Page 31 of Magic Touch
I let my mind be one with the water and tell it to return to the whole.
When it does with the barest of ripples in the bowl, I'm stunned. The individual bits of everything merge and the world comes into normal focus again. "I saw everything."
"You did it." She grabs my arm excitedly.
It's hard to think about the water or my success when I can't forget the way each thing was made up of smaller pieces. Glancing at her, I ask, "Is that the way you see the world when you use magic?"
"What did you see?" She's facing me now, with worry wrinkling her brow.
"The water broken down into smaller bits. The bowl as well. The table, the bottles and jars, and whatever is in each all have smaller elements to them. I could see the essence of everything. I heard the animals outside. I was part of everything, and it was all part of me." I look into the bowl of still water.
Esme cups my cheek, and I face her. She cocks her head. "It is a gift to see this way. To answer your question, no. I don't often see the world as you described. Once, when I was ill, and another time."
Turning in, I kiss her palm. "What was the other time?"
Her breath is quick and rough. "When I healed your leg, I saw inside you in this way."
Glad I hadn't turned to see her broken into the parts that make her, I can't help thinking of her hand on my leg. "Why can I see like this with such a small spell?"
"Maybe we should go ask Prudence." Her eyes are full of passion and her hand is still on my cheek. The way her breasts are rising and falling is maddening.
I put my hand over hers. "I'd like to come to you tonight, Esme. If you want me in your bed. If you do not, I understand."
"Why did you not come the last three nights?"
I hear no accusation, just honest curiosity. Leaning in, I kiss her forehead.
Her eyes flutter closed, and I kiss her lid. "I don't want to make you feel less than the spectacular woman you are. I can't know how my life will change when things settle down. We hardly know each other. Wanting you is not appropriate or wise for either of us."
She inches back and presses two fingers to my lips. “A lot of reasons against. Perhaps I should have asked why you are asking to come to me now."
"It is distracting to want you so much, to need you so intensely. My heart is overriding my head," I admit.
"Your heart? Are you certain it is your heart doing the thinking?" She leans in until her pelvis grazes the proof of my desire.
I laugh. "Regardless of my natural response, you must believe it is not lust." I grin back at her. "Well, at least not entirely."
"Perhaps if we lay together, it shall relieve the building tension. I feel it as well. Need is a distraction." She takes a step back and draws a long breath. "In the meantime, I'm quite proud of your success, as you should be. You've done well in a very short time."
"Thank you." My power over the water element seems feeble compared to the notion of being admitted to Esme's bed. "If you'll step out and give me a moment to control myself, we can tell Prudence the news and see what she thinks."
Glancing down at my shaft where it presses against the fall of my breeches, she swallows and blushes. "I'll wait outside."
It takes me a few minutes of thinking of benign things, and the evidence of my desire subsides. I'm only human, after all.
Outside, Esme leans against the side of the stillroom. "It's a fine day. Perhaps we should take a turn around the property after tea."
"I'd be happy to walk with you." I'd be happy with any and all time spent with her. She's all I can think about, and I'd be much better off thinking about how my life has turned to complete madness in the span of less than a week.
"What are you worrying about?" she asks on the way to the house.
"My life." I shrug, and open the back door for her to enter.
Inside, we walk down the drafty hall to the parlor where Prudence already waits with a large tray for tea. She looks at peace, sitting on the chair with her eyes closed. When we enter, she opens them and smiles. "You are just on time."
The smell of vanilla and honey from the biscuits makes my mouth water.
After waiting for Esme to sit, I snatch a sweet and sit beside her. "We have news, Madam Bishop."
