From Russia With Love

The sky outside the window was dark blue and frigid, the very first rays of the morning sun just beginning to drag itself onto the horizon, tinging the dark sky with streaks of golden yellow light. Dominika slowly became aware of the arms that enveloped her tightly as she lay among the fluffy, decadent pillows and it occurred to her that she wasn't in her own bed.

A fleeting moment of panic blanched through her as the previous night came flooding back to her conscience, faintly recalling staring through her own reflection as the exhaustion of the previous weeks finally overcame her and she succumbed to sleep right there on the smooth polished wood of her dance room floor. Faint, sleepy memories of being scooped up into soft, warm arms and then the sting of cold air on her bare skin before she was wrapped back up into those arms, warm and safe as sleep pulled her under once again.

Dominika laced her fingers through his and pressed the backs of them to her rose-colored lips.

"Hey" she said softly, lifting the sheet in the darkness of the room to observe the foreign material that clothed her body "did you change my clothes?"

Gerard's answering chuckle rumbled in his chest and he leaned over to kiss her neck, trailing his lips to her ear.

"Don't worry, I didn't peek. I am a gentleman after all" he whispered.

She smiled coyly up at him, heat spreading slowly to tint her cheeks. Sincerity burned in his eyes and she reached up to touch his cheek.

"It doesn't really matter, I mean, I don't mind. I am yours now, after all"

Gerard brushed a stray lock of her sleep-tangled hair behind her ear before his eyes flashed back to hers, hazel and intense.

"I know" he replied, a note of smugness to his voice "but that doesn't make you mine for the taking any old time. Your body may belong to me, but only when you choose to give it to me"

"Especially now, baby, we're just starting out" he added gently.

Gerard touched her face softly again and she leant into his touch, the feeling of his skin on hers razing like fire through her veins.

"I'll take you to school today, okay?" he said.

"Mm, can't we just pretend it’s the weekend and stay in bed all day instead? The real world is becoming too much for me"

Gerard chuckled, ruffling her hair with his free hand.

"I wish, kid"

"Do you have to do your aptitude test today? It’s my first day off from rehearsals in weeks"

"I know, I know" he groaned, "trust me, if there was a choice, I'd be spending it with you"

"And I can't go with you?"

"Not this time, I've told you how strict they are with the aptitude tests"

"Even for you" he added with a small smile.

Dominika leant up to kiss him and he returned her affection, kissing her deeply as he moved his right hand up to cup her face. He pulled away after a few moments.

“Don’t miss me too much kid, I’ll be home again before you know it”

Dominika frowned “I always miss you. When they send you away again its going to be like torture.

“For us both” Gerard chuckled, “I’m damaged goods now, they’ll put me on desk duties for months. Back to being a regular Joe”

“At least Regular Joes don’t get blown up” she replied, kissing his fingers one by one.

“I’ll try not to”

“Don’t say ‘try’” she chided, “promise me you won’t scare me like that again”

“I promise” Gerard said, bringing their interlocked hands to rest against his heart “you have my word”

“I’m going to hold you to that”

Notes

Whats this?! An update after two years?? As promised I will never abandon this story, the last two years have been so tumultuous, I had another baby, my husband died, but in the back of my mind has always been this story. Over 70k hits, enjoy my beautiful fans, this one is for you.