Chapter 29: A Love Molded By Destiny
"I am sorry I reacted the way I did," Geralt started, his hands braced against the closed door, wishing he could barge in and talk to her face-to-face. "Ever since I bound you to me, when you were still in your mother's womb, I have felt this… attachment to you. You were on my mind, even before you were born. I never believed in Destiny until that day we were bound together. I thought Destiny was a joke, a farce.
You were born, and everything was amplified. This burning need to be near you, to protect you, and to be whatever you needed. I avoided that pull for so long, believing that your life would go on normally without me. It took all the tragedies leading up to this, Cintra burning, you being lost, all our unfortunate adventures, and then the latest Nilfgaard scheme, it just drove it all home that we need each other. When you are not within eyesight, I'm worried about you. The last four years were… unbearable."
The door slowly creaked open, revealing a puffy-eyed, blotchy faced Ciri, who's eyes were so shockingly blue, glistening from her tears. She stared at him, her eyes conveying all of her hurt and loss, the emotions tearing at Geralt's heart as he longed to ease all of her pains and worries. "Where are you going with this Geralt?" she questioned quietly, her eyes questioning.
"I care about you Cirilla," he stated bluntly. "You deserve to live a happy, peaceful life back in Cintra, ruling over your people with all the strength and determination passed down to you from Calanthe. I could never give you such a life; I have to keep doing my job, as one of the few Witchers left. I would never be able to provide you with a nice home, and be a great life partner. You deserve more than an old Witcher."
The look of hurt and loss seemed to strengthen, as some anger sparked in her eyes. "If you came here to tell me what I already know, you can spare me the false lies," she spat, the tears prickling at the corners of her already swollen eyes. "Go back to Yennefer, Geralt. She's your best option."
As she moved to slam the door in his face, he jammed his bulk into her space, shoving his way into the room and grabbing her arm, making her flinch back. He softened his grip, and looked at her with as much honesty and emotion in his eyes as he could muster. "You are wrong," he said. "I speak only the truth. You do deserve more than me, but I am a selfish man, and I will be honored, if you allow me to pursue your affections."
Ciri's mouth dropped open. That was the last thing she had expected to hear come from Geralt. He had already said more words than he usually said in a week. It had to be some sort of trick. There was no way Geralt felt the same way about her. But the honesty and love in his usually emotionless eyes spoke differently, and she very badly wished to believe him.
"Do you say that just because you think that you may lose me if you do not reciprocate?" she asked, her hopes getting higher, and she hoped that he didn't send them all crashing.
"I am not an eloquent man, and I will never be able to write you poems or win your affections through pretty words," he rumbled, maintaining a steady and intimidating eye contact with her. "But if this is what you want, I would be willing to spend the rest of my existence showing you that my feelings are true."
His large hands grabbed her slender waist, pulling her flush against him, as he brought his lips down to meet hers. The kiss was not slow and tender, nor was it aggressive and dominating. Rather, it was a pleasant kiss with just enough force and love mixed together. His lips moved against hers, and she responded with just as much enthusiasm, once the initial shock wore off.
Her body felt like it was on fire, her soul igniting with a radiant flame as it danced with Geralts'. She had never felt a connection as strong or as vibrant as this one, and the acceptance of their destinies seemed to only intensify that feeling. The feeling must have been the same for Geralt, as his body seemed to tremble with each movement, vibrating at the same time as her own. Lifting up her hands, she placed them on his chest, fingers splayed wide on the cloth-covered muscle.
With a gentle hand, Geralt lifted his right hand up to her neck, where he gently cupped her jaw and used his thumb to tilt her head more, as he deepened the kiss. A small purr of approval escaped her, and she flushed with embarrassment, before moving to step back, but Geralt wouldn't allow it. He chuckled into their kiss, firmly holding her in place as he continued to kiss her. She very quickly forgot her embarrassment.
They finally separated after a long moment, Ciri panting and lips red and swollen from the attention. Geralt looked down at her, and thought that he had never seen anyone so beautiful, as Ciri in that moment. "You are beautiful," he rasped out, using his fingers to pull her hair back and away from her flushed face.
Her eyes darted away in shyness, her fingers moving on their own accord to reach up and touch his cheek gently. He leaned into the touch, his body responding in ways it normally never would. Never before had he felt so desperate for affection, but the way Ciri loved him, not seeing him as a monster, but rather a man capable of feeling, was something he had never experienced.
Reaching down to grab his hand, Ciri led him silently over to her bed, and indicated he sit down. Understanding, he made himself comfortable, propped up against the pillows as the small woman curled up next to him in the crook of his arm. The need to feel each other was felt mutually, and finally settled as they lay in one another's arms.
No more words were spoken, and it felt as if a heavy weight was finally lifted from the two. It wasn't long before sleep claimed them both, pulling them down into their dreams. And for once, neither was haunted by nightmares; just warm beaches, horse rides, and a love molded by destiny.