Hey,
Well, as you guessed, this is my new story. I was supposed to add a header to the first chapter introducing it, wishing you all a great read and hoping you enjoy. Instead I uploaded the chapter from my iPhone and so that plan went to shit.
Anyway, this story got so much more attention that I had anticipated. I was overwhelmed with the sheer number of readers who hit the follow/favorite button. Thank you all!
I got a lot of positive reviews for the first chapter so thank you so so much! I have to say I'm a bit daunted. I feel like the bar has been set really high with my first story and I pray to whoever that I don't disappoint with my second!
Let me know if I continue to amuse you or this is a total bomb out! (rooting for the former!)
Cheers,
K
"Rose", Dimitri repeated her name. "It's a pleasure to meet you", he smiled. That small smile lit up his entire face.
Just then Rose's stomach growled embarrassingly loud. "You'll get used to that, comrade". They both chuckled. "I'll go get dressed. Our pizza should be here any minute".
Dimitri raised an eyebrow, "How do you know…"
Rose explained as she walked back to her room, "I always have dinner at seven sharp and Abe knows damn well that I need pizza tonight".
By the time Rose returned in a baggy tee shirt and pajama bottoms the pizza was already on the kitchen island and it was set for one - one plate, one glass. Immediately Rose knew that Alberta didn't deliver the pizza. Alberta knew better than to set a place for her alone, she would have set a place for Dimitri as well.
"Who brought the Pizza?" Rose asked.
"Pavel", Dimitri answered.
"And who set the table?" Rose pointed to the kitchen island.
"I did". He stated matter of factly.
"Not hungry, comrade?"
"I could eat". Dimitri answered with a shrug.
"Do you not like pizza?"
"I love pizza".
Rose knew of Dimitri's formal training to be a bodyguard. He was supposed to be the kind of guard that didn't interact with their charge, the kind that lived in the shadows, the kind that were meant to be unseen and unheard. Instead of making a thing out of it, Rose simply went to the kitchen cupboards and retrieved another glass and plate and set an additional place next to hers.
"Well, come on then. Dig in". Rose motioned for Dimitri to take a seat.
This surprised Dimitri. But he sat and graciously accepted the offer.
Dimitri would learn sooner than later that Rose was no ordinary charge. She didn't play things safe, she didn't cower in the face of danger and she rarely did what was expected of her.
As Rose served up a slice to each of them, Dimitri asked why there was so much pizza, indicating the 3 boxes of extra-large thick Sicilian double cheese pepperoni pizza.
"Well, one pie is for me, and the left overs are probably going to be my lunch tomorrow".
Dimitri didn't really believe Rose would be able to pack away a whole extra large pie all by herself. He could barely do that and he had almost a foot on her, not to mention a good hundred pounds of pure muscle.
Apart from the moaning of Rose thoroughly enjoying her pizza, they ate in silence. Needless to say when dinner was over, there was only one pie left. She actually did it. She polished off an entire pie all by her lonesome.
"Do you always eat like that?" Dimitri wondered.
"Yep", Rose answered, popping the p.
"How do you stay so fit?" The question slipped out before Dimitri could stop himself. It was none of his business, she was his charge and consequently his boss, but he couldn't help how comfortable he felt around her. It was a pizza induced slip, he decided.
"You'll see tomorrow", she smirked. When Dimitri raised his eyebrow at her she took pity on him. "I run and train everyday. Didn't you wonder about the gym next to my bedroom?".
Dimitri looked sheepish. "I just assumed Abe wanted me to stay in shape to protect you without having to go too far away".
"I guess that makes sense," Rose stated. "I would say that you're welcome to use the gym any time you like, which you are of course, but I had hoped that you'd train me". It was more of a question. Rose quickly added "It's fine if you don't want to".
Dimitri cut her off. "I'd like that", he smiled. "I used to train freshmen my senior year back at the academy. But something tells me you already knew that".
Rose nodded guiltily. "It was in your file".
"What else is in my file?", Dimitri asked, no accusing tone to his question.
Now Rose looked and felt even more guilty. She knew everything about him when he knew nothing of her.
Wanting to ease her guilt, Dimitri quickly added, "I don't mind. You are my employer. I'm just curious".
Rose was a bit relieved at that. "Technically Abe is your employer". Being someone's employer just made Rose feel old. Besides, Abe had been the one to insist on a personal bodyguard. Rose had only stipulated the qualities and traits said guard would have. One of those qualities was that he be incredibly good looking. Rose never thought Abe would deliver. Mainly she added that to her list just to fuck with his head. "I only skimmed through the file. You grew up in a small town in Russia with your mom and sisters, attended St. Basil's academy where you finished top of your class. You went on to train as a professional bodyguard, also top of your class. You worked in the private sector for a while when you were hired by the Dashkov family and when they were brought down Abe found you". Rose felt like she was babbling on and on until she finally jumped up and ran to her bedroom. She returned within seconds with the file in her hands. "Here, see for yourself."
"Thank you", Dimitri accepted the file.
Rose collected their dirty dishes and started washing them while Dimitri put the left overs in the fridge.
Dimitri went over the file quietly. There were sections highlighted regarding his academic achievements as well as his skills and physical prowess. All that was to be expected. If he had had a resumé it would have contained these facts. He was not expecting his file to also state that he rarely drank, and never on the job. But what surprised him the most was the part of his family history which was highlighted. The part that stated he had beat up his abusive father and kicked him out of the house when he was only thirteen.
There were a lot of details in his file Rose didn't mention. Dimitri wondered if she hadn't read them or if she simply didn't mention them. Details like how he came to work for the Daskovs and who he guarded before.
"So, I assume that this file proves that I met your prerequisites?" Dimitri asked Rose as she was drying her hands, referring to what Abe had said earlier that day. She nodded silently. "What were those prerequisites, if I may ask?"
Despite being hesitant about answering, Rose replied truthfully. "Well, I wanted someone capable and smart, not just some goon with no work ethic. He needed to be highly skilled, someone I could learn from. I wanted someone with integrity, someone who treated woman with respect. I wanted someone kind and compassionate. If you're file's right, you are all those things. You were born to protect, Dimitri. And I hope one day we can be friends and you'll want to keep me safe not just because Abe's paying you." After a long pause Rose added with a smirk, "Plus you have zero social life so I didn't have to feel guilty about not giving you time off". Dimitri laughed and the sound of it wrapped Rose like a blanket. She wanted to make him laugh more.
When they stopped chuckling Rose said, "Come on, comrade. Let's watch something on Netflix".
While they moved to the living area Dimitri asked "So everything before your bath, that was all a test? The drinks? The shoes and dress? The… ehm, bath?", he raised his left eyebrow.
"Yes".
"I'm curious, what would you have done if I'd actually joined you?"
Rose bit her lip, meeting Dimitri's gaze from under her lashes, before she smirked widely. "Well you would have had a amazing going away party before Abe fired your sorry ass in the morning". Dimitri grinned and shook his head in exasperation, not sure whether he wanted to believe her or not.
As Rose was flipping through the comedies, she suddenly remembered there was one prerequisite she'd neglected to mention. "Um, Dimitri?"
"Yes, Rose?"
"I should probably tell you there was one more teeny tiny prerequisite. I really just threw it in there to fuck with Abe." Rose cleared her throat. The only reason she was telling Dimitri this was because she knew that Abe would use it to embarrass her sooner or later. "I, uh, told Abe that I wanted someone good looking to help me pass the time. I may have used phrases like gorgeous and sex on legs. I may have also mentioned something about an accent". Rose immediately shut up, instantly regretting her verbal diarrhea. She turned to the TV and selected a random comedy, hit play and began watching.
More to the point, while she was watching she was ignoring a stunned silent Dimitri, who was now eyeing Rose carefully. He'd known all to well that he was attractive, sexy even, but he was always humble about it. Well, maybe not always. But Dimitri couldn't for the life of him figure out why any man would hire someone to guard his woman who she considered 'sex on legs' to help her pass the time. Maybe they had an open relationship, though that was doubtful. To a man like Abe Mazur, people, especially women, were his possessions and not to be shared with other men. More than likely, Abe probably knew that Rose was fucking with him when adding 'sex on legs' as an necessary trait in her bodyguard.
After several moments passed Dimitri leaned in and whispered in Rose's ear, "Did Abe deliver on all accounts?", his word were laced with his thick Russian accent, which he usually didn't let slip out. Dimitri didn't know where this even came from. She was his charge. She wanted someone decent and respectful of her to be her guard. Someone she could trust. What the fuck was he doing?
Rose let out a big breath and nodded slightly, never removing her eyes from the screen.
Dmitri leaned back and they continued to watch whatever was droning on in silence completely disregarding the moment, until Rose fell asleep. Dimitri didn't have the heart to wake her. Instead of letting her sleep on the couch he lifted her delicate form in his arms, carried her to bed and tucked her in. Before he left he couldn't resist the urge to brush her hair back with his hand and kiss her forehead.
"спокойной ночи, Роза. сладких снов", he murmured.
Staring at her for a moment longer Dimitri wondered, What the hell have you gotten yourself into, Belikov?
Later that night, after he finally climbed into bed, Dimitri laid awake wondering what had happened to Rose, why was she with a man like Abe and how did she get to the point where she was in constant need of a personal bodyguard and a nurse. He already knew whatever her story was he wouldn't like it and would do everything in his power to make things easier for her. Dimitri fell asleep that night trying to push away the the warmth he still felt on his fingertips from her hair and the tingle he still felt in his lips from their brush with her forehead.
A/N:
*спокойной ночи, Роза. сладких снов =
Good night, Roza, sweet dreams.
