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"Moscow, Russia"

"Azure is the daughter of a British Politician. After some auspicious ties with the KGB. Your Dad made an arrangement with the head of the Russian mafia, Dimitri Petrov, to erase all his debt and ties to Russia in exchange for you."

"Now, here you are, in a stranger’s house, Dimitri Petrov’s Estate, meeting your newly arranged husband for the first time."

Dimitri leaned into her touch and warmth, closing his eyes as she caressed his head. His body relaxed slightly, though he remained tense. It was rare that anyone showed concern for him or cared about his well-being. He didn't respond to her question verbally at first, but just focused on the sensation of being held by her. After a moment, he opened his eyes, gazing up at her with a mixture of confusion and vulnerability beneath his usually steely exterior.

He let go of her, suddenly remembering himself and backing away slightly. The alcohol had made him momentarily forget their dynamic. "I am... fine," he said gruffly, not

Dimitri cleared his throat. "I appreciate your concern, Diana," he said, trying to regain some semblance of control over the situation. He looked away from her, taking a swig from his whiskey bottle and then placing it on the table. Without another word, he turned and walked towards their bedroom, leaving her alone in the living room.

The tension in the air remained heavy after his abrupt departure. Diana's heart ached for him, wondering if there was more to his cold exterior than she knew. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down before heading to bed. As she lay awake, unable to sleep, she couldn't shake

The morning light filtered through the windows as Diana meticulously prepared breakfast for both of them. The aroma of fresh coffee and sizzling bacon filled the air, yet another small act of love and care she unflinchingly offered in their stagnant marriage. As Dimitri eventually emerged from their bedroom, still looking somewhat disheveled from the night before, he couldn't help but notice her efforts.

He approached her with a hint of surprise in his eyes, something that rarely showed itself when it came to him. "What's this?" he asked gruffly, indicating the food on the table.

"Breakfast," she replied softly, gl

ancing towards him. The nervousness she felt around him was palpable, but there was also an undercurrent of determination in her movements – a resolve to break through the barrier that separated them.

Dimitri hesitated for a moment before sitting down at the table. As he did so, Diana couldn't help but hope that this small gesture might be the first step towards some sort of connection between them. She took her seat opposite him and watched him cautiously as he reached out to take a bite of the food she had prepared for him.

The silence that followed was heavy, but not quite unbearable as they both focused on their meal. Diana could feel his

Dimitri paused, with a forkful of bacon halfway to his mouth, as he glanced over at Diana. "It's good," he grunted, swallowing the bite before setting down his fork. "I don't know what kind of magic you've used here, but it's definitely better than anything I usually manage."

She tried to smile, appreciating his compliment. "Thank you," she whispered, her eyes lingering on the food on his plate. "I thought you might enjoy something fresh and homemade after last night."

He looked back at his plate, a faint frown tugging at his lips. "You're too kind, darlin'," he muttered

"But it's true," Diana persisted gently. "You work so hard and deserve something comforting every now and then." Her fingers drummed lightly against the table, and she caught herself glancing at the scar on his cheek before quickly looking away.

For a moment, Dimitri seemed lost in thought as he stared back at her. There was an odd intensity to his gaze, almost like he was sizing her up or trying to figure something out. Then, without warning, he reached out and tugged her closer by one of the curls that had escaped her ponytail.

"Damn right I do," he growled, leaning in slightly

His hot breath tickled her ear as he whispered, "And maybe it's time we started treating each other a little better. Don't you agree, Diana?"

Diana trembled slightly at his unexpectedly close proximity and the uncharacteristic gentleness in his voice. Her heart fluttered nervously in her chest, caught between desire and fear. She couldn't help but notice the aroma of whiskey on his breath.

She swallowed hard before finally meeting his gaze. "I... I suppose we could try," she agreed hesitantly. "But please... be gentle with me." Her words hung heavily in the air between them, charged with un

said meaning and longing.

Dimitri's grip on her hair tightened slightly for a moment before he released it, letting out a low chuckle that held no humor. "You know I can't promise that," he rasped, reaching up to trace the outline of one of his tattoos with a black-painted fingernail. "But I'll try not to break you too badly tonight."

His words sent a shiver down Diana's spine, both from fear and an unwelcome twinge of arousal. She bit her bottom lip nervously, unsure if she should be afraid or excited about what was happening

Feeling his icy grip on her lower back, Diana pushed herself away from the table and walked unsteadily towards their bedroom. She turned to glance at him one last time, watching as he stood there staring after her with a predatory glint in his eye. The knot of anticipation in her stomach threatened to swallow her whole as she reached for the hem of her camisole.

Inside the dimly lit room, she stripped off her clothes slowly, each movement deliberate and calculated. As she climbed onto the bed naked, she couldn't help but wonder what exactly it was that had prompted this sudden change in Dimitri's behavior

and whether or not she could trust these newfound gestures of tenderness. The thought was fleeting, however, as she felt his powerful form loom over her once again, casting a long shadow across the rumpled sheets.

"Don't move," he growled softly, his voice more human now than it had been in years. "Let me show you what happens when someone fucks with the Petrov." His words hung heavily in the air between them, full of danger and promise both. As his lips descended towards hers, Diana could do nothing but bite back a scream of anticipation and hope that this time would be different.

Their tongues danced together, dueling in an intense and passionate battle that left Diana gasping for breath. Her hands instinctively reached up to hold onto his broad shoulders, feeling the taut muscles beneath his skin as he claimed her mouth with a hunger she had never seen before.

As Dimitri's lips left hers to trail down her jawline, leaving a burning path of desire in their wake, Diana felt something inside her shatter. It was like all the pent-up emotions and fear from their arranged marriage were being released at once, swept away by this tidal wave of lust and raw emotion. She moaned softly, arch

ing her hips towards him, begging for more.

His tongue found the soft flesh of her neck, and she shuddered violently as he left a trail of hot, open-mouthed kisses along her collarbone. Her hands fisted in the sheets beneath her, gripping them so tightly she was afraid they might tear. For a moment, there was nothing but this primal dance between them, an exploration of the boundaries of fear and pleasure that defined their twisted relationship.

And then, just when she thought she couldn't take anymore, Dimitri lifted himself off of her slightly, pressing his forehead against hers as they panted for air. His

eyes bored into hers, searching for some sign of surrender or defiance, and she could see the internal struggle playing out on his face. He was fighting with himself, torn between the need to control and the desire to claim her completely.

With a low growl, he buried his face back into her neck, his breath hot against her skin as he ground his hips against her thigh. The sensation sent a shock of pleasure straight to her core, leaving her desperately seeking release from the torment of his touch. His hand slid down her arm, gripping her wrist tightly, and then yanked her around until she was facing away from him.

"You wanted this," he whispered hoarsely into her ear, his

voice thick with lust and anger. "Now you're going to get it." His words sent a chill down her spine, but Diana refused to back down now. She wanted him; she needed him to break through the wall that stood between them.

As he entered her from behind, Diana bit back a scream of pain mixed with pleasure. He filled her completely, stretching her in ways she never knew possible. Her nails dug into his shoulders, leaving bloody crescents as he began to move inside her, setting a punishing pace that left her gasping for air.

Dimitri's body slammed into hers over and over again, driving them both closer

to the edge of sanity. With every thrust, their bodies became more entwined, each moan and gasp filling the room with their desperate need for one another. The line between pain and pleasure blurred until they were consumed by the raw power of their lust.

And then, as if finally releasing the last of his control, Dimitri let go completely. His movements became erratic, each thrust harder than the last until he found his release deep inside her. She felt him shudder violently as he came, his seed spilling into her warmth in a wave of intense pleasure. Diana's entire body seized up beneath him, her own orgasm hitting her

like a freight train as she rode out the intense waves of euphoria washing over her.

As their bodies slowly relaxed, Dimitri pulled out of her and let her slide down onto the floor in a heap. He remained standing above her, his chest heaving with exertion, as he finally found the words to speak. "Don't ever doubt that you belong here," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. And then he turned and left the room, leaving her there on the floor to process everything that had just happened.

Throughout the rest of the night, Diana couldn't help but feel both satisfied and scared. Satisfied because

she had finally been with Dimitri in the way she had always fantasized about; scared because she knew that there was no going back to the way things were before. Deep down, she wondered if he would ever be able to love her like she loved him. But for now, she reveled in the afterglow of their passionate encounter, trying to forget the fear that still lurked just beneath the surface.

By the time morning came, Diana was exhausted but she had managed to finish her trashy romance novel. As she heard Dimitri moving around upstairs, she couldn't help but feel a mixture of dread and anticipation coursing through her veins. Would he talk to her? Ignore her? Act as if nothing had happened?

As he finally descended the stairs, she could see he was dressed in one of his finely tailored suits, looking every bit the powerful Russian mafia boss that he was. He walked over to the counter where she stood, sipping on a cup of black coffee. Without looking at her or saying a word, he poured himself

another cup and then turned around to sit at the breakfast table, leaving Diana standing there in silence.

For weeks after their encounter, things remained tense between them. They barely spoke except when it was absolutely necessary, and even then, their interactions were cold and distant. The passion they had shared seemed like a distant memory, and Diana couldn't help but wonder if she had made a terrible mistake by letting herself get involved with him emotionally. The sad part was, she knew deep down that she would never be able to forget what they had done together, no matter how hard she tried.

As time went on, Diana became adept at hiding her emotional turmoil behind a smile and polite small talk. She had resigned herself to living the rest of her life in this loveless marriage, serving as nothing more than arm candy for Dimitri's dangerous world. Deep down, however, she longed for something more; for someone who could truly love her and make her feel alive again. But for now, she would continue playing the role she had been cast into - that of the dutiful wife with the broken spirit.

One day, as she was walking through the sprawling garden of their mansion after finishing some tedious chore, Diana stumbled upon an old wooden shed tucked away in a corner. The door creaked open to reveal stacks of dusty, forgotten belongings from Dimitri's past. Among them were several photographs and mementos from his days in the military; there were even some letters he had written to someone named 'Katya.'

Intrigued by these newfound discoveries, Diana began spending more time sifting through the items in the shed, trying to piece together Dimitri's past life. As she delved deeper into the secrets hidden

As she delved deeper into the secrets hidden within the shed, Diana found herself feeling unexpectedly connected to Dimitri through these glimpses of his past. Seeing him as a younger man with dreams and passions made him seem less like an imposing figure of authority and more human. It was during these quiet moments in the shed that she felt a flicker of hope, knowing that there must have been some reason for him to have fallen into the life he led now.

Despite her growing curiosity about his past, Diana knew better than to confront Dimitri about what she had found. Instead, she continued to navigate their complicated relationship, hoping against hope that one day they might find