by Ruff, K. S.
I guzzled the coffee before throwing the covers aside. “Now that’s worth getting out of bed for.”
Rafael stood and reached for my cup. “Then let’s go!”
I hesitated as my foot touched the floor. “You seem entirely too excited about this.”
His laughter warmed me from the inside out. “I get to watch the sun come up over the river with a beautiful woman. Why wouldn’t I be excited about that?”
I couldn’t help but smile as I padded off to the bathroom to brush my teeth and change clothes. I grabbed a scrunchy and threw my hair up into a ponytail as we made our way downstairs. I grabbed my yoga mat from the coat closet in the foyer. I typically used two mats for extra padding, so, luckily, I had a spare mat to lend Rafael.
We walked to the edge of the river. I laid the mats out before kicking off my shoes. I positioned my mat slightly ahead of Rafael’s, so it would be easier for him to follow the poses.
I glanced at Rafael as we stepped onto the mats. “We’ll start by taking a few deep breaths in mountain pose. In yoga we breathe in and out through the nose. Take deep cleansing breaths. I should be able to hear you breathe. The breathing is as important as the pose.”
We both took a deep breath as we stepped into mountain pose. Rafael’s voice rolled over me on an exhale. “I can smell the cherry blossoms.”
I closed my eyes and took another deep breath as I reached for the sky. “I smell cherry blossoms, cut grass, and damp soil.” I took another deep breath, then exhaled while transitioning into a standing forward bend. I glanced back at Rafael. “Keep your legs straight. Try to press your chest to your knees as you place your hands on the mat.” I held the stretch and savored the feel of the early morning sun on my back.
“I can see why you like doing this outside,” Rafael murmured.
I smiled. I still couldn’t believe he was doing yoga with me. “Now you can hop or step back as we transition into downward facing dog. Hands and feet flat on the mat as you reach your hips toward the sky.” I looked at Rafael to make sure he had the pose.
Rafael chuckled. “I’m really enjoying this view.”
I glanced over at him, then shook my head. “You should be relaxing your neck and looking between your legs, not at my bottom.”
He laughed. “I didn’t realize yoga could be so much fun.”
“Let’s see how much fun you have with planks,” I teased.
Rafael followed my lead as I moved into a high plank. “This is easy.”
I transitioned into a low plank and held the position until my arms burned. I was determined to make things difficult for him. “I don’t hear you breathing,” I taunted in a sing song voice.
Rafael’s voice sounded strained as he tried to hold the low plank. “Okay, this is a bit more difficult.” He blew out a breath when we transitioned into upward facing dog.
I rolled into downward facing dog, then hopped to my feet. “Okay, we’re going to repeat that sequence a number of times. Ready?”
Rafael stepped onto my mat and dusted some imaginary piece of lint off my bottom. I swatted his hand away. “Get back on your mat and breathe!”
“I’m just trying to help out,” he protested.
“Yeah, right,” I muttered. I took a deep breath and tried to focus as I dropped into a high plank. I continued running Rafael through the sequence until my arms were too fatigued to hold another plank. I relaxed into the child’s pose before hopping onto my feet. “Now we’re going to work our legs.” I reached up as I settled into the chair pose.
“I should do yoga with you more often,” he mused.
I brought my hands to my heart and transitioned into the twisted chair pose. I was surprised Rafael was able to maintain his balance through the transition. I talked him through warrior one and two before transitioning him into the triangle and revolved triangle poses.
He kept his balance until the eagle pose. He growled his frustration. “How are you wrapping your arms and legs like that?”
I laughed as I switched sides. “I have less muscle to wrap around.”
We ran through a number of other yoga poses before stretching out on our backs and ending with the corpse pose. Rafael reached for my hand. I closed my eyes and relished the soft morning sun and the cool breeze as it danced across my skin. When I finally opened my eyes, I stared quietly at the few clouds that were drifting by. I was hesitant to break the peace and tranquility that now surrounded me.
“That was nice,” Rafael murmured softly.
I turned to look at him. “Thanks. I really needed this.”
He squeezed my hand. “I know something else you need.”
I studied him questioningly. “What?”
He smiled. “A long hot bath.”
“That does sound good,” I replied wistfully.
Rafael stood and pulled me to my feet. “Come on. It isn’t even six-thirty yet. There’s still plenty of time for a bath before work.” We rolled our yoga mats on our way back to the house.
Rafael grabbed my arm when I attempted to unlock the door. “Wait.”
I glanced up at him as I turned into his arms. “What?”
His voice turned pleading. “I don’t know if it’s that yoga outfit or the fact that you’re completely off limits right now, but…” The rest of his words spilled into a kiss.
I dropped my yoga mat and wrapped my arms around his neck. “Rafael,” I groaned.
He pulled the keys from my hand as he continued kissing me. He reached for my legs, then hiked them around his hips. The kiss grew more carnal as he pressed me up against the door. He unlocked the door, kicked the mats inside, and then kicked the door closed.
“Rafael,” I giggled. “You can put me down now.”
“No, I can’t,” he mumbled. He ravished my neck as he carried me upstairs and into the master bathroom. He stood me between his legs as he sat on the edge of the tub and pulled my shirt off. He pulled me in for another kiss as he fumbled for the water faucet. He tugged at my yoga pants until they were lying on the floor. “You’re so beautiful, Kristine. Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?”
His eyes widened as mine filled with doubt. He swept his arm under my knees and abruptly deposited me in the bathtub.
Alarms sounded as he began to undress. I bolted upright in the tub. “What are you doing?”
Rafael kicked his pants aside and slipped behind me in the tub. “I’m taking a bath with my girlfriend. And before you argue the point, you told me I could join you in the bath so I wouldn’t have to tax my brain trying to picture you naked in the tub.” He reached for the bar of lavender soap before pulling me back against his chest.
I watched him roll the bar in his hands as he worked up a lather. The tension eased from my body as he began massaging the suds into my shoulders and arms. My head fell back against his shoulder as I relaxed. “I’m never leaving this tub,” I moaned.
A well-lathered hand lifted my chin as his lips sought mine. I cupped his face in my hand as I sought to deepen the kiss. He gently lathered my legs. “We should have skipped yoga and gone straight for the bath,” he mused.
He lathered my chest as he sought another kiss. He rolled my nipples between his fingers. Pleasure and pain collided when he pinched the tips. I squirmed as my body pleaded for more.
Rafael slid his hand between my legs. I tried to pull away when he began teasing me with his fingers. “Don’t make me want you like this,” I pleaded. “We’ll end up breaking the rules.”
Rafael turned me in his arms before settling my legs on either side of his hips. His eyes darkened. “Screw the rules, Kristine. I want you… now.”
His lips captured mine as he crushed me against his chest. I moaned as his hands slid over my legs… my back… my chest. We were both breathing hard by the time he broke the kiss. “Tell me you don’t want this. Tell me you’re not dying to feel me inside of you, and I swear I’ll stop,” he demanded hoarsely.
My eyes slid closed as my entire body clenched.
“I want you so much it hurts.”
My head fell back as he captured my breast in his mouth. His hands reached for my hips.
My eyes flew open as I registered his intent. “Oh, God!” I gasped as he plunged deep inside of me.
Rafael groaned. “God, Kristine. You feel so good.”
I fisted my hands in his hair as his mouth collided against mine. Rafael held my hips firmly in place as he fought to establish a slow, methodical pace. He stilled each time I attempted to take control. My body wound tighter and tighter, until suddenly I couldn’t take it anymore. “Rafael,” I cried. “Please, God… I can’t take this anymore.”
Rafael’s fingers dug into my hips. His eyes captured mine as he slowly lifted me. Then his eyes slid closed. He thrust deep inside of me. A searing heat swept through me as he found his release. My body clenched, then shattered in his arms.
* * * * * *
I tossed my purse on the desk and turned my computer on. I shook my head as I reflected on my early morning activities. I still couldn’t believe I’d made it to work on time. I dropped by the break room to snag a cup of coffee before stopping by Shae’s office. “Well, it’s official,” I announced as I strode into her office.
Shae glanced up from her computer screen. “What’s official?”
I dropped into the chair across from her desk and sighed. “I’m a slut.”
She laughed. “You broke the ground rule. With who?”
I slouched in the chair. “Rafael.”
Shae shook her head. “I suspected as much. Kadyn seems like the kind of guy who plays by the rules. Rafael does not. The question is… which type of guy do you want to end up with?”
“I don’t know,” I grumbled sullenly.
Shae looked thoughtful. “I think you need to have sex with Kadyn before you decide.”
I shook my head. “That would make me an even bigger slut.”
She shrugged. “I think you need to level the playing field before you make your decision.”
“I’m so screwed,” I muttered.
Shae laughed. “Yes, you are.”
I gave her a dirty look before changing the topic. “How’s your research on Ukraine coming along?”
She leaned back in her chair. “Good, I guess. There’s a conflict brewing over the language issue. The government recently passed a law that establishes the Ukrainian language as the only official language of Ukraine. A good portion of the citizens can only read and speak Russian. Now that everything is printed exclusively in the Ukrainian language, these citizens can’t read or understand the laws, let alone a common medicine bottle. There’s a movement to reinstate Russian as the national language of Ukraine, which I think could lead to some identity-based conflicts.”
I sipped the coffee and winced. It was bitter and way too strong. I scowled into the cup before glancing up at Shae. “I think we should map that conflict and use it in a simulation for the students.”
Shae smiled. “Agreed. How’s your research coming along on gender-based issues?”
I set the cup on the corner of her desk as I leaned forward in the chair. “Our initial suspicions were right. The Constitution of Ukraine prohibits gender discrimination, but it’s rampant throughout the employment sector, the education system, and the judicial system. Ukrainian women are abused in one out of every four households. Law enforcement and the judicial system still turn a blind eye to this. Women literally have to die before anyone is prosecuted.”
Shae just shook her head.
I sighed. “Ukraine’s economic problems and high levels of alcoholism aren’t helping any. Even the women who hold PhD’s are finding it impossible to access jobs that will allow them to live independently, so they see no alternative but to remain in these abusive relationships. Spousal and child abuse are considered socially acceptable for the most part. There are very few programs to help victims of domestic violence.”
“I’m so thankful we were born in this country,” Shae replied, looking thoroughly depressed.
I nodded. Although I’d been a victim of domestic violence, I lived in a country where the police were willing to intervene and where I could support myself so I could break out of the abusive relationship.
Shae gave me an inquisitive look. “Do you see any way to incorporate this into our training?”
I sifted through the options before responding. “I don’t see how we can run a simulation on this. No amount of conflict resolution training is going to help these women avoid being hit, but I do think we should incorporate this issue into one of our lectures. We can direct attention to the social and systemic problems that make it difficult to resolve domestic violence. Who knows? Maybe someone in the class will be inspired to make some changes… whether it’s building battered women’s shelters, creating job programs for women, or strengthening laws against domestic violence.”
Shae scratched a few notes along the edge of her desk calendar. “That sounds like a good plan. Cory is mapping the repatriation of the Crimean Tatars and the resulting land rights issues, so we can use that for a simulation. Sammi is still researching the political landscape and Ukraine/Russian relations. We should have enough information gathered to draft an agenda and develop training materials next week. Oh, and the Russian immersion course begins next Monday.”
I reached for my coffee cup and rose from the chair. “Why are we studying Russian when Ukrainian is the official language of Ukraine?”
Shae pulled some lip balm from her purse. “The USDA doesn’t offer immersion courses in the Ukrainian language. Besides, most people in Ukraine speak Russian. Those who speak Ukrainian tend to be fluent in both languages.” She swiped the lip balm across her lips, then tucked it back inside her purse.
Shae leaned back in her chair. “Both universities have asked that we teach in English, to help strengthen their students’ ability to speak the English language. A lot of people speak English in Ukraine, so we may not have to speak much Russian. Still, it’s important to make some effort to speak the language.”
I waved at Sammi as she walked by with a cup of coffee. I glanced back at Shae as the smell of coffee lured me from the door. “I’m going to brew a respectable pot of coffee and get started on those lecture notes. Let me know if you want to join me at Starbucks for lunch.”
Shae’s voice rang down the hall. “You need to see someone about that coffee addiction!”
* * * * * *
I took one step inside my kitchen and froze. A variety of pots were simmering on the stove, and soft jazz was playing from my iPod, which was docked in the speaker that sat on the counter. I set my books and purse on the counter. “Rafael?”
Rafael popped his head out of the sun room and smiled. “You’re home early.”
I grinned. Rafael looked like a kid who’d just gotten caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “Our professor had to attend a staff meeting, so class let out early. What are you up to?”
Rafael closed the distance between us. His eyes sparked as he bent me back in a romantic kiss. “I’m cooking dinner for you.”
I steadied myself against the counter when he finally released me. I inched over to the stove and opened the lid to one of the pots as he busied himself with a bottle of wine. “Broccoli?”
He smiled. “And Chicken Marsala.”
My eyes widened. “Are you going to light it on fire and everything?”
He laughed. “Of course I’m lighting it on fire.” He pulled me against his chest and handed me a glass of wine. He reached for his glass as he offered up a toast. “Saude.”
I tapped my glass against his. “Saude,” I replied. My eyes slid closed as I sampled the wine. I smiled when Rafael’s lips met mine.
Rafael set his wine on the counter. He took my glass and set it next to his. Then he pulled me in for a more thorough kiss. “I missed you today,” he whispered huskily.
My heart tripped against my ribs. I reached up and caressed his cheek. “I missed you too.”
He release
d me as the timer sounded from the stove.
I leaned against the counter. “Are we eating in the sun room?”
Rafael lifted the lid from the large sauté pan. A garlic and mushroom infused steam swirled above the stove. “Yes, but you aren’t allowed to go in there just yet.” He flicked my kitchen lighter a few inches above the pan.
My breath caught as a soft blue flame danced over the pan. I smiled, thoroughly impressed. “Really? Why can’t I go in there?”
He tossed the chicken and mushrooms by gently shaking the pan. The flame faded into the sauce. “It’s a surprise,” Rafael replied as he set the pan on the stove. He picked up the pot of broccoli and three metal trivets and disappeared into the sun room.
I leaned over the Chicken Marsala and inhaled deeply. “God, this smells delicious.”
He snatched the pan away. “Don’t move.”
I lifted the lid on the remaining pot. I reached for a pasta spoon so I could stir the fettuccini noodles. “You’re awfully bossy tonight.”
“Just sit tight,” he growled. He yanked the pasta spoon out of my hand and took off with the noodles.
I reached for my wine. “You serve me coffee in bed and have dinner and wine waiting for me when I get home. I could get used to this,” I warned.
Rafael strode back into the kitchen. “Good. You should get used to this. Now, close your eyes.”
“What?” I squeaked.
He took my glass, covered my eyes with his hand, and gently nudged me toward the sun room.
I stretched my hands out in front of me so I wouldn’t run into the French doors.
“Okay,” he breathed with his lips pressed to my ear. “You can look now.” He slowly removed his hand.
My breath caught as the sun room came into focus. Rafael had strung little white lights across the ceiling of the sun room. He’d also woven them into a number of plants. The lights twinkled softly in the dim light. A silver charger full of thick white candles sat in the middle of the table, which was now draped with a white tablecloth. The table was set with water glasses, silverware, white linen napkins, and black square plates. A single white rose lay across my plate.