First date

I pull clothes out of my wardrobe and throw them on the floor. I'm trying to find something decent to wear for tonight. Viktor said he'll come to pick me up at 6 PM, so I have less than an hour to get ready! I'm getting more and more nervous as the clock ticks.

"Mallory? What's this mess you're creating?!"

"I'm searching for something elegant to wear," I briefly brush off, not looking at her.

"Like what?"

"I don't know, a dress perhaps?"

"What for?"

"I'm going out on a date!"

"A...date?" Mom stares at me with such a concerned look in her eyes. I expect her to flip again and scream some bullshit about me not going.

"Yes, do you have something to say against it?"

"I... With who?!"

"If everything goes well tonight, I might tell you."

"You're not going anywhere." With the corner of my eye, I see her crossing her arms and getting a condescending look on her face. And I don't give a damn.

"Oh, watch me go."

My mother pushes the sliding door of the wardrobe, almost pressing my fingers.

"What the hell?!"

"You're not going anywhere!"

"And what will stop me?" I face her and determination kicks in, possessing my body. Her refusal makes me only more eager to go, even if only to give her a peg or two.

"Me. I'm your mother and if I say you're not going- you're not going."

"I think I made it pretty obvious I will go, no matter your protests." I try to remain calm, but I swear, this woman is testing my patience.

"Mallory, you're not going! Do you know how many girls get kidnapped, raped or even worse?!"

"And why do you think that will happen to me?" I arch an eyebrow and cross my arms on my chest. "I am fucking 18! I can take care of myself! And I can make decisions for myself!"

My mother starts laughing, the wrinkles on her face popping up, making her look older than she is. And it's the kind of devilish laugh that gives you goosebumps.

"So you think that you're 18, you're big? Do you even know the guy?! How old is he? Where is he from?! Who are his parents?"

"Yes, I do know him! We're coworkers!" I strike the first lie that comes to my mind. Of course, I don't know a thing about Viktor. Well, except his name is Viktor. But that wouldn't make my mother leave me in peace, so I have to lie.

"So, you're dating your coworker? What's his name?!"

"Tomas. Any other questions or we are done with the interrogation, Ms Inspector?"

"How old is he?!"

"Twenty-one. He's tall, blond and polite." I keep searching for something to wear, so I can avoid my mother's challenging gaze. It's like she tells me 'You're so dumb to think you'll go', just watching me. 

"Have you had sex already?!"

I choke on her words and face her with such a fear in my eyes. I haven't even seen a male's ... you know. I mean I haven't seen one in real life. But if I have to be honest, my expectations for the first time are quite high. And I blame it on the adult movies I have masturbated on.

I then gulp, as the memory of me almost sleeping with Tom the other day strikes me. What if I really did?

"Mallory!" she gets me out of my thoughts.

"No, no we haven't! I'm a virgin and I'll stay this way because you scared me to death with your talks about how things go between the male and the female!"

Of course, I'm not scared of having sex. Whoever I give my virginity to, I will make sure they will be careful. But my mother talking about sex with me and more specifically, giving me examples of her times with dad disgusted me. I almost threw up and I had the biggest "EW" face you can imagine.

"Mallory, you know you can't do a thing until you marry!"

"Yes, mother I know. But if you don't let me go outside and meet people, I will never be able to marry! Therefore, you'll never have grandchildren."

What I tell my mom makes her stop and think for a while since she remains quiet. I take advantage of these two minutes of silence and distraction and manage to find the red see-through loose shirt I was looking for.

I'll combine it with white jeans and the red heels I bought the other day for the party. Good thing I bought both pairs of shoes, huh?

"Mom, get out. I want to get dressed."

"Oh, come on. I changed your diapers, I won't see a thing I haven't seen already."

"Get out."

"Why do you keep believing you'll go to that date?"

"Because you can't stop me? Now go away."

"I won't move a step further."

"Fine, fine." I untie my robe and start getting dressed. I put on the shirt, then tug it under my white jeans, letting the fabric fall loosely over the belt. I brush my hair, spray some perfume and look at myself in the mirror. I look decent. Or at least I hope so. I have no time for makeup.

"Mallory, you're not going anywhere!" My mother keeps stomping with her foot and blocking the door, but I bump her with my shoulder and force my way out of the room.

 "Mallory!" she grabs me by my wrist, as I'm heading to the hall, so I can put on the shoes and leave.

"Don't fucking touch me!"

Then she purses her lips and slaps me! She has never laid a finger on me and now she slaps me!

I touch the place where she just left her palm mark and I feel the skin is burning. Tears well up in my eyes, so I just grab my shoes in one hand and my purse in the other and storm out. 

And this time I don't hear my mother calling after me. I only hear a quiet click of the closing door as I run down the stairs. I saw the deep regret in her eyes the moment she slapped me. But I don't care. She hurt me.

                          ***

"Heeey little... um, Mal- Mallory."

"Hello." I hop inside the dark-silver Mercedes and sigh. Viktor was waiting for me down the street, out of my mother's sigh and for one thing I'm glad. Well, if I can be glad. I'm glad for her leaving her hand-print on my right cheek, so there will be some time to fade out before Viktor can see me.

"Mallory, you look... erm, beautiful?"

"Was this a question or a real compliment?" I snap back at him, as my mind is a complete mess right now and am not in the mood for anything. I'm both annoyed, sad, angry. Whatever bad feeling you can think of, I am.

"Well, I didn't expect you to put on jeans, but..."

From the corner of my eye, I see Viktor awkwardly scratching the back of his neck, while he's deep-checking me up and down.

"I can leave if you don't like it," I threaten him but can I really? Where will I go?

"No, no! Okay, let's start again. Mallory, you look fascinating."

"Thanks," I scoff and cross my arms, at which Viktor only sighs and starts the engine.

                                ***

"We drive for over an hour, where are we going?"

"Patience, Mallory."

And yeah, we're driving for over an hour! I keep shifting in my seat, as my butt became itchy from sitting for so long. I'm pretty convinced we left Long Beach thirty minutes ago.

Now that some time passed, my annoyance was replaced with nervousness and my sadness- with curiosity. Viktor tries to pick up something to talk about, but I can openly say I'm currently not the best company.

"You know, there's nothing to worry about. I won't hurt you."

"How can I be sure you're not kidnapping me right now?"

"You can't," he laughs and although the joke is kind of inappropriate, it makes me chuckle. It feels weird.

"We're almost there."

"Where is there, though?"

"You will see, just wait a little more."

"Now I'm pretty sure you kidnapped me." I finally face him, after I spent most of the ride with eyes focused straight before me. And he looks back at me. 

His dark eyes flash under the light, the setting down sun enlightens his face, his chiselled jaw pops up even more, as his lips are still spread in half a smile. The naughty string of curly shiny-black hair is again falling on his forehead, just right to his thick eyebrow.

I let my eyes travel down on him. Dark blue shirt carefully tugged under his tight pants and a leather belt is making sure the shirt will stay in its place. 

From what he's driving and wearing I judge he's rich. Maybe far more than I think.

"You've never told me what you're working?"

"Why are you so interested in knowing?"

"Because I don't know a thing about you."

"That's not true. You know my name and that I like you. And if we must be precise, I don't know much about you too."

"Still, you know more about me than I about you."

"Okay, what do you want to know?"

"Let's start with where you were born."

"Here, in California."

"Then where is that unusual family name coming from?"

"Hey, it's not unusual!" he scoffs.

"Okay, it's not often used here."

"Well, I'm half Italian."

"That explains a lot," I note.

"What does it explain?"

"Your looks, for starters. You're not the typical American guy," I say and let my eyes slide down on him once more.

"And? What else?" he faces me with curiosity and half a smirk.

"What else, what else... It explains where your money comes from. I bet you're coming from a family of pizza makers."

I hear a loud gulp and see Viktor's furrowed brows, then he relaxes and finally chuckles, "Pizza makers, yeah."

"Will you make me a pizza sometimes?" I ask, almost naively. Then I realise I just asked to see him again. Oh, God.

"Sure." Viktor takes a look at me, then places his big palm on my thigh and a shiver goes down my spine. It's like an electrical wave passes through my body. I can't explain it. Just his touch makes me shiver in excitement. "Aand we're here!"

We pull outside in front of a huge restaurant and judging by the light blue lettering on top of the entrance door, it's an Italian one. The irony.

Viktor gets out of the car and as I reach to open my door, he's already on my side and is opening the door for me.

"May I?" he offers me a hand and I take it, then get out of the Mercedes and stretch my legs.

"Let's go."

                              ***

"Mr Russo, we were awaiting you." A polite man in a black suit greets us and gestures to come in and follow him to a table.

"This is your table. A waiter will come in a moment."

The ageing host, Markus as it came clear, excuses himself and leaves and I look around myself.

The restaurant is big enough to host a football game, it even has its own orchestra playing low classical music. Each table is covered in snow-white clothing and is placed at an acceptable distance from the next one, allowing every guest to have their own seclusion.

The main colours are a few shades of blue- darker and lighter, and white. Big crystal clear windows separate the room from the balcony and it's exactly where we were seated. Next to the balcony. 

"Do you like it?"

"It's awesome!" I squeak excitedly like a kid in a candy shop.

"Good evening! I'm Terrance and will be your waiter tonight. Here are our menus and I'll be back in ten minutes!" A seemingly nervous young man stands next to us, slides two menus on the table and hurries to leave. I feel him.

"Jesus Christ! What's wrong with the prices?! Or am I seeing double?!"

Viktor only chuckles and watches me questionably. I'm in total shock with the prices. It won't be a payment, it'll be a robbery!

"Viktor, I can't afford to eat here!" I close the menu and put it back on the table. I won't be surprised if they charge for just checking it.

Well, it looks like my obvious surprise is a joke of some kind, because Viktor's thunderous laugh rings, muffling the orchestra's music.

"What's so funny?"

"Why do you think I'll make you pay?"

"Well, even if I don't, I can't make you pay such a ridiculously big amount."

"And why is that? I invited you, it's my thing to bother with."

"A bottle of water is six dollars," I whisper, hiding my mouth with the menu, in case a waiter sees me complaining.

"Are you ready to order?" Terrance is back, unknowingly to me how he sneaked next to the table without me seeing him.

"Yes, I would like to get Antipasto Salad with Bocconcini and Green-Olive Tapenade, Ossobuco for later and a bottle of Chardonnay."

"Excellent choice, Mr Russo. And what will it be for the lovely lady?"

I stare with my jaw dropped to the floor. Viktor just made an ordinary order sound so sexy. Well, ordinary is the wrong word for it, as he just ordered two dishes worth my weekly salary, but you get me.

"Mallory?"

"Uh?"

"What would you like to get?"

"Erm..." I scratch my arm as I remember the fortune everything costs.

"Would you like me to suggest you a dish?"

"N-no. I'll take... erm... risotto?"

"Excellent! We have just the perfect seafood risotto!" Terrance claps with hands.

"No, no! Vegetarian. With mushrooms."

"Noted. And for a dessert? We have absolutely wonderful tiramisu with fresh strawberries!"

"Perfect, we'll get two!" Viktor announces. "Sooo, you're a vegetarian?" the man who is supposed to be my date waits for the waiter to leave and starts a talk.

"Mhm," I nod.

"And you don't eat any kind of meat?" he puts his index finger on his lower lip in a surprised look and I relax in my seat. Finally, for the first time tonight.

"Mm nope, I don't put any kind of meat in my mouth."

"We'll see that," Viktor chuckles and winks. For a moment I'm confused, then I get the joke and cough.

"Chardonnay," the waiter brings a bottle of wine and pours some in our glasses. "Enjoy."

"Let's have a toast," Viktor offers, raising the wine glass.

"A... toast?!"

"Yes, a toast."

"What for?"

"For you, accepting my date invitation."

I don't say anything, just clink my glass with his and take a sip of the drink.

"How do you know this place?" I continue with the questions.

"I know the owner."

"Ugh, seriously?" I roll my eyes. Is there a person he doesn't know?

"What's up with the questions?"

"I just want to get to know you better, I guess," I shrug.

"Hmmm, alright. Let's play a game. We'll ask each other one question at a time and we'll have to answer honestly."

"How would I know if you're lying?"

"I promise."

"Hmm, okay. What do you do for a living?"

"I do a lot of things," he leans back in his seat.

"And more specifically?" I arch an eyebrow and cross my arms, unsatisfied with the fact he avoids my question.

"That's a second question."

"And yours wasn't an answer," I counter him.

"How many men you were with?"

My eyes widen from his question. Then again the memory of my morning with Tom makes me uncomfortable in my seat.

"As with being in a relationship or..?"

"No, as with how many sexual partners you had," he asks, absolutely casually, as if he's asking if I eat white or wholegrain bread, that kind of casually.

"One Antipasto Salad with Bocconcini and Green-Olive Tapenade and one vegetarian risotto," the waiter startles me as I was fully focused on my hands, lying in my lap.

"Thank you."

The waiter nods and leaves.

"Well?" Viktor brings back the question.

"Um... none," I shyly whisper, intimidated by his question, his staring gaze, the fact I'm still a virgin and the high possibility of the waiter hearing Viktor's question.

"Wonderful." On the contrary of my expectation of Viktor's reaction hearing my confession, he claps with hands and a wide grin spreads across his face. "It's your turn," he says while taking the fork and digging it into the salad.

My cheeks start burning and my palms get cold sweating. I feel so embarrassed.

"Um... What do you do for a living? But honest and concrete answer!"

"I'm a businessman," he only indifferently notes while holding the crystal glass, then takes a sip of the wine.

"Still not a satisfying answer," I roll my eyes again.

"How come you're still a virgin?"

I cough. Why is he so persistent about my sexual life?! Or more like, the absence of such. 

"If you haven't noticed, I'm shy and not really talkative. And I'm not amongst the most beautiful girls in my school. I'm just insignificant, I guess," I blurt out everything and finally try my risotto.

Damn it, it's worth the money. I'm pretty sure I can hear my receptors singing.

"Hmmm," Viktor cocks an eyebrow, "I can argue with you about that."

"You can, but you can't convince me otherwise," I point to him with my fork.

"We'll see that." Another wink of his! The way he's looking at me makes it hard for me to chew, swallow or do anything at all. He leans back on the chair and the sight just finishes me. It's either he grew sexier in the span of a few hours or I had enough wine. Or both.

"How many women you were with?"

"Why do you need to know?"

"That's a question, not an answer."

He rolls his eyes and I chuckle. Well, I actually don't want to know, but I thought this question will make him at least half-embarrassed I was.

"Soo?"

"Enough," he offers me bullshit and a shrug!

"This is not an answer!" I stomp my foot.

"Fine, let's just say they're over ten. Is the answer good enough?"

"Hmph," I grumble.

"How do you envision your first time?" he crosses his legs and locks his fingers on top of his knee. I gulp thirstily from the view. 

"I... I don't know. Maybe slow and sweet? You know, like in movies," I look away, shame burning my cheeks.

"The vanilla type, huh? We'll see."

"Uh? What?" I furrow my brows.

"Nothing, nothing," a devious smile dances on his lips.

"Why are you so interested in my sexual life?" 

"Personal purposes."

"Ugh, whatever!" I scoff as I give up, he avoids any question of mine!

We spend maybe two hours in the restaurant, chatting and asking each other questions. Yes, he kept asking things regarding my taste and preferences. The waiter just brought us the dessert, maybe five minutes ago and I'm attacking it like a maniac.

"Can you excuse me for a moment?"

I nod at Viktor's question and he gets outside on the balcony, talking on the phone. Whatever the reason for his talk is, must be intensive, because I see him angrily gesticulating in the air.

In the meantime, I decide to text Tom and tell him about my lie. In case my mother pops up at work or something.

"Hey, Tom. I'm sorry for the other day."

"Hey, Mal..." Tom answers immediately, as if he was on the phone, waiting for my message.

"Just know I lied to my mother I'm seeing you."

"And why is that?"

"Well, you don't really expect me to tell her I'm going out with Viktor, do you?"

I see Tom typing something but I'm interrupted by Viktor taking his place.

"Is everything alright?" I ask, a little bit too curious than I should.

"Yeah, who were you texting?" he cuts coldly.

"Um, a friend."

"Okay, are you ready to go?"

"Yes, but how will you drive when we drank almost a bottle?!"

"Who said I'll drive?"

Viktor chuckles then gets up and offer me a hand. These gestures of him are so weird to me. As if we're old school.

I take his hand and he leads the way.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

                                   *** 

"Yo-you... this is a... are we..?" I stutter after realising where I am. It looks like a hotel room, except there's no hotel. 

We walked through some secret door behind the restaurant's bar and I found myself in a dark hallway with a few doors. It almost feels like walking through the door to Narnia.

Viktor got a key out of his pocket and unlocked door No.8, as it was shown by the little plate on it. And here are we now. In a secret hotel room.

"Wh-what are we doing here?"

"What do you think?" he snakes a hand on my waist from behind me, pulling me closer to him.

"No, no... I-I don't think it's a good idea."

"But why?"

Viktor moves his hand from my waist to my neck, tracing a gentle line with his fingers on my skin, then swipes my hair on my left side. "I'll be gentle, I promise," he whispers in my ear and that in a combination with his touch makes my body shiver.

I swirl around to face him but find myself way too close to him.

"I... I don't know," I stutter.

But he doesn't answer me, instead, he presses his lips to mine and I open my mouth in silent access, which forms a smirk on his face because I can feel it.

We kiss for a while, the kiss itself getting deeper and deeper. Viktor places his both hands on my butt and pulls me closer to him, making sure that I can feel his erection. I feel hot, my skin is burning and with every second passing, I feel more and more sure in doing this.

Suddenly Viktor lifts me and lets me lie on the bed, while he starts kissing my neck. I feel overwhelmed, nervous and awkward as fuck.

"You don't need this, do you?" he unbuttons my jeans and I cover my face with hands in an attempt to hide my embarrassment.

I help him take off my jeans, then he makes sure my shirt disappears and as I peek through my fingers, I see him having a moment of enjoyment. He stares down at me and a lascivious smile dances on his face.

Viktor hurries to go back to kissing me, swiping aside the straps of my bra and pulling the cups down, so my tits get out.

"You have just the perfect breasts," Viktor places his both hands on my breasts as if measuring how big they're. Then he leans down and sucks my left nipple, which makes it harden and I let a quiet moan.

Then he makes his way down on me, pulling my panties down and nestling his face between my spread legs. I reach the top of the embarrassment when he starts circling my clit with his tongue. I imagined this moment many times, but it's still awkward. The feeling is weird, yet good. I dig my nails in his curly head and toss my head back, enjoying the moment.

Viktor continues like this for a few minutes, then stops and I shyly open my eyes, only to see him undressing. That I thought he's well-built and sexy is a misunderstanding. He's a damned God. 

Every single muscle of his is twitching as he moves. The sight of him undressing is priceless. It's like a sculptor created him out of rocks. 

Now naked, he leans over and kisses me, rubbing himself on me. Please God, have mercy on me.

"Are you ready?" he asks me, still rubbing himself on me.

I only nod in awaiting. Will it be good? Will it hurt? Will I scream out of pleasure like in that-kind-of-movies?

"Holy fuck!" I indeed scream, but not out of pleasure. As Viktor finally enters me, I feel a light pain and once he pushes a little harder, something tears up in me, causing one of the greatest pains I have felt in my life! Then half inside me, he stops.

"Are you alright?"

"N-no. Yeah. I... Just continue."

He crashes his lips on mine and starts kissing me, muting my moaning, while starting to slowly thrust inside me.

I don't know how long this lasts, it feels like it's been an age, but I am nowhere close to feeling any kind of pleasure, so I stop Viktor.

"What's the matter?"

"It hurts, way too much."

Viktor pulls out and I hop on the bed and to the bathroom.

"Don't... do that."

I wash with cool water and try to digest what just happened. I lost my fucking virginity. I feel so overwhelmed and dizzy. It seems surreal, but the stinging feeling between my legs is there to remind me that whatever happened, really happened.

"Hey, are you alright?"

I hear Viktor's rough voice behind the door, followed by a knock.

"Yeah, I'll come in a minute."

I check myself again. A drop of blood streams down my thigh and I wash it too. Great.

I turn off the water and dry myself with one of the shiny white towels hanging on the door. What a mistake, I stain it with blood too.

I wrap the towel around myself and go back to the bedroom, only to find Viktor, in his full naked glory smoking a cigarette. I didn't know he smokes, but the view is so seducing. 

"Can I have one? I forgot mine in the car."

"Sure." Viktor points me to the box of cigarettes lying on the desk and I take one, then walk next to him and he lights my cigarette.

"So you're not that innocent, huh?" he says, exhaling the cancer air.

"What do you mean?"

"You have your sin, you're smoking."

"Ah well, I guess yes then."

Knock-knock.

"What the fuck? Who can it be?"

"I ordered another pair of bedsheets."

"And why is that?"

"Well, look for yourself." Viktor points me to the bed and as I get closer I see bloodstains. This starts to look more and more like a murder scene and less like sex.

"Alright, I get it." And since I'm the one with something put on, I go to open the door.

"Thanks for the--"

"Mallory?!"

"N-no." I grab the bedsheets from the girl's hands, almost forcing her to give them to me and slam the door.

I walk back slowly, shocked. Unbelievable. Just great.

"Hey? Is everything alright?"

"Huh?"

"You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I... A classmate of mine saw me here. I knew she's not from Long Beach, but what's the chance to see her here?!"

"And so what?" Viktor takes a step closer to me.

"And so what? And so what?! I'll be this year's hot gossip! She'll turn my life into a living hell!"

"Hey, hey, hey. Calm down!" he's now next to me and offering me a hug.

"Don't tell me to calm down!" I shout in his face. Pure fear gets over me, fastly popping my little balloon.

Someone saw me here with him.

"Mal, calm down. I can guarantee you no one will know about this."

"No, you don't understand!"

"Then explain it to me. Come on, breathe and try to relax."

"You just don't understand," I whisper while sitting on the bed before I collapse.

"But why? Why is it such a problem for people to understand you have a sex life?"

"That's not the problem," I whisper again. I keep my voice low, quiet, scared. Afraid that she will hear me.

"Then what is it?"

"I can see it already. 'Mallory, the hotel-room whore.' Oh God, oh dear God..." I start crying and choking, gasping for air, with face buried in my hands.

"No, no. Don't cry, please." Viktor sits next to me and invites me into his embrace. I accept the invitation and nestle in his arms, the sweet scent of his cologne fills my nostrils.

"There we go. Now tell me what's the problem."

"The problem is I'm in a hidden room, used obviously for what. And not only that but with an older man."

"Hey! I'm not that old."

"Yeah, and how old you are?"

"Twenty-eight."

I jump back, leaving his hug as if hot water was poured on me. He's 28. Oh, God. Oh dear God. What did I do...

"Mallory? What's the matter?"

I jump from the bed and start collecting my clothes. I have to get out of here.

"Mallory! What are you doing?!"

"I'm leaving!" I find my panties and jump inside them, then I put on the bra and my shirt.

"But... why?" the concerned tone in Viktor's voice makes me stop and look at him. Jesus, how can one be so alluring and disgusting at the same time?!

"Why? You ask why?! I can be your kid, Jesus!"

"Well, that is actually not true. We have only ten years difference."

"Only ten years?! What kind of sicko you're?!"

"Mallory, listen to me."

"No! I'm leaving!"

"And where will you go?! We're two hours away from Long Beach!"

His raised tone and question make me realize he's right. I have no goddamn idea where the fuck we are, nor I have transportation to Long Beach. Wonderful.

"Mallory, there's nothing wrong with what we did. You're an adult, I'm an adult and we both wanted it. What's the problem?"

I sit back on the bed and bury my face in my hands. Practically, he's correct, but still, it feels wrong.

"If you want, I'll drive you back home. But I don't see what's the problem in this situation."

"N-no. I need water."

The thought of him driving after drinking half a bottle scares me. My father was an Emergency room doctor and I grew up with stories of drunk driving going wrong. Fatally wrong. 

"Here," Viktor passes me a bottle of cold water and I take it, drinking it in one breath.

"Are you better now?"

"I guess so."

I realise the damage is done and I can't do much about it, neither I have where to spend the night, so I undress again and lie in the bed with face to the wall, snuggling in the covers.

"So... you'll stay?"

"Mhm," I whisper.

I feel the mattress bending under his weight as he lies behind me, then a big arm embraces me, pulling me closer to his ripped warm body.

"I promise you, not a single word for us will get out of here," Viktor finishes by placing a gentle kiss on my bare shoulder and I hug tighter in his arms. 

Well, maybe it won't be so bad after all.