AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hello guys! It's a sad day today. I would like to pay a small tribute to the victims of yesterday's attack in Barcelona in my native country, Spain. Let's unite our hearts and minds to wish that the evil in the world disappears so that we can live in peace and harmony. Tolerance, today and always, but we must never tolerate the intolerable. I love you guys! Enjoy the chapter!
CHAPTER XXVI (Alex's POV)
I had been ignoring the call for too many hours. She was so deeply asleep that she would probably never have noticed my absence. I had plenty of time to go, make the deal and be back before she woke up; but that would have meant betraying what she had asked me for, my company, so I went against all my instincts and did not pay attention to the prayer that was being done in my name staying with her. Once she was awake it was easier for me to ignore the voice requesting my services, however, when she finished her dinner, the despair of the petitioner was almost tangible despite the distance, something impossible to resist for me. I accompanied her to her room and realized how reluctant she was to say goodbye, which I found endearing. In an attempt to cheer her spirit, I promised her to take her on an adventure the next day and then I bid her goodnight, that time I being the one who favored the farewell kiss. I was amazed how natural it felt to kiss her then, with no wine in her system. I wanted to measure what her reaction would be with her clear mind, and although some uncertainty was palpable in the way she moved her lips, I did not feel rejection, quite the contrary, she seemed to accept my kisses more than elated. It took me a great effort to get away from her to take on my responsibilities, but I was comforted by the fact that it was only a few hours before dawn.
I spent the night committed to my duties, which helped the hours to pass even faster. Maybe it was still too early to wake her up, so I went to the stables to prepare the horses and then to the kitchen to ask Red to prepare a basket with enough food for the day. She was an early riser so I knew I would find her in there getting everything ready for the day. She was surprised to see me, and told me that both, she and Nicky, had been wondering where Piper and I had been all the previous day. I had to explain to her what had happened, about the letter and how discouraged Piper had been all day. Of course, she was in a rage to know about it.
"Miserable classy bastards…" She said clenching her teeth "How could they have done that to their own daughter? An angel!" She kept saying profanities with great indignation. To appease her anger, I told her that I had arranged to make her happy starting from that day, no matter what, that would be my only reason for being. I urged her to finish what I had asked for because it was my plan to take Piper to ride all day, to clear her mind from the fortuneless events of the previous day. Not having more things to do I went to her door and knocked pertly.
"Wait a minute!" She said loudly and I heard her hurrying hastily through the room and wondered what the hell she was doing while I waited. In less than a minute she opened the door causally, but the blush on her cheeks betrayed her agitated state, not to say that the pumping of her heart was more than enough prove "Good morning" She said beamingly. I took her in with my eyes and I rejoiced on the fact that she had put a lot of effort into getting ready. Her hair was collected with her usual semi-updo style, but intricate braids intertwined on either side of her head forming a natural golden diadem...
"Good morning" I felt breathless, as if that was possible "You look...marvelous…" I felt the need to acknowledge her efforts and she was evidently more than flattered
"I did not know what to expect from today…" She said with polite modesty while running her fingers carefully along the side of her head
"You are perfect" I assured her "Shall we go?" I proposed to her offering my arm for her to take it, which of course, she did…
We went through the kitchen first for a quick breakfast and to pick up the neatly arranged basket that was on the table. We left after receiving the good wishes from Red for us to have a great day. On the way to the stables she could not help wondering where we were going…
"Are you always so gnawing?" I retorted amused
"Is that a fancy way to insinuate that I'm annoying?" She asked annoyingly making me burst into laughter
"Why do you want to know?" I asked her "You will know soon anyway, don't ruin the surprise!" We arrived to the stables and I took our horses… "I know you were pretty clear about the gifts…but this horse belongs to you" I handed her the reins of her horse, Charm "You named her already, that's the mightier contract in the whole world" I said sternly, as if my words were of great truth. She rolled her eyes exasperatedly for my nonsense, and almost tore the reins off my hand, again making me chuckle. She started to get on the horse and I hurried to help her…
"I have ridden on horse since I have memories…I don't need your help" I loved that spark of pride in her, always unwilling to go extinct no matter the situation. I raised my hands in a gesture of surrender and took a step away from her. Indeed, she did not need my help. In a swift movement she climbed gracefully and sat on the saddle, leaving me impressed… "See?" She told me smugly from the heights and then I noticed something terribly wrong…
"Maybe you've been riding throughout your lifetime…but I think that you've been doing it incorrectly the whole time…" I said with pity
"Excuse me?" Of course she was terribly offended by my assumption
"Look how you are sitting!" I told her horrified. She did not seem to understand what the problem was "With both legs to one side?" I pointed out
"What's wrong with it?" She demanded to know
"Everything is wrong with it!" Did I really have to explain to her what was wrong about it? "Is dangerous, you don't have complete control over the hoarse and just…the right way is to put one leg on each side…" I simply said because it was a fact
"And that's the right way only because you say so?" How obtuse she could be sometimes to see the simplest true
"It's not me who says it…everybody does it that way" I was beginning to believe that she was just testing my patience, but no…
"But this is how I was taught…is how ladies are supposed to ride…" Then I calmed down immediately. I tended to forget where she came from…
"Saddles are especially made to put one leg on each side of the horse" I explained her calmly "Why would you do it differently?"
"Because! That's how men ride!" She explained to me as if it was the most obvious thing in the world
"And what makes you think that women can't ride like men?" She pondered my words, apparently a little more willing to reason
"I…I don't know…" She admitted. I could see her having an internal argument
"I'm not intending to change your way…I just want you to keep in mind that just because that's what you've been taught does not mean it's the only way…" I told her tenderly
"I'll keep it in mind" She said but did not change her posture. I rearranged the contents of the basket in the bags that hung from the rump of my horse and proceeded to climb to it.
"You ready?" I looked for her confirmation and she nodded excitedly which made me smile broadly "Let's go then" and we started to ride lightly, leaving the castle behind
"Could you at least give me a little hint as to where we are going?" She could not help her curiosity
"We are heading north…" I vaguely said, certain that she would be dissatisfied with so little information. Her exasperated sigh made me smile
"I don't know how it is possible to identify the north in here…" She began talking again "How do you orient yourself when you can't see the sky?" She wondered with interest
"Call it instinct…" I really did not have an explanation "I've been in this place for far too many years as to not recognize where the north is…I know every inch of earth like the palm of my hand"
"It's still impressive…in my eyes everything looks the same" She was certainly right. In the middle of the dead grove, everything looked the same
"It's not like this where we are going…" I gave her a clue
"It's not?" She retorted surprised and I shook my head in denial "So it's not all dead trees…" She tried to get more information out of me
"There is a long road ahead to reach our destination…you better be patient and wait to see it with your own eyes…"
"If the trip is so long…why are we going so slowly?" She complained about my pace
"I don't think you can go faster riding like that…" I took the opportunity to remind her about how wrong was the way she sat
"I bet that I'm faster than you riding like this" Was exactly the answer I was expecting
"Maybe…" The answer was no, but I did not want to despise her skills "But it's definitely not a good idea to challenge me in the middle of this maze of trees" I let her know "And it's even worse to try to go faster in this field…" The blackened and wet dirt was perfect to cover the treacherous roots of the trees. I looked at her face and she seemed to accept my words with humility…she was proud but not insane
At a steady pace and talking about almost anything, we kept closer and closer to the place I had in mind. It took us most of the morning to reach the area where the change of the ground became evident. The terrain became steeper and rocky, and the mass of trees became less dense. We were almost there and she was aware of it…
"Are we close already?" She asked slightly cranky
"Yes…we are almost there…" I guaranteed her "You need to be extremely careful now alright?" I told her when there was only an accused slope to conquer. I approached to her side closely, in case she lost her balance, but she overcame the obstacle smoothly, and we reached our destination.
The place was an extensive plateau that seemed to have no end. We were standing in the heart of the Shadow Lands, and right in the middle of the plain, a large irregular stain of green stood out evidently among the blackness around it. A small portion of pristine land, which had been for centuries, or most probably for all the eternity, forgiven by the darkness; the only placed reached by the sunlight. I watched her face closely to measure her reaction. He eyes were wide open, like her mouth…she was looking for words
"What…what is this place?" She asked astounded
"We are in the core of the Shadow Lands…" I explained "Come here" I invited her to follow me until reaching the patch of light. Right on the edge, I was forced to stop; I was banned from that place. She did not realize that I had stopped and crossed the line without me; in an instant she was bathed by the light radiantly. She came to a halt a couple of meters away from me and looked at the sky, letting the bright star to warm her face. She laughed heartily clearly pleased by the sensation. After a moment, she turned her head at both sides, looking for me. She pulled the reins to turn around and found me behind her…
"What are you doing there?" She said with puzzlement
"I can't go in…" I did not say it pitifully, yet her face was saddened right away
"Then why have we come if you can't enjoy it?" She said with great remorse making me laugh cheerfully
"Who told you I'm not enjoying it?" She was my great enjoyment "I wanted to show you this place, I want you to enjoy it and I thought some sun would do you good…have you seen how pale you are lately?" I joked making her burst with laughter
"Look who's talking about paleness!" She exclaimed humorously approaching towards me with her horse "So what are we going to do? Are you going to stay there while I'm in here or what?"
"Don't worry, I already figured it out" I smiled at her enigmatically and dropped myself off the horse in a swift movement. I searched in the bag for the blanket I had packed, I took it out and spread it in the air, trying to lay part of it on her side "See?" She rolled her eyes and shook her head letting out a short laugh. She got off the horse too and proceeded to knelt by the blanket, smoothed its corners and then sat down on it, flashing her white teeth at me, clearly thrilled with my idea. I grabbed the bag with the food and asked if she was hungry. It was near lunch time and probably she was hungry after the long journey
"I'm famished!" She stated with great exaggeration. I grabbed the bag with the food and placed it between us and dropped myself on my side of the blanket. She immediately put her hands on the bag to examine the contents and arranged the food meticulously. Everything could be eaten with our hands, so there was no need for cutlery or plates. As I was not hungry, I leaned back on my elbows, leaving my head up so I would not lose sight of her not even for a second. I found myself mesmerized by the play of the rays of the sun in her golden hair…she started to stuff her mouth with food oblivious to my attentive gaze. After about six grapes, she looked at me as if she had been caught for surprise "Aren't you going to eat?" I shook my head "At least try these grapes…they are incredibly sweet…" She said taking a grape between her index and thumb, and bringing it to my mouth. I accepted her gesture with delight and took the grape delicately between my teeth and chewed the grape "And?" She waited for my opinion; of course, she had no idea about my inability to enjoy the little pleasures of food…
"Mmmm, very sweet indeed" I said after swallowing. Anything could be delicious if she was the one who put it in my mouth
"Do you want more?" I opened my mouth accepting her offer without words and fixed my eyes on hers. Again, she placed the grape close to my lips, waiting for me to take it between my teeth. That time I was less careful, I caught the grape and the tip of her fingers in the process, smiling at her playfully never diverting my eyes from hers. She let out a small gasp of surprise but did not withdraw her fingers. Naughty thoughts crossed through my mind in that precise moment. My desire for her only grew every day. I would have taken her in that place, on that blanket in the open field, and I would have eaten grapes on her naked body, among other things, until dying of satiety.
The blush on her cheeks and the fast beating of her heart were clear signs that maybe I could do those things and she gladly would let me do them. But I did not want to press her at that moment; I did not want her to think that was my only intention. I released her fingers and enjoyed the grape in my mouth smiling mischievously. She was slightly stunned. I did not want to mess with her and torture her anymore, so I lied down completely on the blanket, resting my head on my hands intertwined by my fingers and looked at the sky, releasing her from my sight. After a moment, I heard her resuming her lunch and we did not exchange more words. When she was done, I felt her adopting my same position on her side and exhaling heavily
"This was an incredible idea…" She said with a relaxed tone "Thank you"
"Anytime"
"What would happen if you try to cross to my side?" She asked out of nowhere turning her head to face me
"Nothing…" What did she think it could happen? "There's something that simply pulls from me…no matter how hard I try, I can't overcome that invisible force" With my hand I made the gesture of reaching for her, to show her what happened. I made a big effort to cross the invisible barrier, despite knowing it would be impossible, but she presented herself as a perfect reward, out of my reach. Of course I couldn't get her; still, I got the reward of her touch. Perhaps I was not able to cross the line, but she could. She interlaced our fingers comfortingly, her skin warmer than usual due to the sunlight… "You are warm" I said softly taking pleasure in the feeling
"And you are cold" She said with a giggle and looked again at the sky without releasing my hand and began fidgeting with my fingers. I focused on my personal sky and did not look away from her. Later she would ask me something that made me burst out laughing "Can you fly?" She questioned frowning deep in thought
"Do you think I have wings hidden somewhere?" I said when I stopped laughing
"No…not wings…" She seemed a bit embarrassed by her question, I felt sorry for laughing but I could not help it "You have magic…isn't magic capable of achieving anything?"
"My magic can do many things, but growing wings is not one of them…" I explained serious so as not to make her feel that I was making fun of her
"Oh…" Her gesture was one of disillusionment "That's…boring"
"Boring?..." Had she suggested that my magic was boring? "For your information, magic is something to be taken very seriously, it's not meant to play with it…" I said severe but she was smiling broadly not taking my words seriously
"So…it's boring…" She insisted laughing; I sensed she was making fun of me for my boring magic
"You know what…" I got up at once and stretched out my hand for her to take it "Let me show you something" She sat and watched me with suspicion
"What do you want to show me?" She asked warily
"Nothing special…just how boring my magic is…" I said with mockery and she took my hand a little hesitant "What? Are you afraid?" Those words were enough for her to grab my hand more securely and get up hastily. Her eyes shone with audacity…we would see for how long…I thought. We walked hand by hand with a hurried pace to the edge of the plain. It was something I intended to show her later either way, but her banter about my magic being boring made me change the plans. When we were quite close to the edge, she immediately stopped pulling strongly from my hand. She had already noticed that at the end of the field, there was only an abyss…
"What are you doing?" She asked smiling carelessly, but fear was clear in her eyes
"I want to show you the views…" She examined my intentions narrowing her eyes "Oh come on! You will not think that something is going to happen to you, right?" I told her to placate her doubts about my intentions. She relaxed immediately and allowed herself to be led by me until I reached the edge of the cliff, but she still stood a couple of steps away, our hands still forged like one
"I think I can appreciate the views very well from here" Uncertainty was tangible in her voice, she was shaking and I could feel her palm getting sweaty. I smiled at her fondly and walked towards her to cut the space between us
"I promise that what I'm going to show you is totally worth it…and nothing will happen to you" Although I could see she trusted my words, she remained reluctant to walk over the edge "Close your eyes" I suggested. Maybe that way it would be easier to take her closer to the end of the field. By her face she certainly was thinking that what I had just said was a complete madness. I smiled at her confidently and brought her closer to me taking her by her waist "You are safe with me" I whispered in her ear and looked again at her face. She breathed deeply several times with her eyes fixed on mine, and after some breathing she nodded as if reassuring herself. She grabbed firmly my shoulders with both hands and closed her eyes tightly "Little by little" I said while I dragged her very slowly sideways, as if dancing a waltz. She gave little steps and clung more and more to my shoulders "We are already there…" I let her know. I tried to turn her around, so that she was the one facing the abyss while I held her tightly by her waist, but she refused to change our position, burying her fingers on my shoulders. As I did not want to force her, I had to use another tactic. I faded under her touch to wrap her in less than a second from behind. She let out a small cry of fear by the sudden change. I got as close as I could to her back, pressing hardly my front against her, wrapping my arms around her waist like thick chains of iron, her hands already clinging fervently to my forearms, her nails embedded in my skin
"I think this is a terrible idea…" She wheezed every word and I chuckled softly at her anxiety and spoke to her placing my lips on her right ear
"I told you nothing is going to happen to you…" I gave her a reassuring squeeze around her torso "Open your eyes whenever you are ready…" I leaned my head over her right shoulder which gave me an amazing view of her cleavage "No need to rush, by the way" I told her as I laughed lightly; I was in no hurry to change our position
"Alright…" She barely whispered and I felt her becoming more anxious, nailing her fingers to my skin more deeply and quivering like a leaf. I knew that she had opened her eyes by the sound of the air leaving her lungs in a long sigh of astonishment. The views from where we were standing were stunning, maybe a little somber as it was everything in that part of the world, nevertheless, the depth of the valley, carved by the river for thousands of years, was a sight worth admiring "Alex this is…" She expressed with a falling voice "Unbelievable"
"I told you it was worth it" She started to laugh overwhelmingly, with a hint of nervousness. I could still feel her fear
"Yes…it was" But I knew that despite dread, she was enjoying the sights. Little by little she began to relax in my arms, but there was something else I wanted to show her
"Do you trust me?" I asked her with great seriousness, as if it were a matter of life and death. She turned her neck to look over her shoulder and catch my eyes with her own.
"Yes" She simply said. I couldn't find a hint of doubt in her gaze. That made me immensely happy, and equally sad as she did not seem willing to learn the lesson…Do not trust anyone…I flicked my tongue against my teeth, making a disapproving sound for her confidence
"I thought I told you already…" I feigned disappointment and looked at her sternly. She frowned at my words, clearly confused
"What?"
"You should not trust me" When I finished saying those words, I smiled dangerously at her and noticed her eyes full with concern, and her heart once again shaken with fear. I secured her with my arms more intensely and let us fall to the edge of the precipice. For a second, just before we were on the air, she had time to understand what I was going to do, but not enough to ask me not to do it. During the long fall, only her cries were heard. I thought she would lose her voice, or maybe I would be deaf. Surely, I had already lost some skin on my forearms with her sharp nails. The closer we got to the ground, the more desperate her screams became. About to crash into the large rocks at the base of the cliff's wall, I made us disappear to return safely to the top of the cliff and lay our feet on the ground. She was a rag doll. Her legs faltered when I tried to get her to her feet, so I could not let her go. I turned her around, to be face to face. She kept trembling, still at shock. I took her arms and put them around my neck, from which she clung for dear life instantly. I chuckled delighted…"And you said my magic was boring…" I hugged her for a long time, while her ragged breath returned to normal. After a while, I felt her whole body convulsing. I was relieved to realize that the shudders were due to a hysterical laugh that was starting to come out from her throat…maybe she needed a little more time to return to normal "Piper?" I asked warily when the laughter did not stop; I could not see her face since she had it buried in the crook of my neck. I had to force her to relax her grip around my neck. I pushed her a little away from me to assess her face. She was as pale as ever, however, smiling like never before. I laughed at her state "Are you alright?" I asked. A part of me could not help being worried; maybe it had been too much for her. She nodded; apparently she had not yet recovered her voice. She looked at me absorbedly with enigmatic bright eyes, still catching her breath. I could see her mind working, thinking intently of something. I knew that look, from two nights ago when the wine had given her the boldness, but then, the thrill of the jump seemed to have excited her to do the thing she did next. She smashed her lips against mine unceremoniously. I cannot say I was taken by surprise, I had already been warned by her, but the intensity of the kiss was definitely a revelation. Her mouth did not give mine space to move. With a loud smack, she drew back, leaving a strange tingling sensation on my lips
"I want to do it again" She stated overly agitated. I needed a few seconds to understand that she wanted to jump again. Her kiss had left me staggered. Then, she was the one who dragged me to the edge of the abyss impatiently, making me laugh…how much she makes me laugh...I noticed that with her I had laughed more than in all my existence…
"Only with one condition" I said when we were there again
"What?" She retorted cautiously
"You must apologize for what you said about my magic being boring" I said with severity, of course I was not serious, and her blank eyes made me realize that she knew I was kidding
"I'm so sorry for saying that your magic is boring…in fact…" She replied with false modesty "I could say that you are almost fun, I mean…for an ancient creature like you…"
"You didn't call me old…" She was stepping on treacherous terrain
"Well, you are not young…" She pointed out. I let out a snort
"You are going to regret your words" I warned her and looked at her with a predatory manner. Her eyes shone with excitement, obviously without taking my threat seriously. I ran to her at full speed and tackled her encircling her waist with my arms to fall into the emptiness again. We jumped endlessly, until her voice was hoarse from screaming and laughing. I never thought possible to say that my tummy ached from laughing so much. That was perhaps the happiest day of my life, but unfortunately, it had to come to an end because it was time to go home. Her complaints soon arrived...
"Can't we stay a little longer?"
"We can come back as many times as you like…" I assured her "But I don't want us to be caught in the woods at night"
"I thought you would not be afraid of your own lands" She said in a challenging tone, which made me laugh sarcastically
"Trust me, I don't speak for myself…it's mostly for your sake" I would not want to run into unwanted creatures. Not that something bad could happen to her being with me, but I did not want her to get scared gratuitously
"My sake?" Her voice was full with disbelief
"There are terrible things hidden in the forest…I don't want your day to be ruined by their unpleasant presence" I said with a smile, but my tone made her know that I was serious
"And can't we use your so convenient way to travel to reach the castle in an instant and stay in here a little longer?" How much I wanted to comply with all her wishes
"No we can't…we have brought the horses and I can't take them with me" At first I had thought it was a good idea come on horseback, so she could ride on Charm "It only works with humans…" I further explained and she resigned herself and we started the way back. Soon it began to darken. Perhaps it would have been better to start the way back earlier. I took the reins of her horse and tied them to mine, to keep her closer to me, just in case…
"I can't see anything, it's too dark" She whispered, not wanting to attract the creatures I warned her about. I chuckled lightly, trying to appease her concerns
"I see perfectly in the dark, so don't worry"
"It's hard not to worry and…to be honest…I'm a bit scared" That was a great confession for someone as proud of her
"Hey" I came to a halt and positioned my horse right next to her "Come here"
"To where?" She was trying to discern where I was. I grabbed her by her hips "What are you doing?" She said with a hushed voice
"Calm down…sit with me" I offered her, perhaps that way she would feel safer. She seemed to agree and I helped her move from her horse to mine. I moved a little to open some space for her in front of me. She sat just like on her horse…with both legs to one side. I wrapped my arms around her to keep her in place and resumed the ride. After a few meters, she decided to rest her head on my shoulder and cling to my waist "Better?"
"Yes…so much better…" Her voice was confident, saturated with a sense of security, and I was overwhelmed by a feeling of happiness that caused me to think that she felt safe in my arms. The way back was somehow faster, even when we did not share many words; she was clearly tired. We arrived at the castle past dark. After leaving the horses in the stable I took her to her room and she thanked me for the day "It has been a lovely day…thank you"
"Don't thank me…I had a great time too and I hope to repeat it soon"
"Absolutely…" She agreed "Should I tell the girls to bring you water for your bath and bring you dinner later?" She remembered her duties as the housekeeper and I did not like it; I wanted her to stop doing those things
"You don't have to…I can pass by the kitchen and order them myself…"
"No…I want to" She assured me. Maybe she needed to feel useful and she liked having responsibilities, so for the moment I left her
"Alright…I definitely need a bath, I smell like a barn" She laughed and pressed her face to sniff my clothes and wrinkled her nose comically
"Yeah you do…I smell like horses too, probably I should also ask them to bring water for me"
"Maybe after our baths we can have dinner together?" I asked her tentatively
"I would love to…" I knew what the answer would be "Let me take the water to your room first, alright?" I nodded and left reluctantly. Even that small separation was going to be hard to bear. I was going to see her in a moment, and then we were going to have diner together. After having spent the whole day together, I did not seem able to be without her for five miserable minutes. Once in my room I took off my clothes, put on my robe and sat waiting for the water… In a short time, she arrived with her entourage of prisoners. It was going to take me a long time to get used to them. For her sake, I tried to ignore them while they were filling my bath. She noticed my moodiness by their presence and gave me a recriminatory look that made me rolled my eyes. The women left the bathroom and Piper dismissed them
"Thank you so much girls…I'll go right away" She let them know. Once they were gone she took the chance to tell me "You'll never get over it, am I wrong?" She inquired laughably
"I already told you…I don't like seeing you surrounded by these people" I got up and walked over her "Although I have agreed to trust your judgment, I care about you and that is not going to change" I placed my hands lightly on both sides of her waist, a gesture that felt very familiar after having shared so many of them that day, and she apparently had gotten used to them too, as she circled my forearms with her fingers, to get a little closer…
"Thanks for caring about me…" She smiled with great affection "Now…why don't you go and take your bath before the water cools, I'll go to my bedroom and do the same, and then I'll bring dinner…" She resumed but my hands did not seem able to abandon the safety of her waist
"You know?" A thought that probably was improper for her began to set in my mind, so I was careful delivering the words "It occurs to me…that…since my bathtub is already filled, maybe…we could save some time if we…share the same bath" My way of suggesting the idea could not be more disastrous. An awkward silence took over the room and I wanted to kick myself for ruining everything trying to push her like that
"Share…like…together?" She said after mulling over my words. Yes this was a terrible idea…I thought when I saw her aghast face
"Forget about what I said" I said trying to downplay my blunder and withdrew mi hands from her "I'll take my bath in my room and you'll take your bath in your room...separately…" I emphasized "And don't worry about bringing dinner, I'll take care of it…" I did not know what had been worse…my mistake or my attempt to correct it…or her face…I already knew so many of her expressions, but that one was new to me…Fear? Excitement? Doubt? What the hell is going on through her mind? "I'd better go before the water gets cold" I decided to follow her initial advice and left her before saying more stupid things…nevertheless, she remained stuck in her place, as if she were lost and did not know where to go. I went into the bathroom, stripped myself of my bathrobe and got myself into the bathtub, thinking how stupid it was of me to suggest such thing to her, but I could feel her still in my room. Her heart was beating in a hurry and its sound betrayed her position. I heard the clicking sound of crystal cups…Why is she still in my room? I wanted to get out and find out but I held myself into the bathtub. After a while I heard her hesitant steps approaching, and the sound of her heart and her breathing increasing gradually…she was coming to me. If I had had a heart, probably in that moment it could have beaten hers speaking of heartbeats. My eyes were fixed on the entrance; suddenly she was there, staring at me with an unfamiliar look. She lingered at the entry and I adopted a confident and calm behavior, although my entire interior seemed to want to leave my body through my mouth…
"Oh" I acted surprised "I must assume that you have considered my proposal…"
"Close your eyes…" She barely got to say, but I understood clearly every word …Fuck…it would never fail to surprise me how unpredictable she was. I smiled impishly at her and did what she asked me; I closed my eyes and embraced myself for what would come, while listening to the sound of her hectic heart, her arrhythmic breathing and the soft murmur of clothes falling to the floor…