"I'd love to," you reply, rolling out of the bed, wrapping your arms around her. "I'd love to stay with you as long as you'll have me."
Ivana leans in, and you kiss her warmly on the mouth, a long and tender french kiss. Your world spins as an energy envelopes you as your tongues intertwine. Your heart kicks into overdrive, as you feel what you almost think is a heart attack coming on.
Ivana quickly lets you go as the kiss finishes, her own eyes wide with a mix of shock and...fear? Could she possibly have felt that same odd sensation that you just experienced? The look passes from her face mere moments later, and she smiles wistfully at you, an almost sad look on her face. Then, she smiles broadly, brushing away any nagging dark thoughts, saying, "Would you like a glass of wine or brandy before dinner?" Before she sweeps out of the room, the portrait of grace once more.
You follow her into the kitchen, with a reply of, "Brandy, if you don't mind." It's not really that you're a fan of brandy. Truth be told, you've never had the stuff, but you need something to steady your nerves.
She brings you a large crystal snifter filled with brandy, while bringing an equally large glass of red wine for herself. She directs you a seat at the kitchen table, while she sets about fixing a roast. "I'll join you in a minute," she says, "I just need to put a few small touches on the roast I started this morning. I hope you're not averse to meat; I crave it more when the moon grows full."
"No, that's fine," you say, "I'm a fan of the meat...err..I...that didn't come out the way I meant it!"
Ivana laughs, a full laugh. You realize it's the first time that you've heard her really laugh, beyond a polite snicker. She's dropped all of her reserved mannerisms from earlier today. "I know what you mean, mundane one," she says, "I am also a fan of the meat."
"So," she asks, "You know so much about me, and I know so little about you. Tell me about yourself."
"There's not really much to tell," you reply, feeling quite self-conscious. You're sitting here with the last living member of the Romanov dynasty, a woman who has lived nearly 80 years longer than you; nothing you say can compare to the life she's lived.
"I beg to differ. In my life I have met many who say the same as you, yet have much to tell. Please, favor me with your life's details." She asks, glancing over her shoulder at you as she slices carrots and potatoes, throwing them into the roast's tray.
"Umm..well, I'm an only child, my parents got divorced when I was twelve, that was really fun, I gotta say....uhhh...my father was an abusive prick, and now he's dead from cirrosis of the liver. I'm an English major in college, but barely passing because I have to fucking work all the time," you say, drawing an amused glance from Ivana, "Woops!" You say, "Sorry I said 'fucking', that was the brandy talking!"
Ivana slides the roast into the oven, sets a timer, then comes to join you. "I have heard much worse in my time, much of it directed at me. Would you like more brandy?" she asks, gesturing to your mostly-empty glass.
"I'd love some more," you reply, ignoring your already significant buzz.
She obliges, topping off her glass of wine, sliding her chair right next to yours, much as she'd done in the restaurant. "So," she asks, after a slightly awkward moment of the two of you staring deeply into each others' eyes, "You don't have a girlfriend?"
"Nah," you say, "I haven't had much luck with women lately."
"You could have fooled me," she says, "I would think you'd have no problem finding a woman to be with you."
"If I wanted a night of meaningless sex, I can have that just by going to a party on campus. That's not what I want anymore. I want someone for more than just sex. Don't get me wrong," you tell Ivana, slurring your words slightly, "I looooove sex, but it's not something to live for."
Ivana takes a long drink from her glass of wine, then asks, "If I ask you to stay the night with me...to BE with me...would it be meaningless?"
"Never," you respond.
"Will you be with me tonight?" she asks. In the retelling, it sounds less momentous than it was. The weight of the words as she spoke them, you could tell she was uncertain of the answer you'd give. Once more, she was vulnerable to you, regardless of her true power or status in life.
"I'd love nothing more," you reply, and lean in to kiss her once more. Once more your tongues intertwine, and once more the energy fills you. You pull away suddenly, and see the same look on her face as before. "Alright," you say, "just one thing....what the HELL is that?"
Ivana looks uncomfortable, before opening her mouth to speak.