Hello hello hello! I have another update for you!
I wasn't sure if I was going to update today, but I needed something fun to do after the stupidly busy week I've had. Real Estate and Will files are flooding my desk and it gets to be a lot.
I want to thank TheLittleSubmissive for editing the chapter, you are amazing as always!
For those of you who are reading a Moment in the Cabin, I hope to have another update up this weekend but it is all dependant on how my doctor's appointments go tomorrow.
Without further ado, here is the next chapter.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
MAY
"Roza, you need to stop crying."
"My babies are a year old! Of course, I'm going to cry!"
Dimitri shakes his head at me with a chuckle as I try to wipe the smudged mascara away from my eyes, but the fat tears keep rolling. I chuckle at myself under my breath as Dimitri comes up behind me and places his hands on my hips, pressing his lips against my neck before looking back up at me in the mirror. "Oh Roza," he says with a final kiss against the side of my head and walks out of the bathroom, calling to his sisters to hurry up.
I wipe the last of my ruined makeup and smooth my hair down before exiting the bathroom and running into Olena. She grasps my elbows with a smile, and I smile back at her. Dimitri and I were so happy when we were able to bring his whole family to Pennsylvania for the twins' first birthday, and they have been spending every waking moment snuggling the two.
"Thank you, Roza," Olena says and I scrunch my eyebrows together at her.
"What for?"
Olena pulls me into a tight hug. "For making my son so happy. And for giving me two beautiful grandchildren." I smile to myself as I hug her back.
"I think it's you I should be thanking. I wouldn't have any of this without you."
Olena pats my cheek and pulls me down the hall to the living room that is packed with Dimitri's family. Vika is sitting on the couch holding Nadia's hands as she stands up on her little legs, a big smile across her chubby face. "Where is the party again?" Vika asks.
"Lissa offered to hold it in one of the private gardens," I say as I scoop Artyom up into my arms. I run my hand through his unruly hair and kiss his cheek. "Mama," he says and wraps his little arms around my neck. Artyom didn't start speaking until last week, and so far the only word he will say is Mama. Something I take much pride in since Nadia can say Papa, Nene, Dede, but cannot – or will not – say Mama.
"Are you all ready to go? We should have been there five minutes ago," I say, and Karolina shakes her head.
"We've been ready, Rose; we were waiting on you."
I stick my tongue out at her as I slip my shoes on and we all make our way towards the palace. I have come to know this place like the back of my hand since Lissa was crowned, and this has been the first weekend that both her and I have had off together. But they may be because Lissa almost demanded this weekend be cleared for the birthday party.
"Good morning!" Amilia exclaims as she catches up to us in the lobby, her arms laden with bags with tissue paper. I chuckle at her enthusiasm she has towards the kids. After her son Jamie passed after birth, she never tried for another baby, but she is taken with the twins to the point where she considers herself an Aunt to them, and Dimitri and I feel that way as well.
Dimitri steps forward and takes a few of the bags from Amilia and she gives him a smile as she pushes the door leading to the back garden open. I falter slightly when we enter the garden to find it completely decked out. Lissa has really gone overboard. The garden has tables and chairs set up and a large banner hanging over the table where the food will go saying 'Happy Birthday Artyom and Nadia'. Plus, the outrageous amount of balloons screams Lissa.
Speaking of Lissa, she spots the lot of us arriving and skips towards us, her hands out towards me. "Oh, hello birthday boy!" she squeals and takes him out of my arms. I shake my head and watch Christian approach Sonya who is carrying Nadia and he holds his hands out for her.
"We are never going to get them back this week, are we?" I whisper to Dimitri and he shakes his head, wrapping his arms around my waist and kissing the back of my head.
"No, there are many arms that want to hold them. At least we get them at bedtime," he says, and I lean back against him.
"Hey! There are innocent eyes here!"
I look around Dimitri to find Adrian standing behind us with a large grin on his face, Sydney standing behind him holding a little boy with black curls. I furrow my brows at them and step out of Dimitri's arms. "Hey. Who's this little fellow?"
Adrian smirks and moves over to let Sydney come closer, the little boy looking up at Dimitri and I with big brown eyes. "This is Declan." My eyes snap up to Adrian and he gives me a lopsided smile. "This is Olive Sinclair's son. The Alchemist family he was with was killed, so Sydney and I said we would take him," Adrian says, stroking Declan's hair affectionately.
"So that is where the two of you have been since the coronation," Dimitri says, looking down at Declan. A few days after the coronation Adrian and Sydney left court in the dead of night, and the only news we got from them was when Adrian dream walked me a week later to tell us that they were ok and they would be back soon. That was the only form of communication we had with them for a while. I reach out slowly and stroke Declan's cheek. I can see Dr. Carson in his features.
Sydney shifts Declan on her hip as he starts to fuss in her arms and I smile at the two of them. I can already tell that Sydney is going to be a good mother. "Where are you living now? Not at court I hope, the whole point of having Declan with the Alchemist," I say quickly. Both Adrian and Sydney laugh at me.
"No, we are staying in Maine."
I nod and move to hug Adrian tightly with a smile. As much as I found him a pain in the ass at the Academy, we did become closer in Canada, and I missed him and Sydney these last few months. "Anyways! Where are my favourite niece and nephew?" Adrian exclaims as he pulls out of our hug and walks towards the other party goers. Dimitri chuckles and walks over with Adrian as I walk with Sydney.
"So, how did you come about volunteering to take this little guy?" I say and Sydney looks down at Declan with a small smile.
"I couldn't stomach the thought of this guy being raised by people who believed he was a monster. Plus, I figured it would be good for him to grow up with other kids like him," she says before looking over at Adrian, who managed to snag both the twins from their respective holders.
I squeeze her shoulder in agreeance. She is right. Declan living with the Alchemists would be hard because they would view him as an abomination, an evil creature, not as an innocent child. I smirk at Adrian as he holds the twins in each arm, and he fake pouts at me when I go to take Nadia from him.
"Hey, I haven't got to hold my babies for more than two minutes today, give her over Ivashkov!" I quip and toss Nadia up before catching her, grinning at the squeal she makes. Looking at her makes my heart swell a little. She's gotten so big in the last year, and she's starting to look like a little girl instead of a baby. Same with Artyom, although he just looks more like a miniature version of Dimitri these days, even down to the look Dimitri gets when he is focusing on something.
I press my lips to her hair and rub my hand over her back while Eddie makes googly eyes at Nadia. I take a glance over to the table at the side to see it overflowing with gifts. I internally groan at the amount of things Dimitri and I will need to lug back to the house after this. I set Nadia down on the play mat Lissa has set out on the grass and sit down next to her, pulling the diaper bag closer to me and pulling out her small bunny toy that she loves so much. "I can't believe how big they are," Christian says as he hands me a cup of pop.
"That seems to be the general consensus today."
"Who are we still waiting on?" Christian asks and I shake my head.
"We are waiting on my forever late parents. You would think with Mom being a Guardian she would be on time," I say. Honestly though, they should have been here twenty minutes ago.
"Anyways, I heard you are kidnapping my girlfriend tomorrow," Christian snickers and I smack his leg. If anyone was being kidnapped tomorrow, it's me.
"No. We are going to my dress fitting and to pick out the bridal party dresses. I am the one being kidnapped here. Plus, with Dimitri being my Guardian, it is going to be even harder to keep him from seeing the dress. He is trying to wheel out of me what my dress looks like."
"Hey, I am not. I'm excited to see it," Dimitri interjects as he places Artyom down with Nadia and runs his hand through my hair. I snort and lay down in the grass with a smile, gunting when Artyom crawls up my stomach and lays down on my chest. Yup, still my 'Mama's boy'.
I run my fingers through his hair and roll my head to look at Dimitri and Christian as a shadow lands on my face. I look up to see Abe standing over me with two large boxes wrapped with paper and bows. "Nice of you to finally show up," I say, and Abe gives me a smirk.
"I forgot the gifts back at our place, couldn't come empty handed now could I."
I sit up carefully and place Artyom in Dimitri's outstretched hands. "Well what kind of grandfather would you be if you forgot your grandchildren's gifts?" I roll my eyes and hug Abe. I pull away to hug Mom, saying my hellos and leaving them when Lissa calls for me to help with the food.
I think it's funny that the staff in the palace were mortified when Lissa insisted on this event being friends and family only, and that meant the exclusion of staff. The Guardians were a different story. She had to be accompanied by them any time she left her personal chambers. The Guardians that were assigned to her are all friendly enough with Dimitri and I, and we made it clear that they were able to eat and drink while they were supervising.
I follow Lissa into the small parlor off the side of the garden and help carry out the food. "Thank you for letting us have the birthday party here," I say as I help carry some salad the kitchen did for us.
Lissa waves a hand at me and sets the platter of sandwiches on the table. "I am more than happy to do it. Honestly, this place is far too big for Christian and I." I smile and place the last of the food on the table, swiping a ham sandwich from the platter and heading back over to the guests.
"You know you have to save food for other people right?" Dimitri says as he approaches, taking the half-eaten sandwich from my fingers. I scowl at him and dodge his lips as he goes to kiss mine. Dimitri chuckles at me as he offers the sandwich with an indulgent smirk. I take it back and stuff the rest in my mouth before he takes it from me again.
"Yes, this is the only one I've had. Thank you very much," I quip. I lean against Dimitri and look out over the people that have become so important in my life.
"Would you have thought this is where our lives would have taken us?" I ask quietly. I look up at him to see his reaction. Dimitri looks down at me with a tender expression.
"No, but I wouldn't ask for anything else."
I smile and stretch up on my toes to kiss him, but Eddie's loud mouth interrupts us. "Guys! Get some food before Rose eats it all."
I flop onto the couch and moan at the soreness of my feet. The birthday was perfect, and everyone had an amazing time, but Eddie practically spoon-fed icing to the kids and they were so rambunctious after that.
"Please tell me they are still asleep. I don't think my poor feet can handle anymore running around," I whine as Dimitri walks into the living room. Dimitri lifts my feet and places them in his lap as he sits on the couch, rubbing my feet firmly. I hum in pleasure at the sensation.
"Did you have a good time?" I ask Dimitri and he meets my eyes with a large grin. He presses his thumbs into the ball of my foot and I flex my toes.
"I did. I got to have all of my family together. Including my family from Russia. Babushka was in good spirits today," Dimitri nods. Yeva was happy today. Actually, she has had a smile on her face the whole week that she has been here.
Dimitri switches to the other foot, removing the ache in my other foot. I sigh as I watch Dimitri, his hair loose from the hair tie and the top two buttons on his shirt loosened, a calm and serene look on his face. He is painstakingly handsome and beautiful at the same time. It's funny to think that we fought what we felt for each other for so long, and now in a few months we will be getting married.
"What are you thinking, Roza?" Dimitri quirks his eyebrow up at me and I giggle at him. Dimitri leans towards me as he runs his hand over the tops of my feet and up my shins, creeping higher as he leans in to kiss me.
"I was thinking about how perfect you are," I murmur as his lips brush mine. He hums against my lips as he shifts to lay on top of me, sliding his hand under my shirt and cupping my waist. I moan and wrap my arms around his neck and slide my leg over the back of his, pulling him closer to me and savouring the feeling of his weight on me. Dimitri playfully bites at the side of my neck and I squeal before he chuckles and shushes me. I stifle my laughter in vain to prevent myself from waking the twins.
Our kisses become more hungry and heated, our hands caressing and grabbing at each other as we frenzy to get closer, to have our skin pressed against another. Dimitri pulls me up to sit in his lap, his hands moving to clutch my butt after depositing my shirt to the floor. Even now that it has been a year since I gave birth, my breasts have not returned to the original size they were before, and Dimitri takes great pleasure in that. Some days, he just likes to rest his head against them in bed, but when we are in the throes of lust and desire, he likes to pay extra attention to them.
Dimitri trails his kisses down my neck into my breasts, nuzzling against the smooth skin before nipping and sucking at them. He kisses his way over the fabric to the beaded nipple pressing through and bites at it, making me hiss and arch my back. I reach around to unclasp my bra and pull it off, and Dimitri removes his mouth long enough for the fabric to hit the floor before he takes one of my nubs into his hot mouth.
"Dimitri," I hiss as he bites down a little too roughly, and he soothes the sting with a kiss. I reach for the button on his jeans and unbutton it, pulling the zipper down as he sucks on the delicate skin. I pull his lips away from my chest as I stand up and tug my jeans and panties down while he removes his jeans as well. I settle down in his lap again and roll my hip against his, drawing guttural moans from his lips.
"I love your family, but they have become a massive cock block," I moan against his neck. His breath dances against my cheek as he chuckles and his lips brush the shell of my ear. "Well they aren't here now," he whispers as he lifts me in his lap and slides into my hot clef. I press my face into his shoulder as we move in sync, fragging my finger down his back as whimpering moans leave my lips. Dimitri wraps his arms around me and sinks a hand into my hair, whispering carnal desires in my ear. I can feel the beginning of my approaching climax and start to tug on Dimitri's hair, pulling his lips to mine as I climb higher.
Only the moment to be ruined by someone knocking on our front door. "No. Go away," I moan into Dimitri's shoulder as we both still, both of us panting heavily as a thin line of sweat coats both of our bodies. Dimitri growls as his grip on my body loosens and I lift my head to look at him. The person at the door knocks again and I detach myself from his body with a whimper and flop onto the couch, pulling the blanket down to cover me. Dimitri pulls his jeans on and walks to the door, looking through the peephole before unlocking the door. He mutters curses under his breath as he opens the door.
"I'm sorry to bother you so late Guardian Belikov, but with Her Majesty and your fiancée heading out during the daytime, we have a few security protocols we need to tighten up."
I peek my head over the arm to see the Guardian standing at the door as Dimitri nods and closes the door, coming back over to me. I stretch my arms above my head and pout at him. He gives an apologetic smile as he leans down and kisses me, cupping my face in his hands.
"I'm sorry Roza, I'll be back in an hour or so," he promises and I chase his lips for another kiss.
"Don't be too long," I purr and he smirks as he runs his eyes over my body that is half-covered now. I stretch up and kiss him again before he pulls on the rest of his clothes that lay on the floor. I huff and rest my head back against the cushions.
Dimitri closes the door silently behind him and I pull myself up from my place, collecting my clothes and walking into the bathroom. Hopefully the shower will help calm me down.
I groan for the sixth time this afternoon. I glare at Dimitri from where he stands at the entrance of the bridal salon, winking at me playfully. I look over at Guardian Andrews and wave her over. "Please make sure he isn't in the room when I come out in my dress," I whisper firmly and she chuckles at me.
"Don't worry, the groom won't see anything."
I smile as she walks over to Lissa's head Guardian and I turn back to look at her and Dimitri's sisters all standing in front of me in their dresses. The colour thankfully suites all of their skin tones perfectly. Flutter sleeved gowns with modest V-neck lines in burgundy with a small slit over one leg. The dresses perfectly frame each of them, and the dress is still conservative enough for Lissa to wear as Queen.
"I love this!" Vika says as she looks over her shoulder to admire the back of her dress. I smile excitedly to see that all four of them like dresses.
"Good! Lissa and I poured over so many photos the last few months trying to find the best one. I figured it might be a little too cool in October for strapless."
The four of them all nod in agreement before going back into the change rooms. Sandra, the consultant, comes over to our seating area with a tray of glasses with what appears to be champagne and orange juice. I raise my brow at her with a smile. "Sandra, I never thought you would be one to ignore the drinking age," I chuckle as I take a flute from her, sipping slowly. Sandra clicks her tongue.
"I won't tell anyone," she winks.
Vika pops out of the change room first and comes back to stand with Sandra and me, eyeballing my glass. I wink and tilt my head to the tray when the other three come back out. I hand each of them a glass. Although Lissa looks warily at it, she enjoys her glass before Sandra whisks me into the change room to help me into my dress. I pull my hair up and hold it at the top of my head as Sandra buttons me up and turns me around to face her.
"I cannot get over how beautiful this dress is on you; it's like it is made for you!" Sandra gushes quietly and artfully pins my hair around to give the best look. I smile and smooth my hands down over the lace of my skirt.
"Please make sure he isn't able to see me," I whisper, and she nods before slipping out. I turn to look at myself in the mirror and wait for Sandra to knock on the door. I take a deep breath and step out of the room into the seating area and wait for the reactions of my bridal party. Karolina's eyes go wide, Sonya chokes on her drink, Vika squeals, and Lissa stands up with her hand over her mouth.
"Rose!" she breathes in awe. I let a large smile cross my lips. "Now do you see why I wanted you to wait to see it, Liss?"
I look over at Dimitri's sisters and Karolina gestures for me to turn around. I oblige her and turn slowly, letting the train of the dress glide across the floor. I wanted to surprise my bridal party with the dress, so the first few times I went dress shopping, I only took Mom with me. It was a good experience and when I found this dress, I knew it was the one immediately. Sandra came up behind me and pulled on the backing of the dress, making sure it is pulled in at all the right places before putting pins in to mark where the dress needs to be taken in.
"That is so your dress," Sonya says, holding her glass to the side of her face, looking over me with a small smile. I giggle at the looks on their faces and look up to see Andrews standing across the room. Andrews breaks her mask and gives me a radiant smile with a vigorous head nod.
"Do you think your brother will like it?"
"Yes!" all three of them say in unison.