Cassandra's eyes were wide open, astonishment covering her face.
Fireworks lit up the sky in a dazzling array of pattern after pattern.
Some were green, the sparks raining down like a meteor shower.
Some were purple, glowing like smiling faces.
Some were gold, blossoming out like wild flowers.
And then there were the red, holding their shapes in burning hearts as the entire sky was painted bright with the color of romance.
As each explosion lit up the sky and scattered like falling flower pedals, the dark night shone as bright as day. Cassandra was enchanted.
She couldn't keep her eyes from the sky. Her astonishment slowly turned into jubilation and she couldn't wipe the smile off her face.
The burst of each firework reflected in her eyes and Rufus gazed as each color lit up her shining eyes.
"Like it?"
His voice was so soft and warm that even with two simple words, Cassandra could feel her knees buckle.
"A lot! It's so beautiful. Thank you."
She felt her voice choke, her eyes starting to well up a little bit as the gratitude spilled out of her.
Rufus smiled, instinctively leaning over and leaving a soft kiss on her forehead.
"I'm glad you like it."
He'd shipped the entire set of fireworks equipment along with all the fireworks from overseas but had thought little of the cost. All he could think of was making sure Cassandra liked it.
For Cassandra, the fireworks painted the most picturesque scene into the night sky. But for Rufus, the real beauty was in her eyes.
In her pure eyes, the fireworks bloomed. These were the clearest eyes he'd ever seen in his entire life.
As the fireworks faded into the night sky and the sounds of the explosions slowly drifted away, a sense of peace fell over their night.
Rufus removed his hands from covering Cassandra's ears, making their way down to cup her cheeks. He gently lifted her face, his eyes never wavering from hers, full to the brim with love.
"So, how are you going to thank me, huh?" he asked, a mischievous smile creeping onto his face.
his movements were soft as a feather;
could never really behave calmly in front of him, especially when he spoke with such an irresistible tone and looked at her with such passion in his eyes. She felt as though
to
she'd been transformed into this shy, stammering girl. The last few words came out as soft as a murmur, barely audible
smile crept across his face and just like that, his lips were pressed fiercely against hers.
his eyes, relishing the taste of this woman. A feeling of contentment filled his body.
the impromptu kiss. Her eyes stayed wide open in disbelief, and she could see nothing
mind was elsewhere from the kiss so he naughtily bit her
anything to eat so if your mind continues to wander, I'll have to have a taste of you instead," he threatened playfully.
closed her
stomach had been crying for food. Before he could finish 'tasting' her,
didn't dare to move as far as her body was begging, afraid he might push it too far. So she stayed how she
It was only then that he opened his eyes to gaze upon her pink cheeks and
stopped, another went off as families set off their
firecrackers, it must have passed midnight. And tonight, it meant
to spend my birthday
aback by
of the first month? Why didn't you
his birthday had slipped right under
had gifted her the wonderful
want for your birthday?
frustration and wonder
no need for that. You are my gift," he said, cupping
indeed the best gift he had ever received and nothing else could compare with
get you something,"
her own
was her birthday, Rufus had organized a wonderful surprise for her and yet now on his birthday, it was her again that had received the surprise. He had been so thoughtful and meticulous both times and here she was,
'She is as stubborn as she has
he didn't care much about celebrating his birthday. Even his father, Horace barely paid attention to the day so he could barely
a birthday
hair off her face, hoping
as her eyes
someone else. Come and try it," she exclaimed
grabbed his hand, pulling him down the stairs to the dining
sat him down at the table, laying out a table cloth in front of him and setting out the tableware. Then she ran into the kitchen to prepare the tea stew
of tea and chicken filling the room, making her stomach growl.
As she sat the chicken in front of him, he picked up his fork
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