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Even without his watch, Alexander, still onand went to wash and smoke, while Tatiana sleepily waited for him, curled into a ball like a warm bun, as if she had just come out of the oven When he jumped into bed, he immediately pressed his ice-cold body into her She yelped and futilely tried to get away "Please, no! That’s just merciless I hope they fine you for that in the army I bet you never did that to Marazov twice"

"I bet you’re right," he replied, "But I don’t have inalienable rights to Marazov You’re o and I’ll turn"

"Tania" whispered Alexander "I don’t need you to turn to me" He continued to press hih of you Until you’ve warmed me from the inside out and the outside in"

After they made love, Tatiana made Alexander breakfast Twelve potato pancakes, and then she sat on the blanket next to hi day warmer than before Alexander ate ravenously She watched hiry How did you survive last winter?"

"How did I survive last winter?"

She gave hi when she scooted closer to him, a breath away, and fed him herself, unable to look away from his face She felt melted before hi the last bite fro you liked?"

Blushing and shaking her head once, she emitted a small excited sound and kissed him on his unshaven cheek "Coo and shave you"

While she was shaving him, she said, "Did I tell you that Axinya offered to fire up the banya touard by the door to make sure no one comes in?"

"Hmm You told me," Alexander replied "I like that Axinya, but you know she’ll be standing at the door to hear us"

"You’ll have to be quieter, then, won’t you?" Tatiana said, wiping the soap off his smooth cheek

"I’ll have to be quieter?"

She blushed, and he s to do today?" Tatiana asked as she finished the other cheek and dried his face "We should go pick some blueberries later, so I canthat log into the water so we can have a place to sit and brush our teeth, and then I’ to build us a table to clean our fish," Alexander replied "You will go to your da circle To your women I won’t be happy"

"I’ll be back in a couple of hours," she told him

"I’ll be happy"

"Your job is to be happy"

"I have only one job here in Lazarevo," Alexander said, catching her around the waist "To make love to my nubile wife"

Tatiana al and not a lot of--"

"How is ood," Alexander replied in English It was late h the dense deciduous riverbank woods a few kilometers from home, with two buckets for blueberries, and they were supposed to be talking only in English, but Tatiana backtracked and said in Russian, "I’, I think John Stuart Mill is siible"

Alexander smiled "That’s a fine distinction" He yanked up a couple oftheround, Tatiana said, "Yes But ill only be able to eat thehed She said, "I have to teach you how to pick round like that"

"I have to teach you how to speak English, Tania," said Alexander

In English, Tatiana continued, "This is lish, Alexander replied with a s wife, Tatiana Metanova" He kissed the top of her braided head and in Russian said, "Tatiana, now say the other words I taught you"

She turned the color of a to thelish

She saw that Alexander couldn’t have been less interested in blueberries "What about later? Will you say them later?" he asked

"Not now, not later," Tatiana replied bravely But she was not looking at hilish, "I will insist that you please ue in bed with lish, "It is good I am not understand what you say todown his bucket

"Later, later," she acquiesced "Now, pick up your backet Collect blueberries"

"All right," he said in English, not letting go of her "And it’s bucket Come on, Tania Say the other words" He held her "Your shyness is an aphrodisiac to me Say theht," in English "Pick up your bucket Let us go house I will practice love with you"

Alexander laughed "Make love to you, Tania Make love to you"

It was a dazzling and peaceful sus Tatiana was by his side

"What?"

She was nudging him

"What? You’re like my tiny shadow Let me finish I have to ?"