Page 48 of You + Me – Against the World

He’s just half-admitted that he isn’t quite the same when he’s with me, and I can’t believe it.

“Anyway, I have something for you. And it doesn’t get much more romantic than this…”

“Stop, you’re scaring me.”

“I’m guessing you’ve already owned every expensive perfume in the world, or that you could have any one you wanted, at least. But this one is kind of special.”

He places a small package on the table, next to my hand. I take it and gently unwrap the packaging, as if it’s the most precious thing I’d ever touched. The small, golden bottle inside fits in my palm. I uncap it and smile as the scent fills my nose.

“It’s orange blossom essence. Your favorite scent, right?”

It is.

“It smells so good,” I sigh, after dabbing a drop behind my ear. “Thank you. I… I don’t know what to say.”

“Then I’ll settle for a kiss…”

He offers me his cheek. I bring my lips close to his soft skin, but at the last moment, Vadim turns his head and captures my mouth. Surprised, I pull away. He smiles, waits for me to come back, then places his hand behind the nape of my neck, so he can kiss me better. This kiss… I think I’ve been waiting for it ever since we arrived here. His tongue tastes sweet, and he uses it to caress mine until I feel dizzy.

“You ready to go, Chanel?”

“Call me that one more time, and I’ll set your hunk-of-junk pickup on fire, Arcadi.”

“Then do something for me.”

“What do you want?”

He scans the dining room, and a spark of defiance lights up his gray eyes.

“Vadim…”

“How about we dine and dash?” he whispers softly, moving closer to me.

“No! No way! We’re not fucking thieves!”

“C’mon, I dare you, Lancaster.”

His bright eyes flash, challenging me. I feel like I’m playing for my life. Say no, and I lose him. Give up this new freedom he’s offering me. I hate the idea of being so easily influenced, but saying no to him isn’t an option. Excitement starts to take hold of me.

“How would we do it?” I whisper to him. “I’ve never done anything like this before!”

“On three, we go. You get up quietly and walk toward the door as if we just paid the check. You don’t look at anyone, you don’t talk to me, and you don’t look back. I’ll be right behind you.”

“And then?”

“You’ll see.”

Right, I’ll see.

“Ready? One, two, three…”

I follow his instructions. My stomach is in knots, my heart racing… but I feel alive.

When we step outside the restaurant, Vadim grabs my hand and yells, “Run, Alma, run! As fast as you can! Run! Don’t stop!”

Hand in hand, we sprint down the sidewalk at full speed, laughing like crazy. I feel an adrenaline rush, a surge of love, something I’ve never felt before.

In our mad dash, we end up heading toward my place.