Chapter 22: Toast

Seraphina

“Mine or yours?” I replied with a raised brow.
Dimitri’s face was in a stern expression, his mouth firm and unsmiling, and his eyes urged for me to find another subject. It wasn’t hard for me to guess she must have been one of his many lovers.
“Mine.” I said as I grabbed a flute of champagne from the waiters tray.
“This really isn’t the time Seraphina.” Dimitri said closing the gap between us.
“Of course not sweetheart.”
Dimitri pulled me into him. It was rougher than normal causing my breast and his abs to touch. His fingers flexed against my bare skin and I hadn’t realized how much I ached for him. Did he know? Was it written all over me that I wanted him and was shamefully jealous of every woman who had ever laid with him? No, there’s no way.
“I’m going to kiss you Seraphina, and don’t you dare stop me.”
Stop him? How could I stop him when my body was begging, crying, aching, pleading for him to do anything to me. His tongue and mine tasted of champagne and heat. I melted into him my body going lax as he pulled me into him more and more by the second. When he released me I could barely breathe let alone stand but his arms held me in place.
“We should go and be seated, my father and I will speak soon.” He said as he began to usher me through the crowd.
Everyone in the room gives us warm smiles as we make our way to the table. The table is full of chatter about us and our hands meet as we reach for a roll from the bread basket. Immediately when our hands touch I look up at Dimitri and find him looking down at me with a warm smile and I get lost in him. It’s becoming easier to pretend when he’s like this, when he’s looking at me this way. The look of a man who is in love.
“Let’s give it up for the man of the hour, my son Dimitri Valor!”
Dimitri stands as the crowd begins to cheer and applaud him. Before making his way to the stage he placed a sweet kiss onto my cheek. I watched him walk as everyone in the room was just as focused on him as I was. He stood in front of the room and everyone clung to every word he spoke. He spoke of his dreams of becoming an architect and being the one who worked beside his grandfather.
“There’s one person I’d like to thank for making tonight a very special night. You have fascinated me from the moment we met in my office. Hardworking, caring, and genuine. Bossy at times.” He and the crowd shared laughter as I blushed at his words. “I’m sure it’s no surprise as she’s been the one everyone here can’t take their eyes off and that includes me. I’d like to thank my fiancée Seraphina Fulton for making today one of the best birthday’s a man could ask for.”
When Dimitri finished his speech the butterflies were swarming in a way I’d never known. I wanted to hide from all of the eyes that were now on me but there was only one set of eyes that heated my skin. He left the stage and everyone crowded around him giving him hugs and congratulatory kisses on the cheek. The familiar redhead placed a kiss to his cheek and I could see the uncomfortable look in his eyes. When he finally made it to me I wiped the fresh coat of red lipstick that saturated his cheek before placing an endearing kiss to his lips.
“Excuse me.” I said as I retreated to the ladies room.
There was something about that woman that ignited my temper. She was desperate to be seen with him or just to be seen by anyone. That type of woman would be a problem in any situation and with our delicate situation this would not be good for the headlines. I shook her out of my head and exited the stall, only to find the redhead leaning against the bathroom sink. Just the two of us were in the restroom as the attendant was no longer in sight.
There was no doubt in my mind she had been waiting for me. Without any hesitation I walked toward the sink and proceeded to wash my hands. She turned in the mirror as she fixed her shoulder length curls; while studying my reflection. Tall, and thin like a runway model. Beautiful emerald eyes, and lush red lips. I grabbed a towel from the basket and dried my hands making sure to pay special attention to my engagement ring.
“So you’re the secretary turned fiancée?” She said in a cool tone.
“Yes, I’m his fiancée and who might you be?”
She made a tsking noise that made my irritation rise with every second we stood breathing the same air.
“Oh honey. We both know men like Dimitri are hard to maintain and you my dear are in no position to keep a man like him happy. He doesn’t commit, he’s too young, too handsome, and too rich to be tied to one woman.”
“You mean a woman like me?”
“Exactly.”
I quickly hid my irritation and replaced it with a sweet chuckle.
“Honey, I’m not sure what you and Dimitri had but whatever it is it’s in the past. Whatever little one night fling you two had it’s just that and it shows he was right to get bored of you. This is very cliché dear and quite frankly I’d expect more from someone of your stature. Have a goodnight honey and I’ll be sure to let him know we spoke.” I said before brushing passed her.
I left the restroom and the fury I hoped to leave in there with her followed me. I walked until I was outside. The air was cold against my heated skin and it made me more aware of what had just happened. I heard footsteps and realized I had forgotten where I was. Shit.
“Were you planning to leave without me?”
“I figured you had enough company here seeing as though one of your exes approached me.” I turned towards him. “The red head.”
“Nicolette.” he said with irritation. “Let me explain Sera, I know I fucked up.” His voice was gruff and full of remorse.
“You don’t have to explain your past to me but she sure as hell better not be any part of your future.” I realized at the end of my sentence that I was yelling at him.
Dimitri smiled his devilish grin and I felt myself becoming wetter. That smile and that mouth of his is lethal.
“You mean you’re not ready to call off the wedding?” he said with relief.
This time I took the initiative to close the gap between us. There was almost a magnetism that was constantly pulling me towards him.
“No,” I said, stopping right when I was in arms reach. “Unless you’re having second thoughts.”
“The only time I have second thoughts when it comes to you, is not fucking you the night you were in my room.”