It took quite some time for them to clean out that seafood plate, but neither Grace or Lucas minded. They were having the time of their lives, blissfully happy in their love and eager to learn more about each other. All the little habits, all the endearing secrets, all the odd little things about each other…
"Wait'', Lucas held up his index finger, fighting his chuckles back as Grace giggled like mad, scooping up a bit more of her chocolate souffle "You're trying to tell me that you sleep on the right side of the bed all your life? How is that going to work now?!"
Grace leaned her elbows on the table as she wiggled her eyebrows.
"Well, you will move to the left side, of course", she quipped, her cheeks flaming up at the sensual banter they were having.
Lucas let out a chuckle of disbelief.
"While I am first and foremost a gentleman, this time, my lady, you're wrong and I am not giving up", he teased her as his arm went around her shoulders, pulling her closer into his side.
Grace's eyes twinkled mischievously.
"So, I will have to push you out of the bed. There's no other way", she grinned as she looked at Lucas…only to notice the peculiar look in his eyes "What? There IS some other way?", she asked, barely holding her laughter back.
Lucas gently nuzzled her nose with his and whispered:
"Mhm…I can always bring you to the right side with me."
Grace's breath turned into short little gasps.
"How?", she silently asked.
Lucas pulled her closer, leaning in and whispering in her ear:
"I can hold you in my arms all night."
Grace smiled, closing her eyes, feeling her entire body tingling from his touch and his loving words.
"Lucky for me that I am marrying a smart man", she whispered, leaning her head on his shoulder.
He gently kissed her hair and looked at her plate, then pulled out his pocket watch to check the time.
"Are you ready to go?", he silently mumbled. She didn't say anything, just nodded and he reluctantly let her go. She sat up and smiled as he gave her lips a short, gentle kiss.
"I love you", he whispered.
She felt her eyes filling with happy tears and she leaned in to give him yet another short, sweet kiss.
"I love you too", she silently mumbled.
—--
The double doors opened and Grace stepped inside, eyes wide opened as she looked up at the ceiling and slowly turned around herself, her long black dress swooshing as she did so.
"Lucas", she breathed out, taking in the sky filled with stars that could be seen through the glass ceiling "It's beautiful! They look so close!"
He smiled softly at her amazement as he stepped inside the planetarium too and closed the doors behind him.
Grace smiled as she kept on watching the sky.
"Can you imagine what does the starry night look like on North Pole? Right before Aurora Borealis shows up?", she turned around herself one more time, her smile growing wider "I wonder do they shine like this?"
He slowly stepped closer to his love and hugged her from behind, looking up at the sky himself.
"That's an interesting question", he silently replied "Perhaps one day we can go and find out."
Grace's eyes fluttered closed and she leaned into him, sighing happily, realizing what his words meant now more than she ever had.
They have a future together.
Like he said to her before, they will last forever.
And they were only just starting.
"I would go with you to the end of the world and beyond", she gently murmured as she turned her head to her side, leaning onto his shoulder and welcoming his lips in a loving, long kiss. Her fingers sneaked into his hair as her other hand caressed his arms that wrapped her waist in a loving embrace.
Lucas slowly took his lips away from Grace's and moved them downwards onto her neck, showering it with long, sensual kisses. She whimpered in delight, only to shiver uncontrollably as he moved onto her exposed skin.
Slowly, Grace turned in his arms and locked her eyes with his. Heat pooled inside her as she noticed the passion in his eyes that mirrored hers. She moved, her palm cupping the back of his neck and their lips melted into a passionate kiss.
After a few moments, Lucas used all the remnants of self-control he got left to pull away from her alluring call.
Grace breathed heavily as she watched him trying to hold himself back and her heart swelled from love for this outstanding, wonderful man.
Deciding to help him and calm down her own thundering heart in a process, she slowly took his palms in her fingers and gave him a soft smile.
"You said that this is a private party for two", she gently mumbled. In the next moment, her eyes sparkled playfully and she shrugged her bare shoulders and slightly giggled "So, where is it?"
Lucas smiled warmly at her playfull energy and bringing both of her palms to his lips, he gently kissed her knuckles.
In the next moment, he let go of her hands and took a step forward, inviting her on the way:
"This way, milady."
He led her through the room until they reached a secluded place behind a pillar and Grace gasped at the sight in front of her.
There was a picnic blanket on the floor, in the shades of brown, sprinkled with golden glitters. Candlesticks were burning all around the blanket. There was a bucket filled with ice that held bottle of champagne and two glasses. Beside it, there was a bowl closed with a lid.
Grace looked up at Lucas, her eyes glistening with tears, her lips trembling.
"You did all this for me?", she silently mumbled.
Lucas stepped slowly in her personal space and gently cupped her cheek.
"You deserve all this and more, Grace", he whispered gently, his thumbs caressing her skin, wiping away a few teardrops that escaped her eyes as she smiled at him "You are the light that brought me out of my darkness. You, with your loving heart, showed me what true love is. I can't wait for you to become my wife. I can't wait to kiss you as my bride for the first time. I can't wait for our life together to start", by now, Grace was in tears, her entire body shivering as her smile grew at Lucas' loving words. He leaned in to kiss her and she went in eagerly, kissing him tearfully, laughing and crying at the same time.
He slowly led her to sit down at the blanket, kissing her all the time. She gave him back as much as he gave her. Their love was a closed, full circle - both were giving and getting.
Just like it should be.
Lucas pulled her closer to him, his hands roaming across her back and waist. Her palms rested on his shoulders as she sighed in their kiss, feeling her heart racing as he deepened the kiss, sending her straight to Heaven with his love.
As the need for air became desperate, they reluctantly broke the kiss, but didn't move from each other's arms. Lucas' fingers slowly went up to caress Grace's bare skin as he kissed her shoulders, going over collarbone only to end up on her neck where his lips lovingly kissed her porcelain skin, making her sigh with a smile.
As he kissed his way up to her lips, Lucas noticed Grace smiling at him, causing his heart to sing from joy.
He gave her one more short, loving kiss before he caressed her sides and asked:
"Would my fiancée like some champagne?", he felt her hand going down to his vest and he chuckled as she took his pocket watch out.
Grace checked the time and looked up back at him.
"I'd love some champagne. It will be midnight in about 15 minutes", she replied and he nodded, slowly moving away to get the bottle and two glasses.
"Can you bring a bowl, angel?", he asked and Grace nodded, picking up the bowl and going back to their sitting place on the floor.
She placed the bowl down and quickly took glasses from Lucas' hand, enabling him to start opening the champagne.
Grace looked up at Lucas, a bright smile on her lips and she squealed, bringing the glasses up as quickly as she could as he let out a small laugh as a foam and champagne exploded from the bottle.
He put the bottle away and reached for the bowl, feeling Grace's curious look on him. Lucas smiled and picked up the lid.
Grace gasped happily.
"Where did you find strawberries at this time of year?", she asked, her smile growing radiant as Lucas fed her with one strawberry dipped in chocolate.
He gave her a mischievous look, his eyes sparkling like stars.
"A man is allowed to have his secrets", he said and winked at her, his lips curling up in smile as he brought yet another strawberry to her rosy lips "And I wanted to check something that I said before."
Grace crossed her palms behind his neck as he kept on feeding her with sweet fruit.
"What's that?", she asked as she bit into a strawberry, breaking it in half.
He smiled as he put the other half of strawberry in his mouth and slowly ate it before his thumb gently traced Grace's lower lip.
"That strawberries match your lips perfectly", he whispered.
Grace's heart felt like it will jump out of her chest and she smiled at him before her fingers reached the bowl.
"Well, for that, you have to have a closer look", she took one strawberry from the bowl and placed it between her lips…only to lean down and bring it to Lucas' lips, slowly biting on the fruit and breaking it in half…transferring one half into his mouth as she slowly took the other one.
His eyes flamed up with fire and love and she felt his palms gently pulling her closer to him as he kissed her. She put her palm on his cheek and kissed him back, loving the feel of chocolate and strawberry on his lips.
Outside, the joyful shouting was heard and in the next moment fireworks lightened up the sky in thousands of golden glitters.
Grace leaned her head back to look up at the sky, a smile never leaving her lips.
Looking back down, she saw Lucas watching her with happiness etched on every part of his face.
"Happy New Year, my Grace", he said warmly, his hands never letting go of her.
She leaned her forehead against his forehead, her fingers sneaking into his glorious dark hair, making him sigh in pleasure and close his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again she swore she saw the stars from the sky above reflect in those dark orbs she adored.
"Happy New Year, my Lucas", she whispered and kissed him lovingly as the fireworks coloured the sky in thousands of golden glitters.
—--
I've spent my life
Looking for you
Findin' my way
Wasn't easy to do
But I knew there was you
All the while
And it's been worth
Every mile.
So lay down beside me
Love me and hide me
And kiss all the hurtin'
Of this world away
Hold me so close
That I feel your heart beat
And don't ever wander away
Mornings and evenings
All were the same
There was no music
Til I heard your name
I knew when I saw you smile
And now I can rest for a while
So lay down beside me
Love me and hide me
Kiss all the hurtin'
Of this world away
Hold me so close
That I feel your heart beat
And don't ever wander away
And hold me so close
That I feel your heart beat
And don't ever wander away
Love me and hide me
'Til I feel your heart beat.
("Lay down beside me" - Alisson Krauss and John Waite)