Her Eyes

Thirty Eight

Laughter filled the air paired with a few curse words. Games were splayed across the table in the large lounge.

Dinner passed successfully with no hiccups. Esmae spoke briefly with a few cousins of Nikolaos, though it was a mere introduction since the language barrier had them struggling to understand each other. Their thick Greek accents didn't help either.

Holding onto her waist to keep her close, Nikolaos conversed casually with his relatives who were merely watching the scenes of childish arguments erupting over a simple game of Twister. The silly arguments spouted from slight accusations to ad hominem fallacies filled with holes and indirect insults. It was fun to watch, especially knowing those who cursed and yelled today would quickly ease up once they returned the next morning for late brunch.

The family full of hotheads was quite forgiving.

As Esmae watched, without understanding a thing, she heard the words 'Malákas' and 'Áde gamísou' filled with spite and conviction having her hooked on the debates. The small humans were already sleeping on the couches, seemingly immune to the yelling done by their parents, and a few relatives already left for the evening, those with babies wanting to get as much rest as they could before returning tomorrow.

The dryad felt a small pinch on her waist and looked at the culprit: Nikolaos. "Do you want to go inside?" he asked, leaning down to her ear to whisper the deep words to her. His breath tickled her ear, making heat crawl up her neck. She nodded quietly, looking around once more before standing with Nikolaos.

He moved his hand from Esmae's waist to her hand, lacing their fingers together, and gently pulled her away from the loud mass of family. They ascended the stairs and down the wide hall to Nikolaos' room where the voices from the first floor couldn't reach them. Esmae sighed, relieved as she slid off her slippers and walked around with her socked feet.

Nikolaos closed the door, locking it for privacy, and hugged Esmae from behind, peppering kisses all over her neck and the side of her face. "Tired, glykiá mou?" his deep voice questioned quietly, relishing in the silence of his room.

The pair truly did need their alone time.

Esmae leaned her head to the side instinctively, giving Nikolaos more room to work with, and hummed. "A bit... but I napped earlier, so I'm n-not sure," she replied, pressing her body against Nikolaos'. He smiled warmly at her honesty, loving how open she was about everything on her mind, and nibbled on her neck with his eyes closed.

Her smell was intoxicating to him along with her soft skin decorated with small freckles. "We don't have to wake up early tomorrow. Days in Greece are always slow," he explained softly. His hand went under her sweater, feeling her warm, brown skin underneath. Tracing patterns over her skin, his muscles encased her in his arms, never wanting to let go. "Meíne mazí mou, Ésme," he whispered, his face in her hair.
(Stay with me, Esmae.)

He didn't know that she would never leave him. She wanted to stay with him for an eternity, for as long as time permitted, and even more than that.

Esmae's breath hitched when his hand reached her bra. She turned her head upward, locking eyes with his. Paired with the desire in his eyes, there was a sense of longing that she wished to fulfill. The dryad was the piece he was missing; the piece that made him feel whole.

She turned around in his arms, her chest pressing against his, and wrapped her arms around his neck. Feeling his arms shift around her and his face near hers, his breath tickling her skin again, she closed her eyes. Slowly, their lips met, molding together like no other. Esmae didn't realize how tense and anxious she truly was until this moment, and she felt her worries and trepidation wash away with the gentle yet strong waves Nikolaos brought along. Standing on her toes to reach him, to be closer, the leaf deepened the kiss, her heart soaring with glee.