As I sat down a rotund shaped maître d’ appeared, “Ahh senor Elon what a pleasure it is to serve you once more and what is this? You have brought a gem of the finest quality to grace our humble abode.” The man said, as he melodramatically bowed toward Zora.
“You do our humble establishment too great an honor to grace it with your unsurpassed beauty!” The maître d’ infused out further in what appeared to be genuine sentiment.
Zora blushed with pleasure at the man’s platitudes to her beauty as her dark eyes sparkled like chocolate diamonds surrounded by veins of smoky quartz.
The maître d’ straightened and turned to me, “Perhaps being familiar with what we have to offer you would perhaps know best what’s your lady would desire, yes?”
Before I could speak Zora said, “I know what I want. Do you have spaghetti?”
“We do! It is one of our finest entrées! And for you Sir?”
Again before I could speak Zora cut in, “We’ll share. You don’t mind sharing with me Elon do you?” She asked provocatively and I hesitated from saying anything completely overwhelmed by the sheer weight of her erotic appeal.
Spaghetti wasn’t my thing, but there was something else going on here. “Spaghetti it is Marco.” I said never taking my eyes off of Zora.
Marco backed away from the table his eyes sparkling as they flipped back and forth between us.
I had thought to carry on a pleasant dinner conversation, but words didn’t come. We just stared at each other.
The predatory light was back in her eyes and I felt deliciously out of any element that I had ever been comfortable in before. She was seducing me and I was enjoying every moment of it.
The spaghetti came with a flourish, along with wine. The spaghetti was all on one plate and Marco left too quickly for me to ask for another.
I glanced up from the spaghetti at Zora, “I guess we’ll have to scooch a little closer to each other.”
My eyebrows rose, as instead of answering she got to her feet. Her face was temptation itself.
She walked around the table toward me dragging a finger on the checkered tablecloth as she came. Reaching me she turned and sat sideways across my lap.
Her left arm drifted along the top of my shoulder as her fingers speared into the hair at the back of my head in a caressing fashion.
She turned her head to the side and picked up the fork on the plate and began to twirl the spaghetti around it slowly. Lifting the fork she brought it to my mouth and pressed it against my lips. Eating was the last thing on my mind, but dutifully I opened up and chewed what I had been given.
She watched my lips for a long moment and then her eyes rose to mine as she held the fork up, “I’m hungry Elon. Would you?” Her lips fell open and my heart started beating a double rhythm.
I took the fork and twirled it in the spaghetti as she had done and then I watched her pull the bite off the fork. I watched her mouth move, to paralyzed to do anything else, but enjoy the movement of her beautiful face in motion.
She recaptured the fork from my loose grasp and soon had another bite before my mouth. I accepted it, but it was a messy bite.
She set the fork down and wiped the sauce off my cheek with one finger. I swallowed my food too spellbound to chew it any longer. She brought her finger to her mouth and slowly sucked it clean.
This woman had driven me up the wall and down the other side and I just couldn’t take it any longer. My fingers speared into her hair and I held her head for my kiss, even as her hands held my head to hers with equal passion.
This had not been how I had imagined our first kiss going. It was far hotter, because she had made the effort to make it so and I loved her for it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The old cook came trundling out from the kitchen her bulk matching that of her husband the maître d’. Her tired eyes found her husband leaning on the counter his double chin propped up by both of his folded hands, as his face bore a sappy grin as he stared outward at the tables in the arbor.
Her gaze followed his and her eyes lit up in shock at the sight of the couple seated together who were busy kissing each other’s faces off. She turned in continued shock to her husband, “Marco! What did you put in my sauce?”
Marco came unglued from the counter and wiggled his bushy eyebrows at her before pulling her close, “Only the magic of love my pet. It goes something like this!” He finished as his lips smacked onto hers.
She giggled and pushed away smacking him on the butt and he responded in kind with a grin. Both of them then turned and leaned on the counter in companionship, as they watched the young couple lost to the world in each other arms continue to kiss.
The sight reminded the old couple of when they had been young and first in love with each other. Those had been good days and they enjoyed seeing someone else enjoy what they had and still did.
Chapter Ten
Fantasy Interrupted
It was 8:30 and I was ready to go, but Zora hadn’t materialized from her part of the suite yet.
My eyes closed as I leaned up against the wall by the door and remembered our dinner together. To be truthful I hadn’t really eaten much, but instead of being hungry for food I found myself hungry to experience more intimacy with her.
I groaned in frustration. I had four plus hours of dancing ahead of me and all I wanted to do was throw my wife on the bed and discover everything there was to know about her.
‘Patience and time. Time and patience.’
I smiled, as I remembered the words of the old Russian General long since faded from the active consciousness of the world for his significance in being a part of the historic events that shaped history during the Napoleonic era.
During the time of Napoleon, Emperor of France, Russia had been a world power and a threat to Napoleon’s uncontested rule over all of Europe. In direct response to that threat Napoleon had marshaled an army and invaded Russia.
He’d destroyed the Russians first attempts to stop the invasion in brutal military fashion. The Russians had enacted a new strategy against the stronger and better disciplined French army. They had retreated back into the vastness of Russia, only fighting light engagements and never committing the bulk of the remaining army left over from their earlier defeats.
It had been a plan that had called for a lot of patience on the part of the Russians, as they saw their country burned and pillaged by the French. They had even sacrificed Moscow to the French, as they let time go by.
Then the time came for patience to be at an end. The Russians with their continual retreat had lured Napoleon over a thousand miles into Russia. The harsh Russian winter hit and the French were not prepared for it.
Out of food and supplies Napoleon had no choice but to either retreat from Russia or starve to death in Moscow. He chose to leave Russia. His army starving, disorganized and strung out on the march had no chance when the better winter conditioned Russian troops closed in for the kill.
Napoleon lost his entire army and was never as strong again. When he abdicated and went into exile the first time it was largely because the Russian Cossack Calvary were pressing their way into France from the East ahead of the Prussians and British coming in from the West.
The thought of what the vengeance of the Russian Cossacks would be if they gained control of Paris was an unconscionable thought for any Frenchman including Napoleon. Napoleon had burned Moscow and in retribution it was clear that Paris would receive the same treatment at the hands of the Russians.
I had fought against Napoleon and his tyrannical reign. I had fought in so many wars through the years.
I had killed so many.
I liked to think that I had saved more by my actions than I had killed, but I wasn’t sure.
I heard the click of a door opening and all thoughts of war and the past left me, as I stepped away from the wall in speechless awe as Zora came walking towards me smiling.
Her dress was of a light violet color in-seamed with silver highligh
ts that set off her smooth brown skin to perfection. Her black curly hair was swept up into an artful array of curls banded together by a silver coil of rope braided within her curly tresses.
Pearl earrings and a pearl necklace although simple in design were classic elegance on her. The makeup behind her eyelids built on the violet and silver color of her dress, even as silver high heels peaked out at the bottom of her dresses hem, her toes bedecked with a silver purple polish as were her fingernails.
Her eyes roamed over me admiringly as she stepped up close and drifted her hands down from my shoulders along my arms to grasp my hands. Her eyes looked into mine as she said, “Ready to take me dancing handsome?”
I really tried to say something. Something to express what I thought of her, but nothing came.
Her fingers touched my lips and her eyes looked moist as she said, “You’ve already said more than words could ever say with just one glimpse into your eyes.” She kissed me sweetly then before looping her arm through mine, as I led her away shaken inside as to the depth of how much God had blessed me to be here right now with this woman.
All I did was stare at her as the elevator lowered to the level of the ballroom floor. The doors opened and a quiet hush fell over the people in the lobby as they gazed in awe at one of God’s finest creations, who somehow I was lucky enough to be next to. I’d never felt so humbled or loved before.
In the awed silence of the ballroom lobby a little girls voice broke the silence loudly, “Is she a princess mommy?”
Zora smiled radiantly down at the awestruck little girl and I stopped and briefly knelt down beside of her. The girls shocked eyes met mine as I said, “She was a princess, but now she is my queen. Save yourself little Princess and someday bless a man by being his queen even now as I am blessed.”
I slipped the carnation from my coat lapel and handed it to her and I could tell I’d made an impression on her young life. I straightened up to see the girl’s mother whisper, “Thank you.” wordlessly as tears fell down her face.
I nodded and reclaimed Zora’s arm and headed for the open ballroom beyond snapping off an orchid bloom the color of Zora’s dress on a nearby display to replace the carnation I had given away.
It was time to dance.
The ball had just begun upon our entrance and I led Zora through the throng, which made a way open before us at the sight of us.
In the middle of the floor I turned and took Zora’s hand lightly, as I brought her against me with my other hand commandingly placed against the small of her back as her other hand settled on my shoulder. The orchestra started and we began to flow with the music never once breaking eye contact with each other.
Her eyes looked wet as she stared at me, as I dipped her in a move of the dance over my arm. I thought projected into her mind, “Don’t you dare cry!”
Her smile widened and she blinked her eyes to get rid of the moisture that had gathered, “Thank you for this so much Elon! You’ve made a dream of mine come true.”
“You’ve given me a new goal to achieve in life Zora.” I said as I twirled her way on one hand.
“And what’s that Elon?”
“To make you ridiculously happy every moment that I’m blessed to share with you.” I said as I pulled her back toward me.
My words were rewarded with a smile that would’ve outdone the sun for brilliance.
We moved on across the floor in the rhythm of the dance when she spoke, “Still I am sorry for your sacrifice.”
Sacrifice?
She had to be joking. I was having the time of my life!
Her knowing eyes rose to mine and she said, “I know you would rather be exploring me in the privacy of a bedroom rather than waltzing me across this dance floor.”
Her directness was astounding, but she spoke the truth. Truth or not I was glad that this moment was happening just the way that it was.
“I can wait. I’m enjoying this almost as much as I think you are.”
I spun her away in one movement only to spin her back into my arms. Her head was turned to me as she pressed back against me and her words though softly spoken, resonated deeply throughout me, “I can’t wait to experience you having your way with me.”
I stifled a groan even as I attempted to keep up with the dance. Soft laughter peeled out of her.
I shook my head as I came to grips with the reality that I was married to a temptress. I wouldn’t have it any other way though.
“You’re beautiful. I mean truly beautiful. There’s nothing about you that does not torment me with desire or enrapture me with emotional intimacy. I’m so glad that after all these years of waiting and yearning that you’re the one that I’m going to experience the passion and creation of life with.”
Her smile this evening had always been radiant, but now her eyes were moist and for a panicked moment I thought I’d make her ruin her makeup. I searched for something to divert her emotions before a tear fell leaving a trail through her makeup.
She swung into me and looking down I saw my opportunity of diversion presented by the soft warm rise of her chest above the lacy edge of her dress.
“You have an amazing pair of breasts.”
A spurt of laughter escaped her and spinning her away I saw her roll her eyes at me. She knew what I was up to, but my plan had worked. The emotional wetness of her eyes was gone replaced now with tempting reproof of my ribald comment.
I shrugged. I wasn’t going to take back what I’d said, because it was the truth.
“I’m so glad that you think I’m…… how to put it….a handful.” She said with a smirk.
I grinned big as I said, “In more ways than just the two I’ve made mention of.” Her eyes narrowed and I laughed at how easily she’d walked into that one.
Her eyes turned calculating and I stopped laughing. She’d be out for revenge now.
I saw the exact moment that a plan emerged by which to enact revenge and I braced myself.
She pressed into me and I almost didn’t hear her whisper, “I have a birthmark.”
I stumbled slightly and her eyes laughed at me even as she drove home her dagger, “It’s very hard to find.”
It was going to be a long three and a half hours.
Chapter Eleven
Love Scars
The door slammed shut behind me and Zora jumped slightly. Easy, calm down, I cautioned myself. This was no time to go scaring her.
I deepened my breathing as I tried to calm down. She fully turned to me and I advanced slowly towards her, “A man couldn’t ask for a better partner than you either on the dance floor or in life’s journey.”
She smiled, “Thank you Elon! Thank you for all of this!” She said as she pulled at her dress and briefly touched the pearls at her neck.
“It is a beautiful dress, but you make it look stunning.”
She glanced down at it and then raised her eyes back up to mine, “It is a very nice dress, but I don’t mind if you rip it off me right now.”
How on Earth was I supposed to stay calm when she kept saying explosive comments like that, but I hadn’t denied myself for so long without some strength of will. I reached out and fingered a strap that slipped over one bare shoulder, “That’s a very tempting offer, but I very much want to see you in this dress again someday. So I’ll take it off gently, but then I’ll rip whatever else you have on off.”
She gave a spurt of nervous laughter and I kissed her laughing lips. My fingers hooked under her straps and I started to pull them down as she obediently stood still before me, when a familiar noise made its way into my passion infused consciousness.
I opened my eyes not breaking the kiss and looked off to the side. My phone was jumping up and down buzzing and flashing red. I crammed my eyes back shut.
No! Not now!
I went on with the kiss, but I couldn’t do it. I broke off the kiss, “I’m sorry.” I said before stepping away to pick up my hated phone.
Phone was a small word for it. My phone
was a veritable supercomputer. It certainly had the capabilities of one.
It had a virtual built in intelligence that continually monitored countless factors and occurrences from all around the world in real time. I used it to keep myself apprised as to the what, why and where of stuff happening around the world that needed my attention.
Alerts were based on priorities and the endangerment of children was one of my highest priorities, which is what this alert was. I set the phone down and walked over and flipped on the TV.
A concerned looking newscaster was blathering away in Italian, “Authorities were notified at 5 PM today by concerned parents wanting to know the whereabouts of their missing children. The children, a class of 35 sixth-graders were on a field trip to the cultural center of the city. They were due back in by 2 PM at the latest, but when they hadn’t showed parents grew restless and tried to contact the group’s leaders, but they got no one to respond. At 7 PM today the school bus was found in a deserted alleyway. The driver had been shot along with one of the activity coordinators for the field trip. The only other adult not accounted for was the children’s teacher. An alert was put out, but no trace of the children has been discovered. At 11:30 PM this evening local authorities received a ransom video from an anarchical group called September Dawn, which has been linked to several government bombings over the past few years. Authorities have not released the ransom video and it is unclear whether or not the demands can be met or to exactly what they are.”
I worked away briefly at my phone, as I bypassed the security parameters of the police in order to upload the ransom video that they had received. A shaky video came up on the screen of my phone, which was focused in on a group of petrified looking children who sat on a dirty looking floor. A masked man held up a large machete and made a swinging motion with it, which had the children pulling together in fear.
A sign was held up in front of the camera that read, “Nine hours, €10 million and the release of the five September Dawn members that you have in prison or we’ll cut a kid’s head off every half hour, until our demands are met or we run out of kids.” The video abruptly ended.
Agent finds a Warrior Page 9