Playing With Ice

Chapter 8

My eyes fluttered open when I felt someone's arms wrap around my body and I sucked in a deep breath, ready to scream for help, "LET ME GO!" I trashed around blindly, struggling to free myself.

"Rayna! It is just me, sweetheart" Dimitri cried out making me freeze, "It's me. Please calm down"

I gasped for breath, my chest heaving up and down as I looked up at Dimitri who was staring down at me with immense concern and worry in his eyes, "I didn't mean to wake you up. You were fast asleep so I thought I'll carry you to our room" He explained hurriedly, tightening his hold around my body.

I sighed and relaxed against his chest, "I am sorry, I was afraid-" I stopped myself, "Did I fall asleep on the dining table?" I asked him in disbelief. Why would I do that?

Dimitri nodded his head, "The maids told me that you cooked a meal and waited for me so we can have dinner together" He smiled down at me, "I am sorry, I didn't know, Rayna. I would have come home sooner if I knew" He apologized sincerely, regret in his eyes.

I squeezed my eyes shut and sighed. Flashes of everything that happened before I fall asleep on my face came rushing into my mind,"Yeah, I remember it now" I groaned, cracking my eyelids open. I suddenly felt embarrassed for trashing in his arms. He must have thought I was possessed by demons or something."I am sorry that I trashed around-"

"Why are you apologising for something you did when you were sleeping?" Dimitri interrupted me from continuing.

I expected to see him smirking at me but he was staring down at me with a completely opposite emotion in his eyes. Well, at least he didn't find this funny and make jokes about it.

I looked up at him again, "You're right, I shouldn't- you know what? Have you had your dinner yet?" I rambled, my cheeks heating up. Even after all these months of dating him, he still managed to make me speechless.

"No"

I nodded my head and tapped on his shoulder, "Put me down. Let's have dinner together" I said. Dimitri did as I asked for, lowering me to the ground so I could stand on my own feet.

Smiling to myself, I raised my eyes to look at him again and they fell on his arms coincidentally and I let out a gasp, "What's that?" I crossed the little distance between us and took his arm gently with my hands, "Dimitri! You're bleeding!" I exclaimed, my eyes watering. I looked up at him again but he didn't look he was in pain.

"It is nothing" He shook his head, his tone was flat. He tried to pull back his arm from me but I held it tighter, refusing to budge.

"It doesn't look like nothing to me! How did you get this?" I demanded, glancing down at the deep gash again. It looked like it has been sliced with a knife or something. I looked up at him again and realized how grim he looked. There is no way he is going to tell me what really happened."Fine. I don't care if you don't tell me. Let's get it treated first" I grumbled, "Let's go to a clinic or something" I added, pulling him with me towards the exit but he refused to move.

He sighed, "It's not that bad and it's already too late. I don't feel like stepping out now" He said, smiling at me reassuringly, "It doesn't even hurt" He shrugged.

Yeah, right.

I glowered at him, "Fine, let me get the medical kit. I was the one who gives first aid to other kids when I was living in the orphanage" I rambled as I pulled him towards the bedroom, "I'll treat it so it won't get infected, alright?"

He didn't say anything to that. We reached our room and I pushed his shoulder down so he can sit on the bed before vanishing into the bathroom to find a first aid kit.

"You really are a reckless man, Dimitri" I muttered, going to him and sitting next to him. I opened the antiseptic bottle and took a small ball of cotton wool, "How can you let this happen? You're lucky this isn't a deep gash" I nagged as I dabbed the cotton ball against his wound gently, blowing now and then so it wouldn't sting him.

I didn't expect him to say anything. He just stayed silent as I disinfected his wound but I did feel his burning eyes on me as I did that.

I didn't know how long we stayed silent after that but eventually, he had enough of silence and cleared his throat, "Why you didn't eat first?" He asked me as if that is the most important thing right now.

"Sorry?" I asked, concentrating on wrapping the bandage around his arm securely.

"The maids said that you were adamant to eat with me" Dimitri went on, "You could have eaten first and waited for me. I appreciate that you're thinking about me but what if you get gastric? You're the one who would be in pain then" He continued.

I inhaled deeply and took out a pair of scissors to cut the excess cloth away from the bandage, "I know it seems silly but it was a random thing. I always eat with you and the fact that I was the one who made the food made me want to have dinner together so I can watch your reaction, see if you like it or not" I explained to him, taping the bandage.

I started to place everything I took back into the kit and made a mental note to visit the pharmacy soon to get a few things restocked in this kit.

"We should eat then," He said, getting my attention again.

I couldn't help but grin at that. I was about to ask him that, "I am starving as well. I just need to reheat the food so it would be nice and warm" I said, springing to my feet. I put back the kit from where I took it, "Let's go" I said stepping out of the room.

I was literally running to the dining area. I took two bowls at a time and brought it into the kitchen so I could reheat it in the oven.

"I'll help" I heard Dimitri entering the kitchen as well.

"Are you kidding me?" I asked him incredulously as I put the bowl into the oven and set the timer to it. I dashed towards him and grabbed his hand, pulling him out from the kitchen, "You're injured. What kind of a girlfriend I would be if I let you do this right now. Just sit down" I said, pushing him to sit down by the dining table."Stay still" I warned when he tried to move.

I took two more casseroles in my hands and rushed into the kitchen. The maids were retired for the night and I didn't feel it was right to wake them up after they worked so tirelessly today.

I heated up everything in a record of the time and served it in front of him, the aroma of the warm food was all over the dining hall, "I hope you like it" I said, putting a plate in front of him.

He smiled and watched me as I scooped the food onto his plate, "It sure does smell promising" He said, "I'll serve myself, Rayna. Please, you have to eat first okay?"

I nodded at him and put some food to my own plate, my stomach literally grumbling to be fed. I took a bite and sighed. I didn't know it tastes good because it actually does or the fact my hunger made me think that way.

"It is delicious, Rayna," Dimitri said making me glance away from the food to look at him, "Thank you for preparing such a meal. I love it" He said, adding a spoonful of pasta onto his plate. I studied his face to see if he was lying or not and smiled wider when I found out he meant what he said.

"I am glad you like it" I smiled.

Dimitri smiled, "You said you were the one who gave first aids at the orphanage" He stated, keeping the conversation alive, "Everyone must like you then"

I thought about it for a second and shook my head, "Not everyone" I took a sip of water, "The was this one girl who hated me for no absolute reason" I continued when Dimitri looked at me in interest.

"And what did you then?" He asked, tilting his head to the side.

My mind went back to Karina and a lot of submerged memories resurfaced, "Nothing" I shook my head again, "I endured her hateful words in silence. I think that was her way of expressing how life has been hard for her" I sighed. It affected me in a way but I didn't make a big deal of it.

He listened diligently, "Then isn't it unfair to you?" He asked.

"It is" I answered, "But it is better for her to let it out rather than bottling it up, isn't it?" I said.

He didn't agree to that but he didn't disagree as well. We finished the meal in a few minutes and Dimitri helped me to do the dishes even though I asked him to stay put.

"I really enjoyed the meal, thank you," Dimitri said again as we walked side by side to our room.

"Dimitri" I sighed, "Please try not to get hurt in the future. If you're hurt, I would be hurt as well. I know that you're in this mafia and all, but please be careful" I said, smiling at him when we reached our room.

Dimitri turned to look at me, a tender expression on his face, "I cannot promise you that I wouldn't get hurt but I will try my best to avoid injuries" He placed one of his hands against my cheek, "Not for me but for you" He said, leaning to kiss my forehead.

"Thank you" I grinned, feeling better to know that.