“I hope that I’m not overstepping a boundary,” Dmitri said after a long silence. Virginia blinked and shook her head. Dmitri was an unexpected breath of fresh air. She hadn’t even noticed that the car had stopped until Dmitri was halfway through taking off his seatbelt. “I’m going to get a few things for a picnic. Would you like to come in and choose some food with me?”
Virginia was still too transfixed to speak, but she unhooked her seatbelt and got out of the car herself. She couldn’t believe that less than a week ago she was pining over a vapid sycophant, and today she had become curious about a man she would probably never see again. Without thinking, Virginia wrapped her fingers around Dmitri’s wrist as they walked inside. He looked down, but said nothing of it.
They had stepped into a quaint looking haberdashery that looked like a cottage. Dmitri spoke to the owner in Russian. Even when he was speaking a different language his voice was beautiful; even more so in fact with the way his words came out so effortlessly.
Virginia had put her glasses back on, and lowered her hat over her face. It was a habit for her to try to hide. No one had recognized her yet, but she still wanted to maintain some form of anonymity, if even just for the first 2 weeks.
Dmitri did most of the talking, and he paid for everything as he said he would. Virginia made it over the counter to where the owner of the haberdashery stood. He looked back and forth between the young stylish woman, and the tall man dressed in black.
“You two….married?” he said. Dmitri must have told the man that she didn’t speak any Russian. Virginia couldn’t hide a smile, but she shook her head.
“We’re just friends,” she said slowly, but not in a condescending way. The man smiled as he packed their lunch into small brown paper bags.
“Nice couple,” the owner nodded. His smile hadn’t left his face, and he looked at the two of them and pointed. Virginia could feel her face getting warm again. They made such an odd pairing. She looked like a fashionista on her way to the beach, and Dmitri looked like a Russian spy from the movies. They were so different in appearance and style, but the owner seemed to be convinced.
Virginia looked up at Dmitri for a moment, and he was looking at her. When their gazes met, they looked away from each other. Dmitri thanked the owner. The owner smiled and waved as Dmitri and Virginia left the haberdashery to enjoy their picnic.
Dmitri and Virginia had driven to a large estate. Virginia could see a pond when she stepped out of the car.
“Welcome to Kuskovo Estate. There’s a small museum inside, or we can traverse the gardens and enjoy our picnic. You can also sample some food at the restaurant if you’re not satisfied with our little lunch,” Dmitri told her. He sounded like the perfect tour guide, but he also sounded like he enjoyed letting people know the area. Virginia wondered how often he came to this place.
“It’s beautiful here.”
“Yes. I went to a wedding here last fall. It’s especially beautiful at that time of year. If you ever come to Russia during the fall, be sure to come back to the estate. It’s the perfect place to have a wedding.”
“I believe you. I’ll come back, and you can bring me back here. I think I’d like that.” Virginia said. “I think I want to have our picnic a bit closer to that pond.”
Dmitri didn’t reply, but he smiled and walked alongside Virginia. They talked about their favorite parks, and where they traveled to when they were children. Virginia rarely had time to talk about her childhood. She was so busy with work, or the men she dated were more interested in themselves than what Virginia had to say. She was constantly surprised by Dmitri. He would take in everything she said. He was bold and honest, but oh so polite about how he felt.
“Another personal question,” she didn’t wait for him to respond. The question was already on the tip of her tongue. “Are you married? Or in love? And what do you do with yourself when you’re not giving everyone a grand tour of your homeland?”
“That’s several questions,” Dmitri said. He had food in his mouth. The muffled response made Virginia smile. They were all set up on a blanket that Dmitri had in the back of his SUV. Even though there were people around, they were too involved with themselves and doing their own thing to really pay attention to the other people about the place.
“I know. I guess you owe me three back,” Virginia said boldly. She leaned forward ever so slightly. She didn’t mean to be flirtatious, or maybe she did. She wasn’t sure what she was feeling yet, but it was something so different from how she felt when she was around the other men in her life. She wanted to explore Dmitri’s mind. It was as fascinating and as unchartered as the city she was in.
“I’m neither married nor am I in love…yet. The right woman will come,” he looked directly at Virginia when he said that. His openness made her look away shyly. “And when I’m not working, I’m attempting to paint. I often read or research painters for I am an artistic anachronism of some trade. I paint as if I were an old renaissance painter. I also seem to have a love for ridiculous potentially deadly stunts. I tried my hand at racecar driving, and I sky dived once. I like to tell myself I’m a daredevil, but I’m really a coward with a curious heart. I mostly prefer the quiet. Tea, reading…and picnics with kindred hearts.”
Virginia couldn’t help but be flustered. The man who she didn’t even know a day before was now all she could think of. She could listen to him for a lifetime if he gave her the chance. She wanted to see his paintings, discover new places, and do something as ballsy as drop out of a plane with him.
“Satisfied?” Dmitri asked. Virginia assured him that she was. “As for my questions… Are you in love? What’s it like to be a millionaire…and…”
“Billionaire,” Virginia corrected. She didn’t mean to blurt it out, or come off as snooty. She looked away and became quiet again so that Dmitri could continue.
“My apologies, your majesty, a billionaire,” Dmitri joked. He laughed. It was a laugh of reassurance. It was as if he had stolen all of her confidence and charm and was using it for himself. “And what is it that you’re thinking of?”
“I’m not in love. I don’t think I ever have been. Deep infatuations that turn out to be passing amusements, but I’m too focused on my career to really find someone who I could potentially share my life with. Being a billionaire is wonderful, and lonely. The people around you want to be around you because you have money. They think you’ll give them some, or find ways to build them up so they can be on your level. Some just want to ride my coattails. There’s the rare occasion when my money and power has terrified people. They don’t know what to say or how to be around me. So even with all the awards, gifts, banquets, and being able to get what I want…no one really gets me. That’s probably why I’m not in love.”
Virginia’s voice faded when she finished speaking. Dmitri instinctively put a hand on Virginia’s shoulder.
“And your current thoughts?” he could see she didn’t want to talk about her loneliness anymore. He went back to eating when she spoke again.
“Right now, I’m thinking that I don’t feel so lonely. That this is the first time anyone has offered to pay for anything when they know who I am. That I like being here, that I’ve really enjoyed today…that I think my favorite part of my day has been the company I’ve been keeping.”
Virginia looked at Dmitri and smiled. He was already smiling at her. His smile was as warm as the feeling of the sun on her bare shoulders. Virginia leaned closer to Dmitri. His hand was still on her shoulder. The closer she came to him, the more his hand lowered. His touch was soft and slow. When she kissed his lips, his hand was now on hers. Virginia moved closer still. Kissing him didn’t seem to be enough. There was something so far away about him, even now. She knew that it was because they were in different worlds. They were at different stages of their lives. Dmitri would go back to his tours and his paintings, and Virginia would be back in New York with her career.
Their kiss lingered. Dmitri didn’t fight the feeli
ngs or her advances. He wanted this as much as she did. His tongue brushed against her softly. Virginia felt a different kind of arousal when their tongues met. She playfully pushed her tongue along his. Their lips created a rhythm. Virginia moved her hands and wrapped them behind Dmitri’s head. That was when he pulled away.
“My apologies,” Dmitri said. He was out of breath after their passionate kiss.
“Please don’t be sorry, I was the one that…”
“Yes, but I know you’re dating that model,” Dmitri muttered. He was picking things up from the blanket they were on.
“Me? Oh no…we’ve broken up…”
“No matter. You are a client, and that was very inappropriate of me,” Dmitri said.
“Dmitri. I kissed you. This was on me…”
“Yes, and I should have known better. I’m sorry Ms. Virginia. I’ll take you back to the hotel,” Dmitri had packed most of the things away and was already standing. He didn’t let Virginia get a word in edgewise, and calling her Ms. Virginia felt like a strange pain in her heart. She was so used to people minding their Ps and Qs around her. She didn’t want Dmitri to be one of them. She didn’t want to be just another client to him. He was feeling what she was feeling, but he was now reminding himself of his place.
Virginia stopped protesting. There was no use; Dmitri would probably keep interrupting her and finding excuses for why this couldn’t work out. This was something Virginia had been thinking of for most of the afternoon. She got off the blanket without another word. She wasn’t used to rejection. Virginia was used to getting whatever and whoever she wanted. This was different. Dmitri wasn’t a prize for her to win, but a person whom she wanted to have full acceptance and understanding. Rejection was a new feeling for her. It was a feeling she didn’t understand too well. It made it even worse because there was something so different and so pure about Dmitri.
*****
Dmitri drove back to the hotel in silence. On occasion, he stole glances at Virginia, but she didn’t notice. She sometimes eyed him as well, but he didn’t notice either. They had been so in sync before this moment. Virginia’s thoughts raced as fast as her heart. There was adrenaline still pumping from that kiss in the park. Feeling his lips on hers brought a fire in Virginia that made everything around her move at a million miles a minute. She didn’t want to let go of the rush, but Dmitri had pulled away, and now she was too embarrassed to say anything.
Dmitri pulled up to the hotel parking area. He got out of the car and walked to the front. He opened Virginia’s door, and held his hand out for her as she got out. There was something painful and final about this encounter.
“Enjoy the rest of your stay here, Ms. Maxwell.”
“Please call me Virginia, Dmitri,” she said in a pleading voice.
“Very well. Have a wonderful rest of your trip, Virginia,” Dmitri said. He squeezed her hand for a moment before letting go.
“It was so amazing to meet you Dmitri Ivanov,” Virginia said. She swallowed what could have been a lump in her throat, and she flung her arms around him. Dmitri let her hug him, and he wrapped one arm around her. He tried his best not to let the hug linger, but Virginia didn’t want to let go.
They finally pulled away from each other.
“Do svidaniya, Dmitri,” Virginia said, biting her lip to avoid getting emotional. The lump was still in her throat, and she had put her sunglasses back on in case there would be tears.
“Proshchay beautiful,” he held up a hand, and then turned around to get back in his car. Virginia stayed put and watched him drive away. The moment he was out of sight was when Virginia could feel the first tear slowly making its way down her face.
Chapter 4
The last several weeks had gone by in a blur. When Virginia got back to her hotel after her outing with Dmitri, she was met by a slew of missed calls and messages. There were plans she had to make ahead of schedule. One person even said that they were grateful she had come so early, because there was so much that was needed to be done.
Virginia had so many plans and pre-plans to consider. She had been invited to a state dinner honoring the grand-niece of the famous Russian poet, Anna Akhmatova. Anna was a fashionista herself, and had been eyeing Virginia’s work for a long time. Anna had never met Virginia, but there were several countesses, princesses, and ladies from around the continent of Europe that had attended that night. Some were wearing some of Virginia’s signature work that weren’t at all available to just anyone in the public. Virginia wore an original piece as well, being sure to impress any and everyone around her.
The state dinner had made its way to the internet, and even newspapers in America. Virginia had already begun her success in Russia, but there was something that was missing. Or someone rather. She couldn’t get her mind off of Dmitri.
Virginia had admitted to Nancy what had happened that afternoon. Nancy, being the bright and beautiful optimist that she was, gave Virginia the number of the agency where Dmitri worked. Virginia had been too nervous to call. What would she have said once he picked up? She wasn’t sure, but she knew she wanted to see him again before she left. And now it was almost too late.
Virginia had tried the number the night before the launch of her clothing line in Russia, but a person named Vlad answered. He let her know that he would relay the message to Dmitri personally, but Dmitri never got back to her. She played it off of course. Virginia knew how to turn up her charm and be as compassionate and beguiling as she could be, regardless of any circumstance. She was going to get through this…but the truth was she wasn’t sure she wanted to get through this.
Her flight was leaving early the next morning. She barely had a moment to herself after her first week of being in Russia. But now she was finally alone. She had just been dropped off at the hotel by a publicist. It was a final gathering in the city of Moscow. This was a publicity stunt of course. She not only had to launch her clothing line, but she had to promote it as much as she could. She had people to entertain and network with, and Nancy had booked her for so many interviews. A party on her last night was just what she needed to lift her spirits.
Virginia didn’t know the word for feeling content but also somewhat empty at the same time. Every man dressed in full black reminded her of the day she had spent with Dmitri. Every time she tasted something sweet, she could only think of the taste of his lips. Virginia stepped out of the car she was in, and started to walk towards the grand doors of the hotel. She was so used to this building she almost wanted to call it home. She wasn’t going to deny that she would miss this place; she knew that she would.
“Hello beautiful.”
Virginia was startled, and she whipped her head around in the direction of the voice. Her heart fell into her stomach when she saw who it was. Dmitri had parked his SUV a few feet away from the entrance. He was of course wearing all black, and he was leaned up against the side of the car. Virginia looked glamorous in a red ball gown. The dress had pockets, and that’s where her hands were. She had wrapped her curly dark hair in a bun that sat on the top of her head. Her lips were as red as her dress, with long silver earrings, and emerald heels. She looked like she was just about to walk out on the red carpet.
“Dmitri,” Virginia breathed his name. She smiled wide, and it took all of her restraint not to run into his arms. It was like being reunited with a long lost love. He smiled back, and she casually walked over to him. She was too afraid to let her feelings show.
“What are you doing here?” she asked. There was a fire in her eyes, and excitement in her voice.
“I was told that I got a call from you. I understood that you’ve been very busy, I’ve seen you quite often on the news,” he started.
“Ah. You’ve seen more of me than I’ve seen of you,” Virginia said. Dmitri eyed her up and down with a beautiful curiosity. He was looking beyond her face or her figure; he was looking into her soul. Virginia could feel the parts of her body grow warmer and warmer as he caressed her with his eyes.
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“I wanted to tell you goodbye before you left my home,” Dmitri said. He did a slight bow of his head. He was still trying to be professional, and he ignored Virginia’s remark. She was joking of course, but he didn’t want to mention how he had been thinking of her over the last few weeks.
“That’s very kind of you,” Virginia took another step towards him. His slicked hair glistened by the light of the moon. They were so close…so close, and all she wanted to do was feel the warmth of his body and the softness of his lips against her. “Thank you for that wonderful afternoon Dmitri. I wish we could have spent more time together.”
“Me too, Virginia.”
Virginia pulled Dmitri in for a warm embrace. She couldn’t take it any longer. It had been so long since she had been close to him. The hold he had on her now was like recalling a beautiful memory, and she didn’t want the hug to end.
“I have a very busy morning,” Virginia said when she pulled away. She wanted to invite him inside. She wanted to spend time with him where neither of them was on some kind of schedule. But there was no time now. She needed to get some sleep before her flight, and she needed to shake her feelings for Dmitri before he could fully consume her thoughts.
Dmitri placed a finger under her chin to lift her face in order to look at him.
“You are one of the most beautiful people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting Virginia. Take care of yourself,” he said. He leaned in and lightly brushed her cheek with his lips. Before she could respond, he turned around and stepped into his car. This was just like the first time they met. He was turning away from what this could possibly be, and all Virginia could do was watch. She stood by the door for a while after he left and she took a look up at the stars. She would be looking at a very different sky by tomorrow night. She only wished she had Dmitri to share it with.
Take My Hand: BWWM Romance Page 19
