CHAPTER 5 – About Last Night
Kira and Lacus headed towards the tent, leaving Cagalli alone by the fire, lost in her thoughts.
"I think I'll stay out here a bit longer," Cagalli mentioned to Athrun, managing a small, hopeful smile. "Are you feeling tired?"
Athrun shook his head, "Not really," he replied, content to sit beside her in comfortable silence.
As the wind picked up, Cagalli shivered involuntarily, the chill creeping into her bones.
Observing her discomfort, Athrun slowly unbuttoned his coat, intending to offer it to her. Before he could, however, Kira emerged from the tent with a playful remark. "No sneaky moves, Athrun," he warned, shooting him a knowing glance.
Startled, Athrun hurriedly shrugged his coat tighter around himself. "I was just adjusting my coat," he explained, a hint of defensiveness in his tone.
Cagalli couldn't help but chuckle at the exchange, finding amusement in Kira's playful antics.
Athrun thought, does he have eyes in the back of his head?
Cagalli, still gazing into the fire, responded to Kira, "Hey Kira, just go inside. I can handle it from here."
"You, I trust," he remarked, addressing Cagalli. Then he shifted his gaze to Athrun, pointing two fingers like an eye for an eye, "You, don't ever think that I am not watching," he declared.
Athrun grinned. Is he a mind-reader as well?
Cagalli raised her hand in a farewell gesture, "Yeah, yeah. Good night, Kira." She then directed her gaze to Athrun, offering him an apologetic look, "Kira is just like that. He's too protective of me and Lacus," she explained defensively. Realizing how it might sound, she hastily added, "That came out wrong."
"No worries," Athrun replied, slightly disappointed that Cagalli seemed to side with Kira. But then again, he was a newcomer. What more could he expect?
As they sat by the fire, the flickering flames cast a warm glow on their faces. Cagalli, sensing a subtle tension, decided to break the silence, "So, Athrun, what made you join this trip? Apart from the random map pointing," she said.
Athrun's mood shifted. "Well, sometimes you just need to inject a bit of spontaneity into life. My friends and I were all caught up in our routines, and Yzak suggested we shake things up a bit. A random point on the map later, here we are."
Cagalli smiled, "I guess life needs a bit of randomness every now and then."
They continued their conversation. Athrun found himself opening up to Cagalli. As the night progressed, Athrun couldn't help but notice the beauty of Cagalli's laughter and the sparkle in her eyes. The Aurora might not have made its appearance yet, but there was a different kind of magic unfolding in front of him.
Inside the tent, Kira noticed that the sleeping bag had already been set up.
"Looks like everything's ready," he remarked.
Lacus, already shedding her second layer of clothes, revealing a wool sleeping dress, chuckled at Kira's fretting. "Oh, let them be, you worrywart," she teased, settling onto the sleeping bag. "I'll be perfectly fine."
Kira's brow furrowed with worry. "Are you sure you're not cold in that outfit?" he asked, eyeing her attire skeptically.
Lacus flashed him a reassuring smile. "Not at all. This dress and these socks are 100% wool. Plus, I have you to keep me warm," she added playfully, patting the space beside her in invitation.
Kira shrugged off his brown fur coat. The addition of an extra fur blanket atop the tent proved to be a wise decision, amplifying the cozy atmosphere.
Nestled together in their shared sleeping bag, they indulged in whispered conversations under the soft glow of a small lamp. Lacus, with delicate fingers, traced imaginary constellations on the tent's ceiling, her voice gentle as she described each one. Kira listened intently, their words weaving a tapestry of intimacy beneath the starlit sky.
Meanwhile, Cagalli and Athrun finally decided to retire for the night, the campsite gradually succumbing to the hush of slumber. Cagalli meticulously inspected their tent, noting the snug warmth it exuded, courtesy of the added insulation from the woolen blanket. She ensured that ample foam cushioning protected them from the chill of the ground below, her movements purposeful yet gentle in the dim light cast by the hanging lamp.
As they shed their outer layers, Cagalli carefully arranged her coat on the left side of the tent. A subtle tension lingered in the air as they settled into the tent, with Athrun finding himself involuntarily drawn to Cagalli's presence. With a swift motion, he moved to the other side of the tent, depositing his coat.
The spacious sleeping bag, evidently designed for two, beckoned them closer. Athrun couldn't help but feel a flutter of nerves at the prospect of sharing such intimate quarters with Cagalli, his thoughts dancing with anticipation and uncertainty in the quiet of the tent.
Cagalli, opting to keep things simple, shed only her coat, revealing a long-sleeved red wool top paired with black ski pants. With a practised ease, she slipped off her boots and settled into the warmth of the sleeping bag.
"Alright," she remarked, a playful glint in her eye. "Let's keep our packs in the middle. Otherwise, I might accidentally boot you out of bed," she teased.
Athrun chuckled at her lighthearted jest, feeling a sense of relief at her easygoing nature. "Got it," he replied, following suit and divesting himself of his outer layers and footwear.
Feeling a bit worn out from the day's activities, Cagalli murmured, her voice softening with fatigue. "I think I'll turn in early." With a fluid motion, she shifted to lie on her side, facing away from Athrun. As she prepared her phone for the Aurora notification, she spoke over her shoulder, "Please remember to switch off the lamp when you're ready to sleep. Good night!"
Athrun watched her for a moment, a sense of gratitude washing over him for her considerate gesture. "Good night, Cagalli," he replied softly.
Athrun observed Cagalli until her rhythmic breathing signaled her slumber. Amazed at how quickly she drifted off, he settled on his side of the sleeping bag, gazing at the dancing silhouette of the lamp's glow. The realization that he was sharing a tent with her still hadn't fully sunk in, yet a strange calmness enveloped him. With one last glance, he switched off the lamp, plunging the tent into darkness. As sleep claimed him, he found a serenity he hadn't experienced in years.
Meanwhile, Kira and Lacus enjoyed the warmth and intimacy inside theirs. Kira gently traced the contours of Lacus's face with his fingers, marveling at the softness of her skin. Her eyes sparkled with a mixture of affection and trust. He tucked a strand of her pink hair behind her ear and whispered, "You know, Lacus, this trip has brought us closer to the wonders of nature, but it has also deepened the connection between us."
Lacus smiled, her eyes reflecting the flickering flame of the lamp. "Indeed, Kira. The most enchanting glow is right here with you." She leaned in, capturing his lips with a gentle kiss.
Wrapped in each other's arms, Kira and Lacus shared sweet whispers and laughter. They spoke of dreams, of the future, and of the simple joys that bound them together. The tent seemed to hold the warmth of their connection, shielding them from the chilly night outside.
Kira reached into his bag and pulled out a small box. "I've been waiting for the perfect moment to give you this," he said, handing it to Lacus.
She opened it to find a delicate necklace, a pendant shaped like a snowflake. Lacus gasped in delight, "Oh, Kira, it's beautiful!"
"It reminded me of the snowflakes falling around us," Kira confessed, gently fastening the necklace around her neck. "Just like each snowflake is unique, so is our journey together."
Lacus tenderly pressed her lips against his, a sweet acknowledgement of the love that had woven its way between them. As they lay side by side in the tent, their fingers intertwined, Lacus couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions. Contemplating the moment, she wondered if it was the right time to express the depth of her feelings. Her heart, however, reassured her that the preparation had been meticulous. Gradually, she ventured into a more profound connection, transforming it into a deep and passionate French kiss.
Kira, initially taken aback by the intensity, soon reciprocated with equal fervor. As the kiss deepened, Lacus' hand ventured to a more intimate territory, she traced the shapes of his most vulnerable parts, eliciting a response from Kira.
Feeling the warmth and arousal intensify, Lacus delicately withdrew her lips. She whispered with a playful tone, "Sorry for my cold hands," as she continued to caress the intimate areas, seamlessly blending tenderness with desire. The play of shadows on the ceiling bore witness to the unspoken language of love that unfolded between them.
Taken aback by the sudden surge of arousal initiated by Lacus, Kira found himself momentarily lost in the intensity of the moment. However, a flicker of practicality interrupted his reverie as he remembered the dim glow of the lamp still casting shadows across the tent.
"Just give me a second," he murmured, gently extricating himself from their embrace to rise and switch off the lamp. With a soft click, the tent was enveloped in darkness, save for the faint illumination filtering through the fabric from the outside world.
"Well, we wouldn't want any unexpected visitors," he remarked upon returning to their shared space, his voice tinged with amusement. He began to caress her chest, "Yes, sorry for the cold too," he whispered back, his breath mingling with the warm air inside the tent.
Lacus couldn't help but jerk slightly as Kira's cold fingers delicately traced the curves of her nipple. A soft moan escaped her lips, but Kira silenced her with a gentle finger pressed against her lips. Swiftly undoing her buttons, he resumed the tantalizing caresses, coaxing more uninhibited responses from Lacus. She found herself abandoning her initial actions, completely lost in the immersive sensations that now wrapped her.
As Kira moved on top of her, he shed his T-shirt. Relentless in his pursuit, he showered her with kisses while his hands navigated southward, exploring the outlines of her most intimate regions. The heat of the moment intensified as Kira skillfully played with her, each touch building a symphony of pleasure.
Lacus, caught in the frenzy of sensations, could feel herself reaching the point of readiness. "Kira, I'm ready," she whispered, her voice carrying a blend of anticipation and longing.
Kira's kisses traced a tantalizing path from Lacus's lips to her neck and then down to her breast. Simultaneously, Lacus continued to reciprocate, caressing Kira's most sensitive areas with increasing passion.
Kira descended further, lavishing tender kisses along the way. The escalating pleasure overwhelmed Lacus, and a chorus of moans began to escape her lips, each urging Kira for more. "Yes, more!" she encouraged him, her voice a symphony of desire.
Returning to caress her bosom once more, Kira then moved to cover her mouth with his, muffling the audible expressions of pleasure. "I'm coming in," he whispered to her. Beginning with a deliberate, slow thrust, Kira gradually found his rhythm, the passion between them intensifying with each movement. The tent echoed with the symphony of their shared ecstasy until, in a crescendo of pleasure, both reached the pinnacle of their desires.
A/N: I've been writing a lot this week; I'll slow down after this chapter. Need to focus on work, hehe. RxR!
14/03/2024, Genf