Chapter Four
Cora
The next morning, I’m summoned down to breakfast, so I wear just his shirt, smiling as I do so. It only reaches right below my ass and I’m playing with fire by tempting Dmitri.
When I entered the room, I watched his body stiffen up. I have a thousand questions for him, but the first one falls from my lips without any forethought. “How am I supposed to trust you?”He lifts his eyes from his plate.
His eyes rake up and down, focusing more on my bare legs. “You just will one day. I can’t say anything that will make you believe me. Like I told you yesterday, I spotted you in the piazza getting gelato from that fucking pervert who wanted you for himself. By the time I got down there someone else had their hands on you, and I did what I had to do to keep you safe.”
“You killed that man,” I said. It wasn’t a question, but I was looking for confirmation.
“And many others. That’s the kind of man I am and the man I’ll always be.”
My heart already knows the answer, but I need to hear it from him. “Will you hurt me?”
“I’d rather die, malyshka. For the first time in my life there’s a feeling I can’t describe when I see you, touch you, and just think of you. You’re mine whether you know it or not.”
“Dmitri, what does that mean?” I asked, trying to figure out what he’s calling me.
“Malyshka?” I nodded. “It means baby girl.”
The sexy endearment makes my heart races and lust returns in full force. I push it back, reminding myself that I know nothing about him. “Where do we go from here?”
“Wherever the fuck we want. I have three more homes, two in Russian and one outside of Seattle. When you’re ready though, I’m going to lay you down and strip you bare, taste your entire body and then breed you.”
“You want me to have your baby?” I asked, pressing my hands on the back of the chair, needing to hold onto something just in case my knees buckle.
“Of course. You’re the only one who will have my children and be my wife.”
“Whoa, this is moving at lightning speed. We need to pump the brakes,” I insist even though I’m panting in heat for this man.
“It’s the natural progression of our relationship. I know what I want, and nothing is going to change my mind. You just need to catch up.”
“I need time,” I say, testing his response.
“That’s fine, Cora. I can give you time.”
I nod, pleased with his answer, and then say, “Um, and I’ll need my clothes.”
“Yes. I’m bringing in a stylist with a lot of garments for you to choose from while I work today. I gave them the measurements from your outfit, so the clothes should be your size, but a tailor will be here as well.”
“I don’t understand. Wouldn’t it just be easier to go get my things from my hotel room?”
“Yes, but I’m not sure if there will be a problem acquiring them.” Of course, he doesn’t have a key to the room, and I’m the only one registered at the hotel. My purse is on the dining room sideboard, so I snatch it up.
I dug through my purse and handed him the keycard. “Here’s my keycard.”
“I’ll deal with the hotel and your belongings. Until your clothes arrive, you’re more than welcome to keep to the bedroom. If not, there is a small library down this way.” I can tell he doesn’t like that I’m half-naked and roaming the house.
We eat “It doesn’t make sense. How did this guy know I would be in Italy and know about my relationship with my stepfather?” I asked as I continue to dig through the purse for my phone. “Where is my phone?”
“It’s safe. What kind of relationship do you have with him?” he asks with a growl, standing up and closing the distance. “Come on, tell me. Has that fucker touched you?”
“No, ew. That’s not the kind of relationship I was talking about. I mean we’re close. He has been a part of my life since I was ten.” I roll my eyes, taking a step back.
He moves in and grasps my chin. “Then you need to be a little clearer.”
“You need to keep your head out of the gutter.” Again, he clamps his mouth shut like he wants to say something.
“It means stop being so filthy minded.”
“Yes, I know what it means. It is just you made it sound like there was some other relationship than a normal father daughter one.” I supposed I had said it awkwardly, but it’s not what I meant.
“Not all stepchildren get along with their stepfathers. He’s always taken good care of me, especially after my mother died.”
He huffs and says, “Sit down. Your breakfast is getting cold.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Tough. Eat.” I sit down and take a couple bites of my toast and jam and then pour some juice. He reaches over the table and places his hand over mine. “I don’t mean to be rude, but you need to take better care of yourself or let me take care of you.”
“I understand. However, I’m just confused about all of this.”
“Are you attracted to me?” he asks.
“Without a doubt,” I confess swiftly. Attracted is an understatement because I want to crawl into his lap and grind on him until he makes me come.
“Then that’s all we need to know right now,” he explains.
“Maybe for you, but I need to call my stepfather. I haven’t heard from him in two days.”
“Like I said last night, if you want to call him, you’ll wait until tonight.”
Mikhail enters the dining room, clearing his throat before saying, “Dmitri, the stylist and her team are here.”
Dmitri doesn’t bother to stop looking at me when he responds to him. “Search them and then let them in.”
“Very well. Where would you like them to meet you?”
“In my bedroom,” he answers. Mikhail nods and leaves, attending to the matter while I sit there and wonder how I’m supposed to get over the instant arousal Dmitri’s command sends through me. It’s automatic and intense. My gaze lingers on his tattoo-covered hands, admiring the strength and wanting them on me again.
“What’s on your mind?” He takes my hand and laces our fingers.
“A lot. I’d rather not discuss it either.” He nods and then brings my hand to his lips, kissing the back of it. A trail of goosebumps heads up my arm.
A knock on the open doorway causes Dmitri to lift his gaze. “Dmitri, they’re clean and ready.”
“It’s time for your wardrobe, Cora. We can discuss everything else later. I’ll be back by dinner time.”
“Do you promise?” I want to believe that he’ll be straightforward with me, but I can’t trust him just yet. My body wants to listen to whatever he says, but my head isn’t ready to give in.
He stands and then helps me to my feet as if I’m incapable of doing it myself. “As I said before, I am a man of my word. Now let us go meet them before I change my mind and keep you locked in here with me in just my shirts.”
My face floods with heat as I imagine his hands and mouth all over me. The pull he has on me is strong and I’m sure it’s not going to be long before I surrender to his muscular embrace.
“What’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?”
“Nothing. Just zoning out,” I lie.
“Okay,” he said with a smirk. We headed up the stairs to the room that I stayed in last night.
“So, I slept in your room?”
“Yes, you did, and I took one of the guest bedrooms.” He opens the door before I can form a response to ask why, so all conversation stops because we’re no longer alone. The ladies are setting up with several dozen items laid out. “Don’t disrespect my fiancée,” he tells the women.
“Yes, sir,” they say in unison.
He presses his lips to my temple and then says, “I will be out after I finish some business in my office, but if you need anything, Mikhail will handle it.”
I nodded, unable to speak because of his kiss. He leaves us alone, closing the door behind him. “Well, ladies. What do you have for me?” I asked.
The woman in a blue dress steps forward with a smile, “We should have everything you need, but let’s see what we can put on your gorgeous figure.”
I spend two hours trying on outfits, finding the perfect ones. They have a few select sizes and styles. She pulls out another container, and this one makes me blush. It’s underwear and bras.
“These would look great on you.” The price tag on them nearly stops my heart. The bra and panty sets are insanely expensive. I can’t believe that a pair of panties cost that much. “Whatever you like, we can have more added to your wardrobe. This is just a sample of the collections.”
“Thank you, but I don’t know if I need that much.”
“She needs everything,” Dmitri growls at the door with his eyes focused on a pair of black panties that I had in my hands.
“Is everything okay? I thought you would be gone all day.” I asked.
“Just checking on the progress. My client rescheduled the meeting. It’s been two hours, but I have to leave.” I look over to the woman in blue for an answer because I’m not sure how this works.
“Actually, sir. We’re done. I have a record of what she prefers, and these are the clothes she’s keeping for now.” She waves at the neat stacks on the bed. She snaps her fingers, and the rest of her team pack up the remaining items that I passed on.
“Thank you,” I say.
“Yes, thank you for coming here in a rush.”
“It’s our pleasure. Have a great day.”
They depart and then Dmitri closes the distance between us. The heat of his body reminds me that I’m only in a robe. Almost completely naked in front of the man who turns me into a needy mess.
He slides up behind me and then pushes my hair out of the way. “So now that you’ve tried on so many outfits, are you tired?”
“I’m a little tired. Who knew that trying on tons of clothes could be so exhausting.”
“Why don’t you take a nap?” he offers me, but suddenly I’m not in the mood for sleep. I’m about to ask him to stay with me when his phone rings. He pulls it out of his pocket and then frowns.
“Excuse me, but I really must go.” He turns on his heel and leaves as he answers the phone, speaking in rapid Italian.