"There you are," Abe said, coming out on to the porch to see Dimitri and I cuddled together on the swing, enjoying the first sunshine of the day. "I've been sent to collect you for dinner," he said with a smile seeing us cuddled together looking so peaceful and happy. Following Abe back into the farmhouse, we headed to the dining room where the huge table had been set for eight. Pulling my chair out for me, Dimitri sat in the final remaining seat beside me.
In front of us was a veritable feast. A succulent roast pork topped with crackle sat surrounded by every side imaginable. Pavel sat at the foot of the table and stood to carve. Sitting opposite me, I could see Lissa regarding Dimitri and me with a smile. I guess I must be looking as happy as I was feeling.
Holding my smaller hand in his between us on the dining table, Dimitri was absentmindedly stroking my middle finger where I was wearing my promise ring.
"I love that you wear it milaya," he said so softly only I could hear.
"I love that you gave it to me, Comrade" I replied.
"What are you two whispering about?" Christian asked, spoiling the moment.
"Just saying how the weekend would have been perfect if you weren't here" I responded, poking my tongue out at him. Lissa rolled her eyes at us.
"Aww come on Rosie – you know you love having me here. Besides if I wasn't here keeping Lissa occupied you'd get to spend less time with lover-boy."
Well now you mention it – he has a point… Lissa flushed scarlet at the suggestive way in which he said 'occupied,' but Pavel saved the day.
"Pass these down please – this one is Mr. Mazur's."
Passing the plates down with the roast slices, I had to have a little giggle. Baba's had two neat slices. Mine – which came next – had four or five. And then came Dimitri's which looked like a carvery! You could barely see the plate due to the number of slices on it. Once we were all served, we passed the sides between us. I chose roast potato, pumpkin, and onion, some string beans, carrot, steamed broccoli and gravy. In fact, I only stopped when I physically couldn't add any more to my plate without it overflowing.
Closing my eyes, I was groaning with pleasure as I ate – opening them only briefly to reload and take another bite. After several moments I realized all conversation had stopped and I opened my eyes to see Dimitri resting his chin in his hand watching me with a look of absolute adoration on his face. And while Dimitri was watching me, everyone else was watching us.
"I love watching you eat milaya," Dimitri said, oblivious to our audience.
"Just as well Belikov, because you'll get a lot of chances with the way piggie over there puts it away" Christian joked, earning himself a slap in the back of the head from Lissa.
Piggie? PIGGIE? Throwing Christian a 'you'll keep' look, I leaned forward and kissed Dimitri gently.
"What can I say? Suzanne's cooking is awesome. Of course I'm enjoying it."
"Yes it's absolutely delicious," Mom complimented Suzanne, followed by the rest of the table offering her their thanks.
The conversation flowed easily after that. This must be what it feels like to be part of a big family, I thought happily. I noticed Dimitri was particularly quiet, but he had a soft smile on his face that reached his eyes, so I wasn't concerned. After finishing our roast, then each having a serve of Suzanne's apple pie with cream, we both sat back full and happy.
"Do you want to play a board game?" Lissa asked us, looking as though she'd much rather retire to bed with Christian, but not wanting to be the first to suggest it.
"Go ahead if you want milaya," Dimitri said, his voice soft and sultry, "but I should skype Baia."
"Sorry, Lissa. I should join Dimitri talking to his family" I said apologetically. Christian looked thrilled. I stared at him with a smile. Be happy now, dude, I'm still going to get you for calling me piggie…
Standing up and thanking Suzanne again for the meal, Dimitri and I helped clear the plates and stacked the dishwasher before heading back to say goodnight to everyone.
"I love it here, Baba. It's hard to believe the Academy is just down the road – it feels like a lifetime away!" I gushed.
"It is peaceful here, isn't it?" Mom sighed happily, her hand within Abe's. "Thank you for bringing us here" she continued leaning to kiss him. The kiss got more and more intense, and suddenly I felt like a voyeur watching the two of them.
"Right well - we're off to skype Baia," I said a little awkwardly. "Night all!"
Walking towards the stairs, Dimitri scooped me up bridal style and carried me up the first and then the second set of stairs to our room. Placing me into the center of the bed, he kissed me gently, starting to take off his uniform and changing into a pair of flannel pajama bottoms and a matching TShirt. Lightly jumping up beside Dimitri, I reached into my bag and pulled out my chosen sleepwear; one of his training shirts with Russian writing on it.
"You're wearing my shirt" Dimitri smiled, turning to see me in his pilfered clothing.
"That I am Comrade," I said mock seriously. "I thought getting into your shirt would be a change from trying to get into your pants!"
"Well it doesn't need to be an either/or situation you know" he teased playfully. Pulling my back to his front, he spun us around, so we were standing at the foot of the bed looking through the window at the weak morning sun. I could see Guardians walking the perimeter of the farmyard and beyond that trees extending into the distance.
"I just love it here," I said, turning back to my Russian God. "I never thought I'd enjoy farmhouse living, but this is so relaxing."
"Ahh, you wait until you see Baia, milaya! It's a little like this but if possible even more beautiful. I can't wait to show it to you and you to everyone there."
"Do you have many friends there still?" I asked, now curious about his hometown.
"Well most of the boys I grew up with are Guardians now" he started, "but many of the old families are still there. They'll all be excited to meet the girl who's claimed my heart" he said, looking at me with a heartbreakingly gorgeous smile. With his hair out and in his pajamas, Dimitri looked like the lovestruck young man he was.
"Come on," I said, embarrassed at the tears that had sprung to my eyes thanks to his tender statement. "Let's Skype the five other leading ladies in your life!"
"There's only one leading lady in my life," Dimitri said meaningfully, picking me up and placing me on the bed and grabbing a book to rest his phone against. 'All I've ever wanted, all I've ever needed is here – in my arms,'" he sung to a melody I could vaguely recall, pulling me to him and kissing me.
Fluffing the pillows up against the iron bedhead, the two of us sat side-by-side, leaning back with our legs tucked under the quilt. I thought back to our first Skype call and how I was worried his family would see a bed in the background and ask embarrassing questions. Yet just a few weeks later, here we were about to do our weekly Skype call while we were in our pajamas and sitting in bed! I'm sure Viktoria was bound to comment, but I didn't care. I was eighteen now, and if I wanted to be in bed with my handsome lover then I would be!
Resting his phone on its side against the book, Dimitri made the connection. As per last time, the call was answered quickly, and his Mama, Yeva, Viktoria, and Sonya came into focus on the screen.
"Dimka! Rose!" Olena gushed excitedly. Although in the past Dimitri would speak with his family in Russian, now our Skype calls were mostly conducted in English.
"Sorry we're late to call today, Mama. Zmey has bought a farmhouse just outside the Academy grounds – Roza and I are staying the weekend with her parents, and Vasilissa and Christian."
"You should see it; it's so beautiful," I enthused. "It has the most gorgeous wrap around verandah with adorable swings on the porch – and our room is up right under the roofline. It's so romantic!"
"Romantic now – wait till it snows! The room will be freezing" Sonya said waspishly.
"She'll be fine," Viktoria butted in giving Sonya a shove. "She has Dimka to keep her warm."
Dimitri smiled, taking my hand in his and lifting it to kiss my knuckles.
"Speaking of which – are you two sitting in bed?!" Viktoria shrieked, taking a closer look at the background. "And you're wearing Dimka's St. Basil's training TShirt!" she continued.
Blushing a little, I replied "Yeah we just had dinner and come up." Eager to move the conversation on I continued, "You should see the bathroom – it's so nice. There's a huge clawfoot bathtub in there I can't wait to try. It's so nice here after being so formal at the Academy all week. We can just be ourselves."
Olena asked questions then about how we were managing at the Academy. Dimitri gave her a rundown of our day, telling her a few funny stories about recent happenings on campus.
"I wish I could see it one day," Viktoria moaned. "It all sounds so much more exciting than St. Basil's."
I was opening my mouth to suggest she came for a visit, but shut it when I realized there's no way we could keep up the pretense if she did. "Actually it's pretty boring" I said instead, using a dismissive tone. "I honestly can't wait to graduate and come visit you guys."
"Yes we're looking forward to it so much," Olena replied. Viktoria was beaming, Yeva looked nonpulsed. Sonya all but rolled her eyes.
"We're hoping for a big announcement while you're here," Viktoria continued, clapping her hands in excitement. "Maybe the sound of wedding bells?"
Trying to keep my face expressionless I knew my heart was suddenly beating a hundred miles an hour. Had Dimitri said something to them? I hadn't told them about his promise ring, although I suspected that they knew. However the conversations Dimitri and I had made me think a proposal was a little way away yet. And while I knew whenever he asked I'd be saying yes, I was ok with waiting a while, especially since we'd talked about trying for a baby as soon as we were married!
"Viktoria!" Olena chided gently. "That's Karolina's business – don't go around talking about things that might not happen!"
"Oh come on, Mama? You saw him the other night when we were talking about Dimka coming home. He looked nervous! She's over there with him now," Viktoria explained. "They spend every moment they can together."
"He should look nervous," Dimitri said. "Got to make sure he's good enough for Karolina," he said, with a menacing smile.
"You're just dying to be the menacing brother, aren't you?" I teased.
"Sure am!" he laughed. "Got to make sure my sisters are looked after."
Sonya spat out something clearly derisive in Russian, earning her a dressing down from Olena and Viktoria. As usual, Yeva just sat there taking it all in and looking amused. I looked to Dimitri questioningly as it was all occurring in Russian, but he just shook his head with a smile at the corner of his lips.
"Sorry Dimka," Sonya said with a look that revealed she was apologizing because she'd been told to, not because she wanted to.
Viktoria started in on a long story about something happening at St. Basil's after that, and then Olena passed on the gossip and news from families Dimitri knew from the area. Resting beneath Dimitri's arm, I leaned my head against his chest listening to news about people I'd not yet met.
Olena was mid-sentence when Yeva decided she had something to say.
"You look very happy Rose. Keep hold of that joy - it will make all the difference in the end."
As with almost everything Yeva said I had no clue what she meant. And yet again I thanked her anyway. Dimitri said something to her in Russian, but she waved her hand dismissively refusing to answer. Then she said something that made Dimitri blush deeply, and Viktoria, Sonya and Olena look at her scandalized.
Dimitri seemed keen to get off the call after that, and so we said our goodbyes and terminated the call. Picking his phone and book off the bed, he put them on the side table before standing up and stepping over to the huge window, lowering the blockout shade and leaving us in almost complete darkness.
"Come here milaya," he said, lying down on one side of the bed and indicating for me to scoot down the bed to lie under the quilt beside him. Pulling it over us, and then pulling me to him, Dimitri nuzzled my hair and stroked my hip. Bringing his lips to mine, he gave me a soft warm kiss, before kissing my nose, eyes, along my jaw and back to my lips again. It was so soft and romantic.
"What did Yeva say to you at the end?" I asked, distracted by his kisses, but still wondering what had earned such a response from the other women of the household.
Pausing with a smile, he gave a very sexy soft chuckle. "She told me you looked so incredibly happy and in love, and that I should spend the rest of the night giving you every pleasure I could."
"She really said that?" I asked, hugely embarrassed.
He nodded, looking abashed. "But you know Yeva; she's always right," he said, lowering his lips back to mine, and running his hands up my naked body beneath his TShirt.
