Chapter 10: Chapter 10- Dates Continued
Sabasmus, Prince of the Sphinx, waited for me in the library. He was the winner of the riddles, the second challenge of today's competitions. A blanket was laid out as I instructed in my favorite reading nook. A few candles were lit with a few fluffed pillows to the side. I decided to change into something more comfortable and sided with a soft lavender gown. It had short sleeves showing more of my skin. Its silky fabric was thin and flowed hypnotically with every sway of my hips. Sabasmus seemed very nervous after his first glance at me. He tried to avert his eyes downwards but kept giving in to take another peek. His cheeks flushed pink, and he continuously wiped his sweating palms on his pant legs.
"Sabasmus, please, there's no need to worry. I promise I won't bite you. I only wish to get to know you better." I said in a reassuring yet playful voice as I took a seat beside him.
"I'm sorry your majesty, I must confess I don't have much experience with those of the opposite sex. I tend to stay in my books back at home."
"I too love to read, in fact, this is the very spot I spend most of my free time. Tell me more about your home," I prompted hoping to ease his mind into a natural conversation.
"It is hot where I come from, sandy and dry. Nothing that someone like you would be interested in."
"Oh really, and why might you say that?"
"Because... your skin is fair, like moonlight. It would burn easily." He said moving his palm from his pants for a moment looking as if he wanted to reach out to touch my skin."
"You may touch me," I said as I lifted my hand to him.
His eyes went bigger, as if that were even possible. He looked up at me in hesitation, but curiosity ultimately won. He reached out to take my hand in his and gently stroked my wrist with his tanned fingers.
"Your skin is so soft, nothing like I ever imagined. You would definitely not like my home." He said looking reluctant to release my hand.
"I beg to differ; I think visiting your home would be quite refreshing. To see a cactus or two maybe. With their prickly fruit, and at night I heard it is cool am I correct?"
He nodded his head.
"See then we could go out at night and dance under the stars." I said looking up above imaging stars with a smile.
Looking back at him I saw him smiling too. I grabbed his hand laying my head back onto a pillow. "So, tell me more about yourself Sebby, I feel like I want to know all of you."
He laid down beside me and started to open up more about himself. His body finally relaxed, and he casually stroked my hand with his fingers as he talked. We talked for what felt like hours, yet I still longed to hear more. His story of how he learned to master his first element at age 11 was fascinating. Normally those from his kind didn't learn to master their first element until in their 20's-30's if they were lucky. But he, at the mere age of 24 had already learned to master 3 of the four elements. He wanted to keep which 3 a surprise to show me later on. But the stories were still fascinating non the less.
Sylvia signaled to me it was time to leave. I didn't want to go but knew it was only fair to do so.
I sat up still holding on to Sabasmus. We both stared at each other a moment longer, neither willing to part.
"I've had a marvelous time with you Sebby, thank you for opening up to me."
He looked down for a moment before finally speaking up.
"Fanariel, I'm not really good at expressing my feelings but I want you to know that you make me feel something I have never felt before...and I don't want it to ever stop." He looked down at our hands once more squeezing me a little tighter.
"I feel the same way about you Sabasmus, and who's to say it has to stop?" I said with a grin.
His eyes got brighter as he took my hand to his mouth. As I prepared for him to kiss my hand what happened next was truly unexpected. Sabasmus licked my hand before rubbing it against his face. He let out a purrr closing his eyes. I couldn't contain my giggles from coming out.
"Did you just... lick my hand?" I asked laughing.
"I'm sorry, I've lost my head while being with you. Where I come from this is how we show our most intimate feelings for one another. I just wanted you to know how much I care for you."
Ohhhhh so that's how it was, I pulled his hand to my lips and returned the gesture. Although my tongue wasn't a feline sandpaper one, and I couldn't "purr" to save my life, I didn't want Sabamus to feel alone in his feelings. So, I stuck out my tongue and licked the cute man's hand.
His laughter filled the library, we laughed so hard together at our silliness in trying to be romantic.
"Thank you for that," he said with the most genuine smile I've seen yet from him. This smile reached his eyes and showed his heart to me.
"You're welcome, I know I'll be seeing you again real soon so don't worry. Until then..." I said as I stood to take my leave. How was I to ever choose just one of these men to be my husband? The choices were getting harder and harder, and this was only the second date of the second day of my weeklong birthday celebrations.
May Mother Earth guide me to make the right decision at the end of all of this.
Weekly Power Status
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