Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

Aubree wasted no time in getting to where Matthew was. Dressed in sporty attire and standing tall at 6'1", he was a head-turner on any street.

Once they boarded the plane, Aubree settled in for a much-needed nap.

After landing, Matthew whisked her away to a private villa. It was a stunning French-style retreat, complete with a butler and staff, where Aubree didn't have to lift a finger; Matthew had everything perfectly sorted.

By the next morning, a rugged ride was ready to take them across the prairie. It looked like a massive truck, with a rear fortified by solid steel bars. A ladder was needed to climb aboard.

Matthew went up first, with Aubree following closely. At the back, a solid door led them to the driver's cab.

"Don't worry about any animals breaking in, Aubree. These steel bars are top-notch, and the truck's equipped with the latest autopilot and GPS systems. If anything goes wrong, a helicopter will be on its way to rescue us," Matthew reassured her. The back offered about sixty-four square feet of space, shielded only by the bars. It was the perfect spot to gaze at the endless blue sky and the sprawling landscape.noveldrama

Inside, the cabin was stocked with enough provisions to last half a month.

"Come on, Aubree, it's time to hit the road," Matthew said, his excitement contagious.

Aubree's heart raced at his words. It had been ages since she felt this kind of thrill. Her life had been stagnant, never once considering adventures into the unknown. But if given the chance again, she'd still choose to embark on this journey with Matthew. They drove all day, eventually entering the vast expanse of the American prairie. The endless green stretched out to kiss the sky at the horizon.

"Keep the windows closed here, Aubree. It's safer that way. If you want to take in the view, head to the back," Matthew suggested.

Overflowing with excitement, Aubree swiftly made her way through the cabin and threw open the door.

The prairie wind rushed to meet her.

As Matthew had promised, this was the world's largest and best-preserved prairie. Crossing it, they would come across countless animals.

"Wow!!!" Aubree shouted, arms wide open, reveling in the view that was even more breathtaking than a sunset.

The awe that nature inspired was something no book or city could ever convey; it had to be felt in person to truly grasp how small humans were in the grand scheme of things.

About four hours into their journey, Aubree spotted herds of bison.

Wolves on the hunt even noticed the truck and followed it for miles, making Aubree's heart leap with excitement, her cheeks flushed with the thrill of it all.

Matthew switched the truck to autopilot and joined her in the back, choosing silence, knowing the moment was beyond words.

Aubree finally broke the silence when she spotted some lions lounging lazily.

"Matthew! Look at them!" she exclaimed.

Having visited several times before, sometimes even solo, Matthew was a firm believer in the saying that traveling a thousand miles is more enlightening than reading a thousand books, which is why he cherished these trips.

"Yeah, I see them," he replied with a grin.

As the truck rolled on for another hour, the number of animals grew, and Aubree was left speechless, forgetting even to take photos, wishing she had more eyes to capture it all.

Matthew handed her a bottle of water.

After a few sips, Aubree's focus returned to the view outside, just in time to witness two lions leap at a solitary bison.

She gasped, hearing Matthew murmur, "Survival of the fittest."

As night fell and the truck came to a halt, they cooked inside the well-equipped cabin, like a luxury RV but even more refined.

The only awkward part was the single bed and bathroom.

After her shower, Aubree was lounging in bed with a book when Matthew emerged, decently dressed in shorts and a T-shirt rather than just a towel.

"I'll take the chair," he offered, aware of the limited space in their mobile home.

Aubree shifted over, patting the spot next to her. "We can share."

Matthew hesitated for a moment before joining her, stiff with uncertainty.

"I didn't want to make you uncomfortable."

Outside their small window, the prairie stars twinkled brighter than anywhere else.

She chuckled, "I've shared beds with strangers on set before."

Matthew lay down, his voice carrying a hint of youthful shyness. "Still, it's different."