Tatiana and Alexander: A Novel(84)

It was their third morning as husband and wife. They got up, washed, drank and were now deeply ensconced under the birch.

"Shura, darling, I can't believe you're my husband. Myhusband. "

"Mmm."

"Shura, my husband forlife. " Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

"Mmm." His hands were caressing her thighs.

"Do you know what that means? You've sworn to make love only to me for life."

"I'lltake that job."

"Do you know I read that in some African cultures I get to have your liver as a sign of your love for me." She giggled.

"You can take my liver, Tatia, but I won't be much good to you afterward. Maybe you should make love to me first."

"Shura, wait."

"No. Take your dress off. Take it all off."

She obliged.

"Now sit on top of me."

"But you're completely dressed!"

"Just sit on top of me." He gazed at her hungrily. Tatiana had a beautiful body. And Alexander had seen them all. Lithe, smooth, cr?me, from her clavicles to her carpals, Tatiana was formed to fit Alexander's desire. Everything he liked in a woman's body, his tiny maiden wife unsparingly had. She had a small waist and rounded hips, she had soft thighs and lush breasts. She had the gift of silk and velvet from her golden hair to the soles of her feet and all within her. Alexander's breath was short. He opened his arms.

Tatiana straddled him. "Like this?"

"This is good," he said, his hands over her, groaning at the feel of her. Tatiana lifted herself up to let him kiss her warm breasts. His hands grasped her hips. He closed his eyes. "Tania, do you know that in Ethiopia a woman, to make herself more attractive to her new husband, makes a series of cuts on her torso and then rubs ash into them to raise them into scars?"

Sitting back down on him, Tatiana stared at him. "You would find this attractive?"

"Not particularly." Alexander smiled. "It's thesacrifice that appeals to me."

"I'll show you, sacrifice. I think it's in the same Ethiopia," she said, "that the women get shaved from the neck down."

"Mmm."

"Doesthat appeal to you?"

He was pressing her body into himself and licking her lips. "Let's just say it doesn't not appeal to me."

"Shura!"

"What? You know in some African cultures the women are not allowed to speak to their husbands Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

unless they're spoken to first?"

"Yes, and in others, they can flirt with both the husband and his cousin and both men can share the marriage bed if the woman so desires. How doesthat strike you?" She went on without letting him respond. "And in some, I keep myself completely covered in a, in a--what is that thing called..."

"A black box," Alexander said, smiling.

"No, the real name."

"A burka."

"Yes! A burka. I keep myself covered with a burka from head to toe my entire life, but at the beginning of the marriage you have to lift the burka off my face and I have to reach up and help you, and the one whose hand is on top gets to be the boss in the marriage." She laughed infectiously. "Which one of those appeals to you, husband?"

He couldn't speak for a moment as she continued to kiss him to end all wars. "Well, first of all," he said hoarsely, "my father's sister had no children, so the cousin thing is out. And yes, I would like for you to wear a black box so no one else can lay their eyes on you. And to address your third point, I find it hard to imagine a tadpole like you being the boss of anything."

"Imagine away, soldier," Tatiana said bravely. Her fire lips consumed him.

It was time for him to get undressed. But he couldn't move. Her knees were against his ribs, her arms were holding his head, and her lips were ravishing his mouth.

Alexander groaned. "In Barrington, do you know what we did? It wasn't Africa, but we cut our palms and pressed our blood together to say we were going to be friends for life."

"If youwant we can press our palms together, but in Russia, when we want to reaffirm marriage, we just have a baby." She bit his neck.

"I tell you what," said Alexander. "Let me up, and we'll see what we can do to reaffirm our marriage." Not only did she not move off him, but she held him tighter. "Tania..." he said. Nothing from her except her lips. He was feeling weaker by degrees.

"A minute ago, I was a tadpole," she whispered. "Now suddenly you can't move me off you."

He didn't just move her off him. Holding her with one hand, he jumped up off the ground into a standing position while continuing to hold her. "You, my dear," Alexander said, "are lighter than all of my gear and my weapons and the mortar that I carry." With his free hand he unzipped his trousers.

"Where is that mortar that you carry," Tatiana said huskily, her lips at his neck.

Time, time, time. Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

They were walking back to the cabin. Alexander's blueberry bucket was half full. Tania's was flowing over. "I don't know how you're going to survive in the wilderness," she said.