p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Baldwin was buttoning up his shirt after taking a shower. He decided to take it solo even though he would have loved to have taken a shower with his mate…his mate…he paused at that thought. It still had not completely sunken in. He could sense her sitting out on the balcony not just with his vampire senses but also through the bond they created the night before. It was a pleasant feeling right at his heart that would always serve as a reminder he was not alone in this world. He finished getting dressed and walked out to the balcony. He leaned against the door frame admiring Alice sitting in the Venice morning light on the balcony deeply engrossed in a book. She had her feet propped up on the other chair and a hot cup of tea was steaming next to her on the table. Feeling his gaze on her Alice turned toward him and gave him a big smile as their eyes met. Baldwin saw love and adoration in her blue eyes before he felt it. Baldwin met her smile with his own. "Do you need something?" she asked. "Can't a man just stand and appreciate his beautiful wife? Baldwin asked back. He straightened to approach the table but Alice gestured for him to stay where he was. "A wife also has a right to be able to appreciate her handsome husband," she said as her eyes swept over him from head to toe. He was perfection casually leaning in the doorway wearing a light blue button-up shirt with grey slacks, his slightly damp copper hair glistening in the sunlight. "Enjoying the view?" he asked. "Immensely," Alice purred. Baldwin moved to stand next to her chair, bending down to kiss her. "Mmmmm…I could get use to this," he murmured still hovering over her. "Get use to what?" Alice asked. "Beginning everyday with you." At his response Alice leaned up for another kiss, which Baldwin met with enthusiasm, their tongues twisting around each other in equal dominance as they deepened the kiss. As they broke off Baldwin planted a small kiss to her forehead before sitting down in the chair that had been occupied by Alice's feet. As Baldwin poured himself a cup of tea he caught the title of the book she had been reading. "/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; -webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Death on the Nile/spanspan style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"? How many times have you read that one?" he teased. "I've lost count. You can never read the Queen of Crime too many times." Alice replied in fake offense but Baldwin could see the amused twinkle in her eyes. "What should we do today?" Baldwin asked Alice as they sipped their tea. "Don't you have business that you came here for?" she inquired. "Oh, um that really was just an excuse to leave Sept Tours and to put some physical distance between us," Baldwin answered with embarrassment. Having cast his eyes down to the ground he lifted them to see her response to his admission. He expected to see disappointment and maybe a little bit of hurt in her expression but all he saw was understanding. Alice reached across and gave his hand laying on top of the table a gentle squeeze. "None of that matters now," he continued looking her directly in the eye. "Even if I did have meetings to attend I would cancel them all for you," he said lifting up her hand still on top of his and gently brushing his lips along her knuckles. Alice shivered from the sensation and from the intensity of emotion she could see in his golden brown eyes as well as feel through the mating bond. "What else did you have planned for last night?" she asked after a moment of being lost in each other's eyes. "I was going to take you to one of the jazz clubs here in Venice, but that can wait until this evening," he replied, "but is there anything you want to do while we are here before we have to return to France?" Alice took a moment to think. "Let's get out of Venice. I think a day spent in Padova would be fun," Alice suggested. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Padova was quiet and peaceful compared to the tourist-filled Venice. Alice and Baldwin leisurely walked through the town. Arm and arm they wandered through Prato della Valle admiring each of the statues that lined the square. Much to Alice's surprise Baldwin allowed her to take photos of him and of them together as a couple, seeming to enjoy playing tourist with his wife. That afternoon they found themselves at a small, old brick bridge that stretched over the small river that ran through Padova. Baldwin was opening a bottle of a local carmenère wine they had bought on a complete whim from one of the shops they had passed during their stroll. Alice sat on the ledge of the bridge, her feet dangling over the water flowing below, as she watched Baldwin smell the wine before pouring it into the two wine glasses they had also bought with the wine. "Does it meet your standards?" Alice asked as Baldwin handed her a glass of the bright ruby red wine. "It passes the smell test, we shall see if it passes the taste test," Baldwin replied as he joined her on the ledge. "A small toast," Baldwin started, lifting up his glass, "to making many more beautiful memories together like this one, Lux Mea." Alice's heart skipped a beat at his use of his special term of endearment for her. It had been a couple of decades since the last time he had used it. "Cor Meum," was all she replied as their glasses clinked together. Alice smelled the wine and the pleasant aroma of mulberries and spices hit her nose. When she finally took a sip, she found the strong taste of the wine that was then followed by a lingering fruity aftertaste pleasurable. Baldwin gave a sigh of contentment. "I've forgotten how to enjoy life and live in the moment," Baldwin said. "I say this with love, but you are a workaholic my dear," Alice commented."But I have you to remind me to slow down and take in the small moments," Baldwin replied, planting a kiss on her cheek. Alice looked out at the stream and at the man sitting beside her. This moment was perfect. Sitting here, drinking wine, enjoying the stunning scenery, and enjoying each other's company was perfect. She wished it could last forever but knew that eventually they would have to return to reality. As if sensing her thoughts Baldwin wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. She smiled up at him, he smiled back and then kissed her. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Later in the evening as promised Baldwin took Alice out to a small restaurant in the heart of Venice where a live Jazz group was performing. The surroundings were cozy, the wine delicious, and the music was good but Alice was itching to return to the palazzo. Sensing Alice was not completely enjoying herself, as the musicians took a break between sets Baldwin motioned for them to leave. Once they were back at the palazzo Baldwin asked, "Alice, what's the matter? Did you not like the music?" Alice shook her head. "It's silly," she said. "Tell me," Baldwin gently demanded. Alice looked at him and saw the concern in his eyes. "Well, I was enjoying the music but there was no room to dance. I really wanted to come home and dance with you." At her words Baldwin sighed in relief and chuckled, "I can accommodate that." He offered his arm to her and led her to a large but cozy living room. Leaving her in the middle of the room he then started moving furniture against the walls for more floor space and opened up all the doors leading out to the balcony. Once finished with that he then started rifling through a pile of records until he found the one he was looking for and then placed it on an old but well loved record player. Alice smiled as the beginning notes of Benny Goodman's 'Stompin At the Savoy' started to play. "Our favorite," Alice said with delight. "Of course," Baldwin said as he grabbed her hand and spun her around. Dancing had always been their favorite way to spend time together for when they danced the rest of the world seemed to melt away until it was just the two of them and the music. Tonight was no different as they gazed into each other's eyes as they spun around the room to the greats of the Swing Era. Alice's body tingled everywhere Baldwin's hands touched as they danced. She was blissfully happy being in Baldwin's arms as they slowly danced to Glenn Miller's 'Moonlight Serenade.' "I could stay like this forever," she said into his shoulder. "As could I, Lux Mea," he whispered into her ear. As the next song came on Alice moved to change positions but Baldwin still held her close to him, his hands on her hips as he looked at her desire swirling in his eyes. He brushed a hand along her hair and then down her cheek. "You know what song we haven't danced to yet…" he trailed off as he then quickly moved over to the record player. His abrupt absence left Alice's head spinning only for a moment until she heard the distinct notes of Benny Goodman's 'Sing, Sing, Sing (with a swing)' and then Baldwin's hands were once again on her body guiding her across the floor. It was the last song they had danced together to at a concert in New York back in 1938 before the start of World War II. For this reason despite not being a romantic song it had become particularly special to the couple. At the end of the song, which was also the end of the record, Baldwin dipped Alice back and then as he pulled her back up crushed his lips to hers. Alice could not get over how different kissing Baldwin felt since they completed mating. It had always been amazing but now it was extraordinary where even the smallest of kisses felt intensely electrifying. During the deeper kisses like this one she could feel the electricity between them run down to her toes and back up to her heart making her blood sing with love and desire. There had always been a certain level of intensity to their love over the centuries but it had never felt like this. Baldwin moved away from her lips and kissed down her neck and then her shoulder, eliciting a small moan from Alice. He left her for only a moment as he turned off the lights leaving the moonlight as the only source of light. Her whole being was calling out to him but one look at her face told him he was having the same effect on her. He pulled her to him kissing her deeply once more as he ran a hand under the skirt of her sundress and up her thigh. Alice raised an eyebrow at him as he removed her underwear. "Here?" she asked breathily, gesturing to the room. Baldwin's only response was to continue kissing her as they somewhat gracefully crashed down to the floor together with Baldwin ending up on top of Alice. He then unzipped his own pants pausing as he positioned himself above her. "Yes my love," Alice answered to his silent question, her voice dripping with desire. Alice moaned as she felt him enter her. "Te amo lux mea, amica mea et omnia mea," Baldwin said once he was all the way in. Alice placed her hand above his heart and replied, "Te amo etiam cor meum et mundi." /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Padova was quiet and peaceful compared to the tourist-filled Venice. Alice and Baldwin leisurely walked through the town. Arm and arm they wandered through Prato della Valle admiring each of the statues that lined the square. Much to Alice's surprise Baldwin allowed her to take photos of him and of them together as a couple, seeming to enjoy playing tourist with his wife. That afternoon they found themselves at a small, old brick bridge that stretched over the small river that ran through Padova. Baldwin was opening a bottle of a local carmenère wine they had bought on a complete whim from one of the shops they had passed during their stroll. Alice sat on the ledge of the bridge, her feet dangling over the water flowing below, as she watched Baldwin smell the wine before pouring it into the two wine glasses they had also bought with the wine. "Does it meet your standards?" Alice asked as Baldwin handed her a glass of the bright ruby red wine. "It passes the smell test, we shall see if it passes the taste test," Baldwin replied as he joined her on the ledge. "A small toast," Baldwin started, lifting up his glass, "to making many more beautiful memories together like this one, Lux Mea." Alice's heart skipped a beat at his use of his special term of endearment for her. It had been a couple of decades since the last time he had used it. "Cor Meum," was all she replied as their glasses clinked together. Alice smelled the wine and the pleasant aroma of mulberries and spices hit her nose. When she finally took a sip, she found the strong taste of the wine that was then followed by a lingering fruity aftertaste pleasurable. Baldwin gave a sigh of contentment. "I've forgotten how to enjoy life and live in the moment," Baldwin said. "I say this with love, but you are a workaholic my dear," Alice commented."But I have you to remind me to slow down and take in the small moments," Baldwin replied, planting a kiss on her cheek. Alice looked out at the stream and at the man sitting beside her. This moment was perfect. Sitting here, drinking wine, enjoying the stunning scenery, and enjoying each other's company was perfect. She wished it could last forever but knew that eventually they would have to return to reality. As if sensing her thoughts Baldwin wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. She smiled up at him, he smiled back and then kissed her. /span/p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" /p
p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"Later in the evening as promised Baldwin took Alice out to a small restaurant in the heart of Venice where a live Jazz group was performing. The surroundings were cozy, the wine delicious, and the music was good but Alice was itching to return to the palazzo. Sensing Alice was not completely enjoying herself, as the musicians took a break between sets Baldwin motioned for them to leave. Once they were back at the palazzo Baldwin asked, "Alice, what's the matter? Did you not like the music?" Alice shook her head. "It's silly," she said. "Tell me," Baldwin gently demanded. Alice looked at him and saw the concern in his eyes. "Well, I was enjoying the music but there was no room to dance. I really wanted to come home and dance with you." At her words Baldwin sighed in relief and chuckled, "I can accommodate that." He offered his arm to her and led her to a large but cozy living room. Leaving her in the middle of the room he then started moving furniture against the walls for more floor space and opened up all the doors leading out to the balcony. Once finished with that he then started rifling through a pile of records until he found the one he was looking for and then placed it on an old but well loved record player. Alice smiled as the beginning notes of Benny Goodman's 'Stompin At the Savoy' started to play. "Our favorite," Alice said with delight. "Of course," Baldwin said as he grabbed her hand and spun her around. Dancing had always been their favorite way to spend time together for when they danced the rest of the world seemed to melt away until it was just the two of them and the music. Tonight was no different as they gazed into each other's eyes as they spun around the room to the greats of the Swing Era. Alice's body tingled everywhere Baldwin's hands touched as they danced. She was blissfully happy being in Baldwin's arms as they slowly danced to Glenn Miller's 'Moonlight Serenade.' "I could stay like this forever," she said into his shoulder. "As could I, Lux Mea," he whispered into her ear. As the next song came on Alice moved to change positions but Baldwin still held her close to him, his hands on her hips as he looked at her desire swirling in his eyes. He brushed a hand along her hair and then down her cheek. "You know what song we haven't danced to yet…" he trailed off as he then quickly moved over to the record player. His abrupt absence left Alice's head spinning only for a moment until she heard the distinct notes of Benny Goodman's 'Sing, Sing, Sing (with a swing)' and then Baldwin's hands were once again on her body guiding her across the floor. It was the last song they had danced together to at a concert in New York back in 1938 before the start of World War II. For this reason despite not being a romantic song it had become particularly special to the couple. At the end of the song, which was also the end of the record, Baldwin dipped Alice back and then as he pulled her back up crushed his lips to hers. Alice could not get over how different kissing Baldwin felt since they completed mating. It had always been amazing but now it was extraordinary where even the smallest of kisses felt intensely electrifying. During the deeper kisses like this one she could feel the electricity between them run down to her toes and back up to her heart making her blood sing with love and desire. There had always been a certain level of intensity to their love over the centuries but it had never felt like this. Baldwin moved away from her lips and kissed down her neck and then her shoulder, eliciting a small moan from Alice. He left her for only a moment as he turned off the lights leaving the moonlight as the only source of light. Her whole being was calling out to him but one look at her face told him he was having the same effect on her. He pulled her to him kissing her deeply once more as he ran a hand under the skirt of her sundress and up her thigh. Alice raised an eyebrow at him as he removed her underwear. "Here?" she asked breathily, gesturing to the room. Baldwin's only response was to continue kissing her as they somewhat gracefully crashed down to the floor together with Baldwin ending up on top of Alice. He then unzipped his own pants pausing as he positioned himself above her. "Yes my love," Alice answered to his silent question, her voice dripping with desire. Alice moaned as she felt him enter her. "Te amo lux mea, amica mea et omnia mea," Baldwin said once he was all the way in. Alice placed her hand above his heart and replied, "Te amo etiam cor meum et mundi." /span/p