Viking's Mate (Twilight OC X OC)

Chapter 9: First Kiss

We end up going to a little night market in the downtown area, all set up with a large, decorated Christmas tree in the center of it. We go from stand to stand looking at all of the crafts. I find gifts there for the Clearwater's and for the twins, and he finds something for Jasper. 

At one of the stands, I see a beautiful handmade jewelry set that has arrows on them. It's not something I see often, and I would like to get it but I don't like to buy myself gifts around the holidays. It's a rule I set up for myself a very long time ago, and I try to stick to it. On the safe side, I got the merchant's card after chatting with them about the jewelry set. 

I didn't notice after I asked about them that a certain someone was watching me and seeing what I was looking so intently at.

With our shopping done, we got some cocoas at a street vender. I make mine a spiced cocoa, per my usual taste, and we took a seat under a covered bench by the large Christmas tree.

"Aria, I hope you have enjoyed this evening as much as I have." Ivar says to me, turning his body to face me and sitting very close to me.

"Ivar, this has been the best date I could have asked for. I am very happy to be here with you." I tell him with a genuine smile, locking my eyes onto his, drawn naturally to them like always.

"That is great, but I am still hoping to make it just a little bit better still." He says and he starts to lean in towards me. 

I am also leaning in, one hand on my cocoa and the other resting on my lap. His left hand gently grabs my free hand, and his right hand goes to cup my cheek. He has on soft cashmere gloves that feel so smooth against my skin. He lightly angles my head up to align with his face, and he gently places his lips against mine in a soft kiss. I lean a little further into the kiss, enough to reciprocate it fully but not too much to overwhelm him. 

And oh, is the kiss magical. His lips, though cold and hard, are full and match the shape of my own lips perfectly. He must have taken an actual sip of his cocoa, because our kiss tastes of sweet chocolate and it is filling my senses. 

I have had first kisses before, in previous lives with previous loves, but now, here in this moment, they cannot compare. I have even had a true love's kiss before, and while that kiss will always hold a special place in my heart, this kiss now is holding my entire soul.

The kiss is, in essence, perfect.

As we part, he rests his forehead against mine, his eyes closed and a look of bliss on his face. "Was that ok?" He asks me with a smile on his face, opening his eyes and looking directly into mine.

"That was more than ok. That was perfect." I tell him honestly, a large genuine smile forming on my lips. 

We both lean in again and share a few more sweet kisses as we sit on the bench. When we part again, both grinning like school children, which we technically we both are, we stand up to start heading back to the car, only this time we are walking hand in hand.

Night has fully fallen, each of us carrying shopping bags and strolling at a leisurely pace through the downtown Seattle streets. As luck would have it, a few lowly thugs had the grave mistake of thinking we were a cute couple to try and rob tonight.

"Hand over your cash and neither of you have to get hurt!" Thug 1 says, holding a 6" knife towards us, coming out of an alleyway. The street we are currently on is empty with no one around.

"Do it quick and quietly and we'll even let the pretty lady walk away. Get loud, and we'll keep her for ourselves." Thug 2 says next, leering at me.

Ivar and I both turn towards them, slowly and calmly. I tilt my head and assess the thugs. They will be easy enough to handle.