The city skyline sprawled beneath me like a carpet of glittering secrets, the last hues of dusk bleeding into a velvet night. Up here on the rooftop terrace, I’d strung fairy lights around a cozy nest of cushions and a small picnic spread—olives, cheese, a crusty baguette, and a bottle of merlot that I was currently fidgeting with like it was a grenade. Romantic? Maybe. Cheesy? Definitely. I adjusted the wine glass in my hand for the hundredth time, my nerves buzzing louder than the distant hum of traffic. What if Avni thought this was some desperate, over-the-top stunt? What if she laughed in my face?
The click of heels against concrete snapped me out of my spiral. I turned, and there she was—Avni, striding in like she owned the damn rooftop, her sleek black dress hugging every curve with a confidence that could stop traffic. Her dark hair cascaded over one shoulder, and those sharp, kohl-lined eyes zeroed in on me with an amused glint. My stomach did a pathetic flip.
“Well, well,” she drawled, her voice a low, smoky tease as she surveyed the setup. “What’s this? The desperate fairy light aesthetic? Trying to woo me with a Pinterest board come to life?”
I rolled my eyes, gripping the wine glass a little tighter to hide the heat creeping up my neck. “Oh, please. If I’d known you’d be this late, I would’ve just left a Post-it note saying ‘try harder.’ Would’ve saved me the trouble.”
Avni laughed, a sharp, bright sound that cut through the evening air as she kicked off her heels and plopped onto the cushions with the grace of a queen claiming her throne. “Touché, darling. But let’s be real—punctuality is for people who don’t know how to make an entrance.” She reached for the wine bottle without hesitation, pouring herself a generous glass with a flick of her wrist. “You, on the other hand, look like you’ve been sitting here rehearsing your lines. Loosen up, will you? You’re stiffer than this bottle.”
I snorted, setting my glass down and crossing my arms. “Maybe I’m just waiting for you to stop critiquing my vibe and actually enjoy it. Or is that too much to ask from Her Majesty of Snark?”
Her lips curved into a wicked smirk, and she leaned back on one elbow, her gaze pinning me with an intensity that made my pulse stutter. “Oh, I can enjoy plenty. But I’m not here to sip wine and play nice. I’m here to see if you’ve got any fire under all that nervous energy. So, what’s it gonna be? Are you gonna keep fidgeting, or are you gonna show me something worth my time?”
The challenge in her voice was a live wire, crackling between us. I felt the air shift, heavy with something unspoken, and before I could overthink it, I leaned in closer. Our knees brushed, the faintest touch sending a jolt through me. Her scent—jasmine and a hint of spice—hit me like a drug, and I couldn’t tear my eyes from the way her lips quirked, daring me to cross the line.
“Careful, Avni,” I murmured, my voice lower than I intended. “Keep looking at me like that, and I might just take you up on that challenge.”
She didn’t flinch, didn’t back down. Instead, her smirk widened, sharp and taunting. “Oh, sweetheart, I’m counting on it. But let’s be honest—your game’s been all talk so far. Prove me wrong. I dare you.”
My heart slammed against my ribs, but her words were the push I needed. I closed the distance, my lips meeting hers in a kiss that started tentative but quickly turned hungry, desperate. Her taste—wine and something uniquely Avni—flooded my senses, and I was lost. She didn’t hesitate, didn’t play coy. Her hands gripped my collar, pulling me closer with a fierce intensity that made it clear who was in control. She deepened the kiss, her tongue teasing mine with a boldness that sent heat racing down my spine.
I pulled back just enough to trail kisses along her jawline, savoring the way her breath hitched, a sharp little gasp that spurred me on. Her skin was warm, soft, and I couldn’t get enough as my lips moved lower, brushing over the delicate line of her neck, then her collarbone. Her fingers threaded through my hair, guiding me with a subtle but unmistakable dominance that made my head spin.
A low, teasing laugh rumbled from her throat, her voice dripping with mock disdain even as it trembled slightly. “Eager much? Didn’t think you had it in you to be this... enthusiastic.”
I grinned against her skin, not stopping as I pressed a lingering kiss to her shoulder, tasting the faint salt of her. “Just keeping up with you, princess. Wouldn’t want you to get bored.”
Her grip tightened in my hair, a silent command, as my lips continued their exploration, mapping every inch of exposed skin I could reach. The city lights twinkled below us, forgotten, as the world narrowed to the heat of her body, the sound of her uneven breaths. But then she pulled back slightly, her eyes glinting with mischief, her cheeks flushed despite the cool night air.
“Alright, hotshot,” she purred, her tone laced with playful scorn. “Not bad for a first attempt. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves—your technique’s a little... overzealous, don’t you think?”
I laughed, breathless, my chest heaving as I met her gaze. The city reflected in her dark eyes, a mirror of endless possibilities. “Is that so? Well, I’m just getting started. Tell me, Avni—what else you got for me to prove?”
Her smirk was pure sin, a promise and a challenge rolled into one. “Oh, darling, I’ve got plenty. Question is, can you keep up?”
I grinned, the air between us crackling with unspoken promises, the night stretching out before us like an open invitation. Whatever came next, I was ready for it—ready for her.
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