227 227

His ease smile suddenly became something else as his eyes that held hers grew in size. There was a strange sweetness to his expression that Ellie had never seen before like he really was enjoying her company instead of just having come along for duty and making the best of it. This comfort was averted as they emptied their glasses and coughed loudly. Ellie hand was caught in her throat as she felt the burn in the back of her throat increase before the warmth of the alcohol in her insides began to calm her. She felt a finger lift her chin up and felt a warm begin to brew in her stomach which had nothing to do with the alcohol that she had just consumed. It felt like liquid gold was melted into her veins as she smelled sandalwood and aftershave—-the manly scents she had grown very familiar with. His hands were warm as they gripped the aide of her face and she could too smell the faint hiss of alcohol on his breath. She was so close to him that the lapels of his shirt brushed against her breasts.

Ellie shivered as Henry took the drained cup out of her hand before setting it against the bottle racks so they wouldn't fall.  One of his hands was still wrapped around her face. Ellie leaned into the heat that was being generated by his hand. She turned her head and suddenly his mouth was on top of hers.  He paused for a moment as she felt her eyes begin to close. Henry pushed her into his mouth and began to overwhelm her with his enthusiasm. Ellie felt the sensations begin to crash in her quickly so she reached behind her and realized she could feel nothing so she began to move in that direction.  She took a breathe as her eyes flicked open in a half lidden invitation. Ellie's hands remained on Henry's arms as his body moved in sync with hers.

His mouth moved open as showly she felt his tongue slink out to shyly trace her lips.  She felt a strike of desire run through her as he moved to taste her ear. "You're one of the most beautiful women in the world," she could feel his lips moving against her skin as he spoke.  The other hand trailed from caressing her face to running through her hair and playing with the bobby pins that were holding it off of her face. Henry made an irritated sound before taking them out and placing them on the wine racks above them so he could really run his hand unencumbered through her hair.  When her hair fell she felt as if something was really starting to break into her as the quickening of emotions continued with his intensity. His eyes rolled back as he groaned into her mouth.

Ellie exhaled softly as she tried to catch some of her scattered thoughts.  "I . . . feel . . . Henry, please. We shouldn't . . . It's not . . . fair." She tried to sound collected, but she knew the whole sentence had come out in between gasps.

Henry, on the other hand, seemed almost unaffected.  His demeanor was almost practiced as if this was something he was used to doing.  He kissed Ellie's lips softly before touching a finger chaistly to her lips. "You're my wife, Ellie Wong.  I'm not touching my mistress. I'm touching you. It's not unfair in the least. Does the thought of me leaving soon already bring doubts?"

"I don't . . ." Ellie paused to clear her throat.  "I'm sure you're here with me right now, but you've always told me that you loved another woman.  It doesn't make sense for you to make a move on me since you've said she is in your heart. I'm not a woman who would

accept that type of thing.  It's not in my nature to share my partner."

Henry sighed as he tried to kiss away the objection, but it really wasn't the same.  His moment had come and gone. He could see that she really had become startled with his actions so he finally took care to settle her anxieties.  "It's nothing you need to be worried about. I am here without my thoughts clouded. I am not using you as a placeholder for her. I'm here for you right now."

Ellie resisted her urge to roll her eyes.  She hated that she was even thinking about this.  "I know you're here for me. You wouldn't have come to England if you didn't care for me.  But this other woman--I don't even know her name? There's so much that I don't know about you."

Henry looked away.  "I'll give you her profession . . . she's a well-known model."

She tried to control her expression.  Her competition she knew was high, but knowing that it was a supermodel didn't comfort her.  Of course he would choose someone who reflected him. "Are you sure that this woman is in love with you?  Are you in love with her? I feel there must be more that you're not telling me." Ellie pushed her hands up into his hair so he couldn't pull away.  His eyes closed as he leaned closer to her.

His mouth opened.  "I don't need love, Ellie.  I just need here to be accepted by everyone around me.  That's more than I deserve." The sadness in his eyes made her heart drop.

Ellie instantly wanted to comfort him in that moment, but her shock stopped her. What had make him think so?  It was strange to her that someone so outstanding could have such a bleak outlook on his life's partner. She kept a note as she would cautiously try to probe into this conundrum.  Ellie pressed herself closer to him and he seemed to feel more light. "I know that you said she liked men who were mature and knew how to take care of women. I know you haven't had anything serious in a long time.  Are you sure that you could take care of her, if you don't have experience like she thinks you do? I would be upset if I was lied to like that."

She watched his eyes change and realized that this was something that he had thought of often himself.  "Ah, the mystery of the other gender. Men are taught to be the used car salesmen to make themselves look a lot better than they actually are.  I can't say I've had that experience before. Ladies expect some mistruth. Of my innocence in love, she is aware. I always considered that women find that attractive.  A heart that is unattached to anyone else. There is no competition in mine." His words were strangely juvenile.