Reality Bites - Wattys 2018 Shortlist

Chapter 56 - You're Killing Me

It was early, really early, but I kept checking in on Lissa through the bond. I knew from long experience as besties she had a bladder the size of a pebble, so she usually visited the toilet quickly around 4 or 5 pm. I needed to have a quick word with her before everyone got up, hence why I was checking. Around quarter to five, I was rewarded as I saw her blearily moving her way to the second-floor bathroom. Slipping out of her mind before I could invade her bathroom privacy, I wriggled out from Dimitri's embrace and tip-toed down the stairs to wait outside the bathroom for her.

"Rose!" she hissed, coming out and seeing me. "What are you doing?!"

"Sorry, Lissa. I needed to ask a favor? Tasha is arriving this morning, and Dimitri is going to tell her about us first thing. I'm not sure how she's going to take it. I'm going to suggest he takes her out to the swing on the porch for a private chat? I was kind of hoping you'd sit in the sitting room inside reading a book and maybe kind of look across at them occasionally?"

"So you want me to spy on them so you can look at them through the bond?" Lissa said, immediately realizing what I wanted.

"Please Lissa?" I whispered. "I know Dimitri is worried about telling her, and I am too. I don't want to come down until he's finished, and it would help if I had a bit of an idea how the chat went," I said, trying to put the best slant on things.

Smiling she said, "Of course, Rose. It's lovely you care enough to think of her feelings. I'm sure she'll be thrilled for you both, but I'll come down early and watch them through the window" she promised. "Now let me get back to bed!"

Hugging her, I moved stealthily back up the stairs back into bed beside Dimitri. I thought I'd got away with it until I heard his delicious voice ask "And where did you just go milaya?"

Frantically trying to come up with an excuse in my mind, I grasped the first thing that occurred to me that I hoped he'd not question.

"Lissa called me through the bond. Her period just started, and she didn't have anything here with her. I just took her down what she needed" I lied glibly. As expected, Dimitri didn't comment any further, instead giving me a gentle kiss on my neck and slipping back into slumber.

I lay in bed relishing Dimitri's arms around me before carefully turning to watch his face as he slept. I couldn't even start to explain how much I loved him. How wondrous seeing his relaxed sleeping face was. After an hour gazing at him I couldn't stop myself – I leaned forward and pressed my lips softly against his.

"Roza" he mumbled in his sleep. Damn right! Even when he was asleep, I was the woman in his dreams! Dozing beside him I had my eye on the clock. Around 6.30 pm I heard the household start to rise. Half an hour later Dimitri stirred, and I greeted him with a huge hug and kiss.

"Morning Comrade!" I said, tangling myself in his limbs and the sheets.

"Morning milaya!" he said with pleasure, running his hands up and down my body suggestively and starting to roll me onto my back. I knew he was eager to get a green light after so many days. He had no idea how keen I was to give it to him, too. But there was other business just now.

"Dimitri!" I moaned. "Oh God, I want you so much. But I think I just heard a car out the front? It's probably Tasha - you need to tell her before anyone slips up."

Groaning in frustration, Dimitri stood up to get dressed.

"You're killing me, milaya" he grumbled, not for the first time this week.

Sure enough, I had heard a car out the front. Slipping into Lissa's head, I could see her and Christian downstairs greeting Tasha. Mom and Abe were up and said a friendly hello, too. Dressed in seemingly casual clothes, I nonetheless noted Tasha wore perfect makeup, and her jeans and top were more fitted than a two or three hour flight would usually dictate comfort wise. As they were talking everyone looked up to see Dimitri descending the stairs, coming to greet Tasha. Lissa looked at Dimitri, and then back to Tasha. And Tasha's expression said it all.