Lovers and Reprisals (Lovers Series) (32 page)

He frown when he said...

“But...do the rules apply, even if a project is accomplishing inspiring outcomes?”

“In our Creed, we are taught that every seed has its cycle; as do we.  My parents have spent half of their live’s working in Africa constructing schools from the ground up.  Even if for some unforeseen reason a school is not completed by years end, my parents must abandon the project, leaving the villagers to complete the task on their own.  As a rule, the Conclave expects that during our time spent in prayer, God will impress upon us places where other needs are not being met.  In most cases, the Conclave will not approve the same project in consecutive years, but in my parents case, they are one of the few couples that have been exempt from this rule.  My parents have devoted their lives to the continent of Africa, and each year they travel to a different country, choosing a region that has been most hard hit.  So you see...  Even though my project has made a difference in many young lives; unless the Conclave recognizes my project by appointing the exemption clause--at the end of the year, the Conclave will relieve me by assuming my role.”

Lucien felt a strong aversion to her words and he definitely  had cause to surge with emotion.  He had an emotional investment in her being around and he didn’t like the sound of her hard work being saddled by the Conclave.

He appeared disheartened when he said...

“If you have to submit a new project to your Conclave at the beginning of the new year...then what does that mean for you?  I mean to say--will you remain in the city or will you travel elsewhere?”

She shrugged because like most of her people, she didn’t think in those terms.  Yet, in her imaginings, she had begun to wonder about Lucien.  She wasn’t sure how she would feel not seeing him every week at the Children’s Center but that was as far as she’d allowed her thoughts to go.  She’d limited her mental wanderings to the present, steering clear of her future.

Ona sighed, and her exhale was more than a bored release of air.  She said... 

“In December, I will join the members of my Commune in a prayer service, in which we seek God’s guidance.”

Lucien was more direct because he couldn’t wait until December when she planned to have her conversation with God.  She was here and he wanted to know if she planned to stay.

“Ona--some time ago, before Noah and Caleb left, you explained why they weren’t concerned about leaving you here in the city alone.”

He recalled the conversation but not entirely; and he wanted to be certain when he made his point.

She nodded, saying...

“Unmarried members of my Sect are governed by rules.  Males may travel freely, but if they leave the country they must be accompanied by at least one of their parents; and age is not a consideration.  Unmarried females, such as myself; if we choose not to join our parents, working alongside them--then we must remain in the region of our commune.  But there is one stipulation that allows female’s to travel outside of the communal region.  Unmarried females may travel with a married coupled appointed by the Conclave, and the parents must give the final approval.  In both cases, the unmarried female is considered safe because the members of their commune are extended family and they are responsible for the well-being of Sect members during the absence of the parents.”

He couldn’t understand why most religions placed more restraints on their female’s than the male’s.  He’d learned from Rachel that neither of Ona’s brothers were married, but he didn’t think this odd because most of his male acquaintances had taken an oath of bachelorhood, vowing that they would never marry.  But in Ona’s case, marriage equaled freedom, and he didn’t know what that meant to her.  Would she marry if the cost amounted to her liberation?  He didn’t have the answer, so he thought it best to cover every base.

He said...

“So...you’ll have to remain here in the city.  Or, travel elsewhere because your Conclave directs you to do this.”

It didn’t sound like he’d asked her a question, but his questionable inflection didn’t deter her from making her point crystal clear.

“I must follow any Conclave ruling, as long as I am unwed; even if I submit a project proposal, requesting to remain in the city.  If my proposal is rejected, I’m left to choose one of two choices; follow my parents, or go where the Conclave places me.”
That was it.  That was the sticky point; marriage.  Lucien’s mind stirred with all manner of possibilities and he didn’t savor the thoughts.  He supposed there was a time and a place for nonsense but this time most certainly wasn’t one of them.

His jaw clinched when he said...

“What about me?”

Her brow arched, clearly showing her confusion.  When she didn’t respond, he felt his body and his thoughts lurching forward.

“I don’t know what your future holds for you--but I hope that I’m in it because frankly, since meeting you, my future has been set.  I already know that I can’t live without you and I need to know if you can live without me.”

Her mind conjured up a picture in which she and Lucien were miles apart, or she was engaged in a project with some other member from her Sect; she didn’t like the image.

Words broke free without a second consideration.

“No.”

She said, and it didn’t dawn on her that her response had been vague and he didn’t know which of his remarks had been shot down.  They could have played this game several ways, tiptoeing around the crux of the matter.  Well, he wouldn’t do that.

Lucien’s question hit her like a bull barreling head first to hit its target.

“Ona--I have to ask...is there some form of an arrangement that involves you marrying Geff?”

There--he’d said it; and this time his hope was to bury the topic for good.

Ona’s eyes popped wide when she blurted out

“No!  I would never.”

She didn’t hesitate in her answer, and neither did he when he said...

“Then that puts us back at square one.  I respect your religious beliefs, and I understand if you can’t tell me where your project will place you at the beginning of the New Year but you’ve got to tell me something because the uncertainty is killing me.”

They were standing toe to toe now, and lines streaked across his forehead.  This was a serious moment, yet her emotions didn’t fit the situation.  Lucien had an all consuming presence, and when he crossed the threshold of personal space, she’d been sucked in.  She couldn’t see or think straight.  His overpowering magnetism nuzzled her up and if she could sleeve herself in his warmth, she would have.  She mentally prayed, asking God for strength to withstand this temptation, and when Lucien spoke, her imaginary fortress shattered, then crumbled at her feet.

Lucien couldn’t refrain his passion any longer but he spoke low when he said...

“Ona.”

She sensed a tangible comfort in his voice and the sensation swelled when he continued to talk.

“I may not be a Samaritan but I am a Christian and I believe that the God we serve is a God of love.  I will not accept that God would stand in the way, preventing two people from being together.”

Her chest tightened and she agreed, but she couldn’t find the words to say it.  Lucien said...

“I know that your faith practices something that prohibits marriages to people outside of your faith--and I’m not debating that.  However, I want you to understand what I believe.  If two people love each other, and they agree to keep their vows; in that instance, I believe that God would honor that union.  And in our case; since I am not a member of your faith; I don’t believe that God would frown on the idea of us pondering the possibilities of a lifelong future, being together...and I suspect that you share my opinion.” 

He’d told her what she believed, and she should have recited one of the creeds, negating his opinion but she didn’t.  Ona couldn’t summon the words because her heart wouldn’t let her.  In the Creed, every verse that spoke about separation, was followed by a reason and she knew them all, but her faith had never been tested in this way; not until she’d met Lucien.  Nothing in all her learning had ever prepared her to face the pain of loving and knowing that her love for a person was considered wrong in the eyes of her Sect.

Ona’s eyes had lowered to the floor because she wasn’t strong enough to face looking at him.  She watched his feet as he took one step, closing off the distance that had separated them.  On the top of her head, she could feel the warmth of his even deep breaths and her body screamed for more of him.  Like a period that ends a sentence; Lucien found a way to put a perfect ending on this confusing and difficult problem.  She felt large hands enveloping her shoulders, and she rocked forward, drawn by an invisible force.  His arms slid lower, resting across the smooth curve of her back.  She searched her brain, looking for a set of directions; anything that would tell her what to do or say in a situation such as this.  He was so close, and when their bodies touched, she could feel and sense his excitement.  She couldn’t help herself, and she began counting the beats of his drumming heart.  All reason seeped away because his lubdub was racing just as fast as her beating heart.  When she inhaled; within that breath clarity consumed her.  Ona faced the honest truth.  She’d fallen in love months ago, but she hadn’t known the signs and if she had, she pondered if she would have done anything to avert catastrophe.  But truth be told, she doubted it, because she didn’t regret anything that had happened.

Lucien filled his lungs, then he drew her closer.  What the fuck had he done?!  He was clueless but the web had been spun and he didn’t have much time to weave the outcome that he wanted.

He said...

“Ona--do you trust me?”

She didn’t know what action of hers had summoned the thought but she didn’t let a second pass to consider it.  Her voice was low but the tone carried a sense of strength when she said...

“Yes.  I trust you.

“I need you to do something and this request will require a great deal of trust on your end.  So, I’ll ask you one more time--do you trust me.”

Her face was sideways, laying on his chest.  She wanted to angle her head to see his expression but if she did that, then she would lose her position; and if it were within her power, she would remain this way until the end of days.

Ona said...

“I trust you”

“I don’t want you to count me out of the running--and I know what I’m about to say won’t be easy; but I believe we can manage it.”

Lucien loosened his hold, and the distance made is easier for her to see his face.  When she looked at him, she had to will her heart to beat.  Every fiber of her being screamed with a renewed excitement.

Lucien fixed his gaze with hers when he said...

“Date me--exclusively.”

When her lips parted but the sound remained caught somewhere in the well of her throat; Lucien said...

“Ona--hear me out.  Your mom and dad are in Africa.  And your brother Caleb is with them.  Noah is building a bridge and he isn’t even in this state.  Now...I know that you said that the people in your commune are like an extended family, but they aren’t watching you like your actual family would.”

Lucien knew this firsthand, because he’d done the sneaking to prove it.  When she didn’t answer, he said...

“Ona...this thing between you and I; it just feels so right--and I think that we’re worth the risk.  We have to see where these feelings will take us.”

He waited and he couldn’t discern the expression on her face.  He said...

“Do you feel it Ona--or am I wrong.”

Ona shook her head when she said...

“No...you aren’t wrong.  I feel it too.”
One of her creeds spoke about idle statements and the dangers of thoughtless words.  She’d always been careful to say only what she meant because once said, words couldn’t be retracted.  She studied Lucien’s eyes and she could see how much her declaration had meant to him.  He wasn’t just pleased; he was relieved.  He looked like he’d just been freed from carrying a heavy load.  Ona felt the same sense of relief and she was certain that the members in her commune wouldn’t present her with any problems.  She knew what to say and how to deal with them.  Yes; the word popped in her brain, because she was persuaded to believe that the idea stood a chance of succeeding.  She didn’t know how it would end, but she did know when it would end.

Ona said...

“Are you sure about this?  I mean--I cannot make any promises.  I...I...”

She was getting flustered considering outcomes.  Lucien hushed her, when he lowered his mouth to her forehead.  He pressed a kiss there, then he paid equal homage on both sides of her face.  The kisses were soft and gentle, yet each conveyed a fervent longing for her.  When he raised his head, he lowered his lips close to her mouth.  He was so close, it wouldn’t take much to kiss her. 

Lucien said...

“We don’t have to figure everything out today.  I love you Ona.  We can do this--and I promise you; you won’t regret this.”

Her mouth hovered nearer to his, when she said...

“No...I won’t”

He smiled, then he closed the gap, sealing their agreement with a kiss. 

**********