A/N: Hello! ^.^ This chapter is Mistel's yellow flower event. Tweaked, of course. I really hope you enjoy it! I'm still noticing not as many reviews as I used to get :( Which makes me sad. So if you're reading, please review! Reviews make me so incredibly overjoyed! Small warning, at the end it's slightly risque. Only slightly, though, so no worries!
Chapter Ten
Mistel had accidentally fallen asleep the prior night. He had been tired, and although extraordinarily elated that he had given Beatrice a wonderful birthday, he still couldn't help but to close his eyes for a couple of minutes after counting her freckles until he lost count. She was sleeping soundly and had started to snore hardly five minutes after closing her eyes, and he thought that if he had closed his eyes for just a moment before his long walk back home he would feel rejuvenated and be able to tackle the lengthy trail without dragging his feet on the ground.
Instead he had found out that not only Beatrice fell asleep more quickly when he was laying with her, but that he also fell asleep far easier than usual with her by his side. He drifted off only two minutes after closing his eyes. He couldn't help himself. He loved the feeling of her wrapped around him; it was so incredibly comforting.
He had awoken with a start in the morning. Beatrice had frantically shook him awake, her face slightly horror-stricken. She had scolded him mildly, saying that he had promised to leave right after she fell asleep. He had apologized and said it was a simple mistake, not something to make such a big fuss over.
After he said that Beatrice seemed to calm down. She had given him a shy smile and gave him a sweet good morning kiss. Her only concern was that the villagers would find out and think of them differently, that they had slept—well, had sex, since they did technically sleep together—after only dating for a short while. He had laughed and assured her that no one would notice, and even if they did that their personal business was of no one's concern but their own.
Beatrice had blushed and nodded her head, then excused herself to get changed and freshen up. When she returned she was in her usual farming dress and her brunette hair was back in its usual ponytail. He'd tried his best not to frown. After seeing how radiant she looked with her hair down he wanted nothing more than for it to always be down; elegantly cascading down her back in soft, beautiful waves. But he knew that was impracticable considering how she had hard labor to do, and he had no doubt it would get in her way—besides, he'd rather keep the sight of her stunning hair to himself.
Mistel was glad he didn't work Tuesdays, as Beatrice insisted on making him breakfast. Before she had done that, though, she laughed loudly and told him that his hair was all messed up. She had grabbed her brush and giggled the whole time she brushed down his blond locks. He couldn't help himself while she was doing it, it was quite adorable and he had ended up smiling like a loon while she did it. She was so gentle, and the feeling was very comforting to him.
As they ate the delicious breakfast Beatrice had prepared they laughed and talked the entire time. The whole thing—the night, the morning—made Mistel feel like they were married, which only made him feel even more ecstatic. He had tried not to grin too much while they ate, but he found it difficult. He had felt as if he was dreaming, or perhaps had traveled into his ideal future. It had been too good to be true.
Yet it had been true, no matter how good it felt. After breakfast they had washed the dishes together—which only made him feel that much more overjoyed—then Beatrice said she had to get to work. Before she did, though, she helped him pack his basket from the night before by putting his dining ware back in it. Afterward she had flushed and looked to the ground for a moment, shuffling her feet. When she looked back at him she had a bashful expression upon her face, then said in a low tone that she had completely forgotten about Valentine's Day yesterday due to her birthday, but had a whole chocolate cake she'd made two days ago that she meant to give him before he even came over for her birthday.
Mistel had giggled at her embarrassment and told her that it was no problem at all. While he put his boots on Beatrice placed the chocolate cake delicately in his basket. When he was standing next to her again she had smiled so large her dimples showed and said happy belated Valentine's Day. She had handed him the basket and quickly planted a chaste kiss on his lips before saying goodbye. She had waved as he walked off her farm and called after him to have a great day off, then thanked him once more for such a great birthday and wonderful gift.
Mistel couldn't wipe the smile off his face as he walked home that morning. He had run into Agate almost as soon as he left Beatrice's farm. Agate had said good morning, then asked what he was doing so far up on the mountain trail—that she'd never seen him so far up it before. He didn't want to embarrass Beatrice, but he couldn't lie. How could he say he was just visiting Beatrice when it was so early and he had a basket in his hand?
So he told Agate the truth, that he had fallen asleep at Beatrice's by accident. Agate looked a tad bit shocked for a moment, but quickly composed herself. She had smiled faintly and told him she hoped he had a wonderful night for Beatrice's birthday, then said she had to check on the woodland creatures and hastily excused herself. He could have sworn she sounded a little bit bitter, or perhaps jealous—which just confused him, but he was so happy he hadn't felt like contemplating it.
Mistel now sat at his dining area with Iris having tea. Iris was having a slice of the cake Beatrice had made him and was humming in satisfaction as she ate it. He decided not to have any. He wanted to surprise Beatrice in an hour or so and take her on a proper date at the restaurant for dinner, even if it meant he would have to walk all the way back up the mountain trail to her farm.
"So, are you sure nothing happened last night?" Iris asked, raising an eyebrow at him, then taking a sip of tea.
"Yes, Iris, for the tenth time nothing happened. We just had a wonderful night, and I fell asleep by accident," Mistel returned, sighing heavily.
"I see. So where is the condom I gave you?" Iris wondered with a sly smile.
"Thank you for that, sister. It caused me much embarrassment. Beatrice found it... I could have died. Fortunately—after telling me we were not having sex tonight—she laughed hysterically and brushed the whole thing off. After I explained to her why I had it, of course," Mistel said, taking a sip of his own tea.
"So, where is it now?" Iris inquired. "Also, tell Bee what a wonderful baker she is! This cake is absolutely delicious!"
"I'll make sure to tell her," he muttered. "And she has it. She took it from me and put it in her bedside table's drawer."
"Oh, did she now?" Iris said while raising both of her eyebrows. "I can respect that. Bee knows how to say no and take things into her own hands. I really hadn't expected that from her. Honestly, when you didn't come home last night I thought...well, I thought you were doing a lot more than just sleeping." Iris gave a short laugh.
"You always think the worst of her—and me—sister," Mistel chided, narrowing his eyes slightly. "We've only been dating for a short time. I have my hormones in check, I'm not some horny teenager anymore. We have yet to discuss it, but I think we're going to take things slow. I don't truly understand why you gave me a condom in the first place... Vaginal intercourse doesn't come first... There are many other bases before that. Please don't speak about her as if she's just simply around to take care of my urges. She's the most wonderful woman I've ever met. She makes me extremely happy."
"That's all that matters, Mistel," Iris said softly, her violet eyes glistening slightly. "All I want for you is happiness."
Iris continued, "Also, I gave you the condom just in case. Sometimes things get a little more heated than you expected it to get, and you know how I feel about protection. I know Bee is clean, but can you imagine her getting pregnant at this age? She just turned twenty!"
Mistel held his tongue. Although he did want to be married before having children, he still wanted to get married in a year or less. "Point well made, Iris. And I do have happiness. I'm the happiest I've ever felt before in my entire life," Mistel said sternly. "Does that satisfy you?"
"More than you'll ever be able to understand," Iris retorted. "Your happiness means much, much more to me than my own."
He wasn't sure what to say to that. He took a long sip of tea to think of something to say. After a few minutes he said softly, "Thank you, Iris, that was very sweet of you to say...but I do care about your happiness, as well. How are you?"
"Hmm? What do you mean? I'm perfectly fine," Iris said frankly, but her voice cracked slightly.
"I meant with the whole Klaus situation," he sighed. "Did you cry yourself to sleep last night again?"
"No, I did not," Iris said firmly. "The Klaus situation is moot. I'd like to forget about him all together. I'd rather not think of him ever again."
"So...you don't think you'll ever be friends again?" Mistel wondered.
"Not in the near future, no," Iris replied. She changed the subject. "How did Bee like her gift?"
"She said it was the best gift she had ever received," Mistel said, smiling brightly.
"Oh, how wonderful!" Iris emoted, returning his smile. "I just knew she would love it!"
"You were correct. She looked absolutely dumbstruck when she opened the wrapping paper. She did protest that it had to of cost too much money, but I told her not to worry about the money. Apparently she doesn't come from a very good upbringing. From what I could gather she grew up rather poor. Did you know that?" Mistel asked. He thought that even though she'd been embarrassed to tell him, that perhaps she'd told Iris.
"Oh, no, I didn't," Iris said, frowning slightly. "How sad. I can't imagine growing up poor. It must have been rough, especially with so many siblings...but at least she's here now, and although I know she doesn't need you to take care of her you can still buy her nice things, things she's never had before."
"She deserves to be dressed in silk and satin," he said seriously. "Her night shirt looks as if it's five years old. She should be sleeping in a beautiful silk nightgown, not some rag."
Iris laughed loudly. "Take her to the city and buy her things, then, if that's what you think she deserves and wants. Although I doubt she'll be farming in evening ware."
"Well, of course not! She would wear the clothes after she has finished her work for that day, preferably for me when we go on dates," Mistel said, rolling his eyes.
"You're so very protective over her, brother," Iris scolded. "It's all right to be a little protective, but if you don't stop smothering her you very well may lose her."
Mistel shook his head frantically to get the horrible thought out. "No, I refuse to let her go," he said fiercely. "I'll do whatever it takes to keep her by my side. She's not only my lover, sister. She's my best friend. She loves me dearly. If she has a problem I'm positive she will tell me, and I'll fix it. She isn't the type of girl to just leave me without an explanation."
"All right, all right," Iris said hastily. "I'm just warning you, brother. Girls like a lot of attention—especially Bee—but smothering her will only drive her away. I couldn't stand to see you break your own heart."
"I promise, Iris, I'm not smothering her," Mistel said defensively, crossing his arms over his chest. "I told her from the very beginning to be ready to be held tight, because I don't intend on ever letting her go."
"I believe you. I have no doubt that you'd swim across oceans for her. Just be careful. This is your first real love, and I know it's exciting and intense but you must be mindful of your actions," Iris warned. "You're almost always mindful of your words, so there's no need to worry about that. Just be...careful. I know you want her to be the most happiest woman alive, but what about you? Don't you want to be happy?"
"Her happiness is my happiness, sister," Mistel muttered. "As long as she's smiling I'm smiling. Is that too hard for you to comprehend?"
"I'm not an idiot," Iris scoffed, also crossing her arms. "If your happiness is her happiness then make sure she's happy."
"I intend to," he said calmly, uncrossing his arms. "You should have seen how utterly gorgeous she looked last night. It was truly a sight to see. And for my eyes only. Although, I must admit, my eyes did wander a bit every once in awhile... I couldn't help it! Her dress was cut so low..."
Iris giggled, "You're only human, Mistel! It's a natural reaction to look when seeing the one you love dressed like that. It only becomes a problem if you make her feel uncomfortable, or do something without her permission. I take it you had to muster up all your will to look her in the eye as much as possible?"
"Correct. It was difficult, but I think I accomplished the task well," Mistel said with a mischievous smirk, feeling quite pleased with himself. It had been difficult to look her in the eye all night. Admittedly, he had a few slip-ups, but he just couldn't help himself. Beatrice's breasts looked so perfect in her dress. If they had been dating for a longer time he would have asked her to touch them; they looked so soft, like pillows.
He had been none too pleased with himself last night, as he kept thinking about how much he wanted to feel them; to feel all of her. A small part of him felt giddy by the thought. He truly hated to admit it to himself, but he could hardly wait until they were dating long enough, or more comfortable with one another, for him to be able to feel all her curves and soft skin. He knew she had quite a spectacular body from hearing Iris say so, but he didn't fully understand just how outstanding it was until he saw her in that dress last night.
Iris was right, he was only human. If he hadn't of looked at least a couple of times it would have been absurd. Actually, now that he thought about it, it would have been nearly impossible. He couldn't help that his eyes naturally wandered to beautiful things. In a way, it was a good thing. He was able to spot gorgeous antiques with his eyes—not that he was comparing Beatrice to antiques. He did love antiques, but his love for Beatrice didn't even compare.
"Well, it sounds like you had a great night," Iris said as she stood, breaking him out of his slightly dirty thoughts. "I'm very happy for you. Now, I must get back to writing after I cleanup."
Mistel looked to his grandfather clock to see it was one-fifteen. If he wanted to take Beatrice to dinner then he knew he had to leave now. It would take him at least forty minutes to walk up the trail, and then they would have to walk all the way back down. By the time they arrived at the restaurant it would a perfect time for dinner, since it would be so early they could be alone before the dinner rush came in.
"I must be going, thank you for the tea," Mistel said, standing. "I thought it would be nice to take Beatrice on a proper date, so I'm going to take her to the restaurant for dinner."
As he walked down the staircase Iris called after him, "Good luck! And remember what I said!"
He rolled his eyes again. He knew she was just trying to give him advice, but she could be such a nag sometimes.
Mistel was surprised that the walk up the mountain trail wasn't nearly as hard as it was when he first started doing it. He smiled to himself as he walked. Although it was a bit cold, at least it was sunny out. He hoped that was a good omen.
As he reached the wooded area his hands began to tremble slightly. He willed them to stop, but they just wouldn't listen. Why am I so nervous? He blamed Iris and all the things she said.
Right before he reached Beatrice's farm he stopped dead in his tracks. Beatrice was skipping from her farm and down the trail. He immediately felt like a weight had been lifted off his chest when he saw her, and smiled from ear to ear.
Beatrice looked slightly taken aback when she saw him and stopped skipping. After a moment a shy smile spread across her face and she reached for her ponytail, pulling it over her shoulder and frantically running her hands through her brunette locks.
Mistel said cheerfully, "Oh, good! I'm glad we didn't miss each other along the way. I was just on my way to see you!"
"Hmm? Oh, were you? Why?" Beatrice asked in a teasing tone, her smile widening.
Mistel beamed and laughed, "Why? To ask you out on a date, of course! Why else?"
He watched as a small blush crept up her face. She stammered, "O-oh, I see."
"If you have other plans, I won't intrude," Mistel said earnestly, although he really hoped she didn't have any other plans. "But if you don't, would you care to join me for dinner?"
Beatrice nodded her head enthusiastically, then said in her usual singsong voice, "I'd love to!"
Mistel beamed at her again. He said with evident mirth in his tone, "I thought you might say that. Come on, let's go."
She gave a small nod and he held out his hand. She let go of her hair to take it, and they began to stroll down the trail. He immediately felt a mixture of calmness and feeling like he had butterflies dancing wildly in his stomach once their skin touched. He wondered if she felt the same.
They walked in silence for a few minutes. Mistel broke it to say, "Iris wanted me to tell you that you're a great baker. She tried your cake and she loves it."
"Oh? Tell her I said thank you," Beatrice said timidly, looking to the ground as they walked. Her cheeks turned a pink hue as she squeaked, "You didn't try any?"
Mistel felt his lips twitch into a smirk. He said, "I intend to tonight. I didn't want to ruin my appetite before dinner."
"I see," Beatrice whispered. She looked into his eyes—causing his heart to flutter—and said, "Please let me know how you like it once you've tried it."
Mistel stammered, "O-of course, my love."
Beatrice smiled brightly and continued to stare into his eyes with her smoldering ruby ones. He felt his heart skip a beat. Why did her eyes have to be so mesmerizing? Why did they have to be so beautiful? Most of all, why couldn't he look away?
As they passed through the riverside pasture he willed himself with all his strength to look away and to the river on his right. He gave her hand a small squeeze and asked, "So, how was work?"
"Long and hard," Beatrice sighed. "But at least it's over now, and I get to go on a date with you. That makes my day ten times better." Even without looking at her he could hear a smile in her voice.
"I'm so happy to hear that!" Mistel emoted, sucking it up and looking back at her. "Anything that I do to make your day better makes me feel elated."
Beatrice looked bashfully to the ground again, her cheeks turning redder by the second. Mistel admired her blush, noticing a ghost of a smile on her lips. He could hardly believe how adorable she was, and to make matters better, she was his. He had to keep reminding himself that—he still had a hard time believing it. Why would someone so amazing, so adorable, agree to be his? He didn't know; he didn't care. All that mattered to him was that he was hers and she was his, and that they were happy. He was so, so happy.
When they reached the restaurant he really didn't want to let go of her hand. He held on to it tightly and stared blankly at the restaurant's door. Beatrice gave him a strange look. She said, "Uhh...darling? I'm afraid you're going to have to let go now."
"Must I, though? I love holding your hand," he said, and even he could hear a hint of desperation in his tone.
"I'm afraid you must," Beatrice said, grinning.
"If I must," Mistel sighed.
He reluctantly let go, then opened the door for Beatrice. He walked in after her, then closed the door behind him. Raeger smiled and greeted them, "Good afternoon, lovebirds. What can I get you two tonight?"
Mistel could have sworn his eyes lingered on Beatrice and felt a small wrath begin to build within him. He wasn't sure, though, so he took a deep breath to calm himself. "The usual for me, thank you, Raeger," Mistel said flatly. He looked to Beatrice and asked, "And for you, my love?"
"Stew, please," Beatrice said, smiling sweetly. "Thank you, Raeger."
"Coming right up! Please take a seat, I'll bring it over when it's finished," Raeger said, gesturing with his hand for them to sit.
Mistel grabbed Beatrice's hand and led her over to one of the tables in the front. He was right, the restaurant was empty. He let go of her hand and pulled her chair out for her. She carefully tucked her skirt underneath her as she sat, and he pushed in her chair.
"Thank you, darling," Beatrice said in a low tone as he walked over to his own chair, her cheeks turning scarlet.
Mistel sat down and gave her a lopsided smile. "You're welcome, Beatrice." He giggled slightly and asked, "Why are you blushing? All I did was push in your chair for you!"
"It was cute, I'm sorry," Beatrice whispered, her eyes glued to the table.
"Never apologize for blushing, my dear! Something so adorable doesn't need an apology!" he exclaimed, giggling a little louder.
Beatrice's blush deepened as she continued to stare at the table, nodding her head slowly. He was confused as to why she was so embarrassed. He knew he had a tendency to make her blush often, but he had just simply pushed her chair in for her. He wondered if it was because they were in public.
"You are allowed to look at me, you know?" Mistel teased.
Beatrice immediately looked up from the table and into his eyes, fluttering her lush lashes. He immediately regretted saying anything. He felt a ball form in his throat. He swallowed hard in a vain attempt to get it out.
"So, uh, you look very stunning tonight," he eventually managed to say, though it was hoarse.
"And you look very handsome," Beatrice returned. She gave him a small smile.
"Are you hungry?" Mistel asked after a minute.
"Oh, I'm famished!" Beatrice emoted, her smile widening.
"Wonderful! It should be out any—"
Mistel cut himself off, as Raeger was standing next to their table with their dishes in hand. He carefully placed Beatrice's in front of her, then did the same with Mistel's. "Enjoy!" Raeger said before heading back to his kitchen.
They began to eat. Mistel ate his meal slowly, and after a few moments looked up at Beatrice to see that she was scarfing down her food as if she hadn't eaten in weeks. She hummed in satisfaction as she ate, not even bothering to look up from her dish.
Mistel felt a little irritated. They were on a date, shouldn't they be talking? He masked his irritation with a sweet smile and said, "Goodness, you certainly seem to be enjoying that!"
Beatrice came up for air and said happily, "Oh, yes, I am! It's very delicious!"
He was happy to see her enjoying herself so much, although he wished she would pay a little more attention to him. He beamed at her while he said, "Simply watching you is enough for me to feel as if I've had a full meal myself."
Beatrice smiled shyly. She said timidly, "Well, I'm with you..."
Mistel was taken aback for a moment. He wasn't expecting that answer. He couldn't wipe his bright smile off his face as he said, "Being with me makes the meal taste better to you? Goodness, you say the most adorable things!
"If that's the case, then I suppose I have to forgive you for being so absorbed in your meal!"
Beatrice tilted her head slightly, giving him the most perplexing of looks. "Hmm?"
"You hadn't noticed?" he asked with a neutral expression. "Since the food arrived, you've paid far more attention to it than to me."
Beatrice looked panicked. She frantically said, "Oh, goodness! I'm so, so sorry darling!"
Mistel felt his lips curl into a large smile. She even looked adorable when panicking. He said frankly, "No, it's all right! From what you said a moment ago, I'm sure you hadn't forgotten me. You still felt my presence, which is sweet!"
His face regained his usual neutral expression as he chided mildly, "Though I must admit, it isn't very pleasant to feel so ignored for so long. Please try to be a bit more cognizant of that, if you would."
Beatrice's face flushed. She said bashfully, "Yes, of course darling... I wouldn't want to feel ignored, either."
Mistel watched as she began to eat her meal more slowly, looking up every other bite and smiling. He smiled back at her as she finished eating.
Once she was done she pushed her plate to the side and sang, "All done!"
He gave a small laugh. "For some reason, I feel like I've just been effectively cajoled into doing what you want. But the truth is, I'm not entirely certain I mind!"
Beatrice looked confused again and asked, "What do you mean?"
Mistel laughed nervously. He beamed as he sputtered, "...N-never mind. I said nothing! ...Anyway, you have a smear of sauce on your cheek."
"Oh? I do?" Beatrice squeaked. "I, uh, don't have a napkin..."
Mistel couldn't stop smiling. "Sheesh. You are such a handful." He stood and walked over to the side of her chair. He said, "Here, I'll wipe it off for you. Hold still..."
Beatrice looked panicked again. He looked over to Raeger to see he was looking at them. Or was he looking at Beatrice? A magnificent idea popped into his head. With his big smile still plastered on his face he said mostly to himself, "Hrm. You know, this might be the perfect opportunity..."
"Hmm?" Beatrice hastened to ask.
Mistel felt his smile widen—which he didn't think was possible—and said sweetly, "Pardon me."
He leaned down and kissed the sauce off of her face. Beatrice looked shocked. He quickly said, "There, it's all cleaned off. I'm sorry, but I forgot my handkerchief today, you see."
Beatrice's whole face turned red as she stammered, "Oh, uh, um, er..."
Mistel said in his usual demure tone, "At any rate, since we've finished our meals, we should probably be on our way. Let me see you home. I did invite you to this with little warning, after all. And you're a very busy person. I'm sure you have much to do."
Beatrice quickly stood and turned to him, her face still bright red, then hastily shook her head and dashed out of the restaurant.
Mistel giggled loudly as he watched her leave, "Well, I did offer to see her home! Always in such a hurry, she is..."
He placed money down on the table and left a handsome tip. As he walked toward the door he was surprised to see Raeger standing in front of his counter. Before he could leave Raeger said calmly, "Could I ask you not to show off so much in my restaurant, please? There's no way you forgot your trusty hanky."
Mistel turned to him and smiled brightly. "My apologies. I simply thought it might be a good opportunity to discourage any...onlookers...from looking on."
Raeger looked around the empty restaurant for a second, then gave him a weird look. His expression turned disgruntled as he frowned, pulling on his necktie slightly. "Okay, but don't jerk her around too much. She deserves better."
Mistel said simply, "If anyone is being led around by the nose, it's me. It feels like, no matter how carefully I plan my actions, I am constantly done in by her innocent spontaneity. And she has no idea she's doing it! Why, just a few minutes ago..." His voice trailed off as he realized what he was about to blurt out.
Raeger waited a few seconds, then said, "Hmm?"
Mistel felt his cheeks warm and his expression soften as he recalled what Beatrice had said just a few minutes ago. He hastily said, "Erm, nothing. Thank you for the delicious meal. I should be going now."
He strode out the door and quickly shut it behind him. He leaned against it and let out a small sigh. He heard Raeger laugh through the door, "Hmm. So both of them are taking advantage of the other, huh?"
Mistel then heard Raeger say, "Still, you don't get that natural of an expression out of Mistel so easily. He really should show it to Bee a bit more often."
Mistel contemplated that for a moment. Did he really not show Beatrice said expression as often as he should have? Did she even like that expression? And if she did, why hadn't she ever said she liked it? Maybe she has, and I just never took note of it. He decided he would try his best to show Beatrice his blush whenever it felt natural. He didn't want to force it...but he felt like perhaps before he was trying his utmost hardest not to blush. He would make sure not to hide it anymore.
Mistel was about to walk away when he heard Raeger laugh darkly. He could hear him saying hollowly to himself, "Does Mistel really think I'm looking at Bee? That I'm interested in her? That's hilarious."
Mistel felt his blood begin to boil. Why shouldn't Raeger look at her, or be interested in her? She's obviously the most gorgeous girl in town, not to mention the most wonderful, thoughtful, and intelligent.
He nearly thundered into the restaurant, but before he did he heard Raeger laugh again. "Mistel really doesn't know me at all, does he? If he did he wouldn't worry at all about me looking at her that way."
Mistel was baffled. What was that suppose to mean? Was Beatrice simply not Raeger's type? That's impossible, a wonderful girl such as herself is everyone's type. Or...or were women in general just not Raeger's type? He wasn't sure, and he didn't want to jump to conclusions...but how else was he suppose to interpret what Raeger had said? He knew it wasn't any of his business, but he had always been a little too curious for his own good, and now he really wanted to know what Raeger meant by that. He wasn't just going to stroll back into the restaurant and ask Raeger himself...but with enough eavesdropping and time he was positive he would be able to find out.
With a smile on his face Mistel walked down the restaurant's steps. He turned to see Beatrice out front of the inn talking to Lillie. She looked hysterical, her arms flailing around wildly, and she appeared as if she might start crying. He felt his heart sink into his stomach. What in the world could have happened to make her this way?
Mistel sprinted over to them. As soon as Lillie saw him she scoffed, "Go away! Leave Bee alone, you've upset her."
Beatrice turned her body to face him. He noticed her ruby eyes were glistening, her dark lashes beaded with tears; just begging to fall at any moment. She gaped at him for a moment then bolted toward the Piedmont area.
Mistel hadn't the slightest clue how he had upset her, but he wasn't about to just stand there like a fool and let the love of his life run away crying. As he sprinted after her he could hear Lillie yelling behind him, "Leave her be! Haven't you done enough for one night!"
Have I? He would feel a lot better if he knew what he had done to upset her. Now only a few feet away, he called after her, "Beatrice, wait! Please, stop running!"
Beatrice didn't even look behind her, nor did she slow down. Mistel ran faster and eventually caught up to her right before she entered the riverside pasture. Panting, he grabbed her from behind and wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, lifting her slightly as she squirmed and thrashed to get out of his embrace. She shouted, "Let go of me! Let me go! I'm upset, I just want to go home! You can be a real fool sometimes. Just let me go!"
"Beatrice, calm down!" he begged.
She continued to thrash herself from side to side, yelling at him to let her go. After several minutes she went limp, and soft sobs began to wrack through her body. Mistel began to panic. He gently lowered her and spun her around so she was facing him. Tears were steadily streaming down her face. He felt his heart leap into his throat.
Mistel put his hands on either sides of her face and started to wipe away her tears. He soothingly asked, "Beatrice, my love... What's wrong?"
"Y-you're an idiot," she choked, her ruby eyes glowering.
"What did I do?" he asked, completely flabbergasted.
"You embarrassed me, that's what you did! Not to mention that you have no trust in me whatsoever!" Beatrice shouted slightly, her hands in fists at her sides.
Mistel embraced her tightly for a second, then said softly, "I apologize. I hadn't meant to embarrass you. And as I said before, it's not you that I don't trust. It's the other men in town with their hungry eyes. I'm truly sorry, my dear, will you ever forgive me?"
Beatrice huffed and stomped her foot. She spat, "Why should I?"
Mistel felt his cheeks warm again and his face soften, his lips curling into a small smile. He whispered, "Because I love you, and you love me."
Beatrice rolled her ruby eyes and protested, "How can I argue with you when you're giving me that look."
"What look?" he tried to say as innocently as possible.
"That look! When you blush and look at me like I'm the only person in the world. It's too adorable. It's unfair. It's impossible to mad at you when you're looking at me like that," she explained, then sighed loudly.
"Then forgive me, please. I promise to never embarrass you again. It wasn't my intent. Please, my love. Forgive me. I'll do anything," he nearly begged.
He watched as Beatrice shrank inside her head, seemingly contemplating whether or not to forgive him. He felt like it was years before she finally spoke. "Fine," she sighed. "I forgive you. Just never do that again, okay?"
"Okay," Mistel said with a sweet smile. "Can I make it up to you?"
"How do you plan on doing that?" Beatrice asked, sniffling.
"Thursday night, if you're free, I would like to take you back to the restaurant and not embarrass you this time," he said.
"Promise?" Beatrice asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Promise." Mistel smirked. He cupped her cheek in his hand and she leaned into it, sighing pleasurably.
After a moment Mistel asked, "Would you like for me to see you home now?"
"No thank you, darling. You hardly ate any of your dinner, and I wouldn't want you to get sick," Beatrice replied.
"If you insist, my dear. Please be careful on your way home," Mistel said, softly caressing her cheek.
"I will be," she assured him. "Goodnight, darling. I can hardly wait to see you Thursday, I'll miss you every second."
Mistel felt a small blush creep up his face and smiled. "As will I, my love. Goodnight."
He put his other hand to her cheek and leaned down slightly, closing his eyes and gently pressing his lips to hers. He moved his mouth slowly with hers, and began to feel slightly lightheaded. He moved his hands to her small waist, pulling her body flush against his.
Mistel tilted his head slightly to deepen their kiss, moving his lips more passionately against her soft ones. Beatrice made a deep moaning noise in the back of her throat, making him feel feverish by the sound. Their kisses steadily became more urgent, more hungry.
She was so close he could feel her breasts against his chest. It was nearly torturous. His heart was beating so incredibly fast, and he could feel her own heartbeat pounding against his chest. He wanted so badly to walk her home, to sit with her on her sofa and kiss her so passionately it would take both of their breaths away.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and attempted the impossible to pull her closer to him. Love overrules my lust, love overrules my lust, he repeated the motto over and over again in his mind. It was no use; it didn't help at all. His head was so clouded by now that he thought he mine as well be intoxicated, because he sure did feel like he was.
Mistel wanted nothing more than to pull her by the hand to her house or his—whichever was closer, which he figured was his house—and caress her curves while they kissed like they had never kissed before. He wanted to pull her dress off of her, he wanted to see what her underwear looked like. He wanted to mark her, to hear her moan his name. He wanted to gently lay her down on his bed and kiss her from head to foot.
Mistel suddenly realized his shorts were far too tight and immediately stopped thinking about what he'd love to do to her. He gently released his arms from around her and tilted his hips back. He feared he might die from embarrassment if Beatrice felt just how much he wanted her.
He broke their lips apart and rested his forehead against hers. They both panted for air, and after a moment smiled at each other while gazing into one another's eyes. He noticed her ruby eyes were dark with lust. Her neck and face were flushed in desire, and he felt his shorts become a little bit tighter.
Mistel put his hand to her heated cheek and gently caressed it. He said hoarsely, "I love you, Beatrice. Goodnight."
Beatrice pressed her lips firmly to his for a second, then said just as hoarsely as he had, "I love you, darling. I hope you have a great night."
He gave her a lopsided smile and said teasingly, "Oh, I'm sure I will. I have a delicious chocolate cake waiting for me at home."
Mistel placed a tender kiss on her forehead then turned around. Before he could walk away Beatrice quickly grabbed his arm. He turned on his heel and asked, "Yes, Beatrice?"
She kept her hand firmly clasped around his arm. She looked him in the eye for a moment before fixating her eyes on the ground, tracing circles with the tip of her boot on the grass. Her face turned a deep shade of red—the reddest Mistel had ever seen her face turn—and she said reluctantly, "Mistel, I...uh, just want to say something."
Mistel put his finger under her chin and gently lifted it to meet his loving gaze. He let his hand fall and quirked an eyebrow. He said a tad bit teasingly, "Yes, my love? You can say anything to me, don't be so timid."
Beatrice averted her eyes from his and sputtered, "I, uh, just wanted to let you know that..." She murmured the rest, and he wasn't able to hear her.
"I'm sorry, my dear, I couldn't hear the last part," Mistel said softly, his lips twitching into a smirk.
Beatrice squared her shoulders, held her head up high, and looked him dead in the eye. She said boldly, "I just wanted to let you know that I..." She hesitated. She lowered her voice and continued, "That I've never wanted to be with someone as much as I want to be with you."
Mistel cocked his head to the side in confusion. He said bewilderingly, "But...but you are with me."
The heat stayed in Beatrice's face as she said, "I should have worded that differently. What I meant was... I love you, and I've never wanted someone as much as I want you. Do you understand what I mean now?"
After a moment Mistel realized what she meant. Ooh... Wait, am I dreaming?! He gaped at her for a minute, his mouth hanging open so far he feared that his jaw might come unhinged. As the seconds ticked by Beatrice's face slowly dropped. She hung her head and let go of his arm, then slowly turned around.
Mistel was in shock, but snapped out of it once he realized Beatrice was leaving. He took three long strides to catch up to her and gently grabbed her upper arm. She turned to him with her head still hung low, her eyes fixated on her fingers as she twiddled them.
Mistel lifted her chin again with his finger, then put his free hand on her other arm. He asked very softly, "Do you truly mean that? Or are you just telling me what I want to hear?"
Beatrice stared him straight in the eye as she said firmly, "Yes, I truly mean it. I knew I loved you...but this is a whole different kind of sensation. It's not exactly lust, but more so love mixed with lust. I love you, Mistel, and I've never felt this way before. It kind of feels like torture sometimes when we kiss too passionately...It takes every fiber of my being not to jump your bones. I've never wanted someone so much before... It's a peculiar feeling, but I like it." Beatrice's face grew redder with every word she uttered, her complexion now nearly matching the color of her eyes.
Mistel felt like jumping up and down with joy. He could hardly believe his ears. And she wasn't lying, he knew that to be true. He planted a small kiss upon her lips, then pulled away and beamed at her. He said more happily than he intended, "You have no idea how happy that makes me! I love you dearly, Beatrice. Thank you for explaining that to me, because that's exactly how I feel. Love and lust mixed together... I've never desired someone as much as I desire you. It does feel like torture! When we kiss so intensely I sometimes can't help but to imagine what you would look like with just your underwear on...Goodness, you've cajoled me into doing anything you would like for the second time tonight! Soon, we must talk about this. We can't keep torturing each other, we need to figure out how quickly we want to take things. Whatever you decide I will happily oblige to your decision. It's all up to you, so think long and hard. When you're ready to talk about it, just tell me. No games, no beating around the bush, all right?"
"All right," Beatrice said, smiling from ear to ear. "Well, it's rather late now, so I suppose I should be heading home. Goodnight again, darling. I love you."
"Au revoir, mon amour," Mistel said, feeling his lips twitch into a wicked grin. "I can hardly wait for our date Thursday, my dear Beatrice. I'll meet you out front of the guild around six, if that works for you."
"Sounds perfect," Beatrice said, still smiling.
Mistel let go of her arms and gently pressed his lips to hers, kissing her sweetly and steadily. After a minute he pulled back and grinned. He gave a small wave before turning around.
"Bye, darling!" Beatrice called after him, waving frantically.
As Mistel walked home he couldn't wipe the grin off his face. What a very strange day. Although it had its ups and downs, at least it ended on a great note. He had a rather hard time believing Beatrice wanted him more than anyone she had ever encountered, but he wasn't about to deny her feelings. After all, he felt the same exact way.
His grin faltered as he reached his front door. He knew Iris would want to know all about his date. He sighed heavily before opening it.
As soon as he reached the top step he heard Iris's footsteps rushing over to him. She grabbed him by his shoulders and shook him slightly, asking merrily, "So? How was it? Was it great? I bet it was great!"
Mistel just shook his head and went over to the kitchen. He prepared himself a slice of cake and sat down on his turquoise sofa. He slivered off a piece with his fork and plopped it in his mouth. His eyes went wide for a moment. He couldn't believe how delicious the cake was.
Iris sat down on the other sofa and shook her head. "That bad?" she asked.
Mistel began to explain everything that had happened. The only part he left out was the very end. That was none of her concern. Iris nodded her head as he retold the night's events, sighing and patting his arm when appropriate.
When he was finished with his story and his slice of cake he stood. He placed his dish in the sink. He turned to Iris and said, "Goodnight, sister. Don't stay up too long."
Iris laughed, "I won't, I promise!"
Mistel yawned as he headed into his bedroom, locking the door behind him. He quickly changed out of his clothes and into pajamas. He looked to the clock to see it was only ten. He felt a small smile spread across his lips as he laid down and pulled the blankets over himself. He began to think about Beatrice: her lips, her beautiful face, her fantastic body. Then he allowed his thoughts to drift into more dangerous territories.
He thought about how much she wanted him, and began to fantasize about what they might do together once the time was right. With every thought his boxers became tighter. The possibilities of what they could do together, or to each other, was a long list, and he began to think of everything he knew on the subject.
Mistel was glad he kept tissues underneath his pillows. He was going to need them tonight.