His hand still lay on her leg, and she placed her hand near the tip of his fingers. Her body went rigid when she sternly said...
“I’m always happy to see you. I look forward to your visits.”
He smiled when he said...
“Good. I’m glad to hear that. I say that because--Ona, I would like to see more of you. And believe me...I know this won’t be easy but I feel that there is something between us worth the exploration.”
She couldn’t believe that these words were coming from her mouth.
“I agree.” But she’d said the remark because it was true. There was more than something between them and she’d felt this wonderful feeling for a long time.
“Ona...I’d like to invite you out for a meal. Breakfast, lunch, dinner--you choose. And I want this meal to be separate from the Conclave business that we still need to conduct. I want to keep those two things separate.”
He wanted her to fully understand his intentions because he didn’t want any confusion on either of their parts.
Ona looked out the window, and for the first time, she noticed that the car wasn’t moving. It had stopped because they had reached the dock. She could see the people arriving, and orderly forming a line. She shifted in her seat, and when she looked at Lucien, she couldn’t think of a word to describe him. He was studying her, waiting for a response. She needed time to think because the only words that came to mind were bible verses and writings from her Creed that disallowed romantic entanglements with Non-Samaritans. Lucien was asking for something that was impossible but she couldn’t manage saying words that would reject him. No part of her body wanted to spurn his advances
Ona spoke low when she said...
“I should go. There are people from my Sect outside.”
“Ona...we can drive down the block, and you can get out there.”
That sounded like a reasonable idea but some part of her brain didn’t like the idea of lying. She’d deceived her brothers, by not telling them about Lucien or this meeting. Now this was her chance to come clean, by allowing members of her Sect to see her.
“No...that won’t be necessary.”
“I don’t mind Ona. Like I said... I know what I am asking for won’t be easy but...”
“That isn’t the reason that I suggested leaving. I--I just don’t know what to say.”
His gaze went right through her when he said...
“Tell me that I’m wrong. Tell me that you don’t feel the same. Say that you don’t have any feelings for me.”
“I can’t say that.” Her voice was lower when she said...”I won’t lie”
Lucien lifted his hand, and when he touched her face, Ona felt as if her heart would stop. Her body was gripped by an emotion that went beyond any physical experience. Her breaths were rapid and shallow, and she could barely breathe. Lucien leaned forward and he pressed his lips on her forehead. Their bodies exchanged a warmth that swelled, turning hot and enticing. He stayed there, and when he spoke, his warm minty breath made her draw nearer.
“Ona...” he sang her name, and a thousand violins strummed a melodious tune in her head. What kind of enchantment was this, she wondered. Her body rang with a brilliance unlike any other experience.
“Call me.” He said and when he drew back, her body wobbled forward, desperately wanting the closeness again. His finger traced a line down her face, then he said...
“You’d better get going. I see the boat coming.”
She didn’t turn to look because she didn’t care and she didn’t know how she felt about that. Earlier today, when Rachel had talked about Caleb and her attraction to him; Ona had wanted to tell her that to remain a part of her Sect, Caleb had to marry a Samaritan woman. She still didn’t know why he hadn’t and as for Noah; his marriage was a foregone conclusion. He had his eyes set on a young woman belonging to the Virginia Sect. When she’d spoke to Rachel, Ona’s thoughts had been selfish ones, because she didn’t want her brother to leave the Sect; and if he married Rachel, that’s exactly what he would have to do. Now, here she was, talking to Lucien, and preparing to plot and scheme to see him; and to what end? Would they see each other until her project ended at the end of the year, or would they see each other until her parents returned? She didn’t know because she didn’t have all the answers but she did know one thing; her heart ached when Lucien would leave and she thought about him as much as he thought about her. And when she’d seen his sisters friend, her brain had filled with jealous thoughts. She pulled away from him, placing her hand on the doorknob, and she chose not to look at him. She said a mental prayer, then she asked for God’s forgiveness when she said...
“I’ll call you.”
When she stepped out of the limo, she strode across the sidewalk as light as a feather. What manner of booster was this. She neither knew nor cared. Her mind and body was in another atmosphere and nothing could deflate her ascension. To the rear of her, she could hear the limo’s engine and Lucien had not pulled away. He was there, waiting and watching, and the knowledge of this fed another adrenaline rush. Ona was steps from the line of people waiting to board the ferry; and among, them at the head of the line, she spotted Geff’s father. He stared at her, as if he knew. She chanced looking in the direction of the limo and when she spotted it, parked at the curb; she made a declaration because from here on out, there would be no turning back. She wanted this experience. Come what may; she would meet Lucien Delors--and nothing would stop that from happening. When the ferry docked, her mind had been set and she’d shrugged off a life’s worth of religious studies.
**********
Chapter 14
When I first met you
Mikita stepped off the plane, and the warmth of her island home embraced her. She had traveled the world but there was no place more inviting than her island home. Even after all the years she’s spent away, traveling and living on the mainland in the United States; no feeling compared to this. And those two years spent in Rome; she cringed at the memory and she forced the thought back into submission.
Mikita recalled the floor plan of the airport then she made her way to the car rental. She chose an economy sized car because its width would fit into her mothers narrow carport. She stuffed the trunk with her luggage, then she placed the extra bags in the backseat of the car. She sat in the drivers seat then she pointed the car in the direction of her childhood home. This return trip to the past was bittersweet and more than likely, according to the doctors report, this trip would be her last spent with her mother.
She drove along Queens highway, merging into a heavy flow of traffic. Memories flooded her brain, and she wiped her cheeks of tears. She would have no parts of wayward sorrows. She couldn't douse every memory even though she wanted to. Mikita's father had spent most of his days, shit-faced, ass over teakettle and he’d been irresponsible to boot. She’d seen pictures of him, and it didn’t take much to understand what had attracted her mother. Quinton had been a semi-pro surfer and if he wasn’t riding waves on the ocean; in his spare time, he hung out in bars, running up tabs with his groupies. He didn’t have any ambitions--not even in his chosen sport, and according to her mother, had he paid more attention to surfing, he stood a great chance of going pro, and that’s when the endorsements really paid off. Despite her mothers poor choice in men; thanks to her grandparents, her bad decision had been barely felt. Mikita could say this, because when she compared her life to her mother’s; the relationship between her and Morpheus had been doomed from the start. The only difference that applied to her father and Morpheus was that the Gustafson’s were extremely wealthy. But money had never been a problem for her or her mother. Mikita’s grandparents had owned one of the islands most sought after resort destinations, and thanks to their support, she and her mother had wanted for nothing. Using money from her trust-fund; Mikita had saved enough to invest in her families company and in a short time, she’d earned a place on the board, and shortly after that, she’d earned part ownership. Thanks to her mother’s good business sense; Mikita and her mother were independently wealthy, and their investments held promise of future growth. Good business sense had shielded her mother and her as well.