I just wanna say thank you so much to everyone who follows this story, reviewed, and liked it. Thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I really hope you keep enjoying it. Any criticisms or comments are greatly appreciated.
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Then she spoke "I thought Paul and I had an understanding. Are the Rovias sending assassins now?"
Rick was horrified by the accusation but he noted the amusement in her voice, as a smile played on her lips, and the anger was gone from her eyes. Rick lowered his weapon and as he did, she did as well. Rick continued to stare at her, his eyes ran all over the beautiful form in front of him. She was wearing a long white dress, perhaps a night garment.
Rick's eyes traveled from her toes up, taking in her bare feet, long legs, her sword being held at her side, gripped tightly by her small but clearly strong hands. His eyes traveled up her long, curvy torso, lingering just a moment at the swell of her breasts. They moved up her long, elegant neck to her plump lips, over the arches of her nose, and into her deep, brown eyes.
Eyes which were busy traveling over his own form, from the feet up, over his long legs and lean form. Over his strong jaw and finally connecting with his blue eyes. They stared at each other for a moment, both consumed by an emotion that neither could describe or had ever felt before.
"I am not an assassin." Rick finally spoke.
The woman smiled, tossing her dreads over her shoulder and placed a hand on hip, gripping her sword tighter. "If you're not out here to kill us on behalf of The Hilltop, what are you doing out here?"
"How do you know I am from Hilltop?"
"They're the only English settlement close to us…and besides we don't have many English men walking through our rainforests."
Rick placed his gun back in holster. "I am a guest of the Rovias. What sort of agreement do you have with them?"
The woman elegantly swung her sword into its sheath strapped to her back. "Perhaps you should ask them."
"Does this have anything to do with them purchasing land on this island?" Rick inquired
The woman signed "So they did send for reinforcements. Who exactly are you?"
"I am Lord Richard Grimes, but please call me Rick." He reached out his hand to her. The woman eyed his hand only for a moment before she reached out and gripped his. It was like touching fire. A current of pure energy raced through him and looking into her eyes, Rick knew she felt it too.
"I am Michonne Moreau." Michonne gently tried to tug her hand away but Rick held it, turning it over in his hand and bringing it to his lips, kissing it softly, his blue eyes watched her brown ones, watched her breath catch for just a second.
Rick released her hand then. Michonne pulled her hand to her chest and gazed at him. "What are you doing out here?" Her brown eyes narrowed.
Rick took a deep breath and exhaled quickly. "I am quite lost or rather, I am afraid to travel back the way I came."
Michonne looked behind him. The massive waves still lapped angrily on the beach and it was still very dark in that direction. "Well I suppose you could stay at The Kingdom until first light and I'll take you back to Hilltop."
Michonne began to walk in the direction of the giant white mansion and Rick fell in step beside her. Michonne navigated carefully along a dirt path that lead away from the beach. The light from the moon poured down over them.
"The Kingdom?" Rick asked looking at Michonne.
"Yes, the name of my father's settlement. My mother came up with the name when the house was painted all white. Michonne turned and smiled at Rick. "Like the kingdom of heaven." She continued forward quickly.
"It does look quite heavenly." Rick said softly to himself, his eyes not leaving Michonne.
They reached a clearing and similar to Hilltop's, little cottages dotted the massive property in front of the glowing white house.
"Come on, you can stay in this cottage, no one lives here now." Michonne said going for the one closest to the clearing. They entered and Michonne went over to a lantern and lit it with some matches laying nearby. She placed the lantern on the table and gestured toward a chair. Michonne removed her sword and sat down while Rick sat across from her. Michonne laid her hands flat on the table and looked at Rick. "So, you're here to help the Rovias take my home from me."
Rick sharply inhaled "No of course not." Rick thought back to his conversation with the Rovias earlier. "I am here to help make us all infinitely more successful while keeping all parties involved happy."
Rick couldn't keep his eyes off of her, watched her intently, grateful for the light of the lantern allowing him an even better view of her features. "What sort of agreement do you have with the Rovias?" repeating his question from earlier.
"The Rovias have agreed to stay off our land, away from our farms until we reach some sort of business arrangement." Michonne leaned back in her chair, away from the light of the lantern, crossed her arms under her breasts. "Personally after the way Mr. Gregory Rovia behaved I can't say I want anything to do with them. Paul convinced us to reconsider when he agreed to stay off our land for the time being."
"Please forgive me madam, I didn't know about the arrangement." Rick said apologetically
Michonne leaned on the table, propping her elbow up, resting her chin in her hand. "A little late for an evening stroll isn't it?"
"I couldn't sleep. My family and I just arrived here today. I should be tired, but I suppose the sea just called to me." Rick explained.
Michonne smiled a knowing smile. "The sea can be quite the siren." She sat up straight then, a look of concern on her face. "Your wife will be very worried about you."
"I am not married." Rick said quickly, nearly mentioning his failed engagement. "I am here with my parents. I have been in the royal guard since I was 18 and I recently finished my assignments. My father is a merchant like the Rovias, they invited us here. They seem to believe this land holds much promise for our families."
Michonne nodded "It would seem that since the French left there has been renewed interest in this island."
"It's absolutely incredible from what I have seen so far." Rick said his eyes holding Michonne's own eyes. They sat in a comfortable silence for several minutes, studying one another. Michonne tore her eyes away from his finally, pressing her palms flat against the table and standing up. Rick stood up as well.
"You should rest. I'll be back in the morning to escort you back to Hilltop."
Rick nearly asked her to stay but he merely nodded. "Thank you."
Michonne grabbed her sword and walked out of the cottage. Rick watched as she moved quickly past the other cottages until finally reaching the white mansion and disappearing inside. Rick was suddenly very tired. He removed his shirt and gun belt, placed them on the table and moved into the bedroom, carrying the lantern. Placing the light down, he extinguished the flame. Rick laid down in the soft bed, his eyes closed immediately. Michonne's face appeared before him. Rick smiled in his sleep, her name a whisper on his lips.
Michonne walked into the cottage as the sun rose slowly over the island. Placing a basket of breakfast on the table and propped her sword against the wall by the door. Michonne noticed his shirt on the table, grabbing it, she went to rouse the English stranger from his sleep. The early rays of sunlight streamed through a partially closed curtain in the bedroom window. Its rays highlighting the chestnut in his hair and one ray of light shined across his eyelashes, another on the soft curls of his chest. He slept so soundly Michonne wondered how long it had been since he had slept. Michonne ached to touch him but didn't want to disturb his peaceful slumber.
You don't even know him Michonne admonished herself.
Why does it feel like I have always known him?
Michonne let out a frustrated sigh that was louder then she intended and it roused Rick from his sleep. Rick lifted his head toward her and a sleepy smile crossed his face at the sight of her. For a moment he believed he was still dreaming.
Michonne shyly returned his smile. "Good morning, I uh, brought breakfast if you're hungry."
Rick slowly sat up and Michonne turned away slightly, handing him his shirt. It wasn't uncustomary to see shirtless me on this tropical island but Michonne had never been in a bedroom with a shirtless man in her life.
"Thank you, Madam." Rick said grabbing it.
Michonne nodded still looking in the other direction and went back to the kitchen. She busied herself placing the items she hurriedly grabbed from the kitchen in her home on the table, setting Rick's gun belt on a hook by the door. Rick exited the room and surveyed the meal of fresh berries, sliced bread, and some jam. Michonne also had a canteen of fresh water.
"Do you want some jam on your coco bread?" she asked while she picked up a slice of the bread.
Rick nodded as he sat down. Watching her in the burgeoning light of the sun. Michonne wore simple brown sandals, a ruby red long skirt, a flowing white tunic that stopped just at her elbows and stopped just above her belly button. A white shell neck adorned her lovely neck, beaded bracelets on her wrist, and large red wooden hoop earrings on her ears. Her long dreads where piled on her head covered by red scarf.
"You don't have to trouble yourself, Michonne. I can do it myself." Rick said suddenly feeling bad for having broken an agreement between the Moreau and Rovia families. Then having her make him breakfast as if he had been an invited guest.
"My grandmother does this for me when I have breakfast, it feels nice to do it for someone else. Even if he is trespassing." Her eyes alit with humor as she placed his plate of coco bread with jam and fresh berries in front of him.
Rick laughed. "Well thank you. This looks amazing."
"Grandma's coco bread and tropical fruit jam is amazing." Michonne said with pride, smiling.
"Coco bread?" Rick asked as he took a bite into the bread. The bread was sweet, soft, with hints of a flavor he couldn't place. The tropical fruit jam on top sweet, tangy, and very refreshing.
"It's made with coconut milk. So we call it coco bread."
Michonne poured him water and sat down opposite of him to have her own breakfast. They ate with no conversation for several minutes, Rick was completely famished he ate very little of the Rovia dinner. As the meal came to an end Michonne informed Rick they would be traveling on horseback.
"Horseback?" Rick said perplexed
"Yes, Hilltop is nearly 5 miles away" Michonne said taking a sip of her water. "You really must have had a lot on your mind to wonder so far?" she stated while looking in his eyes, then beginning to pack away the basket of items she brought.
Rick finished his own water and stood to help her. Placing items that were uneaten away in the basket, wiping the crumbs from the plates and placing them in the basket. He sighed then.
"I did." Rick said. Michonne nodded in understanding and grabbed her sword, sliding the sheath that encased it over her head and in between her shoulders.
Rick fastened his gun belt around his waist and Michonne said he could wear a pair of sandals that were left behind by the previous owner.
"Are you ready to go?" Michonne said, placing the basket in the crook of her arm.
No. I would rather stay here and talk to you all day.
The thought startled him so badly that Rick didn't trust himself to not speak the words. So he nodded. The sun was still rising and signs of life could be seen in the cottages nearby. People were up, beginning to get dressed, and preparing breakfast. Michonne led him to a large stable on the property. Inside was a young boy, dressed in linen shorts, wearing a tan unbuttoned shirt, and sandals. He was very busy pitching hay from a carriage into a large pile in the corner of the stable.
"Good Morning, Noah." Michonne called to him
"Good Morn, Ms. Michonne." The boy said still very focused on his task. Michonne went to a table that was sat back in the stables and placed their breakfast basket down on it.
"I brought you some coco bread, granny's jam, berries, and water" Michonne said her hands on her hips.
"Awwwww Ms. Michonne, you know how much I love your granny's jam. Thank you." Noah said finally stopping his task and walking to her, a smile on his face.
"Granny knows which is why she makes extra." Then she leaned closer to Noah "Is Nellie feed and ready to go for a ride this morning?"
"You know I always get Nellie ready first thing in the morning just in case you ride her." Noah said surveying the basket of breakfast on the table behind her.
Michonne smiled happily and kissed his cheek. "Thanks Noah." Noah smiled even wider but it quickly fell away when he laid his eyes on Rick, whose hand Michonne grabbed and led to another area of the large stable, Rick nodded in greeting to Noah as Michonne pulled him behind her.
Michonne approached a stall where a large, brown thoroughbred horse was waiting for her. Michonne's excitement was palpable. The animal was clearly just as excited to see her, her tail wagged to and fro. Michonne kissed the animal on the nose. "Good morning, beautiful." Michonne quickly began to saddle Nellie, gently, speaking softly to her all the while. "Nellie tends to be nervous. I am the only one who can really ride her, she has thrown people before, my father nearly gave her away but I have worked with her."
Rick smiled "She so clearly adores you. You obviously mean a great deal to her."
Michonne smiled a smile with so much happiness, her eyes lit up, and he thought his heart would beat out of his chest. '" You don't mind me ridding in front do you?" Michonne stated as she climbed unto the horse, grabbing her skirt so it wouldn't trip her up, sitting side saddle.
Rick didn't mind at all but didn't want that to be so obvious. "I don't get my own horse?" Rick joked
"My father might notice a horse missing, besides it's harder to bring two horses back instead of one. Michonne said barely finishing her speech as Rick climbed up behind her, tentatively placing his hands on her waist.
"Well madam, your logic is simply impeccable and I shan't argue with you further." Rick said, Michonne looked at him laughing.
"Very good then. Hold on." Michonne nudged Nellie into a gallop and off they went out of the stables.
Noah stood eating coco bread, excess jam on his nose, staring confused at the pair as the two rode off.