THE COMMUTE
by MAMBFF
Disclaimer: The rights to "Vampire Academy" belong to Richelle Mead.
Chapter Six
~VA TC VA~
Rose
"Arthur, you know Isaiah is lying, right?" I exclaimed, once we were behind his closed office door.
"I'm aware, Rose. But, if I don't follow procedure, and 'investigate', he can sue." He relayed; clear irritation evident in his tone.
"What do you need us to do?" Dimitri interjected.
Arthur was aware of the implications of Isaiah's accusations and was simply following what he perceived as protocol. We could understand that. But blaming Dimitri for his disregard for office policies put Isaiah on my 'shit' list for good.
Alberta had e-mailed Arthur the specifics of what transpired and our own e-mail accounts of what had happened. Lissa even put her two cents in as she was a witness to the events, but Arthur surprised us both by divulging some disturbing things about Isaiah Wilson after he had a more thorough background check done on him.
"I wasn't aware of this when we hired him, but he was only applying to the PA pool." Arthur started. "Isaiah was previously employed at Dashkov's company." He shared.
That was a bit of a surprise as it was Dimitri's old stomping grounds. That raised some hairs, for sure. But it was the details of his employment that was even more suspicious.
"Isaiah's transcripts show that his reason for relocating back to Chicago from New York were so he could be closer to family." Arthur relayed.
I didn't believe that, but whatever.
"It would seem that when Dimitri worked for Victor, Isaiah was always one step behind you, Belikov, when it came to accounts and when you were promoted over him." Arthur paused. "Let's just say it rubbed Isaiah the wrong way for months. And he let that anger and jealousy fester and stew." He added.
When it was clear that Dimitri had accrued seven accounts from Victor Dashkov from right under his nose, that was when Isaiah decided he, 'needed to come home, for family', at least that's what he wants everyone to believe.
His obvious disdain for Dimitri was becoming exceedingly clear but Arthur was sceptical about him. "I suspect that Isaiah was implanted within our company, by Victor Dashkov, to spy on those seven accounts." He stated.
"So, the fact that he became my assistant, that was no accident, was it?" I interjected.
"No, Alberta did some digging for me and found in his file that he, at first, personally requested to be the PA for Dimitri." He shared. But, of course, he was informed Dimitri already had one." He continued. "You, Rose, being Dimitri's 'shadow' to learn how things are run, put him in line to be your assistant instead." Arthur concluded.
Catching Isaiah in my office, fiddling on my computer started to become more worrisome and obvious. He wasn't able to get past my secure passcode and login screen but the fact that he tried, made his actions all the more telling.
"Shit, so if we hadn't caught him on my computer, do you think he could have accessed something?" I asked in worry.
"Don't worry, Rose. He clearly wasn't smart enough to get that far, and now that we know he was trying, IT is upping the security for all your login actions." Arthur said. "We're going to add a device for fingerprint recognition." He added with a nod.
This was just a stressful situation because, not only were we dealing with the actions of an unknown stalker or stalkers, we were now worried about the possible compromise of the accounts Dimitri and I were working on.
Which brings us to the following week after said events.
"You look stressed, are you okay?" Lissa inquired as we both got our afternoon coffee refills from the Café.
I'd given Lissa a summary of the information Arthur had shared with us about Isaiah and it left me on edge. "I'm worried that Isaiah is going to come after Dimitri. Is that irrational?" I asked with trepidation. "I mean Arthur fired him and obviously, had good reason to. But the fact that he moved here from New York proves he holds a grudge!" I exclaimed, feeling dizzy from the stress. "I mean he followed Dimitri here." I added.
"You think he was going to try to sabotage Dimitri?" Lissa posed.
That had me even more worried because I'd not even considered it. My face showed my irritation, clearly.
"You guys need a vacation." She stated with a small, encouraging smile.
"No shit, this is starting to drive me nuts!" I laughed lightly in reply.
"Well, at least he didn't actually get access to anything important. And you don't have to be on the lookout anymore." Lissa commented.
"The fact that I had to be on the lookout at all is what is bothering me." I confess sadly.
"Look on the bright side." Lissa encouraged. "Tomorrow is the fourth of July and we don't have to work, and there is the office party to look forward to in the afternoon!" She supplied with a cheerful smile.
"I think it will be a lot of fun, I agree." I took a deep breath. "I'm just not looking forward to having to see Mason. I love that the party is happening at 'Guardian's', but it will still leave me feeling a little awkward around him."
"Don't worry Rose, you'll have me for back-up." She beamed, as we sipped from our coffee. "And didn't Dimitri say that that detective you talked to was going to show up to do some sort of undercover work?" She added. "To observe Mason?"
"Yes." I confirmed. "I know we'll be okay, but still, I don't think Mason is a bad guy, he just doesn't get that there will never be anything between us." I relayed.
We finished our coffee and I had a mini-meeting with Dimitri to go over the last details of an account before the end of the day. Refilling my own, I took him a coffee as well.
Dimitri's door was wide open and after setting our coffees down, I closed the door.
"Hi, milaya." He greeted me, kissing me lightly and thanking me for the coffee.
"So, what's left to cover on this account, were they happy with the outline and layout?" I add, sipping from my second caffeine fix in twenty minutes.
"They were thrilled actually, we got everything they wanted down to a 'T'." He nods, gulping down his own coffee.
"Good. I hate having to re-vamp accounts. I mean I know at some point it's going to be necessary." I shared. "What I hate is if they change their minds, which they're allowed to do, but you'd think they would inform you sooner rather than later." I admit. "Some of these people wait until we've put the work in before saying anything." I add irritably.
"Well, be thankful that this client is usually pretty simple and so far, they have never retracted ideas in place of new ones." He comforted. "Anyway, how's the new assistant working?"
"She's really good actually, and professional."
"What's her name again?"
"Sydney Sage."
~VA TC VA~
Dimitri
Roza looked stressed out and I know all the new crap piling up on both our plates was starting to get to her. The news about Isaiah and his grudge didn't come as a surprise to me, I had remembered him from New York. But I was rather pissed off that he tried to make false allegations against me.
Thankfully, Arthur saw right through that shit and did his own investigating to get to the bottom of it all. But Arthur was not done, not by a long shot. After our initial meeting where he relayed the details on Isaiah, Arthur shared some of his plans. He wanted to set up Isaiah with false account information and the files would be imbedded with a tracker.
This would in essence, 'kill two birds with one stone'. If Isaiah fell for it, he'd bring it to Victor Dashkov. If he released new campaigns containing that fake information, then Arthur could take legal action. Arthur had set the trap during Isaiah's exit interview.
My attention was drawn away from my musings as Roza entered my office, laden down with coffee.
"Hi." I grinned, thanking her for the pick me up.
We had a short talk about some of her frustrations before she returned to her office. I was glad that this was a shorter work week though, I needed to catch up on sleep.
The end of the work day was approaching and tomorrow was the company's fourth of July party at 'Guardian's'. Detective Croft was going to make an appearance and do some monitoring of Mason to see if there was anything suspicious in his behaviour. He was also going to try to bait him to talk about Roza or even myself to see if he let anything slip that could be incriminating. Roza and I both didn't really think Mason was involved, but we had to rule him out.
Roza was stressing out about all the information that had recently come to light, and I know she was worried. There wasn't much I could do to assuage her fears and doubts, other than be a sounding board and simply be supportive.
After closing up and locking my door, I headed over to Roza's office. The pressure of things taking its toll was evident as I saw her fast asleep, her head on her desk.
Bending down beside her, I comfortingly rubbed her back. "Roza, milaya." I whispered, moving my hand to her shoulder to gently to wake her and not scare her.
"Dimitri?" She mumbled sleepily, lifting her head.
"Time to go, love."
"Shit, I can't believe I fell asleep." She exclaimed, jumping suddenly from her seat.
After collecting her things, we headed down to the train and were thankful one was just pulling in. We board immediately and I pull her into a two-seater near the back of the car for some privacy. Smiling to myself, she sits by the window before I seat myself next to her, an idea forming in how I have help alleviate some of her stress.
As her attention is drawn out the window at the scenery, I move closer and kiss her neck gently, my right arm going around her waist and slipping a little lower to palm her ass. She looks over at me and smiles.
"What do you think you're doing?" She flirts.
"I think it's time we live out that fantasy of yours, milaya." I whisper, nipping at her lips and then her neck once again.
She lifts her ass a little off the seat, allowing me to slip my hand under her as her skirt covers my hand. I pull my work bag up over my lap to help conceal the fact that her skirt is now riding up her thighs. Resting her head on my shoulder, I, without warning, slip my fingers past her panties and into her moist folds. I'm pleased to find she's fucking dripping wet.
Moving my middle finger up her slit, I rub at her clit a little as she grinds down into my hand. The motion of the train adds to the friction and I move my fingers back and slip them into her hot core, fucking her as hard and fast as I can without being completely obvious as to what I'm doing. She grips my jacket with her right hand, pushing her face into my chest to muffle her slight whimpers of pleasure before nuzzling her face into my neck. Her lips kiss and suck near my Adam's apple and moments later I feel her walls grip my fingers as she comes.
Roza doesn't move as she needs a moment to catch her breath. The train pulls into the next stop and about ten people disembark. I wait until there is a bustle of movement going on around us before I slip my fingers out of her and bring them to my lips to lick off her juices. Her tongue mingles with mine and I watch her taste herself.
"I'd return the favour, Comrade, but I think I'd be a little more obvious." She grins, leaning forward to press her lips to mine.
When we finally reach our stop, she's pulling me off the train and we're practically running home. I can't help but laugh at her reaction as we wait for the elevator to arrive. Her hands are touching me everywhere, and I can't wait to get her on her back and bury my face between her thighs.
~VA TC VA~
Rose
The feeling of Dimitri's fingers inside me, getting me off on the train was something we will definitely be doing again. I could still feel him between my legs as the vibration of the train thundered on. It was exhilarating, the thrill of possibly being caught was so stimulating that I had a hard time not reciprocating. Although, I think that would have been blatantly obvious if I had.
We laughed as I dragged him from the train to our apartment building. We had to wait for the elevator but once we were on, I couldn't keep my lips from his any longer. I literally pounced on him as his hands gripped my ass while he ground his hard erection into me.
When we finally reached our floor, I stepped off, leaving him standing there dumbfounded. I'd spent the majority of the ride up rubbing my hands over his cock. It took him a moment to realize I'd left him standing there, before he followed me out. I felt him almost crash into me when I halted suddenly outside our apartment door. There was another box, only this one was shaped a little differently.
"Shit." I heard him mumble from behind me before he moved forward to pick it up. All lustful thoughts were completely gone at the sight of that box.
"Should we wait for Detective Croft to get here before we open it?" I query as he unlocks the door, leading me into the apartment.
"I don't want to wait, to be honest." Dimitri states as he grabs a pair of rubber gloves from under the kitchen sink before grabbing a knife to cut the tape holding it closed. While he's doing that, I make a quick call to Detective Croft and he informs us that he will be over soon.
When Dimitri opens the flaps, there is white tissue paper covering whatever is inside. Peeking over the flaps of the box, we can see there is a large, 8 X 10 manila envelope. After opening it, he reaches inside and pulls out a stack of photos.
"Let's take these to the dining room, we can lay them out on the table." I suggest. Dimitri nods in agreement and follows close behind me. I move the centerpiece from the table, to the sideboard, as he starts laying the photos out for us to view.
It takes me a few minutes to register what I'm seeing. It's a woman, who is obviously naked and using a bed sheet to conceal herself in a provocative way. None of the photos show her face or any obvious marks on her body that would be a little too telling as to who it is, I surmised.
My eyes are focused on one, then another photo and it's only a moment later when I notice something in the corner of one of the images. Realizing it's an object that I recognize, an audible gasp escapes my lips.
"Roza? What is it? Do you know who this is?" Dimitri questions, pulling off the gloves and setting them on the table while we take in the twelve photographs laid out before us.
"No, no, Dimitri look!" I point. "In the corner of that photo!" I add. "Dimitri!" I call again, a sense of fear overcoming me
"I'm not seeing it, milaya." He admits.
"Dimitri, that's our fucking bedroom! That is a photograph frame, the one on your bedside table of the selfie I took in the bathtub that time." I explain, trying to hold in the tears. It suddenly dawns on him that our personal space has been invaded.
"Holy shit. Okay, come on." He replies, leading me to our bedroom where we can see the exact photo frame from the image on his bedside table and our bed sheets a mess. There is also a scent in the air of a perfume I don't recognize. It's definitely not mine.
"You can smell that right? That perfume?" I acknowledge, as he sniffs at the air. His face scrunches up in disgust.
"I know that smell." He realizes. Seconds later the buzzer for our apartment sounds before he can tell me how he knows that scent.
It's Detective Croft and we wait for him at the apartment door. We explain right away what we found and he inspects our front door. There are no signs of a break and enter and the suspicion falls on the perpetrator having a key.
"How would they get our key?" I exclaim. I'm feeling extremely petrified at this point.
Dimitri leads Detective Croft over to the dining room to show him the photos and points out that he wore gloves when opening it. Hans seemed pleased that Dimitri had the forethought to take such action. Then reveals how I noticed the photograph frame in the corner of one of the photos before we went to our bedroom to find the bed sheets in disarray.
"We also noticed a distinctive perfumed scent in the air." Dimitri shares as he leads the detective to our bedroom. Croft notices the scent as well. It's as if it was poured onto the sheets or something.
"That's been done on purpose." Croft states. "They want you know who it is." He added. "Dimitri, you said you recognized the scent. Who is it?" Hans asked.
"I can't be sure, but I believe that to be the scent that Avery always wore." He shares.
"How would she get in here though?" I plead. Worry evident in my tone.
~VA TC VA~
Dimitri
Pulling Roza into my arms, I tried to comfort her but, I could see this was upsetting her beyond her control. When I realized I recognized that perfumed scent, past events started to make sense to me.
"Why don't we go sit in the living room. I'm going to call in a team to collect forensic evidence from your room." Detective Croft states as I lead Roza away from our now tainted room.
Once Hans made his call, he joins us in the living room, his pad and pen at the ready as he urged me to explain my theory.
"I believe," I begin, "That sometime ago, when Avery Lazar worked in our office, and her plans of seducing me failed, she snuck into my office with the intent of copying my keys."
"How would she though? Without taking the keys?" Roza questions.
"You can use anything from gum to a bar of soap to make an impression of a key for copying." Detective Croft explains.
"When you found her naked in your office you mean? You think she was there for ulterior motives?" Roza queried.
"I don't think so at first. I think once she realized her plan failed, and she was re-dressing in my private bathroom, she must have taken my keys from my jacket pocket."
"You didn't keep your keys in your pants pocket?" Detective Croft tries to clarify.
"Not during those colder winter months. When we'd leave for work in the morning, bundled up against the cold, it was easier to put the keys in my jacket, inside pocket."
"So, Avery had the opportunity and had access to your keys is what you're saying?" Detective Croft states. I nodded in confirmation. "Either way, she had not only motive, but opportunity." Hans adds, making a few notes. "Let's go take a look at those photos." He finishes, standing as I lead him back to the dining room.
We position ourselves behind him, Roza ensconced in my arms as we watch him look over the photos.
"What are you thinking?" Roza implores.
"Well, I can tell you that, unless she has arms ten feet long, she did not take these herself."
"She's working with someone on this then." I add, confirming another suspicion I'd had yet to voice.
"Without question." Hans stated. "Can you think of anyone she could have come into contact with that would want to participate in these kinds of antics? To try to cause problems for you two?" Croft asked.
I look to Roza and it's as if something dawns on her as her face becomes ashen white.
"Roza? What is it?" I urge, as she wanders back into the living room.
Detective Croft and I join her and I grip her hand, trying to reassure her as we all take seats.
"What are you thinking, milaya?"
"That night at Guardian's."
"Which night Rose?" Detective Croft interjects.
Roza explains to Hans how we met on the train but didn't talk until that one Friday night. Our first real meeting was after events at 'Guardian's', and how earlier that night, she had broken things off with Jesse. I had shown up to do the same with Avery. She goes on to acknowledge that at that time she was unaware of the fact that Mason harboured a crush on her until her good friend and our co-worker Lissa Dragomir pointed it out. That night after we both had left Guardian's, Roza suspected that there might have been a chance that Mason and Avery joined forces, so to speak.
"I really didn't think he could be a part of this." Roza states, a sad look on her face. "I just thought he had a crush." She adds, as a few tears trailed down her cheek.
Reaching over, I wipe them away for her as we look at Detective Croft, wondering what our next steps will be.
"That's a viable theory and something to look into." He replies. "The party tomorrow will allow me to observe Mason and even question him unsuspectingly." Croft shares.
Just as Detective Croft finished questioning us, his team arrived to go through our apartment and take prints and safely take away the photos for inspection. They took about an hour and when they were finally done, it was almost ten o'clock at night.
While the team was doing their search, I had called the building landlord and manager about a breach in our safety and she agreed to allow us to get the locks changed that night, she'd reimburse us for the cost. She'd be sending out a memo to all the tenants that the front door locks would be changed as well and discussed moving towards fobs instead of actual keys.
By the time midnight rolled around, we'd scrubbed down our bedroom, thrown out the sheets, flipped the damn mattress and lit a gazillion scented candles to rid the room of that horrible perfumed scent.
Roza was feeling this personal invasion harshly and I wanted to do something, anything to help her feel safe again. I started to draw her a bath to help her relax. When I went to find her, she was in the kitchen, pouring a glass of wine.
"How you doing, milaya?" I question, coming up to her from behind.
"I don't know how to feel. I mean I know how I do feel, like my home has been violated, for lack of a better term." She laughs sarcastically.
"I drew you a bath, thought you could relax a bit before we try to get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be an eventful day."
"Dimitri." She murmurs, as I wrap my arms around her. "I love you." She states, turning in my arms. Her eyes are slightly glassy from her wine consumption.
"I love you too Roza, more than anything." I smile in reassurance. "I would do anything for you, you know that right." I try to comfort.
She sets her wine glass in the kitchen sink after finishing, before leading me to the bedroom and into the bathroom. She starts pulling my clothes off and I do the same to her.
Running my hand under her skirt to her panties, I cup her warm pussy, pushing my palm against her firmly. She moans throatily before she unbuttons my jeans and pushes them along with my boxer briefs to the floor.
After sitting herself on the edge of the tub, she pulls me by my hips so I'm closer to her before taking my cock in her mouth and sucking at the head ravenously.
"Fuck baby, that feels so good." I moan as she continues her ministrations. My hands move to her breasts and I pull and tweak her nipples to hardened peaks.
"I want to feel you inside me." She pants, standing abruptly and bending over the tub, resting her hands on the edge as she pushes her ass into me. I get the hint and move behind her, slipping my cock between her moist folds.
~VA TC VA~
Rose
My emotions were all over the place. The only way I could describe to Dimitri how I was feeling was by saying that I felt like our home had been violated. Even after I said it out loud it didn't seem real. How could someone do the things they'd done. I couldn't wrap my mind around their actions, and to what end?
I moved to the kitchen and had downed two glasses of wine in the course of ten minutes. I knew it wasn't the answer but I just wanted to take the edge off. When Dimitri joined me, telling me he had drawn me a bath, I knew that no matter what Avery and her accomplice threw at us that they would never come between us.
After leading him to the bathroom and undressing each other, I wanted to repay him for fulfilling my train fantasy earlier. I loved giving that man head. The sounds that emanated from his lips and the soft growls he made, turned me on so much that I could feel my arousal leaking out of me. I swear I could feel it dripping down my leg.
"I want to feel you inside me." I panted as I stood quickly, and turned, bracing myself on the edge of the tub.
He slid inside me moments later and was taking his time.
"I want this to last." He sighed, reaching forward to cup my breasts as he continued to push and pull, playing my body like an instrument.
Every time he thrust into me, I would push back, feeling him just a little deeper. I felt my first orgasm approaching and he slid a hand from my breast, down my side and to my hip before reaching forward and pinching my clit gently between his fingers. I exploded around his hard shaft as he continued to pump himself into me.
"Fuck Roza, I love feeling you come on my cock. Can you do it again baby?" He murmured in my ear as I felt his pace quicken.
"Yes, fuck me harder, faster." I panted in reply as he gripped my hips and started to pound into me just the way I loved it.
A few moments later I felt him coming inside me shortly before I came for the second time. I clenched my pussy muscles, squeezing every last ounce of his release from his cock.
When he slipped out of me, he turned me in his arms and kissed me so passionately I felt my knees go weak. Although, they could have been weak simply from the good fuck he had just given me.
Stepping into the warm water, I tugged on his hand so he'd join me. Laying back on his chest, he used the loofah to wash me sensually.
"Dimitri?" I began, unsure of how to ask him this.
"What, milaya?" He replied, kissing my neck softly before running the loofah over where his lips had last met my skin.
"Would you ever want to move from this apartment?" I question, biting my lip in anticipation.
I heard him take in a breath before answering.
"After the shit that's happened here, I wouldn't mind finding a new place." He admitted. "As long as it's with you." He added. I turned in his arms and moved to straddle his lap.
"Really?"
"Yeah, it's uncomfortable here after knowing what's happened. This is supposed to be our sanctuary, and it's been invaded." He shared. "What do you want to do?" He asked, brushing a few strands of hair from my face that had escaped from my bun, before settling his hands on my hips.
"I'm so glad you said that, because I hate the idea of what happened here and I would love to pick out a new place with you. I mean I know I just moved in here with you…" I trail off.
"I'd go anywhere with you Roza. Just say the word and we'll start looking at new places."
"I love you!" I cried, burying my face in his neck as he rubs his hands along my back, consolingly, and holding me close against him.
"I love you too." He states. "But, I have just one question." He smiles at me as I lift my head.
"What's that?"
"Do you maybe want to look into getting a house instead of an apartment?"
"I would love that."
After washing each other with the loofah rather possessively, we finally crawl from the tub, both a little pruned from sitting in it too long, we wrap ourselves around one another, naked in bed knowing we will have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.
There may be a party to celebrate, but I don't feel like we have a lot of celebrating to do right now until we can put all of this behind us. Before I fall asleep, I still harbour thoughts on the fact that I still have to contact my father.
The following morning, I roll over in bed and notice it's almost 8:30AM. I wasn't able to sleep well with all the stress going on around us. I get up reluctantly knowing I will not get anymore sleep and pull on some jean shorts and a tank top.
While the coffee percolates, I pull the e-mail app on my lap top and sit at the breakfast bar as I type up a message to my father. Ten minutes after sending the e-mail, I decide to start breakfast when my iPhone rings beside me on the counter.
"Hello?"
"Rosemarie? It's your father."
"Hi dad, I'm guessing you got my e-mail?"
"I did. Can you give me the contact information for this Detective Hans Croft?"
"Of course. Do you want me to e-mail it to you?"
"Yes, that would be fine."
"Dad…" I begin. He's not cold or callous, just seemingly emotionless throughout this exchange.
"Yes?"
"Thank you, for looking into this for me."
"You're my daughter, of course I will do anything I need to protect you, Rosemarie."
"How's Mom doing?"
"She's well. Been doing a lot of volunteer work lately. More than usual anyway."
"Is something wrong? For her to want do more?" I start to worry.
"A friend of hers who she helped out some years ago..." He paused for a moment. "She passed away, and I think your mother just wants to feel useful by doing more." He explains.
My mother has always been one to do whatever she could to help those suffering. She is a retired nurse after all.
"Sorry to hear that. You know she just wants to always feel useful, always has."
"I know. Anyway, send me that contact information."
My father insists on me coming over to their place for dinner and I insist on bringing Dimitri, before hanging up. I move back to my lap top to send him the information on Detective Croft.
Just as I close the lid, I see Dimitri traipsing down the hall towards the kitchen. I can't help but laugh as he's rubbing the sleep from his eyes, looking all boyish and cute and I giggle when I see he seems to have forgotten something.
"Morning sleepyhead." I state, smiling widely at him.
"Morning…" He mumbles, letting out a big yawn before noticing my smile.
"What are you smiling about?" He adds as he stops at the entry to the kitchen.
"Forget pants, did you?" I tease looking down at his completely naked and impressive form.
"Shit." He mumbles. "Oh well, just you and me." He flirts back, leaning in to kiss my neck teasingly, causing me to giggle.
"Yes well, unless you want to get bacon grease on your dick, you might want to cover up!" I exclaim moving to the stove to check on said bacon.
"Yeah, yeah, give me my morning kiss first, milaya." He teases moving to trap my body between his naked one and the counter.
We share more than just a morning kiss before he walks off to put on some clothes, leaving me speechless in his wake. I'm shaken from my thoughts of his fine ass when there is an incessant knocking on the door. After looking through the peephole, I find Ivan and Mia standing there.
"Morning guys." I greet as I take in their concerned faces.
"I'm assuming this memo is because of you two." She states, pushing something into my hands.
I look over the paper to see the notice the landlord and building manager mentioned to Dimitri on the phone last night about the front door locks being changed at some point today, and for tenants to check in, in the lobby for their registered key fobs.
After setting both of them up with coffee, Dimitri rejoins us as Mia helps me make breakfast for all of us, before we regale them with our tale of woe from the previous night.
"Shit, so you think it's for sure Avery?" Ivan inquires, sipping from his coffee.
"Yes, and possibly Mason. I mean we can't think of anyone else who Avery would have had immediate contact with to conspire with." I explain, plating the scrambled eggs for everyone while Mia buttered the toast.
"I take it that you're not so comfortable in this apartment?" Ivan adds looking at Dimitri.
"No, not in the least, we've actually already talked about looking at houses." Dimitri confirms.
"Really? How come houses and not another apartment?" Mia interjects, finally taking her seat at the breakfast bar.
"Well, more privacy for one. I mean knowing how many people have keys to the door of this building…" He trails off. "For all we know, Avery seduced some dumbass from the building. I mean we suspect Mason, but until the fingerprints and DNA swabs come back. Nothing is certain." Dimitri states. "Mason might not even be involved, but we still don't know." He finalizes.
"What about you Rose?" Ivan asks.
"What about me?"
"Why a house?"
"Same reasons as Dimitri. Privacy, and who knows what the future may hold, if we…" I trail off. I don't know his thoughts on marriage or kids and don't want to freak him out.
"What Roza is scared of implying…" Dimitri begins, smiling widely at me before continuing. "When we decide to get married and have kids, we want the room to expand." He finishes, looking over at me before kissing me sweetly.
"Precisely." I giggle.
"You two are so bloody adorable! I love it." Mia gushed. "Actually, Ivan and I were talking about moving, houses were our option too for the same reasons. Sooner rather than later." Mia states.
"Why sooner?" Dimitri queries as he finishes his food and moves to take his plate to the sink. I'm right behind him. I move back over in front of Mia and Ivan at the island as they look at one another and Mia holds out her left hand to me.
"Ohmigod! You guys! You're getting married!" I screech excitedly taking in her ring. It's absolutely beautiful.
"Yes. Ivan asked me last night." She gushes telling us how he attempted to cook her dinner but they ended up having to order out because of how he'd ruined the roast chicken.
"At least he tried to look for you, Mia!" Dimitri interjects, laughing at Ivan as he just shrugged his shoulders adorably.
"Hey, no shame here. I made up for it in other ways!" He replied, raising his eyebrows suggestively. "And by that, I mean, -" I cut him off.
"We don't need details!" I halted, causing everyone to laugh.
After cleaning up the dishes, Ivan and Dimitri make their way down to the gym for a workout while Mia and I move to the living room to talk wedding details.
"Have you guys even talked about dates or what time of year you want to have the wedding?"
"I think next spring. We don't want it to be rushed plus with my sister breaking her foot, she has to have time for it to heal so she can walk down the aisle as my maid of honor!" She shared. "Speaking of, would you be a bridesmaid?" She asked excitedly.
"Of course! I'd be honoured to! I'm guessing Ivan is going to ask Dimitri to be in the wedding party as well?"
"As we speak," She confirms. "His brother, Jared will be his best man and he'll walk with my sister, Ava, of course." She confirmed. "You'll walk with Dimitri." She added.
"I'm so happy for you guys." I gushed.
"Thanks, Rose. Now, I do have another question for you and I already asked my sister this so I'm just wondering if it's a guy thing." She explains.
"What?"
"Do you guys have set days of the week that you…you know, have sex?" She questions timidly.
"You mean like actual planned days and times?"
"Yeah, Ivan says he likes to have set times especially because of my womanly issues, as he puts it. So that he can get his fill before I start my period!" She states
"Oh!" I pause, thinking about how this is a bit of an overshare. "Well…" I trail off, not sure how to answer that.
"What days of the week do you guys, you know, do it?" She pushed.
"Um, honestly…." I began.
"Yes…" She urges.
"Really, any day that. Ummm…. ends in 'Y'." I state.
It takes her a moment to process this before she starts laughing hysterically.
"Ohmigod! I love you Rose. You're so hilarious." She laughs. "But, what about when you menstruate?"
"Well, I'm on the shot and don't really get my period because of it. Some women can still spot but me, nothing." I explain.
"Damn, I need to change my birth control."
~VA TC VA~
Dimitri
It was Saturday afternoon and Roza and I were in my truck on our way to her parent's place for dinner. To say I was nervous was an understatement.
During the office Fourth of July party, we made a point of steering clear of Detective Hans Croft. Any inclination that we knew each other would make Mason suspicious.
The following evening, after work, Detective Croft joined us at our apartment for a breakdown of what he could glean from his conversations with Mason and other workers in the bar about and their impressions of Mason. He was the newest hire after all.
"Well, I can confirm without any doubt that Mason definitely has a crush on you, Rose." Hans states. Not that we didn't already know that, but Roza nodded her head in acknowledgement.
"But," Detective Croft begins again. "He's not involved in the issues surrounding the breach in your privacy.
"How can you be certain?" I query.
Detective Croft goes on to explain how he used a ruse of trying to seek out his ex-girlfriend to mend things and showed him a photo of Avery. Mason was honestly perplexed and showed no recognition of the woman, at all.
Even though Mason likely saw her the night I broke things off with her, it's unlikely she was back on a regular basis for him to take notice of her. The Detective pointed out that even when bated, Mason didn't reveal any untoward behaviour. He longed to be with Roza as more than friends, but he also seemed to acknowledge that it would never happen.
"So, either he's really innocent or a really good liar?" Roza interjects.
"It's possible he could be lying but I highly doubt it." Detective Croft confirms.
"So, where do we go from here?" She adds. I could tell Roza was becoming a little scared. Not knowing who Avery's accomplice was had left her feeling vulnerable.
"We're going to put tails on our suspects. We don't want to bring them in for questioning just yet." Hans shared. "Mainly because if they get wind of our interest in them, they may back off, and we could lose whatever leverage we may have." He clarified before Roza could interject and ask, 'why they weren't bringing them in'.
"I can understand that, but it's frustrating none the less." I expressed.
Other than the detective's revelations on our case and Mason's supposed innocence, my mind was elsewhere after a conversation with Ivan while we worked out in the gym the morning of the July Fourth party.
"So, man, I think it's obvious that I'd like you to be a groomsman." Ivan begins.
"Of course, I'll be happy to. Congrats again." I agree, shaking his hand once more as he holds the punching bag in place as I take aim.
"I wanted to talk to you about something." He begins again as I throw a few punches into the bag.
"What's that?"
"Mia is a little pissed with me because of our 'sex' schedule."
"You have a sex schedule?" I laugh.
"Man, come on. We have to have some sort of timeline or else I'll want it when she's going through her womanly shit and she definitely doesn't want it then." He complains. It's then that something dawns on me before he starts speaking again.
"What sort of sex life are you and Rose working with?"
"That's personal." I reply gruffly.
"Well, what about when she's got her woman shit?"
"A little blood never hurts." I retort. Hinting that the conversation was done.
This is where my mind has been on our drive to her parent's place. I realize I've never not had to hold out on sex with Roza. She's never had her 'womanly issues' as far as I know. My mind has been stuck on this for the past few days. 'Could she be pregnant?'.
"Hey, where are you?" She teases, bringing me out of my thoughts and back to the present.
"Sorry, just nervous I guess." I smile at her. I don't want to talk to her about the possible pregnancy thing just yet, not when I'm about to meet her parents. I'm sure that would go over really well on our first meeting. 'Yeah, hi, I'm your daughter's boyfriend and possible baby daddy'. I can feel my imminent death at that revelation.
"Make a right turn here, their house is the third one down on the right." Roza directs as I pull into the driveway.
"Nice place." I comment while noticing it's not a super large house, but it's immaculate.
"Breathe. You'll be fine. Besides, we have the stalker thing to talk about and well…it'll get my dad talking about work and himself, and he loves that." She assuages.
I jump out of the truck and move over to the passenger side to help Roza out.
"Rosemarie!" We hear. I turn to see a woman, around the same height as Roza with red hair and a sweet disposition.
"Hi Mom." She smiles happily as the two share an embrace.
"This is my boyfriend, Dimitri. Dimitri, this is my mom, Janine."
"Pleasure to meet you Mrs. Hathaway." I state cordially, reaching out my hand to shake.
"Oh, none of that, give me a hug." She states, grabbing me into her arms. Roza made sure to let me know that her mother kept her maiden name of Hathaway when she married her father. And he was to be addressed as Mr. Mazur.
"Your father has been on the phone with that Detective for about twenty minutes, some updates with the case apparently. But come inside, please." She urges, ushering us inside the door ahead of her.
I slip off my shoes and Roza does the same before we're led into the kitchen.
"Can I offer you something to drink Dimitri?"
"I'm fine for now thank you." I state politely as I feel Roza take my hand in hers. My nerves are still on edge and I haven't even met her father yet.
"Rosemarie, dear?"
"I'd love some wine please." She states, signalling to the decanter on the kitchen island. Her mother pours them both a glass before we head into the living room.
"What are you making for dinner, it smells great!" Roza adds as she pulls me to sit beside her on the loveseat.
"Roast beef, potatoes, carrots and green bean casserole."
"That sounds amazing!" I add as we're interrupted by a new presence in the room.
"Dad!" Roza states, standing from her seat quickly. She walks over to hug him lovingly.
"Rosemarie," He replies, hugging her back affectionately.
"Mom said you were on the phone with Detective Croft?" She prods, taking her seat again.
Her father moves over to the small cart behind the sofa that holds a small plethora of alcohol. After pouring himself what looks to be a scotch, he moves to sit beside his wife on the sofa.
"Yes, he got the results from the DNA and fingerprint evidence taken from your apartment. But before we get into that, hello, Abe Mazur," He states holding his hand out to me in greeting.
"Hello Sir, Dimitri Belikov." I reply.
"Belikov, you say?" her mother acknowledges in surprise.
"Ummm, yes." I reply, unsure of the sudden change in her demeanor.
"Excuse me for a moment, please." She states, leaving the room abruptly.
~VA TC VA~
Rose
I followed my mother out of the living room after Dimitri signalled that he'd be fine alone with my father. They did have the case to talk about after all. I found my mother in the kitchen leaning over the kitchen island as if to support herself on it.
"What's wrong mom?" I question wearily, rubbing her back in support.
"Do you know who Dimitri's father is?"
"I know of him and what he did to Dimitri's mother growing up. Why?"
"Rosemarie, has he told you anything about his mother?"
"Only how she was abused by her husband."
"What about her name?"
"I believe it's Olena." I share. "Mom, what's going on?" I press.
My mother nods in understanding. Before leading me back into the living room with her.
"Dimitri." She interrupts. "I need to speak with you about something." My mother addresses him. He looks at me in confusion before I seat myself beside him once again. I shrug, letting him know that I don't really knowing what's going on.
"Alright," he states agreeably.
"I knew your mother."
"You know my mom?" He replies.
"I knew her." She clarifies.
"What do you mean you knew her mom?" I interject.
"I was the one who helped her, all those years ago. After Randall." She paused. "After your father would abuse her, she refused to leave him, but she needed medical attention." My mother paused, watching Dimitri for a reaction.
"I see." Dimitri stated in a clipped tone. My father is silent throughout this exchange while holding my mother's hand in support.
Dimitri points to the drink cart, "You mind?" he states looking to my father for approval.
"Of course." He states before Dimitri stands to help himself.
Dimitri pours a few fingers of scotch before seating himself down beside me again.
"Will you tell me about her, where I can find her now?" He adds. I can tell he's feeling rather emotional and there's nothing I can do but support him.
"She never really wanted to stay with him." My mom begins. "But he threatened her."
Dimitri just nods his head. "I don't understand. Threatened her with what?" Dimitri asked. I could sense he was getting worked up, but rather than crying, he turned to anger.
"She wanted to tell you Dimitri, she really did. But you have to know she loved you. You and your sisters. But she didn't have the money to support you all. When she tried to have your father served with divorce papers, she didn't ask for any compensation so that there was nothing he could contest. I know you were young, but he threatened her life on more than one occasion." She stated. "Among other things."
"Why didn't she ever tell me?" he queried. I could see he was trying to hold back tears. "What could he have possibly threatened her with?" He asked in frustration.
"You have to understand, son." My father interjected. "Randall was and still is a prominent businessman." He added.
"About two months after she had left him after another beating, your father tracked her down to the half-way house I'd helped her escape to." Janine started. "She was returning from a doctor's appointment when she was attacked and beaten, brutally. She was in the hospital for four months after that and because of the beating, sustained permanent brain damage."
I felt numb. For years Dimitri thought that his mother was simply ignoring him, but no one, not even his sisters told him about this.
"Fuck!" Dimitri stated in a hushed breath before he downed his scotch in one gulp. He stood and started pacing.
"I'm so sorry dear, she tried e-mailing you a few times but she never heard back."
"They always seemed like drunken ramblings and I never knew what to make of them." He admitted. "They never made any sense."
My mother nodded before replying, "Unfortunately, that was a result of the final beating she had taken. The brain damage left her motor functions irreparable and even in conversation, she could sound slurred. To most it would come across as sounding intoxicated." She explained. "That impediment, well it overlapped into her writing. She would start talking about something and just as abruptly, change the subject without even realizing it. Her writing reflected that. She was never the same, and I looked after her in the care home I'd helped to place her in."
"Thank you for that." Dimitri stated, wiping at the tears that had escaped before taking a seat next to me again.
"I even offered to contact you for her, but she didn't want to bother you." She paused. "She also thought that if you know, you would kill Randall. And the last thing she wanted was for you to be in jail." Janine added.
"Mom, where is she now?" I asked.
My father had remained silent until this moment. "Rosemarie," my father interjected. "You remember what I told you a few weeks back about your mother's friend?"
It dawned on me that Olena was my mom's friend. The one that had passed away and whom my father was referring too when he relayed my mother's uptake in more volunteer work.
"That was her?" I cried. "That was Olena?"
"What do you mean?" Dimitri exclaimed, looking to me for clarification.
"Your mother suffered a massive stroke a few weeks ago and passed away. I'm so sorry honey." My mother clarified, before grabbing a tissue to wipe her tears.
"Was there a service?" Dimitri posed, a cold tone to his voice. I realized he was trying to not show his emotions right now.
"No, she didn't want one, but I had a small vigil if you will, for myself. I think I was her only friend." My mother cried. "I contacted your sisters, but didn't hear back."
"What was my father threatening her with that she couldn't leave him?" He pressed.
"I mentioned earlier about how your father was and is a prominent businessman." Abe reminded.
We nodded in acknowledgement. "At the time, when you yourself scared him off, she wanted to leave. But because of his contacts and influence, he threatened to take her to court and sue for full custody." My father paused, looking at me sadly. "With the money he had, he could get whatever he wanted." He added.
"I'm sorry, Dimitri. I wish we could have done better by her, for you. And your sisters." My mother shared.
Dimitri stood and took my mother in his embrace.
"Thank you for being there for her."
"Mom?"
"Yes dear?"
"If Randall was the one who beat her so badly, how come he wasn't arrested or charged?"
"Insufficient evidence." My father interjected with irritation. "Everyone was too scared to say anything because of Randall's business associations." He clarified.
~VA TC VA~
Dimitri
Shock, that's all I could feel. I wanted to beat my father senseless for what he had done to my mother. No, scratch that, I wanted to kill him. I was thankful for Janine Hathaway and the care she had given to my mother.
"Where is she buried?"
Janine gave me the information and Roza agreed that we should take a visit before heading home tonight.
"Small world, who would have thought that Olena's son would be dating our daughter." Abe added as he polished off his own scotch. His comment brought a little levity to the dark conversation, and I smiled, sadly.
"Your mother would have been so proud of you Dimitri." Janine stated, "In fact I know she was." She added, reaching over to take my hand in support.
"Why don't we give them a few minutes Janine, we can check on dinner, a refill Rosemarie?" Abe stated as he signalled to Roza's empty wine glass.
The air was heavy around us. "Stupid question." Roza started. "But, are you okay?" She asked. I stood from the couch and pulled her up and into my arms. I couldn't hold it back anymore and cried. I'd never really cried since I was a child but I couldn't stop this flood of emotions.
Roza just held me as I buried my face in her neck.
"I love you." She whispered.
"I love you." I replied as I finally got myself together.
"Your father should have to pay for what he did." She stated with finality.
"He's a CEO with money, untouchable and he's into shady business deals. For all we know he hired someone to beat her."
"I'm sorry, that you never got to say goodbye. Properly that is." She tried to comfort.
"Thanks, milaya. There a bathroom nearby?" She nodded sweetly and I left to get myself together after she pointed it out.
When I returned to the living room, Roza escorted me to the dining room where dinner was being served.
"Dimitri, I do have small box of some of your mother's possessions if you'd like to have them?" Janine addressed me.
"I'd like that, thank you."
"Well, not to make this even more bleak but we still have the results from the processed evidence to discuss, if you're up for that of course?" Abe stated as the roast and side dishes were passed around the table.
"Of course, please tell me something good dad!" Roza stated with a small laugh.
"Dimitri, can I interest you in some wine?" Janine queried.
"Yes, thanks," I replied, holding my glass out to her as she poured a generous amount before topping off the rest of the glasses at the table.
"I told Detective Croft that I would tell you the results as you were coming here anyway but he wanted me to ask you to call him tomorrow to find out what your next steps will me." Abe shared. "Anyway, the fingerprints determined that it was in fact Avery Lazar, but Mason Ashford was a negative I'm afraid." He confirmed.
Hans had let us know that he picked up Mason's prints from his glass at the Fourth of July party at Guardian's for comparison, and Avery's prints were gathered from her work card. It was mandatory that employees were fingerprinted when hired and that data was kept on file.
"We sort of knew it might not be Mason, even though he's infatuated with me." Roza stated.
"Oh?" Abe questioned.
Roza went on to explain Detective Croft's undercover services the day of the party and the information he'd garnered. Abe nodded in understanding and that was the end of that conversation.
"So, if that was all the evidence shared, why were you on the phone so long?" Janine interjected.
"We were discussing Avery's subsequent arrest of course, but if we arrest her now, her partner in crime might run. So, I guess that the other suspects will be tailed for now. The DNA did reveal that her accomplice is male, so the other female suspects are now cleared."
"What male DNA was there to base that on?" I questioned.
"There was spermicide found at the scene."
"Oh, ewwww, gross!" Roza called.
"It wasn't yours." Abe added and I turned pale at that recognition. 'Great,' I thought to myself, 'He knows I'm banging his daughter'.
"We're not naïve, Dimitri, we know you and Rosemarie are sexually active, I mean you're in your late twenties." Abe tried to comfort.
"Dad! You're scaring him!"
"I'm not scared, just surprised." I smiled at her. "I've never been outed for being intimate with my girlfriend." I grinned.
"There is, apparently, some issue with what they believed to be Avery's DNA." My dad initiated. "They don't have her DNA in the system to compare, but the fingerprints from your bedroom are hers. In order to have a solid case, they need to get a sample." He added.
We would call Detective Croft and find out the details of course, but there always was something to deal with.
Dinner continued on with pleasant conversation and Roza informed her parents of her new work situation and promotion. Her mother was ecstatic and I'm happy to say that her father was rather impressed, too. Maybe he'd finally given up on the notion of his only daughter being a lawyer in the 'family business'.
I was helping to clear the table when a disconnected voice called from the entryway of the house.
"Hello? Anyone home? Who's truck is that in the driveway?"
"In here Eddie, we're having dinner with your sister and her boyfriend." Janine addressed.
A tall man stepped into the dining room, looking just like his father. He moved over to Roza and hugged her affectionately.
"It's been a while, Eddie!" She exclaimed as he took in her appearance.
"I know, work has been busy." He replied apologetically.
"This is my boyfriend, Dimitri. Dimitri, my brother Eddie." Roza introduced.
"Pleasure." I stated, as we shook hands. I watched as he appraised me from head to toe, almost like he was analyzing my appearance.
"Likewise," He smiled.
"Come give your mother a hug!" Janine interjected as Roza and I took the dishes to the kitchen and began loading the dishwasher.
"You guys don't need to do that, but thank you." Abe addressed as Janine and Eddie followed shortly.
After coffee and dessert and filling in Eddie on the new details of the stalker issue, we made our escape.
~VA TC VA~
Rose
"I was not expecting that." I stated as Dimitri pulled out of my parent's driveway.
"Definitely not. But at least she's not suffering anymore." He replied, sadly.
"Do you want to pick up some flowers first?" I suggest.
Dimitri pulled into a Wal-Mart and we take ten minutes picking out a small bouquet of Gerber daisies. The cemetery gates close at 9PM and it's just about 8PM, so we have an hour to find the gravestone and have a visit.
We follow the road signs in the cemetery to the plot my mother directed us to. After parking the truck, Dimitri jumps down and I'm set to stay here to give him some privacy. But I'm surprised when the passenger door opens and he's there to help me down.
"You don't want privacy?" I question as my feet hit the ground.
"I need you." He mumbles, hugging me to him firmly.
"Okay, let's go." I reply, slipping my hand into his.
He has my hand grasped in his tightly and it takes us a few minutes to find the right row and plot. The headstone comes into view:
Olena Belikova
1962 – 2024
Beloved Mother, Daughter and Friend
"Love and loyalty runs deeper than blood."
I can't hold back my own emotion and the strength I was trying to give Dimitri crumbles as I finally start crying. He simply holds me and rubs my back.
"I'm sorry, I'm trying to be strong for you." I reply.
"It's okay, milaya." He states before laying the flowers on the grave.
"That's a great quote." I add.
"Definitely speaks to the actions your mother did for mine. I don't know how to repay your parents, your mom especially, for all they did."
"I think you already are, Dimitri. Being who you are and living your life to the fullest you possibly can." I reply, cupping his face in my hands. He bends his head and abruptly kisses me. It's urgent, wanting.
"I need you, Roza. Always." He murmurs.
Ten minutes later, we head back to the truck and make our way home. It's a bit of a somber mood but I know that he finally has closure over the loss of his mother. When we park in our space, he helps me down once again before he grabs the small box of possessions my mother handed him before leaving.
"Why don't you take some time to go through that," I begin, signaling to the box, "I'm going to have a bath. When you're done, come join me, okay?" He nods in acknowledgement.
I'm just happy to find there are no surprise gifts waiting for us at the door when we get home. After stripping and throwing my clothes into the hamper, I head to the bathroom and start the water. When it's to my liking, I sink into the bubbles and warmth.
~VA TC VA~
Dimitri
After Roza ensconced herself in the bathroom to relax, I was pulling at my hair, an anxious reaction at not knowing what I was going to find in the mystery box. I remove the lid carefully and I have to laugh at myself. I was acting like something was going to jump out and bite me.
The few things on top are some photos from when my sisters and I were young children. They were definitely worn after being handled often. I breathe deep at the realization that she really did want to leave him but at the time had no choice. My father was a manipulator and scared her more with the threat of taking her children away from her.
There was a small book within, that seemed like a diary or journal but after trying to read it, I realized it was like the e-mails, discombobulated and nonsensical. It was like Janine had said, she began with one thought and seconds into a few words the topic changed.
There was a small figurine, a G.I. Joe from when I was child. It was one of my favourites. There was even a pressed flower, not even a flower, a weed. It was a dandelion I had given to her when I was all of four years old.
"I can't believe you kept his." I said to myself as I wiped a few errant tears. She'd kept it pressed between the pages of her journal. The words she'd etched onto the page simply read, 'The best flower I will ever receive'.
The bottom of the box seemed to hold the biggest secret. There was a sealed envelope with my name on the front in my mother's writing. I was hoping this wouldn't be more ramblings like the journal, but I took the chance and unsealed the flap before slipping the one-page letter from its confines.
Dimitri,
I hope you never have to read this but if you are, it's because I'm no longer with you. I'd instructed my saviours to leave this to you if Randall ever did find me again and make good on his promise.
It will always haunt me that I couldn't be strong and leave him, but I needed you and your sisters. The thought that he could take you from me was my biggest fear. I had no way to support you all and I promised I would never leave you wanting. You father has always had the means to support us all, and he would take me to court and file for sole custody. My meager life standing back then would always ensure that.
I know you've witnessed your father's abuse of me in the past, and I always came back to say things were fine, that I was fine and it was my fault for angering him. But something happened that made me realize that I couldn't stay with him anymore.
You were to have another brother or sister. Your father was the reason I miscarried and I can never forgive him for that. He knew I was pregnant and purposely hit me to cause me to lose the child.
I love you my sweet boy and hope you know I never wanted stay with him. But I had to. If it wasn't for Janine and Abe, I would probably have died years ago. I hope you have a life that you are proud of and one that makes you happy. I want everything for you and your sisters Dimitri. A wife and children of your own.
You will always be my little boy.
Love,
Mama
PS Janine has letters for your sisters. She's ensured me that she will make sure they get them.
After reading the letter, I was astonished at the new revelation of the sibling I was to have. I would never understand why my father was and is the monster he is. A few more tears escaped as I placed everything with care, back into the box.
When I entered the bathroom, Roza was laying back in the tub, bubbles surrounding her. It was as if she sensed me in the room and her eyes found me, leaning against the frame.
"So?" She urged.
"Some photos of me and my sisters as a kid, worn. A G.I. Joe and a pressed dandelion I had given her when I was practically a toddler." I explain before pulling off my shirt and moving to undo my jeans.
"That all?" She queried.
"A letter."
"Did it…" She began, "Did it make sense?" She finished as I stepped into the tub and settled in behind her, pulling her up against my chest.
"She wrote it two weeks after your parents helped her leave my dad."
I explained the content of the letter and she turned to look at me, and apologetic look on her face.
"Wow. Dimitri."
"It's okay, milaya. I know for certain she did want to leave, she just couldn't. That's all that matters."
"I love you, so much." She crooned.
"I love you too." I reply, kissing her sweetly.
We stayed in the bath for fifteen more minutes, washing each other gently.
~VA TC VA~
Rose
After our bath, Dimitri was cleaning up the mess from his clothes that he'd left strewn about, while I headed into the bedroom. I turned on the small lamps on the night stands before turning off the harsh bright light of the overhead one.
Dimitri emerged from the bathroom, completely naked, and he was a sight. Today had been a little more stressful, that was for sure, and I crooked my finger at him to come closer. He smiled at me knowingly as he sauntered over. His hands found purchase on my hips, pulling me flush against his warm body. I ran my hands along his arms and up around his shoulders before his lips descended on mine.
I started backing up slowly to the bed, pulling him along with me as his lips moved down to my neck while his sucked gently at my pulse point. The moan that escaped my lips could rival that of a porn star.
"Move onto the bed, Roza." He murmured as I lay back, pulling him with me once again.
"More Dimitri," I panted as his mouth moved to my breast, then my nipple, bringing it to a hardened peak before he moved to the other.
"I love your body Roza, you're so fucking beautiful."
"Speaking of bodies, I want to feel yours." I flirted and he smiled at me cheekily as I pushed him onto his back before straddling his legs. I leaned down pressing my lips to his, kissing him firmly and seeking his tongue with mine before moving to his neck and following the path he took on my body only moments before.
As I kissed my way down his abs, I ran my hands along the edge of his hips and down to his thighs, pulling them apart gently so I could lay between them. My head now level with his hardening length.
"Roza," He panted. I knew what he wanted and fuck it, I wanted it to. I engulfed his whole length into my mouth at once, deep throating him as I gripped him at the base. Moving my mouth over him fluidly while my other hand moved down to fondle his balls.
"I fucking love your mouth." He groans.
"You mean, you love fucking my mouth?" I teased.
"Both," He replied with small laugh. "But I don't want to come in your mouth, not yet." He replied, pulling me off of him and pushing me onto my back.
His lips found my hip bone and kissed and suckled the skin languidly before he did the same to me as I had to him in pushing my legs apart before settling between.
"Damn, you smell so good baby." He praised before attaching his mouth to my heated core and slipping a few fingers into my slickness.
"Dimitri, oh! That feels so good." I was writhing on the bed from his tongue as he flicked his tongue over my clit hungrily.
"Come for me." He demanded and seconds later, my body was convulsing as the orgasm rippled through me.
"Come here." I panted, bringing him up to my level. Wrapping my legs around his hips, I pulled him close as he pushed his hard cock into me. I kept urging him to go a little faster but he wouldn't.
"Dimitri…" I whined.
"I want to go slow baby, I want to make love to you tonight, not just fuck." He replied, as his lips found mine eagerly.
His thrusts were slow but hard, and it was so fucking good. Our panting breaths were the only sounds in the room as we made love slowly. I finally reached my second climax and after that Dimitri finally started moving faster. I could tell he was close to his own release and I contracted my vaginal walls around him and seconds later I felt him come inside me.
"Fuck!" He called out when he reached his release. "I love you." He added, slipping himself me from me gently.
"I love you too." I replied, brushing back his hair, now slightly damp with sweat. He climbed from the bed to get a washcloth to clean me up before we settled into bed together.
We were relaxed and content as his hand ran up and down my spine as I cuddled into his naked form.
"Roza?"
"Hmmm?"
"Can we talk about something for a moment?" He questioned. There seemed to be a sort of caution in his words.
"Of course." I replied, pulling away slightly to look up at him.
"Ivan was asking me something the other day when we were in the gym before the party and it got me thinking."
"About what?" I urged.
"He was asking about our sex life actually."
I couldn't help but laugh as I relayed that Mia had the same questions. But his face was unsmiling and it led me to feel a little concerned.
"Dimitri, what's wrong?"
"It's just, we've never not been able to have sex because of your womanly issues."
"My womanly issues? You mean my period?"
"Ummm…yeah, and it made me question whether or not you could be pregnant." He spat out. My strong man was worried I was pregnant and he looked a little scared. It was kind of cute actually and I couldn't help but start laughing.
"Why are you laughing?" He smiled at me.
"I'm on birth control Dimitri, you know this."
"Yeah, but you haven't had a period, so…"
"The type of birth control I'm on, is a shot, called Depo-Provera and it actually stops my 'womanly issues' completely. So, you don't have to worry, I'm not pregnant and that is why you've always been able to avoid my crimson wave." I laughed.
"I was having a minor heart attack at thinking you were pregnant and you're laughing at me." He smiled, pulling me into his arms, kissing me sweetly.
"Sorry, Comrade, but it was kind of cute."
"So, when we want to try for kids, you'll stop the shot thing?"
"Yes, but we should be in a new house first. The stalkers in prison and all that jazz."
"Of course." He nods as I lay my head on his chest.
"Wait, what was Ivan asking you in regards to him and Mia?" I couldn't help my curiosity now.
"He has what he calls his 'sex schedule', so he can avoid her womanly issues." He laughs.
"Nice, Mia was asking me about that, but then she asked me like, what our days for sex were." I giggled.
"What did you tell her?" He questioned, looking at me curiously.
"I told her that we have sex on any day that ends in 'Y'." I smile with a shrug of my shoulders.
"Nice." He replied as his lips find mine again.
We're kissing slowly, sensually. His tongue finds mine as we kiss and grope for a few moments more, and just when I think we're going to head for round two, his phone starts it's blaring ring from the nightstand.
"Hold that thought." He states, as he extricates himself from my grip momentarily.
I watch as he glances at the screen before answering the call.
"Detective Croft?" He states. That catches my attention immediately and I signal for him to put it on speaker.
"Hello Dimitri, is Rose with you?"
"Yes, I'm here." I state.
"I'm sorry to call at such a late hour but I thought you would like to know that our efforts at tailing the other suspects, well it's paid off." He shares. "We've made an arrest."
~VA TC VA~