A/N: Late update! I know! I know! Moving is hectic and I've barely had the time to sit down for five minutes, let alone write a whole new chapter. Bear with me, I'm trying my best to keep up with Fanfiction...but it's hard sometimes when real life gets in the way. Thank you all for being patient! I'm working extra hard :-)
Some reviewers were worried that I started The Russian's worth the price I pay and wouldn't finish it. Rest assured, I never abandon a story. NEVER! I promise I will complete this one, along with my others. Giving up is unacceptable to me.
Special thanks to Deliciouse, ForeverAnAngel13, and Do'B for providing me with great feedback.
Until next time my loyal readers,
Breanna
Disclaimer: I do not, in any way, profit from this story and all creative rights to the characters belong to Richelle Mead.
The original content, ideas and intellectual property of this story are owned by Ms. Belikov. Please do not copy, reproduce, or translate without express written permission.
DPOV:
"I fired Opal."
Darius's electric-blue eyes widened and his face paled with horror, as if he'd just received news that World War III had started. "What?"
I repeated myself.
"What the fuck man?" His massive body stood up, all rippling muscles. "You fired the best chef here? That woman was a queen in the kitchen."
"In the bedroom, too. But that's irrelevant right now." Ivan didn't look so happy at his desk either. "Mind telling us what's up, boss?"
Their glowers burned my face but I ignored them as I sat down at my desk and emailed spread sheets to an important client. "She came to my room last night."
"Okay." Darius dragged out the word.
"Naked. She came to my room last night...naked."
Mouths dropped open in shock.
"Shit. No way, man." One of them mumbled.
"Rose and I were in the shower-"
"What were you two doing?" Darius grinned. That fucking troublemaker. He lived and breathed sex. It was a wonder how the man got out of bed and dragged himself to work. Most of the time he was discreet about the women he brought to his room, but then again, it wasn't all that hard. It's not like he ever kept them longer than a day or two.
"Washing each other's back."
His grin got even wider. "Uh-huh, Suuuuuure."
"No. I'm serious," I cleared my throat. "Really, that's all it was. Rose even wore a bathing suit-"
"You get a BJ?"
He caught the look I gave him and took the hint. Smart man.
"Anyways. That's beside the point. To make this simple and sweet, Rose came out of the bathroom, found Opal lying on my bed. Wasn't too happy about it. And you can figure the rest out yourself."
"So this is all for a chick? You fired our queen chef because of a female? That's low."
I stared at him.
"Kidding, boss. You know I wasn't being serious." Darius said. "Honestly, I think that's bullshit what Opal did…trying to screw up the beautiful thing you and your girl have going. Besides, we're down for Rose. You love her. We love her."
Ivan nodded in agreement.
"So are you still unhappy with my decision?"
"My belly is. Brain's not." Darius said.
Ivan shook his head. He'd always been a man of few words. I guess that's why the two of us were so close.
I chuckled. "Well, I hired a new chef. One that came highly recommended. He's flying in from Europe. He'll be here in a few days."
"What's his name?" Rose strolled in to the office, balancing three mugs of black coffee in her elegant hands. She gave one to both men, who said their thanks.
"Holy crap." She stared up at Darius. "Where the hell did all your hair go?"
I grinned as Darius averted his eyes to the ground and ran his hand through his new chopped, military haircut. "I, uh, I cut it…for work purposes—"
"Mia made fun of him and he didn't like it," Ivan laughed. "So he cut it off. Just for her."
"That's so not true!" Darius growled, but his cheeks were red. It was amusing seeing a grown man, the size of him, blushing over a woman he'd met only once.
"Cut the shit man," Ivan said. "You're in to her and you know it."
Darius crossed his beefy arms. "She's annoying as hell. And I don't like her. I just want her in my bed. End of story."
"Too bad you cut it off," Rose resumed a thoughtful expression. "Mia told me that she loved your long hair."
Darius' mouth fell open, he cursed nastily. "Really…Mia…she liked it?"
"Yep."
Behind Darius, Ivan cracked a grin. "That's alright. You can always get hair extensions and then she can brush it for you."
While the two men continued to go after each other, my eyes flickered back to the most important person in my life.
Smiling so sexily, Rose strolled over to my desk and handed me a steaming mug. "For you, Comrade." Blood rushed straight to the appropriate areas. That damn nickname…
"Thank you very much." I cupped her face and kissed her lovingly.
Ahem. That was Ivan clearing his throat.
"Mind if we join in?" Darius asked.
I was about to tell him off when Rose lifted her arm and gave him the bird.
"Kidding, Tesoro. I'm not into foursomes, or guys…or red gag balls for that matter."
Rose giggled against my lips, sending vibrations between our joined mouths.
"Oh, come on. Are you kids done yet?" Ivan groaned.
Rose straddled my hips, kissing me harder. Holding her by her sweet bottom, I picked her up effortlessly and set her on my desk. Those glorious legs wrapped around my waist.
Roza and I pulled back at the same time, laughing.
She smiled with swollen lips, but desire was deep in those brown eyes. "I think we're done. How about you, Mr. Belikov? Do you think we're done?"
"For now."
Ivan and Darius made sounds of relief.
Rose hopped off the desk and smoothed out her skirt. "Who's the new chef?"
"His name is Pavel."
"Oh, he sounds hot." she said. "I bet he's hot. Is he hot, Dimitri?"
Anger and jealousy and possessiveness ran throughout my body, a burning current. Gritting my teeth, I said, "I haven't met him yet."
Brown eyes narrowed. "Everything okay with you?"
"Yes." I tapped my pen against the oak.
"Really? Because I don't think you are," Rose said. "Just because I sleep in your bed every night and I kiss you…a lot, doesn't mean that we're together. So relax on the whole boyfriend and girlfriend shit, will ya? I most certainly do not find possessiveness attractive. And frankly, you have no right to act like that."
With one last hard look, Rose left the room.
Darius laughed. "I believe you just got your balls handed to you, boss."
"No. I think his balls went out the room with her," Ivan grinned. "Don't worry, though. She's probably got them tucked away nice and safe in her purse."
I growled. "Get back to work."
RPOV:
Later that night, after work, I went up to Dimitri's bedroom to apologize to him. I realized that I'd been sort of mean and nasty towards him earlier, and I had no right to talk to him like that. After all, no matter how much I hated to think about it, he was my boss.
Opening the door, I walked inside and turned on the lights. "Comrade?" I gazed around, searching. He wasn't there.
"Comrade?" I checked the luxurious bathroom. Nada.
Groaning in impatience, I headed downstairs, my feet a blur slapping against the marble. Halfway down, I ran by Mia and Lissa.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, confused but extremely happy to see them.
"Does there have to be a reason?" Mia grinned, squeezing me in to a fierce hug. "We just missed you so much that we had to come and see you."
"How's the thigh?" Lissa went in for her own hug.
"Nothing but scar tissue." I smiled when she pulled back.
"That's great," Lissa said. "I was so worried about you. It's such a relief to know that you're healing. I can actually sleep now."
"You are too awesome. You know that? Too awesome."
"So, where you headed to? The kitchen or something?"
Narrowing my eyes, I said, "I do other things in this mansion besides eating."
"Doubt that."
"Actually, I was looking for D-"
"Darius?" Mia interrupted, classic face features lighting up like a Christmas tree. And that's when I noticed what she was wearing. The tightest black jeans ever known to mankind, a pale pink tank top that showed a lot of belly action, and wedges that gave her about four to five inches. Thank God. The girl needed it when she was around Darius.
"Dimitri. I am looking for Dimitri." I grinned inwardly at the disappointment in her expression.
"Oh."
"But this is the time he usually works out in the gym with Ivan and Darius."
Blue eyes widened and sparkled. "You know what? I just canceled my gym membership a few weeks ago and I've been in need of a good workout. I'm feeling kind of flabby."
Lissa and I glanced down at her flat stomach, then we met each others eyes, smiling and shaking our heads. The girl was out of her mind if she thought she was out of shape.
I pondered the thought of working out with Dimitri. Him with no shirt on. Covered in sweat. Sparring with Darius. "You know what…I'm in need of a workout, too. Let's go."
Lissa frowned. "Don't I get a say in this? What if I don't wanna go."
"Too bad." Mia grabbed Lissa's arm and practically dragged the poor girl up the stairs and in to my room.
Mia went straight to my closet and started pulling things out. "I need something to wear for the gym."
"Help yourself, why don't ya." I muttered dryly.
She grabbed a designer yellow sweat outfit that had yet to be worn, ripped off the tag, and tossed it to Lissa. "Put that on. Now."
My best friend rolled her eyes and complied with Blondie's orders.
Before Mia could boss me around and tell me what to wear, I grabbed an old pair of black sweats and a white T-shirt. After tying my hair up in to a sloppy bun, Lissa and I laid on my bed, waiting not so patiently.
"Done." Mia exclaimed proudly, twirling around.
My eyes practically jumped out of my head. "That's…nice."
"And very revealing."
"Yeah. Leaves a lot to the imagination."
Mia straightened her baby-blue sports bra and nylon, barely-there black shorts. "Believe it or not, girls, I'm not doing this to be sexy. I can't be confined by tons of clothing. I need to be able to move. I need to be free."
She rolled her eyes at the look we gave her. "Let's go."
Minutes later, we were just outside the gym. The three of us walked up to the glass windows, gazed in, and gasped.
Three huge men. All with their shirts off.
We couldn't stop staring. My eyes were trained on Dimitri and his body like that of a God's. Even though the other two men had better bodies than the models in Calvin Klein ads, they held no interest for me. I was blind to their looks. The only man that mattered was Dimitri.
"That's a beautiful sight right there." Mia murmured.
"Beautiful." Lissa said dazedly, nodding her head.
"Absolutely beautiful." I agreed.
Almost as if they had sensed our presence, all three of their eyes shifted to the glass windows. Two sets of piercing blue. And one set of intoxicating brown.
God, I nearly melted in to a puddle on the floor from the desire that over took Dimitri's gaze. He was hungry...for me.
We quickly went inside.
"Hey, Comrade." I smiled, and like a love struck fool, waved at him.
He bit and licked his lips in response, those bottomless eyes saying more than words ever could.
Darius whistled through his teeth, blue eyes like the bottom of a flame. "And the princess is back. You just couldn't get enough of me the last time you were here-"
Mia cursed. "What the hell happened to your hair?"
Darius smoothed a hand over his cropped black mane. "Didn't notice it when you were eye fucking me outside that glass?"
"Nope," Lissa popped the P. "She was too busy looking at your body to notice anything above those huge shoulders—geeze. I just have to ask, how wide are they?"
His grin was one of masculine pride as he told her.
"Holy…"
"Shit." I finished.
"So, what are you ladies doing?" Ivan asked as he finished his push ups.
Mia went for the rack of weights on the far wall and grabbed the small 5lb set. "Just here to pump some iron."
"I'd pump your iron any day." Darius muttered, going for the largest set of weights.
Strangely, their choice of barbells really described their relationship. He was the biggest, she the smallest. He was all black and menace, she was pink and preppy. He worried about protecting the lives of people he loved, while she worried about running out of her favorite lip gloss. He'd mastered everything there is to know about guns, while she mastered every store in Missoula's mall.
I tuned them out as they batted off. Lissa went for the treadmill.
Something wrapped around me from behind and I stiffened for a moment before relaxing when I realized it was Dimitri.
"Roza," He purred in my ear, making me shiver. "I want to apolo—"
I spun around and put my finger to his full lips. "Shh. Come here. To the bathroom. I want to tell you something."
Once inside with the doors locked, I ran full force at the God reincarnate and tackled him, hooking my knees around his waist and kissing him with everything in me.
Dimitri, not expecting my attack, stumbled back a few steps in surprise. He quickly regained his composure. Chuckling a little, he wrapped his arms around me and kissed me back, pressing me to the wall.
As a lick of pain shot through my skull from banging my head against the tile, I grabbed his face roughly, moaned desperately, and crushed my mouth to his so hard I knew I was leaving bruises.
We pulled back, gasping like we'd been held under water for several minutes.
"What did you want to talk about?" He licked the edges of my teeth, my lips, my jaw…
"Just wanted to say I'm sorry for snapping at you earlier," I closed my eyes and arched as his teeth sunk into the skin of my neck, not to the point of drawing blood, but very close.
"What if I don't accept your apology, Roza?" Dimitri smirked, obviously pleased with my body's reaction to him. I was the puppet and he was the master. He was in complete control of me.
"Then I'd have to make it up to you in another way."
"What would you do?" His eyes grew black. Nothing but hunger and possessiveness and male power.
Fear twisted in my gut, but desire was quick in its heels.
"Say it," He growled in my ear, pushing his hips in to mine, making me gasp. "Say it. I want to hear the words leave your lips. Tell me what you would do to make it up to me. Tell me."
Gathering up all the strength I could, I unhooked my legs from his waist, dropped to my feet, and spun him around so that his back was pressed against the wall. I was in control now. The ball was in my court. He was powerless to stop me.
"You want to know what I would do to you." As Dimitri nodded, I leaned on my tip toes and whispered in his ear.
When I pulled back, the want and need in his eyes was obvious as was the strain in his pants.
His Adam's apple convulsed as he swallowed hard.
"Do you have anything to say?"
There were a few moments of heavy silence before he spoke, "I accept your apology."
"Good," I pecked him once on the lips. "Now let's go."
Dimitri made a deep sound of protest but reluctantly joined me out in the gym.
"Hit me! Just once, come on!" Darius leaned forward and stuck out his jaw. "One time, princess. Show me that you're not weak."
Mia was in front of the giant male, pissed off as hell. Her cheeks were the color of a stop sign; her pale skin covered in a fresh layer of sweat, making blond curls stick to her forehead. She breathed heavily, trembling all over. "Bastard!" She balled her right hand in to a fist and swung.
Mia hit her target.
I was about to step in and put a stop to all of it when Dimitri draped an arm over my shoulders. I glanced up. He shook his head and mouthed 'No.' Then he gave me a reassuring smile and inclined his head, indicating for me to watch.
"Did a feather just land on my cheek?" Darius mocked. "Because it sure felt like it. Damn, you don't pack much strength behind your hit—"
Wham.
Darius's words were cut off as his head kicked back from an unexpected blow caused by Mia.
"Damn! That hurt like a bitch!" Mia howled, cradling the hand she'd used to hit him.
A tiny line of blood trickled out of his mouth as he grinned proudly. "Fuck, that stings. But wow…girl's got a killer left hook." He wiped the crimson from his chin, his blue eyes gleaming with disbelief, wonder, and…lust.
"Oh, boy." I murmured. Glancing over at Lissa, I found her laughing. She couldn't believe what had just happened either.
Dimitri gave my bottom one last squeeze before walking over to the other side of the gym, making me gasp in surprise and then give a very blissful sigh.
As I did my warm up stretches, I watched Dimitri grab hold of a bar and hoist himself up.
Nearly loosing my balance on a leg stretch as his long and lean body went up and down, up and down, I cleared the R-rated images of him naked in bed from my mind and tried to focus on something else.
The elliptical trainer.
Thank you Jesus.
I ran over and took the machine beside my best friend.
"Ivan is such a God…" She murmured as her legs slowed down on the exercise bike she was on. Those jade-green eyes were glassy, as if she were deep and far gone in a really good day dream.
"Did you dump Christian?" Hope sparked in my chest, giving me the strength and motivation to push my body extra hard on the elliptical trainer. The sting in my thigh from the bullet wound was a little bitch, but I pushed past the pain and kept going.
"No."
"Then why are you undressing Ivan with your eyes?"
"Just because I am off the market doesn't mean that I can't appreciate the scenery."
I shrugged. "True."
The next day, I stormed in to Dimitri's office after a very long talk I'd had on the phone.
"You have to give Tasha her job back,"
The God reincarnates head snapped up. "Pardon me?"
"I talked to her," I explained. "Did you know that she was related to my best friend's boyfriend?"
His full lips pursed. "I was aware of that, yes."
"Then why the hell did you fire her?"
"Whoa, whoa." Darius stood up. "I don't mean to interrupt or be disrespectful or anything like that, but don't you remember what that woman did to my boss? Totally took advantage of him. Jumped on his bones and held him down while he screamed for someone to save him—"
Dimitri swore in Russian as his hand sliced through the air, signaling for his financial advisor to be quiet.
"Sorry, boss, just trying to help." Darius dropped to the couch again and zipped his trap.
"I was there." I glared at him. "I know what happened. Tasha didn't do any of that."
"Yes, none of that." Dimitri leaned back in his chair. "She simply stripped naked and kissed me. That's entirely normal."
"I cannot believe you're not outraged!" Darius said in his signature thick Italian accent. "You claim this is the man you love, but you are not defending him. Tasha tried to steal him from you. Be pissed off about it! Break some windows, key her car, put a bag of dog shit on her porch and light it on fire…I don't know. Just at least show some emotion!"
"Just because I did not kick her ass when I had the chance, does not mean that I still don't have homicidal urges and thoughts. Believe me, I do." I paced the room, wearing down the fine carpet. "All I am saying is that the girl made a mistake that she regrets deeply…and I think you should give her a second chance."
Dimitri looked thoughtful. "You do realize what you are asking of me, Roza?"
I smiled. "I love when you call me that."
"I love the way it feels leaving my lips to your ears—"
"Enough sappy shit," Darius said. "Answer his question."
Dimitri's sharp eyes flickered over to his financial advisor and flared black with anger. "Talk to her with respect."
Darius lowered his head slightly and murmured his apologies.
The God reincarnate focused his attention back on me and repeated his question. "You do realize what you are asking of me?"
"Sorta."
"Not only are you asking me to rehire an employee who couldn't listen to directions to save her life and cost me thousands upon thousands of dollars, but you also want me to risk my reputation along with my business as well."
"Exactly. I'm glad we're on the same page." I turned and headed for the door at bolting speed.
"Rose," The warning note in his voice was enough to stop me.
After Dimitri ordered Darius and Ivan out of the room, he beckoned me back to the desk with one long graceful finger.
"Yes?" I asked, hopeful to get this conversation over with ASAP.
"Do you really want Tasha back?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Why not?"
Moments of silence passed through us until he spoke again. "Fine. She has a job."
I jumped up and down. "Thank you! Thank you!" Running over, I squeezed him until he complained of lack of oxygen.
"You're the best!" I grabbed to fistfuls of silky brown hair and planted a rough one on him. "Thank you!"
He smiled, beautiful lips red and swollen. "No problem. No matter how much I am dreading this decision I made, you are happy and that's all that matters."
Feeling bold and daring, I locked the doors and decided to give him a little strip tease.
"Why did you do that?" He asked after wards, shifting in his seat awkwardly, rearranging pants that had suddenly become tight.
"I believe you deserved a little treat."
"That wasn't a treat. That was torture."
"And you loved every moment of it."
"I did."
"See you later!" Grinning like an idiot, I ran out of the office, ignoring his yells and pleas for me to come back.
"Will you allow me to prepare dinner tonight for you?"
I gasped and nearly slipped on the tile as I came out of the shower and found Dimitri sitting on my bed. He was dressed in black slacks and a white shirt. The first few buttons were down and his tie was loosened, making him jump-his-bones-on-the-spot-worthy. Tightening my towel, I cursed loudly and asked, "What are you doing here?"
"I want to make you dinner."
"I don't know…"
"Don't make me beg," Dimitri got to his feet.
"But I like when you beg."
"And I like when you look at me like that." He came over and pulled me in to his arms.
Tucking some brown hair behind his ear, I stared up at him. "Like what?"
"Like you want to rip my clothes off and make love to me. All night long."
I bit my lip hard to keep from smiling. "It's as if you can read my mind."
"I just know you that well." Dimitri dropped his head to my neck, placing a kiss against my wet skin. He slid his nose down my shoulder and inhaled. "I love the way you smell."
Closing my eyes and blushing, I murmured, "It's just the soap I used in the shower."
"No. It's you. Not the soap. You." His mouth trailed down until it reached my wrist, where he placed a kiss and went back up the inside of my arm. "You have this wonderful natural smell, like jasmine and lavender. It's intoxicating." Dimitri smiled devilishly. "It's the strongest when you are aroused—"
"How about that dinner?" I cleared my throat and tried to remember how to function like a normal human being. God, that voice he'd used on me…that damn voice.
He pulled back, obviously pleased with my body's reaction to him. "Is that a yes?"
"Only if you are cooking."
The God reincarnate nodded. "Of course. I have already closed the kitchen down for the evening and sent my employees home early. So it will be just me and you."
"What about Darius and Ivan? They live here."
"Not aloud to come out of their rooms unless it is an emergency," he said. "My orders."
"You asshole. You had this all planned out already. You already knew I was going to say yes."
"I was hoping." Dimitri headed for the door. "I will see you downstairs soon?"
"After I'm dressed."
"Good. Thank you." The door shut softly.
After clipping my hair up and brushing my teeth, I headed for the closet. The jeans seemed comfortable enough, but I didn't want to wear my signature casual clothes. I wanted something…nice. I wanted something that made me look beautiful. I wanted Dimitri to see me as sexy and not just "cute" for once.
I chose a royal purple summer dress that was striking yet flowing and comfortable at the same time. Perfect.
After slipping on some white sandals, I headed for the kitchen.
I found him by the stove, pouring red wine in to a frying pan with two juicy steaks in it.
"Yum. I didn't know you could cook."
He glanced over his shoulder and cocked a brow. "Yes, you do. I used to make you food everyday. Remember?"
"I do now." I rubbed my belly appreciatively. "Wow, you really are amazing. A true God."
Dimitri's attention was on the food, but I had a feeling he was smiling.
Sometime later, we made our way to the dining table.
"You are such a sap," I grinned. "Candles and champagne…really? You know I'm not the romantic type."
"Maybe not. But you deserve the best." He filled, then dropped a fresh strawberry in a crystal flute. He handed it to me. "Now sit while I go get our plates."
As I waited, I watched the bubbles fizz to the top of the glass. I sipped gently. The champagne was sweet and light and delicious.
By the time Dimitri came back with our dishes, I had tipped the entire thing off.
"Easy there, girl." He smiled as he refilled the flute. "We're just getting started."
"I like the sound of that," I stared down at the exotically designed and expensive plate. Steak. Potatoes. Asparagus. And some kind of sauce that was delicate and smelled appealingly. My stomach roared.
From the seat across from me, Dimitri chuckled. "Eat. You are hungry."
"What gave me away? Was it the growling lion in my belly or the way I'm drooling all over your table?"
"Both."
I grabbed a fork and knife and dug in. "I want you to teach me how to fight again."
He froze for a second. "Why?"
"Just because." I shrugged and took a bite of meat. "You used to be my instructor and Jiu Jitsu Palace. I haven't fought in years, and I miss it. Besides, with all the shit that's been going down lately…it would be good for me to, you know, learn how to defend myself. It may not be that useful, but it'll make me feel safer."
Dimitri was quiet for a moment, pondering the thought.
"Will you or not?" I snapped. "The answer to my question isn't rocket science."
He took a sip of champagne and grinned, "Yes. I will teach you how to fight again."
"Good," I did a little happy dance as best I could in my chair. "Thanks."
Three flute refills and two helpings later, I groaned and eased back in my seat. "Godddddd. I'm so full I think I'm going to pop like a balloon. Thank you. That food was…incredible. You really are a good cook."
Dimitri wiped his mouth with a napkin, stood up, and grabbed our plates. "No dessert?"
"Ugh…tempting. But I really shouldn't..."
He smiled. "Too bad because I've already baked it. I guess I'll wrap it up and save it for another night—"
"What is it?" I asked eagerly.
"Chocolate—"
"Fine, fine. If you are going to force me, then get it. Go."
He disappeared inside the kitchen, shaking his head.
When he came back out, I gaped. "What the hell is all that magic?"
There was a little flame at the top of a cake hill. He set the plate in front of me, grabbed the nearest chair and sat down. "Blow it out."
I did.
Dimitri smiled and carefully handed me a knife. "Cut it in half. But don't take a bite yet."
I made a slit down the middle and was amazed. Melted caramel and molten chocolate spilled out of the chocolate cake like lava from a volcano. I made a sound of approval and without thinking about it, stuck my finger into the sugary sweetness, wanting to taste a lick of it.
"Holy crap!" I ripped my hand back and squeezed my wrist, shaking it and going in a panic. "Shit! It burns! Do something! BURNSSSS!"
Dimitri swore in Russian and stuck my finger directly between his lips, sucking the scorching chocolate and caramel off, not caring that he burned his mouth in the process. He pulled back, ripped the champagne bottle from the bucket of ice, and shoved my hand into it, covering the inflamed skin completely with freezing cubes.
I instantly felt relieved and sagged. "Why the hell would you bring out something that hot, you idiot! My hand was living in hell there for a moment."
His dark eyes were sharp and angry. "I told you not to take a bite. You're supposed to put the vanilla ice cream on the cake before you eat it. It cools it down."
"Oh." Feeling stupid, I asked, "How's your mouth?"
"I'll live." Dimitri grabbed an ice cube out of the silver bucket and bit in, crushing it.
I felt sad when he cleaned the dessert plate off the table, blaming myself for ruining such a perfect evening.
"I'm sorry—"
"Don't be," he said gently. "It was my fault. I should have got it ready with the ice cream before bringing it out. It was stupid of me. I…I apologize. You shouldn't have been hurt tonight."
I was about to say more, but a huge bang made us both freeze. It sounded like a window had shattered. The seconds that followed made me break out in a cold sweat. My heart hammered so hard from the rush of adrenaline pouring throughout my body.
Someone had broken into the mansion. And I had a sickening feeling it was the man with the ski mask.
He'd come to finish the job.