Cornwall Casanova Part II (Chapter 3)
(Warned you in the beginning I didn't know where I was going with this, well they finally made it to a section of Cornwall. I still don't know where I'm going and none of it is mine. But a plot is forming. Warning. Warning. Mature themes ahead toward the end of the chapter.)
They arrive at Tintagel late that night. Harry owns a cottage just off the beach but no one on the Grid knows this not even Ruth. He called ahead to make it ready for their visit. Harry thought, Tintagel is one of the most beautiful places in Cornwall and I want to share it with Ruth. It's a picturesque village filled with Arthurian myth and legend, something I hope appeals to the historian, and romantic in her. This isn't a trip he came up with on the spur of the moment. It was a place he had always planned to take her when the time was right. Timing does seem to be our problem. This morning had just been too much and it seems the time is now or never.
It was dark as they arrived, so no chance of catching a glimpse of the cliff-top castle ruins said to be the location of King Arthur and his knights of the round table. Harry chuckled to himself thinking he too was a knight, but not in the mold of Sir Galahad. Harry had taken the initiative to drag Ruth to his holiday cottage albeit one with direct access to the beach. She should appreciate that aspect. Now my hopes are pinned to Ruth wanting to explore the area with me in the days to come.
Once she accepted her fate, Ruth managed to drop off to sleep about three hours into the drive. In sleep she snuggled into his body with his arm around her shoulders. She had long since ceased to struggle against his actions. Harry still worried she might bolt for London at her first opportunity so he kept the handcuffs at his side in his pocket.
In sleep she looked at peace. A smile occasionally darted across her face. He wondered what she was dreaming of.
Ruth is dreaming of Harry. Once he'd said they were headed toward Dartmoore, her thoughts turned to the things of legend, particularly Arthurian legend. In her dream Harry was a knight charging to her rescue on a white horse. He was all things a woman could want in a man. Self- assured, loyal, handsome, and in this dreamland she knew she loved him and he loved her. Suddenly she felt herself being stirred from this wonderful secure world. It was Harry's voice saying, "We're here."
Ruth suddenly recalled the events from earlier in the day and her anger flared. Harry saw it in her eyes. "Ruth do I need the handcuffs gain?"
"No." It was Ruth's turn for a pouty face.
Something about the way she said No left Harry a bit skeptical. "I promise Ruth. Just give us a try. Give me a chance."
"I also remember a promise of a Cornwall Casanova," said Ruth with a smile.
"That's to come. You know Casanova wanted at first to enter the ministry, and he was a great adventurer, not to mention his numerous romantic liaisons. Well of course you know all that."
They entered the cottage. Harry spoke, "Our next big decision is our sleeping arrangements. Any suggestions?"
"Yes in my bed in my flat in London, by myself."
"Well if that's your attitude, I guess we're back to the handcuffs and sharing a bed, although the cottage has two bedrooms." Ruth wasn't sure if Harry was kidding about the handcuffs and/or his plan for sleeping arrangements.
"You said you wanted Casanova."
"No you promised a Cornwall Casanova," replied Ruth. "I expect such a Casanova would be a gentleman. After all we are English."
"We're English with Nordic influences, but we're also human," said Harry in a husky masculine tone. "What do you want?"
"Harry." It was a warning tone from Ruth.
"I agree we'll go slowly, but I'm not letting you out of my eyesight after I bring in the last bag." With that Harry exited and told the driver he could return to London. Unknown to Ruth there was a roadster in the garage, which Harry planned to bring back with him to London when he returned with Ruth. Just when that return would be was still a mystery.
Carrying in the last bag he had packed quickly before they left London a bag for himself and two for Ruth. Harry could tell Ruth was tense. He tried to reassure her. "Ruth you know you are safe with me. Nothing will happen, unless you want it to happen. I just think we need to find a way for us to be a couple."
"What if I said yes, spoke up and agreed to everything." These words stopped Harry. "Not a day goes by I don't think of you Harry. Not a day went by when I was in exile that I didn't think of you. Can you say the same?" Where her courage came from she didn't know.
"More so," said Harry as he walked over to the standing Ruth. "What do I have to do to have you Ruth? Just tell me."
"It has always been bittersweet between us. I can't run and I can't hide anymore. I had just gotten used to the pain to the point I wasn't feeling anything. I was empty. Then I thought you might be gone forever then you were exonerated and everything returned to its same pattern. That is until this morning. I knew then I had to ask for the transfer because I can't hide my feelings for you anymore. Now all I want is for you to keep doing whatever it is you are doing to me." It was an admission from Ruth that Harry never expected to hear from her.
Harry had moved to Ruth and was holding her, reassuring her, telling her they would find their way together.
"I know it seems sometimes we are caught in a bad romance, without the romance." With those words from Harry they both laughed. "All I have ever wanted is your love."
"Harry, giving my love has always been the hardest part of life for me. Then I look into your brown eyes. Those eyes have seen so much. In those eyes I see you love me. In your eyes I see we can have everything. Then I look away and lose faith in us. "
"Ruth then look in my eyes and never forget them." Harry moved closer. Ruth stepped closer. They were inches apart feeling each other's breath on the other. They moved closer. Each knew their lips would meet. It started with tender light kisses, and then each began to deepen the kiss, the pressure increased. It was as if neither could kiss the other deeply enough. Their hands roamed over each other's body. Then just as suddenly they broke apart in unison and bent their foreheads to each other's.
"I'd call that a move in the right direction. Now let's eat dinner," said Harry. Ruth was left confused. She was on the verge of letting Harry have everything he had dreamed of, but he pulled back. And where had the meal come from? Ruth knew he hadn't been in the kitchen nor had she.
It was a meal he had ordered prepared before they arrived and just needed slight reheating. The table was already set. They ate in silence. Neither wanted to be distracted from their thoughts of what the night might hold for them. They did sit near each other. Hands occasionally brushed against each other. There were no sounds except the sounds of the night.
As the meal was ending, Harry rose and went to the sound system and turned on soft music, nothing classical, just relaxing. A slow dance song and he pulled Ruth into his arms as they started to sway to the music in the room where he had dimmed the lights.
"Harry don't you think we should clear the dishes?" Ruth was trying to slow the pace of their headlong drive over a cliff.
"Sh Sh," Harry whispered in her ear. Enjoy the moment. Enjoy the music. Enjoy us. Ruth started to relax. She leaned into Harry and let him lead her. His closeness left her speechless. She was intoxicated by his scent. Ruth thought the Cornwall Casanova has arrived, and I don't think I mind. He kissed her neck, her earlobe, her cheek and then their lips met again. They continued to sway to the music and they continued to kiss. Neither wanted the moment to end. Eventually they broke apart and Harry looked at her asking an unasked question. She took his hand, and led the way to the bedroom where she had unpacked her clothes earlier. Both were excited, both were anxious. There were doubts about what they were about to do but there was also love. After tonight there would be no going back for either.
They undressed each other slowly. It was a gradual indulgence that came with experience, not the rush from the passion of youth. As they lay together on the bed they began to explore each other's body finding points of pleasure that brought responses neither had experienced or knew they were capable of experiencing. They would make love and then sleep awhile, then start again. This went on much of the night. The next day their morning in bed lasted all day.