title: Clare and Francis: Conversations of Divine Love
author:  Marcus Bussey 
description: Laced with oblique references to the lives of Saint Clare and Saint Francis, this work pays homage to the evolving relationship between two beings of spirit and their growing sense of cosmic belonging. "Clare and Francis" shares the common cause of all mystic encounters in which small ego rubs up against the Divine.
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  > “What is it about you?”  
  > Marcus asked softly.
  
  > He’d barely taken his eyes off her all evening. He knew he was drawn to her.
  > He admired her, respected her. She appealed to the chivalrous side of his
  > nature. But here, in the intimacy of the closed carriage, with her flowery
  > perfume filling his nostrils, something moved in him, something dark and
  > primitive that made him want to reach out and take. Only one woman had ever
  > held him enthralled like this. Catalina.
  
  > “I must be going out of my mind,” he muttered, and reached for her. “No,
  > don’t fight me, Catherine. I’m not going to hurt you. Just be still and let
  > me … let me …” He drew her to his side of the banquette and lowered his
  > mouth to hers.
  
  > Her eyes had been drawn to him all evening, and she’d tried not to be taken
  > in by his careless charm. She’d tried to remain immune, really tried, but
  > now, in the warm cocoon of the darkened coach, she found herself softening.
  > Her lips yielded benea