Chapter 75
Ariel
My knees nearly crumpled; my heart thudded hard like the drums of the boy’s brigade going on a march past. Slowly, my fingers trailed to my chest and I clutched onto it, hoping it would soothe the uneasiness Dmitri had created.
Even the deep, continuous breaths I took only escalated the queasiness that traveled throughout my body.
Damn you, Guilia, for being a traitor.
Damn you, Dmitri, for being so stubborn.
And damn my body for betraying me like this.
Without thinking, my legs charged forward until I was out of the cabin and almost bumped into Dmitri who was advancing toward the lake.
“Where are you going to?” I panted and drew in quick shallow breaths.
He spun around, his brows arched in surprise. “Nowhere in particular. I wanted to make us breakfast,”
A knot unfurled in my stomach and I held back a sigh of relief. I didn’t want him to think that he was doing me a favor.
“Umm, breakfast? I thought Guilia had enough supplies to last us this week?” I pointed to the little pantry just behind the cabin.
“I didn’t know about that. I’ll go whip up something for you then,” He offered and I obstructed him sharply, my lashes lowered in nervousness.
Merely being around him sparked up some heat within me. I was scared of his touch because I already knew the impact it would have on my senses so I backed away, holding onto the fabric of my jacket.
“I’m not hungry yet so let’s go to the lake first. That’s where I want to be right now,”
He stretched his hand with a warm smile that softened the hard features on his handsome face. “Your wish is my command, ma’am,”
I regarded his hand for a while and shook my head while he retracted his hand and dipped it into his jeans pocket. “Let’s go, please,” I took the lead and proceeded forward.
We walked in companionable silence while my mind pondered on a hundred-and-one things that could happen between us.
“How’s your wound? Doesn’t it need to be dressed?”
His cool tone dragged me out of my reverie and I jerked, stopping just at the bank of the lake. “What did you say?” I scratched my hair nervously, unable to meet his gaze. “Sure, it does, but I can take care of it,”
“Nope. There’s no way I’d allow you to do something as stressful as that while I’m here. I’m going to take care of you,”
A snort rumbled in my throat before I could stop myself and he sighed in resignation.
“When are you going to forgive me, Ariel?”
“How are my parents? Do they know that in here?” I deflected.
He threw his hands in the hair and turned around. “You’re pushing me to do what I don’t want to do,”
“And what’s that? Oh, you think you can hurt me just because I’m partially indisposed?” I retorted.
“Don’t say that. You know that I’d never take advantage of you, but I’m going to do this,”
He advanced toward me swiftly and tore the oversized jacket off my body. A cold gust of wind hit me instantly and my body shivered, but it wasn’t because he had taken off my protective gear.
It was because of the intensity of determination that glared through his dark orbs and the unhinged desire that lurked behind it.
“I’m cold,” I muttered the obvious, taking a step back.
“I know,” His voice lowered to a sultry note that went straight to my core. “So why don’t you allow me to make you warm?”
I pressed my lips together and cleared my throat as he approached me with unfaltering strides; the distance between us becoming thinner.
“Dmitri,” I croaked, my insides turning to jelly.
His lips curved slightly with a smirk. “Is it working?” He locked his gaze with mine, eyes crinkling with mischief. Black orbs to blue.
“What are you talking about?” I rasped and gulped.
He lowered his head until our lips were almost touching. “Seduction. You know what I’m talking about because I know it’s working. Your body is trembling and I can tell that you are pants are already drenched,” He whispered.
I shut my eyes and bit my lip with a decision of being bold brooding in my head, but when my eyes flew open again, I knew that I’d lost the battle.
He already had me, all I had to do was accept.
“Being here with you is a bad idea. I should go,” I shook the haze off.
His arms suddenly went around my waist, pinning me on the spot and I didn’t bother to fight it. “Do you really want to go?”
My lips remained sealed. All of a sudden, my brain couldn’t even process an answer to his question and then he did what I’d been secretly hoping he would do.
He brushed his luscious red lips against mine and I melted. Thankfully, his arms were holding me steadily so I wouldn’t fall and then I parted my lips wider so that he could gain a better entrance.
Our lips merged and I licked his lower lip with my tongue while his hand roved over my body purposely. My hands circled his neck and I kissed him like my life depended on it.
I’d missed him so much and all it took was a kiss to realize it.
Soon his hands were on my breasts, my ass and my waist. I broke away from the kiss, trying to catch my breath.
He peered at me puzzledly and waited for me to talk.
“Go, please,” I pleaded.
His eyes narrowed to a squint. “What do you mean? Didn’t you want this?”
“It doesn’t matter. You’ll still trash me by the corner when the chips go down again and I don’t want my heart to be broken the second time. I know that you warned me not to fall for you, but my stupid heart couldn’t listen and now I regret it because you made me. You never gave me a listening ear. I’d have been gang-raped if Margaret didn’t step in so why are you even here?”
He pressed his nose briefly and nodded. “You are right, Ariel. I made a stupid mistake and I allowed my distrust to come in between us but can’t you give me a second chance?” He asked penitently.
I poked my tongue against my inner cheek and shrugged tiredly. “Convince me,”
“I will, but that’s not what you want right now,” He came closer.
Warmth spread over me once more. “Then do it,” His eyes darkened. “Do what it is you think that I want,” I encouraged him, slowly accepting that I’d given up my decision because my husband had power over my body and maybe my mind.