| Sweet Rapture, Chapter 1 - 3 - Arianna entered the room and stood behind her. Alessandra rubbed her forehead nervously. Lips lowered to her ear. ?I am sorry, my love. I never meant to hurt you,? the Countess whispered. Alessandra felt her anger slowly melt away. She still loved Arianna and yet hated her with the same passion. The scent of her perfume ... so alluring ... Alessandra closed her eyes. The Countess sat next to her younger lover as they savored the music in silence. She wanted her so badly and wished the evening was over, but she also knew that Alessandra would walk away from her. At this melancholy thought, she lit a cigarette and inhaled so hard her lungs started to hurt. As the music grew to its climatic conclusion, Krista?s intensity increased as the bow struck the final notes right before the musician released a satisfied sigh. As she lowered her violin, her disheveled hair hung loosely in her face as her lungs seemed to gasp for air. At the silence in the room, Krista raised her head a glow lighting her features, the slight beads of perspiration clung to her upper lip as a satiated smile broke free. Arianna touched Alessandra?s arm who leaned forward and brushed her lips against her lover?s cheek. From the other side of the room Kenji observed them with great intensity and thought ?How such a gentle soul can love someone so damn cold and cruel is beyond me.? He bit his lower lip and looked away. While Arianna stood up and walked toward Krista to compliment her, Alessandra joined Kenji. She stared at the two women, admiring how striking they looked together. A feeling of uncertainty ripped at her stomach. Kenji noticed her uneasiness and put his arm around her waist. She briefly rested her head on his shoulder, and then distanced herself from the embrace. Alessandra noticed that although Krista was politely listening to Arianna, her eyes remained glued to where Alessandra stood with her Asian friend. Like a lightning bolt in the middle of cold dark night, they eyes locked and the intensity of their gaze seemed almost unbearable. After a few moments, Krista severed the contact as she mumbled something to the countess before the two walked away. At this abrupt conclusion, Alessandra visibly frowned as she turned away from the scene. A short balding middle-aged man with a thin pencil mustache and an enormous stomach smiled in her direction and approached her. With each step he took, his belly seemed to jiggle as his breath came in deep pants. She recognized the Ambassador of Jordan. ?Ms. Akhtar, it is such a pleasure to see you again? He started. ?I wanted to personally thank you for your recent delivery. Inch?Allah! It is so good to have those irreplaceable treasures back in my country.? ?I believe that every historic relic should be returned to their point of origin, your Excellency,? Alessandra replied warmly. ?I am glad to have been of assistance in the negotiations and also hope to be of more help in future developments? ?You will my dear, you will. The Countess has the highest respect and praise for you. He assured her ?How did you like Ms. Petrovna?s performance?? ?She is a just like a butterfly on a orchid. She makes your heart wonder about the real beauty of life,? she replied and her thoughts drifted to her childhood for a split second. She caught herself and smiled. ?I always wanted to play an instrument.? she added. ?But it was not one of my talents. Surprisingly my mother was an excellent pianist and tried to teach me at a young age. But I would not hear any of it. I guess she became tired of my stubbornness and never brought it up again.? Alessandra shook her head and grinned. ?I wish she would have been more persistent.? ?Allah gave you equal talents in other areas my dear,? the Ambassador?s voice was softly reassuring as he held a warm smile. As another guest approached them, Alessandra took advantage of the situation and extracted herself from the burly man?s company. When she reached the bar, she ordered a cognac. Once the short stemmed goblet was in hand, she glanced in Krista?s direction, her wrist absently twirled the brown liquid before walking out of the room. In slow, precise steps, she made her way up the staircase, letting her hand graze the bronze handrail. She entered one of the guest rooms, put her glass down on the night table and unzipped her evening gown, letting it fall to the floor. She lay down on the bed and gazed at the elaborate plaster ornamentation on the ceiling, chasing every thought from her mind. Arianna?s parties bored her. She hated all the small talk and preferred to stay on the side to observe the crowd. Human behavior could be so fascinating, yet so revolting. The cognac slowly relaxed every part of her body and she soon drifted into a tormented dream. ~~~~~~ The townhouse was quiet. Arianna, clad in a red and gold silk kimono, was lying next to her sleeping lover. She had been watching her for hours, while stroking her hair. Her stomach was in a knot, she could not believe she was slowly losing the only person she had ever loved. The hurt was unbearable. What had gone wrong? ~~~~~~ Alessandra walked into Arianna?s office. The administrative assistant fended off the young archeologist in her usual tone, and said she would have to wait for a while as the countess was tied up in traffic. While she waited, she moved to the window, her thoughts wandering, and admired the skyline of the city from the 57th floor. She turned away and sat in Arianna?s sleek black leather chair facing the modern black granite desk. The computer was on, Artiques? logo danced across the screen like a mad ballerina. A silver framed picture of Arianna?s son, Carlo was facing her. He was a handsome young man in his late teens with blond curls and light brown eyes, his smile complimented by two dimples inherited from his mother. ?A future heartbreaker,? Alessandra thought as her lover entered the office, perfectly coordinated in her pinstripe business suit. Upon entering the room, Arianna noticed her lover leaning back in the oversized executive chair. As her eyes glanced over her lover?s exquisite beauty, she threw her tan leather briefcase on a chair, bent and kissed Alessandra lightly on the lips, and then sat down on the black leather sofa. Filled with apprehension, the countess |
