Dimitri's POV

She's late. Where the hell is she? 

I've been waiting for an hour and 42 minutes for (Y/n) to arrive at our meeting place but she hasn't shown up yet. I've texted her 50 times and even called her 15 times but she's not answering. She did answer one of my texts but she just said that she's on the way.

I sighed. 

I held a bouquet of purple alstroemeria which I thankfully have not yet crushed with my growing anxiousness. I've been monitoring the security camera I installed outside her house (for safety purposes) and found that she already left earlier, hours before our appointed time. She told me earlier that she went to Jessica's place, one of her friends. 

Jessica Spencer is the daughter of the CEO of Woodbridge making her life quite bountiful. She's been friends with (Y/n) since high school and she's very good with applying makeup and styling clothes. I suppose (Y/n) would want to make herself extremely beautiful for me that's why she's with her friend. 

The thought actually made my heart flutter with joy. But still, how long does it take to put on clothes and makeup? 

What the hell was she doing? Did something happen to her? Was she abducted? 

Fuck. Did I unknowingly bring her into harm's way?

I should have picked her up but my poor excuse of a father sent me to attend a meeting. I would have sent a chauffeur but I don't trust any man to take care of my precious goddess.

I sighed for the nth time. I don't give two fucks about the people passing me by with looks of pity and mumbling their assumptions but I grow anxious the longer (Y/n) is absent from my sight. 

My phone pinged, capturing my attention.

🌷🌷My Queen (Y/n)🌷🌷

Look behind you.

I turned only to find (Y/n) walking slowly towards me. The moment I saw her my breath got caught up in my throat. It's like I've forgotten how to breathe and how to think. At that moment, I could only see her. Those cheesy overused slow-motion walks of a beautiful character in movies seem to be happening in real life. 

(Y/n) wore a long silk white dress that hugged her figure perfectly. It had thin straps allowing me to admire the delicate slopes of her shoulders. Silver butterfly drop earrings hung from her earlobes accentuating her beauty even more while a matching pendant rested on her chest. Her hair cascaded down her back like the mesmerizing waves of the ocean. She had her signature smirk knowing that she had left me utterly enchanted. 

(You wore something like this! Just adjust it to your body type or something in your imagination.)

Gods of the Underworld, she looks like a bride! My mind began to wander to the thought of her walking down the aisle ready to take me as her husband. We will share our lives for the rest of our days and love each other till the end of the moon and stars. 

(Y/n) was like a goddess that walked the earth. In my vision, flowers seem to bloom from the very ground that she walks on. Birds seem to sing hymns of praises to honor her presence. Seeing her makes me feel like the world is perfect with her as its goddess.

I heard the honking of a car and my attention was interrupted by (Y/n)'s friends who were waving at us. 

It seems like she brought everyone. Monica, Belinda, and Jessica were giving us cheeky smiles which made (Y/n) blush. 

"Dimitri!" yelled Monica. "Take care of our girl or else we'll set your car on fire!"

"Yeah!" This time it was Belinda. "Make sure to keep her happy and don't let her drink any alcohol. She gets stupid drunk."

"We love you, (Y/n). Have fun emptying his bank account!" The girls gave her a flying kiss which she reciprocated. The little teasing from her friends resulted in a cute pink blush that made her face glow so beautifully. They left soon enough after I reassured them that she's in good hands. 

It seems that they are also protective of her to have driven her here and entrusted her in my care. My queen certainly knows how to pick her friends well. 

"Hi, sorry for making you wait for so long. The girls and I had to go to the gas station cuz Jessica's tank was running empty plus there's the makeover and other stuff. Are you angry? Because this is totally intentional." Her smirk held provocation filling me with all sorts of emotions. 

"Ah, our bet." 

'Show me your best and I'll show you my worst' was what she said but as an assassin, I have unlimited patience to wait. This is nothing, Moya Lyubov, but it was a nice try though. 

"It's alright. I was only getting a little bit anxious. It's not like people are passing me by with looks of pity that slowly erode my morale. But all of it doesn't matter because you're here now with me."

She laughed a melodious sound that made my chest tighten. "Well, it was worth the wait then," she teased, her eyes dancing with amusement.

I handed her the bouquet, our fingers brushing briefly, sending a spark of electricity up my arm. "These are for you."

She accepted them with a gracious smile, bringing them to her nose to inhale their scent. "Purple alstroemeria."

"The purple color of this alstroemeria means royalty, elegance, and admiration fit for the queen that I admire." I lifted her hand to my lips and delivered chaste kisses upon her skin. "It's believed that each of the six petals of this flower represents something related to friendship: commitment, respect, humor, patience, understanding, and empathy. All things necessary to create a strong foundation for a relationship. I take the Nymph's reply to heart." I explained, feeling a swell of pride. 

"Let's hope that my Shepherd will deliver on his promises." My heart felt warm as I gazed into her eyes which held both intellect and mischief. 

For a moment, we stood there, the world around us fading into a blur. All I could see was her, and the realization that I would do anything to keep her safe, to make her happy, solidified within me. But then the nagging worry crept back in. "Why didn't you answer your phone? I was worried something might have happened."

Her expression softened, and she placed a gentle hand on my arm. "I'm sorry, Dimitri. I didn't mean to worry you. We were caught up in the preparations."

"Next time, let me know sooner," I said, my tone more commanding than expected. "I can't help but think the worst when it comes to you."

She nodded, her eyes filled with defiance at my commanding tone but also understanding of the sentiment behind it. "I promise. Now, shall we go? I think we have a lot to explore."

As we walked through the bustling mall, I couldn't help but glance around, scanning for any potential threats. The rational part of me knew it was unnecessary, but the protective instinct was hard to suppress.

I had several of my most trusted assassins watch our back. Should any spy, lowlife, or criminal even consider the littlest offense, they will be dealt with swiftly and covertly. 

(Y/n) looked at me with a playful glint in her eye. "So, what was this about people giving you pitying looks?"

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Let's just say that waiting for you has never been more challenging. But it was worth every second."

She laughed, a sound that I wished I could bottle up and keep with me forever. "Good. Because I plan on making you wait many more times."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? And why is that?"

She leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Because it means you'll always be eager to see me."

Touché. I smiled, leaning in to kiss her cheek. "Always, my queen."

We talked about everything and nothing, losing ourselves in each other's company. The anxiety and worry that had plagued me earlier melted away. We walked hand in hand filling me with a sense of contentment and joy. 

We wandered through various stores, where I allowed (Y/n) to take whatever she wanted. The first shop was for cosmetics and beauty products. She held no hesitation when she said what she wanted. Her eyes shone with a challenge.

"From here to here. I want one of each, Dimitri. Buy it for me please?"

"Of course, I would my darling." 

Several assistants were summoned to help pack our purchases. I paid for them on the counter while (Y/n) marveled at her new possessions. We went to the next store, and the next, and the next one after that. I splurged on all the things that caught her eye even the ones she didn't ask for. 

We went to clothing stores next and (Y/n) made sure to choose the prettiest and best quality which I admire about her. She knows what she wants and how she wants it. She mostly avoided the popular brands and went for items that really complement her style and physique. She liked being classy like the old money fashion but she also loves some modern couture perfect for casual events. 

My favorite part of our shopping is when she models clothes that she combined and accessorized. The clothes she wore were diverse in style. Some were modest, some very cute and girly, and some were gothic, but my favorite ones are the sexy and provocative. (Y/n) knows her assets and she uses them against me well leading to my first credit card running out. Sixty-seven more to go. 

Note to self, my new favorite pastime is no longer torture but dressing up. 

I've forgotten how many boutiques we've visited so far, allowing us to accumulate a mountain load of shopping bags and boxes. I told the shopping assistants that my staff members would pick them up later and gave them the names of those I would send. 

(Y/n) insisted that we visit the bookshop next where she marveled upon volumes and volumes of novels and other literary pieces. I watched with amusement as she ran her hands over the hard-bound cover of Edgar Alan Poe's book of poem anthologies. It's fun to see the child-like wonder in her eyes. 

"What's that you have there, my darling?" I asked already knowing the answer. 'Haunting Adeline' is a book that's been on her reading list for quite a while now. I read it in the notes found in her room so I went and bought a copy for myself to see why she wanted it so badly. 

It was pure smut with an interesting plot. I cannot help but see some parallels between the novel and our life and she seems to have started reading it when I confessed to her. It was an eye-opener for me on what she liked about me.

The possessiveness, the jealousy, the primal urges to protect. She enjoyed reading about it. My queen isn't as innocent as she seems. That's good to know because I have no innocence left to give.

(Y/n) immediately hid the book behind her and blushed a cute shade of pink. Oh, this is going to be fun. "Instead of reading your porn, why not try it for yourself?" I suggested, my voice taking a teasing sensual turn. 

"Because Dimitri, men are only interesting when they're fictional."

"Then I suppose I'm boring for you?" I arched a brow, gazing at her playfully. 

"So boring." (Y/n) giggled, showing me the book cover. "I've been wanting to have this book for ages. Shall we get it?"

I smiled, nodding. "Of course. And why don't we get a few more while we're at it?"

She grinned, and we spent the next hour picking out books. We bought enough to fill an entire library, and I loved every second of it. Seeing her happy was worth all the money in the world.

People marveled at how extravagantly she shopped, making me smirk with satisfaction. I can already see the looks of envy directed our way and I reveled at that fact. 

Once again I entrusted our packages to be picked up by my staff. Despite my strength, I don't want to carry all these items and be left vulnerable to attacks. Also, how can I touch and hug (Y/n) if my hands are filled with shopping bags?

Once (Y/n) was satisfied with her purchase, I offered to take her to lunch. I had booked reservations to almost all of the prominent restaurants in their private dining room to ensure that we'd have a table once (Y/n) decided what to eat. 

In the end, we chose an expensive restaurant with very few people. I exchanged a glance with one of my assassins who was diligently keeping watch of our path. He gave me a subtle signal that there was nothing to report, making me nod with approval. 

We entered the restaurant, and the hostess greeted us with practiced smiles. She led us to a private room that I had reserved and left us with the menu. 

(Y/n) marveled at the place. The ambiance is elegant yet intimate with soft lighting and a gentle hum of background music that adds to the relaxed atmosphere.

We settle into our table with a view of the garden outside, where sunlight filters through the leaves in dappled patterns. (Y/n) looks radiant, her hair falling softly around her face. She casually leaned against the chair sipping the complimentary champagne offered by the waiter. 

I can see the tiredness that had slowly settled on her shoulders but her elegance remained. She was looking outside somewhat melancholic but there was a certain beauty to her lamentation. 

It was solitude, something I'm very familiar with. This woman has been alone in this world since the moment she was born. She knows companionship and solidarity but the solitude still lingers. It is a part of her that will never cease no matter how many friends she made or how far she reached in life. 

The thing is, she is not miserable in her solitude. She blooms in it. She finds happiness and satisfaction by enjoying her own company. It is the beautiful kind of sadness that holds no grief. She's probably listening to the cacophony of voices speaking in her psyche. 

At that moment, she looked like a pale rose blooming with the platinum moonlight. I can't help but fall in love with her more because I understand that kind of peaceful solitude. 

As we peruse the menu, I can't resist the urge to tease her a little. "Anything in particular catching your eye?" I ask, my tone laced with faux innocence.

She was swift to muster her composure. She arches an eyebrow, catching on to my playful demeanor. "Hmm, how about we start with some appetizers? Maybe the charcuterie board and some oysters?" Her voice is smooth, matching my playful tone.

"An excellent choice," I reply with a grin, leaning in slightly. "But don't you think we should save the oysters for later? After all, they say oysters are an aphrodisiac..."

Her cheeks flush slightly, but she meets my gaze with a playful challenge. "Oh, is that so? Trying to seduce me with seafood now, are we?"

I chuckle softly, enjoying our banter. "Maybe. Or maybe I just want to see if they live up to their reputation," I tease, winking at her.

She laughs, a melodious sound that warms my heart. "Well, I guess we'll have to find out, won't we?"

As we wait for our food to arrive, our conversation continues to flow effortlessly, punctuated by teasing remarks and shared laughter. We talk about our favorite guilty pleasure foods, debating whether dessert before dinner is ever a good idea (she argues yes, I argue no), and swapping stories of embarrassing moments that still make us laugh. Later on, our conversation took on deeper topics related to Philosophy and the like. 

The thing I love most about (Y/n) is that she's not dull to talk with. Her sharp wit and intellect allow many topics for conversation. She can quote centuries-old poems and words and tell me the names of philosophers long since passed. Satre, Machiavelli, Niche, and Descartes should all be honored that their names are pronounced perfectly by her luscious lips. 

Not only is she smart but she is also funny. She called Homer, Plato, and Aristotle as the "Three Daddies of Ancient Philosophy." I laughed too loud at the comment and nearly spat out my drink. I could not nearly feel enough shame for my lack of composure which my queen found much amusement from. Perhaps I admire the twinkle in her eyes when she knows that she's right. 

When our appetizers finally arrive, I make a show of feeding her a bite of prosciutto-wrapped melon, my fingers lingering against her lips for a moment longer than necessary. She playfully nips at my fingers, her eyes dancing with amusement.

"You're going to spoil your appetite," she chides with a smirk. Her voice was like velvet, soft yet dangerously sensual. It enticed me to no end. 

"Who says I'm not already hungry for something else?" I retort, leaning closer to whisper in her ear. I enjoyed the warmth of her skin radiating from her body. I breathed in the delicate scent of her perfume that ensnares me in an inescapable enchantment. 

She swats at my arm playfully. "Behave yourself, Dimitri, or else I might just discipline you." Her hand glided along my platinum hair and I leaned into the touch like a moth to the flame. 

I grin, enjoying the way she responds to my teasing. "I am behaving," I assure her, but the mischief in my eyes says otherwise.

Throughout the meal, we continue to tease and flirt, our connection deepening with each playful exchange. By the time dessert—a sinfully rich chocolate mousse—arrives, we're leaning close, sharing spoonfuls and laughing like old friends.

"It's official. I can already hear everyone at school calling me a sugar baby. My reputation is ruined." 

"You are not a sugar baby, you are a queen being lavished with the spoils of war won by your loyal knight," I replied, trying to appease her heart. She quirked a brow, amusement lingering from her red-painted lips that I've been longing to kiss. 

"And what wars are you fighting to earn your treasure, my loyal knight?"

"The war between life and death, my darling. I deal with lives and each life has a price." I twirled the knife between my fingers, doing some pretty tricks I learned from the boredom during my missions. My audience didn't look too impressed. "Some lives are more valuable than others. Yours by far is the most priceless and the only one I would die to protect."

I didn't fail to notice the way her eyes narrowed with understanding. I grinned. Always so sharp my queen. 

"I see that you've spoken with my grandmother... About that."

"To some extent, yes."

"Don't," she began her tone sharp and commanding, leaving too little room for negotiations. "Involve yourself with things you shouldn't. If you want me, then focus only on me. Don't let their eyes fall on you too."

"If you gaze into the Abyss, the Abyss gazes back." Her eyes held warning and a secret waiting for me to unravel. It seems that my queen isn't as uninvolved as initially thought. 

"Frederick Niche," I replied, the promise of danger made my skin tingle with excitement. "But my darling, I am the Abyss." 

The topic of our conversation changed after that and I didn't push (Y/n) for details. I can find that out later. 

Our meal ended on a happy note as if our little conversation didn't happen earlier. It lingered in my mind but I didn't let it interfere with our special day. 

As we prepare to leave, I insist on settling the bill, wanting to extend this moment of intimacy and care.