Chapter ten – Date with an Actor

Dimitri Belikov was holding my hand. My hand. Dimitri Belikov! You get it? Dimitri Belikov in my hand. Well, not like that. Yet. Focus on the food, Rose!

He had called me the next morning. We were almost through our expensive dinner. Everything was going surprisingly well. He had told me about his family and how he grew up in Siberia. He made me laugh when he told about how he used to be afraid of his crazy grandmother. I told him about Lissa and my time in high school. I didn't really want to talk about my family and I didn't want to bore him with my sad life. It wasn't really that glamorous.

I had been nervous when I discovered his choice of restaurant. I had stammered that there was no way in hell I could afford it, and he had taken hold of my hand and promised me that I wouldn't spend a dime. I would have protested but the surge of energy from out joined hands distracted me. We sat in some private section with fewer people. Rich ass politicians and business men mostly. They didn't look so happy with the fact that their wives were gawking at Dimitri. Not that you could blame them.

"How is your duck?" he asked, oblivious to their stares and drooling.

"Uh, it's the best duck I've ever had." And the first. I wasn't used to fancy food like duck. What was wrong with good old chicken? I liked trying new things and I knew I could never afford meals like this on my own. It was pretty delicious actually.

"We'll have pizza next time," he promised with a smile. He was having some weird Russian soup himself.

"Next time?" I asked surprised. I was scared I was boring him with my dull life and stories.

"If you want there to be a next time?" he asked with a shy smile. Damn, he looked cute. I could feel my heart flutter. Maybe I genuinely had a chance with this guy! Who should have thought that?

I chewed my duck slowly and pretended to think about it.

"If you're not sure-" he began, looking a little hurt.

"Of course!" I spluttered and accidently spat some duck out on the table. I subtly covered it with my napkin, hoping he didn't notice. I wasn't about to lose my chance of dating him because I couldn't keep the food in my mouth.

"Really? I'm glad." He smiled at me and I smiled helplessly back. It really looked like things were about to chance. I had to give up my safe life in my little bubble. It was about time.

A waitress interrupted our little moment and Dimitri let go of my hand. I looked up annoyed and found a blonde woman glaring back at me. What was her problem? Angeline her name tag said.

"Can I get you anything, Mr. Belikov?" she purred and stroked her rather exposed cleavage with her pen. Gee, where had I seen that before? He gave her a patient smile and looked back at me.

"Do you want dessert, Rose?"

What kind of question was that? I had seen a few delicious cakes earlier and I was dying for chocolate. But I knew I had gained a few pounds these last months. Chocolate and chubbiness vs. no chocolate and skinniness?

"Yes please!" I could already taste the chocolate in my mouth.

"What would you like then?"

"Chocolate cake!" I was probably a little too enthusiastic. But man… it was chocolate cake we were talking about.

"To slices of chocolate cake please," Dimitri told Angeline.

"You love chocolate, don't you?" he asked when she had left.

"Who doesn't? It's a piece of heaven! It's one of the best things in life. It's-" I was interrupted by his chuckle. I blushed scarlet again. Why did I always start blabbering about chocolate?

"I've never seen anyone so passionate about chocolate before. It's adorable." He was looking at me fondly with a breathtaking smile.

"Thanks. I hope the cake's good," I mumbled and stared at my hand on the table.

He covered my tiny hand with his larger one and stroked my knuckles with his thumb, and kept smiling at me. My heartbeat sped up again and I prayed that my palms wouldn't get too sweaty.

"Tell me more about yourself, Rose," he requested as he played with my fingers. I breathed in as I scanned the room for a minute.

"I'm not very interesting. What would you like to know?"

"Everything." Something about his tone made me look up.

I ended up telling him about my family as we waited for the chocolate cake. I didn't know what it was about him that made me open up like that. We talked back and forth as we enjoyed our delicious cake.

"I should take you home now. Are you working tomorrow?" he asked later. I was surprised to see that it was almost eleven o'clock. He flagged down the waiter and paid for our rather expensive meal. I must have looked guilty because he gave me a reassuring smile and took my hand. We walked in a comfortable silence to his car.

I studied him as he drove me home. His tall frame somehow managed to look sexy behind the wheel, his brows furrowed in concentration as he controlled the car. I squirmed in the seat as I imagined him controlling me. I swallowed loudly.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked and looked at me as he stopped for red light.

"Uhm, just our dinner," I lied and may have blushed a little. I wasn't about to admit I was having dirty thoughts about him. It would probably scare him away.

"Did you have a good time?"

"I did. Thank you very much, Dimitri."

He stopped the car and I was surprised to find myself at my apartment. Before I got my own belt unlocked Dimitri was out of the car and at my side. I was surprised when he opened the door for me. No one had done that for me. Being a feminist I didn't know if I should be offended or melting into a pile of goo on the sidewalk. He took hold of my hand again and walked me to the apartment building.

"Thank you for agreeing to have dinner with me, Rose. I had a wonderful time," he said as he stopped and looked down at me. I swallowed again. Was he going to kiss me? Should I kiss him? I stared up into his wonderful brown eyes as he bent down and brushed his lips against mine. My heart almost escaped from my chest as I froze. He was kissing me! He was about to pull back when I locked my hand between his neck and pressed my mouth firmly against his. We pulled back at the same time and smiled at each other.

"I'll see you later, Rose," he whispered as he turned around and walked back to his car. I touched my burning lips as I watched his black Porsche speed away.

A/N: Hi... Did you miss me? :/ Sorry it took me ages to update. I actually wrote the first half of this chapter months ago but I got busy. So I got lazy and thought "no one cares about your stupid story anyway". But now I got over myself and here is the chapter. What do you think? :)) I hope I'll update soon. (And this time I mean it. I hope.)