Clandestine Affection

I

Ernest's perfect statue defined hands made contact with a gentle touch of Valentin's soft porcelain skin, and he gracefully lifted his fingers one by one like a swan lifting its wings when dancing swiftly in the moonlight. The bare touch of his fingers against his partner's face was a thrilling sensation filled with passionate, cold and somewhat exciting emotions; the feeling was unusual and unsettling, the start of a sensational experience with an unknown ending.

Ernest flashed his white pearls as he continued to guide his hands towards Valentin's scarlet tinted cheeks which would enhance his fair hair. The two of them placed their heads closer to each other's until the ticking of a distant clock united their noses, creating the only barrier in between them. Their heavy breathing became the only familiar sound. Ernest met his round, pink lips with Valentin's thin, heart shaped ones. This action lasted only a second as Ernest discreetly pulled his lips away with no planned speed only to stare into his dark, affectionate eyes searching for a sign. Perhaps he was searching for a sign of approval, a sign which ordered him to proceed with these improper actions or perhaps he was searching for a sign of adoration. The search ended as Valentin's soft voice effortlessly attempted to stop his own shy laughter from being heard in the small space he shared with Ernest.

"Do forgive me, Ernest. I'm afraid my masculinity will be defied but I must admit that I can't help but laugh; your gentle ways make me blush," he said. Ernest smiled his bright smile once again and joined him as he too was now laughing.

"Is that so?" replied Ernest. The laughter which once surrounded the silver adorned walls of the grand bedroom became a peaceful memory as their lips met once again, this time longer and without absurd movements to interrupt them. Ernest held Valentin in his arms and just for a moment the world was perfect, their troubles lifted off as a long feather caught on a windswept afternoon.

A loud and struggling sound pointed at the corner of the room where someone was attempting to open the tall, wooden door with golden decorations. Ernest fixed his silk waistcoat by gently removing the visible creases as if he was a murder suspect attempting to hide the fact that he was indeed guilty of accused charges. He cleared his throat and glanced at Valentin who was now all the way across the room as he was also involved in this crime; Valentin pathetically hid his face which now expressed fear and realization. Ernest took three steps towards the door and asked loud and clear enough for whoever was on the other side to hear.

"Who is it?" The strange noises stopped for a brief moment and were replaced by the sweet voice of a young lady.

"Ernest? Is that you? May I come in?" said the feminine voice. Ernest took the final steps towards the door and unlocked it, for his fiancée was now standing in front of him.

"Marla, is everything alright? Do come in." Marla wrapped her arms around him with elegance after delivering a soft kiss to his cheek.

"Yes, darling, everything is well. Are you alright? You've been here for almost an hour, I've been knocking for the past twenty minutes only to receive no answer and-" her words stopped as soon as she got a glimpse of Valentin from the corner of her eye. "-I see, Valentin is here as well." She unwrapped her arms from Ernest and carefully dusted off her velvet skirt. Valentin gave her a warm smile to which she replied with a smile equally as warm and soft.

"Yes. Forgive me, dear. I was just showing Valentin our new grandfather clock, you're aware of the awful loud sounds it creates. It has also passed a long time since I was last with Valentin, you must understand that gentlemen need their privacy as much as women do. There are things better said than written, after all, he has not visited London in two years and it has also passed some time since I last visited him." If there was something Ernest was good at doing was lying, to be fair there was some truth to his lie. Indeed, Ernest was eager to hear from Valentin and it had passed a long time since they were last able to talk in something other than a letter for Valentin had spent the past two years travelling for business purposes; whether Ernest wanted Valentin to see his new clock was a mystery that certainly did not end up with said planned activity.