Reality Bites - Wattys 2018 Shortlist

Chapter 49 - Bacon and Eggs

It only took a few days for us to slip into a comfortable routine. Dimitri and I would be up before sunset every day running laps under the watchful eye of two Mazur Guardians before moving into the gym for our before school training session. While laps didn't give us a lot of opportunity to touch, it did give us the chance to talk privately, so we used the time to talk about Europe and beyond – trying to work out how our shared future together could look. When I'd been at Baba's house, conversations like these would have freaked me out, but now we were starting to get an idea of the future we wanted. If anything, having a bit of a plan going forward made me less stressed.

Mom would join us at the gym between 6.30 and 7.00 pm, supervising me in the girl's shower room while Dimitri had his own post-workout shower. The three of us would then head to breakfast to see Lissa, Christian, and Eddie – Dimitri and I eating together first, then Dimitri swapping over while Mom ate. It was the same routine at lunch, although usually Adrian had surfaced by then and joined us.

Classes were fairly straightforward. In the academic classes, Mom and Dimitri stood on guard for the most part. Mom was almost always near guard, although towards the end of each session she'd often change with Dimitri so I could have him in my line of sight rather than standing behind me, and he'd be near guard as we traveled between classes. The physical lessons were a bit more fun. While Stan still maintained a degree of hostility, the other instructors took good advantage of Mom and Dimitri's skills, sometimes asking them to demonstrate a technique or explain a real-life situation where what was being taught could be useful. I know both Dimitri and Mom preferred guarding in classes where they could be a bit more active.

After lessons, Dimitri and I would again train. This time Mom would join us, although often as not she'd work in another part of the gym leaving us to our own devices. Sometimes Alberta would join Mom, and they'd work out together, discussing Guardian schedules but also chatting. Mom and I would shower afterward, then we'd all head either to the cafeteria or to the unit for dinner.

Quickly determining that Mom and I shared the ability to burn water, Dimitri took over in the kitchenette. He'd only cooked a couple of times for us, so far, but he was actually really good. I almost melted the first time he'd cooked us a stirfry. His competence in the kitchen was super sexy, and even Mom had to admit the meal was a hundred times better than cafeteria dinners.

After dinner, I'd usually head to my room to do homework at my desk. Dimitri would lie on my bed helping me in between reading one of his Western novels. Mom would watch TV or chat on the phone to Baba who'd returned to Santa Monica. After I got through my homework, Dimitri and I would join Mom to watch TV – her sitting on one sofa and Dimitri and I cuddled up together on the other. From the second night onward, as if by some unspoken agreement, every evening Mom would go to bed first, telling us not to stay up too late. And every night I'd climb into Dimitri's bed and we'd lose ourselves in one another's caresses and kisses.

The first night our lovemaking had been fierce and desperate. Dimitri had scratches down his back from my nails, and I had a very obvious bite mark where Dimitri had bitten into my shoulder as he'd climaxed – both of which had to be discreetly healed by Lissa. After the first few nights, we were able to control ourselves a little better, but there was absolutely no way we were going to be able to pull this off without spending every night together. Dimitri had been right – we needed that physical contact.

Friday of the first week, Mom suggested I invite Lissa, Christian, Adrian, and Eddie over to the unit for the evening. Friday nights were typically social nights at the Academy, and it would be easier to guard me if we stayed in. Mom ended up arranging for a Mazur Guardian to take her shift, stationing him outside the door to our unit while she went to visit Alberta for the evening. Mom was sure to tell us she'd not be back before 10.30 am at the earliest. Since 8.30 am was curfew for Lissa, Christian, and Eddie it was a nice way of letting us know we'd have a couple of hours of privacy.