1. An American Swallow


    Date: 8/27/2015, Categories: Historical, Author: VirgoGo, Rating: , Source: LushStories

    for dramatic effect – “Rrrrrrussian” - and smiled as he inched his chair closer to mine. “What are you drinking? I want one too.” He waved at the bartender and pointed at my glass. “Sir, please prepare one of these for me.” “It’s an Old Fashioned, made with bourbon. Are you sure you want one? --I only ordered it because I didn’t recognize anything else on the menu, and I thought it would be safe. Don’t you Rrrrrrussians prefer vodka?” “Safe? Who looks for safety in a lounge!” Dimitri laughed, picked up my drink and gave it a sniff. “Are some of these cocktails dangerous? I don’t want vodka today. Too safe. Too familiar. I want something new.” “New is good. I like new too! I just don’t want to fall off my stool, and this is stronger than I realized. I’m actually waiting for a girlfriend, and she is thirty minutes late. I think she stood me up!” I pointed showily at my drink. “If I have one more of these, I could be in trouble.” Earlier, I had told the bartender to dilute the bourbon. “There will be no trouble with me. I will keep you safe. I am an army officer. If anyone dangerous comes in here, I will kill them!” The bartender brought over the Old Fashioned, and Dimitri threw it back, like it was water. Or maybe, since he was Rrrrussian , like it was vodka. “See? Perfectly safe! Sir, another round.” Dimitri took my hand again, and held it to his lips while I got redder and redder. “What is your name, my darling? We have been drinking, but we have not been introduced.” I ...
    looked down. I wasn’t exaggerating my coyness. There was an intensity to him that was unfamiliar and that I could only consume in small doses. “Oh…My name is Emily Peterson.” I looked into his eyes, smiled, and then looked away. “It is a pleasure to meet you, beautiful Miss Peterson. I am Dimitri Polunin.” He gave a little bow, but never released my hand. “What brings you to Washington, Emily? May I call you Emily?” I nodded, and only half looked up. “I’m here on a summer program with Bryn Mawr. I’m volunteering at the White House.” He was staring at me again. I retrieved my hand, and clasped it primly in my lap. “I don’t do anything important, unfortunately. I fetch coffee. I carry files. But it’s so exciting to be close to the President and Mrs. Kennedy. She’s sooooo beautiful.” I leaned in conspiratorially. “We’re all trying to dress like her. She is so chic!” I smoothed my dress a bit, spreading its full skirt over my seat at the bar. “Ah, yes. Mrs. Kennedy is beautiful. But you are stunning, Miss Emily. If you were mine, I would worship you!” My eyes opened wide. No one had ever spoken to me this way. With both Edward and Walter, I had felt savvy and sure. This Russian had turned me into a blushing schoolgirl. I turned to Dimitri and whispered, “How would you do that?” He whispered back, “I cannot tell. I must show. Come.” He deposited a ten dollar bill on the bar, took my hand and helped me down off the seat. He then placed his left hand on my lower back to guide me out of ...
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