Meanwhile, the movie’s action had moved from Ireland to America and the adventures of the two protagonists oscillated between amusing and tragic.
“I’ve always wanted to have curly hair,” she said dreamily, admiring Nicole Kidman’s thick wavy hair. “Look at her, she’s gorgeous with that hair.”
Gerard ran his hands softly through her hair, thoughtfully analyzing a long strand.
“Your hair is lovely just the way it is,” he told her and she turned her face to his. “Ever since I first saw you I admired it. And after last night, its scent has remained ingrained into my memory. You remained ingrained into my head.”
She looked at him, speechless. The games of light and shadow coming from the screen reflected on his face. In one moment, they emphasized only his deep eyes watching her with their unmoving spark. Then the light fell over his lips, sensual and so alluring, capable of offering the most skilful kisses. Those lips were getting increasingly closer to hers, his warm breath making her whole body tremble with desire.
An almost imperceptive shiver ran through her from head to toe at the first touch of his lips. When the kiss intensified, passion seized them both, engulfing them in thousands of sensations, nameless, but of a crushing profoundness.
When Gerard drew her against him, running his hands over her soft skin, she was lost in his touch, in the masculine scent stirring her senses. She felt his lips and steamy breath on her neck, turning all her previous doubts into imaginary ashes. She wanted this man with every particle of her being and his every gesture proved he was as lost as she in the intensity of those same feelings.
Gerard slowly drew back from her, stood and turned off the TV. They both remained in darkness - two silhouettes outlined in the weak light sneaking through one of the huge living room windows.
He enfolded her in his arms again, whispering with his lips on hers:
“Where’s the bedroom? Show me.”
Without a word, she took his hand and headed toward the stairs, then they were lost in silence and blackness.
In the bedroom floated the same diffuse lunar light, filtered through the windows and a vague lavender smell perfumed the air.
He embraced her, kissing her deeply, exploring her naked back with rough palms. Under her curtain of hair, he found the strap which held her dress in place, knotted at her nape. He slowly untied it, causing the white dress to slide on the floor with a sensual rustle.
They remained face to face. She – naked, he – still fully dressed, an erotic tableau in the moonlight.
Gerard laid her tenderly on the bed, then got up and began undressing. Each inch of naked, gorgeous body emanated purely masculine attraction. Linda had the impression that through her own skin transpired mists of lust. She studied his strong arms, the networks of veins subtly outlined, his magnificent chest covered with soft golden hair, his abdomen – perfectly sculpted and proportioned, like everything that went lower.
She sighed deeply. For a split second, in the vertigo of emotions tangled in her soul, a trace of insecurity and fear of unknown shadowed her euphoric state.
But when she felt him close, massive and hard above her, all rational thoughts turned into imaginary smoke and dissipated in the exterior universe, leaving the two solitary figures in the night, entangled in passion’s abyss.
Chapter Seven
His senses were the first to awake. He felt her scent, permanently stamped in his mind, then became aware of the silk sheets surrounding him and of the empty place occupied in the night by his dreams’ nymph. Could it be that he’d only dreamed?
Gerard opened his eyes, studying the room he was seeing for the first time in daylight. A feminine room, with light blue walls, like the soft sheets, honey-colored furniture and pastel curtains.
So it hadn’t been a dream, he’d really had her beside him last night, receiving from her the same passion burning in him ever since he’d met her.
A movement he caught in his peripheral vision made him jerk defensively. Pirata had jumped on the bed with cat-ish nonchalance, coming close to sniff him. Judging by his insistent meows, he was probably asking about breakfast.
Gerard rubbed his own chin, finding it slightly abrasive, then scratched the cat’s ears.
“You’re on your own, buddy, regarding food. If you tell me where I can find your lovely mistress, I could put in a good word for you.”
As expected, the cat stared at him with steady blue eyes, but the meow he let out didn’t seem to divulge his mistress’ location, only his own feline interests.
“Yeah…”
He recovered his clothes from the floor and, after a short inner debate, decided to take a quick shower in Linda’s bath. As the towels were damp, he suspected she’d done the same.
“How the hell didn’t I wake up?” he asked himself surprised. Since childhood, he’d had a very light sleep, always being in a semi-alert state. The answer, however, was going to remain a mystery.
Showered, he pulled on his pants and went off searching Linda. While inspecting all rooms, he accidentally spotted her through one of the living room’s windows. She was in the gazebo that served as her workshop.
As he got closer, he couldn’t take his eyes away from her. Even like this, dressed in rough work-clothes, her hair carelessly knotted on top of her head and wearing thick gloves, she looked lovely. At least, that’s how she appeared to him. He saw she held a sort of chisel, handling it with amazing dexterity on the wooden surface she was sculpting.
“Is that a hand or am I imagining?” he asked.
Linda didn’t even flinch, continuing to adjust, then to polish.
“Yeah. Do you like it?”
She moved aside so he could better see the two hands, their wrists rising from a wooden base.
“It’s great,” he answered, truly impressed. “You have an extraordinary talent at sculpting, among other things,” he added, taking her in his arms, chisel and all.
They kissed deeply, the past night’s revelations still hovering between them. Linda smiled dreamily.
“They’re your hands,” she told him. Reading the astonishment on his face, she elaborated:
“I’m fascinated by your hands. They’re so strong, agile, capable of saving lives and offering a woman unimaginable sensations.”
A satisfied smile slowly widened on his face.
“So I wasn’t the only one who experienced unimaginable sensations… I thought I’d dreamed.”
Linda shook her head, wrapping her arm around his neck.
“If you dreamed, it means we both had the same dream.”
When they reached the house, Pirata greeted them with high meows, alarmingly sounding close to desperation. Linda picked him up.
“I’m so sorry, darling, I forgot about your food. I’ll make it up to you right now, promise!”
She put him down, then opened a can of succulent cat food and served his meal outside on the veranda.
“What would you like to eat?” she asked Gerard.
“I’m not especially hungry, but I wouldn’t say no to some of that caramel cream, if there’s any left.”
“Of course, I always order extra portions. There’s a small restaurant pretty close from here, it serves delicious food.”
So saying, she got the cream bowl out of the fridge and put the content in two small bowls. She added another one full with fresh strawberries.
“I could get used to such pampering,” he said, putting his arms around her with an intimacy reserved for steady couples and long-term relationships. She tensed slightly, making him think this gesture had triggered a vague trace of alarm in her mind. He hoped in tie he’d manage to chase away all the doubts dwelling in her soul, using patience and tenderness as his weapons.
“Sit down and let’s eat,” she urged, gently caressing his bare chest, her gaze locked on it. She was seeing him half-naked for the first time in daylight and, if he wasn’t mistaken, that generated feelings which normally should have been exhausted after a night
of love-making. He felt the same. Now he wanted her more than ever, not only from a sexual point of view. The vision of them, together in her house gave him a sensation of good, of fulfillment.
They sat at the counter savoring breakfast and Pirata joined them, full and quiet.
“What are your plans for today?” she asked.
“Well, after we finish eating, I’ll go to the clinic. How about you?”
“I wanna finish sculpting what I began this morning, your hands. It’s a record for me, I’ve never finished anything so quickly. Then I’ll take it to Francesco, at the gallery, for display only, not for sale. I know I’m coming up with this in the last moment, but I’m fairly sure he won’t complain.”
Gerard looked at her fondly.
“I feel flattered, you know… I don’t even know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. I just hope you’ll like the final product.”
“I already do, you can be sure of that.”
When they finished eating, he told her:
“First I have to go home and change. Although I’ve used your shower, as far as I can remember, my clothes are un-wearable in the crumbled state I’ve left them, lying on the floor.”
She smiled and rose.
“Let’s see if I can remedy them somehow.”
They both entered the sun-bathed bedroom. Clothes were sprawled everywhere. The bed was covered with silk sheets tangled in a sensual mess, which was carrying the vivid memory of the night they’d shared.
She threw a rapid glance toward the bed. As if embarrassed, she bent awkwardly, picking up clothes.
Gerard took them from her hand and threw them down again. He drew her to him, lifting her chin until she met his eyes.
“Look at me,” he said gently. ”Why are you acting like this?”
“Like what?” she asked his clavicle.
“As though we’re two strangers, as though you regret or want to forget everything that’s happened.”
Linda lifted her eyes to meet his inquiring gaze.
“I don’t regret what happened, you can be sure of that. It’s just… I don’t know how to act. It’s the first time this has happened to me. I mean, my ex-husband was the first and only man I have ever… made love to,” she ended shyly, looking down again, without noticing the satisfied and tender expression in his eyes.
Gerard buried his face in her hair and kissed her forehead, trying to find an appropriate way to voice his feelings. Finally, he said:
“You have no idea how happy I am for being here with you. I’m proud because you offered me the privilege of touching you, of having you and proving to you all the feelings you stir in my soul. This is new for me too. I’ve never felt for any woman what I feel for you, Linda. I’ve never fallen in love with a woman from the first second I met her. Never, until I met you.”
He almost felt her heart contracting in surprise and pleasure, but a shadow of doubt crossed over her beautiful features. She watched him intensely, as if searching for something. He hoped she found the simple sincerity in the depths of his eyes.
As he’d expected, she didn’t yet dare to admit that her feelings mirrored his. Instead, she kissed him with all the infinite passion she’d told him only he could inspire in her.
Gerard returned her kiss, trying to ignore the painful twinge caused by the lack of any declaration from her. Though he hadn’t expected to break all her barriers so soon, he still experienced the bitter taste of disappointment.
“You’ll have to be very patient, buddy!” he told himself, then all thoughts left him as he abandoned himself into her arms. He covered her body with hot kisses, while clothes were thrown once more on the floor.
* * *
After Gerard left, Linda got back to work. She dedicated herself to each project with absolute abnegation, but this small sculpture – apparently insignificant – meant to her so much more than just two wooden hands.
While she adjusted and polished, using the chisel to trace lines and curves known only by her, recollections of the past night were completely occupying her thoughts. If she hadn’t had the tangible proof of those hands, she would’ve thought everything had been a dream, figment of her imagination. But it was real, each moment spent beside him had been real.
She smiled, remembering how timid and reserved she’d been at first, not knowing exactly what he expected from her. Then Gerard had chased away her uneasiness using tenderness and sensuality, sensual caresses and kisses more intense than she’d ever imagined could exist.
Of course, she hadn’t ever been that intimate with anyone. The sexual relationship she’d had with Tony couldn’t even compare with the magical night she and Gerard had shared.
Instead, he was obviously an expert in bed, a master in offering satisfaction and indescribable pleasure to a woman. The thought of all the women who had probably went through his bed provoked her an almost physical pain, like an open heart incision.
Then she remembered his words, his astonishing declaration from that morning and doubts seized her again. Had he told those words to all his lovers or were they really true? Was he really in love with her? He seemed a noble, honest man, but one could never be sure…
One thing was clear: she had indeed fallen for him, irredeemable and so fast even she hadn’t realized it until then.
For a moment she deeply regretted she hadn’t confessed her feelings toward him. However, she quickly consoled herself thinking that time wasn’t lost. There will be other occasions. It was still too soon.
Chapter Eight
Gerard reached his office just in time to hear the phone ringing insistently. He grabbed the receiver and answered:
“Hello.”
“How are you, honey? I tried your cell phone, but it’s turned off.”
“Sorry, Mom, I forgot to recharge it. My battery ran out last night.”
While my other batteries functioned at full power! he thought with a satisfied grin.
“How are you?” he asked cheerfully. “How’s aunt Sophie?”
“Fine, we’re both fine, but we miss you terribly, so I called to inform you that you’re coming to visit tomorrow. I bet you haven’t eaten a healthy meal since you’ve been here last.”
He laughed.
“Oh, so you’re informing, not inviting me. Yes, M’am, orders are to be executed, not disputed. Anyway, I planned to come see you. I’ve something to tell you.”
Driven by a momentary impulse, he added:
“Do you mind if I bring a girlfriend?”
Chantalle Leon remained silent for a beat, taken by surprise by this unprecedented situation. Then she said:
“Well… You’ve finally found one good enough to bring and introduce her to me?”
He laughed lightly.
“Something like that. You’ll meet her. See you tomorrow around lunch, ok? Maybe you could make some chocolate pancakes, you know, your special recipe.”
“I planned to, in any case. We’re expecting you. Kiss you, dear!”
“So do I, Mom. Bye!”
If she almost had a heart-attack when I told her I was in love with her, she’ll surely faint when she’ll hear I’m taking her to meet my mother! he thought with a profound sigh, while he was putting on his white lab coat, preparing to visit his patients. The progress of his experimental treatment gave him hope, energy and a motivation stronger than ever.
* * *
Linda worked almost all day long, losing the notion of time. That happened whenever she focused very hard on work. Only when the light decrease visibly, she realized the evening sun had retired in its secret sanctuary. She was starving.
She applied a final layer of varnish to the finished sculpture, then stepped back to admire her creation. It might not have been spectacular, but to her it had a special significance. She decided going to the gallery the next day to hand it to Francesco. Abandoning in the bathroom her clothes full of sawdust, varnish, sweat and other substances, she took a hot shower. Afterwards she
pulled on a thin robe, went downstairs and faced the fridge. She ate some left over spaghetti, then took a glass of milk and a box of cookies, sitting in front of the TV, with Pirata keeping her company. Before she could grab the remote, her phone, placed on the coffee table started ringing. It was Gerard.
“Hello!”
“How are you, beautiful? Do you miss me?” he asked and only his deep masculine voice spiced with that sexy French accent, made her shiver pleasantly.
“Honestly? Yes, I do miss you,” she admitted. “Even though it’s been just a few hours since we’ve seen each other.”
“It’s been a century. However, I didn’t call you for this, but to invite you to lunch tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” she repeated, a trace of disappointment in her voice. “Aren’t you coming tonight… I mean, don’t you wanna go out somewhere tonight?”
“I would really love to, baby, but I still have a lot of work here, at the clinic – both in the lab and office. I want to put everything together, to prepare the file I intend to give to Jean-Paul. Besides, tonight I have an unexpected guest - a friend from college who’s visiting London. We haven’t seen each other in over ten years.”
“I see,” she replied, an involuntary sigh escaping her. “Okay then, have fun with your friend and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I can’t wait to see you,” he whispered huskily, his words seeming to melt on the soft skin of her ear and neck. “Oh, I almost forgot, we’re having lunch at my mom’s.”
“What?”
Linda jumped as though the sofa had bitten her ass. “Where, how… What do you mean? Why?”
He laughed, overly amused by her reaction.
“Don’t worry, baby, you’ll like her. She’s a very nice woman. I was ordered to come to lunch tomorrow and I said I’d bring you along.”
“B-b-But… I don’t know if I can make it. I have to go to Francesco,” she stuttered, alarmed, without even knowing why and where this stupid panic had appeared.
“You can handle it, I have no doubt. I’ll come and pick you up around twelve. Dress casually, it’s gonna take us some time to get there. My mother lives in the suburbs. Kiss you, my love, dream about me tonight!”
Mirage Beyond Flames (Coriola) Page 5