"I should let them outside," I whisper to Dimitri.
"You can after you come here," he says.
I shuffle slowly toward him, my heart pounding so loud I'm sure he can hear it. It sounds like it's trying to beat out of my chest. Bear hops up, pacing at my side. As soon as I get close to Dimitri, Bear positions himself between us, growling at Dimitri.
"Bear, no," I chastise him. "We can trust him."
Bear gives me the side-eye.
"He's still mad at me."
"Why?"
"I picked him up when you ran off last night and tossed him to Constantine. It pissed him off," Dimitri says with a rueful smile. "I don't think he appreciated being reminded that he's not a Great Dane."
"Poor Bear," I say, fighting a smile. "He's smaller than Rabbit, but he has the attitude of a Rottweiler. It's odd, though. He's never growled at or tried to bite me."
"That's because he knows you're something worth protecting, Snow," Dimitri rumbles, his eyes locked on me. "You're pure light, little one."
I blush, pulling my gaze from him as my heart turns a somersault. "Bear, it's okay," I murmur to the dog. "I'm safe."
Bear sniffs at Dimitri and then reluctantly moves out of the way, allowing me to approach. He watches from a few steps away, until he's sure Dimitri isn't going to hurt me, and then he slowly lays back down.
Dimitri's lips curve up into a smile when I shuffle closer. He reaches out, running the back of his hand down the side of my cheek. "You're adorable when you sleep, Magic," he murmurs. "You were dreaming about me, weren't you?"
"I…" My brows furrow as I try to remember what I dreamed. Was he in them? Perhaps. "I don't remember."
"You said my name."
"Did I?"
"Several times."
I swallow, meeting his obsidian gaze. "You stayed?"
"You asked me not to leave you." He runs his hand around the side of my neck, gently cupping my head to draw me closer. "I keep my promises, Snow. Always."
"Oh," I whisper, a flock of butterflies kicking into flight in my stomach as he draws me even closer to him. Or maybe I drift closer on my own. I don't know, but somehow, the space between us slowly dwindles and the heat of his body grows more searing. I shiver as his aura kisses mine, dark and light merging into one everywhere they touch.
"Fuck," he growls, his eyes flaring with heat when he feels it. "What is that?"
"F-fate, I think," I blurt, not sure why I say it. Not sure why it sounds so right. But it does. This man is my fate, my once upon a time and my happily-ever-after. Only…this is no fairytale. He is no prince. But I think he's my destiny anyway.
I pleaded to God for help. He sent me this man. It's no coincidence.
"Yeah?" Dimitri murmurs, pulling me even closer. "You're my fate, Snow?" His breath washes across my face, pulling me deeper under whatever dark spell he's weaving on me. His lips slid across my cheek, soft and warm. "Does that make me your fate too, little one?"
"Dimitri," I whisper, pressing my hand to his chest. I don't know if I'm trying to push him back or pull him closer. I do neither. His heart pounds beneath my palm, sure and steady. The strong, steady rhythm lulls me to the edge of something vast and bright, something far more powerful than anything I've ever known. It's not desire. It's not even need. It's more than that. A hunger that goes soul deep.
"You let me bring you here," he murmurs, his lips a breath from mine. "That makes you mine, sweet Snow."
"I've never…belonged to anyone before." I've never belonged anywhere before. My whole life, I've been the odd one out, the painfully shy curvy girl with her head in the clouds. I was the idealist, the dreamer, the one no one ever took seriously. Grow up, Snow. Don't be such a baby, Snow. The real world doesn't work that way, Snow. I've been more alone than ever since my dad died.
"You belong here," Dimitri says. His confidence is unshakable. He believes what he's saying with every fiber of his being. "You belong with me."
"Dimitri? Please kiss me," I plead quietly, afraid if he keeps talking, I may start believing him too. That's dangerous. For a million reasons I don't even know how to put into words right now. All I know is that far too much has happened in my life lately to let myself believe forever can be this easy. Maybe once I believed that…but that was before my whole world fell apart.
Dimitri pulls me up against his chest, cupping the back of my head. A soft growl rumbles in his chest, and then his lips touch mine in a soft kiss. I gasp as a shock goes through my system, setting me ablaze. Every nerve ending in my body lights up, reacting to the feel of his lips on mine, of his body pressed to mine.