Candles and Starlight

Tower

The sun was setting, and you were starting to overthink. The note said, "...where we first met." Did that mean the Astronomy Tower, where you had your first class with him after you transferred? Or did he mean the library where he first introduced himself to you?

And what about the time? What time did that Astronomy class start? 8:00 pm? What about the Library? When was that?

You were pacing back and forth in your dorm, trying to remember. It was over two years ago and not something you thought you would have to recall in this detail. You stopped. A blush started to creep up onto your cheeks, and you wondered how long he had been hiding his feelings for you.

Ominis remembered these small details. He thought they were important enough to remember. How much did he remember?

You decided that Ominis was more likely to be very literal and felt like the Astronomy Tower was the correct place to go. You checked the clock. 6:34 pm. While dinner was probably a good idea, you were too nervous to eat anything and decided to spend that time getting ready instead.

After a long day of classes and stressing about seeing Ominis that night, you needed a little refresh. You fixed your hair, opting to pin the front strands back so they didn't fall into your face. Makeup wasn't something you often wore, but you searched through the drawers of your dressing table looking for the rouge and lip salve your aunt had given you over the summer. You knew these things wouldn't matter to Ominis, but it gave you something to fill the time, and it also you a little confidence boost.

"All right, enough stalling. Let's go see if I'm right," you whispered to yourself in front of the mirror.

With one last slow, deep breath, you left your dorm and made the long slow journey from the dungeon to the tower. The walk felt like an eternity, each step a moment of self-doubt, but in your heart, you knew Ominis. You knew he would be at the Astronomy Tower. You smiled to yourself, thinking about what surprise he had in store for you.

Would it be a picnic under the stars? Maybe there was a particularly interesting constellation in the sky that he thought you might want to see. Would he want to kiss you there, under the stars? You smiled to yourself at the thought. Daydreams of kissing Ominis had been a regular occurrence for you during the past year or so, but, now, after actually kissing him, your mind relived every detail of the previous night. His touch, the warmth of his lips, the soft sighs he made as you ran your hands through his hair.

You cleared your throat, trying to push the increasingly tantalizing images from your mind of what could have happened the previous night. You didn't want to pressure Ominis. If he wanted to take things slow, then you would respect that. The last thing you wanted was to make him feel like you were forcing yourself on him. You tried to remember the names of the constellation that would be visible that night in an attempt to clear your thoughts as you started your ascent into the tower.

The Astronomy Tower was unusually empty. There were no Astronomy classes on Friday nights, but usually, students would be wandering about with their telescopes. Somehow the emptiness only confirmed your suspicion. Ominis must have gotten everyone else to leave so you could have it all to yourselves. The flutter from the previous night returned to your stomach.

The cool night air washed over you as you stepped out onto the first observatory platform. The darkness of the new moon was all-encompassing, and your eyes struggled to adjust. You took a few steps forward, toward the large telescope in the center of the floor.

"Ominis," you whispered.

You weren't sure why you whispered, but it almost felt like a crime to disturb the calm silence of the tower. A small gasp escaped your lips as a kaleidoscope of butterflies surrounded you. You hadn't seen where they had come from, but there they were–hundreds of them. You spun around and admired the bright oranges, pinks, and blues as they fluttered around you.

Surely this was Ominis's doing.

The butterflies swirled around you once more before spirling off and heading up the stairs. Moving quickly to not lose them, you followed their lead up the stairs and into the main observatory.

Candles floated and bobbed, their warm light flickering in the slight breeze. The butterflies lingered in the center of the deck, waiting for you to continue on their path.

Your steps were slow and soft as you moved closer to the colorful cloud. When you reached them, they swirled around you, creating a curtain around you that prevented you from seeing past them. You walked forward, trying to break through, but they did not relent.

You took a few more steps forward, thinking you must have been very close to the railing, when suddenly, the curtain of butterflies flew up. Your face turned upward as you watched them ascend before disappearing into the dark sky. After a moment, you looked back down to Earth, to the man standing a few feet in front of you.

Your breath hitched in your throat. "Ominis," was all you could manage to whisper.

You had known Ominis for a few years and had feelings for him for most of that time. And in all those years, never once had simply the sight of him sent shivers through your entire body. Until now. His back rested on the railing behind him, left foot crossed in front of the other. His arms were crossed, and the smirk that adorned his lips quickly turned the butterflies in your stomach to something much more carnal.

"Hello, darling," he cooed, reaching out his hand for you to take. "I knew you'd remember."

"How could I forget?" you asked as he pulled you to him.

He held your hand to his lips and brushed them across your knuckles. The warmth of his breath and the tantalizing feeling of his lips on your skin burned in a way that had you praying to feel his lips on more of your skin, all of your skin.

Heat poured into you as his body pressed fully against yours, and his arms wrapped around your waist. The air felt thick and humid. Your breath mixed with his as you stared into his eyes.

"I wish more than anything that I could see you now. Here, in the candle and starlight, pressed against me, cheeks flushed," he whispered, bringing his face steadily closer to yours. "I'm sure you look absolutely breathtaking,"

Your heart rate quickened, and your chest pushed against his as your breathing grew heavier, filled with desire. Never had you wanted a man more than Ominis, and him never more than in that moment.

"Ominis," you sighed, watching his lips twitch when you said his name. "Why have we come here?" you asked, half wanting to know the answer, half stalling to try to get a hold of yourself.

"I thought it was obvious." He reached up and caressed your cheek with his finger. You leaned into his touch, desperate for it. "So we could finish what we started last night with no prying eyes or interruptions," he purred, tracing his hand down your neck.

Your eyes fluttered closed at his touch. Your left arm grabbed his bicep, while the other braced against his firm chest. The heat between your legs was intense, and you could feel the dampness of your panties on your thighs.

"Does that sound all right to you?" he asked as his fingers played with the buttons of your blouse.

"Yes, Ominis," was all you could manage to say between your labored breaths.

"Good," he purred. "Now, first, kiss me again."