My Book Boyfriend #2: Dimitri Markov

A weekly meme, hosted by The Unread Reader, in which we swoon over boys in books!

Presenting My Book Boyfriend #2...

DIMITRI MARKOV 

from the Prophecy of the Sisters Series by Michelle Zink

I have to admit I never liked James, and this is probably because I did not get to know him well enough. He didn't get much airtime in the entire series. To me, he is just Lia's childhood friend turned sweetheart. That's it!

But Dimitri...

Oh! Dimitri! From that time Lia laid her eyes on you, I am yours. 

According to Lia:

The man steps closer. I cannot discern the color of his eyes, but the intensity with which they survey me is unmistakable. They travel over my face, down the length of my neck, and rest lightly on the pale rise of my breasts above the moss-green bodice of my gown. His eyes skip quickly away, and in the moment before he takes a step back, I feel the heat emanating between our bodies and hear the quick breath in the air around us. I cannot be sure whether it is his or mine.

Facts about Dimitri:

- He has dark hair, dark eyes.

- He is a high-ranking member of the Grigori; he is "descended on one side from one of the oldest lines in the Grigori and on the other from one of the oldest in the Sisterhood." 

- Because he's from an old line, his "gifts" are extraordinary. :p And these gifts are: "the ability to travel the Plane, to scry, to speak to the dead"

- He does not need sleep the way we do! SLEEP IS FOR THE WEAK!

- Although he is not supposed to get involved in either side of the prophecy, he intervened/helped Lia because he felt "something" for her the first time he saw her.

- Despite his authority, he respects Lia's decisions, and supports her even if he disagrees with her.

Some of my favorite lines/scenes: 

(I will not be putting lines from the third book Circle of Fire. I am aware aware that it's recently released, and I don't want to spoil anything for anyone. So these are all from Guardian of the Gate.)

“Do you think Gareth handsome then?”

I shake my head in mock exasperation, kissing him once again before rising and dusting off my breeches. “You are very silly, Dimitri Markov.”

His voice drifts to me on the breeze as I make my way to the horses. “You didn’t answer! Lia?”

He looks up from his hands, turning his dark eyes on me. They glitter like polished ebony in the night. “I could not stop myself from intervening. From the first moment I saw you, I felt… something.”

I raise my eyebrows, finding a moment’s humor in his choice of words. “Something?”

A smile touches the corners of his mouth. “I am drawn to you, Lia...."

 He pulls his eyes from my face and tears off a section of the orange. When he lifts his arm, I think he will hand it to me, but instead, he holds it toward my lips. Of course, in New York or London, it would be highly improper to allow a man to feed me.

But I am not in New York or London.

Leaning forward, I take the orange from his hand with my mouth, my lips brushing his fingertips as I draw the fruit between my teeth. When I bite into it, I realize how small it is. The section is only slightly more than a bite, and sweeter than the oranges I have had occasion to eat elsewhere. Dimitri’s eyes linger on my mouth while I chew.

I look at the rest of the orange, still sitting in his open palm. “Aren’t you going to taste it?”

He licks his lips, and when he speaks, his voice is hoarse. “Yes.”

He moves toward me and his mouth is on mine before I have time to think. His kiss brings forth the remnant of another Lia. One who has never had to wear a corset and stockings. One who is not ashamed when her body thrills at the feel of his urgent lips on hers and the touch of his fingers through the delicate fabric of her robe. This Lia lives by the rules of the island rather than the laws of London society.

“What if I don’t want to leave my world?” I have to ask.

He leans over and kisses me softly, lingering over my lips before pulling away just an inch so that I can almost feel his lips move when he speaks. “Then I will join you in yours.”

Til next week ladies! I'm going to dip my head in the tub now. I need to cool off.