******

Amara took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Perfecting her posture, she calmed her mind just as the soft tune of a piano filled the room. She let the music flow through her body as she danced, twirling gracefully on her feet.

A smile crossed Amara's face and she became lost in her world, performing a series of jeté, balançoires and pirouettes masterfully, unaware of the dark eyes locked on her frame.

But she was jolted out of her tranquillity at the sound of a soft clapping when the music ended.

She turned around at once.

"Valerio!", Amara exclaimed, surprised. "What are y-you doing here? How long have you been watching?", she asked, a dark blush spreading across her cheeks rapidly.

Valerio shrugged, a playful smile on his face as he leaned against the wall. ''Long enough", he answered nonchalantly.

"I...I didn't realise you were there. You should have said something", Amara stuttered.

"Then how would I have been able to watch you dance?", Valerio asked rhetorically. "You looked very graceful and calm. It was like watching a little dove flying....."

Amara's eyes widened slightly and she ducked her head, embarrassed.

"Here I thought that I was going to surprise you", Valerio began as he came to stand before her, raising her head higher with one finger, "I didn't know that I was going to be in for a double treat tonight."

Amara's eyes met his darker ones.

"Surprise?",she questioned, puzzled.

Valerio nodded.

"Come", he ordered, his palm enclosing around her wrist as he led her to the cushioned seat at the corner of the room, pushing her down on the sofa seat gently.

She gazed at him with wide eyed confusion when instead of taking the adjacent seat, he knelt down before her. ''What are you doing?"

Valerio smirked, reaching for her foot. She jumped slightly but he held the limb gently as he began untying her satin pointe shoes.

"Val", Amara protested. "Don't! Let me do it."

"I want to help you", he stated firmly.

"But—", Amara began.

"Rilassati piccola", Valerio murmured.

Despite his order to relax, Amara sat completely still, trembling whenever his fingertips would touch her as he worked the ribbons open.

"I forgot to ask but did you receive the chocolates that I sent with the Valentini guard today morning?", he asked her conversationaly.

Amara flushed slightly. "Yes", she murmured. "Thank you, they were delicious."

Valerio shot her a quick smile at her response.

Amara couldn't help but think how much more handsome he looked when he smiled. "He should smile more often", she mused internally.

"Amara?"

"Huh? Yes!",she squeaked, snapping out of her thoughts.

"I called you twice before... Are you not well? The doctors incharge told me that you were completely fine now....", Valerio frowned. "I will make them perform surgeries on their own bodies if they are messing around with your health", he spat harshly.

"I am completely fine", she hurriedly reassured him.

"That's what you said the last time when you were speaking to Don Romero",Valerio replied back coolly. "And yet you fell terribly ill on the same night."

Amara's cheeks warmed. Contrary to what she had proclaimed to Nonno, Amara had not completely recovered from the pepper incident in a single day.

Her allergy was just too sensitive for such a fast recovery. But now three whole days later Amara could surely say that she was in complete good health.

"I'm not lying", Amara told him, her lips turning down slightly.

Valerio quickly took her hand in his, pressing a light kiss on her palm."I didn't imply that you were", he stated, "I simply resent it when you are in any kind of discomfort. It's not acceptable to me."

Amara smiled slightly. "I am alright now. I'll be joining the fest back from tomorrow. Aunt Claire told me that I could", she told him excitedly. "I hope I haven't missed much."

"Nothing important", Valerio reassured her, going for the other shoe and removing it much faster than the previous one. "There are quite a few important events left, speaking of which, do you plan to participate in the dance show?"

"I don't know....", Amara replied, biting her lip nervously. Something in his tone had put her on edge. "There will be selectors present from the top Arts universities from all over the world for the fest. It might be a big opportunity...."

"Amara", Valerio interjected, his tone hard. "There are no solo dance events this year. The committee members insisted on only duet performances."

"Ohh", she murmured.

Amara had not known that. But it made sense. There were many different events that were scheduled to happen and the time, very limited.

"I'm not going to lie to you", Valerio started, his eyes fixed unwaveringly on her. "Even the idea of you performing with another boy is not acceptable to me", he stated in a hard tone. "I want you to give me an honest answer now. Do you plan to participate? If you do then I will get the organisers to arrange for a solo ballet event."

Amara blinked at him in surprise. "And what if I do choose to take part in the duet?".The question slipped past her lips automatically.

Valerio's eyes flashed with lethal intent, a chilling smile crossing his face. "Then I will break every bone in that boy's arms who dares to touch you", he answered coldly.

He let go of her hand, straightening up from his kneeling position and towered over her, his forearms resting on the armrest and his face inches away from hers as he stared at her with sheer possessiveness in his eyes.

"After which I will proceed to convince you why it's not a good idea to instigate me", he breathed, his cool breath hitting her cheeks and making them feel overly sensitive."Sei mia,tesoro."

Amara shivered and looked away from his smoldering gaze. But Valerio wouldn't have her eyes away from his even for a few moments. He cupped her cheek with his palm, turning her head to face him.

"I won't stand aside and watch you with someone else. Not even for a dance. I just can't", he spoke in a dark voice. "I'm not capable of doing it now, Amara, and I will never be capable of it in the future. You need to understand this!"

Amara's eyes flickered up to his dark pools which resembled burning embers.

A few silent moments later, Valerio leaned forward and pressed a hard kiss at the crown of her head, breaking the intense moment.

"Think about it", he insisted. "I promise you that I'll get the solo event arranged. Just say yes and it will be done."

Amara opened her mouth to respond but Valerio cut her off , "No, you don't need to answer now", he told her firmly. "Tell me your answer tomorrow."

Amara nodded her consent. She looked around for a few moments thinking about a distraction. "Why were you and Uncle Patrick late for the dinner?"

She had found it really odd when after the meeting which had been taking place in Uncle Patrick's office, Lorenzo Valentini had walked to the dinner table alone with an amused smile playing on his lips.

"I was on a video conference with your grandfathers. They was setting the rules for me", Valerio replied back, his eyes alight with a wicked humor.

Amara's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Rules? Whatever for?"

Valerio smirked at her. "For our little date, off course."

******

Amara tucked her hair behind her ear, fidgeting slightly with the hem of her dress.

"Val, where are we going?", she asked him for what seemed like the umpteenth time.

Valerio chuckled. "Somewhere",he teased.

Amara pouted, turning away from him. She glanced outside the window, watching as the city lights became fainter and fainter the further they moved.

"How far are we going?", she asked him again. They had been in the car for quite some time now.

Valerio frowned. "A bit further. Another few minutes I think..... The place where we're going is quite away from the main city but it was the most suitable location I had in mind."

"Ohh", Amara murmured softly.

"We've reached", Valerio said when minutes later the car came to a halt.

Amara glanced outside the window. It was quite dark for her make out where they were.

Valerio pulled the partition down. "Conduct another perimeter scan. If you find anyone within a four mile radius, capture them and notify me immediately." His words were sharp and his command brief and impacting.

The Valentini guard on the front seat bowed his head and stepped out of the car quickly.

"I was allowed to bring you here only after the Sullivan guards deemed it safe after scouting this place but we need to remain inside until the Valentini guards make a quick check and take their positions" ,Valerio told her when he saw the puzzled expression on her face.

Amara cleared her throat, slightly uncomfortable. ''Uh... why did you set a four mile radius?"

"This is a Valentini owned land Amara. No one without permission is permitted entry past where the land begins. Anyone who is found can be a potential threat which needs to be dealt with immediately", he replied.

Amara watched as the guards dispersed themselves, but apart from the moving figures of the heavy guard that they had travelled with, she couldn't see anything else.

A few minutes later, one of the Valentini guard knocked on the window, declaring the area safe.

Valerio got down first, shutting the door quickly before she could so much as even blink. He walked around the car and opened the door for her.

As soon as Amara stepped out she was immediately hit with the salty fresh air of the beach. In the distant, she could here the faint sound of the waves crashing against the shore.

Amara's eyes lit up in excitement. "We're at a beach?"

Valerio chuckled. "The main spot is at a two minute walk from here, come with me." He entwined their fingers, leading her to their destination.

The sky was pitch dark, but the lamps placed at regular intervals helped her to walk without stumbling.

Amara gasped when she saw the beautiful set up some distance away.

"Do you like it?", Valerio asked her.

"Wow", she murmured.

Valerio smirked, leading her to the seat.

Amara sat down gingerly, her eyes flickering over the space.

"My grandfather gifted this property to me for my sixteenth birthday", Valerio told her.

"It's a very nice place", Amara murmured softly.

Now that she was sitting here, Amara finally realised that she didn't know what she was supposed to do or say on a date. Her eyes flickered over Valerio's, who was in turn staring right back at her, a small smile playing on his lips.

She was distracted from saying anything when several guards walked towards them, carrying covered trays of what Amara assumed was food.

"We won't be having a proper dinner, don't worry",Valerio told her when he saw the worry on her face.

Amara breathed a sigh of relief when two guards stepped forward and uncovered the trays and boxes, revealing them to be an assortment of different deserts.

"kehren sie jetzt zurück und erinnern Sie sich an meine Anweisungen", Valerio commanded sharply .

"Ja Meister Valerio",the guard replied back stoically, bowing one after another as they left.

"Where did all the guards go?",Amara asked, immediately cringing at how the question must have sounded to him.

"They are around",Valerio replied back, "The Dons wanted a heavy guard around you which I obviously accepted. Your family guards are closest to us at less than half a mile away. Another team of Valentini security is doing a perimeter about one mile away and so on until the end of the property line."

Amara nodded her head in understanding.

"Why do you ask?", Valerio questioned immediately, while simultaneously serving her a plate of tiramisu. "You don't need to worry, you are safe with me", he stated, staring at her with dark eyes.

"I know I am", Amara whispered softly. "I trust you." And she really did.

"That's all I ask",Valerio replied, staring at her over the rim of his glass.

Amara looked over the sea with a smile on her face, the waves crawling gently to the shore.

"I visited the beach once when I was six", Amara told him. "I was so excited that I ran straight for the water. That was probably the first time I got scolded by grandpa", she chuckled. "But in hindsight, it would have been funny watching several guards chase a six year old girl all the across the beach", she giggled.

Valerio laughed. "I can't imagine your grandpa scolding you for anything. You are his precious little flower",he teased.

"I was banned from visiting the beach for a year", Amara told him, taking a bite of her desert.

"Did you never visit a beach before that?", Valerio asked her, leaning forward with interest.

Amara's smile fell slightly. "I think I was three when I visited the beach for the first time....I remember certain things.... My parents....",she cleared her throat slightly.

"I almost tricked a daughter of one our German ally into cutting her own hair and painting red colour on her face while singing kumbaya", Valerio told her suddenly, "I was grounded for a month after that."

Amara looked at him in disbelief.

"I was nine and she was annoying", Valerio replied defensively. "She would have done it if the guards hadn't intervened", he continued grudgingly.

Amara blinked at him once before her lips twitched slightly.

"You used to get in so many fights....especially with Allister. You were really terrible with almost everyone, girls and boys alike but never with me", Amara whispered the last part.

Valerio frowned. "Off course not, you are different. You've always been special to me."

"Then why did wait until a few weeks ago to tell me that?", Amara questioned him softly. "Why didn't you say anything before?''

Valerio sat up straighter, a dark look

in his eyes. "Would you have said yes to me if I did?", he asked her. "Would you have still agreed to be mine then?"

"I..I—", Amara stuttered, surprised at the serious tone of his voice.

"Tell me", he ordered.

Amara gulped once, her eyes flickered around for some distraction. An idea crossed her head and she bit her lip nervously at the absurdity of it.

"Only if you are able to catch me before I cross the lamp post", Amara challenged him as she kicked her sandals and sprinted away quickly.

The last thing she saw before running was a look of immense surprise flash across Valerio's face before she heard the sound of shoes hitting against the sand.

Amara ran as fast as she could. The sand feeling floury under her feet. She laughed when she saw the lamp post a few meters away but before she have crossed the mark, two hands grabbed her by the waist, and she squealed when was pulled flushed against Valerio's solid chest.

"I would have let you win if you hadn't challenged me sweetheart", Valerio breathed in her ear. "I hate losing."

Amara's heart beat wildly in her chest. Before she could even think of what to answer, she was lifted off her feet by Valerio.

"Val!", she exclaimed, hurriedly pulling her dress down. "Let go of me. "Put me down now!"

"No", he replied back calmly, smoothing her dress for her as he started walking back with her in his arms. "You should have thought that before trying to trick me."

"But I almost won", Amara told him.

"Almost", he emphasised. "I caught you before you could cross the mark which means you will now answer my question."

Amara bit her lip. "Put me down Val, please", she murmured.

Valerio stopped walking and gently lowered her down. But to her surprise, her feet never touched the ground.

Amara glanced down and gasped slightly when she felt Valerio's shoe clad feet under hers.

Valerio held her tightly around her waist and she in turn tightened her arms around his neck to maintain her balance.

He held her securely with one hand while he raised his other hand and softly cupped her cheek.

Amara's eyes met his and her heart jumped at the soft yet heated look in his eyes.

"Valer—"

"Ssshh", he whispered, leaning forward, his cool breath hitting her face.

Amara belatedly realised that all lamps around them had been dimmed, casting a dark shadow over the entire beach.

She trembled at his closeness, his lips inches away from hers. He held her tightly, closer, and then he slowly turned her head sideways towards the sky.

Amara squinted slightly in the dark and when her eyes adjusted, she watched, stunned, as few dots started appearing in the sky, getting nearer in the form of faint streaks. Each streak becoming brighter and brighter until a few almost resembled fireballs, the dark sky threading with silver and gold.

"A meteor shower", Amara murmured breathlessly, completely mesmerized.

Valerio's lip twitched up as he brushed a strand of tangled gold hair out of her face, his fingers wanting to slip over the red of her lips parted open in surprise. ''Your surprise. I had to time it perfectly so that we don't miss it. Do you like it?"

Amara let out a breathy laugh, her eyes widening with excitement at the magnificent celestial show being played out before her eyes. "I love it! They are so bright! So enchanting...."

"Yes, completely enchanting."