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“Rose, this is very dangerous,” Dimitri whispered furiously as he followed me down the corridor. I silenced him with a hiss. I didn’t want him waking everyone up while I was sneaking into the kitchen.
“So be quiet or retreat. I’m going in.”
Dimitri growled but followed me into the living room. We didn’t turn on the light for safety, so I relied on my other senses to creep toward the kitchen counter. Dimitri stood right behind me.
On the countertop sat chocolate-covered plums made using Lissa’s secret recipe—prunes that were second to none. They melted in your mouth, bringing an unforgettable, sweet sensation. Life-changing chocolate-covered prunes. These were the same prunes Lissa had forbidden me to touch until Christmas Eve—not even with a finger. Her ban applied to everyone, but only I knew how torturous it was after having tasted them years ago.
That’s why I waited until everyone had gone to bed.
I had shared my plan only with Dimitri, figuring he’d ask too many unnecessary questions if I sneaked out without explanation. He didn’t believe the chocolate would be worth the trouble, but after an evening spiked with alcohol, he was in such a good mood that he decided he couldn’t miss out.
We crept into the kitchen, using all our stealth and guarding skills, until we finally reached the wonderful sweets. With utmost vigilance, we unwrapped the tray of chocolates. I could feel my mouth watering. I took one of the irregularly shaped chocolate-covered prunes and held it to Dimitri’s lips.
“Remember this moment, comrade. Your life is about to get a thousand times better.”
His eyes sparkled with amusement at the situation. He rested a hand on the bare skin of my back, between my t-shirt and shorts. His fingers scraped my skin, sending pleasant warmth through my veins.
“I didn’t think it could get any better,” he whispered in his deep voice before biting into the sweetness on his lips. I smiled broadly as he savored the chocolate. I was reaching for my own treat when, suddenly, all the lights came on.
“ROSE!” Lissa’s angry voice echoed down the corridor. Adrian, Jill, and she hadn’t been asleep—they’d been out for a walk and had just come back inside.
“Take cover!” Dimitri shouted, pushing me out of the dining room as we hurriedly began to run away.
“IT’S NOT OVER, ROSE! AND YOU TOO, DIMITRI!” Her shouts echoed behind us, nearly drowning out our laughter.
We didn’t stop until we reached our room, where Dimitri slammed the door behind us, and we leaned against it, laughing. I rested my head against the door, feeling lightheaded with happiness. Dimitri seemed amused too. Sometimes I forgot he was just twenty-six, carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. That's why I so loved those rare moments when he allowed himself a bit of mischief. Most often under my command.
“I know we were in a compromised position, but I still didn’t get my prune,” I groaned, feigning as much despair as I could. Dimitri flashed a sly smile.
“At the risk of being caught, I thought ahead,” he said, opening his hand to reveal the stolen treat.I let out a stifled gasp, and his smile widened. I didn’t need that chocolate prune—or even the entire tray downstairs. Seeing him so carefree, his eyes sparkling with laughter, made me feel like my life was already perfect enough.