Reality Bites - Wattys 2018 Shortlist

Chapter 92 - Eager Beaver

Making love with Dimitri had been, as always, magical. It was just what we'd needed – loving physical interaction to get us back onto the same page. Afterward, we'd talked, and once he'd indignantly declared he'd never blame me or expect me to blame myself had the situations been reversed, he started to forgive himself – at least a little. It would take time, but he'd be ok. Appreciating we couldn't be antisocial forever, we dressed and headed back downstairs to find everyone gathering for a late Sunday lunch.

"Feeling better?" Adrian teased, having not missed Dimitri and me charging urgently upstairs earlier.

"Much better, thank you, Adrian" I replied sweetly, giving my Russian God another kiss and an appreciative slap on his nice tight backside.

Baba and Pavel had cooked BBQ, and there were lots of salads. Everyone was serving themselves and sitting either at the dining table or on the sofas. Dimitri went and loaded plates for both of us while I flopped down next to Mom on a sofa.

"Have a good morning?" I asked.

"Not really" she replied. "Your father is being an ass."

I snorted. "Care to give details?"

"No," she replied cantankerously. "We're just disagreeing about something. I swear sometimes he does it just to piss me off."

Ha! I didn't doubt it. Baba could be an ass sometimes. And Mom might have a point about him intentionally provoking her.

"Just call him on it. He only gets away with it because no one stands up to him," I said, thinking about how I'd put him in his place about Dimitri. "Don't give him any other option but to agree to what you want."

"You're right," Mom said, a dangerous glint forming in her eye. She stood up and walked over to where Baba was sitting at the dining table with Pavel, Suzanne, Adrian, and Lissa. He eyed her approach warily.

She went right up to him and poked him in his chest. "Abe – if this happens I'll wear what I want, when I want, and where I want. That's set in stone, and I'm not moving on it" she snapped at him.

He looked at her, taking in her angry stance. "Of course Janine" he acquiesced. "If it means that much to you."

"It does" she confirmed, looking mollified. Baba then pulled her to sit on his lap, which she did with a little giggle that was very atypical of Mum. Pavel and Suzanne gave one another amused, knowing looks.

Dimitri watched the exchange and turned to me with a questioning lifted eyebrow. I just shrugged. No doubt I'd find out more details later. Right now I was more interested in the loaded plate Dimitri was proffering me.

After lunch, and a visit from the feeders for the Moroi, Adrian suggested a trip to the Court Zoo as something to do. I was just as happy to give it a miss, but Dimitri seemed keen to go – and given his uncertain mood since the fight, I was happy to agree to pretty much anything that pleased him.

"Milaya? Stan's on the plane on his way back to the Academy - and the Queen and her guard already know about us. We're unlikely to see anyone we know, so I thought if I didn't go in uniform, maybe we could go as a couple if you wanted?"

I squealed loudly and threw myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck and my legs around his hips.

"So I take it that's a yes?" he said blushing happily, his hands under my bottom holding me against him.

"Yes yes yes yes!" I laughed, kissing him all over his gorgeous face, as he spun us around joyfully.

Lissa and Adrian were smiling happily at us, and I was nearly crying I was so excited.