Chapter 20: SURPRISE

After a memorable date, Audrey went busy with her studies and Dmitri with his hospital schedules but they kept talking and texting to each other while looking forward to spending time together.
"Hey handsome ! Whatcha doin ?" Audrey asked on call.
"I've been having an extremely hectic schedule in the hospital for a couple of weeks, I really feel like taking a break for at least half a day," Dmitri sounded tired. "I guess my bed and I are going to spend a lot of time when I get back home," he added.
"Oh ! I was about to request you to help run a couple of errands with me after your shift," Audrey"s voice could not hide her dismay and Dmitri was quick to catch on it. "Never mind. I will do them alone."
Dmitri couldn"t help but chuckle inwardly at this adorable girl. He could do anything for her, even go out to help her with her errands even though his feet were killing him from standing all day !
"Don"t worry ! I can keep my second half of the day free for you," Dmitri softly said in the special tone he only kept reserved for Audrey.
"You will ?!"
"Of course !!" Dmitri chuckled and now he couldn"t wait for the day to go faster !
* * * * *
"Dmitri, come along ! I need to buy a box of exquisite bittersweet chocolates from this store," Audrey said as he stopped the car following her directions.
After leaving the store Audrey pointed to a really old and small theater and softly asked, her eyes getting bigger like an innocent child"s, "Would you like to check it out ?"
"Sure ! We can catch up with a movie here," replied Dmitri as he went to park the car and Audrey collected the movie tickets from the ticket window.
Audrey and Dmitri took the last corner seats and relaxed while watching a movie with a cup of coffee, but no spilling this time and the chocolates which Audrey got from the store.
After the movie, Audrey asked Dmitri, "Are you as hungry as I really am ?"
"And how hungry are you ?" Dmitri teased and laughed when Audrey used her hands to tell how much. It was a lot !
"Me too !" Dmitri laughed and let Audrey lead the way.
So, she proceeded to treat Dmitri to a great restaurant known for their oysters and their fortune-telling fish.
"Yayy ! Look ! My fish curled in the position that matched 'in love'," exclaimed Audrey in excitement.
"Dear me ! That's a surprise !" exclaimed Dmitri.

"Want to get an ice cream with me and hold hands as we walk down the boardwalk ?" asked Audrey.
"Sure ! Why not ?" Dmitri said as he now felt quite relaxed and refreshed.
At the end of the day, while walking back to the university building, they stopped to call it a day when Dmitri leaned towards Audrey behind a tree.
"Wow ! That feels good ! What a cool evening !" exclaimed Audrey triumphantly. "Hmm, this was nice," she appreciatively hummed and that is when realization dawned on Dmitri.
"You tricked me into having a perfect date night with you !" Dmitri exclaimed.
"Did you hate it ?" Audrey worriedly asked.
"Of course not !! I loved everything about it ! And you succeeded in helping me relax," Dmitri winked, making Audrey laugh.
"Oopsie !" exclaimed Audrey as Dmitri pulled her towards himself.
"What do you think would happen if we kissed right here, right now ?" Dmitri whispered close to Audrey as she felt his arms snake around her waist.
She painfully yearned for his touch and before she could say anything, Dmitri bent down, his lips against her cheek, brushing it lightly and still that light touch sent shivers through her nerves, shivers that made her whole body tremble.
"If you want me to stop, tell me now," Dmitri murmured.
Dmitri"s lips inched closer and Audrey"s heart skipped a beat, the smell of him hypnotic beyond reason. Her pulse quickened in tune to the beat of his heart.
When she still said nothing, he breathed against her mouth and said in his deep husky voice, "I love you."
She parted her lips and felt him washing over like a wave of warmth, curling her toes, unfurling all her senses as the taste of him nearly silenced all her thoughts.
Maybe time stopped when his lips met hers, but the flutter only intensified.
Audrey's heart pounded in her chest as her knees got weaker. She could only focus on how addicting he felt against her mouth as he invaded all her senses.
When they finally pulled apart, their chests heaving heavily, eyes closed, foreheads touching and the length of their noses running parallel to each other"s, they relished their time in each other"s embrace.
"Thank you for the secret but perfect date. I had a lot of fun," Dmitri"s succinct voice floated in the silence of the evening.
"Me too," Audrey wanted to say but broke free from his grip and ran away shyly.
"Have a goodnight sleep, Audrey," she heard Dmitri lovingly say behind her.
"Ouch ! That hurts ! I'm not even halfway up the stairs and I've already started missing him," Audrey murmured to herself, her heart stinging in a weird kind of pain.