I wasn’t going to share any of this with her of course, why would I? it was my job to protect her and protect her I will.
Anyone who saw us here tonight will know some of what she means to me. In a few weeks there will be no question, but this will have to do for now.
All eyes were on us as we were led to our prime table in an ideal spot that made us visible to most of the room. I’m not usually an exhibitionist, but the situation called for it.
After I’d been given the heads-up about the rumor mill I’d done some homework.
I knew that Drusilla Peters, who was the gossip rag maven, was dining here tonight. The woman has been on my ass for an exclusive ever since I moved back to the city.
I didn’t plan on giving her one, but I knew everything I did here tonight would be in the paper tomorrow, not to mention making the rounds at whatever galas and soirees were on the agenda for the coming season.
It was too bad that the situation with Josh had cropped up in the middle of all that mess, yet another distraction.
I wasn’t too worried about him though, or about Marion come to think of it. I had what I wanted Marion could go fuck herself. But it was what she could do to Gabriella that bothered me; the damage of a few well placed lies.
I removed the mink stole that I had thrown over her shoulders just before we left the house, and seated her instead of letting the maître d’ do it.
Making sure to run my fingers sensually across her shoulders before taking my own seat next to instead of across from her.
I ordered a bottle of the best white they had on offer and smiled when she told me she’d never had any before. “It’s okay love, a glass or two with dinner won’t hurt.” And I was sure they wouldn’t dare card her as long as she was with me.
“You look very grown up and very beautiful tonight.” Again the blush came out and I was happy to see the light shining in her eyes.
I’m sure the day and the evening must be a bit confusing to her. First I all but dragged her out of the shoot, then introduced her to things I’m sure she’d never experienced, and now here we were having dinner together in this place.
And my anger had been assuaged completely, so I was more at ease.
I guess the fact that I was now sure she hadn’t been flirting with the other man went a long way to easing whatever anger I’d had working there. And her response to having my hands on her did the rest.
I ordered for the both of us, which seemed to please her immensely and I delighted once again in the fact that she was a natural.
I fawned all over her as the evening drew on and we enjoyed a nice light conversation about some of the capers her and her siblings had gotten up to, to break up the monotony of farm life.
It was in the midst of one of these tales while we were both laughing at the picture she’d drawn with her words that Drusilla finally came over.
I’d been wondering how long it was going to take her. I knew her curiosity would overcome any sense of propriety sooner or later.
“Well good evening dear Callan, fancy seeing you here this evening.” Her words were for me, but her eyes were directed at Gabriella. My sarcastic smile hid much and revealed little.
“Hello Drusilla, always a pleasure. Kitten this is Drusilla Peters, Drusilla, Gabriella; she’s mine.”
The look of surprise that fell across the older woman’s face was priceless, but although I could see the questions in her eyes she kept them behind her teeth.
Because I’d taken Kitten’s hand at the other woman’s approach I felt the jolt of surprise that went through her as well, though I chose to ignore it for now.
We had plenty of time for her to come to terms with her new role in life. After she’d read the contract I’d had drawn up for her there would be no questions and no doubts as to what she meant to me and what I expected from her.
“Well don’t let me keep you, I just wanted to say hi; it was a pleasure to meet you Gabriella.” The smile was genuine if a little questioning.
There, the first seed of doubt planted. Kitten’s natural charm and sweetness had shone through in the sparse three minutes Drusilla had been at our table.
Now Drusilla must reconcile this sweet young girl with the vile bitch she’d no doubt heard about thanks to Marion and her shit.
My job was done and I was ready to go, I planned on to draw her out more tonight, testing her responses to some of my seedier desires. “Come Kitten I want to be alone with you.
There was so much I could do as part of her training besides taking her down somewhere and fucking the shit out of her the way I kept envisioning.
Back in the car again I kept it light, just holding her hand this time with no repeat of the shared kiss. She peeked at me from the corner of her eye as I felt the pulse racing in her wrist.