Beloved

(excerpt from Chapter 2) “Eliyanah Awakens” *edited

“Beloved,” he whispered in Eliyanah’s ear, startling her back into reality.

“Is any of this real?” she thought, as she watched him pluck a small green leaf from her hair. The man perpetually pursuing her smiled broadly into her face.

She scrutinized his face closely and deeply peered into his large mesmerizing light brown eyes. His overall appearance was athletically sculpted. But it was his presence that tantalized Eliyanah into an incendiary desire bordering on an enraging need, a requirement to be satisfied straight away.

The man suddenly hugged her bringing her into a full embrace. She sensed he was trying to keep her near him so that she would not move away. He held her confidently in a warm snuggle.

In his warm strong embrace, Eliyanah melted.

“ Why are you shaking, Beloved?” he asked. His chin now resting atop her head. She tried to turn away from his embrace. As he very slowly began to release her, he continued to question her actions and her behaviors.

“What has you so upset, Beloved?” the man stepped closer leaning into her face as he spoke.

She could feel and smell the warm fragrance of cloves and mints on his breath. Mingled with an oak moss scent robust in earthy tones, an aromatic crisp fragrance — layered with muskiness with leathery undertones, drifted into her nostrils, fully engulfing her.

Eliyanah pushed, violently, away from the man’s embrace and at once began a tirade of speech to defend her actions. The man stepped backward after completely releasing her from his loving embrace.

“You keep doing that!” she ranted as she balled up both her fists beside her thighs, hiding her actions from him.

“You touch me when I am not even aware that you are close enough to me to feel you.” she tried to explain.

She kept falling nearly fainting wherever he touched her. Yet he seemed oblivious to the erotic effect his touch, his very presence, had on her emotions. Eliyanah moved her hands upward and outward as she spoke, gesturing with her hands as she tried an explanation of the impact his mere touch, had upon her entire being.

The man stood pretending to be solemn, dropped his head, and placed both hands behind himself, locking them as he slowly motioned to back away from her.

She looked side-eyed at his playful antics as she stood trembling in secret disheveled excitement. Eliyanah turned and walked deeper into the garden.

He followed, bowed, smiling, and loving the graceful sway of her hips, being careful to keep at least two steps behind her. To him, she was such a lovely woman. Just as fiery in public as she was privately in his arms, in his bed. He longed to be near her. Yearned for her touch, her embrace, the feel and savor of her skin, mouth, and her private parts.

“Aww, she is more than a lovely woman, she is sensual, seductive, enthusiastic, generous in her loving, and a beauty to look upon,” he thought as he slowly strode behind her.

The man sat down on a white marble bench just inside the garden. Several large fluffy satin pillows in diverse colors of orange, coral, gold, and royal blue were arrayed in the middle of the back of the large stone couch.

He sat with his hands crossed over his knees. Gesturing with his head for her to sit and smiled up at Eliyanah and said in a low calm voice, “See, I will not touch! Shalom, Beloved. Sit.”

He motioned again with his head as he kept his arms crossed over his knee.

She slowly sat on the couch. Pulling her garments up away from the ground, she was careful to not expose any of her legs or feet.

She exhaled loudly glanced around the garden, and was simply engaged in the huge masterpiece of a garden. As her eyes beheld the beauty surrounding her, Eliyanah became awestruck.

A variety of flowering trees bursting with blooms, and loaded with apples, pomegranates, and pears stood out. Surrounding the huge fruit trees were rings of gardenia hedges and small beds of colorful flowering plants.

In the space just in front of the bench stood an oversized flowing water fountain, bedecked in an array of ceramic designs telling a story with water creatures, birds, mountains, and trees.

Beyond the fountain to the east of the garden stood a large pavilion. It too was lovelier than anything she had ever seen. Its roof was covered in red tile, and its pillars were carved from pure white marble. From the ceiling hung several large bamboo fans and sheer white curtains adorned each pillar secured by large golden roped cords.

The seats and tables were made of redwood and each table was set with golden plates and cups with large white ceramic bowls filled with more piles of fruits, berries, and flowers.

Bird cages hung on the rafters inside the pavilion with wind chimes made of bamboo reeds which put out a lovely musical melody with each swirl of breezes sweeping through the opening. Beside the pavilion lay a long rectangular pool, filled with sparkling blue water and floating flowers.

Around the pool sat four lounging chairs decorated with satin pillows. Vases made of ceramic tiles expressed more pictures of birds, animals, flowers, and trees, filled with large rose-looking flowers sitting on the floor of the grandiose pavilion.

Stately magnolia trees stood proudly in the summer morning sun swaying easily in the breezes, against a sparkling white wall beyond the pool, surrounding the entire garden. Standing in the garden in the light morning air, emitting sweet soulful fragrance from the huge flowers brought to memory a time and a place she could not recall. The thought escaped her as quickly as it came to mind.

Eliyanah turned to look at the man who had leaned over to pour glasses of nectar from a table filled with pitchers of nectar and bowls of grapes, berries, cheeses, small round cakes, piles of plates, and folded cloth napkins. The impressive table setting before her was fit for royalty.

The brilliant sun shone onto everything in the garden expressing a feeling of joyous peace.

The fragrances of fruits and flowers joined into a symphony with the trees and water exploding into a crescendo of musical notes joined by birds singing melodiously, climaxing continuously into a rhapsodical timeless eternity.

To Eliyanah, the staggering scope of beauty in the queen’s private yard brought to mind the garden of Eden, the grand place felt sacred — holy.

The man handed her a golden chalice filled with nectar from which she took a sip, and then drank deeper. The empowering flavor and texture of the ardent elixir roused her heart into rejoicing. She inched closer to the man.

“Forgive me, I just want to ask one more question, “ Eliyanah whispered.

Staring adoringly at the long thick locked hair of the brown-bronzed skin of the kingly athletic man, she lost all focus. The nectar was stronger than wine! Primal desire inflamed her loins, exploding tremors within her.

He smiled, revealing the gap between his perfect teeth as he gently removed the cup from her shaky hand and pulled her into his chest.