Max laughs. ‘I guess not…it took me years to find him. He is the only chef I have ever met who shares my love of the extraordinary. Life is short, and I believe everyone should live every day as if it is their last. We should be seeking the ultimate in sensation, thrills and excitement.’
‘In food, you mean?’
‘Certainly in food. After all, we are what we eat. We cannot expect to live life to the full unless we fuel our bodies with the very best sources of energy. But I mean in everything. Every part of our lives should be dedicated to seeking the buzz and excitement that makes it all worthwhile. As human beings, we are so lucky to have five senses, and to be able to enjoy such wonderful experiences. Just look at that sunset, for example. We are so fortunate to have eyes to see it, and the sense to understand its beauty. If we don’t make the most of such experiences, then why bother being here at all? Life is all about fulfillment.’
Dominica finishes the last of her glass of wine, and a waiter instantly appears at her elbow to top up her glass. Where the heck had he come from? He disappears as quickly as he arrived, leaving her to take another sip of the gloriously fruity wine.
‘It’s all right for you to say that,’ she says. ‘You have the money and the resources to make all of this happen. Most people aren’t that fortunate.’
‘Fortunate? It certainly wasn’t luck that got me here. Remember, I took a bankrupt company and dedicated my life to turning it round. None of this was handed to me on a plate. I had to work for every dollar. And what drove me was knowing I could only live my dreams if I worked hard to become successful. But you don’t have to be rich to enjoy life. Even the simplest of pleasures can be an intense experience.’
‘Such as?’
Max stands up from the table. ‘Let me show you.’ He clicks his fingers and the waiter appears at his side. Max utters a few quiet words and the waiter slips away. A few moments later he returns with a strip of black material that he hands to Max. Dominica is unsure what it is until Max stretches it out and takes a step towards her. Then she begins to feel a little nervous.
It’s a blindfold. Who the heck keeps a blindfold handy around the house? And why? Dominica is puzzled but also a little intrigued.
‘I’m going to ask you to trust me,’ Max says. ‘I want to blindfold you - just for a couple of minutes – and show you some wonderful sensations. Believe me, you will find it fascinating.’
It isn’t a question. It’s a command. The feminist inside Dominica wants to rebel and say she isn’t some floozy to be bossed around by the wealthy classes. After all, her grandmother burned her bra for women’s rights several decades ago. But another part of her enjoys the sense of authority that he conveys. Max is clearly a man who is used to being obeyed. She finds it surprisingly sexy. And she can’t help but be excited by the thrill of the unknown. What sensations, exactly?
He slips the blindfold around her head, and ties it tightly. She feels the pressure against her eyes. Does it really need to be this tight? Already this is proving to be an unusual and somewhat exciting experience. Dominica hasn’t been blindfolded since playing Blind Man’s Bluff at parties as a kid. She suspects this will turn out to be a rather different experience.
‘What happens now?’ she asks, the words coming out in something of an excited squeak.
‘I’m going to put something in your mouth. Don’t panic! I promise you there will be nothing unpleasant. It’s just food. I want you to squeeze this gently between your teeth until you taste the juice.’
With that, Max pops something into her mouth. It is a single, smooth item, round in shape. No, not round – more kind of egg shaped, but much smaller than an egg.
Oh my God…what is it? I hope it isn’t something disgusting like a sheep’s eyeball. He wouldn’t would he?
Would he?
With some relief, she realizes that the object is too small to be an eyeball. She uses her tongue to slip it between her teeth, then squeezes gently. After a moment, the object gives and a little juice squirts into her mouth.
Sweet. Fruity. And delicious.
The taste is familiar, yet more intense than anything she remembers. She recognizes the sweet sensation, yet it seems more exotic than she remembers.
‘Delicious,’ she says. ‘What is it?’
‘A grape.’
‘Just a grape? But what kind of grape? It’s so much sweeter and tastier than any grape I’ve eaten before.’
‘No, that’s where you are wrong,’ Max whispers in her ear. ‘You see, you don’t take much notice of something as ordinary as a grape. When you pop one in your mouth, you are probably busy watching TV or cooking dinner – or doing any one of a thousand things. You are not focusing on the wonders you are tasting. But with your sense of sight taken away, and nothing else to distract you, the humble grape reveals its secrets. The beauty is always there – hidden in plain sight – but usually we are too busy to notice it.’
‘Wow! I had never thought of it like that. What other wonders do you have for me?’
‘Just the wonder of the extraordinary in the ordinary.’
For the next few minutes, Max feeds her more morsels from the table. She enjoys the attention, and the sensation of his body brushing against hers as he slips another taste experience into her mouth. Suddenly, the simplest foods become an oasis of taste and aroma – strawberry ice-cream, a segment of tangerine, an olive. When Max finally removes the blindfold, Dominica feels she has entered a whole new world of experience.
‘So like I said,’ Max continues, taking his seat at the table again. ‘You don’t have to be rich to enjoy the wonders of our world. There is so much for every one of us to explore, if only we take the time and trouble to look for and savor the experience. We can get all the thrills we need from the simplest things in life.’
‘Yes, I guess it’s like being a kid. When you are young, you get intense pleasure from the little things – a hug from your Mom, splashing in a puddle, swinging on a swing. Then, as we get older, we forget to enjoy those simple pleasures. We get too caught up in wanting material things, like cable TV, the latest smartphone app…’
‘That’s right. And a few years from now, those cable TV shows and apps we think are so wonderful now will be long forgotten. Yet a hug from your Mom will still feel great – even when you are as old as us!’
Dominica giggles. ‘Yes…and don’t forget splashing in puddles. I still want to be doing that when I’m eighty. Or even ninety. But you’ve got to admit, having plenty of money does make things easier. Money may not make you happy, but it sure makes being miserable a lot more fun.’
Max frowns. ‘Hmmm…it seems I have yet to convince you of the beauty of simple things. Come on, time for another experiment.’
With that, Max jumps up and steps quickly around the table. He puts one arm around Dominica’s shoulder, and slips the other under her legs, lifting her up. A moment later, he is carrying her across the stone flags to a gap in the wall that edges the terrace. Dominica sees a flight of stone steps leading down to the sea far below. The ocean seems a long way away, the crashing waves small and distant. Max starts down the steps, carrying Dominica as effortlessly as if she was a butterfly.
‘Where are we going?’ she asks. ‘It’s a long way down to the bottom. You won’t be able to carry me all the way. Let me walk.’
‘I’ve been up and down these steps a thousand times. I could carry you all the way down and then all the way back up again. Don’t worry about anything. Just relax and enjoy the scenery.’
The sun has almost set now, but there are still a few fingers of light reaching across the sky to light their path. As if on cue, a series of lights switch on down the length of the steps. She wonders if they are set to switch on automatically at sunset, or whether the ever-watchful butler is attending to his masters’ every need. No matter – either way, Max has everything under control, as usual.
Dominica nestles her head against Max’s chest, feeling his strong arms around her. He i
s breathing a little more heavily now, and there is a sheen of sweat on his brow. But he doesn’t slow down or break his stride. He takes each step confidently and quickly, surefooted and strong.
Soon they are down on the beach, and Max sets her down on the sand. She kicks off her shoes and feels the cool sand beneath her feet. She bends down and picks up a handful of sand, letting the grains slip between her fingers.
‘This sand is so fine,’ she says. ‘And before the sunset, I noticed that is such a beautiful yellow – not at all like most Californian beaches. You are very lucky to have such a wonderful private beach.’
‘Well, I may have cheated a bit,’ Max admits. ‘I have this sand imported from Australia. They have the best beach sand in the world there. A few thousand tons makes all the difference. If you are going to run on the beach, it might as well be the best beach you can get, right? Now here’s a question for you, Ginger. How fast can you run?’
‘How fast? Why?’
‘Because I’m coming to get you…’
With that, Max takes a step towards her with a wicked gleam in his eye. Dominica laughs and starts to run. Max chases after her, but she has the advantage as she is lighter and barefooted. While Max gets bogged down in the sand – the expensive Australian sand – she flits over the top. She runs to the edge of the ocean, lifting up her dress and splashing into the shallow waves. The water is cool and refreshing. Surely Max will not follow her here, he will not want to get salt water on his expensive tux and patent-leather shoes.
But she is wrong about that. Max plunges after her, splashing into the knee-high water with abandon, laughing out loud and gaining ground fast. Dominica feels that this moment is too beautiful to last – here on a beautiful beach at the end of a spectacular evening, enjoying the last of the twilight in the company of a gorgeous and attentive man. This is like the last reel of a romantic movie, when all the plot points are resolved, and the happy couple can splash away into the sunset. If only life were that simple.
Her thoughts are broken when she feels Max’s hand touch her shoulder. She tries to dodge, but it’s too late. Now his other arm is reaching around her waist and pulling her to him. She loses her balance and falls backwards into Max’s arms, knocking him backwards, too. They both fall into the water, bumping on the soft sand. Dominica looks up to see a wave of white water crashing towards them. She tries to scramble up to rise above it, but it is too late. The water rolls over both of them, soaking them from head to foot. It is cold and salty, full of grains of sand and fragments of seaweed.
Then the water is gone, and they are both spluttering and laughing. Max helps her to her feet and takes her to the edge of the beach, where they crash on the sand. Dominica is wet, cold, bedraggled…and happier than she has ever been in her life. She would love to rewind the movie to the beginning and play it all over again. But the last reel hasn’t finished rolling yet…
‘Now I see what you mean about enjoying the wonder in everything,’ she says. ‘Max, there is nowhere I would rather be than here with you right now. I’ve had an absolutely fantastic evening. I’m so glad you talked me into it. I don’t know how this could possibly get any better.’
Max leans closer. ‘I do.’ With that, he pulls her mouth to his and kisses her deeply. His lips are as cold as hers, but his tongue is warm. She responds by looping her arms around his neck and kissing him just as passionately in return. She knows that her dress is ruined – the one that she spent hours agonizing over, and hundreds of dollars on acquiring, just the day before. She is aware that her hair is a mess, wet and bedraggled. And she is sure her make-up is one fine mess. But all that matters is being here, right now, in the arms of the man she…well, the man she enjoys being with so much. At this moment, none of the trials and tribulations of life mean a damn thing. She doesn’t care about the hundred and one business problems she has to solve, the clients who are late paying, the dramas with Jo and Billy – none of this seems important. Dominica realizes that when you have a chance at happiness, you have to grab it with both hands. Max was right. Maryanne was right. Heck, even Jo was right in the end. What Dominica was enjoying right now was just too damned good to throw away.
When Max finally pulls his lips away from hers, Dominica relaxes against the sand. She looks up to see the stars and moon twinkling into life above them, like special romantic lighting arranged specifically for the occasion. Max’s head and shoulders are silhouetted against the night sky.
‘You’ve ruined your tux,’ she says.
‘No problem. I’ve got another dozen, at least. I should have thought about your dress, though. I’ll get that professionally cleaned for you. That was a bit rash of me, I must admit. But I will make sure it is properly attended to.’
‘Oh, yeah? Well, you’ll have to get it off me first.’
‘Now that can be arranged. In fact, to tell you the truth, I had already made some plans with that specific objective in mind. That particular problem has been occupying my mind for the last few days.’
‘That’s very thoughtful of you, Mr. Rockford. Are you as nice to all the Miss Executive Girlfriends you bring down here?’
Max cups her chin in his hand. ‘Dominica, you don’t seem to understand. I really don’t go in for the Miss Executive Girlfriend scenario. You are the first woman I have ever brought down here.’
‘Oh, come on…do you really expect me to believe that?’
‘I never tell lies, Dominica, not even just for fun. I always mean what I say.’
‘But why? You have such a beautiful place here. And I’m not so vain as to think that I am the only woman who has caught your eye.’
‘Don’t underestimate yourself. It’s not about quantity, it’s about quality. Like I told you, I am always looking for the extraordinary in life. I’ll leave all the gold diggers to the tycoons looking for trophy wives. That’s not what I want. I want someone who will share the ultimate with me – be open to experiencing new and exciting worlds together.’
‘And you think that person could be me?’
Max brings his lips close to hers. ‘I know it’s you. I’m sure of it.’
He kisses her again, pulling her tightly towards him. Dominica enjoys the ecstasy of the kiss and the waves wash around them, and the last finger of daylight disappears over the horizon.
***
By the time Max takes her into his bedroom, everything is dark inside the house. He carries her up a sweeping spiral staircase that looks as though Marilyn Monroe or Rita Hayworth should come sweeping down it at any moment, the train of a long, white dress flowing behind them.
But there is no Marilyn Monroe, and no Rita Hayworth. There is only Dominica Dunn, too wet and bedraggled to feature in any romantic film, yet very content to play the role of the love interest in this particular movie of life. If Act One was the extraordinary meal on the terrace, and Act Two was the ecstasy of the fun on the beach, then what awaits her in Act Three?
Dominica has some ideas, but she has a feeling that Max may have suggestions of his own. He usually does, after all. And they may not be just suggestions…more like commands, if her recent experience is anything to go by. But she is happy to let the feminist within her take a snooze for a while. She surrenders to the pleasures of waiting to see what will happen next in this curiously exciting fantasy. Except that this is no fantasy, of course. This is real life – real in a way that life has not been for her in many years.
Dominica had thought the bedroom on the yacht had been big, but it was nothing compared to Max’s bedroom here. She figures that her entire house would probably fit comfortably within this one room, with room for part of the garage, too. Of course, the room is sumptuously decorated. The color theme is red, but in a gentle and understated way, with an ocean of marble and mahogany. The room is lit by candles, at least a dozen of them spread around the room on shelves and cabinets. The effect is ethereal and majestic. This could be the bedroom of the King of some vast empire…and in a way, it is. Dominica looks around,
taking it all in, soaking up the atmosphere and feeling that this is place she would be happy to stay forever. It all seems so welcoming, so homely, so…erotic.
It’s perfect.
In the center of the room is an enormous four-poster bed. It is of an old-fashioned design, probably an antique that has been lovingly restored and preserved. The bed is covered with white bed linen and pillows that take on a soft pinky glow under the candlelight. It is wide and built for comfort…and not really a bed designed for one person. This is not so much a bed for sleeping, as one that was designed with making love in mind. She briefly wonders how many couples have made love in this antique bed since it was made perhaps a hundred years …or maybe even two or three hundred years ago. How many women have been pleasured by willing and able men right here? How many couplings and climaxes across the years? Of course, there is no way of knowing…but there is no doubt this is a bed with a history. Dominica wonders if she may be part of its future. That definitely seems a very strong possibility. What new chapter of history will she and Max write here tonight?
Hmmm. Interesting.
But there is no time to think about the bed right now. Max sweeps past it and on into the en-suite bathroom. This alone is as large as Dominica’s living room, decorated in the same marble as the bedroom, counterbalanced by gold taps and fittings. The huge, oval bath is already full of steaming water and bristling with white, bubbly foam. Dominica can’t help but wonder what kind of system Max has in place to get things so perfectly organized, apparently without a word from him. Everything seems to happen on cue, timed with clockwork precision.
Max puts her down and helps her out of her wet clothes, then strips quickly himself. He lifts her up again and steps into the bath, lowering himself gently until they are both in the water. The water feels hot against her cold skin, but within a few moments she adjusts, and is able to enjoy the reviving heat penetrating her body to the core. Max lathers up some soap and gently washes her shoulders. Then he slips his hands down her body, caressing her breasts as he washes them. She turns to return the favor, soaping him all over and enjoying the sensation of her soft, feminine hands against his firm, male flesh.
The Domination of Dominica Dunn: Discovering New Worlds of Sexual Sensation Page 9