Daniil chuckled. “I would imagine after that article, you’re going to have a full house filled with interesting…individuals…although you may have lost some of the old. I would start preparing your sermon. Lots of lost souls will be entering your doors.”
Dad actually beamed. “I love a challenge.”
Daniil grinned, smacking him on the back…and Dad actually kept his footing. “There is light in the darkness.”
Dad chuckled, shaking his head, stating, “Just keep my daughter and grandbabies alive, and leave the preaching to the professionals.”
Daniil laughed, nodding
What. Had. Just. Happened?
“Daniil, can I speak with you?” I asked loudly over the noise.
He glanced at me, his face turning serious again, seeing my expression. “My study?”
“Yes,” I nodded, grabbing another bit of cheese from his plate before walking out of the room, going directly toward his study…where we had spent a lot of our time working through our ‘issues.’ As soon as we entered, and he shut the door, I rounded on him, stating bluntly, “You didn’t even ask me if I wanted to move in here. You just assumed it because the world knows I’m carrying your love child, and because of some idiot calling me. I understand you’re freaked out. I understand I’m in danger and so are my parents. But, Daniil…you have to ask me instead of just going around barking demands like some damn alpha dog. The end result may be the same, but you still need to ask!” I heaved in a breath, having said that all in one go.
Daniil leaned against the door, giving me room, my instant pissed off fury filling the room around us. “Beth, my sweet—” Daniil started to say calmly and slowly, but I cut him off.
“Don’t give me that ‘my sweet’ bullshit right now. I’m not going to be placated with simpering words. I want a damn apology and a promise you won’t do that again. You can’t just order me around! Hell, even if we did fall madly in love with one another and got married, I still wouldn’t want you ordering me around. I’ve already told you, I’m not that type of woman!”
Daniil’s nose crinkled, and his eyebrows snapped together. “I’m not going to apologize for keeping you and your family safe.” There. At least, he was done with the endearment bullshit right now. We were getting somewhere.
“You will. And it’s not for trying to keep us safe. It’s for your damn domineering ways.” I pointed at the ground. “Right now, you’re going to apologize, or you can protect my ass from some other place. I won’t put up with this. I’m not lower than you. I’m not less than you. If we’re going to have a relationship when we’re alone together, we’re equal.”
I wasn’t stupid enough to think of myself as an equal to him in the public’s eye…well, because I wasn’t. Status, money, society…yeah, he had a lot more than me in every materialistic way. Sadly, there was a ladder in the world, and he was more than a few rungs higher than I was on it. But he was polite enough never to mention those things, and I knew he would never demean me in public. Hell, he was pissed when my parents had done it.
Daniil opened his mouth with that same damn look on his face, and I held up a hand, stating bluntly, “Think before whatever is about to come out of your mouth.”
His mouth snapped shut and he tried glaring at me. Didn’t really work as well as it used to. “If you keep that up, you’re going to…” I pointed at my eyes and forehead, “…get wrinkles faster.” I almost laughed when his expression immediately cleared. He was so vain.
He started pacing, his strides long and brisk. “We can compromise on this.”
“Explain,” I stated slowly since he sounded reasonable.
“First, I’m sorry for not asking you if you wanted to live here. I assumed that we,” his hand gestured to me and then him, “had moved on to a deeper level this week. Apparently, I was wrong.”
He sounded a little downhearted at that thought, and I told him honestly, “You aren’t wrong on that. I agree. We have moved into a deeper relationship, but it just proves my point that if we keep going, I want you to ask, not assume.”
Daniil nodded slowly. “Good. My apology stands.” He stopped pacing and glanced at me. “Beth, would you please move in with me?”
I nodded once curtly. He had given me what I needed. “Yes, I will.” Sleeping next to him every night? Seeing him every morning and night? Not really a hardship.
He started pacing again. “Now, for the always asking issue. I’m not really used to that.”
Deciding to finally bring this up, I asked slowly, “Did your late wife really let you boss her around?” He never said anything about her. I didn’t know how to take that. He had spent a large portion of his life with her, and not one word other than how she died had he ever said.
Daniil stilled. “You’re nothing like her.” I heard him mutter under his breath, “Thank God.”And he started pacing again.
I didn’t say anything then because I finally got my first clue, things weren’t perfect between them. Not a subject I wanted to touch right now. It wasn’t the time for that.
Daniil said slowly, “I will compromise that if your life is not in immediate danger, I will ask first about routine issues.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I’m a born protector and leader, Beth. I always have been. That’s who I am. I can’t just stop that part of me.” He stopped and faced me. “That’s what I can give on the compromise.”
He stared, and I nibbled at my lip, asking, “What about if I’m just threatened. Will you ask me what I want to have done to the person threatening me? The person would be coming for me, after all. I should have a say in their outcome.” Poppy seeds were dancing in my mind. I sure as hell hadn’t gotten a say in that.
Daniil scowled, and I didn’t comment because it actually appeared he was thinking this through before barking out ano. He growled, “You want a say in their welfare?”
“Yes.”
