Chapter 18: 16 | Dance With Me

"Sweet like candy, but he's such a man."

~ Ariana Grande, Moonlight

Please don't forget to comment and vote!!

Sophie bit her lip to fight back her grin, but no avail. She patted his chest and mumbled, "should we head inside for some hot chocolate?"

Cillian smiled. Hot chocolate would have to wait. "After we bandage you up. You're dripping blood."

She reached up to touch the cut, but again he stopped her before she could, affectionately rolling his eyes. Why was her go-to always touching the injury?

The pair got to their feet and made their way back inside. Halfway there, Sophie slid on some ice, nearly landing flat on her back if it wasn't for Cillian's quick reflexes.

"Thank you." She laughed, plastered against his chest. His arms trailed down her waist, surprising her. She couldn't even ask what he was doing before she was hauled up into his arms. "What are you doing!?" She exclaimed through her laughter, now several feet off the ground.

"You're a danger to yourself." He chuckled in return, carrying her the rest of the way inside.

She affectionately rolled her eyes. "My hero."

He didn't set her down at the door as expected, but skillfully opened the door and kicked it shut with his foot behind him. At their entrance, all eyes turned on them.

"You can put me down now." Embarrassed, she ducked her head as he brought her through the living room to get to the stairs. "Everyone is staring."

"Where you going?" One of the older cousins asked as they passed.

"To take care of my wife." Was Cillian's casual reply.

Some of her family whistled or winked, while some of the kids made gagging sounds. She heard one of them whisper, "those newlyweds," and her stomach dropped. They thought they were going upstairs for something else.

"No, I'm bleeding!" Her voice called, halfway up the stairs now.

"That never stopped me." One of her aunts laughed.

"No, not my period!" She exclaimed, but they were already in their bedroom, out of earshot. "Oh my gosh."

Gently, he set her down on the bed. "What?"

With her head in her hands to hide her reddening face, she mumbled, "my family thinks we are... y'know..."

He blinked, not letting it go.

She groaned and looked anywhere but him. "We're newlyweds, Cillian. They think we are..."

"Having sex."

She shushed him. "Don't say it so loud!"

He rose a brow and cupped her jaw to inspect her face,  but she thought he was making a move. "I don't see the problem."

Taken back, her jaw dropped and she debated on pulling out of his touch. "Wait, you don't- I won't-"

"Why is it bad if they think that? They're supposed to believe us, right?"

Oh. Part of the act. That's what he meant. Right.

Flustered, she dropped her gaze. "Right."

He fought back a smile, thinking she couldn't possibly look more endearing than she did right now. "Sophie."

Without looking at him, she replied, "Yes?"

"Sophia." He called again, ducking his head to catch her eyes. Once he had her gaze, he reassured her. "We're not going to do what they think we're doing."

She visibly relaxed, but she acted otherwise. "Oh, yeah. I know." No she didn't. She needed to hear him say that.

He eyed her, releasing her jaw to fetch the materials to patch up her cut. As he walked away, he said in a teasing tone, "Unless you want to."

"Cillian!"

Not long after, she had her eyebrow taped up. A bandaid wouldn't fix it, but thankfully two pieces of medical tape did the trick. Sophie confirmed with Cillian during that time that he'd be comfortable going to the banquet tonight, meaning they both had to go out to find him something to wear. Luckily for Sophie, Lauren had an extra dress for her to wear.

Thankfully by the time they went back downstairs, her family seemed to forget all about their teasing and the couple was able to enjoy some hot chocolate in peace.

Well, that's what they thought, anyway.

A smile slowly stretched across her mother's lips as she watched Cillian. He was desperately trying to make it back to his wife, but Julie and Sarah decided him standing was the perfect opportunity each of them to sit on one of his feet and wrapped themselves around his legs for a ride. Cillian jokingly looked at Sophie for help, and all she did was laugh, only encouraging her cousin's antics further.

Ultimately, he gave them what they wanted and shuffled around the room, careful not to go too fast or hurt them.

"He'll make a great father someday."

Sophie smiled, a thoughtful smile on her lips as she watched her husband. "Maybe."

"Maybe? You don't think so?" Angela inquired.

"I-I mean, it's just... yes, he will be great. We're just not there... yet."

Her smile only grew. "Are you on the pill? If not, I'm sure we'll have another baby here next Christmas."

"We are not trying to get pregnant right now." Sophie responded with a roll of her eyes.

"Really? I wasn't going to mention it, but that hickey on your neck sure looks like a baby making hickey-"

"Mom!" She grumbled and tugged her turtleneck up higher to cover her mark- not a hickey. It must have fallen a bit when she wasn't paying attention.

"Well if you aren't using protection, and with you being newlyweds and all, if you aren't careful-"

"We got it, mom. Thanks." She quickly cut her mom off.

Angela chuckled and placed a hand over her daughter's. "I'm only teasing, but... have you talked about kids? Do you want some?"

"I do, we do-" she hopes Cillian would say the same if asked. She'd have to catch him up with that lie later. "Just not now."

Finally, Cillian plopped down on the couch next to his wife, the two girls on each of his legs giggling their heads off. "Again, again!" They cheered, glued to his pant legs.

Sophie chuckled and ruffled the girls' hair. "Give him a break, girls."

"Actually, it's time for bed, you two." Her aunt butt in, making them pout.

"Ah, ah, ah, remember, the sooner you sleep, the sooner Santa comes!"

That was all it took for the girls to scramble to their feet and dash to their bedrooms.

Angela was engaged in a different conversation now, allowing Sophie to speak with Cillian. "You're good with them, you know."

In that moment, he realized something he hadn't ever thought about before. He wanted kids. He wanted little eyes watching him and little voices asking him questions. Before he met Sophie, he would have never even considered fatherhood as an option for someone like him... but for once, he finally felt like he could have a future.

"Think so?" He wondered. "I don't want to hurt them by accident."

Her hand found his thigh, giving it a comforting pat. "I trust you won't." She responded. "Since my mom asked, I told her we want kids... in case anyone asks you."

His head lazily lolled to the side to face her. "We do?"

"We do." She confirmed with a chuckle.

A small smile graced his lips. "How many?"

"We'll say we're still deciding."

He nodded, thinking. "Your brother asked... I said whatever you wanted."

"Did he buy that?"

"I think so."

She hummed in reply, her smile widening. "They love you, y'know... my family."

He huffed a laugh. "Maybe your cousins. I'm not too confident about your brother."

She chuckled. "No, maybe not yet, but he likes you."

"How do you know?"

"He hasn't threatened to kill you in a minute, so..." She said with a shrug.

Unbothered with the threat, he laughed. "That's good."

She checked the time and immediately rose from her seat. "The banquet is in a couple hours and we need to get you a suit."

Lauren heard as she was passing by. "Hey, Tom needs to run out for a tie. I bet he could take Cillian and meet us there."

Sophie hesitated and glanced at Cillian nervously. "Well-"

"If he's okay with it." Cillian decided with a small nod.

"Great! I'll check with him." Lauren said as she walked away.

"Are you sure you're okay with it?" Sophie asked him under her breath.

His expression softened. "I'm sure."

She looked worried but let it go for now. He was a grown man, he could handle himself. He's been making tons of progress. However, she still didn't trust her brother.

"Well, I'm gonna go get ready. I guess I'll see you there." She told him with a shy smile.

He returned the smile. "See you soon."

•••

Cillian has never worn a suit in his life. It was stuffy, restricting, and uncomfortable- but still, he wore it. It was a simple black suit with a white button up underneath, a tie he had yet to put on in his jacket pocket- for he didn't know how. That, and he didn't love the idea of having fabric tied around his neck.

Alone, he sat anxiously in front of the bar and continued to check the time on the large clock that hung on the wall above the drinks. He watched as the hand ticked, each click increasing his nerves. He couldn't explain why, he was just antsy. It could be Sophie not being here, or it could be he felt silly in his suit. Did it look okay on him? Would she think it looked nice?

"Is this over a girl, big guy?" the bartender asked, as he wiped down glasses.

Not used to speaking to strangers, he straightened. "How'd you know?"

"Cause there's a lovely one in the doorway looking right at you," he nodded to where Sophie was standing.

His eyes caught hers and his jaw went slack. Sophie typically lived in her comfy clothes- sweats, leggings, sweatshirts, and things like that. He loved it, she could wear a potato sack and he'd still think she was the most beautiful woman in the world. Still, it was the first time in a while he saw her in something different than casual clothes.

She wore a form fitting red silk dress that hit her curved waist flawlessly. His eyes were glued to the revealed pieces of smooth skin and he found himself wanting to feel it with his calloused hands, touching every inch of her and his lips would follow. He shook the thought away, crimson red. Her hair was messed from rushing down the stairway and she tried to make it at least a little on time. She ran a hand through it in an attempt to tame the beast and he's was instantly awestruck. She was breathtaking.

"You alright there?" The bartender teased with a knowing grin.

"Excuse me a moment." He politely excused himself and squeezed through the people mingling.

He managed to finally get to her where she was waiting for him on the other side of the restaurant. With a beaming smile, she peeked up at him. Just like that, he was breathless.

"Hey, you look really nice." She complimented him, her gaze doing a once over his figure. When she didn't get a response, she drew closer and whispered so only he could hear, "You okay?"

She squeezed his bicep to get his attention, thinking he was distracted. Little did she know, she was his distraction. It didn't help when one of her hands traveled up his chest and to the nape of his neck, playing the bits of his hair that curled at the end. The other hand remained on his chest, enjoying the way his muscles twitched and relaxed under her fingers. She felt him tremble, with restraint- with emotion, she wasn't sure.

His face drew closer to hers, making her face redden at the proximity. Finally, through a boyish grin he murmured, "hi."

"I said hi to you two minutes ago." She breathily laughed.

"You look beautiful." He told her, but rather quietly so just she could hear.

"Thank you," she softly replied. "Wanna go find our seats?"

Wordlessly, like a lovesick puppy, he followed her to their seats. She thanked him as he pulled out her chair for her and took a seat beside her. She learned closer to him and asked, "so was my brother nice to you?"

He eyes did a once over her dress. "He was, actually."

Her eyes narrowed, accusingly. "Really?"

Unable to find the words, he pulled out his tie out of his jacket pocket. "I didn't know how to tie it." Was all he could say.

With a smile, she took it from him and situated it around his neck. "Luckily, I do."

His head spun. They were closer now, her vanilla scented perfume stronger now that she was in closer proximity. Her red glossed lips matched her dress perfectly and curled hair that she normally had up in a messy bun cascaded down her back effortlessly. His eyes flickered over all her features as concentrated on tying his red tie.

"Hey, we match." She mumbled, noticing that his tie did in fact match her dress perfectly. The tie tightened and he immediately stiffened. Her eyes met his. "You okay?"

He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. With a panicked breath, he reached for the tie, horrid memories flooding back.

Cillian was young and, "arrogant." General Hoppers seethed as he tightened the silver chain around Cillian's neck. "I'm going to suffocate every inch of that out of you, mutt."

With his arms restrained, there was nothing Cillian could do to stop the general from tightening the chain around his neck- just tight enough for him to struggle for a breath, but not enough to cut it off completely.

The silver burned into his skin with searing, hot pain. Gasping for breath, all Cillian could do was look at him pleadingly, desperate for air and for the pain to stop.

With the chain locked around his neck, the general let his neck go and instead ripped his head back by his hair. "That'll teach you to defy my orders."

It taught him. At just sixteen years old, he was complacent after that.

"I don't think I can... I don't-"

Immediately, the knot was undone and gentle hands were on his chest. "It's okay, you don't have to wear it." Sophie assured him, knowing his mind was elsewhere right now.

He exhaled and swallowed hard. "Sorry."

Her expression was sad, but not because he couldn't wear it. "I'm sorry." She told him, sincerely.

The healing scars wrapped around his neck told her everything she needed to know what made him frightened. She couldn't imagine having your breath cut off, strangled.

She opened his jacket and stuffed the tie back inside. "I like the look without a tie anyway." She said, trying to lighten the mood and get his mind off the matter.

Again, he released a breath, trying to reel in his mind. "Do you?"

She nodded, her hand shifting to his thigh, knowing he needed her touch to be grounded. "I do. You look really nice."

"Ooooookaaaaay power couple!" One of Sophie's cousins cheered from a few tables over, making her way over. "Literal couple goals, wow! Y'all are gonna make some beautiful babies."

The couple blushed, though Sophie tried to cover it up with an eye roll. The night went on with some more laughter and dinner, the tie situation thankfully forgotten. As the night wrapped up, soothing jazz Christmas music was played and couples made their way to the dance floor.

Cillian noticed the way Sophie watched the other couples and bit her lip, holding back on saying what she wanted- what she was thinking. He knew exactly what she was thinking, but he wanted to hear her ask.

"You ever dance before?" She finally asked, her fingers anxiously tapping on the table, working up to asking a bigger question.

Biting back a laugh, he replied, "I haven't."

"Oh," she said, unsure where to go with that. "It's not very hard."

Amused, he hummed at that, his brow raised.

"Have you, umm..." she trailed off and cleared her throat, embarrassed.

With a gentle smile, he leaned forward in his seat, invading her personal space. "Ask me, Sophia."

Playing dumb, she pretended not to know what he meant. "What do you mean?"

He sent her a knowing look.

Her eyes widened and she blurted, "Will you dance with me?"

He held out his hand to her as an invitation. "If you teach me."

Her own grin stretched across her lips and she placed her hand in his, allowing him to lead her to the dance floor. His hands rested gently and respectfully on her hips, her arms went on his shoulders, bodies pressed together.

"I, um," he cleared his throat, cheeks tinting pink. She smiled, never seeing this flustered side of him before. "I really don't know how to dance."

"Well good thing we're not dancing."

He raised an eyebrow.

"We're swaying."

He grunted and playfully rolled his eyes, taking note that people were beginning to stare. It was cute, seeing the big ol' tough guy demeanor crack and him get flustered and nervous.

He was too busy nervously glancing at others around them that he didn't notice Sophie admiring him. Not his looks, that was something everyone admired. She looked deeper than that- his heart.

This man faced God knows how many wars, torture, abuse, you name it. Yet here he was, internally panicking about not knowing how to dance. Even still, no matter how nervous he was, he did it anyway. He did it for her.

Even though he's never said the words, he had a way of making her feel loved.

She felt tears sting the back of her eyes, and she rested her head on his shoulder, hoping he wouldn't see. But of course, he did.

She felt him tense and he worriedly asked, "are you okay-"

"Very." She responded, softly, and lifted her head to look at him again. "Just...." The words died in her mouth when she realized how close their faces were.

Unexpectedly, his hand drifted to her hip. It settled there and gently pulled her closer, making her inhale sharply. She splayed her hand against his broad chest, intending to push him away for a little bit more space, but instead she left it there.

As he leant foreword her pulse raced. A small lock of hair tumbled in front of her face, resting just in front of her cheek, but with one swift slide of his thumb, it was brushed out of the way. Their faces inched closer, just a breath away.

Time stopped.

•••

CLIFF HANGER! Sorry but also not sorry lol! Thank you so much for almost 4.5k reads!!!

Question of the chapter: how was your Christmas?

Just wanted to thank y'all for all the comments, spam comments, and love. Life's been a little rough recently and seeing your comments literally make my day. Thank you again ♥️

Clues for next chapter: 😚🤏🏻🎅