A Plan Begins to Form (Part 3) (Page 49)

I hand the soap to Ciri, and she washes her body as I relax and soak in the warm, clean water. We're both lathered up and are pretty clean. I take this opportunity to fill a bucket full of cold water from the water supply in the room and pour it on Ciri. "*LONG GASP* You did not just do that..." She holds her limbs out in shock as she looks at me. She chases me around the bathroom. We're both laughing in enjoyment.

She pulls a sneaky move and teleports. She pours cold water all over me. "Whoo, that's cold, alright!!" We laugh in happiness from the fun. I know a little bit of water magic. I can't make any. I can move it with my powers, though. As we're laughing, I use my magic to raise a ball of cold water from the supply again.

It hovers above her head, and she sees my face. "What's with that look?" She asks me with a smile. I point above her, and she looks. "Oh..." I drop more on her, and she has an even better reaction than earlier. "Cera!! I'm so getting you for that!!" She cocks a smile at me and teleports. "Now it's your turn!" Before I can do anything, she teleports both of us right above the freezing water supply in the room, and I splash into it along with her.

We both come out of the water pale and laughing. I walk over to her and hug her. Lifting her off the ground as I gently squeeze her. "That was fun... I think Jaskier is awake from all the noise..." We walk back to our room with towels covering our privates, and we close the door behind us. I walk over to my clothes and put them on after removing my towel. I get dressed and notice Ciri is almost done too.

After she's done getting dressed, I watch her walk to her bag and pull out a little bit of makeup. I think she looks absolutely stunning without it. I walk up and hug her from behind as she continues to apply a little bit of eyeliner. "I like you more without makeup, Ciri... You look like an angel blessed by snow." She stops at my words and hesitates to continue.

She slowly reaches for a rag and begins to remove the makeup. "I love you, Cera... I know you aren't lying to me when you say those types of things..." It makes my heart flutter hearing her say that about me. I trust her just as much as she trusts me. My head is above her, and she gives a slight frown. "You've gotten so tall... I feel like a child in front of you..." I kiss the top of her head and laugh as she says that. I look at her scar in the mirror and trace it with my fingers.

I trace the left side of her face where the scar is and go down her neck. My fingertips glide down to her hand and interlock our hands together. I feel our wedding rings touch and bring our hands across her chest so we can see them in the mirror. "They are masterpieces, aren't they..." I see the look on Ciri's face and can't help smiling. She is getting a little teary-eyed in this moment of bonding and closeness.

She turns around as I let go of her hand. She gets on her tippy toes and brings down my head. It's a normal kiss, but these are the best ones to me. They're filled with love and emotion. "Cera... After we talk to Jaskier this morning, we need to make plans for the wedding. I don't want to wait any longer..." That doesn't sound like a bad idea. It all really depends on what Jaskier has to say.

My fingers run through her wavy hair. She hasn't put it in a bun in the last few days, and I like it down like this. "Yeah, we can look into it after we hear what Jaskier has to say." She gives me a cocky and devious smile. She captures my lips again, and this time we move our lips in unison.

She pulls away and licks her lips after such a heated kiss. "I wasn't asking for your permission. Cera. I was telling you there is another thing we have to look into today." Wow, I like this version of Ciri. Don't get me wrong, I love Ciri every and anyway she is, but the way she talked to me was scorching. I guess we're going to look into it today. I lean down and give her three quick kisses in confirmation. She acted like a spoiled princess there for a second.

We interlock hands and walk down to the living room and see Jaskier getting ready to prepare food for us. "You want some help?" He begins cooking cornbread and fish in the stone oven. He turns to us and grins the way a bard does. "Why are you smiling like that?" It's a smile indicating something he likes, which is usually embarrassing information.

He sits down, and we follow suit. "Ciri should be quieter. I could hear her from outside." I turn and steal a glance at Ciri. Her face is beet red. "You okay, Ciri? You look like you're going to bite my head off..." Jaskier may have confidence, but messing with Ciri about such private and intimate things is not a good idea.

She crosses her arms and has a serious look on her face as the redness goes away. "If I hear one more person talk about the thing's Cera and I do in private. I'll start using my sword as a shishkabob on the people who speak about it... That includes you and Priscilla. Am I clear, Jaskier?" I can hear the venom in her words when she says Priscilla's name. Even when she isn't here, she's causing problems.

The look on Jaskier's face tells me the message got across, but Ciri wants to hear him say it. "Yes, ma'am! I understand completely..." Jaskier gives an answer I used to give Yen when I was unruly to her sometimes. I can smell the food is almost done and I help Jaskier make the table as the food reaches our plates. We dig into the food when I ask Jaskier my first question.

I look at him as I finish swallowing the food in my mouth. "So, what's the plan right now, Jaskier?" He gets a familiar book and lays it on the table. He points to a specific name that reads Whoreson Junior. That name just makes me sick. Hopefully, Jaskier doesn't intend to work with this guy. Ciri wants me to ask about someone who can perform a wedding for us.

I turn to Jaskier and see the confusion at our antics. I hope he supports what I'm about to ask. "We were wondering if you knew anyone who performs official weddings?" He sighs the moment those words leave my lips. He picks up the book again and starts to flip through the pages. Ciri unconsciously grabs my hand under the table.

Jaskier lays the book down and points at a name. Mr. Lockhart is the name that I read. "He's a man who can perform fully legal and binding marriages. It'll cost you, but he's the only one around that will make it official and keep multiple copies of the records." That sounds like everything we need. I look to Ciri, and she's glowing with happiness. I wonder how much it'll cost. I do want to get her a wedding dress too.