Perfectly Normal Read online

  Both of them had needed a week or so to get used to having somebody around. Taking two loners and sticking them in a luxurious cage meant some fighting and growing pains. Once they realized that they could have time apart, things had gotten easier. It seemed to Columbia that their relationship was on fast forward, everything happened so quickly for them.

  “I don’t know how I let you talk me into this,” he said and scowled at his face in the mirror. She suppressed a laugh, he was as nervous as a schoolboy on prom night.

  “Ok, you know how many people are in this city, what’s one more face in the crowd, right?” she said, trying to reason with him. She felt lately as though his paranoid need for security was bordering on obsessive-compulsive disorder or agoraphobia. That is if Dr. Phil and Google were to be believed.

  “It’s not just the casual passerby that worries me,” he said and smoothed his suit jacket, “it’s Sergei’s associates who would do anything to get to you, if they know about you. That’s the problem, nobody knows about you yet as far as I know.”

  “I’m getting better at defending myself,” she replied and curled her arm in his. She looked at their reflection in the full-length mirror in Dimitri’s closet. They were a very attractive couple; Dimitri’s scars were barely noticeable after several laser treatments from a local plastic surgeon. At least to Columbia they were barely noticeable, if she were being honest she might admit that people would still notice them if they caught a glimpse of him in bright sunlight. The sun was long set and it was a rainy autumn evening. She hoped even under the bright lights of Hong Kong’s best shopping district, they would pass by unnoticed.

  “That you are,” he agreed and stood straighter. Her skill as a fighter was becoming a source of pride for him. His killing and defense had always been brutal and heavy handed. Columbia was developing into a light-footed fighter, like a deadly dancer. His eyes shone every time the concierge reported her faster and more efficient than the previous session.

  “Shall we?” she asked in a crisp British accent. He laughed, nodded and they were on their way.

  *****

  “How is it that you’ve never been inside a McDonalds?” Columbia asked as they strolled down the sidewalk. The crowds were thick in spite of the light rain and Dimitri seemed like a different man to her. He was smiling and enjoying the evening in spite of his fears. She hoped this would teach him that they weren’t under constant attack and could let their guards down every once in a while.

  “It’s…disgusting,” Dimitri replied. “When I was a street urchin, poor and homeless, McDonalds seemed like a wonderland. It was a place for fat Westerners and spoilt rich kids to dine on what seemed like the finest food on the planet. It represented everything I didn’t have, so I grew to resent it.”

  “So you are still resentful of being denied?” she said and laughed. She stumbled and he steadied her, holding her hand tight on his arm. She loved feeling so secure with him and swelled with pride at being with such a stunning man. Even with his fading facial scars, she caught women and some men glancing at him constantly. He never noticed; his attention was completely on her. She couldn’t believe she’d ever pined for a boy like Stuart and felt such jealousy over his relationship with Debbie. It felt like a lifetime ago, or something she had read in a book. In reality it was a few short months ago that she was a different person.

  “It’s no longer that,” he told her, “once I could afford it, it seemed disgusting to me. Greasy manufactured food thrown together by pimply high school kids. Not exactly fine dining, and not exactly the kind of thing I needed to eat in order to maintain my fitness. I had to be ready to fight at any moment.”

  “Surely you could take a break some times,” she said and pointed across the street, “Look! Speak of the Devil!” A small McDonalds lit up in neon yellow against the luxury shops flanking it.

  “You can’t be serious,” Dimitri replied and scowled at the plastic Ronald standing proudly beside the front door.

  “I am definitely serious,” she said and laughed. She dragged him across the street with her and had to laugh harder at the look of horrified disgust on his face.

  “We have a reservation at the Fortune House, it’s one of the most expensive restaurants in the city. Why would we go in here?” he said as he stopped short at the front door.

  She turned and looked up at him and replied, “Honestly? I’m a little homesick. I thought I’d get fries and a milkshake to remind me of back home.”

  His face softened and he reached out to trace her jawline with his finger. He said, “I’m sorry, little dove, I never imagined your intention. I never thought about what you must be going through, so far from home and trapped with a beast like me. I’ll buy you the fucking restaurant if that will make you happy.”

  She smiled, unable to completely diminish her homesickness at that moment, but pleased that he tried so hard to make her life wonderful. She said, “No need to do that, I just want some fries, ok?”

  “Anything for you,” he replied and grinned, “but I have to say that only you would want fries instead of diamonds, my love. And for that, I love you even more.”

  “What can I say?” she said and laughed with him, “I’m easy to please.” She walked in front of him and casually reached back to stroke his cock through the fine fabric of his expensive suit. She heard his sharp intake of breath and felt immensely pleased with herself. She was growing addicted to this power she had over him. It was intoxicating to have another human being so willing to lay down their life for you, or simply grow hard the moment you brush against them.

  They stood in line, surprisingly not overdressed among the younger people ordering. “What do you recommend off this fine menu?” Dimitri leaned down behind her and asked in her ear. She felt his cock pressing against her ass and loved the sensation of being in his arms.

  “Might I recommend the small french fries and a vanilla milkshake?” she replied, trying to concentrate on the menu and not the thought of him fucking her, bent over the counter, in full view of everyone. She never thought of herself as an exhibitionist, but then again, she’d never thought of herself as a wealthy woman with such an incredible man.

  “Anything you wish,” he breathed into her ear. She shivered at the heat in his voice and knew he made her wet as quickly as she made him hard. Their insane chemistry was impossible to ignore. As if reading her thoughts, he squeezed her ass. She rubbed up against him and wanted to close her eyes but knew she couldn’t. Not in the middle of a packed McDonalds in the centre of Hong Kong’s most expensive shopping district.

  “Excuse me,” she heard to the left of them, a male voice in a perfect Canadian accent. “Do I know you?” he asked.

  Columbia turned her head and saw a tall, thin older man in a sagging grey suit. He was balding and had lines and bags under his eyes. He looked almost shabby, which made him stand out in this crowd of elegantly dressed people.

  “No, you don’t, mate,” Dimitri told him in a low, threatening voice. The other man ignored him and looked directly at Columbia.

  “I was talking to her,” he said and reached for his pocket. “I swear I’ve seen your face,” he continued as he pulled out a phone. He tapped it a few times and seemed to be reading something.

  “I’ve never met you, Sir,” Columbia replied and squeezed herself back against Dimitri.

  “Ah-ha! Here you are. You, Madame, are a wanted criminal!” he exclaimed and held up his phone. On the screen was an old photo of Columbia, from high school. Her hair was poofier and she had bad skin, she looked scared and sallow. Columbia’s heart stopped, then started again at double time. She felt her hands get clammy and she began to tremble.

  “Listen here, mate,” Dimitri growled, his voice so deep and angry that it vibrated through Columbia’s back and startled her. He held her tighter when he felt her jump. “I don’t know what you’re going on about, but you can kindly fuck off and leave my wife alone.”

  “No, I swear it’s you...” he said a
nd his voice trailed off as he read the phone. “Yes, Columbia Grey, you killed your step dad. Brutal. Good thing my brain never goes on vacation, even when I’m far from home.”

  “You have one more chance to back off,” Dimitri said and stepped towards the man. The other customers started to move around them, still in line as though nothing was going on.

  “Are you threatening me?” the man said and reached into his jacket. Columbia was sure he was going for a badge and was terrified that he was going to arrest her on the spot, but Dimitri didn’t let that happen. He pulled back and slammed his fist into the guy’s face. Columbia couldn’t help it; she screamed and grabbed his other arm. The man’s nose was bleeding and looked shifted off to one side. He was holding his hands up, trying to stop the gush. Somebody handed him a wad of napkins, he held them up and seemed to regain his senses.

  “Columbia Grey, you are under arrest for murder,” he said with a muffled voice, “a citizen’s arrest as I have no jurisdiction here.”

  “You can’t do that,” she spat at him. Dimitri’s violence had given her strength. She wouldn’t be going anywhere with this man, or anyone else.

  “You stay the fuck away from her,” Dimitri said and stepped towards the man. The man cowered as Dimitri continued, “If I see you anywhere near us, you can guarantee I will be doing more than threatening you.”

  “Come on, let’s get out of here,” Columbia said and tugged on his arm. She noticed people starting to stare. She wanted to go before anyone pulled out a phone and started recording the fight.

  She dragged him towards the door. He walked backwards, eyeing the man with the bleeding nose the entire time. She was relieved when they made it back onto the sidewalk, she texted the driver and he met them with the car at the end of the street.

  As they got into the vehicle, she looked back and saw the man from McDonalds; he still had a bundle of napkins up to his nose and was watching them with an intense look. She felt like prey for a moment, as though he had been hunting her deliberately.

  She shook off the feeling as simply a case of nerves and got in the car. By the time she looked back towards the place he had been, he was gone. She sighed and leaned against Dimitri, letting him put his arms around her and calm her shaking body.

  *****

  “I don’t see how I can expect to travel around and not change my appearance,” Columbia said for the tenth time since they returned from their horrible encounter.

  “I will not have you destroying your hair because of that monster you killed,” he replied. His voice let her know he wasn’t in the mood for argument. “It’s bad enough he drove you to destroy your body and almost destroyed your soul.”

  “I just think it would be better if I tried it for a year or two. I could cut it short and go blonde. Maybe get contact lenses?” she said, trying to get him to think about this from a logical standpoint. She knew he loved her hair, but if she was going to be recognized then it made sense to change something. She thought about Eden’s pink locks and added, “I could go pink even,” and smiled.

  He looked at her, smirked and said, “You would not look good in pink, little dove.” He reached for her and pulled her towards him. They were seated on a chaise in the library; she had needed a place to calm down after the unsettling incident in McDonalds.

  “How do you know?” she asked, “Pink might be my colour.” She wiggled up to snuggle into the crook of his arm. She loved him more for standing up against the stranger earlier.

  “I think red is your colour,” he said and ran his hand along her back. She shivered at his touch, still in awe of the effect he had on her. “I’ve told you before, you look beautiful in it.”

  “Red?” she asked. “I never wear red.” She had a couple of red dresses brought from Vancouver, but was still generally found in all black. Some leftover from her emo phase in high school she thought.

  “I was talking about your ass,” he replied and chuckled, a low mirthful noise that rumbled in his massive chest. “The stripes I lay on it with the crop. Or the marks I leave with my bare hands.”

  “Oh,” she said and squirmed against him, thinking of the crazy sensation of being held down and punished. How pain, being her constant companion, had finally become her closest ally under his care. When she had been alone, pain had been a release from her misery, and escape from the anguish she carried with her at all times. With Dimitri it had become a way to lose control, let go of the pain and let it guide her higher and higher. It enhanced her pleasure in ways she never thought possible, so much so that she almost couldn’t remember what it felt like to loathe the pain she inflicted on her own body. She had hated her own ecstatic release, but was addicted to the release Dimitri offered through his strong body and intense fucking.

  His hand trailed down to cup her ass; she tilted her pelvis and gave him a handful of her tender flesh. She pressed against him and felt him bring up the hem of her dress. She closed her eyes and rested on his chest as he said, “Fuck yes. This ass, your body, it’s mine. I will not have you cutting your hair or changing the colour, did you already forget your place with me?”

  She breathed in deeply and felt his fingers probe her slit. She adjusted herself to open up further and he pulled her against him even tighter. “I haven’t forgotten,” she whispered, “I’m only trying to make life easier for us.”

  “There’s nothing easy about this life,” he said, his voice deep and his breath coming faster now, “this life is shit, remember that. There’s no point in making it easier for us, or we will drop our guards and end up dead. The only time I want it easy is when I’m fucking you. Other than that; the harder the better. It keeps us strong and ready….” His voice trailed off and he slid a finger into her tight pucker, he continued, “For anything.”

  Columbia gasped as he shoved his thick finger in even farther. She’d never given him her ass, she felt a little indignant at the thought of enjoying anal sex. It made no sense, and logical Columbia knew it was ridiculous, but losing her anal virginity made her feel very dirty.

  But she liked it; she liked the thought of Dimitri controlling every part of her body. The thought of him finding every dark crevasse, each nook and cranny, and filling it with his presence. “Please be gentle,” she said and forced herself to relax against his probing digit.

  “You know I can’t be,” he said and pulled his finger out. He pushed her onto her stomach across the chaise and rubbed her back. “I will be how I always am,” he continued and hiked her skirt up over her hips. He tore her delicate panties from her body and squeezed her ass cheek hard. “I am always as soft as possible,” he added, “but you don’t like it gentle. You know that as much as I do.”

  She whimpered as he bent over her and bit the back of her neck. She arched her back and rose up to meet him; it was an instinctual response to the sensations she was going through. The excitement and nervousness of losing her ass to him, the anticipation of the pain and pleasure…and the absolute freedom of being his pet, his little dove, his to command.

  His bite was harder than usual, he reached around and clamped a hand over her mouth and she felt tears running down her face. The shock of lightning-sharp pain shooting along her back was enough to make her cry. He must have felt her shudder, must have felt the tears on his hand and must have heard her muffled sob, but he bit harder.

  She started to feel an orgasm build, from the darkness at the base of her spine, travel up and meet the pain. The two sensations clashed somewhere outside of her body, she was sure of it, and she cried out. He paused, as if to assess the situation, and she whispered, “Don’t stop,” against his hand. He didn’t. He bit again, rolled the skin in his teeth, pressed his cock against her back and pinned her in place with his hand on her mouth.

  She wanted to thrash her head back and forth, she felt as though she must be giving birth to a demon, the combination of events on her body was so intense. The tears poured freely and she sobbed her release, her orgasm. It wasn’t crashing or violent th
is time though, it was an almost otherworldly feeling, as though she was being watched by ancient eyes. She was connecting with some primal energy that drove her on, rolling along a series of waves that seemed endless, never reaching shore.

  He released his teeth and drew his tongue along the back of her neck, tracing the ridges of his teeth marks. “There you are, that’s my girl,” Dimitri said in her ear. “You can take it hard, little dove, you need it hard. You know this, life is hard and so are we. Our love is hard, but in the way that makes you realize we will live every single fucking day together and fight for every moment. We will never grow old and fat and complacent. I will wake up every morning and fight to have you, to fuck you and to keep you. That might be hard, but it’s the only way we know how.”

  She nodded her head and he removed his hand. She gasped for breath and as the waves finally reached shore, she cried out, “I love you Dimi, I will fight for you until my dying moment.”

  “Never talk of death,” he replied and jerked her back. “Never talk of your death, lest we tempt fate and bring it to us. The only death we will discuss is la petit mort, and how I will take you there again.”

  “Yes,” she said, “I’m sorry. No death, but fuck…how do you do that to my body?” The tears were drying on her cheeks, but the shuddering aftershocks of her orgasm were still fluttering in her cunt.

  “I do it to you as you do it to me,” he said and ran the tip of his finger along the throbbing skin of her neck. “I do it to you because I know what you want, how you want to feel. We share the same heart, little dove, we are joined in so many ways we feel each other’s beating heart racing half a second behind our own.”

  “I can still feel you inside of me,” she replied and moved her head to bite the hand that was near her face. Not hard, just a nip to alleviate some of the growing desire building in her body. His words lit her on fire with their passion and their truth.