New In The Territories (Book 1) COMPLETED

Chapter 48 Sam

First one awake, I sat in the kitchen with my muffin and orange juice enjoying the warmth of the sun beaming from the French doors. Energized from the early night and soundless sleep, I was started to feel antsy waiting for Mady to rise from her slumber. Not that I had any plans for the day, but being under house arrest can put a girl on edge.

Dreams of Dmitri, X-rated dreams was a better description, had me continuously drifting back to him and wondering what he was doing now and would I be seeing him later that day. Going over our little confrontation a million times, I still felt guilty, but also knew he too flew of the handle. The one thing that still confused me was that I also spent time with Mason, probably more time with him than anyone else, so why didn't Dmitri get his panties in a bunch over that.

"Good morning," the very chipper Mady greeted, jarring me away from my thoughts. Mady looked revived and relaxed, she glowed.

"Did you sneak off to a spa last night without inviting me?" I teased, over my glass of juice.

"First of all, you don't go to spas and second, no I didn't but that does sound like a fantastic idea," Mady chirped, pouring a cup of coffee than joined me at the table. "Sorry I couldn't stay with you last night," she apologized for the hundredth time. "How was your quiet night in?"

"You people have totally fucked me up," I stated, "I use to love being alone, enjoying the quiet, and now I felt like I was climbing up the walls. What's with the dogs last night? I have never heard them before," I complained, then went on to explain what happened when I tried to go for a swim.

"I forgot to tell you, sometimes the wolves get close to the houses. They never come right up but you're better off to stay inside if you hear them," Mady explained coolly, shrugging it off as an everyday thing. "I don't think we fucked you up Samantha," she said, now on the defensive, "I think you finally found the place where you belong and people you enjoy being with."

Letting the subject drop, I said, "So, I'm moving in a month and I should really get off my butt and go shopping. If you still wanted to go with me, I'm free whenever you are." I knew mentioning shopping would detour her away from the last part of our conversation.

"Speaking of your house, when are you going to tell me where it is?" she asked suspiciously.

I picked at my muffin, "For a small town I am really surprised no one has found out yet. I really need to give that man a big bonus for helping me to keep it a surprise, and if you didn't catch the surprise part, that means I'm not telling you." I wanted to surprise them all with the unveiling.

"Fine," Mady huffed, "Now for our shopping trip, this week is a bit crazy but I will see if I can change some things around plus we need to see when Quinn or Braydon are free," Mady babbled on searching in her day planner.

"I'm free whenever so don't go changing stuff around. It can wait till next week, and what does Quinn and Braydon have to do with it?" I asked confused, but only for a second before the light bulb flashed. "Never mind. House arrest, I remember," I added sarcastically.

Pretending not to hear a word I had just said Mady rinsed out her cup and said, "I'm going to be late. I will see you at dinner." She left the kitchen yelling up at Nate to hurry.

"Alone again. Just great," I mumbled to myself, elbows resting on the table chin in hands. Mopping, gazing out the door at the edge of the tree line, eyes becoming blurry staring at one spot for too long. A black object moved into the view; blinking rapidly, eyes focused enough to make out the very gorgeous Dmitri thirty feet from the house. He looked as if he should be on the cover of a romance novel, black silk hair loose blowing off his shoulders from the light breeze. Black shirt strained over his bulging chest, hands casually in his olive green walking shorts. Standing there stone faced starting back at me.

Using my hands, rising up from the table. I walked slowly to the door, never breaking eye contact. I was afraid if I blinked or looked away he would disappear. Making it out onto the deck, still staring at the man I cared for, as he stared right back not moving an inch.

As if we were in the movies, two people lose themselves in each other's eyes, world fading around them. At that moment a ray of sunshine picked the exact spot where he was standing as if heaven itself was his own personal spot light. Speechless at his beauty, I just stared, not wanting to ruin the moment with speech.

Silence starting to feel uncomfortable after a few minutes, I gave an awkward wave and said, "Hi."

Walking forward, stopping ten feet away, and still not showing any emotion whatsoever. "Can we talk?" he asked coolly.

Heart sinking to the pit of my stomach. This was the break up, not so much as a break up but, "I was wrong, I don't like you," thing. Standing tall, not letting him see just how much this conversation was going to hurt. Putting on a brave face, I replied, "Sure," my voice was stronger than I felt. Yeah me!

"Yesterday...it's just..." Rubbing the back of his neck, his nervousness began to leak through his cool exterior. "I'm sorry," he blurted out, "When it comes to you I just react, no thinking things through. I have a shorter fuse than most and when I know you want to spend time with someone else I just went off," he confessed. "Before you say anything let me finish please," he added, when my mouth opened to say something. "I know you don't date, but I really care about you and want to spend more time with you, but if you want space I am also willing to give that to you as well."

I was confused about everything he said. "I don't understand." I could see him struggling to keep the distance between us.

Taking a deep breath Dmitri explained, "What I mean is, whatever you want from me you'll have. Whether that's friendship, building a relationship, not spending any time together and breaking all ties," a smile spread across his face, "or the option I prefer and become lovers. Whatever you want Sam just tell me."

Relief flooded my body. "I like you Dmitri. I love spending time with you," I started.

"But," he coaxed.

Now it was my turn to take a deep breath. "But, I also like Nickoli," I rushed out the rest seeing the hurt in his eyes, "You're both very different from one another, and I don't like one more than the other. I want to spend time with you if you can handle me also spending time with Nickoli. The last thing I want to do is hurt you or anybody. The only thing I can promise is to be honest with you. And I don't know if I can commit to someone. Yet." How was that for honesty. I held my breath, waiting for his reply.

Standing there silent, I was convinced I pushed him too far and that it was over after all. Waiting for those final words of goodbye, shoving my hands in my pockets to keep from fiddling with my fingers, and maintaining eye contact no matter how badly I wanted to look away from the intense gaze.

"I'll try," he finally said.

"I understand that you..." I started to say before comprehension of his words hit. "What? Did you say you will try?" I stood confused.

He took the last steps that separated us, grasping my hands, placing them on his chest. "It really amazes me you don't really see yourself. Sam you are definitely worth fighting for and I'll be damned if I just walk away and let Nickoli have all the glory and the best prize anyone could win." Putting an arm around my shoulders, Dmitri pulled me in close leading us back to the kitchen. "First, I need some coffee then how about getting you out of this house for a while. I heard the wolves were out making a muck last night and had you locked down pretty tight," Dmitri said, with way too much humour.

Dmitri's change of attitude and the conversation didn't quite go how I expected. Arm tightly around his waist I followed his lead keeping quiet not wanting to ruin the moment.