The Russian Next Door

CHAPTER 36 - Valentine's Day date

'What are you doing tomorrow?'

'I have nothing planned.' I answered.

'I was thinking that you may want to come over. I'll cook and we'll have dinner together.'

'Is that a date, comrade?' he nodded.

'Should I bring the flowers?' he smiled. 'Oh, I know. I am making the dessert. That's the deal.'

'You. Cooking?'

'Why not?'

'The last time you did that we almost ended up at the emergency room.'

'Oh, come on. It wasn't that bad.' he pulled a face at me. 'Okay, fine it was disastrous. But I promise that this time it's going to be okay.'

'Fine. You can bring the dessert.'

'Okay. Then, I guess I'll see you tomorrow.'

'Leaving already?'

'Duh. I have a dessert to make.'

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I found the perfect recipe. It didn't need any baking, which was totally fine with me, because I could have burnt my house down otherwise: I was going to make a triple chocolate mousse cake.

It took me almost all afternoon and evening to make groceries and to actually prepare the cake.

But I was really proud of myself when I finished. The cake looked quite fine and the mousses were incredible. I couldn't abstain myself form scooping some cream from time to time. It was delicious. Finally, the cake needed to rest for some hours so that it won't go mush. The only thing I had to do tomorrow was to put on a layer of cocoa powder and some strawberries on top.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So it was the big day. The 14th of February. Our first Valentine's Day together. And our first actual date. I was nervous. Even though we spent so many days together, I felt that this day would be really special.

I woke up early, impatient.

I took my time getting ready. I took a long bath and covered my whole body with vanilla scented lotion. I gently curled my hair in big waves, so that it looked natural, and then I took one stand from each side and pinned it at the back of my head. I put on some light make up. The dress I put on was a simple dark red one. It was funny, but I didn't feel the need to perk up while I was with Dimitri. He was making me feel beautiful in so many ways. And I loved that he was telling me that in my most non-beautiful moments, like after I got up and my face was wrinkly. Or when my makeup was smeared and my hair was shaggy after some passionate kissing.

At five in the evening, I was ready to go. But then I remembered that I forgot to fix the cake. I went back to the kitchen and I hurriedly sprinkled a layer of cocoa powder on top, making a lot of dust on the counter. I would deal with that later. I cut some strawberries and put them on the cake. It looked perfect.

Five minutes later I was knocking at his door. He opened the door and as he saw me his eyes widened.

'Sorry I'm late but I forgot something ...'

He kissed me. 'It doesn't matter. You are here now. And you look gorgeous, Roza.'

I blushed. 'Well, I can surely say the same thing about you, comrade.' I said as I entered the apartment. And indeed, he looked so hot. He was wearing a pair of dark blue jeans and a black T-shirt, that was highlighting all his toned muscles. His hair was untied and a little damp. So simple and so perfect. How has this man mine again?

I went to the kitchen and put the cake into the fridge. When I returned to the living room, Dimitri was waiting me with a huge bouquet of lilac peonies.

'Oh my God. Where did you even find these in the middle of February?'

He shrugged. 'They are your favorite. So I found a way to get my hands on a bouquet.'

I hugged him hard. 'Thank you, thank you, thank you. These are marvelous.' I said as I was smelling the flowers. 'Wait a second. When did I tell you anything about my favorite flowers?'

'You didn't. But I was into the greenhouse when you told my mother about that. I have been looking for you after, you know. And when I saw the two of you together, I thought I'd better leave you alone.' there was some pain in his eyes. He still felt bad for what happened that day.

I kissed him. 'Thank you so much, Dimitri.'

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The dinner went very well. He made us some stuffed chicken rolls, with some arugula salad and a garnish of sweet potatoes. It was completely delicious. And he really appreciated my dessert too. I got him to take two servings.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Later, we were sitting on his couch. It all started with a little kissing. Then things rapidly went into another direction. It always happened like that. We were getting heated up very fast. I was now on top of him and he was biting my bottom lip. My hands were messing his soft hair. His hand got to my thighs, lifting my dress. 'I love your dress, Roza. Let's take it off.' And he began to unzip it. My dress was now halfway down, hanging on my hips. He stopped for a moment and looked at me with that glare. That glare that made me feel like I was the only girl in the world. 'So beautiful' he said as he began to kiss and suck my neck, all the way down to my breasts. We were both panting by now. It was going to happen today. Right now. I could feel it.

Then something happened. But not what I expected to happen. Someone knocked at the door. Puff. The magic was gone. Dimitri growled in frustration, put me down and went to open the door. I got up and zipped back my dress. What a bummer. I sat back on the couch with my arms crossed and cursed the one person who thought it was okay to come and knock at someone's door at nine o'clock in the evening. Couldn't he wait until tomorrow?

Dimitri came back and told me that the landlord announced him that tomorrow the water is going to be cut off for three hours for some reparations. Yeah, what a vital information.

But we got over that quickly and spent the rest of the night watching romantic movies and cuddling.

At some point I remembered something. How could I be so stupid?

'Dimitri, wait for me right here. I'll be back in a second.'

I got to my apartment and retrieved a little cute wrapped present. I gave it to him.

'I took this for you. I saw it one day at an Antique shop.'

He opened it. It was a princeps edition of one of his western books. He pulled me into a long hug and then we continued our movie marathon.