Nights Like This

Chapter 56

Metty and Alexei strolled the Riverwalk under the stars. The night was quiet. They stopped by the Pineapple Fountain and sat on a bench. Alexei put his arm around Metty and she rested her head on his shoulder. She thought for a minute, considering her words.

"Now that we're a couple," she said, feeling his muscles flex as he smiled, "where do we go from here?"

He pulled back slightly to look in her eyes. "I've been wondering. I want to be alone with you, with nothing between us, but it's awkward here."

"You mean intimacy." Her heart beat faster.

"I have no place of my own here. We'd be uncomfortable at the Reynolds. You live with family. That makes romance daunting."

She pushed her bangs out of her face and waited for him to continue.

"Renting a hotel room might result in unwelcome publicity. Paparazzi don't follow me like they do Marco, but they do follow me." He paused for a moment. "The Valentine's Dance is only a few weeks away. I could rent a hotel room at the Belair for that night, or weekend, if you like." He looked at her, waiting for her reaction.

"If that's how it has to be, good. I'd wish we didn't have to wait that long."

He looked at her thoughtfully. "I have the key to Ava's beach house. She lets me use it when I want. I love the beach."

Metty sat up straight. She put her hand on his arm. "Could we? I don't work this weekend. We could spend the night there."

"Or the weekend, if you'd like to." He rested his forehead against hers, feeling the warmth of her skin.

"Let's go, then. I don't have a change of clothes, though."

"We can stop at your grandmother's to pick up your things."

She shook her head. "Too many questions. I can go home in the morning."

"We could stop at the department store. Some are open till nine. Buy what you need for a few days."

She nodded. "Works for me."

*

Alexei's bedroom at Folly Beach had two single beds. Metty sat on one and kicked off her shoes. She stood up and unfastened the pendant Alexei gave her for Christmas. She lowered the pendant to the dresser and curled the chain around it. She wanted Alexei in her arms, to feel his heart beating against hers. A beginning.

Alexei moved to the window, where moonlight filled the room with a mellow glow. He gazed at her. Her heart beat faster at the look in his eyes.

"Curtains open or shut?" he asked.

"Open," she said. She unzipped her skirt and stepped out of it. She sat on the bed. "What else?"

He took two steps, jumping on the bed beside her. He took her in his arms and kissed her. She ran her hands through his hair and kissed him back.

*

Metty rubbed her hair with a towel until it was damp dry. She looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. She didn't look any different, but she thought she should be glowing like a candle with the warmth of her feelings for Alexei.

I'm glad I tried out for the play and got the part of Charlotte. I'm glad that stupid class in journalism was the only elective I was interested in that was available. She leaned on the counter. Here and now is where I want to be.

The front door opened. "I'm home, cara," Alexei called. "I've got food and a few things we need."

"Getting dressed," she called back. "There in a minute." She hurried into the bedroom and put on the clothes she'd bought. A jean skirt, a yellow tee, and a yellow pullover sweater. She looked at herself in the mirror. The yellow brought out her warm coloring and put a glow on her cheeks. She combed her hair, put on a peachy lip gloss and went to the kitchen.

Alexei turned to her and they kissed. He pulled back and licked his lips. "Is that peach-flavored lip gloss?" She nodded. He kissed her again. He picked up a frypan. Eggs, cheese, bread, and milk sat on the counter. A pack of bacon lay on the stove. A bouquet of fresh flowers sat in a vase on the kitchen table.

"You look lovely. Are you hungry?"

"Starving." She looked at him. He wore faded jeans, deck shoes, and a striped pullover. His longish hair was tousled and he was ruddy from the trip to the grocery store. She tingled.

"What can I do?"

"Can you cook?"

She shook her head.

"No time like the present to learn. Scramble eggs, fry bacon?

She nodded. He handed her the pan and she moved to the stove. "How many eggs to you want?" Alexei held up three fingers. She got a bowl and fork for the eggs as Alexei set the table.