“You were born and raised in Russia, and I have been to Russia three times.” Dimitris was interested.
“Go on,” he said.
“My mom’s topics of study were queens and empresses. I made a few trips with her to Russia for research. We spent most of our time in Saint Petersburg, but I did get to go to Moscow for a few days, once. My mom was rather obsessed with Catherine the Great. That’s who I’m named after. People never spell my name correctly, Cate with a C is odd in America.”
Dimitris silently marveled at the workings of the goddess. Not only did she provide him a mate, she gave him one named for the Russian Empress, Catherine the Great. Surely a mate named for the esteemed empress would be a formidable alpha in her own right. “And Peter, you named your son for Catherine’s husband?” he asked.
Cate laughed, “No, that would be gross. I named him after Peter the Great. Catherine was an admirer of that particular Peter. I thought if my name was an homage to Catherine the Great my son should bear the title of Peter the Great. My mother died before Peter was born. I think his name would have pleased her.”
Dimitris closed the remaining space between them so that she had to raise her head to look into his eyes. “People often think that it is the servants’ job to devote themselves to the queen and king, but really it is the queen and king that should be devoted to the servants. True royalty makes sacrifices for the good of others and honors those that have helped them achieve their greatness. You have made sacrifices for you son and have honored your mother. Your parents were correct to name you after Catherine the Great.” He reached for her hand, turning it over and pressing his lips to her palm. The action sent jolts of electricity from her hand straight to her core. This man could make her wet in less than a second. “I knew you were royalty the moment I met you, and now you’ve proven it.”
Cate swallowed. Somehow this moment felt far more intimate than anything the two had shared on the pool deck. Dimitris’ words touched her in way she had not expected. This thing between them was just supposed to be hot, tawdry, and fleeting. It was not supposed to be poignant, engaging Cate’s emotions in a way she had not allowed in almost six years. She felt unprepared for the feelings that engulfed her. She needed air, a chance to gain some space for herself and clear her head. “I need to check on my students,” she breathed, pulling her hand out of his. “Thank you for the drink.” With that she turned and left, fighting to keep from running.
four
Dimitris watched as Cate hurried from the ballroom. Instinctively, he knew that she was working hard not to run. “I’ll have my man, Kobe, follow her. He won’t allow her to come to any harm.” Dimitris was not surprised to find Mylo standing next to him. Mylo took his job as head of security for the Volkov pack very seriously. There was no one Dimitris would trust more in the role of body guard for himself or his mate.
“That won’t be necessary,” he told his friend. “I believe I will follow my lovely mate. True to her alpha status, she is not making it easy on me, but she can’t resist for too long. We are fated for one another.”
The normally stoic Mylo smiled at this. “I like that she’s giving you a run for your money, even if she has no idea why at the moment. The pack deserves a strong woman to lead them. They would not respect her if she made it too easy on you.”
“She is not making it easy on me, that’s for sure,” he tossed the words over his shoulder as he walked away.
“Where’s he going?” Alek asked Mylo, watching Dimitris leave through the servants’ door.
“I believe he is stalking his prey,” Mylo said. “I hope his mate makes him wait it out a bit. He will appreciate her more if she does.”
Alek barked a laugh. “I don’t know if Dimitris will appreciate her more for it, but I know I will enjoy watching it much more.”
Cate pushed her way into the kitchen, and breathed in the scent of melted butter. Of all the smells a kitchen produced, melted butter had always been her favorite. The scent reminded her of home-cooked meals and rich, decadent treats. It calmed her. She needed calming. She did not understand why Dimitris made her so nervous. She told herself that she should enjoy his advances, allow herself to be fawned over for a while, but in reality she felt threatened by his nearness. Dimitris was a powerful, dominant man. Yes, he was polite and mannerly with her, but she knew that when push came to shove he would stop at nothing to get what he desired, and he had made it clear that what he desired was Cate.But what comes next, Cate? What happens when he stops desiring you and moves on to someone else?No, she would not allow herself to be Dimitris’ newest plaything. She was a woman that needed to stay in control, and she doubted her ability to maintain control around Dimitris Volkov.
“Hey Chef, did you come to check on us?” CeCe stood near the kitchen’s island, expertly arranging prosciutto wrapped asparagus on a tray for the wait staff to take out to the partygoers. “John and I had a bet on how long it would take before you came in to give an inspection. John said you would wait until ten o’clock, but I said you would be here by nine, if not earlier. Looks like John will be doing my dishes this week in class.” Cate felt embarrassed. She had truly hoped to avoid the kitchen tonight. On her ride to the party she had told herself that the best thing she could do for her students was let them succeed or fail without her. But here she was, hiding from a man because she was too chicken to stand straight and hold her ground.
“I wasn’t really inspecting you. I just wanted to make sure that you were all good and didn’t need anything. If all is well, I’ll be happy to leave and rejoin the party.”
CeCe eyed her with skepticism. “We’re all good in here,” she said. “Unless,” she added, “you just prefer the kitchen to the ballroom.” Cate’s back stiffened. She would not allow a student to feel pity for her.
“No, I’m having a great time. I just wanted to make sure. You guys have my cell number if anything major happens. Otherwise, keep up the good work. I’ll see you in class on Monday.” With that she turned and left.
Cate walked down the hall towards the party. She had entered the kitchen through the servants’ door that led from the ballroom to the kitchen by a series of hidden halls, but she decided to take the main hall back to the party. It was longer, which meant that she had more time to steel her nerves.You are going to go in there and have a great time.Cate resolved to avoid Dimitris. She had a feeling that he would be far too easy to fall for, a situation that would only lead to heartache. And Cate would never again do heartache.
Just before she rounded the corner to the main entryway of the home, she stopped to arrange her dress and run her fingers through her hair. She looked down and saw a small piece of lint on her dress. When she looked up she was looking right at Dimitris. “I have been waiting for you, Cate.” He edged closer and fingered a lock of her hair.
Her breath hitched. “I haven’t been gone very long,” she replied softly.
“It felt like a long time to me.” His hands cupped her face. “Every second felt like an eternity.” With each word, Dimitris stepped her back into the depths of the hall. “I would like for you to stay by my side for the rest of the evening. It makes me uneasy having you away from me.” He pushed her back against the wall, trapping her with his hard body. “Say you’ll do that, my beautiful Cate. Say you will stay with me for the evening.” Dimitris lowered his head, his mouth possessing hers in one swift motion.
Cate’s mind preached the insanity of her actions.Run away, it implored.He will possess you, body and soul.But she could not run. She needed Dimitris. Her body ached for him in a way that she had never felt before. Pressing her body into his, she allowed him to deepen the kiss. Suddenly he pushed her back into a room. How he had managed to open a door while she was drowning in his kisses, Cate did not know, but she was grateful for the added privacy. He lowered his mouth to her neck, which gave her a second to register that they were in the coat storage area for the party-goers.
“I knew your hair would feel like silk,” He whispered in her ear. His hands caressed Cate’s scalp. “It is so beautiful. A lovely crown for my beautiful and mesmerizing Catherine the Great.” He dipped his head to hers once more and kissed her long and deep. His hands moved from her head, down her body. Slowly he edged the hem of her dress higher and higher. She clutched at his shoulders, her fingers kneading his strong muscles under the fine wool of his coat.
“I want you, Cate,” Dimitris mouthed the words against her lips. “Can you tell how much?” He gently rocked his hips into her body. His erection pressed against her belly. He had pulled her dress up high allowing her to feel the cool buckle of his belt on her sensitive skin. “I want all of you. I want you in every way you can imagine and all the ways you have not imagined. But first, my Cate, I want to taste you.” He lowered his body so that he knelt directly in front of her. “I want to put my mouth on your sweet pussy, Cate. Please say that I can.”
“Yes,” she breathed. With that one word, Dimitris pulled at the black lace, ripping it from her body. She gasped.
“I will buy you a million more pairs of panties, Cate.” Dimitris’ hands pushed her back so that she was once again caught between his body and a wall. His strong grip trapped her hips as he lowered his head to her most sensitive spot. Gently he used his nose to open her folds. It brushed, softly, against her clit. Dimitris inhaled deeply, “My god, Cate. You smell so good, like cinnamon and coffee. I must taste you.” Using his fingers he pushed her pussy apart. His tongue lapped at her center, focusing on her sensitive bud. Cate’s fingers clutched at his hair, her legs twitched. “Open for me,” Dimitris commanded, pushing her legs apart to better access her core.
“Please,” Cate begged though she did not know just what she wanted. “Please, I need –“ His mouth continued its investigation, circling and probing her depths. She lifted her trembling leg and draped it across his right shoulder. The movement gave his mouth more access. He sucked at her causing a delicious throb to grow. She threw her head back in pleasure. “Dimitris, yes, that’s –“ Dimitris’ thumb circled at her entrance, slowly teasing her opening while his mouth lapped her juices. Her muscles began to twitch faster. Dimitris removed his thumb and thrust two fingers inside her tight passage. His fingers moved quickly as his tongue licked her in long strokes, faster and harder, their movement creating sucking noises. Her body began to clench around his strong digits.
