Chapter 19: DATE

The moon's delicate light had just turned the world a-flame with silver when Dmitri saw Audrey entering the restaurant in an off-the-shoulder stylish, high-low tiered elegant aqua gown. It seemed as if she was draping clouds around her.
Beauty radiated from the inside to the outside. Her movement was as calm and fluid as water when she turned towards Dmitri.
It seemed as if the whole restaurant had come to a stand still and all eyes were gazing at his lady love.
Her crescent shaped eyebrows inclined up slightly as she saw him staring at her.
Dmitri couldn't say anything for a while. Seconds went by loaded with silence.
"Dmitri ?" Audrey"s beautiful, bow shaped lips softly rolled out his name.
"Wow, just wow," words failed him as an enchanted Dmitri looked at his date in daze.
It was not only her ethereal beauty but her charming personality that blew away Dmitri"s mind.
Audrey smiled softly when she saw the effect she had on the doctor who looked drop-dead gorgeous himself.
"Shall we ?" Dmitri asked as he crooked his elbow like a gentleman for the lady to take.
"Yes please," Audrey smiled and let him lead her to their table.
Dmitri led Audrey to a romantic quiet table for two by the window.
Dmitri pulled out a chair and helped the beautiful lady, clasping her small hand softly in his.
They looked perfect at that moment together.
"Thank you !" a touched Audrey whispered.
Dmitri smiled and sat across from her. The only light coming from a few well placed candles in the restaurant.
Audrey straightened in her chair, blushing.
The more Dmitri met her, the prettier he found her every time as he noticed her well sculpted figure which was twine-thin for the first time. She had a burnished complexion with strawberry blonde hair which crashed over her shoulders in curls.
Noticing her enticing, ocean blue eyes gazing at him over her puffy, heart shaped lips, Dmitri yelped at being caught and turned his gaze to the other side.
As he turned his gaze to the other side, Audrey turned her eyes towards Dmitri to have a closer look at him.
"Oh my gosh ! He's so handsome. A vision of sharp looking and perfection," Audrey thought.
Moonlight played across his chiseled features, covered in olive-hued skin, with a low brow, piercing gaze and strong jaw.
"His sweet honey coloured eyes are so deep and expressive, that I can get lost in them if I dare to stare long enough," thought Audrey gripped in euphoria as Dmitri turned around.
Audrey felt her soul would exit her body and she would let it. It belonged to Dmitri now.
Audrey"s thoughts got astray as the waiter approached and, without saying a word, poured them wine and left the bottle.
"No menus ?" Audrey asked astonished.
"Of course ! There is me - n - u," said an amused Dmitri. "On a serious note, I've already ordered the dishes in advance. There will be no interruptions from the wait staff aside from the bringing and clearing of the courses," he added.
"Got it ! So now all the while when you were asking my likes and dislikes, actually you were deciding on our menu for today," an amazed Audrey commended him.
Dmitri watched her as she sipped the wine. He loved watching her. A spy looking into a secret world.
She noticed and blushed.
"Why are you looking at me continuously ?" Audrey asked as a shy smile slipped out of the corners of her lips.
"Why wouldn"t I want to look into the eyes of someone whom I feel is the most beautiful and attractive person in my world ? You look absolutely stunning," Dmitri huskily admired.
Besides being beautiful, Dmitri was drawn to her warmth that was intoxicating.
Silence between them was screaming their feelings aloud.
Dmitri's eyes moved over Audrey. From her eyes to her nose to her cheeks to her lips. The curve of her neck. Slope of her shoulders. Her chest. The tiny bit of cleavage that just peeked out from her dress.
Again, Audrey blushed with little embarrassment as she had noticed all the eye movements of her admirer. This time, Dmitri blushed while sipping wine.
They locked eyes across the table. Everything around them faded away. They were in a world of their own.
Lost in the depths of each other"s eyes. Audrey could feel his desire and he hers. But it wasn't lustful. It was calm, gentle, controlled. With a sense of longing to escape forever into their own world.
They barely noticed the waiter as he placed goat cheese crostini and zucchini fritters, in hors d"oeuvres, between them.
Dmitri watched her as she ate. Calmly bringing each morsel to her lips. He marveled at the pleasure she took from relishing each bite. Her face was amazingly expressive.
Audrey gazed at him over her glass as she sipped her wine. She knew he was watching her. She slipped a red grape between her lips and smiled coyly as her teeth crushed the skin, exploding the juices into her mouth.
As she reached out for a strawberry, Dmitri quickly snatched it just as her fingertip touched the ripened fruit.
He grinned as he took a large bite. She offered her most convincing pout. He smiled affectionately and fed her the rest as she opened her mouth. Her eyes smiled back at him.
They continued on. Refilling their wine glasses and eating slowly. Just enough to keep the wine from going to their heads. They didn't speak much as they had already talked a lot on phone and texts all these days but only enjoyed being with each other.
Time stood still. Stopping just for them. An eternity to enjoy each other"s company. Anyone could see the energy between them. It could be easily felt that something surreal was happening at their table. To them, it was completely natural, existing at that moment in their own world.
The dinner plates arrived. They shared each other's meals. His plate was loaded with rich and heavy dishes while hers lighter and bold.
They ate slowly but heartily. Sipping wine throughout. Savoring the unique yet complimentary flavors. Feasting off each other"s forks until hardly anything was left. Their meals devoured, their bellies grew heavy. Their appetites nearly satiated.
At the end of the meal, a mignardise, which is a tiny, bite-sized dessert was served. They shared it with a single spoon. He fed her a small bite- creamy and rich and she couldn't help but smile.
As she broke into a smile, her beguiling, oyster-white teeth lit up the room with pleasure at the sweetness.
Her innocent smile made its way across the tiny table, straight into his heart. How could he help not falling in love with that smile ?
Dmitri took a large bite of the dessert with the enthusiasm of a child. Audrey laughed quietly at his playfulness. As he placed another bite for her, this time, larger than the first. Some part of the dish was left on Audrey's lips. Dmitri had planned that of course and she knew it.
He reached towards her before she could raise her napkin. But his reach was not for her lips. He put his hand softly on her cheek and leaned towards her as she also leaned towards him.
He kissed her softly. Tasting the sweetness of the dessert mixed with the sweetness of her.
After what seems like an eternity, their lips parted. Slowly.
"They had shared a lifetime in one kiss over the small dinner table. It showed in their expressions, in the sparkle of her eyes, blue and glints of gold. That wasn't the candlelight reflecting. It was definitely coming from within. And in his eyes, large, calm, dark. Soaking in her light like a black hole. Keeping it all for himself.
As Dmitri rose from the table and stepped over to her. He held out his hand which Audrey took graciously and rose. She willingly let him entwine his strong fingers around her delicate hand, letting him lead her away.
They crossed the dining hall of the restaurant to the open door which led to a small patio where everyone was dancing.
Eventually, Dmitri leaned over and asked Audrey, "Would you like to dance ?"
Nodding her head, she raised her curved arms softly and a myriad of gold bangles jangled to the rhythm of the smooth music resonating around them as he swept her gracefully into dance.
She twirled around, her gown spinning around her legs. They moved and swayed, happy to be together.
Their bodies met into a strong yet soft touch. Their warm arms wrapped around each other as they lost in a world that blocked out everything else. He wound his arms tightly around her waist, never wanting to relinquish his hold.
Her fingers spread across his lean back. She was so close in his arms that he could feel every breath she took matching his.
He met her eyes with an overpowering gaze, he felt himself getting lost. A dance of their own, one made up of surprising touches and hastily pulled away gazes.
He needed to distract himself from how close her lips were and how she looked so good in that dress.
They continued a surreal dance of body and mind that left them both dizzy with passion under the clear sky speckled with stars.
Was it all a dream ! But the sensations assured them that the surreal situation was really happening.
At the end of the beautiful moments, as they walked outside, Dmitri said, "My night has become a sunny dawn because of you, Audrey !"
Most of us here are foolish lovers, lost wanderers, and hopeless romantics. We're all looking for that one person who is going to make us feel loved and be loved by us.
That one person who will someday, magically enter into our lives and transform it forever. That one person with whom time and dimensions disappear, that one person who infinitely completes us.
"I'm grateful that your company has awakened the little girl inside of me who has started to believe in fairy tales once again," said Audrey giddily.
As they kissed off each other, a goodbye with a goodnight kiss, actual fireworks went off to their astonishment, apparently there was some city celebration going on that weekend !
Both of them took it as a sign of the universe communicating with them in giving this sign of romantic synchronization.