Tempting Fate

Making sure her door was locked, Christian turned out the light on Lucy's bedside table, gloating, "I guess Pierre's error in judgment is to my benefit, Luce. I asked Pierre not to tell you about the gun shots so late at night." His arms became her sanctuary and he kissed the top of her head, whispering, "Are you sure this is okay with you, Luce?" 

"Of course!" Fully trusting him like she had before his jealousy catastrophe at the university, as though there had been no rift and no time had passed, she responded, "I want you to stay here with me."

Christian reassured her, "I am relieved to hear that, Luce. I am sorry you were having night terrors. Now tell me about your bad dream. That is the only one way to get rid of a recurring night terror, once and for all. That is what my Uncle Jiles, the psychiatrist, says. He should know."

"It is about my stalker, a faceless person in a trench coat following me. There is a gargoyle with red eyes staring at me from its perch high atop a cathedral steeple, watching me all the time, everywhere I go, no matter how far!"

"Luce, tell me how you want your dream to end. Like this?"

Christian kissed Lucy until she fell asleep in his arms. When she stirred, he was sleeping, a blanketed cocoon. A bright stream of white moonlight irresistibly beckoned Lucy to the frozen window panes. With moon beams reflecting off snow covered lawns, she squinted against the full, oversized luminescent orb hanging low in the midnight sky, backlighting the silhouette of the manor house. Suddenly, but gently, the hair on her neck was parted, giving way to soft kisses. She turned and welcomed Christian with open arms. He leaned in and softly kissed her forehead. "May I very seriously kiss you, Luce?"    

The moment she replied, "Please do," he placed both his hands on her cheeks and gently positioned her face upward, seeming to savor each second. His lips approached hers and Lucy returned his kiss. He whispered in her ear, sending chills down her spine, and then commented, "You are so beautiful! The moonlight becomes you. Are you alright with this, with us, Luce? Are you sure?"  

She nodded in agreement. As their lips met, his hands gently caressed her back all the way down to her waist. He pulled her to him, not a sliver of moonlight between them. After that very telling kiss, Christian gazed into her eyes, attempting to read her emotions by the light of the moon. Leading her by the hand back to bed, he tucked in her bedclothes and adjusted her blankets. Lucy thanked him and tried to smile. She was back under the fluffy down comforter alone. Reluctantly gathering his pillow and blanket, he turned on his heel and hesitantly headed toward the door. He was halfway out of her bedroom when she whispered, "Christian, would you mind staying a little longer?" He stopped in mid-step.

Christian slowly turned and declared, "I would love to stay with you, Luce! I did not want to leave you alone. I was hoping you would ask me. But I was not sure because of our guests." He sat down beside her on the day bed, ignoring the trundle. Situated with his back against their combined pillows, he gently guided her shoulders across his chest to cradle her head in the crook of his arm. He maneuvered her torso with his knowing touch and she quivered; he still had it! Misreading her reaction as a fever and chills, he revealed his concern, "Poor thing. Let's cover you up to your chin." He pulled her blankets up snuggly about her, his lips bypassing hers and whispering in her ear, "I love you, Luce. I always have." It wasn't a matter of love; it was the green eyed monster.

Lucy opened her eyes and stared at the clock, the light of day streaming in through the rain soaked window. It was almost seven and she was alone. Nearly forgetting her robe, she fumbled with the lock on the door and ran down the long hallway to the kitchen. Christian was nowhere to be found. The kitchen door burst open and Pierre entered. "Did that gun shot awaken you, Lucy?" Guy was right behind Pierre and poured Lucy something to drink. The palms of her hands were warmed by the steaming hot chocolate in the ceramic mug.