Well, there was only one way to go, then. He was right, I didn’t like chocolate, but always made one exception. That was what I pulled off its string on one of the bottom branches where my brother didn’t think to check.
“Bird’s milk?” Vitali squinted at the shiny square wrapping.
“It’s the only one I like. The inside is the best part. Try it.”
He had to use both hands to handle the fragile gold wrapping, then stared at the exposed candy while I watched his expression.
“And you like these.”
What a strangely unwarranted amount of surprise, I didn’t even think he knew I didn’t like chocolate.
“Half,” I said, lifting it out of his fingers. His hooded eyes rested half closed as he watched me bite it, and I couldn’t help but imagine sharing it with our mouths against each other’s, feeling the sweetness melt between us and leaving behind only the taste of the kiss. Of him. Of rolling on top of him and feeling him, hard against me.
But not that day.
That day, I broke it in half, destroying the soft center and giving us both something ugly and crushed. But still just as sweet.
* * *
Before he left, citing his favorite excuse of‘business’at even that late hour,he pulled me aside in the hallway.
“One more thing,” he said, and pulled an encyclopedia-sizedgray box out of the bag, and held it out to me. “For you.”
“It’s not New Year’s yet,” I protested, but took the box anyway. “And you’re supposed to wrap it.”
He chuckled and leaned against the door. “It’s not that kind of present. If I give it to you on New Year’s Eve, it will defeat the purpose. You have to wear it for me.”
He couldn’t have said anything else to catch my attention the way that did.‘For me’had become the magic words to make me putty in his hands. So, I opened it.
Inside, the champagne fabric picked up the hallway light like it was fluid. I gasped, and couldn’t help but let my fingers run over the heavy silk gazar. Vitali took hold of the box and allowed me to pull the whole dress out.
It was a thing of beauty like I’d never seen, not even on TV. The meticulously stitched bodice was fitted with stiff lining and I had no doubt would hug me like a corset. The rest of the fabric flowed with an underlining of sparkle as I turned the dress over. Whatever I’d been mad about was immediately forgiven. I could barely remember my own name.
“You like it?” His voice startled me, and when I glanced up, he was tenderly studying my face. Preserving the moment.
“Where am I supposed to wear this?” I whispered and touched what had to be Swarovski crystals sewn into the neckline. “I can’t wear this in front of Mama, she will kill me. It’s too short.”
“Would it help if I got her a matching one?”
I laughed, but it was a nervous laughter. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from it.
“Vitali,” I whispered, and had to swallow the tears again. If I tried to kiss him and give in to the pleading of every molecule in my body, he’d hurt my feelings and pull away again—I knew that. But God, I wanted nothingmore. He must have seen it on my face, because how could he not?
“You can thank me by wearing it tomorrow. Tell Mama I asked you to, I think I’ve softened her up enough over the past few months to earn it. But I have to go, Kotik. I’m glad you like it. Your legs will look phenomenal.”
I was still staring at it when he left.
It would be ruined come New Year’s Day.
* * *
About Russia
Bird’s milk– a soft chocolate covered marshmallow candy
ZAGS- a government civil registry office that kept track of birth and death, marriage and divorce registrations, name changes, and any official documents and certificates for these events
About Bratva:“Brotherhood” emerged during the post-Soviet transition. Its structure was built imitating and including the “Vory” prison organized crime culture that has been around much, much longer.
