The Sibylline Oracle (The Sibylline Trilogy) Page 21

  Despite the fact that Alex knew that there was not much likelihood of either of them surviving long enough to concern themselves, he asked, “Doc, if she does lose her memory, is there some way to treat that?”

  “None that I am aware of,” Mani replied.

  Valeria’s eyes darted quickly to Alex. “It’s not permanent, is it?” She asked Mani.

  “I’m sorry, I can’t answer that, Valeria. Right now, the focus is to get you through this alive. The rest we will worry about later.”

  Alex wrapped his arms around her waist. “It won’t be the first time I’ve had to remind you. As long as you are alive, we can make anything work.”

  Shrugging off his lab coat, Mani continued, “Valeria, in order for you to contaminate Aegemon, you must get close enough for a transfer of the bacteria.”

  Alex lowered his brows in concern. “How close?”

  “To ensure infection, I would say about six inches, no less. Once that’s done, then the challenge will be to get both of you out of there alive.”

  “Anything else?” Alex asked, dryly.

  Mani hugged and kissed them on both cheeks. “Kalo Taksiti! Enjoy this evening.” He said. “You are both alive tonight. So live, tonight!”

  ∞

  As they pulled up in front of the cottage, she noticed how dark it was without the fire lit and it seemed to reflect their moods.

  Stepping from the car, Valeria saw that the sky was now midnight blue and lit with a million stars. Its vastness was beautiful and she refused to permit herself to think that this might be her last time seeing them. This was a new beginning for her and Alex, one where they would discover the immense pleasures of being alive together…forever.

  She noticed that Alex’s mood had suddenly lightened, as he playfully grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the lighted path to the main house. Despite the darkness now setting in, there was mischief in his eyes. “I hope you don’t mind. But as I said before, it had occurred to me after you left that things had been getting too intense and gloomy around here.”

  “Alright,” Valeria said, wondering what he was up to.

  “This was Camille’s idea. But I think it’s a good one.” Alex bypassed the main house and continued around to the backyard.

  Small twinkling lights clung to the edge of the woods where the large, stone fireplace blazed its warmth onto the smiling faces of the family. They'd set the long wooden table with fine linens and china, a three-layer cake was its centerpiece. A crystal chandelier hung above the table from the tree’s limb and was lit with small candles. Valeria’s eyes wandered to another table which had been set with gifts!

  The family suddenly trumpeted, “Happy Birthday—Chronia Polla—Many years!”

  Alex whispered in her ear, “Yes, love! Please live many more years!”

  Valeria shivered with the beauty of it all, the love they freely offered to her, and the love she shared with this extraordinary man. It was a life she had never dared to imagine and it was hers now.

  The new happiness in her eyes did not escape Alex. No words were necessary. He could see that she felt the full sensation of his undying love for her.

  Alex whispered in her ear, “Camille thought it would be fun for you to experience a Greek birthday party, since most of our roots are Greek.” Alex winked. “Especially yours!”

  Camille and Ava approached with a glass of wine for Valeria and Alex. “Join the party!” They clinked glasses and yelled, “Opa!”

  “I wanted to serve Ouzo, but I was outvoted by Alex and Camille.” Ava pretended disappointment.

  There was something about the evening that changed Valeria’s perception of life. She had occasionally received gifts and had celebrations before, though not like this! Still, it was more than that. When Valeria looked over the faces of the family, she felt as if there was something different about tonight. She could sense that the night held a life-altering significance. Then it struck her and cocooned her in delightful warmth with its far-reaching ramifications...she was loved. She loved them, and for the first time, she felt as if she belonged!

  Raising her hands to silence the crowd, Camille explained, “Opa is a Greek term used as a celebration of life! It is an affirmation that all that really matters is health, family, and friends, right Alex?” He nodded.

  Camille continued, “It means that you are where you are supposed to be, Valeria.” Tears threatened to escape from Valeria’s eyes. “And that you need to take time to celebrate!” She turned to Alex, asking, “Did I forget anything?”

  Trays of food and drink started arriving by uniformed waiters coming from the main house. Another round of “Opa!” passed through the family as Camille and Ava hugged their new sister.

  “You did well, Camille!” Alex said. “My father used to say that the meaning of opa is that, having been fed and quenched our thirst, and having enjoyed friendship and love, that we are filled with hope and confidence; that life abounds with all that we need.” Alex raised his glass to Valeria and everyone yelled, “Opa!”

  “That’s beautiful!” Valeria smiled. “I would have liked to have met your father.”

  “He would have been,” Alex swallowed back the emotion, “so pleased to know that I found someone like you!”

  His eyes lit as he picked up a plate from a passing waiter. “My father said that we break plates as a declaration of the hope that tomorrow there will be more.” Alex squeezed Valeria’s hand and kissed her hair. “That seems to be particularly significant tonight!”

  Then he smiled, lifting his brow at Valeria, and threw the plate to the edge of the fireplace where it shattered to another round of, “Opa!”

  “I don’t know what to say. I’m completely overwhelmed!” she choked.

  Ava smiled. “That’s the great thing about Greeks! When you don’t know what to say, you simply eat, drink, dance, or say opa!” The cheer rang through the crowd again.

  The music started; Lars played a mandolin and Tavish was on the guitar. Different band members trailed in and added to the music, eventually replacing Tavish and Lars.

  A team of waiters brought out trays of flaming cheese as appetizers, with another round of, “Opa!”

  As they ate dinner, one waiter occasionally breathed out fire, causing the familiar shout. Then the dancing began. Tavish danced, while balancing one leg of a chair on his forehead. Ava joined in and tried to get Tavish to teach her how to do it. It became a bit of a comedy show with the chair continually crashing nearly on the cake, then nearly on Lars, with Tavish somehow always catching it before anything or anyone was harmed. His expressions of attempted patience, followed by tried patience and exasperation, added tremendously to the comedy. Valeria realized that she liked Tavish, but was grateful for his friendship only.

  “Tell Alex what you thought about Tavish,” Camille whispered with a gleam in her eye.

  Valeria laughed, and then explained, “Well…” She bit her lip, embarrassed. “I thought you were setting me up with Tavish, at first.”

  Alex’s head rolled back in a hearty, rollicking laugh. He shook his head and kissed Valeria’s hair. “Don’t tell Tav! I don’t want him getting any ideas!”

  When Valeria looked back down, Camille had placed a wrapped gift in front of her.

  “A gift? What was this afternoon?” Valeria objected. Camille shrugged as Valeria opened it and saw a framed picture of her and Alex at the restaurant, earlier that day. “How did you get a picture of us without me even knowing?”

  “You didn’t even notice me once you saw Alex!” She hugged Valeria. “Imagine! After all of my work on you this afternoon,” Camille teased.

  Valeria had always tried to avoid anyone taking pictures of her. She felt that she looked like a cut-out stuck in the middle of a crowd of people. But not in this picture. Valeria was struck by the expression on her own face, she was happy! Both Alex and Valeria looked head over heels in love.

  The old, Italian woman who had carried the flower baskets up to the cot
tage only a few days before approached Valeria and handed her something wrapped in tissue paper. Ava gave Valeria a look of amused caution. “Brace yourself.”

  It was a blue marble charm with an eyeball painted on it. Valeria was taken aback. The old woman said, “Matiasma!” Then she pointed to her own eye with a wicked look and then to Daphne, who was busy flirting with one of the young waiters.

  Ava smiled. “Knew that one was coming! It’s to protect you from the evil eye of jealousy.”

  The Mandolin and guitar began playing their familiar tune slowly. Alex rolled up his sleeves and looked seductively at Valeria. “Come on, we’re dancing.”

  She pulled back. “No. Alex, I can’t dance.”

  The whole group surrounded them and pulled Valeria into the sirtaki dance from Zorba the Greek. The musical energy built and Valeria danced and laughed as she clung to Alex. When the song finished, the music became softer. Alex spun Valeria around to face him, wrapping his arms around the small of her waist.

  The waiters began throwing the plates down on the ground yelling, “Opa!”

  Through her laughter, Valeria whispered to Alex, “Please don’t let them find the Limoges!” This is what happiness feels like, she thought.

  As Alex and Valeria danced, first Ava and Lars came by to say good night. They hugged and kissed Valeria. One by one, the others came by and then they went back to dancing. Valeria thanked them but her attention was on Alex.

  Drunk with love, celebration, and the full moon, Alex stared down at Valeria with the glow of love and she took the opportunity and wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed into him with a passionate kiss that was far more seductive than she would have ever intended before—particularly with other’s watching! But here at Morgana it was a different world and love and passion blended easily with the hills and history. She heard Ava and Tavish applauding their kiss and then Alex took her hand as they started down the path towards the cottage, playfully running and dancing and kissing.

  Valeria stumbled trying to walk backwards in Alex’s arms, so he lifted her, as if she weighed nothing, and carried her back to the cottage. He closed the door with his foot and placed her square on her feet in front of him. The fire had mysteriously been lit while they were gone.

  They stood for a moment, their heartbeats pounding at a marvelously fast pace. Alex forgot all of his carefully constructed rules. The love in his eyes was replaced with so much longing that it erased the nightmares they had faced and would face, leaving only them.

  Reaching for her hands, Alex stepped toward her, staring down into her eyes. His voice was soft and husky as he whispered in wonder, “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?”

  His hand touched the edge of her face and then circled to the nape of her neck. His fingers moved into her hair and gently tugged to pull her face up toward his. He trailed his other hand down her spine and to her waist. She reveled in the feel of his touch as each movement of his fingers released a new tingling sensation all its own. She heard a cross between a sigh and a moan and realized that it came from her. In response, Alex pulled her in closer.

  The shadows of the firelight danced gently upon them as his mouth brushed over hers with a teasing taste that became a hunger; his soft kisses growing longer and deeper. Her body became alive with the taste of him. Alex’s hand brushed along her neck and trailed down the front of her dress, as his mouth caressed her jaw line. Without allowing time to evaluate his decisions, Alex unfastened the top button of her dress. Suddenly concerned with her response, he glanced down. When he saw the raw need of desire, he quickly unbuttoned the rest. She pulled his shirt off and felt that luxurious ache in her belly. Staring at his well-muscled chest with a smattering of hair, she ran both of her hands down his neck, feeling him shudder as she did. When she placed her mouth over his heart, she heard him murmur her name softly, almost as a prayer. She could feel his heart slamming against his chest and it thrilled her, causing her to spiral deliciously out of control as she pressed herself against him.

  Alex’s mouth trailed along the curve of her shoulder causing an intense flash of heat that moved through her entire body. Her arms hungrily reached around his back pulling him even closer. Then his mouth moved back to hers as his hands pushed her dress back, revealing her new silk lingerie. Valeria’s breath hitched, relishing in the feel of his skin against hers with only the silk as a barrier. While caressing her neck with his mouth, his hands ran down the side of the lingerie. “Oh…my beautiful…love,” he whispered.

  But a moment later, Valeria sensed his hesitancy. She opened her eyes as Alex sighed and started to pull back from her.

  “What am I doing?” he asked, shaking his head as if that would cease his longing.

  Valeria clung to him. He smiled and brushed her face with his fingers and then without moving his eyes from hers, he forced himself to pull her dress back together, covering her. He rolled his eyes and whispered, “Oh, boy!” Then he pressed his mouth to hers in a chaste kiss before forcing himself to step away. Alex headed to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of cold water, his voice still soft and husky. “Do you want some?”

  When he turned back toward her, she was standing only a few feet from him in the kitchen. Shyly, she pulled her dress back off her shoulders, but left it hanging from her arms and her waist. Her eyes glistened with desire. “Alex?”

  Stunned into inaction, he just stared for a beat. He dropped the bottles on the counter and, with a single step, pulled her back into his arms and kissed her with an intensity of mouths and tongue that melted them both. As her dress fell to the floor, she wrapped herself in his arms. Finally he lifted her and carried her to their bed.

  Their limbs became tangled as she wrapped her arms and legs around him, needing to feel him even closer. When she felt his hesitancy creep in again, she breathlessly fought the losing battle. Finally, he found the strength to push away and he sat up. She lay on the bed for a moment, crushed. He pulled the sheet around her and sat her up so that she was leaning against him.

  “Val, I want you to understand something,” he said breathlessly.

  She looked down trying to hide her disappointment. Alex continued, “Tomorrow’s a big day. I think we both need to get some rest.”

  A tear slipped from her eye. “Alex, I know what may happen tomorrow. I wouldn’t regret anything...” She leaned into him and closed her eyes. “Except if I was never with you.”

  He kissed the top of her head and erased her tear with his finger. He turned her to face him. “Val—”

  She interrupted him. “Alex, I’ve waited almost thirty years to feel like this about someone. And I want to spend whatever time I have left with you,” she said as the intensity in her eyes increased. “And I mean…with you.”

  He stroked her face. “Do you know how very long I have waited to be with you?”

  “Then, please?” Gulping back her nerve, she crawled out from under the sheet and onto his lap, kissing his neck. “Please…”

  Feeling the temptation Alex brushed his hands over her shoulders while working to cool things down. Then he rolled his eyes with a sigh and lifted Valeria next to him as he again covered her with the sheet.

  “Beautiful, it has to do with a vision I had,” he said, concentrating on his discipline and trying to push back the desire that engulfed him.

  “Was it bad?” She grasped Alex’s hands, while still feeling defeated. “I don’t think I want to know.”

  Chuckling softly, he said, “No, it’s,” he whispered as tears rimmed his eyes, “it’s…beautiful!”

  “Then tell me,” she said as she brushed her lips along his neck.

  Alex crinkled his nose and shook his head.

  “Then why—” she began her protest.

  Placing his fingers over her mouth, he said softly, “That vision is…very personal.” He looked into her eyes filled with a mix of hurt and desire. “How do I explain this?” He knew she needed an explanation for his reluctance.

&
nbsp; “When I was young, I had a vision of you and me. We were together as husband and wife…” Alex looked into her eyes. “It was…well, it was our wedding night.” He looked down, a touch embarrassed, and then back into her eyes. “While that vision has and does add passion to my time with you, it’s not something I can share with you. It feels very...private. Besides, I don’t believe it would be very gentlemanly of me to discuss it—”

  Noticing that Valeria’s imagination had taken over, Alex’s face reddened. He quickly added, “Oh, no! No, beautiful, let me assure you that there is nothing that…violates your modesty! But to share the vision would feel like I was, I don’t know, in some ways choreographing…things.” Alex stroked her face. “I hope you understand. I hope you know how much I want you.” His face glistened his love. “But I want you alive more! And…I just can’t sacrifice that possibility.” She buried her head in his chest.

  Lifting her face so that he could see her, Alex continued, “And there’s something else. As long as that vision hasn’t occurred, it’s still possible! It is the dream that has carried me through thousands of years.” Alex looked down. “Val, if I make love to you tonight, it will be like I’ve given up hope that we can ever have more. And I want more than just tonight! I want you as my wife…I want you for eternity.”

  Tears rolled down her face as she kissed him lightly. She understood that this wasn’t just about her. Alex had far more invested than she did.

  Slowly finding her voice, she looked up at him and asked, “Um, Alex? I guess I was just wondering…”

  He nodded.

  “Alex, was that a proposal?”

  His mouth turned slowly into a grin and then he patted her leg, rose from the bed, and left the room, returning a moment later with a small ring box. Valeria stared in disbelief. Could this really be happening?