They belong to Thomas Harris, though they seem to have a life of their own.
Thanks again to the lovely folks who enjoyed the last chapter: Drandmrslecter, cstarling, JEM, DevilQt, MarcusAurelius, LoT, Shattered Mug, Ducki, Holly Graham, Cristina, Steel, Shifter, RivanKnight, Deoceres and all the nice people who enjoy this fiction.
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Exchanges XII
Impunity
It had gotten dark outside when Hannibal woke up feeling the warm softness of her body against him. He watched her sleep, entranced by the peace she radiated, her soft, rhythmic breathing a welcomed change from that of the night before, during her nightmare.
He ran his hand gently over her body, marveling at the softness of her skin, at the fact that he was finally at liberty to touch her like this, and that she felt equally eager to touch him . He couldn't even remember for certain when, if ever, had anyone touched him like she did, with that mixture of abandonment, love and lust all mixed into one.
Her words echoed in his mind , "all I need is you", Hannibal Lecter sighed and held her against him, depositing fluttering kisses on her shoulders, neck, face…
This is how Clarice woke up, feeling his kisses fall on her like star dust; her arms immobilized by his hug. Without opening her eyes, she smiled and cuddled closer, nuzzling him to let him know she was awake. "He silenced the lambs," she thought. But what she said out loud was "I'm hungry".
He smiled "me too," and winked, "have you any idea how much I would like to eat you, Clarice?." They both giggled, totally out of character, acting silly as lovers do during the early stages of mutual discovery.
"I wouldn't want to miss an opportunity to show how much I would like to eat you, my lord!," she responded in mocking tone. "But once in a while, I guess one has to eat real food."
"Are you implying that I'm fake food, milady?" He inquired playfully.
She poked him gently on the ribs. "please Hannibal, lets get something to eat."
"Your wish is my command, I'll produce some real food" he responded laughing, jumped out of bed and walked buck naked towards the bathroom.
She chuckled and he turned, looking menacing "something wrong with my rear view, Former Special Agent Starling?"
"One of the most feared men in the world, prancing naked across the room is certainly a sight to behold." She chortled, her eyes bright with laughter as he bowed solemnly and declared "one is always happy to amuse" and went on his way.
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As soon as he left the room she couldn't stand the thought of being away from him. Not now, not at this point in their life when they couldn't keep their hand off one another. This was a time to enjoy each other every minute, probably one of the best times of their life.
Clarice got up and headed to the master bathroom, she could hear the shower running and knocked at the door.
"Come in Clarice," the familiar voice was muffled by the sound of the water.
She entered a huge bathroom, at the further end there was an enormous bathtub. While to her right, Hannibal was taking a shower in a shower room, about eight by five feet, featuring several shower heads and strategically located floor drains, no doors separated it from the main bathroom.
"Can I join you?," she asked walking in the shower, not waiting for an answer.
Clarice circled her arms around his soapy neck and pressed her body against him.
"I thought you were hungry, Clarice"
"I am very hungry," she chuckled, looking down, appreciating how he was rapidly growing under her very eyes "Too hungry, to wait any longer" she said meaningfully.
"I see", he murmured, not bothering to hide his anticipation, "you want to pl…..
She shut him up with her mouth, kissing him hungrily, while her hands explored his body. Then without pause, her mouth started its way down his chest.
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Eventually, Clarice went back to the guest room to dress for dinner, she picked a long wool skirt and a soft knitted cashmere top buttoned on front, with a scoop neck and ruffled cuffs and a scarf to cover the marks of the bites, now angry and swollen –which she wore like a badge, but preferred to cover at the dinner table. Didn't wear a bra, for easier access, she thought and debated whether or not to wear panties.
Clarice was smiling and felt like singing. The realization made her smile further. Everything made her smile this evening.
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Dr Hannibal Lecter, loved to cook, to fuzz over every detail of every meal, tonight, however, he didn't want to spend much time on meal preparation. He just wanted to enjoy her company and their food, plain and simple.
"Have to make up for the lost time," he said to himself with mock gravity.
Luckily the gardener brought fresh bread and milk daily leaving it in two boxes he placed outside the back door for that purpose.
Hannibal decided on a layout of cheeses, proscuitto and ham, along with the fresh bread and butter, and a nice bottle of Batard- Montrachet . A very casual, intimate dinner they'd eat on the rustic table in the large kitchen . There were fresh strawberries already macerating since morning, and they could have those for dessert if dessert was to be had.
He turned on the small TV set in the kitchen to watch the news. He didn't want to watch the new, but knew it was wise to do so, just in case the bodies had been discovered.
Then went to the living room , put a few logs in the fireplace and started a nice fire. He walked around the rug where they had made love earlier, and pictured her there. Once again she had surpassed his most optimist anticipations.
He was amazed at the intensity of his feelings for Clarice, she was becoming the center of his universe, making everything else appear peripheral, so deeply she touched his soul. He was now as dedicated to taking care of her as, in a different level, the child Hannibal had wanted to take care of his sister Mischa. This time he didn't intent to fail.
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As expected, Clarice found him in the kitchen, carefully setting the silverware on the table, characteristically making sure everything was "perfect".
He was wearing black wool trousers and a green velvet smoking jacket with silk collar and cuffs and a silver silk ascot,. "I'm not hungry any more," she chuckled to herself "who wants to waste time with food?" Overwhelmed by the need to touch him, she walked towards him and put her arms around his waist. He looked at her and kissed her firmly on the mouth. "Clarice" he whispered.
Her arms still around him she looked into his eyes said, " ask me, Hannibal, ask me what you want to know."
"What do you fell, Clarice?, tell me, how, do you feel, right now, after all the events since your arrival?" his eyes intense, his expression not unlike that on their first meeting at the dungeon "…he hissed at you. What did he say?" he had asked then.
She smiled widely. "Happy, exhilarated, liberated." She was radiant. He made a move to hug her, but stopped suddenly and turned towards the sound of the TV.
"What is it, Hannibal?"
"Nothing really," he said casually, taking her by the hand and guiding her towards the small TV, "it seems that they found our friends."
Sure enough, the screen showed the two cars, as they had left them in the lots. Hannibal raised the sound to hear the narrative.
"…reasons yet undisclosed. Before his suspension, Pickford had been working in the Behavioral science section of the Bureau, and at one point had assisted former Special Agent Clarice Starling during the research that led to the blotched attempt, a few month ago to capture the notorious serial killer, Dr. Hannibal the Cannibal Lecter . Undisclosed sources at the FBI claim that Pickford was in suspension pending investigation for alleged misappropriation of Hannibal Lecter paraphernalia from the FBI archives and offering it for auction on E bay
Still unknown is the association, if any between Pickford and the other victim, a well known underworld figure, allegedly specialized in kidnapping, extortion and murder."
"Suspension?!" bursted Clarice, "the bastard was in suspension for stealing your stuff?" She looked at Hannibal, incredulous. "This changes everything!. The FBI, is not going to go out and out for an agent is suspension, potentially uncovering information that might prove further embarrassing for the Bureau. No sire!, they will step aside and leave it to the locals. Good going!"
"Holly Shit!", she went on "we killed this guys with total impunity. We are getting away with this one!"
Dr Hannibal Lecter meticulous about good manners, found her language rather endearing, and looked at her with a mixture of glee and wondrous disbelief. She was amazing!
He placed both hands on her shoulders, looked deep into her eyes, and settled her on a chair. Poured her a glass of wine and suggested she help herself to some of the food.
While she did, he poured himself some wine, and sat across from her.
"Tell me, why do you suppose Erik Pickford was following you, Clarice"?, there was none of the old mockery on his tone, he was gentle and while he looked at her lovingly, the predatory look was clearly visible in his eyes.
Pensive, Clarice took a small bite of the sandwich she had assembled for herself, blotted her mouth with her napkin and took a sip of wine.
"I guess he was following Mason Verger's line of though that he could get to you thru me?"
"Basically yes. But why did he want to get to me?. Surely not to steal my books, or my sheet music. If the charges against him were proven true, he was not going to be reinstated no matter whom he captured" he persisted. "Think Clarice, why?"
"He was going to kidnap me and try to extract ransom from you?. She paused. "We knew he intended to kill us both…Yes, I think that's IT, he was going to try and extort some ransom from you and then, kill us both whether you paid or you didn't. Is crazy, though. You would have never paid!"
"No crazy from his point of view, Clarice. As you probably heard, it is widely rumored that in addition to what I earned from my practice, I inherited several fortunes from some of my patients; and the funds are mostly in numbered Swiss accounts and other key locations. Don't you think they rightfully assumed that I would pay?. IF I was the man they thought, I would have paid. Of course they underestimated me. I would have rescued you, and killed them both once you were safe. Basic Lecter 101."
"But, but," she started. Then stopped herself, and reconsidered, " I see. Yes, it fits"
"The point is that since the first time Crawford sent you to me, Clarice, they have been using you first as a bait , then as a target, such as in the Mason Verger fiasco. Together or apart, as long as I'm alive, you'll be a target" he hissed at the though.
"Well," she declared, "alive is how I want you."
Then, shrugging, she added " I have years of practice at being a target. Why waste them?"
Clarice Starling didn't feel any concern for her safety.
"Enough of them" she said, "they are dead. If others surface, we'll deal with them as they come along. We are not helpless."
"On a non related subject," continued Clarice, dismissing the entire Erik Pickford episode for the sham it was, "I promised Barney I would call him if everything turned out right. He might be worried."
"I promised him we'd get together sometime soon." He added with a smile. "Maybe we could start planning a meeting"
"Is around 1AM in Baltimore now", continued Clarice, "and a good thing it is, because the last thing I fell like doing now is making a phone call."
He smiled roguishly, "Tell me Clarice, what do you feel like doing right now?" He winked, "and don't lie or I'll know"
She got up and walked around the table, slowly and deliberately. He eyes glazed and wanting.
"Why don't you kiss me and find out." She whispered hoarsely, taking his hand and placing it inside her blouse.
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OK, I hope you it. This is not the end. We still have to talk to Barney, drive to Paris for a weekend and meet new challenges.
Please, comment.
Clariz
