Chapter Text
Nesta’s first ever Valentine’s day was sure to be epic.
Cassian was a huge, romantic softie and had planned a whole date night since the beginning of the month.
She quickly changed at home and put on a dark red, silk dress that emphasized her curves. Then she hoped he wasn’t taking her bungee jumping on their first Valentine’s day.
Someone knocked on her door and Neste went to open it.
“You have the key,” she said, arching a brow at Cassian.
“I wanted to make it more formal,” he grinned. She shook her head but smiled all the same. “Ready, m’lady?”
She nodded and took her purse before following him downstairs to his car. She used that time to admire him.
He was wearing a dark gray suit with a flowy satin white shirt that he’d left open at the top, showing a bit of tan skin and hard muscle. His hair had been tied at the nape of his neck with only a few rebel strands falling around his face.
Fuck the restaurant, she was going to eat him instead.
With a hand on the small of her back, he opened the car door for her and helped her in. He brought her to a restaurant she hadn’t ever gone to. It was already packed with couples considering what day it was.
But the waiter didn’t sit them at any table in the main room and, instead, accompanied them upstairs to a much quieter room and fewer tables. There was also a stage with a piano and a jazz singer.
“Thank you,” Cassian said to the waiter before pulling Nesta’s chair.
She smirked at him. “Very gentlemanly tonight.”
He put a hand on his chest. “I told you I was a romantic.”
She chuckled and looked around. “Why don’t we have a menu?”
“This is a five-course meal,” he explained. “The chef made a special menu for Valentine’s day and we get to discover it tonight.”
The jazz singer sang some soft love songs as they ate and discovered new flavors. When they were finished, Cassian stood and offered her his hand before dragging her onto the dancefloor and slowdancing with her.
“I’m still a pitiful dancer, I have to warn you,” he murmured in her ear.
Nesta just rested her head on his chest, content to hear his heart beat. “It’s okay. We can just sway.”
And they did. Until the restaurant closed its doors and they made it back to his condo.
***
They were sitting on his couch. Cassian’s hand idly playing with Nesta’s hair.
“I was wondering,” he began, breaking the silence. “Since we’ve been going back and forth from your apartment to mine. And since you’re renting and I own this place. And only if you’re ready…”
The man was stalling but Nesta already knew what he was getting at. So she nodded at him to keep going.
“If you wanted to move in with me? Here?” He finally finished.
Nesta rested her head in the palm of her hand and looked at him with a small smile. To make him squirm a little. He began rambling.
“Now, to incentivize you, this place has five bedrooms. So, if you ever want time alone and you get sick of me for whatever reason, you have more than enough space. If you want to have your own home office, too. There’s space for that. I also own the entire floor, so no annoying next door neighbors. This place also came with two parking spaces so you can park your car and not have to leave the poor thing in the street like you’ve been doing since you moved to Velaris. And this is the last floor with a large outdoor space, so if you want to tan outside in the summer without getting tan lines, you can do that naked. Actually you can be naked here whenever you want. I don’t mind one bit. But to go back to the terrace outside, which includes a pool. Remember the pool? Yeah, great incentive in my opinion. And the jacuzzi. Don’t forget the jacuzzi. And there’s the…”
“Yes.” Nesta chuckled.
Cassian stopped his rambling. “Yes?”
“Yes, I’ll have my home office here, Cassian.”
He smiled. “Were you actually indecisive or did you just enjoy torturing me for a few minutes?”
“The jacuzzi definitely did it for me.”
He sighed happily. “I knew it added value to this place.”
Nesta chuckled and stood. She walked around the place, her heels clicking on the floor. She squinted as she examined the room. Her eyes stopped on the couch where Cassian was still sitting, watching her curiously. A grimace twisted her face.
“Can we make some arrangements?” She asked.
“You don’t like the couch?”
“It’s ugly,” she stated.
“Then we’re changing the couch.”
Nesta smiled and held her head high. She walked around again, swaying her hips perhaps more than necessary.
“The pantry,” she said. “Can I sneak some normal chocolate between your protein bars?”
“Sure,” he huffed a laugh.
Nesta walked and stopped at the pool table, leaned on it and looked at the whole space. She started mentioning random things she’d like to add which included a lot of bookshelves all over the condo. The man only shrugged and agreed to everything she said. Until she inspected the pool table she was still leaning on.
“The pool table is not negotiable,” Cassian said pointedly.
“Oh?” Nesta angled her head.
He rose from the couch. “Well, I can’t seem to win a snowball fight. But at least I have this game to destroy my brothers when they run their mouths.”
“Men,” she laughed. Cassian reached her and put his hands on the table, on either side of her. “Fine, the pool table can stay. But I need to redecorate and give this place… a woman’s touch.”
“Suit yourself.”
“Oh, and you need matching hangers in your closet.” She frowned.
“Ah.”
“It’s an eyesore. Since we’ll be sharing it now, it needs to be nice and tidy. Or that can make me irritable.”
He leaned in until they shared breaths.
“Anything else that irritates you?” He asked, low.
“You do plenty that irritates me.” Her arms wrapped around his neck.
“Do I? And how can I remedy that?”
Nesta smirked and leaned in to whisper seductively against his lips, “You can fuck it out of me.”