Stroll Part 1

Valine stirred in her sleep when she sensed the presence of another person lying down next to her. As she stirred, her senses were immediately awakened by the feel of well-defined muscles pressed against her and the intoxicating scent of sandalwood and the forest. She kept her eyes closed, allowing herself to savor the moment. Then, she felt a soft, tender kiss on her forehead. A warm smile graced her lips, and she couldn't help but smile even with her eyes closed. She knew it was Dimitri. Two days had already passed since their talk in the secret garden and Dimitri was always so busy that she could only feel his presence at night but he made sure to join her in every meal. "Goodnight, Valine," he whispered in that deep, soothing voice of his. Gently, he cradled her head in his strong arms. Valine whispered back, "You’ve always felt like a dream," before drifting back into a peaceful slumber, knowing that, for the first time in a long while, she was truly safe and loved. Valine woke up