Chapter 109: My Protective Devil

POV: EVE

Eve woke to sunlight streaming through the penthouse windows and Dimitri’s arm draped possessively across her waist.

She smiled, turned in his embrace to find him already awake, watching her with those silver-gray eyes that still made her breath catch.

"Morning," she murmured.

"Morning, cara mia." He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Sleep well?"

"Like the dead. You wore me out last night."

"Good." His hand slid down her spine. "That was the plan."

They’d made love three times, once against the bathroom mirror, once in bed slow and sweet, once more in the early hours when Eve had woken him with her mouth on him.

Ten weeks into their arrangement, and the heat between them showed no signs of cooling.

If anything, it burned hotter.

"What time is it?" Eve asked, stretching.

"Almost nine. We have that fitting at eleven."

Right. The gala fitting.

The Castellano Foundation Charity Gala was this Saturday, two days away and Dimitri had insisted on having a stylist bring options to the penthouse rather than making Eve shop in stores.

"Because," he’d said when she’d protested, "I want you to have choices. And I want to see you in every single one before you decide."

Which was sweet.

And also very Dimitri, controlling but in a way that made her feel cherished rather than stifled.

"Do I have to try on all of them?" Eve asked now, already knowing the answer.

"Every single one." Dimitri’s smile was wicked. "And I get to help you take them off after."

"That’s not how fittings work."

"It’s how my fittings work."

Eve laughed, pushed at his chest. "You’re impossible."

"You love it."

"I do," she admitted, kissing him. "I really do."

They lay there for a few more minutes, just holding each other, before Eve’s stomach rumbled loudly.

"Breakfast first," Dimitri said, laughing. "Then dresses."

"Has anyone ever told you you’re very good at taking care of me?"

"I try." He stood, pulled her out of bed. "Come on. Nonna’s probably been cooking since dawn."

***

POV: DIMITRI

Dimitri watched Eve move around the kitchen in one of his t-shirts and sleep shorts, hair messy, face free of makeup, laughing at something Nonna said.

Perfect.

She was absolutely perfect.

And this Saturday, he’d get to show her off at the Castellano Gala, one of the city’s most prestigious charity events.

Six hundred guests. A-list attendees. Cameras. Press.

The first truly public appearance where he’d have Eve on his arm as his partner, not just his "companion" or "guest."

A statement to everyone who mattered that Eve Thorne was his. Permanently.

"Dimitri?" Eve’s voice pulled him from his thoughts. "You okay? You zoned out."

"Just thinking about Saturday." He accepted the coffee she handed him. "You’re going to be the most beautiful woman there."

"You’re biased."

"I’m accurate." He pulled her onto his lap despite Nonna’s amused headshake. "Every man there is going to wish he was me."

"And every woman is going to be plotting my murder," Eve said dryly.

"Let them try." Dimitri’s voice turned dark. "They’ll learn very quickly why that’s a bad idea."

Eve kissed his jaw. "My protective Devil."

"Always."

Nonna set down a plate of pastries, settled into her chair with her own coffee. "This gala. Very fancy, yes?"

"Very," Dimitri confirmed. "Black tie. Sit-down dinner. Silent auction. The Castellanos raise millions every year for children’s hospitals."

"And Isabella?" Nonna’s voice was deceptively casual. "She will be there?"

Dimitri’s jaw tightened. "Probably. It’s a public event. She has connections to that world. I can’t stop her from attending."

Eve’s body tensed slightly in his lap. "I thought she was supposed to stay away from us."

"From you specifically. And from approaching me. But being in the same room at a charity gala with six hundred other people doesn’t technically violate the terms." Dimitri’s hand rubbed soothing circles on her back. "If she’s smart, she’ll keep her distance. Stay on the other side of the room. Not cause problems."

"And if she’s not smart?"

"Then Marco and his team will handle it before it becomes an issue." Dimitri pressed a kiss to her temple. "You won’t even see her, cara mia. I promise."

Eve was quiet for a moment. Then: "Will Mike be there? I’d feel better if my brother was around."

Dimitri shook his head. "He’s representing us at another event that same night. A meeting with the Kozlov family in Boston. Important business that can’t be rescheduled."

"Oh." Eve’s disappointment was obvious. "I was hoping he’d be there. Maya too, but she’s visiting her parents that weekend."

"So it’s just us," Dimitri said, tilting her face toward his. "You, me, Nonna if she wants to come, and six hundred strangers who don’t matter. Does that work?"

"I’m too old for these fancy parties," Nonna interjected. "You two go. Dance. Drink champagne. Let people see how beautiful you are together." She smiled. "I’ll stay here with my television and my wine."

"You sure?" Eve asked.

"Very sure. These old bones don’t do well in fancy dresses anymore." Nonna waved them off. "But you...you’ll look like a queen, cara. Make sure Dimitri chooses the right dress."

"He’s choosing?" Eve looked at Dimitri. "I thought I was choosing."

"We’re both choosing," Dimitri corrected. "You tell me which ones you feel beautiful in. I tell you which ones make me want to cancel the whole event and keep you in bed instead. We compromise."

"That’s not how compromise works."

"It’s how our compromise works."

Eve laughed, and the sound filled something in Dimitri’s chest that had been empty his entire life.

This. This was what he’d been missing.

Not just sex. Not just companionship.

But joy. Lightness. The kind of easy happiness that came from being with someone who made everything better just by existing.

"What time is the stylist arriving?" Eve asked.

Dimitri checked his watch. "Eleven. Which gives us..." He stood, swept her into his arms. "Exactly enough time for a shower."

"Dimitri!" Eve laughed as he carried her toward the bathroom. "We just woke up!"

"And now we’re getting dirty again. It’s very efficient."

Nonna’s laughter followed them down the hall.