Page 28 of Dimitri

“Are you all right?” Dimitri asked, his hand warm on my bare shoulder.

I rubbed my forehead. “I ache in places I didn’t know was possible. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever hurt like this before.”

“I asked for advice this morning. A warlock’s first fertile period is usually the most intense.”

Fertile period? What Dimitri had told me about it not being the first Sunday made sense now. “How long?”

“Five days. It came on suddenly and hit you hard. Your brother has called your family in Madrid to let them know what has happened. At least the basics. He also brought all of your things over from the cabin you were in off of the mountain.”

I nodded. I would need to call my family in Madrid. I didn’t want to, but there was no getting out of it.

“I need the bathroom,” I said when my body told me it had been a while.

“Do you want me to carry you?”

I looked at Dimitri, surprised. Memories came flooding into my mind just then, and he had absolutely carried me to and fromthe bathroom over the past several days. He also sat with me in the oversized tub and bathed me while I went in and out of consciousness.

“I think my legs will work,” I told him.

Dimitri nodded, then stood before reaching for the covers. I realized I was naked in the bed, wondering how I’d somehow missed that before. I honestly didn’t care. I usually slept naked at home and didn’t really have plans to suddenly become shy.

Dimitri helped me to my feet, and as I started my trek toward the bathroom, he followed, staying right beside me in case my legs decided to give out. It was a good thing because when I was within reaching distance of the doorframe, they started shaking. My sexy dragon carefully picked me up without even a grunt and carried me the rest of the way to the bathroom. He set me on my feet in front of the toilet, something I was grateful for.

“I’ll be just outside in the bedroom,” he said. Dimitri kissed my nose before he turned. Instead of leaving right away, he walked over to the tub and turned on the faucet, then left the bathroom. A long soak in hot, soothing water sounded perfect right now, and it touched me that he’d thought of me enough to do that before he left to give me some privacy.

I took care of business, brushed my teeth, and then climbed into the tub. I winced at first but sighed when the hot water started to work its magic. I had just leaned back in the tub and closed my eyes when Dimitri returned to the bathroom.

“I hope the water is to your satisfaction.”

I peeked one eye open before closing it again. “It’s wonderful. The only thing that would make the soak more enjoyable would be to have you behind me with your arms wrapped around me.”

I heard Dimitri’s sweats drop to the floor and leaned forward. He stepped in behind me, and then the water level rose significantly when he settled in behind me. I sighed when I leaned back and his arms wrapped around me. The watercontinued to rise and was getting to the point it should be turned off, but I couldn’t be bothered to move out of Dimitri’s arms, so I used magic.

“Has it seriously been a week?”

“Yes. My dedushka knew I had met you, as did Rainier. I am certain that all is sorted.” Dimitri kissed the side of my head before he leaned back and relaxed.

“I don’t want to go back to Madrid. I know what will be waiting for me, and it’s completely irresponsible, but all I want to do is hide out here with you.”

“I can take time and go with you. There is absolutely nobody at the council that will say anything to me about taking time off.”

I wanted that. Although he was probably correct with who his grandparents were, I did not want Dimitri to face any sort of resentment from the other enforcers. I knew Sebastian would never be an issue; neither would Benjamin or Frederick. But I did not know any of the other enforcers beyond what my brother and cousins had said in passing.

“Just a few hours a day. That’s all I’m going to go for. One week, maybe two. Beyond that, my father will have to figure things out. My life is here with you now.” I knew Dimitri was going to struggle. Rather, his dragon would struggle with me being so far away. But I would absolutely return to him in a moment if he started to have issues that he could not control. In my eyes, that did not make him any less than. Alphas were different.

“How are you feeling?”

I took a moment to take stock of every part of me. My head was still throbbing but was slowly getting better. The rest of me ached, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as it had been even ten minutes ago.

“I’m doing okay. My head is throbbing, and I’m trying to figure out if it’s because I need something to drink, or do I need more sleep? I thought I had been sleeping though, right?”

“Ja. You pulled away from me yesterday afternoon.”

Yesterday afternoon? “What time is it?”

“Almost time for lunch.”

Oh, food. That sounded wonderful. “You mentioned Sebastian. Do you know what our parents said to him, if anything?”

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