IN DEEP, on the court #1

PROLOGUE

KAEDE | HAYASHI

"HAPPY NINETEENTH BIRTHDAY, Bambi."

I didn't doubt that she could hear the smile that shaped the words I whispered the words against her ear. My hands were covering her pretty eyes while her back was pressed against my front.

I'd told my girlfriend that I was keeping her close so she wouldn't spoil the surprise by wandering off, but the truth was she comforted me with just her presence. I dropped my hands from her eyes to wrap around on her waist so she could finally see the wintry surprise before us.

Knowing how much she loved everything snowy, I'd arranged a trip to the Alps for her birthday. The view before us was one I knew would garner those soft smiles from her lips that I loved. Especially as snowflakes were falling and glittering in the sunlight and the view from the top penthouse of the resort allowed us to look over the powdered mountains.

Being a swimmer, she couldn't be in the cold for as long as she liked but it didn't shrink her love for the weather type. And I'd do anything to see the glow currently in her doe eyes as she looked over the balcony in excitement.

I don't think I'd ever stop falling for her.

Her eyes were drinking in the view in awe whilst I focused on fixing her hat so it properly covered her short twists. "Careful love."

I caught a slip of the umber skin of her neck and went to adjust her scarf when she threw her arms over my shoulders. "I— Thank you, thank you, thank you! I love it so much Kaede!"

A chuckle escaped me at her cuteness and brought white clouds from my lips. I slipped my arms around her to steady her. I didn't doubt she could hear the muscle in my chest that beat faster just because of her.

"I told you, I'd do anything for you Odette. I meant it."

She pulled back slightly and her dark irises met mine with something that made me soften. The sight of her all bundled up and protected from the cold and gazing at me like that, made my dimple pop out.

What an adorable little girlfriend I have.

I had an urge to squeeze her cheeks in the way she always told me off for. Instead I cupped her  cold face with a hand but it only made the want grow. My eyes dipped to hers to see if she'd caught onto my plan but my thoughts trailed off. They were darker than before, the deep a tangle of heat and longing and it made me shiver.

I only knew the smile on my lips had deepened when I hummed, "Hm?"

She didn't voice anything at all— but let her actions answer me as she pulled me down by my coat collar so our lips met. I was pleasantly surprised at the kiss but it wasn't long before I shut my eyes and embraced it. My hands rose to cradle her chilly cheeks as I tried to meet the love she was pouring out with my own.

She was kissing me and kissing me until I had to rest a hand on the barrier to keep myself upright as a groan slipped out of my mouth and into hers. It was as if her sole goal was to get me to make the noise at every chance. I felt my skin flush and was glad she couldn't witness it as she deepened the kiss.

I shouldn't have been surprised that her fingers slipped under my beanie to tug at my hair. She knew all my weak points and a shiver raced down my spine. She gave the strands in her grasp a harder pull as her tongue stroked mine and a whine escaped me before I could stop it.

She broke the kiss at that, lips plump, breaths heavy and browns nonexistent. Still, there was a glimmer of triumph in the dark depths and I felt my blush deepen.

She always played dirty.

I was already trying to get my breath back, but the sight of her glowing with the win, with happiness made my breath catch.

My beautiful, beautiful girl.

"I love you."

Three words. So simple yet so powerful. I doubted anyone else would be able to conquer my heart like she had.

"I love you too Bambi." The words left me in a rasp, a haggard breath.

Did she know she held my heart in her hands?

I wanted to kiss her. Hard. So that she'd never question it.

I clearly wasn't hiding it well from how she swallowed and bit on her bottom lip. She always knew our limits and she tugged me beside her so we could look over the view together. I followed her pull like I always would and I stood in my rightful place beside her.

She stowed a gloved hand into her puffy coat pocket and since our hands were linked, mine snuggled up there with hers. I smiled to myself at the image as I leisurely took in her side profile. I'd never be sick of looking at her.

Her head was tilted downwards to catch the few families out in the snow. A few twists had escaped the safety of her bobble hat and were framing her face like flora. Her skin glowed like warm mahogany in the presence of the soft snowflakes. I had never held any inclination to art but the sharpness of her features made me itch to carve something that caught the way light danced across her face. To catch the divot to her bow lips, the softness of her nose. I couldn't take my eyes away.

I couldn't believe I was hers.

"I don't know how you managed to bring my dream view to life Kaede, but it's the best surprise ever." She spoke softly and I shifted my eyes to the half moon on her lips. "It looks even more prettier than how I'd dreamed."

I didn't look away from her as I responded. "I understand the feeling."

I was unsurprised that she turned to me; I was blatantly staring at her. Still, I couldn't feel anything other than pleased as her cheeks went as blushed as her nose.

I smiled as I leaned over so I could bring my lips to her ear. "What? Did I lie Bambi?"

I didn't give her a chance to respond with anything other than a shiver as I dipped my head to kiss her forehead. "I'm so glad God put us on each others paths."

The hushed truth made her drag me into another hug. "You absolute melt, I was supposed to say that first."

I chuckled and I rocked her from side to side. "I'm your melt though."

"Yeah." She grinned and I watched as snowflakes landed on her lashes, hypnotised. "You're mine."

I was too in deep to be anyone else's.

"Yours Bambi, I'm yours."