𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝟏𝟖 +

𝐅 𝐈 𝐅 𝐓 𝐘

Eden

I woke up to the hum of the airplane and the gentle clinking of glass. Blinking a few times, I slowly sat up, my head still a bit foggy from sleep. I rubbed my eyes, yawning as I adjusted to the dim cabin lights. It took me a moment to register where I was, first class, next to Lenore on a surprise trip. I glanced over at her, and my sleepiness quickly faded.

There was Lenore, looking impossibly relaxed, sipping a glass of wine with a silk face mask on. She sat back in her seat like she was lounging on a yacht, completely unbothered by the fact that we were still thousands of feet in the air. I blinked again, not quite believing the sight in front of me.

"Uh... are you preparing for a skincare commercial or something?" I teased, my voice still hoarse from sleep.

Lenore turned her head slowly, raising one perfectly sculpted eyebrow above the face mask. Her lips twitched into an amused smile. "It's called multitasking, sweetheart. Beauty sleep and a glass of wine."

I snorted, leaning back into my seat. "Right, of course. Always a queen, even at 35,000 feet."

She took another sip of her wine, her smile widening beneath the mask. "Well, I don't know about you, but some of us like to look presentable when we land. Maybe you could learn a thing or two."

I shot her a playful glare. "Are you saying I don't look presentable?"

She didn't miss a beat. "I'm just saying you could use a little help keeping up, darling."

I laughed, shaking my head as I stretched in my seat. "God, you're impossible."

Lenore pulled the mask off and turned to me with that familiar sparkle in her eyes. "You love it."

I rolled my eyes, though my smile gave me away. She knew me too well. I might complain, but there wasn't a part of me that didn't enjoy her teasing. It was just... Lenore. Everything about her was, well, her, effortless, confident, and always one step ahead. I wouldn't have it any other way.

A few hours later, I felt the plane begin its descent. The captain's voice crackled over the intercom, informing us that we'd be landing shortly. My heart picked up speed, a mix of anticipation and excitement flooding through me.

I pressed my face to the window, squinting to make out the land below us. My breath caught when I saw the sprawling blue ocean, dotted with islands. Tall mountains and lush green valleys came into view as we got closer. And then, it hit me.

"Wait a second..." I whispered, my eyes wide. "Lenore, are we... are we in Hawaii?"

She let out a soft laugh beside me. "I guess the surprise is out now."

I turned to her, barely able to contain my excitement. "Hawaii? Hawaii? You know I've always wanted to come here!"

Her grin widened as she watched my reaction. "I know, sweetheart. That's why I planned it."

I felt like a kid on Christmas morning. I practically bounced in my seat, unable to stop grinning. "Lenore, this is... this is amazing!"

She chuckled softly, her fingers brushing against mine. "I'm glad you're excited."

"Excited? I'm beyond excited!" I turned back to the window, my eyes glued to the breathtaking view. The turquoise waters, the palm trees, the endless beaches... it was everything I had ever dreamed of and more. I had always wanted to come to Hawaii, but life had a way of keeping those dreams at arm's length. And now, here I was, with Lenore, about to land in paradise.

I glanced back at her, my chest swelling with affection. "You really outdid yourself this time."

Her hand squeezed mine gently. "I wanted to give you something special. After everything... we both deserve it."

I nodded, my excitement softening into something warmer, more tender. Lenore had planned all of this for me, for us. And as much as I was excited about the destination, I was more excited about the fact that I was sharing this with her.

After landing and making our way through the airport, I could hardly contain my excitement as we stepped out into the warm, tropical air. The scent of flowers and saltwater hit me immediately, and I inhaled deeply, a wide grin plastered across my face.

"This is incredible," I said, turning to Lenore.

She laughed, slipping her sunglasses on as we made our way to the car that was waiting to take us to the hotel. "Just wait until you see where we're staying."

The drive through Honolulu was surreal, palm trees swaying in the breeze, vibrant greenery everywhere, and the ocean stretching out in the distance. By the time we pulled up to the hotel, I was practically buzzing with excitement again.

The hotel was... wow. Luxurious didn't even begin to cover it. Towering above us, it had a sleek, modern design with open balconies, cascading pools, and views of the ocean from every angle. Lenore had truly gone all out.

We checked in quickly, and by the time we made it up to our suite, I was feeling the exhaustion creep back in. The excitement and the long flight had worn me out more than I realized. The suite itself was stunning, floor-to-ceiling windows, a huge bed, and a balcony overlooking the beach.

But as beautiful as it all was, the only thing I wanted in that moment was to collapse onto the bed.

Lenore must have sensed it too because she chuckled softly as I plopped down on the bed, face-first into the soft, luxurious sheets. "Exhausted already?" she teased.

I groaned into the pillow, rolling onto my back to look at her. "You try catching up with work and then flying for hours. I'm done."

She smiled, sitting down beside me and brushing her fingers through my hair. "Poor thing," she said, her voice filled with affection.

I pouted playfully. "I'll unpack tomorrow. Right now, I just need sleep."

Lenore leaned down, kissing my forehead softly. "Agreed. We can worry about everything else tomorrow."

I reached up, grabbing her hand and pulling her down beside me. "Stay with me."

She slid into bed, wrapping her arms around me and pulling me close to her chest. I sighed in contentment, nestling against her warmth. The exhaustion, the long flight, everything just melted away with her arms around me.

As I drifted off to sleep, I couldn't help but smile. Hawaii, a surprise trip, and Lenore by my side, everything was perfect. And I knew this was just the beginning of an unforgettable adventure together.

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~ R