Someone’s Someone

by Curious Girl

I've always been someone's someone. I will always be known as the sister of. The sister of the wonder child; the sister of the Nobel prize laureate; the sister of Princess Anastasia of Romanov; the sister of the next Queen of England; the sister of the Olympian... and the daughter of Troy and Gabriella Bolton. But I am so much more. I am Josephine Bolton.

13. Chapter 13

Oliver

I watch how the water runs down Josephine's nude body as she stands under the water jet in her shower. It's quite humid in her bathroom as she's showering with hot water but I don't mind it at all. I haven't seen her naked since before she left for Paris, which is exactly a week ago today. Today last week, on Friday, she left for Paris and fucked another man there.

One week ago, I fucked her relentlessly before she left for Paris. But this weekend... this weekend will be only for us. I can't wait to stay in pyjamas all day and really get to know the woman across me while eating Chinese with chopsticks.

Plus, the fact that Luigi gave me this weekend off is a sign from God. This is right. She and I are meant to be. I know it and Josephine will know it after this weekend as well.

The sun has already risen, so the strikes of light are filling her white marbled bathroom. I'm surrounded by pure luxury but all I care about is the woman that's standing across me. Rich or poor, healthy or sick; I'd love her not because of it but despite it.

Suddenly, Josephine turns around and opens the door. Her long chestnut hair is sticking to her body. It's way past her hips. I grab two white towels from the ottoman next to me and hand them to her.

She takes the smaller towel and wraps it around her hair before creating a turban. "Thanks." Her long thin fingers grab the second towel and she wraps it around her torso, covering her body from my eyes. "Why didn't you join me in there?"

"I figured you didn't want me to." I answer honestly. I noticed a few things about Josephine when she has her period. She prefers salty food over sweets. She enjoys pizza and pasta even more. She doesn't seem to have any pain or feel discomfort as she didn't place a hottie on her stomach. She stayed active but didn't go to her boxing sessions with her brother-in-law. Instead, she did a lot of yoga and stretches in her living area. But she didn't have any mood swings.

I also found out that she's a sucker for massages. She thoroughly enjoyed my hands massaging all of her muscles last night and I enjoyed touching her back, calves, hamstrings, shoulders and neck in a completely non-sexual way.

But that doesn't mean I wasn't hard during the whole hour that relaxed her.

"This should be the last day of my period." She says before squeezing on the white turban that's sitting on top of her head.

She said that yesterday. "I sincerely hope so." I whisper as I stare at her flawless face. God, she's so stunning without any makeup on her face. I love her birthmarks and those sky blue eyes... I love her in nothing but skin the most because that's when she's just a woman and I am just a man. No luxury. No wealth. No two different worlds...

Just her and me.

And our feelings for one another.

"Every cycle is different. Sometimes it's four days, sometimes five. But never more than five." She shrugs before walking past me. "Shall I pick you up from work today again?"

"No, I'll walk."

"Are you sure?" Josephine pulls a drawer underneath the right sink open and gets out her blow drier.

"Yes. I'll walk. It's not that far away from here anyway." I watch how she pulls the turban off of her head. Her chestnut hair looks dark brown right now because it's wet. "I'm working until three pm today." The walk home will be the perfect time to make a plan for Josephine.

"Okay. I'm going to make lunch then. I am working from home today anyway." She says before putting on the blow drier. She didn't ask what I wanted. She just decided to make lunch. It's a step into the right direction. She will open her heart to me. I know she will.

This weekend will be a turning point for us.

Josephine

I wrap my hair into a bun and secure it with a few bobby pins that I hold between my teeth as I walk back into my bathroom. I've put on light grey sweatpants and a black cotton T-shirt. There's no need to make my hair or makeup when I'm going to work from home today anyway. My bare feet feel warm against the white marble that's filling my bathroom because I have floor heating everywhere in my home. I stop in my tracks as my eyes find Oliver. He's leaning against the sink, shaving the stubbles off that have formed over night. His pine green eyes are totally focused on shaving the white foamy cream off of his face. His hands work precisely with the shaving knife. He has never cut himself, at least not as long as he has been living here. I offered to buy him an electronic shaver but he declined - as always. Oliver told me he enjoyed shaving every morning. I think it's his way of meditation.

My eyes dance down his body. He is already dressed in a simple pair of dark jeans and a pale blue Oxford shirt. He looks hot in it!

He finishes shaving his face and I watch him washing his face and cleaning the sink of any hair that was left behind. I guess he doesn't want Flor to have too much work.

He's not used to having a maid.

He's not used to my home.

But I like him in here. I like that he shaves every morning at my sink, that he showers in my shower and that he shares my bed with me.

Oliver dries his face with a towel before his pine green eyes find mine. "What?"

I can't believe we haven't had sex since I came back from Paris. My bloody period has come in our way. "Nothing."

"Are you sure?"

"You allowed me to stare at you. So, I stare at you."

He shows me a grin that makes my stomach do funny things. "Okay."

Somehow, the corners of my mouth stretch into a grin as well. "Okay."

He places the towel back on the rack and walks over to me. His pine green eyes scan my body on his way over to me. "I like you in this outfit."

"I like you in that outfit as well." I answer and lick my lips.

He stops across me and to my surprise he starts pulling the bobby pins out of my bun until my hair untwists and falls loosely down my chest. "You should wear your hair open more often."

His fingers run through my long wavy chestnut hair that reaches my navel. I watch how Oliver's pine green orbs transition into a sea foam colour.

I run my hands through his short beach blonde hair. It's soft but it has also a lot of texture. His hair has a natural wave as well. "I like your hair like this as well." I whisper as I fondle his freshly shaved chin. "You never cut yourself."

"Because I know what I'm doing." He answers before placing his hand over mine.

Goosebumps start crawling up my legs and arms as his intense sea foam coloured eyes stare deeply into mine. His hand over mine on his face gives me tiny sparks. The tingling sensation only grows the longer he touches me like that. It's hot and intense, not warm and soft like it was with Edward. Ed's smell was intoxicating but Oliver's... I can't even put the feeling into words.

Why am I thinking about Edward Rothschild right now?!

I seal my lips over his and feel how all these sensations within me explode. It's not as intense as when I orgasm but it's bloody nice. He pulls his hand back when he returns my kiss. I can feel his hands on my hips as our tongues start dancing a sensual rumba. I wrap my arms around his torso and pull him closer to me until I can feel his erection pushing into my lower abdomen. For minutes, we explore each other's mouths, dancing that rumba which seems endless. I start feelings dizzy but I don't mind it - I don't need air when I have this right here. His hands run up my back, following the curve of my spine. My muscles vibrate from his touch, giving me the most delicious feeling. He's giving me all sorts of feelings I don't know the name of.

I don't know what this is between him and I, but I do know that I like this a lot.

---

I finish my last email for today and close my grey MacBook Pro. My iPhone vibrates on my coffee table and I pick it up. It's a text from my brother Nate.

"Apparently, we're getting two new Royal Movies from Lifetime. Same Cast as the one about Rory and George." He wrote and attached a link to a website.

I sigh, the last Royal movie was nothing but bullshit. They got the clothes right but that's about it. They portrayed an illusion of how Rory and George met as fifteen year olds, she instantly fell head over heels in love with him and started to doubt her tennis goals. It was as fake as it could get. Rory never thought about quitting tennis for George, she always knew what she wanted and in which order. It was Golden Grand Slam and then George. In fact that's why he loves her. She didn't change because of him. She's still the same person she was before becoming a HRH. She's the best Queen this country will ever have. She will even make the dead Queen Elizabeth II proud.

But Hollywood, especially Lifetime, wants to make a story out of Rory's love to George and I guess now Nate's to Charlotte. They want many ups and downs, twists and turns, just like when Meghan married into the Royal Family. Her transition into a Royal was filled with drama but Rory and Nate's isn't because it's a natural transition that everyone saw coming. But the media... They want Hollywood material.

But we're no Hollywood material. We're wealthy people who happen to have met British Royals at school, became friends with them and now two pairs are married to each other.

I growl, God, Lifetime will probably come up with some kind of love story between Prince Louis and me now as well!

Well, at least it's going to be better than the world knowing I am fucking Oliver. It's better than the world knowing what I did with Edward Rothschild in France. It is better than the world knowing of my NDAs and who I really am.

What do they say again? Bad press is better than no press. There's no such thing as bad publicity.

I open the link that directs me to the article about the two movies.

New royal movies in celebration of Princess Charlotte's wedding

Lifetime has just announced the release of two new royal movies! After last year's huge success of their movie about The Duke and Duchess of Oxford (a.k.a. George and Rory), Lifetime wants to hang on to the bandwagon of success by releasing two new royal movies this year! One will feature Duchess Lorelai's first year as a Royal (hint: there will be a baby bump as The Duchess of Oxford is currently pregnant with #BabyOxford) and the second will be about the Duchess's brother Nate and his fairytale wedding to Princess Charlotte of Wales! While the release date of the first movie has not been announced yet, the movie about Charlotte and Nate will air on the second of June 2048 - their wedding day!

A trailer for both movie has yet to be released, but we do know the cast of the original movie will return. Duchess Lorelai will be played by Alexis Bledel, who has done a fabulous job in the first movie. The Duke of Oxford will be portrayed by Chad Michael Murray with brown contact lenses again. Princess Charlotte of Wales will be played by Margot Robbie, while Chase Crawford will play Nathanial Bolton. Triplet sister Josephine Bolton will be played by Lyndsy Fronseca. Scott Foley and Model Karolina Kurkova will jump into the roles of Prince Sasha and Princess Anastasia of Romanov again. The Nobel prize laureate Dr. Adaline Bolton will be played by Camilla Luddington while model Gilles Chevalier will play her husband Wladimir Bolton. The Bolton parents, Troy and Gabriella, will be played by Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens. As for the other Royals, The Prince and Princess of Wales, a.k.a. William and Catherine, will be portrayed by Nico Evers-Swindell and Laura Mitchell. Murray Fraser and Tiffany Smith will play The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla will be played by Charles Shaughnessy and Deborah Ramsay.

So, it's again this mixture of A-list celebrities with newbies that made the first movie so successful. Up until this day, the Royal Romance of George and Lorelai, has been viewed over one billion times. The half of the money from every DVD, Blu-ray or digital download, has been donated to The Duke and Duchess of Oxford's patronages.

We can't wait for a new movie to feed and grow our obsession of the newest Royals, the new Fab Four.

It didn't say anything about a fake love story of Louis and me. That's a start. I hope the script will be better this time.

I go back to the messenger app and start typing. "At least they didn't come up with some kind of love story about Louis and me." I write back.

Nate responds immediately with a laughing emoji. "Yet. Trust me, the next movie will be focused on you since you are the last unmarried one of the #Boltontriplets. Plus, after the announcement of Char and me getting twins, Hollywood will definitely film a fourth movie."

This Royal Movie carrousel will just keep turning and turning. It will never end. First a movie about how the commoner and the blue blooded meet, then a movie about their first year, after that it will be a movie about their first child - or in Rory's case three, but the world doesn't know that yet - and finally there will be a movie about the coronation.

The world wants to have its part in the Royals' lives. They want their piece of the fairytale.

They have no idea it's not a fairytale at all. They don't know about the strict rules new members of the Royal Family have to follow or whom to curtsy to, the world has no idea it's hard work to get up every day, get dressed and smile into the cameras whether you are in a good mood or insanely sick. You show up, shake hands, have small talks, make people smile and show that you care. You represent your country, the firm and the crown.

Every day for the rest of your life.

There's no holiday, even when you're out in private, you are still a Royal. Everyone bows to you. A-list actors and actresses, models, politicians, doctors, lawyers, policemen - everyone, even within the Royal Family. Because there's an order, a line of succession. Everyone below you in that line will bow to you and everyone above you is whom you bow to.

It sounds easy, but it can get complicated when you're running around without your blue blooded spouse, because that's when you slide down in the line of succession and have to bow to everyone of blue blood. True blue blood.

In addition, there are a zillion blunders you can commit. From what you're wearing to your facial expression, your body language, what you're saying or what you're not saying and most importantly what you're doing.

Rory committed a royal scandal when she walked behind Queen Elizabeth's coffin on the state funeral. I remember exactly what picture the royals sent out that day. It was King Charles's with Queen consort Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales behind them and then it was George holding hands with Rory. Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte of Wales walked behind them, which was a massive breech of Royal protocol. The commoner walked in front of two true royal blooded, who at that time were third and fourth in line to the throne. Rory and George weren't even engaged to one another at that time. She was 'just' his girlfriend until that world changing walk from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. The backlash of the whole world, especially the Brits was so harsh that to the day the King and George released their statements to explain the situation - that it was Queen Elizabeth's wish for her to walk side by side with George -, I was being accompanied everywhere I went by twelve security men. It's was an adjustment I wish to never make again. Ralph is enough security for me.

I am so glad I'm not a Royal.

Suddenly, my gurgling stomach interrupts my train of thoughts. It's already two in the afternoon and I'm starving. I only had a coffee and an omelette for breakfast, but that was almost seven hours ago. I promised Oliver to make lunch today so I decide to make Mexican stuffed sweet potatoes with lots of beans and spices. It's a classic and delicious.

This dish is also one of the first dishes that my Daddy taught me. And now, I can cook it without having any leftovers. I've never cooked for anyone but myself since I moved back from the States.

But I like cooking for Oliver.

I walk into the kitchen, turn on the stove and get two big sweet potatoes out of the box. I wash them before piercing them with a fork. I place the sweet potatoes on the backing tray before putting it into the oven.

I don't even know what Oliver's favourite meal is.

Oliver

The doors of the lift open with a quite ping and I step out. I can't wait for our weekend to start. I can't wait to get to know Josephine and dig deep into her core, her soul. I strip off my shoes and hang my jacket into the built in wardrobe before walking down the hallway that leads to the open living area. Josephine called this place home twice now. And it feels bloody good to get home to my woman.

Even though she doesn't know that yet.

The smell of baked potatoes starts filling my nostrils, but there's also something spicy lingering in the air. She cooked. For me.

Something she said she'd never do for a man. Ever.

I stop in front of the square shaped walnut table that could seat a whole football team. The vase with blossoming pink peonies is standing in the middle of the table. The table is set with a plate, cutlery, two different glasses and a napkin. A bottle of white wine is already standing next to the flowers as well as a carafe with still water.

There might be no lit candle or piano music playing in the background, but this is as romantic as it can get with Josephine Bolton.

She cooked for me and set the table. We won't eat our meal at the kitchen island like we usually do or read the newspaper like we do during breakfast. We will sit across one another, look into each other's faces and talk abut our day.

The perfect start to our weekend.

Josephine is in the kitchen. I watch her opening the stove and getting out the baking tray that's filled with two baked sweet potatoes and lots of other veggies. The smell is delicious! She places the baking tray on the kitchen island and gets out of the gloves before looking up, right at me. "Welcome home."

Sweet Jesus, those two words make me hard in an instant. I am so madly and deeply in love with this woman. How can she be so blind to see it? There must be blinking neon signs over my head, telling her how I feel. "Hi..." my mouth is dry from the view in front of me. Josephine hasn't changed since this morning, but I love her dressed like this the most. In casual clothes and her hair open. With no dollop of makeup on her flawless skin and no diamonds sparkling in her ears, around her wrist or her neck. I love her just like this, in a pair of light grey joggers and a black cotton shirt that stretches over her naked tits. She's stripped down to the basics and that's what attracts me the most. I love her core, although I don't know much about it yet. I love her like this more than the boss lady she's during the day or the glamorous diva she's at galas.

This right here is the woman I love - and she cooked for me. Does it get any better than this?

"Oliver,"

Her voice rips me out of my thoughts. "I'm sorry?"

She cuts the sweet potatoes open and fills them with a bean mixture that was cooking in one of the pots on the stove. "I made Mexican stuffed sweet potatoes. There's also a salad and a few veggies as a side." She explains in a calm voice. "I hope you're hungry."

"I'm starving." I breathe out before I walk over to her. There's a bowl filled with a freshly made salad next to her.

"Usually, I'd serve it with cashew cream but I am out of cashews. I think coconut yoghurt does the trick as well, though." She says to me, "I still have some in the fridge."

She's treating me like we already have a routine, like this is our everyday life.

We're definitely heading into the right direction.

---

"What did you want to become when you were little?" Josephine asks me.

I stop eating my delicious Mexican stuffed sweet potato and stare at her in disbelief. After almost two weeks, this is the first personal question she asked me. "A doctor."

"A doctor?"

"Yes. I wanted to work in the ER and safe the lives of those who had been shot. But after my Dad died... Let's just say I was lucky that I had graduated from high school a week earlier." I lick my lips before emptying my glass of white wine.

"I didn't mean to bring back painful memories." She whispers. "I had no idea."

"Of course you didn't. You don't know me." I snap at her. Somehow, she found a wound that didn't heal and it pisses me off. "You know how to use me to get what you want. You know how to seduce me... You've quickly figured out which buttons to push if you want sex but really that's all we've been doing in the past two weeks. Fucking, that's what you call it don't you?!"

"Oliver,"

"No! I said I wanted to get to know you but you've been as closed as a bloody oyster!" I hiss at her.

"That's not true. I've told you a lot of things many people don't know about me. I've asked you to live with me-"

"Only so you could have access to my body whenever you want!" I explode. I am frustrated with her. It's a constant rollercoaster ride and I never know when it's going to go down again. There are so many twists and loops that I feel nauseous.

"Okay, that's enough!" She says before rising from the chair. "I'm going to walk away before one of us says more things we can't take back. I'm sorry I've hurt you, I really am but that doesn't mean-"

"I asked for more but you refuse to give it to me!"

"I've offered you more when I asked you to come to Paris with me!" She yells back at me with clenched teeth. I've never seen her this angry.

"What?"

She fakes a laughter, "Don't tell me you didn't get that." She licks her lips, "When I left for Couture Week in Paris, I asked you to come with me. Not because I wanted sex in Paris with you but because I wanted a date with you. I wanted to-" she stops and shakes her head. "It doesn't matter, because you said no."

She calls a weekend in Paris a date?! That's not a date! It's a freaking weekend trip to a different country! "Of course I said no! I've signed the NDA in which it said that I'm not allowed to talk to your family members about how we met or mention our connection! What was I suppose to tell your sister?! We are obviously not boyfriend and girlfriend. We are not in a relationship, Josephine. You made that very clear. So, what was I suppose to say?! That we're fucking buddies?!"

She licks her lips and picks up her plate, "Ana doesn't care... I mean, she does but she's... she's quite different from the rest of my family. Besides, you've already met her in the salsa club." With that she walks away from the square walnut table.

Suddenly, her actions in Paris make much more sense. She didn't sleep with the man there because she was bored or being seduced. She slept with him to get back on me. She did it for revenge.

She was hurt.

I hurt her by saying no to Paris. But I couldn't have said yes no matter how much I wanted to. I am here illegally. If I leave the country I might never come back and I can't do this to my family. They depend on me. "Josephine,"

She places the plate onto the marble countertop of her island in the kitchen with a loud noise. "I told you this wasn't going to be easy for me. I am not the dating potential you saw in me. I fuck. It's what I know. But going out in public? Holding hands on the promenade?! That's not something I do. There's a reason why the press is so obsessed about me dating every British male Royal there is - because no one has photographed me in public with a man besides me. As far as the public is informed, I am single. So asking you to Paris... Do you know what big of a deal that was for me?! I asked you to get out of these walls and be by my side in public where paparazzi hide behind every corner, car or bush. I asked for this - but you've turned me down. You've turned me down for the second time!"

"I had no idea." I think out loud. But my answer would still have been the same. It has to. Because I don't have a passport.

I am an illegal immigrant.

"Of course you had no idea! I'm not good at voicing my emotions... I guess, I've got that from my mother." She mumbles as her fingers wrap around the edge of the white marble countertop of the kitchen island.

I walk over to her and notice how hard she's gripping the marble. Her knuckles are white. I wrap my arms around her body and rest my chin on her right shoulder. I notice how shallow her breath is. She's almost shaking from rage. "Josephine..."

"I won't ask you again." She says with clenched teeth. "This is why I don't do dates. They're complicated." She lets go of the kitchen island.

"I don't have a passport, Josephine." I admit without telling her I am an illegal immigrant.

"We could have taken the Eurostar to Paris."

"I doubt that you've ever done that."

"I had to. Once. Because my sister insisted on it to seem normal. My mother booked the whole first class for my sisters and me - and the 30 security men which the place had sent to accompany us. It was for Rory's finale wedding dress fitting." She tells me. It's the first time she's telling me something about her sister that wasn't documented by cameras. "You'd like Paris. It's a very charming city."

"I like London as well." I whisper into her right ear.

She turns around in my embrace and looks at me with her sky blue eyes. "I know we agreed on staying home this weekend but let's fly to Finland and watch Northern Lights together instead."

"Josephine, I can't. I don't have a passport-"

"We'll take my private jet. You don't need a passport for that. It's just going to be me on the flight. Officially. I'll book us an igloo so we have a nice view. It's early April, the Northern Lights should be still happening in Luosto."

I sigh, she doesn't know how dangerous it is for me to leave the country. Because I might never come back. "Josephine,"

"Northern Lights. You wanted to see them, too. You've said so on the rooftop two and a half weeks ago. And they're on my bucket list as well, so let's do this! Rory's not going to give birth any time soon so I still can go on a weekend trip to Finland."

Shit, she really wants this. With me. She wants Northern Lights with me. She even remembered what we talked about on the rooftop garden. How am I suppose to say no to that? Not after her confession regarding Paris. I can't hurt her again.

So, I might as well take the risk.

"Okay. But I won't be on the flight officially."

She nods, "Good. I'll book us an igloo. Pack our bags. We'll leave in an hour."

"In an hour? It's Friday noon." How the hell is she going to make this happen?

"Yes. I know you have the weekend off and I can take the rest of the day off as well. I can edit my photos on the plane." To my surprise she kisses me quickly. "And now go and pack us a suitcase. We might go snow hiking as well so pack lots of cashmere, thermal underwear and other warm stuff." She tells me with a heart bursting grin on her lips.

Making her happy might cost me my life in London but this smile on her lips is worth the risk.

I'd do anything for her.

Because I love her.

Josephine

I walk into my study and lock the white wooden door behind me. I tilt the sailing painting that's hanging above the marbled fireplace slightly to the left until a clicking sounds fills the room. Then I place my hand on the right edge of the mantelpiece, so the scanner can read my hand print. A beeping sound is my indication. I take a step back and the whole door with the open fireplace swings open. Oliver has no idea how many secret rooms this place has. Behind every corner could be a hidden room. It's the way I've been raised. Be open and welcome but also keep what's dear to your heart guarded behind bulletproof walls where no one can find them.

I switch on the lights and step into the 30 square meters big room that's probably my most important room. It's where I keep my cameras and all of the equipment including external hard disk drives. I have about fifty different lenses, four cameras and roughly two hundred external hard disk drives. The built in shelves and drawers in mahogany wood are filled with my favourite photos of my family. I tend to gift my favourite photos to my siblings and parents on their birthdays along with their actual gift. They always smile when they see the photo that I've picked out for the particular year. Usually they're candid moments. A smile or a laughter.

I tend to capture the emotions best. It's one of the many talents I've inherited from my Daddy. The room has a cool temperature and it's always dark, so everything in here is safe from external influences.

I pick up a camera bag and start filling it with a few different lenses for my Canon camera. There's no way I will fly to Finland and not capture the Aurora Borealis with my camera. The Northern Lights are written on the walls of my bedroom in childhood home after all. They're one of many destinations I want to visit in my life.

I can't wait to cross that point out.

Oliver

An hour later, I walk up the three stairs that lead us into the private jet on a private airport a few minutes outside of London. I follow Josephine, who struts like she owns this airport. Maybe she does. I'm starting to think the Boltons own the world.

The inside of the private jet is full of luxury. The kind that Josephine calls her normalcy, but to me it's like stepping into a different world. The inside is made of gold, mahogany wood tables and beige leather chairs and sofas. There's enough space to sleep on the couches and I'm sure the seats turn into beds as well. There's no one but Josephine, a stewardess, a pilot and me here. This jet seems almost too big for the four of us.

Flying like this is definitely different.

"Miss Bolton, welcome back on board. It's so nice to fly with you again. Lapland is beautiful at this time of the year." The blonde stewardess says to Josephine with a smile on her lips. Then she turns her head to me. "Welcome on board, Mr..."

I am still amazed by what Josephine can do in an hour. People take months, weeks and sometimes even years to plan special vacations but Josephine plans it all in one hour - and apparently we're flying to Lapland. I guess Luosto is in Laplan, Finland. "Oliver."

She nods. "Oliver. Would you like some champagne?"

"No." I answer.

"Yes." Josephine disagrees with me while giving me a dark gaze.

Josephine and her alcohol - you better not try to separate those two. But maybe the alcohol will work in my favour like it did two weeks ago. It helps her open up towards me.

It's worth taking a chance.

"We're serving caviar with champagne; marinated lobster as our main course and a hazelnut tart with a cappuccino for dessert. We're going to arrive in Luosto in five hours and fifteen minutes." The blonde stewardess says to us. It sounds like a restaurant meal to me. This has nothing to do with normal flying, not that I know what this feels like.

"This sounds lovely. I think we'll have the caviar now and the lobster two hours before we land." Josephine decides for us.

The stewardess nods. "I'll serve it when we're in the air."

"Thank you." Josephine and me say out of one mouth.

"Fasten your seatbelts please. We're taking off in a couple of minutes."

I watch how Josephine walks past the stewardess, further into the jet. It's surprising to see that even I with my 210cm height can walk through this jet without needing to bend my knees. I follow Josephine and watch as she sits down in one of the double seats that are facing each other. A mahogany table is between them. Across them is a long couch and in the back are two rooms. I wouldn't be surprised if one of them turns out to be a bedroom with an actual bed and the other one has a shower for a full bathroom experience.

Josephine fastens her seatbelt. "Sit down. We're departing in five minutes."

I sit down across her and feel how the jet starts rolling. I fasten my seatbelt and look out of the oval window as we increase the speed to eventually fly off. It's a weird feeling in my ears and in my belly. It's also a bit weird to watch how London gets smaller and smaller right in front of my eyes. I'm really doing this.

I'm risking everything for the woman I love.

"Everything alright?"

My heads swings back to Josephine and away from the sky blue view that's now surrounding us. "Yes."

"Are you sure? Are you a nervous flyer?"

I've never flown in my whole life, so I really don't know. But I don't feel any discomfort. At least, not regarding the flight. "No. I am okay."

"You've flown before, haven't you?"

"No." I answer simply. I got to England in one of the millions of containers that get shipped to Dover every day. I am an illegal immigrant after all. I couldn't use a plane ticket to get to London. I wouldn't even have made it through the security check at Heathrow. So, I had to use the only other way to get from Brazil to England.

At least now I know I don't get seasick. While the thirty other people who were with me in that container vomited their stomachs out, I somehow survived the trip without vomiting once. Maybe because I was starving myself at that time.

But all that doesn't matter anymore. I am here.

With Josephine.

The ride was worth it.

"No?" She asks me with widen eyes. "Well, then how did you get from Brazil to England then?"

Shit. I should've said yes but somehow I can't lie to Josephine. "By boat."

"You went on a cruise? That must've been interesting. I've never been on a cruise."

"I will never forget it." I answer honestly.

Suddenly a beeping sound fills my ears.

"You can open your seatbelt now." Josephine explains with a smile on her lips. "I'm a very good sailor but I've never done a professional cruise. All I ever cruised on was the Mediterranean, between France and Italy, and Italy and Greece. It's very pretty. We should do that when the weather gets warmer."

She's already planning our second trip when we haven't even made it to the destination of the first. But it's a step forward. She's making plans, thinking about a future with me.

I reach over the table and grab her hands. "I'd like that. But I don't know how to sail."

"Don't worry it's easy. Besides you have the European champion to watch out for you." She winks at me.

She winked at me! "You're the European champ in sailing?"

She nods. "Of 2040."

"Any more prizes you've won as a kid?"

She shakes her head. "Horse riding and sailing - that's it."

That's more than most people will ever achieve in their lives. Josephine intertwines her fingers with mine and gives me a soft squeeze. My whole body awakes from the touch.

And the thought that she slept with the family friend in Paris as revenge. She didn't know it back then - and she might not know it now - but she did it because she was hurt. Hurt by me. She has deeper feelings for me than she realises.

"Oh and my period is over." She adds with a smirk that awakes my cock in record time.

Green light? She fucking says that now?

Suddenly, the stewardess appears with two glasses of champagne and square shaped plates that have three different coloured caviar and slices of bread on them. She places the glasses, plates and cutlery on the mahogany table that's between Josephine and I before disappearing wherever she came form.

"You're telling me this now? We're landing in five and a half hours!"

She places a teaspoon full of black caviar on one of the bread slices. "Ever heard of the Mile High Club?" She says with a raised eyebrow.

I didn't but I can do the math. With Josephine everything has to do with sex. But I don't feel comfortable knowing a stewardess and a pilot will hear her coming all over my cock.

"There's a full bedroom in the back." She adds before biting into her slice of bread with red caviar. I watch how she chews the bread before gulping.

My cock twitches in my pants and I force myself to relax. I don't think I can survive this for five and a half hours. "Finish."

She shows me a cocky grin after licking her lips. "You should eat your portion as well. You will need the endurance." She promises me with a cocky grin on her full lips.

This woman is unbelievable!

Josephine

I lock the door behind me as my mouth devours his. I've been scouring him with my eyes the whole time we ate our snack and had champagne. I ate quickly, far too quickly but he... he took his time to tease me.

He took forever to finish his glass of champagne, too.

But now... now there's nothing stopping us 30.000 miles above the ground. I've never had sex on a plane because I've never shared my jet with one of my one-night-stands before. But having sexual thousands of miles in the air seems exciting and extraordinary.

But sex with Oliver is always extraordinary.

My hands glide underneath his black T-shirt and I feel his muscles vibrate from my touch. He tears my light grey cashmere joggers down the moment I grab my T-shirt and help him out of it. Suddenly, there's too little time and too much clothing separating us. Within seconds we are both undressed, still kissing and feeling each other's bodies.

I missed feeling his skin against mine. I missed it more than I expected to. Oliver leads me to the bed behind him before following me on to it. It's a soft mattress, one that's similar to home.

I expect him to get right down to business, to start fucking me but to my surprise he doesn't. Instead he hovers above me, staring at me like I am art.

"I know I've allowed you to stare at me, but this is the worst moment for it." I remind him after a minute of this torture.

"I will never turn you down again." He promises me.

Suddenly, my need for him is gone. "I'm sorry?"

"You heard me."

I gently push him off of me, "I am not into squishy and soft romantic feelings. I wanted to get fucked thirty thousand miles up in the air. Hard, pounding, mind blowing sex - not your definition of fucking." I hiss at him. I will not fuck him like this.

Not when he's worried about hurting me or any other bullshit that's running through his mind.

I get up from the bed and bend down to grab my panties.

"Josephine,"

"No! If you're not here to deliver, to give me what I want than-" I stop talking as Oliver lifts me up and pushes me against the locked door. He holds my legs apart and before I even know what's happening he has shoved his steel hard cock inside of me.

A sound like never before escapes me. It's full of desire, rage and need. This is what I want.

He groans loudly and thrusts deep, again and again, over and over, and I am lost, trying to absorb the pleasure. It's mind-blowing…body blowing… It's almost too much. But at the same time it's not intense enough for me. My toes and fingertips are prickling as the sweet pulling sensation develops at a rapid speed in my belly. My hands glide down his back, my nails sure scratching him so hard that he's nearly bleeding but I don't care. This is what I need. Hard fucking. No soft words, no promises... nothing but this sensation.

It's so good!

My whole body is aching for him.

"Oliver,"

"Don't you dare ever say I don't deliver. I deliver. Bringing you pleasure is my top priority," he hisses close to my ear. He stills, then swivels his hips once, pushing deeper, making me groan.

"Josephine," he growls my name, his voice low and husky. He runs his teeth along my jaw, nipping and sucking, and then he's kissing me again, hard. I wrap my legs and arms around him, cradling and holding him hard against me and he starts to move again…move like he's trying to climb inside me. Over and over, frantic, primal, desperate, and I lose myself in the insane rhythm and pace he's setting. My body takes over, climbing and building so I am awash with sensation, meeting him thrust for thrust. Listening to his harsh breathing, laboured and fierce at my ear. Knowing that he's lost in me…I groan loudly, panting. It's so erotic - his need for me and my need for him.

The thought, this need, this fucking - it's too much for me. I explode and see a million stars as I come around him longer than I have ever before. My whole body is shaking as the waves of this mind blowing orgasm rush through my system, again and again. It's never ending pleasure.

This is what I live for.

Suddenly, Oliver changes the position. He starts walking back to the bed before he places me onto the soft mattress.

"That was for you. Now it's my turn." His sea foam eyes stare into mine as he starts moving slower but steadier. His lips seal over mine but it's not the intense kiss that I've expected, instead it's the continuation of the sensual rumba our tongues danced this morning. This is not primal at all. This has nothing to do with fucking.

But it feels almost as good as the fucking before. The prickling sensation in my limbs is building even faster, so I'm quickly at the edge of coming again.

"That's it," Oliver growls. "Feel it!"

I detonate around him, again and again, round and round. I bite into his left shoulder to muffle my screaming as my orgasm rips me apart, scorching through me like a wildfire, consuming everything until my body left pulsing and shaking.

Holy shit!

A moment later Oliver follows me over the threshold to heaven. He comes long and hard, probably because he refused to come the first time I came. It feels so good to be connected to him again. A week without this - what was I thinking?!

I used to be fine with a week or two without any sexual intercourse but that's clearly changed.

"I hope I didn't hurt you." I whisper as he comes down from his high.

He gives a soft look that makes my stomach do funny things again. "Bite me whenever you feel like it but never ever question my ability to give you what you want." With that he pulls out of me and lays next to me.

I roll over to my side and look at him. He's all muscles and strength in olive toned skin. My dental impression is stamped into his left shoulder. I've marked him but at least he's not bleeding. "I won't." I promise him.

He bends his left arm to support his head. "Can you do something for me?"

"I have a feeling I won't like this." I think out loud. Whenever he says that he wants something that couples do like going on a date or cooking together... or stay at home the whole weekend in pyjamas.

He sighs before reaching with his right arm around me and pulling me closer to him until I'm nearly halfway lying on him.

I can hear his loud and fast heart beating in his chest. Every third beat is paused and I realise my heart is mirroring his almost immediately. We're beating in the same rhythm.

"Is this so hard for you?" He asks me.

I hook my right leg over his hips, "If it makes you happy I'll do it." I mumble.

He sighs before I can feel his fingers running through my hair, "Don't do anything you don't want to just to please me. Don't make sacrifices for me or change. Don't turn into Gatsby."

I lift my head off his chest and look into his sea foam coloured eyes. "Gatsby wouldn't have done what you just did. I am okay with a little cuddling after fucking but I am not okay with you making me romantic promises while you make love. I don't make love. I don't do slow and sensual sex. It's not my cup of tea."

"It was the second time around. You came even harder."

I can't even deny that. "That was because you did a bloody good job the first time."

He chuckles in a way that somehow makes my body vibrate as well. "You enjoy this as much as me."

"I wouldn't do it if I didn't."

"Say it." He challenges me.

I lick my lips, "I enjoy cuddling with you."

"That wasn't so hard, was it?" His lips stretch into a cocky grin.

I chuckle, "Shut up."

Oliver

It's crispy cold as we drive through the winter wonderland that is Finland. The snow is at least two metres high and the roads are not asphalted but made from compressed snow. I've never seen snow, but it looks beautiful! It's white and looks fluffy but there are also parts which are icy. Snow in Brazil only occurs in the south and the last time it snowed in Rio de Janeiro was in 1985. The trees are covered in over a metre thick layer of snow. It looks absolutely magical, like it's straight out of a fairytale. I had no idea it would be this cold.

I am glad I packed the thermal clothes and all this cashmere. We're definitely going to need the snow boots here as well.

Turns out Kakslauttanen in Lapland is located in the wilderness, in other words in the middle of nowhere. Why am I not surprised that Josephine didn't choose a place with more people around?

We got picked up from the private airport near Helsinki by a driver from the hotel. After an hour long drive, we are still sitting on the rear bench of the black Range Rover. The heating is on, so it's not cold but Josephine is still holding my hand as she stares out of the window, wrapped into a light grey cashmere blanket. She has never held my hand outside the walls of her home.

And now we're sitting in the back of a Range Rover driving through a winter wonderland holding hands.

It's a step forward - and it's a big one for Josephine.

I know I should look out of my window but I just can't stop staring at the woman I love. Her long chestnut hair is the prettiest contrast to the white snowscape that's surrounding us. We even drove over an iced lake on our endless journey to the hotel.

Josephine and I slept on the plane and had the delicious menu that consisted of a lobster and a hazelnut tart with a cappuccino.

Suddenly, lots of glass igloos start appearing around us. They look so cool! They are made fully of glass so I can even see a few people who are walking inside the igloos. I guess, we've arrived.

But why aren't we decreasing our speed then?

"Didn't you say you booked us an igloo?"

Josephine doesn't even turn around to look at me. "Yeah but not one of the tiny ones. I booked us something bigger."

Of course she did. Everything's bigger with Josephine. I shouldn't be surprised.

She turns around to look at me. "I booked us a log chalet. It's basically a cabin with a glass igloo attached to it."

Of course she chose the best available. She always does.

"Right?" She asks the blonde driver that's from the hotel staff.

"Our log chalets for one to ten people are made of impressively large kelo pines – trees that once stood dead and dried out - and designed in a rugged style that fits perfectly with their wild surroundings. While you won't find widescreen TVs or dishwashers inside, you can enjoy even better sources of entertainment in every chalet - a fireplace and a sauna. In addition there's an igloo, so you really get the best view of the Aurora Borealis." The man behind the wheel answers as he continues driving us through the winter wonderland.

"And those log chalets... are they close by?" I ask the driver. I'm slowly getting impatient. We've been sitting in this car for over an hour now!

To my relief, he nods. "We're almost there, Mr. and Mrs. Bolton."

"Oh, we're not married." Josephine answers casually. There's not even a hint of panic or fear in her voice.

"I'm sorry. I just assumed since the reservation was made by Bolton, the both of you would be married." The icy blue eyes from the driver meet mine in the review mirror.

Mr. and Mrs. Bolton - She would never be that. She'd be a Rodriguez without a doubt.

But that's something I try to not think about too much. Simply because Josephine is not ready for anything that comes even near to a relationship, let alone a marriage. One of the two Ms she said she didn't do.

We start driving past the impressive log chalets that are made of kelo pines. They really do look impressive. The log chalets are further away from each other than the igloos that seem tiny in comparison to them.

"What are the chances for Northern Lights tonight?" I ask the driver. I think his name is Steve, but I'm not sure. I didn't really listen to him when he introduces himself to Josephine and me earlier. I was stunned by the snow around us and how good Josephine looked in her black outfit.

"Pretty good although it looks like it might start snowing any minute. However the best chances to see them are around midnight until maybe three in the morning. If the sky clears up by then, your chances are very good."

After a few minutes, the Range Rover finally stops at the last log chalet. The kelo pines are covered in a thick layer of snow. The Finnish forest is around us. Heavy pine trees look like they might break under the weight of the snow. Everything looks untouched. It's peacefully tucked away in the Finnish nature. Nothing is within sight.

This gives privacy a whole new meaning.

"Your luggage has already arrived and is waiting for you in the master bedroom on the first floor. I wish you a relaxing stay. If you need anything, we're only a call away."

"Thank you for this magnificent ride. I really enjoyed this first glimpse into your country." Josephine says with a genuine smile on her lips before getting out of the car.

The driver with brown eyes nods, "The fridge is stocked with everything you requested. Dinner is already waiting for you in the kitchen. Enjoy."

"Thank you." I get out of the car. Suddenly, something cold and wet touches my face. I look up into the sky and notice the tiny white flakes that have started to fall down from the clouds. It's snowing! A smile stretches my lips. It's icy cold, wet but so beautiful.

Quickly, the flakes start falling down faster.

"Come on, get inside!" I can hear Josephine's voice ringing through this stunning Finnish nature.

I look down and see her standing in the open door of the wooden log chalet. It's such a beautiful wooden chalet and it will be our home for the next two nights.

This is out of this world beautiful.

Josephine

I get out of my coat and boots while Oliver's hopefully making his way inside. He shouldn't be out there for much longer otherwise he might get sick - and that would run the purpose of this trip. I slip into one of the two pairs of Scufette slippers by UGG in chestnut with cosy lamb fur inside. I booked the most private - and therefore expensive - chalet available. We're roughly ten kilometres away from all the other log chalets and the headquarters of the hotel.

I walk down the hallway. There's a wooden staircase leading to the first floor which holds the master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom. The lower floor is the living space. The sauna is separated from the house as it's typical in Finland. I stop in the open living area and scan it thoroughly. The inside of chalet looks exactly what the outside implied. It's a rustic open design with lots of wood and windows to let in as much light as possible. The windows in the living room are floor to ceiling once that remind me of my penthouse back in London. There are beams separating the massive glass parts. The view out of this window front is breathtaking. Nothing but snow covered trees. There's an iced lake about a hundred metres away from this house. The sun is standing low on the horizon. It's almost time for the sunset. The snow has started to fall even heavier from the sky. I'm sure we'll wake up tomorrow with a fresh layer of snow surrounding us.

Huge grey couches are facing the window front while a white loveseat is facing the open fireplace in which a fire is already crackling.

I turn around and look at the gallery that's on the top floor. It's a bit like in my childhood home in Richmond. We have a gallery there as well.

I look to my left and see the kitchen that has a wooden breakfast bar and a steel exhaust hood. Silver plates with lids are placed on the breakfast bar. Our dinner that I've ordered. The countertops of the kitchen are made from a deep green granite that reminds me of Oliver's pine green eyes. There's an oven, a fridge and stove tops. A round table is set in front of the window front. Everything you need in the next two days.

I wince as the front door snaps into place. The sound echoes through the whole house. I'm glad I booked the most private chalet available - my screams when Oliver fucks me will ring through the whole house. No one should hear us fucking the whole night.

I look to my right and see the igloo that's attached to the chalet. It's a half circled glass igloo with a king sized bed. The best spot to see the Northern Lights tonight.

Who needs a master bedroom upstairs when you've got a glass igloo?

Suddenly, I feel Oliver's strong arms wrapping around my chest from behind. "This is perfect." He mumbles.

It really is perfect. "I'm afraid we won't get any Northern Lights tonight."

"Why not?"

"It's snowing. You need a crisp cold evening with a cloudless sky to see them."

"Well, I wouldn't bet on it not happening yet. It's barely midnight. We've still got time. Let's have dinner because I am bloody starving. I don't know about you, but this flight has cost me some serious energy."

I chuckle, "I ordered Karelian pastry, Perunamuusi, which is mashed potato, that's a common side dish and lihapullat, Finnish meatballs, often with gravy sauce and lingonberry sauce."

"And what's the first one?"

"It is a traditional Finnish dish made from a thin rye crust with a filling of barley, or rice. Butter, often mixed with boiled egg, is spread over the hot pastries before eating." I've wanted to eat this ever since I started planning my trip to see the Northern Lights years ago. But then Rory and George happened, which was followed by Nate and Char.

And now I have Oliver. It's simply a chance I cannot miss.

"That sounds like something we should definitely try!" He grins in excitement. It's intoxicating.

I knew flying here would be right. I just hope we'll get to see some Northern Lights tonight as well.

Oliver

I get into the free standing bath first in the master bathroom. After our delicious dinner full of Finnish dishes, we decided to end the evening with a hot bath. We've come up to the first floor as this is where the master bathroom is but we won't sleep upstairs. We'll sleep downstairs in the glass igloo. While the bath tube was filling up with water, Josephine and I quickly unpacked our two suitcases. She didn't complain about the clothes I chose for her so I guess I did a good job. But when I think about it, Josephine doesn't really care about what she's wearing when she's out in public as a private person, so not going to work or glamorous events. She likes to feel comfortable in her clothes but somehow she always looks stunning in them, no matter what she wears.

But she's most beautiful naked.

The bubbles of this bubble bath coat the whole bathroom in a soothing lavender smell. Josephine climbs into the bathtub and sits down across me. She has wrapped her chestnut hair into a bun that's sitting on top of her head. She looks like a ballerina. A beautiful ballerina.

The floor to ceiling windows show the heavy snow that's still falling from the sky. We watched the sunset in the living room, cuddled up on a couch that faced the lit fireplace. She said she didn't like cuddling but she does. I know she does.

It's when our hearts beat as one.

"Why are you looking at me like this?" She asks me after a few minutes of silence.

"You allowed me to stare at you." I remind her. "That's all I'm doing."

"Oh, no, no, no... that's not what you're doing." She says, wiggling with her left forefinger. "Your mind is racing. I can see it in your pine green eyes."

I grin, "Pine green eyes?"

She shrugs, "They are a pretty dark green most of the time."

"Most of the time?" I ask back.

"Yeah, they change when we're fucking."

Because we're making love but she doesn't see that yet. "Your eyes change when we're having sex as well. Actually, they indicate when you're horny."

Her sky blue eyes widen, "They do?"

"Yes. They change into a royal blue that glows when you orgasm."

She chuckles and rolls her beautiful blue eyes, "Well there I go thinking I am a book of seven seals..."

"You're still a book of seven seals - at least to me. And I can't speak for the other men you slept before me - or while being with me. Perhaps it's a thing that only happens with me."

She licks her lips, "You said you forgave me for what happened in France."

"I did."

"Then stop thinking about him. Stop mentioning him. He's in the past. This right here, Finland, us in this bathtub - that's the presence. Be in the presence with me."

I grab her hand under the water and intertwine my fingers with hers. "I am."

"Okay."

I squeeze her hand softly, "Okay."

She smiles at me in a way that makes my heart stop beating for a second. I can't be the only one here that's feeling this connection. She has to feel it, too.

She breaks the eye contact with me and looks out of the windows that show the falling snow. It looks so pretty but she's much prettier.

She's the most beautiful human in earth.

"So, I assume this is your first time seeing snow, right? There's not much snow in Brazil, is there?"

"It didn't snow where I lived, so this is the first time I'm seeing proper snow as it didn't barely snowed in London in the winter."

"Yeah it's nothing compared to this beauty." She agrees with me.

I stare at her star shaped birthmark near her temple line. Josephine has no idea how beautiful she really is.

"But it's still not comparable to what happens in Siberia in the winter. That's just crazy."

"You were in Siberia?"

She nods before looking back at me. "I spent there New Year's Eve a couple of times with my whole family. Wlad owns a property there with some land. We went hiking through the woods, ice skating on the iced lake and had far too many vodka shots with Sergej, Wladimir's father, after my parents went to bed. It was then when I truly started to appreciate caviar." She grins at me in a way she always does when she talks about memories with her family.

The grin gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling. I hope I will meet her family one day. They sound like a lot of fun to be with. "What's the plan for tomorrow?"

"Breakfast, going horse riding and build the best snowman in the world since you've never built one and I feel like it's my obligation to build one with you."

"A snowman?"

She nods with a smile on her lips, "Yes. Oh and we'll do lots of snow angels... and if you're lily we'll do a snowball fight with the other guests here."

"I can't wait."

"But before that," she glides through the water until she sits on my lap. "You're going to fuck me until the Northern Lights appear on the dark sky tonight. Does that sound like a deal to you?"

"Sounds like the perfect deal."

In more than just one perspective.

Josephine

My toes curl as I come all over Oliver's cock for the fifth time today. It's so good that I actually see more stars than those on the dark clear sky tonight. The snowfall has stopped a few hours ago and even though Oliver and me should feel jet legged, we don't. Instead we kept each other occupied until the Aurora Borealis appear. By the look of the sky tonight, they will definitely appear.

It's why I have my camera ready and behind the bed.

Oliver's cock thickens within me before he finds his release with a growl. It's actually quite fascinating to see how much of his cum I can contain, perhaps I should try to see what's my record. But I won't find that tonight.

Suddenly, the a very fair greenish swirl starts filling the sky. It's starting!

"What's wrong?"

I turn my focus back on Oliver instead of the sky behind him. The glass igloo was definitely a good choice to put in a bed. "It's starting."

"Really?" He pulls out of me before laying next to me. "Wait a minute, were you staring at the sky the whole time I delivered as you called it?"

I shrug, "I can come and focus on the sky at the same time. Women are multitasking talents."

His chuckle makes me look at him for a second. That grin on his lips is infectious. "You really are one of a kind, Miss Bolton."

"Took you long enough to see that." I add with a grin on my lips before I start getting out of the bed.

"Where are you going?"

I pick up my camera from the floor and slip into the cosy slippers by UGG. The fire is still cracking in the fireplace so it's quite warm but the outside has been snowed under with a fresh 30 centimetres thick blanket of snow. "Outside. I want to catch the Northern Lights with my camera."

"You're kidding right? You want to go out like this?! It's minus a zillion degrees out there."

"Don't be silly." I say as I pick up my panties and get back into them. "I'll wear snow boots, a beanie and a down coat of course."

"Oh, of course!" He mocks me and rolls his sea foam coloured eyes at me. "Josephine, can't you be in the moment with me?"

"No. Not when the moment is happening in front of this doorstep." I shake my head and rush back to the hallway where my outwear is hanging. On my way, I stop at a drawer and pull out a pair of pants that I get into. I also put on a black cashmere sweater that feels soft against my bare skin. Oliver might not come with me but he has a point. It is quite cold outside. At least minus 20 degrees celsius.

As I get into my boots in the hallway, I can hear his heavy footsteps approaching me.

"Sometimes, I think you are crazy." He answers with his hands resting on his hips.

I look at him and admire his naked glory for a moment before I answer. "Sometimes I think you're too cautious." I get the white cashmere beanie out of the left arm of my red down coat and put it on.

He runs his fingers through his beach blonde hair, "You're really going out in the cold, stand there for an hour or two?"

I shrug as I get into my red down coat. I pull the zipper of my down coat up. It's so long that it goes beyond my knees. It'll keep me warm. Then I grab the camera tripod that I brought along especially for these times. "Maybe. But I sure as hell won't spend an hour or two cuddling with you in that bed, wasting the opportunity to catch that magic with my camera." With that I walk out of the house, leaving the door open.

I march through the snow that gives in under my weight with a crunchy sound. It's so nice to be the first one to walk through fresh snow. It is bloody cold but nothing will keep me away from capturing this magic. After a few minutes of marching through the snow I find the perfect clear sky that shows the perfect Northern Lights.

I set my tripod into the snow and place my Canon DSLR camera on it. I'm using a 35mm lens because it's wide angled and so it gives me the best photos. I set the exposure time 15 seconds, that matches my lens speed and ISO setting. I also use the self-time as a cable release could possibly cause a vibration when I pull on the cable. Then I take a step back and tilt my head back to look at the sky.

I should have brought another camera to film a video.

The Northern Lights are absolutely stunning! They are almost dancing in the dark clear sky. They are so bright and so active. The Aurora Borealis glow in a neon green, a neon pink and a neon purple. They change colours quickly but it's so beautiful. They light up the sky in the most beautiful way. It's like a disco.

For minutes, I stand rooted on the spot, occasionally moving to set the timer of my camera again. But I'm braving the cold. Nothing keeps me away from this.

Not even Oliver.

Suddenly, I hear footsteps coming closer to me but I don't turn around. I keep staring at the sky, at this disco happening there. This is the prettiest thing I've ever seen!

"I brought you a hot chocolate." Oliver's deep voice fills my ears.

I turn around and look at him. He has put on warm clothes and a down coat. In his left hand he's holding a thermos mug with a hot chocolate.

I don't take it. "This is why I'm here. Don't mistake this for some romantic couple getaway. It's not. This is a trip to see something I've wanted to see since I was twelve. It's for me and for you but not for us because there is no us."

"Just take a sip of the hot chocolate to warm up."

I take the thermos mug, open it and take a sip. It feels good and warm. It tastes of hazelnuts and chocolate. The taste reminds me of the hot chocolate parties I used to make with my siblings whenever my parents would go out for galas in the evening. With our former nanny Valentina, we used to put various toppings for our hot chocolates into bowls. We had mini marshmallows, rainbow sprinkles, whipped cream, white and dark chocolate chips, cinnamon sticks, candy cane, caramel bites, shredded coconut, rolled waffles and cookies. It was a sugar feast.

Poor Valentina, we were absolutely crazy in those evenings.

"So, you wanted to see this since you were twelve?" Oliver asks me.

I hand him back the thermos and set my DSLR camera into video mode. The sky is still breathtaking. "Yes. When Ana renovated my room we came up with the idea to draw a pale pink central line on the wall that went through my whole room. I wrote coordinates and places with gold paint above and underneath the line. Places I wanted to see in my life. My bucket list." I answer as I look back into the sky. This is so unreal!

"How many places have you crossed out yet?"

"A few but they're still places I need to cross off."

"Like what?"

"A safari in Africa. See the penguins at the beach in South Africa. Go to Great Barrier Reef in front of Australia. Visit the nature park in New Zealand... the list goes on. That kind of stuff."

"How many of these places are in Europe?"

"A few." I say with a shrug.

"Mind to share some places with me?"

"In Italy it's Rome and Monte Isola, Braga in Portugal, Metz and Sainte-Maxime in France, Poznan in Poland, Málaga in Spain, Cavtat in Croatia... I could go on but that would bore you."

"And what's stopping you from going there during the weekend?"

I shrug, "I don't like to travel solo."

"I'm here so you don't have to travel solo."

My eyes widen at his words. First he doesn't want to travel anywhere with me and now through whole Europe?! "Really?"

He nods, "Yes but under the condition that I am not officially on the flight."

I can do that. I already did it once. I could do that again. "Okay."

"Then let's see Europe together."

I smile, "Let's see Europe together."

He returns my smile before taking a sip out of the thermos mug.

"The hot chocolate tastes really good by the time."

"My Mum used to make these hot chocolates for my brothers and me."

"Do you miss them badly?"

He shrugs, "Of course. They're my family. I feel incomplete without them."

I know how he feels although I see my family much more frequently than he does. I can actually hug them - feel them - while he only gets to see them on a monitor via Skype.

I grab the thermos mug from his hand and place it in little shelve in the tripod that's underneath my camera. Then I embrace him very tightly. He might not have his family with him but he's got me. Right here in Finland. With the Northern Lights dancing above us. "I hope this makes you feel better." I whisper into his left ear.

He gulps and returns my embrace. "It does."

We stay like this for a moment in the cold. I hope I give him some comfort, if not the comfort he really needs.

"This is really magical." Oliver's stunned voice fills my ears.

I turn around in his embrace and look up into the sky. The Aurora Borealis are still dancing through the dark sky. The unique colours of the Northern Lights are created by the Earth's spectra of gases and the height in the atmosphere where the collision of particles from the sun and the Earth's gases takes place. Our naked eye can most easily see the green-yellow part of the spectrum where the sun emits most of its light. Green is the most common colour observed but the Northern Lights can also appear white-grey. The lights could have colour shifts - green is the common colour, but sometimes the edges shift to purple, red or even bright pink -, and some other times they could be visibly "dancing" in the sky like they are right now.

"Do you know how long this is going to last?"

I shake my head, "You can never say. A few decades ago they could go on the whole night but now with the climate change and the light pollution although there is none right here, makes everything unpredictable. They could last an hour or even less. How long are we out here?"

"Almost an hour." He answers.

I could stay here, wrapped up in his arms, the whole night. "Are you cold? Do you want to head inside?"

"No and no. Do you?"

"No. I'd like to stay here a bit longer."

"Then we'll stay."

And we stayed until the dancing lights were gone and the stars and moon were the only sources of light again.

---

Oliver

The first thing I notice the next morning in bed is a smell. A smell of banana but also the smell of batter baking. I open my eyes and stare at the crystal clear sky above me through the glass igloo. It's already light outside, the sun is shining on the cloudless sky and the white snow is reflecting the sun rays right into my face. I look to my left and see the empty bedside.

We watched the Northern Lights for about two hours outside before I finally convinced Josephine to head inside and watch them through the igloo. After about half an hour they disappeared as quickly as they came and we drifted off into a deep sleep.

To my surprise Josephine slept halfway on me. It's the closest we've ever been.

I roll over on my stomach and look directly into the kitchen. The woman I love is reaching for the plates in one of the pine wooden hanging cupboards. She's wearing one of my black T-shirts and while it's long, whenever she stretches it, I can see her perfectly shaped ass.

Like right now, when the plates are too high for her to reach.

"Do you need help?"

She flinches at my voice and looks over her right shoulder. Her face is makeup free so her sky blue eyes glow and I can see the two birthmarks on her face. "No, I'm perfectly capable of helping myself, thank you."

Of course she is. She was raised to never depend on anyone.

Josephine walks over to the breakfast table and picks up a wooden chair before she walks back into the kitchen. She places it underneath the cupboard and gets on it before getting out the plates.

This woman doesn't need anyone to help her with anything.

But she prefers to have me sticking around.

I get out of the bed and start walking over to her. "You know, I am a great assistant."

"I don't need you assistance. What I need is for you to take a shower that will not take longer than five minutes because that's how long it takes for the banana pancakes to bake in the oven."

I grin. I've never heard of baked pancakes. Let alone banana pancakes. "You made me breakfast?"

She rolls her stunning sky blue eyes at me. "No. I made fuel for you and me so we can do all these things today that we talked about yesterday."

"Like the horseback riding?"

She nods, "And the snowman building. So get under the shower and return quickly."

I look into the over that's to her left. It smells heavenly. "You did make breakfast for us."

She rolls her eyes at my words but doesn't correct me. Then she snaps with her fingers, "Shower or there won't be a breakfast at all!"

---

I slice into my stack of banana pancakes that are perfectly brown before putting a piece into my mouth. As I start chewing the flavours in my mouth explode. It's nutty but not dry, it's sweet but not overly sweet and it has a slight taste of cinnamon. "This is so good!"

She takes a sip of her coffee. "Of course it's good. My father if the best cook in the world and he taught me everything I know. I don't know why you're still surprised about my cooking skills. I'm a bloody chef in the kitchen!"

We're having the pancakes with coconut yoghurt and maple syrup. No powdered sugar or chocolate sauce but honestly I don't miss either. "You know, apart from my Mum no women has ever cooked for me."

She stills for a moment at my words before slicing through her pancakes. "Well, you're very lucky that we've met them because I can teach you a thing or two about the different cuisines in the world."

For that we'd have to spend several weekends at home in London. "Do you have a favourite cuisine?"

"Isn't everyone's favourite cuisine Italian? With all the pasta, pizza, gnocchis, calzones?"

I shrug, "Is it yours?"

"No. I actually prefer the Greek cuisine over Italian. But my favourite, believe me or not, is actually Mexican. And not that fast food you can buy now behind every corner, no the real Mexican kitchen that's cooked over a fire pit instead of a stove..." her sky blue eyes light up with swirls of Royal blue. She's really passionate about the Mexican cuisine.

"Isn't it too spicy for you?"

"I can handle a bit spice. It's why I also like the Indian cuisine so much. Or Moroccan. I like the mixture of different textures and flavours that happen in your mouth whenever you eat something from those cuisines. The British cuisine doesn't have that. Of course it's incredible with the Shepherd's pie, Yorkshire pudding, fish'n'chips, an English breakfast and the typical Sunday roast. Don't get me wrong, I love a good Sunday roast - but something happens within me when I eat Mexican, Indian or Moroccan. I can't explain it. I just know I could eat like this for the rest of my life."

"But you don't." I point out.

"Of course I don't. Look at me. I can't have this figure and eat all the delicious foods all the time. My body would go crazy."

"You mean fat."

She leans back, "No, not fat. I couldn't process all these sugars and high amounts of salt that's in some of the dishes. I feel sick whenever I eat too much dill, parsley or coriander and most Moroccan dishes have these herbs and even if I order my dish without them, they'll still be in it. Or at least the aroma of them, which is all my stomach needs to get upset. I don't care about getting fat but I care about treating my body, myself, with respect and kindness. And that means exercising a certain times a week, that means nourishing it with the most nutritious foods and not crap. It means taking care of me to make sure I can function the way my body is designed to."

"It's restrictive. That's what it is."

She rolls her eyes, "You don't get it because you grew up with Coca Cola as your water and cake as your breakfast. But I grew up in a different family dynamic. Where we learn that apples are suppose to look ugly to taste good. I wasn't even born yet and my mother had already brought me to the farmers market four times a week. She drew halfway through London just to support the local farmers who had the most perfect foods for her. She nourished her body and my siblings and me, knowing we will develop tastebuds that would be trained on real food not that fake stuff which is getting sold in the grocery shops nowadays. I was born into this nutrition focused lifestyle and I will be damned if I ever forget my roots. I don't function if I eat too much salt, sugar or processed stuff in general. And if I don't function I can't do what's my purpose."

"And what's your purpose?"

She shrugs, "Right now, it's you teaching a lesson that nutrition has nothing to do with a diet or a trend or with being restrictive. It's the other way around. It's a way of nourishing your body while also nourishing your soul."

I love it when she's so passionate about something. "Maybe you should be a dietician instead of a social media expert then."

"I'm fine where I am."

I doubt that. I honestly do. Her heart craves for doing good and she's not doing it by taking photos and writing blogposts about stuff that she doesn't even care about. Her ego is in her way. "Why aren't you working for the Foundation that your family owns?"

She growls before shaking her head. "No. I've had this conversation countless times. I'm not having it again."

"You've never had it with me."

"Because I am done explaining myself and justifying my decision!" She hisses at me.

"I just think you'd be better suited there."

"Who are you to say where I'd be better suited, huh?! You don't know me, Oliver. You don't know me at all. You know how to make me come. But all I'm showing to you is a tiny fraction of who I am. I am a very complex woman with lots of different roles that I have to play. I am showing you a part of me but not everything of me."

And that's our problem. "What if I tell you I'd like to know everything about you?"

"You think you do, but you really don't. Being with a Bolton is complicated and dangerous so trust me when I say this is the best it's going to get. Fucking me is a privilege not many men have had and you should enjoy the time we have left."

"So you are counting down the weeks until you can fuck every stranger that's interested in you again." I think out loud.

Her facial expression hardens. "Oliver, I think you've misunderstood this arrangement."

"No, I didn't. I know exactly what I've signed up for but that doesn't mean I don't care about your happiness."

"Your only task is to fuck me. If this is not enough for you than perhaps you should walk away from this rather sooner than later."

I sigh, sometimes it feels like we're making a huge process but then she says things like these and I feel like we're right back at the start. "Josephine, let me remind you that you've also made a deal with me. This is a two way street. You agreed to allow me to get to know you and that's all I've been doing. Not being able to voice my opinion is a kind of censorship I know you want to avoid."

She grits her teeth but doesn't say a word. Instead, she takes another sip of her coffee. "What's your favourite dish?"

I blink for a second, totally stunned by her question. Does she really want to get to know me? "Feijão Tropeiro and Coxinha." Coxinha are Brazilian chicken croquette and Feijão Tropeiro is a bean dish. My Mum and Dad used to cook them for my brothers and me quite often. "Oh and Brigadeiros." Brazil's answer for chocolate truffles. They're good. Almost as good as sonho."

She nods so all these names ring a bell. "Nice to know."

"Any more questions I can answer?" I challenge her.

She shakes her head, although the twitch in her lips and the sparkle in her eyes say otherwise. She wants to get to know me as well. It's not just my imagination.

We eat the rest of our breakfast in silence.

Josephine

The icy wind blows into my face as I lead the horse underneath me into the direction I want to go. It's so beautiful to horse ride through the untouched snowy forest in Finland. The white snow is lying heavily on the many trees. I even saw a few deers as I galloped earlier.

"Hey, wait up!" I hear Oliver crying.

I half my brown horse and turn around. Oliver's black horse walks very slowly into my direction. This is his first time horse riding but he's bloody slow!

"Keep up!"

"I am not a professional like you!" He complains before he finally reaches.

Edward wasn't that slow. In fact, he was faster than me on his horse as we galloped through the Provence. I frown. Why am I thinking of Edward again?

"You're way too fast for me."

"You're just way too slow for me." I answer back.

He sighs, "Cut me some slack. I've never sat on an animal this big in my whole life. I thought this horse riding thing would be a relaxing walk through the snow."

"That's no fun. I can do that in my sleep."

"But I can't. So why don't we just walk side by side for a while and talk?"

I can't stop myself from rolling my eyes at his words. He and his talking issue. "Oliver, I thought we cleared all of that. We're friends with benefits."

His pine green eyes widen, "We're friends?"

I shrug, "You know some things no one but my family knows so yeah we are sort of friends..." I tap my horse so she starts walking again.

Oliver follows me, now behind side by side instead of being behind me. "Did you horse ride through the snow before?"

I shake my head, "No this is the first time."

"Not even in Siberia with your family and Sergej?"

I'm surprised he remembers that. "No, they don't have horses there. It would be too much work to take care of them. The mansion there is only used a couple of times a year, whenever one of us need some alone time and get back in balance. That's when we travel to Siberia or to French Cay?"

"French Cay?"

"It's an island in the Caribbean. My family has owned it for almost 30 years. There's a resort with bungalows right at the beach there but not a lot of people have stayed there because it's quite expensive as we use the paid money to take care of the flora and fauna there."

"Animal protection is very close to your heart."

"I think I've inherited that from my mother and father. They've always been into helping others, whether that's an animal or a human being. It's why they brought the foundation and the hospital to life."

"Your family owns a hospital?"

Shit. We usually don't talk about the hospital. "Yes. It treats cancer patients for free. There's also a huge lab and development department to help find a cure to cancer. There has been a few incredibly world changing milestones but we haven't found a cure yet. Cancer's a true bitch. My sister Della used to work there for a while."

Oliver looks amazed but really we aren't doing anything big. We're just helping wherever we can. "That's... that's pretty incredible."

I shrug, "We like to help wherever we can."

"Are your parents the CEOs of the Foundation?"

"Yes. Along with my uncle. But my uncle is really the boss there. He took over when my Mum left for maternity leave when she was pregnant with my siblings and me, and I guess he did such a great job that my parents decided to let him work there. He's really doing an incredible job there. I know there are several projects all over the world to build homes, water fountains, schools, hospitals... all that sort of stuff." Talking about this makes me feel like I'm bragging and that's the last thing I want. We are doing a lot but we're not exploiting our message or the many people who are donating money to the foundation. The donors all know for what exactly their money has been used as transparency is very important in the business that's humanitarian help. Because everywhere you go, there will always be black sheep.

"Are there any projects in Brazil?"

I shrug, "I don't work there so I don't know. Maybe."

"Have you ever - and I mean ever - just had a slightest wish to work there?"

"No." I answer too quickly. "Because I don't think people should get paid for giving back. I don't need to earn my living like that."

"Is your uncle getting paid?"

I shake my head. "No, I mean not really. He's paying himself the obligatory one pound a year for the service but all the employees are getting paid of course."

He nods. "Sounds like your uncle has a big heart himself."

"He does but he also has a matching banking account that allows him to do that."

Oliver

I hold the door of the restaurant open for Josephine before following her inside. After two hours of horse riding, we're both hungry again and to my surprise Josephine suggested to have lunch where all the other guests from the hotel have lunch at. She's actually choosing the public with me.

Although she said this was just a fucking arrangement.

Her actions don't match up with her words. And I'd rather believe what I see rather than what I hear. The restaurant is just as rustic as the chalet that we're staying in. It's also quiet full with dining guests.

We sit down at one of the big group tables. But ours is empty. Josephine gets out of her red down coat and unwraps the red scarf from her neck before taking off her black beanie. "What do you want to eat?"

"I don't know. What do you want?" I ask her as I get out of my black down coat, blue scarf and grey beanie as well.

She picks up the menu, "I've read online that the chef is Austrian. Which is why I think we should go with Kaiserschmarren and Klöße with Sauerkraut."

I look at her, totally stunned by her choice of food. "Okay. I'll take that as well."

She nods before closing the menu again.

"How many languages do you speak?" I ask her.

"Fluently?"

"There's a difference?"

"Of course there is. Fluently I speak Russian, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish, Greek and German. My grandpa is Spanish so I had to learn Spanish and I hated it when I grew up but I am quite thankful for it now. It made learning Italian, Portuguese, Turkish and Greek a lot easier in school. Learning German was one of the toughest languages to learn."

"And Russian?"

"Wlad, Sergej, Sasha and Ana are all Russians, so I grew up with the language as much as I grew up with speaking Spanish with my grandpa and Mum. I spoke French with my father and Russian with the Russian side of my family. And under each other, with my siblings, we usually sticked to English."

"Wow... that's pretty impressive." I breathe out. She could go anywhere and communicate with the people.

But Josephine only shrugs. "It's the way I've been raised. There's nothing impressive about getting an expensive education that requires certain results from you. I am pretty good at delivering results. It's why I was valedictorian wherever I went."

"You were valedictorian?"

She nods, "At Le Rosey, Oxford and Harvard. It's my thing. My siblings like to win big in tennis and swim races but I always enjoyed learning. I won the Cross du Château three times in a row though but that was just because the others were too slow. Kind of like you on the horse today." She jokes while giving me a wink.

I chuckle. "What's the Cross du.." I cannot even pronounce the last word correctly. "Chatto?"

She smiles. "Château. The Cross du Château is a race through the campus of Le Rosey, the boarding school I attended from age 15 to 18, before I graduated as valedictorian. I was the fastest runner three times in the row. I even broke the school's record. I think up until today no one has broken my record but don't quote me on that."

Of course she's an excellent runner. I have a feeling that a Bolton is always excellent. In everything. It must be a lot of pressure. "Do your parents pressure you?"

She frowns at my question, "Pressure me?"

"Yeah. To have good grades or win races or be valedictorian-"

"That weren't my parents. It was my choice. They always allow us to make our own choices, our own mistakes." She bites on her lower lip, like whatever she wants to say is something personal. "My parents see themselves as our guidance. They don't make rules or set boundaries. I mean, they have certain expectations but those are limited to be there at Christmas Day, to go to charity galas twice a year for the foundation, spend Mummy's birthday in Swansea every year and spend their wedding anniversary on French Cay with them." She explains with a smile on her lips. "Oh and of course the monthly dinners at home. That's when we all come but right now we're having these dinners at Frogmore House instead of my childhood home in Richmond. Everyone comes along with their spouses. We have the best fun whenever we're all together." She chuckles as if she remembered something. "After dinner we always sing and dance together. It's great fun."

For a moment I'd like to imagine what it's like to see her whole family at one place but somehow I can't make a picture in my head.

"Do you have any family traditions?"

Not like her, that's for sure. "We went to the beach on my birthday." I answer with a shrug. It doesn't sound half as cool as what she just described.

"That sounds really nice." She shows me a genuine smile.

"It was."

"Excuse me,"

I look to my left and notice two couples about our age. "Yes?"

"Are these seats taken?" A brown haired man with dark eyes asks us.

I look behind them and notice how crowded the restaurant became over the amount of time I talked to Josephine.

"No they aren't. You're welcome to sit with us."

"Awesome! I'm Phil." The man introduces himself. "This is my girlfriend Molly." He points at the blonde woman next to him.

"Hi!" Annie says with a wide smile on her lips.

"I'm Carl and that's my wife Annie." A blonde man with green eyes says to us.

"Nice to meet you." Josephine says with a smile on her lips. "I'm Jo. This is Oliver."

Suddenly Annie and Molly's eyes widen. "Jo? As in Josephine? As in Josephine Bolton?"

Phil's eyes widen as well. "You're the sister of the Duchess of Oxford?"

Hell, there are even fans here in the middle of nowhere?!

"Yes." Josephine's smile doesn't drop. I guess she's used to it.

"Wow, that's really... really impressive." Carl says as they all sit down.

"It's not an achievement to marry the person you love."

"No but it's a great honour to meet you." Phil answers.

I have no idea what's going on here.

Before I can think any further the waiter appears. "What can I get for you?"

"The chef is Austrian, correct?" Josephine asks him.

The blonde waiter nods, "Yes. He's also a Michelin starred chef."

"We'll take the Käsespätzle, Klöße with sauerkraut and Kaiserschmarren as dessert." Josephine orders for us. "We'll have water with the main dish and a hot chocolate with the dessert."

The waiter nods, clearly understanding her while I didn't understand a word except sauerkraut. "And you guys?"

"Shall we take the same?" Annie asks her husband, who nods. "We'll take the same."

"We as well." Phil says. "If it's good enough for the sister of the Duchess of Oxford than it's good enough for us as well."

Josephine doesn't even roll her eyes at the last sentence. Instead she gulps her emotions down and puts on a face that looks like she is a Duchess and not just her twin sister. It's fascinating to watch but also scary as hell.

This must be one of the parts of her that she didn't show me yet.

"So, could you maybe give us a hint if Baby Oxford is a girl or a boy?"

Josephine smiles but shakes her head, "We don't know either. We're all waiting for the birth just like the rest of the world."

"The Duchess didn't go into labour then?"

"No. Otherwise I wouldn't be in Finland here with you." She ensures them with a typical Bolton smile on her lips. It's the kind of smile that makes her look confident but not arrogant and kind.

"Any hint on the birthdate?"

Josephine chuckles, "Oh no. Not from me. Babies come when they come."

"You know, there is truth in that. My sister's baby was due on November the fifth last year but the baby boy arrived eight days too early!" Annie says while pointing at Josephine.

This is going to be an interesting lunch.

Josephine

The lunch is a torture of questions about Rory, George, Char and Nate. They ask about how we really met, how many rumours are true and what Char is wearing for the wedding. Basically all the things I cannot comment on.

But I did deny the rumours which were ridiculous.

"This is so interesting! I can't believe we've met here in the middle of nowhere!" Molly days for the zillionth time. I don't know how her boyfriend lives with that chatterbox. It's ridiculous. I think she lives for all the gossip blogs and tabloids which are dedicated to the royals.

"Yeah, that is really surprising." I breathe out and stare at Oliver who eats his Kaiserschmarren as slow as a snake. I swear, he is enjoying this torture!

"Well, we better get going. We've got a sleigh ride planned." Phil says to Carl.

"Right." Carl agrees.

"Really? You guys planned a sleigh ride?" Molly asks her boyfriend.

"Of course! It can't get any more romantic than that."

This is why I didn't book a sleigh ride for Oliver and me. He would get the wrong impression. Except he already has the wrong impression. He thinks this is some romantic getaway.

"But before we go..." Annie starts before getting out her mobile. Shit, she wants to take a selfie! "Could we take a photo? Just for us. To remember this special day."

I am not fucking Royalty! "Sure. Just don't post it online." I say with clenched teeth before looking at Oliver again. "Could you take the photo?"

He nods. "Of course. But it might be not as good as your work."

I smile, "It'll do."

Annie and Molly walk over to me and we smile into the camera lens of the mobile. A flashlight appears and the photo is taken. I don't even flinch at flashlights anymore because I am so used to getting followed every day by paparazzi.

And I guess some even found me here in Finland. In the middle of nowhere.

"Enjoy the rest of your trip!" I say to the group of four.

Molly and Annie stare at the photo on the mobile as if I've given them something sacred.

"Oh we will. You too!" Carl gently pushes the women away from us.

"Well, that was fun, wasn't it?" Oliver asks me with a grin on his lips.

I shake my head and chuckle. "This is why I don't go out. And when I do, I choose my private clubs and not mainstream restaurants."

"Private clubs?"

"Yeah, I have a membership in several private clubs all over the world."

"Why doesn't this surprise me?" He Cross his arms in front of his chest and I stare at his biceps for a moment. "How many are in London?"

"Queen's Club, Hurlingham Club, Annabel, Soho House, 67 Pall Mall, Arts Club and Tramp."

"Just in London?"

"Yeah, well Soho House is really an international club. It's most famous club house is probably in Manhattan. But there's the Soho Farmhouse in the Cotswolds. It's pretty impressive as well. I booked the whole club for Rory's baby shower next weekend." I don't know why but talking to Oliver about Rory feels easier than to those four strangers. Maybe because I trust Oliver to not sell any of these informations to the press.

"Will you be gone for the whole weekend?" He asks me back.

I expected him to dig deeper and ask if Rory's getting a girl or a boy, or what we'll be doing but instead he just wants to know how long we will be apart. "No. It's just from Friday until Sunday morning."

He nods, "I'm sure it'll be lots of fun."

"I have no doubt." I smile at him. "So after the horse riding I thought we could build the snowmen we talked about yesterday?"

He reflects my smile and a funny feeling fills my stomach. "I have a feeling you're going to make a competition of it."

"I have a feeling you are right."

---

I roll my ball through the snow until it gets about the right size to be a head. I used to built hundreds of these when I was little. We even had a competition between Rory, Nate, Char, George, a few other classmates and me when we were still at Le Rosey. People often think it's lonely to go to a boarding school but it's actually pretty cool. I've had one of the best times of my life there. Rory and Nate found their one true love - although it took Char and Nate a few years to realise that but that's a different story. And I found my passion - photography - as well as my career - business - there.

Sure, we worked hard, studied longer than most pupils there but it paid off. Plus, the winters in Switzerland were always brilliant. We've spent our winters in Gstaad, one of the most expensive and posh cities of whole Switzerland, where we snowboarded, went skiing or just built snowmen. I still have the photos of our snowmen hidden in my secret room. I even made one once that did a handstand with his legs up in the air. I dressed him with my riding boots. It's one of my best works! And Nate did one with a black cape, a black wizard hat and the scarf from Gryffindor. He even formed an owl that sat on the snowman's left arm.

His Harry Potter obsession made me worry sometimes.

Rory made snowcats and snowbunnies. She even formed an ice bear once.

But those sessions always ended up in a snowball fight.

God, what great memories I have with snow...

I place the ball on top of the other two and look at my snowman. Perfectly proportioned. All that's left are breeches for the arms and mouth, stones for the buttons and eyes, a carrot for the nose, a hat and a scarf - and voilá my masterpiece is done!

"How are you keeping up?" I ask Oliver as I still admire my structurally complete art.

As he doesn't answer, I turn around. I can't help but burst out into a laughter as I see his 'snowman'. It's a tiny, very unproportional and very trippy creature that he built there. "Oliver, what is that?"

Oliver looks up, "I honestly don't know. You said to build a snowman. I don't know what a snowman even looks like. I mean, I've never seen snow let alone build a snowman."

I gulp down my laughter. Shit. Sometimes I forget that Oliver and me come from so different backgrounds. "I see. Well, I should have been more clear then. A snowman is something that consists of three big balls, that get smaller the higher you get. You use stones and breeches to make buttons, a nose and eyes as well as arms and a mouth. Usually, you wrap your scarf around the neck and put on a hat."

I should have started by teaching him how to make snow angels.

He looks at me and his pine green eyes widen. "Like yours?"

I look over my shoulder, "It's not done yet but I think you can finish it. That way the snowman will be ours and not just mine. Sometimes team work is required."

"I could have gotten it right if you just made yourself clearer."

"I wasn't aware of your lack of knowledge."

"Maybe next time we go to a beach and have a sandcastle competition. That's when I can show off my real skills!"

I grin, "Okay."

His pine green eyes widen, "Okay?"

"Yeah. It's only fair we do something you're good at because you clearly suck at building snowmen."

Suddenly, Oliver bends down and grabs a handful of snow. He starts building a snowball.

"Oh no... No, do not throw-"

He hits me right into my face. A wet and stone cold kiss.

I wipe the snow off my face. Thank God, I'm not wearing any makeup otherwise I'd be looking like a panda right now. "Oh you're paying for that!"

"I don't think so!" He says before starting to run away.

He has no idea I am the snowball fight champ in our family. He will regret it!

I bend down, quickly grab some snow and start forming a ball as I run after Oliver, who is already forming his next snowball. I throw the ball into his direction but he bends down the right second before hiding behind a big pine.

"Only pussies hide behind a tree!" I yell after him as I collect more snow to make another ball.

"It's a strategic move!"

And it's a clever one. I decide to do the same about twenty metres away from him and build my snowball collection. I wince as a snowball hits the trunk of the tree on the same level as my nose.

"Who's being a pussy now?" He asks after throwing another ball at me.

I pick up a snowball in each hand and step aside. "Show your face!"

Oliver doesn't hide from facing me, but before he can strike out, I've already hit him with two of my snowballs. One in his face and the other one on his chest.

Then he starts throwing his snowballs but I hide behind the pine again.

We fight that fight for a good thirty minutes, in which sometimes I'm winning and sometimes him. Either way it's the most fun I've had in a while...

"I want to cut a deal!" He gives in behind his trunk of tree.

"That was fast. I expected you to last longer." I yell back.

"Meet me in the middle?" He asks me.

I nod and pick up a snowball. You never know with competitors. As I walk into the middle of how totally demolished war field, I notice that Oliver's holding a snowball in his right hand as well.

Two people with one mind.

"I see you didn't come unarmed." Oliver's green eyes are glowing just like the Northern Lights that we saw last night. He's clearly having fun as well.

"Just being cautious."

"I thought I was the cautious one of us."

"True, I'd rather risk it!" I quickly throw the snowball into his face. "Yes! That's payback!" I grin at my triumph.

He wipes the snow out of his face. To my surprise he grins at me. "Alright, I deserved that."

He bloody did! I expect him to throw his snowball now so I duck away but he doesn't. Instead he drops the snowball, grabs me at my waist and pulls me closer to him until my chest is against his. The green in his eyes, his hands on my waist and my chest getting pressed against his, suddenly spark thousands of tiny explosions within me. They're so wonderful that I feel lightheaded and a funny feeling starts filling my stomach. Also my heartbeat increases rapidly.

Before I know it, I've sealed my lips over his.

It's the only thing in the world that make the feelings grow stronger and at the same time become weaker. It's so weird that I can't even explain what's going on with me.

All I know is that I crave his body and all these feelings that he's giving me... Feelings I don't even know the name of.

He returns my kiss, making me completely forget about the icy cold environment we're in. I feel nothing but him. I forget time and am completely in the moment. It's like time and space doesn't exist whenever we kiss or touch.

It's wonderful... bloody wonderful.

I wrap my arms around his neck as we continue kissing in this Finnish winter wonderland.

It was the right decision to make this trip with him.

Oliver

I pick up the two mugs that I've filled with lavender tea before walking back into the living room where Josephine is. After our snowball fight, we've spent just as long making out in the Finnish nature. That was by far the best part.

After that we even finished our snowman. She even took a photo of the snowman and us using the self timer and a tripod.

It's our first photo together.

I'm going to ask for a copy.

Josephine's sitting on the floor, wrapped into a grey cashmere blanket with her back against the couch and her face facing the lit fireplace. She watches the dancing flames.

I place the two mugs on the coffee table next to her before sitting down. Ever since the kissing outside she's been quiet. Something's going on in her beautiful head but she won't share it.

And I won't ask because that might offend her. Like the question about her working for the family's charity foundation.

I stare at her and watch how the flames dance across her glows skin and her blue eyes that are glowing in a royal blue. But to my surprise she didn't want sex when we arrived here. She just wanted a lit fireplace and some tea.

Something's definitely up with her.

Suddenly, she grabs my left hand. She embraces my left hand with hers but doesn't say a word.

"Josephine,"

"I think you're right." She interrupts me without looking at me.

I have no idea what she means.

"I think I slept with Edward because you rejected me. I think I did it to hurt you even though I didn't knew it at the same. I think I did what I did for revenge." She licks her lips.

I can't believe what I'm hearing!

"I don't do this. I don't do dates and fuzzy romantic feelings. I don't like to depend on anyone or ask of anyone's permission. I don't make plans for a duo, I make plans for solo stuff. I like my life being solo."

I don't understand. What is she trying to say?

She tears her gaze off of the fireplace and looks at me. "But I also like this. I like the snowball fights, I like the bathtub times, I even like the discussions we have. I also really like the fucking and kissing. And I admit, I do like the cuddling. Probably not as much as you, but I like it. I like this trip. I like having sex under the most magical thing the sky can show us. Thank you for coming with me. I thank you from the bottom of my heart."

This is what has eaten her up?! "As I've said it's my pleasure." I whisper and fondle her right cheek with my free hand.

Goosebumps start forming on her cheek. "And these feelings you make me feel... God, they're so wonderful and so bloody scary at the same time. I feel like Alice falling down the rabbit hole. You make my toes curl with each touch and my stomach does funny things as well... I have no idea how to name this..."

It's love. It's my unconditional love that's making you feel that. "You'll figure it out."

"Whatever this is, I like it. But I don't like it enough to give into your needs."

"Give into my needs?" I ask her back confused.

She laces her left hand with mine. "I know you want to date me, Oliver. You want a relationship."

Shit and I thought she was too blind to see right through me.

"But I cannot do this. In a little less than 14 weeks this will end so I suggest you enjoy it while it lasts."

Josephine

I can see the pain in his sea foam coloured eyes but I had to be honest. He thinks there is an us and that this us has a future, which it doesn't. We have a deadline.

And I need him to know that. He can't fall in love with me. It would kill him.

Oliver's totally stunned for a moment. I've never seen him this speechless.

It almost makes me feel guilty.

"Oliver,"

"There is more between you and me. And you know it. You feel it."

"Of course there is. You are more than a one-night-stand to me. It's why we have this arrangement."

"No, this is more than just sex. You care about me. You said so yourself."

"And I do care about you. I care about you a lot." I confirm and squeeze his hand. "You're my friend."

He licks his lips before nodding. "Okay."

"Okay?" I ask him confused.

"Yes. We'll enjoy these weeks and then see what happens." He says to my surprise. "And we can start by watching the Northern Lights again. But this time we'll stay inside."

"We'll see." I tell him instead. If the Northern Lights are even prettier than yesterday than I won't stay inside.

He runs his thumb over my lips. "Will you ever make a compromise for me?"

I did when I agreed to 16 weeks instead of one night. It's a step I've never done before, for anyone. It's the biggest compromise I've ever made. "I have but I won't repeat that. You think you want more of me than what I'm willing to offer but really Oliver you have no idea what you're talking about. What happened today at lunch gave you a glimpse into what it would be like to date me. Whoever dates me, has to live a public life with me. That means getting photographed 24/7. That means no secrets because the press finds out everything about you. That means having duties. And this is not something for you."

"What do you want for dinner?" He asks me instead.

He doesn't believe me but I decide to leave it like that. He'll learn his lesson. "Let's cook a curry together." I suggest. We rarely cook together and I'm too tired to go out. Besides we have a fully stocked fridge. I don't want to waste any food.

Oliver

I lean back in my seat and stare out of the oval window of the jet. I can see how we're approaching London again. It's been a weekend I'll never forget. It had its ups and downs. And it wasn't exactly how I planned it to be. Instead of staying in the penthouse, we flew to Finland to see the Northern Lights but at least we were together.

And Josephine realised why she fucked that family friend. She might not see what this is between us but she's slowly opening up to me. She calls me her friend. She admitted that she cared for me, that she has feelings for me.

In this perspective, this weekend was a huge step for us.

But then she said things that went completely against her actions. At first it confused me and made me angry. Her words even hurt me. But then I understood that this is how she deals with the emotions I make her feel. She can't put words on it but she also can't ignore them.

And one day she will see what this is.

Love.

And I pray this day comes before our arrangement ends.

"Everything alright?" Josephine's angelic voice rips me out of my thoughts.

I look at her. She's slicing through her Argentine steak that somehow is perfectly medium rare, although we're up in the air. "Yes." I ensure her.

She puts a piece of steak into her mouth with her fork and chews. She's having the steak with sparkling champagne. "I really enjoyed this weekend." She says after gulping down her food. She has never eaten with a full mouth. At least not in my presence.

"I did, too."

"Maybe in two weeks we can stay inside the penthouse and wear those pyjamas you talked about." She shows me a smile before picking up the flute and taking a sip of her champagne.

We live in two total different worlds.

But I'll be damned if I don't try to create our own world.

---

Thank you for taking the time to read this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it!

Do you think Jo is lying to herself about her feelings for Oliver? Or is Oliver too confident?

Their weekend definitely didn't go to Oliver's plan. Do you think they will ever spend a weekend at home in pyjamas?

I love reading all your reviews. I see some of you are Ed supporters and others prefer Oliver over Ed.

Please review!

In gratitude,

Nicole