Grace stepped out of the bathroom, feeling refreshed after the long bath. The warm steam was still clinging to her skin, and the faint scent of lavender was filling the air, soothing her senses.
She settled down in front of the dressing table and took her time pampering herself. She indulged in body care and skincare that left her skin soft and glowing. Tonight was one of those rare evenings when she decided to take extra care of herself.
She pulled on her favorite purple silk nightgown, the one that hugged her curves just right and made her feel confident and comfortable. Letting her damp hair cascade down her back, she admired her reflection in the mirror for a brief moment, then took out the blow dryer to dry her hair. As soon as she was done, she padded barefoot to her bedroom.
Once inside, she opened the drawer of her bedside table and took out an aromatic candle. The soothing scent of vanilla mixed with sandalwood filled the room as she lit it and set it on the table. The flickering light added a soft, romantic glow to the room, making the space feel even cozier.
She grabbed her tablet from the dresser and climbed under the blanket. Snuggling into the warm covers, she selected the series she had always wanted to watch but never had the time to do so in the past because of her busy schedule. By the time she was halfway through episode two, her eyelids started growing heavy, and her tablet slipped from her hands.
It barely took seconds before sleep pulled her under like a warm tide, and she eventually drifted into a deep slumber.
At first, there was only darkness. It was like a void, thick and endless. Then, slowly, shapes began to form. She found herself standing in a faintly lit room with furniture she couldn’t quite place but found strangely familiar. She stood in the center while glancing around, trying to make sense of what was going on.
Before she could process it, a pair of strong hands encircled her waist from behind, pulling her into a firm yet gentle embrace. The warmth of the touch sent a shiver down her spine, but instincts took over before romance could bloom.
She grabbed the arm holding her and twisted it, using the momentum to flip the person behind her onto the floor. The sound of a loud thud echoed in the space as the man landed on his back with a painful groan.
The moment her eyes landed on him, recognition settled over her. "Rune?" She asked while raising one of her eyebrows high in question.
The young man lay sprawled on the floor while rubbing his sore back as he looked up at her with an expression of exaggerated hurt. "Really, Ms. Blackwood?" he said, his tone half-joking, half-accusing. "Is this how you greet someone who missed you?"
Grace crossed her arms and gave him a pointed look. "What’s going on? Why am I... here?"
Rune ignored her question and stood up with ease despite his earlier fall. Without hesitation, he stepped closer and his hands reached for her again. This time, there was no real resistance from her as he pulled her into his arms.
"I have been missing you," he said, his voice was soft and low while a playful smile tugging at his lips. "But you have been too busy to even think about me, haven’t you?"
Grace frowned at his words, but before she could respond, her eyes were drawn to his face. That boyish charm, the way his lips curved into a mischievous grin, and the warmth in his gaze - it all made her heart skip a beat. She didn’t want to admit it, but she had missed him. There was something about Rune, something inexplicable, that drew her in every time.
Her lips twitched as a smile threatened to form, and she failed to stop it from blooming. But she was quick to hide it as well, not wanting to get noticed by him. Instead, she reached out and placed her hands on either side of his face, surprising him with the sudden intimacy. His expression shifted as he stared at her. His dark eyes were filled with curiosity as he watched her closely.
"Stop talking," she murmured in a voice that was barely above a whisper.
Rune blinked, but before he could have responded, she was already leaning in to close the distance between them. Their lips met in a kiss that was slow at first. He was still surprised by her move and she was in no rush. But the moment she tasted him and felt the warmth of his mouth against hers, a spark ignited within her.
She deepened the kiss and it grew more passionate with each passing second. Rune’s arms tightened around her, pulling her closer as if he couldn’t bear even the smallest distance between them. She slid her hands from his face to his shoulders, her fingers clutching at his shirt as if to anchor herself in the moment.
She hadn’t realized how much she craved this until now - the connection, the heat, the way he made her feel alive in a way no one else ever had.
His lips moved against hers, sending waves of warmth coursing through her, forcing out a sigh to escape her as she kissed him with everything she got.
Her hands just started wandering over his body when he suddenly pulled away. "What-" she tried to ask what was going on when the dream suddenly ended and she was thrown back into her own apartment.
Her eyes flew open that very moment. Her breath was shallow as the dream lingered in her mind. Her fingers found their way to touch her lips instinctively, the sensation of the kiss was still very vivid, as if it had been real.
But it couldn’t have been. It was just a dream… wasn’t it? She found herself wondering.