Chapter 24: DINNER DATES

Audrey noticed Rachel clutching a bunch of unfamiliar reports close to her chest but chose not to comment when she noticed Dmitri approaching them.
"Plans with the good doctor, Ms. Blaydes ?" Rachel teased while nudging her elbows at a flush faced Audrey.
"Yes and stop giving me that look. It's just a celebratory dinner at his home," Audrey huffed.
"Congratulations, my love ! I'm so proud of you," Dmitri huskily said. "And congratulations to the Valedictorian !" Dmitri beamed at Rachel before shaking her hand with his free one.
"Thank you, Doctor ! Now I would like to excuse myself as I have to find Leo. God knows where he is," Rachel huffed. "Enjoy the evening, you two !" she called out as she hurried away and winked at a glaring Audrey with a laugh.
"She drives me crazy," Audrey muttered under her breath but chuckled nonetheless with a shake of her head.
As Dmitri drove, he reached for Audrey"s hand as usual.
"Why do you have to always hold my hands while driving, Dmitri ?" Audrey asked, blush coating her cheeks. In her heart of hearts, she always felt the innocent act of holding hands, so emotionally charging.
"When I hold your hand, entwining my fingers with yours then I feel a physical manifestation of an emotional connection with you," Dmitri answered as he gently pressed Audrey"s hand near his chest.
"Oh Dmitri ! Hush !!"
"What ?! It is true. It is a sign of my affection for you, a sign of me wanting to be close to you and close with you," Dmitri replied while bringing her hand close to his lips and softly kissing it, this time.
This doctor is going to be the death of me, Audrey thought, her cheeks turning into flaming red tomatoes and she did not dare glance at a grinning Dmitri the whole ride until they reached their destination which was a picturesque townley, frozen in the good old times.
It looked warm and homely. Even if it was moderate-sized, unlike Audrey"s large mansion, she still felt that it was much better and cozier.
She could easily spend her life with her love here.
"I never knew that something like this existed at the outskirts of our town," said a wide eyed Audrey as her eyes took in the place as much as they could in a short span of time.
"Mm-mm ! I always yearned for a retreat far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city- a reprieve from the hectic pace of my day-to-day work, so I chose this place for my little abode," Dmitri replied before he tucked Audrey to his side and led her inside his home.
As she walked towards the porch, Audrey"s gaze fell on the colorful blooms in Dmitri"s well-maintained front yard surrounded with a swinging wooden front gate on a picket fence. A curved stone path led up to a small courtyard in the front, creating a welcoming entrance to his small white cottage style home.
Audrey couldn"t help but keep comparing the classy and sophisticated interiors of Dmitri"s cottage home to the luxurious ones of the richer class where her parents social circles overlapped.
"Welcome to my bachelor pad !" Dmitri said with open arms, making Audrey chuckle.
"More like a dream cottage house you mean," Audrey grinned. "Because there is a certain look that comes to mind when you hear the words bachelor pad"," she remarked.
"Ah ! Like what ?" Dmitri indulged.
"The phrase tends to evoke images of leather sofas, lounge chairs, giant entertainment centers, and a fully stocked bar," Audrey replied.
"But now, I think, more and more single men are proving that living solo doesn"t mean forsaking a stylish home, so they envision a contemporary and cool twist on traditional masculine style with minimalist interior," Dmitri chuckled.
"You have really espoused an approach of minimum furniture that would be easy to care for with maximum style," complimented Audrey while carefully taking a note of every little detail in her mind.
"Haha ! It seems you're studying my personality from what is getting reflected in my home. Oh my ! My creative art graduate," Dmitri said jokingly.
But perhaps, the most striking feature of his home was how the interiors organically extend into these lush, green exteriors, truly creating a haven of peace and calm.
"Well ! I was simply looking for a comfortable and welcoming home (aka bachelor pad) that I could look forward to coming home to," Dmitri said as she stood appreciating the greens.
All of a sudden, Dmitri caught Audrey off guard as he crept behind her and blindfolded her with a soft, silk cloth.
"Dmitri ? What is going on ?!" a perplexed Audrey asked.
Dmitri didn't say anything and just hugged her close to him and led her up the stairs carefully before he opened the doors on to the terrace !
He sat her down and started playing 'Can"t Help Falling In Love With You' on his guitar while Audrey untied her blindfold.
The moment Audrey opened her eyes, she was mesmerized by the romantic ambience created by the golden resplendence of fairy lights, candles and lanterns dotting the terrace, providing a magical glow at twilight.
There were two glasses of sparkling wine, food and a floral centerpiece with rose petals scattered on the table, all under the stars' set up !
"Oh you transformed a dwelling into a hub for love, Dmitri !" an emotionally choked Audrey exclaimed. Dmitri wanted to capture that expression in his heart for forever.
The lyrics of the song in Dmitri"s deep voice, heightened her emotions as they unlocked the passion triggering a sensual mood.
Dmitri touched her arm lightly as he leaned in while taking her to the table to share the meal prepared by him after the song.
"I could have never imagined that cooking could be a key aspect of dramatic attraction," an impressed Audrey appraised, scanning the work of art in the presentation of eye-catching colorful dishes.
"Why don"t you taste them and then pass your judgement ? Beauty is skin deep as they say," Dmitri quipped, making Audrey laugh.
Audrey"s plate did not take long to empty, save for one tiny morsel ! She seemed to be in food heaven !!
"Dmitri," Audrey"s tone came out dead serious. So much so that Dmitri started second guessing everything, especially when Audrey kept staring at her plate and stayed silent.
"Love ? Are you ok ? Are you allergic to something or did you not like it ?" Dmitri worriedly asked.
"I didn"t like it."
"Oh, I am so sorry, darling. We will opt for dining out next time ... if you give me a chance," Dmitri felt mortified.
"No, can"t do, Doctor," Audrey shook her head.
Dmitri was certain that she was going to break up with him now.
"I did not like it. I super, super, super loved it !! My gosh ! Those dishes were culinary masterpieces ! Accompanied by cheerful music and sound effects, it was just ethereal and soul-deep amazing. I guess I fallen in love with your cooking and even harder with you," Audrey complimented as she took the last dainty bite of the food on her plate
A wave of emotions ranging from relief to amusement to love washed over Dmitri. His love was really something ! She was an adorable ball of mischief !!
After dinner, Dmitri swept a surprised Audrey off her feet- literally and figuratively as he elegantly lifted her in his arms and carried her down the flight of stairs into a dimly lit room.
Dmitri had intricately woven a sensory tapestry to seduce Audrey, from the very start of the evening.
The space was overflowing with his love and sensuality dripping all her five senses in ecstatic pleasure and passion.
As he put her down, a gasp flew out of Audrey"s lips when he suddenly spun her sharply around and let his fingers run through her hair. He softly trailed his finger along her jawline, making her suddenly shiver under his enticing touch.
There was a raw emotion in the way his fingers curled around hers while pulling her even closer to himself by her waist.
He gently held her chin up to his and didn't hesitate to dip down his face to engage in one of the most passionate lip locks.
Dmitri kept his eyes half open, sneaking a guilty peek at her every time he came back for air, just to make sure this wasn't a product of his imagination, sending quiet ripples of pleasure coursing through Audrey's body.
The kiss expanded beyond their bodies, whirling them round, swirling them into the stars.
The strategically placed mirror in the room enhanced the visual sensation in the dim light of the flickering candles, stimulating more depth to the sensual moments in the romantic setting as Audrey watched Dmitri lower his head and nuzzle deeper in her neck, with a racing heart.
Audrey could now feel his breath on the nape of her neck. Dmitri traced a finger down her back, feeling the fabric of her dress on his skin.
He pulled down the zipper of her dress slowly with shaking hands, and kissed her softly between the shoulder blades with his body too close to hers.
He fumbled as he pushed her heavy hair aside to kiss her ear. She didn't think she had ever seen his hands unsteady before.
Audrey gave a little jerk to her face and turned her face away from Dmitri which made him think of being too presumptuous.
He wanted to spend the evening with her, yet give her space.
Sighing against her skin, Dmitri reluctantly pushed himself back thinking that she was resisting his move and closed his eyes to calm himself down- not because his temper was acting up but because his latent desires were flaring to come to the surface.
He left the room, closing the door behind him.
On the contrary, the first time Dmitri touched her, she knew she was born to be his. Anticipation and pleasure buzzed through her body at varying speeds and varying intensity.
On the bed lay a champagne-colored silk negligée sprawled out beautifully on the soft, satin sheets of the bed. Audrey noticed a note on it that said- You put out the forest fires, but I'm still burning.
Audrey"s heart did somersaults when she read it. Thinking about Dmitri's thoughtful gesture, she could not help but feel herself still burning in Dmiri's love.
Her nerves calmed but now she thought about her geek heartthrob who seemed quite nervous while leaving the room.
Her dress fell down to the floor and pooled around her delicate feet before she stepped out of it.
Dmitri took a deep breath outside the bedroom door. For the first time in life, he found himself in the midst of a tempest of ecstasy.
She was ready to take the next step, rather more than ready and she knew Dmitri was on the same page, judging from the evening he had planned out.
However, it felt like he was hesitating and giving her a chance to say no. A chance to back out but she was not going to act like a wet blanket on such a special occasion when she herself longed to have him, that too all of him.
In the throes of passion, everything was tight and wound up, heightened but with a euphoric edge. This overpowering urge had an almost substantial weight inside Dmitri as he walked into the kitchen to distract himself.
His nerves wreaked havoc. This was so unlike him. Not even a critical surgery had let his nerves take over him but this was his lady love we were talking about and he wanted everything to be perfect and the way she wanted.
Before he went inside to the bar to fix himself a hard drink, or rather calm his nerves with a stiff drink. He was almost on the verge of losing control back there and he did not want to rush his love into something that might unleash the beast in him.
He poured a glass of Audrey"s favorite wine and set it on the table next to a rose. Nothing too grand or too obvious. Enough to say what is to be said without much fanfare !
Better one perfect blossom than a dozen imperfections !!
Next he went out to the balcony, to get some fresh air.
Audrey emerged from the bedroom and walked to the sitting area, only to find a deep red rose next to the glass of her favorite wine placed on the table.
As she stopped to admire it, she picked up the glass and took a sip from it.
Audrey saw a light breeze blowing the curtain, covering the open doorway to the balcony and she instantly knew that Dmitri was there.
"No doubt trying to calm his boyish nerves with a stiff drink and some air," thought Audrey as she walked towards him on the balcony.
Without sensing her presence, Dmitri stood as she stepped onto the balcony, clad in a lacy champagne colored negligee, clinging to her body in the most sensual way.
Her hair falling like a waterfall over her shoulders as she had taken the clip out. Though there wasn't a spec of makeup on her freshly washed face, her skin had a luminous glow.
As Audrey walked towards Dmitri, she took his glass, helped herself to a sip, grimacing slightly as she swallowed.
She then placed both their glasses on the small end table with her sweaty palms and stood in front of him.
Audrey unbuttoned the top few buttons of his shirt, smirking as she did it, acknowledging the intense desire burning in them.
Dmitri could easily read her mind now as he was fighting the same emotions that she was struggling with.
Those sparks were real fireworks that were going off inside of their mind, their heart and their body when they were around each other.
The fireworks just got stronger and stronger throughout the course of the evening as the unresolved passion was building towards the inevitable release.
Audrey ran a hand up the bit of chest exposed by the open buttons and up around to the back of his neck. His hands, on the small of her back. Her smirk softened to a gentle smile that he returned as they enjoyed the moment.
If Dmitri had any doubts before of what Audrey wanted, he sure as hell didn"t have any now.
Dmitri turned her around and pulled her against him. Then sat back in the chair, pulling her onto his lap.
If anything, the warm feeling of her breath, although destabilizing, was inviting. This time around he draped both arms around Audrey's frame and met her lips halfway.
He turned down the pastel satin sheets which felt like a soft second skin to Audrey as she slipped inside.
Dmitri switched off the light but enough moonlight creeped in to keep the room from complete darkness. He started to undress slowly, taking his time with each button.
After all, achieving the heightened states of pleasure was all about the sweet anticipation of two bodies rubbing against each other in various states of dress and undress that just couldn"t be beaten as Dmitri noticed Audrey, watching him through barely parted lids.
Finally, undressed and under the softness of the sheets and the glow of the moonlight, he reached out and pushed her hair out of her eyes while gently undoing her dress, like sculpting a statue.
Dmitri"s lips were getting closer and Audrey"s heart decided to skip a beat, the smell of him hypnotic beyond reason.
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 the agitating thoughts.
Her body appeared to be a smorgasbord of hot spots to Dmitri, just waiting to be caressed through all of her erogenous zones.
He pulled her in, claiming and admiring her in that moment; as if he was creating an art— a poem, a song, a story or a painting with her in the bed with him.
With every rhythmic pressure and every touch, he created unison in energy that could make even the disbelieving woman believe; the atheist convert and the angered calm their nerves.
Audrey felt like a volcano erupting and ice freezing at the same time. She just got lost in him and it was the kind of loss that was exactly like being found.
For Dmitri it was all about honoring one"s body and the body of one"s partner, the weaving and expansion of energy.
They went waist deep in the waves of pleasure as they exchanged a few words before Dmitri led her to "deeper waters" dissolved into each other"s arms enjoying the passionate journey exhilarating sensations in the body, all-consuming and euphoric.
In the morning, Audrey rose to the chirping of the birds in Dmitri"s bedroom.
Audrey felt as if she was united with herself, like every part of her, which was all her but which usually never interacted, were suddenly connected in new crazy connections.
She stirred and enjoyed the softness of the sheets, the stillness of the room. It felt like a dream. She stretched her body and opened her eyes only to notice that Dmitri was sitting in a large chair with a cup of coffee and a newspaper.
Audrey wondered how long he had been sitting there and watching her while pretending to read that paper.
"Good Morning, sweetheart !" greeted Dmitri.
She blushed and pulled the sheet over her head coyly. She knew she looked a total mess but after last night she would be a fool to think it really mattered.
Dmitri had not read a single word of the paper. For nearly an hour he had been sipping coffee and only watching her sleep.
Audrey looked dazzling lying there in his home and on his bed. It warmed Dmitri's heart to see her that way-relaxed.
She was snoring ever so softly as she slept. He couldn't wait to tease her about that one. It wasn't often that he was the one with the ammo.
Dmitri walked up to the woman-sized lump in the bed and kissed her sheet covered forehead.
She didn't put up much of a fight when he pulled the sheet down revealing her still sleepy eyes and adorable nose.
She struggled to shake off Dmitri's thoughts from her mind and compose herself as she headed home after sharing a delicious breakfast with Dmitri.
With a childlike elation at the thought of their next meeting, Audrey couldn't stop but blush as he dropped her home.
Now, she was glowing, pouting and blushing all at once. It seemed like forever since she had felt anything like those feelings, and never all of them at once.