Chapter 18 - Darya
It has been a lazy Saturday morning, and Stefano and I have been relaxing on the patio overlooking the garden. This place is actually starting to feel like home, which is really special for me, because in the beginning I thought it might be impossible to feel that way about somewhere I didn’t really choose to be.
I hardly use my own room anymore, and Stefano and I have been sharing his bedroom every night. I find, oddly, that I don’t like sleeping alone these days.
It’s so weird to think that once, not too long ago, I used to think Stefano was a chauvinistic asshole who was just arrogant and mean to everyone.
I guess I just had to take the time to break through those layers of defenses he has up.
He leans over from his sun lounger and rests his hand on my leg.
“What time do we have to be there tonight?”
“I think it starts at seven. I will check my messages when we go back inside, my phone is in the room.”
He nods, smiling at me, and the way his lips curve up at the corner has my heart racing for a moment.
Tonight we have another family event at Kiril’s house. Stefano has been attending them every time we have one, and he hasn’t complained at all. To me, it looks like he is really settling in well and getting on with everyone. I am so relieved, because my family is very important to me, and him getting on with them is a non-negotiable part of our relationship being successful.
I know that my brothers and Stef still have a little bit of tension between them, but he is trying so hard to be more open and friendly when we see them. Honestly, it makes my heart happy to see him doing that for me. If it wasn’t for me, I am sure he would rather be almost anywhere else.
I grin.
“What are you smiling about, baby girl?” he asks, squeezing my thigh again.
“I just feel happy.” I say, shrugging my shoulders.
He leans forward and grabs me around my waist, lifting me off my own chair and pulling me onto his lap. “You are happy, are you? Do I have anything to do with that happiness?”
“I think you might, possibly, have something to do with that happiness.”
He runs his hand up my neck, cradling the side of my face as I lean into his touch. Then he kisses me, and sparks fly in the air between us.
He starts to chuckle against my mouth.
“What?” I say, pulling away from him.
“You make me happy too, Darya.”
“Well, that’s good to know.” I feel like all I have been doing these last few days is smiling.
“Do you want to go out somewhere this afternoon? Maybe lunch at the waterfront?”
“That sounds amazing. I kind of wanted to get that top I saw at the mall the other day, too.”
“We will stop on the way. Do you want to go now?”
Excitedly, I jump up to go and get ready. I love the fact that he enjoys shopping with me. I never imagined I would meet a guy who likes to take me shopping. My entire life, my brothers have hated it. They never wanted to go with me and teased me about how much fun I have when I go.
I always thought it was just a boys will be boys and girls will be girls kind of situation. But Stefano is showing me differently. He is not like my brothers. Well—he is, and he isn’t.
“Are we going somewhere fancy, or can I wear my jeans?” I call down the hallway to Stefano as I hear him walking up the stairs.
“You look amazing in everything you wear, so choose whatever your heart desires,” he laughs.
I shake my head. “That is not very helpful.”
He walks into my room while I am standing in just my underwear in front of my closet.
“Oh, well, now that is definitely what I would prefer to look at all day.” He chuckles, walking up behind me and pulling me back against his chest.
He stares into my closet. “I think we might go straight from the waterfront to your brothers' thing tonight, so maybe choose something is good for lunch and the party.”
“A dress?”
“Last time you wore a dress, I definitely enjoyed it,” he smirks, and the memory of him pressing me up against the wall flashes through my mind.
He leans over me, reaching into the closet, and pulls out a dark blue body-hugging dress.
“This one,” he says, handing it to me.
“I am still going to wear my sneakers, though.”
“Even cuter.”
Stefano leaves the room to go and get ready as well, and when I walk out in my tight blue dress and my white sneakers to meet him downstairs, he is staring at me with that look in his eyes that I know all too well now.
He holds the front door open for me, and when I walk past his hand runs down my back and grabs my ass cheek.
“Mm. Maybe you shouldn’t have worn this dress. Maybe I should just get you a bunch of oversized jumpsuits so that I can actually concentrate when I am out with you.”
***
After a quick stop at the mall, where Stef buys me the top I wanted and a gorgeous new jacket, we head to the waterfront for cocktails and seafood. All afternoon we are laughing and joking with each other, and the more time I spend with him, the more I wonder why he hides this side of himself from everyone.
When we walk into the family party at Kiril’s place, we are just dancing on the edge of being tipsy, and we are both in an amazing mood.
I feel giggly, and Stef keeps running his hand over my body, which is driving me crazy.
After some food, though, the cocktails wear off and I am relaxing with my family and having an amazing time.
Stefano is having a conversation with Ivan when Paval and Kiril come and stand over me.
They stare down at me with their mouths pulled tight.
“What is going on?” I ask, feeling worried.
“Can we talk to you?” Paval says under his breath.
“Of course.”
I follow them, wondering if something has gone wrong with the business. It’s been a long time since I have seen either of them looking so grim.
They lead me through the noisy house to the library and both stand over me in an ominous manner.
“Guys, come on, tell me what is going on,” I say nervously.
“We need to know if you are alright,” Kiril says sternly. His jaw muscles are taut, and his eyes are narrowed towards me.
“If I’m…?" I try to process the question and how it might link to the business.
“You, Darya, are you doing okay living with that guy? Paval and I were discussing it, and if you need help to get out of the arrangement or file for divorce, whatever it is you want, we can make a plan to make it happen for you.”
“A divorce?” I say, shocked. My eyes are wide and confused.
“Yes, or whatever is best. Perhaps you can stay married, but living in separate houses?”
“No, oh my goodness, I don’t want that at all.”
“Darya, this isn’t about you doing what is best for the family anymore. This is about us trying to make sure you are happy, okay?”
I grin, because them confronting me like this, and the way I answered almost instantly without needing to think about it at all—it shows me something.
I really enjoy being around Stefano. I enjoy his company and I love spending time with him.
“Paval, Kiril, I promise you, I am happy where I am. I don’t need you to make any arrangements to get me out of there.”
“Are you sure?” Paval’s brows are knotted. He is struggling to believe me.
I stand on my tiptoes and wrap my arms around my brother to hug him. “Thank you so much for worrying about me, but I promise you, there is nothing you need to do.”
When I step back, they are both glancing between me and each other.
“I promise,” I say again, just trying to make sure that they know they have nothing to worry about.
“If it ever changes—"
“I will let you know,” I nod.
***
After the party Stefano and I head home, and my heart feels lighter than before. It’s as though my brothers confronting me like that really made me face and accept how I really feel. I am happy around him. He makes me smile and I have fun with him.
I glance over at him as he drives down the dark road. I wonder how he really feels about me. We have never had a genuine conversation about feelings.
I wouldn’t even have a clue how to start a conversation like that with him.
The following weekend, we have a birthday to attend for one of my nieces. It’s going to be an over-the-top event with jumping castles, performers, pony rides—everything one could imagine.
When I come through to find Stefano to remind him about the party, he is in his office, working.
I walk around his desk and run my hand across his shoulder.
“Stef, don’t forget about this weekend’s party.”
“Mm. Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that. This weekend is an important annual event, and I really want to take you with me.”
“What annual event?” I ask, tilting my head.
He pulls me onto his lap. “A fun one,” he grins.
“I need to know more than that.” I laugh, brushing my hand over his chest.
“I am not telling you more than that. You are just going to have to trust me.”
“Leanna will be so upset if I am not at her party.”
“Leanna is going to be so busy with the jumping castles and her friends that I am sure she will get over it. Besides, we can take her somewhere special during the week, you can still celebrate with her.”
“Alright, fine, I will agree to your mysterious once-a-year event that you are apparently not going to tell me anything about.”
“Good. Pack for outdoors—overnight.”
“What?” My eyes shoot open. “Where are we going outdoors overnight?”
“That is all I am saying.”
The grin on his face is mischievous and enticing. I grab his face in my hands and kiss him hard. It catches him off guard, but within seconds, he is responding to me.
“I think it was about time for a break, anyway,” he laughs, shifting his position so that my legs are wrapped around him.
He starts kissing me and grabbing my hips to rub me up against his cock, which is growing harder by the second.