Page 3 of Spring Awakening

As she pulled away, she patted my chest and instructed. “Go shower. I will finish your basket. If Dina is meant to be yours, she will be.” As she turned her attention to the basket, I left the kitchen and headed for my bedroom.

~~*~~

At four, I found Dina reading and waiting for me. “You look so beautiful,” I complimented as I took her her lavender colored dress that flowed from her tiny waist down to the ground.

“Thank you,” she smiled shyly at me.

Taking her hand in mine, I placed a tender kiss on her knuckles. “Come, we have a picnic waiting for us.” I led Dina to a large hill that overlooked the town in the beautiful afternoon sun. Just as I told her, a blanket lay on the grass with a picnic basket waiting for us. Just as I’d set up.

“Oh, Ivan, this is beautiful! I never knew this hill existed.” We settled on the blanket, comfortably sitting side by side. “I can’t believe you set this all up. How did you know this was my idea of a perfect date? Are you a mind-reader, Mr. Baranov?”

I chuckled at her serious and suspicious look. “Ms. Johnson, I would never dare. I simply hoped you’d enjoy this with me. I’m not very good at dating. Before moving to Wintervale, I couldn’t imagine wanting to do something like this. Seeing you this morning, it was all I could think about.”

Leaning close, I captured her lips in a tender kiss that quickly turned passionate as she sighed in happiness and her mouth opened to grant me entrance. I pressed in closer and deepened the kiss, claiming her mouth. A streak of heat vibrated through my body as my hands came around her waist and pulled her tightly into my lap.

Dina pulled back and, wearing a flushed look, caressed my face with her fingers, “Ivan, I don’t understand what I am feeling. This is crazy.”

“Zhizn moya, tell me what you’re feeling? Please.” I held her close as I waited for what she would say to me, hoping she felt as I did.

“I just met you and I feel as if I’ve been waiting for you and just you. That I’ve always had love in my heart that was yours and yours alone. It’s ridiculous, isn’t it?”

“May I tell you a short story?” She nodded as she looked at me with a bit of fear, as if I was ever going to turn her away. “My cousin, Konstantin, lived a hard life learning to be head of the family. Family is everything. To escape endless conflict, Konstantin moved the family to the US. Setting up a new life, learning a new way to live wasn’t easy, but with his leadership, we survived and thrived.

“The elders wanted him to get married, to have an heir. Over and over, they tried to match him with different women. Each time he said no. I once asked if he had never wanted to marry. He told me he did, but only to the one that made his heart sing.

“I remember scoffing at that, thinking it was just another excuse for not getting married. Then he met Gianna, a cousin of his friend. He married her immediately. I was shocked. Sure, he was making a huge mistake; after all, he didn’t know her at all.

“When I next saw him, I realized I’d never seen him happier than he was then. He told me, ‘Vanya, all it took was looking into her eyes and I knew she was meant for me, that she was my everything. One day you’ll find the woman meant for you and you’ll just know. I doubted until the moment I first saw you in that diner. As ridiculous as it may seem, in my heart and soul, Iknow that you are meant to be mine. That you are the owner of my heart.”

She leaned forward, wrapped her arms around my neck, and hid her face in my neck. I held her as neither of us said anything for several long moments. Then Dina pulled back and looked into my eyes as she leaned closer. So close that our lips were breaths apart. “Ivan, I want to know everything about you because it feels as if I love you truly,” she said against my lips.

I held her close and kissed her with a passion that grew stronger with each moment. I nearly devoured her mouth in an effort to share my innermost feelings with her..

~~*~~

Mama had already gone to bed to give us privacy as I brought Dina into our home. One day, very soon, I hoped that it would be her home as well. I held her hand and pulled her inside. Before I could say anything to her, my instinct immediately told me something wasn’t right. I left the lights off as I turned to Dina and whispered into her ear. “Do not leave my side and be as quiet as a mouse.”

I saw her eyes widen in surprise and confusion, but she nodded as her grip on my hand tightened. I wanted to kiss her, tell her it was just me being silly. As I nearly did that, I heard the sound of glass breaking.

My eyes had already adjusted to the darkness of the room. I needed Dina to be safe. Looking around the room quickly, I silently opened a closet door and placed my lips by her ears. “Hide.” Kissing her quickly, I closed the door and hid in the shadows of the room. As a man appeared, wearing all black andnight vision goggles, I grabbed hold of him and snapped his neck without a second thought.

I knew more would be coming. How did they find me? Every time I spoke with Kostya, we used a secure line. The house and vehicles were new. Could there be a mole, or had they been tracking me since we left? Just as I was considering messaging my cousin, two assassins appeared. That should be easy enough, as the two idiots decided to face off with me. I pulled out two of my long, thin knives that I kept hidden on me and held one in each hand and readied myself with a smirk.

They circled me as I thought about the fact that they were these two who thought they could beat me. They were overconfident, and their movements were sloppy. With one swift slice, I embedded my knife into the neck of one, hitting the carotid artery perfectly. I quickly pulled it free and smiled wickedly as blood spurted across the room. I watched with satisfaction as he collapsed to the ground, his hands trying to staunch the flow of blood.

That was one down. Now I needed to take care of the second asshole finding out who they were. This one was more of a fight as he pulled back his overconfidence once he realized that I was known as “The Beast” for a reason. We moved and clashed as I enjoyed toying with him. With each move I made, I left behind slashes that went through his protection and clothing. Blood dripped from multiple spots.

One of his strikes got close, resulting in only a small cut on my arm. Still, it pissed me off. I was done stalling. With one swift movement, I was behind the idiot and slicing his neck open. Suddenly, lights illuminated the room, and Mama stood on the steps with a bat and my gun. “Is that all? I didn’t hear many.”

I took my gun from her and said in Russian, “Dina is in the closet. Take her to the safe room while I secure the house. Whether or not you want it, Mama, you know Kostya will insist on security now.”

With a scowl, Mama nodded and opened the closet door. Dina stood wide-eyed as she looked at my blood-covered clothes before noticing the dead bodies. “I-Ivan, what is happening? Sh-should I call the police?”

Placing a tender kiss on her temple, I ordered, “Go with Mama. I’ll be right back.” I watched as Mama took her hand and led my woman towards the safe room. I just prayed she would want to see me again after this. I’m not sure I would if roles were reversed.

Chapter 4

Ivan

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