So readily did that wide grin come to his lips, flash in his dark eyes at her query. In truth she had thought to know what to expect of a man of his kind, and yet Alessandro so constantly surprised her, even now as he spoke of not giving her the adoration she deserved. Wonder shone in her summer sky blue eyes. She had known a little of courting, had flirted and teased, yet what he did, speaking of her as something to savor, to cherish in each aspect of herself and Serafina felt herself overwhelmed by the notion. Upon her lips lay the words to plead with him to simply take her, to use her and then discard her, yet self aware as she was, with her fiercely cherished intelligence, she knew that was only fear of his intensity speaking not the truth desire of her heart.<br/><br/>To be loved in such a manner...<br/><br/>Was this then the cage that Nicoletta had spoken of, the binding he placed upon her mentor, her idol, that of love rather than duty? The notion made her breathless, though once more he spoke of her as something perfect, drawing a shake of her flaxen head in denial.<strong>"I am many things, my Lord, but perfect is not one I would claim."</strong>A wry smile touched her lips, humor glinting in her eyes as she moved beyond simply being overwhelmed by him and instead thought of all the many flaws her parents had been so apt to complain of while her hands ran through the water. Her gaze rose, in time for him to stare so intently at her, to speak of knowing every intimate detail that might come to pass. Was she flawed, that she was thrilled by his adoration but also, unnerved by it? Nicoletta seemed so at peace, serene and powerful. And then he offered all of him, everything, to place her upon such venerated place as Nicoletta's, making color sweep her cheeks, a small sound of shock caught within her throat.<br/><br/><strong>"I will do nothing to endanger that which you and my Lady have together, for I have no desire to eclipse or replace, no want to steal that happiness. I have ever admired her, and to an extent you and thus I sought you out to attempt to find my own path, one not given to loveless marriage. I had not thought to find love so freely offered to me in kind, from both of you as well. But you speak of me as something perfect, as if I were not a woman. I <em>am</em> human, and who can truly love a perfect thing?</strong>For all that she had been silent so often near him, had spoken little to him of what had driven her to this point and mostly issued forth so simple a question, posed in one word to ascertain his motives there lay a steel within her spine that flashed in her words that vowed to protect first what he and the Lady Nicoletta shared before any thought of herself. It was that same strength that had seen her break from the expectations placed upon her, and indeed the same intelligence as well that had so often derided the response that came from her angelic looks and not the words of her soul.<br/><br/>Serafina could love no person who did not see the whole of her.<br/><br/>Her Lord surprised her though, catching up her foot in his hands, his fingers caressing along the arch of it until he could cradle it fully in his large hands. The kiss made her tremble, and her leg dropped heavily into the water as she watched him with rosy cheeks and wide eyes caress his on lip as it to recall the taste of her skin. The promise on his lips, such an ardent vow, made her heart quicken within her breast. She found herself enthralled, unable to look away from him as he declared his intent to leap into the promise of what they might be, even without knowing for certain her own answer. This was no seduction done by someone with intent to use her heart against her, but rather a heart that might well be as passionate and wild as her own.<strong>"Alessandro, I..."</strong><br/><br/>When he stood her words trailed off, and gaze averted when the bath water reached hardly to his waist, threatening to reveal the fullness of his nude glory. But he was there, leaning over her as his lips found her own and his kiss demanded response. She trembled for him, gasping into that fierce embrace as she replied to the kiss, passionate yet innocent until he left her reeling and retreated while a quivering hand rose to touch her swollen lips. A vow not only with words, but action as well, an oath she could not discard as she had those offered to the suitors who thought to make her their wife.<br/><br/>A whisper of sound drew her attention while she even yet attempted to understand just what she felt within her. Was this, then, what others called love. If so she had never known it before, no the depth of desire both he and the Lady sparked within her until she thought she might catch aflame. Nicoletta was there, with her stunning gaze, her russet hair and Serafina watched her with emotion sparkling in her gaze as the other woman neared. The goblet extended, her hand reached for it, and then paused as she pushed herself up out of the water though droplets of it still clung to her figure, highlighting her fair skin, the rosy hue of her nipples as her hand instead cupped Nicoletta's cheek and she dared to place a kiss against the other woman's lips well aware of just who watched them now. At first her kiss was shy, a question, and when no rebuke came she gently ran her tongue along the seam of the brunette's mouth, seeking entry to explore what lay between her and the one she had always viewed as Venus herself.