17 Chapter 16. The So Not Shotgun.

The next day, the temperature of the city dropped considerably due to the overnight snowfall and Vanessa was thoroughly ready to start the morning late since it was Saturday.

The sleepy flower felt her warm blanket swish up in the morning chill, before the warmth settled over her again that Vanessa couldn't help but lean back unconsciously.

Warmth nipped at her skin as she felt softness bury its way in her neck and Vanessa couldn't help the moan of delight that escaped her lips.

\"Così adorabile.\"

Teeth nipped at her ear and Vanessa's eyelaahes fluttered as shuffled under the warm covers in disbelief.

Am I dreaming of Nathan?

A chuckle resonated near her ear.

\"Good morning, mon amour.\"

Vanessa gasped in surprise and almost immediately, her hand flew up to touch the so called warm covers and met the jaws all too familiar.

This is not a dream.

\"Now, why do you think this would be a dream? Didn't you just feel me? Right here.\"

His lips touched the palm of the hand that rested on his cheek and she immediately turned around to face her fianceè. The said man looked devilishly handsome in V-neck sweater as he loomed over her with his gaze burnig deep into her blue eyes as he supported his head on one hand while the other hand wounded around her waist.

\"Nathan.\"

\"How do you do, my love?\"

His lips tilted up in a smile as Vanessa raised her hand to carefully touch his cheek in an attempt to check if he was real. The moment she was sure he'd not disappear, she pounced.

Nathaniel chuckled as her tiny face buried in his neck and her little hands clawed at his arms as she tried to draw him closer, which he happily obliged.

\"Ma petite fleur précieuse.\"

Her blue eyes raised to meet his in disbelief.

\"You are doing it again.\"

\"I apologize, mon amour.\"

Vanessa sighed.

Why did she even try?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

\"My, Isn't this a sight and might I say, a wonderfully delightful sight, without my darling daughter's favourite blanket in sight.\"

Sera smiled at her daughter with a pointed smile, which earned her a scowl.

\"And, without messy hairs and dribbled drools too.\"

\"Mom!\"

Sera chuckled at the sight of dismay on her daughter's face and turned to look at her daughter's fianceè. Nathaniel Black had always been nore than a name on business card. He was a brand. A Hot brand. And might she say, a good one too. Especially for her daughter.

\"And Morning, Nathaniel. Might I say it is a good one too, since you got Vanessa out of bed before 10 on a Saturday Morning.\"

Vanessa's cheeks turned even more embarrassingly red as Nathaniel chuckled.

\"Good morning to you too, Aunt Sera.\"

Her mother smiled like a mad woman and Vanessa froze.

Oh dear lord.

Fudging heck.

Vanessa choked and barely managed to cover the scream in, with forced coughing sounds. Nathaniel's brows tightened as he patted her back in an attempt to soothe her.

\"You ok?\"

His warm voice fanned her with affection and her blue eyes settled on him with equal warmth. A low hum of reassurance escaped her throat and her cheeks unconsciously flushed red at how meek her voice sounded.

Nathaniel smoothed her hairs gently while Sera took that as a cue to wave away the petals of love around them and cleared her throat. Loudly.

\"Nathaniel dear, come sit.\" Sera patted the table as an invitation of the happy family breakfast. \"Vinni's father is making his special pancakes today.\"

\"Did you call for me, darling?\"

Her father's head poked out from behind the kitchen door, before his eyes caught the sight of her daughter and widened.

\"Oh. Vinni baby, where is your blanket?\"

Not again.

Vanessa pouted unhappily at her father's words and Nathaniel chuckled at the sight of the adorably red inflated cheeks and pick that as a cue.

\"Actually since it's weekend I thought me and Vanessa could spend it together at my lodge. So, I'd like your permission...\"

\"Oh dear. There is no need for that, afterall she is all yours.\" And just to add a force to her point, Sera winked at Nathaniel. Like, actually cheekily winked at him meaningfully and Vanessa's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

Nathaniel laughed.

\"I'll keep that in mind for the next time.\"

Vanessa was sure by now that she was making a world record of blushing the most.

\"Are you sure you don't want to have my special pancakes?\"

Her father leaned against the door of the kitchen, the white and pink striped apron tied around his waist stained as he stirred the batter in the glass bowl.

\"No. It's alright. We'll have something on the way to the lodge. Sorry, Uncle George.\"

Nathaniel declined politely and George shook his head in dismay at their so called loss, his hands never one stopping.

\"You'd be missing out my special juice too.\"

\"Dad. I am sure, we'll live.\"

Vanessa rolled her eyes as at her father and urged Nathaniel towards the door of the living room.

George harrumphed in annoyance like he couldn't believe that and walked back into the kitchen.

\"Bye Mama.\"

Vanessa leaned over Nathaniel's shoulder to wave at her mother and Sera smiled as she waved back.

\"Bye, baby. Have fun. And as we have talked,\" The smile turned mischievous at the edge. \"No shotgun wedd-.\"

The door slammed shut.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vanessa watched Nathaniel roll the Touristar-suitcase down the pavement of her house and towards his car, his V-neck completely hidden underneath the black trench coat and the grey and black muffler hanging from the scruff of his neck.

She had yet to close the final zip of the bag, she had packed for the little vacation, when Nathaniel decided that first and foremost priority was to take her parents' permission.

And....God?

Do all parents love to embarrass their children like that?

...

Vanessa walked down the steps of the house, and stalked the clear pavement, from where the snow had been cleared and smoothed down their garden.

The green trees were now blanketed by the snow, and even her mom's fruit garden was buried under.

The clear staccato of her boots, caused him to look behind him and he smiled at her before closing the trunk of his black sports car.

\"Excited?\"

Vanessa nodded giddily and Nathaniel cupped her cheek affectionately.

\"And, are you warm enough?\"

Vanessa glanced down at the cherry red overcoat that she had pulled over her wooly white dress. The white wool stockings covered her legs and ended into her cherry coloured boots.

The bordered cherry, white scarf snuggled around her neck matched her wooly cap that rested on the top of her hairs.

\"Do you want to check?\"

Vanessa tilted her head playfully and he chuckled as he opened the door for her.

\"Sit.\"

Her eyebrow raised suggestively.

\"Are you sure?\"

His eyes darkened in warning.

\"Vanessa.\"

She giggled as she climbed inside the car, letting him close the door behind her and watched him as he jogged around the car and settled himself on the driver's seat.

\"Seat belt.\"

He cautioned and Vanessa leaned back against the seat and fluttered her lashes at him.

\"Please?\"

Nathaniel loomed over her head and pulled at the seat belt, before tucking it in the place, the brown and blue clashing midway like sand and sea.

\"Vinni. You need to stop.\"

His deep voice sounded hoarse. He was holding back. He was holding back for her. Vanessa smiled, the blue in her eyes shimmering like sunkissed ocean and, he held his breath.

Beautiful.

He gnashed his teeth and waited for her to stop him.

She didn't.

And, he kissed her.

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