chapter fourteen

chapter fourteen
JASMINE'S POV

After the conversation with Liam, I had simply needed to surround myself that lifted my spirits. Since I had no friends here as of yet -unless you wanted to consider Liam- and the man I was to wed was totally out of the picture,  the next step was to find something, nature, anything to make myself feel better.

But I had not expected Damien to be right behind me while I got lost speaking to one if the horses. Although I did my best to hide my mortification well enough.

But when he offered to take me for a ride, mortification quickly turned to humility, because I genuinely did not know how to ride a horse, and nothing would make me happier.

"the key is to a successful riding experience is to make the horse comfortable with you. That shouldn't be too much work for you, as Gracie seems like she's found her person."

I turned to look at the horse who was watching me with trusting eyes and smiled.

"well, that's nice and all, but I still doubt I'll be able to go too far on her back. I haven’t the faintest where to actually begin."

"you won't be riding alone." he waked toward us, and reached out to run a hand over Gracie's nuzzle and I found myself breathing him. He smelled like he'd just had his bathe and smelled really good.

"jasmine?" he questioned, and I jumped.

"what? What?"

"I asked if you'd like to pet her?"

"to pet her. Oh. Yeah, of course. Would she be okay with that?"

He smiled and reached inside his pocket for a carrot. I wasn't sure what the fact that he carried a carrot around in his pocket really said about him, but I don't think it was all bad.

I took the carrot he handed me, and placed it in front of Gracie. She first looked into my eyes, as though seeking permission, or perhaps she was registering the features of the one who fed her. Maybe both. Then she began munching into the carrot, until it was all gone.

"good!" Damien announced when she was done eaten, "now we've created a bond, let's get started. He unlocked her door, and guided her out of her stall.

"be a darling and go into the store room, you'll find a saddle. Just one would do. We'll be outside."

I didn’t know how to take the fact that he was giving me orders, but he was walking out of the stables, with Gracie at his side, faster than I could process what was happening, so I simply went with it. I got out the saddle, and met the outside.

"I can feel her excitement." Damien said, when he took the saddle form me, gently placed it on Gracie, "she hasn't been ridden since her childbirth. So she's happy."

"she also looks at you lovingly ." I said and stroked her tail, "she doesn’t want to let you down."

"horse whisperer?" he asked, watching me. I smiled and shook my head.

"maybe a little bit." and he just barked out a laugh, before reaching for me, "come on then, let me help you up. "

I did as he asked, and was on a horse's back for the first time in my life. Then he joined me , moments later.

"let's go, girl." he said, and tugged at Gracie's reins. Surprise took me and had me jolting backwards, into Damien's chest.

"easy there." he whispered into my ear, and quickly sat up straight.

"wh-where will we go?"

"I've noticed you have a wanderer's eye. Which tells me you're one for absorbing the beauty of creation. I know a spot. One you are most definitely going to love."

The side of lip tilted upward and I nodded, "let's have it, then."

It was beautiful, and magical. And it was a waterfall. The most majestic one I had ever seen.

"oh, oh, Damien!" I cried, when he brought Gracie to a halt.

"like it?" he asked as he came down.

"love it!" I squealed, while he helped me come down as well.

I took in the place while he led Gracie to a river to drink, and I swear I felt my heart expand. I didn't think such beauty truly existed. But then again, until recently, I was a house plant, and only ever occupied my time with my patient's, my parents, and my bed.

This… this was way out of my horizon.

"you seem struck with wonder." Damien said when he stood beside me, and I turned to face him.

"that's probably because , I am. This place is beautiful. Nearly even magical."

"nearly? Why nearly? it's allowed to be magical."

I sighed, "thank you… for bringing me here."

"you're welcome." he said, and looked like he was wrestling with getting something out, "and perhaps you can consider this my apology?"

"apology?" I asked, and he nodded.

"It should have been me who followed you today, not Liam."

"oh Damien, never mind that."

"now, but I should mind. You're my  luna. I don't know what the goddess had in mind by giving you another mate in this lifetime, but I know it's not to mess with your head like the other guy did."

"more like my heart. And he had his reasons."

"whatever his reason was, he was a fool to let such a magical lass as yourself go."

That caught me off guard. Safe to say, that I didn't see Damien as hopeless romantic, but he was definitely doing thing to my heart right then.

"thank you, Damien."

"I promise to try. To not make this whole marriage thing a burdensome ordeal for you."

"it's not a burdensome ordeal, right now." I said, and took his hand in mine. I wondered about my impulsive act when he looked down at our linked hands. But he didn't pull away. That was something.

"I promise to try." he said again, and I nodded slowly.

"this was a damn good first way to begin." I said and sighed with content.