The Heart Wants What It Wants

He pushed her hair behind her ear, and she had to fight to keep herself from trembling. Her face heated as he slowly slid the stem of the earring through, and fastened it securely. His fingertips lingered on the sensitive skin behind her ear. She did shudder this time. His proximity, his fingers…

“Now this one,” he whispered, so close that she could have just leaned into him and kissed him.

“Turn around, Diana.”

She obeyed, and his fingers were even gentler, more delicate as he put the other earring on. His fingers traced the shape of her ear, and she closed her eyes and sighed for just a moment, letting herself feel how her heart was racing, how her body was reacting to his touch.

“It suits you. Bold colors suit you.”

“I… Thank you.”

“The pleasure is mine. I like seeing you like this. I’m glad you came.”

“I’m glad I came, too.”

“Lunch?”

Diana smiled and nodded, and her stomach chose that moment to rumble embarrassingly.

“Apparently your stomach agrees!”

“I didn’t eat much on the flight. Everything was great but I was nervous.’

“Flying makes you nervous?”

“It’s my first time flying out of the country, so I guess so, yes. It was all fine, though.”

“It’s my pleasure to be the first one to take you out of the country, then. I’ll make sure the trip is memorable.”

His eyes were as warm as his smile when he said it, looking down at her. He seemed taller when she wasn’t wearing her higher heels. But she didn’t mind how he looked down at her, those eyes twinkling at her.

He took her hand, and she didn’t mind that, either.

“There’s a rooftop restaurant that’s one of the best in the city. We’ll go out and see a few sights.”

“Sounds good,” she told him, and it was easy to fall into step beside him as he called the elevator and they went up to the rooftop.

“Wow,” said Diana when they finally stepped out. The building was tall, and they could see what seemed to be all of Osaka from there. It was amazing, absolutely nothing like the skylines she was used to.

“It’s something, isn’t it? I first came here about fifteen years ago. I love it as much as I did then. I love Kyoto even more. The palace is beautiful. Would you like to see it?”

“I… I’d love it. But I thought you’d be busy.”

“Why would I ask you to come if I didn’t want to spend my time with you? I’ve wrapped up my work. Now it’s all about you.”

And Diana finally found out what it was like to have George focus on you – really focus on you.

The meal was lovely, and the sake was unfamiliar but something she could grow to like. The sushi was ordered in perfect Japanese that she definitely could not understand, but it was delicious. She enjoyed every bite of it, and she didn’t hide her pleasure in it. She closed her eyes, savored every flavor, and she was game to try everything he suggested.

She didn’t know if he was amused or charmed, but she didn’t mind which it was as long as he looked at her like that, and laughed like that when she said something that surprised him.

He didn’t make her feel like a fool, or inadequate. He made her feel wonder at everything that she was experiencing, and he seemed to be delighted to be helping her experience it all for the first time.

He let her focus on the food for a while before he finally chuckled.

“What is it?” she asked, looking up quickly.

“I just realized that you might have enjoyed yourself more if I’d taken you to one of the smaller sushi joints down the street.”

“Oh.”

“It’s more of an experience. Maybe we’ll do that, too. Do you feel up to walking around the Kyoto palace today? It’s gorgeous. You will enjoy it. But it will mean some walking.”

“I’m up for walking. Work off some of this food. It’s incredible, but…”

“You look perfect. But yes.”

“I did try to do some reading. The Kyoto palace – it’s an active imperial palace, isn’t it? Even if the royal family is usually in Tokyo.”

“It is. Though really, it’s a pity we’re a bit too late for cherry blossoms. The Himeji castle would have been a lovely place to take you.”

“It would?”

“It’s in Kobe, one of the few castles that have never been destroyed and rebuilt. And then there’s…”

Diana lost track of what he was saying, really, as he talked about architecture, about a plain seeming castle that had a corridor that was built to make every step sound like the chirping of birds, about exquisite murals, about the beauty of the land, but she didn’t mind because it was lovely to watch him speak, his gestures elegant, his voice soothing.

“I’ve bored you,” he said, suddenly, and she shook her head.

“No. Not even a little bit. I wish I could see all of it, but we only have a couple of days. So show me what you want me to see and I’ll be happy.”

“Can you really be that easy to please?” he asked, and Diana chuckled.

“You just flew me all the way to Japan, bought be clothes and jewelry, took me out for a fabulous lunch, and you’re asking me if I’m that easy to please? Nobody has ever done this much for me. I’ve never expected it. This is really new for me.”

“You deserve all this and much more. So much more. I’ll show you,” he promised, and the way he said it made her shudder just a little bit.

It was a promise of much more than just sightseeing.

But the sightseeing was amazing. Diana wondered if she was being spoilt by the VIP treatment, but it was amazing to walk around the palace, see the intricacies of each building, catch a glimpse of the imperial throne.

At least, one of them.

The Sento Imperial Palace was an experience. Apparently, it wasn’t easy to get permission to visit, but George was treated like an honored guest. She looked around, wide-eyed, and sighed as her soul seemed to settle into a more peaceful place than she had ever experienced before.

She didn’t notice how George looked at her as she walked around and looked at the pond, with its pebbles along the shore, the cherry trees all around it. It was probably the most beautiful place she had ever seen, the kind of place where she could imagine gods and goddesses living. It was like nothing she had ever felt before.

“It’s not at all like Western palaces, is it?”

“The kind of treasures valued here are different. Not better or worse, but different. This place calls to my soul, too. But you shouldn’t make up your mind before seeing everything there is to see. You haven’t been to palaces in Europe, have you?”

She shook her head.

“Maybe that’s where I’ll take you next. I have a trip coming up, to Germany – Cologne. Maybe if you have time, you could come with me, and I’ll take you to Heidelberg. There’s a castle there that you will enjoy, and the walks along Heidelberg are beautiful. It’s like a different kind of fairytale place.”