Evolution Chapter 4
That night Clarice had a dreamless sleep and she woke at dawn feeling energised and refreshed. She donned her running clothes she brought from home and set out on a jog. The city was still mostly asleep as dawn wasn't far off and she hit a gentle pace. She loved this time of day, when the hustle and bustle is yet to get underway. When she arrived back at the hotel, the staff were dropping of a full cart of breakfast. Never one to eat a big breakfast, she did however mean to make full use of the fresh pot of coffee she saw on the cart. Hannibal was just finishing transferring the content of the cart to their table when she walked in.
"Ah, lured by the smell of coffee I see" he said with a smile "good morning my dear. Did you have a nice run?"
Clarice could see the waiter lingering by the cart in her peripheral vision and stepped up to Dr Lecter, kissing him on the cheek.
"Yes, thank you. You should really join me one of these days"
The corners of his eyes crinkled with his smile and his eyes danced with pleasure she hadn't ever seen before as she brushed her lips over his cheek. It was the first time that she had approached him, and he was beyond pleased.
"Hmm, we'll see" he teased as he let his hand rest lightly on her hip.
"Yes, yes. Excuses" she teased right back.
He winked at her and stepped to the waiter to give him his tip. Clarice could feel herself blushing and hoped that he didn't notice.
As if that man misses anything
"I'm quickly going to jump through the shower, then I'll join you" she called over her shoulder while Dr Lecter was still occupied with the waiter.
They spent the day sight-seeing. Hannibal took her to the stained-glass centre Carthres was famous for, they visited the Musee des Beaux Arts, wandered along the river Eure before looping back to the hotel.
As she was sitting next to Hannibal in the concert hall, dressed in a simple but elegant black dress, she reflected that it felt almost surreal; the whole day felt so easy and unforced. He was dressed in a black tux and held her hand on his knee in a firm but gentle hold. He seemed to be focussed on the music, and so she was surprised when he turned to her and winked. She blushed and tried to focus on the music. Intensely aware of the man next to her.
"Would you care for a night-cap my dear?" Dr Lecter asked when they arrived back at the hotel. Clarice wasn't particularly tired so she readily agreed. She waited out on the balcony and watched the city below. It really was a magnificent view. Dr Lecter went to sit on the couch and she joined him. When he put his arm around her shoulder, she easily and naturally leaned into him, resting her head on her shoulder. There weren't any words between them now, she didn't feel there needed to be. They sat like that, quietly sipping the wine he provided, till she became aware of the chill that has crept in with the evening air. She shivered and Dr Lecter dropped a kiss to the top of her head.
"Would you like to retire?" it was almost a whisper, as if he was reluctant to break this spell.
"Yeah" she answered also quietly "Thanks for a great day"
"You are most welcome. Sleep well, my dear"
"You too. Goodnight"
Clarice dropped a chaste kiss to his cheek before getting up.
She reflected in the shower on their day.
Will everyday with him be like this? Probably
That night, she had one of her usual night terrors. She woke with a start and all but fell out of bed. She was filled with a nervous energy and felt she needed some space. Exiting her room, she went to stand at the sitting room balcony. The night had turned colder and she shivered in her t-shirt and shorts, but the cold air helped to clear some of the images from her mind. She nearly jumped out of her skin when a warm hand caressed her back.
"Bad dream?" Dr Lecter asked, joining her on the balcony. His hand was making soothing motions on her back
"Yeah, sorry. Didn't mean to wake you"
"No bother" he answered and he took in her rapid breathing and could all but smell the stress and adrenaline coursing through her veins. The intensity of his protective urge surprised him, although he mused, he shouldn't really be surprised as to the intensity of his emotions as far as she was concerned. He turned her to him and wrapped her in his embrace. She went willingly and hugged him back. Her head was turned to the couch, and she reflected on how good it felt to be resting against him then. How good it felt to be held by him now. He was the one to break the embrace after a few minutes. Clarice was more than prepared to go back to her room. She was sure she wouldn't get anymore sleep, but she thought she'd watch some TV. She was unprepared when he tugged her by the hand towards his room. He must have sensed some of her panic and resistance because he paused and looked back at her.
"Just to sleep. I'd like to sleep holding you in my arms, if you'll allow"
She considered a bit before following him. Once settled in his bed, with her head on his shoulder and his arms holding her close, she felt completely enveloped by him. She could hear his steady heart beat under her ear, her head moved with his breath and his smell surrounded her.
Dr Lecter reflected that matters had progressed a bit faster than he had planned, but he was very pleased to be where he was at the moment. He knew she had wanted to get back into the warm when he felt her shivering a bit with the cold, but found himself loath to let her return to her bed alone. Her breath was already evening out and her body was soft and relaxed against his. He was moved by her trust in him. He knew vulnerability was a difficult thing, for both of them, and he was more than aware of the significance of her allowing herself to fall asleep in his arms. He kept himself awake for a long time to just revel in the feeling of her in his arms. He knew she wasn't quite ready to leave her old life behind and join him in his yet, but he desperately yearned for the time when she would be.
Clarice woke quietly and gently the next morning. She was laying on her side, with Dr Lecter tucked in close to her back, his arm holding her close and his face tucked into her neck. She could feel the soft rustling of his breath on the back of her neck and smiled at the intimate and slightly ticklish feeling. She didn't know what time it was, but it was still early. She slowly and carefully extracted herself from his embrace to go use the bathroom. He was lying om his back with his hand behind his head when she returned. His eyes were closed when she opened the door to the bathroom, but he opened them and smiled at her, lifting his arm as an invitation to join him in bed again. She slid back beneath the covers and settled on his chest again, in the same position she had last night. He gave a deep contented sign and momentarily tightened his arms around her. They still haven't spoken but the silence felt easy and natural.
Clarice was surprised when she woke again sometime later. She hadn't meant, or planned on falling asleep again. Dr Lecter was using the arm not holding her close to hold a book. He put the book down next to him and smiled when he felt her stir.
"Good morning" he said and dropped a chaste kiss to her forehead
"Good morning" Clarice replied smiling up at him "What are you reading?"
He turned the book for her to see for herself as explanation. It was the Canterbury Tales by Chaucer.
"I've at least heard of it" she confessed ruefully
"Hmm, I think more people would read it, if they understood just how lewd some of the stories are"
Clarice felt herself blush and hid her face in his chest. His quiet chuckle rumbled through her and he rubbed as he rubbed her back.
"What are we doing today?"
"It's a surprise. All I'm willing to say is that we are going to take a short drive after breakfast"
She jabbed in the ribs and laughing got out of bed again. She looked around his room for the first time and the laughter died in her throat. His bedroom was significantly smaller than hers and his window overlooked the back of the next hotel while hers had its own balcony overlooking the square, similar to the one in the sitting room. He lay in bed observing her.
"Why didn't you give me this room?"
"Oh, my dear. You know why"
Clarice felt a bit overwhelmed but didn't drop his gaze. He smiled and then threw the blankets off himself to get-up.
"Okey dokey. Come, let's order some breakfast, then get going"
The valet pulled up in a beautiful sleek black Jaguar x-type and it stole Clarice's breath for a moment. Dr Lecter was beyond pleased with her reaction, but considerably less pleased with the lingering looks the valet gave Clarice as he was handed his keys. He gave the young man a very stern look that made him visibly blanche. Feeling considerably better, he slid into the driver's side. He reflected on how unaware Clarice seemed to be to her attractiveness. She was again wearing some of the clothes he bought for her and looked absolutely gorgeous in a light blue blouse and cream pants. It meant a lot to him that she had accepted these clothes as hers. He had after all spent a lot of time selecting it for her. He hoped to have the opportunity to show he just how desirable she really was. Clarice was admiring the inside of the car. It was all leather and wood in cream and deep mahogany.
"This is gorgeous" she told him as he was fastening his seatbelt and her genuine enthusiasm warmed him. It really was a beautiful motor vehicle.
"Thank you, I tend to have an eye for beauty" he told her with a wink and she blushed beautifully. He thought her blush was even more becoming in person than he ever imagined it.
As Dr Lecter drove, Clarice reflected that he drove as he did most things, carefully and methodically. He never seemed to feel rushed or anxious and the antics of the French drivers didn't seem to faze him much. Clarice would be the first to admit that she suffered from a bit of road-rage and would have been driven to use all sorts of colourful obscenities by now if she had been driving. When they had passed the second road-sign she thought she had pretty good idea where he was taking her.
"You're taking me to Versailles". It was more of a statement than a fact and she sounded rather smug.
Clever girl
He considered toying with her a bit, seeing as she sounded so sure of herself, but the aim of the trip wasn't to irritate or undermine her self-esteem.
"Indeed, my very Special Agent. You seem to have me figured-out. I'd hate to be predictable"
Clarice snorted "Oh I very much doubt that anyone has ever been able to figure you out"
Without taking his eyes of the road he took her hand and kissed her knuckles
"You do know how to flatter me my dear, but I think you underestimate yourself somewhat" which made her laugh again. He reflected how nice it sounded and how much he wated to hear more of it.
Versailles was way bigger than she imagined, not that she had paid much mind to it until she realised where he was taking her. They spend a good deal of the day there, visiting the castle and the gardens. She was quite hungry when he parked in front of a street café on the outskirts of Chartres later that afternoon but had turned more sombre as he seated her. Dr Lecter sensed her change of mood, and the probable cause for it. He had hoped to come to it before she left.
"Is this what you do?" she asked after he ordered them a bottle of Sauvignon blanc from the Pouilly-Fumé region.
He nodded, deciding against pretending to not to understand what she meant.
"I like taking long walks, or to lay around the house reading. I attend the theatre as often as something interesting or worthwhile is playing. I visit museums and exhibitions. When I first escaped, I toured all the famous opera houses and listened the most renowned orchestras playing live. La Scala, the Berlin Philharmonic. It was magnificent"
"You don't get bored?"
He was tempted to laugh, but answered with the same guilelessness it was asked
"Not yet. There is a lot to see and do. Additionally, drama is over-rated, I've found"
"And us? What do you see for us?"
Again, he smiled, but it was a gentle smile and Clarice struggled to identify the emotion in his eyes. He cocked his head to the side before answering.
"I think you know the answer to that Clarice. I'd like to be your partner, in every way"
He hoped he was clear enough with his succinct answer. It seemed to have satisfied her as the slight tension left her shoulders. He knew she wasn't quite ready to leave her old life, but she was getting there. He wanted her to be sure of her decision so that when she did finally walk out of her old life and joined him in his that she would be free of internal strife and doubt.
Once back at the hotel, he was pleasantly surprised and over-joyed when she joined him I his bed again. He had hoped for just such an occurrence, but did not allow himself to get too hopeful.
Clarice for her part couldn't remember a night she had slept better than in his arms and was keen to try the experiment again.
That's what this was right? An experiment to see if I'll fit into his world.
She knew that he wouldn't make an advance, he had after all told her so. It would be left up to her, but she felt no pressure or rush. She would be leaving in a few short days' time and she kept deliberately ignoring thinking about it yet.
Dr Lecter held her sleeping form in his arms, allowing himself to get immersed in the sensuality of it. He dearly wanted to move their relationship to the next level, but he knew that if they were to become intimate now, that he would not be able to let her go in a few days. His self-control can only be stretched so far. To have her, and then watch her walk back to her abusive husband that was the FBI would be excruciating.
For Clarice the next few days sped buy as if in a blur of museums, castles, restaurants and parks. But amid all of the excitement he was there like a grounding anchor. Although they were very busy, it was restful and relaxing in a way she never expected.
She was packing her bag on the last morning. The chauffeur would take her back to the train station that she found sudden inexplicable tears in her eyes.
You don't have to leave.
Yeah, I kinda do. I can't just leave my job, everything I've worked for, just like that
Why not?
I'm not ready to. Fuck
She wiped her face and checked herself in the mirror before going out to the sitting room to Dr Lecter. He seemed more distant and stoic than he did the last few days
Of course he is, dummy, you're leaving him
He obviously read her emotions despite her attempt to hide them. He stepped into the personal space, like her had on so many numerous occasions these last few days, and cradled her face in his hands. She closed her eyes and tried to memorise the feeling of his hands and the smell of his skin.
"When you are ready my dear. I'll be waiting hmmm?"
He said the last to her forehead and she stepped fully into his arms so that she could give him a fierce embrace. The knock on the door came way too quickly. He was the one to step back and open the door to hand her bag to the chauffeur.
"I'll see you later my dear" he said as he dropped a kiss to her forehead
"Bye" was all she felt safe to say as she followed the chauffeur out the door.
