The Kingdom

Tongue tied for lack of an answer to such logic, I watched as Artaxis stepped forward towards my chained companion only to lean his forehead against hers in a movement that reflected great emotional connection. To my surprise, I saw a tear slip down the woman's face only to be quickly wiped away by one of Artaxis's fingers.

They both closed their eyes and then, both drawing apart, I heard Artaxis say, "This is for the best Susori."

She nodded quickly and the vulnerable side of this woman that I'd just gotten a glimpse at disappeared, to be replaced with the persona of confidence that I'd seen on the dance floor earlier tonight.

Drawing back from her further, Artaxis looked toward the door, then quickly went through it and disappeared from view. The guards closed the door and I was left alone within the darkened room, my sole companion being the girl chained to me.

This was all too much to take in! I felt the need to sit and gather some semblance of order to the situation as the world seemed to be spinning beneath my feet. I saw a chair and stepped out toward it.

Almost immediately I was brought up short by the chain about my wrist. "I'm sorry!" I said in embarrassment, as I turned to the vision of beauty standing quietly in the room behind me.

She, however, was already stepping out toward me and, for lack of knowing anything better to do, I completed my path to the chair and sat down. She moved so quietly that I was startled to feel her hands begin to knead my shoulders.

I sat there awkwardly, as her skillful fingers squeezed first at my shoulders before then moving to my neck and rhythmically working on the tension she found there in great supply. Through it all she was silent and yet my breathing sounded loud in the room as my desperation mounted.

I was trapped! El Elyon, what am I supposed to do?

Any resistance that I could mount against this woman was shaky at best from the start, but I found even more of my resolve draining away at the touch of her fingers working away at the tension that her presence caused.

I caught her one hand with my unshackled hand and said, "Please stop."

She stopped.

Time passed as I stared at the graceful fingers of the hand I had captured. This amazing woman was mine for the taking. This was not the way I had wanted this day to come, but in my heart I knew she was the one. I'd known it from the first moment I'd seen her and yet now, here in this setting, all seemed drowned out by my physical desire for her, but if she truly was the one, then she deserved so much more than just the weakest part of me in our first interactions together.