Stay With Me

7

"I aced both of my exams." Mercedes smiles as she grabs Alexei's hands.

"I knew you would. Now I have you all to myself." Alexei says pulling her close to him.

"You should get me something." She says wrapping her arms around his neck.

Alexei's hands grip her waist as he smirks.

"What would you want?"

"I don't know, surprise me." She says shrugging her shoulders.

"Alright, I'll get you something if you come with me to my cousin's dinner. He'll be twenty... twenty-seven I think." Alexei bargains with her.

"I love dinner. When and where?"

"I'll pick you up. Wear something... elegant." He says trying to find the word.

"Of course, dekta," Mercedes says as the foreign word escapes her lips.

Alexei chuckles as he runs his thumb across her lips.

"Do you even know what that word means?" He questions her.

"Nope but you call me it all the time. It can't be bad." Mercedes says moving away from him.

"It's cute when you try to speak Russian."

"I know," Mercedes says as she tries not to blush. She sits on Alexei's couch and lies down.

"I need a massage." Mercedes groans as she rubs the side of her back.

"Go upstairs and take your clothes off."

Mercedes sighs as she grabs the couch pillow and attempts to throw it at Alexei. He catches it before tossing it back on the couch.

"I'm serious, I can give one."

"Or, you're just going to trick me." Mercedes smiles.

"Trick you? This would be my treat to you. I won't do anything unless you want me to do anything."

"I'm not so don't expect anything," Mercedes says standing up.

"Don't be so sure of yourself," Alexei says as he watches Mercedes go upstairs.

❍

Mercedes lays on her stomach, she was fully naked with just Alexei's comforter covering her lower body. Her head resting on her arms, Alexei pour the oil on Mercedes's back.

"You done massages before?" Mercedes asks as Alexei rubs the oil around her back.

"No, but how hard could it be?"

Mercedes sighed loudly making Alexei laugh. Gently he begins massaging Mercedes's shoulders. Mercedes's eyes flutter as he immediately goes to the spot where it was tenser.

"Alexei, are you seeing other females?" Mercedes asks him.

Alexei doesn't stop massaging, instead, he travels further down her back.

"No, I hardly have the time for you, I couldn't balance two even if I wanted to." He assures her.

"Good... because I like you." She admits.

Alexei chuckles softly. "I know, your grandmother told me how much you talk about me."

Mercedes groans in embarrassment. Alexei continues to massage her back. The two talk every once in a while but mostly remain silent. They just enjoy one another presence.

❍

"America is so... different. I see why you usually come here." Alexei's cousin, Damien speaks with his accent.

"It's the perfect place for the business."

"That too. Your father returned to Russia, good thing he's not coming to my dinner. The last thing I need is for him to continue criticizing me." Damien says as he rolls his eyes.

"I understand, I can barely tolerate him as well," Alexei says as they walk down the street.

"You know, I've heard you've been getting busy with a woman here. My little cousin finally settling down?"

Alexei turns to him. "Who told you that?"

"Everyone's talking about it. I'm surprised your father doesn't know about this. Well, I don't think it matters, you should bring her to my dinner. I would like to see the woman that caught my cousin's attention." Damien suggests with a smile.

"I was already bringing her," Alexei says stuffing his hands in his jeans pockets.

"She isn't just for fun?" Damien questions Alexei.

He shakes his head as he thinks about Mercedes. A smile appears on his lips but quickly fades when Damien let out a dramatic gasp. Alexei roll his eyes this time, knowing that he would never hear the end of this.

"Now I must see her. Tell me about her, you know you want to. Honestly, I thought I would never see the day. Alexei growing up before my eyes. Soon you're going to have five kids and gray hair."

Alexei sighs rolling his eyes.

"She's special. She's someone I want to keep around, I'm going to make things official with her. I'll probably stay here longer than I have to but I think it could be worth it. I'll do it until I'll ask her to move in with me." Alexei informs Damien.

"Move in? How long have you been seeing this girl?"

"It feels like years. I know that I don't want anyone else but her. She's perfect, Damien. She's all I could ask for."

"You sound like you're in love. I didn't even know you could feel this way." Damien says halfway joking but the other half of him is serious.

"Me either."