He smiled at me and it melted my heart. Holding out his hand, he beckoned to me and whispered my name... softly, gently, seductively.
He waited a moment, smiling still, then he turned and began to walk away. What was I to do? Stand there mute, in the obscure garden, longing for the glow of his smile to warm my soul? Was I to remain, lost and bereft of his radiance? I did what he knew I would do, what he had expected, what in my heart I wanted more than anything, what I had always done.
I followed him.
That burning, shining light, like a beacon piercing the darkness of the night. I followed him, though I knew what it would mean.
I followed him because I could not be without him. I was all too aware of how I would never be free unless I stood endlessly by his side. It no longer mattered. I did not care. I had but one dream, and it was to belong completely to him.

And what did it come to in the end? Why this relentless dance with danger? What had I known from the moment I first stood before him? That I loved him and had done so all along. Had he seduced me? Had I allowed myself to fall helplessly under the spell of his deadly smile, his cool touch, his soft caress and scalding kisses? Oh, but I had fought it... with everything that was sane, and true and alive in me, I had fought it. Unwilling to accept the inevitable, not wanting to believe the impossible. That I could be capable of such an emotion for him, that I could be able to love this beguiling seduction. And to choose one such as he to love! A fallen angel with such a broken past... so like my own. Heartache, misery, loneliness, abandonment, cruelty, both directed at him and his own.

Did I fear him? In my heart, yes. Ah, but it was his nature I feared. It was what he was and not his tender smile and deep, soulful eyes that struck a chord of terror in me. No, never had I feared him. Not this beautiful cherub, not in all the nights I had sat at his side, bathing in the warmth of his words. But it came to this... My heart beat for him in an endless, pounding rhythm, a never-ending song. I knew happiness only when I was with him. And I had no fear to stand in the shadow of his soul. And the only peace I had ever felt was the gentle press of his lips to my own, the soft touch of his fingers tangled in my hair, the chill of his embrace, the whisper of my name upon his breath. I had gained my freedom by becoming his willing slave.

The music of his voice called to me again and I answered in a breathless sigh. He turned, bestowing upon me that charming smile and studied me for a moment. The moonlight danced in his curls and fell about him in a luminescent veil. I lost myself in the intensity of his gaze and knew I could never win because he would never lose. I stepped forward and reaching out, he pulled me tightly into his embrace. He held me close and I could feel his heart beat against my own. Oh, the feel of his cool fingers, the strength of his arms around me, pressing me tenderly to him.

His lips brushed mine as he whispered softly, "Do you love me? I know you do. Say it, my love... say that you love me." And of course I did.