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.

Rated T for strong language.

One month later…

DPOV:

I ran a frustrated hand through my hair as I growled and threw the papers down. I pushed the button on the phone that connected to my assistant. The familiar buzz sounded right before she spoke, "What do you need, Mr. Belikov?" That sugary sweet voice only made my headache worse. As Roza would put it, I was so sick of people kissing my ass.

"You gave me the wrong files, Tasha." I tried to keep the irritation out of my voice but it didn't work. Everything coming out of my mouth was a frustrated growl. I hadn't been able to catch any sleep the past few weeks, I wasn't eating right, I'd just found out that one of my former employees was stealing company money, and to top it all off, I was in the process of closing down one of my hotels in Germany.

I felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders. I sighed. It had been a fucked up year so far, and things didn't seem like they were going to get better anytime soon.

"B-b-b but you wanted Mr. Hemingway's and Miller's report right? I gave that to you."

"You gave me Hemingway's and Meyer's." I said flatly.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm pretty goddamn sure. The folder is in front of me with the name Meyer at the top. M-E-Y-E-R. So if you are done asking me whether I can read correctly or not, can you bring Miller's damn file? And can you hurry it up? The meeting is in forty-five minutes."

There was a moment of stunned silence.

"Hello?" I snapped. "Are you there?"

"Uh, uh. Yes, of course Mr. Belikov. I apologize for my mistakes. I will bring the report in immediately." Tasha paused. "Can I get you more coffee? A bagel?"

"Coffee, Black. Thanks." I slammed the phone down before she could say anything else.

From across the room, Ivan and Darius busted up laughing.

"Damn man, look at you. You need to get laid." Darius shook his head, his Italian accent was thick, much like it always was.

"What is wrong, brother?" Ivan asked.

"Everything."

The two men shared a glance, before turning back to me with grins on their faces. "It's that damn female, ain't it?"

I leaned back in my leather chair, hearing it squeak in protest from my weight. "I have no clue what you are talking about."

Ivan shook his head as he leaned over a pile of papers, he wrote something down with a red pen, and then highlighted it. "Her name starts with an R and ends with an OSE."

"You need to get over that female. Face it, she doesn't want you." Darius said.

"Fuck off."

"You screwing her man?"

"No." I leaned over my desk, studying the papers again. It was like snow. They were everywhere.

Ivan barked out a laugh. "That didn't sound like no. It sounded more like No, but I really fucking want to."

I shrugged. "Of course I do. But that's not something I need to focus on right now. What I need to focus on is that goddamn file. TASHA!"

"Coming, coming!" She burst through the doors, a plate with a bagel in one hand, a mug in the other, and the yellow file pinched between her teeth. "Sorry. Sorry. I didn't have anywhere to put it!" Tasha set the bagel and coffee on my desk. I walked over and pulled the folder out of her mouth.

"Thanks." she smiled.

I smiled back dryly. "No problem."

I was shuffling through the papers, sipping on the black coffee, when I felt the weight of her gaze on my face. "Is there anything you need?" I asked, not lifting my eyes.

"No."

"Okay. Well if you don't mind..."

"Of course, of course. Sorry." I heard her heels clinking against the tile. "Is there anything you boys would like?"

"Can you get me a blueberry muffin, baby?" Darius asked, gently grabbing her hand. "Because I really, really love muffins. Oh, and a glass of milk too." He placed a kiss to her knuckles.

Having finally gotten the attention she was craving for, Tasha lit up like a Christmas tree.

Darius was a player. I hadn't seen anything like him in all my years. He called it a gift. He'd charm a woman, make her feel beautiful, amazing, get what he wanted...and then leave her. I didn't care for his ways or how he treated women...it was none of my business.

Well, unless he tried to chase after Roza. Then I would make it my goddamn business.

Blushing and smiling, Tasha quickly exited the room.

"You really shouldn't do that."

"Do what?" Darius grinned.

"Do that." I pointed to the door that had just closed behind Tasha. "She is my assistant and secretary. The last thing I need right now is a scorned lover in my office."

Ivan cracked a smile.

Darius barked out a laugh. "Scorned? Scorned? That girl will be so fucking pleased once I'm done with her that she won't remember her own name."

I shook my head. "Whatever. Do what you must. But if she comes in here screaming your name and swinging a bat," I pointed at Darius. "You're the one who is stopping her. Alone."

Tasha came in with a tray. Darius shot me a triumphant smile as he took it from her. "Thank you, cutie."

She nibbled on her bottom lip. "You're welcome."

Darius bit into the muffin, closed his eyes, and moaned. "So warm and sweet. Did you bake this yourself?"

Tasha nodded. "Yes...I, uh...made them from scratch this morning."

"These are so damn good. You make more of these and I'll do whatever you ask." Darius mumbled, finishing off the muffin. "Ah, Natasha...you sure do know how to make a man happy."

She beamed.

He squished the wrapper, tossed it into the trashcan, and turned to face her with a wicked expression. "Hey cutie, would you like to know why they call me the muffin man-"

"That's enough." I stood up and ushered Tasha out.

I slid Darius and Ivan a glance. "Get back to work."

A few hours later, I was putting the last of the files away and shutting off my computer. Tasha had already gone home for the day, Ivan and Darius were shuffling around my office, eager to get back to their rooms.

"You two can go now."

"Can I put in the order for dinner tonight? Come on, it's my turn and you know it." Darius said.

I waved my hands. "Yeah, whatever. I don't care."

He let out a sound of victory and fist pumped the air. "Alright, see ya later boss." Darius walked out the door with some pep in his step.

Ivan rolled his eyes and walked over to my desk. "Are you okay, brother?"

"I'm fine." I massaged my aching eyes.

"You look tired as hell. You should get some sleep. Better yet, you should get laid."

"You know that's not going to happen anytime soon." I turned off the lights in my office and locked the doors.

"And why the hell not?" Ivan asked as we walked to the gym. "Just because that Rose chick is here, doesn't mean she has to be a cock blocker. Sneak behind her back, be discreet about it, she'll never know and you'll be satisfied. No offense, but you've been kind of a dick lately."

"Don't talk about Rose like that," We went into the gym and made our way to the locker room. "That pisses me off. I won't deal with you disrespecting her like that."

"I didn't do anything disrespectful," Ivan pulled his work t-shirt over his head. "Now had I said something like: Oh, that bitch has a tight ass and some perky tits and real dick sucking lips…" He laughed uneasily at the look I gave him. "That would have been disrespectful. All I said about her was that she's stopping you from getting shagged."

"Exactly," I changed into a black turtle neck and sweats. "Don't talk about my girl like that. Don't even think about her. Understand?"

"Last time I checked, Rose wasn't your girl."

I grabbed the collar of his shirt and slammed him against the wall a few times. "I'm fucking warning you, Ivan. Don't start with me."

"Alright, alright man. Relax." I released him. "Fuck, what is wrong with you?"

"I don't know." I turned on the radio full blast to cut off anymore conversation.

After running seven miles on the treadmill, doing two-hundred chin ups, and sparring with Ivan, I picked up the bottle of water and chugged it down.

"You ready to head out?" Ivan dabbed the sweat from his forehead with a towel.

I nodded. "Yeah. See you at dinner."

Ivan grabbed my arm. "Look man, about what I said earlier…I'm sorry. I had no right."

I smiled, a little. "Don't worry about it," I shook his hand and gave him a hard pat on the back. "Just don't ever do it again."

"Understood. I won't talk about Rose anymore."

"Speak of the devil…" I muttered, seeing Roza walk by, on the other side of the mansion. Her hair was tangled and pulled into a messy ponytail at the top of her head. The jeans she was wearing were ripped and that white t-shirt was covered in dirt. But none of that mattered. God, she looked…beautiful.

"Oh dear lord, you are whipped." Ivan shook his head and grinned widely.

Roza's face was contorted with anger as she opened a bottle of Pine sol and waved it around in the air, splashing the liquid everywhere.

"What the hell is she doing?" Ivan asked.

I shrugged and chuckled. "I have no clue. I think she may be washing the floors…"

She grabbed a towel out of her bucket, threw it on the ground, and started scrubbing.

"I can feel your eyes on me!" she shouted. "Don't you guys have anything better to do?"

"This is about as good as it gets, baby." Darius ran down the stairs and joined us.

She gave him the finger.

Ivan and Darius laughed and whistled. "You've got it going on," Darius called out. "I like a girl with a little bit of fire in her."

"How would you like my foot up your ass?"

"I like to get freaky in the bedroom too. If that's what you're into, baby, I'm cool with it."

"Would you be cool with me cutting off your dick in the middle of the night while you're sleeping?"

That shut him up. He paled a couple of shades.

Roza turned around and smiled wickedly. "Didn't think so, buddy. Now let me get back to work."

"Dinner is ready in twenty minutes." Opal came out of the kitchen wearing her chef's outfit, holding a spatula.

"What are we having?" I asked.

Opal's smoldering blue eyes turned to me. I didn't miss the flash of desire and anger in them. I assumed she was upset that I hadn't asked her to come to my room in months. "To get started, some soup and salad. Red wine. Lamb chops with mint pesto and asparagus. And for desert, fruit and chocolate dipping sauce." Her French accent was unusually thick with a tinge of resentment, confirming what I had expected.

"That's my girl." Darius draped a beefy arm around her shoulder. "Not only does the quality and taste of her Italian food come close to my mothers cooking, she makes great Lamb chops. Quiet possibly the best I've ever had."

She blushed and smiled. "Stop it!"

"No, I'm being serious." Darius said. "They are molto squisito."

"Dimitri, are you ready for dinner or do you have to do something first?" Opal shot Roza a distasteful look.

I narrowed my gaze. "Shower. I'll be there when I'm ready."

"Fine."

While the three of them went upon their own business, I walked over to Roza. "Dinner is almost ready."

She picked up the towel and threw it into the bucket. "I know. I heard them." she said tightly.

"Are you coming?"

"No. I'm going to starve to death."

"I'll see you there."

"Yes, you will."

I ran up the stairs to take a shower.

As the water scorched my skin and the constant hum enveloped my ears, I was left alone to my thoughts.

I hopped out of the taxi and leaned in the window. "How much?" I asked in my native tongue, Russian.

"Twenty-four." I quickly handed him the cash, he sped off into the night.

I glanced to my left where the city was. After a fair amount of squinting, I was able to make out Saint Basil's Cathedral, one of my favorite parts of Russia. It was beautiful, but it also made me homesick. Which I found ironic, considering that I was in Russia.

My internship was in Moscow, about a ten hour flight from Baia. Because of the distance and obligations I had to my job, I hadn't been able to travel and see my family yet.

God, I missed them so much.

I took the elevator up to my small apartment and locked the door behind me. I checked the message machine. Nothing. That was odd. Roza usually called everyday.

I shrugged and didn't think anything of it.

After giving Roza's picture a quick kiss, I dropped my keys and headed for a shower.

Once I'd finished eating dinner and completing the spread sheets for work the upcoming day, I collapsed on my bed from exhaustion.

As I lay there, I thought of my family and Roza. The only people I needed in this world to survive. They meant so much to me. I don't what I'd do if anything happened to them. I shuddered at the possibilities.

Roza popped into my mind, and I had an overwhelming urge to hop on a plane and go back to America. Back to where I was needed most.

I loved my family, but I knew they were okay and happy. They had each other to depend on, and the love flowing through that house was nearly suffocating. They were fine.

I wasn't so sure about Roza, though.

Sure, she had Lissa...but that was pretty much it. I wasn't there to comfort her, to hold her in my arms, to love her. And I needed to be.

The recent calls we had were so different from our usual conversations. Roza sounded so off…so distant. It had me concerned. I was thinking about her every minute of the day.

I sat up as a thought suddenly came to me.

Forget being here. Forget Russia. Forget this damn internship. This wasn't for me. I was going back to America, where my home was. Roza was my home. My safe haven. And I needed her so badly right now.

I smiled. "I'm going back home."

I needed to call Roza and tell her the news. She'd be so happy.

I was ecstatic to see her. I'd get to hold her in my arms again, see her beautiful face, and that smile that could light up the whole town.

The beep of my phone snapped me out of my reverie. I grabbed it out of my pocket. It was a text from an unknown number.

My smile vanished when I read the text.

Can't do this anymore. It's over. – Rose

A wave of dread came over me, followed by shock. I searched through my contacts, found Roza's number, and pressed send. I held it up to my ear.

"The number you have dialed has been disconnected or may no longer be in service—" The phone slipped out of my hand and dropped to the floor.

Somehow, I managed to sit down. I didn't feel anything. I was numb.

What the hell had just happened?

I tried calling Roza back at least twenty more times in a row, getting the same phone operators message.

I read the text again.

And that's when realization settled in.

"No, no, no, no!" I shoved my fists into the wall over and over again. Blood was all over the white paint and my hands but I didn't feel a lick of pain.

Hours later, I collapsed on the floor from exhaustion. My body felt hollow and the pain in my chest was excruciating. It literally felt like someone had stabbed me in the heart repeatedly.

"Rozaaaaaaa." I hissed, clenching my broken, swollen, and bloody hands.

She'd left me at a time I needed her most.

God, the woman I loved most on this earth, the woman who meant more to me than life itself, had left me.

I screamed my lungs out to release my fury.

RPOV:

I dropped my yellow rubber gloves on Dimitri's desk. "I can't do it."

He stood up and crossed his arms. "Pardon me?"

"I quit."

"You quit?" To my absolute fury and annoyance, his lips twisted into a small smile.

"That's right." I crossed my arms, not caring that I was mimicking his stance.

It was comical how much we were alike. Dimitri and I were like two raging bulls, put us in a pin and we're going to but heads.

"I can't do this anymore."

"Care to tell me why that is?"

I stuck my finger out and counted off the reasons why. "Number one: Cleaning this mansion is a bitch. Number two: I'm sweating bullets right now. Number three: My back is killing me from scrubbing the floors. Number four: Strangers laundry. Dirty underwear. Number five: Where the hell have you been? And why the hell are you ignoring me?"

"That was two questions in one number. I don't believe that is fair."

I growled. "I'm being fucking serious."

"Yes, I know that. This is a rare opportunity. I apologize." Dimitri's face grew serious.
"Please leave. We need a moment alone."

I turned around to see Ivan and Darius stand up. I hadn't even noticed them there. I guess that I did storm in Dimitri's office in a blinding rage. It probably didn't help that I shoved and screamed at the raven-haired secretary either.

"Of course, boss." Darius patted Dimitri's back, his lip curled unnaturally from his scar as he smiled at me. Ivan simply nodded and the two of them exited the room.

Once the doors were shut, Dimitri turned around to face me. His hands were stuffed into the pocket of his jeans and his gaze was trained on the floor. Oh, boy. Dimitri avoiding eye contact? Bad sign.

I braced myself for what was coming next.

"Look, Rose. I want to be honest with you and I hope you are being honest with me." he paused. "I am in love with you. There. I admitted it. I am so goddamn in love with you. Every time I see you my chest tightens and I have difficulty breathing. But the thing is, I've been watching you at a distance these past few weeks and getting reports from my staff…and, and…they all say that you look miserable—"

I waved my hands to cut him off. "Just…stop. I know where you're going with this. Let me finish for you." My voice was colder than ice. "Rose, this isn't working out. You're fired. Pack up your bags. Leave, get out. This was all a big mistake. Blah Blah. Blah. Blah. I got it already, okay? I'm leaving." I blinked away the tears. No way in hell I was showing him how weak I was in that moment. He'd just given up on me…a second time. I was broken. There was no reason to try and mend me.

Once I got to my room, I was going to pack my bags, break down and cry, and then leave. Simple as that. I'd get better over time. I hoped…

"Actually," Dimitri stepped right in front of me, blocking my path to the door. I sneered, having the urge to beat the hell out of him. "I was going to ask you if you wanted a break. You know, go have a little fun—away from this mansion. Go out for a drive or something. You can choose any car you'd like—"

"The Ferrari."

Dimitri grimaced and nodded reluctantly. "I was hoping you'd choose any car but that one. She's my baby. You have to promise me that you'll be extra careful with her."

I threw my arms around him and hugged him, hard. "I promise, Comrade." I breathed against his chest. "Thank you."

My hand was on the doorknob when he called my name. "Yeah?"

"Hold on," Dimitri said. "Just let me grab my coat."

I spun around. "Whatttttttttttttt?"

He smiled. My heart skipped a beat. "You didn't actually think I'd let you go alone, did you?"

I pondered that thought for a moment, and groaned. "No."

When Dimitri turned around to grab his duster off the coat rack, I flung open the door and booked it towards the garage.

A few moments later, I heard his pursuing footsteps.

I pushed my screaming legs to go faster.

"Where do you think you're going?" Dimitri asked playfully. "You're not trying to get away from me, are you?"

"Yeahhhh!" I laughed, slamming the kitchen doors open.

I nearly knocked Opal over when I smashed into her. "Whoops. Sorry girl! Gotta go!"

"It's okay!"

I had just reached the garage door when Dimitri's arms encircled around my waist and captured me.

I screamed and giggled.

"I've got you." He whispered in my ear.

This only made me laugh harder.

Still holding me with one arm, he used the other to open the garage door and grab the keys off this shelf thing that held about a dozen other keys.

He handed me a single key. It was red at the top and had the Ferrari horse symbol on it.

"Thanks."

"No problem." Dimitri set me down. I immediately felt the loss and shamefully wished that he'd hold me again.

He slid into the passenger seat.

I hopped into the drivers' side and stuck the key into the ignition. "This baby is beautiful." I smoothed my hand over the cool leather.

"Yeah, she is. Now buckle up."

I quickly pulled on the strap and turned the key. The engine roared to life.

"WOW!" I shouted. "This is amazing!"

I put the car in reverse and started backing out of the driveway.

"Be careful!" Dimitri cringed as I nearly hit one of his Harleys.

"Sorry." I sharply turned the wheel, avoiding his precious toys just in time.

"Goddamn it, Rose." Dimitri let out a breath of relief and sagged back into his seat.

I gave him a sidelong glance. "You look like you're going to be sick."

"I feel like it."

"Well if you're going to blow chunks, blow chunks out your window. If they get anywhere near me…" I shuddered. I punched in the twenty-one digit security code and waited as the massive iron gates creaked open.

"Ah, yes. You are a sympathetic vomiter. How could I forget?"

"Hey! That was one time! And that little girls throw up was blue."

I pulled the car onto the road and gazed at the sea of green trees and Montana forest. The weather was perfect this time of year so I rolled my window down and let the warm, summer air blast my hair and face.

"Too much cotton candy." Dimitri murmured.

I laughed at the memory of our first time at a carnival.

"I can't believe you remember that," I shook my head in disbelief. "It was so long ago."

"I remember everything about our time together, Roza." My heart thumped loudly in my chest.

I smiled sadly. "Yeah, me too. Unfortunately."

From the corner of my eye, I saw Dimitri stiffen. "Unfortunately?"

I shrugged. "It hurts to remember what we had, Dimitri. It's like putting salt on wounds. Sometimes I wish I could forget. Forget everything."

He didn't bother masking the hurt in his voice. "I would never wish for that. I'd rather think of the good times we had together, smile, and deal with the pain. Because it's worth it."

"I, uh, I…I don't want to talk about this right now."

Dimitri sighed in exasperation. "You always take the easy route. You can't avoid it forever, Rose. We're going to have to talk about this one day. I want to know where we stand."

I pressed my foot down on the gas petal as I gripped the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles turned white. "You want to know where we stand, Dimitri? Right here. Right here is where we stand."

"We're sitting down." he mocked.

I growled. "You're my boss and I'm your employee. That's all. The road ends there. Stop trying to make our situation more than it is."

He arched an eyebrow. "I don't let just any of my employees drive my cars. So obviously, you mean more to me than that. I'm not sure the feeling is mutual though."

"It's not."

"Good." He snapped, turning on the radio. "I'm glad we've made that clear."

I immediately felt regretful and guilty for hurting him. I'd had no right.

No matter how much I disliked Dimitri, no matter how much I was angry at him for leaving me, what he was doing for me now was truly generous. And what was he getting in return? Nothing. I had given him nothing.

I needed to realize that the past was the past and nothing was going to change it. I needed to accept the fact that Dimitri and I were completely different from the people we'd been six years ago. We'd changed, grown older, suffered from heartache and loss.

Dimitri had obviously moved on and I needed to too. It was time for a fresh start, a new beginning. And maybe, just maybe, I could ease up on Dimitri and be less of a bitch to him. Maybe.

Without taking my eyes off the road, I placed my hand over his and gave a gentle squeeze. "I'm sorry."

His whole body went rigid. "What?"

"I'm sorry."

There were a few heavy moments of silence before he spoke again. "Thank you."

I reached forward and turned up the music.

Oh, for the love of god. It was the song. Our song. "Everything" by Lifehouse.

But instead of being a coward and running away like I always did, I took a deep breath and embraced the raw memories. Listening to that song, with Dimitri beside me, his hand under mine, was almost worth the pain.

Hours later, the Ferrari zoomed into the mansion's driveway. Turning to Dimitri, I offered him a small smile. "Thanks."

He brushed a few strays of dark hair from his eyes. "For what?"

"Everything. For everything."

Being the selfish and masochistic bitch that I was, I slowly brought my hand up and ran my fingertips along the top of his head.

"You're welcome." Dimitri froze on the spot, letting me touch him. I think he was afraid that I would suddenly snap back to my senses and push him away again.

If only he knew.

Right now, in this moment, pulling away from him was the last thing I wanted to do.

I smoothed my hand down his head, along the back of his neck, and gently pulled on the tie, releasing his hair. It fell and touched his shoulders.

"Your hair is beautiful." I ran my fingers through the dark mass and gently grabbed two fistfuls. "It smells so good and it feels like silk."

"You used to love it." Dimitri smiled a little. "You'd play with it for hours. You'd soothe me to sleep. And when we made love…" He let silence and memories speak for themselves.

I giggled. "Sorry. I get lost in the moment and I like to tug and pull."

"I didn't complain." He grinned wickedly. "Not one bit."

Dimitri grabbed my hand, kissed the inside of my palm, and pressed it to his cheek. He closed his eyes in agony. "You always feel like you're a million miles away."

"What?"

He kept his eyes shut. "Ever since I saw you that first time two months ago, you've been so distant. You've got that far away look in those brown eyes like you're afraid to get close to anyone. Whenever you're near me, you may be standing right in front of me, but it's like you're a million miles away, it's like you're not there."

"I'm here now."

"Yes, I know that. This is the first time you've allowed me to get this close to you—emotionally and physically. If feels just, I don't know…good. It feels good."

"I know something that will feel better." Before he could respond, I leaned over and my lips were on his. It was hungry, needy, and almost savage.

Before long, I couldn't stand being so far away from him. Without breaking lip contact, I unbuckled my seatbelt, climbed over to Dimitri, and straddled him.

He groaned in approval and gripped my backside. I ground my hips against his, we both moaned.

I pulled back for oxygen and rested my forehead against his. "That was…That was…"

"Extraordinary."

I smiled. "Yes, it was…extraordinary."

My head tilted back as Dimitri placed a trail of blazing kisses down my neck.

"I don't want this moment to end," He murmured against my skin, goose bumps arose. "I wish that I could freeze us right now and stay here forever."

I smiled blissfully. God, I never wanted it to end either.

"I want to do something else," I whispered. "I don't want the day to be over yet."

"Name it. It's yours."

"I wanna go to the zoo."

He chuckled. "I've got to be honest, Roza…I didn't see that one coming. But okay, let's go to the zoo. Are you driving?"

"Actually, I was hoping you would." Unable to help myself, I crushed my lips against his. This kiss was more slow, sweet, loving, careful, and thorough. Dimitri cupped my face when I pulled back. "Wait. I didn't get a good enough taste."

His pink tongue whipped out and darted inside my mouth. I gasped in surprise from the sudden intrusion of my body. Dimitri took one big lick before falling back into his seat, breathless, and leaving me wanting so much more.

"You're a tease."

Dimitri groaned. "Have I ever told you how exquisite you are?" He wet his red and swollen lips. "You taste like strawberries and cream."

I squeezed my eyes shut. "Get in that seat now and drive. Before I do something I'll regret."

"I don't know if I'm in the right, uh, situation to stand up right now…"

My eyebrows pulled together in confusion. "Why, what's wrong? Did I crush your legs or something? Come on, Comrade, I may be heavy…but I ain't that heavy."

His hips suddenly thrust up and collided with mine. I gasped. "Oh…I see what your problem is."

Dimitri cleared his throat harshly, as if he was embarrassed.

I laughed. "I don't care. Just get driving. Has a boner ever stopped you before, Comrade? No. So suck it up and soldier on."

He cursed in Russian as he lifted me off him and stepped out of the Ferrari. "I know something you can suck…" he muttered.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Yeah, that's what I thought."

"Oh, my god! Oh, my god! Oh, my god! Oh, my GODDDDD!" I screamed, jumping up and down. "Dimitri get a picture of me with the ostrich!"

He laughed as he held the camera up. "Smile."

"I am smiling."

"Just a little bit wider…ah. Good. Okay."

"My cheeks hurt."

"That means you're doing it right." The light flashed.

Suddenly, I felt something hit the top of my head. "Ouch!" I spun around. "Ohmigod. The damn ostrich pecked me-hey! That's mine!"

I reached over the fence but the ostrich was already across the muddy field, running back to his nest or wherever the hell he lived.

I looked at the empty cone in my hand and frowned. "That bastard stole my cotton candy."

Dimitri's lips were pursed tightly and his eyes gleamed. "Come on. I'll buy you another one."

He started to put the camera away but I stopped him. "Wait. Did you get a picture of me and Big O? I still can't believe that motherfu—"

Dimitri nodded his head and chuckled, the sound was rich like chocolate and smooth like velvet. It was wonderful.

He handed me the camera. I laughed as I studied the small screen. "You got it right when that thief pecked me on the head!"

"Yes, I did." Dimitri reached for my hand. "Now, come on. Let's get a churro, or a slushie, or whatever you want."

"You shouldn't say that when you're regarding food, Dimitri." I laced my fingers through his as we started walking, feeling that amazing fullness return to my body.

I glanced up at him as he arched a brow. "Say what?" he asked.

"That you'll buy me whatever food I want."

"And why not?"

"Because I eat…a lot. I could empty your accounts."

Dimitri threw his head back and laughed, low and hearty and deep in his throat.

"That's fine. I'd be a happy man in debt knowing that the woman I love had a full belly and a smile on her face."

The woman I love. My heart jumped out of its ribcage and into my throat. I was floating in the clouds in that moment. Nothing, and I mean nothing, could take away my happiness and blissfulness.

I held the stuff giraffe close to my chest as Dimitri and I walked through the pharmacy.

"Photo development is over there." I pointed to the giant yellow sign.

"Yes, I can see that." Dimitri handed the lady behind the counter the memory card to his camera.

I was bobbing my head to the music when she told us that it was going to be fifteen minutes before they were ready to pick up.

I grabbed Dimitri's hand and dragged him towards the food aisle. "Come on. Let's get some snacks and drinks."

He didn't bother hiding his satisfied grin. "Why would we need snacks and refreshments?"

I looked down at the ground. "Because, uh, maybe I'd like to watch a movie with you tonight…"

He tilted my head up with his fingers. Dark brown eyes pierced mine. "Maybe?"

I socked his arm. "Oh, don't look so damn smug! It's just a movie." I grabbed a box of Snow Caps, a bag of Cheetos, and a jar of spicy pickles.

"Interesting choice," Dimitri grabbed two bottles of Sprite.

I shrugged. "Aunt Flow came for her monthly visit. I'm kind of having some weird cravings."

"Oh."

"What?"

"Nothing. I was just thinking that that would explain your mood swings and why you have been lashing out at my workers—"

I punched him in the arm. Hard. "I was kidding about being on my period. Jeeze. And I haven't been having mood swings. Did the workers really say that I was being a bitch to them?"

He looked down.

"Dimitri!"

"Okay. Yes, yes. They did."

"Assholes." I muttered, shaking my head. "They are so going to get a piece of my mind when we get home."

"Home?" The tranquility and raw happiness in his face gave me the absurd urge to burst into tears. "You consider my mansion…your home?"

"I live there. So yeah."

Dimitri shook his head. "Where a person lives, and where their home is can be two completely different things. I'm just…I'm just happy that you consider it home."

The intercom buzzed. "Pick up for Belikov at the photo department. Pick up for Belikov at the photo department."

"Come on." Dimitri said. I gripped the snacks and stuff giraffe tightly, and snuggled into his side. He wrapped an arm around my waist.

Moments later, we were in the Ferrari looking at all of the photos.

"I love that one of me and you." I smiled as I gazed at it. "I'm going to frame that and put it in my room."

"I'm keeping that one." he winked, pointing to the one of me adjusting my bra.

I laughed and tapped his nose with my fingertip. "You shouldn't take pictures of people when they're not looking. It's rude."

"I couldn't help myself," he grinned. "You just looked so…divine."

I rolled my eyes. "Save it."

"And I'm keeping this one." He flashed a photo of me smiling with my cotton candy. "It's going on my desk."

I blushed and hugged the stuff giraffe tighter.

He smiled as he started the car. "I'm glad you like that."

"You got it for me." I whispered so he couldn't hear me over the roar of the engine. "Of course I love it."

The majority of Dimitri's staff had gone home for the day, so that's why the mansion was dark when we pulled up to it.

Dimitri parked in the garage, walked around and opened the door for me, and locked the Ferrari. I pushed the button to shut the garage door while he grabbed the bags of snacks and drinks.

"Come on. Let's sneak up to your room."

"Sneak?" he asked bitterly.

I narrowed my eyes.

"Fine, fine. Sneak is okay with me. I understand that you are embarrassed to be seen with me—"

I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him hard. When I ripped my lips away from his, we were both gasping for air. "Go get the movie ready," I whispered, feeling his warm and sweet breath brushing my face. "I'm gonna take a quick shower and I'll be up there in fifteen."

"Okay." He cupped my face and crushed his mouth to mine quickly before grabbing the bags off the floor and heading up to his room.

I took the stairs three at a time to get to my room. Once I was there, I turned on the shower and ripped off my clothes while I waited for the water to heat up.

I hurriedly brushed my teeth before hopping into the shower. I groaned when the water hit my back, it was good to wash all the sweat and smell of zoo animals off my skin.

I scrubbed my flesh raw with a poof and the coconut body wash that I knew Dimitri loved. After rinsing the watermelon shampoo out of my hair, I flicked off the faucet and threw on a towel.

My phone beeped. It was a text from Lissa, 'How r u doing? Is everything ok?'

My thumbs flew across the buttons. 'I'm fine. Busy. Going 2 sleep. Love u.'

'Ha, I don't believe that ;) Have fun. Love u too.'

I tossed my phone on the bed and quickly pulled on a fresh pair of underwear, a loose navy blue t-shirt, and a pair of black shorts.

After brushing my hair and shoving my feet into some slippers, I snuck out of my room and made my way to the third floor where the master suite was.

I wasn't going to have sex with Dimitri or anything; I just didn't want to be alone. I wanted to be with him. I wanted to sleep in his warm bed. And shamefully…I kind of wanted him to hold me.

Butterflies exploded inside my stomach, my palms got sweaty. I was nervous. But it was a good kind of nervous…like an excited nervous.

I paused just a few feet from his door, having heard voices coming from his room. A deep one and a feminine one. I recognized the deep one as his immediately.

His door was wide open and light spilled into the hallway. Slowly and quietly, I tiptoed my way over and peaked inside.

Dimitri was there, and so was his secretary. The one with the black hair and killer body. Tasha was her name, I believe. The two looked like they were in some sort of argument.

When she pulled her shirt off, revealing her bare breasts, I clamped a hand over my mouth to stifle my gasp.

Dimitri growled.

Tasha threw her arms around him and kissed him hard.

I took a few steps back in shock, turned around, and ran back to my room.

I was shaking so badly that I could barely stuff my clothes into my duffel bag. Tears blurred my vision and the sobs racking through my body made it hard for me to stand up. I needed to find Victor, and get out of this mansion.

And I needed to get out now.