<div align="center">(http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk113/VampireWytch/Actress%20and%20Actor%20Icons/13-2.png)<br/><strong>Mariana Gaunt</strong><br/><em>Unknown</em></div><hr/><br/>Although she did feel like she knew him, she had never thought he might be the same man that she had known back then. In fact, she had almost hoped that he might propose to her. She hadn't originally wanted a husband, but he had seemed very interested in her and willing to let her continue to be independent. He had respected her and had truly left a lasting impression. She had even thought that she loved him back then, although her turning had caused her to be bitter toward men for quite a while. She assumed that men were all rapists and abusers, and she avoided them like the plague. As the years softened her heartache, she had slowly begun to accept more of them in her life, but she had never made love after the man had taken all of that away from her. He had raped her over and over again, although he'd never used her mouth or ass. Therefore, it had been over 300 years since she'd been intimate with a man.<br/><br/>When Arman turned to her and took her hand, she paled as she listened to his explanation. He was the man she'd hoped to marry all those years ago? Could it be true? That man had disappeared without so much as a note, and now she had been living with him in the same house for a while without even knowing?! How could this be? She stared at him with large blue eyes that widened even more with every word he said.<br/><br/>He had wanted her? He even said the word love! This was unbelievable, and she couldn't deny that she was thrilled. Perhaps her 'life' wouldn't be just an eternity of misery after all! She didn't know if they could have a relationship, but she wanted to try. She had always been attracted to Arman, but now she wanted him. She wanted to get to know him again, and she was thankful they'd found each other.<br/><br/>Although her face was frozen in shock at first, her expression quickly turned to one of surprised delight, and she even teared up a bit before speaking in joy.<br/><br/>"Arman? I...I had no idea I'd ever see you again. For some reason, the name didn't register with me. I thought you looked familiar, and I was certainly attracted to you, but I never thought we would meet like this."<br/><br/>When he placed his hand on her cheek, she instinctively turned her face into his palm and almost nuzzled as they discovered their past connection. Swallowing, she looked up at him and smiled softly.<br/><br/>"Why would I be angry with you? Now that I know why you left, I could never be upset. You left because you were trying to protect me, and that pleases me beyond all words. Yes, it confused me at the time, but it was mere days after you disappeared that...<em>he</em>...found me."<br/><br/>She shuddered and closed her eyes.<br/><br/>"I gave up all hope of ever living a life that wasn't just a stretch of miserable days long ago, but now...perhaps I won't be so alone."<br/><br/>She knew it sounded corny, but she was just being honest.<br/><br/>"And I want to get to know you again. I would love that."<br/><br/>When he said that he would have made it tender and glorious, she blushed and spoke softly.<br/><br/>"You could have made it enjoyable? Something...special?"<br/><br/>She didn't know if she would have agreed to it, but she would have liked the choice. She leaned in closer as her lips parted slightly, waiting to hear him with impatience and reaching up to run her fingers over his cheek...chin and even over his lips, as if trying to remind herself of him.