Andrea Bennett - Two Cousins of Azov

‘He is my patient, Polly! I’m not pretending to be a doctor, you know! I’ve been helping him! It’s not like I’m working in a shop!’

She took two steps towards the bed and Vlad pulled the pink sheet up over his torso.

‘What did you say?’ Her bottom lip quivered as her eyes pinned him down. ‘Did you… imply, that I’m just a shop girl?’

Vlad swallowed. ‘No, I didn’t mean that. You made me angry, I—’

‘I thought you believed in me, Vlad! I thought you got it! How could you—’ She took another step towards him.

‘I do! I do believe in you. I love you. It was a stupid thing to say, I’m sorry.’ He sat forward, hands raised in supplication as she stood over him. ‘I was angry. It’s… I just wish you’d stay.’

She turned away, head down, and sank onto the shaggy pink stool by the dressing table. Her breathing slowed and she caught his eye in the mirror.

‘I feel so good now, you know.’ Her tongue flicked over lips, a smile flowering briefly. ‘Don’t make me feel bad. It always feels so good with you. You’re a sexy boy.’

He looked away. She turned to him.

‘Look, I’m sorry I have to go. I’ll stay another time.’

Still he didn’t look at her.

‘Am I the only one, Polly?’

She made a moue and returned her gaze to the mirror. ‘Of course you are! You mean… so much to me. You’re my Vlad! My partner in crime!’ She picked up a compact and dotted powder on her nose. ‘I rely on you. I need you. And I know sometimes I can be a little… sharp. But you know how difficult my life has been—’ She turned to him, face white, eyes intense.

‘I know, I understand—’

‘How can you understand?’ Her voice wobbled as she turned back to the mirror. ‘And it’s all Papasyan’s fault! But I’m changing it, aren’t I? Life can be good, can’t it?’

‘I know, and I’m helping you as much as I can, Polly. You know I am. I’d do anything for you—’

‘And I’m good to you, aren’t I?’ She came over to the bed to lean over him, her fingers gripping his thigh. His eyes followed the movement, the muscles in his leg quivering under her touch. He reached to clasp the hand.

‘You are.’

‘You liked that sweater I gave you, didn’t you?’

‘Yes, but Polly—’

‘It looks so sexy.’

‘You think?’ He smiled into her eyes.

‘And how about the watch? I know you love it: you always wear it.’

‘I do love it.’

‘I bought them for you, didn’t I?’ Her fingers dug into his leg.

‘You did.’

Black eyes stared into his.

‘And I have nothing. I’m clever, you know. And that’s your proof. They’re the best. Really expensive. And they prove that I love you.’

‘Yes.’

She flopped onto the end of the bed and ran her fingers through her hair. The air prickled with the sound of a thousand tiny rips. He reached out a hand. She took it in hers, turned it to her face and licked the palm.

‘You can help me so much, Vlad. You’re brave and caring, and you have such talent: you can ask people anything, and they tell you, because you’re handsome and strong, and they think you’re a doctor.’ Her gaze flicked up as her teeth dug into the pad of his thumb.

‘Yes, but…’

She sucked his fingers one by one, tongue flicking under the nails, up and down the joints. He groaned as his brain emptied.

‘Humour me. Tell me how old crinkle-cheeks is doing, since your miraculous diagnosis. It was quite a story. Has he been sleeping well?’ She was leaning over him now, breath hot on his face, her voice a whisper.

‘I don’t know. I haven’t seen him. I’ve been discussing my report with Dr Spatchkin, and writing bits up.’ Vlad was pushing his hand into her bra and struggled to keep his mind on the words coming out of his mouth as her breast spilled out above him. ‘I heard his nightmares have started up again, and his appetite is patchy.’

‘Ah? So he’s bed-ridden now? Definitely too poorly to go home?’ She straddled him.

He couldn’t believe talking about his patients was turning her on, but was happy to go with it, if that were the case. ‘Well actually…’ her nipple was in his mouth, muffling his voice, ‘I heard Spatchkin gave him crayons… and he’s making progress.’ He attempted to push his other hand down her tights. ‘He’s remembered everything now. So he might go home soon.’

She turned to concrete in his touch, hovering above him.

‘What are you talking about?’

‘He might go home.’

‘He can’t go home!’

‘Why not?’ A puzzled smile creased his face.

‘I… He…’

‘Well?’ He touched her cheek.

‘I took his key!’ she blurted. ‘I mean… I’ve been doing up his flat. For us!’

‘What?’

She gazed down at him.

‘I… that day in your office, when I read his file… I saw he lived alone, in Rostov, and I just… the temptation was too much. We need a love-nest, Vlad!’

‘Well,’ he closed his eyes as he searched for the right words. ‘That’s a sweet idea, Polly, but it’s completely crazy!’

‘I’ve been making it nice for you!’ Her smile curled into a snarl. ‘I’ve been making it ready!’

‘But you can’t do that – it’s not your property!’

‘So what! Why should it be his? He doesn’t need it!’

‘He does! I mean, he will do! And what if Matron finds out?’

She jumped up his body, buttocks thrusting against his neck, pushing his chin up and back. Her face hung above him, eyes stark, lips drawn back in a wild grimace. Nestling down hard, she gripped his head between her thighs until he felt the blood pulsing in his temples. ‘He can’t go home.’ She pronounced each word slowly, as if talking to a particularly stupid child. ‘Do you understand? That’s the whole point! He’s got to stay at the Vim!’ She didn’t blink as she glared into his face. He felt the veins swell under his eyes. ‘Don’t ruin everything, Vlad! Don’t ruin us !’ She released her grip and sat back on his chest.

She was smiling again now. It was not a friendly smile. He had the feeling she might just as easily try to break his neck as kiss him.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said quietly, clearing his throat. ‘I didn’t realise it meant so much to you. You want him to… stay there – in the Vim?’

‘That’s right.’ She kissed the end of his nose, stroked his cheek and then jumped away from the bed to stand giggling before the dressing table, once again running her fingers through her hair. ‘My Vlad, you are so slow!’ She picked up her leather coat from the floor, shrugging her shoulders into it. ‘He doesn’t need that flat. We do! Don’t you want a love-nest?’

He frowned and nodded wordlessly.

‘So, do as I say. It’s easy! I’ll get a spare key cut and return the original. Matron will never know.’

‘Right.’ Vlad rubbed his fingers up and down his frown-line, eyes shut. ‘It’s just… You know – it doesn’t seem right. I think I can help him, Polly—’

She sauntered back to the bed to stand over him, hands on hips.

‘Don’t waste your time, honey. You’ve done enough for him already.’ She smiled and shook her head, then bent to place one finger to his lips, while the other hand cupped his balls. ‘You want to make love in our very own little heaven, don’t you?’ Her hand squeezed. He nodded. ‘And it will be our secret. I won’t tell Matron… if you don’t. You’re in this with me, aren’t you, Vlad? After all, you let me read his file—’

‘I was asleep!’

‘So you were – after we’d made love across Matron’s desk. You know, that won’t look good, if it gets out. You gave me access to his personal effects, after all. You’ve come this far… So just do the paperwork; make sure he doesn’t get discharged. I’ll do the rest. That’s OK, isn’t it?’