the forbidden romance of the norm

"Okay," Anya said, a playful glint in her eyes, "now you owe me compensation for making me mad."

Dimitri grinned, already knowing what to do. They found a traditional restaurant, a bustling place filled with the aroma of spices.

"The food here is delicious, but it can be quite spicy," Dimitri warned. "Be careful with the mashed potatoes and other dishes. Let me know if anything is too hot for you."

Anya's eyes sparkled with challenge. "Spicy food? You think I'm like those other foreigners who can't handle spice? I can eat anything you can!"

Dimitri raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Really? I'll have to see about that."

Dimitri, accepting Anya's challenge, ordered a selection of the spiciest dishes on the menu, intending to test her tolerance. Initially, Anya didn't take the challenge too seriously, but as the food arrived, she realized just how fiery it was. Dimitri, whose tolerance for spice was legendary, ate effortlessly, while Anya struggled.

"This is spicier than I expected!" Anya exclaimed, her eyes watering slightly. "I can barely handle it!"

Dimitri smiled. "I thought you might cry," he said, "but you're doing remarkably well."

Anya, surprised by her own resilience, felt a touch of shame at not being able to handle the spice as well as Dimitri. "I thought I'd be able to eat it all," she confessed. "I'm so embarrassed."

Dimitri reassured her. "It's alright," he said gently. "It's not a competition. How do you like the food, aside from the spice?"

Anya considered this. "It lacks a certain depth of flavor, but the dishes are surprisingly good," she admitted.

They then went to a small stall selling sugarcane juice. Dimitri ordered two glasses, drinking one himself and handing the other to Anya.

"This is sugarcane juice," he explained. "It's sweet and refreshing, and it'll help with the spice."

Anya gratefully took a sip. "Mmm, it's delicious," she murmured. "Sweet and cold—perfect for this hot weather."

"Actually," Dimitri said, looking at the beach, "I think we should skip the beach for now. The sunset here is spectacular; let's watch it together from here. Afterward, we can visit some of the local tribes and see their traditional dress and way of life. There's a theme park built around this concept. Then, before heading to Dhaka for my qualifying match, we'll visit Sajek—a beautiful hilltop area near Chittagong. Get ready; we'll be doing a lot of traveling today."

"A hilltop resort?" Anya asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Tell me more! Is it like a luxury resort?"

Dimitri grinned. "It's a bit more rustic than a luxury resort, but it has breathtaking views. After that, we'll explore some local markets. I've already booked a local taxi for us."

"Good," Anya said, "I want to experience the traditional Bangladeshi lifestyle—the markets, the way of life… everything! I love the simplicity of this culture. It's simpler than most places, and I truly appreciate that."

Anya and Dimitri journeyed to a local tribal village. The villagers greeted them with warm smiles and open arms, showcasing their unique lifestyle, songs, and traditions. Dimitri bought some traditional clothing for Anya, and she eagerly donned the vibrant garments. The entire experience was new and refreshing for her, a fact Dimitri noted with quiet satisfaction, his gaze lingering on her joyful expression. He was simply overjoyed by her happiness.

Later, Anya said, "You know, you're a surprisingly good tour guide. And your Bangla is fluent! How many languages do you speak besides Bangla and English? I never knew you were multilingual!"

Dimitri laughed. "That's a bit off-topic, but I can comfortably speak six languages: Bangla, English, Hindi, Arabic, Japanese, and Korean."

Anya was genuinely shocked. She hadn't realized the extent of Dimitri's linguistic abilities, and she admired his talent for language acquisition.

"Learning languages," Dimitri explained, "was a passion of mine. I've always been fascinated by different cultures and traditions, particularly those of my own country."

"I can see that," Anya replied, still impressed.

They returned to their hotel and had dinner.

After dinner, Anya and Dimitri returned to their hotel room. Anya, after a moment of hesitation, spoke softly. "Dimitri," she began, "can we… can we go beyond cuddling? I feel… I'm not sure how to explain it. I'm not young anymore, and I haven't been intimate with anyone before. I want something more than just cuddling."

Dimitri chuckled at her slightly awkward phrasing. "Well, you're certainly amusing," he said, his voice warm and reassuring. "But anything you wish, my dear, is entirely possible.""Oh, really?" Anya whispered, a playful smile touching her lips. "Then let's make this a night neither of us will forget."

Dimitri's smile mirrored hers. "Are you sure you're prepared for this, my dear?" he asked, his voice low and tender.

Anya's eyes sparkled with mischief. "I've brought everything we need," she replied. "But I'm not sure your stamina will be enough."

Dimitri laughed, a deep, warm sound. "You're something else," he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Don't underestimate my stamina. I run for ninety minutes straight on a football pitch—two forty-five-minute halves, and I haven't even started to get tired. So don't you dare question my abilities. I'm rather excellent at this."

As the sun rose, casting a warm glow across the room, Anya sighed contentedly. "Wow," she murmured, "you're… breathtaking. Your stamina is incredible! I had to take breaks three times, but you didn't stop once. You're just too good."

Dimitri chuckled, pulling her closer. "Really? I thought you weren't quite ready for…all of that. And I'm sorry if I was a little too forceful. You triggered me to act a bit harshly."

Anya smiled, shaking her head. "No apologies needed," she said softly. "I… I like a dominant man. You know."

Dimitri laughed, a low rumble in his chest. "Is that so? I hope you enjoyed my… dominance then, because I certainly wasn't holding back last night."