Redemption

Chapter 6

     Everything else just fell away as his lips gently pressed upon hers, not in a forceful way, but as a soft caress which assaulted her with velvety tenderness. She had never been kissed before, and she did not want to appear wanton, but this...this was more heavenly than the donut she had prized earlier.
    But there was something else that this kiss awakened; something deep and primal that had been lingering within her soul for what now seemed a very long time. It was something that she had been taught as a child to contain and never acknowledge...and it scared her...terrified her beyond reason, and she knew not why.
    But she didn't want to stop this kiss, this contact between two people who knew from somewhere deep within each other's soul that they were meant to be together. And so she yielded herself to Marius' kiss, using her force of will to push the other animal instinct back inside of her.
    Marius, also, did not expect the feeling of pure power that the touch of her lips dredged up. This kiss was awakening a memory long forgotten, that seemed centuries old, and it shook him to the very core of his being. He felt his temperature rising and an almost insatiable passion for this woman he now held in his arms.
His arms drew her to him, his mouth leaving hers for an instant, kissing her eyes, cheeks and earlobes, and coming back to capture her mouth with such fervor that, if he gave in to this feeling completely, he would hurt her. And that very thought tugged at him, finally pulling him back from the brink of passion, though he grimaced as he pulled away from her slightly.
Dumnezeule! he thought to himself. My god, what witchery is overtaking me? He stared at her dumbly for a moment, taking in her flushed checks and heaving breasts. He knew that she, too, had felt the fiery flame of his ardor and was unsure what to make of it. He gave her a shaky smile as he let out a long, low breath.
    "Madam," he breathed, "I don't know what kind of sorcery you use, but that kiss was something from another world."
Amalie smiled shyly, lowering her eyes. "I feel the same. I hope you don't think badly of me. I have never kissed a man before so I am unsure..."
"Of course not! I don't know how to explain it, but...but, something about it seemed so old, as if..." he left off, puzzlement in his tone.
"As if we had kissed before?", she questioned? At his nod, she said, "Yes, I felt that, too, though I do not pretend to understand why."
"Well," Marius said with a cunning smile, "I am certainly not opposed to feeling that once again." He took her hand and placed the lightest of kisses upon it, making her heart flutter and her breath stop for a brief moment.
She looked around. "I'm sure it would be more fitting for us to make our way back to the festival before someone sees us and immediately thinks impure thoughts about our intentions."
Marius could tell that the kiss had rattled her somewhat; it had unnerved him, as well, but his manly pride refused to make him appear weak to it. He placed a strong arm around Amalie's shoulders and began to guide her back into the colorful throng of people.
"Heaven forbid," he chided with a grin.
They wandered around the carnival for the rest of the evening, content to just be in each other's company. Marius admired her childlike excitement and the way she flitted about the people. It seemed she knew most of them, and they seemed to admire her as well, judging by the way they smiled as they conversed with her. She was like a fresh breath of spring air to him, and he wanted to breathe it in for the rest of his life. But he knew there could be no possible happy ending for him, not unless he could find a way to break the curse that had haunted his family for hundreds of years. Tonight, however, he would put all that aside and focus on the beauty that was still left in his world that emulated from this young village girl. He couldn't put his finger on it, but he knew there was something different about her; different, not in a generic way, but in a more lingering, eternal way....he sighed. There were just no words to explain it, but he knew somehow their lives were now, and had been earlier in time, entwined, like the vines of the forest wrapped around the trees, hugging them in an eternal embrace.
Amalie was certainly enjoying herself, and she was glad that her escort indulged her energetic bustling through the crowded avenues. She pulled him through the mass of people as she made her way to each and every stand that offered some type of food or drink. She wanted to be with him, wanted to place her hands against his face and kiss his lips, lips that seemed to constantly laugh at her spirit. And yet, she didn't trust herself, couldn't trust the feelings that threatened to expose her true self to him. She was confused, but she knew if she let down her guard there would be no turning back, and yet she didn't know why that terrified her. It wasn't as if she had an evil spirit in her or anything; at least she didn't feel like she did. She could just feel that there was something dark and passionate lurking within, just waiting for her to let it out of its cage.
She felt Marius move close to her and her thoughts were immediately brought back to the present.
"I believe the hour grows late, or rather early, and I must be taking my leave." He smiled and nodded at the crack of light just cresting the mountains in the distance. "May I take you home, my dear?"
Amalie glanced around and noticed that the crowd had already begun to disperse. She remembered her promise to her aunt.
    "I would love for you to, but I need to look for Aunt Olga. I don't know if she has already gone home or if she is waiting for me."
    "Allow me to drive you in my carriage back to the point where I first found you. I'm sure that would be where she would be waiting, if she hasn't already left."
    Amalie agreed and took his arm, reveling in his warmth as he covered her hand with his. He always seemed so much warmer than the atmosphere around them. He assisted her into his carriage and drove around the village. They finally found her standing by the huge black cross in the center of the village. The cross had recently been erected as a monument to those who had lost their lives during the plague, but to Amalie it represented the saving of her life by the man she now traveled with. Pushing that thought aside, Amalie leaned out of the carriage window and hailed her aunt.
    "Oh, there you are, my child," Olga said with a tired smile. "I was just about to head back to the cottage, but I didn't want to leave you." Her look turned knowing. "But I see I shouldn't have bothered to wait." Amalie blushed under her gaze.
    "Aunt Olga, Marius has graciously offered us a ride back home." As she spoke, the handsome man alighted from the conveyance and clasped Olga's elbow gently.
    "Please, madam," he murmured tenderly, "allow me the pleasure of your presence, if only for a moment."
    "Thank you, young man," Olga replied, allowing him to assist her ascent into his ornate carriage. "I am tired, though I refuse to attribute it to my old age."
    "Nay, my lady," Marius countered with a smirk, "I don't believe there to be an old bone in your body."
    Olga thought she saw a spark of knowledge in his dark eyes, and she wondered how much he really knew about her, and her niece. But he smiled at her and she smiled back. She didn't feel threatened and decided to just relax and enjoy the short ride in this very copious coach.
    Once they had reached the cottage, Marius seemed to disembark with a super speed and assisted both ladies down, still clasping Amalie's dainty hand as he walked them to the door. Olga, being a secret romantic, intimated that she was very tired and asked would Amalie please lock the door upon her entry. After a slight bow the gentleman, Olga retreated, leaving just the two of them alone.
    "Amalie, I want to say that I have had a very pleasant evening, the best I've been able to experience in a very long time." His eyes were smoky with passion as he leaned over her hand, placing kisses on the top and in the palm. "I thank you for allowing me to spend this time with you."
    Amalie was watching his lips move as if she were in a trance. His voice was so soft and sexual that she could hardly focus on the words, words that seemed to caress her just as if his hands were physically rubbing her body. She shuddered inwardly, taking a deep breath.
    "No, Marius, it is I who should be thanking you. I am so often alone. It was a pleasant change to have an attentive man at my side tonight. I feel it is needless to say, but I, too, had a wonderful time."
    She looked up at him and her blue eyes shone in the light of the oncoming sunrise, her black hair gently moving around her head in the slight breeze. She looked wild and wanton in the dim light and he wanted to look at her forever, but he knew he must be back before the sun rose over the mountains.
    He placed his strong hand behind her head and pulled her face to his, kissing her gently as first, but letting it build into a arduous promise of things to come. Gently, reluctantly, he released her.
    "I cannot stay away from you. You are my destiny, and I will do whatever it takes to have you." He stroked her cheek seductively. "I hope that my speech does not drive you away from me. I will never harm you, but your kisses awaken something within me that I thought I could never again feel, and I must confess I am not sure what to do about it."
    She looked up at him through thick lashes, a wistful expression on her lovely face. "I feel the same, and it is so strange to me because I have only known you a short time, and yet I feel bound to you in the strangest way."
    He kissed her once more.
    "We will meet again. I will send a note before I come to you again, if that is acceptable to you." At her nod he continued, "I must go now for I have a long journey, but I will think of you always until I see you again."
    And with a final squeeze of her hand, he was gone, back in his carriage and completely out of view before Amalie came back down to earth. She let out a soft sigh of delight and entered her house. She would have to talk to Olga when she awakened. There was so much they needed to discuss.