Welcome back my friends!

HOMECOMING

Hannibal placed his arms around his wife, tucked her head against his chest in a protective posture and pulled her close as they quickly undertook the short walk up the steps to their home. The couple smiled and thanked the well-wishers, ignoring the flashing cameras and the microphones thrust in their faces. They were graceful and appreciative but focused on the objective: the entrance to their home and much needed privacy.

Hannibal's nimble fingers blurred with an impressive display of both speed and incredible dexterity as he disarmed the security system, as only a pianist could, without so much as shifting his eyes to the pad.

He detected a presence that was uncomfortably close causing his senses to immediately alert. Hannibal's pupils dilated and his nostrils flared to process a flood of unwanted and far too proximate stimuli.

Clarice was unaware of her husband's feeling of foreboding until he very quickly pressed his wife through the doorway. She was instantly alerted as she glanced over her shoulder and saw an almost feral look of ferocity in her husband's eyes. He hurried his instructions to her.

"Be prepared to lock the door and arm the security system if there is a problem, my Love."

At the precise moment he felt a hand slip beneath his arm and move his body to turn Hannibal's predatory instincts instantly accelerated. He spun toward the pressure, used his right forearm to deflect the intrusive hand and smashed that same palm with all his might flat on the interloper's sternum. Hannibal's savage contact forced the now vaulting body to slam unprotected to the pavement.

Cameras flashed as the situation quickly unfolded.

Hannibal's ruby red eyes seared with anger as he turned to face the offending individual. His chest heaved as the adrenalin he so sorely missed surged through his body electrifying his nerve endings and increasing his reaction time. He reached his fingers into his cuff missing the warmth of the metal normally heated by his flesh.

No Harpy.

Thrilled as his semi-dormant predatory reactions primed he breathed deeply and simultaneously caught the scent of the reckless offender, the nectar of emerging crocuses, and the warm moldy scent of the rich musty earth awakening with an early spring. He could hear birds in the trees and the rustle of the branches, their buds pregnant with newly forming foliage.

Prison had no such sounds or smells. It was offensive and industrial. Urine mixing with harsh anti-bacterial chemicals and mace had tainted his olfactory palate.

Hannibal now relished his release as he flexed his muscles and allowed his chest to expand with the inhalation fresh air and the enjoyment of an opponent to face. The flood of enhanced sensations heightened the moment. Hannibal, muscles poised, was absolutely exhilarated.

I feel everything.

Hannibal, expecting a worthy adversary was disappointed to find twisted like a pretzel in a tangle of his own gangly limbs, a young correctional officer with far more eagerness than judgment. Having been very publicly and quite unceremoniously thumped he sat spread eagle on the cold pavement wide-eyed and obviously embarrassed.

As he struggled to his feet at the bottom of the steps he stammered his apology, "I…I'm s…so… sorry…that was my bad. I…I probably surprised you…That was to...totally my bad."

Hannibal loomed over a distinctly unseasoned and absolutely mortified correctional officer.

"Young man, if you are at all aware of my past and my recent history you should know better than to approach me in such a manner. I am newly released from a stressful situation and more importantly, I am in the company of my pregnant wife, and as such am hyper-vigilant. This is not the facility in which you are employed and I am no longer your guest. For your safety you would do well to announce yourself and your intentions before laying your hands on me. Had I had a weapon at my disposal the results could have been most unfortunate."

The young man held a hand up in surrender and apology, "I'm so sorry Doctor Lecter I know better, really I do…but that's what I'm here about." The young man reached into his pocket revealing a tightly rolled plastic evidence bag. He snapped it, unfurling the length.

From the swing of it Hannibal could see there was some weight to it.

"You were so busy helping your wife you left this on the counter when you were released and I didn't want it to end up on EBay."

From the comment, Hannibal immediately understood what the bag contained. He extended his hand to accept the item. "Thank you for bringing it to me personally, Officer…?"

"Brady."

The young man held out the evidence bag. Hannibal descended the stairs and accepted the bag graciously. "I thank you for your kindness, Officer Brady."

Hannibal opened the blade while it remained within the bag and extricated his weapon by hooking the point through the plastic. Hannibal then closed the blade, slipped the harpy in his pocket so as not to reveal his normal storage of it within his sleeve and handed the bag to the young guard.

"You'll forgive me if I don't wish any items from the prison within my home. It isn't a place from which I wish to collect souvenirs. Again, thank you for your time and your thoughtfulness."

Hannibal turned and ascended the stairs. He was beside Clarice when he could again feel the young man quickly approach.

The young man chased Hannibal up the stairs even as he pulled a sharpie from his pocket, "Doctor Lecter, if you don't want it could you autograph the bag for me? I think you're awesome!"

Hannibal raised an eyebrow obviously worn by the young man's persistence.

Awesome? How droll.

Clarice remained in the doorway, watched the exchange and encouraged in a sing-song teasing manner, "Go on, H and just sign the bag for him. He did come all this way to bring you your pretty little knife and it's the least you can do after tossing him on his ass."

Hannibal may had been inclined to ignore the request but the fact that Clarice interjected in such a ridiculous way made the situation far more difficult to decline gracefully. He glanced to his wife with the look about him of a disgusted young boy who had just been asked to kiss the hormonally hairy face of an elderly aunt.

"Clarice?" he complained.

Clarice folded her hands beneath her belly and waited patiently with a huge smile absolutely beside herself with amusement at the circumstances in which he husband found himself.

"H, just sign the bag for the nice young man and come inside."

Hannibal reluctantly took the sharpie and scrawled his name on the bag thrusting it into the eager hands of the young officer.

"Thank you, Doctor…thanks so much!"

"Not at all, I am all too happy to oblige." Hannibal considered the statement not a falsehood but a courtesy. It would not have been pleasant for the officer to hear what Hannibal was really thinking about the incident. Not with the harpy now so close at hand.

The young man bounded down the steps and pushed past the crowd proudly flagging the bag with the unadulterated thrill of Charlie Bucket waving Wonka's golden ticket.

Irritated beyond his capacity to entertain the subject, Hannibal entered the home, secured the locks and the alarm, leaned backward against the door and blurted, "My pretty little knife…Really Clarice?"

Clarice was laughing aloud as Hannibal helped her off with her coat.

"Yeah, I thought you'd get a kick outta that, H."

"Clarice, I cannot believe you made me do that."

"Hey, don't blame me, Mr. Celebrity. No one can make you do anything you don't want to do and don't act like you didn't enjoy it."

"I most certainly did not enjoy it. It was a personal affront to my dignity."

Clarice ignored his blustering, "You go ahead huffing and puffing around blustering about your dignity. I'm going upstairs and getting naked. Feel free to join me or stay down here and complain it's your choice."

Hannibal was caught off-guard for a moment and stood at the foot of the stairs hypnotized by the sway of her hips as she ascended. He thought for a moment of how breathtaking the view would be if she were already naked. Releasing a deep sigh he imagined the slightest hint of her hidden sex being revealed ever so briefly by the shift of her shapely bottom. His heart began to pound.

Not hearing her husband follow, Clarice stopped at the half-way point of the stairs, turned to face her husband and wagged a seductive finger enticing him to follow.

"Hey H, I get the no sex in the limo stance but you told me we would sort that out at home."

"Yes, Clarice."

"Well, we're home! Bring your sexy ass up the stairs, get your clothes off and let's sort this out."

Realizing she was serious, Hannibal bounded up the stairs with the energy of a man that had stored up far too much energy.

Passing Clarice he stood at the top of the staircase and smiled. "Do try to hurry, Clarice. We haven't as much time as I would prefer."

"It's only three-thirty. We've got the rest of the day and most of the evening. The dinner doesn't even begin until seven o'clock. That will give us time for lots of privacy and a nap at the end as well before supper."

"No nap at the end…just a brief rest and a new beginning, yes? As for supper, I'm not hungry." he stated with a playful glint in his eye.

"Hell, I'm game if you are, handsome."

"I am more than game, my Love."

The moment Clarice topped the staircase Hannibal scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bedroom. He placed her on his side of the bed, walked around to her side and very neatly turned back the bedcovers. Hannibal then moved over to Clarice and starting with her shoes, very gently began to undress her.

They spoke very casually as he removed each article of her clothing.

"You beauty is unparalleled, Clarice."

"You aren't so tough to look at either H."

"I find myself hoping our child has your features."

"Why not yours, H…you're so distinctive."

"Precisely… I don't wish our child labeled a freak. Don't forget, Clarice. Though the ultrasound confirms ten fingers, the child may yet have my eyes."

"I love your eyes, don't you?"

"While I have no qualms about them now, I didn't love them as a child. They made me different. Different when you are young is most assuredly not enjoyable. It made me quite the target."

"Somehow I doubt, with the name Hannibal Lecter, that any child will be foolish enough to bully him."

Clarice was now resting on the bed fully nude. Hannibal stood back to admire her.

"Before you deliver, my Love, I intend to sketch you. Would you grace me by posing or must I rely on my memory?"

"Your memory's always been pretty accurate, what do you need me for?"

"I would think that would be obvious; for my own personal enjoyment Clarice."

"How about we split the difference and you sketch me while I sleep?"

"Still a tad shy, my Love? You needn't be. You are perfection in my eyes."

When he was left with her undergarments he sat on the edge of the bed, wrapped his arms around her body.

Clarice continued, "It's not that I'm shy it's just that you really can be intense, you know?"

As he unhinged the clasped hooks and released her breasts he cupped them gently and whispered lustily in her ear.

"I know."

He was so attentive and appreciative of her body, not really admiring, more worshipping, that she was now for the most part comfortable with his gaze. It had been far too intense an experience for her initially.

As Hannibal began to undress Clarice watched him intently as he removed each article of clothing without as much as breaking eye contact. He walked back and forth around the bed lighting candles and assembling pillows in a very precise way.

It looks like my man has a plan.

She marveled at how unabashed he was and how comfortable he seemed to be with his own physicality while unclothed. Nudity to him seemed as natural as it would for a lion or a tiger. He was equally elegant and somehow seemed much more dangerous unclothed. It was as if donning garments in some way civilized him. In this state he was intense, primal and with an edge of savagery she found enticing.

His organizational tasks complete, Hannibal took to his knees much like a child praying beside the bed. Clarice was resting on her back, her belly undulating with the baby's movement. Clearly marveling at the shifting life within Hannibal Lecter ran his hand along the rise of her belly skimming his palm and fingers along the surface. "I am in utter awe of you, Clarice. Our child grows within you. You are a miracle."

"Don't go getting dramatic on me, H. Women get pregnant every day. It isn't as if this is the virgin birth."

"When you consider the fact that Mary was no more than a surrogate with God taking the role of supreme sperm donor, this is more much more miraculous, my Love."

Clarice slapped him playfully, "Don't be ridiculous."

"It's true. The heaven's themselves aligned for the birth of the Christ. Consider the fact that the mother was impregnated by an act of God. We had no such advantages. When you too consider how many circumstances sought to prevent our union, our child is most definitely the greater of the two miracles."

"Another one of the reasons I am so much in love with you Hannibal Lecter is you make hyperbole seem pedestrian."

Hannibal stood, scooped his wife up in his arms and carried her to her side of the bed placing her on the nest of pillows he had just created.

"One of the reasons I am so in love with you my lovely wife is that you are a perceptive woman. You know a good thing when you see it."

Clarice slapped her husband's backside as he climbed over her to the opposite side.

"And I know a wise ass when I see it too!"

Hannibal pulled his wife in close. "And it is one you will not soon be rid of, Clarice."

Clarice rested alongside her husband, the full length of her body being cradled gently against his.

"I don't remember saying I wanted to be rid of it. I've said I wanted a piece of it, but that's about it."

Hannibal began to kiss and bite gently at the muscles of her shoulder and neck.

"You have the most elegant anatomy Clarice."

"Hey, H…If you don't mind…less talking…more touching."

"As you wish, my Love."

Hannibal began to smooth his hand, trilling his fingertips along the length of her arms. She rolled impatiently into his embrace, grabbed his hips, pulled him in and pressed her body against his now firm flesh.

"You're all ready and so am I. I want you now, H."

"You are having me now, Clarice. I'll get there. You needn't rush." You must trust that I want you as well my Love.

"Get there faster."

Hannibal moved further down the bed, and kissed her belly, smoothing his hands over the curve. He began to work his way lower and could feel Clarice tense in anticipation. His nostrils flared as he gathered in the sweet scent of her arousal mixing with his own.

There was another scent which piqued his curiosity. He would leave that for now but made a mental note to explore it further without her knowledge. He had no societal taboo issues in regards to enjoying her body but thought she might. He would test that soon. First, relief would have to come to them both.

Clarice shifted her body, positioning it higher on the bed and by default, positioning Hannibal much lower.

"Clarice?"

"Take the hint, H."

Hannibal smoothed his hand down her belly and turned his palm allowing his fingers to slip between her legs. He very gently lifted her knee and opened her leg outward resting it on a pillow he had placed.

He then moved between her legs and lowered his head to her.

Clarice moaned softly as he sought to please, very tenderly attending to her with his mouth and tongue.

Shifting her body to the warm wet caresses she allowed him freedom of movement by resisting the urge to close her thighs and pull him tighter against her body. Hannibal took advantage of the freedom and arching his neck, rolled his head up and down as his wet tongue fully laved her flesh.

Clarice shifted within the pillows as the contact was almost too intense.

Hannibal was enjoying the taste and the tactile sensation of her flesh rolling and folding within his lips. He grabbed for her hips and pulled her tighter against in mouth moaning deeply as he probed, lapped and teased at the flesh until he could feel Clarice begin to tremble and her breathing shorten.

"H…H…oh…oh…oh God, H…H…oh God!"

Hannibal swirled his tongue around her most sensitive flesh, drawing it in he sipped gently at the swollen flesh flushed full with desire.

Clarice pulled at the bedclothes, pulling armfuls to her body as she writhed in pleasure.

Again, Hannibal pulled her tightly against himself, his muffled vocalizations low and primal.

As his pleasure hummed in the back of his throat and rumbled up his vocal chords and into his mouth, Hannibal growled within her flesh, teasing as his flattened tongue slipped up the channel of flesh over and over again.

The constant pressure of his lingual muscle combined with the strange vibrating sensations of his continual groaning and growling suddenly sent intense pulses of pleasure surging through her body. She shuddered as the shockwaves of orgasm rolled through Clarice causing her to grip his shoulders for support as her small frame shook with the full effects of her long awaited release.

Hannibal hummed his approval continuing to enjoy Clarice's rapture. He was careful not to shift too much as he had learned by trial and error that once he had found the right spot, he should stay put. Clarice was not one to be trifled with if her pleasure was interrupted.

When the waves of pleasure waned, Clarice tousled Hannibal's hair.

"Okay, come up here…it's your turn big guy."

Hannibal hugged her thighs and rested his head gently on his wife's belly listening to the ambient sounds of his baby growing within. He released a deeply held breath and whispered.

"Soon Clarice…soon."

He was already a fully contented man.

Until the next chapter my friends,

LH