by Julia Sykes
“Are you okay?”
“I’m not a fan of heights or tight spaces,” I said shakily.
He pressed his body to the side of the staircase, allowing me a gap to pass. “Walk in front of me. I won’t let you fall.”
Gratitude washed through me, mingling with a surge of desire when his hand touched the small of my back as I passed. My trembling increased, my adrenaline spiking from fear of the fall and fear of my lustful reaction. It only served to heighten my senses, enhancing the experience. I became hyper-aware of the musty scent of the ancient stone, layered with Dimitri’s uniquely masculine smell. I had never known fear could be so thrilling. Thanks to him, I knew this moment in time would be imprinted on my mind for the rest of my life.
He applied the slightest pressure against my back, and I began to climb again, reassured by his heat behind me.
“I won’t let you fall.”
I realized I trusted Dimitri, even though I had only known him a short time. Something about him called to my soul. It was more than his good looks – although those were enough to entrance me. I had felt this connection from the very beginning, from that moment when I first locked eyes with him at the club. He was still a mystery to me, but that only increased my attraction.
When I finally reached the top of the stairs, what I beheld was almost enough to knock all thoughts of Dimitri from my mind. The colorful city stretched out below us – bold green and deep red rooftops mixed in with more traditional shades of grey. Golden spires jutted up above the multicolored sea, enhancing the opulence of the unique city.
Dimitri’s arm wrapped around my waist, calling me back to him. “Are you still afraid?” He asked in a low voice.
I smiled wryly. “Of you or the height?”
He returned my smile. “Both.”
“The height is fine, so long as you’re holding on to me.” I couldn’t help being completely honest with him. “And I’m not scared of you. I’m scared of how I react to you.”
His brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
I pursed my lips, debating how best to answer. “I like you, Dimitri,” I said finally.
“And that scares you?”
“Yes.”
His expression hardened. “Are you going to run again?” His arm tightened around me, as though warning me not to try it.
“No,” I whispered. I don’t think I can.
“Good.”
I barely had a moment to bask in his approval before his lips came down on mine.
Chapter 4
I was swept up in the overwhelming romance of the moment. The setting and the man couldn’t have been more perfect. Normally, I would have been hesitant to kiss so passionately in a public space, but Dimitri was rapidly shattering all my boundaries.
My arms twined around the back of his neck, pulling him closer. He obliged me, his weight causing me to bend back slightly. His arms around me supported me, the only thing keeping me from falling. It crossed my mind that we must look like some sort of Hollywood couple; surely nothing this perfect could happen in real life.
That thought was fleeting. Thinking at all became impossible as I sank into the feel of him, his strength, his scent.
I gasped when he finally ended the kiss, allowing me to suck in much-needed air. The rush of oxygen sent me soaring, adding to the surreal quality of our connection. As I stared into his hungry black eyes, I knew this was another moment in time I would never forget.
“Come home with me,” he urged in a low voice. “You won’t regret it.”
“That’s what I’m worried about,” I said breathlessly.
“I don’t understand you.”
His blatant frustration brought forth my irritation, souring the moment.
“Is that why you brought me here? To seduce me? I’m not some conquest, Dimitri. I thought you wanted to get to know me.”
“I do,” he insisted, seeming more confused and off-balance than I had ever seen him.
“I can’t give you what you want. I won’t,” I told him staunchly. “I’m going back to my apartment now.”
I pressed my hands against his chest. The only reason I was able to put distance between us was because he allowed it. He could have held me easily if he decided not to let me go. That knowledge awoke the disconcerting warmth at my core, and I did my best to ignore it.
He frowned at me. “You shouldn’t walk alone. I’ll have my driver take you.”
I gaped at him. He had a driver? I had suspected he was someone important, and that confirmed it.
Disregarding my hanging jaw, he pulled out his cell phone and spoke in clipped Russian. I didn’t understand a word, but he hung up seconds later and turned his frown back on me.
“You don’t have to do that,” I protested when I remembered how to talk. “I’ll be fine on my own.”
He gave an annoyed jerk of his head. “I won’t allow it.”
“You won’t allow it? I don’t know how things work around here, but in America men don’t get to boss women around.”
His expression went blank. “You’re not in America. You are with me.”
Unease pricked at the corners of my mind. “I’d like to leave now.”
His irritation returned. “You have made that clear. That’s why I ordered a car for you.”
He grasped me by the elbow. Ignoring my attempt to flinch away, he began to steer me back toward the stairs. I became grateful for his presence as we descended. The height really was making me shaky.
By the time we reached the bottom and exited onto the street, his features had softened. The concerned man was back. He took my trembling hands in his and rubbed soothing circles across my palms until I calmed.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. I wasn’t exactly sure what I was apologizing for, but I felt guilty for upsetting him. He was obviously accustomed to getting what he wanted, and his high-handedness was understandable, if a bit exasperating. His renewed concern made me realize he was only being so insistent about the car because he wanted me to be safe and comfortable.
His twisted smile returned, and I heaved a sigh of relief. I hadn’t realized just how much his disapproval upset me until the tension between us dissipated.
“It’s okay, myshka.” His fingertips traced the line of my jaw, coming to rest below my chin to lift my face to his. He pressed a gentle kiss against my lips. “Have dinner with me tomorrow.”
The fact that it was phrased as an order didn’t bother me this time. I was becoming accustomed to it. And if I was completely honest with myself, I found his confidence sexy.
Sexy. I hesitated. Spending more time with the maddeningly attractive man wasn’t a good idea.
His mouth found mine again, and he kissed me more deeply, until my head was spinning.
“Please,” he breathed across my lips.
It was the please that broke me. The word sounded heavy on his tongue, as though it was unfamiliar to him. He was making a big concession for me. More than anything, that proved to me that he truly did want to get to know me.
It’s just dinner. Not sex.
“Okay,” I agreed.
His grin knocked the air from my chest. Would I ever get used to his perfection?
“I will pick you up tomorrow at seven.”
“Okay,” I said again, a bit stupidly. I couldn’t think straight when he was looking at me with such overt pleasure.
He brushed one last kiss across my lips. It was all I could do to stop myself from clinging onto him when he pulled away.
A shiny black Jaguar had pulled up beside us without me noticing. He opened the back door for me and took my hand, helping me slide in. He gave my fingers one final squeeze before releasing me.
“Goodbye, myshka.”
My brows drew together. “Are you going to tell me what that means?”
He gave me a sly smile and shut the door.
Myshka. I stared at the Google results.
He called me little mouse? According to the internet, it could
be used as an endearment. I wasn’t at all sure if I found it charming.
“What’s got your panties in a bunch?” Christine asked, peering over her own laptop. “Aren’t you supposed to be excited about your hot date? Dimitri will be here in like half an hour.”
I shifted on my tiny bed, setting my computer aside with a sigh. “I am excited,” I said. “I don’t know why, but I am.”
“You don’t know why?” Christine’s brows lifted with incredulity. “Um, maybe because he’s the hottest guy on the planet and you have mad chemistry.”
“That’s the problem,” I countered. “The chemistry thing. It makes me want to do things I shouldn’t.”
She shot me a teasing smile. “Alicia Camden, are you telling me you want to have sex with him?”
“No.”
“Oh my god, you totally want to bang Dimitri!”
I scowled at her. “Okay, maybe I want to. That doesn’t mean I will.”
“You aren’t a freaking nun.” Her voice held an edge of exasperation. “You can totally hook up with him and not go to Hell.”
“I know I won’t go to Hell,” I insisted. “It’s a lifestyle choice. I want to save myself for my husband. I wish you would just drop it.”
“Okay, okay. Consider the sex thing dropped. But I’m not letting you off that easy. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: you can do more than kiss him without having sex. If he invites you back to his place again, promise me you’ll go.”
“I’m not going home with a man a barely know. He could be a rapist or something.”
Christine scoffed. “As if that man would ever have to force himself on a woman.”
“No, I guess not,” I agreed, thinking of his dazzling smile. I also recalled how he had let me leave St. Isaac’s, even though it was obvious he wanted me to stay with him. He had even sent me home in style after I rejected him.
“I think he’s actually a good guy,” I said after a moment. “He’s just so arrogant and bossy. It’s kind of intimidating. And annoying.”
“You said he’s rich, right? I mean, not that it matters, but I bet it’s family money. He’s too young to be that wealthy on his own. He’s probably a little entitled. But we both know he’s hot enough to pull it off. Confidence is sexy.”
“Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.”
“About the entitlement thing or the confidence being sexy?” She asked slyly.
“Both,” I admitted.
“Then I don’t see what the problem is. Go out with him. Have fun. See where the night takes you. And if it takes you back to his place, I want details when you get back.” She winked at me.
“Don’t you have your own Russian hottie to drool over?” I diverted her, giving up on arguing over my virginity.
She grinned. “Oh yeah. Roman and I are meeting up tomorrow night.”
I returned her smile, truly happy for her. “That’s great. Maybe we can double date.”
“Ah-hah!” She said triumphantly. “You’re already planning on seeing Dimitri again. You can’t take it back now. You like him.”
“I never said I didn’t.”
I like him too much. That’s the problem.
I kept that to myself. I was committed to going on this date, and angsting about how far I might go with Dimitri physically wasn’t doing anything but heighten my nervousness.
“I should probably get ready,” I announced, moving past the disconcerting topic.
“Okay. Let me know if you want to borrow a pair of heels or anything. If you’re wearing your blue dress, I have a chunky gold necklace that’ll look awesome.”
“I’m good with my cross, but thanks.” I brushed my fingers over the row of sapphires, remembering Dimitri’s intense stare when he complimented me.
“Beautiful.” He had chosen to take me to St. Isaac’s because he noticed my pendant. Surely a man who was that attentive cared about more than just sleeping with me?
There was only one way to find out. Pushing aside my concerns, I gathered up my makeup bag and slipped into the tiny bathroom.
* * * * *
I stepped out into the street, and Dimitri’s dark eyes widened a fraction before looking up and down my body in a slow, blatant inspection. I tugged down at the hem of my silky blue dress self-consciously. It was a bit shorter and more form fitting than what I usually wore, even though the neckline was high enough not to show any cleavage.
He took my hands in his, stilling my efforts to cover myself. “You look beautiful, myshka.”
The tingling on my palms awakened by his touch warred with a prickle of irritation in the back of my mind.
“I looked that up, you know,” I informed him. “I don’t think I like being called a mouse.”
His eyes clouded with confusion. “Why?”
“It’s insulting in English. Like, I’m mousey.”
“And what does that mean to you?” He truly didn’t understand. It helped ease the annoyance that had been building in me over the term.
“It means I’m homely. Kind of unattractive.” I struggled to find the best way to describe it.
He laughed, and I tensed.
“What’s so funny?”
His large hands slid up my arms to caress my shoulders. He fixed me with that arrogant, twisted smile that made my heart flutter.
“You always surprise me,” he appeared delighted. “You are breathtaking, Alicia. How can you not know that?”
I flushed and shifted slightly in his grasp. I wasn’t accustomed to receiving compliments from men. To be honest, between growing up in the country and attending a women’s college, I didn’t really talk to many men at all.
“Then why do you call me a mouse?” I asked, my voice slightly huskier than before. “What does it mean to you?” I mirrored his question.
“It means you’re…” He considered for a moment. “Cute. But more than that. It’s not an insult. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t like you.”
It was spoken as a simple statement of fact. Dimitri was attractive enough and wealthy enough that he could have any woman he wanted. And yet he chose to pursue me, despite the fact that I wouldn’t give him what he wanted. Or perhaps it was because of that.
I shook the thought from my mind. I didn’t like the idea that Dimitri might only be doing all this to add me as a notch on his bedpost.
Well, if that was his goal, he would be disappointed.
A small frown tugged at his lips. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I lied levelly. With effort, I turned a sweet smile on him. “So where are we going tonight?”
His frown remained for a few seconds before he answered. “I’m taking you to dinner.”
I kept my smile firmly fixed in place. “Okay. Let’s go.” I was desperate to move past the awkward moment. His disapproval weighed heavily on me, but I wasn’t about to discuss my virginity with him. No way.
His only response was a curt nod before he took my hand and helped me into the back seat of the black Jaguar.
“Why did you choose to study English Literature?” He finally broke the tense silence.
“What?”
“I’m interested in why you chose that as your major.”
Unease stirred again, and I tried to tug my hand from his. He held me firmly.
“How do you know my major? I didn’t tell you about that.” I was certain I hadn’t. We had discussed my horseback riding and I mentioned my college, but we hadn’t talked about my education.
His shoulder rose and fell in a negligent gesture. “I looked it up. You are on your university’s website.”
I gaped at him. I seemed to do that a lot when in his presence.
“Why did you do that?” I managed to ask faintly.
“I was curious about you.”
I took a calming breath. Okay. Okay, this wasn’t scary. I knew it was easy to check up on a potential date on the internet, but most people didn’t admit to doing it. Dimitri wasn’t some weird stalker. He was just hon
est. Hadn’t he been honest with me from the very beginning?
I thought about his entitled attitude and his imperious manner. He was obviously accustomed to doing whatever he wanted without being questioned.
“Why don’t you tell me more about you first,” I said, mimicking his penchant for phrasing a question as a demand.
He chuckled, clearly amused at my gumption. “You truly are unlike other women I’ve known.”
“The women you’ve known must not have had much to say,” I said drily.
He laughed more loudly. The exuberant sound managed to hold an edge of his customary cockiness. “No, I suppose I don’t usually do much talking with women.”
I found myself torn between annoyance and flattery. I didn’t understand how I could find such a chauvinist to be so charming, but I couldn’t seem to help it. And the fact that I was an exception to his usual tastes was undeniably a stroke to my ego.
I cleared my throat. “Well, you do tonight. You know plenty about me. I want to know more about you. I pretty much only know your name at this point.”
He was still grinning at me. “What do you want to know?”
“Well, you know my major,” I said pointedly. “What about you? Are you in school?”
“I just graduated from Oxford last year. My father wanted me to study abroad to improve my English.”
“That was a brave of you,” I said, impressed. Four weeks in Russia was the most I could handle; I couldn’t imagine studying at a foreign university full time.
He shrugged. “Not really. I enjoyed my time there.”
“Your English is very good. Your father must be proud.”
His sparkling eyes shuttered. “I studied Economics. It was very boring, but useful.”
It was a deliberate diversion. I made a mental note to steer clear of questions about his father. My curiosity was piqued, but I wasn’t one to pry, especially since I hardly knew Dimitri.
“Do you enjoy studying Literature?” He redirected the conversation to me.
“Oh, yes.” An involuntary smile tugged at my lips. I really did love my subject. “I’ve known I wanted to be a Lit major since I was a sophomore in high school. I read Pride and Prejudice and got hooked.”