Chapter 61 Untitled Chapter
CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
Irina's POV
Tears would not stop falling.
They streamed down my face like hot rivers, blurring my vision.
My chest heaved with sobs that I could not control.
"He never saved me," I whispered to myself through my tears. "It was all in my head. All of it was my imagination."
My hands shook violently as I reached for the IV needle in my arm.
I had to get out of here. I had to find out where I really was and know if truly all of this was my imagination.
The needle was taped down securely but I picked at the edges desperately with trembling fingers.
"Come on, come on," I muttered, my vision was still blurred from crying.
Finally the tape came loose and I grabbed the needle, preparing to pull it out even though I knew it would hurt.
I was trying to sit up, trying to swing my legs over the side of the bed when suddenly I heard the door open.
The sound made me freeze. My heart stopped. My breath caught in my throat.
Footsteps entered the room, getting closer.
I looked up quickly, wiping tears from my eyes desperately so I could see clearly.
And there he was with the ocean blue eyes that glitter under the dim light.
Dimitri.
He was real, standing right there in front of me.
Relief crashed over me like a wave.
Fresh tears burst from my eyes. These ones were tears of joy and relief and overwhelming emotion.
"Dimitri," I sobbed his name, barely able to speak through my crying.
He looked shocked when he saw me. His eyes went wide with concern and alarm.
He ran to the bed quickly. His movements were urgent and worried.
"Irina!" He said urgently. His hands reached out to me, touching my face gently, checking me over. "Are you good? Are you okay?"
His hands moved to my shoulders, then to my arms, examining me carefully.
"Is anything wrong?" He continued asking questions rapidly. "Are you in pain? Do you need the doctor? Tell me what is wrong!"
I could only shake my head because the sobs would not stop. I could not speak.
The relief was too overwhelming. It consumed me completely.
"Shh, shh," Dimitri said softly, then he pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly against his chest.
One of his hands went to the back of my head, patting me gently, soothing me like a child.
"It’s okay," he whispered. "You are safe now. I promise you are safe."
His other hand rubbed my back in slow circles. The motion was calming and gentle.
I buried my face in his chest and let myself cry. Letting out all the fear and terror and loneliness from the past months.
"I thought," I finally managed to say between sobs, "I thought you never saved me. I thought it was all my imagination."
My words came out broken and choppy, interrupted by crying.
"I thought I was still in that car," I continued. "Or that I was with Alexei and he was playing tricks on me."
Dimitri held me tighter. His arms were strong and protective around me.
"No," he said firmly. "No, I really saved you. I am really here. This is real, I promise."
Gradually my crying started to slow down.
I pulled away from him slightly so I could look at his face properly.
And what I saw took my breath away all over again.
He looked different from how I remembered him.
He looked more mature somehow.
His features were sharper, and more defined, like they had been carved from marble by a master sculptor.
His hair was silver now, long and falling down past his shoulders.
The color caught the light and seemed to shimmer, making him look otherworldly, like some kind of angel or mythical being.
"You look... different," I whispered, my voice was still shaky from crying.
I reached up and touched his hair, running my fingers through the silver strands.
It was soft, silky, and beautiful.
Dimitri smiled. His cheeks turned red slightly.
"Do you..." I hesitated, afraid of the answer but needing to know. "Do you remember me now?"
Please say yes, I thought desperately. Please tell me your memories came back.
But Dimitri shook his head slowly. I saw the regret in his eyes.
"No," he admitted. "I do not remember. I am sorry, I still do not remember anything about my past."
My heart sank. Disappointment settled in my chest.
"But," Dimitri continued quickly, seeing my expression fall.
He took both of my hands in his, holding them gently but firmly.
"My heart wants you," he said simply. His ocean blue eyes stared directly into mine. "I do not know why, I cannot explain it, but my heart wants you."
His thumbs rubbed gentle circles on the backs of my hands.
"I want to be with you, Irina," he said clearly. "I want you in my life. That I know for certain."
More tears started falling from my eyes.
I looked down at my belly, at the small bump that was starting to show.
"But the baby," I whispered. "The baby is not yours, it belongs to…"
"I know," Dimitri interrupted gently. "I know the baby belongs to my brother Alexei."
He reached up and brushed my hair behind my ear. His touch was so gentle it made my heart ache.
"But I want you nonetheless," he said firmly. "You and the baby. I do not care whose blood runs in that child's veins."
His hand cupped my cheek tenderly.
"I want you, Irina," he repeated. "That is all that matters to me."
Then he started leaning in closer. His eyes dropped to my lips.
I froze. My heart started racing for an entirely different reason now.
Time seemed to slow down as he came closer and closer.
Then his lips touched mine. Soft and gentle, giving me the chance to pull away if I wanted.
But I did not want to pull away. I wanted this more than anything.
I leaned in closer, pressing my lips more firmly against his.
Dimitri's hand moved from my cheek to the back of my neck. His fingers tangled in my hair.
His other hand went to my waist, pulling me closer against him.
The kiss deepened. It became more intense.
His lips moved against mine expertly. His tongue exploring mouth.
Small moans escaped from my mouth. I could not help it.
My hands moved up to his hair. My fingers ran through the silver strands, ruffling them, and pulling slightly.
This was everything I had dreamed about.
This was the moment I had imagined over and over. When Dimitri would touch me, kiss me, and claim me as his.
His hands traced along my body slowly, and carefully.
One hand moved down my side, following the curve of my waist, my hip, making me shiver with pleasure.
The other hand stayed tangled in my hair, holding me close, keeping me exactly where he wanted me.
I responded eagerly, pouring all my loneliness and longing into the kiss.
My hands explored his shoulders, his chest, relearning the feel of him, and memorizing every detail.
We kissed like we were drowning, like we had been separated for years instead of months.
Finally, we broke apart. Both of us were breathing heavily, trying to catch our breath.
My lips felt swollen and tender. My whole body tingled with sensation.
Dimitri looked at me. His ocean blue eyes were intense but tender, and filled with emotion.
His hand still cupped my face gently, his thumb stroked my cheek with care.
For a long moment we just stared at each other.
Then Dimitri spoke, his voice was serious but warm.
"Let's get married.”