Six
1056 Words
Emma…
“Master, Ms. Andrews is here to join you,” Brutus announces my arrival.
Rick is at the head of the large oak table. He looks up to me and begins to rise but stumbles with his chair in a nervous gesture.
He quickly regains his composure. “Thank you, Brutus. I can take her from here.”
He walks around the table and extends his arm for me to take. Again, an act out of the ordinary for him. He leads me to the table. Stopping by my chair, he looks me over with a sultry smile which causes my stomach to tighten. He hooks a finger in the top strap of my black halter dress, just above my collarbone, and runs it down the strap causing a chill to erupt across my skin.
His eyes run the length of me, stopping just above my knees where my dress ends. A groan rumbles low in his chest when his eyes land on my black heels. I start to rethink my decision to wear this dress the minute he reaches around my hips and pulls me against him. I place my hands on his chest and create space between us. He leans in to kiss me and I turn my head, landing his lips on my cheek.
He quickly releases me and steps back, clearing his throat trying to control his emotions. “One day, Emma, you will desire me the way I desire you,” he says pulling out my chair. “I will be patiently waiting for that day. I will tell you this only once: Do not push me away tonight. Do you understand?” he says firmly as he pushes me in.
“Yes, Sir, I understand. I won’t do it again.”
“Please call me Rick,” he quickly corrects.
Brutus walks in carrying a tray of salad mixes and drinks. He quietly busies himself as he sets the drinks and salads down in front of us and leaves the room without a word.
Rick nods his head for me to begin and I pick up my fork and pick at the salad. What the hell is he up to? He is so hot and cold. I can usually gauge his mood but with how fast he is changing it, my nerves are on alert.
I jump as Brutus reappears from the corner of the room, picking up the salad plates as we finish. He adds a bottle of wine to the table and Rick waves dismissively at him and takes over filling our glasses. Rick holds out his glass to make a toast and I pick up mine.
He smiles. “To us and to the future of our love.” Clinking our globes together, I bring it to my lips and play the role. What future?
The wine curls in my mouth and rolls over my tongue. The taste of sweet peaches blooms in my mouth and I realize this as one of my favorite Moscatos. “The wine is very lovely. Thank you.”
He reaches his hand over and embraces mine. “I know It’s one of your favorites and I wanted to do something special for you tonight.” He picks up my hand and guides it to his lips. His lips brush over my knuckles. I study him. He is dressed in a grey suit with a white shirt—a few buttons undone at the top where a tuft of black chest hair peaks out.
Brutus acknowledges his presence with a cough which gives me the perfect moment to free my hand. “Master, your dinner has arrived,” he says as he sets the plates down and removes the silver domes.
My eyes light up to see Ms. May’s famous spaghetti. I look up to Rick as excitement bubbles and I bounce in my chair.
Rick tucks a strand of my hair back. “You’re beautiful when you smile. I wish to see more of that in the future.”
“Thank you! I love spaghetti...” I look down at his plate also covered in spaghetti. “I thought you didn’t like spaghetti?” I ask confused.
“I like spaghetti. It is more of the memory I have with the meal that I don’t like. Tonight, we will be changing my memory and creating a new one.”
My mind fumbles to absorb Rick’s confession. Never before has he talked about his past. Why now? I don’t know how to respond to this side of Rick. I search his face to read his emotions. Is that pain? Quickly his expression reverts back to steel, hiding any emotion I might have thought I saw. A vision of Rick as a little boy pops into my mind.
“Love, eat,” he commands.
My eyes roll to the back of my head with the first bite. It is delicious. I lean my head back in pure enjoyment—but I am purposeful not to moan again. When I open my eyes again, Rick is staring intensely at me. I quickly grab my napkin as heat burns my cheeks. “Sorry.”
He shakes his hand and chuckles. “No, it’s just amazes me how you act with food. I love watching you eat.”
“Oh, uhh, I told you—”
“Yes, I know how you were brought up with no food on the table and I don’t care to discuss it tonight.” The humor fades from his eyes and in its place, I see anguish. Does it pain Rick to hear about my childhood? As quickly as before the emotion disappears.
“Umm… It’s just Ms. May has been helping me work on my table manners and I was hoping I improved for you.”
He slams his fork down making me jump. “Ms. May does NOT have the right to change anything about you without my order. This is not something I want to change. Do you understand?” he says with a deep growl.
“Yes, Sir … Rick, I understand.”
“Now, please eat. I have somewhere for us to be in a half hour,” he says, his tone softening again.
I pick up my fork and we eat in silence.
- Writer
