Elion's smile widened in surprise.
Then he suddenly laughed.
Celeste flinched. "H-hey, don't laugh!" she pouted, her cheeks still pink.
He tried to stop, and after a second he did, though the smile never left his face.
'She's so damn cute. Really.'
Instead of answering her question right away, Elion stood up. Celeste looked at him in confusion.
"What are you doing? Hey, answer me," she said shyly as he stepped closer.
Without warning, he slipped one arm under her knees and the other behind her back.
"Heekh—!" she let out a startled yelp, squirming in his arms as he lifted her up off the couch.
"Relax," he murmured, his face lowering slightly as his nose brushed against the top of her head.
He inhaled softly.
The soothing scent of roses filled his senses.
He pulled her into his chest and walked back to the couch and sat down, facing the table this time, then gently placed Celeste on his lap, facing forward as well.
