Variations on a Theme:
“Master Tenshio!” she said slowly, the reality dawning on her.
“Yes, Gilly?”
“Master Tenshio!” she repeated, drawing away from him. She drew her hands up under her chin and looked at his face. Her cheeks were flushed with color, her eyes wide and flashing. “You kissed me!”
He laughed. “Indeed. How reassured I am, to see that it didn’t escape your notice."
Her mouth dropped. “Master Tenshio,” she repeated, dismayed.
“It is no longer necessary for you to use my title, Gilly. Please address me simply by my name. If you wish to address me as Master Tenshio in public, that would be perfectly appropriate. But do not call me that when we are alone.”
Gilly’s astonishment turned unexpectedly to indignation. “That’s not fair!” she objected. “You can’t just change the rules like that!”
Tenshio had a hard time trying not to laugh. "I didn’t make those rules," he said, after a moment. "I obey them as much as you do.”
.......
“And you have been calling me Master. You can’t keep doing that,” Tenshio continued.
Gilly rolled her eyes. “Well, that’s entirely your own fault, Master Tenshio,” she said, pointed out. “I can’t help it if I am an excellent student.”
“Very well, I’ll just have to teach you a new lesson.” He straightened up and put his hands behind his back. “Please repeat after me: Tenshio.”
A joyful laugh escaped Gilly; it broke up the last of the tension that had been in her body. She looked at him with dancing eyes. “I can’t!” she protested. “Really, I can’t. It’s too much.”
“Ten-shi-o,” repeated Tenshio, with careful enunciation. He waited expectantly. “My mother calls me that all the time, as you know. I’m sure it will be easy for you.”
The giggles took hold of Gilly; she clasped her hand over her mouth and shook her head emphatically.
“And here I thought you were a good student,” he teased her. “I assure you, you don’t wish to fail my class. Please concentrate.”
“Master Tenshio!” Gilly laughed.
“No, no,” he said, with mock sternness. “That is all wrong.”
“Oh, please,” gasped Gilly. “Stop making me laugh!”
“Very well. I will give you an extension. But I do expect excellent results during the next lesson.”
.......
"Tell me what you think it means.”
Gilly groaned. “Why must you do this to me? I know perfectly well that you already know what it means.”
“It’s a more valuable experience for you if you think it through yourself.”
“Yes, Master Tenshio,” Gilly replied, her eyes twinkling.
His arms tightened in response. “I gave up being your master,” he whispered. He put his face against hers. “You are the master now.”
“No!” cried Gilly, appalled. She pulled her head away from his and looked at him with wide eyes.
Tenshio laughed softly. “Oh, Gilly. How deeply I have offended your sensibilities. I love you.”
“Don’t play,” Gilly pleaded, yielding to his embrace once more. “I can’t get used to it.”
“Very well,” he said gently, resting his head against the top of hers. “I won’t tease.”
.....
Her sleep had been deep and untroubled and when she sat up, she was still groggy. She blinked at him in wonder and then looked around the kitchen in growing disbelief.
“Good morning, Gilly,” Tenshio whispered.
“Good morning,” she said shyly. She pushed away the strands of hair that had fallen over her face. “We did sleep in the kitchen!”
“Yes. And unless you wish to discover exactly what my mother would say under these circumstances, I suggest we return to our usual beds.”
Gilly gave him a broad and sleepy smile. “One day, we’ll tell her, and find out.”
“Anytime you wish. Are you going to drop the use of my title today, Gilly?”
A quiet sound from the eastern room came to his attention; it was better than a cold shower. Immediately his mind was crystal clear.
“My mother,” he whispered, urgently. “Go, go, go.”
.......
Gilly blushed. “Thank you for pointing that out, Master Tenshio,” she murmured with pointed and defensive sarcasm.
“I see you are going to use that title indefinitely,” he remarked, his eyes dancing. “Even perhaps fifty or so years from now, when we are in bed together, you will use it.”
“I will use it whenever I have need of it,” she replied loftily and then giggled despite herself. “Anyway, won’t you be?”
“Won’t I be what?” Tenshio asked warily.
“The master in bed?” she replied, shaking with the giggles.
“I doubt that very much,” he remarked dryly. “I have a feeling that title will go to you.”
“Really?” asked Gilly, her interest piqued. “Why do you think that?”
“Oh, those lessons are much further ahead of where you are now,” he said. “For the moment, you should concentrate on coming a little closer.”
“There’s no room!” she objected.
“That’s the point,” Tenshio explained.
.....
“You look very disheveled, Master Tenshio,” she said demurely. “Whatever have you been doing?"
“I’ve been making love to my wife, as a matter of fact."
“What a lucky woman,” Gilly murmured. “I hope she takes good care of you.”
"Oh, she does," he assured her. "In fact, she esteems me so greatly that, even now, she persists in using my title."
She laughed, and put her forehead against his. "Tenshio," she said tenderly. "Tenshio, I love you. Now put me down and let's go have breakfast."
