Page 77 of Sol
Trent -- Baptism
Daniand I strolled through the central city of Granada. No plans. No agenda. Just ambling about together, peering in store windows and people-watching. Granada had plenty of opportunities for people-watching, with crowds everywhere we went, not to mention the well-manicured sights of fountains brimming with fresh water, planters full of flowers, and grocers displaying their bestproduce.
While I still went high alert in public places, now that I was getting to know the city, I didn’t flinch as much at every little thing.Progress.
But I still had nightmares every night. I had a scheduled Skype call with a therapist over the weekend. For now, Dani just held me while I shook from the memories of the roadsidebomb.
I wished I could hold her hand now, but the chances of a student seeing us together were too great, especially this close to the school. We chanced just going for a walk, though. No harm inthat.
As we walked by the historic cathedral, I asked, “Have you ever been inside?” I’d passed by it so many times a day headed to school or her apartment, but never stepped foot init.
“Lots of times. Youhaven’t?”
I shook myhead.
“Let’s go in. The doors are open, and everyone isinvited.”
I paused. “I thought you weren’t intotradition.”
“This is more than tradition, Trent. This is historic. So many people are buried here. So many things have happened here. It’s just a great place. Check itout.”
A woman stood at the door and smiled as we stepped in. Cool air from the gray building instantly chilled us from the heat of theday.
How many hundreds of years had people worshiped inhere?
Many.
I checked out the sylph by myside.
How long had I wanted to worshipher?
Always.
A hush fell over us when we walked in, because a ceremony was taking place. Dressed-up people sat in rows in the front, taking up about a third of the large, soaring space. A young couple held a baby wearing a white lace gown near thealtar.
“Oh, it’s a baptism,” Dani breathed. We quietly took seats in the farthest back corner and watched the ceremony begin. A rite of newlife.
Exactly what I’d been doing in Spain with her—starting over. She helped me to shed my past and let a new life take me over. I’d become refreshed and renewed, transitioning from soldier to lover. And I had an altar upon which to devote myself—her body andsoul.
Her glossy hair shone in the dim light of the church, her eyes focused on the activity in front of us. I barely understood the ancient incantations in Spanish, but I knew what they moved me to do. I needed to make sure Dani knew how much I adored her, since she was an angel on earth here to help melive.
The censer swung past us as a man in robes walked up to the front of the cathedral. The smoky scent of incense reminded me of Dani’sapartment.
Dani’s apartment reminded me ofher.
And not just her, in general. Specifically, it reminded me of her spread out below me this morning, going over the parts of the body. Teaching me the parts ofherbody.
I never knew Spanish lessons could be so…interesting. I never knew that I could learn about someone else so thoroughly. I put my arm around her shoulders, and she snuggled in with a contented sigh. That messy Tinkerbell hair felt so delicate twirled around myfingertips.
Sitting in church, next to this heavenly creature, I found that I just couldn’t leave her alone. She’d been so out of reach for so long. The fact that I had permission to touch her seemed so…decadent. I never wanted to miss an opportunity to offer myself to her. To exalt her. Pulling her hand to my lips, I kissed her palm. In response, I received a radiant Dani smile. Abenediction.
My eyes followed up her crossed legs to the chambray blue tunic she wore. Like a dress, belted at the waist, it was really an oversized man’s shirt that slipped off her shoulder. The edge of the skirt rode high on her thigh, teasing me. My hand crept over to her knee to her soft skin. Her breath hitched in her chest as my rough fingers grazed her upper thigh. That lovely, silky thigh. She watched my fingers,fascinated.
I glanced around. No one saw us in the back since the center of attention was at the front where the service continued in Spanish, but I couldn’t follow what was happening up there. I knew what was happening between us, though. She was becoming as integral to me asbreathing.
As I always knew shewould.
Footsteps sounded behind us, and immediately my hand flew back to my lap. The stained glass of the cathedral dropped colored lights on thefloor.
