Treasure, he called her, as if she were a priceless gift to him rather than simply another young woman striving to change the fate laid before her by society. And almost she believed it, though Serafina had long held a skeptical view of the notion of love. Love was the beguiling myth given to young women to make them docile about the fact of marriage being expected, it was as much a cage as duty and yet she thought she might feel something toward him, toward Nicoletta. Neither of which were expected. So it was with bewildered sapphire eyes that she gave a nod at the command to lead him on and drew him after her to the parlor where the physician awaited them.<br/><br/>As she did so though the blond wondered just what she would do to see anew that look in his eyes; possessive heat, obsessive adoration, intimate knowledge and dark promise. Gently her tongue touched against the swollen flesh of her lower lip, the memory of his kiss a phantom she could not dismiss, nor did she truly want to. Alessandro caught her off guard though, his good arm catching her back into the line of his body with the firm line of his figure providing support as his mouth set upon her neck.<strong>"Alessandro....oh..."</strong><br/><br/>A moan slipped past her lips as she shivered, whimpering in reply to the hunger that lay in even that small touch. Her Lord's hot mouth traversed the satin flesh of her neck, up to her ear where his breath fanned out against her skin. Almost his words seemed like poetry, and she had to wonder what it would mean to become truly dizzy, undone by him. The gentlest tease of his teeth against her earlobe made her breath rush out only to be sucked back in abruptly when his hand reached for her breast and cupped her boldly, firmly enough that beneath the material of her garments her nipple hardened in reply and between her thighs she felt heat blossom, her knees trembling as the young woman strove to hold herself upright.<br/><br/><em>Three</em>. Yes, for whatever lay between them Nicoletta, her lady, her muse, she was also an intricate part of this.<strong>"My Lord, I... am overcome, I have no words to match your own."</strong>Naked honesty mingled with raw desire rendered her voice husky in a manner only a lover should hear, not that she had become his lover. Not yet. But she sensed the promise that lay between them the moment their eyes met as his fingers entwined with her own, as she saw the near painful edge of want that lay within her mirrored in his gaze. A soft, uncertain smile curved one side of her lips, her head inclining in confirmation of her want before they entered the chamber where the physician was prepared to tend him.<br/><br/>Serafina paid close attention to the instructions of how best to tend the wound, how to cleanse it, bandage it, though her hand remained within Alessandro's grasp and the gentle caress of his fingers against her skin distracted her more than a few passing times. Frequently he would catch her eye, giving her a look, a grin or a touch that prompted a new rush of pink to tint her fair cheeks, her lips twitching with barely suppressed smiles.<br/><br/>When her Lord interrupted the doctor's final advice the young woman hardly bit back her laugh, pursing her lips in the struggle to swallow her mirth down. The laughter was gone the moment Alessandro returned his attention to her, breath catching at the look in his eyes. It was difficult to think of laughing when a man looked at her as if she were Venus herself come to life before him. On his arm once more she followed him from the room, not sure if she should pose her questions and down casting her eyes whenever they passed the servants, almost bashful of his intent. He meant to take her, to claim her. She had thought he would wait, he would train her further in the arts of seduction, had thought Nicoletta would be there...<br/><br/>Upon stepping into the stunning bath chamber with it's gleaming marble and what seemed to be hundreds of candles aglow she found herself unprepared. Romance, he was giving her, and that was the very thing she thought to abandon utterly. In her shock she did not protest when the maid moved to remove her dancing slippers, the voice of their shared Lord making her flush as he dismissed the attendant.<br/><br/>Silence held them both then, for Serafina struggled to understand what lay within her, how he melted a heart that had always been unmoved with the caress of his calloused fingers through her silken hair. Her bright eyes perhaps posed those queries along with countless others, though they were lost when he knelt before her to remove her slip, an action she allowed, hands bracing gently upon his broad shoulders for support.<strong>"I read in your gaze an intent that threatens to overwhelm me, my Lord."</strong>Her breath caught as she gathered her courage to stay her only boundary line.<strong>"If I am to belong to you and your heart, then should she not also be present for this?"</strong>One hand rose, finger tips lightly caressing his strong jawline,<strong>"Please have no doubt of my desire, and know I only wish to honor who already lays in both our hearts."</strong>