TEATRO COLON: THE PERFORMANCE

Hannibal and Clarice's limo pulled into the Plaza Lavalle and up to the Teatro Colon. Clarice in her flowing Yves Saint Laurent gown took Hannibal's hand and stepped elegantly from the car onto the curb.

She looked up, awestruck at the spectacular French renaissance building and gently grasped Hannibal's arm. Touched by the gesture, he pulled her close.

"Thank you for attending, my Love…When I see the world through your eyes, it is as if seeing everything for the first time." He kissed her hand and held it. She wrapped her arm around his back as they walked through the foyer.

"Thank you for arranging this H. I'm sorry about last night. We're going to have to talk about it."

"There is no need for you to apologize, Clarice. We can discuss it when we get home. Let us enjoy this together, agreed."

Clarice hugged his arm tightly. "Okay, H…Agreed."

Clarice marveled at the grandeur of the building with its stairways of marble highly polished and pristine. Hannibal directed her attention to the opulent magnificence of the stained glass ceiling opening above them like a sparkling glass umbrella.

Hannibal, ever the mentor, pointed out the lighted Corinthian columns and described the various other architectural elements. As they entered the massive theatre itself, an usher escorted them to their private box on the second tier directly beside the stage. Hannibal marveled at his surroundings. More than the opera house, he marveled at the beauty sitting beside him whom he believed, only hours earlier he had lost forever.

Sitting in a private box in a beautiful opera house with his stunning wife by his side, Hannibal was Pride.

Clarice reached into her purse and pulled out a lovely pair of opera glasses Hannibal had given her before the flight to Buenos Aires. She scanned the seats and the boxes for Emilia and quickly spotted her on the third level of the five balcony levels available. She was seated one level up and diagonally across from them.

Okay, Bitch…Enjoy the view!

Clarice was thankful Hannibal wished to be on the side of the stage where he would have a clear view of the pianist's hands at the keyboard.

"She's on the other side, H." Clarice whispered.

"I don't care in the least where she is. That woman has been nothing but trouble since the unfortunate day I met her. After this event, I hope to never see her again."

Clarice thought back to the interview she read and remembered what irritated this woman.

He never kissed her, as much as she begged him to…that was the only thing she complained about.

Clarice watched carefully. She could see clearly that Emilia was scanning the audience for Hannibal. She was in a large box that seated several couples, though Emilia appeared to be without escort.

The box Clarice shared with Hannibal was much more private with just the two of them. Suddenly, Clarice could see through her glasses that the horrific woman had indeed spotted them and was indeed now watching very carefully. Clarice lowered the glasses and turned toward her husband.

"This is the one time I'm really glad for your ostentation, H." She commented as she rested her hand on his chest.

Hannibal's heart began to race at the sensitive nature of the contact. After the events of yesterday afternoon and last night, he hadn't expected the level of intimacy implied by the gesture this soon. Clarice often did things that surprised him. It was in her nature to be unpredictable…at least unpredictable to Hannibal. In his eyes, it was her most attractive feature. Quickly he regrouped attempting to appear as comfortable as possible.

"What's that, my Love?" He was genuinely curious as to what she was referring.

"I'm glad we have this space to ourselves, H. Believe me…we're gonna need the privacy."

Hannibal was shocked at the implication of her tone but didn't let on to her what he was thinking. The suggestive nature of her comment seemed out of context for their surroundings, therefore he dismissed it out of turn.

She caressed his face with the back of her hand, continually stroking his cheek. He closed his eyes and turned toward the contact, unsure of what to do.

What is she doing?

He whispered his confusion.

"Clarice…"

She slipped her hand along his cheek and held his face, lifting his chin slightly.

"Open your eyes, H. I want to see you."

Hannibal opened his eyes, utterly confounded. Only Clarice had the ability to keep him this off-balance.

She touched her lips to his.

His breath caught in his throat. "Clarice…"

"No, H…Don't say anything."

She kissed him again, and very slowly, very obviously traced her tongue across his mouth and bit his lower lip, slowly pulling it forward. When she released it, she stood. Hannibal's mouth was agape as Clarice left her chair and moved to join him.

Hannibal's eyes widened as he opened his arms and pulled her onto his lap. Clarice slowly draped herself across his body and delicately encircled his neck. Comfortable in his embrace, she leaned back and relaxed into his body, just as she did when he carried her from Verger's pen.

Her presence is a gift.

Hannibal lowered his head and kissed her gently. She had read far too many accounts of his aggression the night previous and he would be careful not to flush the memories from her subconscious.

As the minutes passed, their passions built and the kissing became much more ardent each spouse delving with their lips and tongues. Hannibal's hands moved over her body, searching. She writhed seductively to his touch. Their lips did not part until the lights flickered, signaling the beginning of the performance.

Clarice stood and smoothed her dress. Hannibal shifted in his seat, uncomfortable that he could not find relief in such a public place. He reached for her and held her hand.

Clarice picked up the opera glasses with her free hand and surreptitiously scanned Emilia's section.

She was not surprised to see that Emilia was focused very clearly on them with a small pair of binoculars, though not as fashionable as the pair Hannibal had purchased. Clarice, not breaking eye contact, reached for her husband and slipped her hand from his knee, trailing her hand along the inside of his thigh.

Hannibal's eyes shifted but other than that, remained perfectly still.

Clarice continued to reach very suggestively up his leg, pausing to grip the muscles of his inner thigh.

"Clarice?" Hannibal sought some confirmation of her intentions.

"Shhhh." Was her only response.

Hannibal slowed his breathing and relaxed his posture just slightly as his wife's gentle hand brushed across his hip to his groin.

Still watching Emilia, Clarice smiled as she massaged him intimately.

Hannibal's respirations deepened as he reached to his core attempting to control his response. He turned to her, more curious than shocked. The box they were seated in was fully enclosed and as such was extremely private. His blood pressure pulsing, again, he questioned.

"Clarice?" Wanting her to continue though conversely terrified she might.

"Shut up and go with it, H. The only person that can see us is the only person I want to see us."

Not what he wanted to hear. "She is watching as we speak?"

"Oh, yeah H…She sure as hell is! She's burning a hole through her spyglasses as we speak."

Hannibal leaned back and closed his eyes smiling slyly as he processed the situation. He finally understood what was happening and was actually quite amused by it.

"Are you… marking your… territory, Clarice?" He asked between stressed respirations.

She was proudly deliberate in her declaration. "You bet your sweet ass I am, H!"

"This is… even better… than… 'I love you, H.' "

Clarice laughed at his response. "I love you, H."

"I love… you as… well… Clarice."

Again, the lights flickered to signal the patrons to take their seats. As the lights lowered, Clarice lowered the glasses and kissed Hannibal very passionately for a final time before the concert began.

Take that you Bitch!

As the performer came out and the music began, Clarice sat back in the crimson and golden chair and put the opera glasses back in her purse. She was quite satisfied with herself and was looking forward to the remainder of the evening.

Hannibal sat upright, straightened his jacket and attempted to compose himself. He leaned over and whispered to his wife.

"You are a constant surprise to me, Clarice. I could have never guessed my life would include one as special as you. After your performance, our exit should prove to be extremely interesting."

Until the next chapter my friends!

LH