He set the plate on the table. She put the beer and raita down and waited for him to finish.
“You’ll kneel at my feet. I’ll feed you,” he said. “But first,” he looked her over, “take off the shirt. If I wanted you dressed, I’d have given you clothes.”
One thing at a time, she told herself. “Ok, so let me get this straight.” She folded her arms across her chest and he stood just a little taller. “You expect me to strip naked and kneel at your feet out on your balcony while you feed me dinner?”
He nodded like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“Are you nuts?”
“Careful, Emma,” he said, his expression not amused.
“What if someone sees?” she asked, surprised at her question. She should just be telling him no, shouldn’t she?
“You signed a contract, Emma. You wanted to explore this lifestyle, if I didn’t misunderstand our conversation earlier this weekend. What exactly is the problem?”
She looked at him, blinked several times then turned away. She stripped off her shirt while he situated himself at the table and pointed to a spot by his feet. She knelt slowly, feeling the tightness of the skin of her buttocks and thighs along the way. She found she had to kneel up rather than resting on her heels; it was the only way she could stand it.
“Good girl,” he said, spooning raita over the rice. “Put your hands behind your back.”
He opened one bottle of beer and brought it to her mouth. She leaned her head back and sipped. He drank from the same bottle, then set it down. Taking a forkful of curry, he held it out for her. She opened her mouth and took it, closing her eyes while her taste buds worked.
“Mmmm.”
Luke smiled. “She’s a hell of a cook. Makes up for her big mouth,” he said, but even through his remark, she could see his affection for Louisa.
“I thought she was nice. Wait,” she said, looking at him. “Are we just talking now, I mean, can we, while we eat?”
“That’s fine,” he said. He took a bite and served her another.
“What were you talking about on the phone?” she asked. “You seemed agitated.”
“None of your business,” he said with a teasing undertone, but she knew it was more serious than he let on.
“It wasn’t your business to call my brother either,” she said.
He considered. “It’s complicated,” he said.
“I’m sure I can handle it. And besides, you know more about me than anyone else. I want to help you like you wanted to help me.”
“Don’t feed me my own words, Emma. Anyway, I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Who’s Evelyn?”
“My aunt.”
“Oh,” she said, taken aback.
“What were you expecting?”
“I don’t know.”
He raised his eyebrows.
“I suppose I assumed you were talking with another woman. A girlfriend or something.”
“You’re very suspicious.”
“It’s not that. I trust you, actually. I believe that your intentions are good.” She did. “Maybe it’s because you and my brother are friends or that you know so much about what happened with me. I don’t know, Luke, but I trust you. Now let me help you. What were you so agitated about talking to your aunt?”
He studied her for a long time, as if battling over what to do. “Emma, it’s not something I want to talk about.”
“What, don’t you trust me?” she asked, more as a joke at first.
“It’s not that.”
When he didn’t elaborate, she shook her head. “It’s exactly that,” she said. “What, do you think I’m going to judge you? I don’t understand, Luke. You buy my contract for a pretty penny, then you chase me halfway across the country when I run. I’ve done things with you I never in my life thought I’d do. Now you’ve got me here, in your house, kneeling at your feet and calling you Master. I’m not sure how much more there needs to be before you can trust me. If this is going to work…”
He cut her off. “If what’s going to work?” He set his fork down and turned to her. He was angry. It was a controlled, cold rage.
She shuddered at his abrupt remark but didn’t back down. She’d push him; if he wasn’t brave enough, she’d have enough courage for both of them. “You want to see me, right?” Her own anger matched his.
His lips tightened, but he nodded once.
“Well, that goes both ways. I want to see you too.” She decided to take a chance. She rose from the floor, slid into a chair, and winced. “I know what I said the other day. I remember. And I think you do too.”