CHAPTER XXI:
day of surprises
( January 1979 )
THE ARTISTS HAD BEEN OUT AND ABOUT FOR ANOTHER HOUR AFTER REGULUS HAD TAKEN HER HAND INTO HIS. Libillule had gone back to subtly swinging their hands, a gesture Regulus had quickly taken note of but never toned down.
The sun was beginning to set which meant the disheartening end of their date.
Their feet slowed as they approached the meeting point they had been in at the beginning of their date. Begrudgingly, their hands slipped from the comfort of each other, and as if it meant nothing, their hands were only to themselves.
"I um..." Libillule shifted on the balls of her feet while Regulus watched her closely, rosy cheeks, big and round eyes, everything he wanted to be around for the rest of his life until the last molecule of oxygen fell from his lungs. "I enjoyed myself," she finally said. He enjoyed himself too, lots more than he expected but he could only muster up a sincere nod.
Black turned his attention away from the girl, his eyes scanning every direction around them as if he were searching for a way for this experience to be unreal. And then he felt a warm and gentle press to his right cheek. Libillule had kissed his cheek.
Regulus blinked as much surprise as his unexpressive face would allow while he whipped his head in her direction. Now she had his full attention.
Her cheeks were rosier than before, almost compared to the fur of a pigmy puff. She ducked her nose into her scarf inevitably pushing steam into the edges of her spectacles.
Dupont turned on her heel to retreat to the castle, but Regulus was in an utter daze, fully engrossed in her. And so he reached a hand out to her clasping around her wrist, pulling her back flush against his chest. Their height difference was more noticeable than ever this way. Her head was just above his shoulders, eyes directly in line with his perfect nose.
But now, their height differences meant nothing, their eyes met, their noses met, and their lips met. A sweetened kiss between a designer and a painter was nothing but art created. The painter initiated it, his hands placed gently on her cheek to bring her as close as he could get her just to be within proximity of that exhilarating aura she possessed.
They pulled away from the kiss. A dreamy glaze passed over Libillule's eyes while she looked down embarrassed pushing up her glasses with the back of her delicate fingers.
"Well, that was certainly something." she breathed out. "Definitely didn't expect that to come out of today."
Regulus let out a chuckle shaking his head slightly. "Believe me, I didn't either," he said, hands slipping loosely down and off her waist. "But you seem to be speechless so I've done my job."
She scoffed a laugh flicking his nose, "you're unbelievable."
"And you're pretty." This was just day was a day full of surprises, wasn't it? Regulus bit the inside of his cheeks wishing he hadn't said a word while her grin grew.
"Sorry, what was that? Did Regulus Black just compliment me?" She put her hands on her hips teasing him.
He shook his head, curls bouncing with it. "Absolutely not, I was simply stating what I saw, but I'm starting to think I want you to go extinct because of this teasing."
"Now why would you want this pretty species to go extinct? I thought you said I was pure and beautiful?" He rolled his eyes at her words but couldn't fight the tugging at his lips that only she could cause.
"You're never going to let that go, are you?"
"I'm bringing it to my grave."
NOTE. lol this book is ending soon 🫡 like we have to go over some stuff and further their relationship but theres only like one more volume after this and then its over ☹️ but thatll probably be in like may or june with how ive been updating