Inside the locked limousine, the primal madness showed no signs of stopping. Even though the car was stationary, the entire frame shuddered with a rhythmic intensity. Outside, the hardened bodyguards—men who usually flinch at nothing—were now drenched in sweat from sheer awkwardness.
Hearing those strange thumping sounds and Sofia's muffled moans coming from the car, two guards started whispering to each other:
Bodyguard 1: (Wiping sweat from his forehead) "It looks like the Boss is going to break all records today. It's been two hours, and by the sound of it, the battle has just begun!"
Bodyguard 2: (Looking away, his face flushed red) "Shut up! If the Boss hears you, he'll bury us alive. But I have to admit, Sofia has completely bewitched him. I've never heard sounds like this before."
Just as they were whispering, the limousine gave one final, violent shudder and then went completely silent.Finally, the heavy door of the limousine swung open, and a wave of hot air rushed out from within. Dimitri stepped out first; his crisp white shirt was now drenched in sweat, clinging to his muscular frame, with a few buttons torn off and his hair wildly disheveled. His face bore the look of an unimaginable victory.
He glanced at his bodyguards for a split second. One look from his icy blue eyes made the perspiring guards quickly avert their gaze and bow their heads. Then, Dimitri leaned back in and carried the sweat-glistened Sofia out of the limo in a bridal carry.
Sofia was completely exhausted. Her head rested against Dimitri's broad chest, her breathing still heavy and ragged. Her messy hair and flushed cheeks clearly told the story of the storm that had raged inside the limo for the past two hours. Ignoring everything, Dimitri began walking toward the palace's main entrance, carrying her past hundreds of armed guards.
As he passed through the ranks of men, Dimitri issued a single, cold command:
"Clean the car immediately. And make sure not a single sound from the outside reaches the palace tonight. This is a private night for me and my Queen."Following Dimitri's command, four highly skilled female bodyguards stepped forward. As Dimitri carried Sofia inside the palace, these women took charge of freshening her up and fixing her appearance.
The Service of the Female Bodyguards
With utmost professionalism, the female bodyguards took Sofia to a royal changing room. Her sleeveless black dress was completely disheveled from the sweat and the intensity of the moments in the limo. The female guards acted swiftly and carefully:
They wiped Sofia's sweat-glistened skin with warm, scented towels.
They brushed her messy hair, restoring its silky elegance.
They dressed her in the stunning red velvet gown Dimitri had bought earlier.
When Sofia looked at herself in the mirror, she was stunned. The exhausted girl from moments ago had been transformed into a powerful empress. Dimitri stood outside the door, waiting impatiently. When the female guards opened the door and presented Sofia, Dimitri was absolutely mesmerized.In the palace garage, a peculiar scene unfolded. After Dimitri and Sofia had gone inside, the bodyguards assigned to clean the car couldn't hold back their laughter. To them, it was almost unbelievable that a man as cold and stern as Dimitri could lose himself so completely and wildly for a woman.
Playful Banter in the Garage
As soon as they opened the limo doors and saw the sheer chaos inside, the bodyguards began exchanging smirks and teasing glances. Dimitri's most trusted guard looked at the state of the seats, shook his head, and chuckled softly.
The guards whispered and laughed as they worked:
"Did you see that? Even the limousine couldn't withstand the Boss's power today! By the look of this car, it's like a hurricane swept through it over the last two hours."
Another guard replied with a laugh, "Well, of course! With the spell Sofia has him under, the Boss never stood a chance. Clean this car until it looks brand new, or he'll have our heads in the morning."
Even as they scrubbed and polished, the memory of those intense sounds seemed to echo in their ears. These fierce warriors were laughing like schoolboys while wiping away the evidence of Dimitri's storm of passion.While the car was being cleaned below, a different kind of tense yet enchanting atmosphere filled the palace's grand dining hall. A ten-foot-long oak table was set with expensive candles and the finest Russian delicacies.
The Moment at the Dinner Table
As Sofia entered the hall wearing that red velvet gown, Dimitri stood up from his chair. His eyes still held the lingering thirst and intoxication from the limousine. He took her hand and led her to the chair right next to his.
While eating, Dimitri suddenly spoke in a calm but stern voice:
"Sofia, that man outside the mall... he might be a memory of your past, but remember, from now on, I own every breath you take. In my empire, I do not tolerate the shadow of another."
Sofia took a sip from her wine glass and looked Dimitri straight in the eye. That mysterious smile of hers returned. She smirked and said:
"Dimitri, you saw for yourself in the limousine exactly who I belong to. Why are you afraid? Or have I made the great Dimitri so weak that he's starting to hallucinate?"
Dimitri's anger instantly melted into romance at Sofia's clever and playful retort. He gripped her hand tightly across the table.
Dimitri whispered:
"Not weak, Sofia—intoxicated. Finish your dinner quickly, because those two hours in the limo weren't nearly enough to quench my thirst. The vast bedroom of this palace is waiting for us tonight."Sofia's sudden outburst was completely unexpected for Dimitri. The calm atmosphere of the dinner table turned electric in an instant. Sofia slammed her wine glass onto the table, the fire of anger replacing her mysterious smile.
Sofia's Explosion
Sofia looked Dimitri dead in the eye and said in a sharp, piercing voice:
"'Passion'... Just hearing that name makes my blood boil! Do you think I'm like a character from that movie? I am not some cheap movie character, Dimitri, that you can dance around in your web whenever you please. Do you think those few hours in the limousine turned me into your bought slave?"
Dimitri was taken aback by Sofia's fierce transformation. He realized that Sofia wasn't just challenging him with her body, but with her raw personality and self-respect.
Sofia continued:
"If you're trying to control me like something out of that 'Passion' movie, you're making a mistake. I came here to be your Queen, not the victim of your lust. If you try to rule me like this, you'll see the side of the Agent in me—and that might not be very pleasant for you!"
Dimitri stood up, walked slowly behind Sofia, and leaned down to whisper into her ear:
"Movies are fiction, Sofia, but I am reality. This fire in you is exactly what sets you apart. The hero of that movie might have lost, but Dimitri hasn't learned how to lose."Instead of calming Dimitri down, Sofia's defiance only fueled his hidden desires. Leaning in, he began to speak in a deep, sexy Russian voice that was rough yet intoxicating.
Dimitri's Primal Russian Whispers
Dimitri whispered into Sofia's ear in Russian:
"Ты такая красивая, когда злишься, София. Твой гнев делает тебя еще более желанной." > (You are so beautiful when you are angry, Sofia. Your rage makes you even more desirable.)
He didn't stop there. Grazing his lips against her neck, he continued in English with that heavy Russian accent:
"I'm not reading a movie script, love. I am Dimitri Ivanov. And when you spark like this, it starts a storm in my blood. The hero of 'Passion' might have been afraid of you, but I can use your fire to light up my entire empire."
Running his hand slowly down her bare back, he added:
"Russian men don't just know how to rule, Sofia. They know exactly how to tame a stubborn Queen."Dimitri's voice grew even deeper and more seductive. Gently nipping Sofia's earlobe, he continued with those intense Russian-accented words:
"Do you feel how this chest beats right now? For whom? The hero in 'Passion' was just a character, but I am a primal man of flesh and blood standing before you. If you are the fire, then I am the dragon guarding that flame."
Running his fingers rhythmically down her spine, he added:
"Sofia, when a Russian man claims someone as his own, he will bring them back even from hell. You can slap me right now, or you can surrender to me. But tonight, there is no escape from this palace. I want to lose myself in the depths of those defiant eyes."
Tucking her hair to one side, he declared darkly:
"Those two hours in the car were just the beginning. You haven't even seen the real trailer yet. I will love you in a way that by tomorrow morning, you'll forget that movie even exists."Dimitri stood there, frozen in utter confusion. He was used to understanding everything—from complex business deals to secret government codes—but Sofia's sudden burst of Sylheti sounded like a melodic, rhythmic mystery to him.
The Language Barrier
Dimitri stepped closer, blinking in disbelief. The "sexy Russian alpha" persona had momentarily slipped, replaced by a look of genuine bewilderment. He looked at Sofia and asked in English:
"Sofia... what language was that? It sounded so... different. Was it a secret code from your agent days? Are you planning to assassinate me, or did you just cast a spell on me?"
Sofia couldn't help but let out a little laugh, seeing the most powerful man in Russia looking like a confused schoolboy. She crossed her arms and replied in her sharp English:
"That, Dimitri, was my roots. It's called Sylheti. And no, it's not a code—well, maybe it is. I basically told you to stop your 'Russian whispers' and let me eat in peace because I'm tired of your drama!"
Dimitri's eyes widened. He let out a low, husky chuckle and walked back to her, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind.
"Sylheti... I like it. It's spicy, just like you," he whispered, his English accent becoming thick and heavy again. "But don't think your 'secret language' will save you tonight. In fact, now I'm even more curious to know what else you can do in that language... especially when we are alone in my room."
He turned her around, his gaze darkening with that familiar intensity.
"Tell me one more thing in Sylheti, Sofia. Something... dangerous."Dimitri tightened his grip on her waist, a smirk playing on his lips. He leaned in so close that his breath fanned against her cheek. He wasn't as clueless as Sofia thought.
The Revelation
Dimitri chuckled, his voice dropping into that deep, gravelly tone. He looked her straight in the eye and said in English:
"You think I don't know, Sofia? I did my homework before I brought you into my world. I know exactly where you come from. You are from Bangladesh, and that was Bengali—or a very specific dialect of it."
Sofia's eyes widened slightly. She hadn't expected him to be that well-informed about her heritage. Dimitri continued, his gaze intense:
"I know your roots are in the land of rivers and spices. But even though I know it's Bengali, that specific way you just spoke... it sounded like fire. It sounded like a challenge. Tell me, is every woman from Bangladesh as stubborn and captivating as you, or did I just happen to kidnap the most dangerous one?"
He ran a thumb over her lower lip, his expression turning from curious to hungry.
"You can speak your mother tongue all you want, Sofia. It only makes me want to conquer you more. Whether it's Russian, English, or Bengali—the language of our bodies tonight will be the same."Dimitri's jaw tightened as the pieces of the puzzle finally fell into place. The name Alia hung in the air like a bolt of lightning, changing the entire atmosphere of the dining hall. The smirk on his face vanished, replaced by a look of intense calculation.
The Shift in Power
Dimitri let out a slow, dark laugh that vibrated in his chest. He stepped back just an inch, his eyes scanning Sofia as if seeing her for the very first time.
"Alia... so you are her blood," Dimitri whispered in English, his voice thick with a mix of respect and raw desire. "Now it makes sense. The fearlessness, the way you look at death without blinking, and that fire in your soul—it runs in the family."
He walked around her like a predator circling its most prized catch.
"You told me not to mix Russian with your language, and you told me not to compare you to a movie. Fine. But know this, Sofia—if Alia is the legend, then you are the masterpiece. Knowing you are her sister doesn't make me want to let you go. It makes me want to lock you in this palace forever."
Dimitri stopped right in front of her, his hand reaching out to firmly cup her chin, forcing her to look into his burning eyes.
"I don't care about your sister's shadow. Tonight, I am not dealing with Alia's sister; I am dealing with Sofia. And despite who your family is, you are currently in my territory, under my roof, and very soon... you will be in my bed."
The Climax of the Night
Sofia's heart was racing. She had used her sister's name as a shield, but Dimitri had turned it into a reason to be even more obsessed. The tension was so thick it was almost suffocating.