Alcohol--Ivan could go for some right now, when he thought about it.

"I didn't expect company," another excuse, but mostly true. Had he known somebody was coming over--even for a quick fuck--he would have picked up his laundry.

The kiss just made him want that alcohol even more. Among other things, but his thoughts were interrupted as Galina came trotting into the room, sticking her face in Yevgeny's laps for pets.

Ivan looked over at her as if betrayed--she should only come to his command! Volgin's question did not fall on deaf ears though, even through Ivan's jumbled musings.

He smiled, dirty and implicative at the older Soviet, "Always."