SOMEDAY MY PRINTS WILL COME

a short fantasy

“Mr. Emissary, just for the purposes of discussion, if ever we became lovers—that is to say, if I were yours and you were mine, and I held your heart—would you honestly want me to seek variety, as you call it, with other men?”

He hadn’t considered that. It was a trick question, and he thought it best to answer it with silence.

“That’s what I thought. I’ve heard it told that fidelity can be quite a turn-on. In my opinion, it is a virtue. You should keep that in mind.”

She had cleared away the plates, and they were sitting on a very roomy and comfortable couch in front of a roaring fire, looking out the window at the waves crashing, drinking wine that tasted like the nectar of the gods out of crystal goblets, and munching on delicate slices of those almond cookies Eva was always baking.

“What do you put in these things?” He thought it was very definitely some kind of a love potion, because he was feeling more amorous by the moment.

“Calm down. I told you before, they’re just cookies.” She drew a breath and continued. “I’ve been thinking, and after some consideration, I’ve decided to let you instruct me in the ways of seduction.”

He choked on his wine and had to put the goblet down. He was speechless. The things that came out of her mouth were a constant surprise.

“I’m beginning to like the sound of this,” he said eagerly, moving closer to her. “It’s not every day a man gets to initiate a goddess. I imagine there would be a lot of pent-up demand, over the centuries.”

“I’m talking about love, Mr. Emissary, not sex.”