"I'm back for good," she whispered. "Or at least for as long as you'll have me."
He grabbed her quickly and pulled her up in his arms. With a passionate sigh, he kissed her open mouth and laid her on the bed.
"Oh, I'll have you," he answered. "Every day for the rest of my life."
"It's strange. I don't know what happened. The thought of losing you to another woman made me realize how much I needed you. I've been so foolish, Dmitry. All I've thought about is myself and what I've gone through, but I didn't stop long enough to think about you and all that you've given up to be with me and Anya."
"I've given up nothing."
The words stung inside. He knew that they were true and that he was deceiving her even as he made love to her. The treachery was nauseating. Still, he hid his heavy burden in hopes that after the deal his secret would simply go away.
"You should never be ashamed of your sadness." He cringed. "The fact that you showed honest emotion and were not afraid to grieve for your many losses shows how much of a real woman you are. I could not have handled the same torture that you endured with such dignity."
Royal smiled. "Do you know in all the time that we've been together you have never said one mean thing to me? It's almost unreal. I mean, I know how much of a bitch that I've been. Don't think that I don't." They both laughed. "But you always are careful with me, never cruel."
"Why would I? You are the only woman who has ever sacrificed everything for me. And at such a high cost… "
"Lets not talk about that. Lets do what your eyes were saying a minute ago," she said, running her hands down to his jeans.
"I'm afraid what they were saying involved actions so distasteful, so… " he breathed in as he felt her slim hand slip inside of his pants and grasp his throbbing penis. "So you like distasteful, eh?"
"I adore it," she purred.
Chapter 14
Dawn broke the horizon and slipped through the heavy curtains in Anatoly's room. He stared up at the ceiling watching the large fan whirl above him. His mind was on Victoria. If he closed his eyes, he saw her. When he breathed, he smelled her perfume. The thought of that wicked bitch incited a riot throughout his entire body. Damn her to hell. He had to have her, even if just once.
The night before, his father had eyed him the entire dinner. And for some ungodly reason, Brigitte clung to him in a very subtle but irritating way. While everyone else was eating, drinking and talking, she sat close, smiled at him and continued to try to make conversation.
He had to end things with her, make her go away. His life was getting far too complicated. Just then he heard his door open.
He sat up in bed and watched as Brigitte closed the door behind her and leaned against the door in her baby blue uniform.
" Bon jour," she whispered with a wanting look upon her fair beautiful features.
Anatoly did not speak. Though he could not deny his constant enchantment by her utter bewitching good looks, he knew he was no good for her. He tapped the bed beside him and ran his hands through his hair.
She walked up to the bed and sat beside him. Rubbing his scruffy beard, she leaned in to kiss him, but he quickly moved.
"Net. We need to talk," his voice was flat.
"So talk," she said, feeling her stomach turn.
"We can't do this anymore." He met her bright eyes.
"Why?"
"You are good girl. You need man who will be faithful and loving and… take care of you. I will not. I may tell you that I will, but I won't."
"I don't want your money."
"I'm not talking about money. I'm talking about you."
"Anatoly… "
"I am not my father," he interrupted. "Don't think that what he does for my stepmother will translate to me and you. I'm not that sincere."
"I know. I just thought… "
"It won't work. I don't want it to."
"Did I do something?" Tears formed in the corner of her eyes and her small mouth quivered.
He scratched his forehead and frowned. "No. It's not you at all." It’s her, he thought to himself. "How is your mother? Is she better?" he asked, wanting to change the subject. His decision had been made. This would end now.
"No. Pretty soon I'll be all alone in this world." Tears ran down her face. Closing her eyes, she dropped her head. It felt as though the entire world had just stopped spinning.
"Well, you'll always have my parents," he stood up. "I've got to shower and head out of here. I really am sorry, Brigitte." He rubbed her shoulder. "I'm still here if you need anything… financially."
"I won't." She stood up, straightened her uniform and left.
* * *
Brigitte left Anatoly's room with her head up, but as soon as she closed the large doors behind her, the tears broke through and trickled down her face.
Lips twisted into a painful frown, she ran down the dark corridor to the kitchen -the only place she knew was vacant at this hour. Her feet carried her swiftly. She could feel her stomach twisting into knots as though she would vomit. The rain of tears evident on her face, ruining her makeup, she fled down the stairwell and down the back pathway to the kitchen.
Barging through the doors, she leaned on the counter and let out of agonizing sob. Damn him to hell for hurting her.
Dmitry took his spoon out of the peanut butter and whipped his head around the door of the cupboard to see Brigitte bent over
