Page 41 of Dancing With Distraction

“It’s still my home,” she snaps.

I sigh, sitting down and taking her hands. “I don’t want this to be a battle, Tori.” I find using her preferred name softens her. “Whatever your brother’s done to make you terrified, it concerns me. I just saw your friend out in the hall, and when he yelled her name, she looked just as terrified. He’s clearly got some kind of hold on women?—”

“Wait, he’s here?” she asks, jumping up.

“See, there you go again, looking petrified.”

“You have to go,” she says in a hushed voice. “Right now.”

“No.”

“Please, Dmitry, now is not the time to play games. If he finds you here, my life will be over.”

I head for the door. “Maybe I’ll just go right up there now and ask him why the fuck you’re so scared?”

She rushes at me, grabbing my arm and yanking me back. I spin, grabbing her throat until she stills. “Pack your shit, we’re leaving.”

Tori

We drive in complete silence as Dmitry weaves through the London traffic. Even at night, it’s busy, proving it lives up to its name as the city that never sleeps.

The tension between us is thick enough to cut with a knife, but I’m pissed he’s demanded I leave my home. I glance over, noting his knuckles are white from his death grip on the steering wheel. He’s clearly trying his hardest to manage his own emotions, and I know how he feels. Things suddenly seem very real and serious between us.

This man has come into my life, turned it upside down, and now, I feel like I can’t even breathe without him. I’ve never relied on anyone, and all of a sudden, I’m putting my trust in someone I hardly know. It gives me a mix of uncertain emotions.

I stare out the window, watching the streetlights pass us by. I’m apprehensive about Marcus’s reaction to me not being home when he calls. His behaviour has escalated recently, and on top of that, I’m supposed to be visiting my parents this weekend with him. I hate the thought of him going alone and harming Poppy to spite me.

I’m so preoccupied in my thoughts that I don’t realise we’ve pulled into an underground car park. Dmitry leans over the console and squeezes my knee reassuringly. “You’ll love it here.” He rubs circles on my inner thigh with his thumb and it sends a thrill shooting to my core.

I square my shoulders, knowing I need to hold onto my resolve. “It’s not like I have any fucking choice, is it?” I spit angrily. Deep down, I’m grateful for the reprieve he’s offering me, and I know he’s trying to keep me safe, but I feel conflicted not knowing if this will make my situation better or worse. A small part of me is relieved I won’t bump into Phoebe over the next few days, but I already know Marcus is going to lose his mind. And there’s that nagging voice in my head, repeating what Dmitry said to me in the very beginning. ‘It will come to an end.’ And then what? I will just have to go home and face the music alone?

I push Dmitry’s hand away and get out the car myself, knowing this will infuriate him. I don’t want him to feel like I’m depending on him for anything, not even to open my door.

Slamming the car door harder than I need to just to make a point, I stomp away, not knowing where the hell I’m going. I hear him running up behind me, then he grabs my wrist and sparks ignite inside my stomach. It was a mistake letting him get contact.

“Tori,” he murmurs, his tone pleading. My name rolls off his tongue and it makes me melt a little. “Just listen to me for once and stop being so fucking stubborn. I need to know you’re safe, and from the look on your face every time I mention your brother, that isn’t possible while you’re in that bedsit.”

I snatch my wrist away and run my hands over my tired face, suddenly feeling exhausted. Dmitry wraps his arms around me and pulls me against him. I love when he’s so delicate with me, just as much as I love when he controls and dominates me. I breathe in his aftershave, and it calms me. I feel safe and protected, which is everything I’ve ever wanted. So, why am I acting like a petulant child?

“Okay,” I finally whisper. He holds me at arm’s length and takes a good look at my face. Then he takes my hand and leads me towards the elevator without another word, as if his speaking may trigger another protest to fall from my lips.

We step inside, and he places a card against the reader before pressing for the top floor. We stay silent as it rises, and when we step out into a hall showing just one door, I find myself wondering how much this place is going to cost me.

Dmitry opens the front door and hands me the set of keys. Lights turn on automatically as we step into the space, and I come to a stop, looking around in complete awe. This place is like a five-star apartment compared to my little bedsit. The main living space is open-plan, with a kitchen and lounge area that is triple the size of my whole living space back home.

The ceilings are high and there’s floor-to-ceiling windows that look out over the London city skyline. I can see the streetlights glistening against the black night sky and the twinkling captivates me, taking my breath away.

Running my hand over the cold marble work surfaces of the kitchen area, I marvel at the incredible appliances that put my own to shame. I feel Dmitry’s eyes watching me as I turn around and offer him a weak smile. “It’s beautiful, but I can’t afford this. It must be about six times what I pay for my poky little cupboard.”

Dmitry stalks towards me, lifting me at the waist and placing me onto the work surface with ease, standing between my open legs.

“You don’t need to pay rent, Victoria. This was my idea. See this as part of our arrangement. The apartment belongs to me and is just sitting empty. I only use it when I need to escape and have some time to myself. And nobody knows about it, so you won’t be bothered. It will give me peace of mind knowing you’re safe.”

I raise my eyebrows. “So, I’m like your dirty little secret?”

“No, not at all. I’ll still honour your privacy and your rule of not entering your home uninvited. Let this be your home.”

I see the torment in his eyes and I sigh out loud. “It won’t hurt to clear my head for a few days, so I’ll stay here for now, but this can’t be permanent.”

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