Chapter 7 (Motives)

"How have been doing?." Lorenzo asked.

Martina's head trickled up, she gave a quick look at Lorenzo.

"I wouldn't say all has been well, but we are just managing," Martina said.

She played her fingers that were kept below the belt, all her motions were gentle, a broad servile behavior that is expected of every woman in Venice.

Lorenzo closed his hand over Martina's hands, adjusted his wooden chair, and came a lot close to Martina.

"Martina, are you happy?" Lorenzo asked.

Martina's heart raced she could feel Lorenzo's body touching her, Martina flinched when she felt Lorenzo's knee rub on her lap.

"I would be happier if my husband was here." She revealed he lips shivered as she spoke.

"He is the only one who can make me happy." Martina went on, she hoped those words would chase Lorenzo away.

Lorenzo came a lot more close to her, he had his shoulders rubbing on Martina's back, Lorenzo kept a look at her, Martina looked back at him, Lorenzo's eyes held her on thrall, her eyes had tears yet to flow, and she breathed deep, Martina felt a deep affection, their eyes had been fixed on each other for a while, Lorenzo approached her lips with his, Martina was before him seeming bonded by something, she couldn't move away from Lorenzo's lips approaching hers, Lorenzo dug his lips into her mouth, grabbing her obliques, they smooched with loud noises.

Martina pushed Lorenzo away suddenly, forcing Lorenzo to recline to his chair, Martina's hands came up to cover her lips,

"I shouldn't have done that with you, am somebody's wife." She bewailed, strokes of her atries filled her arm, with a frown on her face she showed deep regret for what she had done.

"Martina hear me out." Lorenzo grabbed her arm,

"Move away from me Lorenzo, your presence makes me feel so guilty." She made known to him, how much she regretted the kiss.

"But Martina.-"

"Just leave Lorenzo, Please Go home." She pleaded, her heart overflowed with guilt, tears had begun rolling down to her lips.

Lorenzo made his way to the door, Martina followed him to shut the doors, Lorenzo grabbed his coat beside the door, the rain sprinkled on the coat had dried, he put them on.

Lorenzo looked back at Martina and said.

"He is never coming home, after he is paraded in Assisi, he would be taken to Spain and Ethiopia to fight their greatest gladiators."

Martina squinched her eyes, while Lorenzo went on to say.

"He might die while fighting in one of those matches.

The Governor has resolved to not letting Severus go free.

Don't waste your life waiting for him, he is never coming home.

Ever." Lorenzo revealed.

"So long as his hearts still beat, he Is my husband and I love him,

And let make something clear mister.

My husband is fearless, he is Vir bellica, the man of war, no fight as strong as it may, can leave him defeated."

Lorenzo drew the door wide open and left for his stallion that stood meters away from the cottage house.

Martina shut the doors, she felt proud to have not given in to temptation from a good-looking, wealthy young man.

________________

Lorenzo rode home on a stallion along a straight lonely road at night, accosted by the noises of insects.

Cottage houses flanked the road, he was in Asiago, a little town in Venice, Cottage houses were many in Asiago it was the most affordable house for the poor town.

Lorenzo was dull on his horse, he craves Martina in his heart so deeply, it hurt him at times to know she is not his woman.

Just for a few seconds, she was his, if the kiss had gone on and on, she would inevitably have become his, he would have helped her keep her bed warm.

Lorenzo's mind went back to what had happened earlier, his body bounced to the rhythm of the walking horse, his thoughts took him away from the present.

"As long as his heartbeats, he is still my husband and I love him."

Lorenzo remembered what Martina had told him.

"And if his heart stops beating, he will stop being your husband," Lorenzo spoke softly, he smirked afterward, as though he had shenanigans forming in his mind.