The First Nice Date

I don’t really know where to begin with this one so I guess I’ll introduce you to Tikhon. 6’2, Russian/Polish guy who completed schooling in London, before moving to Melbourne in search of an adventure abroad. Rough bed hair, smooth skin, gorgeous eyes and large hands.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been asked on a proper date, and even longer still since I’ve been on a good one. We met outside the State Library steps, and you were very punctual. You wore polished dress shoes and a black shirt with skinny jeans and a suede jacket. It’s not often that someone looks better in person than in their photos, especially not on dating sites. Yet somehow, you were so much more attractive in person than what your photos conveyed.

The true definition of a poor man’s Hugh Grant, you had an exotic accent that sounded like a culmination of your living experiences abroad. Even now, I can’t quite pin which accent comes out the strongest.

After grabbing shitty coffee from the local store and nearly burning a third of my taste buds off, I realised for the first time how tall you were. There was something incredibly sexy about you that made me wet with desire. Amidst the initial awkwardness of strangers meeting for the first time, I started to notice the undeniable chemistry building between us. Slowly at first, and then later progressing to unwavering eye contact and careful but deliberate acts of physical touch.

We walked through Carlton Gardens and I noticed your hand slowly brushing up against mine, with tender moments of caress. I don’t remember what we were talking about at the time, but it felt nice to converse with a handsome stranger. Eventually, we made our way to a large-scale mosaic art piece and instantly, I was mesmerised. The brilliant bursts of colour, mapped distinctly into a gorgeous story of heroes among fire – this was by far the best tour of Melbourne I had ever been on!

You learn a lot about a person based on the way they treat those who are not owed acts of benevolence. We helped a blind couple hail down a taxi and you did not hesitate to get the door for them when it arrived. You also saved the man from an unfortunate misstep which would have ended with his face directly upon a light pole. If it was an all act, then it was a brilliant and consistent one – I’d like to think that kindness was just in your nature but you never know with people these days.

Slowly, we made our way to your favourite local wine bar, but not before passing another garden with a water feature that spread the particles into concentric domes. You asked if I’d be angry if you pushed me in, and at that moment I started to feel my body language soften. Over the course of the walk, my crafted walls slowly came down so by the time we got to the last garden, I was feeling incredibly comfortable around you.

You kissed me for the first time at that bar and even though you were a shitty kisser, it still made me FEEL. I’m making a concerted effort not to overthink or dwell on things, so from this point forward I am going to state facts. Questioning intention and trying to analyse actions has not done me any favours in the past so let’s avoid it altogether this time round.

We went back to your place after a glass of wine at the bar, and it was only once we got there I realised what was happening/about to happen. You had quite a minimalistic approach and I was impressed by how clean the apartment was. I had the best sex of my life that night. You knew your way around a woman’s body and understood the intricacies of foreplay. I can still feel your tongue flicking passionately against me and within minutes of us getting naked, I was practically begging to be fucked. And fuck me you did. The things you did to my body…Even a day later and I still shudder at the thought.

You were incredibly sweet the rest of the night and it was completely unexpected. Between forehead kisses, our hands interweaving and you calling me beautiful when I used the same word to describe the city from the balcony in the clouds, it felt like a weird simulated relationship for one night only. We cuddled on the couch afterward and you took off your robe so I could be warm. The hem just about trailed on the floor and I couldn’t help but to laugh at the sight, especially after seeing it on you just moments prior.

You walked around the apartment naked for a while, and we had a smoky cigarette outside. I remember thinking how entertaining the contrast between us was in that instant. A petite Taiwanese girl wearing a long bath robe that would put the Harry Potter one to shame, and a tall Russian guy sipping wine while stark naked in the 15 degree cold Melbourne air. Somehow, it felt like the most natural thing in the world.

Afterwards, we shared random pieces of our lives with each other while you lay sprawled sideways on the bed. I imitated the ‘paint me like one of your French girls’ line and we both laughed. At some point, I could tell you were getting tired and you were even kind enough to offer for me to stay with you until I had to leave in the morning. I politely declined and made my way back to the Hilton, to hang out with Shahzad before he went back home to Sydney.

It was honestly the best date I’ve ever been on, and between the moments of passion and the naturality of the conversation, we never spoke about what it was that we wanted out of the date. I hope this whole thing wasn’t just some conquest for you and if it was, it was truly a massive effort. I’d like to catch up with you again and see where things go, but in the meantime I’ll continue to do life in the best way I know; with an open heart and mind.

It was lovely to meet you Tikhon, you handsome, intelligent man.