And a present from me to you!...
22. Perfect
(Mikhail POV)
A royal banquet wasn't just a big occasion for the guests. Alberta had set all of the school guardians to work, and I'd been on duty most of the night and early morning - setting up tables and equipment, carrying out last minute tasks requested by the queen, escorting guests to the venue and providing security during the banquet itself. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tired, but seeing Sonya Karp walk through the ballroom doors dressed in that exquisite gown had me wide awake again in an instant. I tried my hardest to stay focused on my job during dinner but my eyes kept wandering back to the teachers' table where my Sonechka was seated. From my position at the side of the room I could see the soft outline of her face and the tantalising, elegant sweep of her exposed back, yet being so close and knowing I couldn't actually touch her was the cruellest, sweetest torture of all.
By the time 9:00am rolled around I was dying to clock-off so I could meet up with Sonya in private. We hadn't seen one another since the shopping trip and I was impatient to show her just how much I'd missed her over the past few days. Part of me wanted to get her home straight away - to lock the door behind us and see what might happen - but it was already quite late and my next shift would be starting in only a few of hours. Yes, I'd like nothing more than to claim Sonya as my own, right now if she'd have me, but I didn't want our first time to be rushed. Instead, I'd planned a little surprise for my sweetheart and just had to wait for the next guardian to relieve me so I could go and carry out my plan.
Soon, there was a small flicker of movement to my right – Alberta had arrived to take over my post and she waited silently, her eyes roving over the room, as I gave her a brief hand-over report.
'A few guests are ready to be taken home,' I murmured, indicating subtly to a pair of older women who had nodded-off in their chairs. 'And you might want to keep an eye on Prince Ivashkov's wife – if the prince keeps up his current behaviour on the dancefloor we may have a murder on our hands.'
Alberta's eyes remained stony but one corner of her lips twitched to cover a smile.
'There's one more thing,' I added casually, passing her a small note. 'Could you give this to Miss Karp? The woman in the green dress.'
She glanced at me briefly but gave a curt nod without asking any questions.
'Permission to leave?' I asked formally.
'You are relieved,' she replied, and my shift was officially over.
Slipping into the kitchen, I scanned the benches and rustled up a snack for myself, eating quickly before investigating the bar fridge. The bottle of bubbly was waiting exactly where I'd left it – I placed it on a tray, along with two champagne flutes, and made my way out to the private balcony that led off from the main ballroom.
There was a small table and a single chair at the far end of the balcony, separated from the rest of the terrace by a thin screen of potted plants. The perfect spot for a private rendezvous, I thought, placing the tray down before moving to look out over the balustrade. The mountains to the north-east were capped with a light dusting of snow but the lower foothills were a lush green – I wondered what Sonya would think of the view then instantly felt nervous, struck by an irrational fear that she might choose not to come.
As the minutes ticked by, the weariness from my long shift began to creep up on me again and I suddenly realised just how long I'd been wearing the same set of clothes. Formal wear might look good, but I felt constrained by the stiff clothing and wished I was in a T-shirt and jeans instead. I satisfied myself by shrugging off the dinner jacket, folding it over the back of the terrace chair before stretching out the tired muscles in my neck and sinking down onto the seat.
Nearly ten minutes later I heard a door creak softly and the woman I was waiting for stepped out onto the balcony. She stood still for a moment, taking in the beautiful surroundings, before I rose from my seat and caught her attention. The distance between us couldn't have been more than twenty feet but it seemed like a mile. I wanted to rush to her but forced myself to savour the anticipation as she approached like an emerald goddess.
'You look amazing, Sonechka,' I breathed when she finally reached me, and I held her out at arms-length to take a better look at the dress. 'The person who bought this dress for you had very good taste,' I joked softly, marvelling at the delicate lace glove on her left hand as I raised her arm, spinning her around slowly to enjoy every angle.
My eyes lingered on the exposed skin of her back and I reached out unconsciously to touch the sheer fabric that draped from her shoulders.
'There is only one thing I'd change,' I told her, my voice rough with emotion.
Sonya tensed at my criticism but she stood perfectly still as I undid the clip that held her loose bun in place, letting her deep auburn hair tumble free. I felt the soft warmth of her skin as my hand brushed lightly across her shoulder-blades, carefully scooping her thick tresses over her right shoulder before spinning her around to face me again.
'Perfect,' I whispered, trailing my fingers through the tips of her hair. She was perfect in every way and the desire to kiss her was overwhelming. I lowered my face to hers but she held a finger to my lips, pushing me away. Did I say something wrong? Had I offended her? I instantly regretted suggesting her appearance could be improved, but something in her expression gave me hope I hadn't ruined everything.
'You don't look too bad yourself,' she teased, and I felt a quiet thrill as her eyes roved over my face and body, taking in my formal white shirt and pressed slacks, pausing with a frown at my neck. 'But there's one thing I'd change too,' she said in a hushed voice, and it was my turn to be surprised as she reached up to loosen my bow tie, her fingers quickly moving on to undo the top button of my shirt. She trailed her hands lightly over my chest before standing back to survey her handiwork.
'Much better,' she smiled wickedly. 'Now is there anything else you think needs improvement? Some more snow on the mountains perhaps?'
Every time I thought I'd figured Sonya out she surprised me again.
'Well, the roses are nice but I could use some mistletoe if you have any?' I teased back, reaching out to catch her hand.
'Mistletoe, you say?' she arched an eyebrow playfully before glancing at the trails of roses that clung to the walls and hung from the terrace above.
I blinked once or twice and shook my head in disbelief as the rose petals faded away before my eyes and were replaced by festive sprigs of curly leaves, laden with tiny white berries. Was I imagining it? I dropped her hand and reached up to touch one of the delicate sprays then quickly snatched my hand back again, sucking the spot on my thumb where a rose thorn had bitten into my skin.
'It's not real, Misha,' Sonya chuckled gently under her breath. 'The moment you doubt the illusion you begin to see through it.
As I focused on the mistletoe I became aware of the soft fragrance of rose petals, and splashes of pale colour began to appear between the hanging leaves. So, Sonya could make plants grow and blossom, spontaneously heal injuries and create illusions that convinced even my logical mind. Were there other things she could do that she hadn't told me about? How did she get her powers? Was she dangerous?
'Do you want the mistletoe or not?' her voice cut through my thoughts and I immediately realised that none of the other stuff mattered. Yes, I wanted the mistletoe – so badly.
'Yes,' I said aloud, watching the curly green leaves return as I emptied my mind of suspicion and doubt. 'God, yes.' I closed the distance between us with one quick step and cupped her face in my hands, pressing my lips to hers.
The tension that had built up between us over the past few weeks suddenly released and she responded immediately to my kiss. I shivered with pleasure as her hands snaked up my shirt, stroking my neck and twining her fingers through the back of my hair. My own hands began to wander over her bare shoulders and arms, tracing down her back until my finger-tips made tiny circles on the soft skin just under the edges of her dress.
She arched her back at my touch, pressing herself closer to me, and I felt myself tighten with arousal, hoping desperately that it wouldn't scare her away. She froze for a split-second, registering the change, then gripped the back of my shirt and buried her face against my neck, moving her lips along the collar of my shirt towards the line of buttons under my throat. I knew I needed to change the pace or she would be naked in my arms before I could get her back to her apartment.
I lifted her chin with one finger and found her lips once more, shifting my hands down her waist and leading her by the hips until she was seated on the terrace chair. When I finally released her mouth she looked up with such innocent confusion I nearly gave in to her lips again, but there was something else I'd been meaning to do.
I turned my back to her and reached down to loosen the cork of the champagne bottle. It came out with a loud pop and I used the few moments as the bubbles subsided to gather myself.
'To the perfect woman and the perfect dress,' I declared softly, handing her one glass while raising my own in a toast. She clinked her glass against mine.
'To us,' she responded, looking me directly in the eye.
Did I hear her correctly? After months of wanting her, of trying to take things slow, she was telling me she really wanted me – wanted us? It was one thing that she might accept me as a lover, but forging an intimate, long-term bond was more than I had ever dared to hope for.
I took the glass from her hand and placed both of our drinks on the table before turning back to face her.
'Us?' I clarified, wanting to be certain she understood the implications of such a choice. I dropped to one knee before her and brushed a stray lock of hair away from her eyes. 'Sonechka, from the first moment I saw you I've been yours – mind, body and soul. But us? Are you sure this is what you really want? Are you sure this is the right thing for you?'
Her forehead creased into a frown and I could see the worry on her face as she tried to guess what I was thinking.
'In a year, or five or ten, will you regret choosing a dhampir over one of your own kind?' I explained, silently begging her to understand. 'I can't give you the life you deserve.'
She shook her head as if to deny the suggestion, but I pushed on.
'I can't give you moroi children, or provide you with a secure position in society. Royals and non-royals will look down on you and some will try to make your life very difficult, maybe even attempt to ruin your career. I've seen it happen before and it's enough to crush your spirit.' My voice became more strained as the reasons began to mount up against us. 'And don't forget I'm bound to my guardian oath. My life revolves around my work. I can't guarantee I will see you at the end of every night. Hell, I can't even guarantee how long they'll let me stay at The Academy. And if it comes to the worst I have to protect my charge, even if it means I am killed by strigoi and can never come back to you.'
I finished my speech with a feeling of defeat, running my hand through my hair in frustration. All things considered, our future didn't look good… I only hoped she realised the gravity of our situation before she made up her mind. I leant my head on the edge of the table and closed my eyes as I waited for her to respond.
A small noise made me lift my eyes. Sonya was gazing down at me and I struggled to read her expression.
'To us,' she spoke softly, raising her glass to her lips without breaking eye-contact then placing it back down on the table.
'You really mean it?' I shook my head in disbelief, my heart racing as I realised what she was saying. She was offering herself to me, unreservedly, to be mine as I was already hers.
She nodded silently, biting her bottom lip as she looked at me with shy excitement. I reached my hand to her cheek and ran my thumb over her lips, feeling the cool intake of her breath on my skin. Without another moment of hesitation, I rose from the ground and lifted her up into my arms, closing my mouth over hers as we sealed our promise of undying love.
Author's Note:
Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!
This was one of the first chapters I sketched out, and I've been waiting for so long to reveal this scene. I hope you liked it!