I went to my room later on. Clara lying on my bed reading one of my old med books.
"Privet."
She looked up at me.
"Huh?"
"I said hi in Russian, my mom fell for my dad that way, so I figured, why not?"
She giggled.
"You said you didn't know any Russian."
"We have the power of Google Translate at our fingertips."
I sat down next to her.
"Say something else. Your accent sounds legit."
"I caught on from my dad but I forgot a lot of Russian because of med school."
I took out my phone but then I put it back down. I started to remember something my dad used to say to my mom.
"Ty...kraseevaia."
She lay on her side to look at me. I did the same, my face was in front of her...close.
"What does that mean?"
"You're beautiful."
She looked down shyly.
"Same to you."
I chuckled.
"That saying is only meant for girls."
"Oh!"
"But I accept the compliment."
She smiled, I watched her eyes travel down to my lips. Maybe I should go for it. It's been a while since I've been intimate but Clara is different and I'm actually nervous, just like a teenage boy.
"Well how do you say it for a man", she asked.
I barely heard her as my face moved closer to her. I placed my hand on her cheek to steady her as my lips met hers. She feels so soft and also nervous. I didn't stop, I moved slowly and eventually, she fell into the rhythm. After a moment we broke apart.
"I don't know...", I whispered.
She kissed me back, her kisses are light and sweet. After we separated again she had a big smile on her face.
"What", I said.
She bit her lip.
"Can we do that more often", she said shyly.
I chuckled.
"Things might...escalate."
"That's okay."
I pulled her into my arms.
"It's hard to stay quiet around here if things were to...escalate. I have nosey family members."
"That's okay then, being with you is all that matters to me."
"Same but to be honest...being a male...the thought of not having escalated experiences would suck...especially with someone as special as you."
She giggled.
~
A couple of days pass by. I finally had a day off. The night before I made some phone calls.
"What is this place", Clara said.
"A hotel."
"This is a hotel...it looks super expensive."
I stopped the car so the bellhop guy could take our bags.
"Well if you don't like it..."
"You only live once", she quickly said.
I chuckled.
She practically hopped out of the car to run inside. It's nice to see her childish. Especially since she went through so much trauma for most of her life and recently. After the bellhop guy was done I tipped him. I got my key and then we both headed to our room. When I opened the door we both stood there in awe. I've been to a few fancy hotels for conferences but this one tops all of them. Maybe it's because Clara is here with me.
"Dimitri..."
"Go ahead."
She went inside and I followed her. I watched her as she looked around and then her eyes landed on me.
"What is all this for?"
"I just wanted to do something special for you. Do something you've never done before."
She walked up to me with a smirk.
"Ah...so we are doing things I never did before...like tonight?"
Usually, I'm the one to make her blush, my face felt hot. I was not expecting her to say that.
"N-No...that wasn't...well it passed my mind but honestly this isn't about that...I just wanted you to have fun and for us to be alone...in a non-sexual way."
She laughed.
"I like making you nervous."
"You're terrible."
"But you lo-"
She looked away.
"What", I asked.
She shook her head.
"Nothing. Thank you, for everything Dimitri."
"You deserve the best."
"Since I deserve the best, I hear hotels have pools. Can we go to one? I've never been before...I know it's weird."
I took her face in my hands.
"No it's not. I understand why and of course we can go."
"I don't have anything to wear for it though..."
"There's a small store here. We can stop by to buy one."
Clara tried on a few swimsuits with the help of one of the workers. After she was done, I paid for it and then we were off to the pool. There were two pools, indoor and outdoor, Clara chose the indoor one since she didn't know such a thing existed.
"Wow", she exclaimed.
"It's empty, perfect", I said.
"We have it all to ourselves", she said as she spun around.
"For now. Hurry up and change, I will do the same."
"Okay."
I came back out to the pool first. I tested the water with my foot, it was warm like they said.
"I'm back."
I turned around to see Clara with a towel wrapped around her. She blushed when she looked at me.
"You're going to wear a towel in the pool? That's a first for me."
She giggled.
"No. I just...maybe this is a bit too revealing...."
"I think most swimsuits are but I bet you look great...if you would let me see."
She hesitated at first and then she let the towel fall to reveal a pale green bikini. My eyes looked over her from head to toe. I've seen some of her body before while at the hospital but I never looked at her like this, I always kept it professional. Now that she isn't my patient anymore, I can truly take in her beauty."
"W-What? You don't like it", she said nervously.
I didn't realize I was staring for so long.
"Sorry...no, I love it...you look amazing and...beautiful."
She looked down with a smile. I went over to her and took her hand to lead her to the pool.
"You look good too", she said.
"Just a guy in swimming trunks."
"I mean...you are like fit and stuff...that's good that you are healthy."
I chuckled.
I walked into the pool and she followed.
"You have to have a healthy outlet when you have a job like mine. Working out gets my mind off things."
"I haven't worked out in forever. I need some muscle or something...maybe put on some fat too."
"You will in time. Your body has been through a lot. You truly are beautiful Clara, so don't worry about what you look like, okay?"
"Okay", she said with a smile.
"Now, time for some swimming lessons."
"Really, like...n-now?"
"Yes now. You'll be an Olympian in no time", I said.
"You think too highly of me Dimitri. Just staying alive in water is good enough for me."
"I can teach that."
I allowed her to get comfortable in the water for a few minutes and then I taught her the basics.
"Just relax and make sure you don't tense up. Like that, see...you're floating all by yourself", I said and then raised my hands up to show her I wasn't holding her anymore.
"I'm really...doing it...I'm floating", she said cautiously.
"Now to stand up just kind of tilt your body downward and use your arms to like put yourself upright...sorry...I suck at explaining that part."
I showed her what I meant with my arms. She attempted to do it, it wasn't graceful but she was standing. She then plugged her nose and then went underwater. I was surprised that she did that since beginners are usually nervous about going underwater for the first time. I joined her. I motioned to her that she could take her fingers off her nose and that she will be okay. I took her hands and swam out to the deeper end of the pool. She smiled, she looked so free as I dragged her through the water. I took her into my arms as I swam us both up to the surface.
"That was awesome! I felt like I was flying", she exclaimed.
"It does, doesn't it? I always like that feeling too."
"How are you staying on top like that", she asked.
"You just keep kicking your legs."
She started to do the same thing but wasn't staying afloat as well as I was. I did let go of her but then I pulled her back to me when she got tired of trying.
"It's hard."
"Just need some practice. But first, we need a break from the water, I'm sure you don't want to wrinkle this early in life."
"No thank you."
We took a break from the water and after a few minutes, we ended up in the jacuzzi.
"Now this is my new favorite", she said as she settled in the water.
"It's everyone's favorite, especially when you have it all to yourself."
I pulled her into my side and she rested her head on my shoulder.
"I want to work", she said.
"Like a job", I asked.
She nodded.
"Yeah, I just want to know what it's like. I always wanted to do something for myself, I just think that it would be good but...I don't have any experience...I don't know..."
"No, it's a great idea! You will be wonderful at whatever you want to do."
"I don't know where to start", she said.
"Actually, a position opened up to be one of the front desk receptionists at the hospital. You usually need experience but I can make things happen."
"No Dimitri, I want to get the job fairly like everyone else. I know you want to help but I don't want you to like cheat for me."
I chuckled.
"You have an honest heart, I love that. Okay, I will mention you and I will see what they can do. How does that sound?"
Her eyes lit up.
"Thank you so much!"