The Paleys (1921-1927) - An Alternate Romanov Story

Letting Go

Vladimir had never felt so bold before, so he wasn't sure what would be the answer to his question. Tata looked around her and then at him and kept him waiting for what seemed like an eternity but it couldn't have been more than a few seconds. When she finally nodded, he felt a deep wave of relief flooding his chest.

He made a head gesture, which told her to follow him and, to his surprise, she promptly did. He made the way through the guests, out of the ballroom and into the garden feeling her presence behind her, smelling her perfume, deeply conscious of the sound of her dress rustling as she walked behind him.

He was intoxicated, in a mixture of feelings that made his head spin. There was still a part of him that felt sadness for Olga, but he mostly felt like a prisoner tasting freedom for the first time after years of staring at stone walls. The sea breeze mixed with the smell of roses as he ventured deeper into the garden made his head spin. He had no idea what he was doing, he just knew he had to find a place where no one would see them.

He finally discovered a secluded corner, surrounded by imposing oak trees, with a fountain in the centre. The sound of the water gently cascading drowned the sounds coming from the house. He stopped for a moment to make sure they were really alone and then turned around to look at Tata.

She had her arms crossed around her chest, trying to warm herself up from the night chill. She was wearing a golden dress, embroidered with pink flowers that clung to her figure like a second skin. Her dark eyes were wide with confusion and curiosity as the moonbeams reflected on her tanned skin. She seemed more breathtaking than ever before.

"So... what was it you-"

Vladimir didn't let her finish. If there was one thing he had learnt over the last few months playing her game, was that Tata liked decisiveness and so, this time, he would not let words get in the way of what he needed to show her.

He pulled towards him and then pressed her back against one of the oak trees. The boldness of the move made her gasp and he was now close enough to feel her chest rising and falling in quick succession against his own. This time he had caught her before she could put on her mask of teasing coquette.

He took a long, deep look at her, taking her all in, every inch of her body, from her feet to her eyes and he made sure she knew what he was doing. Then, he very slowly and deliberately ran his fingers up her arm, and he could swear she stopped breathing for a moment.

He then leaned in, ever so slowly, until his mouth reached her ear and he asked in a low, rough voice: "Are your feelings still the same as they were six months ago?"

Tata had her eyes closed and she was digging her nails against his shoulders, holding on to him as if he was a rock in the middle of an ocean into which she was about to sink.

"For someone who seems so sure of himself, you're surprisingly bad at asking what you want." She told him in a shaky voice.

He felt a smile forming in the corner of his lips. He liked that she was still able to keep her witty remarks, even when she was about to lose her grip on reality.

"Oh, I know what I want," Vladimir said as he tilted her chin towards him. "I'm just making sure we're on the same page."

For the first time since they knew each other, Tata was left speechless. She looked at him with hazy eyes and ragged breaths. He could tell she was thinking of a retort, something that would show him she was still in control, but nothing came. After a moment, she simply nodded, slowly, and that was all the encouragement he needed.

He took her face in both his hands and, without any further hesitation, pressed his mouth hard against hers. Her lips were already parted and they felt soft and warm against his. She tasted like champagne and, for a moment, he wondered if that was the reason why his head felt so light.