She shook her head no. “You should control yourself. Always eat less than you want, less than you need. To allow yourself to do more than that is to slip into the minds and the habits of the common.”
She had spoken the words as if they had been ingrained into her, something that had to be said when the conversation turned to food.
“Is that what you do, Dee? Do you continually starve yourself, keep yourself on the edge, continually hungry?”
Her lashes had lowered to keep her eyes from meeting his. She had long thick lashes that called out to him, made him want to feel them on his chest when they closed in sleep.
“The kidnapping wasn’t your fault, Dee. You couldn’t have changed it.”
“I was supposed to be staying with her you know, Rena. She wanted me to stay. I even spent a few nights, but she was so happy. Even with everything happening, she was so happy.”
He nodded his head listening to her. They, he and his brothers, had thought that keeping her with her best friend, would ensure her safety. What did they know about human women? Not much.
On his planet, the one he had been created on, it would have worked. Those females instinctively understood a command and obeyed at all cost. On the world his beast originated from, that command would have been heeded.
They, he and his brothers, had miscalculated. They did not understand earth women, but they should have taken the time to understand Dee. She was as important as Rena. He had known that, but couldn’t understand the timing.
On his worlds, either of them, he would not be with a potential mate yet. There was an order. The process would start when the eldest met his match.
Aran was the eldest. Rena was definitely his mate. Next should be Sergey. He was the next to the eldest and would take charge of their family if something ever happened to Aran.
Of course, blood would run in the streets if something happened to Aran.
The scent of their food arriving brought him out of his thoughts.
Chapter Seven
Dee watched the waitress as she brought the food. Niko had made it clear he wanted his food at intervals. She was supposed to start with the two breakfast platters. She had obviously been listening.
The waitress slid both plates on the table in front of Niko, giving him a big smile. Dee had an image of her stiletto through one of the waitresses eyes before she reigned herself in.
“Can I get you a refill on your coffee?”
Niko declined for both of them. They had barely sipped it so far.
“If there is anything else I can do for you, please let me know.”
Dee knew what the woman wanted to do and thoughts of her stilettos invaded her brain again. She really needed to ditch the shoes. They were playing too heavily in her fantasies.
Niko pulled a plate up in front of him and drizzled syrup all over his French toast, making Dee’s stomach rumble in hunger.
Remember, she reminded herself, you don’t need to eat that often. Eating is giving into the hold of addiction.
She consoled herself with thoughts of wearing her beautiful clothes as she watched him chew his food and then swallow it down the strong column of his neck.
She was going to be sick. She wanted to attack him for the food sitting in front of him. He ate too much. How did he stay slim and strong?
He took another bite and she knew she couldn’t sit much longer and be tortured like this.
She watched as he moved his fingers to the second plate. Did he know she was thinking of grabbing it away from him? His fingers caressed the edge of the plate like a lover. All she wanted to do was bite those fingers to get them away from the precious food.
Without raising his eyes he slid that plate over to her. When it was close enough she grabbed it and pulled it to her. She attacked the second set of silverware on the table. Immediately she began cutting, mixing and eating.
She was so hungry, she barely tasted the food. She felt like she had lived on the island of one of those reality shows for way too long.
No words were exchanged as she ate, feeling feral and unable to stop herself. When her meal was consumed, she looked up to see him finishing his.
She should be full, but she wasn’t. Her stomach was looking for something else to devour. ‘Big eyes make for a big belly.’ Her mother’s voice echoed through her head.
Always her mother’s voice, ‘Dee if you want a good life you must sacrifice. Give your man everything. Feed him first. Meet his needs and then if there is anything left, appease your needs. Dee, never expect too much from your man and learn to please yourself after he is asleep.’
She dropped her eyes. What would Niko think of her?
His hand crossed the table, gently caressing the back of her hand. She raised her eyes, wondering why he would touch her after that display of gluttony. Her mom was right. Dee was pitiful.