I woke up this morning with a splitting headache. It was already afternoon and it was still mildly there, nudging my left temple.

I went through yesterday's meeting in my mind, replaying the event. Big Ben's menacing smirk and cold eyes left me uncertain. And above all, how he wanted to keep Dimitri locked in his contract to continue to fight for him. I cringed. The nerve of that man!

He thinks he owns Dimitri. He's messing up his life and my life in the process.

I huffed in annoyance. But I didn't want to feel defeated. There was no way Big Ben was going to win if I could help it. I won't give up. We will fight through this. I still believed it would help if I loaned Dimitri my dad's money. I'm not sure how much Dimitri owed, but I was certain I could settle it for the time being.

I arrived at the guest house. I needed to pack my luggage since I was staying the rest of the week at Dimitri's apartment. I was happy about that, to be near him, to live with him again. To sleep next to him and wake up with him. It brought back fond memories. But there was always this dark cloud hanging over our heads that I knew was Big Ben now.

Anger gripped me again. And I didn't like the feeling.

I just have to persuade Dimitri to take the money and settle his debt once and for all. He was excited about the prospect of UFC, and we needed a new start from all this mess. His old life had to be gone... forever!

I opened the window of my room. And breathed in the fresh cool air. The afternoon sun was warm against my face, heating it up. It felt good as I basked in it. I told Dimitri I'll be back by tonight. He was training for the upcoming fight for the day, set up by Big Ben. I gagged at the thought of my poor Dimitri fighting for this asshole. But he wanted to prove himself to the UFC world. I was proud of him. He wanted to make it on his own.

I wasn't sure if I should make the move to New Jersey just yet. It was going to be a big change, a new state, a new school... I had to sort things out first.

I re-packed all my clothes and double checked I missed nothing. I placed my phone in my jeans pocket, grabbed my luggage and violin case, and checked out the guesthouse.

The taxi arrived on time and I couldn't wait to get back to Dimitri.

***

I entered the open planned apartment. The last light of sunset filtered through the large window, filling the place in a shadowy glow. Something smelled delicious as I walked through the living room, dragging my heavy suitcase behind me.

Dimitri came out of the bathroom, dressed in casual jeans and a grey tank top, his hair still damp from the shower.

"Hey you back." he smiled teasingly at me. "I thought I might have scared you off, and you ran away home."

"I'm not that easy to scare off." I said playfully.

Dimitri came around and helped me with my luggage. He walked over and placed it in the bedroom.

"Something smells tasty." I said, smelling the air. "Did you cook or something?" I asked with a raised brow.

"Would you believe me if I did?" he asked, a smirk on his sexy face.

"Nope."

Dimitri chuckled. "It's Chinese. I got takeout for us. It's here on the table."

I sat down on the hard steel chair with a soft cushion. Dimitri brought out two wine glasses and a bottle of white wine. He sat down and we both tucked in our egg noodle stir-fry and vegetable spring rolls.

"I've decided to go back to Ashfield next week and sort things out first. I still have a job I neglected long enough, and we can take it from there." I said.

Dimitri looked at me and nodded. "Yeah. I guess that's the right decision. No matter how much I want you here with me. We have to figure this out properly. Especially since I moved my parole here. I can't really move anywhere till it's done."

"Yes, we'll figure something out." I agreed, smiling weakly. We just had to.

The rest of the dinner fell into easy conversation.

After I did the dishes. Dimitri came up from behind and hugged me tight around my waist.

"Are you feeling okay?" he asked in my ear.

"Yeah, sure, why wouldn't I be?" I answered.

Dimitri frowned and turned me towards him. "Are you sure? Is it about living here with me? Is it me? Are you having doubts about us?" he asked, getting slightly nervous.

"No-No-no... it's nothing like that, honestly. It's just..." I sighed.

"What is it? Tell me." Dimitri asked concerned.

"This messed up situation with Big Ben. He's got too much of a hold on us." I said, my voice strained.

Dimitri grabbed me and held me against his warm chest. "Don't worry about him. It's my mess, and it's mine to fix. I don't want you to feel the burden. It's mine to bear. Not yours Lillie. Please don't worry." as he said this, he held my cheeks in his rough hands and looked tenderly at me.

I hugged him again, he's herbal shower scent comforting me in every way possible. I wanted to believe Dimitri, I badly wanted to, but it was difficult.

He brought my face to his, and I melted into his kiss. It was warm, with a hint of desperation edging it. I could feel his need and urgency as he gripped me around my waist, tugging me towards him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held him tight, like our lives somehow depended on it. Giving into what he wanted.

Dimitri hiked up my one leg and pushed me up against the kitchen sink, his lips slipped down to the sides of my neck, I titled it giving him easy access. He kissed and sucked gently on the spot of my neck, promising a good love bite after.

Dimitri moaned into it as I whimpered. He pushed up against me, making me feel his hard arousal against the throb between my legs.

"Oh Dimitri." I whined, wanting him to take me right there and now.

My phone rang abruptly, and Dimitri groaned. He broke the kiss so I could get it.

"It's probably my mom." I said breathlessly, still high on euphoria.

I checked my caller ID and rolled my eyes.

"Hey Sassi... Anything wrong?" I said, my voice slightly husky. I looked at Dimitri, who formed a wicked grin on his face, and I bit my bottom lip, antsy to get back to where we left off.

"Hey Lil... what's wrong with your voice? Are you still sick with the head cold?" Sassi asked.

I turned to look at Dimitri, but he had disappeared.

"Nah, I'm fine." I said.

Toned arms wrapped around me from behind, with Dimitri's eager fingers unbuttoning my dress on top. I gasped and tried to get out of his strong grasp, but there was no way he was letting me go that easy. I gave another gasp into the phone as his hand slipped in and cupped my breast.

"When are you coming-... what the hell is going on there?!" Sassi said, surprised. "Where are you Lil?"

Dimitri massaged my left breast in circular motions as he kissed the side of my neck and squeezed my nipple, making me jerk.

"I'm here at the-the g-g-guest house." I stuttered breathlessly.

"Yeah right, my ass, you're at the guest house." Sassi said accusingly. "You at Dimitri's place, aren't you?"

"Well....." I giggled, as Dimitri nipped my ear, whispering hot against it.

"Hang up if you know what's good for you, Sassi will understand." he said.

"Lil... hello... are you being attacked or something?... am I speaking to myself?" Sassi was mumbling, but I wasn't paying attention anymore. My lips were occupied in a hard sizzling kiss with Dimitri, as my other hand brushed against his hard arousal.

I pulled reluctantly from the kiss. "Sass, I got to go, will come home in a couple of days. Don't worry, chat soon." I said, cutting the line.

I tossed my phone on the table and grabbed Dimitri, resuming our fiery kiss. He grabbed me once again, and we happily picked up where we left off.

My phone beeped with an incoming message. I huffed in annoyance. Sassi just couldn't give up, I thought. She's like a hound dog with a bone. I reached for my phone and opened the message. It read.

I stopped in Dimitri's arms, frowning at the cryptic message.

"Why on earth would Sassi send a message like that to me?" I mumbled, confused as hell.

But I took a double look at the sender. My eyes grew slightly, stopping Dimitri and drawing his attention to my phone screen.

The sender was not Sassi; it was Arthur!