Page 117 of Arianna

“I didn’t see you coming, Sebastian Kenton.” The words slip out without a chance for me to hold them back.

“Likewise, Parisi.” He gently pets Bliss while staring right into my eyes. “But what a beautiful surprise you are.” He grins, and my heart stops.

I wonder if I stop his heart, too, when I smile. When I look his way?

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

There goes the heart of an ice princess, beating erratically after the one man I thought I would never care for.

A man with a soul as deep and beautiful as his eyes.

Not black.

Not at all.

Sebastian walks while Bliss gallops. “C'est l’heure d'une autre leçon, belle fille.” It is time for another lesson, beautiful girl.

Beautiful girl.

He thinks of me as beautiful, and as much as that warms my heart, what touches me is the fact that he sees me as strong.

The most confident, brilliant, and powerful man I know believes I am strong.

He values my mind and has shown me a thousand times throughout my time with him. I never had that before, a man that cared for my mind and not just my beauty.

He has given me that, too.

* * *

An hour later, we are both riding our horses through the field at a slow pace. The weather has warmed up a bit more than before we arrived here, and the sun has brightened the field, making this day perfect for riding.

I have never ridden a horse before, only admired them from afar, on magazines and TV, mostly. With an hour lesson from Sebastian, I’ve gotten the hold of it. I am no expert by any means, but I can ride Bliss slowly and carefully.

Sebastian looks like a Roman warrior riding the black Stallion expertly next to me, wearing black dress pants and a full-sleeve black shirt, and his hair is perfectly styled back away from his face.

Never has a man been more handsome to me, and I doubt they will ever be.

His beauty is the type that slaps you in the face, making it hard for you to see anything or anyone else.

We ride for a while in silence, staring at the lovely scenery around us when I speak.

“You said I could ask you anything…” I look straight ahead, a bit nervous about the question that has been nagging me for weeks.

I hear him mutter. “I did.”

“Where is Ella’s mother?” I ask carefully, not wanting to come off as nosy or…petty.

He sighs, clearly not in the mood to talk about her.

“It is fine. You don’t need to tell me.”

“I did say you only had to ask.” He smiles before a serious expression takes over. “I don’t know the woman. I barely remember the night Ellaiza was conceived.”

I try hard not to look judgmental, but by the smile that lights up his face, I didn't do a good job at it.

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