#fierce bear

You walk arm in arm with Salvatore to a spot by the canal.  A bench sits on the path, he stops beside it and holds his hand out and nods, silently asking you to take a seat.  You smile sweetly at him and sit down, he joins you.  Neither of you speak, you sit together and watch a young couple across the canal as they laugh and feed the ducks, seemingly unaware of your stare or the other people that walk and talk among them.  They are obviously in love and lost in themselves.  Salvatore continues to watch them as you inhale a long breath that you hold longer than you should.  You think of the last several moments, walking in the bizarre with Salvatore, your arms linked together.  You smile to yourself when you think of the beautiful hair pin he gave to you, how you told the jeweler you were going home to work on your twelfth child and Salvatore’s flustered response to your declaration. The small fleeting smile he had given you when you gave him the book of poetry you had bought him.  Your smile falls when you think about your future, a life married to Hector Nevrakis should he ask for your hand in marriage. You desire a simple life, a life like you could have with Salvatore.  He could be a guard in the city, you would stay home and care for your home by day.  In the evening he would tell you about his work and you would share with him the latest excitement with one of your many children.  You would joke and laugh and love in your small cottage without a care in the world.  At night you would travel the length of Salvatore’s taut physique, giving and receiving all the unspeakable pleasures you could offer one another.  

The sound of him clearing his throat breaks you from your pleasant fantasy.  You turn to face him and find his eyes fixed on yours. You realize your hand is resting on top of his and you quickly pull it away. 

“I thought I had lost you there for a moment.” He stares at you, the corner of his lip turned up in a small smile.

“I guess I had gotten lost in thought… was I not supposed to…”

“No, no, it’s fine, Listen, I was just hoping we could talk.”

He hesitates at first, then starts to speak.

“Tell me something, Helena. Might we be happier if we set aside our duties and just lived, answering to nobody but ourselves?”

“Well that’s a profound question.”  You already know your answer.

His eyes still fixed on yours, “Yes, And I’ve been thinking on it lately.”  

“I do not know about happiness Salvatore, but I think we have been brought together by fate.”

His look is serious, “I believe we make our own destiny.”

Your heart is fluttering in your chest at the mere suggestion his question holds, “But you cannot deny our meeting was serendipitous.  I was not meant to be at that masquerade.  You did not have to ask me to dance.  I had no idea I was to become the heir of house Everhart.  Neither of us knew we would become so close.”

Leaning in listening to you intently, he nods, “Many pieces had to come together.”

You turn to him, your eyes fixed on his, penetrating brown eyes burning holes into yours, you reach out and take his hand, “Just so.  And regardless of what is to come for both of us, I can tell you with utmost sincerity that I am so very thankful that we met.”

Something in his gaze makes your heart quicken.  “Helena, I…” He hesitates, like he is uncertain of what he is about to say.  “Helena, I am in love with you.  I have been in love with you since the night we met at the masquerade.  Since we stood on that balcony gazing at the stars.  I can’t explain it and I don’t understand it but I…”

You press your finger to his lips, silencing him.  The expression on his face starts to fall, like you are about to deliver devastating news.

“Salvatore, I am in love with you too.  You have been the single all-consuming thought I have had since that very night.”

You both break out into a smile, finding it difficult to contain the mounting joy at your confessions and knowing that your feelings are both coveted and reciprocated.    

Salvatore removes his glove and gently places his hand on your cheek, pressing and snaking his fingers around the back of your neck, thumb resting just in front of your ear. You close your eyes and lean into his touch as he wraps his other arm around your waist.  You open your eyes to find him as close to you as he has ever been, lips only inches apart.  “May I?” He whispers, a look of longing in his eyes.

“By all means.”  A sly smile spreads across your lips as he presses his into you.  You have never been kissed before and his touch sends an invigorating spark throughout your entire body.   His lips are soft and hot as they work against yours.  His tongue plays across your lips, begging entry and you submit to him, parting them and granting him access.  His breath hitches as you wrap your arms around his shoulders and pull him into you. This is by far the greatest pleasure you have ever known, and you feel moisture pooling at our center as you imagine what it would be like to share your bed with this man.  This man that stole your heart the moment you laid eyes on him. Your heart pounds in your chest as the heat between the two of you escalates and you remember you are in a very public place.  You slowly pull away, drawing your head back, your eyes meet.  

“Let’s leave, you and I together, lets get our horses and just get as far away from here as we can.” You say nearly breathless.   “Damn the crown and damn the house and damn the nobility, let’s flee, you and I, we are all we need.”  He pulls back, placing his hands on your shoulders.

“Are you sure?” He asks, by the look on his face he must think you have gone mad.

“YES!” You exclaim, grabbing his hand and pulling him off the bench leading him back to where you hitched hour horses.  He helps you into the saddle and stands by your horse.  You lean down to him, caressing his stubble covered cheek in your hand, you kiss him passionately.  

Suddenly a stabbing pain erupts in your belly, you grab at it with your hand, crying out in pain, falling further forward.  A look of terror falls across Salvatore’s face as he clings to you.  “Helena, Helena, what’s wrong, what is happening.”  Everything fades to black.