Playing With Ice

Chapter 7

"I think you would look great in that" Dimitri said, picking up a champagne dress of the many racks in this outlet, "Go on, try that dress on," He said, extending the dress towards me, waiting for me to take it from him.

I smiled at him and crossed the distance between us to examine the dress up close, "Don't you think this is too much?" I asked him, feeling the delicate fabric and glancing up at him. Then, I took the hanger from his hold and put it over my body, turning to face the mirror, "Too luxurious for me" I made a face, shaking my head.

Also not to forget, too expensive for me.

"There is nothing too luxurious for you" Dimitri objected, "Now, go and try it on. You wouldn't know it looks on you until you tried it properly" He said, pointing towards the fitting room, his tone had no space for an argument.

I sighed, "Do I have to do this?" I tried my luck.

He playfully glared at me, "Yes" He said, putting his hands on his hips.

I looked down at the dress and slumped my shoulders in defeat, "Fine. You won't change your mind after you set it" I muttered under my breath and begrudgingly made my way towards the fitting room.

The first thing I did when I shut the door behind me was to check for a price tag. If it was too expensive, I'll never let Dimitri pay for it. Unfortunately, there was no tag attached to the dress so I had no other option. I quickly stripped off my clothes, my eyes darting around to spot any hidden cameras just to be on a safer side.

This was a habit I picked up when I was around ten or eleven so it was hard for me to change it.

Once I zipped the dress, I looked at my reflection in the mirror and smiled. This dress sure made me stand out. It compliments my hair as well. But, I didn't want to grab anyone's interest while wearing this dress so I tried to come up with excuses to reject this beautiful piece of clothing.

I stepped out of the fitting room and jumped back again, startled to see Dimitri standing right in front of the door, "Jesus, how long you have been standing here?" I asked, putting my hand over my chest to feel my erratic heart.

Dimitri completely ignored my question. His mesmerising green eyes took me in, from my head to toe. I resisted squirming under his gaze and shifted my eyes to something else, feeling his eyes leaving hit trails on my body.

I tucked a strand of my loose hair behind my ears and waited for him to say something, "You look stunning, Rayna. You always did and always will" He finally said after some time.

I quickly slapped my palms against my cheeks in a vain attempt to hide my flushed face, "You're making me blush" I mumbled when he raised his eyebrow at me in question.

That only made him threw his head back and laugh out loud heartily, "Then you should blush happily, sweetheart" He said in between his laughs, "After all, the blush on your cheeks are always lovely" He added making the pink on my face deepen.

"Enough," I said, looking away from him, "We are not going to get this dress, alright" I glanced down at the pretty dress and sighed. Someone else would find you here soon, pretty dress. You just don't belong with me, I added sadly in my mind.

Dimitri was obviously displeased with that, "Why? Don't you like it?" He asked me so I kept my eyes on something else to answer him or he would know that I was lying.

"Nope" I shook my head, trying my hardest to keep my tone indifferent.

Dimitri didn't say anything for a few moments so I allowed myself to look up at him just to find him glowering at me, his lips were pressed into a thin line and his hands were stuffed into his pockets, "You are a bad liar, Rayna" He said in disapproval before glancing at the saleswoman and saying something in Italian.

Judging from her gleaming face, I assumed that Dimitri had asked to bag this dress, "Go on, change back to your clothes" Dimitri said, waving his hand in front of me dismissively.

Scowling to myself, I did as he said and returned with the dress with a frown on my face. I handed the dress to the saleswoman and made my way to stand next to Dimitri. Without saying another word, I took his hand into mine and intertwined our fingers together.

Dimitri glanced down at our hands and then at me before giving my hand a gentle squeeze, "Are you worried about the dinner?" He asked me in a small voice.

I thought about his question and nodded my head, "It does bother me that people who don't like me would be there but since I have already been there, I feel somewhat less nervous than before"

He didn't ask anything after that. He paid for the dress and took the bag from the saleswoman in his free hand and started to walk me out from the outlet, "Are you hungry?" He asked, "We could dine in at any restaurant here if you feel like it," He asked me as we walked together.

I looked around and sighed, "Nope. I'll cook us something when we get back home" I said, craning my neck to look up at him again.

My eyes widened at the intensity of emotions in his eyes. A small yet attractive smile graced his lips making my heart thud against my chest. I wondered what suddenly made him so happy, "You're smiling" I stared dumbly, blinking.

That made his smile widen, "I like the sound of it" He said making my eyebrows draw in confusion, "Home" He repeated the word I said making me gasp.

"Oh, that" I chuckled softly. I debated if I should tell him about how I really feel about a home, "Tell you what, all this time I have been thinking that home is just a house. But once I realized that it is a feeling of being content, I knew the home would be wherever you are" I said before I chickened out from my own decision, "You're my home"

I smiled up at him. I was sure that my eyes portrayed how I really feel about him right down.

Dimitri stopped dead in his tracks, automatically halting my steps as well. He peered down at me, his green eyes holding me in captivity, "I think this is the first time you said I love you in another way using so many words" He murmured softly, letting go of my hand to touch my face, "I am the happiest man on this planet right now" He added, leaning in so he can peck on my lips.

The moment was ruined when his phone started blaring and he answered it right away. I watched his carefree demeanour slowly harden and his nostrils flared. Obviously, he didn't like what he heard from the other side.

He hissed something in Italian, too swiftly for me to understand. Not that my Italian was better but I do know a few basic words to survive in Sicily.

He ripped the phone from his ear and muttered a few swear words in Italian, stuffing his phone angrily into his pocket again before glancing up at me. His hard eyes visibly softened at the sight of me and he sighed, "Sorry sweetheart, we have to get back now. There is something that needs to be taken care of"

I nodded my head at him, hiding my disappointment well. I wanted to spend a little more time in here, not to buy anything but to just walk around while holding hands with him.

It is funny that all this time, Dimitri asked me countlessly to go out on a date with him and I refused but now when I want to spend more time with him, he couldn't make time for me.

Of course, I cannot blame him for that. He isn't someone who has nothing to do anyway.

"If you're in hurry, I don't mind taking a cab" I suggested, putting a smile on my face.

Dimitri looked down at me as if I had suggested something outrageous, "You will never take a cab again, Rayna. I might be in a hurry but I assure you, your safety comes first before anything else" He started walking again, tugging me with him, "I will send you back home myself" He added.

I didn't say anything after that. He was in a foul mood and I didn't know what to say to calm him down. The ride back home was surprisingly tense. Whatever that happened must have disturbed him greatly that he was dead silent all the way as he drove.

I wondered what could it be and sighed when I realized it is better for me to not think about it.

Once we reached home, he dropped me at the porch and watched me until I stepped into the house before leaving the property again.

"Seems like he is in a bad mood"

I smiled to myself and turned around slowly to find Sheldon standing there with a smile of his own, "I missed you" He said, striding towards me, "How have you been?"

"Good" I answered, "When did you get here?"

"This morning" He shrugged, "Is he okay?" He jerked his head towards the porch.

The smile on my face faltered, "I don't know" I answered him truthfully, "He received a call while we were shopping and he has been in a foul mood ever since. He left saying he has to handle something"

"Don't worry, Ben will accompany him" He said, noticing concern that was etched on my face.

I simply nodded my head at him, "So since you're back after missing for a few days, tell me what do you want and I will cook it for you" I said, walking towards my room.

"Really?" He asked me in blatant surprise.

"Yeah" I nodded my head at him, "You can think what you want while I take a shower" I raised my shoulders to shrug at him.

He gaped at me as if he couldn't believe what I just said, "Who are you and what have you done to Rayna?" He asked, pretending to look around for anything to attack me with.

I laughed, shaking my head, "I am Rayna" I turned around to resume my steps, "I will be back in a few minutes so get ready to help me out in the kitchen" I called out before I climbed up the stairs.

I will make the nicest, heartiest meal in the world for Dimitri so when he gets back, I can comfort him with the food I made. Or that is what I planned at least.

Sheldon did help me out in the kitchen even though I told him I only joked about asking him to help me. We laughed together, joking about each other while the food got ready. I asked Sheldon to eat first but he asked me to join with him as well.

"I am not hungry" I lied, "I'll eat later" When Dimitri comes back home, I added silently in my mind.

Sheldon nodded his head and dug in while I accompanied him. I couldn't stop smiling when he praised me repeatedly, about how good the food was.

"You should eat now, Rayna. It is getting late" He said when I started to cover all the food I made.

"I am waiting for Dimitri" I smiled, sitting down by the dining table, "You should go and get some rest" I added, smiling reassuringly at Sheldon.

He nodded and left me alone after that.

I sighed and waited for Dimitri for hours but he didn't show up. My stomach grumbled loudly, screaming to be fed but I ignored it. Eventually, my eyes started to get heavy and I yawned a few times, trying to blink the sleep away but ultimately I failed and fell asleep, pressing my face on the dining table, wondering when Dimitri would arrive.