Red

Chapter Four

Valentina and Ellerie continued their secret rendezvous for the weeks to come. Every night they laughed until the sky was black, and every night Ellerie snuck in and out. The young woman's heart was slowly mending at the companionship, filling with joy and non-circumstantial love. Their connection wasn't forced—it all came naturally. It was the realest, and most pure relationship the brunette had with another person. The raven haired woman wasn't compelled to speak to and love her out of obligation—she genuinely wanted to. And that's what filled Val's heart tremendously. She was learning her worth. Love was being spoken to her, shown to her—unadulterated kindness.

Shifting her head in the other woman's lap, Val looked up and into golden eyes. Her heart skipped every other beat. Her mind was muddled with too many emotions. Love for Ellerie had already blossomed, but was it completely platonic? Valentina wasn't sure--she had never loved another before, especially romantically. And was it socially acceptable to have these feelings for another woman? She hadn't seen such a thing in her village, but was it common in others? Either way, she was not entirely sure how to proceed, or even how to define what she was feeling.

Thin lips curled into a smile. Ellerie reached down and ran her hand through brown waves. "What are you looking at?"

"Just you," Val whispered, catching the same smile that the raven-haired woman had.

Nimble fingers removed themselves from thick,  chestnut hair. "I don't have many friends either," she frowned, remembering Val's admission, "but I like to believe that you're my closest friend."

Sitting up, Valentina placed both hands on flushed cheeks, pulling the other closer to her. "Of course I am, and we shall always be. I love you."

She hadn't meant for the second part to come out. That kind of revelation could ruin everything that they had built. Worry seeped into thin bones and spread through her whole body. The possible repercussions of her words were unfathomable. Val wouldn't be able to conceal her anguish if their friendship ended. But she could blame her outburst on comfort—she had been so lost in comforting her friend that she felt as if it would help to say that. That was her best option, especially if Ellerie became upset.

The older woman stared into green eyes. She leaned forward. For Val, everything went in slow motion. Soft lips tentatively pressed against hers, and for the first time, the brunette was speechless. Her eyes shut, reciprocating the kiss. Ellerie's lips tasted like maple syrup, thick and saccharine. Valentina was becoming intoxicated by the taste, but before she could be completely ravished, thin lips pulled away. She immediately missed the feeling, but once their eyes met again, her heart felt as if it were soaring above the tree tops and into the clouds. The brunette tried to find words, stumbling over her sentences until the darker haired woman burst into laughter. Valentina's cheeks burned.

She reached out and slapped the latter, "Why are you laughing!"

"You're speechless," Ellerie continued, her chortling lessening. "You are never speechless."

When Val noticed the wily glint in golden eyes, she smiled too. "You are horrible," she snorted.

A loud tap against the window stopped her from saying anything further. Green and aurum eyes snapped to the window. A large, black wolf stood there, shimmering, golden eyes staring at the women. A lengthy, pink scar adorned the right eye, healed but still fresh. It's teeth were bared, a stained eggshell color. Guttural growls were heard through the glass, and Valentina bristled.

"I have to go," Ellerie announced abruptly.

Valentina was bewildered. "You can't. That wolf will surely harm you—look at him."

The raven haired woman stood up, and pecked the brunette on her lips. "I will be fine." She walked to the window—the wolf nowhere in sight now—and climbed out.