𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗧𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘆-𝗡𝗶𝗻𝗲

𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗧𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘆-𝗡𝗶𝗻𝗲:
Preferences

❅𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘆-𝗡𝗶𝗻𝗲❅

The next day, I was beyond excited for the date I had planned for me and Mazin. 

It was a pottery date—something I hoped Mazin had never done so I could teach her. 

Afterward, the plan was family dinner, which I was equally excited about. 

I've been eating really good these past few days

I let out a content sigh, running my hands along the leather steering wheel as I turned down the familiar gated driveway. 

I'm driving for once since Mazin surprisingly let me convince her to hand me the reins today. 

Which meant I also got to specify how she should dress today, which was casual just as yesterday. 

Or much more casual. 

I told her to be prepared to get messy and I think it confused her. 

But I just don't want her to get clay on something she likes. 

I purposely wore a pair of black leggings and a sweatshirt, keeping my hair tied back out of my face in a low bun. 

I suddenly glanced over, noticing Mazin walking past the front door that she shut behind her. 

She wore a white t-shirt and baggy jeans that hung low on her waist, exposing the soft skin of her lower stomach and v-line. 

Her blonde hair was down, making me realize I had forgotten to mention wearing it up. 

I also forgot about jewelry given she's wearing a few rings. 

I opened my door, sliding out of my seat as she approached the car—which immediately made her raise a brow. 

"Well, hello to you too," she said, smiling slightly as I rushed around the car. 

I let out a soft breath, "Hi," I said, smiling happily as I opened the passenger door for her. 

Just like that—

Mazin's smile dropped. 

Not even faded. 

It completely dropped. 

Which unconsciously made me laugh. 

A few times actually. 

It felt kind of wrong too given the serious nature of Mazin's expression, but I just couldn't help it, I swear. 

"I-I..." I trailed off, laughing again as I glanced away from her face which only made me laugh harder. 

Fuck, I seriously can't. 

It was her reaction—I swear it was her reaction.

"Virelai," I heard her say, and while her voice sounded serious—I couldn't miss the smile that slowly grew on her lips, "You're being very... frustrating right now."

I pursed my lips together in a smile, pushing my laughter away, "I can open doors too, you know," I pointed out as I stood by the open door, "Now get in the car, Mazin." 

Mazin dramatically rolled her eyes, surprisingly walking past me to get in the car. 

But not before grabbing my waist and pulling me in for a kiss. 

Which naturally made my grip loosen on the car door, wrapping my arms around her neck as she tugged me closer to her warm body. 

Her lips were soft against mine—the warmth of her familiar cologne surrounding me perfectly. 

Mazin gripped the back of my neck, naturally evoking a hum from me—unaccustomed to the slight firmness her grip held for once. 

It wasn't harsh, more or so enough for me to notice a difference. 

"I'm getting you back for this," Mazin suddenly said against my lips, nipping at my bottom lip as she held me in place by my neck. 

"Oh no... you're getting me back?" I whispered against her lips in a fake worried tone, running my hands across her firm shoulders, "How will I ever recover?" 

Mazin only hummed, "You won't," she said, kissing my lips again before she pulled back slightly, "Trust me." 

I raised a brow, unconsciously smiling wider, "Opening a door is common courtesy, Mazin," I purposely said, gently squeezing her shoulders. 

She firmly squeezed the back of my neck in response, "And returning the favor is common courtesy too," she determined nonchalantly as she gently loosened her grip on my neck and waist. 

And before I could say anything else, she pulled away to get in the car, shaking her head as I closed her door with a wide grin. 

I could easily notice the subtle amusement on her features that she tried to fight.

My grin grew as I walked back over to the driver's side, opening the door and sliding into the seat beside Mazin. 

Whose stare was already pinpointed on me—almost in expectancy. 

"The three-hint rule," Mazin purposely reminded me, her soft lips twitching up slightly when I jokingly rolled my eyes. 

"Well here's two out of three hints, pull your hair back and take off your rings," I told her, which immediately made Mazin tilt her head. 

And eye my entire fucking body?

I'm very confused right now. 

Is she confused right now?

Mazin forcefully cleared her throat, "Clarify," was all she said, glancing away from my body to meet my stare. 

"I'm clarifying for you to pull your hair back, Mazin, and take off your rings," I said, almost in a slow tone as if she didn't understand. Because it seems like she doesn't. "You can put your rings in the cupholder and put them back on when we're done." 

Mazin hummed once, pursing her lips as she glanced between my eyes, "I want you to repeat what you just said," she determined as she began calmly taking off her rings, "Because I don't think that's what you have planned but—" 

"What do you mean?" I cut her short, furrowing my brows as I grew even more confused by our conversation. 

At least until I looped my words back. 

Rings. 

Hair. 

Take off your rings... pull back your hair and—

Oh my god, I didn't mean it like that. 

She definitely thinks I was insinuating that we were going to have sex. 

Right? 

No, because if I'm wrong then this will be even more awkward. 

"I typically take off my rings for a specific reason, Virelai," Mazin went to say, clearly trying to clue me in on what I had just concluded, "And then pulling my hair back insinuates that you wanted me to—" 

"I already got it," I quickly said, feeling my face burn up at an annoying rate, "I uh gathered what you meant—or what you thought I meant... or what I insinuated? Either way, I concluded that you thought I meant, sex—or maybe I should say other inappropriate things, possibly in the backseat or... I'm going to stop speaking now because if you continue to let me then I'll make this all worse." 

Mazin twitched up into an amused smirk, leaning her arm on the window with her cheek against her fist. 

Which had to be the most effortlessly attractive thing she's done. 

"The backseat is very specific," Mazin said, growing more amused when I rolled my eyes and forcefully glanced away from her, "Why not the front seat?" 

"Mazin stop," I groaned in annoyance, now starting the car to distract myself. 

At least so my face won't burn up worse. 

"What? I'm sure we could figure out a way to make the front seat work," Mazin purposely said, naturally making my face irritatingly grow hotter, "It would probably work better too—" 

"Mazin, I swear to god," I cut her short in a deep sigh, buckling my seatbelt as I tried to ignore the weird ache between my thighs. 

She's so annoying. 

I swear she's so annoying for this. 

Mazin only hummed in amusement, "Maybe we could recline your seat back, and then I would get on top—" 

"Who's to say I wouldn't be on top?" I suddenly said, meeting her dark eyes with a narrowed look. 

Which made her brows suddenly raise, parting her lips for what I thought was to say something. 

But she didn't. 

I think she's genuinely taken aback by my bold words. 

I even managed to catch myself off guard a little. 

Mostly because I've never been on top of anyone in my life, much less know how to navigate... that. 

"You want to be on top baby?" she asked me, and this time I knew we were no longer joking. 

This time she was serious. 

I think she's asking me my preference?

"I..." I trailed off, unsure of what to say. 

Mostly because I had already tried to challenge her on who would be on top. 

So it felt a little late to take that back. 

"Yes," I suddenly said before I could think it through, "I think so," I quickly added in a whisper. 

Which made Mazin smile slightly, "Yeah?" she clarified, her dark eyes never once leaving mine, "Because I think you would be very pretty laying on your back baby." 

I drew in a breath at her words, trying not to appear affected, but I really couldn't fucking help the millions of fucking emotions her words sent through my body. 

I felt this intense desire while also feeling shy—and then frustrated. 

Also impatient. 

I don't even know what I'm impatient for. 

"Then you could have a pillow under your head, maybe even under your back," Mazin said as if she were mapping out the details right here, right now. 

And the way she's looking at me, it feels like she's genuinely imagining this scenario. 

Meanwhile, I'm trying to figure out why I need a pillow under my back. 

Maybe for comfort? 

"I think my back is fine," I suddenly whispered, deciding to focus on the most appropriate aspect of this conversation or my face might actually burn off, "Like I don't have any back problems," I quickly clarified. 

Mazin pursed her lips together, "It's not for that baby," she said, her voice soft with me as her eyes burned into mine, "It's for stimulation." 

I felt my brows automatically shoot up, "Oh," I whispered, awkwardly blinking a few times. 

Until I glanced away from her entirely, now rethinking this entire conversation. 

I should've just let her keep the fucking rings on and her hair tied up. 

Because this is so embarrassing. 

Back problems? 

Seriously? 

Why would Mazin even think I have back problems? 

And how is it added stimulation?

"It's okay not to know this," Mazin suddenly said, clearly noticing me rethinking my entire fucking existence. 

I shook my head, refusing to meet her stare as I reached for the gearshift, attempting to put the car in park and just drive. 

Drive far far away.

But the warmth of her hand over mine halted me, gently guiding my hand away from the gearshift before I could move the car. 

"I'm very thankful to be the first person you experience this with," Mazin whispered, gently raising my hand up. 

To her lips—which I immediately felt the softness of against the back of my hand. 

"More than thankful," Mazin emphasized, pressing another kiss to the back of my hand. 

And her words somewhat made me feel a little better. 

Still, I refused to meet her stare, unable to get rid of the dreadful feelings I'm currently experiencing.

"It's just embarrassing," I whispered, letting out a deep burdened sigh. 

It feels like she's very experienced. 

And I... know barely anything. 

Much less actually experienced it. 

"I genuinely think it's cute that you're unaware, baby," Mazin said, gently squeezing my hand as she trailed soft kisses past my hand and down to my wrist, "I like the idea of teaching the professor something for a change." 

I rolled my eyes, "Of course, you would say something like that," I said, unconsciously smiling as I shook my head. 

Mazin hummed, "While we're on this topic, do you have a certain work uniform you wear because we could—" 

"Mazin," I groaned in annoyance, immediately realizing why she was trying to ask me that. 

 Given the sex topic and then the professor topic. 

"No-yeah, I'm getting off track," Mazin quickly said, pressing another kiss to my wrist, "Let's table this conversation for a better time."  

I immediately nodded a few times, "Okay," I whispered as she gently let go of my hand so I could finally put the car in drive. 

But just as I shifted gears, I realized I had forgotten the entire objective. 

"You picked our date out remember?" Mazin whispered, noticing my hesitation as she gently ran her hand around the back of my neck. 

And then suddenly my blank mind was back, resurfacing to the current focus. 

Pottery. 

Family dinner. 

Yes, that. 

"I remember," I suddenly told her as I let out another deep breath, driving forward to exit the large driveway towards the tall steel gates. 

❅

Not even ten minutes later, we were pulling up to the downtown pottery shop that I parked in the side parking lot of—guiding Mazin around the building toward the doors. 

Now my excitement was back, feeling so impatient for her to see my surprise. 

I nearly grinned as I held her hand in mine, rushing us toward the double glass doors as Mazin laughed in amusement at my impatience. 

"Surprise," I whispered, throwing my arms up as I did a small twirl in the pottery shop lobby. 

Mazin's smile grew as she grabbed my hand and pulled me back closer to her, "This is really creative baby," she said, resting her arms around my waist as she glanced around. 

"You really think so?" I asked her, leaning in closer to her as I analyzed her face. 

Mazin nodded a few times, "I definitely think so," she said, still glancing around for another moment until she met my stare. 

"And you've never done pottery before?" I asked her, hoping she would say no. 

Mazin leaned in to briefly kiss my lips, "I have not," she said as she pulled back slightly from me, "Thank you for taking me here." 

I smiled happily, "Of course—I'm so excited to teach you, Mazin," I whispered in excitement, squeezing my arms around her waist and earning a small chuckle from her, "You're going to love it."

Mazin hummed, running her hands up my back, "With you here, I definitely will," she said, glancing over past me when one of the instructors emerged from the back. 

And soon she had gotten us set up with all of our supplies, including a nice pottery wheel. 

She ensured I knew what I was doing before leaving us entirely alone in the studio as she headed to the back where she continued cleaning supplies from an earlier class. 

Luckily, I could rent this place out just for me and Mazin. 

It felt so nice with just us here—especially as I walked her through step by step for the first small pot she was making. 

So far this was the perfect date idea. 

"Like this?" Mazin asked me, her brows furrowed in concentration as the wheel spun slowly beneath her hands. 

She pressed her fingers deeper into the cool clay, something I was trying not to focus on. 

Her fingers. 

And how skilled they already were against the clay. 

"Sort of," I said, now pulling one of the stools beside her and positioning it behind her instead. 

And once I was seated behind her with my arms wrapped around hers and my head poking to the side, I immediately felt a warmth invade every inch of my body. 

But I focused on dipping my hands in the nearby bowls of water on either side. 

Before running my fingers over hers, guiding her hands to smoothen out the pot she was trying to shape. 

"Like this," I whispered as my palms rested against her hands. 

Mazin hummed, staring down as she concentrated purely on the wet clay pot that our hands shaped and molded. 

"You're doing perfect," I encouraged her, my voice still soft and lowered between us, "Keep doing it just like that." 

Mazin remained silent this time, turning her head slightly to meet my stare for a moment. 

And with the faded sun filtering in through the large arched windows, illuminating every inch of her sharp face, I thought I might pass out. 

Or maybe it felt like I had passed out and woken up to this unreal woman. 

Her skin was so smooth that it glistened beautifully, her dark eyes now hazel. 

"Mazin," I whispered, openly glancing between her eyes, "You have to be the most beautiful woman I've ever laid my eyes on." 

Mazin smiled softly at my words, her eyes now trailing my face, "Minus your reflection in the mirror," she corrected me in the softest whisper. 

 I felt myself unconsciously grow speechless at her words, watching as she naturally turned around to focus back on the pot before we both messed it up. 

"I still need help," Mazin said just as I removed my hands to give her more freedom, "A lot of help actually." 

I smiled in amusement, "You just don't want me to move," I pointed out with a raised brow. 

Mazin hummed, "I don't," she didn't hesitate to say, which naturally made a warmth grow around me, "Stay right here with me," she whispered. 

I nodded a few times before I could properly string words together, "Of course," I whispered, leaning closer to her. 

And instead of focusing on glancing past her arm, I just pressed my cheek against her covered back—allowing her to guide our hands together as we shaped the pot. 

That's actually how we made a lot of other pots. 

I never made my own pot and neither did she—we made both of them together. 

Which I was really happy about, especially since I could remain pressed against her back.  

The only issue was that we had to wait for the pots to be completely fired in the kiln.

So we went ahead and drove away from downtown towards the suburbs for family dinner at Tazmin and Lena's. 

Which was as chaotic as expected upon arrival. 

Lena was focused on cooking the fried rice while Tazmin was outside by the grill, taking the chicken off. 

Then there was Tahir and Omara having a literal Just Dance while Alena was left to be the judge. 

It didn't help that Mazin and I were walking in the house wearing clay-stained clothes. 

I didn't think that part of this through. 

"What were you guys up to?" Tazmin asked in amusement as she walked past us with the pan of freshly grilled chicken. 

"Pottery," Mazin said with a growing smile, pulling me by my hand toward the kitchen where Tazmin and Lena were. 

"Oh wowww," I heard Tahir call out as he crossed his feet and did a three-sixty spin, continuing to follow the Just Dance routine, "Pottery without inviting me is crazy." 

Mazin rolled her eyes, "It was a date," she pointed out, pulling me even closer to her as if Tahir was somehow going to steal me away, even from across the room. 

"A date?" Lena suddenly said, popping her head out past Tazmin's taller frame. 

"You guys went on a date?" Omara suddenly gushed, disregarding the entire Just Dance game as she now ran over to us, "Does this mean you're back on track to being my sisters-in-law? Mama said you would ask me to be your bridesmaid." 

I blinked a few times, entirely caught off guard by what Omara had just said. 

Meanwhile, Mazin glanced over to Lena—knowing that Omara always called her Mama and Tazmin Mom. 

Lena's been planning Mazin and I's wedding? 

How long has this been in the works? 

"Well if she's a bridesmaid then I want to carry the rings out," Tahir suddenly added in, now walking over to us with Alena—leaving the Just Dance game on pause. 

I even felt stuck on pause, processing that we're actively discussing a full-on wedding right now. 

Are they really already calling their roles?

"Do ring bears walk out first? Because I wanted to be the first to walk out, I have this whole thing planned—" 

"I had something planned too though," Tahir cut Omara short, which earned a dramatic sigh from her and a confused look from Mazin. 

And also me. 

Because how do they both have entrances planned for our wedding?

"But mine is so much cooler," Omara said in a dramatic tone, crossing her arms over her chest. 

"Bro? You haven't even seen what I had planned," Tahir pointed out offensively with furrowed brows. 

Omara shrugged, "Judging by your Just Dance skills, I knew it was going to suck," she determined, which made Lena raise a brow. 

"Omara," Lena said, using her full name as a clear warning. 

Which immediately made Omara glance over to Tazmin with a softened look. 

As expected, given that's what she always did. 

"Mom weren't my dance moves better than his?" she asked Tazmin with a frown. 

A frown that I knew was for dramatics. 

But I swear it got Tazmin every time. 

"Of co—" Tazmin cut herself short as soon as Lena nudged her, "Yeah, I'm not getting in the middle of this one, qamari," she suddenly told Omara, now focusing on cutting the grilled chicken. 

"But Mom, he's so not suitable to walk out first at Vee and Mazin's wedding," Omara tried to convince her. 

"I'm more suitable than you—oldest always gets first privileges anyways," Tahir argued back as Alena shook her head. 

"Just let your little sister have it babe," she tried to convince him, running her hand up his arm. 

"You guys are aware that we aren't engaged—and that this was our second date," Mazin pointed out, glancing between her siblings with a narrowed look. 

Tahir only waved her off, "Shhh Maz we're trying to figure this out right now," he said, earning a a few nods from Omara. 

"Yeah, you should go make the brownies—no one has started on them yet," Omara said, waving Mazin off as she focused back on her argument with Tahir. 

About a nonexistent wedding, might I add. 

"It would be helpful if you started the brownies," Lena added, pursing her lips into a smile. 

"Yeah, you guys could make them together," Tazmin added, glancing between us both, "It'll be like a third date."

Mazin shook her head at them, glancing over to me, "You see, it gets to a point," she said to me, pulling me along toward the end of one of the counters where the box of brownie mix sat. 

"It does," I mumbled, laughing slightly as I processed the wedding that they were both genuinely still arguing over.