Chapter 10 - Angelika
Diomid wakes me with a gentle knock on my bedroom door.
“Hey princess, are you up yet?” he asks, his deep voice soothing over me.
“Mm,” I reply happily, rolling over to squint at him, blinking my eyes awake.
“Coffee?”
“Isn’t it too hot for coffee?” I ask, my voice husky from sleep as I sit up and pull the blankets with me.
“That’s why I made you iced coffee,” he laughs.
“Wow, you really are rather handy to keep around, aren’t you?” I tease, trying not to stare too much at his topless gorgeousness.
Last night was absolutely wonderful. It wasn’t just about being in a new place; it was about being with someone who encouraged me to be me.
“What time is it?” I ask, taking a sip of my coffee. Sweet, creamy, and perfect.
“Time to get ready. We’re going snorkeling,” he says, “and then I thought we might visit one of the gardens here, maybe the flower forest or the Farley Hill National Park. You’ll love it!” he sounds excited to show me things.
My stomach does a small lurch at the thought of snorkeling.
All that ocean beneath you, with no idea what might be swimming nearby.
And to swim over a shipwreck seems even more daunting.
What will be hiding inside it? Are there bodies in there?
From the sailors? I don’t know, I’ve never thought about it until this very moment.
First, I realize that Diomid is staring at me with a smirk. Then I realize I’ve got my nose all scrunched up with worry.
“What are you thinking about, adventure-princess? Nervous to snorkel?” he hits the nail on the head as though he’s reading my thoughts.
“No, not at all,” I sass, fixing my face. “I’m very excited to do something I’ve never done before.”
“That’s good. For a moment there, I thought you were going to make some kind of excuse.” His eyes are shining with challenge. Bright and full of mischief.
I scoff.
“I never back away from a new adventure,” I say with confidence.
The truth is—he’s the reason I feel so daring. So alive. So ready to take on anything. I’ve never felt this way before, only dreamed of it.
Diomid leaves me to get ready and meets me downstairs with a car waiting.
It’s a short drive to Carlisle Beach, and my stomach is spinning all the way there.
But it turns out that I’m absolutely obsessed with diving. The water is so warm, though, that it hardly provides any relief from the heat of the day; however, it allows you to stay in for much longer without freezing your ass off.
Diomid rented a yacht for us to dive off. And whenever we need a break, we climb on board and enjoy an iced cold drink or a light snack prepared by the chef.
We swim with turtles, and past fish so colorful they could be fake. The water is clear enough to have a diamond-like glitter when the sun pierces through its layers. When you swim upside down, looking up at the surface, it resembles a work of art. Turquoise, shimmering and beautiful.
Diomid insists on leaping into the ocean from the top deck of the yacht, making me wince, completely sure that he’s going to break something in his body. And to make matters worse, he doesn’t just jump like a normal person; he somersaults like a madman.
I’m laughing when he surfaces a little way from me, a wild gleam in his eye, and his black hair a shaggy mess over his eyes. Treading the bright, clear water, I shake my head at him.
Diomid swims toward me.
“You’re a bit crazy,” I tease him.
“I’ve been told,” he says, slipping his hand around my waist to pull me against him. “You look tired. Rest, hold onto me.”
I wrap my arms around his neck and float in his arms. My heart races faster.
“I can see why your family calls you the reckless one,” I say, mesmerized by how bright his eyes are today.
He looks more alive than I’ve ever seen before.
The salt on his skin and the ocean in his hair suit him.
His body is pressed against mine, and I’m struggling to focus on anything else.
Beneath the water, he runs his hand over my thigh, wrapping my legs around his waist.
I bite my lip, wondering if I’m the only one who can feel the intense current of desire between us.
“You’ve been in the water all day, princess. Do you still want to see the garden?” he asks, but his voice is a whisper, his lips hovering close to mine.
“I still want to see the garden,” I repeat, but I’m hardly focused on my own words. I don’t even realize that I’m holding my breath.
“We should get going then. We can always come back with the yacht tomorrow again.”
Diomid’s hands slowly drift away from my waist, and just before he dips beneath the water, he winks at me. Then he’s swimming back to the yacht, yelling, “I’ll race you there. Whoever wins gets to choose dinner.”
My desire turns to annoyance that he didn’t kiss me. Then, to a sharp, instant need to beat him in a race I have no chance of winning, seeing as he got a head start.
“No fair!” I shout, swimming after him.
He’s already on the deck, leaning over to offer me his hand when I swim up to him. He pulls me out of the water with ease, laughing.
“You cheated,” I demand.
“True. Which means I’m disqualified, and you get to choose dinner.”
“Cheeky.” I can’t help smiling.
I’ve been doing nothing but smile around him.
Every single minute of the day brings something new to see and experience, and Diomid is giving me all the space and time I need to explore it in any way I choose. No rush, no rules, and nothing to hold me back.
He’s really special, isn’t he?
I bite my lip, ignoring my thought.
“I want street food,” I declare.
“But you can go to any luxury restaurant on this entire island…” he tells me, his brows knotted and his lips curling up at the end.
“Luxury restaurants are not going to be as authentic as walking down a busy, noisy, bubbling street and nibbling seven different flavors from seven different vendors as we explore somewhere.”
“A night market,” he says, nodding.
I look at him with raised brows, questioning.
“I know the exact place I’m going to take you. If the princess wants street food, she will get street food. And yes, I couldn’t agree more. I’d choose that over a stuck-up restaurant any day. No matter how many stars were on the door.”
***
A small speedboat takes us from the yacht to the shore.
My summer dress whips in the wind as we speed along.
Our next stop is a garden so magical it looks like someone pulled it right out of the pages of a fairytale.
The leaves of the tropical plants are so green and so big, they tower over us like a roof.
The flowers are saturated with colors I’ve never seen in nature before.
Orange more orange than ever before, and pinks and blues that make me stare as I run my finger over the soft petals.
Diomid pulls his phone out, as he often does, and snaps photographs of me posing with giant flowers and hiding behind one leaf of a monstera plant that completely conceals me.
He took photos of me in the water as well, and last night, enjoying the cocktails and the colorful evening.
“Do I get to see these photos at any point?” I ask.
“These memories are going to stay with you forever, princess. I’ll make an album for you, maybe a coffee table book. And whenever you look at the photos of yourself in this magical place, you’ll remember…”
“How much fun I have with you,” I blurt out, not thinking.
He turns toward me with his brows furrowed. “I was going to say… how it feels to truly live life and feel free. But … yours works better.” His eyes light up, and his smile is wider than I’ve ever seen it. My heart flips over several times before I manage to take a breath.
“I’m not eating that,” I declare, pulling my mouth in horror as Diomid takes a bite of a starfish.
“What about this?” he asks, gesturing toward the chicken feet, grilled over an open flame.
“I, uh…” My stomach is protesting already. “No.”
“Really, did I find something the princess is too scared to try?” he muses.
“Scared? No. I just don’t want to die of food poisoning,” I say defensively.
“Don’t be a drama queen. You’re just scared.”
My eyes narrow at him, hating the fact that he has this power over me.
“Give it here,” I demand, holding out my hand. I refuse to let him get the better of me.
He hands me the last bite of starfish, and with great reluctance, I pop it into my mouth.
Salt immediately coats my tongue. I fight the urge to gag. Squeeze my eyes shut as the strange, spongy texture haunts me. Then I swallow. Gag again. And glare at him with watery tears streaming down my cheeks.
“That was disgusting,” I gasp.
He packs up laughing, leaning forward, his hands on his knees. “I’m so sorry, I know. It’s horrible.” He can barely breathe.
“Are you serious? You knew it was that bad, but you ate it too?” I scoff.
“I only did it to convince you. I can’t stand the taste. But aren’t you glad you dared to try?” he’s laughing so hard he has to wipe tears from his eyes.
“You’re such an asshole,” I punch him in the arm, grabbing his beer from his hand and taking two long gulps. But I’m laughing too. I feel bold and wild. I just ate a starfish. And it was disgusting.
“Ok, chicken feet,” I say, gesturing to the flame-grilled pieces.
“Are you serious?” he asks, looking at me in surprise.
“May as well, we’ve come this far.”
“Two, please,” he tells the street vendor, who is rather enjoying our reaction to his food.
It takes me a while to build up the courage to taste the chicken feet. The flavor was actually pleasant, but the look of it, the texture, the bony little pieces… it was too creepy, and I only managed to eat a portion of one before I declared I’d tried enough to pass the challenge.
Diomid ate his one and ordered a few more while I finished his beer.
***
When we arrive back at the villa, I’m exhausted from my head to my toes, but it’s the kind of tiredness where you feel full, content, satiated with everything good you’ve experienced.
I’ve never had a day like this. One so packed with adventure and new things. This whole experience has been a dream come true for me.
“I’m going to grab a shower and then sleep like a king,” Diomid says, smiling as he tosses his shirt over the back of a chair.
“I’m going to do the same. I’m so tired, but so happy. I think I’ll be asleep as soon as my cheek hits my pillow.”
Diomid walks toward me, standing over the chair I’m sitting on. He cups his hand beneath my chin and lifts my face. My heart beats faster as he leans down and gently kisses my cheek. “Sleep well, princess. Tomorrow we’ll have another adventure.”
“Sleep well… you too…” I mutter, breathless and pulsing with lust.
He walks away, and I’m alone in the living room, wondering what is going on with me.
Giggling at myself, I head upstairs to my own room and have a cool shower before slipping into my pajamas. But before I get into bed, I have an intense urge to thank him.
I’ve been thinking about it all day. He gave me this experience, and I don’t think he understands what it means to me.
How much he’s set me free and let me understand who I am and what I want from life.
I know. It’s a holiday. It’s not life-life.
But it’s about seeing myself, who I am when I’m not restrained.
Diomid is incredible. He’s making me so happy.
He is teaching me to be a little reckless, a little daring.
He’s actually—he’s amazing. That connection I thought we had in the club the first night we met.
I can feel it all over again. Stronger than before.
I don’t think I was wrong when I first felt it. I think it was real.
I hurry to his room, a smile already spread over my face, eager to try and express in words how grateful I am, how much he’s given me, even if he doesn’t know it.
As I near his open bedroom door, I hear his voice.
“Yes, she’s enjoying herself,” he says.
I pause outside, out of view.
“Don’t worry about it, Jaroslav, I’m keeping her distracted. I’m handling her.”
Handling?
My heart pulls tight.
“Not sure, there’s no rush to get back home. I’m fine. It’s all good from my side.”
What does he mean by handling me?
“Alright, man. You too, sleep well.”
He hangs up the phone, and my feet won’t move. I hear him moving about in his bedroom, and I can’t bring myself to go inside and talk to him like I planned. His words are looping in my mind. I’m handling her. Keeping her distracted.
The hurt that pierces into me is sharp, like a shard of glass slicing into my chest. Everything we’ve been doing together—he’s just doing it out of obligation to my brother.
He’s playing his part for the alliance. I’m a job to him.
A task to accomplish in order to keep the business running smoothly between our families.
None of this has been genuine. Not in the way that I was feeling it.
A sob leaps from my chest, and I slap my hand over my mouth to smother it.
Hurriedly, I turn and run back to my room, slipping through the door and quietly closing it behind me.
Each little moment flashing through my mind, each smile, each stolen touch that teased me, it was nothing more than him handling me. Like he has to babysit me. I’m a burden.
I can’t believe I was stupid enough to think it was more than that.