Her Russian

Chapter 46-Our Connection

Ilia felt like a prince with the way Galina was fusing and fawning over him.  It certainly was in her heart to please him in all things and he loved her for it.

She had found some old candles and somehow, a miracle of God, she got them lit and with the flowers and everything else arranged on the table, she really had done a magnificent job.

He rose from the table and helped her with the door, as she came out with two plates in her hands.  It looked and smelled like restaurant quality food and the more he smelled the savory fragrances, the more he realized how hungry he was.

"Wow, little kot" Ilia said looking at the plate in front of him.  "This looks absolutely amazing."  Galina smiled at him and blushed.  He imagined that he would always love that about her, how it didn't take much to make her blush.

"Well, dig in" she told him as she cut into her steak.  "Oh wow" she breathed as she chewed on the succulent meat.  It really was delicious.  

Ilia smiled as he took a bit as well.  He sighed and said "I will have to tell Erik that whatever he did to these was awesome."  Galina cocked her head at him.

"Yesterday when they stocked the house, I asked Erik to pick up some kind of meat and marinade it in something and leave it over night.  It turned out quite well" he explained.

Galina nodded as she picked up a bottle of red wine she had found inside.  He watched her pour half in his glass and waited for him to try it out.

It actually was very good.  "Will you have some?" he asked.  "I don't suppose just a little bit would do any harm" Galina answered.  "It's not like I'm a raging alcoholic" she joked.

They talked about other little things throughout their dinner and when they had finally finished, Ilia asked her if she would like to walk with him as he showed her some of the treasures of his land.

Taking her hand possessively in his, they walked along a well-trodden pathway which led them to another clearing where there was a small, clear creek surrounded by beautiful trees and other foliage.  There was also an abundance of wildflowers still growing.

Neither of them had said much, they were just enjoying the tranquility of the place and each other's company, when Ilia stopped them by the creek.

"I have something for you" he said quietly.  Reaching into his pocket, he took out a rectangular box and opened it for Galina.

She gasped at what was in the box.  It was a bejeweled cat pendant with greenish/blue eyes.  It was exquisite.  She reached out and touched it lightly with her fingertip.

"Oh Ilia" she exclaimed.  "It's simply beautiful.  But you didn't..." she never finished.  He took the box and carefully extracted the necklace.

"I know.  I didn't have to.  But I wanted to, Galina.  You deserve it and so much more.  I want to give you the world, if you let me.  I have all this money and it really means nothing to me if I can't use it to spoil you."

It was more of a statement than anything and by the look in his eyes, she knew not to push it but accept it and she did.  With the most beautiful smile, she turned her back to him and lifted her hair.

After placing the jewelry around her neck, he slowly turned her to face him.  "It looks very pretty around your neck" he said sweetly.

Her fingers automatically went to it, as she toyed with it, while still smiling at him.  She finally stepped closer and reached up, as much as she could, to put her arms around his neck.

Ilia gently lifted her off the ground, telling her to wrap her legs around his waist.  When she complied with his request, she blessed his lips with the sweetest kiss.

There was nothing sexual about it, it was just full of sweetness like she was.  When he sat her down, she moved her hands possessively around his waist.

"Thank you, Ilia.  You have a wonderful heart and I love you for it."  Her words could have toppled the Eiffel Tower and they hit him hard.

Even though she knew all about him, who he was, she still loved him unconditionally and it would never cease to amaze him, her capacity to love him.

They started walking back towards the house when Galina asked him a question.  "Do you remember when I asked you how we were connected and you said you would let me know later?  Do we know each other, Ilia?  From a time past?"

He was stunned by her question but yet he had expected it sometime.  "We are connected, little kot" he answered truthfully.

She looked at him with her innocent green eyes, waiting for him to continue.  "Do you remember, right after Zoya came to Boston and took you to live with her?"  Galina nodded.

"Do you remember a family visiting you?  You were still seven at the time.  It was a man, woman and their son.  They probably conversed in Russian, so you didn't understand what was being said."  He let that sink in and then continued.

"The boy, who was fourteen at the time, teased you about your hair.  You started to cry and ran to Zoya."  Ilia could tell by the look on her face that she remembered what he was telling her.

"Oh my God, Ilia!  Was that boy you?"  He couldn't blame the incredulous sound to her voice, he knew it would blow her away.

He nodded.  "Da, I was that boy" he answered.  "S-so who is, was Zoya to you?" she asked.  Sighing, he knew he was about to pull the rug out from underneath her again.

"Zoya Erin was my maternal grandmother.  Like Irina, she was asked to keep an eye on you and when you started getting mistreated, she was asked to move to Boston and take over your care."

Galina grabbed for the necklace that hung around her neck and shakily sat down on a near by rock.  "Oh Jesus!" she whispered.  Ilia immediately crouched down in front of her, his hands on her knees.

"She loved you, Galina and it was in the best interest for the syndicate, Allister and Toykin, that she look after you.  There were many people that wanted that money but once they found out you were under the protection of the Savin's, they backed off."  

Small tears had started to collect and run down her face as she took in everything Ilia had just told her.  He hated turning her world upside down again, but she needed to know everything.

Caressing her face, he brushed away the tears from under her eye and pulled her forward, her hands bracing herself on his shoulders.  The heat from her hands coming through the material of his shirt.

With his lips just inches from hers, he asked her if he could kiss her.  "I would like that" she said and as soon as she gave him permission, he pulled her onto his chest and they landed in the soft grass.

Ilia took her gently in their meadow, surrounded by the soft sounds of the creek, a gentle breeze and birds singing in the trees.  

She cried as he made love to her but he knew it wasn't because of anything he'd done or said, she was just cleansing herself of pent up emotions, freeing her mind from it all.

When they'd finished, he told her that he wanted her in bed, that he wanted to love her body some more and then fall asleep wrapped up in her.  She said she wanted that too, so they made their way back to the cottage and made love.

Ilia knew, from that moment, that he wanted her to have his name.  He'd known that for a long time, he just had to figure out the timing.  She would wear his ring and take his name before the end of the year, of that he was sure.