Sasha: The Awakening (The Wallflower Series Book 2) (15 page)

Natalia released a frustrated sigh with a shake of her head. “I don’t understand you, Dmitri. I have never tried to replace your mother or impose myself on you because I was fully aware of and supportive of your attachment to her. But, what I don’t understand is how the threat of losing your last living parent holds no meaning to you. Yes, you two have never had the closest relationship, but all that pales in comparison to life and death. He may have survived this time, but who knows what will happen a few months from now. Hell, the only reason the doctor decided to release him was on the promise that I hire a full-time nurse to ensure he keeps his stress levels down. And, you know what? What has made me love Nikolai is his devotion to his family.”

At that, Dmitri opened his mouth to protest but stopped at the hand Natalia raised. “He may not have been right in every decision he made but that is the life of a parent. You’ll know it too one day. All we want is what is best for our children.”

Having had enough of her preaching, Dmitri rose from his chair. “Don’t come in here and give me that bullshit spiel about how much you care for all of us. As if that somehow disqualifies the mistakes you’ve made. Because I can tell you right now, those mistakes could have cost Nadia her life. It definitely cost my mom hers!”

Natalia gasped in shock at his accusation. “How dare you! I would never risk the life of my child. And my relationship with your father was definitely not the cause of your mother’s ill-timed death. Their relationship was purely superficial. I love your father, and I will not be blamed for him returning those feelings. We tried every day to acclimate you into our lives but you were too stubborn to realize that, even though you had lost your mother, we were offering you another family. It was never meant to replace the love you had for her. But that was all you saw; you kept yourself from us. And now you want to play the victim for feeling left out of the family.”

“What fucking rock have you been living under, Natalia? Do you really think I left of my own free will when Nadia became sick? Is that what Father told you? You see, if you paid enough fucking attention to the children you say you love so damn much, you’d realize how much our lives have been controlled by that man! But you’re too seduced by the materialistic bullshit he feeds you on a daily basis to keep your mouth shut. Go ahead; keep denying the mistakes you’ve made- excusing them for
love
.  More like the fucking lifestyle you’re afforded.”

Mirroring his aggressive stance, Natalia stood from her chair as well. “So we finally get to the root of it. You think I’m some sort of gold-digger?”

The silence that fell upon the room gave her the answer. To his shock, he felt the former fight surrounding her aura disappear almost immediately. While she still stood proud in front of him, the light dimmed from her eyes slightly. And for the first time, he almost regretted his actions toward her.

“What you feel for me is irrelevant right now. Please, come to the dinner this Saturday.” She picked up her purse and turned for the exit.

“I’ll be bringing a guest.”

At that, she paused. “Is now really the time to tell your father you’re back with that woman?” She turned back to face him. “Nadia told me that you started a relationship with her again. I congratulate you for that, but the dinner this Saturday is not the place to give your father a symbolic ‘fuck you.’ And I’m sure your lady-friend wouldn’t like to be used in your rebellion against him.”

“You’re wrong. This has nothing to do with him, and everything to do with her. If it were up to me, she would never see him again. But our relationship needs this; she needs to know that no matter the threats my father may spew, she will always come first.”

Natalia sneered at him. “This dinner is for your father! He deserves to relax- his very life depends on it.”

Dmitri shrugged. “Which is why I am giving you notice instead of springing it on him come Saturday. You want me there- I don’t come without my other half. I plan on making her part of the family pretty soon anyways.”

His stepmother said nothing to this. Instead, she wrenched open the door and he listened as the sounds of her heels resounded against the hallway floor.

When Dmitri made it to Sasha’ apartment, the conversation he had with Natalia continued to echo in his mind. He was confused by the feelings of worry he had concerning his father as he continued to think about the scenario of Nikolai’s potential passing. While he had made great strides with Sasha, Dominic, and Nadia in expressing his emotions of love and care, he couldn’t fathom ever revealing the same vulnerability to the man he had spent decades fighting. Their ongoing war had become such a part of his existence; he didn’t know what any other sort of relationship with his father would be like. What would it entail?

Before the incident with Nadia and her anorexia, Nikolai had been grooming him to take over the hotel conglomerate. He remembered the pressure to succeed and Nikolai’s harsh critique of his work ethic and ideas. Dmitri didn’t want to return to that. However, Dominic seemed to have taken over the bulk of the work over the past few years, which was possible evidence of his father’s less stringent demeanor.

Dmitri wouldn’t hold out hope for that, though. As he entered Sasha’s apartment with his key, he decided to focus on convincing Sasha to accompany him to the dinner this Saturday. As he set his briefcase on the glass table in the small foyer, he was assaulted by the aroma of dinner. Smiling to himself, he called out her name and waited.

On cue, as had been their custom, Sasha walked out of the kitchen with an apron around her waist and her hands out in greeting. Without hesitation, he met her halfway and spun her in his arms while giving her light kisses on her smooth cheeks.

She giggled at the touch of his lips. “Dmitri, you’re here early.”

Setting her back on her feet, he replied nonchalantly, “I missed you.”

Sasha gave him an incredulous look. “We just saw each other last night.”

“What can I say- I’m addicted,” he teased. Grasping her face between his hands, he leaned down and gave her a proper kiss in greeting. “I’m serious, though. I couldn’t stop thinking about you today. Did something happen?”

Noting the worry in his voice, she shook her head. “No. In fact, things went pretty well today. Teagan is back in town and I got a long-awaited email from Dina! Apparently, she wants to come back here for holiday break because she misses America. And, you’ll never guess what Teagan told me…”

Dmitri followed her into the kitchen as she rambled on about Teagan’s decision to return to Boston. He could only smile in amusement at the glowing smile that spread across her face as she spoke of her two friends. Taking a comfortable position against the counter as he watched her continue preparing dinner, he eyed her appreciatively. The apron was tied across her waist, accentuating her curves and giving him dirty ideas. To get his mind off the uncomfortable tightening in his lower regions, he took plates from the cabinet and began to place them accordingly.

Clearing his throat, he decided to broach the subject now instead of later, “So, I got a visit from Natalia today.”

Sasha stopped chopping the cucumbers for the side salad and met his eyes. “Really? What was she there for?”

“Well, Nikolai is going to be getting released from the hospital this weekend. So, she invited me to a dinner celebrating his recovery. And I want you to come with me.”

He found himself squirming in the silence that followed his announcement. If she said no, he wouldn’t blame her. But a part of him wanted her there with him when he confronted his family. She had become a more significant part of his life and he had not been lying to Natalia when he spoke of his intentions to marry her.  The last two times she had been present in his meetings with his parents hadn’t ended well; he needed to make that up to her.

“Did you tell her you were bringing me?”

“Yes,” he replied without hesitation. “This dinner and how they react to our relationship, will determine for me whether I even want to be in their lives from now on. I will cut all ties to them if need be.”

At his words, Sasha vehemently shook her head. “I would never ask you to do that, Dmitri. They’re your family despite the problems that exist. W-why was your father in the hospital?”

“Chest pains. Apparently, he was at risk for a heart attack.”

Sasha sighed at the news. “I don’t think this Saturday would be the best time for me to meet him again, Dmitri.”

Before she could continue her protest, he interrupted, “No, this is the perfect time. Her dinner invitation was an olive branch of sorts. They need to know that if I were to become a part of the family once more, they would need to accept our relationship. You and I are a packaged deal. Period.” 

When she didn’t immediately reply, he made his way over to her and pulled her into his arms. “You’re mine and I love you,” he whispered to her while gently nuzzling her cheek.

Finally, Sasha looked up at him with a smile. “I love you too.”

Gently, his hands moved from around her waist until they were resting against her stomach. He caressed the area with his palm as his thoughts drifted to a subject of far more import. “How are you feeling?” he finally asked.

Sasha took a hold of his hand. “It was just a scare, Dmitri. I have to be a little more diligent in taking my pills but you don’t have to worry. I’m not pregnant.”

At her statement, Dmitri was a bit surprised by the disappointment that came across him. Before he could stop, he found himself saying, “You know, I wasn’t worried about the possibility of having a kid. In fact, for a minute there, I was actually excited.”

She looked up at him in surprise. “Don’t you think it’s a bit early to be considering raising a family?”

“No,” he said without hesitation.

Sasha merely shook her head. “Well, it is for me. Is it wrong for me to want the traditional marriage first?”

Her question, of course was rhetorical, judging from the steel-laced tone. Instead of responding, Dmitri laughed and winked at her before walking away into the dining room.

Lola and Teagan could visibly see the panic in Sasha’s eyes as they approached what seemed to be their one-hundredth clothing store that day. Exchanging glances, they knew not to mention the ache developing in their feet or their hunger pains. Instead, they trailed behind her as she scurried from one corner of the department to another. They had gotten accustomed to the sigh of frustration she would emit after pressing a pair of pants to her waist and finding it to be too long or too wide. It wasn’t until she was in danger of breaking one of the hangers as she jammed it back into place that they intervened in collaboration.

“Sasha! You really have to calm down.”

She sent a glare to both of them before rumbling back into the clothing rack. “You don’t understand. I’ve met them before and they hated me. I-I…I just have to find the perfect outfit.”

Teagan tsked and placed her hand on her cocked hip. “I really don’t think one outfit is going to make or break this meeting. Just be yourself.”

Sasha held back the need to snap at them both. While they had willingly volunteered to go shopping with her, she was a bit irked by their lack of support and empathy toward her situation. So, she turned away from the rack and said, “Okay, here is the deal. I’ve met Dmitri’s parents before and his father blatantly called me a slut. And then, to make matters even worse, I gave their then-struggling-with-anorexia daughter a concussion. So, is that still your final advice: be yourself?”

Lola and Teagan both stared at her, mouths gaped open.

“You never told me that, Sasha!” Teagan looked visibly pissed while Lola was still in amused shock.

“Oh, hell no, girl! You need a fucking miracle to make that shit better. And no outfit is going to give you that!” Lola stated bluntly.

Sasha’s face fell at the truth in her words. “Dmitri isn’t going to dump me because of them- I know that for a fact. But, I would still really like it if the meeting went well for him. He’s under enough stress as it is.”

“I’d say the one under a lot of stress is you, Sasha. You’re being too hard on yourself. From what you
did
bother to tell me,” Teagan sent a suspicious glare Sasha’s way as she said that, “his parents are not likeable people. So, again, I say just be yourself.  That’s who Dmitri fell in love with in the first place. I don’t know why you’re trying to become some goddamn Stepford wife when that is just not you.”

Teagan could tell her words had been taken seriously. Sasha bowed her head slightly and sighed in understanding.

“So, would you mind if we left this goddamn store. The prices on these tags are giving me hives,” Lola joked to lighten the mood.

Teagan and Sasha broke out into laughter as they made their way to the exit with Lola leading the way. And Sasha remembered exactly why she had wanted them to be there with her; even though her worries were far from disappearing, she still felt better.

Her thoughts drifted to Dmitri and instantly, a wide smile spread across her face and she felt the weight that had been on her shoulders all evening lighten. As if on cue, her phone rang and she looked down to see his face displayed on the screen. Without hesitation, she answered breathily,

“Dmitri!”

“Hey baby.” She could hear the smile in his voice as he greeted her in return. “Where are you?” he asked.

“I’m shopping for an outfit for tomorrow. Teagan and Lola are with me.”

There was a slight pause before he replied, “I’m at your apartment right now. Remember? We made plans to spend tonight together…”

Sasha almost laughed at the pout she heard in Dmitri’s voice. While she did recall him making the plans on her behalf, she also remembered her response. “Dmitri, I told you, I am not going to meet your parents without wearing something appropriate. And having your personal assistant shop for me isn’t what I meant by that. I sent Jeremy back to your office for a reason.”

Dmitri sighed in frustration, “Why do you refuse to accept my help?”

Her eyes narrowed at the tone in his voice. Turning away from Lola and Teagan, she planted her hands on her hips and replied smartly, “Because this relationship isn’t going to be me hanging on your coattails. While I am more than grateful for the help, this is something I wish to do on my own. I’m not an invalid; I can shop for myself.”

While their relationship had been thriving since that day in Newark so many months ago, there was still the occasion of them butting heads. It was moments like this, Sasha remembered that Dmitri was not only the product of a rich family, but it was the only lifestyle he had been exposed to from both his mother and father’s side. When she refused the help of maids, personal assistants, and the like he was often flabbergasted by her need to do things on her own. For her, they weren’t a chore, just a part of everyday life. And she vowed to get him more accustomed to doing for himself outside of his business as well.

“Fine,” Dmitri replied in a huff. “When will you be back?”

“I shouldn’t be longer than another two hours or so,” she paused. “Can you wait that long you big baby?”

Even as the words left her mouth, she giggled. Sasha didn’t have to see him to know his face was turning red in embarrassment as he realized just how he was acting. The silence that followed her comment, confirmed it. And she let out her laughter.

“I miss you too, Dmitri. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Her words seemed to have done the trick in easing his discomfiture because he finally replied back huskily, “No panties.”

As if on cue, she felt warmth spread down her belly and settle between her legs. And suddenly, she couldn’t give a damn about the outfit she had spent the last afternoon searching for. Trying to control her breath, she cleared her throat and stated inconspicuously for Teagan and Lola’s benefit, “Of course. I’ll see you soon.”

Sasha’s eyes had been in a constant state of awe as Dmitri drove his vehicle through the neighborhoods of Dover, Massachusetts. It wasn’t until they turned onto a private street that she realized the depth of the Vikhrov wealth and estate. With trees and gorgeous fields lining the stone path, a home decorated in grey stone masonry with white paneling finally came into view. It wasn’t simply enough that the home itself was one of the largest she had ever come across, but the land that surrounded the area gave tribute to the powerful family that lay behind the stone walls.

Dmitri drove the car around the roundabout in front of the home, completely ignorant of Sasha’s speechlessness. Instead, his mind and body were overcome with the same uproarious energy that always came every time he came across his father. It was a conundrum of emotions with no specific root. But one thing he was certain of as he placed the car into park and removed the key from the ignition was that today would be memorable for them both.

“Oh my god, is this the home you grew up in?” Sasha finally spoke.

“Yeah, this is the manor,” he replied sarcastically. “It’s about thirty acres. To the east you have my father’s horse stables. We all grew up with a keen knowledge of equestrian despite our protests to the contrary. And behind the house is actually a quite beautiful lake.”

“You never told me you know how to ride a horse?”

Looking over at her, Dmitri merely shrugged. “The memories I have of growing up here aren’t the happiest. Equestrian was simply another reminder of how much control my father had over my life. I’d rather not drudge up those recollections.”

Sensing his soberness, Sasha leaned over and placed her hand gently upon his arm. “It’s okay, I understand. But today’s your chance to start a new chapter. We’re in this together.”

To her surprise, he quickly leaned over and took hold of her lips with his own. The soft feel of their connection further relaxed them both as they were inundated with the desire that always seemed to simmer beneath the surface. But before things could get out of hand, Sasha gently pushed him back with a hand on his chest.

“We should go in.”

Without protest, Dmitri exited the vehicle and walked around to relieve Sasha as well. Together, they walked up the stone steps and rung the bell. They could hear the sound emanate through the home and watched in anticipation as a dark figure approached the glass doors. Sasha could feel the tension begin as she focused on her breath and tried not to doubt herself. After hours of deliberation, she had finally chosen to wear a simple sleeveless sheath dress in white and black. It accentuated her curves tastefully and with the appropriate necklace and bracelet, she felt that she at least looked the part considering the company involved.  Taking in one final breath and a quickly glance at Dmitri’s stoic appearance, she watched as the door opened.

On the other side stood a familiar and welcome face; Dominic greeted them both with a warm smile. “Well look who decided to finally come to dinner?” Laughing at his own movie reference, he motioned them in impatiently.

“Come on, might as well get this hellish event over with.”

Dmitri looked down to Sasha sensing the tension in her body as they walked down the hallway. While she still looked in reverence at the red wood floors and cream walls with portraits of all three Vikhrov siblings, he gently caressed her lower back in comfort. The night before, they had been so distracted in their lovemaking he had failed to ask her once again if she was comfortable with coming along with him.

His parents’ home was a mere thirty minutes away from Boston, but the trip out seemed much longer as the two of them had been so engrossed in their own thoughts. And now, he sincerely regretted it. He wanted to know what she was thinking as she looked upon his childhood home.

Following behind Dominic, they made their way into the main living area. Seated around the fireplace in the deep cushions of the white couch were his sister and mother. His father, however, was nowhere in sight. 

Clearing his throat, Dmitri took hold of Sasha’s hand and gained their attention. Nadia’s eyes greeted them warmly as Dominic sat down next to her. The same however could not be said of Natalia; her eyes narrowed upon Sasha’s presence and Dmitri could feel the negative energy she directed at him.

Before he could speak, his stepmother stood and walked toward them. “Well, I’m glad you made it Dmitri.” Abruptly, her countenance rested upon Sasha. “While I don’t necessarily approve of the circumstances in which you’ve arrived, I am happy to meet you again…” Natalia trailed off, her hand held out toward Sasha as she waited for the younger woman to introduce herself.

“This is Sasha Harmon. Sasha, I’m sure you remember my stepmother, Natalia,” Dmitri answered instead.

Sasha took Natalia’s offered hand and gave it a firm shake. “It’s nice to meet you again, Mrs. Vikhrov. I’m sorry it is under such stressful circumstances. How are you and your husband doing?”

Instead of bothering to answer, Natalia returned her attention back to Dmitri. “Your father is being serviced by the nurse at the moment. He should be down shortly and we can commence with dinner.” She swept out her hand at the wide room, “Please have a seat. Make yourselves comfortable.”

Dmitri’s gaze narrowed upon his stepmother at her blatant disregard of Sasha. Before he could open his mouth to respond, however, Sasha patted his arm gently, silently gesturing for him to let it go. Instead, they both took a seat on a loveseat across from Dominic and Nadia as Natalia quietly walked out of the room.

“It’s so nice to have you here, Sasha,” Nadia supplied to the awkward silence that had begun to encompass the room.

Dmitri watched Sasha gracefully return the smile. “I’m really happy to be here.” Whether she was telling the truth or not, her statement alone calmed Dmitri’s nerves. He wondered if she even knew his biggest fear- that despite his efforts, his family would make her want to leave. He could prevent them from antagonizing her, but he couldn’t control her from wanting to escape the often tense and negative family life he had grown accustomed to. Even though it had been years since he had set foot on the estate or sat down with his parents for dinner, the characteristics of his relationship with them had been pervasive in other aspects of his life. And while that had changed somewhat, he worried that it would prevent him from creating the loving family life he knew Sasha had always wanted.

Thoughts of having children and being married had come up quite often since her pregnancy scare. While he was shocked by his desire for both, at the same time, he feared being incapable of making her happy. His own family life had always been dysfunctional; what did he possibly know about what was normal?

“Well, you’re in for a treat if that greeting just now wasn’t evidence enough,” Dominic responded dryly. “In fact, before shit really starts to hit the fan, I always delve into Father’s expensive taste for alcohol. Would you like anything?”

Sasha’s eyes met Dmitri’s with humorous uncertainty. “Umm….I think I’m good, Dominic. But, thank you for the offer.”

He merely shrugged his shoulders as if silently conveying ‘you’re loss.’ “You sure? Have you ever tried real Russian vodka?”

“Dom,” Dmitri warned.

Rolling his eyes at his older brother, Dominic laid back into the couch and said nothing further on the subject.

The scuffling of feet nearing the room interrupted the brief interaction. Just as quickly as she had exited, Natalia returned with Nikolai slowly following behind. Dmitri’s relaxed posture immediately straightened in shock at the sight of his formerly intimidating father walking in with his shoulders slightly hunched. The man had always seemed larger than life with his height and wide build. But it wasn’t just his posture Dmitri noticed, but the deep circles under his eyes and the sad frown marring his mouth.