Page 16 of Paid for By the Bratva

"Out on a date,” he shrugs.

For some reason, even the thought of him being on a date with someone else feels intrusive, like it doesn’t belong in my mind. “Are you…seeing someone, though?” I ask, suddenly nervous. He married me to keep us safe, but I never even asked if he was in a relationship. How the hell is he going to explain this toher?

He turns and leans against the railing, looking directly at me. I avert my gaze, suddenly feeling shy.

“I’m not,” he drawls, looking amused.

“Oh,” I clear my throat as relief washes over me.

“And you?”

I snort. “Like my brothers would ever let me!”

“True,” he chuckles.

A comfortable silence washes over us, a million questions playing on my mind. And yet, each one seems too preposterous to ask.

But then, Dima does something soDima.I’ve come to understand him as an observant person, and once again, he proves me right.

“You know,” he begins. “We’re meant to get to know one another. Whatever questions you have, they’re better let out than in.”

I sigh with relief and turn back to face him. “Have you…” I ask reluctantly. “How many serious relationships have you had?”

“One,” he says without skipping a beat. “A girl called Missy in sixth grade. I thought I was in love, but she left me for a guy called Charlie. Since then, none. There have been women here and there, but none serious. Nikolai was all alone, and he needed all the support he could get.”

I listen intently, feeling a sense of relief, knowing that Dima didn’t have to sacrifice a lot in wanting to protect me. Soon enough, he’s the one asking me questions and I answer in all honesty. I find myself wanting to share a part of myself with him, to bridge the gap between us even further.

***

"Have you ever tried ice skating?" he asks out of the blue one afternoon, his voice laced with amusement.

"Uh, no," I admit, chuckling at the random question. "I'm pretty clumsy, so I've always avoided it."

"Clumsy, huh?" He grins, raising an eyebrow. "Well, I think it's time to conquer your fears. There's a rink nearby. What do you say?"

"Are you serious?" I laugh, feeling a nervous flutter in my stomach. "You're not afraid I'll break something?"

"Even if you do, I'll be there to catch you," he says, his tone teasing but sincere.

"Fine," I concede, rolling my eyes playfully. "But don't say I didn't warn you."

"Deal," he replies with a smile before guiding me toward the elevator.

As we make our way to the ice rink, I find myself stealing glances at him, noticing the way his eyes light up when he talks about his favorite hockey team or the gentle curve of his smile when he laughs at my jokes. I can’t help but notice that when he laughs, I can forget about how intimidating he looks. His scars, tattoos, and strength all fade away in comparison to that boyish charm.

Dima helps me lace up my skates, his fingers brushing mine as we work together. A warm shiver runs down my spine, and I can't help but feel grateful for his patience and understanding. I went into this arrangement feeling trapped, but now I realize that he genuinely cares for my well-being.

"Ready?" he asks once we're both on the ice, extending a hand to steady me.

"Ready as I'll ever be," I reply, gripping his hand tightly. We glide across the ice, Dima's strong arm supporting me as I wobble and stumble. Every time I lose my balance, he's there to catch me without a second thought.

***

“Thank you for tonight,” I tell him as he drops me back home. Over the past month, we’ve built up a strong rapport, and I’ve truly started enjoying our time together.

“Anytime,” he nods gruffly. I’m about to leave the car, but he holds my hand, yanking me back. I freeze, turning to see what he wants. The way he’s looking at me right now, with an emotion I can’t quite decipher, makes my heart race. His gaze lingers on my lips, and for a fleeting moment, I think he might kiss me, but then he sits back in his seat and runs a finger through that short blonde hair. “I’ve been thinking…”

“Yeah?” I ask in a breathy whisper, a little too fast.

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