For once, Cedric's plans were going better than expected. He had a reserved sense of optimism about their date, but with Sofia still in mourning, was reluctant to show the depths of his enthusiasm. The ride through the countryside had been pleasant enough, most of their attention drawn to the beauty around them rather than on each other, but come time for their lunch, the silence between them was growing awkward. Usually Sofia had something she wanted to talk about, but understandably, the girl was quiet.
"I," Cedric began, clearing his throat and smoothing out the picnic blanket beneath his hand before continuing. "I guess there isn't much of the 'getting to know you' part for us, is there?"
"I guess not," Sofia smiled, grateful he finally said something. "But we've surely changed somewhat in seven years. What ambitions do you have nowadays?"
"Oh, nothing as outlandish as ruling a kingdom. No, with my new knowledge and abilities, I want to see what sort of complex spells I can create. Then there's my flying machine. I want to make it more comfortable. And if you must know, Sofia, I have the most devious plan in place to steal a kiss from my princess at some point during our date."
"Eegads," Sofia giggled and flopped back to put her head on his knee. "Whatever will I do?"
"Let me," he smirked, bending down and kissing her innocently enough.
"Mm, I hardly think that's wicked of you," Sofia smiled up at him, falling silent again as her hands reached up to cup his cheeks and pull him back down for another kiss. "You're actually very sweet."
"We have been eating strawberries, my dear," he said with a smile.
"You know what I mean. You're a kind man, a gentle man. You have a good heart and I'm so happy I get to see more and more of this side of you, and before you try to contradict me, I'm not looking past your flaws, but embracing them as a part of you. I think you got to be as sweet as you are by people being sour to you… as painful as that was, it helped make you into the man you are today and I love who you are so very much."
"You're the sweet one, Sofia," he smiled and lifted her upright for another kiss to her lips, this time pulling her into his arms. "I sometimes wonder if you were even born. Rather, that you descended straight from heaven to save a misguided man like me."
"Can't you just call me an 'angel' then?"
"And limit my poetic description to one word?"
She giggled and sat with her back against his chest, nestling up against him for a little extra warmth in the autumn afternoon. "I like this… It feels natural, doesn't it?"
"Mhm," he nodded, resting his head over her right shoulder as his arms wrapped around her middle.
"How long will you wait to ask Dad for my hand?" Sofia asked after a few minutes of silence.
"I suppose a year should suffice. Any sooner and I fear the shock could give him a heart attack."
"Oh, that'd be perfect. I'd love a winter wedding. How about after Wassailia, but before your birthday?"
"That's a lot of events to work a wedding around, including New Years," he reminded her before taking a quick pause to think. "Hm, I suppose it does add incentive to cuddle closer, and after my birthday is when it really starts to get cold so it'd be the perfect time to go on a honeymoon."
"I hadn't even thought about a honeymoon!" Sofia gasped. "There's so many good places we could go!"
"My only requirement is someplace warm. Other than that, anywhere you wish, my dear."
Sofia let out an excited squeal. "Why don't you just propose to me since you know I'll say yes and we just not tell my dad for a while?"
"Because that's dishonest Sofia, and I'm not chancing ruining this. I know you're excited, but patience, my dear and eager princess. I'm already yours. I'll make you mine soon enough."
Sofia felt the pleasurable pimpling of goosebumps run down her back. He was getting better at seductive speech, making it hard to resist not tackling him to have on the blanket right then and there, but her fantasies aside, she did have slight anxiety when it came to a more intimate exchange. "Is it… um… I mean, since you've… is sex really a big deal?"
"Oh…" Cedric turned bright red. "Um, well… it feels very good… for me it did anyway… Elvira always complained I didn't do enough for her so I'm not sure if that was her own deficit or my own… I was attracted to her, but performance anxiety often got the better part of me when it came to my husbandly duties… I don't think I ever satisfied her… So, um, I… I wouldn't get your hopes up… not with me…"
"I'm sure it'll be alright," Sofia smiled up at him and kissed his cheek. "And if it doesn't go well the first time, we'll keep trying until we get it right."
"The Sorcerer's Secret does not apply to sex," he said with a narrowing and embarrassed gaze.
"Doesn't it? You get better at anything with practice. Why wouldn't sex be the same?"
"Because now you've perverted my song, you little minx," he scolded her by tickling her sides.
"NO!" Sofia laughed out loud as she was rendered helpless by demonic fingertips that refused to relent until she was curled into a defensive ball beneath him.
"Do I have your unconditional surrender?" He asked with a haughty grin.
"Yes…!" She panted, uncurling from the ball to roll onto her back and giggle. Her heart still ached for Clover, but it felt good to laugh again.
Cedric silently gulped back his nerves as he hovered over her, the image of red cheeks, hair strewn behind her, and panting for breath reminding him of another activity. He thought about giving her room to get up, but instead crawled a bit closer, daring to lean down and kiss her in their lover-like position.
Sofia kissed back with one last giggle in her throat before softly parting her lips and gasping as he ventured down her neck, slow and precise, his breath tickling her skin and the softness of his lips making her gut twist with want.
"I love you," he whispered near her ear before gently biting the lobe.
"Cedric...!" Sofia put her arms around him, pulling him closer until the most comfortable position was for him to lay half on his side, half on top of her. "I love you too…!"
His lips moved back to hers, capturing them in a firm, but deepening kiss. Even after all these years, he didn't know if he was much of a kisser, but he wasn't getting any complaints so he figured he had to be doing something right.
Sofia ran her fingers through his hair with one hand while the other pressed against the arch of his back, encouraging him to close the distance between their lower halves as well.
Cedric obliged more on instinct, grinding his pelvis down between her legs while a bold hand traveled up her side and dared to cup her breast. He froze in fear the moment he heard her moan and felt the soft mass filling his hand. If he didn't stop, they'd both be too drunk on pent up desire to help themselves.
Sofia's expression shifted to one of confusion as she felt the wonderful pressure of Cedric's weight lessen. "Cedric…? Is something wrong?"
"I-I-It isn't that, Sofia… I… Well… Anything further should be saved for your wedding night, shouldn't it?"
"Actual love making, sure, but is it wrong for you to touch me? Your hand felt wonderful even through my clothes."
"And you felt wonderful too… A little too wonderful… I may not have the energy to rut like a teenager, but I've been celibate long enough to know if I don't stop myself now, I'll consume you like wildfire…"
"Sounds lovely."
"Yes, and I'm sure it would be, but I made a promise I intend to keep."
Sofia heaved a frustrated sigh, but still managed a smirk accompanied by a tone reminiscent of his when annoyed. "How irritatingly noble."
"And you're so irritatingly insatiable," he chuckled as he helped her sit up and placed a quick kiss to her cheek. "Let's clean up here and take a walk, shall we?"
She smiled and nodded, reassured but none-the-less satisfied, though she wished she could be. Hormones were such a troublesome force to deal with despite all logic in her brain agreeing with Cedric that was an order to things that they ought to do properly, she still wanted nothing more than to push him back down on the blanket and be wicked for a while.
A walk helped drain her energy, but didn't chase away the thoughts. What ought to have been an innocent date was now a corrupt setting for the plot of one of her fantasies. Her mind didn't change many details either, save Cedric was without his tie, leaving his shirt collar open to expose his throat and neck. At some point, she wanted him to just sweep her off her feet, pulled her into a kiss, and confess he wouldn't stand the ache of not being one with her anymore. It seemed a very un-Cedric line, but in fantasy, all things were possible.
"Sofia," his calling voice brought her out of the delusion and she looked up at him to see what it was he wanted.
"Yes?"
"I asked how you were feeling?" He reiterated. Surprised that he had to repeat himself given how well she usually listened.
"Oh, uh, fine. A little warm, but I'm perfectly alright," she knew her cheeks were red, but not from any external heat.
"I have some water," he said, poofing his wand into his hand, summoning his canteen into the other, and handing it to her.
"Thank you," she smiled, accepting the canteen and unscrewing the lid to take a drink. The cold temperature of the water was indeed refreshing and gave her an idea how to further solve her dilemma. She wasn't the best at wandless magic yet, but she could manipulate a relatively basic substance like water easily enough. She pulled out the rest of the canteens' contents and had it swirl above her hand in a sphere before she pressed her faced against the surface and put a damper on her inner turmoil.
"When did you master that?" Cedric asked, taking over command of the water to play a game of spell-toss with it.
"Oh, earlier this summer. I was a lot of fun at the swimming hole," Sofia beamed, carefully moving her hands to both catch and toss the cloud of water between them. "I'm still a little shaky without my wand, but as you can see, I'm doing just fine."
As if her Amulet took back its cursing ways, Sofia failed to keep all the water in a single mass upon its return to her, resulting in a lack of balance with her hand, the spell breaking, and water splashing down the front of her dress.
Cedric couldn't resist snickering before he cast a spell to dry her dress for her.
"I guess I'm better off staying humble, huh?" Sofia said with a weak smile.
"Far better than if you were playing with fire," he pointed out, which brought her some comfort. She knew there was never a need to show off in front of him, and yet she still wanted to show him what more she was capable of. It got her thinking instead of doing magic shows together as they usually did, perhaps they could have a duel of sorts.
"Hm. Were you going to put on a magic show tomorrow?" Sofia asked.
"I'd planned the standard celebration routine, and something more personal for your enjoyment later on," he grinned.
"Oh?" Sofia sounded hopeful, but chances are it would be something sweet, not salacious. "Well I was thinking, even though I am the birthday girl, I am also a sorceress-in-training. I'd like to put on a little show for my guests as well, so what if we performed together? Like a duel or something?"
"Have your lessons covered magical duels yet?" He asked first, one eyebrow skeptically raised while the other was narrowed for seriousness.
"Not… entirely," she said honestly. "But I don't mean we try cursing each other, more like a competition to see who can wow more."
"And you think challenging a sorcerer you so aptly nicknamed 'Sensational' is going to go easy on you?" He smirked.
"Actually, I was pretty sure you'd let me win since I am your weakness," she beamed.
Cedric darkly chuckled. "Oh, my dear, you thought so wrong. If anything, I must be harsher with you from now on. That is, if you truly want to earn your title as sorceress."
"I do," Sofia said firmly, starring him down with a new sort of excitement welling inside her. "Then you'll let me challenge you tomorrow?"
"I'll be sure to comfort you when you lose," he grinned that dark, convicted grin of his, both charming and disarming. Cedric enjoyed the idea too much to pass it up. It contained some marvelous opportunities for them no matter who won or lost.
Author's note: Yes, let's turn that sexual tension into something even more dramatic: competition!