Table for Four

by Diana Hunter

  “May I assist you, Madam? Our dinner is ready.”

  Determined to show this Old Country male that she wasn’t as helpless as he wanted her to be, she almost batted away his hand in irritation. Why did he bring out such conflicting emotions in her? She couldn’t decide if she wanted to submit to him, or deck him.

  David’s eyes were on her, a warning implicit in his gaze. With a sweet smile, Lissa gracefully placed her hand in Master Richard’s. “Why, thank you, sir. What a gentleman you are.” She could not help the southern accent that dripped from her voice. If Master Richard caught the sarcasm, his face betrayed no trace of it.

  His tug on her hand, however, drove the sarcasm from her attitude. With a flourish, he literally pulled her to her feet; a move Lissa did not expect. Off balance, she leaned into his arm with a startled exclamation.

  “Steady, my dear woman. You weigh so little! I should not have pulled you so fast.”

  She bit back a sharp retort as his eyes once again caught hers. The twinkle in them belied his apology. His move had been a deliberate calculation to put her in her place after her sarcasm. She knew it. But those eyes, those dark and sexy eyes that held no malice, pulled her in and even as he tucked her hand under his arm to lead her to dinner, Lissa’s heart melted just a bit more.

  Dinner was a Hungarian dish David could not pronounce, although Lissa did a credible job of getting the accent right. Again the primary conversation centered between the two men; Lissa spoke only a little and Adora not at all.

  Once dinner ended, David and Richard left the women to the clean-up and walked outside to enjoy the summer night. David had been raised where everyone did their fair share; he knew Lissa would have a great deal to say about the stereotypical division of labor in this household. But the beautiful Adora worked to clean up his supper dishes behind that swinging door, and perhaps Lissa would learn something useful about the golden goddess that she could pass on to him. After giving his wife a warning glance, he walked out to enjoy the summer night with his companion.

  “My father would often retire for a cigar after dinner. Always outside, my mother would not let him smoke inside.” Richard chuckled. “He ruled the house with an iron fist, until Mama overruled him.”

  David laughed. “Not much different from my parents then. Whenever we kids had a problem that required parental involvement, we always went to Mom first, who then helped us figure out how to go to Dad.”

  “Then our families are much the same. Not so, Adora’s.” The dark man nodded toward the kitchen window where David could just see a glimpse of the room. A shadow passed in front of the curtain and David’s heart jumped a bit, recognizing Adora’s figure.

  “How was hers different?”

  For a moment, Richard was silent. The information he was about to impart had driven men away on more than one occasion. David, however, seemed a more open-minded soul. Richard hoped he was correct; the man’s conversation at dinner showed him to be obviously well-educated, if not well-traveled. And Richard had seen the look in Adora’s eyes; that haunted look she covered up when they met someone new. How many more times could her heart be broken? Better to find out now if David was worth any more of her time. He gave David a meaningful glance, narrowing his eyes as he took the man’s measure. “Adora traveled a great deal with her family. Many places, some that did not welcome her kind.”

  David’s head swiveled around. “Her kind? I don’t understand.”

  “She is Roma.”

  “So?”

  “Do you know what Roma are?”

  David shook his head. Something told him the word didn’t mean “from Rome”.

  “Roma have another name, a name more popular, but not correct. You know the Roma as Gypsies.”

  That Adora was a Gypsy was a bit of a surprise; her appearance did not fit the stereotype he had of that race of people. Still, David wasn’t sure why being a Gypsy was a problem. Richard explained it patiently.

  “The Roma are not always welcome in parts of Europe. For many years they have been hunted, chased from towns, their rights nonexistent.”

  David nodded. Somewhere back in school he had learned that. But then it was so far away, in time as well as place. “I guess I didn’t realize such discrimination still existed.”

  “It does. And it doesn’t. It depends on where you are.”

  “She doesn’t even look like a gypsy…er…Roma.” David’s gaze had been drawn back to the window.

  Richard laughed. “Not all Roma are dark and swarthy. It also depends on where they are from.” He grew serious once more. “And who their parents are.”

  “And you? Are you a gyp…er, Roma…as well?”

  For answer, Richard bowed an affirmative. He nodded toward the open window. “You have a beautiful wife.”

  David’s smile turned fond. “Thank you. So do you.”

  “Your wife has a need to be tamed.”

  The air grew still and David wasn’t sure he heard Richard right. “I beg your pardon?”

  “I meant no insult to you, dear sir, only that her soul cries out to be tamed.”

  “As Adora is tamed.”

  Now it was Richard’s turn to be nonplussed. “Adora? My sweet, adorable, beautiful Adora? Tamed?”

  “Yes. She speaks not at all and seems quite docile. Isn’t that the definition of tamed?

  Now Richard grinned. “My dear sir, if you think Adora has been tamed, I regret to inform you, I am not man enough for that.”

  “I am totally confused by this conversation.”

  “Adora is a wonderful, independent spirit. She does some things I ask of her only because it suits her purpose. She is like a wild falcon that will sometimes come and sit on my arm because she loves me. But that is all. I could no more tame her than you can tame your wife.”

  “What makes you think I can’t tame my wife?” David did not know whether he was being insulted or not.

  “Because you love her too deeply.”

  The truth made David silent. Richard was right. Lissa wanted a stronger hand and he could not give it to her because he loved her too much to do so. David looked at his host as insight dawned.

  “And you love Adora too much to tame her.”

  Richard nodded. “Now you understand.”

  * * * * *

  Lissa eyed the shapely form of her hostess as the elegant woman scraped the dishes. The tiny kitchen had barely enough room for two people at the same time; how did one strike up a conversation with someone who never said a word? What if she were mute?

  Lissa took the empty dinner plates from her and set them down on the counter, clearing her throat, somewhat out of unease, somewhat as a prelude to trying to say something. Adora chuckled.

  It was the first noise Lissa had heard out of the woman. “Excuse me, did…did you just giggle?”

  Adora grinned in response and turned on the water, filling the sink with soap bubbles.

  Lissa shook her head, a lopsided grin of her own twisting her lips. “Sorry. It’s just, well…we’ve met twice now and I’ve never heard even a single sound from you. I, um, I…” She didn’t know how to proceed. Embarrassment colored her cheeks.

  “It’s all right,” Adora said, her soft voice just carrying over the sound of the running water.

  “I mean, if you’re shy, I understand. I don’t want to force you to talk to me if it makes you uncomfortable.” In desperation, Lissa picked up a dishtowel and furiously dried the first dish Adora set in the drainer.

  “I’m not shy. Nor could you force me to do anything I don’t want to do.” There was fierceness to the statement that stopped Lissa cold. The tone of Adora’s voice belied the image of the silent icon Lissa had perceived her to be.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you.” Lissa finished drying the plate and reached for a second one, mentally vowing to keep her mouth shut lest her thoughtlessness get her into any further trouble.

  “You didn’t offend me.” Adora’s tone softened. “You reall
y don’t know what’s going on here, do you?”

  Lissa frowned. “I won’t pretend I understand what kind of a relationship you have with…Master Richard.” She spat the name out as if it left a bad taste in her mouth, even as her tongue wished to caress the words. “It’s really none of my business.”

  Adora smiled but Lissa caught just a glimpse of pity in her eyes before the woman turned back to the dishes. “It will be your business before the evening is done. Mark my words.”

  “Why? How? Adora, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Don’t you? I’ve seen the way you look at my husband.”

  Lissa stepped backward. How had Adora seen? She blinked several times as her mind ran back through the events of the evening. Had she slipped somehow? Let a glance linger a bit too long? When had her mask dropped? “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Oh?”

  Adora’s nonchalance was beginning to fray Lissa’s nerves. “No, I don’t. I know he’s your husband, but I find him a bit overbearing, bossy, and…and…”

  “Handsome?”

  Lissa didn’t answer.

  “Sexy?”

  Lissa turned her back on the woman.

  “Alluring?”

  Her nails dug into the back of the kitchen chair she clung to for support. Adora came up to her from behind, leaning in to whisper in her ear. “You want him to command you, even as you deny it.”

  Lissa shook her head. “No. No, I don’t.” Her voice was barely a whisper.

  “You do. You want to be with him as much as your husband wants to be with me.”

  Lissa spun to face the woman. “You’re seducing him. Just as…he…is trying to seduce me.”

  “Yes. You do understand.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you both want to be seduced.”

  It was true. Lissa knew it. She did want Master Richard to seduce her, to talk her into his arms, just as she knew David would fall into Adora’s arms if he knew Lissa wouldn’t care. The damp dishtowel fell from her numb hands, unnoticed.

  “Does it help you to know that Richard and I want the two of you as much as you want us?”

  Lissa stared at the woman. “Why?”

  “Because neither of us can give the other what is needed in the bedroom. Richard requires total and complete control, and so do I. We are both what are called ‘dominants.’ Do you know that word?”

  Lissa nodded, and sank into the chair. “Pardon me, but I think I need to sit down. This is a bit much for me.”

  Adora nodded kindly, pulling out the chair beside her. With a gentle touch, she lifted Lissa’s hand to hold in her own.

  “I’ve handled this badly, I see that now. Perhaps I shouldn’t have played the silent seductress role so long.”

  “It’s an act?”

  “Not really.” Adora shrugged and tossed her blond tresses over her shoulder. “In meeting new people, I tend toward shyness, believe it or not. I have no talent whatsoever for small talk and tend to be much more forthright than society likes. So Richard and I play this game if we meet a couple we want to know better, he does the talking while I remain silent.”

  “And ensnare your victims.”

  Adora’s laugh, genuine and hearty, melted a little of the ice wall Lissa had slammed up at the beginning of this conversation. Were she and David simply trophies, notches in the bedpost?

  “When we went to dinner the other night, it was pure serendipitous chance that led us to your table. With a look, I let Richard know I wanted to play the game; your husband’s reaction to me was most…pleasant.”

  “I’m sure it was. He was gawking like a teenage boy.”

  “The bulge in his pants certainly did not belong to a teenager. And I suspect you reaped the benefits of my work later that night?”

  Lissa colored, remembering the best sex she’d had in years.

  “I see I have hit the truth. Let me see if I can hit another one.” Adora leaned forward and brushed a lock of hair from Lissa’s face, putting her fingers under Lissa’s chin and raising her face to look her in the eye. “You long for a man who can tame you. Inside you is a wild spirit that runs rampant over your heart. The man you married has captured your heart, but not this one part of your spirit. Am I right so far?”

  The woman saw the truth; Lissa could only nod, not trusting her voice.

  “But you are also afraid. It is not a part of you that can be wrenched away by force, but a part of you that you will freely give to the man who can conquer you. And that terrifies you. For if you find a man who can tame that wild mare inside, then you shall be fully taken. There will be no part of you unclaimed by a man. Your entire being will belong to others.”

  Even as she heard the words spoken, Lissa’s heart leapt and her body became aroused. This was exactly her desire—and her fear. Numb, she nodded again, unshed tears forming in her eyes.

  “I may have Roma blood that flows in my veins, but I cannot foretell the future. No one really can.” Adora let go of Lissa’s hands and pulled away, breaking the moment. “If Richard is that man, I don’t know. But I know you want to find out.”

  * * * * *

  The four of them met again in the exotic living room, but no one made a move to sit down. Richard and Adora had given David and Lissa much to think about and to discuss. David found himself eyeing his hostess in a new light; Richard had explained her dominance, and the fact that he suspected it wasn’t real. She only lacked the right man to bring out her submissive nature. Was he that man? Or would she eat him alive as she had others, by Richard’s telling?

  Lissa’s glances from under her lashes were speculative as well. Did she have the courage to let this giant Roma king see the “wild mare” Adora alluded to? She would not be the first submissive he had taken on; Adora had told her there had been a few others, some successful, some not. From what Adora didn’t say, Lissa knew her hostess was one of the failures, no matter how much they loved each other.

  The leave taking was swift as there was little left to talk about. Small talk had somehow become just that—small. Taking their leave, David and Lissa walked the short distance to the car, got in, and drove home in silence.

  After a few years of marriage, partners know when the other needs time to think, and both David and Lissa recognized that in the other. While David speculated about what Adora told Lissa behind that swinging door, Lissa wondered if Master Richard told David he wanted to subjugate Lissa. Occupied so much with their private thoughts, the two arrived at home, prepared for bed and slid under the covers. In the darkness, the pillow talk brought out their concerns.

  Lissa began. “You know Adora’s trying to seduce you.”

  David countered. “And Richard intends to seduce you.”

  The two lay on their backs, staring up at the ceiling, only the sides of their bodies touching. Lissa took a deep breath and plunged in. “I guess then, the question is, ‘Do we want to let them?’”

  “What would it mean to us, if we did? I love you, Lissa, and I don’t want to lose you.” He rolled to his side and faced his wife, but still did not reach out to her.

  “I love you, too, David. You are the man I want to spend the rest of my life with.” She too, rolled to face him, her hand on his cheek. Muted light from the street lamps outside gave her enough light to see his face, but not read it.

  “He thinks he can tame you.”

  She grinned. “Oh, he does, does he? He just might find out I’m not such a pushover as he thinks I am!”

  “But you want that, don’t you? You want to find someone who can push you into that submissiveness.”

  “Yes.” For the first time in a long time, she was totally honest with her husband. Tonight there could be nothing less than that.

  “And I love you too much to take you that way. I just can’t do it, Lissa.”

  “I know that, David.” Her heart went out to her husband. He had tried. He really had. But it just wasn’t him. She snuggled closer
and nuzzled her nose under his chin, getting comfortable in his arms. “It’s all right. You tried. That means a lot to me.”

  “But it would mean more if I allowed that side of you to express itself in the manner it needs expressing.” He cuddled his wife the way he so enjoyed; her skin soft under his hands.

  She pulled away a bit to try and fathom what was in his eyes, but it was too dark. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, if you want to be with Richard for sex, I think it would be all right with me.”

  There it was. Permission granted. But she knew the catch; she had to agree that he could “play” with Adora. Still David’s phrasing gave her pause. “You think? Sounds as if you’re still not sure.”

  “I’m not. I want you to be happy, Lissa. And I know this one part of our marriage is not happy. For either of us.”

  “So you want me to give you permission to fuck Adora.”

  “Lissa!”

  She giggled. Using such language was not something she usually did. Although she had to admit, the somewhat dirty word turned her on. As did the thought of sharing her husband.

  “I want you to be happy as well, David. And I think you might find Adora a bit, well, a bit of a challenge. She’s not the meek and mild woman I think you’re expecting to find.”

  “I know that.”

  “How? She hasn’t said a word to you!”

  “Richard told me he cannot tame her because he loves her too much, that she has a very independent spirit. And her eyes speak volumes, even when her voice says nothing.”

  “She’s a dominant, David. Do you know what that means?”

  David laughed. “Yes, my dear heart, I do. I’ve been trying to be one for you, remember?”

  Lissa sat up on one arm. “David, are you telling me you are submissive?” She wasn’t sure how she felt about that. David was her equal in all things, but she wasn’t sure she wanted him equal in this. Somehow she needed him to be stronger than her in something.

  “No, I am not submissive. I’ve also read about that. I know this is hard for you to understand, but I think I am dominant…just not with you.”