Ayesha got out of the water before her skin started to prune. She washed off the water in the guest bathroom and changed into her spare clothes.
She walked out of the bathroom in a pair of oversized slippers, towelling her damp hair while she looked around.
His house was lovely. Monotone in some rooms but still managed to appear cosy and welcoming. The rooms in the palace were always filled with colour. It bloomed like a flower every morning and night. The rugs were bright, vibrant red, the walls cobbles of coloured stone. Flowers of varying species covered the walls and tables, their colours breathing extra life into the palace.
It was a beautiful place that always felt so empty.
"Was the water okay?" Dimitri asked when he spotted her walking out of the hallway.
"Yes."
"Still hungry?"
"No."
"Pushed yourself a lot out there."
She grinned, kneeling in front of him. "It was all worth it to finally beat you."
"Told y
"I should have called. You mentioned you weren't going anywhere, so I just dropped by.""It's fine." He stood behind Ayesha, who was nervously glancing between them, her eyes wide and unsure. "Ayesha, this is my sister Davina. Davina, this is Ayesha. My girlfriend."Davina's neck nearly snapped with the speed she used to look back at Ayesha. She stared for a second, taking her in from head to toe before recovering from her shock and jutting her hand out between them.
Dimitri slowed to a jog before stopping and allowing Ayesha to catch up. Despite what she claimed, she was a good runner. She caught up to him and folded, slapping her hand on her knee. She sucked in all the air around them to fill her lungs.“Water.”He handed her the bottle, and she guzzled it down before he stopped her. Ayesha coughed and dropped her head on his chest, unbothered that his jacket was soaked with sweat.“That was good.”“Was it?” He laughed. "You sound like you are about to fall apart."He massaged the base of her neck, kissing the top of her head. They had taken a secluded path, so it didn’t cross his mind to be careful. In fact, he had been forgetting to do that more often than not. When he took her out to eat, he’d forget not to stand so close to her or touch her as often as he did. It didn't seem like they had attracted any attention, but there was still a chance for that.
She rubbed her droopy eyes with her fist and sat up in bed. She looked out the window and then at the clock on her bedside table. It was twelve in the morning. Through the fog of sleep, she remembered what Dimitri promised to do.She got out of bed, stretching the drowsiness out of her bones. The air was cold, so she draped her blanket around her as she squeezed herself into the bench beneath the window.Christmas lights were decorating the walls of every house and the stem of every tree in the street. As far as she could see. They had gone up the week b
Dimitri laughed when the children ran by him, chasing each other with water guns. He had their parent's lists on his phone, and his only job was to keep a keen eye on them. He was also waiting for Ayesha to arrive, looking down at the headphones on his lap."Uncle Dima. Uncle Dima." The children chorused to get his attention."Yes. What do you need?""Can we have ice cream?" The youngest child, Maya, hiccuped."Of course you can, princess. Do you all want some?""Yes." They all sang."Okay."He noticed Ayesha's car pull in as he stood. The children barrelled towards the ice cream truck that had pulled in not too long ago. He called after them to be careful and walked with his hand behind his back while his eyes remained on Ayesha.She skipped over to them, smiling as she slung her bag over her shoulder. She looked beautiful. Dressed in green and red, with gold in her hair. She was definitely leaning into the craze of the season
Ayesha wheeled her suitcase to the living room, still unsure of what she had agreed to do. The driver had informed her that he was waiting for her, she had everything set to leave, but her racing heart made her question her decision.“Are you going to keep that poor man waiting?”She chewed her lip nervously, turning to Joseph. “I don’t know about this.”“D
It was late in the afternoon when they made it to his apartment. Dimitri had told her on the flight that he didn’t have the heart to sell it when he left. Something about being sentimental about a place he lived in for so long. He also didn’t want it to sit idly when he was away, but until he figured out what to do, he hired someone to handle the upkeep every week.The curtains had been opened, the air fresheners had been filled, spritzing the room with a peculiar scent. One Ayesha wasn’t familiar with but smelt amazing. The floors had been waxed, the chairs polished and shined. Whoever was maintaining the apartment must have come to prepare it for him the day before.She set her purse down on the sofa and took off her jacket. Dimitri had asked her to go up so he could talk with someone at the reception. So, as she waited for him to come in, she stood by the balcony, looking at the sea of houses below her.“It’s quite a view, isn&rs
"There he is."Dimitri waved at his friend when they spotted him from the cart. Bolin had set up for them to meet under a large tree overlooking an expanse of field far from his home. Dimitri had requested they meet in the open for Ayesha to enjoy horseback riding without the limits of fences.Bolin was particular about who handled his horses on open fields, but after his first-hand experience watching her, Dimitri vouched for Ayesha's temperament with horses."Oh, look at those babies." Ayesha shrieked.Carina, Bolin's head equestrian, was walking two horses towards him. They were magnificent, tall and muscular. Their mane and tail were healthy and long. The lustrous strands glisten under the sunlight."Many people come over here to hire the horses and to train. He has a field, not too far from here, where players come to practice.""Players?""Polo, rodeos, showmen. Basically, anyone that wants a good horse for sporting activities."
Ayesha tied her bandana on her head, fluffing up her curls. It had been a blissful two weeks, and now they only had one day before returning to their lives in Watford. So, for their last day in Greece, the last country he had worked in, they were escaping to spend the remainder of their time at one of the more private beaches.She shimmed into her dress, using the sheer gown to hide her swimsuit. She packed her beach bag with towels and lotions. After everything was set, she went to the adjourning door to check on Dimitri.“Hey. You ready?”“Come in.”She turned the knob and peeked in cautiously. He smiled at her from the bed. He was bent over, tying the laces of his sneakers.“Just about ready. You?”“Done. Done.” She showed him her packed bag and entered the room. “I have packed my bags. We can leave as soon as you’re finished.”He chuckled and stood. “Then let&