His Lioness (Alan Rickman FF) ENGLISH VERSION

Chapter 29

Lionel had heard the soft footsteps of his lion even before he came around the corner. As a precaution, he had pressed Saskia closer to him. He could not yet estimate how Leo reacted to her, after all, he did not really like strangers.

As Leonardo slowly approached, Lionel immediately noticed how Saskia pressed herself even closer to him, which filled him with pride. After all, she apparently felt safe in his presence. When he had introduced Leo to her, he took her by the hand and carefully walked to him.

Still the lion stood there calmly and looked at the two curiously. So far he had not reacted negatively, which Lionel took as a positive sign and slowly walked on with Saskia in his direction.

Saskia was terribly excited, she had more than enough respect for the lion. She had heard that her boss had this one, but hadn't really believed the chatter. But as true as she was standing here, the animal was truly here and walking around freely in the picture gallery.

In the meantime, the two were standing in front of the lion and Leonardo had remained quiet until now. His gaze fell on Saskia and he took a half step forward and sniffed. Saskia gulped and didn't dare to move, who knows what else would happen.

Lionel noted with satisfaction that the lion accepted Saskia's presence, otherwise he would have reacted differently long ago.

Saskia noticed that Lionel slowly lifted her hand, which he was still holding. Gently, he placed it on the lion's mane and stroked the soft hair together with her. She almost forgot to breathe because of her excitement, so special was this moment.

Not only was she stroking a true lion, no, Lionel's efforts filled her heart with love and joy. She would have loved to hug him again. What was actually stopping her?

Saskia slowly looked up at Lionel and gazed into his eyes, which she had never seen so bright. She just couldn't help it anymore and turned completely to face him. Moving slowly, she wrapped him tightly in her arms and whispered, "Thank you."

Lionel was surprised at his Sassy's sudden gesture, but he returned the hug and held her just as tightly. Slowly, he stroked her back, lowered his nose into her hair, and inhaled her scent deeply.

Leonardo strode a few feet away and lay down in front of the sofa where Lionel usually sat when he spent time with the latter. The lion patiently looked with his yellow eyes at the embracing couple. Leo did not seem to mind Saskia's presence in any way, which was new for Shahbandar.

Slowly the two broke away from each other and Lionel wanted to show her some paintings.

"I've heard about your collection of paintings and your lion. Couldn't really believe the rumors though," Saskia told him.

"It's a miracle that once the truth is told by one," Lionel gave in reply. Not without a bitter undertone, however, as Saskia noted. It certainly had to be difficult when everyone talked about you or was envious. Sia couldn't understand people who didn't begrudge others anything.

Saskia thought to herself that what she had just said had not been a good start and quickly thought about how she could change the subject. "Does Leonardo actually walk around here freely all the time?" she asked curiously.

"Most of the time he does, but he also has his own area where he is fed and where he sleeps. This one can be separated from the gallery. After all, Leo doesn't let just anyone walk around here," Lionel replied. He had changed his mind at the last minute after all, and escorted Saskia out of the gallery while they talked. He would rather show Sassy the horse barn first, the paintings could wait.

Lionel led Saskia out through a side entrance. She knew exactly where they were going right now, but she wouldn't say a word about it. Otherwise he would know that she had already been watching him.

The lord opened the large gate a crack wide. Just enough to slip through. Daylight flooded the stable and dust danced in it. The horses looked up curiously. Saskia breathed in the air that smelled of horses, hay and straw.

Lionel rolled up his shirt sleeves and walked sideways to a large bucket. He pulled out apples and carrots from it and held them out to Saskia, who immediately took some. Sia looked at the juicy apple and just bit into it heartily. What was good for the animals could not be bad for her.

Amused, Lionel watched her take a bite of the juicy fruit.

"Mhhh, it tastes really yummy," she said to him, taking another bite.

"They are from the trees in my park," he said, not without pride in his property. "I'll show you my stallion Icarus," he added.

Saskia nodded and swallowed the bite of the apple. They would feed the rest of the fruit to the horses. She followed Lionel, who headed for a particular horse stall.

Gently, he stroked the neck of Icarus, who moved his head forward curiously, hoping to catch the food from Lionel's other hand. "Don't be so impatient Icarus!" he admonished the stallion.

Saskia stepped up next to Lionel and held out a carrot to Icarus. The stallion snorted and sniffed at the vegetable. Immediately, he bit into it and crunched the carrot so hard it cracked. Sia had to giggle about what had just happened and also held out the apple she had bitten into, which he also devoured immediately. Then she stroked his fur.

Enthusiastically Lionel noticed that Saskia enjoyed dealing with the animals. And also vice versa the animals were excited by her. They had never been so trusting of someone who was a complete stranger to them.

Saskia looked up at Lionel, who had that sparkle in his eyes again when he was with his animals. He was now feeding his carrots to the stallion as well. As soon as Icarus realized that there was nothing left for him, he lost interest and turned his attention back to the hay that was waiting for him. Saskia leaned against the horse stall and smiled pensively. It was just so beautiful here and it reminded her of home, of the farm at Sam's.

Lionel saw Saskia's happy smile and his heart immediately beat faster.

"You just have it so beautiful here with all the animals," she said to him, still smiling.

"Yet you've seen almost no animals. I have many more," he replied. His eyes glided over Sia's joyful face and back to her lips.

Lionel took a step forward so that Saskia was pinned between him and the horse stall. Again they looked into each other's eyes and this time the tension between them became unbearable. Lionel ran his fingers over her cheek again and brushed a few stray hairs out of her face.

"May I?" he asked Saskia almost in a whisper, looking deep into her eyes.

Saskia got all nervous, she just found her boss irresistible, she nodded and couldn't wait to finally feel his closeness again.

Lionel came closer and closer and lowered his lips to hers. Saskia hugged her boss stormily and pressed herself even closer to him, which made him groan softly. The kiss slowly became more intense and Sia opened her lips. Lionel began to passionately explore her mouth with his tongue and to roam over her body with his hands. Slowly but surely he was getting hotter and hotter, he couldn't get enough of her. He still tasted the apple that Saskia had just eaten.

Who knows where it would have gone if Icarus hadn't come and lightly bumped his head against them. Slowly, breathing heavily, they broke away from their intense kiss and looked into each other's eyes again.