Chapter 35: Her Lovers' Touch, Part 17, The Gift

RICHARD

Elizabeth stands before Michael. She's quivering a little; I think with a mixture of arousal and nerves. But she no longer looks back to me. Michael has her attention.

Standing close to her now, he repeats his move of earlier, tracing his fingers down her spine. She reacted before but was then trying to suppress her response I think. Now she shudders.

I position myself where I can see Elizabeth's face without being in her direct line of sight, Michael's fingers now between her shoulder blades, at the top of the zipper of her dress. He takes the tab of the zipper, tugging it a little, showing her what he is doing, but he pauses, leaning back a little to look into her face.

Poised....

Waiting....

.... for consent?

Always he makes it her choice....

Her mouth is open and she's panting. Her skin gleams gold in light of the flames, lustrous with a fine sheen of perspiration and....