Sasha: The Awakening (The Wallflower Series Book 2)

by Fletcher, R. J.

  “This section of the park is ours for the day.”

  Sasha’s eyes widened at that. “W-what? How much did that cost? Dmitri! You don’t have to be so extravagant all the time. We’re going to have tons of anniversaries in the future. You know, I don’t need any of this- as long as I’m with you, I’m happy.”

  Dmitri interrupted her speech with a fierce kiss. And just as quickly as her protests had begun, they stopped as she kissed him back just as passionately. His arms fell from her face and landed on her shoulders as he gently pulled her away. Reluctant to stop, she opened her eyes to protest. But instead, she fell silent as she watched Dmitri lower himself to the ground. Despite knowing what was about to come, her mind refused to believe it. She felt her mouth grow dry and her stomach quiver.

  “I once told you that this park represents my undying love for you. It was here you finally ended my suffering. Merely one year ago, I felt like a man who had lost his sense of purpose and worth. All I knew was that I had destroyed what meant so much to me, and it killed me knowing I could never fix how much I hurt you.

  “But when I brought you here, the moment I saw you smile was the moment I felt alive again. I knew I couldn’t live without you anymore because you were the first person ever to show me what type of person I could be. And I wanted to become that person more than anything else because I wanted to deserve your love again. Baby…” Dmitri reached into his pocket and pulled out a velvet box.

  “I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to have that silly perfect little family and come home to you every day for the rest of my life. I love you more than I ever thought possible and…” he chuckled slightly. “Will you marry me, Sasha? And make me the happiest man in the world?” As he asked, he opened the box.

  And Sasha almost laughed. He knew her so well. Despite his penchant for extravagance, the ring while obviously expensive was simplistic in its beauty. Hating ostentation, she immediately loved it. And unable to speak beyond the gleeful sobs welling up, she threw herself into his arms, nearly toppling them both down onto the ground. Thankfully, Dmitri was able to get a good grasp on her waist and settle her onto his elevated thigh.

  However, Sasha refused to let him go. Her arms were wrapped around his shoulders as she sobbed into him,

  “Yes…yes.”

  Dmitri, unable to resist the wide-set grin that broke out at hearing her response, picked her up bridal style and settled her onto the wall of the bridge. For a moment, they simply looked into each other’s eyes. Still sniffling, Sasha ignored the tears that were now falling freely. Instead, she took in the moment that would mark the rest of their lives together. Reaching out, she caressed his cheek, feeling the light stubble from the shadow that perfectly accentuated his sharp bone structure.

  “Can I have my ring now?” she asked finally, with a teasing smile.

  Dmitri, laughing in response, reached for her left hand. Taking the ring from the velvet box, he slowly slipped it onto her slim finger and felt his heart swell with pride.

  “I have another question for you,” he broached.

  Still basking in the glory of her engagement ring, Sasha slipped herself back to the stone ground, and nodded, half-listening.

  “Will you marry me today?”

  Sasha laughed and hit his shoulder jokingly. “Silly! I already said yes!”

  “No, Sasha. Today?”

  Thinking that she wasn’t hearing him correctly, her eyes narrowed in confusion. But as she stared at him, she noticed movement behind his broad shoulders. Stepping slightly to the side, she questioned her own sanity as what looked like all her friends and Dmitri’s siblings standing beneath the cherry blossom trees, watching them.

  “W-what’s going on?”

  “I invited all of them. Because I wanted today to be more than just a reminder of how far we’ve come. But I want us to begin our journey today. With everyone else that you love.”

  Even as he spoke, Sasha began to notice who exactly was standing in the crowd. And she screamed in complete surprise as she recognized the wild, vibrant hair. Their eyes meeting at the same time, Sasha walked off the bridge. Her slow stride soon sped up and she found renewed tears streaming from her face as she wrapped her arms around her long-missed friend.

  “Dina.” Even as she said her name, Sasha couldn’t believe it was actually her.

  “Sasha, girl I missed you so much!”

  As they separated, Sasha looked around at everyone who surrounded them. From Teagan, Lola, and Justin to Dominic, Nadia, and Slade, everyone was there. Dmitri stepped behind her and she immediately reached out for his hand. He had done this. It was their family. He had invited them knowing she wouldn’t want to get married without them by her side. And now she was more than ready.

  “So…are we doing this?” Teagan bluntly asked.

  Dmitri looked down to Sasha and waited. Without hesitation, she nodded through her watery eyes. “Yes, yes! Dmitri and I are getting married today.”

  As if waiting for their cue, Teagan and Lola took her wrist and pulled her away from her beloved. Confused, she looked back but was comforted by the assuring smile Dmitri sent her way. And she knew once again with all her heart she was the luckiest woman in the world.

  Sasha wound up at a nearby hotel, still fueled by adrenaline and excitement at her upcoming nuptials. While Teagan shoved her into the bathroom, she heard them all, including Justin, Nadia, and Dina, talking amongst each other. On the vanity, they had provided her with everything she needed.

  “You have one hour!” she heard someone yell from the other side of the door. Followed by the exclamation, “We have wax!” with the subsequent giggles.

  It wasn’t until they had finally done her hair and make-up after she exited the bathroom, that Sasha realized what she was missing. “You guys, I don’t have a dress! How am I supposed to get married without a dress?” The serene smile that had decorated her face throughout the entire process disappeared and her heart began to beat with panic.

  “Relax, Sasha. The dress is in the closet,” Lola replied, playing at her hair once more to make the up-do more balanced.

  “Wait…what?”

  Nadia walked over to the closet and opened the door with a flourish. In it, Sasha spotted a flurry of white fabric and the design seemed oddly familiar. Sitting up from the chair, she walked over and touched it gently between two fingers. It was accented lace and…

  “Remember that day we were looking through wedding dresses like years ago?” she heard Teagan ask from across the room.

  At Sasha’s affirmation, Teagan smiled, “That man really loves you. When he planned this, he came to all of us and asked what kind of dress you always dreamed of wearing. I remembered the catalogue we had been looking through that night and how much you gushed over that one dress. Dmitri spent weeks trying to find it because it was so long out of season. But he found the designer just for you, and he asked them to make another in your size. While it’s not exactly like the one you wanted- there are a few modern adjustments here and there- the design is really similar.”

  Eagerly, Sasha asked for their help in getting the dress out of its protective confines. She had no idea what it looked like on her as they carefully snapped and pulled things into place. But when everyone had finally stepped back with large grins upon their faces, she knew it was just as beautiful as it felt on her skin.

  The back was a deep V-neck that accentuated her slender form and the elegance of her shoulders and neck. The material clung to her skin until flowing out mid-thigh in a perfect mermaid-design. Giggling, she spun and basked in the glory of her girlish dreams finally coming true. But, more than anything else, she wanted to be in Dmitri’s arms once more. As his wife.

  “Are we done?”

  Teagan and Dina exchanged smiles, noting the clear excitement in her voice.

  “Yes, let’s get you married!”

  Dmitri waited anxiously with Dominic and Slade by his side as he waited for the women and Justin to r
eturn. He had changed much more quickly in the same hotel into a well-fitted suit. With the rings in his pocket and unfamiliar butterflies in his stomach, he stood on the bridge with a Justice of the Peace.

  At his side, Dominic and Slade awkwardly avoided eye contact with one another after the slight squabble they had had over gaining Dina’s attentions. But Dmitri was blissfully unaware of the tension between them. His eyes remained steadfastly on the path Sasha would appear, and he just hoped above all that the dress had been the one she had always dreamed of wearing.

  Sasha and her wedding troupe scrambled from the limousine Dmitri had provided them with from the hotel. She was shocked at her lack of nerves; there was more an excited anticipation. But the scurry back to the park halted at the figure waiting a few feet ahead of them. Sasha immediately fluttered her hand in front of her eyes to prevent the tears that were starting to form once more. She loved Dmitri more than anything else in the world. He had thought of everything.

  Her grandfather approached her slowly with a warm smile. A bit uncertain as to how she would respond, he asked gently, “Would you mind if I gave you away?”

  She merely smiled up at him and hooked their arms together. “I would be more than happy to have you give me away.”

  Around the corner, Dmitri saw the shimmer of her dress in the distance. The sun was setting, bringing with it a brilliant soft pink glow across the sky that melted beautifully in with the falling cherry blossoms. As she appeared through the foliage, he felt himself gasp for breath at her beauty. The dress reminded him of the curves he caressed so often when they made love. And against the darkness of her skin, the white dress was stunning. And to his own shock, he felt the sting behind his eyes of tears.

  Sasha and her grandfather made their way up to the bridge while the rest of the troupe took the seats provided on the green lawn under the trees. Sasha had been so busy looking upon the love of her life she hadn’t noticed the decorations that aligned the wall of the bridge and the path leading up to it. It didn’t matter to her. She had agreed to the spontaneity of the wedding because in the end, all she wanted was him. So when her grandfather finally passed her hands into Dmitri’s, she never wanted to let it go.

  Apparently, Dmitri felt the same way. Forgetting decorum, he immediately pulled her into his arms and inhaled her scent.

  “I can’t wait to take this dress off of you.”

  She shuddered at his husky whisper. At the sound of clearing throats, they reluctantly separated from each other, their hands never letting go however. The moments following passed almost in a blur. Sasha’s eyes never once strayed from Dmitri’s dark gaze. She could see the same intense love reflecting in his eyes as she surely knew were in her own. And she felt at peace.

  Her dark history paled in comparison to the brightness he had brought into her life and the hope she had in their future. For once, she knew that she was loved just as fiercely as she loved. And that knowledge was what she had unwittingly been searching for her entire life.

  When they had finally exchanged rings, she eagerly reached out to him for their kiss. As always, the feel of his lips against hers was magical. And it soon became more erotic. As Dmitri leaned down to gather her more closely into his embrace, he felt a hand land upon his shoulders. Looking up in annoyance at the interruption, he met his brother’s humorous gaze.

  “Save it for later, man. It’s time to party!”

  Everyone applauded as Sasha blushed in embarrassment. But, standing there with Dmitri, the sun setting beautifully behind them, everything felt right.

  Dmitri gently placed Sasha into their bed. Her eyes opened slowly at the movement. Smiling in her sleep, she murmured,

  “What happened?”

  “Get some sleep baby. Tomorrow, we plan our honeymoon, okay?”

  She nodded in excitement. “I can’t wait. It was beautiful, Dmitri. Everything was absolutely perfect. It was the wedding I always wanted…with Teagan…and Dina. You’re the best husband ever.” Her eyes slowly began to close with a blissful smile on her face.

  Dmitri kissed her on her forehead and took a moment to watch her. Until she opened her eyes and protested, “But, wait. You were supposed to ravish me.”

  Dmitri laughed at that. “Oh, I promise you I will. But I’d prefer it if you were just as active a participant. Here, let me help you with your dress.”

  When she was in nothing but her silk undergarments, Dmitri noticeably groaned with desire. Sensing his need, she pulled him down to her and kissed him.

  “I’m awake,” she whispered against his lips.

  “I don’t want this to be just a quickie,” he warned as he playfully nipped at her full lips.

  She reached for the zipper of his suit pants and suggestively caressed the hardness developing there. “It never is. I’d rather make love to my husband than sleep. Please, I want you.”

  At her whisper, Dmitri stopped fighting his desire. After removing the rest of their clothes, he placed himself onto the bed next to her and kissed her lips. “My wife,” he said to himself with prideful glee. “My everything.”

  Epilogue

  At the sound of the keys jingling on the other side of the door, Sasha listened in humorous enjoyment at the soft pitter-patter of feet racing down the hallway from the playroom. It happened like this almost every day. And, judging by the slow smile forming on Dmitri’s face as he entered the house and closed the front door, he enjoyed every minute of it. Knowing not to get in the way, she waited.

  “Daddy! Daddy!”

  Dmitri held out his arms, leaning down onto his knees in anticipation as his son scurried toward him. Wrapping his little arms around his father’s neck, Alexei squeezed in delight.

  “And how is my little boy?” Dmitri asked, holding Alexei from him.

  At three years old, his son was a bundle of energy that kept both him and Sasha constantly on edge. Now having grown more independent, they both watched in awe at every milestone. Mirroring his father in looks with his dark hair, eyes, and pale skin, he looked up to Dmitri more with every passing day.

  “I feeded Lilly.”

  “Oh, really? What did you feed her?”

  Alexei only shrugged, clearly no longer interested in the topic of conversation. Instead, he took hold of Dmitri’s thumb in his smaller grasp and pulled. “Come play blocks with me,” he demanded.

  “Let Daddy settle in first, Alex.” Sasha approached both of them after having watched their interaction.

  Frowning but knowing not to argue, Alexei nodded his assent. “Okay, Mommy.”

  Dmitri rubbed his hand through Alexei’s hair, making him break into giggles. “I’ll be there soon. Why don’t you get started for me?”

  “Okay!” And just as quickly as he had arrived, Dmitri and Sasha watched as their son scampered back into his playroom.

  As soon as he was out of sight, Dmitri turned to his wife and gathered her into his arms. He buried his face into the crook of her neck and shoulders, inhaling her familiar scent along with the added smell of baby powder. Immediately he had thoughts of the little baby girl more than likely snuggled into her crib for naptime.

  “How is she?” he asked.

  Sasha smiled reassuringly. “I took her to the doctor earlier today. It’s just a fever. So I think I’ll stay home a few more days. Maybe just do some work here while I keep an eye on her and make sure Alex doesn’t catch anything either.”

  His lips tightened in disapproval. “I don’t trust that daycare anymore. What if we hired a nanny?”

  Sasha shook her head with a humorous smile. “Babies get sick, Dmitri. We can’t prevent that from happening. What do you expect when they actually start going to school?”

  His frown deepened even more at the thought. It surprised him just how protective he felt over his children but even the mere thought of them growing up and venturing off made him ill-at-ease. If he could, he would keep them and Sasha at home forever.

  Dmitri was torn from his thoughts by the light peck
Sasha placed on his lips. “It’s part of being a parent, Dmitri. That feeling never goes away; we just have to trust that they’ll be okay.”

  He snorted in disbelief and walked down the hallway to Lilya’s room. As soon as he peaked in, he saw his little one-year-old trying desperately to climb out of the crib to no avail. Aware of her penchant for escape with her growing motor skills, Dmitri and Sasha had looked hard for a crib that was up to the challenge of keeping Lilya safe. At the sound of the door opening, she looked up and squealed in glee at the sight of her father waltzing into the room. Immediately, she reached out with her arms, her hands impatiently waiting for him as she closed her fist in and out.

  Smiling in greeting, Dmitri reached down and picked her up, his hands settling with familiarity into the soft curls atop her head. Unlike her brother, Lilya was more of a mixture between him and Sasha. She had inherited her mother’s pouty lips and rounded nose, while her eyes were a direct mirror of his in their shape and darkness.

  He playfully bit at her tiny fingers as she giggled in delight.

  “She loves it when you do that,” Sasha observed with a soft smile. “I think she was really upset at the fact I was the only one home.”

  Dmitri turned to the door and winked. “Her fever has definitely gone down. I was so worried. I couldn’t even do much work today. Slade was pissed; if I wasn’t the CEO and his friend and partner, I’m sure he would’ve fired me if he could.”

  Laughing, Sasha shook her head. “I know. You called me like every ten minutes asking how she was doing.”

  “What can I say? I love my little princess,” he said as he hugged her to him.

  Not surprisingly, they soon heard Lilya’s breath deepen as she fell asleep in her father’s arms. Knowing, Alexei would be waiting impatiently for him, Dmitri gently gave her off to Sasha who then followed him into the playroom. They found their son playing with his cars on the carpeted floor; the room in complete disarray.