A/N: You guys! I know it's taken me a WHILE, but college sucks eggs sometimes! Essays and speeches have bombarded me that I almost felt myself lost! Suffice to say that during my lunch breaks I was able to write bits here and there since I carried my writing journal around with me xD So I have to say this chapter has become one of my favorites, if you've all read Bloodlines you'll all know we have an artsy Adrian Ivashkov, but I really wanted me a poetic Adrian! I was actually watching Pride & Prejudice as I wrote this chapter and if you guys haven't read A Room with a View- GO READ IT NOW! Speaking of books read, has anyone read John Green's The Fault in our Stars?! My goodness! And I met him AND Maggie Stiefvater at Washington D.C.'s National Book Festival like two/three weeks ago! Came home sunburned after HOURS of waiting to get my books signed! BUT IT WAS A SUCCESS! Now let me stop my rambling and let you guys get back to reading! ENJOY!
Chapter 38
Chance Encounters?
Gardenias, that's what I could smell as I sat down on the small white, iron bench under the big oak tree in Lissa's backyard. The scent wasn't strong, but I could smell it. My eyes closed as I took in the heavenly scent, my hands loosened their hold from the book in my hands. That's how relaxing it was. The last time I'd ever smelled gardenias was almost five years ago, when mama and Yeva took us to Mark and Oksana's home, Oksana's garden eclectic. Everything from roses to poppy's decorated her backyard. I remember laying beside the gardenia's, the scent strong as I breathed them in. Flowers unlike any other in shape and scent, most women go for roses or tulips even, but not me.
Always the odd one out.
"It isn't possible to love and to part… You will wish that it was…" What the? I quickly turned to see someone standing behind me, his face hidden in shadows as his head blocked the sun.
"You can transmute love, ignore it, muddle it, but you can never pull it out of you… I know by experience that the poets are right… Love is eternal." The first thing I noticed were his jade green eyes. Never in my life have I seen green eyes like his, and even his smirk was new to me. I knew cocky guys, but none like him.
"I see you know E. M. Forester's A Room with a View…" I say cautiously. Though his eyes remained on me, curious, but at the same time, there was something else in his eyes. I wasn't sure what, but for whatever reason it made me shift in my seat. His brown hair grazed his lashes as he blinked and smiled.
"May I?" He asked as he signaled the empty spot beside me on the small bench. I gave a nonchalant shrug, though on the inside, my heart was beating as fast as if though I were running for my life. His dress pants were pressed and I knew that he was instantly out of my league. I mean, I'd seen him when he first arrived with Rose, but having him up close was like awakening to reality once again. Mama always did tell me my head was in the clouds and books too much, and not enough in the real world. And then I realize that my fingers are clenched tightly around the small book, Adrian Ivashkov's lips shaped in a small smile as he glances at my hands.
Clearing my throat I loosen my grip and speak, "Anything in particular I can help you with?" I ask as I open up my book again.
"It's Sonya, right?" And then my heart accelerates once again.
"Conversation was tedious; she wanted something big, and she believed that it would have come to her on the windswept platform of an electric tram."
I've read that line four times now, "Yes… And you're Adrian Ivashkov… Pleasure." I say without looking up.
Beside me, he's chuckling as he sighs, "Are you always this cold? Or is it just towards me?" Now I feel like an ass…
I slowly turn towards him, fighting the blush rising to my face, and like the Belikov I am, it's gone, "I apologize, that was rude of me." I say sincerely. His green eyes twinkling as he points toward the book in my hands, a smile on his lips; Hesitantly, I hand it to him, my bookmark in place as he begins to go through it.
He exaggerates clearing his throat before reading aloud, "I only wish the poets would say this too: Love is of the body; not the body, but of the body. Ah! The misery that would be saved if we confessed that! Ah! For a little directness to liberate the soul!" Adrian looks at me pointedly and I feel the heat rise to my cheeks again, and this time it doesn't go away. I can't force it away because I'm enraptured by his reading. His voice is a soft tenor as he continues to read, the slow yet steady movement of his lips, "Love felt and returned… Love which our bodies exact and our hearts have transfigured… Love which is the most real thing that we shall ever meet, reappeared now as the world's enemy, and she must stifle it."
Adrian turns towards me and closes the book as he hands it back to me, my face no doubt in utter shock. It was as if he were speaking from experience. Rose? Maybe?
"So, you're into the classics." I say matter-of-factly. Adrian's lips spread into an impish grin.
"You can say that…" I can't help but roll my eyes, a typical response from a typical guy. Your prejudices are what keep you from real dates… Whatever, 'what are men compared to rocks and mountains?' right?
"What is it with you women and rolling your eyes? Am I really that annoying that half the female population rolls their eyes at me?" he asks as he runs a hand through his hair.
"Oh, what? Do you prefer them falling over themselves and fawning at your feet?" I ask almost insulted. But this seems to humor him further.
"Not necessarily fall at my feet, more like fall into my wide open and awaiting arms. At least then they won't be able to get away when annoyed." He says with a wide smirk. A smirk I would've wanted to smack away if it were anyone else. But for whatever reason, I could tell he was kidding.
"Har har…" I say as I smooth down my dress. And self-consciously, I'm glad I picked this dress out. It was hard enough finding a dress for my high school graduation, and to find a party dress? Well, that was just too exhausting. But having my sisters and Rose made it more bearable.
It was silent, I could hear birds singing not too far off. But his voice was just above a whisper when he spoke, "You look beautiful." My mouth went dry at his bold compliment. Without looking up I just give a small nod, "Thank you…" I say, though I hate myself for letting my voice crack briefly.
"So what is it exactly you needed?" I asked getting irritated at him for even sitting here. And at myself for letting him get to me without even really doing anything. Except for reciting your favorite lines in the book.
"Oh, I just wanted to talk." He says casually.
And I dare to look up as I ask, "Talk about what, exactly?" I ask with much trepidation. Instantly I regret looking up at him, his green eyes narrow softly as his lips spread slowly into a crooked smile, his face leaning in just a little as he whispers.
"You…"
RPOV
His hand gently tugs at the fabric on my hip as our lips move together. Lissa and the others long gone, leaving us to our own devices. And for that I thank them. I knew Dimitri would flip when he saw me with this dress on. He couldn't even believe that it was the same dress he'd picked out.
"You are such a liar… You did something with that dress, didn't you?" he asked, but even though he was slightly serious, his eyes wouldn't stop roaming my body. A man is a man after all, and Dimitri Belikov is no different.
I put my forefingers through the belt loops of his pants, pulling him in closer to me, a groan escaping both our lips as the space between us completely disappears. His tongue slowly grazes my lip as he pulls apart, but before I can protest his lips are roaming my neck. Dimitri slowly bites down and I let my head fall back as I moan. His fingers clench my hip and the slight pain instantly radiates towards my aching center.
My fingers thread through his silky hair as I pull his lips towards mine again. Our kiss hungry and rough, the bulge in his pants pressing against my stomach making me ache further for him. Dimitri slides a hand down my thigh and slowly pulls it up so my leg wraps around his waist. I groan as I feel him press against my core, needing more friction I press against him. His forehead is on my shoulder as he groans and his fingers tighten around my thigh. And like that he sweeps me off my feet.
Lying on my back on the bed, his face hovering over mine he looks at me uncertain. I suddenly remember him saying he wanted to get me back, but even I could see the internal battle going on in him. His brown eyes narrow slightly as he looks at me, I could see want and cautiousness, but there's something else. Dimitri's eyes have another haunted look, just like the night he asked me to come to Russia with him, but it's not as strong as then.
I slowly lift my hand and cup his cheek, his eyes slowly close and his brow furrows, "Talk to me Dimitri…" I say softly. His eyes open slowly again and in them I see resolve, a decision has been made in his mind, and I want to know what. He slowly shifts his face and kisses the inside of my wrist. My breath hitches as I feel his tongue sweep over my pulse point, his brown eyes dark and lustful.
"I want to try something…" I look at him openly, my mind going through every possible 'something' he'd want to try, and his eyes go innocent, "Do you trust me?"
I almost want to scoff, but I don't instead I lift myself up with my elbow, our faces just inches away from each other and with all the sincerity in my heart I respond, "With my life…"
And that's all the answer he needs, his lips reach for my own fervently. His hand lost in my hair as he kisses me. When he pulls away he looks at me with an intensity that makes me feel like the only woman in this world, he makes me feel wanted. Dimitri gives me a sultry smile as he asks, "What time does the party exactly begin?"
I can feel a giddy smile spread on my lips, "Two hours." He gives me a small nod before he slowly gets up. Standing, he walks towards the door and opens it. Glancing both ways he then closes the door again, but this time he locks it. Turning towards me again, his hair cascades and frames his face, giving him an air of seduction.
Dimitri comes to sit beside me and I feel myself sit up. His eyes meet mine neutrally, "Tell me if anything makes you uncomfortable Rose… I don't want to hurt you or do something that you are not one hundred percent certain of happening or continuing with."
I nod and his eyes search mine, "Okay Dimitri." His brown eyes keep searching mine, and finally I see him relax, finding what he was looking for. He smiles softly at me, the corners of his mouth lifting and instead of him starting us off, I pull him to me. Lips crashing against each other, but if I'm honest with myself, I don't want it to go like this. Instead, I slow down, our lips moving slowly against each other. Perfect synchrony.
Dimitri slowly pulls apart and looks down at me with lidded eyes, "Y–You lead Roza… You're the one in control." And I do. His lips are on mine once again and I know we can't go all the way, not yet at least. I don't want to push myself, nor him when I know he's still opening himself to me. And this? This is a major step, he's wholly entrusting me with this, and I would not cross the line.
His lips are against mine as I take his in mine, slowly leading him from my waist to just below my breast. Letting him back out, even though I honestly didn't want him to. The low growl from his chest gives me the certainty to keep going. Dimitri's tongue caresses my own as I place his hand over my breast, a low moan escaping my lips as his fingers gently knead me. My hand closes over his, gently squeezing my nipple, the dress rubbing over my sensitive skin. I gently guide his hand inside the thing garment of my dress and instantly buck my torso up to his, his hands soft yet rough against my bare and sensitive skin. And I want him, in the most intimate of ways.
Dimitri continues to explore my body, but I can't take it anymore. I take his hand again and slowly slide his hand down my stomach, realizing what I'm doing he slowly pulls away, his brown eyes meeting mine questioningly. I give him a small smile and his own lips turn upwards. I glide his hand to trail up my leg and thigh, and his eyes droop slightly. Swallowing in anticipation, his hand opened flatly over my entrance, and as he palmed me there I couldn't help the moan that escaped my lips.
Dimitri let out a low hiss, "You're already so wet." He says with a hint of surprise, but in his eyes I could see he was satisfied. Satisfied that he could make me feel this way in a matter of seconds, and that's what he did to me. Just being near me I wanted nothing more than to fall off the edge of ecstasy.
I felt my eyes close as I felt his hand go in my panties, his finger reaching to touch my clit slowly, and I ground my teeth at discovering just how sensitive I was, "Don't close your eyes."
Opening my eyes again I met Dimitri's hungry eyes, expectant as he looked at me. My hand over his went weak and noticing he gave me a shit-eating grin. I would have laughed at seeing Dimitri so coy, but god what he was doing to me. Dimitri kept rubbing circles on my clit and every now and then he would trace my entrance with a finger, teasing me to no end.
Letting out a low groan I couldn't help the want in my voice, "Damn it Dimitri, do it now." His grin dropped gradually as his eyes narrowed in lust again.
"Do what, Roza?" He asked me in a low whisper. Our breathing labored as he continued to tease me, but then I felt him stretch me with his finger, slowly going in, "Do, this?" he asked me as I moaned.
"Fuck." Was all I could manage as I felt him slide inside of me. My eyes closed again in the pleasure I felt, but then he took out his finger. Opening my eyes he looked down at me, "Don't close your eyes." He said in an almost whiney voice.
I felt my lips widen in a grin, "Voyeurism Mr. Belikov?" I ask teasingly. His lips instantly land on mine as he kisses me fervently.
"Only with you Mazur." And I take control again. I pull apart, my eyes holding his gaze as I take his hand and press it at my entrance, the contact from his palm, heaven. Unable to take it anymore I lead him to my entrance and his mouth gapes slightly as I nod, letting him know it was okay.
Dimitri begins to move in and out, and as much as I want to close my eyes, I don't. Our eyes not once wavering as I begin to feel that familiar clench in my stomach. The morning before coming back to mind, watching him come undone below me as I came clear in my mind; the memory of it making me thrust faster, Dimitri complying in speeding up as his lips quickly meet mine.
"Ah!" I scream out as I feel my muscles contract around his finger. His tongue traces my lips before meeting my own and muffling my cries as I ride out my orgasm.
After I finally regain my senses, I look up to see him watching me with intensity, and I can't help the words that spill out, "I love you…"
A/N: OH CRAP! How's Dimitri going to react?! He just opened himself up and then Rose's slip of her tongue? And why did he look haunted before going any further?! I DON'T KNOW YET! Lol suffice to say next chapter is Dimitri's POV! And my mind's already at work! So I bet you guy's have already noticed that shit's definitely going down at this party if I keep prolonging it! (I blame my friend for my language xP) Anyway, I love and thank all of you who have been patient and have not yet abandoned any of my stories! Let's just say it'll be emotional the next couple of chapters for both Price to Pay and Undeniable Attractions! Again thank you all, and I'm not sure when I'll be able to update again since midterms are coming up for this semester! HOPEFULLY I'll update BEFORE Thanksgiving Break! Thank you again you guys! Much love!