First Trip

Bucharest, Romania. Three hundred years later

This was the first trip for Dahlia Vilhem and Mathew Corvinus since their engagement four months earlier. A love story full of twists and turns, which led to the blessing of Mathew's father, finally brought them to a more serious level of relationship. This time they decided to vacation in Romania, Dahlia's birthplace. Although Dahlia's parents died in a car accident ten years ago, Dahlia still visits their graves in Bucharest every year. Fortunately, this year Dahlia was able to visit with her beloved fiancé.

Dahlia placed a few white roses—her late mother's favorite flower—on the grave. The beautiful woman with golden brown eyes and dark hair pulled back in a ponytail prayed for her late parents. She knelt between her father's and mother's graves, clasping her own hands to her chest.

From the other side of the street, Mathew walked up to Dahlia and stopped right next to the woman who was sitting on her knees. "Darling, is your prayer ritual complete?"

Dahlia shook her head and looked at Mathew with a smile, then nodded. "I have."

Mathew reached out to help Dahlia to her feet. Mathew's brown hair looked lighter in the morning sun. His hazel eyes looked the same color as the t-shirt he was wearing. The sweet smile on his lips made Mathew look absolutely stunning. For God's sake, Dahlia adores her fiancé.

Mathew wrapped an arm around Dahlia's waist after she stood up. They walked hand in hand out of the cemetery to the black sports car they had rented from a well-known travel agency in town. A few minutes later, the car Mathew was driving was already on the highway.

"Honey, where are we going today?" Mathew asked on the way.

"According to our plan from yesterday. Today we are going to visit Aunt Evelyn in Parczana because tomorrow we have to go back to Summerdale."

"Okay. Then I didn't make a wrong turn." Mathew gently stroked Dahlia's cheek.

"Honey, you're driving. Concentrate on the road ahead."

"You're the one who always has me out of focus, baby." Mathew put his hands back on the wheel.

"Are you flirting with me?"

"That's the truth." Mathew smiled proudly.

After nearly five hours of driving, they finally arrived in Parczana, a picturesque village in the valley of the Piatra Craiului Mountains and still part of Brasov County. The village has an unspoiled atmosphere, far from being surrounded by skyscrapers, and the houses are built in a traditional way.

Arriving at the courtyard of a simple house with dark brown wooden walls, Dahlia immediately got out of the car. She did a little jogging toward the front porch of the house. Dahlia couldn't wait to surprise her aunt. She knocked twice on the door and waited silently.

A few seconds later, a middle-aged woman opened the door. A look of happiness came into her eyes as she found Dahlia. "Dahlia!"

"Auntie, how are you?" Dahlia gave Evelyn a quick hug.

"You're so beautiful, dear," Evelyn said after Dahlia broke the hug. Then she looked at her niece from head to toe. The niece looks simply stunning in a tight pink t-shirt and blue jeans. Evelyn smiled happily.

"Perfect," Evelyn said.

"You praise me too much, Auntie. I've always been like this." Dahlia smiled.

For a few moments an atmosphere of happiness surrounded them. Unfortunately, the atmosphere of family warmth had to be interrupted by Mathew, who was still staring at them from behind Dahlia. Evelyn's eyes were locked onto Mathew.

"Who is he, Dahlia?" Evelyn asked.

Dahlia took Mathew's hand. "Come here, baby!"

Mathew took a few steps forward to stand next to Dahlia. As his greenish eyes analyzed Evelyn's face, the 8.1-foot-tall man suddenly froze.

Evelyn felt an overwhelming shock. She sensed a strange aura from the man. As Evelyn gathered information from her brain about the strangeness of her feelings, the woman's sense of insecurity was even more acute. She had to leave immediately, she thought.

"Dahlia, I'm sorry I has to leave right now. There's some farm business that can't be left behind, and I can't invite you. You'd better go back to Bucharest. Now!" Evelyn's tone shocked Dahlia. Within seconds, her aunt's attitude changed drastically. Dahlia gasped in astonishment. Her aunt had indirectly sent her away. "Wh-what, Auntie?"

"Yes. I'm sorry I have some business to attend to and must leave immediately." Evelyn left Dahlia and Mathew. She walked to her truck. Without further ado, she drove the truck to the west.

"Just like that, huh?" Dahlia said sadly. Dahlia couldn't believe that meeting her aunt had to end so quickly. She had come all the way from Summerdale to Romania, not only to visit her parents' grave, but also to visit her father's sister, Evelyn Vilhem. It seemed, however, that Evelyn did not want her to come and visit. Mathew put his arm around Dahlia's shoulders. He was sorry for what had happened to his fiancée. Then he held Dahlia close to him. "It's okay. Maybe your aunt is busy. Let's come back sometime."

"I can't believe she kicked me out, Mathew." Dahlia's voice was filled with disappointment.

"Let's go somewhere else. Don't be sad. Think positive."

Dahlia pulled her face away from Matthew's broad chest, then looked up at the handsome man. "Okay. Let's just have fun today. Where are you taking me?"

"We will enjoy the atmosphere of this wonderful village. If your aunt refuses us, I'm sure there are others who will accept us. Especially the restaurant owner." Mathew smiled.

Dahlia chuckled. "Just tell me you're hungry."

"I am hungry, darling." Mathew wrapped his arms around Dahlia's slim body again. A gentle peck landed on her forehead.

For a moment, Dahlia and Mathew forgot Evelyn's blatant rejection of them. They spent their last day in Romania wandering around the cool and beautiful village. The green expanse, the trees, the surrounding cliffs, and the houses that were mostly made of wood and traditional European designs made the village look like a fairy tale village.

A day of traveling to the village of Parczana made Dahlia very tired. Upon returning to the suite where they were staying, Dahlia went straight to the bathroom. The sweat and dust clinging to her body made her feel uncomfortable.

"Honey, will you help me rub my back?!" Dahlia's call from the bathroom sounded like an invitation to Mathew, who was still resting on the chaise lounge on the balcony.

Mathew hurried into the bathroom. He slowly lifted the plastic shower curtain. The beautiful view behind the curtain automatically drew all his attention. The water from the shower soaked and flowed all over Dahlia's slender body. Every inch of her body was an invitation for Mathew's pleasure.

"Honey, please rub my back!" Dahlia's seductive smile made Mathew's heart beat twice as fast as normal.

Mathew picked up the bath sponge hanging on the side of the shower faucet and began rubbing the soft sponge on his fiancée's back. He moved the sponge up and down in a rhythmic motion. The pounding in his chest intensified as Dahlia turned the faucet further and more water fell from the showerhead, drenching both of their bodies. A rush of excitement began to seep into Mathew's every nerve. The waves of his desire grew higher and stronger. Every inch of Dahlia's body pulled him into a promising coil of pleasure.

"You are naughty. Just tell me if you want us to shower together." Mathew grabbed her body from behind and kissed her cheek.

"Oh, you're just insensitive." Dahlia smiled.

Mathew turned Dahlia over and kissed her passionately. "Are you sure you want to do it here?" Mathew asked on Dahlia's lips.

Dahlia nodded. A moment later she warned Mathew. "Don't forget the glove. No glove, no love. I don't want to get pregnant before we get married."

"You're a brat, honey!" Mathew rubbed his forehead against Dahlia's. "It's good you're pregnant. No more excuses for you to delay our wedding," Mathew added.

"Sssstt! Shut up!" Dahlia pressed her forefinger to Mathew's lips.

Mathew removed Dahlia's forefinger from his sexy lips and silenced Dahlia's mouth with a hot kiss. Mathew's lips explored every part of Dahlia's lips. His tongue gently brushed the tip of Dahlia's tongue and then pushed it, swirling and then dancing in Dahlia's mouth.

Dahlia wrapped her arms around Mathew's neck. A rush of pleasure ran through the woman's body as her lips returned to Mathew's. The mad rush of desire did not care where they made love. Mathew took off his black polo shirt while Dahlia helped him to unbutton his jeans. Overcome by passion, they both forgot about foreplay and even the condom Mathew was supposed to use. The sound of gurgling water could not mask the sighs and moans of the two as Mathew penetrated. Dahlia welcomed Mathew openly. She enjoyed every move that Mathew made. They continued to give and receive each other until they finally climaxed. The battle of passion eventually made its way to the bed until they both relaxed and fell into a deep sleep.

Teeet... teeet...! The sound of the bell deafened Dahlia. She woke up to find that Mathew was no longer lying next to her.

"Honey, where are you? Did you forget to put a warning on the door? This hotel clerk is just annoying." Dahlia rubbed her face, then stood up and got out of bed. For a few moments, Dahlia did not hear Mathew's answer.

"Honey, where are you? I'm not dressed yet. Please open the door!" pleaded Dahlia.

The sound of the bell was still disturbing. With a grumpy heart, Dahlia was forced to put on her pajamas. The woman was furious at the hotel clerk for disturbing her sleep. With lazy steps, Dahlia opened the door.

"There's a—" Dahlia widened her eyes. Her heart was about to burst at the sight of Mathew standing before her. Dahlia barely blinked at her fiancé. A moment later she looked around the room. "Mathew... how could you...?"

Dahlia's confused reaction made Mathew wonder. "Honey, what's wrong with you, why are you taking so long to open the door? Are you sleeping?"

"Mat, didn't we make love earlier? Where were you?"

Mathew smiled. Trying to understand Dahlia's confusion, he cupped her beautiful face with both hands. "My beautiful lover, I told you I was going to meet a friend who is also vacationing here. I invited you earlier, but you didn't respond. So I decided to meet him alone. You forgot, didn't you?"

"When did you ask me?" Dahlia was still trying to remember everything "When you were in the shower."

Dahlia frowned. She was completely taken aback by Mathew's confession. "You left while I was showering?"

"Yes. I even yelled at you because you didn't say anything when I left." Mathew then took Dahlia's hand and led her to her suite. "I forgot my keys, so I had to wake you up, honey. I'm sorry," Mathew added.

"But I'm sure you were here with me," Dahlia pointed out.

"Honey, maybe you're too tired after walking all day." Mathew stopped and took Dahlia in his arms.

"Mat, are you sure you left and weren't here with me?" Dahlia still asked the same question.

"Honey, you look very tired. You should rest. Go back to sleep. I love you." Mathew loosened the embrace and kissed Dahlia's lips tenderly.

Dahlia was silent. She still couldn't believe that what had happened wasn't real.

"Was I just dreaming? If so, why does it feel so real?" Dahlia asked herself.