I’m probably suffocating him, and he doesn’t care—he devours me like it’s his last meal on earth. Suddenly, he pulls away, fumbles with his pants, and enters me with a single thrust.
“Dimitri!” I scream, and his eyes shine with pride.
“Yes. Scream my name,” he growls. “Scream it.”
His pounding grows harder, and I scream his name again.
“Yes,” he hisses.
I cling to his arm as he thrusts deeper with every slam. When he leans down, capturing my nipple in his warm mouth through my silk dress, I shatter. He follows shortly after.
When it’s over, I feel marked—not by pain, but by the quiet certainty of his presence, the unspoken claim he’s laid over me. Safe, for the first time in my life.
He tilts his head, eyes searching mine. “Are you okay?”
I nod. “I am.”
He leans down and presses a gentle kiss to my forehead. “Vivian…you scared me today. Please don’t ever do that again.”
I hum softly, letting him feel my reassurance.
He continues, voice low, almost trembling. “I messed up. You were never supposed to be anywhere near that press conference. This is the second time I’ve put you in harm’s way, and I can’t forgive myself for it.”
I reach for him. “You have to forgive yourself. It wasn’t your fault. It was mine.”
His hand closes around mine, fingers warm and firm. “Promise me,” he says, “no more interfering in my missions. Don’t ask to be included. I would have to say no, and I…I hate saying no to you.”
I squeeze his hand, understanding without words.
After a moment, I whisper, “What do you think…is our next step?”
He doesn’t answer right away, and I tilt my head, letting a soft giggle escape. “I’m not planning to get in trouble,” I add quickly. “I just…I want to be aware. I want to know.”
His eyes flick to mine, sharp and calculating, then soften. “We caught one of the killers,” he says finally. “But he didn’t give us anything valuable. Everything he told us…we already knew.”
I let out a slow breath, feeling some of the tension drain from my chest. “I trust you,” I say quietly. “I trust you to keep us safe.”
He presses a thumb to the back of my hand, a small, grounding gesture. “Then stay close,” he murmurs. “Don’t go anywhere. Please.”
And in that moment, I realize it’s not just about survival anymore. It’s about us—about holding on to each other while the world burns around us.
“I won’t.”
Dimitri leans his head against my shoulder, voice low and almost vulnerable. “I told myself this was revenge,” he murmurs. “But I think…it’s already my ruin.”
I don’t answer. I simply brush my fingers along his cheek, tracing the sharp line of his jaw, letting him feel the comfort and warmth I can give.
Eventually, sleep comes for both of us, slow and unbroken, wrapped in each other’s arms. The world outside can wait. Here, in this room, we exist only for one another.
Chapter 21 – Dimitri
I wake to another series of knocks at the door, groaning before I even untangle myself from Vivian. Every time I’m woken like this, it never ends with good news.
I press a quick kiss to her forehead, murmuring, “I’ll be right back,” and head for the door. Sylvester stands there, looking like he’s already aged a decade.
“What is it?” I demand.
“Can we talk in your study?” he says, urgency lacing his tone.
