Chapter 38
Red
By now Florina had been summoned to Hector's office so many times, the guards didn't think twice about letting her in. They were unphased when she'd show up late at night, or unsummoned. She still was very shy around them, but lately she had been managing a slight smile and a small bow. She did this as she entered Hector's office and was surprised not to find him there. Florina walked around, uncertain.
Florina ran a hand over the front of Hector's desk. It had papers strewn all over. She shook her head and put them in a neat stack and put his pen back in its inkwell stand. Out of curiosity she walked behind his desk and looked at the large family crest that was hanging on a tapestry on the wall. Leaning against the large chair, she took in all the primary colors, bright yellows, sharp reds, but mostly blue. She tired of this and eased herself into Hector's chair.
A grin spread across her face. So this was what it was like to be in charge of everything. She crossed her legs and leaned back confidently. This act didn't last long, as she felt far too strange. She settled for sifting through Hector's drawers. Not much of interest: more pens, ink powder, paper with the Ostian letterhead, official seals, wax…and a small leather book. Florina blinked at this discovery, the book was so out of place amid Hector's governmental papers.
She opened it and started to leaf through it. A smile formed, then a grin, then she began to giggle uncontrollably. It was a book of old poetry, each written to a different girl. "For Valerie," "Ode to Lenora," "To the Weapon Maker's Daughter," each was rather sappy but still sweet and heartfelt. Judging by the dates, Hector had to be only twelve when he started writing and almost fifteen by the time he stopped. Florina tried to imagine what Hector was like at that age. Was he skinny? Was he awkward around girls? Florina grinned and held her head in her hands. He was still very awkward around women. She loved him anyway.
Hector entered finally, a little shocked that Florina was behind his desk and even more surprised at her rather dreamy expression which disappeared quickly before she stood up and came to his side.
"What's with you?" he asked.
"I've been reading some very…entertaining poetry," she replied. He raised an eyebrow and she picked up his book and waved it in the air. Hector's eyes widened in horror and his face turned bright red.
Florina's jaw dropped, "Are you embarrassed?"
"I can't believe you read those! I knew I should have burned them…" he exclaimed. He sighed and began to mutter to himself as he leaned on a window pane. Florina grinned and hugged him from behind resting her head against his back.
"I think they're sweet," she said.
"They're awful," he snapped.
"They're from your heart. That's all a girl ever wants is to know what you really feel at your core. I think that's what you were trying to do back then," Florina replied, defending younger Hector. "I'm a little jealous. I didn't get any cute poetry."
Hector turned around and looked down at Florina's smiling face.
"Do you know why I can't write poetry for you?" he asked. She shook her head.
"Whenever I am with you, whenever I think about you, whenever I hear you laugh or see you smile, I am quite without words," he whispered in her ear. Florina felt her face grow hot and she bit her lip.
"I am a man of action after all," he breathed against the skin of her neck. She felt shivers go down her spine and she breathed sharply as he placed feathery kisses from just below her ear down to her collarbone.
"I hope you'll accept that instead of poetry," he told her. Florina sighed and buried her face in his chest. Hector may have been awkward with women, but he was surprisingly smooth with her.
More fluff for your weekend. It's about time Hector got embarassed.