The reception was a blur. Dimitri and I danced to an acoustic version of Sam Smith's "Lay Me Down" for our first dance and danced with my father to "Cinderella" by Steven Curtis Chapman during our father/daughter dance. Dimitri and I danced with Katerina and Levi, together as a family too. He held Levi cradled in one arm, while I held Katerina, as she was less likely to spit up and ruin my dress. We held them on opposite sides so that when we came together, it was almost like a square, with me still being able to touch Levi, and Dimitri being able to touch Katerina. We stayed on the dance floor, swaying together as a family, for a few songs before Lissa came over to steal me to dance with her. Dimitri took Katerina from me and stayed on the dance floor with the three of them, just swaying.
As Lissa and I danced, I kept stealing glances over at Dimitri and couldn't help but smile. I had made the right choice by letting Dimitri into our lives, and I knew I wouldn't regret it. He was smiling down at the kids like they were his own, even as Katerina chatted away continuously and even as Levi burst into tears. Dimitri didn't blink an eye, adjusting to set Katerina down at a table, sitting next to her so she could continue talking his ear off, while he moved Levi to cradle him while he calmed down.
Lissa saw me watching and smiled. "He's great, Rose."
I gave him one last look before turning back to Lissa. "He's the best. I don't know what I would do without him. Honestly."
"I'm so happy for you. It's what you deserve, after everything."
I gave Lissa a tight hug. "It's what you deserve, too," I said.
I glanced over at Christian, who was talking to Audrey and her husband, Nate. Nate was holding their twins, who were only a month younger than Levi. I knew that Charlotte and Chancellor were around some where too, and I eventually spotted them by Dimitri's mother and grandmother. Yeva looked amused, and there was a bright glint in Olena's eyes as she talked to the pair.
"I think Christian's going to propose soon," Lissa murmured. "I didn't find a ring or anything, but call it a gut feeling."
I smiled. I already knew that Christian was planning on proposing because he had brought me along to pick out the ring while Lissa was busy setting up things for the wedding yesterday. They were planning on staying in town until we got back to help Dimitri's family with Katerina and Levi, and the ring box was hidden in my jewelry box in my bedroom. The box looked exactly like the one that Dimitri's ring had been in, so Lissa would be none the wiser if she ventured in there while we were gone and saw it since I had previously kept Dimitri's box where Christian's was now.
"I'm really happy for you, Lissa. Christian's a great guy."
She smiled and nodded before fixing me with a look. "So, have you done it yet?"
I had already told Lissa that Dimitri and I were working up towards having penetrative sex, but I still blushed. "No, but tonight is the night. Or rather tomorrow's the night, I guess, since we'll be on a plane for all of tonight. I want tonight to be special."
"I'll put a little something extra in your backpack to carry on to the plane then," she said, with a wink.
I rolled my eyes at her. "I already packed lingerie," I said. "Nothing too revealing, but enough."
"And condoms?"
"Oh, shit. I completely forgot about condoms," I said, starting to panic.
"Rose, it's okay. I have some in my suitcase. I'll put them in your backpack, and I can just buy a new box tomorrow or whenever."
I hugged her. "You're the best, Lissa. I don't know what I would do without you either."
Eventually, we cleared off the dance floor for Dimitri and Olena to dance to a slow Russian song while I took Katerina and Lissa grabbed Levi from Dimitri.
We served dinner through a buffet system. We also had an open bar running in the back of the reception hall, and the bartenders working did a good job at cutting off people who seemed to have had too much to drink.
When it came time to cut the cake, everybody gathered around, and Dimitri and I fed each other small pieces. I licked the frosting off of Dimitri's fingers, smiling up at him, and I watched his eyes darken slightly. Small pieces of cake and the cupcakes were distributed after that, and Dimitri and I shared a peanut butter cup cupcake and a cookies and cream one.
Dimitri and I had decided to skip the garter toss, but women and girls still lined up for the bouquet toss. And no one was any wiser if I aimed it in Lissa's direction. Christian caught my eye as Lissa caught the bouquet and shook his head, a smile on his face.
The reception ended early, around nine, and by that time, Katerina and Levi were ready to go home, and so were Audrey's kids. Since Dimitri's family was staying at the house to watch Katerina and Levi for us and were staying until the end of August, Dimitri had convinced me to take two weeks for the honeymoon, instead of just one week. Lissa and Christian had "gifted" us the weeks, saying that we deserved a break. Lissa paid for the flights and hotels for the first week, while Christian covered the flights and the hotels for the second week.
Our plane to Italy was scheduled to leave at eleven forty-five, so we were planning on going straight from the reception to the airport. Lissa helped me change out of my wedding dress, and I had a small backpack instead the house with a pair of sweatpants and a long sleeve to wear on the plane. The rest of our suitcases were already in the car that we were taking to the airport. Once I was dressed, Lissa grabbed the backpack from me to take to the car as well. I watched as she slipped the box of condoms into the bag.
Our first stop was Cinque Terre, which was a nearly 16-hour flight from Austin to Pisa, Italy, and then an hour and a half by car to Cinque Terre from the airport in Pisa. When we were searching for hotels and places to stay throughout Italy, Cinque Terre seemed like a great first stop with beautiful scenery, and when we saw that there was a hotel called Hotel Baia, we knew that we had to book there.
The plane ride was mostly uneventful, and the chairs were comfortable enough for both me and Dimitri to take small naps throughout the 16 hours. It was past ten at night by the time that we got to the hotel and settled in, almost a full day since we left Austin, and the timing was perfect because we were both tired and would be able to sleep away some of our jetlag without wasting our exploring time.
The room wasn't big, but it was just enough for the two of us. There was a balcony facing the sea and overlooking everything. There was a king bed in the middle of the room and a bathroom to the left side.
"You can shower first, Roza," Dimitri said. "I'll unpack the suitcases."
I did as he said, relaxing under the stream of hot water and calming myself. I had decided a while ago that I wanted to make our first official night as a married couple special, and not just because of the common idea that sex was expected on the wedding night. I had worked with Makenzie for the past couple of weeks, and I knew that I was ready to take the final step.
I walked out of the bathroom in a towel, and Dimitri smiled before going into the bathroom to shower himself. My backpack was untouched, which I had hoped for because that was where I had stashed my lingerie, and I wanted to surprise Dimitri. I changed into a green silk nightie and quickly brushed my hair before propping myself up on the bed. I sent a quick text to Lissa, letting her know that we had landed and settled in, and she responded shortly after with a video of her, Katerina, and Levi. I smiled as I played it. Katerina was chanted "Mommy" over and over while Levi waved his fist around while sitting on Lissa's lap as Lissa laughed.
I heard the shower shut off and put my phone on silent before placing it on the nightstand. My stomach was a ball of nerves as I waited for Dimitri to come out of the bathroom. When he came out a minute later with a towel wrapped around his waist, my breath caught in my throat. His hair was still dripping wet, and there were a few dropplets of water running down his chest. I blushed when Dimitri smirked at me.
"See something you like?"
I nodded. "Always. Come here."
Dimitri walked over to my side of the bed, and I stood up to kiss him. My hands moved down to undo the knot of the towel, and Dimitri's hands grabbed mine.
"Roza," he murmured.
"I'm ready," I said, already breathing heavily. "I want this."
He groaned, low in his throat, and kissed me again. "Are you sure?"
I nodded again.
"Words, Roza, I need words."
"Yes," I breathed. "I'm sure."
I turned, and as he turned with me, I pushed him back so that he was lying flat on his back on the bed. I turned briefly to grab the box of condoms out of my backpack, and I tossed one on the bed next to Dimitri.
I straddled his hips and leaned down, my tongue tracing around the flat disk of his nipple, teasing the hardened tip and biting softly.
"Roza!" Dimitri's hands ran gently through my hair and down my back.
"I love you," I whispered, and kissed him.
His hips surged upwards, unbidden, his hands moving to hold onto my thighs tightly. I rocked against him, feeling him grow beneath me as I peppered his chest with loving kisses. I leaned down to kiss him again as my hands returned to undo the knot on the towel. Dimitri's hands rucked up the slip as I got the knot undone and pulled the towel open.
Things moved quickly after that. I stood and stripped out of the slip so that I was as naked as he was while Dimitri watched me with hungry eyes. I couldn't help but stare at Dimitri stretched out on the bed, miles of golden tan skin looking perfect in the dim light of the room.
His dick was hard and curved up towards his stomach, leaving a smear of precum everywhere it touched. He was bigger than Adr—I pushed that thought out of my head, not wanting to connect the two experiences in any way. I was nervous,, but I had spent the past two months slowly getting acquainted and comfortable with Dimitri in sexual and intimate ways. I was prepared to take the final step tonight.
Dimitri reached over and grabbed the condom that I had tossed next to him and studied it.
"We don't have to use it if you don't want to," I said, climbing back on the bed.
"Roza, it doesn't matter to me. If you want to use a condom, we can. If you don't want to use one, we don't have to. It's your decision."
I was doing everything I could not to compare the situation to everything that had happened with Adrian, but part of me couldn't help it. Adrian never used a condom, even during the times he wasn't "in the mood" for children because he enjoyed our pain.
"I want to," I said. "I haven't done this with one before, so I don't know how to put it on."
My cheeks were burning hot, but Dimitri only smiled and leaned up to kiss me.
"I can do it," he said.
He ripped open the condom and pulled it out. It looked weird to me, but Dimitri seemed familiar with it as he pinched the tip and then rolled it down his dick.
"How do you want me?" he asked, giving me complete control.
"Just like that," I said. "I don't think I can do this if you're on top. I'm sorry."
"Nothing to be sorry about, Roza. We can go at your pace."
I took a deep breath and leaned down to kiss him deeply as I ground down against his length, his hips surging upward, seemingly of their own volition, as Dimitri moaned against my mouth. He was looking up at me through heavy lids when we pulled apart, and all I could see was love, desire, and adoration reflected in his dark brown gaze, beckoning surging emotions within my heart that threatened to consume me and drive me crazy with want.
I paused, overcome with emotions as my stomach fluttered with nervous butterflies.
"Roza, you're doing great," Dimitri murmured, soothing me.
"I've never done this before," I whispered. "I was a virgin before, never had the control."
I spoke vaguely, refusing to bring him into this, not wanting to ruin a good thing.
"I'll help you any way I can," he promised.
"Guide me?"
Dimitri nodded and shifted slightly so that one hand was on my hip while the other gripped himself. It took a moment of adjusting before I felt his blunt head at my entrance. He didn't push in or thrust up, instead just holding himself there, waiting for me.
"Lower yourself onto me," he whispered, still gripping my hip.
I did so, slowly, inch by inch, until he was completely enveloped within me. My hands were still resting on his chest, and I leaned down to kiss right over where his heart was. Dimitri squeezed his eyes tight and let out a strangled groan.
"Are you okay?" I said, worried.
"I'm fine, Roza, are you?" he said with a deep breath. He groaned again. "You feel so good."
I smiled and leaned down to kiss him again. "I'm great," I said against his lips.
He kissed me back before trailing kisses along my neck and shoulder. He held onto my hips, and together we began to move in a lazy, gentle rhythm. He captured my lips with his own again and kissed me soundly and deeply. I felt our bodies slip and slide together, slick from sweat. I felt his thumb press against my clitoris, and I cried out as pleasure shot through me.
"I've got you," he murmured.
His hands reached up and grasped my hips, holding me softly without trying to take control of the situation. I slowly circled my hips as I fractionally lifted myself, feeling every delicious inch of him on all sides before grinding down again. As my hips undulated, grinding back and forth slowly, I couldn't help but lose myself in the sensations that our combined bodies created.
"You're beautiful; you're everything, Roza, everything." His hoarse voice tugged me back to reality, and I saw that he was just as utterly consumed as I was.
He lifted his head, looking into my eyes as if to ask permission. A shuddering sob escaped me as I nodded, overcome with fraught emotion. He immediately sat up, bringing us nose to nose and chest to chest. His hands immediately wrapped around my back, holding me tightly as he kissed me, and time had no concept or meaning at that moment.
"Dimitri!" I mewled, gasping for breath as the pulling started in my stomach.
"I got you, Roza," he whispered again, his forehead resting against mine.
Our hips met together faster as I latched onto his shoulders for leverage. I felt his thighs tense, straining and quivering against the mounting sensations. Whispers of heat shivered up my spine as my whole body stiffened in what could only be described as the most pleasurable of agonies. Sunbursts and fireworks expanded in my stomach and shot down every single nerve in my body. Dimitri gasped, his breath catching in his throat as I held onto him, running my fingers through his hair and kissing him as his hips thrust upwards. I cried out as my orgasm washed through me, every nerve singing pleasure. A tortured cry escaped him as the contractions from my orgasm squeezed him, and he stiffened, his hips still moving as his own orgasm hit him, filling up the condom.
Dimitri gently lifted me off him so he could remove the condom, and he tossed it in the trash can. He grabbed a warm washcloth while he was up and gently ran it over my body, cleaning off the sweat that had appeared. After tossing the washcloth back into the bathroom, Dimitri climbed into the bed, and I moved so that I was pressed right up against him. The room was still warm and muggy, and we left the blankets off.
"I love you, Roza," he whispered. "You mean everything to me."
I leaned up to kiss him again. "I love you too, Dimitri. I can't put into words what the past year and a half have been like with you by my side. I never thought that I would be able to love someone as much as I love you."
He kissed my forehead and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him. "Forever and always, Roza."