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Betrayed By The Hero, Loved By The Lord-Chapter 197: Hold me (1)
Chapter 197: Hold me (1)
"You don’t need to keep looking up at the sky. I’ve ordered the guards to strike down anything they see flying above us," Xavier informed Selene.
"What if it is a bird?" Selene asked, hoping an innocent creature wouldn’t get hurt.
"Then some wild animal that prefers meat will have a bird for dinner. Don’t look at me like that. They choose the wrong time to be flying around. What bird is flying around at this hour unless it wants to cause trouble?" Xavier inquired.
Selene thought it over first. "A bird that just wants to get to its nest. You all have good vision not to mistake a bird for a bat. Please do not harm an innocent creature. Are we close?"
Selene looked around the area Xavier chose for them to enjoy their dinner. So far it was going well with no one in sight to interrupt them but the night was still young.
"Almost," Xavier said, holding her hand so she would stay near. "Why were you interested in the pond?"
"I am interested in seeing everything about the estate since it is my home. Truthfully, I wasn’t looking for a pond specifically but somewhere for us to take a dip. I am trying to be adventurous," Selene replied.
Selene kept her hand on the first button of the coat Agnes dressed her in so it wouldn’t magically open. The night air was cold but not enough to send them running back inside. The coat was meant for another reason.
They came to a stop when they reached the pond and Xavier set down the basket Harold prepared for them.
Selene looked around, noticing there were plenty of trees and hedges to block any view of them from intruders or passing guards.
"Your land is quite large. There is much you can build on it," Selene started a conversation to ease her mind off of her other thoughts.
Would it be bad to forget the dinner and jump right into holding each other?
"It is our land and there is nothing to build here. Those loyal to me have taken their places across my land which makes it easier for me to call upon them. Most have started families and built small homes," Xavier shared as he spread a blanket for Selene to sit on.
"Must they pay you?" Selene asked, interested in how he offered the land.
"No. I will never make them pay since they risk their lives for all that I ask. Lucas once described it as the people I can bear having a little town on my estate but their homes are not all close to each other. I can show you when we plan to ride horses," Xavier suggested.
Selene helped Xavier to spread the blanket and then sat down. "I would like that."
Xavier sat right beside Selene, using every chance he got to admire her. "Are you cold? Why are you gripping your coat like that as if you are afraid it will fall?"
Xavier saw this as a good enough reason for him to buy Selene plenty of coats.
"I am not cold. I just," Selene looked down at her attire. "I thought of getting dressed in one of Francesca’s gifts but after looking through them quickly, they would be too short to walk all the way here. My coat would not have been long enough."
Selene thought Xavier wouldn’t enjoy the servants getting a good look at her. Mostly the men.
"For me, it doesn’t matter what you wear. You are covered by a coat yet it doesn’t affect how much I want you. I am curious why you are holding onto the coat like that when you are properly dressed," said Xavier.
Selene averted her gaze, looking at the trees for a moment. "I didn’t get to wear one of the dresses I know would excite you but she did give me new dresses. These dresses are different from what I normally wear."
"It sounds like I should do more business with Francesca than Henry since she has all the wonderful ideas," Xavier said, eager to discard the coat but he waited.
It was obvious that Selene was nervous and though they made it this far, the night could be spoiled for them to return inside.
Xavier decided to distract Selene for a moment by using her pie. "What did you bake for me?"
"It is a pie with a mixture of the berries sent for us. I didn’t get a bite so I do not know how it tastes now," Selene said, momentarily forgetting what they spoke of.
Selene was excited to get Xavier’s reaction to what she made. She opened the basket and prepared a slice for him to try.
"Does baking always make you this happy?" Xavier asked, secretly plotting to build a small bakery somewhere around the estate for Selene to make a mess of to her liking.
"It has always been fun for me but until today, I didn’t know it was so calming. Try it and be honest with me," Selene said, offering Xavier a piece on a fork.
Xavier held her hand steady and leaned forward to give it a try.
"Oh, it spilt," Selene said, searching for something to wipe her hands with.
Xavier’s lips on the side of her hand made Selene freeze up. It was such a simple action but it came with a big reaction from her.
Selene knew Xavier was well aware of what he was doing to her and he enjoyed every bit of it. He was a dangerous man in many ways yet she couldn’t pull herself away from him.
How was she able to stay out of his arms for this long?
Xavier’s tongue poked out momentarily to clean what was left behind on his lips. "You might be able to sell this. It might make for a wonderful hobby. Wouldn’t it?" Xavier asked, carefully taking the fork from Selene’s hands.
After setting the fork down to the side, Xavier palmed Selene’s face. Her skin was cold but like him, the cold didn’t have any effect on her.
"We need the fork for me to try it," Selene said, trying to kill some of the tension.
She read Xavier’s intentions as he came closer to her, closing the space between them. The unforgettable taste of berries was the first thing Selene picked up on his lips after he kissed her.
It was sweet.
Selene could feel what little warmth Xavier had before it vanished as the chilly air consumed them. Her hands rested on his muscular arms.
The dinner Selene had prepared for them was now forgotten as her back rested against the blanket and Xavier towered over her, their kiss yet to be broken.
They were careful not to let their fangs nip each other.
Xavier sneakily opened the buttons of the coat Selene wore now so he could see what it was she was so desperate to hide from him.
Xavier sat up so he could get a good look at her. The dress Selene wore now framed her body snuggly, pushing her breasts upward to the point if not careful they would slip out from their hiding place and be exposed to him.
Xavier had been completely fooled by the bottom of the dress as the top had a lace which reminded him of night garments one might see in the night theatre. The material was thin enough for him to see that Selene wasn’t wearing anything under the dress.
"Is there more beneath the dress?" Xavier asked to confirm.
"No," Selene shook her head.
The moment he removed the dress, she would be naked before him.