Page 47 of Dimitri
"No. I'm going to need pampering as well. It's a fifty-fifty deal. Lift your arms." Leaving her on the counter, she lifted a brow as he walked over to a drawer and took out her silk bonnet. Before she could do it herself, he turned her head and was wrapping her hair and tying it into a heavy bun, before placing the bonnet over her head.
Emotions filled her, making her unsteady. Lifting her in his arms, he sat on the lip of the claw-footed tub and lowered her gently into the suds.
"Won't you join me?" she whispered, trailing a hand over his arm.
"I have to make arrangements for the food. I want you to relax." Going on his knees, he used the sponge to attend to her neck. Handing it to her, he wrapped his fingers around her throat and lifted her head.
The kiss was slow, sweet, and gentle and had her reaching for him. He had intended for it to be chaste, but when she leaned into it and parted her lips, he took it deeper until they were both drowning.
As the water lapped gently at her skin, she felt a sense of calm settling over her, the worries of the storm outside fading into the background. The warmth wrapped around her like a comforting blanket, and for a moment, everything else seemed distant and unimportant. She watched as he lingered, reluctant to break the tender silence, their connection quietly growing stronger in the soft haze of the morning.
He was the one to ease back, and the disappointment she felt was so acute, she started to protest.
"Later," he promised hoarsely. "Now you just need to relax while I take care of you."
He kissed her again, before rising. After one last lingering look at her, he turned on his heels and walked out, closing the door behind him.
Allison settled back against the padded headrest and closed her eyes. She could still feel his lips on hers. With a rueful smile, she realized that her nipples were aching. The man had an effect on her that was quite potent. And who could blame her? Lifting her left leg, she used the sponge to rub the skin. She had been a wreck and had been on the verge of telling him she wanted nothing to do with him. And instead, he had gathered her close and carried her to bed.
The man had undressed her. He had not asked questions or started arguing but had simply been there for her. If she had not fallen in love with him, this would have been the time.
She let the silence envelop her, listening to the gentle trickle of water and distant hum of wind outside. For the first time in days, tension melted away, and she allowed herself to savor the rare moment of peace. The sensation of being cherished lingered in the air, making her heart beat just a little faster.
Inside the kitchen, Dimitri brewed a fresh pot of coffee and waited for the person to deliver the food. His grandmother had answered the phone and assured him she would make the arrangements herself.
He would make certain that she ate her fill, and afterwards he was going to make love to her. He wondered if she was still in love with the guy. It pained him to admit even to himself that he was suffering from an acute case of jealousy. Rubbing his hands over his face, he shook his head. This was a first for him, and he speculated that with Allison, he would be looking forward to many more.
Chapter 13
"I could get used to this," she murmured as she took another bite of the delicious omelet. They were eating in the living room with the fire burning, flames snapping upward. The bath had relaxed her as he had promised, and the tension of last night was no longer present.
"I want you to. You don't take care of yourself enough." He had also requested a change of clothing and was wearing sweatpants and a thick ash gray sweater. He looked casual and relaxed as if he belonged here. She could almost forget who he really was and what he represented. His hair was tousled, and he had not bothered to shave.
He had spread a blanket in front of the fire, and they were eating off a tray, one that was piled with an enormous amount of food.
"Was that why you decided to request enough food to feed an army?" she teased.
"Precisely." His lips curved slightly as he took in her appearance. She was wearing a loose robe, a raw midnight blue silk that looked stunning against her skin. Her hair, the thick coils, tumbled over her shoulders and down her back, and she did not have a stitch of makeup on. She looked like an innocent teenager. "You already had two plates," he pointed out as he sipped coffee.
Outside it was gray and bleak, the clouds an ominous pewter, and there was ice settling on every surface. But inside, it was warm and cozy, and there was no place he would rather be. "Omelets, bacon, sausage, and pancakes. I'm going to have to roll you off the blanket."
She laughed and plucked another delicious sausage from the plate. "I'm making up for the past two days of lousy eating habits." She glanced over at him. "You were not too shabby yourself."
"I never had supper," he reminded her. "Someone promised to feed me but never did."
"I'll make it up to you." She picked up her cup and took a sip of the delicious brew. "Thanks for listening."
He inclined his head in an unconsciously regal gesture. "You're welcome." He had been thinking about it since she told him and hated himself for what he was about to ask, but he had to know. "Is he..." Putting the cup down, he flexed his fingers. "Are you still in love with him?"
Allison gazed at him. Even though he had schooled his expression, she knew what it cost him to ask.
"I wanted to be," she admitted quietly. For some reason, she wanted to reassure him. "I wanted to hold his memories in my heart because doing anything else would be betraying him. I lived with the guilt for a very long time because I blamed myself." She picked up her cup and stared at the blue and white pattern around the edge. "I was the one who asked him to pick up the candy bar. I was the one who was not committed to the relationship. I thought that by holding and keeping him inside my heart would make up for where I failed him. But no..." She shook her head. "I am not in love with him. He will always have a place inside my heart, but he's not the focal point of my life, not anymore. I don't think he ever was, and that makes it so damn sad."
He expelled a careful breath and continued sipping his coffee. The band of tension around his heart melted, and he felt light.
"I should have waited."
"What?"
