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star-spangled-eyes · 5 years ago

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Winner Take All: Part 8: The Locker Room

This alternate universe fan fiction uses characters created and owned by Pixelberry Studios. Character names, descriptions and likenesses are owned by Pixelberry Studios. The MC, Bragnae Bennett, and story is created and owned by this author.

Book: The Royal Romance (Alternate Universe)

Alternate Universe Theme: Senior Year of College for Drake, Leo, Bragnae and Madeleine in the United States

Pairing: Drake Walker x MC / Leo Reese x MC (Bragnae Bennett – *pronounced Brawn-yah)

Warnings for this series: NSFW, Adult content, suggestive and strong language, sexual content

Series Description: Bragnae Bennett sought adventure when she first went off to college. Now, navigating through her senior year, she finds herself befriending two gorgeous guys, Drake Walker and Leo Reese, who engage in a seemingly innocent bet with her during a game of pool that leads to a surprising threesome.

Their intimate evening prompts deeper feelings than they all expected to arise, and Bragnae is suddenly swept up in both of their charms, unique to each man himself. Through the pressures of college, work and maintaining a social life, which man will prevail and win Bragnae's heart?

Master List

A/N: Another chapter that just flowed… wow. But things are starting to heat up now. I guess that’s why I can’t stop writing this! It’s too exciting for me! I hope you enjoy this one! Thanks for reading!

Warnings for this chapter: NSFW, Adult content, suggestive and strong language, sexual content

Word Count for this chapter: 4582

Setting for this chapter: Bragnae arrives at Drake’s hockey camp and gets to spend a little time heating up the ice with him.

Permatags: @burnsoslow @cora-nova @dcbbw @thorfosterlove @emceesynonymroll @edgiestwinter @of-course-i-went-to-hartfeld @msjr0119 @notoriouscs @drakewalker04 @pedudley @desiree-0816 @choices-lurker @kingliam2019 @loveellamae @drakexnadira @flutistbyday2020 @indiana-jr @moonlightgem7

Series Tags: @yukinagato2012 @marshmallowsaremyfavorite @nomadics-stuff @ravenpuff02 @texaskitten30 @themadhatter1029 @randomfandomteacher @queenjilian @princessleac1@seriouslybadchoices

Part 8: The Locker Room

Bragnae arrived at the practice arena fifteen minutes before Drake’s practice was supposed to be over. The drive up went fast with her mind being as occupied as it was. She went over everything Leo told her again and again. It was such a shame he had to endure such heartache before, but he could have turned it around for himself. He could have made a vow not to hurt women the way he was, but for some reason, he felt using them for his needs would be the easiest way around his pain.

Even though he knew he hurt her for what he did, Leo still didn’t know the magnitude in which she suffered from his actions. She was glad she didn’t have time to tell him that earlier, and maybe he never needed to know. But, the fact remained that he hurt her very deeply and ruined his own chance at being happy again.

She turned off the engine of Drake’s truck, grabbed her purse, and headed up the sidewalk to the building. When she walked in, the cool air immediately hit her. It was a small arena, but the ice rink was designed in full regulation. There was only six rows of spectator seats that stretched the length of the rink. It was only on one side of the ice. The other side had two benched areas for the team to fill in, a Gatorade stand and a hallway leading to what Bragnae presumed was the locker room.

There was a flurry of guys fighting for the puck at the far end of the rink. Half were dressed in black jerseys, the others in neon green. The Pit Vipers’ colors were royal purple with a black and green logo of the intimating snake, so their practice jerseys reflected that theme as well.

Bragnae found a seat in the second row at center ice, scanning the bench of players. From what she could tell, none of them were Drake, which meant he had to be on the ice. She didn’t know which color he sported yet, but she did know he was a Defenseman. Somehow, protecting the goalie and helping to block shots from the opposing team fit Drake’s personality.

Finally, the puck broke away as a player sent it sailing down the ice toward the opposite goal. The players hustled down the rink as two guys from each of the teams scrambled to take control of it. The one wearing the black jersey slammed the green jersey player into the boards. They dug in and fought vigorously for the puck until the black jersey player took it, and passed the puck to a fellow teammate.

She caught a glimpse of the back of the black jersey attached to the tall player, and saw the number 22. That was Drake’s number. Their practice jerseys didn’t have their names on it, just their assigned player numbers. Now, she knew where he was.

As the forwards on his team passed the puck between them towards the other net, Drake skated in that direction, but held back in case the other team got ahold of the puck again. Bragnae watched one of Drake’s teammates shoot the puck into the net with ease, and then a whistle sounded.

The players vacated the ice and sat on their respective benches, hydrating themselves as they listened to the coach talk about their performance. Bragnae couldn’t make out his exact words, but that was okay. She kept her eyes on Drake anyway. He leaned his stick against his shoulder as he removed his helmet. His dark hair was completely saturated with sweat. He rubbed a hand over his head before bringing the green Gatorade bottle up to take in more fluids.

Bragnae grew up a hockey fan. Her dad had played when he was younger, so it was engrained in their family. She had fond memories of watching their state’s professional team sitting next to him on those cold winter nights. Her father taught her a lot about the game, which made it easier to watch Drake play and listen to him tell her about his practices and games.

After another minute, the teams rose and starting filing out towards the locker room. She stood and walked over to the boards in front of the first row. Drake noticed her immediately. Even though he was 85 feet away from her – the width of the regulation rink – she could see him smile in her direction. Instead of following his team, he skated back onto the ice and headed towards her.

“Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes,” he observed, smiling brightly at her. There wasn’t any acrylic shielding walls where they stood, unlike a true hockey rink that was surrounded in it, so it was easier to see and hear him.

“Hey, stud. You looked good out there.” She leaned her legs against the polyethylene dasher boards, gripping the top of it as she admired Drake in his gear. His shoulder pads and chest protector made him look even more bulky than he was, and his skates gave him an inch or two of extra height. With sweat beads rolling down his somewhat flushed face, he looked like he’d just been in an intense battle. Technically, that wasn’t far off.

“Thanks. Glad to be done for the day, though.” Drake skated to the edge of the board bringing his stick around Bragnae’s back to guide her to him.

She giggled as she fell forward a bit, bracing herself on his protected shoulders. He smiled as her mouth dropped to his. She could taste the saltiness of the sweat on his lips, and even though his athletic scent filled her nose, she was happy to kiss him in that moment. Drake, showered or un-showered, was irresistible.

A teasing whistle sounded from the opposite side of the rink. Drake laughed as he pulled away to look behind him. “Hey, fuck off!” He shouted playfully before returning his attention to Bragnae. “That’s just my buddy, Chuck. He’s on the same defensive line as me, and I think he’s a little jealous that I get to kiss such a beautiful woman right now.”

“Poor Chuck.”

“Yeah, bad for him, but good for me.” With his hands on the hockey stick that still held her in place, he pulled her towards him for another sweet kiss. “Wanna skate for a little bit? Maybe play a little one-on-one?”

“I didn’t bring any skates.”

“Not a problem.” He dropped his stick from around her, and pointed to the upper far corner of the room. “Go through that door, and there will be a place you can grab some skates. A nice lady named Carla will give you a pair to borrow.”

She patted Drake on the shoulder. “Okay, I’ll be right back.” She grabbed her purse and walked in the direction Drake told her. She wore a long-sleeved lavender sweater and a jean mini skirt. As she walked to the skate rental counter, she wondered how easily she’d be able to move on the ice in her outfit.

Carla had given her the size skates she needed with no charge, but she needed to grab the pair of socks in her tote bag to put them on. She was grateful she thought ahead to bring extra items. A few minutes later, while she laced up her skates, Drake was gliding around the ice casually flipping a puck into the net every so often.

When the skates were secured, she stood and walked over to the boards. Drake joined her in a flash, skidding his skates at an angle on the ice to stop himself.

“I don’t know how well I’ll be able to skate in this outfit, or hop the boards for that matter,” she told him, looking skeptical.

“I’d be happy to help a lady out.” He pulled her closer to the boards and reached over to scoop her into his arms, placing her down on the iced part of the rink.

“Well, that settles that,” she giggled, straightening her clothes.

“We’ve got about thirty minutes before the Zamboni needs to clear the ice. So, let’s skate a little bit and maybe get you a stick to hold.”

Naughty thoughts filled her mind. “Would I get to hold your stick? Because if so, we may want to find somewhere more private for that.”

He glanced at her from the side, shaking his head with that sexy smirk of his. “You have a dirty mind today, Miss Bennett.”

“You know you like it,” she flirted with a wink. “Plus, you kind of set me up with that one.”

He laughed. “So I did. Come on.” He took her hand, and the two of them began skating casually around the rink.

Bragnae couldn’t move too swiftly because the denim skirt restricted her a bit, but she was still able to catch up.

“You’re pretty good on the ice. Did I know that about you?” Drake asked.

She thought for a moment trying to recall if she’d ever skated with him when she visited Drake at his work. “No, I guess you didn’t. I’ve been leisurely skating my whole life. My dad took me skating a lot growing up. He played hockey too.”

“No kidding. What position did he play?”

“He was a defenseman like you. From the stories I’ve heard, he was pretty good. Taught me all I know about hockey.” Bragnae concentrated on crossing her skates over one another to turn with the rink. Drake glided gracefully along with her. It was second nature to him at this point. That was evident by the way he spent most of the time looking at her rather than what was in front of him.

“That’s awesome. If I ever get to meet him, I’m sure we’ll have lots to talk about.” Drake slowed them down and pulled her over to the bench where the team once sat.

Bragnae smiled at the thought of Drake meeting her father. She knew they’d get along great, and that they’d have a lot in common. They were both a little rough around the edges, but kind when it was needed.

Drake procured a shorter hockey stick from the other side of the boards, and handed it to Bragnae. Then, he tossed a few more pucks on the ice for them to play with. She gripped the black hockey stick like her dad taught her to do years ago, and skated out to center ice, dragging a puck with her.

Sliding the rest of the pucks with his stick to the center, Drake dashed off to the net to stand in front of it. “Go ahead, Bragnae. Show me what you can do.”

She scoffed. “You’ll just block all of them. I am way out of my league here.”

He chuckled. “Just give it a try. And keep the shots low. Coach will kill me if I get hit in the head when I should have been wearing a helmet.”

Bragnae pulled a puck in front of her with the stick, and pushed it forward, handling it back and forth until she was closer to the goal. She shot it towards Drake who just stood in place letting it hit the net.

“That was good. Try it again.”

Bragnae skated back to center ice, and retrieved another puck. Taking her time so she wouldn’t stumble, she eventually made her way back to Drake. This time, he took a more defensive stance, bending his knees and bobbing back and forth, as she prepared to shoot the puck. She held firm in front of the net trying to gauge which ‘hole’ she should shoot it towards. There were five distinct gaps a player could shoot the puck through that the goalie’s body couldn’t always protect.

Putting weight on her stick, Bragnae bent forward locking her eyes with Drake. “Where am I going to shoot it, Walker?” She taunted.

He smirked at her. “Why don’t you go for the five-hole – right between my legs?”

“You’d like that wouldn’t you?” She propelled the puck forward, trying to send it flying through the upper right corner of the net, but Drake blocked it. She didn’t have the power behind the shot to challenge his reflexes. “You’re just too quick for me.”

Drake skated forward to pull her into him. “I think you’re doing just fine. And you look very sexy skating around in a skirt, handling the stick and puck like you are. I could watch you do this all day.”

“Funny, I was thinking the same thing about you.” She gripped the fabric of his jersey and pulled him into a slightly unsteady kiss thanks to the ice below.

His hands slid down to her thighs just below her skirt. “Are you getting cold?”

“A little.” She didn’t anticipate spending a long time in the arena, which made her decide the mini skirt was okay, but now being directly over the ice, she was starting to get chilly.

“How about this? I’ll clean up the pucks and then head to the locker room to take a shower. After you return your skates, you can meet me in there and wait by my locker.”

“Okay, but won’t there be other guys in there getting dressed?” Not that she’d ever turn away from seeing hockey players in any capacity, but she wanted to be respectful of their space.

“Don’t worry about that. You’re a hot female, and they won’t mind. Besides, most of them are probably gone by now anyway.”

“Okay, I’ll see you in there in a few minutes.” Bragnae skated off to the side of the rink she came from, and threw her legs over the boards. After taking off her skates, she gathered her things and went to return them.

She didn’t know an alternative path to the locker rooms, so she walked carefully across the ice in her sandals to get to get to it. After sauntering down the long hallway, she saw a sign for the locker room to the left.

Bragnae hoped the rest of the team had gone so she wouldn’t embarrass them or herself. She wondered why Drake wanted her in the locker room anyway. It just felt wrong for her to be there. If she were on an all-female team, she wouldn’t want some random guy hanging out while the rest of the team got dressed.

Carefully stepping through the spacious locker room, she heard the shower to her right, but couldn’t see anything as she glanced quickly in that direction. Walking into another room, she saw open cubbies that lined the wall. Each of them had a thin dry erase board above with their names written on them. As she made her way over to his locker, she noticed a tall, muscular guy with short auburn hair throw a t-shirt over his chiseled torso. He looked over at her and politely smiled.

She waved nervously at him. “Sorry. Don’t mean to intrude. I’m just waiting for Drake.”

“You’re good,” he told her as he walked in her direction with an arm extended. “I’m Chuck Mulligan. Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise,” she said, accepting his greeting. “Bragnae Bennett.”

“Drake talks about you all the time.” His eyes quickly scanned down her body trying to be discreet, but she noticed anyway. “I can see why.”

“I guess I’ll take that as a compliment. Thanks,” she smiled.

“It definitely is.” He walked back over to his gear, and slung a duffle bag over his shoulder. “Drake should be done soon. Take care, Bragnae.” She waved at him again as he left the locker room.

After a quick glance around, she took a seat on the bench in front of Drake’s locker. The room definitely had the smell of men in it. It wasn’t unpleasant, rather it was sort of comforting. It was a mixture of hard work, sweat, and cologne – the way any man that was worth a damn should smell.

Just as she was about to pull out her phone to pass the time, Drake started walking towards her… wearing just a white towel wrapped around his waist. His hair was still soaked, but this time it was clean. A tendril of his wet hair curled over his forehead, but the rest was combed back. Residual water from the shower made parts of his upper body glisten. He made her heart skip a beat.

Drake walked right up to her, bent down with his fingers tilting her chin up, and captured her lips in a solid kiss. “You look cute sitting here by my locker,” he said before walking around the bench to get to his clothes.

Bragnae spun around on the wooden bench to face him. Just as she did that, Drake removed the towel from his waist and began drying off the few wet spots left on his chest. Her eyes nearly bugged out of her head. Her jaw dropped as she was faced with the side profile of Drake’s very nice looking dick and the curves of his butt. She had only been privy to his nakedness once before during the threesome with Leo, but everything happened so fast that night that she didn’t have time to really indulge in his magnificent features.

“Oh my,” she blushed, but didn’t look away. In fact, her eyes feasted on his physique with absolute hunger. There wasn’t anything about this man she didn’t crave.

Drake gave her a side smirk before handing her the towel. “Here, I think you’re drooling a little.”

Giggling, she snatched the towel from him, and snapped it against his perfectly formed ass. He chuckled reaching for his cologne.

“You really know how to grab a girl’s attention, don’t you mister?” Even now she couldn’t peel her eyes off of him. Her heart thumped in her chest while heat pooled between her legs.

“Am I making you wet?” He asked without hesitation still standing stark naked in front of her.

Excited by his sudden candor, her lips automatically transformed into a salacious smile. “Uh-huh.” She loved how honest they could be with each other. “To be fair, you already kind of got me started watching you play hockey.”

He cheerfully nodded at her response. She bit her lip desperately wanting to touch him all over. From where she sat, she’d be able to take him in her mouth easily as he towered over her with his scrumptious bod. “Why don’t you come a little closer, and let me drag my tongue around that big guy.” His dick twitched at her comment, and she loved it.

Drake exhaled a slow breath, and stepped into a dark green pair of boxer briefs. Bragnae playfully pouted her lips making him laugh when he turned to her again. “Don’t be too disappointed, Bennett.” Then, he threw on a t-shirt and pulled on a pair of light-washed jeans.

Grabbing his hockey stick, he straddled the bench and held it over Bragnae’s head. “Face me on the bench, and then grab this with both hands.”

She was a little confused but did as he said. As soon as she had a comfortable grip on the stick, Drake pushed on it making Bragnae lean back with it. He followed through until her back was flush with the bench. “What are you doing?”

“Stay like that, and just relax.” He kissed her briefly on the lips. The stick rested perpendicular on the bench, and Bragnae let her arms relax while she continued to grip the hockey stick.

Drake brought her legs together again just so he could push up her tight jean skirt. A tingle shot down her spine, not only from his touch, but from the anticipation of what was to come. With the denim pushed up to her waist, Drake hooked his fingers around the straps of her red satin panties and pulled them off. He sat down on the bench, and threw her legs over his denim clad thighs while positioning her just right.

“Now, it’s my turn to use my tongue.” He winked at her before diving his face down to her pussy.

A moan immediately left her body while she slowly twisted her torso, feeling his tongue work wonders against her sensitive skin. Her breathing quickened, and she tightened her calves against his legs. The tension in her body elevated the pleasure she was receiving. Her grip on the hockey stick constricted as he continued.

Drake used his hands to tilt her pelvis up to give himself a better angle. His skillful tongue rounded her clit in slow concentric circles before moving to rapidly flick her swollen bud.

Bragnae arched her back in approval. “Ohmigod, Drake. Don’t stop.” She felt the pressure build quickly leading to what she knew was to be a fantastic explosion of pleasure. Like the trooper he was, Drake kept up that same pace for a few more moments until heaven rippled throughout her body. She sent a flood of cries into the room as he continued to coax more of the orgasm from her depths.

Drake dragged his tongue around her skin, even dipping down to lap at her entrance. She was at complete peace in that moment reveling in the pleasure high he put her in. When Drake sat up, he wiped his mouth and took a deep breath followed by a triumphant smile.

“How was that?” He asked knowing the answer.

She nodded her head still trying to regain her breath. “Amazing. So amazing.”

He patted the side of her leg smiling down at her. “You are so beautiful, and you taste so nice.”

“You always make me feel so good about myself, Drake.” She let go of the hockey stick, and stretched her tensed arms above her head. “Thank you for this.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Now, will you let me return the favor?” She asked still lying flat against the bench. He had slayed her with his tongue, and she was utterly spent.

“I appreciate the offer, but this was all about you today. Plus, it’s better for my training if you don’t.”

“Why? Wouldn’t it be better to release the built up tension?”

“That’s exactly why I shouldn’t. Not having that release helps me to focus on my training more, making me more aggressive on the ice. Being hot and bothered makes for a better hockey player than a happy guy that just got off.”

Her eyes widened as she thought about what he said. “You’re not saying we can’t do this and have sex for the entire hockey season are you?”

Drake laughed. “No, thank God. The coach is deciding the first line for the upcoming season based on our performance here. The guys that get it will see the most time on the ice during the games. To make it fair for everyone, the coach put these rules in place to motivate us while we’re at this camp.” He gently massaged her thighs as he continued. “So, by not giving into my desires, I can train harder and play better during the practice games. I’m not even touching myself.”

Bragnae’s mouth gaped open in surprise. “Wow. It makes a lot of sense when you put it that way, but didn’t this torture you a little bit?”

He looked down at her still widened legs longingly. “Yes. Yes it did.” He sighed before meeting her eyes again. “But seeing you like this now and remembering the taste of you in my mouth will fuel me even more when I’m on the ice this week. Hell, I shouldn’t have even allowed you to visit me, but I wanted to see you.”

Bragnae used what core strength she could find to sit up amidst the incapacitating pleasure that still radiated in her body. She framed his face with her hands as he looped his arms around her back for support. “Did you miss me as much as I missed you?”

“Mmhmm,” he grinned, looking down at her affectionately. “I sure did.”

She smiled up at him. “Will the coach tell everyone who gets the first line by the end of the camp?”

“Yep.”

“Good. Then, when you come back to the university, we’ll have to celebrate because I know you’re going to get it.” She let a hand slide down the muscles of his chest. “And celebrate we will.” She looked up at him through her eyelashes being extra flirtatious.

“I can’t wait.” Drake leaned forward to kiss her. “Wanna grab some dinner?”

“Yeah, I bet you’re famished.” Drake scooted back, so she could more easily untangle herself from him. “Just let me put my panties back on, and we can go.”

Drake chuckled, retrieving them from the floor and tossing her the discarded thong.

Later, after they finished a couple of delicious burgers, they drove back to Drake’s hotel. They got out of the truck, so they could say their proper goodbyes.

“Thanks for letting me come up to see you. It will make this next week a little easier to get through.” Bragnae leaned back against the driver side of Drake’s truck, and he leaned into her.

“I’m glad you did. I needed this little reboot, too.”

“Do you want me to drop off your keys with Leo before you get back?” She needed to mentally prepare for it again if he wanted that.

“Nah, you can hold onto them. The team gets back next Sunday morning, and I’m sure we’ll see each other that day at some point. At least I’m hoping we will.” He stroked her cheek with the back of his finger.

“I’m pretty sure I work the lunch shift that day, but as soon as I’m finished I’ll be coming to see you.”

“Sounds good.” He leaned in for a deep lingering kiss. The cool breeze of the night perfectly complemented the heat between them. “Let me know when you get back tonight.”

“I will.” She pulled him in again, needing to feel his soft lips one more time before she left. “Good luck with the rest of the camp. I know you’ll kick ass and get the first line.”

“I hope so. Thanks, Bennett.” He opened the truck’s door for her, and watched her climb in. She started the engine, and rolled the window down. He looked her over with a smile on his face. “You look pretty good behind the wheel of my truck.”

She gave him a flirty shrug. “Bye, handsome.”

“See ya. And drive safe.” He tapped the door, and stepped back so she could pull out of the parking space.

Bragnae waved once more before driving away. A day that started off more stressful than anything else ended with lovely time spent with Drake. She really liked him, and felt their bond growing with each passing day. When he returned from his camp, it was highly likely they’d have sex. And she was more than ready for that because she wanted to be closer to him now more than ever before. She loved the idea of being his and only his. And she knew it was just a matter of time before they made their relationship status official.

But that also meant she needed to tell Drake about Leo. He needed to know before things turned more serious. Being roommates, would that complicate things for them? Would it somehow make Drake not want to be with her? Only time would tell.

#trr #trr fanfic #trr drake #the royal romance #the royal romance drake #the royal romance fanfic #drake x mc #drake x bragnae #drake walker #leo reese #bragnae bennett #trr love triangle #TRR Winner Take All Fanfic #Bragnae's Thirsty #Chuck's back #dessert before dinner

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shirewalker · 5 years ago

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Mamma Mia! - A Nikolina Fic

Nikolina Appreciation Week 2020 ♛ Day 9: Free Day

Summary: While Alina's travelling through Ireland, she ends up sharing a bedroom with the handsome and charming Nikolai. After a night with the best sex in her life, Alina has a choice to run off or stick with the hazel-eyed charmer for a little longer. Her mind says one thing, her body another.

Eventually, her heart will also have a say in the matter.

Pairing: Alina/Nikolai

One-shot

Rating: Explicit

Also on AO3

Mamma Mia!

Ireland was a paradise. Green lands as far as the eye could see, beautiful architecture, country side roads to get lost in, rainstorms… But Alina was a bit tired after three long days of hiking through the Irish lands. Resting at a local b&b would be perfect…

“Did you say Starkov?” The teenager at the front desk asked.

Alina looked back at him and felt a little uneasy as she noticed his barely hidden panic. “Yes…?”

He gulped visibly and nodded. “I’ll… There’s a problem with the system. Can you… can you wait in the restaurant area while I talk with my supervisor?”

She nodded slowly, wanting whatever was happening to be taken care of, and fast. She wanted nothing more than to sleep tonight. “All right, I’ll sample the food.”

The boy was off before she had finished her sentence.

The restaurant was small, but cosy. Alina sat by the fire, happily enjoying a cup of hot chocolate as she kept an eye on the door to the front hall. It had been nearly twenty minutes since she’d been practically abandoned by the young teen without as much as a room key. Her body was beginning to grow antsy, the hot chocolate and the fireplace keeping her a little relaxed.

“What the hell is taking them so long?” She mumbled under her breath.

A familiar mop of brown hair walked in and she instantly stood straighter. But the teen didn’t walk towards her. Instead, he made a beeline for a young man sitting at the far corner, his golden hair shinning under the warm lights of the room.

Alina frowned in confusion as the teen whispered something to the stranger before the two walked out of the room.

She was ready to get up and demand her room when the stranger was back. And walking straight towards her. Another stranger walked not too far behind, sporting an expression of panic similar to that of the teenager.

“Miss Starkov, I presume?” The blonde stranger greeted her with a dazzling grin that had Alina momentarily losing her footing.

“Ye-Yes…? And you are?”

The stranger winked as his grin turned mischievous, as though he was privy to Alina’s reaction to his smile. Well, that was enough for her to scoff at him.

“Name’s Nikolai, my lady. And it seems we have a conundrum in regards to our sleeping quarters for the night.”

Alina blinked fast at him, caught by surprise with his elegant but effortless speech. And that’s when the other stranger approached them at last and bowed a little with his head, “A thousand apologies, miss. It seems there was a glitch in our system after last night’s storm.”

“Okay… What does that mean?” She asked, already feeling a knot of dread forming in her stomach. How was that related to her reservation and this Nikolai dude?

The stranger wrung their hands, “I’m the manager of this place and we’ve never had this happening. We pride ourselves in a service of high quality!”

“Please, tell me what’s going on.” Alina said, desperate for any word that made any sense.

“Well…” The manager started.

But Nikolai stepped in when silence began to stretch, “It seems we both got assigned the same room, miss Starkov.” He flashed a sheepish smile, “And the place is entirely booked.”

Her mouth hanged open. This couldn’t be happening. She’d made a reservation especially to avoid this kind of situation! “But… How?”

The manager shook his head, “We don’t know miss. It’s a grave mistake we didn’t notice until you arrived. Since we already had given mister Sturmhond his key… The system…” He trailed off.

“Point is, we got the same room.” Nikolai offered.

“And there’s no spare?” Alina asked, wishing the answer had changed in the last few seconds.

The manager shook his head, “I’m afraid not. And I checked in with the closest b&b and they’re booked too. There’s a festival happening this weekend and many patrons already arrived…”

“Where am I supposed to sleep? But… wait! Who made the reservation first? Shouldn’t they get the room then?” She demanded, hoping she was the winner.

Nikolai shrugged, “They can’t see. The glitch erased some files, including the ones that could tell us that.” He paused, watching the manager for a moment, “Will you give us a moment, please?”

The manager nodded and left with a quick apology and an offer of paying for all of Alina’s expenses.

“I have a suggestion.” Nikolai said without waiting a beat. He touched the chair in front of her and waited until Alina had nodded before sitting down. And snatching a butter cookie from her plate. “Delicious…”

Alina cleared her throat, annoyance rising as the man continued eating the stolen cookie. “You were saying?”

“Ah!” He dusted his hands and leaned forward, “How about we share the room?”

Her stomach somersaulted upon hearing those words. “What?”

Nikolai raised his hands and chuckled, “I have no ulterior motives, Miss Starkov. I swear I am only suggesting us sharing the room for the night. I was told you were planning on staying just one night. Unless that was incorrect?”

Alina huffed a breath, crossed her arms and leaned back, “Yes, one night. And call me… Alina. Miss Starkov is so… formal.” She said with a grimace. Only her teachers had ever called her that.

A pleased grin stretched on his face before Nikolai spoke again, “Alina. A beautiful name…” He paused for a moment, his eyes – hazel, she noticed – watching her for the duration of his silence. Then, “Like I was suggesting, it would be just a platonic share of the bedroom. In fact, I wouldn’t mind sleeping on the floor, so long I’m provided with enough blankets.”

Alina opened her mouth several times to speak, but no words came out. It was a ridiculous situation and it just kept getting crazier and crazier. She stood in a flash and grabbed her phone, “I have to make a call. Excuse me.”

“Of course. I’ll order seconds.”

“So… is he hot?” Genya’s voice came through the phone, metallic and a bit distant with the bad reception.

Alina rolled her eyes, pinched her nose and let out a long, slow sigh. “Genya…”

“Come on. Answer me this. Then I’ll tell you what you should do.”

“I know what you’re going to say.”

“Oh? So does that mean he is hot?”

Alina looked over her shoulder, as though Nikolai could hear her from the other side of the b&b. “Genya, be serious.”

“He’s either drop dead gorgeous to the point your panties are soaked already, or he’s an ugly troll and you don’t want to be rude. Either way, I’ll need your honest opinion ASAP.”

She let out a tired sigh, “Fine. I guess he is… attractive. If you’re into that look.”

“Now we’re getting somewhere. What does he look like? Describe like one of your rejected calendar photos. The ones that are too good for the projects.”

“Really?”

“Go!”

“He’s tall. And blonde.”

“Wow, and to think you’ve made a business out of making unique and beautiful calendars…”

“He’s so tall I could rest my head on his chest, ok? His hair is thick and blonde. It looks like liquid gold, I swear.” She finally relented, still keeping her nicest, most poetic words to herself. Her friend didn’t need to know his hair glowed in the firelight.

“Mhmm… I’m liking the view. More. Muscles, voice, eyes. Jaw!”

“Genya…”

“Alina…!”

“I guess he is well defined. Looks like it. A deep voice, could narrate books. Hazel eyes.”

Genya started to hoot from the other side of the line and Alina regretted, for the umpteenth time, having called this best friend. Maybe Zoya would have been a better choice.

“Girl, you better bang that. He sounds like your dream man.”

“He’s not my dream man.” She grumbled through gritted teeth, “He’s insufferable and full of himself.”

“Looking like that? I’d be surprised if he wasn’t. Go on, take the offer and take things to the upper level. Have fun! You did go on that trip to have fun and adventures, and fun adventures fit the bill.”

“I’ll take the room, but everything else isn’t happening. You… Go kiss David.”

“Love you! Bye! And please have hot great sex with your hot stranger!”

Alina sighed and put her phone away, reading herself for this next conversation.

“I can’t tell you how happy I am that you accepted this deal, because if I did it would sound wrong and you would probably kick me between the legs.” Nikolai flashed what Alina was beginning to suspect to be his signature grin, and unlocked their door. He signalled for her to enter, with a little bow and an extended hand, “After you, my lady.”

She rolled her eyes and entered, only to stop short at the sight of the bedroom. The photos didn’t do it justice. Sure, it was a small room, but it was comfortably luxurious. A four-post bed, a small wardrobe and a vanity to one side, a couple of large and comfy looking armchairs to the other side, next to a table. Which sat next to a window and… “A window seat!” She let out in surprise, excited to see one in person.

Nikolai closed the door and smiled at her, “A fan?”

She tried to control her excitement with a roll of her eyes, “I just… Always wanted to see one in person. Movies make them look so… interesting.”

He nodded and took off his coat before moving to the bed. He sat on it and bounced a couple of times, chuckling to himself in delight at a seemingly positive result. “I bet you’ll have a fantastic sleep on this mattress, Alina.”

She narrowed her eyes, “Yes. Me.”

Nikolai feigned a shot to his heart and collapsed onto the bed, “Oh, you wound me!”

“Good. Now get up and find your blankets.”

Nikolai stood with a playful grin and booped her nose on his way to the wardrobe, “Pure sunshine, aren’t you?”

She swatted at him and moved away from his magnetic field. It had… unwanted effects. “I’m not here to be sweet to you.”

“No, and I wouldn’t expect you to. Still, sunshine fits you.” And he left it at that, starting to whistle some off-tune melody as he found thick blankets and stacked them on the floor.

Alina searched for her pyjama and rushed to the bathroom, “I’ll go change, don’t you dare walk in on me or peek through my stuff!”

“I wouldn’t dare doing such a wretched thing.” He called back, his tone serious for a change.

Alina took her time changing, hoping Nikolai would take the hint and get changed in the meantime as well. She brushed her hair and then her teeth, she stared at her reflection and paced around. She peed. She washed her hands. And when she had no more excuses to stay locked in the bathroom, she walked out.

And straight into a hard chest, wrapped in teal.

“Woah there!” Nikolai caught her in his embrace just as she was tilting backwards with the momentum.

She blinked at the threadbare t-shirt that hugged his chest, barely hiding the very well-toned muscles, and realised with a start that he was holding her in his arms.

“Off!” She jumped away and tried to hide the blush on her cheeks, “A bit handsy, no?”

Nikolai chuckled and raked a hand through his hair, the movement drawing Alina’s attention to the sliver of toned muscle that peeked through the crack between his shirt and pants. “I was merely making sure you didn’t hurt yourself, sunshine. I was going to knock to check if you were well when you suddenly barge out and nearly barrel through me.”

Alina shook her head, ignoring the way her body got excited at the sight of Nikolai’s, and climbed onto the large bed, “Whatever, try to keep them to yourself next time.”

“I swear I’ll only touch you with your permission, Alina.” He said, his tone almost reverent. “Goodnight, sunshine.”

She almost demanded he stop using that word, but that would involve a longer conversation. So she just mumbled a reply and laid down, her back turned to him.

Sleeping was impossible.

Genya’s words kept Alina awake. And knowing Nikolai was lying right next to her didn’t help her case at all.

She wasn’t going to sleep with him! She simply wasn’t! That would be… That would… be… Alina tossed and turned, cursing her luck for this position she had been forced into.

All she’d wanted was a nice adventure by herself through the Irish lands. And to sleep in a comfy bed at night, wherever she stopped. None of her plans had involved any sort of sexual endeavours.

And yet…

Nikolai showed up.

And Genya dropped that bomb of an idea on Alina’s lap.

If only she could put the entire blame on her friend. But if she were being honest with herself, she had… flirted with the idea of having mind-blowing sex with a hot stranger at some point. If only to cleanse herself from her terrible ex. Plus, she often wondered what proper sex would be like.

And Nikolai looked like he knew his stuff.

“Nikolai…” She whispered into the darkness, torn between wishing him asleep, and hoping him to be awake.

A stir, then, “Yes?”

“Are you awake?”

A low chuckle, rough with sleep, “I am now. What is it?”

“I…” She started, only to quiet a moment later. What was she doing? And what was she going to say?!

Fabric rustled as Nikolai sat up, “Alina?”

She took a deep breath and looked his way, finding his hazel eyes even in the darkness of the room. “I don’t know how to do this.” She admitted.

He frowned a little and cocked his head, “Do what?”

A sudden heat took over her body and she bit her lip, wishing this impossible man would make the suggestion first. But silence stretched on, and he kept his distance. She tossed her blankets away and sat on the bed, facing him with a sudden braveness that she hoped would last long enough. “Ask you to sleep with me.” She finally let out in a tiny voice, her heart hammering faster and faster.

Nikolai parted his lips for a moment, eyes wide at her words. Then his face softened a little before a playful grin curved his lips, “I think you just did, sunshine. Although I’m sure you were very against us touching just a couple of hours ago.”

She groaned and looked away, suddenly embarrassed she’d asked at all. “If you’re going to mock me, I’ll have you sleeping in the bathtub. And it’s a tiny one.”

He chuckled, the sound huskier than before and quickly sending her heart into cardiac arrest. “My apologies, sunshine. I was just…” He stood with a grunt and walked towards her. “Lightening the mood. You sounded a little… Nervous.” He looked down at her with a strange look, his eyes taking in her flushed cheeks first, then her parted lips, and lingering there for a long moment. “If you want, I’ll do whatever you wish. But if you’re not sure and you feel like you have to…” He lifted his hand, but it dropped away before touching her, “I don’t want you doing anything you don’t want to do, Alina.”

She straightened and stood as well, her chest grazing his as there was little space left between them. “I want to do this. I just didn’t know how to propose it. It’s not as easy as asking if you want to have a drink. Like, ‘Hey! Want to have sex tonight?’” She tskd and crossed her arms, or tried to, as his proximity made it impossible for Alina to do so.

He touched her chin with his finger and tipped her head a little, his eyes boring into hers with a spark of amusement and… desire. “If you do want this… Then yes, I’d very much like to have sex with you tonight, sunshine.” The words echoed all around them, hanging in the air for one lingering moment.

And then he was kissing her, his lips crashing into hers as the two finally gave in to the mutual attraction that sizzled between them.

Nikolai tasted of stolen goods in the middle of a kitchen raid. Delicious and sinful. His mouth was soft and warm against hers, nipping and pulling and massaging her lips until she was trembling from head to toe and clinging to his shoulders as though her very life depended on it. She kissed him back with as much passion, pouring into him a kind of lust she hadn’t felt until now, her body aching to know his with utter intimacy. Their tongues teased each other, tasted each other, explored each other.

She moaned into the kiss and Nikolai eagerly drunk all the sounds she made, his hands holding her so close she could hardly breathe. Saints above, Alina had never been kissed like this. It was… like heaven. A sinful kind of heaven, if she were being honest.

The kiss was broken into a million of kisses that Nikolai trailed across her jaw and down her neck, peppering her feverish skin with promises of a long, long night. Alina moaned his name as she raked her hands through his hair and his mouth travelled lower, tasting all that he could of her exposed skin.

“I adore your pyjama, sunshine… But…” He rasped against her collarbone, giving it a playful bite as his hands sneaked under her shirt and slowly climbed up, up, up.

“It would look better on the floor?” She replied, eyes rolling in their sockets when he brushed his thumbs over her nipples, instantly making them pinch and ache for more.

He hummed in agreement and quickly freed her of the pesky layer. A bite of cold air teased her skin, only to be quickly smothered when Nikolai leaned down to kiss her breasts.

“God…!” She moaned louder, fingers digging into his scalp, toes curling into the carpet.

His chuckle teased her nipple, “You really think so, sunshine?”

“Oh… shut up.” She managed to let out. Then she was tugging on his shirt, pulling it up in the blind, demanding it to be gone. “I need you to strip. Make this even. Now.”

Nikolai chuckled again and silently answered her request, tossing his shirt away without a glance. “Better?”

Alina took in the sight of his toned torso, lean muscles and softly tanned skin greeting her, making her mouth water. She nodded dumbstruck before leaning in to kiss his chest, and trail down, savouring each bump of soft skin and the way all of this had her panties soaked through and through.

Nikolai let out a surprised gasp when Alina reached his pants and pulled everything down. “Alina…?”

She peeked up and licked her lips, “I want to taste you.” And that was all she said before taking him in her mouth.

She played him at length, licking and sucking until Nikolai was trembling all over and begging for her. His hand was knotted in her hair, carefully guiding her through his wishes as she moved and savoured him until he was close to breaking point. “God… Alina…” He let out, his voice strained, “And you… and you didn’t know how… how… OH!” He let out a loud groan and bucked his hips against her, shuddering hard as Alina finally broke him.

They were breathing heavily by the time Nikolai had pulled Alina back to her feet, his eyes darker than the night sky as he watched her lick her lips clean. “That was amazing.” She said, reaching out to touch him with a finger. She trailed it up and down his length, savouring the way Nikolai shuddered under her touch.

Nikolai cupped her cheek and let his hand wander to the nape of her neck, tilting her head just a little bit, just enough for him to lean down and brush his lips against hers, “You are a wicked vixen, sunshine. I can’t wait to taste you.”

Then he had her on her back, hair splayed all over the sheets as he slowly kissed her torso, sucking on her nipples at length until her voice was nothing but a pained sound. “Please…” She begged only to have him travel lower and lower, freeing her of the rest of her clothes and parting her legs. Oh saints… This was it. He was going for revenge. Sweet, sweet revenge. “Nikolai…” She let out in a gasp when he began kissing her ankle.

“I’ll make you feel so good, sunshine. So incredible… No one else will ever, ever compare…” He breathed against her skin as his mouth travelled up her leg, closer and closer to her pounding centre. “And I bet you taste divinely, don’t you?”

She nodded, even though at that moment she wasn’t sure about what, as her mind was nothing but a puddle, every rational thought destroyed by the simple anticipation of Nikolai’s tongue inside of her.

A gasp escaped her lips at the first touch. It was a soft, playful swirl, just enough to have her heart pounding hard against her chest. She clawed at the sheets when he did it again, this time slower and deeper. A longer taste, a longer tease.

“Nikolai… Please… God…!” Her moans answered each and every lick of his tongue, her hips arching with him, her body begging for release.

But Nikolai wanted to stretch her thin, and so his teasing was slow and torturous, pushing her close enough to the edge, but never over it. Oh, no… Never over it. And Alina hated it. And she loved it. She swore sex had never felt this good, not to her and to no one else.

Then, at last, Nikolai was pushing over the edge, and Alina was crying out for him, coming undone with the force of a thousand stars exploding at once.

“I knew you’d taste divinely, Alina…” Nikolai rasped against her lips once she was rational enough for them to continue their little rendezvous. He pulled her under the sheets and braced himself over her, his hazel eyes shining brighter than ever.

Alina took in the dark swirls of brown and the wisps of green, their shade reminding her of crushed emeralds. God, were his eyes even real? Who had eyes like his?

“Speechless?” He teased her and placed a soft kiss on her cheek, “Already? And here I was hoping…” He kissed her other cheek and reached between her legs, “To hear you call my name again, and again…” He dipped a finger and teased her for a moment, long enough to have her wet and ready.

Her breathing laboured, Alina licked her lips and reached for his hair, fingers playing with the luscious locks, “You wish, Nikolai. I’m just getting ready.”

He hummed and leaned in to kiss her with a long kiss, hot enough to set fire to the sheets around them. Then it was over and he was sinking into her with a satisfied groan, “Saints… You feel… Heavenly.”

Alina bit her lip and wrapped her arms around his neck with a nod, “You too. God… You feel… So good. So… good.” She mumbled compliments after compliments as he adjusted himself, his touch teasing her body in the best of ways. “That better not be your only condom, Nikolai. I want more.”

“Already?” He chuckled, “Then I better make sure you’ll still want it after we’re done.” Then he started to move, and the whole world faded to nothing.

Nikola’s rhythm was slow and steady at first as he drew in and out with painstakingly patient strokes, making Alina feel every little second of it. She held onto him hard with laboured breathing and hooded eyes, gasping and moaning yesses and mores and his name. Oh, his name…! Alina had never experienced sex so good she wanted to say nothing but her partner’s name. But here she was now, being banged so thoroughly by this man that her tongue knew nothing but his name.

“God!” She cried out when he picked up speed, his hips rolling harder with each thrust. He went deep and hard, and Alina swore she saw stars every time. Every. Single. Time.

“Goddess…” Nikolai replied with a chuckle and a kiss to her lips, its softness a paradox to his dirty, dirty moves. “You are… a goddess, Alina… So incredible, I can’t believe you’re real…” He rasped against her cheek, his forehead pressed to hers, effort drawing a deep line between his eyes, “I think I’ll die tonight.” He added just before delivering a stronger and harder thrust.

Alina’s moan was loud and echoed all around them, her blood so close to igniting all it would take was a spark. “Please, Nikolai… Please…!” She begged, wanting him to destroy her. She’d never wanted an orgasm to ruin her existence as much as she wanted one now.

“Your wish is my command, sunshine…” Then he was rocking his hips harder and faster than ever, the bed groaning under their heated encounter, and then… at last…

Alina was crying out a moan, his name, something in between. And Nikolai cried out as well, shuddering hard as the two rode the remnants of their orgasm, their bodies so spent for now that they were mere husks of themselves.

“Well… I guess it was worth it going with your idea.” She said after a while, wrapped in Nikolai’s embrace as they rested before their next round.

He hummed, “I always say that anything worth doing always starts as a bad idea, sunshine.”

“So you agree it was a bad idea?” She asked over her shoulder, arching an eyebrow at the impossible man.

His chuckle was warm and earnest, “You thought it was, Alina.”

She rolled her eyes and settled back, “You’re so cocky.”

“Yes, you complimented me quite a lot just now, thank you once more.”

Alina pushed her elbow back and grinned satisfied as Nikolai let out a grunt. Then, he rolled her over and began kissing her neck with only a wink as a warning, and Alina soon forgot all about his insufferable streak.

“I don’t want tonight to end, sunshine…” He whispered, his breath teasing her pulse as he planted slow and hot kisses up the column of her neck, “I want to stay in this bed forever, with you.”

Her eyes fluttered closed and her hands blindly searched for his hair, her fingers playing with the soft locks as his kisses drew closer to her mouth. “The night is still young…” She whispered back, putting aside any thoughts about the next day. Tonight was about tonight. The future had to wait.

“What do you want me to do now, sunshine? Tell me and I’ll do it.” His breath was on her lips now, warm and teasing, holding a kiss just out of reach.

“I want you to kiss me right now…” She said, “Then I want to be on top. I want to ride you, Nikolai, slow and hard.”

“Hm, slow and hard? And here I thought you’d want it hard and fast…” He chuckled and pecked her lips, “But I’ll grant you your wish, Alina. Anything to hear you make those sweet, sweet sounds.”

Then he was kissing her slowly, his mouth speaking in a language that ignited her blood bit by bit. He massaged moan after moan out of her, their bodies pressed together as lust slowly built up between them. Nikolai broke the kiss just to trail a line straight to the hollow below her jaw, where he grazed her skin with this teeth before pressing a long, slow kiss that had her gasping for air. Saints above, this was pure, delightful sin. And Alina wanted more.

“Nikolai…” She rasped, “Come on, you insufferable man…” His chuckle only made her more eager, “I think it’s time I’m on top.”

Without a word, Nikolai hooked a hand around her knee and flipped them over. Alina let out a yelp before putting her hands against his chest to keep balance. Nikolai flashed a grin at her, “That… Was adorable.”

She slapped him lightly, “Shut up.”

“I’ll sit up instead, hum?”

Alina blinked in surprise but she didn’t stop him as he adjusted himself under her, their bodies barely touching each other. She eyed him, already hard and ready for the taking, and warmth pooled between her legs, her body desperate to ride him.

“You look ravenous, sunshine…” He said, “Ready to risk any… Accidents.”

Alina blushed in spite of herself and awkwardly reached for his pants, from where she’d seen him withdraw his previous condom. “You’re so full of yourself…” She muttered as she offered the item, “Two?”

Nikolai shrugged and readied himself, “I admit I grabbed just one, the second must have tagged along.”

“Haha, yes, of course. They just couldn’t be separated.”

A mischievous glint burned in his eyes. He circled her waist and pulled her closer, his voice dropping to a husky whisper, “Much like us, Alina.” His gaze dropped to her breasts, which were right in front of him, should he just angle his head a little lower, “I wonder what sounds you’ll make when I suck those…”

Alina let out a shuddered breath and watched him lean in, his eyes flicking to hers just before he took one nipple in his mouth. She held onto his shoulders, a moan on her lips, when his tongue circled the tender flesh. Then she clung harder when he gave her a playful bite. And then she let out a shuddered cry when he sucked hard, his mouth playing her like a master musician. “Nikolai…” She let out, “Please…”

“Your call, Alina… When you want…” He rasped, his tongue teasing her nipple endlessly, “But I’ll take my time with this, sunshine. You make the most beautiful sounds.”

Her hand shakier than ever, Alina reached down and sank into him, her body happily taking in his hard length as she slowly adjusted her position. A grateful sound came out and she wasn’t sure just who had it belonged to. Then she started to ride him, rolling her hips slowly, sinking her body deep.

Nikolai kept playing with her breasts, teasing her with his tongue, giving her a rhythm to move to, driving her mad with pure, raw lust.

“Oh…!” She dropped her head back and rode faster when he sucked hard on her other nipple. His hold tightened and he let out a groan. “Yes…!”

“Alina… Oh… Alina…!” His hot breath fanned her skin, goosebumps following suit.

And Alina moved. Going down hard, feeling every second of it, relishing in every touch and sound. Her skin could be glowing for all she knew. This truly was the best sex she’d ever had in her life, and frankly… Nothing would ever surpass it.

“Nikolai…!” She gasped, feeling the edge so close, so close… And then she was falling hard, crying out a wordless sound as she clung hard to him and rode her high to the very last drop, taking extra satisfaction in the way Nikolai fell apart under her, his growl like music to her ears.

Saints be blessed. She would have to be carried out of the bed after this.

Rain fell at a lazy pace all around her. Alina eyed the street, nerves making her foot tap endlessly as she waited for the next bus. It was early in the morning and she’d been told one would arrive in the next half hour. Still, she wanted it here faster.

If not, she might be tempted to go back to that room.

“Damn it!” She cursed under her breath. Last night had been, quite possibly, the best night of her life. Nikolai had put to shame anyone that claimed to be great in bed. Which meant Alina wouldn’t be able to leave his arms if he had woken up before her.

So, when she woke up first… She snuck out.

Better to be the jerk that leaves without a word than be the stupid one that wasted their trip in bed with some guy. Even if that guy had her body singing with great sex.

She eyed her watch and groaned. If that bus didn’t arrive soon…

“You missed breakfast.”

She let out a yelp and whirled on the spot, eyes widening as she came face to face with Nikolai. Who, much to her chagrin, was beginning to be rather soaked. And was here. Before she could leave for good.

She opened her mouth but nothing came out.

A corner of his mouth curled up a little, “I meant actual breakfast, but the other kind could be in the menu as well.” He paused, cocked his head and eyed her bags, “Though I suspect that’s exactly why you’re up so early.”

“I… Look… I have a trip plan.” She explained, as though those few words were enough.

He nodded and passed a hand through his hair, pushing dripping locks away from his face. Alina felt her breath falter at the gesture. God, could this man stop being so attractive?

“Does that mean you don’t want to repeat last night?”

Alina looked away, her cheeks burning hotter than the sun, “We can’t repeat it. We just happened to share a room. You’re going your way and I’m going mine.”

“What if we aligned our trips?” He stepped closer, “We’d have company, we’d save in lodgings, etcetera…”

“And we’d repeat last night over and over again?” She arched an eyebrow, hoping her nonchalance masked the way his words had her body shivering with anticipation.

His voice dropped an octave, “Come back to bed, sunshine. I assure you it’ll be worth it.” He reached for a lock of her hair and took in a slow breath, “We’re both traveling aimlessly through Ireland… Why not share the journey?” He chuckled, “And yes, sex would be included in the package. I’m certain one night wasn’t enough. It wasn’t for me. God… You were…” He trailed off as he finally let go of her hair. “What do you say, sunshine?”

She blinked like a startled deer, “Why do you keep calling me that?”

He shrugged, “It suits you.”

“Oh.” She paused, “That’s it?”

“Well,” He winked, “You were a ray of sunshine from the moment we met, hard to avoid calling you that.”

She rolled her eyes and shook her head, “Of course.”

“I mean it with all my heart, Alina. Sunshine… Suits you.” It seemed there was no way to have him stop using the nickname.

“How long are you going to be here?”

Nikolai shrugged again, “Don’t know. However long I wish. And you?”

She frowned, who the hell went on a trip without planning an ending date? “I… Well, a month. Give or take.”

“Wonderful!” He smiled a smile brighter than sunlight and Alina found herself struggling for a reason to be angry at his outburst. “So… What do you say, Alina?”

“What if I refuse?”

“I’ll be disappointed, of course. But you are free to go your way. I just… Hoped we could continue what we started.”

Alina looked away and chewed on her lip. She barely knew him. Not that this fact had stopped her from banging him thoroughly. And saints… It was so damn good!

Oh god. She was going to regret this.

“Fine, we can… Stick together.”

Alina chewed on the inside of her cheek as she looked at the packages in front of her. Why the hell were there so many options? She looked at the hasty scribble on her palm and then at the prices. Whatever, she’d pick the averagely priced and leave.

“Hmm… Afraid we’ll run out of condoms, sunshine?” Nikolai’s breath tickled her ear as he wrapped his arms around her waist, and placed a soft kiss on her neck.

Her stomach flipped on its head at the softness of this gesture. Then she took a shaky breath and looked over her shoulder, their noses brushing ever so slightly, “Doesn’t hurt to be prepared, does it? Plus, you…” She dropped her voice to the tiniest of whispers, “Well, we spent a lot of them last night. And this morning. So, unless you have an endless supply in your bags, we’re taking these.”

He arched an eyebrow and a corner of his mouth curled up in a playful grin, “We?”

She pushed him off and then placed the package of condoms and another of pills in his hands and gestured towards the register, “Actually, you pay. I’ll be waiting.”

Nikolai chuckled and, with that insufferable grin of his, leaned down to peck her lips before walking away to pay for their things.

“Ah, I remember when my sweetheart would look at me that way.” An old voice spoke from the entrance to the next aisle.

Alina turned towards it and saw an elderly woman dressed in a classic outfit, the demure aspect of it clashing with the bright blue of her hair. “Huh… Like what?” She asked, her stomach flipping like crazy once more.

“Like I’d put the sun in the sky.” Then she chuckled, “And like I was the sole reason he ever got a boner, the rascal.”

Alina’s eyes widened as those words came out, “I…”

The elderly woman chuckled, “Oh, we did some naughty things…”

“Right…” Alina didn’t know what to say. The lady seemed nice enough, but Alina really didn’t want to stand there, listening to the woman’s sexcapades. “I’ll just…” She gestured to Nikolai, who was walking back.

“Of course, go one and have fun with your man.”

“He’s not…” She started, but then she gave up and shook her head. There was no point in telling the lady she and Nikolai were just sex partners. Nothing more. Even if he was rather… tender and sweet with her. Which wasn’t a thing she’d expect from a colourful friend.

“Ready?” Nikolai arrived and took her hand before turning to the lady and greeting her with a dazzling grin, “Good morning, madam.”

“Madam? Oh, he’s a keeper.” The woman smiled and winked before finally leaving Alina alone.

“Nice lady.”

“Huh?” Alina’s mind had been somewhere far away, distracted with the old lady’s misinformed opinion on her and Nikolai’s relationship.

“That old lady.”

“Ah, yes. She thought we were a couple. Almost told me details of her own sexual life.”

Nikolai shuddered visibly, though rather dramatically for it to be more than him poking fun at Alina’s face. “Wouldn’t want that, would we?”

“Stop! Do you really want to hear about old people’s sexual lives?”

He paused then made a face, “No, you’re right. No one wants that.” Then he looked at her from the corner of his eye and a wolfish grin grew on his lips, “A couple, huh?”

Alina felt a blush heat up her face, “She probably saw what we were buying and you teasing me and made assumptions.”

Nikolai didn’t answer. Instead he brushed his thumb across her knuckles, the soft gesture distracting Alina from literally everything else. He always did this. Somehow, Nikolai knew exactly how to put Alina’s mind at such an ease, the world could collapse on itself and she wouldn’t even notice.

They’d been together for two weeks now, their original travel plans having been aligned so far. And in that time, Nikolai had been an unexpected force of nature in Alina’s life. He wasn’t just really, really good in bed. He was also a great company overall. Talking with him was a paradox of rolling her eyes and feeling like there wasn’t a thing in the world she couldn’t talk about. But it wasn’t just that, it was the comfortable silence they fell into as well. Past relationships… One in particular, had been riddled with heavy silences that threatened to suffocate her.

Nikolai was a breath of fresh air.

And it scared her.

“You’re awfully distracted, sunshine. Something on your mind?” Nikolai’s voice interrupted her wandering thoughts, a tinge of worry underlining is otherwise nonchalant tone.

She shrugged, “Just thinking.”

“Hmm…” He looked at her, “Nothing’s wrong, is it?”

She shook her head and rolled her eyes, “Stop worrying so much, Nikolai. Nothing’s wrong.”

His voice softened, “Can you blame me for worrying?”

No, she couldn’t. The first time he’d caught her this distracted, Alina had accidentally stumbled on a memory post from her old facebook. Somehow, she’d gotten an email and in her early morning drowsiness, Alina hadn’t realised what she was clicking and ended up staring at a post she’d made on the day she’d broken up with her high-school-the-university boyfriend, Mal. It was about her planning a surprise, a very cryptic but excited post about big plans. Plans that never came to happen as she stumbled on him cheating on her in some orgy-like frat party. He wasn’t even sorry. In fact, he’d blamed his cheating on her, for neglecting his needs.

Nikolai had returned from grocery shopping to find her curled up in bed, her phone thrown on the floor, tears dried on her face.

She hadn’t planned on letting him see her like this or letting him know of what had happened, but Nikolai had been so worried about her that Alina couldn’t lie to him.

“Tell you this…” He started, his voice a little more cheery, “How about we have a picnic by that lake we saw over the hill with the ruins? It’s very secluded and rather beautiful. We could spend the rest of the afternoon lost in there.” He added a wink for good measure.

Just like that, Alina’s mood shifted. She rolled her eyes but smiled nevertheless, “Are you really suggesting sex by the lake?”

“Well…” He drawled, “If we get in the mood…” With a tug, Alina was in his embrace and Nikolai was brushing his nose up her neck, his hot breath teasing her skin and blood, “I won’t deny your wishes, sunshine.”

Her eyes rolled in their sockets as a soft moan escaped her mouth, “What if someone sees?”

“That’s the bonus of a secluded spot, it’s not easy to be seen.”

She pondered the idea, her mind fighting her body and heart’s will. Then, “I guess a picnic sounds fun.”

“A calendar maker, huh?” Nikolai asked, his voice riddled with awe and wonder. “Do you just handle the photos or do you do everything?”

Alina rolled onto her side and shrugged a little, “Mostly everything, though I have a friend that helps with the grid designs. But I don’t do just photos for the calendars, sometimes I paint too.”

“Hmm, what a talented woman you are, Alina…” He said with a smile, his hazel eyes locked on the path his hand was drawing up her torso, his fingertips drawing invisible shapes that had goose bumps trailing all over her skin, right through the layers of fabric she was wearing.

Alina felt a shudder break through her control. Nikolai had this effect on her, even when the steamiest thing they had done all afternoon was kissing, he managed to turn her on with just one look.

“Hum…” She cleared her throat, “I just work hard on what I do.”

Nikolai arched an eyebrow and leaned in, close enough for his breath to tickle her lips, “But you can’t cultivate talent with just hard work, sunshine.” He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, thumb lingering on her skin, “You need…” His thumb moved to her lower lip to trace it, “Passion.”

“I thought…” She let out, feeling a little breathless, “You said you wouldn’t seduce me into sex here…”

“I love it when you quote me…” He brushed his lips over her cheek and pressed a soft kiss, “But I was going to suggest us returning to our room and getting… cosy.”

She took a hold of his collar and pulled him down for a heated kiss, “I like that.”

A few days later, and with most of the trip being divided between exploring the land and sleeping together, Alina and Nikolai were holed up in their room. A blessed storm had given them the perfect excuse to stay in bed all day, and Alina couldn’t have been happier about it.

Although she would rather die before admitting such a thing.

Before admitting she loved being wrapped in Nikolai’s embrace and just stay there. Saints help her, she wasn’t in love but by all the stars… She was growing dangerously fond of him. Maybe even… falling for him.

A soft kiss was pressed to the back of her neck. “Should I order food?” Nikolai asked, his voice groggy from sleep and sex.

She nodded and looked over her shoulder, “Please do. You spent the hell out of me.”

His chuckle was equal parts delight and mischievous, “And we can’t go for the next round if we don’t get some food in your system, can we? And may I add… I love knowing I’m the one responsible for your current state.”

She rolled her eyes and elbowed him lightly, “Of course you do, with that ego…!”

With another chuckle, Nikolai got up and ordered some food. During that time, Alina thought of the impending end of her trip and how it felt too… short. She was terrified of the possibility of falling for his man but… She also wanted to see where it could go. If… If he wanted to see it too.

“You know…” She waited to until he looked over his shoulder, his eyes catching hers in the room’s dim light, “I could extend my trip. You’ve helped with the money part, so my trip budget still has room for extra days…”

Her heart soared as she saw Nikolai’s eyes light up with something akin to pure bliss.

Then it sunk when that bliss shuttered and he looked away, his mouth forming an ominous straight line.

“Alina… There’s…” He cleared his throat and raked a hand through his hair, “I… There’s something I should have told you sooner. About me.”

Dread wrapped a cold hand around her throat, “What are you talking about?”

He set his jaw and looked away before taking a deep breath, “My name isn’t Nikolai Sturmhond. That's an alias I use when I want to go incognito.”

She frowned, “Why? Who are you then?”

His hazel eyes flickered to hers, something akin to pain burning in them, “My name is Nikolai Lantsov, sunshine. I’m the crown prince of Ravka.”

Alina felt the world slow down to a lazy crawl. He was… And she’d been… She’d been having hot, dirty sex with the prince? And in all their conversations to… to get to know each other… He’d never…

She was about to ask him why he’d hidden the truth like that when he spoke again, “And there’s something else, Alina… I’m… Well, this trip… It was sort of my last hurrah.” He focused his gaze on the floor, “As per agreement with my mother.”

“Agreement on what?” She let out in a whisper, anger and pain and confusing dripping from each word.

His gaze flickered to hers again for once brief moment, “On me accepting an engagement to a woman of her choice.”

That meant… That meant he was engaged. To someone else. All this time… All this time he’d been involved with her, he’d also been engaged to marry someone else. She felt sick. And hurt. And betrayed.

“Sunshine…” His voice trembled. But she wasn’t about to let his vulnerability win her over, not anymore.

“Go away.”

“Sunshine, please…”

“And stop calling me that!” She snapped at him and aimed a pillow at his head, “Sleep somewhere else and call pet names to someone else, you bastard!” Her voice broke and she looked away, “Sleep in the bathtub or the floor, for all I care. But I don’t want to see you ever again, Nikolai.”

Silence, heavy and unbreathable, settled between them.

Then Nikolai took a shuddered breath and nodded, “I’ll… I’ll go. I’ll see if I can find another room.

And then he grabbed his clothes and left the room with one final glance that Alina refused to acknowledge. She was too busy trying not to cry.

The sound of the door locking softly behind him felt like a canon going off in her ears. Shattering her to pieces.

And then she cried.

A few days later…

She sat in Genya’s couch, nursing a mug of hot tea as her friend bustled about the kitchen, looking for some special cookies. “I swear I had them here! Bought them just for you! Aha! Here we go.” She sang the last word and sat down next to Alina, offering a box of cinnamon cookies shaped like stars and moons and even foxes.

Alina grabbed one and bit on it half-heartedly, her mind far away from this room.

“Alina… What’s the matter?”

She frowned in feigned confusion, “What are you talking about?”

Genya rolled her eyes and pursed her lips to one side, worry marring her features, “You’re a bit off. You’re not paying attention to much. And you came back from your trip a week earlier. Not to mention this is all such a stark opposite to how you sounded during your calls from Ireland. You seemed so happy you could barely contain it. Like…” Genya gestured at the air, “I could hear the smile in your voice! Then you return early… Like this. Something’s wrong. Tell me, Alina… I can’t help you feel better if you don’t tell me.”

Alina shrugged and looked away, “Turns out the trip wasn’t as fun as I thought.”

“Really? That’s it?”

“That’s it.” She said. And then the TV betrayed her with news on… him.

Alina took in a sharp breath as his smiling face took centre stage with the headline about his...

“The prince is finally getting engaged?” Genya asked aloud, “I honestly thought he’d avoid that for as long as possible… Alina?”

Alina couldn’t take her eyes off of him. Those words. The beautiful woman in his arm. Her eyes grew blurry and she quickly wiped them. She wasn’t going to cry over him again, never again.

“Alina…” Genya touched her arm gently and slowly managed to get her attention back, “Tell me.”

She swallowed down and took in a shuddered breath, “He lied, Genya. He pretended to be just some guy when he was…” A sob surprised her, “When he was the prince! And engaged!” Her voice cut through the air, her heartache too strong for an even voice.

Understanding dawned on Genya. The next moment the TV was off, and she was pulling Alina into a tight hug and whispering comforting words to her friend. It’ll be all right. It would be all alright…

Six months later

Alina’s laptop was rudely snapped closed, and she barely had time to take her hands away or risk losing fingers.

She looked up offended, her eyes turning to slits at her red-headed friend, “Genya! What the hell?”

Genya placed both hands on her hips and shrugged off Alina’s anger, “You need a break, Alina. You’ve been drowning yourself in work, work, work!”

Alina looked away with a huff and crossed her arms, “I’ve been working, that’s all. You know it’s a busy time.”

“Ridiculous excuse that we both know is weak as heck. You’ve been drowning yourself in your work ever since you can back from that trip. And you need a break. A serious one, not just a prolonged lunch with the girls.”

She rolled her eyes and tried to reach for her laptop. But Genya snatched it away in a blink. “Hey! That’s mine! And I don’t need any break, Genya. I’m doing perfectly fine.”

“Yeah right, and I’m the queen of Ravka.” Genya sighed and her eyes saddened a little, “Alina, you’re one of my best friends and I hate seeing you like this.” Then she snapped her fingers and winked at her, “Which is why you’re coming with me, Zoya, Tamar and Nadia to Scotland!”

Alina blinked twice, fast and confused, “Scotland? Are you kidding me?”

“Nope. And you better pack fast and well because we leave tomorrow.”

Alina watched in horror as Genya walked away with her laptop in hand, “Really? And you’re kidnapping my laptop to make sure I go?”

“I’m putting it back in your study and locking the door. You’re not taking it with you. Now go,” She looked over her shoulder with a grin, “Pack your things, we’re going on a trip!”

Alina eyed the cottage Zoya had rented for their trip. It was… fantastic, if she were being honest. It made her want to stay there forever. But for consistency sake, she kept her frown on for a little longer, grumbling at Genya once more on how she didn’t need to be coerced into leaving her home.

“You needed a change of air. Like we all did. And it’s been a while since we’ve had some girl time anyways.” Genya offered with a wink and walked through the front door.

Immediately they were greeted with warmth. The fireplace in the living room was running at a lazy pace and heating up the place quite nicely. To their left an arch in the wall led to the kitchen, where a round dinner table sat. Right in front of the door was a set of stairs that led to the first floor, where the girls found four small rooms. The ideal amount, as Tamar mentioned with a wink in Nadia’s direction.

“Wait until you see the beds, then you can decide if it’s great or not.” Zoya said with an arched eyebrow. She entered through one door and made a non-committal sound, “If they’re all like this one, we’re not bad. I’d prefer a larger bed but…”

“Why? You can’t sleep if it’s not in starfish position?” Genya bumped her shoulder and moved to the next room with a chuckle.

Zoya pursed her lips, “I like to have space, Genya. And I don’t sleep in starfish position.”

“Of course. You sleep in vampire queen position.” Alina let out, finally letting go of her frown as the warmth of the place and the company of her friends finally melted away her mood.

Nadia snorted behind Tamar as Zoya settled her cold blue eyes on Alina. Then, a corner of her mouth tilted up and she nodded once, “Touché.” She paused, “This one’s mine.” Then she was putting her things on the bed.

Before long the girls had all picked their rooms and were settling downstairs with a batch of freshly made coffee.

A bird chirp startled Genya just as she was reaching for a cookie. She reached for her phone and in a blink her face lit up.

“What’s gotten you so happy?” Alina asked.

“I bet it’s David.” Zoya replied with a wicked grin, “Ever since Genya got his number they keep trading actual letter-length messages every day. You know, the whole reason she stops listening to us for five minutes straight during our lunches.”

“I do not!” Genya complained. But Alina grinned nevertheless, very aware of Genya’s new beau and constant distraction. Tamar and Nadia chuckled into their mugs. Genya frowned at everyone’s reaction for a moment before continuing to read her message. Then her bright smile returned, “David invited us to stop by!”

Stop… by? Alina frowned, confused with this statement. Wasn’t David back in Ravka?

“Stop by?” Nadia voiced Alina’s question.

Genya nodded, “Yes! He’s staying in the area with his friends as well. He invited us to stop by this afternoon!”

Alina cut a glare to her friend, “So… Girl time, huh? When were you going to tell us about this?”

Genya flashed a sheepish smile, “I swear I didn’t plan this trip with him in mind. But when I said I was going away for a couple of weeks… Well, he said he too was coming here.” She shrugged, “I swear!”

A long pause followed. And the Zoya put her mug away and sighed, “I guess we’ll be visiting David.” She eyed Genya, “Why on earth did he invite us all if you’re probably looking for some makeout time?”

Genya’s freckled disappeared in the blush that coloured her cheeks, “We’re not, Zoya! And he specifically mention all of us. He wants to show us the place he’s staying in.”

“I take it it’s not a cute cottage like ours.” Tamar offered.

Genya shook her head, “It’s like an old mansion. He says it’s exciting!”

Zoya snorted, “David’s exciting can be very different from my exciting, Gen.”

“Shut up! And go get ready. And bring your boots, I don’t think we’ll need to take the car.”

All right, David had friends in high places.

That was all Alina could conclude upon seeing the ancient house, a mansion that looked more like a castle than anything else. And it was in pristine condition. The gardens were exquisite, not a leaf out of place. The windows looked freshly refurnished and the main door looked like it could handle two wars.

The hall was… breathtaking. Two tall windows from the stairs offered a rainbow of coloured lights as the morning sun filtered through the sainted glass in almost magically places beams of light. The carpet lining the floor and the stairs was old, but it seemed to be in better condition than half of her towels back home.

David took the girls through a quick tour around the ground floor before settling with them in the kitchen, where he started to make tea. His eyes seemed to constantly find Genya, no matter where he stood, and Genya… Well, she couldn’t keep her own eyes off of him. Even if he was having a conversation about types of weapons with Tamar.

“Really, the amount of metal wielding techniques is staggering. I swear…” He chuckled and double checked the water, “It’s an adventure to study them all. At least those that we have information on.”

Tamar nodded, “Yeah, I know what you mean. Those swords…” she let out a breath and laced her fingers through Nadia’s, “I hope you let me take a closer look at them, David. I want to pry them open. Metaphorically speaking.”

“Of course. I’ll just have to ask Nikolai about it.”

In that moment, Alina looked back from the scenery sprawled outside and focused back in the conversation, “Did you say…?”

And just then, another voice carried through the corridor, “David! Can you tell me where you left those reports on…” Hazel eyes. Beautiful as the last day she’d seen them. “Alina…?”

She stood there frozen. “Nikolai…”

“ALINA!! Please stop!” Genya rushed after her, carrying a large, black umbrella after Alina had run off with their own. “Alina!”

Alina stopped and whirled on the spot, clutching her umbrella so hard her knuckles turned white, “Did you plan this?! Did you know he was here?!”

Genya halted, her face distorted with pain and regret, “No! I swear! I told you the truth about David’s trip and invitation, Alina.”

“Then what about Nikolai?! You must have known, since you’ve been dating David for a while now!”

“I…” Genya started and looked away, “I knew of him. But I’d asked David if he’d be around. He said Nikolai was busy in his study and wasn’t about to leave any time soon.”

Alina set her jaw, “Well, he did. And you still kept this fact from me. What were you hoping to achieve, Genya?”

Genya bristled, “Nothing, Alina! I just wanted you to get out of your head and take a breather! When I found out he was here I… I couldn’t just cancel our trip. Not after we were settled in!” She breathed hard, then a spark came to life in her eyes, “But maybe it’s good!”

Alina dropped her voice to a cold whisper, “Good?”

“Yes. Maybe this is the chance you two have to clear the air! You two broke things off so fast, without any closure… Maybe this is your chance to get it, Alina.”

She shook her head and looked away, tired of seeing that place in the backdrop. Tired of that tiny hope that Nikolai would too follow her… “He had his chance, Genya. He ruined it. I… I want to go back to our cottage. Please.”

Genya seemed keen on saying more, but then she nodded, “Ok, let’s go home. I’ll… I’ll plan another visit with David.”

That night Alina barely talked at dinner, letting her friends talk among themselves. Then she left for bed early, hoping a good night sleep would help her feel better.

“So… He’s not as impressive as the magazines make him out to be.” Zoya said after Alina’s door was closed.

“That’s your takeaway from today?” Genya said.

Zoya shrugged, “What? I’m just saying. He’s good looking, but I wouldn’t take him for a spin unless I was desperate.” She paused, “Not that I’m saying Alina made a bad choice. They clearly have sizzling chemistry.”

“Should I let Harshaw know that meeting the prince in person has only strengthened your relationship or…?” Tamar asked as she arrived from the kitchen, a bottle of scotch in her hand, a tray with glasses in the other.

Zoya scoffed and crossed her arms, “We’re just…”

“Sex buddies.” Nadia finished, “Oh Zoya, you know we know that’s not the truth.”

Zoya scoffed again, “We’re not talking about me.”

“No, we’re talking about how Alina and the prince looked as though struck by lightning.” Tamar poured the scotch and passed the glasses around. “I know you didn’t plan this far ahead, Genya, but now that the pieces are in place… What’s your plan?”

Genya chewed on her lip, “I don’t know. I don’t want to force Alina to do anything she doesn’t want to do, but they clearly need to talk it out. We’ll be here for a couple of weeks, maybe we can look for chances and let them happen?”

“You’re not scheming? Are you ill?” Zoya barked a laugh, “Seriously, Genya?”

Genya flinched, “You saw how angry she was when she thought I’d tricked her. I can’t actually do it now.” She sipped on her scotch and made a face, “Eugh, can’t believe you guys like this…” she set it down and looked up with a grin, “But that doesn’t mean I won’t nudge them together if I get the chance.”

“That’s the Genya we know.” Zoya chuckled.

“Let’s just hope things work out, I hate seeing Alina like this.” Nadia said.

The girls agreed and silence settled for a moment. Then conversation started again and they talked until the late evening, about anything and everything.

A couple of days later, the girls were invited for a dinner at the castle. It would have been extremely rude to refuse, so Alina found herself sitting at a long table of dark wood and eating food she suspected had been made by Nikolai himself.

The man that haunted her sleep sat at the head of the table. Alina, thankfully, had people between them at the right angle that she could easily pretend the hazel eyed bastard wasn’t even in that room.

Of course, all good things must come to an end, and soon she found herself wandering around the house, doing her best to avoid accidentally mingling with him.

Her wandering feet took her to a study on the first floor. Three walls were covered in shelves, which were full to the brim with books and all kinds of trinkets. She peered at the spines. There were old books, worn out books, barely read books, tiny books and massive books. The collection was a kaleidoscope, a far cry from the kind of shelves Alina would have expected to find in a study like this one. Especially one belonging to a royal.

And then there were the trinkets. Old spyglasses and pocket watches. Hand painted mugs full of cliché tourist souvenirs from around the world. Dried flowers in glass bells. And…

“It can’t be…” She gasped. With a trembling hand, Alina reached for a small pebble sitting in front of an old Irish atlas. Its surface was rough, made of a myriad of colours. But that wasn’t what was so special about it. What was so special were the figures painted on its surface.

One side had a bright yellow sun. The other had a grinning fox.

She’d painted it by the lake that day… Nikolai still had it?

“I was wondering if you’d left early…”

Alina whirled on the spot, her heart jumping through hoops at the sound of Nikolai’s voice. And then at the sight of him.

“I…” She cleared her throat and put away the stone. “I needed a moment alone.”

He nodded and stepped into the study, hands in his pockets, eyes guarded. “I can see that.” A pause. His gaze roamed her face, her body, back to her face. As if he was making sure she was real. “How are you?”

She worked her jaw and looked away, “Fine.”

“Alina… I’m sorry.” His voice broke a little, “I did it all wrong and I hurt you… Please…”

She shook her head, “No. Stop. There’s nothing you can say that will change what happened.” Then she stormed out of the room, making sure to avoid touching or looking at him. She would be a fool to give him a chance, a fool! There was no way she’d let him slither his way into her life again, no matter how hard her heart wanted it.

Their first week of vacations passed in a blur. The girls went hiking and exploring and visiting nearby towns, having all the fun that Genya had promised back in Ravka.

Alina could almost forget Nikolai’s presence so near, her attention distracted with fun adventures spent with her closest friends.

But of course, even her friends had separate plans sometimes.

“Oh, I hope David doesn’t arrive late. I booked us a spot and really don’t want to miss it.” Genya chewed on her thumb, worry all over her face.

Zoya scoffed, “Relax, you have plenty of time to arrive at the museum.” She looked at her phone, “And I have to leave if I want that spa exclusive…”

Tamar and Nadia had left for a romantic date. Which left Alina.

“Are you sure you don’t mind walking back home?” Genya frowned again.

Alina nodded, “I’ll be fine. I have the boots and the umbrella. And Zoya will take the groceries back home with her.”

Zoya nodded, “Yes, I will. Still, I could drop you off…”

Alina shook her head, “I could use the walk. Go on, have fun. I’ll see you in a few hours.”

Her friends nodded and hugged her goodbye before Alina set out towards their cottage, a long walk ahead of her. She eyed the stormy clouds rolling in. Maybe a brisk pace would be better than the original idea of a calm stroll…

Maybe running would have been better.

Alina clutched the handle of her umbrella and hopped over a large puddle, skidding on the muddy road for one horrifying moment. Saints, what was she thinking? This was Scotland! It rained like crazy, just like in Ireland. Yet she’d thought she could outrun the storm and get home in one piece.

Hilarious.

A car honked, nearly startling her into another puddle. Then it rolled by her. She turned to it, tossing aside any fears of being caught by a mass murderer. Right now, a ride would be wonderful.

“What the hell are you doing here?!” She hissed at the rolled window, staring straight at Nikolai’s beaming face.

“Good morning to you too, sunshine!” He said, his mouth parted in a perfect smile. “Want a ride? It’s a terrible storm out there.”

She ground her teeth for a moment. Was it worth it? No, it wasn’t.

“Fine.” Then she quickly hoped into the car and demanded him to drive. In silence.

“How are you, Alina?” His voice broke the silence after a few minutes.

She looked outside and worked her jaw, “Fine.”

“Is that your favourite word of the moment?” He said, sparing her a quick glance before he turned into a side road.

“I’m doing just fine, Nikolai. Do you want me to whip out a thesaurus to give you a different word with the same meaning?”

He nodded, “All right, I believe you.” Silence settled as Nikolai drove slowly through the storm, the downpour so heavy they could hardly see anything in front of them. “I…” He started but his voice died out. He tried again a couple more times before shaking his head, clearing his throat and tightening his grip on the wheel, “I’m sorry, Alina.”

Her heart stuttered. She swallowed down thickly, but still refused to give him an answer.

It didn’t seem to bother him much, as Nikolai started again after another moment, “I did it all wrong. I should have… I—I shouldn’t have kept the truth from you like that. Yet I did, and I hurt you and I can never forgive myself for hurting you so much.” He shook his head again and passed a wild hand through his hair, “I’d wanted to tell you but how could I? Was there a right time? A right way? And how could I tell you who I was without jeopardizing the little heaven we’d made for each other?”

“I deserved the truth, Nikolai…” She finally replied, her voice little more than a whisper, hoarse with the effort of holding back unexpected tears.

He nodded, “You did, Alina. You did… And I knew that. I just… I didn’t know how to tell you. Everything would change once I did. Every single relationship I’ve had, no matter how short or long it was… It was always ruled by my blood. My heritage. My inheritance. I never knew for certain if the person I was with actually cared for me or for my crown. Then I met you…” His voice gained a lightness that had Alina’s poor heart swelling a little, “You didn’t recognize me. And you had no problem in calling me out whenever and wherever. You…” He chuckled, “You were a force of nature that had waltzed into my life. And you were so brilliant and beautiful and I…” A woosh of air escaped him, “I was dazzled. Stunned beyond words.”

Alina swallowed down slowly and dared a glimpse towards him. Nikolai was staring straight ahead, keeping his eye on the road, but a nostalgic smile tugged on his lips, making her wistful for those days they shared together.

“Of course, I didn’t expect anything to happen that night. Yes, I had hopes we could share a meal the next day, maybe suggest we stay together a little longer but…” he bit his lip, “Well, nevertheless, something did happen. You rocked my world.” A pause, “The next days we spent together were a dream. Though my identity hung over my head I couldn’t… I didn’t want to lose you. What we had. I know it’s silly, but with you I could be myself entirely. No roles, no secrets. Myself.” He took in a breath, “But then that night you said you could stay longer… And I knew I couldn’t keep it up. I had to tell you.”

Finally, Alina looked away, unable to ignore the pain that night still provoked in her. “I get you wanting to be normal for once but… You’re engaged, Nikolai. You shouldn’t have gotten involved with me in the first place!”

He let out a bitter laugh, “It was hardly an engagement, Alina. It was an arrangement my mother had been working on for months. It wasn’t even agreed on officially during my trip. It would become official once I returned. It became official.” He added in a small voice, “I barely knew her, it was barely a relationship what I had with her… But you…” He looked her way, she could feel the weight of his gaze, “What I had with you was something. It was a relationship. It had meaning.”

“Whatever you’re trying to get at… You’re engaged, so stop it.”

“I’m not engaged, Alina.” Her heart stopped beating, “I broke it off over a month ago.”

She looked at him, shock and distrust making it hard to breathe normally, “But just before I left the news were all over it. Some venue or something.”

He shrugged, “It’s not official yet, but we parted ways and I told my mother how I felt. She isn’t happy, but she accepts that I’m my own person and I deserve to choose my wife on my own terms.” He sighed, “This trip was a getaway trip. I wanted time for myself, to plan what to do next. I brought my friends along because I didn’t want to be alone. Then one day you show up…” He stopped the car.

Alina could see the cottage just ahead.

Her heart raced wilder and faster than a tropical storm tearing down the world. Nikolai’s apology and revelation… It was too much. How could she…?

“Alina?” He called after her as she suddenly fled the car, not caring for the storm that hailed down on her. “ALINA!”

Much to her chagrin, Nikolai left the car as well and raced after her, his voice almost drowning in the storm raging around them. He caught her hand and she whirled on him, “I can’t do this! I don’t know how!” She screamed.

Confusion marred his face, “Do what?”

“I can’t…! I don’t know how to hate you anymore! I don’t know how to hate you when you apologised like that, when you said you weren’t engaged anymore!” She punched his chest and let her tears fall freely at last, “You wormed your way into my heart then broke it, you bastard! And I was happy with hating you when you were a lying, cheating royal ass.” A sob shook her body and Nikolai gingerly held her closer, “I liked the way you called me sunshine. The way you made me smile so easily. I liked it so much when you held me close…” She let the words come out after keeping them locked up for so long, “The way you made me feel so good whether we were having mind blowing sex or just hiking through the wilderness. I let myself feel safe with you…” Her voice died a little, “I thought you were different.”

“Alina…” His eyes shinned with a thousand emotions, regret and pain and something warm shining brighter than the rest, “Sunshine…” He added, much to her stupid heart’s delight, “I’m so sorry… I didn’t mean to…”

She shook her head and punched him again, with less effort put into the punch, as if her body had already forgotten how to hate him, “I don’t know…” She looked up at him, hardly noticing the downpour drenching her every belonging, “Why didn’t you try to find me?” She finally said, her voice tiny and lost.

Nikolai’s mouth curled up in a sad smile, “You didn’t want me around, Alina. As much as I wanted to fix things, to make it up to you…” He sighed and pushed away the hair that was dripping to his eyes, “I owed you that much. To… To let you go.”

She stared up at him, unable to form any coherent thought. A million things raced through her mind, a million thoughts, a million dreams and wishes and memories. It was a confusing storm raging inside her heart, in sync with the storm raging outside. Yet one thing stood out amidst it all. Nikolai.

The way he made her feel, the way he looked at her… She wished nothing had happened that day. That they were still on that trip, living a dream together.

“What now?” She said.

A hopeful smile danced on Nikolai’s lips as he stepped forward and pulled her closer. “I’d like another chance, sunshine. A chance to make it up to you, to…” He lifted a hand and brushed his knuckles over her cheek, “To have something special with you again. I know it was short lived, but we had something special, Alina. We could… We could try again.”

Maybe it was naïve of her, maybe it was stupid… But maybe it was also the kind of leap of faith one had to take once in a while to live a full life.

She nodded, “I’d like that.”

Nikolai smiled a smile that rivalled the sun. Her heart lurched. And then he was kissing her and her heart forgot how to beat normally.

They stumbled into the cottage amidst kisses and laughter, the two of them drenched to the bones. Nikolai pulled her in for another heart stopping kiss before closing the door behind them and tugging her towards the living room, his hands and lips never straying too far from her body.

“How about I get the fire started?” He said between kisses, a hand releasing Alina from her coat.

“Is that… Oh…” She lost track of her thought when Nikolai kissed her neck, right where her blood pulsed hard. God, he hadn’t forgotten. She let out a breathy moan as he kept teasing the sweet spot, and after a while, she finally managed to finish her sentence, “Right… Was… Was that an innuendo?”

Nikolai’s chuckle warmed her skin before he stood straighter, a smile lingering on his lips. He reached for her hair and pushed it away from her face with a tenderness that stole her breath away. Then he poked her nose and winked, “I meant the fireplace, sunshine. And I certainly hope that other fire is already started, considering the way you just reacted to my kisses.”

She rolled her eyes, “You’re such an idiot.”

He hummed, “Yes, I know. About that fire…” He wiggled his eyebrows and tugged on her sweater, “We need to get rid of these soaking things before you catch a cold.”

She bit on her lip and let him take away another layer of clothes. Then she grabbed his hand and towed him up the stairs, “My room, Nikolai. I don’t know when the girls will come back, but I really don’t want to risk them catching us in inappropriate positions.”

“Inappropriate?” Nikolai gasped, though Alina could hear the grin in his voice, “Everything I do with you and to you is appropriate by miles, sunshine.”

They reached her room and she shut the door quickly before turning back to him, “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I missed your ridiculous speech so much.”

Nikolai’s mischievous grin softened as he cupped her face between his hands and leaned in to press a soft, lingering kiss on her lips, “I missed you.”

Her heart threatened to melt at the way his voice softened just then. “I missed you too.” She whispered back, letting out a breath when he trailed a line of hot kisses down her neck.

Then he was gone, making a beeline to the small fireplace that stood at the corner of her room. Within seconds, Nikolai had lit up a fire, a feature that always took Alina at least one minute of several failed smoky attempts.

“How the hell did you get it to start so fast?” She asked dumbly, slightly offended at the wood and kindle.

Nikolai stood with a playful grin, “I’m just that good at starting fires, sunshine.” He leaned in to poke her nose when she rolled her eyes, “Really good. Fantastic, even.” He eyed the rest of their clothes and tsked, “We should take care of these.” Then, before she could say another thing, he was undressing himself.

She watched in lustful awe as he revealed his body bit by bit. Holy saints, he was still a vision. And she had missed it very, very much.

“Need help?” He asked with a mischievous glint in his eyes, as if he knew exactly how dumbstruck his naked self drove Alina. She dumbly nodded, not caring for one moment if he had to do all the work. She loved being undressed by the insufferable idiot. Especially when he was naked already.

Soon Nikolai had left Alina in nothing but her panties, his fingers trailing playfully along their waistband. He’d undressed her clinically, barely teasing her until this point. His hazel eyes were dark with unguarded desire, his luxurious lips flushed with all the times he gnawed them.

Alina felt every single cell in her body shimmer with the way he watched her. The way he took his time observing her body, as if this could be the last time he got to see her. Then he leaned in and kissed her slowly, a hand cupping the nape of her neck while the other pulled her flush against him. “You’re so beautiful, Alina…” He rasped against the kiss and slowly tugged her towards the bed, “So incredible…” He laid her down and slowly trailed along her jaw, each kiss placed with extra care.

All along, Alina fought for breath, her heart hammering so fast and so hard it was a wonder it had even time between beats. “Nikolai… please…” She rasped, eyes shuttered as his hands and mouth took their time mapping her body, touching her, teasing her, tasting her.

She let out a gasp when Nikolai took a nipple between his teeth and sucked on it at length, licking and teasing it until all Alina could let out were moans after moans. Then he did the same to the other, a hand slowly snaking between her thighs to tease her pounding centre. It didn’t take long before Alina was crying out for him, his name holy on her lips as her body combusted with raw pleasure.

“My sunshine…” He said in a whisper as he braced over her and leaned in to kiss her cheek, “My beautiful, wonderful, magnificent sunshine…” He brushed his nose against hers, the touch so soft and tender it had her heart overflowing, “I love you so much, Alina… So much…”

Oh.

That was… That was almost too much. Almost.

She dragged her hands through his hair and pulled him closer for a kiss, “I… I love you too, Nikolai. I…” she let out a surprised chuckle, “I guess I hadn’t realised it until now.”

He pulled away for a moment, a smile full of wonder lighting up his face, “I cannot put into words how happy that makes me, sunshine. To hear you say those words, to know you feel the same…” He shook his head and kissed her again, a smile on his lips, stuck forever as it seemed. “I want to kiss you forever, sunshine. Forever…” Then, without waiting another second, he sank into her and Alina lost herself in the moment.

They moved together slowly, languidly. Remembering each other’s body, each other’s likes and needs and desires. They kissed at length and whispered little nothings, moving a little faster little by little. Soon their rhythm had gained speed, the two giving in to their mutual desire, to that need to come undone together at last.

Alina moaned loud with each thrust of Nikolai’s, her hands dragging through his hair and down his back, her hips meeting his movements with enthusiasm. It felt so good, to be with him like this. So… good…

“Yes... Yes… Oh… God…!” Alina cried out a wordless sound when at last she rolled over the edge, the orgasm crashing into her in full force as Nikolai thrust hard into her with his own undoing, her name a prayer on his lips.

They rode their high together, holding fast to each other. This was, without a doubt, the best night in Alina’s life.

Later that day, the storm had lost some of its strength, though the wind still howled through the trees and the rain still battered against the windows.

Alina laid in Nikolai’s arms, her heart full to the brim with happiness. She’d just returned from the bathroom to find Nikolai carefully setting their clothes over her chairs so they’d dry a little faster. She didn’t know what about the scene made her so emotional, but something about the way he took extra care with the task had her heart swelling twice its size.

Then there was the sight of him butt naked, of course.

He’d sensed her, flashed his trademark grin and led her back to bed.

“I don’t want to fall asleep yet.” She mumbled, eyes trained on the fireplace, her heart beating happily as Nikolai passed his fingers through her hair, the gesture so soft it took her breath away.

“Why not?”

She shrugged, “I don’t know. I’m afraid I’ll wake up and find out this was a dream.”

Nikolai remained silent for a too long moment. Then he kissed her crown and held her closer, “How about a dream come true, sunshine?”

She looked up. Those eyes of his were beautifully illuminated by the firelight, yet there was another fire burning in their depths, adding an extra shine to those unforgettable shades of green and brown and golden. It was though he was daring reality itself to ruin their moment, their happiness. He would fight it barehanded, just to prove Alina this wasn’t a dream. That in fact, it was a dream come to life, at last.

“That sounds… perfect.” She finally said.

A soft smile unfurled on his lips as he leaned in to kiss her forehead first, then her lips, “Indeed.” He kissed her again, “So, now that I’ve thwarted your fears… how about a little nap?”

Just on cue, a yawn broke through. Nikolai chuckled while Alina groaned a little, but still allowed him to tuck her in, “I’ll be needing seconds.” She said.

Nikolai’s eyes earned a lewd sparkle, “And thirds, I bet.” He brushed his thumb over her lower lip and kissed her cheek, “Not to worry, my sunshine, I will satisfy every need of yours. After we rest.”

She nodded. And anything he might have said after was lost, as sleep quickly took over.

The sun had just set by the time Alina emerged from her bedroom, hair in a tangled mess, cheeks permanently blushed. She padded down the stairs and straight to the kitchen where she hear Nikolai buzzing about.

He beamed at her the moment Alina came into view, “Hello, sunshine. Sleep well?”

Alina nodded, “Yeah, like a rock.”

“Guess those seconds and thirds will have to wait a little longer,” He said with a chuckle. Then his eyes travelled down her body and a look of recognition illuminated his face. God, how could someone be this gorgeous? “Is that my old shirt?” He nodded at her outfit of choice.

Alina shifted her feet and played with the hem of her makeshift pyjamas. It was his shirt. That old, threadbare teal t-shirt he’d worn so many times and that Alina had ended up stealing whenever she didn’t feel like looking for anything else. “Yeah,” She said, keeping her eyes down as embarrassment took over, “I found it in my things when I got home and I…” She shrugged, “I couldn’t throw it away.”

Nikolai settled down the spatula he’d been holding and pulled her in with a soft tug. Alina stumbled into his embrace and settled her hands on his chest, feeling his warmth and the way his heart drummed so happily under her touch. “I always thought it looked better on you.” He nuzzled his nose against hers, “I’m glad you kept it.”

“Me too,” she admitted in a soft voice.

He dropped his head to the crook of her neck and pulled her in for a hug, wrapping his arms tightly around her small frame. “I want to ask you something, sunshine…” His voice was muffled against her skin, and he sounded very… nervous.

“What?”

“Will you go out with me? On a real, official date?”

Saints. He was nervous!

“Didn’t we basically do that back in Ireland?” She said with a chuckle.

“We’re rekindling,” He mumbled, “I have to ask you out like a proper lover.”

Lover… The word send chills up her body, made her heart skitter and her lady bits shiver in excitement. God, she was weak for him, wasn’t she?

“Not boyfriend?” She heard herself say.

Nikolai looked up, eyes wide with surprise, “I was thinking of asking that after a date, sunshine.” His lips trembled with a nervous smile that threatened to burst through, “Unless you want to make that decision already?”

She chewed on her lip, “I…” A pause, and his smile dimmed a little, “It’s such a big decision…”

Confusion replaced his guarded hope, “What do you mean?”

“Well… If we make this official… Everyone will know. Your mother, the kingdom, the media… It’s basically a prelude to marriage.”

Nikolai looked on at her for a moment longer, and then he beamed at her, “Thinking of marriage already, sunshine? Was I that good earlier today?”

Alina smacked him, “You’re so insufferable, Nikolai!”

“Yes, it’s part of my charm.” He winked for good measure.

“I meant…” She fumbled with her words. What did she mean? Her mind was a mess of confusion. “I… Ugh. I meant that… What if we do date? But then it ends? It’s not like an ordinary relationship, Nikolai. Everyone will keep tabs on us. On you. You’re their future ruler. And they’ll be waiting to see if I… if I…” Her voice trailed off as the future towered over her. God. If things worked out perfectly between them… She’d be queen.

Nikolai tilted her chin up and bored his big eyes into hers, “Yes, sunshine. That’s all true. But I don’t want you to worry so much over what ifs and a distant future.” He stroked her cheek and trailed his hand to the nape of her head, “I love you, Alina. I… I hoped we could see where this could go.”

“But what about…”

“I know. It’s all… overwhelming. But what if we think on it together? As a couple? Instead of ending things before they start?” He looked down, deep golden eyelashes fanning over his skin, “I don’t want you to leave my life again, Alina. Call me selfish, but I want to know. I want to be with you, give you the love you deserve or die trying.”

His voice was full of intent. As if he could carve it all into the fabric of time itself.

Alina couldn’t help a chuckle, “Die trying? This isn’t some high fantasy tale, Nikolai. No one has to die for anything.” She leaned in and pressed her forehead to his chest, “You’re right. I’m scared of trying. I’m scared of getting hurt again…”

“I won’t hurt you again, my love. I’d rather…”

“Die?” She finished for him and Nikolai let out a breathy chuckle.

“Yes.”

“You’re so dramatic.” She paused, then… “All right. I… We can go on a date. See where this goes.”

She looked up to find Nikolai beaming brighter than the sun. Saints, he was too beautiful! They leaned into a kiss when suddenly the front door burst open.

“We’re home!” Genya yelled into the house, only to stop short upon finding Alina and Nikolai in a tight embrace, both wearing very little. “Oh saints! Forget that! We’ll be in our rooms! Quickly!”

Before Alina could utter a word, her friends rushed up the stairs, with Nadia carefully avoiding looking their way when she closed the door, and just like that they were all alone once more.

Alina blinked twice. Then she hid her face in Nikolai’s chest and groaned, “This is so embarrassing!”

His laughter was light and full of happiness, “For whom?”

“Me!”

“I think your friends were happier to see us together than anything else, sunshine.”

“They still caught us ready to pound!”

“Pound?” Nikolai leaned back and arched an eyebrow, “Were you about to… pound me, Alina?”

She groaned and tried to hide again, “Don’t get any ideas! There’ll be no… such thing now that they’re home.”

Nikolai nodded and placed a chaste kiss on her blazing cheek, “But there’ll be breakfast. Up you go, I’ll follow you with the tray. Go on!”

Another night, another dinner at Nikolai’s.

This time Alina had wandered back to his study not out of a need to get away from his watchful gaze but because she would miss this place.

Her eyes found that painted rock once more and she was reaching for it when a voice sounded from the door.

“Hiding from me, sunshine?”

She could hear the smile in his voice. She rolled her eyes and turned to him, “I was just… reminiscing.”

His gaze fell on the rock and he walked towards her, “I remember that day. You couldn’t get enough of me.”

She scoffed, “You sound as if I was all over you.”

Nikolai poked her nose then kissed its tip, “If I remember it correctly, you were.” He said with a lewd smile. Then he sobered up and laced their hands together, “What’s on your mind? You looked far away just now.”

Alina shrugged, “I was just thinking how we got here.” She chewed on the words, “We were just… just having sex.”

“Surely you remember the rest?” Nikolai added with a dramatic gasp.

“Sure, I mean, yeah there was a little more. But it was mostly just…” Alina trailed off, slightly distracted with the thumb Nikolai kept tracing over her knuckles.

“Sexual activities?” He offered with a grin.

Alina rolled her eyes and pushed him lightly, “Come on, Nikolai. Be serious.”

“I’m always serious.”

She cut him a glare, “Really?”

Nikolai’s grin grew into a small beatific smile.

Alina groaned, “You are, without a doubt, the most insufferable man I’ve ever met.”

His smile lit up.

“What? No more clever replies?”

Nikolai leaned in, “Why? Do you want me to? Because I can easily—”

“No!” She hurried to smother his mouth with her free hand, “I’m good. Just… Let me finish this, ok?”

Nikolai captured her hand and placed a soft kiss on her palm, “Of course, sunshine.”

She shook her head, “You’re really one of a kind…” Before he could say anything else, she added, “I’m just… I can’t believe where we started and where we are now, ok? It all feels… Too fantastic. Like a dream.”

“A good one, I hope?”

She bit her lip and nodded slightly, “A really good one. I…” Oh, words failed her so much right now… Alina took a deep breath, “I loved these last few days. I had fun in our dates. And I love you…” She said, the words coming as easy as air with every ticking second, “I guess… I guess I’m trying to say I want to face it all when we get back. I don’t know how it will go but I don’t want to miss out on us.”

“Oh, Alina…” Nikolai cupped her face and leaned in to press the softest tender kiss on her lips. He leaned back a little, letting her see his eyes, how they shined with love and unshed happy tears, “I love you so much, my sunshine. I promise you I will stand by your side through it all. I will never leave you alone, in a metaphorical way of course.” He added with a wink, to which Alina couldn’t hold back an eye roll of her own. Then Nikolai was wrapping his arms around her and pulling her deeper into his embrace and he added, his voice rough with emotion, “I will fight for us, Alina. For you, always.”

She swallowed down thickly and played with a button of his shirt, “Wow… If this is your ‘Let’s be boyfriend and girlfriend officially’ speech, I think I’ll need a chair if we ever take the next step.”

Nikolai beamed at her, “I’m glad you love my speeches so much, they all come from the heart.”

“You seriously expect me to believe you don’t rehearse them?” She asked with an arched eyebrow.

He winked and hugged her tighter, “Now that’s a secret you’ll have to earn, my beloved Alina. And I have a few ideas on how you can do it.”

She laughed, “We can’t skip dessert!”

“Are you certain?”

She shook her head, “Fine, I guess we can.”

Nikolai flashed his trademark grin and pulled on a book at random, quickly opening a secret passage Alina hadn’t seen yet.

She gaped at it, “Seriously?”

“Come on, sunshine. We can’t miss any second.” He took her hand and led her through the house, her heart stomach doing never-ending somersaults in anticipation of what would come next.

Nikolai looked over his shoulder, a blissful smile on his face, and she couldn’t help but smile back at him. They were doing this. Seriously doing this. Together. Officially.

Saints, she couldn’t wait for this adventure.

#nikolina #grisha fic #nikolinaweek2020 #alina starkov #nikolai lantsov #grisha #the grisha trilogy #grishaverse #my writing #otp: I want to kiss you #mine:nikolinaweek #I decided to post this for free day haha #it's LONG btw 16k words #today's only post from the looks of it lol

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perfectirishgifts · 4 years ago

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Best And Worst Brands Of 2020: From TikTok, The NBA, The Home Depot And Chick-fil-A...To Quibi, Facebook And The CDC

New Post has been published on https://perfectirishgifts.com/best-and-worst-brands-of-2020-from-tiktok-the-nba-the-home-depot-and-chick-fil-a-to-quibi-facebook-and-the-cdc/

Best And Worst Brands Of 2020: From TikTok, The NBA, The Home Depot And Chick-fil-A...To Quibi, Facebook And The CDC

This year was unprecedented for so many reasons. For most of us, our heads haven’t stopped spinning since March. For brands, this was a year when many discovered if they really had a purpose that anchored their place in the world and if their actions and experiences backed up their words and promises.

Deciding on brand winners and losers is always a challenge, but this year, I had some of the fiercest debates yet with my 450 Prophet colleagues, as brand performance took on so many more dimensions in 2020.

A number of brands were debated. We discussed the impact that Kobe and LeBron had on the world, while also talking about the Tiger King as the first COVID-19 bingeable show. The team gave a lot of love to the early COVID-19 responders, including Unilever, 3M, P&G, KFC, Chipotle and Ford, while giving equal props to those that took an authentic, purpose-based stand on social justice, such as Nike, The North Face, REI, Ben & Jerry’s, Glossier and J&J. The brands that helped us get through lockdown and changed the way we think of delivered meals and goods, including DoorDash, GrubHub, UberEats, Instacart and, “newcomers” Target and Walmart all received a lot of votes. Similarly, the streamers got a lot of mentions, from Netflix to Hulu to Peacock and Apple TV, as did the connectors in Zoom, WebEx, Teams and the slowly dying Skype.

Our team engaged in some serious conversations about the differences in responses that Uncle Ben’s (now Ben’s Original) versus Aunt Jemima (we are still waiting) took or about how we will collectively sustain the incredible Black Lives Matter momentum. Finally, others wondered what shape Brand USA will take in 2021 and how we will be talking about Pfizer and Moderna a year from now.

So, while dozens stood out, these seven received our highest marks:

Chick-fil-A

Florida, Brooksville, Chick-fil-A, fast food chicken restaurant, drive thru line due to Pandemic.

While COVID-19 crushed the restaurant industry, Chick-fil-A’s immediate response and quick innovations explain why it’s become the world’s third largest and most beloved quick-service restaurant. It endeared itself to its growing number of fans by doubling down on drive-thru speed, including expanded lanes, “face-to-face ordering” and “order ahead pick up.” It is crushing it with their Chick-fil-A One app and enhanced delivery options, accelerating new innovations such as meal kits and their famous sauces in grocery stores…all while still bringing “my pleasure” southern hospitality to life every day to millions.

Clorox

Hand sanitizer and Clorox sanitizing wipes sit on a table at a polling station in Miami, Florida, … [] U.S., on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Photographer: Jayme Gershen/Bloomberg

While this brand has long soared in our Prophet Brand Relevance Index® it took on an entirely new meaning in the virus-dominated universe of 2020. As consumers clamored for reliable ways to protect their families, the brand gracefully acknowledged supply-chain problems and shortages while becoming indispensable in our lives. With smart partnerships, like United Airlines and the Cleveland Clinic, it’s using its trustworthiness to increase sales and market share.

The Home Depot

TORONTO, April 3, 2020 — People line up with a social distance to enter a Home Depot store in … [] Toronto, Canada, April 3, 2020. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua via Getty) (Xinhua/Zou Zheng via Getty Images)

This year’s WFH trends helped propel the Home Depot’s business as “Doers Got More Done.” What helped drive and accelerate this is its investment, commitment and leadership. The Home Depot continues to lead the industry in inter-connected digital experiences and e-commerce, customer service, products and pricing. Its commitment to customer and employee safety (and giving back to the community) has been second to none in the retail industry, as has its commitment to professional customers.

TikTok

Photo Illustration by Mateusz Slodkowski/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

While TikTok was in the news for various reasons in 2020, its incredible timing met a moment when many needed ten seconds of relief from the real world. With over 100 million users in the U.S., TikTok has rapidly become part of our cultural lexicon. TikTok’s short-form viral videos, including its dance challenges and Ocean Spray “Dreams” video, took our minds off all things serious. From a niche player to mainstream media, this renegade has become so relevant that other platforms, like Instagram with its “Reels,” are racing to catch up.

The National Basketball Association

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 27: The Black Lives Matter logo is seen on an empty court as all … [] NBA playoff games. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

In a year of so many sports disappointments, the league, individual teams and countless players have demonstrated the best reactions to both COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter. With its bubble, the NBA showed a thoughtful, empathic balance between athletic safety and happy fans. With its unapologetic embrace of racial-justice efforts, as expressed on each player’s jersey, it’s using its stage to change the hearts and minds of its strong fanbase.

Zoom

President Barack Obama “crashes” Zoom board meeting for the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Love it. Hate it. It doesn’t matter. Triple-digit gains prove Zoom found new relevance in wildly diverse audiences, from COVID-19 stranded senior citizens to energetic preschoolers. If you didn’t know what a virtual background was or used the words “you’re on mute, Scott,” you certainly do now. With a ridiculous stock price and valuation, continuous new features and updates through Zapps (a suite of apps integrated into Zoom), as well as fun innovations like video filters, Zoom will continue to be an integral part of our lives for years to come.

Peloton

This workout-from-home brand started the year by offending an entire gender with its tone-deaf holiday ad. (Note to husbands: It’s inadvisable to tell your wife to work out more.) But as gyms around the world shut down, it understood that it had a unique opportunity to make family-room workouts an integral part of people’s health and wellness. With bikes, treadmills and increasingly appealing subscription offers (90 days free for all), Peloton hit on all cylinders in 2020.

And the brands that disappointed us the most:

Uncle Ben’s, Aunt Jemima and Land O’Lakes

LONDON: A customer’s hand taking a packet of Uncle Ben’s rice. The brand is to change the image of a … [] black farmer and could also be forced to change its name, as a reaction to a backlash over racial injustice.

While all of these storied brands announced they were making changes, it took a full-on social uprising for Mars Foods, PepsiCo and Land O’Lakes to address their decades-old history of racist brand imagery. All have done the right things in starting to address the issue. Uncle Ben has given way to Ben’s Original Rice, for example, and Land O’ Lakes has removed the Native American woman from its logo. But none have explained why it took them so long.

Boeing

The Boeing 737 MAX will take another key step in its comeback to commercial travel on December 2, … [] 2020 by attempting to reassure the public with a test flight by American Airlines conducted for the news media.

Even as the nearly two-year grounding of Boeing 737 Max comes to an end and the company moves to again sells its planes, we saw plenty to disappoint us. Not only did the safety oversights and mismanagement result in tragedies in 2018 and 2019, but it also cost as much as $25 billion. And now, it has to sell the canceled planes to airlines at steep discounts, a blow to shareholders and what was once one of the most admired names in U.S. manufacturing. COVID-19 is continuing Boeing’s misery, with global air travel falling 66 percent.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control

CDC Logo

In what should have been the least controversial voice in American public health, CDC leadership allowed politics to drag it away from its central aim. It bumbled COVID-19 testing. Early on, it offered vague and contradictory guidance on masks. And while it certainly isn’t entirely to blame for the epidemic of misinformation sweeping the U.S., it didn’t do enough to stop it.

Facebook

(Photo illustration by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Even in an industry rife with possible villains, Facebook still manages to wind up on the wrong side of history in just about everything. As a repeat offender from our 2018 list, Facebook’s role in misinformation regarding the pandemic, vaccinations and elections continued to make it harder and harder to trust the brand. Adding insult to injury, after dealing with a much deserved summer boycott, Facebook now faces a major lawsuit with the Federal Trade Commission (and 40 states) arguing it’s time to break this company up.

Quibi

People wearing masks walk past an advertisement for Quibi in a subway Station on October 22, 2020 in … [] New York City. On October 21st, Quibi’s founders announced it was shutting down its service after only six months of operation.

It could have sparked a content revolution. But Quibi, specializing in short-form content “chapters” of less than 10 minutes, failed spectacularly. In a world with fewer commuters, the idea just wasn’t compelling. Of the $1.75 billion it raised, it is returning just $350 million to investors. But we do think chief executive Meg Whitman deserves praise for pulling the plug at six months, instead of torturing both investors and the few viewers leveraging its platform.

What do you think of our list? Who would you add? Add your thoughts to the comments below.

Keep your eye out for Prophet‘s Brand Relevance Index – launching early 2021.

From CMO Network in Perfectirishgifts

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virtchandmoir · 5 years ago

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Tessa Virtue steps into the style spotlight for new 'uplifting' fashion campaign

Canadian Olympian talks personal style, women supporting women — and what's next for her off the ice.

August 30, 2019

From left: Ashley Callingbull, Karine Vanasse and Tessa Virtue are featured in a new campaign for Canadian retailer RW&CO. HANDOUT/RW&CO.

Growing up, Tessa Virtue faced no shortage of strong female role models.

“I was so lucky. I grew up with an incredibly strong grandmother, mother and sister,” Virtue says. “All three, independent, fierce, clever women who were hard workers, had goals and visions for themselves, and were really ambitious.”

“And, they didn’t apologize for those goals.”

The trio’s individual and combined influence left a Virtue with a sense of “limitless,” she recalls.

“I really believed that I could do or be anything,” she says with a smile.

While she didn’t pause to think much on it then, she’s now keenly aware of the fact that her inspirational upbringing, surrounded by a network of strong women who promoted the underlying message of “yes, you can!”, wasn’t always the case for other young girls.

“I didn’t realize that not everyone felt that way. That, not everyone felt that privilege,” she says.

The realization has been a contributing factor to the increased visibility of Virtue in media and advertisements in recent years — primarily those following the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics where she and ice-dancing partner Scott Moir stole the spotlight for their riveting routines — that allows fans and followers a glimpse into Virtue’s life that goes beyond her on-ice achievements.

“For whatever reasons, after the Pyeongchang games, there was a different awareness of both Scott and me … but it provided so many unique opportunities. And, hopefully I can have some kind of impact for young girls to look up to,” she says humbly. “I feel very privileged to be able to be considered any kind of role model.”

Olympic ice dance gold medallists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada hold up the Canadian flag after their winning performance at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games on Tuesday in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. PAUL CHIASSON / CANADIAN PRESS

Her visibility on social media platforms such as Instagram, where she boasts a following of 364,000 and counting on her account @tessavirtue17, is one area where she works to constructively (and carefully) share her struggles and successes, in the hopes of leaving a positive impression on those who may happen to scroll by.

“I’m conscious of that. And I try to do that in a way that is authentic,” she says of fully realizing the scope of her role via social media and beyond. “I think, often, about how a nine-year-old girl would feel if she were to scroll through my Instagram. And, what messaging I’m sending, both objectively and subjectively. I think, ‘What kind of role model am I?’”

Focusing on the type of content she shares — positive messages and happy shots of herself attending events or with friends and family — has kept her somewhat safeguarded from the rampant online trolling that plagues many celebrities online. And, when she does face negativity, she doesn’t allow herself to get too caught up in it.

“You put yourself out there and I think there is always vulnerability with that,” she says. “Whether that’s standing at centre ice and waiting for the music to start, or posting something on social media for everyone to criticize, you just have to hope that the good outweighs the bad.”

Her ambition to present a positive role model to young girls and women led her to a recent collaboration with the Montreal-based fashion brand RW&CO. The campaign, which sees her featured alongside Canadian actress Karine Vanasse and First Nations activist Ashley Callingbull, the first Indigenous woman to be crowned Mrs. Universe, aims to promote “powerhouse” working women, in various stages of their careers.

“The campaign is so in line with my messaging and the things that I’m trying to accomplish now, outside of sport,” Virtue says. “And it’s something that I can relate too, also.”

Virtue hopes people pick up on the collaborative, supportive air of the campaign stars and feel empowered to introduce that outlook into their own lives.

“The culture now of this competition that’s ingrained in us, to pit women against other women, and this unrealistic standard that we’re all held to — all these issues are pervasive,” she says. “We can only be stronger for women when we support one another.”

Speaking on a hot, sunny day in July at a studio space in Montreal during a brief break in shooting images for the campaign (with her mom looking on in support), Virtue reflected on how, at 30 years old, she’s reached a point in her life where she’s “transitioning,” personally and professionally.

“And I’m looking to other women to support and uplift me,” she says of the changes. “So, I think it’s really neat that (RW&CO. is) putting together, really, a movement to incorporate so many things. And, they’re not just talking the talk.”

To mark the release, the retailer will be running a contest for Canadians to nominate an inspiring woman in their lives. The winner will receive a donation to the charity of her choice.

In addition to providing a visual representation of strong female role models, the partnership provided Virtue and her campaign co-stars with the opportunity to donate a portion of their fee to a cause of their choice. Callingbull directed her share toward a shelter for Indigenous women and children, while Vanasse chose a women’s shelter in Montreal.

Virtue, chose to promote another passionate platform, highlighting her efforts as an ambassador for the Canadian organization FitSpirit, which works to promote and support physical activity and athletics programs for young girls.

“It’s something that is so close to my heart,” she says of the role. “Obviously, I’ve reaped the benefits of sport and activity. But not many girls, as it turns out, even have the resources available to them to be physically active or to maintain that as they go through high school. So, FitSpirit is connecting with schools and giving that accessibility to young girls and youth at a time when they might otherwise drop out our prioritize other things.”

“It’s an opportunity to be active and connect with other girls — and to realize the power that those lessons and the sense of building self confidence and self worth that will carry forward for them.”

Recalling a recent visit to a school with FitSpirit where she met with young girls in the program, she recalls, with evident pleasure, sharing her enthusiasm for athletics with the girls — and how she took a little bit of something away from the visit for herself, too.

“They were so curious and it’s so obvious that they’re capable of taking over the world,” she says of the energetic assemblage of youths. Needless to say, it left her feeling inspired.

“When we realize the powerhouse of that sisterhood and the camaraderie among women — there’s no stopping us,” she says.

Flash fashion: Style talks with Tessa Virtue

Canadian Olympian Tessa Virtue may be known more for her on-ice moves than her off-ice style — but, these days, the 30-year-old athlete and ambassador is putting a lot more emphasis on what she wears.

“I lived in either sweatpants or athletic wear,” she says with a laugh of her go-to uniform during her training days. “I was really of two extremes, which plays to my personality as a bit of an extremist. I was either in full-on workout wear or black tie. So, I didn’t have that middle range.”

But, now, as she ventures confidently into her next career adventures that see her stepping away from amateur sport, she says she’s having fun exploring her personal style as she spends more time in the “corporate sphere” and much less time on the ice.

“It has definitely evolved over time,” she says of her fashion sense. “Now, I would say my personal style is pretty classic and refined — with a bit of a twist. I like to have a bit of an edge to every outfit.”

Virtue recently took time away from her busy schedule to dish four tidbits about her personal style. Here’s what she had to say:

On how she chooses her outfits: “I definitely dress based on my mood. I like accessorizing differently. Having classic, quality pieces and mixing in graphic tee, a headband, a pair of funky boots or a belt and changing the outfit entirely.”

On here greatest style influence: “My mom has always shopped for me. I’m so lucky that I have an in-house stylist.”

On her MVP (most valuable piece): “I love a good blazer. Whether it’s jeans, a T-shirt and a blazer, or a power suit, I think that would be my staple.”

On her most cherished item: “My grandmother’s necklace.”

—Windsor Star

#tessa #off ice #ambassadorship #rw&co.#interview: windsor star #does love a blazer

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footyguru365 · 5 years ago

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A beginner’s guide to making a bet on football

All you want to recognise about soccer having a bet, the various soccer markets and the often confusing variety of odds and bets on offer

Football has been the most famous form of sports activities betting in current years inside the UK. The enterprise has grown to permit players to area a bet on a whole host of markets, with many bookmakers presenting special deals and aggressive odds.

The large quantity of matches way thousands of gamers bet on a huge range of different outcomes to attempt to beat the bookies.

Here, we run you thru what you want to realize approximately soccer betting so that you can cut through the confusion surrounding the markets.

A short creation to how betting works

Odds assist the bettor determine how probable an occasion is going to occur and what their capacity winnings could be. Bookmakers offer the percentages and you decide whether you need to guess on that marketplace. They are commonly proven as fractions (e.G. 2/1), but can now and again be shown as decimals (2.00) and you can decide that you favor to use. If the final results of an event is 2/1 and it wins you will win £2 for each £1 guess.

How football betting works

Thousands of soccer suits and markets are available to bet on each week. Bookmakers will provide odds at the chance of the outcome of a suit, consisting of the end result, the variety of corners and cards, person goalscorers and more.

There a number of vendors who could have unique gives and aggressive odds to try to provide you with the exceptional value wager.

Once the outcome of the event is showed and your wager is a winner, you'll be paid out your original stake plus the winnings from the chances.

Below we will run you via the most famous forms of bets on soccer.

Match Bet

The Match Bet is the handiest form of soccer making a bet wherein you will pick the end result of the soccer healthy. You can bet at the Home Team, Away Team or Draw. Remember, the wager is positioned for the 90- minute in shape. If they game ends in a draw after 90 minutes then Draw is the triumphing wager. Match Bets do no longer remember in extra -time or penalties.

Asian Handicap bet

An Asian Handicap guess is in which your bet has a “handicap” to overcome.

Each group is given both a + or a - on their scoreline. There are handiest consequences and if the sport ends in a draw the bettor gets returned their stake.

This is popular as the threat of a draw is probable, and so bettors have the hazard of triumphing their stake lower back. Here is an example:

If you wager on Arsenal at +1, you win in the event that they win by desires. You lose if they draw or lose. If Arsenal win with the aid of one intention then you definitely get your stake again.

If you guess on Standard Liege at +2, you may lose your guess if Liege lose via three or extra desires. If they lose through desires you’ll get your money returned and in the event that they lose via one aim, you will additionally win.

European Handicap bet

European Handicap is different from an Asian Handicap. For example, you could wager on one crew to win but deliver the opposite group a one aim benefit to increase the percentages.

You must get rid of or add a intention to whichever Handicap Bet you placed. Here is an example:

Arsenal (-1)

Handicap Draw (-1)

Standard Liege (+1)

You must remove one intention from something Arsenal score. If you guess on Arsenal and the result is 2-0 then your wager is a winner.

If you wager on Arsenal and it's miles 1-zero then your wager is a loser as as soon as the -1 handicap is taken into consideration the result is zero-zero.

You must dispose of one aim from whatever the draw end result is. If you guess on Draw and the result is 1-1 or higher then you will win your bet. If you guess on Draw and the result is 0-zero then your guess is a loser because of the handicap.

You need to add one purpose to something Standard Liege score. If the game ends 2-2 you then still win as Liege had a one aim benefit. If the result is 1-zero to Arsenal your bet is a loser as the end result could simplest be 1-1 with the +1 handicap.

Half Time/Full Time

You can guess on the result of the first half of and/or the second half of. You can bet on the Home Team, Away Team or Draw for one or both halves.

This means you could reduce the time had to win your guess to 45 minutes.

This bet is for the extra superior football fan who has prior expertise to indicate the groups who begin robust or weak or end a game strong or susceptible.

Knowing the beginning line-ups and whether or not key players are rested or out injured also can assist with determining this wager.

Double Chance

You can wager on two of the three outcomes of the healthy to boom your threat of prevailing. The combinations are:

Home Team or Draw

Away Team or Draw

Home Team or Away Team

If both of your mixtures wins you will be paid out. The odds are regularly decrease than making a bet on simply a healthy outcome as there's extra risk of prevailing but are precise for bettors who may want a higher hazard of winning.

Accumulators

Accumulators are amongsome of the most famous varieties of betting on soccer as you can win big pay-outs for small stakes.

An accumulator is extra than 4 selections, even as two choices is a -fold and 3 selections is a three-fold.

When you bet on an accumulator, you are betting at the outcome of multiple occasion.

So, for example, you may be having a bet on multiple football suit and this will be as many video games as you need, with the chances growing the greater groups and better odds you upload.

The stake multiplies for distinctive accumulators. An instance of this is picking five football suits for an accumulator and choosing singles might imply your stake might boom x5.

Goalscorer betting

You can bet on loads of consequences to do with goalscorers. You can bet on a player to be the primary and remaining scorer or to score anytime.

The odds for betting on first and remaining are extra than scoring any time as it's far less possibly to happen.

These bets may be proper for if a specific participant is on accurate shape or if a crew is a good deal higher than the opposite and it becomes in all likelihood a participant will score.

Scorecast/Score/Wincasts

A Scorecast is in which you are able to wager a goalscorer and the end result. For example, you can guess on Mohamed Salah to score and Liverpool to win, or guess the ideal rating Liverpool will win by.

This increases your odds as there's no multiple outcome to be determined. Some bookmakers will allow you to select the goalscorer in a Scorecast being first, ultimate or any time.

You can also simply guess on the rating of a in shape. You will choose the result you believe you studied will show up and if correct you may win your wager.

Over and Under making a bet

Bookmakers will deliver the bettor more than a few and they are able to expect the result to be both over that number or beneath it.

Most providers will use 2.5 as a base, because of this you are basically betting on whether there will be over three dreams or much less than 3 goals.

The purpose why there's a .five is that there may be no way for a team to score .five of a aim. This means that there will always be both one in all two outcomes on the bet.

The results can include dreams, cards, corners and more on some carriers.

Draw No Bet

This is where you wager at the final results of a in shape, however if it leads to a draw then you will get your stake again. However, this method the percentages will usually be decrease than other markets.

Next Manager and Player odds markets

Many bookies will offer unique odds on sure events that don't take area at the pitch.

The most famous is typically the first manager to be sacked, in which you guess on which coach can have their contract terminated at some point of the path of the season.

There is then Next Manager Odds, where you wager which manager will take over a membership.

There are also player markets which include subsequent membership for a participant or top goalscorer where you pick out a player to deliver on an final results.

You can maintain an eye out on exceptional bookmakers’ websites to peer what they must provide.

How to find cost when having a bet on football/In-Play making a bet

The first issue to do not forget is that there's no positive bet in football. You can do as a lot research and feature as a whole lot information on a recreation but there is nonetheless room for shock outcomes.

This is why you need to use your know-how to bet on soccer to decide which game and which bet you would love to make.

It is also why In-Play markets are considered one of the first-class approaches to peer price in a bet. An instance is that a crew had been attacking for the past five minutes of a game and look near scoring, so you can guess on Next Team To Score. There are similar markets for subsequent goalscorer, card, corner and throw-ins.

The simplest bets which include Match Bet and goalscorer markets will suit much less skilled bettors as will the usage of the bets with less chance along with Draw No Bet.

You need to best ever guess at the markets and at the leagues and groups you recognize or you danger wasting cash as you do now not know if the guess has price.

For example, a soccer fan who watches the Premier League every week would be more suited to having a bet on the league he knows rather than taking a punt on a random league somewhere else inside the global that they do no longer know.

Summary

Football Betting Tips has large accessibility and the variety of markets on provide mean that it is simple to get started out.

The market can appear daunting to start with however once began you may see there isn't always as a lot confusion as first thought.

There is a lot of fun available having a bet on the heaps of soccer video games played around the international – so long as you stick to betting on what you understand.

Picking out excellent value bets is the fine manner to win cash and keep away from the frustration of losing.

Now you may upload to the exhilaration of football by way of betting on it, however don't forget to gamble responsibly.

#Football Betting Tips #Bet of the Day #Correct Score Betting Tips

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topcrickets1-blog · 5 years ago

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On-line Cricket Game titles is Fantastic Medium to Quench Thirst of Enthusiasts

The party of cricket sequence or tournaments prepares cricket atmosphere all all around. Cricket is a activity of pleasure and thrills. Cricket fans are loaded with enthusiasm even though viewing the recreation. Cricket gets the beloved matter of enthusiasts to be talked about all through a event. At the time cricket setting builds up, it really is difficult for cricket enthusiast to get more than the cricket fever. Cricket supporter approaches to a variety of resources to be linked with viewing of cricket. Visual media takes place to be ideal medium for cricket enthusiasts. That enables supporter to really feel exact same excitement of activity going on ground. The excitement of cricket activity leaves them thirstier even after the coverage of cricket match. The thrilling of cricket urge qualified prospects them to on the internet cricket games. On-line cricket video games are increasing reputation day by day. On-line cricket online games can be played on web-site featuring cricket game titles. Fans by themselves can engage in on the net video games. They type their personal workforce by picking players of their liking. There is a extensive checklist of countrywide and global gamers. The rules and restrictions are distinct on numerous web sites. On the web cricket activity person experiences unique flavor of matches, as they don't have to go to the ground to participate in the sport. The on the web cricket game draws in even non- cricket loving user owing to easy use of web page. On the internet Cricket recreation can be performed on user's desire and will as it is fully self-determining activity. If you have any concerns with regards to the place and how to use score, you can call us at our own web page. There are numerous web sites that can just take you to thrills of cricket entire world. These web-sites provide on-line cricket thrills to cricket fans. These on the net game titles can make you win quite a few thrilling prizes. Some buyers handle to win grand prizes as overseas excursion or high-class vehicle. On the web cricket online games are so intriguing that often the enthusiasts can grow to be addicted to it. You require to know and abide by all rules envisaged by unique web site you are employing. The crucial accent is Internet linked pc and fervor to participate in. The total on the net activity provides finish entertainment to consumer. The method of enjoying on the net game is very simple and simple. There you have to choose a well balanced team consisting of good players. Each individual participant is allotted specific marks defined by making use of site. To engage in the on the web video games you have to have to choose a balanced team comprising 5 batsman, four bowlers, one particular all rounder and a wicket keeper the pretty fascinating section of the recreation relates to user's decision that he is not motivated by significant names of players or teams. The remaining marking or results are declared by actual performances of players. Winner is declared on genuine performance on the discipline, on-line cricket video games are extremely straightforward to engage in. What you will need to do is login to cricket dedicated internet websites, get by yourself registered in and commence getting pleasure of cricket with your have fancies.

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icedanceupstarts · 5 years ago

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2019 Skate Canada Preview

While your hardworking mods are still vaguely traumatized and trying to figure out what scores are and how numbers work, time waits for no one, marching inexorably forward until death finally comes for us all. It’s going to be an exciting weekend of further rivalries as well as a hotly anticipated senior debut, so be sure to check it out.

Piper Gilles/Paul Poirier CAN

Age: 27/27

Started Skating Together: 2011

Coach: Carol Lane

Season's Best: 202.49

Rhythm Dance: Mack and Mabel

Free Dance: Both Sides Now

Gilles/Poirier have always been one of the most creative and innovative teams to watch, but they always seem to be almost there, forever on the edge of a breakthrough but never quite making it. Once again they've come up with original, intricate programs that strike a chord with the fandom, and unique, innovative elements to go along with it. They're always pushing boundaries both artistically and technically, and it's often led to them either struggling to deliver good performances in the first half of the season or stumbling at a crucial moment to move up or both. Hopefully this is the season they can finally break through and make it to the world podium. Their rhythm dance is super fun and they keep the energy going throughout despite the complexity. It’s the exact mix of kookiness and difficult content you’d expect from this team in a Broadway season. Their free dance has already been a bit polarizing, some already loving it while others see it as a lesser version of their Vincent FD last season, a good reminder there are a lot of people out there and every program can’t be for everyone. Regardless, they've scored very well with it, and if they can skate both programs to their best, there's some much objective good that the judges won't hesitate to throw points at them. They've had a lot of time to work out the kinks, and they've got a great opportunity to possibly win this event and finally get the break out season they've been waiting for.

Marjorie Lajoie/ Zachary Lagha CAN

Age: 18/20

Started Skating Together: 2010

Coach: Marie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon, Romain Haguenauer

Season's Best: 173.69

Rhythm Dance: West Side Story

Free Dance: Bohemian Rhapsody

The reigning Junior world champions are making their senior grand prix debut here in front of the home crowd. They're a very dynamic team, small and agile, with a lot of energy and athleticism. Lajoie/Lagha have chosen to highlight their youthful energy and strong performance quality in their move to seniors rather than trying to present a forcefully mature image and it works pretty well for them. They're clearly a senior level team-- young seniors, but more than ready for the transition. We've always wanted someone to choose only the upbeat tracks from West Side Story. It can be hard to keep that energy up through the whole program but Lajoie/Lagha make it look like a breeze. Their free dance is a great vehicle for Zachary in particular. Marjorie is such a big performer that she can pull focus but he's really the focus of this particular program and clearly enjoying himself the entire way through. Their elements feel smooth and secure, and there are playful touches like his plank in the choreo steps that just make this program really fun. If they keep cleaning up their tech and improving their presentation they can have a really solid grand prix debut here at home.

Haley Sales/ Nikolas Wamsteeker CAN

Age: 22/23

Started Skating Together: 2014

Coach: Megan Wing and Aaron Lowe

Season's Best: 157.59

Rhythm Dance: Mamma Mia!

Free Dance: Samson and Delilah

Happy Birthday Nikolas! And what better birthday present than to get to perform in front of the home crowd? Sales/Wamsteeker made their GP debut last season, where they placed #notlast, and went on to place a surprising fourth at Nationals, and they're trying to follow up and have another good season this year. Their rhythm dance is pretty cute and playful, with an incredible rotational lift to end. Their free dance contrasts with an intense, dramatic character driven program that we don't see as much of these days, and it's just extremely nice to watch. You can tell these two have been working hard over the off-season-- while they've always been on the taller side, it's more noticeable this season, they're using their long lines better and skating with more amplitude. They've got little to lose at this competition and if they skate like that, they might surprise people with how well they score.

Lilah Fear/ Lewis GIBSON GBR

Age: 20/25

Started Skating Together: 2016

Coach: Marie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon, Romain Haguenauer

Season's Best: 188.25

Rhythm Dance: Blues Brothers

Free Dance: Vogue

Discobrits! Or Voguebrits now, I guess, doesn't quite have the same ring to it. Audience friendly fan favorites back to wow us all once more with their fun, unique programs and approach to skating. Their edges aren't the deepest, but they have a light, breezy quality to their skating, and their performances are always geared to make sure we're having almost as much fun as they are. Their rhythm dance is super cute and bubbly the way a Finnstep should be, with nice little touches like the hop out of their twizzles or him sliding between her legs. But the real winner this season for them is their Madonna free dance, featuring great elements and choreography, and combined in some great ways like their choreographic lift near the end, as well as one of the best uses of the choreographic step sequences this season. Both last year and this year they've really made the most of that element and shown why it's a good addition to ice dance. The judges have seen fit to reward them for their commitment to being The Most Fun as well as their generally crisp execution of their elements. They've always been good at racking up enormous points in GOE, particularly on the choreographic elements as anyone who remembers us shrieking about five point knee slides last season will recall. They're a team that has really made the most of the rule changes this quad, and if they continue to improve their skating skills to match their performance quality, they're going to be a tough team to beat, and you'll see that here if they skate their best.

Sofia Evdokimova/ Egor Bazin RUS

Age: 22/24

Started Skating Together: 2007

Coach: Oleg Sudakov, Valentin Kuziaev, Artem Kudashev

Season's Best: 164.62

Rhythm Dance: 42nd Street

Free Dance: Schindler's List

Team Perseverance are bringing another solid set of programs and a badass cantilever lift to a screen near you! We talked a bit last season how, with one of the longest partnerships in the current field, Evdokimova/Bazin embody the work ethic and grit needed to succeed in this sport, having patiently and steadily clawed their way past several teams with both more funding and hype. Last season brought their first senior national medal and first trip to a senior championship event, and this season is not only their first time getting Grand Prix assignments without relying on a host pick, it’s also their first time getting two events. They're a tall, reliable team with a security in their elements that just makes them comfortable to watch. Their rhythm dance is a significantly more conventional take on the theme than last season’s tango but 42nd Street and the quickstep style fit them extremely well. We're not generally big on Schindler's List programs but theirs is fairly well done. The Russian national battle for bronze is going to be tough with likely several teams in contention depending on how the next two months shape up. But it’s not over as long as you don’t quit, as Evdokimova/Bazin have continued to prove.

Betina Popova/ Sergey Mozgov RUS

Age: 22/24

Started Skating Together: 2016

Coach: Anjelika Krylova

Season's Best: 175.24

Rhythm Dance: Cabaret

Free Dance: Bohemian Rhapsody

Two Bohemian Rhapsody FDs in one competition, because why not? Not that you’ll have even the slightest chance of confusing the two. These uber dramatic weirdos can be a bit of an acquired taste, but they always go above and beyond, and you've got to admire their commitment. They have a tendency to be a little sloppy technically, but they're working on cleaning up their skills, and it's really the performance of these two that draws in the audience. Their elements, particularly their lifts are creative and daring, and they're always trying something new. Artistically they're in your face and unapologetic about it. While there are a number of great Cabaret rhythm dances this season, this is the One True Cabaret in our minds. From the costumes to choreography to performance, they're just all in, and have so clearly done their homework. Their free dance has some of, if not THE most spectacular lifts of the season, and again, a level of commitment that is near unparalleled. Unfortunately, where they're lagging behind in scores right now are the GOEs, particularly in the free dance. Their elements are creative and exciting, but so far they've been struggling with the execution and it's dragging down their scores. Part of that's the early season, part of it is that they often get so into performing they slip off their edges and lose focus in their elements. If they can deliver their normal Diva performance without losing control of their tech, they can make it to the top 5 at least, if not higher.

Sara Hurtado/ Kirill Khaliavin ESP

Age: 26/28

Started Skating Together: 2016

Coach: Alexander Zhulin

Season's Best: 193.47

Rhythm Dance: Hello Dolly

Free Dance: "Oroboy" and "Puerta del Sol"

Coming off a successful season where they regained their National title and claimed the coveted spot at worlds, Hurtado/Khaliavin are aiming to cement their spot as the top Spanish team and make a push up the ranks internationally as well. They're a really great team with stylish programs and interesting choreography and elements, even if their twizzles sometimes give them trouble. They’ve already competed twice this season though customs issues have kept them from getting to debut their new costumes and we’ve seen the return of an old short dance dress and a very minimalistic look for their flamenco. Maybe this week?? The rhythm dance is lighter than their usual fare and a great opportunity for them to show some fun personality on the ice. Their free dance is tense, dark, and dramatic, and they really bring out all the subtleties and nuances in the music, and this is a great contrast to their Don Quixote free dance from the Olympic season. The Spanish ice dance battle for one Worlds spot remains as gridlocked as ever in this early part of the season, with both teams seeing increases in their scoring potential compared with last season. Smart/Diaz finished just off the podium at Skate America last weekend and it’s definitely possible for Hurtado/Khaliavin to do at least that well this week in Canada.

Caroline Green/ Michael Parsons USA

Age: 16/24

Started Skating Together: 2019

Coach: Elena Novak and Alexei Kiliakov

Season's Best: 173.03

Rhythm Dance: Cry Baby

Free Dance: Woodkid Medley

After a solid grand prix debut last week, they're back for their second assignment to continue proving the advantage of years of matching technique when forming a new dance team. They not only finished a very respectable seventh in their GP debut as a team, and Caroline’s senior GP debut, they held their own against teams with much more competitive experience together. They still have plenty of room to improve but their partnering is great and their matching strokes and flow across the ice are already great assets, particularly evident in the free dance. Green/Parsons will be finishing up their debut Grand Prix season early and then heading to another challenger event before US Nationals, which is shaping up to be quite an interesting dance event.

Kaitlin Hawayek/ Jean-Luc Baker USA

Age: 22/25

Started Skating Together: 2012

Coach: Marie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon, Romain Haguenauer

Season's Best: 192.47

Rhythm Dance: Saturday Night Fever

Free Dance: Beethoven's 5th Symphony

In their sixth senior season, Hawayek/Baker are clearly looking to make a major push up the ranks, domestically and internationally. Their programs this season were clearly designed to stand out, not only from the rest of the field, but from what they've done in the past, and force the judges and audience to look at them with fresh eyes. They're such mature, experienced performers with nuances and details in their skating that few teams can match, domestically or abroad. This season they've really taken advantage of this in a more extroverted way than usual. They've ditched the more subtle, classic, lyrical style for something much more in your face, and for both programs. We always encourage more disco programs, and their rhythm dance has a lot of energy in the beginning and end and if they can keep the performance level up during the slower middle it'll really be a program to remember. Their free dance is kind of a wacky take on flamenco, where she's Marie Antoinette and there's a whole storyline happening that we don't really understand but also don't really need to? It's clear that they really believe in their material and the direction they're moving in and we're interested to see where they go from here. It's going to be pretty tough for them to make GPF again this season, although never say never. Collecting another GP medal however is definitely within their capabilities, and will allow them to reestablish themselves as a team that's going up.

Madison Hubbell/ Zachary Donohue USA

Age: 28/28

Started Skating Together: 2011

Coach: Marie-France Dubreuil, Patrice Lauzon, Romain Haguenauer

Season's Best: 209.55

Rhythm Dance: My Heart Belongs to WHAT now??

Free Dance: A Star is Born

Like last year, they're finishing up their grand prix season early and they head into their second event with one Grand Prix gold, though they didn’t take the win in the free dance at Skate America. While their rhythm dance may have had us wishing there was an automatic deduction for every time your program mentions “daddy”, this lighter style is a nice departure from what we’ve seen from Hubbell/Donohue in recent seasons. We’ve got some mixed feelings about their free dance at this point, and with no real time between events to make changes based on judges’ feedback their main objectives will be consistency and getting more mileage on both programs with the goal of being the first team to reserve their spot in the GPF.

#ice dance #preview #skate canada 2019 #grand prix 2019

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liliapack921-blog · 6 years ago

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Amazon Black Friday 2019 Deals: Gifts For Boys

Did you miss all of the awesome Black Friday deals this morning because you were at work? Well, luckily, there is still plenty of time to score some big, big savings this Black Friday, thanks to Amazon’s Black Friday 2017 deals. The deals below focus on items that would make great gifts for boys this year, ranging from gaming to NERF to other toys. 50, and it’s a headset that’s so versatile that it’s great for virtually anyone this holiday season.

99.99, which is 33 percent off. Yes, it literally works with all those. Best of all, the mic can be tucked away for a non-gamer look when you’re out in public.

Unfortunately, there are only two colorways left: black and white. Buy the Steelseries Arctis 7 here. 1 best-seller on Amazon is on sale for Black Friday, and it’s one of the best gifts for boys who love PC Gaming. 52 off the MSRP (or 33 percent). It uses an aircraft-grade anodized brushed aluminum frame for high quality and extreme durability. It looks great, and it’s extra clicky because of its mechanical keys. Buy the Corsair Mechanical Gaming Keyboard here. If he’s ever shown any interest in streaming on Twitch or YouTube, he’ll need a game capture card to do so.

119, which is a savings of 34 percent. This game capture card is another one of our favorite gifts for boys available during Amazon’s Black Friday sale, and it’s a great way to let them be creative with a hobby that they likely already love. Buy the Elgato Game Capture HD60 S here. The Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit by littleBits is on our list of the best new toys of 2017, so it’s obviously one of the best Christmas gifts for boys this year. Buy the Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit here. Anki has definitely grown a nice name for itself over the last few years, creating super cool (and highly requested) tech-infused toys for kids.

30 markdown. That saves you 17% off the MSRP. See More Anki Toy Deals here. Nerf’s new line of toys shoots foam cars instead of darts, which is a delightfully weird direction. It might look a bit dumb on the surface, but let me assure you that shooting cars out of a gun is every boy’s dream, and it works flawlessly in practice. 15.85 off of its MSRP. 10 off of its MSRP. 11.54 (which is 54% off of its MSRP). One Night Ultimate Alien is great for ages 8 and up, and it plays best with 4 to 10 players. Each game can last just 10-20 minutes. Roles change every time you play, as it uses an app that sets the rules each time you play (don’t worry…the app is free/included).

Get This Deal here. 299. This bundle includes the headset, the eye camera, and Gran Turismo Sport. Get This Black Friday Deal here. Hands-down, Overwatch was the best game of 2016, and there are even arguments for making it GOTY again this year (which, in my personal opinion, is a bit ridiculous, but that’s an argument for another day). It’s a must-play video game for any gamer that’s even semi-competitive, and it’s one that I personally play just about every night. Get This Overwatch Black Friday Deal here. 39.99 price tag. It’s a great game for kids, and it tugs a little at the nostalgia strings, too. Buy Sonic Forces here. Heavy, Inc. is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon. Our product recommendations are guided solely by our editors. We have no relationship with manufacturers.

It is never easy buying presents for people that we care about. Even at the best of times it is hard enough trying to find 'the perfect gift' that we hope will be loved by our loved one. So how do we go about buying gifts for boys age 11 and upwards. Just thinking about the task is daunting enough to make even the bravest and most resourceful of us buckle. 11 is such a milestone of an age. Firstly, there is the obvious transition from lower school to high school (or primary to Secondary school) and all that entails.

Then there is puberty setting in (lets say no more about that) and the myriad of issues and challenges that brings. But the real difficult part about choosing and buying gifts for boys age 11 is that you will really need to have a sense of their personality and tastes. I have scowered the web to find the best gifts for boys age 11 and put them all in one place so that you won't have to spend hours doing the same. If you have been hearing the buzz words around certain gift ideas or if the young man in your life has been dropping hints that you need to investigate futher this is a perfict place to begin.

Do you remember being 11? Do you remember how days lasted for what seemed like an eternity? And being outside the house with your friends was what you really wanted to do? Things, however, have moved on from and children are now presented with hundreds of options to indulge their interests and spend their time, particularly from the comfort of their own room. With each year the list of available games for consoles as well as the types of consoles available will exponentially increase. The Nintendo DSi XL Handheld Console is still a popular gift selection for boys from age 8 upwards. The Apple iPod nano is a gift that brings video to music with the new built-in video camera.

With a built-in video camera it is here on the list of gifts for boys age 11 as an ideal choice for music lovers as well as amateur photographers and camera men. There is also a built-in mic to capture audio, too. Undoubtedly the iPod is the world's most pupular portable music player and an is therefore a no-brainer on a list of gifts for boys age 11 and above. Three years ago, Amazon set out to design and build an entirely new class of device—a convenient, portable reading device with the ability to wirelessly download books, blogs, magazines, and newspapers. The result is The Kindle. It has been designed to provide an exceptional reading experience using a revolutionary new display technology. Reading Kindle’s screen is as sharp and natural as reading ink on paper—and nothing like the strain and glare of a computer screen. For the 11 year old book worms in your life the Kindle is completely mobile and simple gift that is and uses the same 3G network as advanced cell phones.

Buying last minute gifts for brothers, son, nephews, and young cousins is easy with this quick list. We’ve included a broad array of options for boys of all ages. These gifts are bound to please young dudes that are adventurous, fun-loving, and/or electronically-inclined. Some of these gifts are popular, others are just plain awesome. No matter what you choose, the recipient of your gifts will open something up Christmas morning that will leave them with the joy of Christmas! Here’s the 10 best last minute Christmas gifts for boys. For those looking to interest the young men in their lives in robotics and software development, the Anki Cozmo is an awesome way to do so.

It includes "Code Lab" a platform that allows kids to program the robot to do tasks like express emotions, play games, lift cubes, and more. Also, Anki is constantly updating Cozmo’s skills to add new and exciting features. This is a great gift for the STEM-minded. If you’re looking to interesting the receipient of your mangnamity in programming or video game creation, this Bloxels kit offers an extremely fun way to do so. It is a winner of numerous toy awards and is shockingly robust for a toy. The app works with Android, iOS and Kindle and can be used to develop levels, characters and more. Plus, creators of levels within the games can be shared online, adding a social element to the process.

This is a great kit and an extremely exciting unique gift. For those boys looking to get started playing with drones, a better starter drone does not exist. This Holy Stone model is dirt cheap and offers a ton of fun and value for the price. Sure, it’s not quite a Phantom 4, but it will really set one up to establish themselves as a drone dabbler or someone who is ready to take the plunge to the real thing. As someone whose father loves drones, I can strongly vouch that as fun as they are, one should definitely start with a beginner model to get a feel for them. This will also help set up the right expectations for the real deal.

This drone offers solid speed and good control. That said, it’s not exactly easy to fly. It does take some learning and practice. Needless to say, it’s not wind resistant either. That said, it beats a kite! Users love it for its durability (it can take a fall or a hit) and the fun that comes with it. Again, this is the perfect toy to get started droning with. For younger boys, the Leapfrog laptop is the gift of the moment. It offers a fun, tactile way to learn things like the Alphabet, play games, and to learn animal games.

Parents love it for its solid durability, and a great teaching tool for young kids (toddler age). The games and activities are very accessible and fun for the preschool crowd and bound to keep even picky kids busy Christmas morning and hopefully afternoon. Legos are a timeless Christmas tradition. This set is amazing evoking Pirates of the Carribean and other classic ship dwellers. This set boasts tons of figurines, a variety of accessories, and of course, a mind-blowing watercraft to please even the most discerning Lego enthusiasts. It’s praised for its intricate details, high number of pieces (over 2000), and legendary Lego durability.

For Star Wars fans, BB-8 has captured many of our hearts. This particular version of him is about 16″ tall and can be controlled in a variety of ways. He can respond to multiple voice commands, and can be steered around with a remote control. This model also has authentic Star Wars sounds and lights, so you know it’s something George Lucas would approve of. Buyers praise it as a robust toy, but also as a high-quality collectible. Every boy wants a light saber. That’s just a fact! These light sabers offer great value as they are not Star Wars official merchandise, and hence, sell at a considerably cheaper price.

They have a great range of sounds and are praised as superb for Halloween costumes, light sword-fighting and having solid quality sounds. Nerf guns are the gift that keep on giving. They are loved by boys of virtually all ages for executing lighthearted pranks (no one likes to be shot by a nerf gun, but it’s not very damaging) and for playing games like cops vs. These blasters have a rotating barrel and hold up to six darts. They can shoot up to 50′. The bang for the buck on this toy is tough to beat! For the fans of web comic, "Cyanide and Happiness," this card game is a ton of fun. Three or more players compete to make comic strips about a variety of subjects. This Christmas, give the gift of Pokemon cards. This pack of 100 cards includes all the goods from Pokemon’s official trading card game. That said, at this price, do expect a few caveats:some users had issues with duplicate cards, but for the most part, this is a great value for getting a ton of Pokemon cards. It may be best to taper one’s expectations to expect 50 great cards, which is still an awesome value.

Jeepers (It's Christmas) In July! I received the below-mentioned titles in exchange for this post. Sponsor is responsible for prize fulfillment. Wow, can you believe it's already July? This year and summer break is flying by but I'm excited for all the fun our family has planned for July. Being born in July, I always get that childish anticipation even though I'm not as thrilled about aging as I once was about birthdays. Kids just love celebrating their own special day and we've got some great gift ideas to share from National Geographic Kids! Check out these bright and educational books and enter for a chance to win them below.

No better time to think about all the possibilities the future holds than a birthday! From beekeeper to ice-cream taster, forensic psychologist to Hollywood animal trainer, conservation biologist to Chief Happiness Officer, this book features 100 of the coolest, wackiest and most amazing jobs out there (greeting card maker?? Yes, you can!). This book features cats from around the world, each one with an amazing story to tell about their compassion, ingenuity, and bravery. And are you curious as to why we love those cute cat videos? Page 57 explains the science behind the obsession. Blast into space to explore our solar system and beyond.

This out-of-this-world Atlas takes readers through maps of the solar system, the Milky Way, and deep space, giving them a close look at and locations of planets, supernovas, and other universes. Sky maps will help kids spot these objects in the night sky and maps of planets and our solar system gives the kind of incredible detail that National Geographic is known for. It's the perfect book for space fans and budding astronauts. National Geographic Explorer and snake wrangler Dr. Brady Barr has been bitten by a lot of creatures over the years. So this book is born from first hand - er, tooth - experience of getting close to some of the biggest biters in the animal kingdom. It turns out that there's a lot more to biting than meets the eye.

Physical features and the how (and when and why) an animal bites reveals much about the animal itself. Then it shows how tooth type, bite force, jaw shape, and food source all come to together to make each an incredible member of the animal bite force! Got a kiddo in mind that always wants to know the who/what/where of the coolest things on the planet? Check out the Top 8 lists in the latest Awesome 8! Pay it forward with this big book of gratitude, filled with 30 cool pull-out thank you postcards and fun themed content. Adorable animal photos paired with heartfelt and funny captions show how much we have to be grateful for in our wondrous world.

Each card leaves plenty of room for kids to craft their own messages to show friends and family how much they care. Content includes tips and tricks for writing sincere, well-crafted, and properly formatted thank you notes, as well as more cute creature pictures to spread that warm, fuzzy feeling far and wide. Welcome to our Second Annual Jeepers (It's Christmas) In July Giveaway Hop! This event is hosted by Mama The Fox, The Kids Did It and The Mommy Island. Once you've entered for the National Geographic Kids Book Package keep scrolling down for more great events to enter. 84). Open for entry from 7/1-7/15/17 at 11:59 pm EST. Open to readers in the US, 18 years and older. The winner will have 24 hours to respond to the notification email to claim their prize or a new winner will be selected. The Mommy Island is not responsible for this or any event where the sponsor fails to fulfill prizing.

Looking for the best gifts for 7 year old boys? Well, have I got a selection for you! If you're like me, you probably dread the thought of having to come up with gift ideas for a 7 year old. The main reason for this I think is boys at that age appear to have everything. They've grown up with toys such as Lego, action figures and kites. They've advanced onto bikes, scooters, stereos, digital cameras and yes, I hate to admit that the average 7 year old boy is even tech-savvy enough to have his own tablet device. Some of the best gifts for boys are those that present a challenge - and also solve the challenge of what to get them.

I think the Perplexus Maze Game is one of the best in this regard. Having played it myself (and having failed to finish it, I hasten to add), I can personally vouch for it being completely addictive. No number of electronic games can compete with this awesome puzzle. The version shown here is the original, but it's also available in a number of variations. The age range from the manufacturer is six years and up, so it's spot-on for seven year olds. The aim of the game is to roll a metal ball around a 3D maze, comprized of multi-colored tracks covering the interior of a transparent sphere. If you can wrestle this little beauty away from your 7 year old, you try it.

There are a number of other benefits thrown in as well, including the development of hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, spacial thinking and, of course, patience! Another challenging (and active) gift for 7 year old boys, girls, adults, you name it. You can see the commercial for it below, which gives you an idea of how it works as a game (sorry, the video may not be available on mobile devices - it's a Google thing). Essentially, it's a variation on the age-old favorite Simon, where you follow instructions on what to do with the toy. Again, there are a number of variations on the original Bop It! I said, they're a popular gift for boys and girls aged 7 and more. I've bought toys for my own boys and nephews, I always work on the principle of age, plus-or-minus-one. Bop It - You Have to Try It!

Featuring a variety of games and expertise levels, depending on whether you're playing solo or with a group, it's easy to play and travel-friendly. 1. Don't obsess about getting the best game, toy, book or interesting item. If it's a gift, they'll be pleased. 2. Try thinking about something they're not known to be into. This will be a surprize, and may be the start of a new fascination or hobby. 3. Keep it simple, and remember that any gift need not be expensive to be a big hit. When I was a boy, I remember learning how to play chess from a book.

I eventually got myself to a level where I could regularly stalemate my dad and occasionally beat him - but, I always wish I had some sort of advantage. You can play variations on the standard game of chess, with rules included for all types of game. The board is also double-sided to let you flip between the instructional side to a real chess board.

I can't really stress enough (apologies for another pun) how much of a useful and instructional gift this would be to boys keen to learn the game of chess. I wish I had something like this to learn from when I was younger. No Stress Chess also presents a great opportunity for adults to teach and learn with their kids at the same time. Your seven year old is going to be asking you to play this every night!

Get your 7 year old boys away from the smartphone, tablet or games console and have them learning the game of kings. This no-stress set makes it easy to teach and learn chess. With multiple levels of play, kids can work on their game and get recommendations for the best moves. Great learning for beginners and great fun for veterans of the game. What on Earth is a praxinoscope, I hear you say? Well, put simply, it's probably one of the best gifts for 7 year old boys I'm featuring on this page. As for the scientific explanation, it's actually a rotating platform with an arrangement of paper and mirrors that lets you create moving picture animations exactly like they did 170 years ago - phew!

But seriously, this is one cool toy for boys. In fact, it's not a toy, it's more a recreation of a piece of history. Speaking of recreations, many of the 4M kits require a little assembly and this one is no exception. However, it's well-designed and when kids have put this together, they can feel rightly proud. This is a very interesting gift for boys indeed. Inspire the next cartoonist in your family with the 4M Praxinoscope. It comes with everything you need to put it together and full instructions. As a real neat touch, there's also an included LED light that can be set to flash, producing an authentic silent movie effect.

If you've got a piano at home, then why not accompany the action with a suitably vintage soundtrack! Focusing on hands-on creative play, Melissa & Doug toys and games have been entertaining boys and girls of all ages for over 25 years. Speaking of hands-on, or rather slight-of-hands-on, my next recommendation for 7 year old boys is a magic set. They'll just love showing their tricks in front of family and friends, helping them to build personal confidence through the acts of preparation, performance, being creative and exercising a little dramatic flair. There are 10 illusions to master in this quality magic set.

Each one is a classic that professional magicians still perform in shows all over the world. So, if you know a 7 year old boy who might well be the next David Copperfield, then this gift may be the perfect start. It's a sad fact that many boys these days grow up not really knowing much about the world and the other countries in it. However, you needn't let that be something to worry about with the LeapFrog Explorer Interactive Smart Globe.

This is one of those toys often described as a wonderfully educational and fun gift, and that pretty much sums up the ethos of the company that makes them.

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