused grin. Numair, however, didn't show up until half-past. The party was at his house, even. Yet he'd been gone all day, saying he was leaving to give Daine and Onua the space to prepare in peace, but Daine suspected that he had some sort of ulterior motive. It would be typical of him. Her heart pounded. She hadn't seen him all day. He could've at least had the decency to show up on time. At her feet, a fluffed-up Cloud purred sympathetically, and Daine sighed.
A few knocks sounded over the budding party's clamor, and Daine hurried to open the door. Thirty minutes late, it was Numair, grinning sheepishly with flowers in one hand and thankfully, no garishly wrapped present like everyone else had brought. Daine's heart leapt in her chest. He looked far too attractive, she thought – in dark jeans and a dress shirt, his typical casual-formal wear, as he called it. A promise glimmered behind his eyes. He pressed a light kiss to her cheek as he walked in to his house. "Sorry I'm late," he said, the sheepish grin back in place.
"You'd better be," retorted Daine. "At least everyone else had the decency to only be fifteen minutes late. You, on the other hand, are about - "
"I apologize, I apologize," Numair said hurriedly. Before he could say anything else, he was accosted by Onua, while Daine was heralded by her two friends, Miri and Evin. They were grinning broadly, excited for her – Daine's heart was warmed at the sight of them. Miri started off with a long, happy stream of words, some of which Daine didn't catch through her enthusiasm.
"Oh, Daine, this is great, you're finally eighteen – this is a great little get-together! I haven't seen some of these people in ages. Did you make all the food? You and Onua? Well, whoever did, it's fabulous. My God, look at all the gifts! You're going to have some serious present-opening to do. Will you do that here? Or when everyone's gone? If you don't do it here, you have to tell me what you get. Eighteen's a big one, you know, so I better - "
"Miri, let her breathe!" interrupted Evin, smiling apologetically at Daine.
"It's all right," Daine said. "I'm just surprised you're this hyper, Miri. Onua would never let you have a glass of champagne."
"I know! It's so not fair. Drinking age should be eighteen anyway. I bet Numair would let you have a glass."
"Miri!"
"I'm just saying."
Daine dealt with much of the same as the night wore on - though, since it all came from her friends, it wasn't really so bad. She laughed and smiled, in awe at the massive mountain of presents that was building up near the food table. She figured she'd have to at least open some of them at home, without the guests, if she ever wanted the party to end. Eventually, people started to filter away, with many happy birthday wishes and hugs. Onua, Evin, and Miri stayed the latest, lounging in Numair's living room as if they never had any intention of leaving. Evin was dozing on Miri's shoulder while she flipped through a magazine. Numair and Onua were in large, comfy armchairs, laughing over their third glasses of champagne. Daine leaned against Numair's legs, folding the wrapping paper of all the presents she'd opened. Cloud was stretched out lazily over her toes.
"Didn't you get Daine a gift, Numair?" said Onua curiously. "I don't remember seeing you with one. Even you wouldn't skimp on something like this."
"No worries, I've got one."
Daine grinned up at him, shaking her head. "Numair, you know you didn't have to."
"I did anyway," he said. He winked and drew a tiny box from his pocket, black with a small red ribbon tied neatly around it. Daine frowned as he handed it to her, curious. She heard the distinctive rustle of pages as Miri dropped her magazine, clapping her hands together at the sight of another gift. Daine stuck her tongue out at her friend.
"You're more into this than I am," Daine said.
"Presents are exciting," asserted Miri happily. Evin gave a start and woke, glaring at her.
Laughing, Daine shook her head before turning back to the small gift. She pulled the ribbon off and let it flutter to the ground, then slipped off the cover of the little box. Inside were two stunning earrings, sapphire drops set against silver. They were small, but sparkling, perfectly shaped and glowing. Each one shimmered like rain. Miri gasped. Daine's mouth fell open as she lifted them.
"Numair, they're beautiful," she said breathlessly. "I – wow. Numair, you shouldn't have spent this much on me!"
"I thought they'd match your eyes," he replied, looking almost embarrassed again. He rubbed the back of his neck and smiled. "They reminded me of you."
Miri squealed in delight and rushed to Daine's side, gazing at the two jewels in awe. Evin was watching her irritably. "Jewelry isn't that important," he muttered. Miri ignored him.
"Oh, Daine, these are gorgeous," she gushed. "Wow. You have to wear these. They'll look amazing. Put them on!"
"Oh, but – what if something happens to them? What if I lose one?"
"What's the point of having jewelry if you don't wear it?" Miri scolded. "Here. Let me help you."
With Miri's help, Daine slipped the earrings on easily, though she still held them in her fingers as if they'd suddenly disappear if she let go. Miri gently pried her hands away and turned her face so that Numair could see. "Well? How do they look, Numair?"
Daine blushed and tried to glare at her friend. But Numair only laughed, bending down so that his face was just inches away from hers. There was a smile in his dark eyes, and he touched her cheek gently with one hand. "You look amazing, Daine," he said. He kissed her lightly, the sweetness of his breath tingling like bubbles on her lips. For a moment, she couldn't resist him; her mouth opened and the kiss deepened. They were interrupted, however, by a confused exclamation from Evin, who was then promptly slapped by Miri.
"I must have really missed something here," Evin said, frowning and looking at Miri. "Is this new, or am I just stupid?"
"You're just stupid," Miri and Onua said in unison.
"He's not stupid!" protested Daine. "He's just – well - "
"A little slow on the uptake," offered Numair.
"Or, in other words, stupid," agreed Miri.
"I don't know why I even bother," Evin muttered grumpily. Miri patted him sympathetically on the shoulder.
Laughing, Daine turned back to her pile of wrapping paper, one hand fiddling idly with the sapphire earrings. Eventually, she took them off and placed them carefully in their dark velvet box, afraid she'd mess them up somehow if she kept wearing them. Miri scolded her for that. Night had fallen thick now, and with a glance out the window, Onua sighed and decided that it was probably time for her, Miri, and Evin to make their leave. Cloud had already fallen sound asleep by the warm fire.
"Thanks for everything," Daine said, giving her three friends a hug each. "It wouldn't have been the same without you."
Numair kissed Onua and Miri on the cheek – Miri pretending to swoon in the process, with a wink at Daine – and gave Evin a strong handshake. He, too, thanked them and waved them off, waiting until all three had vanished before closing the door. Daine sighed and turned towards the kitchen. "Could you clean up the rest of the living room while I work in here?"
"Of course."
In the kitchen, Daine pulled up a stool so she could reach the highest shelves of dishes that she had to clean and then put up. It was a tedious task, and she sighed, resigned to its completion before she'd be able to relax. She'd made her way through almost all the plates when warm hands suddenly settled on her waist, light and gentle. A shiver ran down her spine. Smiling slightly, she turned her head, and Numair's lips brushed against her neck. "Hey, Numair," Daine said, tall enough on the stool and close enough to him that the words were murmured against Numair's forehead.
"Done with the kitchen?"
"Done with everything that needs to be done."
Numair lifted her from the stool and set her back on the ground. He settled his hands on her waist, drawing her in closer. Daine let her head fall onto his chest, and she could hear his heart pounding almost as fast as hers. This was it. He knew it as well as she did. Taking a deep breath, Daine looked up, meeting his eyes with a question. "You know, Numair," she murmured, so softly that she was afraid he wouldn't be able to hear over the beating of her own heart. "You made me a promise."
"I know."
"Do you intend to keep it?"
He smiled slowly, and then tilted his head so that his lips caught hers. Sparks raced through Daine's veins from every place their bodies touched. Daine tugged at Numair's lower lip with her teeth, and Numair complied, letting the kiss intensify as his hands trailed up her sides and over her back. Moving her own hands, Daine tangled them in Numair's hair as he tipped her back a little, still holding her tightly. When they both came up for air, Numair's face remained only inches away from hers. His dark eyes were filled with warmth and desire, making Daine shiver with anticipation.
His lips brushed against her ear in a kiss. Daine could hardly think; she could scarcely breathe.
"I never break my promises," he whispered.
Daine barely noticed when they left the kitchen, left the living room, and emerged in Numair's bedroom. The room she'd been in so many times before, waking him up or cleaning the place or fetching some old book. Never like this. Numair's hands cupped her face, his gaze searching. Daine couldn't speak. Her drumming heart, like the never-ending pulse of the ocean tide, drowned out all thoughts. All she could do was nod, smile, and stand on her toes to bring her lips up to his for another dizzying, deep kiss. Numair trailed his fingers across her body. Daine fumbled with the top button on his shirt. But he just grabbed her fingers, turning to whisper words against her neck like phantom kisses. Daine's breath caught in her throat.
"Happy birthday, Daine."
The next morning, Numair woke before Daine did, blinking blearily as bright sunlight crept through the slivers of space in his window blinds. Beside him, Daine stirred in her sleep, drawing Numair's gaze to her calm face. He watched her, a smile stretching across his face. She was beautiful in the pale, new morning. Her tangled hair stuck out disgracefully in every direction, but her skin was perfect and smooth, her cheeks touched with just the tiniest bit of color. Dark eyelashes stood out above her face. On her neck, there was a dark spot that looked a bit like a bruise; she hadn't had that the night before, that was for sure. As he watched, Daine turned onto her side and cuddled in closer to him. She must be cold, thought one arm, Numair pulled the sheets and blankets up higher over them, so it covered her shoulders and arms. As he did so, she curled her hand into a loose fist and drew it up near her face, just like a small child, or a little animal scratching its nose. Numair shifted so that his arm was around her shoulders. He couldn't really tell if she was awake or not – her eyes were still closed, but her breathing was fast.
So many things had changed. So many questions echoed vaguely in the back of his mind, too distant to truly rise to the forefront during the peace and quiet of the young day. What is she thinking? Does she regret this? Was this right? Numair knew that he should worry about those things, or at least concentrate on them and address them to make sure nothing was wrong. But he couldn't bring himself to agonize over such things. Not when he looked at her face. She looked so calm and happy. And he would know for sure, either way, when she woke. Numair reached out and touched his fingers lightly to her forehead, brushing across her hairline, her eyebrows, her cheeks. Her lips twitched, and one stormy blue eye opened narrowly. There was an new glint in her gaze, like the sparkle of the sun off an icy path. "Good morning, Daine," murmured Numair, his fingers frozen at her temple.
"You too," she said. Her eyes closed again, but her smile widened as she shifted her body to fit against his, her head under the crook of arm. Numair felt her hand find his, and their fingers, too, fit together as nothing else ever had. Absentmindedly he rubbed his thumb back and forth across her palm. That tiny motion made her grin, a lazy happiness glittering in her eyes as she looked at him. She turned to kiss a mark on his collarbone. It was a scratch she'd left sometime during the night, whether with fingernails or teeth, it was hard to tell. Numair laughed.
"Well done, my dear."
"I didn't mean to. It's not like I've done this before. You, on the other hand - "
"Don't go there," muttered Numair, feeling a twinge as he was reminded of his past. But Daine just smiled coyly, her cheeks slightly flushed as she gave his hand a little squeeze.
"I don't mind at all. Probably made it better for me, anyway."
"Shh." Numair placed a sudden finger to her lips. "Let the past remain in the past. All that matters is now, all right?"
There was a pause before Daine answered. When she did, Numair could see something shining in her eyes that made the now-familiar spark shoot through his body; something warm and unique that made him love her all the more. She touched his face and kissed him, her lips tasting sweet and tingly. "Now," she murmured thoughtfully.
