GIVING THANKS- PART ONE
Hannibal had been awake much of the night preparing what he believed based on his research of the customary foods would be a traditional thanksgiving feast with a slight Italian flair. He was very enthusiastic about the event and wanted everything to be as she would expect. It was the first holiday he would be sharing with Clarice and for her sake Hannibal would have it perfect.
A contented wife makes for a happy life and Clarice with a full belly is very contented.
Hannibal had already showered and dressed for the day, his suit jacket the only item remaining. He would not add that until just before his guests arrived when he would remove the apron protecting his shirt and tie. It wouldn't do to have turkey drippings accessorizing Gucci. He busied himself with basil for his Bolognese sauce. He had prepared the fresh pasta the night previous. Everything was going as planned. Their first holiday together would be perfection.
Clarice descended the stairs to the wonderful scents emanating from the kitchen. She was beaming as she entered the room, pony tail bouncing happily behind her. Hannibal looked up as she entered the room, her face bright as the sun that shone upon it. He found himself transfixed, staring at the way the morning rays beaming through the window highlighted her hair.
Clarice approached Hannibal wearing a deeply cut and cleavage flattering halter style emerald dress. Hannibal had imagined it would be flattering but he never imagined it would be jaw-dropping. She looked absolutely stunning.
Seeing him blankly staring slack jawed and in utter awe of her beauty Clarice waved a hand in front of his face. The loose bracelets on her arm jingled together from the motion.
"H? You can blink now."
Hannibal shook his head as if the movement cleared his thoughts.
"My apologies, my Love I was spellbound by your beauty. You look radiant. Did you sleep well?"
"I did H thanks. I can't tell you how wonderful it was to wake up to your cooking. It smells like heaven in here!"
"Thank you for the compliment. It is my hope you will find the taste as appealing as the aromas."
"I know it will be perfect. You wouldn't settle for less. What time are the guests arriving?"
"Our guests will be arriving at three. There will be several courses so I hope you have your usual appetite. I consider it a personal challenge to fill you to capacity today."
"Don't be such a wise ass!" Clarice slipped seductively behind Hannibal wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly resting her cheek on his back. She felt his ribs expand with each inhalation.
"I love to listen to you breathe."
"Why is that I wonder?"
"I don't know…it's comforting. You breathe much more deeply than I do. It reminds me to slow myself and relax more. You're so much more than people know…there is a peace about you that surprises me sometimes."
"No more than it surprises me…You have brought me that peace Clarice."
"No, even at Baltimore State, you seemed at peace."
"No Clarice. I was not at peace. I was in wait…much like a snake coils itself preparing to strike. I was still but I was never at peace. I found that in your arms. You are my salvation." he placed a comforting hand over her clasped hands still holding him.
Clarice did not need to see the smile crossing his face or the sparkling twinkle in his bright maroon eyes to know he was happy. She didn't need him to tell her either. The deep sigh she felt him release the moment she wrapped her arms around him said more than mere words could have.
"So what are we having, H? Or is your menu a secret?" Clarice asked as she picked at some of the almonds Hannibal was now currently toasting and popped them into her mouth.
"As you are aware I hold no secrets from you Clarice. We will begin with a traditional Italian antipasto, homemade manicotti with a Bolognese sauce followed by the main course of roasted turkey with traditional gravy, stuffed with a sausage, onion and wild mushroom dressing."
"What else? You've got a lot more than that around the kitchen. Where do the almonds come in?"
"The side dishes will include maple braised butternut squash, classic mashed potatoes, roasted sweet potatoes with a walnut streusel topping, freshly made cranberry sauce, green beans with toasted almonds, corn bread coming out of the oven momentarily with fresh yeast rolls to follow. With dessert we will have the choice of coffee, espresso, cappuccino, or tea."
"What about dessert?" she asked, as she placed a trail of kisses along his back. He rolled his shoulders in response. There was a deep hum of satisfaction from her husband as her lips touched his body through the silk of his shirt.
"I have no idea as Ardelia will be providing the dessert. She was quite insistent which led me to believe she was not entirely happy that I am preparing the meal. I therefore deferred to her expertise in the area of baking as she has quite an assortment of pies in her repertoire. I believe she will provide impressive additions to our menu."
Clarice moved her hands up and down kneading Hannibal's muscles across the breadth of his chest to the center ridges of his pectorals.
He shifted from one foot to the other struggling with his self-control. His wife had learned well how to elicit this response and grinned with satisfaction at the knowledge that he was becoming so uncomfortable.
Getting a rise out of you, am I H? Oh, you are too easy!
"What about the wine?" she asked slipping her hands into the front pockets of his pants and sliding them forward to his hips.
Hannibal shifted again and cleared his throat as he tossed the almonds quickly in the pan.
"Lloyd and Barney have each volunteered to bring wine, Barney white and Lloyd red."
She reached forward and gripped his hips pulling him tightly against her body. Though she made certain not to touch him directly, she could feel his anatomy straining against his trousers. Smiling inwardly, Clarice ignored his obvious arousal and continued to make small talk, "You actually mean to tell me you deferred to someone else for the wine selection?"
Hannibal bent forward slightly and though his discomfort was obvious he would not concede by asking her to stop. Clarice's ear centered on her husband's back and told her of his quickening heart rate. She also perceived that his respirations deepened as he attempted to reign in his autonomic responses.
His voice was rough with desire, "Clarice, it would be rude of me to insert myself when someone offers to contribute to the meal. I am certain that our friends will make well considered selections. I also have a wine cellar at our disposal should consumption continue throughout the evening."
She pulled her hands from his pockets reached around his body across his abdomen, and massaged from his hips to his thighs and across his backside careful to avoid touching him in any area that might be sensitive. She seductively whispered her next question over his shoulder, "So you've thought of everything?"
He was having difficulty concentrating therefore his response was uncharacteristically clipped, "Yes…everything."
His physical needs overwhelming him he now had an urgent need to hold his wife thus Hannibal interrupted his food preparation. Clarice's arms were still around him so he lifted his left arm above her head and spun within her embrace until her face rested not on his back but now on his chest.
She laughed as he bent over, grabbed her firmly by the waist, lifted her and turned himself to sit her on the marble countertop. Hannibal quickly separated her knees and fluidly moved to her so that he would be fully against her body placing her arms around his neck. There was no denying how much he wanted her. She loved the power she could wield whenever the mood struck her. Teasing him gave her tremendous satisfaction. In his arms she felt attractive and desired. She had never found that confidence before Hannibal.
"Feeling a little lonely, H?" she teased, gripping him with her thighs and pulling him tighter to her body.
"Mmmm, if you continue to encourage me in that manner Clarice, there is no doubt the meal will not be my priority much longer."
"Screw the meal H, take me upstairs."
"Clarice…" he buried his face in her neck and teased at the flesh with his teeth. He growled against her flesh, the rumble of his vocalizations sent shivers through her body. He nuzzled against her warm flesh inhaling the scent specific to his Clarice.
Clarice slapped her husband very playfully on the back and feigned protest, "Oh God H…that tickles… stop!" laughing uncontrollably.
Hannibal lifted her from the counter, her arms around his neck, her thighs wrapped tightly around his waist. He carried her from the kitchen to the family room just on the other side of the large formal dining room, the table already set for dinner.
Her face was tucked against his chest in disappointment, "Why are you bringing me here? I wanted to go to the bedroom!"
"Clarice, I want you more than I am capable of expressing however we have guests set to arrive and though you are a most welcome distraction, you remain a distraction nonetheless."
He placed her very gently on the couch reached for the remote and turned on the television. He flipped through the channels until he came to the program he was seeking. The coverage of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade televised live from New York.
"I hear on good authority that this is traditional viewing on Thanksgiving morning. You will know when it has concluded as I have been told by my good friend Logan that Santa Claus is the final guest. Enjoy."
He kissed her and very quickly moved to the door before temptation drove him back into her arms.
"Go ahead, run you coward!" she exclaimed as she hefted a pillow at him in protest. An afterthought, "H, speaking of Logan is he coming with Ardelia?"
Hannibal replaced the pillow and answered calmly, "Yes and he is quite concerned about a particular American football game. It appears the Cowboys of Dallas will be taking the field. I assured our friend that he could access the television here in the family room at his discretion. It is my distinct impression that it will be a covert operation as he does not want Ardelia made aware."
Clarice chuckled at the thought of Logan getting anything by Ardelia.
"He's not going to sneak that past her. She doesn't miss a trick."
Hannibal was distracted, momentarily watching the parade as he spoke, "I thought not but hadn't the heart to tell him."
"Unless he has tiny televisions mounted on the inside of his eyelids that poor bastard is going to miss the game!"
Hannibal laughed at the visual Clarice's comment elicited. His eyes twinkled with a devious glint of mischief whenever he was amused. Seeing that boyish spark of glittering maroon in Hannibal's eyes made Clarice feel the want to gather him in her arms and never let him go. The love of him radiated in her voice, "I love it when you laugh, H. You don't do it enough."
"I have had little cause in my life to laugh Clarice, though when I am with you I am exceedingly happy. I will make more of an effort."
Clarice smiled, "I love you, H."
Hannibal smiled as well, "I love you more, Clarice."
Satisfied with her new family life and secure in the love of her husband Clarice watched the parade with more pleasure than she had since her early childhood.
Hannibal returned to the kitchen thrilled with his position as head of his family excited to be hosting friends for his first holiday. He whistled Scarlatti as he finished his dinner preparations.
Clarice made a mental note to speak to Ardelia about the incident with Hannibal and the possibility that they may have a stalker to contend with. She would ask Ardelia to run the plates and a description of the vehicle. The vehicle parked two blocks up the road and across the street.
Nico did not believe in family. He did not believe in giving thanks. He did believe in giving pain.
Pain is an exquisite teacher.
Hannibal would have lessons to learn.
Until the next chapter, my friends!
LH