Five: My Boyfriend

Dmitry

There were a couple of things I took pleasure in. My bike, my time, my friends. Now I could add something new to the list. Watching Gianna squirm at the thought of climbing onto the seat behind me.

Years ago she begged to ride with me. Now the apprehension was written all over her face, loud enough to hear without a single word spoken.

I snickered, lifting my visor and cocking my head as I examined my pretty little kitten.

Fuck.

I wanted to do the most insane things to her. She was gorgeous. Perfect. Her curls fell across her face and my fingers twitched with the urge to brush them back.

“Stop staring at me like that.” Her voice shook, cheeks flushed, but I did not look away.

I was gone. Lost in the familiarity of her. I still remembered the taste of her lips, salt and cherry.

I swung off the bike, pulled my helmet off, and let the cool air hit my face.

“Look,” I said, swallowing the laughter crawling up my throat. “This is our only ride. You either hop on, or you walk home.”

I leaned against the bike, watching her like she was the only thing worth staring at. In a way, she was.

She stared back, mouth hanging open.

“You are insufferable, Dmitry.” She spat the words, slipping her hand between her breasts and pulled her phone out.

Holy fuck.

I dragged my eyes back up before she caught me staring. Fuck that should be my cock, slipping in and out those juicy breasts.

My eyes shut, the image almost clear in my head until her low giggle brought my back to present.

I watched as her fingers flew across the screen. A second later, she held the phone up triumphantly.

“In your face, jackass.”

I smiled. Still stubborn. Still determined. Still Gia.

“Suit yourself, kitten.”

Her eyes flared with rage. “Stop calling me that.”

I tilted my head, feigning confusion. “Calling you what. Kitten?”

Her nostrils flared as she moved her attention to the lot entrance.

“Yes,” she snapped. “I told you already. Stop it.”

I pushed off the bike and took one slow step toward her, not enough to crowd her, just enough for her scent to flood my nostrils.

Vanilla, she still smelled like vanilla.

“Can’t help it.” I shrugged. “You still look like one and behave like one too. Claws first."

She scoffed, finally looking my way but not saying anything to counter my words.

I wasn't sure how I'd do it but I needed my Gia back, without telling her the reason I left.

"Why are you still here?" She asked finally saying something.

"You're still here."

She pointed to the exit like she was trying to get rid of an intruder. “Leave, Dmitry.”

I didn’t move.

Her eyes narrowed. “You heard me. Go. You've helped enough I'll meet you at your place."

I folded my arms, moving back to my bike.

“I’m waiting for your ride.”

She blinked, then widening her eyes before squinting them at me.

Fucking adorable.

“For what?”

“So I know you actually get into it,” I said, voice steady. “I need to make sure you're safe."

She stared at me like I’d grown horns. Then her expression shifted, something softer underneath the irritation.

“One would think you care about me.” She tilted her head. “Or are you just saving face in case someone sees you letting me stand here alone?”

That one stung, right under the ribs and I know I should be trying to coddle her into winning her forgiveness but I was a jackass and she's always loved that.

"If I cared, kitten, you wouldn’t be calling another man for a ride.”

She made a face like she wanted to throw something at me.

Then her phone buzzed.

A smile lifted the corner of her lips and something in me snapped.

Not a fake one, a full blow Gia happy smile. One I hadn't seen since the night on the hill.

The one that she always had on her face when we were together.

My fists curled so tight beside me I heard the crack of bone.

She answered, voice low and too damn gentle. “Hey. No. I haven’t left yet. I’m still outside.”

Who the fuck was that anyway?

My blood boiled.

She laughed quietly, brushing her curls back, looking like she had forgotten I existed, like some background tv show on mute.

I stared at her, swallowing the urge to snatch the phone out of her ear and tell the asshole to fuck off.

She laughed again, soft and sweet, at whatever the person said. I cleared my throat, hoping to steal an ounce of her attention, but she did not even pay me any heed.

God, this girl knew how to get under my skin.

Her voice dropped lower as she whispered something that sounded a lot like “that is not true.”

I had to remind myself that I caused this. If I had fought harder, if I had stood my ground, maybe she would not be so hesitant to get on my bike. Maybe she would not be making soft little phone calls to another man.

It burned in my chest. There was no way someone else made her this happy. She had to be doing it on purpose.

“Yeah,” she murmured, head lowered. “I will be there soon.”

Be where.

With who.

My pulse thundered in my ears.

She finally hung up, still smiling to herself.

Why was I angry at her for moving on?

“Who was that?” I kept my voice steady.

She blinked at me, slowly turning like she had forgotten I existed.

“Oh. Kevin. He wanted to know if we were home yet.”

Right. Kevin. I had completely forgotten about that fucker.

“Is he your boyfriend?” The words came out sharp, there was no use pretending. I didn't like him.

She shrugged and tucked her phone back into her cleavage. “I am not sure how that is your problem.”

I stepped forward before I could think, boxing her in without touching her.

“I am not asking as your brother's best friend.” My voice dropped low. “I asked like a man who needs to know who makes you smile like that.”

Her chest rose, eyes glazing over almost immediately leaving her mouth gaping like she wanted me to kiss her.

And fuck me, I wanted to kiss her. I needed to kiss her.

“You have no right to be jealous,” she whispered.

I smiled, but it did not reach anything warm in me.

“Kitten, I am not jealous.” I was. I was dying of it. “I am territorial.”

Right then, headlights turned into the lot.

Her ride.

I did not move. I just stared past her at the approaching car.

Her voice came out shaky. “My Uber is here.”

“I know.”

She hesitated, then stepped around me. I watched her walk toward the car, dragging my hand down my face, forcing myself to breathe through the fury clawing up my ribs.

She reached the door and wrapped her fingers around the handle.

Then she whipped her hair back and called my name.

“Dmitry!”

I lifted my head.

Her eyes locked on mine like she wanted to carve the words into my skin.

“He is my boyfriend.”

She got into the car, not bothering to see if her words affected me or not, leaving me like a lost wet puppy.

Boyfriend? I scoffed, she had to be shitting me. There was no way in hell I'd let my Gia be another man's woman.