Reality Bites - Wattys 2018 Shortlist

Chapter 13 - Showtime

I could feel the sunlight through my eyelids – I just wasn't ready to open my eyes yet! Stretching out in bed, I could feel Dimitri's heat beside me. Deciding he was worth opening my eyes for, I did just that and gazed at him. He was still asleep, lying on his back, the covers kicked off. One hand was above his head, the other resting on his thigh. Dimitri's long dark lashes were resting on his cheeks, his lips soft and relaxed, he was looking happy. Watching his gorgeous chest rise and fall with his breathing, I leaned forward to plant a soft kiss on his lips. Smiling and reaching his arm across to cuddle me, he opened his eyes looking straight into mine.

"Good morning, beautiful," he whispered, leaning in to kiss me. "How are you feeling?"

"Not too bad," I replied, gently probing my ribs with my fingers. "Sore," I admitted. "How about you? Did you sleep well?"

"Very well. I think it was the company," he said tenderly.

Lying blissfully together, we cuddled until I had to get up to use the bathroom. Relieving myself, I walked back into the suite, standing in front of the floor to ceiling windows looking out over the ocean. After using the bathroom himself, Dimitri came to stand behind me, wrapping his arms around me from behind.

"This is beautiful!" I exclaimed looking out to the watery horizon. "I've never been anywhere like this."

"Let's get you some painkillers, then you can have your breakfast," Dimitri ordered sweetly. Walking back to the bathroom, he picked up a packet of tablets the doctor had left for me the night before.

"Can you get my pill, too? It's in the side flap of the backpack. I take it in the mornings."

Dimitri came out with the tablets, wordlessly handing me a glass of water, two pain relief tablets, and my contraceptive pill pack. Downing my pills, I turned to him asking "So do you want to brave the kitchen downstairs or shall we do breakfast up here?"

"Whatever you wish," he said woodenly, his eyes not meeting mine.

"Well, if we're going to go downstairs, I think you might need some clothes," I teased, indicating his barely clad state.

Without a word, Dimitri walked to the doors, unbolting them. Opening one, he spoke to one of the Guardians on duty outside the entrance who nodded and disappeared down a corridor across the hallway. 

"My uniform will be here shortly," Dimitri said stiffly.

A few moments later, there was a knock at the door and Nikita walked in, carrying Dimitri's laundered neatly folded uniform. I saw him take in Dimitri's Godlike body and state of almost undress. His eyes quickly flicked to the bed, which was clearly rumpled on both sides, Dimitri's TShirt on the floor beside it, then the neatly folded blanket and pillow both untouched on the sofa. He put the clothes down on a side table, excusing himself before closing the suite's doors behind him.

Discreet, Belikov. Really discreet!

Taking his uniform to the bathroom, Dimitri closed the door to change. A few minutes later he emerged, his hair neatly tied back and he'd also shaved. He looked delicious. And he still wouldn't look at me.

"Dimitri? What's wrong?" I asked apprehensively. "Did I do something?"

"Not at all. I'm just wondering how long you've been taking the pill?" he answered, trying to be casual and failing abysmally. "We're both Dhampir, so I know it's not because of me. Is there someone else? A Moroi?"

Looking at his deeply hurt expression, my heart lurched.

"No! It's not like that. Honestly Comrade!" I blurted out. "All the Novice girls go on the pill the two years before they graduate."