THE RUSSIAN MAFIA HEIRS

16/lunch among pines

Tatiana's POV

Alexei did not stop me; rather he kissed me back , everything became silent . After some seconds he let go of my lips so I could catch my breath. My hands were on his shoulder while his were on my waist.

I felt really shy as he stared into my eyes so I placed my face on his shoulder to avoid eye contact. “I am always here for you” he told me then I lifted my head from his shoulder and he kissed my forehead before letting go of my waist and held my hands.

I looked at my phone and noticed it was a few minutes after four then we had to leave Saint Petersburg in three hours if I wanted to get home on time .

“What should we do next ? , we have to make the best of our remaining time “ .

“We could continue, “ he said, staring at my lips lustfully.

“You are such a p*****t, “ I said with a chuckle .

We both laughed. “Are you hungry? , let's have lunch “ .

“Uhmm, I'm not hungry but I don't mind eating”. I replied while he led the way . Finally we got to a chalet terrace , it's an exclusive outdoor terrace tucked behind the premium chalets at the resort , the terrace is shielded by glass panels and heated floors making it easier to dine without freezing from the snowy pine .

Only one table was set under a canopy of hanging glass lanterns , everything looked so beautiful and Alexei really put in effort or should I say paid for the efforts . As usual we are the only ones here .

A soft melody played from hidden speakers . Alexei pulled out a chair for me to sit before moving to the other chair across from me . I guess he planned a lunch for two seeing how we are the only ones sitted and there are no extra chairs .

“So where is Denis? “ I asked, staring at the variety of foods on the table .

“Somewhere around having fun “ he replied looking jealous.

“What don't tell me you are jealous I asked about your right hand man” . I asked teasingly.

“Maybe” he replied, holding my hands.

“You are crazy” .

We started eating warm butternut squash soup and toasted pine nuts . Every bite and every spoon of soup tasted really good, then grilled venison with red wine sauce and truffle mashed potatoes . While we were eating we kept having small conversations and Alexei kept making me laugh.

While we were having dessert, I promised myself not to ruin this date even though we are just friends by thinking if it was right or wrong .

“there is something on your lips “ he says as he cleaned something from my mouth but then I realized that there was nothing there .

“ Liar ,” I whispered, barely breathing because his hands were still on my lips

“Well maybe I just needed a reason to touch you “ he said as he finally let go of my mouth .

I didn't say anything, just smiled. When we were finally through eating I checked my phone to verify what the time was and it was a few minutes after five , which means we spent about an hour eating .

“So what next before we start going back home? “ I asked .

“Uh ,just one more thing then we can go back to the airport “ he replied holding my hands while we left the terrace.

After a few minutes of walking hand in hand we finally got to the tubing hill . I was really surprised and could not hide it so I said “ really, a tubing hill. I'm not a child “ .

“It's not only for kids, “ he said laughing .

“I don't care if it's for kids or not, I'm not sliding down a hill in a rubber donut “ .

“we can go back if you are scared, “ he said trying to tease me .

“Scared ? , you wish "I said as I took a tube while Alexei took another tube for himself then we went to the top of the hill. I stood on my lift then a slow conveyor belt gently pulled me and my tube uphill while I stood .

After that I sat in my tube then gripped the handle and pushed off . While riding downwards I even spinned but I couldn't stop myself from screaming. It's my first time tubing on a hill and I must say it's really fun and not childish. I have always seen hill tubing as a child activity but I'm loving it .

Alexei on the other hand was cheering on his ride . After the ride we took our tubes and went to the lift at the bottom of the hill . We stepped on the magic carpet and it gently carried us back to the top .

On our way back to the top, Alexei pulled me to his chest and whispered into my ear . “Back then when I told you that I loved you , you didn't say it back “ . My heart skipped a beat and I didn't tell Alexei that I loved him too because I'm not sure I do .

“Love is a big word . So I can't say it back but I like you “ I replied whispering into his ear .

“Then I will wait for you to love me, “ he replied with a smile as we got to the top . I didn't wait for him to say anything else, I quickly went to the lift again for another ride .

We went on multiple rides then I got exhausted and we stopped.

After the last ride we decided to go on a walk before we returned to the airport. We walked hand in hand in the pathway close to the tubing hill.

It was just a walk until I formed a small snowball and threw it at Alexei. “Blue, Just know you started this” he said as he formed a bigger snowball while I ran away but he followed and threw it at me and just like we started a snowball fight /hide and seek. We played for a while before walking back towards the driveway but we were Kind of far from the parking lot.

“You didn't ask why I had a panic attack “ I said as we continued walking.

“I was curious but it would not be nice to have asked after the panic attack,” he replied. I waited expecting him to ask me but he didn't do I asked “ why are you not asking now “

“Ok blue, why did you have a panic attack”

“i wasn't expecting that kind of reply but I will tell you anyways “ I said with an attitude before I continued “my brother's death kind of traumatized me . He died because of a car accident , I was not there but the trauma followed me . The therapist said it was because I was there when he died and I also saw the state of the car and that's why I'm traumatized “ I said but shockingly I didn't cry this time .

“So sorry blue . How did you find out you could no longer drive” he asked looking interested in my tragic experience.

“Oh, that was when I almost killed myself”. The shock on Alexei's face made me laugh.

“How ? “ He asked.

“After dimitry's burial , I got into my car and I just wanted to run away , run away from everything. It was too hard to process that my brother was just put six feet's below the ground “ I stopped to catch my breath before continuing. “So I got into my car and realized I could not drive, my hands were not just moving but I forced myself , it was hard but I forced myself and started driving and the panic started so i lost control and drove into a wall . I ended up in the hospital , after I was discharged then I saw therapist and psychologist. Just everything to stop my depression and panic attacks. My grandfather tried everything.. “ then I laughing to stop the pain I felt .

Alexei noticed and hugged me , “it hurts I said, I miss him so much and I want to talk about him like this all the time but they said I would continue to be depressed if I do “ I said holding my chest .

“You can always tell me about him , and don't be scared to talk about dimitry , it might be a way of healing” he said assuring me .

“I know what it feels like to lose a loved one . My dad died of cancer and it broke me , I was devastated but I healed with my family . So I can assure you that you will also heal and it doesn't matter if It takes time “ . I was surprised when he said his dad died of cancer . I know his mom and grandpa from the internet, no wonder I never heard of his dad .