Chapter 25 - The inferno that swept them away.

Before he could complete, "Jia reached out, held his face, and kissed him passionately."

The surging tempest of passion, that had been so long suppressed under the cold shower was awakened, as their lips locked with each other, and erupted into a volcano of passionate emotions.

He cupped her face with his hands and kissed her like never. The response, that he received from the confession, coupled with the effect of the drug, in the next moment seemed to have converted a lamb into a loving ravaging wolf.

For a moment Jia thought, "What if he regrets tomorrow? I need to stop him before he is filled with guilt. Moreover, I can't take advantage of him in his present situation."

She tried to call out his name to resist, but her response became an encouragement. His hands, held hers in union against the wall, as his whole being, osculated with hers in joy. Like the waves on the seashore, the inferno of his embrace washed her thoughts away, and she closed her eyes in acceptance of his love.

For years she was the only one he had, to call his own in his solitude, through every joy, and pain, and the very thought of losing the one he called his own, had erupted into a volcano of emotions. He could no longer restrain himself, and she could no longer resist his caressing advances.

The cold water of the shower seemed to ignite the warmth of their feelings for each other. Their lips seemed to have found their soul mates wanting to drink deeper in love with every fondling embrace.

His arms like a warrior on a rampage seemed unstoppable breaking through every barrier with his caressing touch. His love conquered every citadel and broke through every guarded fortress. He had like a victor won her over with his loving charm.

She on the other hand like a female warrior, although capable of putting a strong victorious defense, had completely yielded to his march of victory. In the process, their feelings, had like the roots of a strong oak seeped deep into love, and intertwined into each other in a fashion, that they could no longer be separated. Though separate, they now looked one, and any attempt to separate them would uproot the very existence of the oak.

God has his own time, and method of placing the lonely in families, and replacing their solitude with a companionship, that will create parallel footprints on the sand dunes of time.

After a brief moment of bliss, when he came back to his senses, as the hold, that the drug had over him released its tentacles, he found himself in her loving embrace under the shower. The glistening drops of water on her Swarovski embellished dress, send a million tiny sparkles across the bath. His cheeks flushed, as his eyes burned with the joy of a conqueror. After years of solitude and lack of a family, the warmth of her embrace made him whole.

Then a sudden realization, that the long duration under the cold shower could render her sick, struck him. As he reached out for a dry bathrobe for her to change into, his scintillating eyes met her passionate ones, and she said, "I would prefer to be wrapped in the warmth of your embrace."

He pulled her in his embrace, and kissed her passionately for a while, this time in full realization of his actions.

After a while of sweet bliss, he took a towel and dried her wet hair.

She chuckled in his care, and said, "You need them too." She took the towel from his hand and dried his hair as well.

He landed another peck on her lips, and said, "Well I might get habituated with this help."

She smiled and replied, "It would be a joy to make this a routine."

To her response, he pulled her to himself, held her tightly, and said, "Well, then it's decided, this responsibility has been handed over to you."

He looked into her eyes with his twinkling scintillating one, and a mischievous smile, and said, "From this day onwards, I give my life into your hands. Let us register ourselves after discussing with the elders."

She smiled, and said, "Is this how a gentleman proposes? What's the hurry about getting married?"

He caressed her loving face with his hands, and said, "I can't give anyone the opportunity to snatch you away from me. I will speak to my grandpa; you discuss it with your dad. We can have an official engagement soon. I trust Li Bao, but what if uncle Enlai convinces your dad on the pretext of business interests? We cannot take chances. We will speak to our elders tomorrow, first thing in the morning. Now better change into those dry robes before you catch a cold in those wet clothes. I'll wait outside."

As they walked out of the bath in their robes and retired for the day, Jia laid her head in his embrace, and said, "I am blessed to have you."

Liqin held her with his arms, and said, "We have had a long tiring day today, and we need to get some rest now. Let us get us some sleep."

Jia replied, "Yes."

As they lay on the bed looking at the ceiling cherishing, and treasuring the memories of the day, their tired pupils closed, and they were fast asleep, with their smiles bearing witness of dreams of a new life, that they had embarked on.