A Graduation Gift novel Chapter 158

Cassandra's eyes were wide open, astonishment covering her face.

Fireworks lit up the sky in a dazzling array of pattern after pattern.

Some were green, the sparks raining down like a meteor shower.

Some were purple, glowing like smiling faces.

Some were gold, blossoming out like wild flowers.

And then there were the red, holding their shapes in burning hearts as the entire sky was painted bright with the color of romance.

As each explosion lit up the sky and scattered like falling flower pedals, the dark night shone as bright as day. Cassandra was enchanted.

She couldn't keep her eyes from the sky. Her astonishment slowly turned into jubilation and she couldn't wipe the smile off her face.

The burst of each firework reflected in her eyes and Rufus gazed as each color lit up her shining eyes.

"Like it?"

His voice was so soft and warm that even with two simple words, Cassandra could feel her knees buckle.

"A lot! It's so beautiful. Thank you."

She felt her voice choke, her eyes starting to well up a little bit as the gratitude spilled out of her.

Rufus smiled, instinctively leaning over and leaving a soft kiss on her forehead.

"I'm glad you like it."

He'd shipped the entire set of fireworks equipment along with all the fireworks from overseas but had thought little of the cost. All he could think of was making sure Cassandra liked it.

For Cassandra, the fireworks painted the most picturesque scene into the night sky. But for Rufus, the real beauty was in her eyes.

In her pure eyes, the fireworks bloomed. These were the clearest eyes he'd ever seen in his entire life.

As the fireworks faded into the night sky and the sounds of the explosions slowly drifted away, a sense of peace fell over their night.

Rufus removed his hands from covering Cassandra's ears, making their way down to cup her cheeks. He gently lifted her face, his eyes never wavering from hers, full to the brim with love.

"So, how are you going to thank me, huh?" he asked, a mischievous smile creeping onto his face.

His hands felt as hot as magma but his movements were soft as a feather; as if he was handling an invaluable piece of treasure.

His fiery eyes seemed to burn through her and Cassandra couldn't help but feel a little unsettled. She could never really behave calmly in front of him, especially when he spoke with such an irresistible tone and looked at her with such passion in his eyes. She felt as though she might fall down at any time, melting into a pool of liquid at his feet.

"Rufus, I... I… How do you want me to thank you?" she stammered with a bashful look.

This was nothing like her normal, articulate self. Within seconds, she'd been transformed into this shy, stammering girl. The last few words came out as soft as a murmur, barely audible if he had not been so close to her.

A wicked smile crept across his face and just like that, his lips were pressed fiercely against hers.

He closed his eyes, relishing the taste of this woman. A feeling of contentment filled his body.

Cassandra, on the other hand, was caught off-guard by the impromptu kiss. Her eyes stayed wide open in disbelief, and she could see nothing but the thick eyelashes of this man.

Though he kept his eyes closed, he could feel that her mind was elsewhere from the kiss so he naughtily bit her lip.

"I don't have anything to eat so if your mind continues to wander, I'll have to have a taste of you instead," he threatened playfully.

Cassandra instantly closed her eyes.

She had really eaten nothing when she was waiting for Rufus. Her stomach had been crying for food. Before he could finish 'tasting' her, she would probably faint due to hunger.

Cassandra couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed by his brash suggestion and she didn't dare to move as far as her body was begging, afraid he might push it too far. So she stayed how she was, wrapped up in the kiss until her entire body became so soft that she had to lean into his arms to keep herself from falling.

Time passed in silence. After what felt like a century, Rufus pulled away unwillingly from her seducing lips. It was only then that he opened his eyes to gaze upon her pink cheeks and twinkling eyes.

Suddenly, a round of firecrackers exploded just outside the window. Just as one stopped, another went off as families set off their crackers in celebration of the Lunar New Year.

It slowly dawned on Cassandra. If these families were starting to set off their firecrackers, it must have passed midnight. And tonight, it meant the 15-day long Spring Festival had come to an end.

"I'm glad I got to spend my birthday with you,"

Rufus said. Cassandra was taken aback by his abrupt confession.

"What? Your birthday is right on the fifteenth day of the first month? Why didn't you tell me?" Cassandra exclaimed.

She was upset that his birthday had slipped right under her nose.

She hadn't gotten him any present and worse, it was he that had gifted her the wonderful display of fireworks. Surely, this was backwards.