The Ice in Russia

"Do you go to church at home?" Anatoli asked and grinned at her when she turned her face his way.

"No, but I want to experience everything I can while I'm here," she told him. "If I'm not sleeping, I'd love to come with you all."

Irina smiled and reached out to pat Lena on the shoulder. "She's lovely, ever so much more than that Natasha," she said to Anatoli in Russian. "You are a lucky boy, Anatoli."

Anatoli looked away from Lena's curious stare and scowled at his brother and cousin who snickered at Irina's comment.

"What happens tomorrow?" Lena asked in another minute when no one said anything.

"We have a big dinner all together," Vlad said, spreading his arms and opening his eyes very wide to demonstrate just how large a meal it would be. "And we skate in the morning."

"Skate?" Lena repeated.

"Yes," Anatoli stepped in, taking the few steps to her chair and perching on the arm next to her. He sent a triumphant look to his brother when Lena leaned towards him. "We all meet some friends and have a hockey game every year that I am home at this time."

"Sounds like fun," Lena replied.

Anatoli chuckled at her tone. Whatever she might say out loud, her tone told him that she thought it was the furthest thing from fun.

"It is!" Maksim exclaimed and laughed. "They all play like animals and we watch with our hot drinks and laugh at them."

Lena grinned at his words. "That definitely sounds like fun!"

Anatoli laughed as well, slinging his arm across the back of Lena's chair and making himself comfortable as they all chatted. He and Vlad served as translators when necessary, but Lena insisted on learning some words and phrases. Everyone patiently helped her with pronunciation of a few common phrases like, 'how much for the taxi ride?' or 'which way to the washroom?' She was a quick learner but her accent was so terrible that they were all laughing by the end of the afternoon. She took it well, blushing and laughing along with them.

"Who is hungry?" Irina announced as the sun sank out of sight beyond the windows.

Anatoli yawned and turned his face when he saw Lena doing the same out of the corner of his eye. He winked at her and she smiled in reply, her eyes glassy with exhaustion.

"Are you hungry?" he asked her quietly as his mother hurried off to the kitchen to make dinner.

"A little bit," she replied. "Mostly I'm just tired."

"Me too," he admitted. "My mother will just make a light dinner tonight. We can eat and sleep before church."

"When do we leave for church?"

"Not until later. Ten, I think," Anatoli replied and asked his father in Russian if he was correct. His father nodded briskly before returning to his conversation with Vlad and Pavel.

"Oh good," Lena said and smiled.

Anatoli returned the smile and felt himself leaning closer to her. A blush spread across her cheeks but she didn't move away from him. Vlad laughed at something his father said, startling Anatoli and Lena, and Anatoli jerked away from her.

"Time to eat!" Irina shouted from the kitchen.

Anatoli stood up and held a hand out towards Lena. She placed her smaller hand in his and smiled as he helped her to her feet. Vlad gave him a smirk as he passed by and Anatoli chose to ignore it. Together, they all walked into the kitchen where Irina had some soup and biscuits prepared.

***

Lena couldn't sleep following the light dinner. She went to her little room and lay down on the bed, but her mind was spinning from everything she'd seen and experienced since she'd left Washington. She didn't know what rated higher at the moment; meeting Anatoli or arriving in Russia. Happily, they seemed to coincide.

She smiled at the ceiling as she lay on her back on the bed. Anatoli had been most attentive since arriving at his family's home, helping her translate and teaching her some simple phrases. In fact, the entire family had been more than welcoming and understanding about the language barrier. She wished she'd had more time to study at least a little Russian, but her great aunt had given her barely two weeks notice before the flight left.

She must have dozed off because the next thing she could recall was a light knocking at her door. Jumping from bed, she hurried over and yanked the door open to see Anatoli standing there, a smile on his handsome face.

"Hi," she said, her voice husky from sleep.

"Hi," he replied and leaned one shoulder against the door frame, looming over her. "We're getting ready for church now."

"OK," she said with a nod and looked back towards her room. "I guess I'll change. Uh, what should I wear?" She asked after a moment, glancing back at Anatoli.

He shrugged one shoulder. "Something nice. You have a dress?"

She nodded and turned away, heading for the suitcase she'd set down in the corner earlier. She hadn't bothered unpacking right away, preferring to spend time with the family instead. Lifting it to the bed, she opened the flap and flicked through some of her clothes. Looking up, she noticed that Anatoli had walked into the room with her.

"That looks good," he commented as he reached out to grab the edge of a blouse.

"It's just a top," she replied and took it from his hands. She met his gaze and flushed at the bright look in his eyes.

"How about this?" he tried again, grasping something else and pulling it out.

"That's just a shirt too," she said and yanked it from his fingers just as he was about to lift it out of her reach.

Oh God, she thought, blushing to the roots of her hair. He's going to find my underwear soon if this keeps up.

As he reached for something else, she took decisive action, slapping the suitcase closed and glaring half-heartedly at him. Laughing, he held his hands up in surrender and backed out of the room.

"I'll let you get dressed," he told her at the doorway. With a wink, he turned and left her alone.

Sighing, Lena rubbed her face and walked over to shut the door behind him. She leaned her back against it and breathed deeply for a few seconds, trying to calm herself down. It had been a long time since a man had made her feel so... unbalanced.

After another few seconds, she strode back to her suitcase and selected a modest, full-length dress; the one dress she'd packed. Changing quickly, she checked her hair and make-up and then hurried downstairs to join the family. They were all ready, standing and talking near the front door as she came down the steps. They all turned to look at her as she descended.

"You look beautiful, Lena," Irina spoke first, grinning and pulling her into a warm hug.

"Thank you," Lena replied, flushing from the praise. She met Anatoli's gaze over his mother's shoulder and he winked at her.

A few minutes later, they were all bundled together into the family vehicle, heading through mostly quiet streets towards the church. It was a beautiful building, made almost entirely of stone and dotted all over with stained glass windows. Lena gaped at it as they emerged from the car. She stood so long in the chilly night that Anatoli had to get her attention.

"Lena?" he spoke her name softly and she turned her head, seeing him close at her side, leaning low so he could look into her eyes.

"Sorry," she replied and slipped her hand through the arm he offered, shivering when he gave her fingers a squeeze with his hand. "I was just admiring the building."

"It is pretty," he agreed.

"It's beautiful," she replied, gazing upwards as they walked inside.

They didn't say anything else as Anatoli led her inside. He took her coat and hung it up for her while she gazed around the interior of the church. The ceiling was vaulted, with large stone pillars lining the outer edges of the rows of pews. There were quite a few people already sitting down and several called out warm greetings to the family as they made their way to an empty pew.

Lena smiled shyly as the people stared curiously at her but relaxed as Anatoli took her elbow to help her to her seat.

"Do you know everyone here?" she asked quietly, leaning close to him. She was glad that he'd sat next to her.

He shook his head as he looked around, waving occasionally. "Not everyone. Mostly they are friends of my parents."

Lena nodded and continued to look around until the priest moved to the altar and the service began. She tried to follow and hummed along with the hymns as best as she could, but didn't embarrass herself by trying to pray or sing in Russian. Before she knew it, the service was ending and everyone was filing out of the church.

"Did you like it?" Anatoli asked as they made their way back to the coat room.

"It was lovely," she said with a smile. "Even if I didn't understand all of it."

"I could have translated for you," Anatoli said with a laugh, grasping her elbow as the crowd pressed close.

"It's all right. Besides, you're not supposed to talk in church, or didn't your mother ever tell you that?"

Anatoli chuckled, his blue eyes sparkling. "I don't always do as I'm told."

Something in his tone made Lena look up at him. She swallowed hard as his eyes darkened and he leaned closer. Then Vlad called their names and they looked over to see Irina waving at them. Glancing back at Anatoli, she saw the disappointment she felt mirrored on his face.

Irina gave her shoulders a squeeze as Lena approached the older woman and waited patiently as Irina introduced her to some friends. One of the older ladies before her said something to Lena in Russian, clearly asking a question, but Lena had no idea what it was.

"She is asking how long you are staying," Anatoli spoke quietly into her ear.

Shivering, Lena glanced back to see him leaning close. "Oh, can you tell her?"

Anatoli nodded and replied to the older lady in Russian. She said something else and patted Irina's hand, before smiling again at Lena and walking away. Lena looked back at Anatoli to find out what her parting comment had been, but Anatoli wouldn't meet her eyes. And... did she see a flush in his cheeks?

Irina laughed and hugged Lena, as she translated instead. "She says you are a good woman for Anatoli."

"What?" Lena exclaimed, feeling her cheeks flame.

"You are friendly and pretty," Irina said, as though that explained everything, and she hurried away to collect her coat from her husband.

"Is she serious?" Lena asked, looking up at Anatoli.

"Yes," Anatoli replied and smiled at her. "She is my mother's old friend and always talks about me settling down and getting married."

"She thought that's why I'm here?" Lena asked and laughed.

Anatoli merely shrugged and held his arm out for her to take. Smiling, Lena slid her hand through the crook of his elbow and walked with him to get their coats. A few minutes later, they were all in the car again, traveling back through town to the house.

Back at home, Irina and Maksim excused themselves, saying they were too old and tired to stay awake any longer. Lena thanked them profusely for allowing her into their home and they smiled and hugged her good night. Pavel went off to his room and Vlad and Anatoli wandered into the kitchen to look for something to eat. Lena took herself up to her room to change out of the dress.

She was a little surprised that she didn't feel tired. Her little nap before church had restored her. After changing into some relaxed clothes - sweats and a tank top - she headed back downstairs to join the brothers in the kitchen. They were chattering away in Russian when she walked in, but switched to English for her benefit.

"You guys didn't have to do that," she commented and accepted a glass of juice from Anatoli.

"If we keep speaking in Russian, you won't know what we're saying," Anatoli replied.

She shrugged as she sat down at the table with them. "It's all right. How else am I supposed to learn?"

Vlad said something to Anatoli that made Anatoli punch him in the shoulder; hard. Vlad laughed and stood up. He said 'good night' to them and walked out of the kitchen, leaving Lena alone with Anatoli.

"Are you tired?" she asked. She wanted to ask what Vlad had said before leaving, but figured there were some things that were just between brothers.

"No," he replied with a chuckle. "Not really. You?"

"Nope."

They smiled at one another until Lena was forced to look away. She drank her juice and gazed around the kitchen. "This is a lovely home," she said.

"It is," he agreed, still watching her. Even though she wasn't looking his way, she could feel the weight of his gaze, like a shaft of sunlight.

"It must have been a wonderful place to grow up in."

"It was," he replied and Lena heard the sound if his chair scraping across the floor.

She glanced over in time to see him move to his chair right next to her. Her heart thudded dully in her chest and she swallowed hard. He was smiling at her and she couldn't help but smile back.

He shifted so he was resting one arm across the back of her chair and sliding his hand across the table until it brushed her wrist. She held herself completely still but found herself unable to look away from his clear blue eyes. He hadn't shaved in a couple days. She noticed that there was a light layer of dark whiskers along his jaw, over his cheeks and across his upper lip. Unconsciously, her tongue swept along her lip. She felt something inside of her loosen when she saw his pupils grow large.

Then he was kissing her; no light brushing of lips, but a real, devouring, bone-melting kiss. The hand on her chair moved to cup the back of her neck and she moaned against his mouth, tilting her head back without even thinking about it. She parted her lips under his and trembled when his tongue swept inside her mouth.

Time slowed and Lena forgot that she was in a foreign country and that she'd just met Anatoli.

God, if I'd known he kissed like this, I would have done it on the plane, she thought, feeling giddy and light-headed.

He pulled his lips from hers as he cupped her face with his other hand. His eyes flashed through her for one second before he lowered his head to suck her lower lip into his mouth. Then he moved on, trailing hot, moist kisses down the column of her throat.

She was breathing hard and only then realized she was clutching his biceps; his nicely shaped biceps, that flexed as he tilted her head one way and then the other, continuing his slow assault on her. His lips were now nibbling at the soft skin beneath one ear and there was definite moisture pooling between her legs.

He drew his head back to look into her face and their eyes met. Then he was kissing her again and it was a different kiss; less exploratory and more dominating. He devoured her and Lena moaned, wrapping her arms around his neck and hauling her body against his. One of his hands dropped to slide around her waist and he dug his fingers into her flesh where it peeked out from between her top and pants. He buried his other hand in her hair as he angled his mouth over hers and took the kiss deeper.

Lena bowed against his body, savoring the feeling of his arms around her and his tongue inside her mouth. He tasted so good to her and felt so good under her hands. She could feel how tense he was against her, and how he held himself back from doing more. Lena was torn between respect for him, and the urge to force him to lay her down on the kitchen table right now.

She was saved from any decisions when loud footsteps clambered down the stairs.

As she broke away from Anatoli, she was breathing hard and her heart was pounding way too fast inside her chest. She leapt to her feet before the newcomer appeared in the kitchen and walked across to the sink. She braced her hands against the counter and looked around just as Pavel wandered in.

He mumbled something that sounded like a greeting and offered a smile that she returned, just barely. Before anyone could say anything else, and before Anatoli had even moved from his seat, Lena said 'good night' and hurried from the kitchen. As she went upstairs, she thought she heard the two men talking but she didn't stop until she was safe in her own room.

She closed the door and leaned her back against it, holding her throat with one hand. The blush was creeping up her skin and she felt the heat rising swiftly; as if she wasn't already hot enough from what had just happened.

What was I thinking? she wondered, squeezing her eyes shut.

A knock on the door right by her head made her yelp in surprise. She bolted across the room and whirled to face the door, her heart hammering against her ribs. Anatoli's soft voice carried through the door and she kicked herself mentally for her reaction. She quickly crossed back to the door and opened it a crack.

"Are you all right, Lena?" Anatoli asked her, his expression concerned.

"I'm fine," she replied, looking down. She could still feel the flush heating her cheeks and couldn't bring herself to look at him.

"I'm sorry if I... if what I did... upset you," he said, his speech hesitant.

She did look up then and saw him smiling sheepishly at her. Even in the dim light from her room, she could see the twinkle in his eyes and knew he wasn't sorry; not really.

"I'm not sorry," she said, surprising herself.

His face split into that grin that turned her insides into mush. "I'm so glad," he told her, leaning close, close enough that all Lena could see was his eyes. "Because I'd like to do it again."

She laughed and nodded, opening the door a little wider. "I'd like that too," she replied, barely getting the words out before he kissed her.

His lips were warm and she leaned against him, putting her palms on his broad chest. His heart beat a steady rhythm under her hand and she smiled against his lips, making him draw back to look at her.

"What is funny?" he asked, a smile playing on his lips.

Before she could answer, he kissed her again, his tongue pushing between her lips. She yielded without protest, sighing a little as he delved inside her mouth, sliding his tongue over hers, sending little shock-waves through her system. His hands were on her body now, pulling her hips closer to his and she went with him, feeling her knees quake when she felt the rigid evidence of his desire against her belly.

Still he kissed her, lazily exploring her mouth and taking his time tasting her. She was helpless in his arms and didn't care at all if he never let her go.

I want to do this all night. This and so much more, she thought, shocking herself.

It was enough of a shock that she broke the kiss and spent a few seconds trying to catch her breath. She wasn't alone in that; she could feel Anatoli's rapid breaths brushing the hair over her forehead. Lifting her eyes, she met his dark blue gaze and felt more of her insides come unglued.

"I..." she started, and stopped when her voice came out as nothing more than a croak. She cleared her throat and smiled as he chuckled deeply. She tried again. "I can't stay up."

A strange look crossed his features and he stepped back, dropping his hands from her waist. "I'm sorry for keeping you awake," he replied, still smiling in spite of his obvious disappointment. "I should let you sleep."

Lena knew she should let him go back to his room for the night. He was doing the right thing letting her go, putting some distance between them. But something had shifted inside her and she knew she didn't want to sleep alone tonight.

With a grin, she reached for his hand, sliding her little fingers inside his bigger hand. He squeezed her fingers, his eyes still on her face, still dark with yearning.

"I'm not tired," she told him.

"No?" he replied, his voice barely loud enough for her to hear.

She shook her head and gave his hand a little tug as she stepped backwards into her room. His eyes widened before he followed her inside. Reaching back with one hand, he shut the door.