Page 91 of Darling Dmitri

When I floated down to Earth, the yelling and chants were distinct, only a foot away beyond the door. Yet, we were in our own little bubble. He nuzzled my neck, and low, sexy words in Russian glided over my skin, spreading warmth up to my cheeks. I knew not what he said, but the emotion behind it told the story.

“Move in with me,” he whispered as he trailed kisses over my jaw and chin.

“I can’t.”

“Why?”

“Because…” I stammered, reeling from his words, ashamed because I wasn’t carrying myself through school. “Because Arty already covered the lease this semester.” Although I’d received a cheerleading scholarship, there was a lot it didn’t cover. It was crazy how much housing, food, books, and all the extra costs that you had to pay besides tuition in college, especially a private college. Unless you were a supernova like Dmitri, who everyone fell over their feet to get a piece of him because he was about to take off like a rocket. Not a knock against him; I understood because it was well-deserved, and the football team made a hell of a lot of money for the university.

“You are no longer his responsibility. I’m the one who will take care of you.” His words were curt, final, leaving nothing up for debate. Gripping me harder, he pulled me closer to him. “Did he even bother to show up?” I could see how pain flashed through his eyes that he always hid, and it broke my heart to see how Dmitri and Arty’s relationship had deteriorated to the point where they weren’t speaking.

“He texted me earlier and said he would be here.” Arty had called me several times lately, trying to apologize, and I let it go to voice mail. Then, he texted me apologizing again and said he was coming to the game. “He wants to take me to dinner and talk.”

“Of course, he does, because what better way to apologize and plead your case than footing the bill for escargot and lobster on the half tail.”

“I don’t want you two to fight anymore.”

“I’m not fighting with him, but I’m not going to indulge him either.”

“I’m just so tired of all of this. I wish we could go back to the way things were. Right or wrong, Arty provided for us.”

“Yes. He did.” His throat bobbed. He caressed my cheek and gazed down at me. “But you are my home.”

Sorina

Dmitri and I went to our separate locker rooms to change. I was still floating high from my orgasm and didn’t want anything to burst my bubble. I knew I wouldn’t walk out of the locker room unscathed. Especially after showing PDA with Dmitri in front of a crowd of sixty thousand.

I marched to my locker to grab my things with an air of not fielding questions from anyone. When I had my gym bag, I saw Carly watching me, and I mouthed out, “I’ll call you.” She nodded, giving me a thumbs-up. I knew she had questions, and I’d catch up with her later.

Before I made it to the door, Julie stepped in my path. “You’re disgusting.” She hate-glared at me with arms crossed. “Rest assured, I’ll have you kicked off the squad.”

I shrugged. “Fine.” I knew my cheer days were on hold for the moment and didn’t want to risk the health of my child. I had more important things in my life than worrying about petty shit. “Do whatever makes you happy, because your perpetual resting bitch face ain’t it, sis.” I stepped around her to the door. As if I cared about whether I was on the cheer squad or not. I had bigger things to think about.

She clenched a hand on my forearm. Her nails dug into my skin. “Why don’t you go fuck your brother, you sick bitch.”

I shoved her back against the wall and got in her face. “He’s not my brother.” I raised my hand, contemplating slapping her, and she flinched. What the hell was I doing? I guess the punch I threw at my former coach felt liberating.

“You’re crazy,” she whispered, staring at me like I had two heads.

I stepped back, and for some reason, doing Axel’s two-finger salute seemed appropriate. So that’s what I did before ending it with my middle finger and strutting out of the locker room.

I passed through the stadium halls and waited by the door of the Falcon’s Nest locker room for Dmitri. I knew Arty would be outside the stadium somewhere, and Dmitri was adamant about walking out with me. When he left the locker room, we exited through the tunnel, and a large crowd of fans and families of the players were gathered around outside the stadium. I spotted Arty off in the distance, glowering at both of us. However, with Dmitri’s arms around me, it made me feel even stronger. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t afraid to fight my own battles, but it helped to have him at my side. Like we were unconquerable.

Dmitri suggested we leave if this situation was too uncomfortable, but I knew I couldn’t. “I have to face him.”

Disappointment was written all over Artynom’s face as we approached. He stood tense. “Nice game.” His words sounded like they were forced.

“Thank you,” Dmitri responded with the same tightness.

Arty shook his head and reached out a hand. “Sorina, I’m so sorry. Let’s go somewhere and talk about this.”

Dmitri clutched me against him. “She’s not going anywhere without me. If you want to explain, you need to talk to both of us.”

Artynom nudged his chin.

We were seated at a booth at the back of a local Italian restaurant. The tension among us was as thick as a heavy fog.

“Did you want to glare at us all night, or do you have something to say?” Dmitri tapped his fingers on the table.

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