Having always known what path she wished to be set upon Serafina had flirted with many a young man, and even those older, who had crossed her path where and when she could. There was no denying the girl enjoyed the heady rush of having a man enamoured with her charms. Yet the way Alessandro gazed at her was something wholly new, and it flustered her into a shy smile, color tinting her cheeks behind the safety of her ebon mask.<br/><br/>A part of her longed to retreat, to find firmer ground that she might understand better what she faced. Surely it was Nicoletta who should be at his side now, not she, so newly come to their home, and only as a student. Surprise widened her lovely eyes as his free hand, the one not held in her own, waved off the handsome servant and left them to the fragile privacy of the cooridor bereft of others, just for the moment surely. Oh whatever skills the blond might have believed herself of having in dissembling were quickly proved inadequate for her Master could tell her concern and shy affection, both things not ones she would desire readily apparent.<br/><br/>He spoke as if their dance were poetry, were intimacy far greater than she had supposed and she found herself near overwhelmed that so infamous and admired a man in turn regarded her so highly. Serafina had felt pleasure in his arms, felt the racing of her heart, the aching awareness of his seduction that proved her prior flirtations had been weak, flimsy things.<br/><br/>Closer he drew her by his hand in hers, his sensual lips pressed to her forehead and the heat of that light touch had her shiver against him. Expressive blue eyes rose to meet his bold gaze, desire, nerves and pleading wound together even as her heart raced so swift she thought she might burst as his husky voice caressed not just her hearing but also her emotions, opening her to him. What had they begun? That query lay upon her lips, but he touched her and it fled, fled for the sensation of his calloused thumb gently exploring the curve of her cheek. At his touch all save awareness for him seemed to vanish, her lips parting in a breathless little gasp for air even as her breasts strained at the bodice of her gown with how swift she breathed as he discarded her mask to reveal her fully to him, flushed cheeks, parted lips, wide, glowing eyes.<br/><br/><strong>"I do not understand..."</strong>so soft she spoke, the words trembling for she had never thought he might see her as more than another to work for him, another to add to his infamy. She had sought him out to change her life, yet he had altered even that beyond what she could have expected. How could he feel so powerfully to her after such scant interaction? Was it simply her body that he lusted for, or did those too knowing eyes pierce through all that she was and read clearly her soul?<br/><br/>She had not sought love, yet he offered it so freely.<br/><br/>Perhaps that was why she was pliant when Alessandro gathered her into his arms, perhaps that was why an artless sound of confused need parted her lips; her youthful form still heated from the sensual tease of their dance. Shock painted her features when he revealed no intent to have her serve as a courtesan, but rather to remain within the house as part of him and her idol. How then would this be different from the very cage she sought to avoid in her offering to serve him; though Nicoletta had advised her of how all women, even she, still bore cages. Confused, the young beauty offered no words, simply softened into the man who held her tenderly, as if to search out physical comfort while her mind and heart reeled in tumult.<br/><br/>Alessandro's lips sought her own, drawing her back to the present, to the awareness of the man who so overwhelmed and enchanted her. Oh what lovely compliment he paid, to state her a reason to remain among the living even as his lips slanted over her own. In reply she quivered, gasping for his kiss was unlike any of the stolen ones she had known. Almost she could taste his hunger, his intent, her artless sounds of surprise and want providing him entry into her mouth so that his tongue could explore her even as his strong, large hands held her as if she were the most precious thing in the world. Her own hands clutched at his shoulders, forgetting in that moment of his injury as the world spun away and he taught her the first true taste of burning hot desire. This was no artifice, not done for power or money, simply an expression of the shimmering heat that lay between them and oh it made her feel as if she could soar.