Yet another chapter, just a heads up, there will be about 31 chapters and an epilogue, so you know how much is left :)
Love reading your reactions, it's amazing! haha, happy you're enjoying it!
R POV
"So, what are we doing today?" I asked as we finished our breakfast, walking out in the hall.
I had been here for a few days now, Dimitri had been very busy but today he was all mine.
"I thought we could go for a ride? Take the horses, just the two of us"
"That sounds amazing, the weather is perfect for a day out" I grinned. I had missed riding. I usually took my horse out a few times a week back home, it felt like ages away now.
"If you go change I will see you in the stables in half an hour?" Dimitri asked smiling at my excitement.
"I don't need that long to change" I said looking at him funnily. He chuckled, "But it's what I need to prepare for our day out" he winked. He gave me a quick peck on the lips before walking off, as he went down the hall I walked the opposite direction towards my room.
His ease and confidence when he was at home made me swoon over and over each and everyday. The way he effortlessly kissed me before going into a meeting or the way he held my hand by the dinner table or as he was walking me to my room each night.
It felt strange to suddenly be so open about us and what we had. But it felt so amazing, so very amazing.
After a quick change I was in my riding dark brown trousers, I chose a loose blouse and leaving my hair loose and wild with curls. Putting on my knee high black boots and a beige vest and I was ready.
Starting to remember my way around I knew how to get out of the castle walking through the gardens to the stables. I could see Sonya and Karolina having tea in the garden with two men whom I presumed were their husbands to be. They only shot me side glazes before ignoring me. Shaking my head I didn't let them distract me.
Reaching the stables I could see two beautiful horses that were already saddled up and looked ready to take out. Looking around I couldn't see Dimitri anywhere. Walking up to one of the horses I started to stroke its beautiful strong neck. Such a beautiful animal I hadn't seen in a long time.
"His name is Brego, I got him when I turned sixteen"
Jumping a little as Dimitri's voice caught me off guard. He came around the horse with a few baskets he started strapping to the horses.
Giving him a smile I said, "He's beautiful, and who is this?" Looking towards the other horse.
"That is Roman, he was my mama's before she stopped riding a few years back. I still take him out every week though"
As he finished up he turned to me, "You can have either of them, your choice"
Taking a step closer to him I was biting my lip giving him my most innocent look as I said "And if I was to choose you?"
He chuckled to himself before running a hand through his hair, "I think one day you'll be the death of me Rosemarie Mazur"
I winked at him before jumping up on Roman, "So where are we going?"
"I thought we'd go through the forrest and then stop were ever we fancy, like I said this morning, I'm all yours today so we can do whatever we want"
"I like the sound of that" I smiled
The air was fresh, the sun was hitting out faces as we were riding through the forrest. We were keeping a relaxed pace. It was absolutely beautiful out here. Stunning. I could constantly feel Dimitri's gaze on me, it was like I had a permanent grin on my face knowing he couldn't look away. Every time I met his gaze this ridiculous grin came over his face and I couldn't help but laugh.
How did I get this lucky?
As the forrest opened up to a endless golden field, the soft breeze caught my hair and we went into a full gallop. Oh how I's missed this. It felt so amazing to just let Roman run free, to be able to forget whatever was on our minds. It was only Dimitri and I, nobody else.
It had felt like ages since we had moments to ourselves. I knew he would be busy overtime when I was here, he was like me in training to one day rule a country. A heavy burden we both would carry.
Olena had told me earlier that I would join Dimitri on a few occasions just to see how things work in a different household and I have to say I was quite curious. It is just a powerful nation I wanted to see how they made it what it is. How their thought process were and what the people were like.
Shaking my head I was trying to get work out of my head. I was on a horse, riding with the man of my dreams, I could definitely be thinking of better things than this!
Slowing down I looked around taking in the beautiful view. You could see the mountains touring over us on one side while the field continued endlessly on the other. I closed my eyes letting the sun hit my face. It was like a different heat from England I enjoyed every moment of it.
I could hear Dimitri stirring, opening my eyes he was right next to me with a breath taking smile on his face.
"You look absolutely beautiful, have I ever told you that?"
I felt a blush come on as I grinned down at him, "I think I've heart you say that once or twice"
He laughed as he helped me down. I loved the feel of his strong arms around me. His form was just big and bulky it just made me feel safe. I'm not a weak person but I think every girl loves to feel safe around their lover, and that's exactly what Dimitri made me feel. Safe and Loved.
Holding my gaze he smiled back. Without thinking I got up on the tip of my toes to meet his lips. We had been so private with out kissing since forever. Even within the palace walls we only did it when we were alone. But not we were out in the open and I couldn't think of anything better.
Moaning against his lips my arms slid up his chest to move around his neck. His lips felt so amazing. His lips were full and his kisses were making me dizzy. The way his lips too charge, the way his hand was stroking my cheek as his mouth was on mine. I hadn't felt this is so long, I remember the electric feeling he caused me from day one. How I could feel breathless just from kissing him. The urge of wanting more of his I pressed my body up against him. I must've caught him off guard because suddenly it was like he lost his balance and suddenly we were tumbling into the grass.
Instantly I couldn't help but laugh. Dimitri was shaking his head, laughing with me as he propped himself up on his elbows.
I grinned pushing a strand of hair out of his face, "Sorry"
"I Love You" he said simply. Just like that, while giving me one of his breath taking smiles.
Grinning I felt another blush come on, looking down for a moment I bit my lower lip before looking up again. His eyes were steady on me. It was like he was enjoying the way I was reacting to him declaring his love for me.
Holding back a smile I said, "I love you too, so much"
Slowly he started to sit up, I was sitting up as he did, he stopped. His face only inches away from my face. Swallowing, I was licking my lips as my eyes quickly flickered down to look at his lips.
This felt all new to me. I know I love him, this man that's caused me to feel so much, everything from anger and hurt to unconditional love. But now there was something else. Something extra. It's this electric current going through us, it's every time we touch or whenever we kiss.
As he was slowly leaning in, all I could hear was my heart pounding in my chest and my rigid breathing.
With light fingers he traced my jawline, down my neck moving my hair off my shoulder. His lips were barely touching mine, teasing. His other hand was resting on my thigh, it felt like it was burning a whole through my trousers, directly on my skin.
Leaning in I just had to kiss him, the tension was killing me. Pressing my lips against his as I exhaled I moaned, it was like my body was humming. I just loved having him close.
He snickered against my lips. Pulling back, he cupped my chin, "No patience?" Shaking my head no, my eyes never left his. He chuckled snd started to get up, giving me a hand to help me get on my feet. As we got up his lips found their way to my ear, "I don't have a lot of patience left either my love, just wait, I will do more than make you blush"
Instantly my cheeks started burning.
Acting as if what he just told me was just anything, I stood frozen in place. He came back passing me a blanket. Dimitri winked at me before turning around and start taking things out of the basket strapped to his horse.
I could still feel the blush on my face, all of my body, as I was still frozen in my tracks.
Realising suddenly how stupid I must look and I shake my head to get back into reality. I start spreading out the blanket on the floor trying to not meet Dimitri's amused look. He obviously knew the impact he could have on me. He was putting down two baskets in front of me, kneeling I was curious what was actually in them and happily surprised I noticed it was food!
"We're having a picnic?" I asked grinning towards him as he put down the last few pieces next to me. He grinned, "I thought it would be nice instead of having lunch with my sisters. Plus this way nobody can bother me with work. I am one hundred percent yours"
Leaning forward I grinned giving him a quick peck, "Thank you"
He winked in return as he started to unpack the food. I helped him, we poured some wine in some glasses he brought. Sipping on my whine I was studying him as he was working. He was very attentive and particular in the way he did things. Everything had it's own place.
Smiling I said, "Tell me something"
Looking up he met my gaze looking puzzled yet amused, "Tell you what?"
"Anything, anything I don't know" I said crossing my legs getting comfortable.
He chuckled under his breath, "Hmm, that's a very open questions, anything particular you'd like to know?"
Biting my lip I studied him trying to come up with something in particular. "What were you like as a child?"
Smiling he picked up some grapes and pop in his mouth, "Being the only boy you could say I was very spoiled. Very spoiled, I knew my mama treasured me greatly. She loves us all equally, but I knew I had a special upper hand being the only boy."
"Were you always as well mannered as you as now?" I teased.
Chuckling he shook his head, "No, mama often told me off. It wasn't that i did anything back I was just very curious. I couldn't leave things be, I had to explore and touch everything"
Snickering I shook my head picking up a piece of bread, "What about your sisters, did you play together a lot?"
"We did, well to be honest they played with me and I just wanted to play with them. I think I've played dress up and married over a twenty teddies"
I chuckled, "I didn't know I had that much competition" I teased.
"Trust me, you have nothing to worry about" he winked. "What about you?"
"To be honest I mainly played alone or papa or Oscar would play with me daily. I never had any siblings and ever since my mama passed, papa always made sure we had time together everyday"
Concern was written all over Dimitri's face, "I knew she passed early, it must've been horrible?"
Nodding, I looked down, I hadn't spoke about my mama for so long. Licking my lips i sighed, "She got sick on my fifth birthday, she literally just fell to the floor loosing all power in her body. She was gone before I turned six."
I felt Dimitri move closer taking his coat off before laying down resting his head in my lap. I smiling as he took my hands and laced them into his. Tilting my head to the side I watched him as his eyes were fixed on our hands.
"What happened to your father?" I asked suddenly. I never knew, I just knew he wasn't with us anymore. Dimitri didn't meet my gaze, I instantly felt stupid, like I was intruding were I shouldn't be.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked" I said feeling bad.
"No it's not-" he stopped himself and sighed. "It's not really a good story, to be honest we don't really talk about him. He was a good leader but a horrible father"
With a frown on my face I stayed silent, no rushing him to continue.
"It's not very know to the public that he loved to drink, he loved a drink more than his own wife" I could hear resentment and anger lacing his voice. "But he did. He has already started to rail up t he council with outrageous suggestions, starting unnecessary conflicts and not being the leader he should be. It wasn't till one night, I was fourteen and I saw him put his hand on mama, I couldn't just stand there anymore"
I was stroking back his hair as he spoke, massaging my thumb up and down the side of his hand.
"I ripped into him, I couldn't control myself, I was so angry, disgusted. I just couldn't believe that my he could do that to my all I remember his guards tearing me off of him and Mama screaming. I found out later that day that he had been banished and the throne taken away from him. Mama has ruled ever since"
I stayed silent for a moment to let it sink it. There was so much I didn't know, about him, about his family
Feeling his eyes travel across my face, i licked my lips and said, "I never knew"
Tilting my head so I could meet his eyes, "Are you ok now?"
A small smile found his face, nodding slightly, "I am, I have you" It was his smile was infectious as it grew on my lips. "And I have you" I murmured slowly leaning down to meet his lips.
It felt strange thinking that he was the love of my life, yet I knew so little about him. I didn't see it as a problem but, it felt strange. You always hear about people knowing one another inside and out before they ever feel anything close to love. Yet here I am totally and hopelessly in love with this man I barely know anything about, How does that work?
"What's on your mind?" He said forcing my thoughts aside.
A side smile came onto my lips, giving it a quick thought maybe not to say anything but I said it anyway "How little we actually know about one another, isn't it strange?"
"Strange?" he asked studying me.
"How we can feel so much for one another yet we don't actually know one another that well"
Sitting up he turned so he was facing me, "I do know you" he said simply, "I know that you feel, you feel with every inch of your being. You smile, you love with everything in you, something not a lot of people do anymore." He smiled looking down at our hands as he was playing with my fingers. "You see the people in the back instead of always the obvious in the front. You speak sometimes before thinking but you know that, you stir up the to routine based people and make something new. And that's what I love about you, I might not know everything about your childhood, your friends and family. But I will, I know I will, because we'll share that as we go. It takes time to know somebody like the back of your hand"
A small smile was resting on my face as he spoke. Snickering to myself i say, "I don't even know why I doubt you sometimes?"
He chuckled, "Neither do I"
I laughed with him. We spent the rest of the afternoon like that. Telling stories, finding out anything from favourite colours to the naughtiest things we did as children. He told me about his sisters and how they found love. About his grandmother whom I still didn't understand…
We spoke about papa and Oscar, it wasn't until we got to my season it got a bit awkward. He continuously wanted to know why I wasn't taken until he found me. "Come on, I told you everything so far, tell me" he urged me with a smile trying to kiss me breathless until I told him.
"OK, ok" I laughed trying to get him away from me, he was way too distracting to have that close. "Well um" I cleared my throat, "it's not really anything special"
"Tell me" He was adamant.
"How long was your sisters in season? Before they met someone" I asked trying to avoid the subject.
"I think Karolina was the longest with two months before she met her fiancé"
I grimaced as he said that. Sighing as he looked puzzled, looking away from him I said "I was in season for a year before the military ball happened" swallowing I pursed my lips as he didn't say a word. "I met one two hundred eligible men" shaking my head slowly I paused, "In the beginning it was excited but after thirty I lost whatever power I had before. They were all the same, one more ignorant and even more full of themselves than the other. I think several times papa must've thought of trading me in for a daughter who a man actually wanted to marry" I said as a joke but you could hear the sadness in my voice.
Swallowing, I licked my lips straightening my already straight blouse, "Anyway it was what it was"
Meeting his gaze for the first in since I started speaking I could tell he saw straight through me. I tried hard not to meet his gaze, "And then there you were" I said feeling my heart beat pick up. Biting my lower lip, I was shaking my head again, "You were just perfect, I couldn't stop staring, you were just-" I stopped myself, "Already taken" I said then. "I remember that moment when papa told me. It was, it was like the world was laughing at me" I said as a humourless laugh escaped my lips. "Of course you were taken"
Looking over at him suddenly, pain was written on his face, I took a deep breath before a small smile came onto my lips, "And look at us now"
He chuckled as my words shaking his head before leaning in, "You're truly one of a kind Rosemarie Mazur"
Nodding, I could feel his breath on my face, "I know" As his lips met mine I was lost in an amazing bliss. A bliss I hope I'd never had to get out of.
Soooooooo... A bit a romance finally, haha we shall see how long it lasts!
xx