Free Gate Deadlock by Urania Sarri Page B

all came back to me. It was
no dream. In fact, it was a dream come true. And it had been a
perfect one, beyond any possible imagination. I was experiencing a
strange feeling of contentment, as if I had been able to find my
way home, after a long course of misfortunes. Home, where I
belonged. ‘ Home is where your heart
is ’ my father used to say to me. My heart belonged to
Christopher. Christopher. I had already missed him.
    Still drowsy, I rolled the vivid orange sheets
around my body hastily and got up. I tiptoed to peep into the empty
kitchen when I suddenly felt Christopher behind me, his arms
hugging me, his warm breath against the back of my neck. I leaned
my back on him as I had imagined myself doing so many times.
    It felt so good not being cautious anymore. I
turned towards him and hugged him impatiently. He was smiling, but
I caught a hint of worry in his eyes.
    ‘Good morning.’ he whispered in my ear. ‘Do you
still not hate me?’
    Instead of replying, I stood on the tips of my
toes and kissed him softly.
    ‘That’ll do.’ He looked relieved. ‘I made
breakfast.’
    ‘How come you’re dressed already? Have you been
out?’ I said, still hanging from his neck, noticing his car keys
and a shopping bag on the table.
    ‘You wouldn’t want to go out in the same, torn
dress you wore last night, would you?’ he asked with the most
innocent smile.
    ‘So?’
    ‘So, I bought you a dress …and a pair of
sandals. I was very quick. I only left you for fifteen minutes. I
hope you’ll like them.’
    I was about to protest but he stopped me.
    ‘You will pay me back of course.’
    ‘Thank you.’ I said finally. ‘You take care of
everything, don’t you?’
    ‘That’s the idea.’ He sighed. ‘I hate to say
this, but Harry will be back in the next half hour. So, why don’t
you take a shower, get dressed and join me for breakfast?’
    ‘Ok.’ I released him reluctantly and headed for
the bathroom.
    He knew how embarrassing it would be for me to
let Harry know I had spent the night with one of my supervising
tutors. At least, we should preserve appearances.
    I had a quick shower, trying not to wet my hair.
The short, white, linen dress he had bought for me was perfect. He
had impressed me with his ability to find my size. I found him at
the porch, leafing through a magazine. Breakfast was on the coffee
table. When he saw me, he put the magazine next to him and grabbed
my arm, making me sit on his lap.
    ‘I need a lot of coffee.’ I said.
    ‘Is that all you need?’ he whispered in my
ear.
    ‘I’ve told you… I need you.’ I whispered
back.
    ‘No regrets then?’ he asked kissing me behind my
ear.
    ‘No regrets.’ I repeated. ‘Definitely.’
    I looked at his beautiful face, thinking I just
could not get enough of him. This beautiful man had been mine for a
whole night and, I hoped, for many other nights to come. He was too
good for me, much more than I deserved. I shivered as he kissed the
curve of my shoulder.
    ‘How do you do that?’ I asked.
    ‘What?’ he whispered.
    ‘Take my breath away every time you touch
me.’
    ‘Really? I thought this was one of your talents
only.’ he said, without stopping his kisses, burning my skin with
every touch. He was wearing a white, sleeveless T-shirt. I noticed
for the first time the tattoo on the muscles of his armrest, the
pattern of a cross penetrated by the sharp edge of a dagger.
    ‘That’s strange. I hadn’t noticed your tattoo
before. Does this signify something?’ I asked curiously, examining
the strange pattern.
    He hesitated for a few seconds and then he
said,
    ‘As a matter of fact, it does. But it’s bad.
Nothing I would like to talk about…yet.’ I knew this was some of
the things we would have to talk about in the future. For nothing
in this world would I spoil this day, the first day of my life, my
real life.
    He sighed. ‘Emma, I just wish…we had more time.
Take things… more slowly.’
    ‘But we do have time.’ I