♪♪I didn't know I could feel this way

It's a new world, baby, that's okay

You're like a part of me I never knew (Feels like love)

You're the one I need next to me. ♪♪

ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ [Feels like love] - [Cheetah Girls]

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The chaotic atmosphere of Friday night was non-existent, with the restaurant closed off to customers for the moment. In its place was short, jerky movement of feet around the restaurant as everyone went around doing their last-minute check-ups to make sure everything was in place.

Esmé walked around, her nerves spiking up with every tick of the clock. She moved and re-moved things, aiming for extra perfection from what she already arranged.

"Would you stop?!" Mon-El's firm tone ceased her movement.

She turned to him; glancing briefly at the entrance of the restaurant before focusing on Mon-El. Just like every hostess was, he wore a silver plaid shirt and ocean blue polyester pants which were their regular uniform, she added a mini gold bow tie for the men and a gold floral brooch for the ladies to match the occasion.

"Stop what?"

"Stop what? Don't you know what you're doing?" he asked and nudged his head to the flower vase in her hand.

Esmé looked down at her hand and dropped the vase back to where she picked it up, sighing dejectedly. "I'm just trying to..."

"There's nothing more to do, Esmé. Look around." He turned to face the room.

Elegance sipped through the newly added decoration, balancing pleasantly well with the soothing classical music that resonated through the speakers softly. The scented candles filled the air with an extra exquisite homely aura Silver Palace was all about, with the flowers adding a lovely touch to every corner of the room. With the tables rearranged to fit the occasion, they'd set everything.

"It's perfect. The only thing not fitting in right now is you. Get yourself together. They would soon be here."

She couldn't fault his sharp tone, knowing that her fidgeting was probably getting on all their nerves. She believed she had done a good job, but somehow, every time she looked away and looked back, it seemed like there was something she could just perfect all over again.

Taking a deep breath in, she sighed. "Fine," she said, even though she wasn't promising anything.

A sneer began growing on Mon-El's lips, seeing through her answer, but before he could pass comment on it, murmurs of 'They've arrived' got to them.

Esmé moved instantly to the entrance of the restaurant with Mon-El hot on her heels.

The jingle of the bell came through, followed by mumbling. A couple walked in first, lost in their murmured speech; only stopping to grab champagne glasses from a tray a hostess held.

Attention didn't last long on them as the lady of the day stepped in, sucking all the attention. Esmé straightened up while Persephone gazed around the room. A slow smile weaved its way onto her lips.

Tension eased from Esmé's shoulders as others began walking in, comments of approval rolling in for the place. Laughter boomed as more people strutted in, admiring the effort.

Mon-El flashed a coy smile that spelt 'I-told-you-so' as he passed by Esmé, following the first wave of people who had walked in.

Esmé's lips pressed together, hiding her smile that threatened to break free at the remark. The rate of her breathing had finally relaxed but froze when she felt a presence by her side.

She didn't need to turn to find out who it was.

"This is incredible," Kian said with an impressed smile. His eyes swept through the entire place, taking each detail and effort put into the place.

The smile she was keeping in broke free as she turned to face him.

The look on his face matched hers, but before anything else, Persephone called out to him.

Kian gave her a crooked smile before walking towards his mother, not wanting to draw unwanted attention their way by wasting time.

Esmé's eyes followed his every step till he stood by his mother, making pleasantries. Quiet contentment spread through her, just watching them.

His fitted sharp-looking Armani suit heightened his dashing look, which was further enhanced as his face lit up from something Persephone whispered to him and a burst of hearty laughter escaped his lips.

He glanced over at her briefly and her cheeks grew red. From the playful smile that danced on his lips after looking away, it was pretty obvious he knew she had been watching him.

"I know he's handsome, but you're ogling too much."

A small yelp escaped her lips, her hands held onto her racing chest. She spun around to face Scarlett, who had a teasing smirk on her lips.

"That startled, huh? Do it in secret, next time. You wouldn't want the boss to see you do that. She can be very protective of him," Scarlett added.

"Duly noted," Esmé replied with a raised eyebrow.

Scarlett's advice intrigued her but they weren't in the right place to talk. She nudged her head to their post. "We've got work to do."

Addressing ogling Kian in secret was something they'll have to talk about another time.

The smirk remained on Scarlett's lips but she went along with Esmé swinging into action with smiles on their faces and an aura that made them available for the use of the guests.

As Esmé moved around, attending to people, the hairs on her body stood tall, not just from excitement but from a certain sense of familiarity that seemed so foreign.

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Though Esmé rolled her neck from side to side to release the kinks there with her shuffling steps that scuffed the floor, she let out a huge breath once she got to the front of the familiar light green bungalow.

She moved to open the door but stumbled backwards as the door opened to reveal Kian.

Kian had a double-take at the sight of her. "Oh. Hey."

Esmé gave him a tentative smile as her hooded eyes noticed the keys in his hands. "You're going out?"

"Not anymore."

Esmé's brow arched upwards as she waited for further explanation to which he gave.

"It was getting rather late. I figured I'd come over to get you."

The corners of her mouth quirked up as a feeling of warmth swept through her. Determined not to show how rather pleased his statement made her, she cocked her head to the side. "I never knew I had a curfew."

Kian smiled at this and moved to the side, holding the door of the house further so she could walk in, and said, "My roof."

Laughter escaped Esmé's lips as she stepped inside.

Despite her laughter filling the air with brightness, he could sense just how tired she was.

"Why don't you sit so I can get you something..." Kian suggested as they moved into the living room.

Esmé turned around with a glaze in her eyes and a small smile. "Thanks, but I don't think I can..."

"Tolerate anything. I understand that. My mother is a chef, after all, but you should have something to drink that'll help relax your nerves."

"Right. You are a doctor, after all."

Kian chuckled. "Yes. So, sit, I'll be right back."

He moved to the kitchen, not giving her any time to disagree again.

She slumped onto the sofa and her entire body fell limp on it. Her eyes closed for a fraction before Kian's footsteps pulled them back open.

"Here, you go. This should help."

With a little strain, she sat up to collect the cup in Kian's hand. "Thanks." She took a sip of the tea and sighed at the ecstasy it created.

Warmth spread through Kian as a relaxed smile settled onto his lips. "Once you finish it up, you will sleep better."

Esmé regarded him with a nod, her eyes still closed, basking in the soothing feeling she felt. His receding footsteps were all she heard, but she didn't dare open her eyes to disrupt her tranquil state.

It was only after she had drowned the entire tea and felt more alive than she did when walked into the house that she could refocus on her environment. Cluttering from the kitchen informed her where Kian was and the lack of any growling showed the absence of Archie.

Standing up even though every bit of her body wanted nothing more than to remain there, she went to the kitchen. "I noticed Archie isn't here."

Kian turned abruptly at the sudden sound of her voice. "Yeah. The little guy tried to wait for you, but he lost the war to sleep. I put him to bed before coming to get you."

Esmé's lips scrunched up a bit at that.

Kian noticed the cup in her hand and walked to her with an outstretched arm. "You know you didn't have to bring that in. I'd have come to get it."

She gasped falsely. "And leave you to do all the work under your roof. I couldn't live with myself."

As she moved to his side to head to the sink, Kian blocked her with an alert gaze and his hands stretched forward. He nodded towards his hands and said, "Come on."

Esmé stood defiantly. "I am feeling a lot better and I can clean up after myself."

"I know that, but I want to." He tried to reach for the cup, but Esmé moved her hand, holding the cup to her back with an arched brow and a challenging smile.

A chuckle escaped his lips. "Oh, really? We're really going to do this?"

He left no space for her reply and moved his hands around her back to get the cup.

Even with her heavy limbs, Esmé put up quite a good fight, laughing a bit once Kian failed to get the cup.

"Come on. Why won't you let me help you this once? If I can't give you something to help you relax and even clean up after, what's the essence of claiming that I care about you?"

The weight of the mug immediately settled on Kian's hands and a grin on his lips as he grasped what had happened. With them being so close because of the game of struggle, he moved his lips to her ear to whisper, "Thank you."

A shiver ran through Esmé in her frozen state. His words fell on deaf ears as they didn't seem to penetrate the comprehensive department of her brain until he took a minute step back to show her the cup in his hands with a cocky smile. She gaped at the cup in his hands, bringing her own hands to her front to further confirm and groaned at his theatrics.

Her mouth snapped shut, pulled down into a frown, and she moved her right hand to hit him, but Kian, still with the smile on his face, caught it midair.

"You can't say things like that just to disarm your opponent. That's not playing fair." She took a step back until Kian held her in place.

His expression softened, and he dropped the cup on the counter by his side and lowered the hand that held hers but instead of letting go, interlocked their hands. Before the action drew Esmé's attention, he spoke. "I care about you, Esmé. I understand your disbelief, but I certainly hope that you'll give me the chance from now on to show you just how true it is.

But I'm not experienced taking the initiative, so if I do or say anything that is out of line or makes you feel uncomfortable. I want you to tell me ─ if you're okay with..."

"Kian."

Her voice came out in barely a whisper with a smile. The smile was a minor cover-up for the insane fluttering of wings erupting within her.

He was handing over the key to the very heart he had locked up, to open at her will. Her pulse rose at this, looking up at him and the way the warmness in his eyes shone with the light that had just recently grown made the blue speckles across his eyes enchanting drew her in, she couldn't think of any other way to show him just how much she had also come to care about him.

Esmé took a hesitating step to get closer to him, her eyes locked onto his before she closed the distance between their lips.

Kian froze momentarily but with a smile fixed on his lips, he slid his other hand on cue on her waist and pulled her closer in a smooth move.

The kiss moved slowly as Kian took his time taking over. With patience and control, he got familiar with the lips on his, using the time to show her just how much he cared.

Tingles broke out over her skin, and she felt light-headed. She removed her hands from his to tangle them in his hair, moulding herself further into him. 

His free hands caressed her cheeks and his lips moved softly and perfectly against hers as the kiss deepened, burning into a fiery moment of desire and need to express how they both felt.

They slowly pulled apart but didn't step out of each other's embrace. Kian leaned in and pressed his lips against her forehead, grazing her skin with a smile.

A fulfilling tiredness expanded through her at Kian's gratifying sigh. Their heart beats linked and their breathless fused as one, stuck in their little bubble.

Kian leaned back with his smile still intact. His eyes scanned hers with a soft glow.

A flush rose onto Esmé's cheeks at the intensity of his gaze, but her eyes didn't stray from his. She narrowed her eyes at his silence with a tint of a smile on her lips. "What?"

The smile doesn't break, but his gaze sharpened. "I like you, Esmé Black, and I want to take you on a date. Tomorrow."

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😁😁

Oh yoowhoo!

There's a whole lot to be said after this long chapter but I guess the main thing on your mind is... Finally! 

Amirite?

It took thirty-eight chapters before they finally decided to jump the gun. I really hope it was worth the wait. I have honestly written and re-written this scene up to 5 times with different scenarios each time but this one seemed to stick.

Tell me your sweet, loving feelings about this chapter. More than ever I'd love to how what you felt and thought about this junction, right there. 💭👉🏽 

Till next time!💕