The scent of pine is strong as I hurriedly walk barefoot along the narrow trail leading away from the cabin, leaving the laughter and singing behind. Dry pine needles cover my path and the soft carpet created by mother nature silences my footsteps. The night is still young, but the birds have already put their little ones to sleep. Warm air is surrounding me and the midnight sun prevents my skin from getting cold despite the late hour.
His voice calls me back, but I keep on walking, eager to put some distance between us. The way his eyes shone with a special light when I met his gaze, and his lips left a small burning mark on the back of my hand, made me question what he really wants from me. Dr. Astrov, or just Astrov, as most people seem to call him outside work, is a friend and colleague of my brother, and the main reason why I am at this party in a cabin located deep in the forest. My brother raised an eyebrow when I, too quickly, accepted his invitation. But the truth is that as soon as I heard that Nikolay was having his birthday party at Astrov’s place, I knew I needed to be there.
The scent of pine is strong as I hurriedly walk barefoot along the narrow trail leading away from the cabin, leaving the laughter and singing behind. Dry pine needles cover my path and the soft carpet created by mother nature silences my footsteps. The night is still young, but the birds have already put their little ones to sleep. Warm air is surrounding me and the midnight sun prevents my skin from getting cold despite the late hour.
His voice calls me back, but I keep on walking, eager to put some distance between us. The way his eyes shone with a special light when I met his gaze, and his lips left a small burning mark on the back of my hand, made me question what he really wants from me. Dr. Astrov, or just Astrov, as most people seem to call him outside work, is a friend and colleague of my brother, and the main reason why I am at this party in a cabin located deep in the forest. My brother raised an eyebrow when I, too quickly, accepted his invitation. But the truth is that as soon as I heard that Nikolay was having his birthday party at Astrov’s place, I knew I needed to be there.
The scent of pine is strong as I hurriedly walk barefoot along the narrow trail leading away from the cabin, leaving the laughter and singing behind. Dry pine needles cover my path and the soft carpet created by mother nature silences my footsteps. The night is still young, but the birds have already put their little ones to sleep. Warm air is surrounding me and the midnight sun prevents my skin from getting cold despite the late hour.
His voice calls me back, but I keep on walking, eager to put some distance between us. The way his eyes shone with a special light when I met his gaze, and his lips left a small burning mark on the back of my hand, made me question what he really wants from me. Dr. Astrov, or just Astrov, as most people seem to call him outside work, is a friend and colleague of my brother, and the main reason why I am at this party in a cabin located deep in the forest. My brother raised an eyebrow when I, too quickly, accepted his invitation. But the truth is that as soon as I heard that Nikolay was having his birthday party at Astrov’s place, I knew I needed to be there.
I stumble a little when a treacherous pine root briefly captures my foot and it makes me sway. But I do not fall to the ground and my dress brushes against my knees as I carry on at a hurried pace. I need fresh air. My head is spinning both from the strong wine I have been drinking all evening and the shift in Astrov’s eyes when he looked at me over the edge of his glass. Those beautiful sapphire eyes rested on me and it made my world spin. When he took my hand and slowly placed an old-fashioned, but very sensual, kiss over my knuckles and then another on the back of my hand, my needs exploded under my skin. I do not know if it was good or bad that my brother decided to interrupt our interaction by proposing a toast which made everybody look at him. Including Astrov. Maybe my brother saw what happened, maybe he did not, but his timing was… questionable. After the toast, our flirty moment was gone and one of my brother’s other friends stole Astrov’s attention by questioning him about some work-related matter. I emptied my large glass and excused myself, put the glass on the counter and headed for the door.
I can hear him calling my name again and his deep voice fills the air with his presence. He has the type of voice that travels through walls when he speaks, a commanding voice, suited for leading armed men in combat or, when dropped to a low murmur, women to his bed. His voice sounds closer now and my heart picks up speed. I have, unintendedly, turned this into a chase but when I look over my shoulder I do not see him yet. I smile to myself and slow down. I don’t really want to run away. Rather the opposite. The rays of light from the midnight sun find their way through the green ceiling created by the treetops and caress my cheeks. The air is filled with diligent small buzzing insects refusing to go to sleep and I giggle with a slightly drunken smile at their perseverance in work when one of them circles my head. Eventually, it must have come to the conclusion that I am not a flower and abandons me for other targets.
Suddenly, I hear movement behind me and I cannot resist turning around. My heart makes a flip when I see him. Astrov’s hair glows every time the rays of warm light touch him and when he runs to quickly close the distance between us, his linen shirt hugs his chest in a way I cannot ignore. He stops in front of me, pulls his hand through his hair and gives me a questioning look. His eyes make me forget everything else and even the movement of the earth seems to slow down as the thin lines around his eyes deepen and his alluring lips form a smile.
”Are you running away from me?” His voice is playful but in his eyes I see a hint of insecurity, despite his slightly drunken state. He does not really know me that well and cannot tell what I am thinking.
”No… I just needed some fresh air. It is very warm inside and maybe I drank a little too much.” That is not a total lie but not the main reason for me to leave the cabin.
”It is. But it’s an amazing party. Nikolay always knows how to be a great host.”
”Yes, he does!” My brother means the world to me and hearing Astrov’s recognition of his efforts makes me warm inside.
Silence rests in the air and I look down at my naked feet. I have no idea why I left without my sandals but at the moment it felt less important to put them on. I have always loved to walk barefoot, preferably on grass or summer-warm cliffs by the sea, and feel the changes in nature under my feet. My mother always said I was a summer child, with bruised knees and calluses on my feet, sun-bleached hair and a natural tan, earned by countless hours playing outside. Darker freckles graced my face as soon as the spring sun appeared in the sky and just as much as I hated them as a young girl, I grew to love the characteristic look it gives me.
”I’m going for a walk, do you want to come along?” I suddenly hear myself say and I raise my head to meet his gaze. He gives me a warm smile and I feel the earth moving again as we start walking together deeper into the forest. At first, Astrov walks in silence beside me but it takes only a few minutes before we find that endless stream of topics we both can relate to and find joy in. He is so easy to talk to and it might be the wine making me bold but when his hand brushes against my hand for the third time, I take it. The second he wraps his long fingers around my hand, I know I am in trouble.
We walk without any plan for direction, talking and laughing, but without advancing beyond holding hands, which now feels more natural than breathing. I have no idea how far we have walked or for how long we have been gone, but the forest changes in its nature. Before us the waters of a big dark lake glitter in the sun. The surface is perfectly still and the trees closest to the lake cast their long reflections over the water. An old charming wooden rowboat is tied to a large rock and I smile when I get closer. Someone put in a great amount of time to keep that boat in a decent condition. It seems almost like a waste of time out here where no one can see it. The warm light from the midnight sun makes the whole picture absolutely bewitching.
It must be the amount of alcohol in my blood, but the lake is calling me and I suddenly feel an urgent need to throw myself in the alluring dark water and cool the skin on my body. I steal a glance at Astrov and the way he looks back at me makes my heart beat even harder than before. I really need to cool down, before I make a complete fool of myself. And still a mischievous idea forms in my head.
”Do you think the water is warm?”
”I know it is. I went for a swim in the lake yesterday when I got here. I bathe here all the time but I usually take my bike. When I am not trying to catch up with a beautiful barefooted woman running around in the woods, that is.”
My heart makes a flip but I ignore it. Instead I give him a daring smile.
”Let us take a dip. It would be a waste to walk all this way and not do it. Look how beautiful it is.” I wave my hand vaguely at the lake and Astrov gives me a look filled with disbelief.
”You do not have any swimwear…”
”Neither do you, I think. Are you prudish?” I giggle when his disbelief turns to a grin.
”Far from it.” He starts to unbutton his white linen shirt and I pull my summer dress over my head and toss it in the grass. I put my hands on my hips and watch him as he struggles a little with the last buttons. I am somewhat relieved that he is not sober either. I wait for him to pull the shirt off and when he does it’s a reward to watch, to say the least. His tanned skin glows in the warm light and the well-defined muscles on his upper body make it impossible not to stare. He is far from bulky, but he looks naturally strong, like he does a lot of heavy work in the woods or in his enormous garden surrounding the cabin in his free time. Dark hair covers his chest and I cannot help but imagine how it would feel under my hands. His shoes and trousers soon rest in a pile together with his shirt and I smile softly as I reach for the clasp of my bra.
”Wet underwear is not a favorite of mine. Why stop now?” I say with a wink. It must be the wine talking, I am not usually this comfortable with taking my clothes off and when the last piece of soft lace slides off me I lower my gaze, but I do not miss the soft gasp coming from Astrov. Feeling less cocky when fully naked, I turn to the lake and quickly wade out in the surprisingly warm water. Without looking back I throw myself in its dark embrace and I love the cooling feeling it has on my skin. The lake is deeper than I thought, even close to land, and therefore it quickly becomes colder the longer I swim from the shore. Behind me I hear a splash but when I look over my shoulder I only see the movements of the water. I wait for him and he appears right by my side, closer than I expected. I can almost feel him as he slowly swims around me. His hair is slick with water and it makes him look even more alluring than before.
”I cannot believe you did that!” He grins at me and I playfully splash some water at him. ”It has been a very long time since I was skinny dipping.” He doesn’t seek revenge for my splashes, but I can feel the movements in the water when he swims next to me. Neither of us say anything else but the nakedness is pulling us closer to each other and the air feels heavy and like it is charged with electricity. He watches me intensely and his wet lashes make his eyes even more expressive than usual.
”This was a nice idea.”
”I only have good ideas, Astrov.” I give him a teasing smile and he chuckles.
”So it seems.” His voice drops to a murmur and it sparks the small torch inside me and heat starts to pulsate deep inside my core. ”And please, call me Mikhail.” He is so close to me now and when he slides an arm around my waist to pull me even closer, I place my hands on his shoulders. ”Can I call you Misha?” I whisper softly and the warm affectionate glow in his eyes is answer enough.
His lips are soft and warm when they meet mine. Mikhail turns out to be an amazing kisser and when he intensifies our kiss by letting his tongue meet mine in a sensual slow dance, I moan into his mouth. His grip around me tightens but the deep water is not ideal for lusty moments. He pulls me with him back to where he can reach the sand and stand steadily, like one of the tall pines watching over us and what is inevitably happening. Eagerly he moves his hands and grip my thighs, lifting me in the water and urging me to pull my legs around him. I do as he wants and gasp as his skin meets my most sensitive parts. With one hand around my back and one under my bum he assaults my lips in a series of heavenly kisses. I kiss him back with all my feelings running freely in my body. I can feel the effect I have on him and he does not attempt to hide his own arousal. It rests against my skin and when he rubs me over his hardness, I whimper. His hands travel over my body, explore it under the surface of the water, where none of us can see. My body answers to him in a way I have never experienced before and when he slides his hand between our bodies to gently caress my sensitive bundle of nerves, the needs in me explode. I let my head fall back with a moan as his skilled fingers make me feel what their full attention means. Then he lifts me higher so he can reach more of me and my body is so ready it takes me by surprise when my climax washes over me. I cling desperately to his body as my body shakes in the water and when I come to my senses again, he kisses me deeply. Fire dances in his eyes and his hold on me tightens.
”God, you looked so amazing when you came. I want to see you like that again.” His words vibrate against my lips when he murmurs them and all I can do is wrap my arms around his neck as he starts walking out of the water. He puts me down on the grass, grabs his shirt and spreads it out before he gently lays me down on it. At least most of my back rests against it but that feels less important. The gesture is just another tender detail from his side.
Misha quickly covers my body with his and the fire in his eyes burns steadily as I part my legs to give him enough room. I want him just as much as he wants me and when he presses the top of his hardness against my opening, I gasp. Without breaking eye contact he slowly enters me, allowing me to feel every inch of his thick shaft and the stretch my body needs to perform makes me see stars. I hug him tighter, my body begging him to settle closer and deeper. When he finally rocks his hips against mine, the world around us disappears and all that is left are two bodies, slowly driving each other mad with lust.
As if he is able to read my mind and body like an open book, Misha takes in every single hint I give him and he soon finds the perfect angle and pace to bring me closer to the brink of relief. He rests his hands on either side of my head, allowing him to look at me and see all my reactions, not only feeling them with his body. I have never had a more present lover and the way he tends to my needs, like my pleasure is the most important thing in the world to him, only deepens my already strong feelings for him.
When I come again it is with his name on my lips, desperately pulling him close to me and digging my fingers into the firm muscles on his back. I can feel how hard I clench around him and the low groan erupting in his throat tells me how good it feels for him as well. He follows me after a few more thrusts, I can feel him swelling and then he stills, panting heavily, but with the sexiest smile I have ever seen. The fire in Misha’s eyes is replaced with something more tender and my heart aches at the sight. He bends down to place a soft kiss on my cheek.
”I do not usually believe in love at first sight,” he then says softly, ”but I have never felt like this before. I mean, not after the short time we have known each other.”
”Technically this is not a first sight, we have met before.”
”I know I am drunk, but not that drunk. I do remember the last time. It was a way too short meeting but I thought you were stunningly beautiful. No wonder Nikolay is a little protective when it comes to you.”
I giggle at his comment on my dear brother. Water drips from his hair down on my neck and chest as he slowly shakes his head. ”You must think I’m crazy. No sane man says that kind of thing after…well…after sex. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”
”I feel the same,” I say with a sudden shyness. The truth is that I have not been able to stop thinking of him since the last time we met. But I am not ready to confess that. At least not tonight. Misha’s deep kiss seals our statements and then he sits up on his knees.
”I could stay here until morning with you but maybe we should go back, or what do you think?”
”It might be for the best. I guess people will soon start to question where we went, if they have noticed that is.”
I stand on unsteady legs but Misha supports me as I grab my clothes. My hair is still very wet and creates a damp spot on the back of my dress. I watch Misha as he shakes his shirt but it is beyond rescue. The traces of grass and soil in addition to the soaked material makes him laugh and he tosses the shirt over his shoulder like it was a towel. I swallow hard. He looks too good to be true wearing only his beige trousers. He gives me a contagious smile and reaches for my hand as we start our walk back.
We walk in silence for most parts, like we both need time to process the evening, but when I for the first time think I recognize the surroundings, Misha breaks the silence.
”Do you think Nikolay will kill me for this?”
”Let us hope he is drunk enough to not notice that my hair is wet and you are missing a shirt.” I cannot prevent the laughter from escaping me.
”Nobody can be that drunk. Not even your brother.”
”Good point.”
”He better get used to it because I am not letting you go.” Misha stops in his tracks and pulls me into his arms. The kiss is filled with emotions and when he breaks it, he rests his forehead against mine. ”I am serious. This is not only for tonight. Not for me.”
My heart flutters happily at his words and I caress his cheek. His beard is so soft under my fingers. ”Not for me either.”
Far away I can hear the sound of music and laughter. I give Misha a smile.
”Come on, let’s give them something to talk about.”
***
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