A Hunger for Love

It was time to say the words.Why couldn't she say them?
It was simply beyond her capability to look into those dancing eyes and say
anything to hurt him.
She couldn't bear to see the light change to an inner darkness,not now.
He spun around on his heel and swept her into his arms,
He smelled like the woodsmoke that swirled around them.It was an aroma she loved.
She laughed as he kissed her cheek and sat her down on the big log by the fire.
"Let's never go back ."he whispered.
A chill went through her and the darkness around their circle of light seemed to
encroach a little more.
Marshall saw her shiver and took off his denim jacket to drape around her shoulders.
Something howled in the woods behind them and was answered by another
creature much closer in the bushes to their left.
Celeste saw Marshall grow tense .He scanned the dark forest and sniffed the
wind.
"What is it Marshall?"she said quietly.
He turned back to her slowly as if returning from deep concentration.
"It's nothing baby .Just the animals talking to each other."
She studied his handsome features.Why couldn't she return his deep love,
his obsession for her?
There was something feral about his body,something untamed in the very
essence of his being.
Yes, somehow on some level she realized she was afraid of him.!
As that thought crystalized in her conscious mind he moved toward her ever so slightly.
He touched her arm and smiled.
"You said you had something to tell me, remember?"
An ember popped loudly in the dying fire and she jumped.
"I,I ...yes I do want to tell you something but let's build up the fire a bit first.
It's getting so dark and I can hear something over there behind that tree."
Marshall looked in that direction made a sound deep in his throat
that ended like a cough.
"No dear ,he said Without the fire we can see the full moon.
Look, isn't it beautiful?"
The moon was full but the scudding clouds shut out most of it's light
and gave the forest a chiroscuro effect .
Celeste gathered her courage .She must not lead him on any longer.
She was frightened and cold now and just wanted to go home.
Marshall leaned over and nuzzled her neck.
She felt his teeth graze her skin.
"We're listening ."he murmured against her soft white throat.
Just outside the edge of light the animals howled again,closer now.
"They are so hungry ,he said.What shall we give them?"
"Give them ?"she said.We have nothing to give them ."
She pushed him back to look into his too bright eyes and she knew.
In that deciding moment as the dark clouds rushed across the sky
she knew.
Her very life depended on her next words!
"Let's give them something to take their minds off their hunger."
With that she lunged at him and began kissing him passionately.
"I wanted to tell you that I'm crazy about you ."she said between kisses.
He took her face in his hands and said,"I could just eat you alive sweetheart!"
"I know ,she whispered,I know."