Chapter 19 - Nikolai
Our marriage is hitting a solid four months now, and with each passing week, Anoushka and I are beginning to truly understand one another better.
I realize now I’d been a fool to ask her to fulfill marital duties. When given free rein, it’s in Anoushka’s very fiber to care, to nurture, to love. Her laughter fills the halls of our home. At the office, she’s made the space hers. The staff loves her. She remembers birthdays, fixes brunches with my siblings, and ensures we always have a well-stocked kitchen.
In every way, she’s become a pillar of support.
Today, I watch as she hums softly and arranges flowers in a vase, a serene smile on her face.
“Beautiful,” I murmur, coming up behind her and wrapping my arms around her waist.
She leans back into my embrace, tilting her head to look up at me with those enchanting eyes, which remind me of the ocean.
“Anoushka,” I mumble into her ear. “Are you free tonight?”
“Yes, why?” she asks, turning to face me wholly, her arms linked around my neck.
I brush my lips around hers softly. “I’d like to take you out.”
To my surprise, she frowns.
“What?” I ask, getting worried she’d turn me down. She’s only just warming up to her role as my wife. Did I assume she’s more invested than I believe she is?
“Nothing,” she shakes her head. “Tonight sounds wonderful. It’s just… I realized we’ve never been on a date.”
“So we haven’t,” I whistle. When she puts it like that, I better put up a spectacular show tonight.
***
As we step outside the car, I notice the sun is beginning to set, casting a warm glow over the hot air balloon site. I can't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation at the surprise awaiting Anoushka.
"Alright, let's get this started," I say to the crew as they prepare the hot air balloon for liftoff. They work diligently, making sure everything is in order.
"Are you ready?" I ask Anoushka, who stands beside me with wide eyes, her hand in mine.
"More than ready," she replies with a grin. "I can’t believe you pulled this off, Nikolai."
With a nod to the crew, we climb into the basket. The balloon rises into the air, drifting up above the city skyline. Anoushka gasps, clutching the basket railing. Her eyes widen, drinking in the breathtaking view.
My heart swells with pride at her reaction. I knew she'd love this. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"
She turns to me, eyes shining. "How did you arrange all this?"
I shrug, feigning nonchalance. "I have my ways."
The truth is, I pulled a few strings and called in a few favors to get a last-minute booking—anything for her.
We float higher, the breeze rustling her hair. She smiles, utterly captivated by the sight. I'm not even looking at the view. I only have eyes for her.
“Philadelphia is strangely charming,” she whispers, staring down from the basket and then at me. “But the fact that this is what you managed to pull together for our first date… ”
Words fail her as she sighs with contentment and gives my hand a gentle squeeze.
Eager to impress her further, I pull out a bottle of champagne and two glasses from a hidden compartment in the basket. "For us," I say, pouring the bubbly liquid into the glasses and handing one to her.
She takes a sip and smiles appreciatively. "This is lovely, thank you."
I make myself comfortable on the benches we have set up in the balloon and reach under.
"Hungry?" I open the picnic basket, revealing an assortment of gourmet treats. Foie gras, truffle sandwiches, chocolate-dipped strawberries. "I wasn't sure what you'd want, so I got one of everything."
"This is too much." She picks up a strawberry, her lips curving into a teasing smile. "What's the occasion?"
"Can't a man spoil his girl without needing a special occasion?" I pour two flutes of Dom Perignon. “Besides,” I wiggle our eyebrows. “I believe we just hit four months of marriage.”
Anoushka's cheeks flush a delicate pink as she chuckles, taking a sip of champagne. "I suppose that calls for a celebration." Her eyes meet mine, the warmth in them making my heart skip a beat. “You’re going to spoil me rotten." She leans toward me and kisses my cheek, a fleeting brush of soft lips.
My chest tightens with longing for more. "You deserve to be spoiled." I then reach into my coat pocket and pull out a box, opening it as I do. I watch as her eyes fall upon it, the shimmer from the diamonds brightening her face in the night sky as she stares down into the box. I pull out the necklace and lean forward to put my hands behind her neck, fastening it around her neck, the stones glinting in the golden light. "For you."
Her eyes widen as she touches the necklace, heavy around her neck. "Nikolai, this is too expensive a gift for me to accept."
"Nothing is too expensive for you." I caress her cheek. “You’re my wife.”
She frowns, grasping my hand and pulling it away but holding it in hers. "You don't have to buy me expensive things to win me over. I'm here because of you, not what you can give me. I’m just so touched you made an effort into putting all this together, Nikolai, but I have more jewelry than I know what to do with."
She quietly pulls back and removes the necklace, putting it back in the box. “I think Sofia would love this,” she closes the box quietly. “For me, this,” she motions at the skyline below and the stars above, “is enough.”
Her words hit me, a splash of cold water. She's right. I've been a fool, thinking I could buy her affection when all she wants is me.
"I'm sorry," I say. "You're right. But please, Anoushka. Just keep this necklace as the first gift your husband ever bought you. In the future, it won’t happen again.”
I see her warring with herself, and then, with a brief nod, she whispers, "Okay. It’s beautiful. Thank you."
I place the box on her lap, and she puts it beside her after caressing the soft velvet. Silence settles between us, filled only by the soft rustle of the wind as we float in the air. Anoushka leans into me, resting her head against my shoulder. I wrap my arm around her, pulling her close, cherishing the moment.
Her smile is like the sun breaking through the clouds. She kisses me, a sweet, unhurried kiss. "Now you're getting it."
I pull her into my arms, holding her close as our balloon drifts over the glittering skyline. She's all I need.
***
We lounge on the floor of the basket, the picnic basket quarter-gone between us. I refill our flutes and hand one to Anoushka.
"To us," I say, clinking my glass against hers.
"To new beginnings." She smiles at me over the rim of her glass before taking a sip.
I follow suit, the bubbles fizzing in my mouth. "I never thought I'd find this."
"Find what?" She laces her fingers through mine, her hand soft and warm in my grasp.
"Peace." I brush my thumb over her knuckles. "After my parents died, I never thought I'd be at peace again.”
Her eyes soften with understanding. “I know what it’s like losing your parents, especially to the violence of our world,” she says softly.
“How old were you?” I ask, tilting my head.
“Very young. Around thirteen. Without Boris, all would have been lost.”
I lift her hand to my lips, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. “Poor Boris.”
"He did carry a heavy burden." She inches closer until she's curled against my side, her head on my shoulder. "You're a good man, Nikolai Orlov. I’ve seen all you do for your family."
"I try my best." I wrap my arm around her shoulders, holding her close. The sun dips lower in the sky, the golden light from the fire caressing her face. She's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.
"This is nice," she murmurs. "Just being here with you."
"I couldn't agree more." I kiss the top of her head, breathing in the sweet scent of her hair.
My heart pounds as I contemplate asking the question that's been on my mind for weeks. Will she say yes? Or is it too soon? I don't want to pressure her, but I can't stand being apart from her, even for a single night.
"Anoushka?" I say softly.
She lifts her head to look at me, her eyes glowing in the dim light. "Yes?"
I take a deep breath, gathering my courage. "I was wondering if you'd like to move in with me. Permanently. To a shared room. We could take mine or decorate a new one, whatever you like."
Her eyes widen, surprise flickering across her face.
“I know you said you never wanted to, but I feel things have changed between us. The nights when you do stay over, I feel just like this,” I twine my fingers through hers as she stares into my eyes, her breath hitching in her throat. “At peace.”
I wait with bated breath until, at last, a slow smile spreads across her lips. "I feel it, too."
I give her hand a gentle squeeze. "I want to fall asleep with you in my arms every night and wake up with you beside me every morning. What do you say?"
"I'd like that very much." She reaches up to caress my cheek. "I thought you’d never ask.”
Joy and relief surge through me as I crush her in my arms, kissing her soundly. She laughs, throwing her arms around my neck to pull me closer.
When we break apart, she rests her forehead against mine, gazing into my eyes. "You're stuck with me now, Mr. Orlov. And trust me when I say I can be quite the difficult roommate."
"Oh, I’m up for the challenge, Mrs. Orlov."