The Nightcolt Manor

(14)

Heath and Nadine sat in the living room. It was quite late at that point and Heath suggested she stay for the night again. Nadine supposed that was a good idea, especially since she was still feeling on edge from the intruders of earlier that night.

In a state of boredom, Nadine got up, heading to the library to find something to read since she didn't feel like sleeping. "Where are you going, if I may ask?" Heath said curiously, standing up from the couch. "To the library. You coming?" She asked.

At that, the spirit stood up, following her as if she was the only thing he wanted to be around. She smiled at him and he gave a small one back as she opened the stained glass doors of the room. She turned on the lights-- luckily she had been able to change out the ancient bulbs the other day. Heath watched as she moved through the shelves, running her hands along them softly.

She stopped, noticing a small and intricate green book on the top shelf. She eyed it for a moment before standing up on her tip toes to reach for it. She suddenly felt an icy hand over hers. Heath pulled the green book out for her, the feeling of his chest against her back sent a shiver down her spine. She let out a breath of air when he handed it to her. "Thanks." She said, not turning around for she felt she might be tempted to do something.

She gazed at the awfully dusty book before blowing the cover to reveal pretty gilding on the title, which read "Words of Adoration".

"I've always liked that one." Heath said quietly. Nadine turned to look up at him curiously, "Oh? What's it about?"

Heath guided the two of them over to the antique two-seater infront of the fireplace in the library and they sat down. Heath's arm rested on the delicately carved wood of the couch behind her head. "It's a book of poetry.. one written with romantic intent, to be precise. In our time, it was quite popular with suitors courting." He said as Nadine flipped through the old and yellowed pages.

Nadine turned to him, "So, did you court anyone in your life?" She asked, noting he had said it was one of his favorites. Heath shook his head, "I had never really been interested in being married. High society back then was quite boring and there were many rules one had to follow.. and my mother always instilled in me the importance of it all. I suppose that always made me weary of the fact." He said honestly, his fingers tapping lightly on the arm rest.

There was a brief silence as they gazed into each other's eyes. "Although.. words written from the point of love always drew me in the most." He gave her a slight smile.

Nadine returned it, "Such a hopeless romantic you are, Mr. Nightcolt." She said, unconsciously scooting closer to him on the small couch. The two of them flipped through the pages until Heath stopped her on a particularly worn page-- one that seemed to be more well loved then any of the others. "You should read this one." Nadine said, handing him the book.

He looked at her, a slightly surprised look on his handsome face before he finally read the words.

"Lying asleep between the strokes of night
I saw my love lean over my sad bed,
Pale as the duskiest lily’s leaf or head,
Smooth-skinned and dark, with bare throat made to bite,

Too wan for blushing and too warm for white,
But perfect-coloured without white or red.
And her lips opened amorously, and said –
I wist not what, saving one word – Delight."

He paused for a moment, looking her in the eyes a couple times before continuing. Nadine leaned in the slightest bit, the vibration of his deep voice running through her.

"And all her face was honey to my mouth,
And all her body pasture to mine eyes;
The long lithe arms and hotter hands than fire,
The quivering flanks, hair smelling of the south,
The bright light feet, the splendid supple thighs
And glittering eyelids of my soul’s desire...

That was Algernon Charles Swinburne." He finished, watching her carefully. Nadine didn't know what to say. Should she compliment him on his reading? His voice? His face while reading? A million thoughts swam through her mind at the amorous poem he seemed to love so much. In fact, she hadn't expected his choices in poetry to be so.. erotic. If that's even the right word to use.. She thought.

"I.. I liked it. I like the way you read it too." Her hands subconsciously reached for his hands, pulling the book away and placing it somewhere else. Why am I doing this? I shouldn't. She thought desperately, trying to scold herself for what seemed like the tenth time that day. At this point, however, she was tired of it all. Forcing her thoughts and feelings away tired her to no end and she let herself go, finally.

She leaned in so that her nose was nearly touching his. She could feel the cold radiating off of him before he closed the space between the two of them. Her arms came to rest on his shoulders as the two of them shared a deep kiss. His hands moved to her waist, pulling her even closer.

Heath grunted as Nadine ran her fingers through his hair and he gently pushed her back into the couch. He pulled away, hovering over her, "I've waited for that." He said softly, Nadine's hands trailing down his chest. She smiled up at him, "I could say the same."