"It is pretty isn't it," Audi mused, booping the little girl on the nose and giggling. "Just like you!"
Her smile melted into something soft and genuine as she looked to Max. "Thank you for loving it like I do. Are you ready to start?" She set the book in her lap and flipped to the first page. It held an artfully drawn picture of a castle on a hill.
Royal x Commoner (closed)
Ria's cheeks flushed and she giggled, hiding her face with a smile as she leaned back against her brother and watched happily as Audi turned the first page.
"Read away, your highness," Max said, his voice both gentle but full of excitement. He looped an arm around Audi's shoulders once again like last time and pulled her to his side, telling himself that it was because he wanted to see the pictures better. With Ria on his lap and Audi next to him he felt surprisingly calm and happy, something that wasn't very common when he was working.
Audi's cheeks streaked with pink as he pulled her closer, and she nestled comfortably into his side. With the clear sky, cool shade, and the cute boy beside her, she felt more at peace than she had since the last time she read to him. With a quick grin at Max, and a wink to Ria, she began. Weaving the story as beautifully as the last time, her soothing tone even calmed herself, and she felt everything click into place. This was where she was supposed to be. With Max and Ria, feeling more happy than she ever did without them.
Both Ria and Max settled in quickly, listening to the story and picturing it in their minds. Her voice still sounded musical to Max and he listened intently, not wanting to miss a single word she said. He had no clue how he had fallen for her so fast but he was still hesitant to do anything crazy incase she didn't feel the same way. Ria was so comfortable that soon she had closed her eyes and pulled her brothers other arm over herself as she listened and tried not to fall asleep.
She finally finished, voice raspy and heart full. The sun was just starting to set, and she was tucked cozily against Max’s side, feeling every beat of his heart. She closed the book and set it aside. Her gaze went to Ria, and a sweet smile crossed her lips as she admired the sleepy girl. Then she looked to Max. His eyes seemed to be captivating, drawing her in, holding her close. Heart pounding like crazy, she slowly leaned in until they were pretty much nose-to-nose, giving him every chance to pull away if he wanted to.
Ria hummed quietly and fell asleep as the book ended, leaving the two of them alone in a way. Max's cheeks slowly grew more red as he met her eyes, very aware of her leaning towards him and his doing the same. His heart felt like it was racing as he continued leaning in, aware that this could screw everything up as he brought his lips barely a few centimeters away from hers. He could only hope she wouldn't pull away as he squeezed her shoulder and gently brushed her lips against hers, his eyes closed as he waited to see her reaction.
She kissed him back, her own eyes closing too. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him even closer as she deepened the kiss. Oh god how long had she waited to do this. She had known from the moment she met him that he was something different, and getting to know him the last few weeks had proved that. She truly believed that she was meant to have stumbled across his shop that day. They were supposed to have met. It was destiny. And now she was finally kissing him and, oh god she didn’t want to stop.
He released a breath he didn't know he was holding as she returned the kiss, a tiny smile on his face at the fact that she had kissed him back. Audi. Had. Kissed. Him. Back. All he wanted to do was wrap his arms around her and continue kissing her. Her lips were so soft, that was one of his only thoughts going through his mind as he moved his hand from her shoulder and moved it to cup the back of her neck
She felt him smile and grinned back against his lips. She finally felt like she was living, and it was all because of him. Because of this boy she couldn’t get off her mind. He made her feel alive in such a way she hadn’t ever felt before.
She pulled away for air and leaned her forehead against his, breathing heavily, cheeks flushed, and grinning like crazy. “We should probably be getting back,” she mumbled, wanting him to refuse, wanting him to kiss her again. But they really did need to get Ria back.
Max rested his forehead against hers and sighed, not wanting to leave after that magical kiss. "I can go drop her off and then come back," He suggested softly, knowing his cheeks were bright red as well. He was still smiling too and all he wanted to do was scoop her up in his arms and kiss her.
Audi glanced over at Ria, and then towards the castle in the distance. The sun seemed to be setting faster now as it always does when it nears the horizon. “I really wish we could,” she whispered. “But I need to get back too. I’m not allowed out past dark, and I’ve broken the rules enough to know that I’d rather not face another punishment. I’m sorry.” She met his eyes, and the bright red of his cheeks and the smile on his lips made her grin as well. She leaned in and gave him a quick kiss (she could do that now! Just kiss him whenever she wanted!) before regretfully standing up. She picked up the book and held it to her chest, turning to face him. “I’ll walk you back?”
Max let his arm slip from around her and he nodded, standing up and laying his sister's head on his shoulder as he carried her. He seemed almost reluctant to leave as he started back through the vine curtain, waiting for Audi to walk beside him as he tried to remember the path back. "So, what do you do every day in your free time?" He asked, honestly curious.
Audi followed him, slipping through the veil and stepping back onto the path. "Oh! Well love to read, but obviously you already know that. Um, I love horseback riding, I have my own horse, her name's Tessa, and me and my siblings go riding all the time. We like to practice sword fighting on horseback as well, not because we need to, just because it's fun and it looks cool. I love singing too, and music. What about you?" She started down the path towards his home.
"Work takes up most of my time," He said, laughing softly and looking over at her, "But I like to create stuff in my free time, building little pointless things, painting them with Ria." He tried to think of things he did in his free time, a common theme shining through, "Mostly I just spend time with Ria and sometimes Liam. Goof around, try to have a little fun before all three of us grow up."
"I love how much you love her," Audi said softly, looking over to the sleeping girl. "Family's very important, and no matter how much you argue or fight, at the end of the day you're there for each other." At least, that's how it's supposed to be. Her mother was a special case, but she would try to make her understand. She had to. "Do you think maybe, you could teach me?" Her eyes went to Max, bright and excited. "You're metalworking I mean. I'd love to learn how you make such incredible things." Regretfully she turned onto the path that lead to the line of metalworker houses.
He was a little surprised when she asked him to teach her but quickly nodded, a smile shining on his face once again, "Sure, I mean, it's tough work and can take a few tries, but I can teach you." When he saw his house in the line he bit the inside of his lip, slowing down a fraction as they walked. Max didn't want to have to leave Audi again, especially after finally kissing her.
“Thank you.” They got to his house all too quickly, and she stopped at the door. “And thank you for going on this small adventure with me today,” she teased. “I had a lovely time and I’m looking forward to doing it again sometime.” Then a thought crossed her mind. “Ugh, I just remembered we won’t be able to do this again soon. My birthday is in like a week and a half, and unfortunately we always have to have huge parties for our birthdays, which means I’m going to be so busy with that all week.” She looked up at him apologetically. “I’m so sorry. But I’ll see you at the party right? You can be my date.” Her lips curled into a smirk.
"No problem, I love going on adventures with you," He replied, his mind immediately going back to what to get her for her birthday. His cheeks flushed and he nodded, smiling at the invitation, "I'll definitely see you at the party, and I'd love to be your date, if your parents will allow it." Max shifted on his feet and continued smiling, placing a light kiss on Audi's cheek as he wished that he didn't have to go back inside.
“It’s my party I get to invite who I want,” Audi declared. “And if I say I want you as my date, they have to say yes. They’ll already have all their fancy friends there, so at the very least I get to have my boyfriend there.” It wasn’t until after she finished talking that she realized what she said. And when she did, she immediately wished she could suck her words back in. Her cheeks flushed and she held her breath, waiting for his response.
His cheeks became even more bright red and he bit his lip, a small smirk appearing on his face. "So…uh, am I officially your boyfriend?" He asked, still smirking as he went over her words in his head. Max would happily call her his girlfriend, it was just a matter of if she wanted to be his girlfriend.
“I…,” she hesitated, before smiling nervously. “Do you want to be?” He was smirking for once, and god damm was her heart beating so fast. “Because I really really want you to.” She met his eyes, cheeks flushed, heart pounding. Please, please, say yes.
"I would love to be, with one stipulation though," He said, still meeting her eyes and trying to not have leave Audi "You'd have to agree to be my girlfriend." Max knew that everything he was saying wasn't thought through at all and he was rewording his thoughts slightly as they came straight from his mind. Good lord though, Audi's blush and nervous smile were enough that he probably would listen to anything she told him to do without complaint.
A grin spread across her face. Without thinking she pushed onto her toes and kissed him. When she pulled away, she told him, “I would love nothing more.” Her eyes flicked to the sky above, which was quickly turning into a watercolor of reds and oranges. “Ugh, I have to get back or Mom’s gonna kill me. I’ll see you at the party?”
He smiled again when she kissed him, reluctantly pulling away and nodding, "See you then. One thing though..any specific color I should keep in mind?" Max didn't know where he was going to find a suit for the party, but he would find get one somewhere. With Ria in his arms it was quite hard, but he stepped close one more time and pulled Audi into a small hug.
“Well my outfit is green, black, and gold. But there isn’t a theme so you can wear whatever you want,” Audi told him. “I’ll send a seamstress down tomorrow to take your measurements for a suit if you want. You can tell them exactly what colors and stuff you want.” She grinned when he pulled her into a hug, wrapping her arms around him as well. She closed her eyes, taking in the calm of the moment that she wasn’t going to feel again for a long time.
Max nodded, squeezing her close for a moment before pulling away before he was tempted to ask her to stay longer, knowing she would be in trouble. "See you at the party Audi," He said gently, kissing her forehead and smiling again, "I hope your mother isn't mad that you were out a little late."
“Nah, I’ll sneak back, it’ll be fine,” she assured him. “I’ve done it before, she’ll never know I was out late!” She kissed him again, before smiling softly at the sleeping girl and booping her on the nose. “See you at the party!” With that, she was gone, running down the path and out of sight.
(Wanna reply once more or do you wanna skip to the party?)
(Imma reply once more then TO THE PARTY AND DRAMAAAA)
Max smiled and watched as Audi dashed off, waiting until she was out of sight to finally turn and head into the house. He probably looked overjoyed for no reason to his brother and father as he walked to Ria's bed and laid her down, tucking her in and pressing a light kiss to her forehead before going over to his and sitting down on the edge of it. All of his thoughts were on Audi, from the kisses they shared to the upcoming party and even what he was going to give her. He sighed and his smile grew though as he got ready for bed, changing into softer pants after tugging off his work shirt and shoes and pulling his blanket over himself.
(TO THE PARTY AND DRAMAAAAAAAA! :))