Chapter 22: Chapter 22

As I wait for Io to dress I take a seat in the chair and look around the hut. It seems small for two people, but it is neat. The wooden table is clean and looks worn. I am guessing they have it with the matching chairs for a while. In the middle of the table is a bowl filled with herbs. In the corner I see a stand that looks to be filled with pieces of parchment. From my seat I can see the cooking room. On the counter sits clean dishes and a bucket. On the other side of the room, I see the fireplace. On its shelf there is a line of pots they must use for cooking. There is a neat pile of wood for a fire and a worn brown rug which covers the floor. I can see a short hall but only one room. Io went the other way, so I believe this door to be Homura’s place. As I continue to wait I hear a door close and the sound of water splashing.

I got restless of sitting and decide to take a look at the pile of parchments. I pace as I read the titles. I have read many of these as they have to do with love. I frown as I see that some also have to do with loss too. I wonder do these belong to Io or her father. As I read one of the poems that caught my eye a “ahem” has me pausing in my reading.

My eyes see her bare feet first. She has thrown on a simple blue dress that stops just above her ankles. As I stare at her figure I feel as if something is different. When I look at her face I notice that for once I can see all of it. Her hair has been pulled into a bun. Her neck appears long and graceful. Her ears are small, and they sit high on her slightly puffed cheeks. I swallow at her fully revealed to me. She is beautiful. When she blushes, I see that her ears also redden.

“Thank you” she says. I realize that I said the compliment aloud, and I blush. “Just let me slide on my geta and I will be ready” she informs me.

She slides pass me to them as they sit near the door. I place the parchment back where I grabbed it and follow her. As she reaches to open the door I grab. Her other hand and twine her fingers with mine. I can no longer resist this need to touch her.

Outside I take in the fresh air. With that first breath I feel my chest that was clogged with emotion at the sight of her ease. As I feel her squeeze my hand I remember that she knows not what I have planned for us.

“Today I just wish to get to know you more Io. I feel as if I have been away from you far too long.” I say.

“I feel that way too. We can go to my cave if you like. My father will be home soon, and I wouldn’t want our time together interrupted.” She says.

So, we begin our journey. As we walk I sigh in contentment. I could get used to seeing her every day I think to myself.

“Am I allowed to ask any question I want?” She questions.

“Yes, just remember I will be honest with you. So, make sure it is an answer you genuinely want to know. I also get the same right as well.” I warn her. At my warning she bites her lip. I can see her nibbling it as she thinks.

“Oh, I’ve got a good one” she says with glee. “What are your thoughts on children”? She asks.

It is not a hard question to answer but one that has me slowing my pace of walking. “I want them. They were always a part of my future. But I don’t know what kind of father I would be?” I muse.

“Have you not spent much time around children?” She questions.

“I have seen. Hold ten in our village as they play. I remember being a kid once two. As for a baby I have never held one. I have younger brothers and sisters but my ba prefers that we stay separate” I answer. She furrows her eyebrows and looks at me. Before she can ask another question about it I ask her a question. “What of you? Do you want young of your own someday”?

“Oh, yes. I want as many as I can have the capacity to love. If I put it in numbers, I would say at least three” she answers.

Her answer surprises me a bit. She seems like someone who enjoys her freedom and time to herself. As we enter the cave she lets my hand go to light the lantern. Once we can see she grabs my hand and leads me to the pile of blankets to sit. She gracefully sits down folding her legs underneath her. I decide to sit down in the same position so I can see her face close to mine as we talk.

“What else have you got planned for our future?” I ask her amused.

“Not much. I want a home that we share. A place where we can be our selves together always. I would like to have a wagon of our own so we can travel. As for our children I wouldn’t mind mostly little boys that look like you” she says with a blush.

“Little girls that look like you wouldn’t be a dreadful thing either. I would love to have the rest too. It sounds like a wonderful life” I agree leaning forward. As she leans closer to me I get ready to kiss her. Before I can make connect she leans back.

“Do you like kissing me” she asks biting her lip.

“Of course, I do. It is one of my favorite things to do with you. Why do you ask?” I wonder.

“Well…. you….it always end so quickly. You groan too.” She points out innocently.

I move back a little and run my hand through my hair. “You bring out a reaction in me Io. It feels like a burn and since I don’t want to scare you away I stop” I admit freely.

“A burn that sounds painful” she says as I chuckle. “I don’t want to cause you pain. You don’t have to kiss me anymore” she says pulling away.

“I’m screwing this up. I’m not laughing at you it’s just I don’t know how to explain it” I tell her. I reach out and turn her cheek so she can see my gaze. “It’s not a burn like pain that I mean. It is a heat that drives me. It makes me want to do more with you” I confess.

“Oh.” She says. She takes a deep breath and what she says shatters me. “I trust you Draco. We will not make love. I am not ready for that yet. But I do enjoy when we touch. I’d like more” she confesses, laying a hand on my cheek.

I lean forward once more and as she closes the distance our lips meet. She sighs and when her lips part I hurriedly slip my tongue in to taste her. As our tongues tangle more I discover that she is sweet with a light hint of mint. I groan at how delectable I find the flavor. The dull roar of the heat flares in my body as she brings her hands to my chest.

I reach out to grab her waist and as I do I feel our bodies turn toward each other. I break our kiss to gather my breath. When I hear her sigh of disappoint I kiss her cheek. As the scent of the perfume, I made her hits my nostrils the warmth begs me to taste more of her. I slide the tip of my nose down to her throat and place an open mouth kiss to the flesh I find there. I hear the gasp of her breath in my ear as she clenched the front of my robes tighter. When I scrape the edges of my teeth against her neck she trembles. The warmth I feel burns brighter. I nibble her neck once more and at her moan all the heat I feel rushed down. I break the contact of our bodies and sit back.

“Why did you stop”? She asks. Her breath pants out. Her bun hangs loosely from one side of her neck. Her lips are full and red from my kiss. As I eye them she licks them as of her mouth is still connected to mine. Her bosom has stretched into sharp points, and she clenched her dress in her hands. I clench my jaw and groan wanting so much more.

“I had to Io. I burn for you too much. As we are not about wed this soon I thought it better to stop rather than defile your good name.” I say with a sigh.

“Right. I agree that would not be prudent to do right now.” She says with a sigh. At her disgruntled sigh I just have to know.

“Do you know what happens when a man desires a woman and they bed, Io” I question her.

“No, I have heard the stories of how wonderful it is but no concrete details on the act. If it feels like when we kiss I don’t think I will have any objections” she says. I reach for her face once more and she rubs her cheek on my palm.

“You are so beautiful. I desire you more than you know. When the time comes, and we are to wed I will want to take you into bed. We can also wait until the day itself of it makes you comfortable, but you must what goes on between is. I don’t want to scare you, but I think you need to be prepared.” I state.

“I thought you had done nothing but kiss” she says pulling away from me.

“That is true, but I have heard stories from others. Do you want to know?” I ask her. She nods at my question eagerly. “From what I have heard and read the first time can be painful for a woman. When my body enters yours you will stretch to fit me.” I pause to read her expression. She does not look like she likes the sound of being in pain, but she must know so I continue. “Once our bodies start to move together overtime it will become an act of pleasure.” I finish.

“How long does it last? The pain?” She questions with a frown on her face.

“That I do not know but I hope it won’t be long. I do not desire to hurt you. If there were a way to prevent you from feeling any pain at all I would take it.” I whisper as I kiss her cheek. I hope she knows I will be with her and that I never want to hurt her.

“I see.” She says. “I still want to become your bride. So, when the time comes for us to make love I will be ready. Besides, it just the first time. I can deal with a little pain to have a life of pleasure with you” she assures me.

I smile at her and place a peck to her lips. I desire to kiss her more, but I do not think it would be a good idea after that conversation. I have another idea instead.

“Can I hold you, Io” I ask her. She smiles at me and climbs into my lap so we both face the opening of the cave. I wrap my arms around her and slowly sway our bodies. As my eyes close to the peace, I silently thank our gods for this girl who means so much.