Falling In:
Disclaimer: See previous chapter
VIDANRIC's POV
I could hardly believe my ears. Mel wanted me to join her for a swim? This was what Russav would call a "once in a lifetime opportunity". Not that it would be "once in a lifetime" if I made her fall in love with me first. Like that would ever happen.
I paused in my task of cleaning up and looked at her expectantly after accepting her invitation. She looked at me somewhat embarrassed, a rose red tint colouring her cheeks. "We'll have to remove our boots I suppose," she said.
I nodded and pulled of my boots as she did the same. I walked towards her rather hesitantly, my blood pounding in my ears. I had never felt so naked in front of anyone before, and I had only removed my boots! My expression of indifference did not change as these thoughts ran through my head. Mel was now sitting at the water's edge, her stockings stuffed into her boots and her riding hat lying beside her. She looked so natural with her bare legs dangling in the water.
Mel wasn't born to be a courtier; she was born just to be Mel.
I cleared my throat to get her attention. She looked up into my face with those wide blue eyes; unaware of the effect it would have on me. My breath caught in my throat. Life! What was wrong with me? I was acting like a lovesick puppy! Get a hold of yourself, Vidanric.
A wry smile spread across her face. "You'll want to remove your tunic, you won't be able to swim in that."
"Oh, yes." I took of the tunic and sat down on the empty space next to her. "Shall we?" I asked, extending my hand towards her as if asking for a dance. She grinned and placed her hand in mine. At least she wasn't showing me that resentful face. It was progress!
I stepped into the pond first, and discovered that the bottom was lined with smooth round pebbles. The water reached up to my calves and I walked towards the middle where it was deeper. I stopped only when the water reached my waist, soaking the lower part of my body. Her hand was still in mine, and the water rippled as it surrounded her up to somewhere above her waist.
"Thank you," she said, quickly pulling her hand from my grasp. She ran her hand over the surface of the water watching it reflect the fading sunlight. This was getting really awkward. I could tell that she was uncomfortable in my presence, but I had hoped to spend more time in her company.
Wordlessly, she stepped away from me and began floating on her back in the water. Her eyes were closed and a small smile played across her lips. It was as if I wasn't even there. Well, that might be for the best since she is especially guarded around me. Not that I can blame her.
"You aren't going to just stand there, are you?" she asked, looking at me curiously. Burn it! I was making a fool of myself.
"I was afraid of destroying the peace and tranquillity with my hopeless attempts at swimming," I replied, still standing with my hands clasped behind me.
She choked back a laugh. "I don't think you'll be ungraceful even if you tried!"
She slowly lowered her feet back onto the pebble-strewn pond bottom and stood facing me with her arms crossed over her chest. Her blouse and clothes clung to her body like a second skin and she must have noticed the way I was staring for she turned even redder than before.
"This is no fun if you don't do something!"
I was doing something. I was gazing at the woman I loved. Not that she knew about it.
"You're right. So what do I do?" I asked politely.
"You could begin by splashing around a bit. You know, getting yourself wet?" she suggested. "That is acceptable for a king-to-be, right?" She emphasised on the part about the 'king-to-be'.
Had she accepted the fact that I was going to be king? Did she resent it?
For once in my life I felt helpless. Indeed I had almost forgotten how to have fun. She looked at me incredulously as I stood somewhat dumbly in the water with a look of practiced indifference on my face. I could not have guessed what she was thinking a moment before she splashed some water at me when she threw her hands up and dropped them into the water in exasperation.
She realised too late what she had done, staring at me with her eyes open wide, blinking. She raised a hand to smother a gasp, sending another spray of water in my direction. "It was an accident! I didn't mean to get you all wet."
I looked down at my wet shirt, which was plastered, to my chest. It made me very aware of how I looked. Did she find me physically pleasing? I did not consider myself finely made, for unlike Russav I was more slender than muscular. I had to remind myself that she liked the Unknown for his mind and not his face to settle my rapidly beating heart.
But she had to love everything about him for it to be true love, right? She had to love him for his virtues and accept him with his flaws. Most importantly, she had to love him as a man and a person, and not as a King.
Pulling the front of my shirt off my chest, I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. Her arms were once again crossed, as if to guard herself against something. Me?
The expression in her eyes were hard to define, part apologetic, part embarrassed, part admiration? I could not tell.
She began to apologise all over again for getting me wet but I could not help but notice a muscle which kept twitching in her right cheek, lifting the corners of her mouth into a grin. She was probably savouring the victory of sweet revenge.
"I'm quite all right Lady Meliara, I assure you," I replied, cutting her off in mid-apology. "How about a swim?"
She took my lead and said in all seriousness, "As you wish, my lord."
With that, she was off! Life, but she could swim with grace and swiftness. I took my time, swimming with easy strokes, cutting through the water like a knife, enjoying the sensation of cool water against my skin. The pond was fairly large, surrounded by trees and bushes, with the occasional fish here and there. I swam towards the edge for a breather and scanned the area for Mel. She was swimming at the far end, oblivious to everything but the water.
Suddenly, she dived underwater and undid her braided hair, allowing it to stream out behind her as she swam. The colour of her hair - that of the leaves in autumn caught the light as it filtered through the clear water. I was just beginning to imagine how it would feel like to have my fingers running through that glorious head of hair, when she stopped in mid-stroke. She had remembered that she was not alone.
She turned her face towards the surface of the water and regained her footing, allowing her hair to be slicked back away from her face and down her back. Our eyes met when she looked in my direction and I smiled a friendly smile.
"You are a formidable swimmer indeed, Lady Meliara," I complimented.
"You're not too bad yourself."
Had she been watching me? My heart jumped at the thought.
I admired the way her hips swayed from side to side as she walked towards me. There was a hint of mischievousness in those eyes that sparkled a robin egg blue. Her chin spoke of stubbornness and strength, and she carried herself with a grace and poise that had not been practised, but was in born. Then, there was that smile. The smile that had never been directed at me: except once, at Russav's ball.
Once again, the image of my cousin materialised in my mind's eye. He was tall, dark and handsome, everything a woman wanted in a man physically. If only he were not so debonair and charming, I might stand a chance. On the surface, he seemed quite taken with Mel, always attentive and constantly flirting. I had to remind myself that I had asked him to do just that in order to hold my temper in check.
In truth, we had competed with one another since young. No matter what the challenge was, we would both try to overcome it before the other. The same went with flirting. I was more often than not a step below him, both in looks and charm, but never in wit and humour. It did not help that he was a Duke and I, a mere Marquis. The only advantage I had which drew the ladies to me and not to him was my inheritance. It was no secret that I would become the Prince of Rensaeleaus one day and would need a Princess by my side.
This displeased me greatly and became a source of much worry, as I grew older. I did not want to marry a woman who loved me for my money and power. I just wanted someone to love me for me. That isn't too much to ask for, isn't it?
As Mel drew closer, she swung hair over her shoulder making it fall to one side of her face and began to wring it dry. She seemed slightly irritated by her long hair and attempted to tie it into an untidy knot. When that was done she yelled, "Ouch!"
"What is it?" I asked, concerned. I began wading towards her.
"No!" she exclaimed, holding up her hand, "Stay where you are, I think there's some broken glass here."
I froze in mid step and watched as she began to swim towards shore. I followed closely behind and helped her out of the water. Indeed she had stepped on a piece of glass. The wound was not deep but her blood flowed freely from the open wound.
She sat at the foot of a tree and leaned against its enormous trunk as I examined her injured foot, turning it carefully in my hand. She bit her lower lip and sucked in a breath as my fingers ran lightly across the sole of her foot.
"It's just a cut, but infection would settle in if not treated quickly," I said, placing her foot gently on the ground after turning a small towel into a makeshift bandage, hoping to stop the bleeding. "Wait here," I ordered sternly.
As I turned my back to get the horses, deciding that the mess we left behind could be cleared by one of the servants, she began to stand, placing most of her weight on her uninjured foot and hobbled after me. Why did that woman have to be so stubborn?
I practically dragged the horses towards her, reluctant as they were to move, annoyed at having their meal of crisp grass disrupted. "Can you ride?" I asked.
"I think so," she replied as she reached for the reins of the chestnut. The horse tossed it head and neighed in uncertainty as if sensing that its rider was not fit to ride. This movement caused her to lose her balance and her injured foot instinctively landed on the ground to bear her weight. A yelp of pain quickly followed, and I took a step forward to steady her.
She clutched my forearm tightly to steady herself, turned to me with a tight smile and said, "I guess not."
"If you don't mind, you'll ride with me."
She agreed seeing no other way out. I lifted her into the saddle and climbed behind her after she had swung her uninjured foot to the other side, sitting astride. I led the other horse by the reins as we rode towards the Royal Wing.
"Why aren't we going towards the Primary Guest Wing?" she asked, "My rooms are there."
"The Royal Wing is nearer," I replied tersely, trying to keep the worry out of my voice "Furthermore, the Royal Healers are on duty there all day, they would be able to see to you much sooner."
She fell silent and remained that way for the rest of the journey. I handed off the chestnut to a stable hand and dismounted. Raising my arms to carry her down, I saw that her cheeks had coloured once again. This was something she was not used to.
"My intentions are pure, Lady Meliara," I said dryly.
This only served to make her more embarrassed. " I did not say that your intentions were dishonourable Shevraeth, I'm just not used to being assisted off my horse, that's all," she retorted with a tilt of her head and a courtly sniff. Not courtly speech but courtly behaviour - a strange combination.
She placed her hands on my shoulders and I placed mine around her waist. Her feet were just about to touch the ground when we both realised that she couldn't possibly walk. "I believe I have to carry you," I said, striving to keep my tone neutral.
She said nothing, only nodding and avoiding my gaze as I swung her legs over one arm and held her close. "It would help if you held on to me," I said, after witnessing another wince of pain. She grimaced and reluctantly encircled my neck with her arms. Life! This was probably the closest physical contact we've ever had since the war. I was certainly going to make every minute of it last.
She remained tense throughout the entire time I was carrying her. It felt like carrying wood! Then again, I could feel her soft arms around my neck. Her arms were soft, but they most certainly weren't warm. She shivered when a breeze blew past and couldn't control the urge to snuggle up against me, shifting in my arms. I realised that I too felt chilled, and was grateful for the little warmth she provided as we passed under the main entrance of the Royal Wing.
My footsteps echoed throughout the hall as I looked for a servant to issue orders to. One appeared almost immediately, eyes widening a fraction at witnessing the intimacy between Mel and I. "Get the Royal Healers to the sitting room," I said briskly. He nodded and scurried away.
"This isn't exactly proper, is it?" asked Mel, looking up at me, "This." she struggled to find a word.
"Intimacy?" I offered with a wry grin. "Your well-being is more important than propriety, Lady Meliara. Besides, you're not exactly a conventional courtier who worries about propriety, are you?"
"No," she replied, "But since I'm at court, I should follow the unspoken rules."
"Since they are unspoken," I countered, "They are thus not etched in stone and can be bent to one's will."
"Still." she began.
"Please, Lady Meliara," I said, cutting her off with a sigh, "Don't disappoint me by worrying about 'propriety' right now."
She stared at me sullenly, shook her head and bowed it in defeat. "Blame yourself for your stupidity and carelessness, Mel," she muttered under her breath.
I held my laughter in, but the deep rumbling from within my chest did not escape her notice. She looked up at me again, imitated the expression I had a moment ago and said, "Please, Shevraeth, humour me by just keeping quiet."
~*~
A/N: Second chapter! YAY! Hope this is good, it's longer than the first one so it ought to be better, yeah? I assumed that both Danric and Mel could swim, but it's not confirmed that they can. This date of theirs seem to suck yeah? With Mel getting hurt and all.
**P.P.S~ A question for you all: Should there be kissing? If yes, where? Mouth or cheek? I actually have an idea for a kiss, but it's a little subconscious kiss. Won't explain it here, it'll give everything away! Give me your suggestions anyway.
Thanks to all the reviewers! Do continue reviewing!
Eniamrahc: Even if Vidanric were jealous, he would've hidden it well enough to escape Mel's notice. But I've added the whole rivalry thing in here since it's his POV. The teaser thing was supposed to drop a hint or two about the plot.
Amuli: I've added you to my mailing list! Thanks for all your compliments they totally rocked my day!
Fairydust123: Heart Duel will not be updated as yet since I'm currently working on Truly Gifted and Falling In. I hate to disappoint, but I'm having a little writer's block for HD at the moment. Hopefully, I'll get the next chapter out soon!
Blackrose25: Actually, my inspiration for the chocolate covered berries came from chocolate-coated strawberries! That's the problem with reading too many romance novels. I just thought it added a little romantic oomph to everything.
REVIEW! *a reminder for all you readers=)
Lotsa Love, Felicia
Disclaimer: See previous chapter
VIDANRIC's POV
I could hardly believe my ears. Mel wanted me to join her for a swim? This was what Russav would call a "once in a lifetime opportunity". Not that it would be "once in a lifetime" if I made her fall in love with me first. Like that would ever happen.
I paused in my task of cleaning up and looked at her expectantly after accepting her invitation. She looked at me somewhat embarrassed, a rose red tint colouring her cheeks. "We'll have to remove our boots I suppose," she said.
I nodded and pulled of my boots as she did the same. I walked towards her rather hesitantly, my blood pounding in my ears. I had never felt so naked in front of anyone before, and I had only removed my boots! My expression of indifference did not change as these thoughts ran through my head. Mel was now sitting at the water's edge, her stockings stuffed into her boots and her riding hat lying beside her. She looked so natural with her bare legs dangling in the water.
Mel wasn't born to be a courtier; she was born just to be Mel.
I cleared my throat to get her attention. She looked up into my face with those wide blue eyes; unaware of the effect it would have on me. My breath caught in my throat. Life! What was wrong with me? I was acting like a lovesick puppy! Get a hold of yourself, Vidanric.
A wry smile spread across her face. "You'll want to remove your tunic, you won't be able to swim in that."
"Oh, yes." I took of the tunic and sat down on the empty space next to her. "Shall we?" I asked, extending my hand towards her as if asking for a dance. She grinned and placed her hand in mine. At least she wasn't showing me that resentful face. It was progress!
I stepped into the pond first, and discovered that the bottom was lined with smooth round pebbles. The water reached up to my calves and I walked towards the middle where it was deeper. I stopped only when the water reached my waist, soaking the lower part of my body. Her hand was still in mine, and the water rippled as it surrounded her up to somewhere above her waist.
"Thank you," she said, quickly pulling her hand from my grasp. She ran her hand over the surface of the water watching it reflect the fading sunlight. This was getting really awkward. I could tell that she was uncomfortable in my presence, but I had hoped to spend more time in her company.
Wordlessly, she stepped away from me and began floating on her back in the water. Her eyes were closed and a small smile played across her lips. It was as if I wasn't even there. Well, that might be for the best since she is especially guarded around me. Not that I can blame her.
"You aren't going to just stand there, are you?" she asked, looking at me curiously. Burn it! I was making a fool of myself.
"I was afraid of destroying the peace and tranquillity with my hopeless attempts at swimming," I replied, still standing with my hands clasped behind me.
She choked back a laugh. "I don't think you'll be ungraceful even if you tried!"
She slowly lowered her feet back onto the pebble-strewn pond bottom and stood facing me with her arms crossed over her chest. Her blouse and clothes clung to her body like a second skin and she must have noticed the way I was staring for she turned even redder than before.
"This is no fun if you don't do something!"
I was doing something. I was gazing at the woman I loved. Not that she knew about it.
"You're right. So what do I do?" I asked politely.
"You could begin by splashing around a bit. You know, getting yourself wet?" she suggested. "That is acceptable for a king-to-be, right?" She emphasised on the part about the 'king-to-be'.
Had she accepted the fact that I was going to be king? Did she resent it?
For once in my life I felt helpless. Indeed I had almost forgotten how to have fun. She looked at me incredulously as I stood somewhat dumbly in the water with a look of practiced indifference on my face. I could not have guessed what she was thinking a moment before she splashed some water at me when she threw her hands up and dropped them into the water in exasperation.
She realised too late what she had done, staring at me with her eyes open wide, blinking. She raised a hand to smother a gasp, sending another spray of water in my direction. "It was an accident! I didn't mean to get you all wet."
I looked down at my wet shirt, which was plastered, to my chest. It made me very aware of how I looked. Did she find me physically pleasing? I did not consider myself finely made, for unlike Russav I was more slender than muscular. I had to remind myself that she liked the Unknown for his mind and not his face to settle my rapidly beating heart.
But she had to love everything about him for it to be true love, right? She had to love him for his virtues and accept him with his flaws. Most importantly, she had to love him as a man and a person, and not as a King.
Pulling the front of my shirt off my chest, I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. Her arms were once again crossed, as if to guard herself against something. Me?
The expression in her eyes were hard to define, part apologetic, part embarrassed, part admiration? I could not tell.
She began to apologise all over again for getting me wet but I could not help but notice a muscle which kept twitching in her right cheek, lifting the corners of her mouth into a grin. She was probably savouring the victory of sweet revenge.
"I'm quite all right Lady Meliara, I assure you," I replied, cutting her off in mid-apology. "How about a swim?"
She took my lead and said in all seriousness, "As you wish, my lord."
With that, she was off! Life, but she could swim with grace and swiftness. I took my time, swimming with easy strokes, cutting through the water like a knife, enjoying the sensation of cool water against my skin. The pond was fairly large, surrounded by trees and bushes, with the occasional fish here and there. I swam towards the edge for a breather and scanned the area for Mel. She was swimming at the far end, oblivious to everything but the water.
Suddenly, she dived underwater and undid her braided hair, allowing it to stream out behind her as she swam. The colour of her hair - that of the leaves in autumn caught the light as it filtered through the clear water. I was just beginning to imagine how it would feel like to have my fingers running through that glorious head of hair, when she stopped in mid-stroke. She had remembered that she was not alone.
She turned her face towards the surface of the water and regained her footing, allowing her hair to be slicked back away from her face and down her back. Our eyes met when she looked in my direction and I smiled a friendly smile.
"You are a formidable swimmer indeed, Lady Meliara," I complimented.
"You're not too bad yourself."
Had she been watching me? My heart jumped at the thought.
I admired the way her hips swayed from side to side as she walked towards me. There was a hint of mischievousness in those eyes that sparkled a robin egg blue. Her chin spoke of stubbornness and strength, and she carried herself with a grace and poise that had not been practised, but was in born. Then, there was that smile. The smile that had never been directed at me: except once, at Russav's ball.
Once again, the image of my cousin materialised in my mind's eye. He was tall, dark and handsome, everything a woman wanted in a man physically. If only he were not so debonair and charming, I might stand a chance. On the surface, he seemed quite taken with Mel, always attentive and constantly flirting. I had to remind myself that I had asked him to do just that in order to hold my temper in check.
In truth, we had competed with one another since young. No matter what the challenge was, we would both try to overcome it before the other. The same went with flirting. I was more often than not a step below him, both in looks and charm, but never in wit and humour. It did not help that he was a Duke and I, a mere Marquis. The only advantage I had which drew the ladies to me and not to him was my inheritance. It was no secret that I would become the Prince of Rensaeleaus one day and would need a Princess by my side.
This displeased me greatly and became a source of much worry, as I grew older. I did not want to marry a woman who loved me for my money and power. I just wanted someone to love me for me. That isn't too much to ask for, isn't it?
As Mel drew closer, she swung hair over her shoulder making it fall to one side of her face and began to wring it dry. She seemed slightly irritated by her long hair and attempted to tie it into an untidy knot. When that was done she yelled, "Ouch!"
"What is it?" I asked, concerned. I began wading towards her.
"No!" she exclaimed, holding up her hand, "Stay where you are, I think there's some broken glass here."
I froze in mid step and watched as she began to swim towards shore. I followed closely behind and helped her out of the water. Indeed she had stepped on a piece of glass. The wound was not deep but her blood flowed freely from the open wound.
She sat at the foot of a tree and leaned against its enormous trunk as I examined her injured foot, turning it carefully in my hand. She bit her lower lip and sucked in a breath as my fingers ran lightly across the sole of her foot.
"It's just a cut, but infection would settle in if not treated quickly," I said, placing her foot gently on the ground after turning a small towel into a makeshift bandage, hoping to stop the bleeding. "Wait here," I ordered sternly.
As I turned my back to get the horses, deciding that the mess we left behind could be cleared by one of the servants, she began to stand, placing most of her weight on her uninjured foot and hobbled after me. Why did that woman have to be so stubborn?
I practically dragged the horses towards her, reluctant as they were to move, annoyed at having their meal of crisp grass disrupted. "Can you ride?" I asked.
"I think so," she replied as she reached for the reins of the chestnut. The horse tossed it head and neighed in uncertainty as if sensing that its rider was not fit to ride. This movement caused her to lose her balance and her injured foot instinctively landed on the ground to bear her weight. A yelp of pain quickly followed, and I took a step forward to steady her.
She clutched my forearm tightly to steady herself, turned to me with a tight smile and said, "I guess not."
"If you don't mind, you'll ride with me."
She agreed seeing no other way out. I lifted her into the saddle and climbed behind her after she had swung her uninjured foot to the other side, sitting astride. I led the other horse by the reins as we rode towards the Royal Wing.
"Why aren't we going towards the Primary Guest Wing?" she asked, "My rooms are there."
"The Royal Wing is nearer," I replied tersely, trying to keep the worry out of my voice "Furthermore, the Royal Healers are on duty there all day, they would be able to see to you much sooner."
She fell silent and remained that way for the rest of the journey. I handed off the chestnut to a stable hand and dismounted. Raising my arms to carry her down, I saw that her cheeks had coloured once again. This was something she was not used to.
"My intentions are pure, Lady Meliara," I said dryly.
This only served to make her more embarrassed. " I did not say that your intentions were dishonourable Shevraeth, I'm just not used to being assisted off my horse, that's all," she retorted with a tilt of her head and a courtly sniff. Not courtly speech but courtly behaviour - a strange combination.
She placed her hands on my shoulders and I placed mine around her waist. Her feet were just about to touch the ground when we both realised that she couldn't possibly walk. "I believe I have to carry you," I said, striving to keep my tone neutral.
She said nothing, only nodding and avoiding my gaze as I swung her legs over one arm and held her close. "It would help if you held on to me," I said, after witnessing another wince of pain. She grimaced and reluctantly encircled my neck with her arms. Life! This was probably the closest physical contact we've ever had since the war. I was certainly going to make every minute of it last.
She remained tense throughout the entire time I was carrying her. It felt like carrying wood! Then again, I could feel her soft arms around my neck. Her arms were soft, but they most certainly weren't warm. She shivered when a breeze blew past and couldn't control the urge to snuggle up against me, shifting in my arms. I realised that I too felt chilled, and was grateful for the little warmth she provided as we passed under the main entrance of the Royal Wing.
My footsteps echoed throughout the hall as I looked for a servant to issue orders to. One appeared almost immediately, eyes widening a fraction at witnessing the intimacy between Mel and I. "Get the Royal Healers to the sitting room," I said briskly. He nodded and scurried away.
"This isn't exactly proper, is it?" asked Mel, looking up at me, "This." she struggled to find a word.
"Intimacy?" I offered with a wry grin. "Your well-being is more important than propriety, Lady Meliara. Besides, you're not exactly a conventional courtier who worries about propriety, are you?"
"No," she replied, "But since I'm at court, I should follow the unspoken rules."
"Since they are unspoken," I countered, "They are thus not etched in stone and can be bent to one's will."
"Still." she began.
"Please, Lady Meliara," I said, cutting her off with a sigh, "Don't disappoint me by worrying about 'propriety' right now."
She stared at me sullenly, shook her head and bowed it in defeat. "Blame yourself for your stupidity and carelessness, Mel," she muttered under her breath.
I held my laughter in, but the deep rumbling from within my chest did not escape her notice. She looked up at me again, imitated the expression I had a moment ago and said, "Please, Shevraeth, humour me by just keeping quiet."
~*~
A/N: Second chapter! YAY! Hope this is good, it's longer than the first one so it ought to be better, yeah? I assumed that both Danric and Mel could swim, but it's not confirmed that they can. This date of theirs seem to suck yeah? With Mel getting hurt and all.
**P.P.S~ A question for you all: Should there be kissing? If yes, where? Mouth or cheek? I actually have an idea for a kiss, but it's a little subconscious kiss. Won't explain it here, it'll give everything away! Give me your suggestions anyway.
Thanks to all the reviewers! Do continue reviewing!
Eniamrahc: Even if Vidanric were jealous, he would've hidden it well enough to escape Mel's notice. But I've added the whole rivalry thing in here since it's his POV. The teaser thing was supposed to drop a hint or two about the plot.
Amuli: I've added you to my mailing list! Thanks for all your compliments they totally rocked my day!
Fairydust123: Heart Duel will not be updated as yet since I'm currently working on Truly Gifted and Falling In. I hate to disappoint, but I'm having a little writer's block for HD at the moment. Hopefully, I'll get the next chapter out soon!
Blackrose25: Actually, my inspiration for the chocolate covered berries came from chocolate-coated strawberries! That's the problem with reading too many romance novels. I just thought it added a little romantic oomph to everything.
REVIEW! *a reminder for all you readers=)
Lotsa Love, Felicia