Guardian Angel

Stepping out of the doorway, the rain warm on her face, Tarin looked up at the moon as it shown down, full, on the street ahead as if marking the path she should follow.

She was anxious, though not sure why. All day she had felt a need to be here tonight. It was as though it was the most important thing she could be doing, but why, she didn’t know.

She had never been here before, yet it was like she knew exactly where she was going. Her final destination remained unknown. She only knew, wherever she was going, her journey began here. She couldn’t even tell what was driving her, just a feeling, an urgency that had no explanation and no identifiable source.

She kept asking herself where she was going? And why? But someone kept saying, “you’ll know when you get there.”

It was a gentle prodding, pushing her forward. But it was gentle enough to feel like she was making the choice to go. Like someone calling to her, yet she heard no words. Like a whisper caught on the wind. But who? Who could be calling to her? It seemed unimaginable that someone could get into her mind. She didn’t believe in telepathy or any of that psychic mumbo-jumbo. But she couldn’t fight the feeling that someone wanted her, ...tonight.

She kept walking. The hour grew late, and she was sure she had been walking for the better part of an hour. She rounded a corner and stopped. She was there. Where? She wasn’t sure, she hadn’t been paying attention to the names of the streets as she traveled, but she knew it was time to stop.

Looking around, hoping for a sign to help her know where she was, she saw a figure standing by a street lamp across the way, watching her. He stood there, leaning, the light above dim and flickering. In the flashes of light she could see his face, a half smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

He pushed himself away from the lamp and began walking toward her with slow, confident strides. She thought that perhaps she should feel afraid, but she didn’t. Something told her it was he who had called her out. But, who was he? How did he get her here? She had never seen him before.

He stopped just a few steps away, just more than an arm length from her. Sensing that if she tried to run he could have her in his grasp before she could take a step, she stood her ground.

With a closed mouth smile he turned his eyes to gaze up the street, looked again at her and tipped his head in the same direction his eyes had gone. She understood that he wanted her to walk with him. She moved forward and he fell in step beside her. They walked on, neither saying a word. Still she didn’t know where they were going. They’d know when they got there.

About five minutes later, they stopped in front of a dark building. It had a high, steepled roof and five-foot arched windows. Made out of brick, it looked rather ominous in the full light of the moon. He began walking up the steps and turned to look down at her. She hadn’t taken the first stair yet. She found herself hesitating. Not afraid of him, but of what her purpose was in being here.

He still hadn’t spoken. He only held out his hand, palm up, for her to take. Most likely sensing her reluctance to mount the steps. His hand meant that she had no choice. She would follow him even if he had to physically lead her from now on.

As they entered the building, she noticed that the air was cool and dry. Strange, she would have thought it should be damp in such an old building on a rainy night in November. Even in California. The building was quiet, except for their footsteps as they continued down the hallway. The interior was well kept. Clean and well furnished. The furniture fitting well into the age of the house.

He walked to the fireplace and bent to light the fire. As the flames began under the sizable log that sat in the hearth, the wood burned with a very mild scent. Some woods when burned give off a strong odor. This was pleasant; she couldn’t place it though.

He turned and gestured to a chair next to the fire. And took the chair opposite her at the hearth. She found it hard to look at him. Although he was handsome, his gaze was disturbingly intense. She found it difficult to look into those eyes. They were, to her memory, the most beautiful she had ever seen on a man. When the light played on them they were almost yellow. In shadow they were deep brown. She felt as though he could look into her mind; almost read her thoughts. Some say that person’s eyes are but an entryway into their souls. If that were true she thought she could find herself falling into those eyes and getting lost. What kind of soul did he have? She promised herself that she would have to overcome her discomfort and force herself to search his eyes especially since he hadn’t exactly been very forthcoming so far with verbal information. With every glance she felt as though her thoughts were being searched. Telling herself, once again, that she didn’t believe in psychics, she forced herself to speak.

“ Who are you?” She asked. “ And what the hell am I doing here? How did you get me here?”

He smiled again. Just a small grin that made her feel as though he found her amusing. He gestured to a glass of wine that she was sure wasn’t there when they’d arrived. Her throat was dry so she accepted. The liquid was cool and tart, but it felt good. “Am I to just sit here and wait, or are you going to answer my question?”

“You ask so many, where do I begin?” She was startled by the sound of his voice. Soft and fluid, comforting. It fit him. His voice as gentle as his eyes. She hadn’t expected him to speak since he seemed to take pleasure in her uneasiness.

“Where are we?” She asked hesitantly. And then took another sip of the wine.
“My home.” That smile again. She wished he would elaborate on his own. She didn’t want to have to ask a million questions. She wanted this to be over with, but she knew he would be in complete control of the time they were together. He sat forward in his chair and rested his forearms on his knees. He stared at her and tipped his head slightly to one side, as if listening for something.

“You’re trying to block me. You can’t you know.” And she realized why she couldn’t look at him. He was searching her mind, and she looked a way from him to try to keep him out. “ We don’t even need to be near each other for me to sense you, Tarin, as you well know. That’s how you got here, in answer to you other question.” He sat back in the chair and took a sip out of his own glass.

“ I don’t believe in mind readers.” She said, not taking notice that he had used her name. At that he chuckled, a quiet sound, not unpleasant. He turned his head and looked into the fire, then cast his eyes at the floor, then back at Tarin.

“ You don’t have to. I’m not a mind reader. Not clairvoyant. I read your soul not your mind.” He stood and moved to stand behind her chair. He put his hands on her shoulders and gently kneaded the muscles there. “ You also don’t have to be so nervous. I’m not going to hurt you.” He moved away. And she felt cold, as though the fire weren’t giving off any heat at all.

“Who are you?” She asked as he crouched in front of the fire, and used the poker to stir up the flames. Once again seeming to know her thoughts. He looked at her without getting up and she noticed that his hair grew past his shoulders just a little. It was a shade of brown that looked soft as the light of the fire danced in it, and his skin was smooth and clean-shaven, completely clear, no marks to mar the surface. He looked about twenty-two to twenty-five years old. Until she looked into his eyes. There was age there. Not as we see it in ourselves, with lines and wrinkles, but in his eyes. Wisdom, knowledge. Not just knowledge, but knowing, understanding. At that moment she was no longer afraid to be there. She felt she needed to be there. She needed to hear his story. “ Who are you?” She said again, but this time it was softer, more a plea than a question. “What do you need of me?”

“Why do you think I need something of you? Maybe I have brought you here for your needs.” He stood and went back to his chair and turned his eyes away. “ As to who I am. That’s not important. What is important is what I am.” He looked back at her. This time it was she who leaned forward in her chair.

“Tell me.” She implored. “Please?” She stood and walked over in front of the fire. She sat down on the hearth and folded her legs beneath her, facing him. “Please?” She reached out and touched his hand. He didn’t move it nor did he grasp hers. He just allowed it. His skin was warm and smooth, like his face. His fingers were strong but not large. The hands of someone that could play the piano or build with equal ability. Perfectly balanced with the rest of him.

Using their walk here as a reference, she judged that he seemed to be a little less than six feet tall. His frame seemed also to be a perfect balance for his height. Not that she could make much out under the long coat he wore, but she sensed that he would be strong, but not overly muscled. Something about him told her he was careful about his appearance but not obsessively so.

“You find it strange that I have you here but have not told you why.” The statement startled her, as he had not even looked at her for several minutes. “You wonder what it is I am going to tell you and whether or not you will believe what I say.” He paused. “ You know that I am not what I appear to be. You think my skin is warm yet, you were surprised to find it so. You don’t believe in the supernatural but you will believe what I am about to tell you.” He turned his hand before she knew he had moved and now grasped her hand in his. His grip was almost painful, but she knew he would not hurt her. He had said as much before. “ I am what your logic says I cannot possibly be. I am human and I am a monster. I am that which makes children pull the covers close at night. I am what women want yet, they are afraid to call on me.” With that he let go of her hand and stood. He walked over to a window, and moved the heavy curtain aside with the back of two fingers. He turned and looked at her quizzically. “You have no fear of me?”

“ No, but I don’t know exactly why, except that you said you wouldn’t hurt me before and for some reason I believe you.” She rose from her place at the fire, and crossed the room to stand next to him at the window, so she could see what he was gazing at. The rain had stopped falling and the streets were shiny like black mirrors. “ I love it after it rains.” She said. “Everything looks new and clean.”

“That’s why I chose you.” He said and dropped the curtain back into place. He turned and looked at her, placed his fingers beneath her chin and lifted her face. “ Everything you see, you manage to find something new in it.” He studied her eyes for a long moment. “You can speak to the most heinous murderer and find that one thing that makes him a human being. I want you to do that for me. I want people to know the truth.”

“The truth? You speak of murderers. Are you trying to tell me that you’re a murderer?” Something clenched inside her. She wanted to hear him laugh again and tell her she had jumped to the wrong conclusion. She wanted to bolt out of the room and run anywhere but here. But she found she couldn’t move. Every second that he failed to answer brought with it more dread.

He turned, and with his back to her, he sighed. “ Some would say I am. I would say not.”

He turned back to her. She saw emotion in his eyes. Pain. Guilt. She didn’t know which. Did he mean that he had killed, but that killing had not been his choice? Or was it that he was being falsely accused? He took her by the hand and led her back to the chair. “ I have not taken a human life. But it is in my nature to do so.” He stated as he moved to take his seat again.

“ What exactly are you saying?” She moved closer to him, as much because she felt the need to be near him now as it was, because he spoke softly. She felt he needed comfort but she hesitated, not understanding, or not wanting to admit that she feared; and yet was drawn by, his words.

He moved to stand in front of her, and took her hands in his as if he knew, once again, what she was thinking. “ We only have a few hours left. I want to show you something, but I need you to promise me that no matter what you see, no matter what happens, you‘ll stay by my side. Can you promise me that?” She nodded. A little afraid of what it was that he was going to show her.

“Where are we going?” She asked.

“ You wouldn’t believe me if I only told you what I am. I have to show you for you to completely understand.” He said. And, still grasping her hand in his, he led her back out into the night.

They left the building and stepped out on to the glistening street. He released her hand and she pulled her collar around her neck and chin to brace against the dampness of the night. He watched her and grinned. She gave him a slight smile back. And they walked on. Not touching. Neither of them speaking a word.

She found herself following him to a part of town that she hadn’t seen before. At least back at his home she had started to feel as though she knew approximately where she was. Now she was sure that she would never find her way back alone, but he walked confidently on, so she followed. She asked no questions of him. And although she was uneasy about what he had said before they left, she felt that she, herself, was in no danger.

He stopped, turned to her and simply said. “Wait here in the doorway. Make no sound, no matter what happens.“ He looked directly into her eyes and took a step closer. “ I’m about to show you who I am and why you’re here.” Then he gave her a lopsided grin, put his finger to his lips with a barely audible, “shhh”, spun on his heel and walked a few doors further. He then stood in the shadows and waited.

The wait seemed infinite. Just when she thought she was going to go nuts if she didn’t move out of the doorway, someone came around the corner and began walking toward their hiding places. That’s when he moved. She hadn’t thought about it, but the whole time they were waiting he held impossibly still, while she kept fidgeting and changing feet. She noticed that their new companion slowed as her friend emerged from under the arch, but the figure didn’t completely stop. Her eyes growing accustom to the dim light of the moon she could make out the slight shape of a woman with short dark hair. She couldn’t see her face but she thought she could tell by the woman’s movements that she was being lead toward the man, much like she herself was lead to him. Only the woman seemed as a puppet on a string, where she had felt that she had made her own choice to follow.

When the woman and the man met under the light, he took her hand, bent slightly and kissed the back of it. She stared up at him, but her gaze told Tarin that she didn’t really see him. Still, every move he made was that of familiarity, gentle and kind. He lead her out of the light to his previous place among the shadows, and Tarin found herself feeling a slight twinge of resentment. She took as many quiet steps as she dared to get close enough to see what was happening, not wanting to believe that he would have brought her all the way here to watch him as he met with his lover. She couldn’t see but she heard a gasp, definitely from the woman, that sounded as if caught between surprise and pleasure.

Tarin felt anger building inside her at the man who would drag her along as witness to his conquest. Who did he think she was? She was a councilor, not a tabloid reporter or voyeur.

Just as she decided that she would find her own way home and then visit the nearest psychiatrist, she saw movement in the doorway where they had disappeared. “ Tarin, come here.” He said. He sounded a little out of breath. His voice hoarse. She knew she should just leave but she felt him in her mind again. “It’s not what you think, Tarin. Come help me.”

She moved forward slowly. Looking into the doorway, she saw him holding the woman in his arms and saw that his breathing was ragged. “ We must get her to a place where she will be comfortable until she wakes.”

“ What did you do to her? I mean...” She didn’t want to accuse him. But the woman was lying unconscious in his arms. And she couldn’t believe that she was going to help him dispose of her without demanding to know what he did. She helped him to balance the woman as if she were being helped home from a party by friends and had too much to drink. When they stopped at an adequate place to deposit their friend, he took over and laid her down very gently, as if putting a child to bed. Then he took Tarin’s hand and pulled her down till she was crouched next to him. He moved the lady’s hair aside and directed Tarin’s gaze to the base of her throat, just above her collarbone. There the skin was red like a small bruise and within the bruise were two small marks about the size of the tips of the pens she preferred when not writing on her laptop. “ The marks will heal faster than any wound she may have had when she was a child. There will be no evidence that she was even delayed this evening.” He said as a matter of fact as he rose to stand while he allowed Tarin to inspect the woman’s neck and check her pulse. “ Actually, from now on, she will heal a little faster than she normally would, but not so fast as to cause alarm amongst those who know her. “

Tarin stood without taking the proffered hand at her shoulder. “ Then she’ll live. What did you do, inject her with something? I can‘t tolerate this.” She began to walk away from him not wanting to let her mind accept what she had just seen. But she only managed a few steps before he was barring her path. He didn’t reach for her or even look angry, but he did demand her attention, the command unspoken. It was clear that she would have to allow him the chance to explain. He was holding her to her promise. When it was clear that she wasn’t going to try to get around him, he reached out and clasped her arms, just below the shoulders, and looked into her eyes, searching for understanding.

“ I only took what I needed. Never more. Never enough to end life, just enough to preserve mine.” He spoke softly as if she were a child being comforted after a bad dream. And that’s exactly what she hoped this was.

“ What do you mean, You took only what you needed? What did you take from her, money? Jewels?” He laughed then and it was the kind of laugh that made her feel like she should be laughing with him. Though at the same time she felt that he thought her naive.

“ No, not money. Not jewels. Life. I took her blood.” He moved closer, touched her face with one hand, very gently, and with the other, he took her hand and moved it to cover his heart. “ I am about to lead you into a world that is bound by many myths and legends. Much of what you think you already know about it is false. I want to bring to you an understanding of my realm. My very existence is questioned by most, and feared by all. Will you hear my story now? I will not bind you; you are free to go, if you wish.”

She had been looking into his eyes as he spoke, and she hadn’t felt the push at the back of her mind that she had felt when he’d first called her out, or after he’d taken the woman. He was giving her the choice. She could leave and, it seemed he would allow her to go. But, for some reason she wanted to stay and learn what he wished to reveal to her. “ I’ll stay and listen but please promise me that you won’t subject me to any more demonstrations like that. At least not without proper warning.”

“ If I had told you my intentions, would you have followed me tonight?” He asked with a slightly reserved smile. “ Would you have ventured out at my side knowing that it was to watch as I drank the lifeblood of another human being?” He gazed into her eyes as he waited for her answer, and she could not look away.

“ To be honest? I don’t know. If I hadn’t seen the marks and the effect you had over her, I may not had believed it if you had just told me that you’re a... “ She hesitated to say the word, not liking the sound of it.

“ Vampire? It’s okay. It’s not as blasphemous as some would have you believe. The mere word won’t change you. I am a vampire.” He took her hand and began to lead her back the way they had come before their encounter with the unknown woman. “ Don’t be alarmed, I have already assured you that I have no intention of taking anything from you, except the pleasure of your company for a time. “

As they walked back to his home, The sun had begun to rise. “ Don’t you have to go somewhere safe? The sun is coming up.” She asked once they had the building in their sight. “ Don’t you have to sleep during the day? “

“ Another myth, I can live in the sunlight if I want. I choose to feed at night merely because it’s easier to find a person alone than during the day. Oh, and I love garlic and churches. I like to tour cathedrals; the murals are so beautiful and peaceful. But, I do have to sleep sometimes, as do you. So, if you are tired, I can allow you a place to sleep or you may return home, as long as you promise that you will return again tonight. “

“ I can stay a while longer if you wish. I have questions, and I’m afraid that I may not get much sleep. My mind is running through so many things right now. “ They were in front of his door and he turned to her and touched her hair. She flinched this time and he frowned slightly. “ I’m sorry, I’m not really afraid of you, it’s just that it’s hard for me to reconcile how gentle you seem with what I witnessed tonight.” He smiled and invited her up the steps with a motion of his hand.

Once inside she took her chair by the fire again, amazed that it still burned. “ I have a caretaker who keeps this home comfortable for me.” He said noticing her questioning gaze. “ He wasn’t here when we first arrived. He comes at dawn to begin cleaning. I asked him to come early this morning to tend the fire while we were out. “

“ Then he knows that I am here?” She asked, amazed that she saw and heard no one.
“ He knows only that I was to have company, and that’s all he needed to know. I pay him well enough that he doesn’t feel the need to pry. “ He handed her a cup of hot chocolate. And chuckled at her surprise. “ Don’t you like chocolate?”

“ Yes, I love it. I just didn’t picture you would keeping cocoa in your home. Or did you have you employee pick it up? “ She sipped the hot liquid and enjoyed the warmth as it traveled down her throat.

“ I can partake of normal food, if I choose. I do prefer wine to hot chocolate though.” With that he tipped his glass at Tarin and took a sip. “ Now are you hungry? I can have some food brought in. What do you like?”

Tarin looked at him for a moment. “ When you, well, you know, drink blood, do you... how do you... I mean...” She didn’t know how to phrase the question, she didn’t want him to laugh at her again. After all he did say that most of what she knew about vampires was untrue. “ Do you have fangs?”

He did chuckle at that but then he moved forward in his chair and said, “ would you like to see?”

With him that close to her, she gained a clear look at his face. Everything about it was perfect. His hair flowed back from a high forehead and framed his face on either side then was tucked neatly behind each ear. His mouth was generous and blushed red and soft.

“ I don’t think I need to see them. I was just wondering if your teeth made those marks or if you used some instrument to make them.” She sat back as far as she could in her chair, a little troubled by his proximity. He seemed too familiar.

“ I didn’t ask if you needed to see them, I asked if you wanted to. “ He stood up and opened his hand to her. “ Please come with me, Tarin, I will show you the rest of my home so you can put some of your questions to rest. I am sure that you wonder what all of these rooms hold.” She took his hand and rose from her chair. He lead her from room to room explaining where he obtained some of the pieces that decorated his home.

She stopped at the bottom of the stairs to go to the second level. “ I just realized that I haven’t even asked your name.”

He looked into her eyes and smiled. “ Gabriel.” He said simply. And she thought it rather fitting. A dark angel. He then lead her upstairs and showed her that among the many bedrooms and salons there were also three baths, all large and well stocked with luxuries that any woman would envy. “ As I’ve said, you are more than welcome to stay in one of these rooms and rest. I can send someone for some of your clothes and other necessities so you can change after you rest.”

She turned to him, “ with rooms like these, who would decline such a generous offer? Surely not someone in her right mind.” She couldn’t believe what she had just said; she really had wanted to give herself some time away from him to clear her mind. But at the same time she found that she needed to stay and find out more. He held out his hand and asked for her keys. And she gave them to him, which was something quite unusual for her to do. He left her to decide which of the suites she would choose and he returned to the first floor to have his employee go fetch her things. She decided to take the first set of rooms at the top of the stairs and to start with a bath. She felt a little unclean after her experience this past evening. She ran the water in the tub and found some large towels, she used some of the bath salts that were provided at the side of the tub. It was like being the guest at a grand hotel, she half expected to find champagne left for her in the salon after she’d bathed. When she’d finished she wrapped herself in the towels and wandered into the sitting room to see if her clothes had arrived, only to find that a robe had been laid out for her which was the exact same green as her eyes. It hadn’t been there when she was preparing for her bath. She put it on and continued into the bedroom, where she found her nightgown laid out on the bed.

“ You’ll find that some more of your clothes are in the drawers of the dresser for tomorrow and we retrieved enough for you to stay a few days, if you wish. “ She turned quickly, startled to find him in the room with her. “ Don’t worry I have no intentions of watching as you change. I just wanted to say rest well and to tell you where to find your clothes. Also, if I am not about when you awake, just go to the sitting room where we were last night and there will be something for you to eat and drink.” He crossed the room in one fluid motion, combed a few stray hairs out of her face with his fingers and lightly kissed her forehead. He smiled into her eyes and turned away to leave the room. Before he closed the door, he turned back to he and said, “ sleep well. When you awake, we will talk some more. Then he closed the door and was gone.

She looked around the room and found that candles were lit next to the bed and dressing table. She walked over to the latter and sat down. Finding it stocked with many of the things she needed she began to brush her hair with a silver backed boar’s bristle brush and found a matching comb and hand mirror. The ultimate feminine set up. Not ordinarily her thing. More the stuff of romance novels. She chuckled at the thought of her host having any romantic notions about her. She thought about the way he had spoken to her and the way he had touched her during their meeting this past evening and realized that he had acted in a manner that could be misconstrued as that of a suitor had anyone else witnessed his actions. “ That’s silly.” She told herself. “ He’s a vampire. One of the undead. He can’t have any interest in me, except maybe as a donor.” She found herself laughing a little, more from nerves than anything else. She seriously doubted that she would get any sleep. She understood Gabriel had promised not to harm her but she still couldn’t shake the feeling that she needed to stay alert around here.

She lay down in bed and pulled the covers up to her waist and found herself wishing that she had a book to read. Something to keep her awake while she was in this house. Sleep came fitfully; it crept up on her slowly as did the dream.

It started with her in a place she didn’t recognize. It was night, a full moon and trees all around. She was near water, it was the ocean. The sand beneath her bare feet was soft and cool. She realized that she was wearing the same nightgown and, although it was breezy she wasn’t cold. She knew he would meet her here even before she saw him. He spoke to her from a top a large rock at the edge of the water.

“ I love the moonlight. I can feel it penetrating me. Feeding me. Do you like the moonlight Tarin?” He jumped down off the rock and seemed to float down to land in front of her on the sand. Standing directly in front of her he took her hand. “ Walk with me for a while. We can talk.”

“ I thought we were going to talk in the morning?” She walked beside him, allowing him to lead her by the hand. “ I was sleeping. How did I get here?”

“ We’re in your dream. I thought you might be less afraid of me if there was no physical threat. Since we are not physically here then I can’t possibly harm you so you don’t need to be afraid.” He turned and looked into her eyes. “ You do see yourself differently than I do though.”

“ What do you mean? I see myself differently?” She asked.

“ While we’re in your dream, How you appear is a reflection of how you see yourself rather than what I see when I look at you. For instance, your eyes are much prettier in actuality than you let them be in your dream. They have more green in them. Right now they are average. Will you let me show you how I see you?”

Tarin nodded and Gabriel passed his hand before her eyes. She closed them and when she reopened them he held a mirror. The one that had been on the dresser in her room. He held it up for her to look into and she saw an amazing change from what she would normally see in her reflection.

What she saw in the image before her was sharp green eyes. Red hair that was alive and free with curls that danced in the breeze which was stirred up from the water. Gabriel placed his palm over her cheek and smiled. “ This is what I see when I look at you Tarin. What I see with my vampire eyes. “

“ Do you see things much differently? I mean, from the way the rest of us do, or do you just see more intensely?” She asked still not drawing away from his touch. She decided to try to find his soul. It was still difficult to look into his eyes. In her dream they seemed even more beautiful. They shined in the moonlight and glowed from within at the same time. Steeling herself she held his gaze. And in her mind he wandered. Knowing her fears and her resolve he leaned forward slightly and gently kissed the tip of her nose, which made her blink and raise her eyebrows. “ Why did you do that? You are too familiar I think. “

“ I am no more familiar than your dream will allow me to be. It is your dream after all, you control it. Nothing would happen here that you don‘t want to. “ He stepped back and touched his index finger to the spot on her nose his lips had just touched. “ You are in control of me here. That’s why I chose to call you in your sleep, to reduce your reluctance to be near me. Since you are in control you have no need to fear me.”

“ So what you are saying is that everything that has been happening since I arrived on the beach is because I wanted it to? That’s a little arrogant of you don’t you think. You’re trying to say that I wanted you to kiss me. “ She was furious with him for implying that she would have romantic dreams about him or anyone that attacked women and drank their blood.

“ You misunderstand, What I said was you are in control so that nothing will happen here that you would not allow while awake. But I can make some choices of my own here as well. I kissed you on the nose because I thought your eyes irresistible and I felt that trying to kiss your mouth would not be allowed. I chanced that you would consider your nose less of an infringement. I am at your mercy in that if you decide that you have had enough of me you may send me away and I might not have the pleasure of your company.” He moved and sat on a small rock that seemed to appear where he needed it. He held out his hand and looked at her with eyes that pleaded with her to remain. She did for a while longer.

They sat for a while. Not speaking. Just sitting next to each other on the rock.