#ikemen comte

“Like what?” I asked.

“Relaxed and happy.” He answered.

I felt my cheeks flushing. “Well…I do find spending time with you makes me feel those things.”

His own smile brightened. “I am glad to hear that.” He said. “Of course you also look quite relaxed and happy when you’re asleep in my arms.”

I flushed further and looked away. “You…”

“Can a man not be happy that his wife feels so comfortable with him?”

“I suppose he can.” I replied.

Abel chuckled. “I do have something for you.” He said, reaching into the picnic basket.

“Another gift?” I asked in disbelief.

“This one is special.” He replied. He then pulled out a leather bound journal and handed it to me. “For you to write in again.”

I looked at the book, opening it up to see the blank parchment. “You…”

He lifted a hand to caress my cheek. “I want to support you in whatever you do.”

I felt so happy at the sincerity of his words and the earnestness of his gift. It was so sweet and so thoughtful. “Thank you.” I told him leaning forward and pressing a kiss to his cheek.

His eyes widened in surprise a moment before he broke out into a wide happy smile. “Perhaps I should buy you a library of blank journals, if I can receive a kiss for each one.”

“You don’t have to buy me anything…really.” I told him, looking into his eyes. I felt as though I could get lost in those golden depths.

“You can’t blame me, ma cherie for having such thoughts.” He teased.

“What if I told you…you didn’t have to do anything other than ask?”

His hand cupped my cheek once more. “May I kiss you, Colette?”

“Oui.” 

His lips were on mine. The kiss started gentle, just a brush of the lips, much like the kiss he gave me on our wedding day. Yet it soon turned deeper, lips opening and moving together. I could feel my heart picking up its pace. Soon his tongue prodded at my lips before slipping past them, tracing the inside of my mouth.

I found myself thankful we were sitting because I knew my knees would be giving out on me. My entire body tingled from the kiss. I felt hyper aware of every move of his lips against mine. The way his tongue caressed mine.

We were both panting and breathless by the time we broke the kiss. “Forgive me…ma cherie…I got a little carried…away…” He said, giving me a sheepish look.

I shook my head. “I do not…forgive you…because there’s nothing to forgive.” 

His breath seemed to catch for a moment and his eyes darkened a bit. “When you say things like that, ma cherie…it truly tests my control.”

My breath hitched in my throat. Images of our bodies entwining flashed through my mind, my body flushing at the thought of it. We had grown closer over this last week. I enjoyed our time together. I enjoyed his every touch…and I had very much enjoyed that kiss just now. Was I ready for more?

“May I kiss you again?” Abel asked, his eyes staring into mine.

I didn’t answer. Instead I just pressed my lips to his. He reacted instantly, his arms wrapping around me and pulling me close. I still wasn’t sure if I was ready to completely share myself with him…but I was more than happy to indulge in these kisses.

Inside the chateau…

Amelie came into the kitchen, a frown on her face. “This isn’t right, Bernard.”

“Mon coeur, what are you talking about?” Bernard asked his wife.

“Le Comte and the Comtesse.” She hissed. “I just saw them by the lake in a rather impassioned embrace.”

“They are married, I believe a passionate embrace is normal for married couples.” Bernard pointed out.

“You know what he is.” She hissed at him.

“Yes and I’ve never seen him harm anyone.” Bernard said.

“It is not natural, Bernard.” She gestured to the cupboard where the rouge and blanc were kept. “You know what is in that cabinet.”

“Yes. And I know how it is retrieved. No one is harmed. It is all voluntary.” Bernard reminded her. “And the blanc comes from a plant.”

“I’ve noticed that as they grow closer, he consumes more.” Amelie said. “What do you think that means?”

“It means he is thirsty.”

“Yes. He must want to drain her.”

“Amelie, le Comte has not hurt anyone. Has he not always been in control of himself? Has he not always provided well for everyone?” Bernard pointed out. “When you cut yourself that one time, he didn’t even react. He even treated your wound.”

Amelie huffed. “I still don’t like it.”

“I’ve seen the way he looks at her. He would sooner cut off his own arm than harm the Comtesse.” Bernard told his wife.

“How do you know?”

“Because that is the way I look at you, mon coeur.” 

Amelie’s dark eyes softened a bit. “Do you think she knows?”

“I…don’t know.” He answered honestly.

She sighed. “I don’t think she does. Else she would be afraid and run far away.”

“Or she might know exactly and love him regardless.” Bernard said. “Either way, it is not our business. Nor is it reason to worry as le Comte has no ill intentions for her.”

Amelie huffed. “I will keep silent…for now. But if I think she is in danger, I will tell her.” She then turned to head back out to finish doing some cleaning.

Later that night…

Abel and I were sitting at the table, having dinner together. I was using my knife to cut my food when my hand slipped. “Ouch…”

Abel was instantly on alert. “Ma Cherie…”

I grabbed my napkin and pressed it to the small gash in my hand. “I’ll be alright…”

Abel took my hand in his. His golden eyes seemed to be transfixed on the red coming from my hand. “That definitely looks like it hurts.” He murmured. “Allow me to take care of you, ma cherie.”

“It’s a small cut. It’s not even bleeding that badly.” I said, not wanting him to worry or fuss over me. I could just take care of it.

His eyes remained locked on my cut hand. Slowly he lifted my hand, bringing it to his lips, which parted and took the bleeding cut in between them. I felt a shiver run through me as his tongue snaked out and raked over the cut.

My eyes were locked on the way his lips were wrapped around the cut on my hand. The way his tongue moved sent shiver and shiver through me. And something stirred deep within me….all the while something pricked at the back of my memory as the strangest feeling of deja vu washed over me.

“Abel…” I said, my voice sounding surprisingly sultry to my own ears.

He looked up at me then and slowly released my hand from his mouth. He grabbed the napkin and pressed it to the wound once more. “I apologize…I was just trying to stop the bleeding…” He murmured.

“I…it’s alright…”

We rose from the table and headed to properly clean and bandage my hand. Through the process, I couldn’t stop thinking about the way he had licked my wound, nor the way it had made me feel. Even as his hands now moved to bandage me, I couldn’t shake the feeling that…I didn’t mind it all…nor that this was something that hadn’t happened before.

“Are you alright, ma cherie?” He asked me.

“Yes.” I answered. “I just…have the strangest feeling of deja vu. Silly, I know.”

“I don’t think it’s silly.” Abel replied as he finished tying the bandage on my hand.

Just then, Amelie was coming into the room, carrying the dishes from dinner. “Oh, is everything alright?” She asked, looking at us in concern.

“Everything is fine.” I answered. “I just had a little accident at dinner.” I held up my bandaged hand.

Amelie looked toward Abel. “And you were bandaging her wound?”

“Yes. I wanted to take care of my dear wife.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “I see.”

“You know, it’s getting late and I’m getting tired.” I said. “I think I’ll go take a bath and get ready for bed.”

Abel kissed me on top of the head. “If that is what you wish, ma cherie.”

I nodded and gave him a peck on the cheek before heading upstairs. I drew myself a bath and stripped down and climbed inside the tub. I sank back into the warm waters, trying to relax myself…though perhaps I should have gotten into cold water after the way I now felt.

I let out a sigh as I leaned back and closed my eyes. As I began to relax, I felt myself being drawn into my own mind, wondering why I had felt deja vu while Abel was…licking my cut. It was then a flash image came to my mind.

A pink tongue licking a stripe across my cut palm. Golden eyes staring into mine. Something warm and dark stirring within me. It was then I saw Abel’s face staring at me as he licked my palm…but we weren’t in the dining room of the chateau…we were in the kitchen of my childhood home.

I sat up in the rub, my eyes popping open. “Could…could that have actually happened?” I muttered to myself. “Could that…have not been a dream?”

I sat there in the tub, playing that image in my mind over and over again. I then shook my head. “That’s…that’s madness.” I told myself. “I…I’m probably just confusing my dream with what happened downstairs because they were so similar. My mind probably just put his face there just now so that I could make the connection.”

There was a knock on the door then and Amelie was coming in, carrying some towels. “Are you alright, Comtesse?” She asked me.

“Yes.” I answered.

She then looked at me, concern in her eyes.

“It was just a small cut, I promise. Nothing to worry about.” I told her.

“Did anything..strange happen with le Comte when it did happen?” She asked.

“Strange?” I asked.

“You should be careful, Comtesse.”

“Why would you say that?” I asked her.

Amelie looked around. “Bernard thinks I shouldn’t say anything…but I can’t not tell you. You should know.”

“Know what?” I asked.

“Comte…he is a creature of the night…a vampire.”

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