Page 27 of You + Me – Against the World

“Vadim, I want you. I’m ready…” I murmur breathlessly.

We exchange a look full of longing, turmoil, and urgency. Then, he reaches his arm above my head.

“Just a minute.”

From a little box resting on a wooden cabinet by the couch, he grabs a condom. I watch him tear the wrapper and put it on with one hand. My heart races. I can’t possibly wait any longer. Vadim smiles at me, sensing my impatience. He lies down between my legs, spreading them as he does, and cups my face with his hands.

“Say it to me again, Alma,” he whispers in my ear.

“I want you. Now.”

His warm lips crush against mine. Vadim slides his tongue in just as his sex slowly sinks into me. I can feel every inch of him. The unique, dizzying sensation fills me with a powerful warmth. After a tinge of pain, all I feel is a new, unexpected pleasure. My skin tingles. There is nothing better in the world. Nothing matters more than his body moving against mine, my body surrendering to his.

For several long, lingering minutes, we become one. I don’t hold back, moaning without restraint as I surrender the last of my inhibitions. I twist and tremble as my breath catches in my throat. Vadim embraces me, watching me intently as I come, letting himself go at the same time. A tear rolls down my cheek. He catches it with his lips.

I sink into his arms.

After that, I don’t remember anything.

Just this.

Vadim Arcadi pressed against me. Holding me close.

10

On the short walk from Vadim’s apartment to my house, I quickly crash down from the cloud I was floating on. Panic sets in. Not only have I stayed out for the second night in a row—this time without letting my parents know—but my phone is dead and no doubt overflowing with angry, panicked, horrified messages. On top of that, it’s Saturday morning, and I can’t even escape to the university for the day.

But despite all that … I did it. For the first time. The most beautiful and craziest of first times.

I feel… different.

Is it written all over me?

Will they know that, last night, Vadim changed me?

That he changed everything?

I feel like my lips are still swollen from all those kisses. My long, straight hair is full of knots that I can’t untangle with just my fingers. My eyes were shining when I looked at myself in Vadim’s little bathroom mirror—when, still shirtless, impossibly good-looking, and shamelessly confident, he kissed my neck to keep me from leaving.

I force the image out of my mind and try to focus on the hellish time I’m about to endure, which could very well end up being the worst time of my entire life.

Act normal. Look apologetic, tired, but normal.

Shit, I’m blushing again. I can feel the heat spreading all the way to my burning ears.

I take a few more seconds to compose myself before sliding my key into the heavy door of our home. Our housekeeper, Georgia, welcomes me by pulling me into her arms. I don’t know if it’s because she’s relieved I’ve come home in one piece or terrified of what’s about to happen to me.

My mother is perched on the three small steps that lead from the entrance to the living room. In eighteen years, I’ve never seen my mother sit on a staircase. She leaps up to come meet me, screaming “Edward!” in a shrill voice.

I hear my father before I see him. He is ranting and swearing in English, as he always does when he loses his temper. His native tongue comes back to him in direct proportion to the intensity of his anger. Amid the torrent of words he practically spits in my face as he furiously jabs a finger in my direction, I can just about catch a few key phrases: “worried sick,” “completely irresponsible,” “betrayed our trust,” “take responsibility for your actions,” “the whole neighborhood was searching,” “haven’t slept all night,” “your poor mother,” “call the police,” and finally, “explain yourself.” Once he’s done, he paces back and forth with his hands clasped on top of his head.

During the silence that follows, Basile and Lily show up, having wisely waited for the storm to subside before making an appearance. My brother looks tense, his hands buried deep in his pockets as he casts me a reproachful look, clearly siding with the adults. My sister nervously bites her lip.

“I’m so sorry. I really am. I didn’t mean to worry you. I spent the night with Tim. I knew you’d say no if I asked your permission.”

I’m not proud of myself. Not proud of this fake alibi. But I couldn’t come up with anything better.

Another silence.