"Right. Well. Can I see you in my office now?" Alberta replied in a cool tone of voice, "you too, Hathaway."
I gave Dimitri an apologetic look.
"I think we're in trouble, Comrade!" I whispered.
"I think you're right," he laughed, defiantly wrapping his arms around my waist and leaning up to kiss me as I stood in front of where he was still seated. Standing up and grabbing his bag, he took my hand in his, and we followed Alberta from the cafeteria. At the Guardian table in the corner, I could see Celeste grinning like a loon, talking animatedly to a kindly looking Alto.
I walked the whole way to Alberta's office almost in a dream. I kept looking up at Dimitri in disbelief. He was here! After all my wishing and wanting he was here with me!
Alberta was looking far from happy, but I was prepared to listen to any amount of scolding with my man by my side. As soon as her office door closed, though, Alberta turned to us grinning.
"Dimitri – it's wonderful to have you back," she said, reaching across and hugging him. "But I wish you two hadn't put on a show for the whole cafeteria to see. I can't be seen to know and approve of a relationship between a Guardian and a student," she sighed wearily but still with a smile. "Take a seat."
Dimitri sat on the sofa, opening his arms for me to sit in his embrace. I lowered myself beside him, nuzzling against his chest and looking up at him shyly. His arms closed around me, and we both smiled in satisfaction.
"So what do you know about what's gone on while you're away?" she asked Dimitri warily.
"I know about our baby if that's what you're asking," he said, leaning forward and kissing me again. "And while I know the timing isn't great, I'm still over the moon," he said looking at me tenderly. We smiled at one another making quiet promises to one another with our eyes. Together we would make this work.
"So tell me everything you can," Alberta said.
"I'll be brief," he said, "I've only had a few hours sleep in the last three days, and I'm exhausted. Also, most of this needs to stay confidential – I haven't even reported to Court yet. I was based in Novosibirsk, Russia. I was in a cell of six from just after Christmas. On February 10 our cell was attacked, and the Strigoi army took another Guardian and me. The other four from our cell were killed. When I got to the army stronghold at an old manor house outside Novosibirsk, I knew the head of their army. It was a former teacher of mine from St. Basil's. She gave me a choice – be turned or be killed. There was a big meeting of her army scheduled for yesterday and the day before, and I was to be awakened then in a ceremony. But I blew up part of the manor and set the rest on fire during daylight. I believe I killed all the Strigoi inside."
"How many?" I gasped, looking at my man in shock.
"I couldn't say exactly, but around a thousand."
"You killed a thousand Strigoi?!" I blurted out.
"You told me to do whatever it took to make it back to you," he said, trying to look playful but just looking tired. "I took one of their cars and drove the six hours to my family's house in Baia. By the time I got there, and everyone stopped freaking out that I was alive, it was the middle of the night, and I didn't want to wake you. I checked my e-mails, and got your most recent one and found out about the baby. It turns out Sonya deleted your message from the machine, so no one else had heard it. Mama is furious with her, by the way, and asked me to tell you how thrilled she is. She's sent me with some baby clothes she thought you might like. They were mine when I was a baby, and she kept them in case I was a Papa one day," he admitted sheepishly.
I looked at him and started getting teary again. Damned hormones! I loved the idea of Junior wearing Dimitri's baby clothes and was happy to hear it sounded as though Olena believed me about it being Dimitri's child.
"As soon as I knew about the baby, I knew I had to get here as quickly as possible, so I got on the first flights I could. I printed all your emails before I left and read them on the plane. I texted you from Karolina's phone to tell you I was ok and on my way back."
"Lissa cut off my cell, so I never got it," I explained. "Boy did I get a shock when you walked into the cafeteria!"
Alberta was listening to us talk with a smile on her face.
"So what now?" she asked Dimitri.
"Well I know I'm no longer allocated here, but I was hoping I could stay for a few days in my old room while I recover and organize myself? Rose and I have a lot we need to talk about. I suspect I'll have to go to Court to report about Russia and depending on what Rose and I decide I'll probably put in for reallocation then."
"Court?" I gasped starting to freak out. "Reallocation? Comrade, I've had you back less than half an hour, you can't talk about leaving me again already!"
"Shh milaya. We'll work it out," he promised, tightening his grip on me. "No one's leaving anyone."
"I can give you a week, maybe a little more," Alberta said. "I'll probably need to give you shifts to stop any complaining, though," she said apologetically.
"Give me ward duties," he suggested. The least popular of all Guardian tasks, ward duties were exactly as they sounded; walking along the wards at the edge of campus checking all was well. They were boring as hell. "Perhaps Rose could come with me instead of her morning combat classes? It would give us an opportunity to talk privately," he suggested.
"That's a great idea. You two have a lot you need to work out," Alberta said. "That ok with you, Rose?"
It sounded like bliss to me, and I said so. Dimitri was yawning and rubbing his eyes. He looked completely wrecked.
"Comrade, I think you need a shower and a good night's sleep," I suggested lovingly.
"Do you have a key to my old room?" he asked Alberta.
"I do," she said rummaging in her drawer and pulling out a keyring with his keys on it. "Rose – you, of course, will sleep in your dorm room tonight. Not that I'll be checking – and neither will anyone else unless they have reason to," she said, looking suspiciously innocent. Message received – be discreet.
"Belikov, take tomorrow off to organize yourself. You might like to take a day off classes, too, Rose" she suggested. "I have something else I need to go through with you tomorrow, so shall we say here at 5 am?"
We agreed, and then it was time to take my tired man to bed.
"Would you like to sleep alone tonight?" I asked him shyly once we were outside Alberta's office. I knew he was exhausted so I shouldn't assume he'd want to share his bed.
"No milaya," he said shaking his head. "I'd like you beside me. I've been waiting months to hold you again. Do you need anything from your room?" I shook my head. "Then come to bed with me Roza?" he asked, giving me a tired winsome smile.
"Yep," I said smiling back, and we held hands as we climbed the stairs to the Guardian quarters.
We slipped into his room together unseen. I'd smoothed the covers after I'd slept there the other night, so it looked just as it had when he'd left. The blackout blinds were shut, so it was dark.
"Let's open the windows and air it out while we shower," he suggested.
Shower? With Dimitri?! Vlad! That meant he'd see my body. All of a sudden I was feeling shy. We'd had next to no time together as lovers before he left, and now he'd be seeing me all fat and ugly. I was starting to stress about it, but as usual, Dimitri could read my mind.
"Don't be shy, milaya. I know your body has changed. Please don't hide from me - let me be a part of this?" He looked so earnest, how could I deny him?
He fiddled with the window, opening it to allow the room to air while I slowly got unchanged. Usually, I'd dump my clothes wherever they fell, but with Dimitri's room being so pristine, I neatly folded them on his dresser. I had my top off and was reaching behind me to unclasp my bra when my hands found Dimitri's. Standing behind me, he unsnapped the clasp, and I sighed in satisfaction as my full heavy breasts were freed from their cruel enclosure. Slipping the straps from my shoulders, he folded my bra and put it on top of my shirt before using his massive hands to spin me to face him. His soulful brown orbs dropped to my chest, and there was no faking the look of surprise and admiration as his eyes took in my larger breasts.
"So beautiful," he whispered, reaching one of his hands out to stroke one of my twin globes. His long fingers traced the angry red line down the outer edge of my breast where the underwire had been digging in. "Milaya? This bra is too small for you – you need a different one."
"I know," I muttered. "But it's the biggest one I've got."
"Why haven't you ordered something?" He knew that most Novices bought what they needed online as they rarely got the chance to go off campus to visit real shops.
"I don't have a lot of money, so I was saving it for things I'd need for the baby," I muttered. Dimitri flinched, closing his eyes and grumbling under his breath in Russian before he pulled me against his hard, muscular chest.
"Milaya, I'll need to go to Missoula to reinstate my credit card and organize some things at the bank. I'll ask Alberta if you can come too, and we're going to go shopping. I had to leave some of my things behind when I left the manor, so they need replacing, and you need maternity wear. We should pick up some things for the baby, too."
My heart swelled so much I thought it would pop out of my chest. I loved the idea of my Russian God and me shopping together for things for our baby. I nodded happily, shimmying beneath his hands where they rested on my hips I lowered my sweats and panties, so I was standing naked before my man. I watched as his eyes slowly dropped down my body to rest upon the curve of my abdomen. He let out the softest sigh before falling to his knees in front of me, looking up at me imploringly.
I smiled and nodded, snaking my fingers through his hair as he gently kissed my stomach, touching the gentle swell of my baby bump reverently. He was having a conversation with my bump in Russian, and I could see his eyes were welling with tears.
"What are you saying?" I asked him.
"I'm introducing myself to our baby," he said bashfully. "I told it that I'm it's Papa and that I love him or her so much and that I can't wait to meet them."
"Papa not Daddy?" I asked, loving this tender side of my man.
"Definitely Papa," he said with a huge smile. "What about you? Mommy? Mom? Mama?"
"I haven't thought about it," I admitted. "Now come on you, you're wearing too many clothes for my liking, and if you don't get up you're going to fall asleep with your head on my tummy!"
He stood and together we walked into the bathroom, me starting the shower and climbing in while he grabbed a spare razor and quickly shaved before stepping in beside me. It was a quick shower; both of us were tired and wanted to go to bed. We stood side by side and brushed our teeth – neither of us had a toothbrush, so we laughed watching each other do our best using our index fingers. A quick rinse and a minty kiss and the two of us approached the bed. Dimitri closed the window and the blinds, turning to see me waiting beside the bed.
"Which side do you want, Comrade?" I asked him.
He stopped to think. I guess this was going to be the first time he'd shared this bed.
"I'll take the side closer to the door," he said, pulling back the covers for us.
By unspoken agreement, neither of us had put on sleepwear. I could have snagged one of his Tshirts had I wanted to, but I'd prefer nothing between us tonight, and by the looks of it, he felt the same way. The overnight temperatures would still be below freezing, but the quilt was thick, and I knew I could rely on my Russian God to keep me warm.
He climbed in first, opening his arms to me. I pulled myself firmly against him, and we sighed in contentment as our bodies met. We lay facing one another, me using his strong manly arm as a pillow. He closed his arm around me, and I draped an arm across his hips, my fingers splayed across the top of his thigh. Our legs were tangled, and I was relishing the feeling of his hairy leg against my smooth one.
"This feels perfect," he murmured, nuzzling my hair as I leaned forward to kiss his bare chest.
"It does," I replied lovingly, closing my eyes and falling into the most blissful sleep I'd had in months.
I woke up, rolling lightly away from my man and padding silently across his room to use the bathroom. I slipped back into bed, noticing how his arms automatically closed around me, a little smile blessing his lips. I watched him sleep for a while, still hardly able to believe he'd found his way back to me.
I'd fallen back to sleep and when I woke it was a very different scenario. I was lying on my side, my back pressed against Dimitri's chest. His huge rough hands were gliding across my skin, his mouth at the back of my neck kissing my three molnija before his fevered lips moved to just behind my ear, nipping me deliciously. One hand found my breasts, and I couldn't prevent a gentle moan as he caressed me there.
Smiling, I turned to bring my lips to his, noticing the unmistakable feeling of his manhood pressing against the juncture of my thighs. I wiggled against him, letting him know I knew he was aroused. Joined at the lips, he slipped his tongue into my mouth, stroking it against mine. One hand still at my breasts he was toying with my nipples; alternating between each puckered nub, lightly squeezing and rolling them between his sensuous fingers.
I groaned into his mouth, rocking my hips against his hardness. It had been so long, and I was so ready for this! I'd been apprehensive that maybe he wouldn't want to have sex with me while I was pregnant, but that worry looked as though it were baseless. Dimitri's hand left my breasts, and he ran his fingertips down my body to between my legs, surprised to find me ready for him. Tearing his mouth from mine, he growled, "I want you so much, Roza."
"I want you too," I gasped, returning my mouth to his as he positioned his member at the lips of my arousal. Closing his eyes, he pushed into me, both of us groaning elatedly as we were finally one again. "Shh Comrade, we have to keep it down," I warned, biting my lower lip to stifle my excited mewling. I'd almost forgotten how big he was and how good he made me feel.
One hand on my hip, my Russian Love God pulled me firmly against him, holding me in place as he eased his hardness in and out of my wet channel. I lifted my leg and put it over his, opening myself so he could reach between my legs to stimulate me further. It had only been a couple of minutes, and I was already panting with excitement, so close to letting go.
"Harder," I whispered. "You're not going to hurt us."
He smiled and obliged, picking up the pace of his fingers and the pistoning of his hips. Our mouths joined, I dug my fingernails into his butt pulling him closer to me. I could feel my nether regions tighten – I was so damned near when Dimitri pulled his lips from mine.
"Fuck, you feel good," he gasped, and it was my undoing. Something about Dimitri swearing was so naughty, but oh so sexy! Biting on my own hand to muffle my noises of ecstasy I came hard, my womanly folds pulsing against him. I was thrashing my head trying to stop myself from screaming the place down. Never had an orgasm felt this good!
"Oh God, milaya," he moaned, letting his head fall against my neck and making the sexiest little growls ever as he let himself go. We were both panting as the aftershocks of our lovemaking abated. Pulling himself from me, he rolled me over, carefully embracing me.
"Comrade you outdid yourself," I murmured, feeling the proof of his excitement on my inner thighs. "That was mind-blowing!"
He gave me a playful laugh.
"Well I'm happy to have been of service," he chuckled. "I'm sorry it wasn't as long as usual, but it's been three and a half months since I've had any sort of release."
"Poor baby…" I cooed, stroking his face lovingly.
"Well I guess it's been that for you, too…" he mused, raising an eyebrow when I looked a little guilty. "No?"
"No… Between nine and twelve weeks I had a few very realistic dreams," I explained. "A couple of times I woke up cumming…"
"Realistic, eh? What were you dreaming?" he teased.
"Well all along the lines of a few minutes ago," I said giving him my naughtiest grin.
"I see. A man is away, fighting for his life and his girlfriend is having hot sexy dreams?!" he said, feigning offense.
"Well if it helps, they were all about you," I reassured him playfully.
"It helps," he said with a smile. "Now how about we get cleaned up and go for lunch?"
"Lunch?" I said looking at the clock, but he was right – it was nearly half-past eleven. We'd slept very late.
We showered and dressed quickly, Dimitri suggesting we go to my dorm room so I could get into different clothes. As lessons were in session, we got to my room unobserved. I let him in and saw him take in my wall of Dimitri.
"It helped sleeping if I could look at you," I said defensively.
He wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed the end of my nose.
"I looked at your photos every day," he replied, pulling his handful of pictures of me from his duster. They were dog-eared. Well loved. Just like me.
"Put on something pretty, milaya. I want to celebrate today."
Pretty? Nothing pretty fitted I thought to myself. I opened my wardrobe, and my eyes fell on the maxi-dress I'd promised to lend Chelsea the day I ended up in hospital thanks to Blake. It was empire line and quite feminine. I teamed it with a cardigan. Looking at myself in the mirror, I marveled what a good night's sleep and some loving from my man could do. Yesterday I'd seemed half dead; today I might even have a bit of that pregnancy glow. Or if not, at least an 'I just had a wicked orgasm' glow!
I left my hair out, fastening it at the back loosely with a barrette. Putting some of my favorite lip gloss on I added mascara and even a little eyeliner. While my baby bump was more noticeable in this outfit, I didn't care.
"You look beautiful, milaya," Dimitri said looking away from the photos of Junior on my wall.
"Thank you, Comrade," I said picking up a timber box from my bedside and passing it to him. "Your stakes. They found them where your cell was based, and they brought them back to me."
"I've felt naked without them!" he confessed, removing them from the case and sheathing them in the custom pouch in his casual jeans and duster. He also grabbed the cell battery from where he'd slipped it into his pocket and placed it in the back of his phone. "I should quickly text Mama and Karolina to let them know I made it," he explained. Switching the phone on it pinged and pinged for two or three minutes. Hundreds and hundreds of missed phone calls and a large number of voicemail messages, too.
"Some of those missed calls will be mine," I said guiltily. "I used to ring your voicemail to hear your voice," I admitted.
He looked at the phone.
"Even more of them are Tasha's," he groaned. "The most recent being two minutes ago."
I sighed. Stupid bitch obviously knew he was alive then. He tapped a quick message and sent it to Olena and Karolina and then took my hand.
"Let's go eat, Roza. I'm starving!"