Page 16 of Dancing With Desire

The waiter approaches with three glass bottles of water. He stares at Dmitry before nervously smiling. “Sir, would you like a chair so you can join this table?”

“No, thank you. I’m dining alone. I have a table booked already,” he says, and my heart stutters. The waiter gives a slight nod and rushes off after placing the water down. “Enjoy your meal,” Dmitry adds and turns to walk away.

“You could,” says Marshall, and I glare at him. “Join us,” he adds, like that needs clarifying.

Dmitry turns back but shakes his head. “No, but thank you, Marshall. Place the bill on my tab,” he adds, turning to leave again.

“I feel bad,” Phoebe whispers. I don’t tell her that I do too. “He’s all alone.”

“Dmitry chooses when to surround himself and when to be alone. He’s here alone by choice, not because he doesn’t have anyone,” I say, taking a bottle of water and unscrewing the cap. I look back to where Dmitry is sitting and find him staring directly at me. I blush, hating he caught me, and turn back to empty my bottle of water into the glass.

We order food, and I’m relieved when it comes out quickly. Phoebe and Marshall spend the meal chatting like old friends, and I feel like a spare part. I finish what I can manage of my steak and throw the napkin on the plate. “I need the bathroom,” I mutter, but they don’t notice because they’re so engaged in chat. I roll my eyes and head for the ladies’ room.

A few minutes pass before Dmitry pushes the door open, filling the doorway and glaring at my reflection in the mirror. “Dmitry,” I begin, about to protest, but he closes the gap between us and wraps an arm around my waist. I inhale sharply as our eyes meet in the mirror. My reaction to his touch is instant, and I lean my back against his front. “Please,” I almost whisper.

“Please what?” he murmurs, pressing his lips to the side of my head and inhaling deeply. His eyes briefly close before meeting mine again. “I hate this,” he adds. “Being apart from you is killing me.” His hand slides to my stomach and he leaves it there with his fingers splayed out over my non-existent bump. “Forgive me, please.”

“It’s not that simple,” I mutter, breaking eye contact to stare down at the basin. “You shouldn’t be in here.”

“We’re in the same fucking restaurant, Victoria, and you can’t even look at me,” he hisses. “How long can this go on?”

I turn in his arms and gently push against his chest until he steps back. I welcome the space because his touch is all-consuming. “Let’s not do this.”

He sighs heavily, placing his hands on his hips and allowing his head to hang like he’s defeated. “You came to dinner in tracksuit bottoms,” he says, a slight smile pulling at his lips.

I glance down at the joggers and smile too. “I have bruises all over my face, so I don’t think people are looking at my attire.”

The sadness is back in his expression. “You’re too thin,” he adds, almost as an afterthought, and as if to prove his point, he hooks a finger in my loose waistband and gently runs it along the material, occasionally brushing my stomach. “Is everything okay with the baby?” I nod. “And you, are you feeling okay?”

I shrug. “Tired. Sick. Worried.”

He slowly nods, still not meeting my eyes. “They’ll pay, mykrasota.”

“I don’t doubt it.”

“They think I don’t know what they’ve done.”

“You haven’t told them?” I ask, frowning. He shakes his head. “So, they’re still walking around free?”

He finally looks at me. “For now, Victoria.”

“Why?” I ask, struggling to see why the hell he’s not told them he knows. I at least thought they’d be in hiding. “Are they on the run?”

“No. I need permission.”

“From whom?” I snap, feeling that familiar panic mixed with anger.

“The families,” he says on a sigh. He rubs his brow, and I feel the stress pouring from him.

“Great. So, I’m out here like a sitting duck?”

“No, that’s why Marshall is sticking around.”

“Really? Because he’s practically eye-fucking my best friend out there. Have you noticed he’s not come to check on me and I’ve been gone a few minutes?”

“He saw me follow you,” he admits. “Look, Marshall will keep you safe, and like you said, they’re not going to kill you in the street.”

“You told me that wasn’t for sure. I assumed they’d be hiding from you, Dmitry. Will they be looking for me?”

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