by J. C. Cliff
I don’t know what to say about Nick’s statement, so I turn my gaze away from the onlookers and take in the grandeur of the room. Soft music is playing in the background as I view the architecture of the high ceilings, something Adam and I always did together. I feel a pang in my chest just thinking about Adam, and I die a little on the inside, especially knowing I have to tamp those memories back down, locking them away in order to focus on surviving this evening.
I distract myself by looking at the oversized chandeliers above, and watch the light as it twinkles, reflecting off the large pieces of crystal. I then drop my gaze to the magnificent custom-made window treatments, which adorn the large windows before me, and my heart beats wildly just from the mere thought of having a peek at the outside world; perhaps I’ll see a tree. God, I’m going to go insane. I can feel it. A fresh waft of mixed colognes, perfumes, and foods assault my senses. The ambiance has been successfully tailored for romance and candlelight, and I feel everything but those things.
Nick guides us to a quaint little table for two, and it’s situated to provide us both a view of the entire room. He lets go of my arm and pulls out an ornate chair for me to sit in. I carefully slide my hand down, over the back side of my silky dress to avoid potential wrinkles when I sit down. Nick then scoots me forward in the chair so that I am close to the table’s edge.
A bird of paradise centerpiece adorns the table with a few lit candles surrounding the display. This evening has been prepared with painstaking detail to exude refinement, mystery, and charm. I can almost pretend I’m on a romantic date at an expensive resort, but the problem is I know what goes on behind these closed doors.
It’s as if I’m at ‘The Hotel California,’ and I find myself humming the lyrics to the Eagles’ song inside my head. I’m still surveying my surroundings, looking for the beast being stabbed with their steely knives, when Nick grabs my attention by kissing the back of my hand. He’s acting all gentleman-like as I gaze up into his eyes, and he smiles at me warmly. My nerves have started to settle slightly, especially now that we are among others, and I allow myself to be enchanted by the glam and glitter of the evening.
Nick sits down beside me, and he almost takes my breath away. He looks absolutely stunning. Even though he’s a handsome devil, I know he carries a big, red pitchfork. His persona screams debonair and suave, and his suit hugs his broad shoulders perfectly. He seems unequivocally radiant and contented, and his brown and gold-flecked eyes gleam with happiness.
A waiter appears, interrupting my perusal of Nick. “Excuse me, sir. May I get your usual for you and a glass of wine for the lady?”
“Yes, thank you,” Nick replies. Concerned my acting skills may falter at some point, I grow nervous again. I hate this paranoia. I curse myself again for not taking at least one dose of Blyss today, just so I could be able to get through this evening without foible. Nick gently lifts my chin, garnering my attention. “What are you thinking about, love?”
I steal a deep breath and think to myself, the show must go on. My lips curve into a small smile and I flirtatiously flutter my lashes. “Do you come here often?”
Nick smiles with mild amusement, his eyes twinkling. “Yes, you could say that.”
I don’t bother asking what type of wine he’s ordered. I’m sure I wouldn't know the difference between a ten dollar bottle of wine and an eighty dollar one anyway. I rarely drink, let alone indulge myself with expensive wine. “I also see you have a group of fans,” I comment as I wave my hand around the large room. “Every woman here seems to be eyeing you up and down, like you’re a famous rock star.” Why couldn’t you have taken one of those women instead of me?
His grin broadens. “You seem surprised.”
“What, the fact women find you attractive?” I shrug. “I won’t sit here and lie to you, Nick. You are a very good-looking man. I’m sure you could have any woman you want with the snap of your fingers.”
“Yes, well, you will never have to worry about other women. I’ve had a lifetime of them, biding my time until the very day I could finally have you.” He leans in closer, all playfulness pushed aside. “You are the only woman I want to come to me with the snap of my fingers,” he pauses, arching a brow, “and you are the first woman who’s wanted to tell me no.”
The way he’s looking at me, pinning me down with his heated stare, I can feel the apples of my cheeks warm. So much is riding on my acting abilities, namely my ass as I pretend to like this man and try building some sort of alliance with him. My eyes leave his to study my hands as they rest in my lap. I bite my bottom lip, trying to pull it together.
“Are you nervous, sweetheart?”
I look back to him through my lashes and play off his question by shaking my head. “No, I’m happy to be here with you; I just haven’t slept well for the past few nights.”
Nick frowns, then reaches over onto my lap and slips his fingers through mine, forcing me to hold his hand. His mystifying brown eyes dance over mine with pure sincerity. “Julianna, you are everything I’ve ever wanted and more. I’ve already told you this; you need to believe it. You will never have to worry about my fidelity.” Then his eyes narrow, taking on a certain hunger as he caresses the back of my hand. “I’ve waited for you for far too long. It’s simply not possible for me to ever get my fill of you.”
I smile politely, and humbly ask, “How can you say that? You don’t really even know me.” He doesn’t know me, at all. He can’t read my next move, my next thought in any given circumstance. Adam knew me so well he had an uncanny ability to know what I was going to say before I even said it. If Nick really knew me, he’d know it’s taking all of my self-control at this very moment not to scratch his eyes out.
“Oh, sweetheart, I know more than you think I do.” He leans forward as if he’s either going to say something more or kiss me, and my pulse spikes with anxiety. Thank goodness the waiter comes in from behind, his arm coming between us to place a wine glass on the table. I exhale a silent sigh of relief.
“Excuse me, sir.” The magic is broken for Nick as he leans back in his chair, making room for the waiter. He opens a bottle of white wine and pours a small amount into a glass for Nick to taste. I watch as he swirls and sniffs the wine, then takes a small sip as he holds the liquid on his tongue before he swallows. The waiter stands at the ready, waiting patiently for Nick’s stamp of approval. I have never understood this whole pre-tasting wine business. Has anyone ever tasted rancid wine, or sent back a brand new bottle? To me, it just seems like hoity-toity formalities, but what do I know? I’m just a twenty-one-year-old college student, not a wine connoisseur.
After Nick swallows, he nods in approval for the waiter to pour me a glass. Thank the Lord the waiter fills the glass full, because I could use some liquid courage right about now.
I glance at the label on the chilled bottle, and tilt my head, trying to read its name. The only thing I can decipher in the complex title is the word Extravagant, everything else is written in scripted French.
“I took the liberty of ordering a wine I thought you might like. I hope you don’t mind.”
I look at Nick, and falsely smile. “No, of course I don’t mind. Thank you.” I plan on guzzling half its contents the second I know no one is looking. The waiter smiles at me and proceeds to place a glass of amber liquid in front of Nick.
“So, what’s the special occasion?”
“Once a month, we hold a formal dinner party. This has always been routine for me until this evening.” I raise the glass of wine to my lips, and suddenly, I find two masculine fingertips come into view, touching the rim on the other side of my wineglass, preventing me from partaking. “Uh-uh, my love. How about a celebratory toast first?”
I lower my glass and ask. “What are we toasting to?”
“New beginnings.” He gives me a knowing grin and winks.
“Oh,” I simply state while I perilously teeter on the edge of a dangerous precipice. I pray I can continue to keep it together an
d not toss my wine in his face.
Nick takes my hand in his and leans forward so only I can hear what he’s going to say. “When I first laid eyes on you, you took my breath away; you captured my soul.” His eyes hold conviction as he shakes his head. “I knew I had to have you the minute I saw you. I realized in an instant I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you, but I had to wait. I wanted the rest of my life to start seven years ago, but I am looking forward to playing catch up. You will never regret us, Julianna.” His last words are a whisper as he closes the distance between us. My heart pounds in my chest as his lips tenderly press against mine in a very slow, endearing kiss. When he pulls away, his eyes sparkle and a contented smile warms his face as my lungs constrict with lack of oxygen.
Nick picks up his glass of amber liquid and clinks it against the top of my wine glass gently, and then I bring my soon-to-be empty crystal-ware to my lips without haste. Politely, I take a sip and force a smile of approval, one of which I don’t feel. I don’t even have the desire to know when the first glance took place; it’s all a moot point anyway, plus kinda creepy if it was seven years ago. “That was very lovely, Nick.” Surprisingly, the lie slips from between my lips with ease.
“I’m glad you approve,” he says with a wry grin. “I meant every word.”
I take a large sip of wine this time, then glance around the room, avoiding further conversation on the matter of our future. Changing the subject, I ask, “This is rather extravagant isn’t it, I mean, for a once a month soiree?”
I can feel Nick’s eyes boring into me as he speaks. “You haven’t seen anything yet, Julianna. There is nothing too extravagant for you. I want to spoil you with so many things.”
Oh, God. My mouth goes dry and I think I’m going into A-Fib. Turning my focus back to my wine glass, I consume yet another mouthful. This is too damn weird. He’s pouring it on thick, and I don’t know what his game is. At least he’s calling me ‘my love’ more than he is ‘my princess’. I’m going to have to scratch the idea of pretending I’m in a fairytale and tap into something deeper. Meaning: more wine.
Nick clasps his hand over mine, trapping my hand around the length of the stemware in the process. “Slow down, we have all night. I don’t want you to get sick.”
Did he just say sick? What a wonderful idea! How can I make myself puke? Can I conjure up a sudden illness? Stomach cramps, maybe? Works every time for females, but I’m sure Nick already knows when my period starts.
“You are nervous, aren’t you?” Nick shakes his head in admonishment. “If there is one lesson for you to learn, Julianna, it would be to never hide the truth from me.”
Yes, I admit it; I am nervous. I’m afraid my motor-mouth will override my acting skills and cause a serious altercation, but I’ll let him think I’m nervous about something else entirely as I skirt along the truth. “Yes, I am nervous,” I admit to him. “I’m afraid I am going to do or say something wrong to upset you, and after my episode last week, I just want our evening to go smoothly.” Even though I just lied, it was the truth. I don’t want any trouble tonight, especially of the whipping kind.
Nick gives me a most genuine smile as I tell him what he wants to hear. Removing his hand from mine, his fingers gently rest under my chin and tilt my head back to capture my lips in a light kiss. His tongue skims along the outside of my bottom lip and my lower belly flutters. I wind up asking myself again. With all the beautiful women in the world, why did he have to choose me? When I open my eyes, my stomach flips again as I’m met with the most intense bedroom eyes I’ve ever seen.
“Julianna, last week you were upset; you were still adjusting to your new lifestyle and the Blyss. Your lashing out was to be expected,” he whispers as his mouth hovers over mine. “I don’t hold you accountable for the past two weeks, so put your mind at rest.” He tilts his head to the side, pausing to regard me. “I’ve wiped the slate clean, better now?”
I nod, then think of Travis and his instructions of avoiding future wrath by remembering what these men like to hear. I look him square in the eyes and whisper, “Yes, Sir.” And with my simple statement, you would’ve thought I gave the man a winning lottery ticket. He’s literally glowing with self-pride. His upper lip twitches in what could only be a display of feral lust and a stroked ego. Please, don’t devour me.
I haven’t had enough to drink yet to be able to deal with him. His calloused fingertips move from my chin, and he begins to caress the side of my face with tender strokes. Fifty percent of me wants to pull away from his touch, and the other fifty wants his continued soft ministrations and doting. I must’ve been isolated for far too long. I’m starved for human contact and affection; it’s the only explanation I can come up with.
“You surprise me at every turn, you know? You have made me one happy man this evening, my love. I will make sure you will never want for anything. You’ll always have whatever it is your heart desires, as long as you stay faithful to me.”
“Be careful with that statement, Nick. I can be rather expensive,” I lightly tease while giving him a timid smile. His stare is heated and I find myself averting my eyes back to the rapidly depleting glass of wine in my hand and shift uncomfortably in my seat.
“I can afford it. I told you from the beginning—I take care of what’s mine.” From the way he’s looking at me, I’m going to need to sneak in more alcohol; three more bottles should suffice. “I almost feel like you’re really mine, truly wanting this, wanting us. Tell me you’re feeling this,” he pleads as his soft brown eyes search mine. “Tell me I’m not dreaming.”
I take one last sip of wine, and the first glass is gone. He shakes his head in adulation, ignoring the fact I just drank the entire contents in four swallows. I’m going to have to learn how to lie, and I’m a terrible liar. I hate lies, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
Nick begins to thread his fingers through the back of my hair, and I remember what these men do with my head when I’m not supposed to avoid eye contact, so I look up immediately, giving him my full attention. “I’m sorry, Nick. There is no denying you have a certain magnetism about you, and perhaps with a little more time, once I get to know you better on a deeper level, I will be able to reciprocate your feelings.” I swallow hard, hoping my answer is sufficient enough for him. “Just please be patient with me. This is all so new to me. I’ve spent the better part of two weeks underground, and I’m not sure how I feel about anything at the moment.” It looks as if I have a talent for spouting out half-lies convincingly, because he seems to buy it.
Nick lets out a huge sigh and shakes his head. “Baby, I love your honesty and your sweetness. I will always reward honesty.” Umm, I don’t think he will, not if I told him what I was really thinking right now. He leans back in his chair and rubs at the back of his neck. “What was I thinking? I keep thinking you’ve known me for as long as I’ve known you. You’ve only met me briefly.” He pauses in thought. “Three times, as a matter of fact. You’re not like any of the other women I’ve had before, who bend so easily to my will. You’re right; it’s too much to expect of you in such a short period of time.”
The waiter catches my eye as he moves toward our table. This is awesome. My glass hasn’t been empty but for a couple of minutes, and hopefully he’s here to fill it back up. I think he’s going to ask me if I would like another, but my hopes are deflated when he ignores me and speaks directly to Nick. “Sir, would you care for a refill, and for your lady?”
Really? Ugh. I’m so desperate for another, I try my hand at giving him my famous puppy-dog eyes, the same ones I would give Jake growing up, cajoling him into popcorn and a movie late at night. I silently beg Nick to let me have some more. If not, I might excuse myself to the ladies room, look for an unsuspecting fool, swipe their glass right out from under their nose, and then I’d swig it all down before they even knew what was happening.
“Dear, do you think you could manage to sip this one slowly and savor it? Not guzzle it as if you
were at one of your sorority parties?” he asks and I blush, averting my gaze to the lit candles on the table. Asshole. I hear him chuckling at me. “Yes, one more glass will be fine for the lady, thank you.”
My wine glass is refilled without pause, and I watch Nick’s movements from the corner of my eye. His large, masculine hand holds his amber drink, and as he swirls his glass, the ice clanks against the sides of the tumbler. He tilts his head back, taking a healthy sip, and I realize his gaze has never strayed from mine.
Nick has been nothing short of a gentleman the entire evening. He’s been attentive, magnetic, charming, and most important of all, in good spirits. He has worked hard to put me at ease all evening, when he didn’t have to. I find myself thinking back to Jared’s words, ‘You can catch more flies with honey,’ and I believe the man is right. I have been doing my damnedest tonight, spoon-feeding him honey, and it’s worked wonders so far. I smile at the thought, and Nick thinks I’m smiling at him.
I study Nick as I think about my situation. Given time, and if I were to take Blyss, I believe I’d eventually be able to come to terms with my circumstances, but right now, I still have too much fight in me. Yes, I would definitely need to take Blyss to cope with being a captive here. There is just something I haven’t been able to pinpoint about Nick that keeps me on edge. It has yet to be illuminated; I can’t quite put my finger on it.
