Chapter 39
Ariel
Settling onto the chair tucked under the dining table with the events of last night flashing into my mind caused my lips to stretch into a wide grin. I didn’t care if anyone was looking.
To be honest, I yearned for another session of jerking into orgasm this morning. He had gotten me addicted to it.
My train of thought was interrupted by the footsteps that steered toward the dining table, and then the squeaking of chairs. In curiosity, I whipped my gaze toward the noise and found an unmasked Dmitri, plopping down on a chair adjacent to me.
Immediately, my jaw dropped and my eyes bulged at him in befuddlement. “Your mask, you don’t have it on?” I reminded him; my voice shrill with surprise.
It was funny how I used to resent him for hiding his face, but after he shared his story with me, I saw him from a different perspective coupled with the kind of things we’d been doing that brought a paradigm shift to our relationship.
“I won’t be using it anymore,” He replied flatly. “There’s no need for it,”
Still gobsmacked, I asked. “Are you sure?”
This time, the coldness was gone and his eyes warmed up to me. “I’m very sure, sweet. I’ve honored my promise to Anya and I won’t give my heart to any other woman, but for me to have a better relationship with Liora, I have to stop hiding behind that facade that has almost become my personality. Anya would have wanted that, but thank you for reminding me that I have to be true to myself,”
I giggled, feeling genuinely proud of myself. In a short while of being with him, he had revealed more of himself than I wanted and I liked it.
“If you keep saying such words to me, I might end up falling for you,” I teased him.
He shook his head and a fierce look crossed his features. “I’ve warned you not to fall for me, you’ll get hurt. Just enjoy what we have right now,”
My heart sank at his words and cold chills ran down my spine at his subtle rejection.
Maybe I was being too forward by wanting to have all of him, but was it a wrong desire to not only have his body but his heart as well?
We couldn’t continue the conversation as Irina and the cook approached us with large silver bowls of fried eggs, sausage, bacon and toast.
My mouth watered at the aroma wafting into my nose.
They greeted us and took a step backward simultaneously when they noticed Dmitri’s new appearance.
“Is there any problem?” He went ahead to ask with a smirk playing on the side of his lips.
“I’m sorry, Sir, there isn’t. I’ll try to get bring Liora over, maybe she can have breakfast with you,” Irina chose to answer while the cook waited patiently to be permitted to serve the meal.
I glanced at him and noticed that his countenance had become somber.
He raised his hand before Irina could dash out of the dining. “Don’t worry, we don’t want to force her to do what she isn’t comfortable doing, right? I want all of us to have breakfast together, I’ll take her portion to her after I’m done,” He offered.
Irina exchanged glances with the cook, hesitant at his act of hospitality.
“If none of you are hungry, that’s your problem but I’m starving,” I said to them.
They shared understanding looks again and began to serve the eggs and toast into the white chinaware.
Finally, just after we’d all settled down to eat, my eyes caught a pair of big brown eyes staring at me with uncertainty. She stowed away when our gazes met and I sprang to my feet.
Her little footsteps faded away but I was fast enough to grab her before she could disappear into her room.
Her lips trembled and blood drained from her face as I scooped her into my arms. “Don’t be scared, baby. I’m here, I won’t hurt you,” I said gently, my heart bleeding for her. “Would you like to have breakfast with us?”
Her lips twitched nervously and her breathing became ragged while she fiddled with my hair.
“Daddy is there and I’ll be with you too. Come and eat or do you want little tigers to come at your stomach?”
She shook her head vehemently and I took it as a yes and returned to the dining. Dmitri’s eyes watered when he saw me bringing her to the table and he waved at Liora who managed to give a small smile.
I placed her on my thighs and fed her from my plate. She took the fried egg in bits and more of the toast and some bacon. In a few minutes, my plate was empty.
It was amazing to know that she was a large eater, yet, she looked so frail and thin. Now that her father was comfortable with me being close to her, I’d do everything to bring her back to life.
I couldn’t wait to see a large smile on her face other than the pouty or scared expression she usually wore.
Breakfast was over sooner than I expected, surprisingly I didn’t eat much since I was satisfied with Liora’s appetite. On my way to her room, I heard my name behind me, and I halted on my step.
“Please, let me have her,” There was something desperate about his voice that made me yield even though I was concerned for her.
Swiftly, I handed her over to him and fortunately, she didn’t throw a tantrum. She rested her head on his shoulder, her eyelids closing slowly.
“She wants to sleep,” I informed him when we entered her room.
I found a color book opened on the floor with some crayons and I picked them up, returning them to the right position. It was good that she made attempts to put her brain to work.
Excitement kicked in and I couldn’t wait for her to wake up.
Dmitri laid her on the bed and watched her meticulously, his eyes glimmering with adoration and love for his little girl. Suddenly, I began to miss my dad.
“I want you to move into my room,” He lifted his face and trained his attention on me. “Our room,” He corrected himself.
“Huh?”
“We are married, Ariel, and I think I’ve pushed you away for so long. We should share a room as other couples does, don’t you think?”
I ran my tongue over my lip; my mind trying to accept the fact that I’d share a bed with him every night.
“Why did you change your mind now? I thought you wanted privacy?”
He crossed over from Liora’s bed to the bookshelf where I stood, his hands folded behind him as he peered down at me. “I promised that I would put an effort into making this marriage work. This is a part of it,”