Page 19 of Sweet Dreams

Yuri stood near the arrivals gate, a bouquet of sunflowers in one hand and a sign that read "My American Solnyshko" in the other. His dark hair was slightly tousled, his blue eyes bright with anticipation. He was even more handsome in person, if that was possible.

Their eyes met across the terminal. For a moment, time seemed to stand still.

Then Beth was moving, half-walking, half-running towards him. Yuri's face broke into a wide grin as he opened his arms.

She collided with him, breathing in the scent of his cologne. His arms wrapped around her, strong and sure, and her nervessuddenly melted away. This felt right. This felt like coming home.

"Privet, moye solnyshko," Yuri murmured into her hair. "Welcome to Belarus."

Beth pulled back slightly, looking up at him. "Hi," she breathed, suddenly feeling shy.

Yuri's eyes crinkled as he smiled down at her. "Hi yourself. You know, you're even more beautiful in person. I didn't think that was possible."

Beth felt her cheeks warm. "Flatterer. You're not so bad yourself, Mr. Minsk."

They stood there for a moment, just drinking each other in. Then Yuri seemed to remember the flowers. "Oh! These are for you. I hope you like sunflowers."

"They're perfect," Beth said, accepting the bouquet. "Thank you."

As she buried her nose in the flowers, Yuri reached out and tucked a stray curl behind her ear. The simple touch sent a shiver down her spine.

"So," he said, his voice low and warm, "shall we get out of here? If you’re not too jet lagged, I have a whole day planned for us."

Beth nodded eagerly. "Lead the way. I'm running on pure adrenaline and excitement right now."

Yuri chuckled, taking her hand. The warmth of his palm against hers felt electric. "Well then, let's make the most of it. First stop; introducing you to real Belarusian cuisine."

As they made their way out of the airport, Beth couldn't help but notice the appreciative glances Yuri was getting from other women. She felt a mix of pride and possessiveness. This gorgeous man was here with her.

In the taxi, Yuri kept stealing glances at her as if he couldn't quite believe she was real. Beth felt the same way. After weeksof screens and messages, being able to reach out and touch him was almost overwhelming.

"So," Beth said, trying to break the charged silence, "what's on the menu for this culinary adventure?"

Yuri's eyes lit up. "Ah, I thought we'd start with some draniki – potato pancakes. And maybe some machanka, which is a pork stew. Oh, and you have to try our kvass!"

As he enthusiastically described Belarusian cuisine, Beth was captivated not just by his words but also by how his hands moved as he talked, the curve of his lips, and the spark in his eyes.

Suddenly, Yuri paused mid-sentence. "What?" he asked, a slight smirk on his lips. "Do I have something on my face?"

Beth realized she'd been staring. She felt her cheeks heat up. "No, I just... I still can't believe I'm here. With you. It feels like a dream."

Yuri's expression softened. He reached out, cupping her cheek with his hand. "If it's a dream," he said softly, "then I don't ever want to wake up."

The air between them crackled with tension. Beth's eyes flicked to Yuri's lips, then back to his eyes. He was leaning in ever so slowly...

The taxi came to an abrupt stop, jerking them apart. "We're here," the driver announced in heavily accented English.

Beth let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Yuri cleared his throat, looking both frustrated and amused.

"Perfect timing," he muttered, then louder, "Shall we, moye solnyshko?"

As they stepped out onto the snowy streets of Minsk, Beth gasped. The city was a winter wonderland, strings of lights twinkling in the early evening darkness.

"It's beautiful," she breathed.

"Yes, it is," Yuri agreed, but when Beth turned to look at him, he was staring at her, not the scenery.

He held out his hand. "Ready for your first taste of Belarus?"

---