"Is one week really enough time?" Keiden asked. "You only proposed yesterday."
Neji propped himself on an elbow, gazing at the woman who was curled in a sleepy ball next to him. They'd stayed up the entire night, huddled on Keiden's mattress. After getting over the relative euphoria of yesterday's events, they'd wanted nothing more than to just talk.
"Considering that only five people will be attending," Neji said, yawning, "one week is more than enough time."
"Five," Keiden repeated, counting off her fingers. "You and me. . . your uncle. . . and two elders?"
"Precisely." Neji pressed his hand against her palm, comparing the significant size difference. He could easily bend his fingers over hers. "It'll be a quiet ceremony."
"I think a winter wedding will be gorgeous," she said.
"Why do you say that?" Neji inquired softly, laying down again and snaking an arm around her waist.
"Everything will be the complete opposite of what I see every day," she answered, planting her lips along the line of his jaw. Neji's pulse stuttered.
They would wait until their honeymoon, of course, but that didn't mean Neji wasn't immune to Keiden's touch. It took every ounce of self-control he had to keep himself from crushing his lips to hers whenever she caressed his cheek, from letting his hands stray too far down her waist whenever she hugged him, from shivering with pleasure whenever she whispered into his ear, her breath a strong elixir against his alabaster skin.
He still hadn't given her a ring, but, frankly, he wasn't surprised that Keiden had never asked about it; she probably already knew about the customs of a Hyuga wedding, anyway. Hiashi had both of their rings in his possession, safeguarding them in his private chambers until the ceremony. Neji had wanted to see them, but his uncle had insisted they remained a surprise. He wasn't quite sure what that meant.
This was going to be the longest week of his entire life.