Chapter 33: Chapter 33

Blair

Dimitri unlocked the door to his apartment, making me mentally thank him for having finally arrived. We boarded the flight to Istanbul late in the morning and had a very smooth flight, but as I looked out the window of the plane as we were about to land, I knew I hadn't wrapped up warm enough!

About an hour and a half after landing at Pulkovo International Airport, going through a particular nightmare with immigration and almost freezing on the way, I felt happy to be welcomed into the warmth of my boyfriend's apartment.

Dimitri closed the door behind me as I took in every detail of a place I knew only virtually. The living room was quite large for an apartment, painted in a light color, the furniture was mostly straight and in shades of dark blue and black. The place didn't have many decorations — unlike my apartment that was filled with the most diverse souvenirs from the countries I visited — but still, it was impossible to notice the good taste behind everything. On the wall opposite the entrance door was a large window, with the view I envied so many times.

I can't believe I'm here!

" What did you think? " his voice interrupted my contemplation.

" It's huge. It's double, or even triple my loft," I stammered.

On the left side of the room you could see the kitchen integrated with a dining room through the open door, on the right side there were two closed doors that must have been where the bedrooms were.

" It cost me a lot of money, but I really like it here," he declared with a small proud smile on his face.

I could see in his eyes how much he liked this place, and it made my heart squeeze as I remembered our conversation in Istanbul.

I love him, I know that, but I can't imagine changing my whole life for this feeling. And he obviously thinks the same. How can our relationship work like this?

" Is there a problem? " Dimitri came closer, kissing my cheek.

I mentally recriminated myself for being in such a negative frame of mind while he was so happy that I was there, and in a way, I was also happy that I had accepted his invitation.

" Well, I probably froze on the way here " I decided to put my anxieties aside and enjoy my stay.

His laughter filled the room, before he wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling my body into his. I closed my eyes and kissed him back, silencing all those uncertainties that screamed in my mind. I was happy and needed to enjoy every second of that feeling.

I brought my hands to the back of his neck, groaning against his lips as his hands roamed over my body before he pulled away.

" I know exactly what you need.”

A wave of excitement ran through my body at his words, but to my surprise, he pulled away.

" Stay here," Dimitri instructed before disappearing through one of the doors.

I opened my mouth to object, but decided to wait to find out what he was planning. A few minutes passed and he didn't return, making me curious.

" Dimitri? " I went to the door where he disappeared before, finding a neatly arranged bedroom that followed the same design line as his living room.

The room was empty, but the noise coming from one of the doors indicated where he was. To confirm my suspicion, he appeared in the doorway with a neutral expression.

" Tell me something, do you prefer Jasmine or Lavender?”

" What?”

" Jasmine or Lavender? " he insisted.

" What are you up to?”

" Just answer the question.”

" Lavender" I gave up arguing.

He disappeared back into the room, leaving me behind. I took a deep breath, waiting for him to return, just as I was about to go over, Dimitri hurried back.

" I'm almost done, don't move," he instructed me, running towards the kitchen.

" Dimitri!”

I shouted as he ran past me once again with a lighter in his hands.

" Just a minute! " he replied without even interrupting his path.

This Russian has gone crazy!

Dimitri didn't take long to return this time, looking pleased with the outcome of whatever he was up to.

" Come on," he held my hand, leading me toward the door.

" What did you do? " I stared at him suspiciously.

" I just made you something to warm yourself up," he shrugged.

I looked into a candle-lit bathroom. The tub was full, with lots of bubbles, and a soft lavender scent hung in the air.

" Wow, Dimitri! This is amazing.”

He started to get rid of my clothes little by little, with a satisfied smile on his face.

" Well, I have everything planned for the rest of the day. So let's enjoy it," he winked at me, beginning to shed his own clothes while I put my hair up.

Soon the two of us were together in the tub, and I was nestled between Dimitri's legs, my head resting on his chest, enjoying the whole situation.

" So, you say you have everything planned? " I asked with my eyes closed.

" Yes, I planned it all before I left for Istanbul," he kissed my cheek.

That information surprised me, and I turned my face to face him.

" Really?”

" Yes.”

" What if I hadn't agreed to come with you?”

I found his confidence amusing. Was he so sure that I would forgive him and still agree to come to Russia?

" In that case I would go back home and spend the day alone watching movies," he shrugged.

" Let me guess, you would watch a cheesy romance and eat ice cream to heal your broken heart," I teased, making him laugh.

" Of course not, it would be a movie with lots of explosions, like.. Die Hard” He assured.

" Ah yes, something very manly.”

Dimitri took a moment of distraction to steal a kiss, silencing any jokes I might still have about it.  As soon as he pulled away I kept my eyes closed and a silly smile on my face.

My boyfriend is wonderful. There is no other adjective to describe him.

" So, tell me what our schedule is for today," I asked, resuming our previous position.

" As soon as you're warmed up, I've planned a romantic dinner, so let's order something, and…”

" Hey, you said you'd cook for me naked," I turned around to face him again.

" Blair, about that, the closest thing I know how to do in the kitchen is noodles with mushrooms and smetana. And the process is basically boiling water, cooking the noodles, adding the mushrooms and seasoning," he frowned.

I stared at him dumbfounded for a second, feigning surprise.

" You fooled me, I swore you could cook.”

" You did? " he raised one eyebrow.

" I can call and order.”

" We're great at that then," Dimitri laughed at my answer.

" But you promised to cook for me naked!”

He was thoughtful for a moment before coming up with a solution.

" Well, if you want, I can answer the door naked, but I'm not sure how that reception would be interpreted by the delivery guy," he returned with amusement.

I couldn't help but laugh at this answer, wondering what the poor delivery man's reaction to such a reception would be.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time together and all the programming Dimitri had done. He ordered sushi and answered the door properly dressed, to my delight, since it was a woman who delivered the food.

We were settled on his bed a little after midnight, having watched the fireworks display promoted by a shopping center in the area that decided to bring the celebration forward by one day.

I tilted my face, resting my chin on Dimitri's chest, he was staring into the void with a calm expression, and soon a small smile appeared on his lips, making me curious.

" What was it?”

" What? " he stared back at me.

" You're laughing to yourself," I clarified.

" Ahh yes, I was just thinking, when Mitchell gave me your number I had no idea I would fall in love with you," he explained with a half smile.

My heart warmed at that statement, silencing once and for all the voice in my conscience, which was screaming that we would never work together.

" And what did you imagine?”

I sat down, facing him.

" I imagined it would be like all the others, but after talking to you I knew it would be impossible.”

" Like all the others? Does this mean that you usually date flight attendants? " I raised both eyebrows, giving him a questioning look.

Dimitri sat up in bed as well, seeming to be amused by my reaction.

" No, that means that I used to get involved with flight attendants casually," he corrected me.

" And you tell me this? " I stared at him incredulously.

" What's the problem? We didn't even know each other, or do you want me to lie to you?”

" Well, in that matter, yes! I'm your girlfriend, I'd rather not know the sordid details of your single life, in fact, I'd rather think it didn't exist! " I tried to remain serious, but from the expression on his face, I had failed miserably.

He put his hand on my lower back, pulling me toward him.

" I'm sorry, let's start over. I went out with absolutely no one after Olga, I was alone for two years until you came along and lit up my life," he sneered.

I couldn't help but be amused by his reaction, deciding to go that way.

" That's better, although you could have left that salope rousse out.”

" Salope rousse?”

I merely winked at him, receiving a restrained laugh in return. That's when my mind caught on to a detail.

" Wait, when you said you were involved with flight attendants and asked me out for coffee, what did you expect would happen?”

" What do you think? I was abstinent for two years, remember? " he laughed, much to my indignation.

I grabbed the pillow, hitting him repeatedly on the head as he continued to laugh.

In one swift motion he snatched the pillow from my hand, throwing me to the mattress and immobilizing me with the weight of his body before silencing my protests with a kiss. I struggled to free my arms, bringing my hands to the back of his neck as soon as I was free, enjoying every inch of his body that was pressing against mine.

" Know that you were lucky, I don't get involved with pilots," I murmured, my lips still pressed against his.

" What? " he lifted his body, pulling away to take a closer look at me.

" I don't usually date pilots. In fact, I try to keep as much distance as possible.”

That statement seemed to surprise him; he was watching me with a frown.

" And why was that? " he sat up, looking curious for an answer.

" Well, I don't want to have the reputation of sleeping with my superiors in search of benefits. So I stay away from pilots and commanders," I shrugged.

Dimitri was thoughtful for a few seconds before he spoke again.

" I never thought about it.”

" You don't have to," I lay down beside him again.

" And why did you go out with me then?”

" We don't work in the same company, I didn't see any conflict of interest," I explained.

That comment seemed to have put an end to the subject and we decided to enjoy the rest of our evening in a more pleasant way.