LETTING GO

His wife now satisfied and he himself feeling just a bit claustrophobic Hannibal stood from the bed, walked across the room, and threw open the window. He stretched his shoulders, opened his arms widely to fully expand his chest, and arched his back with such an exaggerated range of motion that he was raised to the tips of his toes.

Rocking back on his heels he inhaled deeply taking in the intense stream of scents flooding the room. Doctor Hannibal Lecter, home for the first time in several weeks, stood shaking out his muscles and allowed the warm breeze of the beckoning season to surround him.

The days were lengthening with the change of seasons and the sun was just beginning to set. This cast a warm crimson glow in the room. Clarice had been surprised her husband rolled quickly off the bed and therefore watched him very closely enchanted by the play of sunlight reflecting within Hannibal's unique irises.

I adore his eyes, shimmering like swirling fireflies. I wonder why he got up…anyway, he looks happy. He's probably just feeling a bit hemmed in.

Clarice watched as he moved freely around the room swinging his arms wide and opening his body language much more than he had ever displayed while incarcerated. It was as if Hannibal while imprisoned somehow retreated physically.

Obviously relishing the complete lack of physical restraint his movements were both balletic and raw so efficient and elegant he was mesmerizing to watch. She followed his actions as she considered his appearance.

Does he restrict his body in prison because of some sub-conscious anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress? Is it intentional? What am I talking about! Of course it's intentional. There are no accidents with H. He's too disciplined for it to be anything but self-control, like he conserves himself, powers down and hibernates somehow. What an incredible ability.

Hannibal's deep, lush baritone broke the silence. There was happiness in his voice, "I truly treasure our life together don't you?"

"More than I can ever express, H."

"Yes…I feel much the same, Clarice. It has been an exceptional day, wouldn't you say?"

Clarice pulled a pillow under her arm and leaning on an elbow raised up slightly to watch his reaction to her next comment. She had an impish expression on her face as she teased, "You're just saying that because you got away with gutting Bloom."

Hannibal took another deep breath and vigorously massaged his chest as he turned toward his wife.

"It cannot be because I have just now made love to the most beautiful woman in the world?"

Clarice shook her head, "Nope…not buying it for three reasons."

"Do enlighten me, Clarice."

Thrill me with your acumen.

"Number one, I'm not the most beautiful woman in the world. Two, we make love all the time, and three, you made sure I was satisfied but you haven't had your turn yet. No…Bloom's definitely the reason."

As Hannibal considered her comment, Clarice remembered a conversation they shared from behind the bars in Tennessee. He had a way of framing words that made them seem three-dimensional. It was as if the thoughts he voiced were rounded and had actual weight to them.

Standing across from him with just a few feet of distance and a few lengths of iron bar between them she could feel the power of his mind. Within that concentrated span of space and time his incisive intuition, blinding intelligence and his personal intensity drew her in. The moment his finger brushed against her, within that single flash it was as if all the windows in her mind aligned allowing her to live a lifetime in that one instant. Somehow, as if born from his touch, she understood that from that moment on their lives would be forever joined.

Don't you feel eyes moving over your body, Clarice? And don't your eyes seek out the things you want?

Hannibal paced in front of the window like a lawyer might in front of a jury as he addressed her statements one by one.

"To counter your claims, first, in my eyes you are not only the most beautiful woman in the world, you are the only woman in the world. Second, though we make love frequently I have been somewhat denied as of late, therefore this day stands out in that regard. Third, satisfying you satisfies me immensely not to mention that the night is young and I have high hopes for the remainder."

Clarice watched him move back and forth and enjoyed every moment of his nudity as she was no longer shy or embarrassed to be seen considering his anatomy. If Hannibal noticed, which he certainly had, he didn't make any particular note of it. Instead he slapped his palms on his pectoral muscles and continued to breathe as if gathering the aromas surrounding his home while venting the prison air from his system. The more she watched him move, the more Clarice wanted him back in their bed.

"Be honest, H…Bloom's a pretty big factor in your mood. Why can't you just be at one with it? I am."

Hannibal's voice was unusually animated, lyrical almost, "Yes, I will admit that momentous event most definitely added to my enjoyment of the afternoon. He turned out to be an exceptional dance partner following my lead quite well wouldn't you say?"

Clarice smiled widely, amused at the dance reference, "Yeah H, Bloom was the Rogers to your Astaire."

"Quite. What did you think of my choreography? Well- played, yes?"

"I was definitely impressed with your little death dance. They could advance that video a frame at a time and no one would know you sliced that little shit wide open, not to mention turning into that pepper spray…truly inspired. Smelled it coming at you, hmm?"

"A mile away," He proclaimed proudly.

Seeking to expend his excessive energy he reached behind him placed his palms on the sill, leaned backward toward the window, relaxed his body and lowered himself until his bottom was eight or ten inches from the ground. Slowly, he forced all of his strength down through his hands and began to press himself back up until he could again lock out his elbows. He repeated the process several times.

Clarice lifted her chin to catch his attention, "H, you might want to back up from that window."

Hannibal was enjoying the workout. "Now why would I want to do that?"

"Because you're naked as the day you were born and with all the paparazzi out there, I don't know if you should be parading in front of the window shaking what your mama made you."

Hannibal laughed at the colloquialism, "I am not ashamed of my body, Clarice."

"I'm not ashamed of your body either but that's not the point."

"Then pray tell me, Clarice what is the point?"

"That's the side of the house that faces the Warden's. I know I've told you to watch out for that before, you'll give the old guy an inferiority complex and his wife a goddamned heart attack."

Hannibal smiled, "I merely wanted to experience the fresh air, Clarice. I am not trying to terrorize our elderly neighbors."

"Maybe you're trying get featured in the National Tattler. You'd make one hell of a centerfold!"

Laughing, he straightened from the last push up and moved from the window, "Heaven forbid."

He crossed the room quickly. The moment Hannibal moved back to bed Clarice reached for him.

He lifted the down comforter and slipped into bed cuddling beside Clarice and pulling her against his body. She rested her head on his chest and occasionally threaded her fingers through the hair between his pectorals tugging it upward as she smoothed her hand over the breadth of his body.

He could feel his heart beat quicken.

Suddenly Clarice lifted her head slightly from her husband and looked up at him.

"I almost forgot I scheduled a tour of the hospital's maternity ward so we could have a look around. I wanted to see what I'm up against when the big day comes. I know you'll be bored to tears but I hope you're okay with it. It's a tour for couples and I don't want to go it alone."

Hannibal considered her statement as he simultaneously remembered a warm summer day keeping watch over his sister with their dog standing guard nearby. They were in their garden looking at the shining vegetables trailing on vines.

Childhood had initially held such promise. No matter…my children will have better. Children…will she want more?

He shifted his thoughts to his wife.

"Not to worry, Clarice I would be more than happy to accompany you on the tour."

"I was hoping you would say that."

He pulled her in tightly and kissed the top of her head. "Why?"

"Because, my dearest husband, I can't stand making small talk."

Hannibal laughed so heartily at the statement it caused his wife's head to bobble slightly on his chest.

"And what would your dislike of small talk have to do with my attendance?"

"Because when I've got you on my arm the women whisper behind our backs, and the men are too impressed or too scared shitless to approach you, so even though everybody will stare, they'll leave us the hell alone and I'm totally cool with that."

Hannibal traced little infinity symbols on the small of her back lightly with his fingernails, "And that is preferable to making small talk?"

"Damn straight."

Again he inhaled deeply enjoying the aromas wafting through the open window mixing with the sweet scent from their marital bed. Clarice's scent however, was being complicated by an additional note. He recognized the source but the bouquet was one with which he was unfamiliar. His curiosity again piqued Hannibal Lecter planned to test his wife's societal boundaries.

Very slowly, he began to kiss Clarice. It was chaste kiss very emotive and filled with tenderness.

She responded in kind, matching his surface sensitivity with simmering undertones of passion. Slowly Hannibal increased the intensity and the intrusive nature of the contact by slipping his tongue very gently between her parted lips.

Clarice matched Hannibal's movements showing similar restraint by not deepening the kiss too quickly, instead enjoying the tenuous probing nature of the exchange. Several minutes passed before Hannibal moved from her lips to her neck, continuing the light kisses. Occasionally, he would gather a bit of flesh in his mouth and suck very gently wanting to slowly introduce the sensation without seeming too direct.

As Hannibal used his mouth to explore her body, Clarice used her hands to explore his.

So much power in such a compact frame it was like watching a jungle cat the way he ripped that man open. He's so visceral, capable of such savagery and yet such tenderness...

"I love you, H."

Hannibal paused a moment, just long enough to respond before returning to his exploration of her body, "I love you as well, Clarice."

He does love me. Hannibal Lecter loves me.

The thought of it brought her tremendous peace.

Clarice rested alongside his body and felt the strength of his heartbeat as it pounded against her own. She was powerfully attracted to him from the very beginning though she hadn't dared admit it to herself. Their journey to find one another had been surreal as she had felt an intense pull toward him and believed the same could be said for Hannibal.

There was no reason they should be together and yet no way they could remain apart.

Their attraction was as strong now as it had always been. Stronger in fact, as together they were formidable. The life before they were lovers, the life before they became one, that life, that Clarice Starling seemed a lifetime away.

Maybe it should it bother me that he wanted to kill Bloom but I swear for what that bastard did I would have gladly gutted him myself if I could have spared H even five minutes of that pain. Christ, what does that say about me?

She wasn't disturbed by the question she posed herself. It was more an example of her musing than anything else. She was comfortable with her husband's predatory nature and was finding hints of the same within herself at times. She saw the justice in it and felt, after all he endured that her husband earned Bloom's death. She felt no remorse in the unlamented forensic psychiatrist's passing and reminded herself it was a just kill and that in spite of his desire to take that life, her husband was a good man.

Some people are such wastes of the skin that wrap their pathetic souls that the world becomes a little brighter when they pass. So what if H expedites the process, if he gets a little pleasure from it, good for him. He deserved it. God knows what Bloom did to Hannibal would have killed most men. It could very easily have been the other way around.

"Roll on your side toward me, H. I want to touch you."

Hannibal dutifully slipped Clarice from atop his chest and turned onto his right side to face her.

Wanting to touch her husband as much to comfort herself as her husband, Clarice massaged Hannibal's arms and shoulders prodding his muscles to work the tension from them. Hannibal flinched and groaned as Clarice firmly probed the striations, working the muscle groups by digging her fingertips deeply into his tissue to separate any nodules. She gripped his deltoids firmly causing Hannibal to arch his back and growl slightly.

"What's the matter, H…my poor growling baby can't take a little pressure?"

"Actually, I would describe it as less of a growl as that implies a level of aggression, and more of an enthusiastic purr as I am enjoying this very much."

Noticing Clarice was quite distracted with her massage technique Hannibal lowered his head to his wife's breast and very lightly brushed his lips across the coral peak, the flesh responded to his touch tensing immediately against his tongue. Not sensing any distress, he continued to bathe the pebbled flesh teasing with the tip of his tongue just enough to encourage a soft sigh.

Still no protestation, she is either unaware or uninhibited. Based on her Protestant sensibilities I would think the former. We shall see.

Hannibal very gently kissed her breasts, speaking softly as for this he felt he needed permission.

"Clarice, have you noticed any changes to your breasts?"

"They're swollen and a little bit tender. Why? What's wrong?"

He continued to kiss them and occasionally draw the tightened flesh into his mouth sucking very lightly.

"Nothing is wrong it is a perfectly natural progression. I wondered if you were aware your colostrum has come in."

Again, he traced his tongue over the bumpy flesh in tiny circles and sucking very gently as he waited for a reaction. She remained perfectly still, though her soft vocalizations of pleasure ceased.

"H?"

"Yes my Love?"

"What exactly is happening right now?"

"I am enjoying your body, Clarice."

"Is something coming out of my body, H?"

"Yes."

"So you thought you'd have a taste without even asking?"

"I hadn't considered I needed permission to make love to you. It isn't as if you've ever complained where I placed my mouth before. If there something about this that concerns you I will regretfully refrain."

"When you put it like that it seems silly but… I don't know…I'm not sure how I feel about it."

Hannibal continued the contact in a very delicate, non-intrusive way. He drew her into his mouth again and sucked very gently. He didn't respond at all to her statement, instead he continued to attend to his own pleasure. The taste was sweet with a flavor reminiscent of a summer melon. The sticky consistency was appealing as well as it required some effort on his part. It was very sensual experience and one he hoped she might continue to allow.

Clarice roughly tousled his hair to get his attention. "Hey… H?"

Hannibal allowed but a brief pause in the contact, "Yes, Clarice?"

"I said I'm not sure how I feel about this and you didn't respond."

"I assure you I wasn't ignoring you. I was simply allowing you the time to assess your feelings. This is a personal decision, Clarice. I have already displayed how I feel about this new development. You must decide whether or not you wish to disallow the contact. I will respect your feelings though I assure you I will be somewhat disappointed should you deny me this."

"Why would you be disappointed?"

"Because this is something I have never before experienced and you are absolutely delicious my Love."

He returned to her breast this time, latching more firmly to test her resolve.

Will you deny me or will you surprise me once again, my Love.

Clarice rested quietly considering the situation.

"You're not freaked out about this, H? You don't think it's gross?" she asked with a self-conscious edge to her voice.

Again, a disappointed pause as he responded.

"No, quite the opposite, I am enjoying it immensely, Clarice. It is a part of your body not unlike any other. If you consider this distasteful, I will defer to your wishes but understand that I have no such aversion. In fact I find it quite pleasurable and was hoping you might find it the same."

"It's not milk?"

"No, the milk will come in a day or two after the birth."

"Okay, because an eight or ten pound Hannibal Lecter won't be able to compete for his food with the one hundred eighty pound version."

"Perhaps the child would prefer formula."

"The child gets dibs wise ass, so once he's born, you're either on the wagon or you are second in line. Do we understand each other?"

"We understand each other perfectly, my Love. I am content to wait my turn."

You are so much more than most. So willing to explore, so willing to trust, I wonder if you know how attractive a trait that is? I am in awe of you, Clarice.

Clarice closed her eyes and allowed Hannibal his enjoyment, finding some of her own in the process. It was a strange sensation. Not at all displeasing, in fact it was quite pleasant. A warm feeling flooded her body as he suckled gently at her breast. It was a surprisingly loving and intimate exchange.

Realizing he had not reached his own completion, Clarice reached below and very gently took him in her hand rolling his flesh back and forth as it tightened with her touch. He moaned softly as she moved up and down the full length of her husband encouraging him further. His hips began to roll very slightly with the rhythm of her touch. He did not release her breast.

"H, I can do more for you if you let go."

Hannibal mumbled the corner of his mouth as with his lips remained latched to her flesh. "Uhn uh."

"So you're staying put?"

"Umm hmm."

He rocked his hips forward, encouraging her to continue. Clarice gripped him firmly. As she moved up and down she would alternately squeeze very gently and relax her hold on him releasing some of the tension and allowing the friction to build. She paused a moment, just to tease.

Hannibal grabbed her wrist and began to move it for her, setting the desired pace.

"Mmmm, Clarice…mmm…like this…don't stop."

"Okay, H, I've got it now…"

Clarice continued the rhythm Hannibal set releasing him for just a moment to roll her cupped palm in tight circles over and over again, rolling it over alternately palming and gripping the most sensitive flesh at the tip.

Hannibal continued to mouth his approval against her flesh moaning softly and rolling his hips along with her hand as she stroked his firmed flesh. Soon he approached rapture causing his heart to race and his breath to hitch intermittently in his throat. His stomach muscles were jumping and tightening with each breathtaking spasm.

This intense contact combined his forced celibacy and the new taste and sensation of his wife's breast, drove his passion bucking his hips in shortened quickened bursts as he moaned deeply and repeated her name over and over again.

Clarice could clearly see her husband's approaching apogee Clarice began to whisper in his ear, "Come for me, H…relax. Just let it go."

Her voice, so soft caressing his ear, gave Hannibal a sudden rush of warmth combined with a burning within the deepest part of him suddenly surged upward causing his muscles to contract for a moment. Feeling the quick spasms, sensing his release was near Clarice intensified her attention to his body.

Within moments, Hannibal's breathing became rough and ragged. Wanting the timing to be just right, he held her breast in his mouth as he began to release his hold on his body.

Clarice could feel the pulsing spasms as his orgasm took hold, the violent shudder forcing his breath to puff quickly from his nose, heating her breasts. As he shook from the release, he latched down and sucked hard on her breast causing her to breath to catch in her throat. The surprising sensation was instantly orgasmic. Allowing the feeling to wash over her, she shook within her husband's arms.

The couple held each other for a very long time as the sensations buzzed along their nerve endings, the afterglow as satisfying, if not more satisfying than the acts themselves.

Hannibal was fully relaxed and at peace with his life as he very slowly drifted off to sleep holding the love of his life in his arms. They remained this way for more than an hour.

Suddenly something stirred Hannibal awake. His nostrils flared as he lifted his head from the pillow and searched the breeze coming in from the window.

He announced a split second before the doorbell rang, "Clarice, I believe we have company."

UNTIL THE NEXT CHAPTER MY FRIENDS,

LH