NIGHTS OF HALLOW

Sthena watched the sleeping Perdita in his arms. Her soft black hair sprawled over his hand and legs. He couldn’t stop his fingers from weaving through the luscious strands, the sweet scent of oil wafting into his nostrils.

Perdita stirred in her sleep when her hair fell from Sthena’s hand and tickled the side of her face. He allowed her to fall asleep again before gently removing the hair from her face, giving him a better view of her relaxed face that still looked flushed under the evening light.

He let her sleep on his lap without bothering to carry her to bed. She looked exhausted but then, he liked the feeling of having her in his arms. The feeling of her soft body pressed against him was still fresh in his memory. He had brought the wine to ease her stress and her sour mood, but then, who would have thought she would drink up to five glasses at a go while he was still in his first glass?

A light chuckle escaped Sthena’s lips, his red eyes lingering on her plump rosy lips. ”Such a feisty woman,” He muttered to himself as he got distracted looking at Perdita when she stirred in her sleep again, this time adjusting to a more comfortable position on Sthena’s lap while muttering incoherent words.

”Perdita?” Sthena called out softly but got no response. A few seconds passed in silence when Perdita suddenly awoke and at the same time, distressingly tugged on her dress with a confused frown etched on her face.

”I feel h—hottt,” She slurred, her voice sounding strained as the effect of the wine had started taking full effect on her. She reached behind her, tugging on the straps of her dress to let it loose. ”Take this dress of m—mee, ahh,”

”No, darling,” Sthena spoke and quickly caught her hand before she could loosen the knot of the strap. ”In as much as I want to use my hands to remove every piece of your clothing, I do not think now is the right time and you wouldn’t like that too.”

Perdita sighed, distressed and oblivious to what Sthena was saying to her. She wriggled in his arms, trying to free her hands so she could help herself out of the distressful tight dress.

She appeared out of breath, her eyes which had returned to their normal green color looked dilated as beads of sweat marred her forehead. She kept moving her body, trying to cool herself from the burning sensation she felt within. This caused her to smuggle more into Sthena’s cold body that felt cool on her burning skin.

”I—I am burning inside, Sth... I need water. Help get this dress off me,” Perdita continued mumbling, oblivious to the requests she was making.

”Careful with what you request, darling,” Sthena coolly replied in the shell of her ear. ”Let us get the heat off you then,” He declared and stood up, swiftly and carefully carrying Perdita in his arms.

Slightly dazed and uncomfortable with the hotness she was experiencing, Perdita questioned, ”Where are you taking me?”

”To get you undressed,” Came the swift and blunt reply from Sthena.

At that moment, Perdita’s senses seemed to regain consciousness and she stared blankly at Sthena for a while at what he said. She blurted, ”Wait, what?!”

Sthena kept quiet, without a word of confirmation or objection from him. As he got closer to the door of the bathing room, he kicked it open making Perdita gasp as she tugged on his coat.

”Wh—where are you taking me?” Perdita managed to speak out even though her mind was still foggy and the burning sensation all over her body was still there.

”Getting the heat off you, darling. You ask the obvious question.” Sthena replied, a small smile dancing on his sinful lips that stretched as his smile grew while watching Perdita’s dilated eyes slightly widen in shock. The fact she was still tipsy made her look like a child who was told that her favorite food would be taken from her.

Perdita watched Sthena closely as he carried her in his arms, not understanding what he had said. She opened her mouth to speak, but the burning came twice than before, hitting her on every nerve and pores in her body. She felt parched, as her throat itched for water. Beads of sweat washed over her, making her quiver and at the same time wriggle in Sthena’s arms.

”Keep your head up,” Sthena instructed, and the next moment, he walked into his large bathe that was nothing less than a pool with Perdita in his arms. Water splashed outwards as he walked deeper into the bath, soaking him first before the water touched Perdita. When he got to the middle, the water fully covered them both, leaving only their heads untouched.

Perdita heaved a sigh of satisfaction as soon as the water touched her body. She felt as if she was thrown into a burning pit and then back into the sea. The feeling nonetheless was heavenly as her body began to cool off, and at the same time, steam rose from her skin.

Still in his arms, Sthena held her so she wouldn’t drown as she was inches shorter than him. Minutes passed in silence, the only noise that could be heard was the light splashing of the water as it toppled and splashed outside of the bathe.

”How do you feel now?” Sthena inquired from Perdita who was still basking in the coldness of the water against her hot skin. She turned her head to look at the man who held her securely in his arms and at the same time, Sthena gently released his hold on her.

”I—I am fine,” Perdita mumbled a reply as her feet touched the floor of the bath when Sthena completely released her from his arms. Just as he left her, was the same time she sank into the bath.

”Oh my goodness!” Perdita gasped as she stopped herself from sinking deeper. The only place not covered by water was her head when she stood.

Sthena chuckled, his red eyes twinkling with mischief. He asked again, ”How do you feel now?”

”About to die,” Came the swift reply of Perdita while glaring at him. ”Why did you leave me? I would have drowned!”

”But you did not,” Sthena smiled, ”Still want us to get the dress off you?”

”W—what?!” Perdita let out a low shriek while covering the front of her body. ”I didn’t...”

”Shush,” Sthena quietened her before she could say anything. He stretched his hand towards Perdita but she quickly moved back with a glare, only for her to sway backwards.

Sthena frowned, his displeasure over her action clear on his face. He said, ”You’re still tipsy, darling. Unless you want your body floating in my bath in the morning, you should take my hand.”

This time, Perdita didn’t have the mouth to argue. Her head still felt heavy, and the swaying of the water around her added to her dizziness even though she felt better than when she felt hot all over.

Before placing her hand on Sthena’s outstretched one, she eyed it for a second while muttering under her breath, ”I thought you were going...”

”Oh, darling, you wound my fragile heart by saying such demeaning words to me,” Sthena cut her off before she could finish her words, knowing exactly what she was going to say. When Perdita placed her palm on his, he enclosed it with his own and drew her closer. The sudden change of movement startled her and before she could get a hold of herself, she was already snugged into Sthena’s body where he now held by her waist.

Perdita’s heart skipped a beat, heat quickly rushed up to her cheeks because of the way she and Sthena were close to each other, their wet body smuggled so close. She blinked, unable to look at Sthena, and then tried to move backward but the strong hold of him kept her in place. She saw him lean towards her, and her head involuntarily arched backward as though giving him more access to her. When she realized this, it was too late to stop as Sthena’s head was already in the crook of her neck.

He whispered softly into her ears, ”Your action of wanting to avoid me each time makes the chase sweeter. You know why?” Sthena questioned as he drew back to look at Perdita. When she didn’t say anything with her heart drumming wildly in her ribcage which reverberated on his chest, he went on to speak.

”The more you run, the more I want to badly pin you down under me. So, continue running, we shall see where it gets the both of us,” Sthena drew back once more, his eyes raking the appearance of Perdita with a small innocent smile on his face. He further said, ”Besides, why fret now you are regaining consciousness, when I could have done what I wanted with you in your tipsy state? Hm?”

Perdita didn’t say anything to this knowing fully well it was the truth. If Sthena wanted to do something to her, it would have been in her vulnerable state. ’why did she even think that in the first place?!’ She internally chastised herself.

”Time to get you out of the water,” Sthena declared and released Perdita’s waist from his hold. He held her hand this time, and gently led her out of the bathe.

Once out of the water, Perdita seemed to regain her voice which she had lost. She exclaimed in mortification, ”My dress!” She had worn a light-colored dress today and just coming out of the water made the dress cling to her body, almost revealing her inner garments.

”What about it?” Sthena casually questioned while staring at her face so he wouldn’t make her feel uncomfortable under his gaze. ”I am soaked too, but I am not shouting.”

”You are a man, and I am a woman,” Perdita retorted while trying to make the dress uncling from her body. But the harder she tried, the more the dress refused to cooperate as it clung more to her, sexually highlighting the curves and dips of her body.

”Oh, I see,” Sthena nodded his head knowingly. He then remarked, ”I wonder who should be shouting, you? Or me who was nearly molested by you.”

Sthena dramatically shook his head in disappointment. He sighed and removed the coat he wore, leaving him in his black shirt that clung to his well-toned body where three buttons were opened which revealed his smooth and fair chest.

Perdita got distracted for a moment as her eyes wandered to the open chest of Sthena, but he didn’t give her the pleasure of watching even though he enjoyed her eyes raking him. Perdita was snapped out of her trance when Sthena placed the coat on her shoulder to cover her.

”Emily will come attend to you,” Sthena said before he turned and left her in his bathing room.

Perdita blew a deep breath out of her lips while smacking her forehead in a chiding manner. It was then that what Sthena said clicked in her head. She gasped and whispered to herself, ”Wait, what? Nearly molested him?!”

”.....”