Chapter 18
I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest. - William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing
Emma
My hand wrapped around Dimitri’s hard bicep as I brushed my cheek against the soft wool of his overcoat. I inhaled the sandalwood scent of his cologne that clung to the fabric, as the biting night air chilled my vodka-warmed cheeks.
Was there ever a more perfect moment than this?
Feeling the energy of the city as the tiny lights from the high-rises competed with the bright stars in the sky, we walked down Michigan Avenue past Millennium Park. Catching the envious glances of other females as we passed, I tightened my grasp. In response, Dimitri put his hand over mine.
“Just a little further,” he whispered against my hair before giving the side of my forehead a kiss.
There was a fluttering in my chest that had nothing to do with the flavored vodka shots I had enjoyed.
In only a few days, this man, who had charged into my life like a bull in a china shop, had completely stolen my heart.
There was no point in denying it. Of course, I was a na?ve ingénue, falling for the first man to show me affection, but it was what it was.
I was in love with him.
He was charming and handsome and sexy as hell.
I loved how he appeared like this super scary tattooed criminal but was actually an incredibly intelligent and cultured gentleman.
There was also the primal, decidedly less feminist side of me that exhilarated in his brute strength and how he would just grab me and take what he wanted when he wanted it.
In some twisted way, the fear he inspired somehow increased my arousal.
I was defenseless against both the physical power of his grasp and the soulful passion it awoke.
It was like living inside a romance novel. Unfortunately, there would be no happy ending for me.
There wasn’t a doubt in my mind he would break my heart.
I was a novelty to him and soon he would tire of me and go back to his sophisticated women who drank champagne and knew how to eat caviar.
I took a deep breath, the frigid air bracing me.
My eyes teared.
It was odd to realize that one day he would think of me as his ex-girlfriend, if even that. Probably just the silly little girl who wore plaid skirts and had barely kissed a boy before meeting him.
And yet to me, he would always be the one.
I couldn’t even imagine anyone ever coming close to competing with Dimitri in my mind.
“What’s wrong, моя крошка?” His brow wrinkled as he looked down at me with concern.
I sniffed. “Nothing. The wind got in my eyes.”
And that unbelievably sexy accent.
How he calls me his little one in Russian.
I think I would miss that most of all.
Dodging a quick-moving cab, Dimitri wrapped an arm securely around my waist as we passed the darkened windows of the Chicago Cultural Center and turned left onto State Street.
I could see the iconic gold and red sign of the Chicago Theater loom large as we dashed down the busy thoroughfare.
We weren’t close enough for me to read the marquee but I knew it could be anything from a concert, to a play, to a comedy show.
“Are we seeing a performance at the theater?”
Dimitri shook his head. “You’ll see.”
We then crossed the street till we were standing before the Gene Siskel Film Center.
My eyebrows shot up. “You’re taking me to the movies?”
“Why are you so surprised?”
Walking a step back, I gestured with my hand, sweeping him up and down. “Because you don’t look like the movie going type.”
He chucked me under the chin. “Well, my dear Emma, there is a lot about me you don’t know.” He then opened the heavy glass door and gestured for me to enter.
My smile faltered as I passed him.
Yes, there was a lot about him I didn’t know.
More important, there was a lot he didn’t want me to know.
Shaking off the dark thought, I focused on the here and now. I was having a normal date with a man who I could pretend at least for a little while was a normal boyfriend.
We entered the simple white lobby, which was adorned with black-framed movie posters. Dimitri headed to the glass-enclosed ticket booth.
“I’m Mr. Kosgov. I believe you’re expecting us.”
My brow wrinkled. That didn’t sound like the usual movie ticket exchange, but then again this was more of an artistic film center than a regular movie theater, so perhaps the showings were invitation only.
“Yes. Mr. Kosgov. We have made the arrangements. You’re the first theater to the left.”
Dimitri put his arm around me. Before moving to the theater, he led me over to the concession stand. “Popcorn? Candy?”
This was fun!
I hadn’t been on a movie date since that one time in high school.
“Yes, please! I’ll take some M&Ms.”
Dimitri pulled out his money clip. “One package of M&Ms and one package of JellyBellys.”
“You’re joking.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “What?”
“The big, scary Russian guy likes jelly beans?”
He opened the bag of brightly colored candy. Rooting around, he chose two jelly beans. “Open your mouth.”
I clenched my thighs at the command, instantly remembering the less than innocent times he would have given that same order. His silver eyes darkened to smoked steel. Seems he remembered too.
Nervously licking my lips, I opened my mouth.
Dimitri stepped close as a low growl rumbled down in his chest. “Don’t think being in public will save you, little minx.” He then placed two jelly beans on my tongue.
I slowly chewed, liking the sweet burst of creamy sarsaparilla.
“That is my favorite combination. Root beer and French vanilla.”
“You truly are a man of many surprises, Dimitri Antonovich,” I said, using the greeting I had heard his Russian friend use, as I took his arm and let him lead me to the theater doors.
It was cool and dark as we entered the silent room. Strategically placed spotlights shone over the empty burnt-orange chairs.
“It looks like we are the first ones here,” I observed as my gaze wondered over all the empty seats.
Dimitri gestured to some larger seats in the first row after the aisle directly in the middle.
Unlike the usual movie theater seats, these were slightly wider and reclined back.
Mary and I had experienced them at the Webster Theater when we had gone to see the special showing of BBC’s Sherlock The Abominable Bride .
“These seats are the best! It’s like watching a movie in your living room. ”
Dimitri shrugged out of his overcoat and suit jacket and laid them to one side before slipping my coat off my shoulders.
I adjusted my sweater dress before sitting down.
The first thing he did when he took his seat was to raise the middle arm.
My stomach gave a little flip of excitement.
Now it was like we were relaxing on our own cozy loveseat.
Too bad other people would shortly arrive.
Dimitri opened my M&Ms for me and handed me the bag. Tucking my legs up to the side, I placed the candy bag in the empty cup holder and took out a few, popping them in my mouth. I finally asked, “What movie are we seeing?”
“ Anna Karenina .”
I put my hands over my heart. “I adore that book. There can be no peace for us, only misery, and the greatest happiness. Such a tragic love story.”
Dimitri leaned in, his gaze intense and serious. He ran the back of his knuckles along my jawline before stroking my bottom lip with his thumb. “Do you think it was worth it?”
Entranced by his silvery gaze, I didn’t understand the question. I was too busy taking in the hard, masculine planes of his face with his square jaw and slightly crooked nose and sloping, brooding brow. He was Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights brought to life.
“Was what worth it?” I asked, distracted.
“Their love. Would you risk so much unhappiness for a moment of genuine passion?”
My cheeks flushed from the heat of his gaze, knowing he wasn’t asking my opinion on Leo Tolstoy’s classic novel. “Yes,” I answered with no hesitation.
“Even if you knew there may be no future in it? Or worse, only pain?”
“Yes. As long as I was loved, I think I could bear anything.”
“My sweet baby girl, you really are a treasure.”
I warmed under his approving look.
Was this his way of saying he loved me?
Probably not, I was just being fanciful and letting my imagination get away from me again. It was ridiculously too soon for either of us to admit such a thing.
Even though one of us was pretty sure she was already head over heels.
The theater darkened as the spotlights lowered. A thick velvet curtain was drawn back to reveal the movie screen. Swiveling my head, I glanced around the seats, realizing all were empty.
“How extraordinary! I think we are the only ones here!”
Dimitri focused on his bag of candy, selecting several colorful jelly beans and popping them in his mouth, avoiding my gaze.
My eyes widened. “Did you really rent out the entire theater just for us?”
He gave me a noncommittal shrug.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I leaned back in my seat. “Just a normal date, huh?”
Setting his candy aside, he put an arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. “Shhh. The movie’s about to start.”
Putting my head on his shoulder, I once more inhaled the spicy scent of his cologne as the opening orchestra strains of the film’s score filled the theater.
Cocking my head to the side, I focused on the screen as I leaned up. “Wait. This isn’t the Keira Knightley version.”
Dimitri scoffed. “That version was terrible!”
“Bite your tongue! It was gorgeous! The costumes. The music. The creative way they made the whole thing a play within a film.”
Pointing to the screen, Dimitri admonished, “ This. This is the only version of Anna Karenina that is worth anything. A classic. Tatiana Samoilova is the true Anna, not your Keira Knightley.”
As the actors appeared on the screen, they uttered the first opening lines… in Russian.
I laughed. “There’s just one problem. I don’t speak Russian.”