no doubt he'd scurry to report back as soon as he was able. I could let nothing slip.
Arthur couldn't linger. I waited until he had had to return to his post, and then turned to speak to Jasmine, but she began before I had any chance to open my mouth.
"So, your daddy is someone, is he?"
"Everyone's father is someone. "
"You know what I mean." She looked at me, darkly. I had expected her to be staring around, taken in by the understated opulence of our surroundings, but she wasn't remotely bothered. She was focused on me.
She really needed teaching some manners.
The waiter brought the wine list and menus. I ordered a relatively decent bottle of red, and passed her a menu to peruse. Now she was looking furious, and I had to bite my smile back as she began along her predictable rant.
"How dare you order wine for me!"
"I'm paying," I said. I allowed myself a small shrug, calculated to offend her even more.
"I'm drinking," she said, somewhat illogically.
"Excellent. You'll enjoy this one."
"No, I mean, if I'm drinking, I ought to be allowed to choose."
I sat back and cocked my head to one side. "Pray explain."
"I … what? Wait. I don't need to explain. There's nothing to explain. It's obvious."
"Allow me the indulgence of being able to treat you as an honored guest," I said.
"Yeah, but-"
"Now, be calm, and choose your starter."
She narrowed her eyes at me, but turned her attention to the menu. She was biddable. She was clearly out of her depth. She had no idea the control I was going to be able to exert over her - and how much she'd enjoy that.
No. I tried to focus on my own menu. This was a one-off. A little game to amuse myself, for one night only. I was starting to imagine a relationship with this woman, and I didn't want that; for various reasons. For all the usual reasons. I didn't need another new little subby to train up, only for her to turn on me and stab me in the back. Like colleagues.
Like family.
* * * *
I steered the conversation into pleasant, light waters as we dined. She watched me, and I could tell she was itching for a fight - she had something to prove, and she wanted me to slip up so she could call me out for being some kind of horrific bore. Or boar. Either way, she was already convinced I was an over-privileged animal stuck in an outdated feudal system.
I saw nothing wrong with that system.
When the desserts were delivered, I leaned closer to her, and maintained eye contact. She had a fire in her belly that was frankly adorable; I wondered how hot those flames could burn.
"Quit it."
"I'm sorry?" I said.
She put her small silver fork down with a clatter. "Stop watching me eat," she complained.
"I'm sorry," I said again. "Your lips are captivating."
"What?" Her voice rose and she glared, but there was a light in her eyes. Yes, my dear , I thought: everyone loves a compliment. Pretend to be horrified if you like, but you want more of this.
I merely smiled and lowered my gaze for a moment; then looked back at her, pinning her with the full force of my attention as I leaned in ever closer, and whispered, "I am surprised that every man in this place isn't watching the way your mouth moves."
I didn't need to add any reference to crude sexual acts. Her imagination was on the same track as mine; I could tell by the way she had to shift in her seat.
"Oh, give it up already," she said, crossly, and continued with her food.
I gave her a few moments of respite, allowing her to finish the exquisite cheesecake before resuming my attack.
"You seem tense," I said.
"I am not," she said, her shoulders immediately squaring; by saying it, I had made it true. Oh, so biddable.
"It's all right," I said, reassuring her. "I'm simply surprised. The impression I had of Americans was that they were a casual, relaxed sort of people. You, on the other hand, seem awfully straight-laced."
"Okay," she said, planting her elbows on the table, ticking off her points with her long fingers. "For one, I
Arthur couldn't linger. I waited until he had had to return to his post, and then turned to speak to Jasmine, but she began before I had any chance to open my mouth.
"So, your daddy is someone, is he?"
"Everyone's father is someone. "
"You know what I mean." She looked at me, darkly. I had expected her to be staring around, taken in by the understated opulence of our surroundings, but she wasn't remotely bothered. She was focused on me.
She really needed teaching some manners.
The waiter brought the wine list and menus. I ordered a relatively decent bottle of red, and passed her a menu to peruse. Now she was looking furious, and I had to bite my smile back as she began along her predictable rant.
"How dare you order wine for me!"
"I'm paying," I said. I allowed myself a small shrug, calculated to offend her even more.
"I'm drinking," she said, somewhat illogically.
"Excellent. You'll enjoy this one."
"No, I mean, if I'm drinking, I ought to be allowed to choose."
I sat back and cocked my head to one side. "Pray explain."
"I … what? Wait. I don't need to explain. There's nothing to explain. It's obvious."
"Allow me the indulgence of being able to treat you as an honored guest," I said.
"Yeah, but-"
"Now, be calm, and choose your starter."
She narrowed her eyes at me, but turned her attention to the menu. She was biddable. She was clearly out of her depth. She had no idea the control I was going to be able to exert over her - and how much she'd enjoy that.
No. I tried to focus on my own menu. This was a one-off. A little game to amuse myself, for one night only. I was starting to imagine a relationship with this woman, and I didn't want that; for various reasons. For all the usual reasons. I didn't need another new little subby to train up, only for her to turn on me and stab me in the back. Like colleagues.
Like family.
* * * *
I steered the conversation into pleasant, light waters as we dined. She watched me, and I could tell she was itching for a fight - she had something to prove, and she wanted me to slip up so she could call me out for being some kind of horrific bore. Or boar. Either way, she was already convinced I was an over-privileged animal stuck in an outdated feudal system.
I saw nothing wrong with that system.
When the desserts were delivered, I leaned closer to her, and maintained eye contact. She had a fire in her belly that was frankly adorable; I wondered how hot those flames could burn.
"Quit it."
"I'm sorry?" I said.
She put her small silver fork down with a clatter. "Stop watching me eat," she complained.
"I'm sorry," I said again. "Your lips are captivating."
"What?" Her voice rose and she glared, but there was a light in her eyes. Yes, my dear , I thought: everyone loves a compliment. Pretend to be horrified if you like, but you want more of this.
I merely smiled and lowered my gaze for a moment; then looked back at her, pinning her with the full force of my attention as I leaned in ever closer, and whispered, "I am surprised that every man in this place isn't watching the way your mouth moves."
I didn't need to add any reference to crude sexual acts. Her imagination was on the same track as mine; I could tell by the way she had to shift in her seat.
"Oh, give it up already," she said, crossly, and continued with her food.
I gave her a few moments of respite, allowing her to finish the exquisite cheesecake before resuming my attack.
"You seem tense," I said.
"I am not," she said, her shoulders immediately squaring; by saying it, I had made it true. Oh, so biddable.
"It's all right," I said, reassuring her. "I'm simply surprised. The impression I had of Americans was that they were a casual, relaxed sort of people. You, on the other hand, seem awfully straight-laced."
"Okay," she said, planting her elbows on the table, ticking off her points with her long fingers. "For one, I
Similar Books
The Book of Jhereg
Steven Brust
A Step Toward Falling
Cammie McGovern
Angles of Attack
Marko Kloos
It Runs in the Family
Frida Berrigan
Pretty in Ink
Lindsey Palmer
All Living : A Seedvision Saga (9781621473923)
Michael C. Humphrey
Catching Fireflies
Sherryl Woods
Come Endless Darkness
Gary Gygax
Soaring Home
Christine Johnson
Bright Lights, Big City
Jay McInerney