Romance Fan Fiction / Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ The Faely Odd Life of Kisa Anders ❯ Pearl Cove a Dining and Entertainment Experiance ( Chapter 2 )
Miscellaneous: Romance Fan Fiction / Original Stories Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Fantasy / Comedy | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 01.02.2018 | Updated On: 01.09.2018 | Pages: 2 | Words: 9.8K | Visits: 176 | Status: Work In Progress
The Faely Odd Life of Kisa Anders
~CHAPTER TWO~
Pearl Cove a Dining and Entertainment Experience
Aureo Cheng trudged tiredly up the stairs of his modest two story house at about two thirty in the morning. He still shivered from the cold outside. He passed by the closed bedroom door of his only daughter who most likely was fast asleep, she was twenty two and just about to graduate from college. He couldn’t have been more proud that she had chosen a career in Finance. She was a wiz with numbers and her continuous excellent grades gave her a full ride to graduate school. She would be leaving home soon for the sunny shores of Southern California and a six year program there. California was on the other side of the country, and sure it was far away but this was a wonderful opportunity that he could not let her pass up just because she was quite a distance from home. His daughter Chella was the only spectacular thing that had ever come out of his marriage.
Pushing aside his sad but proud fatherly feelings, Aureo made his way to the end of the hall and opened the closed door to the Master Bedroom and was surprised to see his wife Mali still awake. She was reading a thick novel. Their eyes connected briefly before hers returned to her book, seemingly uninterested in his presence. He muttered in irritation and closed the door behind him.
“You’re up late.” He stated dryly as he made his way past the closet and bed into the bathroom where he immediately took to washing his face and brushing his teeth. She must really be into that book which made sense why she was still awake. It’s not like she was waiting up for him to get home. She hadn’t really ever done that unless it was by accident. Wiping his mouth with a hand towel he stared hard at his reflection in the mirror. He took a deep breath, gearing himself up for the battle that was about to ensue. It was after all Tuesday night and that was their agreement that every two weeks on Tuesday night they would be intimate.
“Mali?”
“Hmm… what is it, Aureo?” She said softly from the bedroom.
“It’s Tuesday night…” He stated flatly.
She groaned in annoyance glancing at the clock, the blue digital numbers read two thirty seven, “Actually, it’s Wednesday.” She said with her nose in the air, but still put her book down in her drawer as her husband came from the bathroom removing his shirt. She glanced over at him looking relatively bored. His physical appearance used to at least please her but not so much anymore. Yes, he was still in excellent shape, his hard chest and belly that looked like it was carved from fine marble which was always smooth to the touch. Only, she didn’t really want to touch him like a lover would. Over their many years together sex felt like a chore, like something she had to do and it shouldn’t feel that way with someone you truly love.
It was always the same thing. Every couple of weeks he would ask her for a little bit of intimacy but knew she wouldn’t really give into it unless he begged her for it. She couldn’t let him go too long without it or there would be questions that she did not want to answer.
It had been a long twenty one years of marriage and in all actuality she didn’t love him, she wasn’t sure if she ever truly did. After all this time he was just familiar to her so they stayed together, they barely even talked anymore. The truth was she wanted someone that would excite her. Even when she and Aureo had been dating he’d never had the ability to make her heart skip a beat. The upside of their union though he was a very generous and patient lover.
Their parents had known each other and had introduced them to one another when they were almost seventeen years old so they dated. They definitely liked each other enough. Why not? They were both attractive people and would make attractive children was what her mother told her. It had often felt like they were cattle for sale, but she never spoke up against her mother’s wishes.
Lately, someone else had been catching her attention but she was married and leaving him was just not an option. She at least stuck to that vow, no matter how unhappy she was with him. She often yelled and cursed at him to show her disgust, maybe he would file for divorce if she pushed him hard enough. She loathed admitting how sneaky she was in trying to get him to be the one to back out of this marriage.
“You promised, Mali.” Aureo slipped out of his pants and walked closer to her side of the bed where he stared down at her. She was still beautiful and dainty, her soft dark hair feathered out across the pillow. “Are your promises to me not worth anything?”
Mali sat up irritated, “Would you be happy with me just sucking you off so we can go to sleep?”
He sighed in disappointment, “No, Mali, it’s been almost a month and I get tired of just receiving you orally. I want to connect with you on an intimate level which is what we really need. We need this connection.” They had been together a long time but it was like she was still afraid of his body and never really did a good enough job at getting him off that way…and often enough there were teeth involved. He kneeled down to her bedside, staring into her eyes. “Please, Mali?” He cupped his hand around the back of her neck and pulled her to him for a kiss, but she evaded the contact and his eyes of deep obsidian narrowed in confusion.
“Turn the light off.” She said softly.
With his gaze holding hers he lifted his hand to the pull string on the lamp and pulled the chain, dousing the room in darkness. “You’re my beautiful angel,” He whispered to her and in the darkness she cringed.
She wished he wouldn’t talk. It would ruin the fantasy she was trying to pull from her thoughts, her memories. Mali was definitely interested in Pearson Roth the loans officer at their local bank. He was thin and blonde with beautiful forest eyes that hid another world. She and Pearson had been having lunch together twice a week while her husband was at work. She’d only been with the man intimately just once, yet she knew his manhood was not as massive as her husband’s. Pearson was the perfect size for her; one she wished her husband was more like. She could imagine Pearson’s eyes of deep forest sweetly upon her as he would lean so close to her, kissing her gently. She opened her mouth to the motions as she felt as his come down on hers. She moaned into his mouth when she felt fingers skimming her breasts and moving down over her belly. She was so excited for this man. A soft cry escaped her when she felt fingers slipping in between her legs, inside her. He was so gentle and she was so wet for him, oh yes...
His hard, sculpted body covered over her, nestling between her spread legs and she grunted in slight irritation at the entry of his hardness into her depths. No! He was too big, too thick! This was wrong! She opened her eyes and realized that her husband was watching her face and he had a look of concern. Mali, embarrassed, pulled away from him and pulled her legs up against her chest, wrapping her arms firmly around her knees. She didn’t want him to know she was thinking about making love to another man during their night together. She was breathing hard, “Aureo, I’m…I’m sorry. It hurts to have sex with you.” She wasn’t really lying…it did hurt. Her emotional pain was killing her and her guilt bubbled inside her belly.
Aureo was confused. This was the first time he had heard this. “What do you mean? How am I hurting you, Mali?” He was aghast at the idea of hurting her. How could that be so? He’s always been so gentle and tender that there was no way he could have caused her any discomfort. He was overly patient with his sexually timid wife. He stared down at the comforter, anger surfacing in his eyes. “Are you lying to me?” His tone was dangerous.
“No! I…I’m not. It’s just—” Mali trailed off, she couldn’t look at him as she felt like such a horrible person. Her trusting husband was sitting here wanting to make love with her and all she could do was lie to him. She did not want to have sex with him. He wasn’t Pearson. She pulled the string on her lamp bathing their room in light and looked up into her concerned husband’s eyes. Her gaze drifted down his firm chest to his raging manhood upon the blanket. Aureo was a very good looking and well formed man, it’s not like she wasn’t attracted to him physically. She just wished her heart would cooperate with her body. Mila could not tell him that she had feelings for another man, at least not right now. Aureo was still her husband and she vowed to take care of him and love him. She would have to force herself to continue loving him. “What are you…we going to do, Aureo?”
“Do you still want to be close to me?” He asked, unable to look her in the eye.
She hesitated, “Yes, of course, don’t be silly.” Mali reached over and embraced her husband, her hands going up his back. “There will never be anyone other than you in my heart.” She lied through her pearly teeth and through those same teeth she tried to smile against his shoulder. She noticed he was not returning her loving hold, his arms were rigid and down at his sides.
Aureo leaned back from her, scanning her features for some kind of a lie but he couldn’t find it there. Either she meant what she said or she was good at hiding the truth. He curved his hand around hers and brought it to the aching hardness between his legs. “Take care of me then,” he said roughly, not trying to be cold to her.
She smiled at him trying to offer comfort as she wrapped her small hand around his length and he sucked in a deep breath at the feel of her fingers stroking him. Mali knew she might not be able to come for him, but she would sit upon her husband’s manhood to please him as much as she could. He deserved that much at least, considering everything that she was doing to him behind his back. She scooted on her knees so she was poised over his manhood and lowered herself onto him. Mali saw him close his eyes as she moved slowly, twisting her hips as much as she could while riding him. He gripped her hips and wanted to plunge her harder onto him, but she resisted the roughness and just in her simple fluid motions she enveloped him over and over again.
Something was terribly wrong. His mind was elsewhere trying to figure out why his wife was acting so incredibly strange. This behavior had been going on for the last couple of years. Why did she often resist him sexually? They had always had some kind of understanding and he always gave her exactly what she wanted and needed. Was there someone else? Aureo eyed her suspiciously as her womanhood took him into her. It wasn’t working. His manhood was starting to get soft and that was the last thing he needed, he pushed her off him. She had squealed in surprise at his sudden movement as she landed on the bed and he stood up.
“Don’t bother, Mali. You’re not enjoying this. I’m not going to force you to do this with me.” With wounded pride, Aureo got up from the bed and stalked to the bathroom slamming the door behind him. Sooner or later his wife would have to give into his needs. It’s not like he asked her for them often.
“Aureo, I was trying here and I’m sorry if it’s not perfect enough for you, you stupid ass!” She shouted to the bathroom. Fire erupted inside her as her anger was taking over her rationale thinking. How dare he push her off him like that? “Why did you stop me?” She got up from the bed and angrily stomped to the bathroom door where she threw it open and it banged loudly against the wall. In her petite form of five foot three she tried to appear intimidating. She saw her husband look at her over his shoulder, his large hand firmly wrapped around his throbbing member. “You’d rather touch yourself than let me do it? What kind of man are you that would cower away from a tiny woman like myself?” She stared up at his massive form. If she had different feelings the sheer size of him would make her go insane for him, but unfortunately for the two of them that just was not the case.
“Don’t go there, Mali.” His eyes narrowed bitterly, “I will never cower from anyone, least of all from you. You know the kind of man I am and you know what I’m capable of. When we had sex I know I used to make you squeal like a stuck pig.” He was harsh and crude.
She giggled harshly, “Yeah, it wasn’t real. I faked everything. Every sound I made. All of it.” She laughed in his face, “and you so eagerly fell for it.” Mali smirked and saw his eyes flame to life with an intensity that caused a ripple of fear to rush through her. Pushing her fear aside she stepped right up to him and bent over to him with her palms flat on the closed lid of the toilet seat. She wiggled her bottom in the air and with one hand she stuck two of her own fingers inside her heated center and started rubbing herself in front of him. “Oh, oh,” She hissed in pleasure, “I do a much better job at taking care of myself than you ever could with me.” Mali knew she tempted fate and he was going to try and prove it to her that he could get her off. She needed to help him release his frustration before he figured out the truth of her feelings. She had to be as mean as possible to get him to fuck her.
He would show her just how much of a man he was. In one rough step, Aureo gripped her about the hips and he pulled her back against him. There was no time for her to catch her breath as his hardness shoved inside her. Mali gritted her teeth at the thickness of him buried in her. He was breathing hard as he gripped her hips and slammed inside her over and over again. Anger raced though his veins thick and hot, how dare she say those things!? He pounded her harder whether he was trying to punish her or not, he wasn't sure at this point as his anger still raced his every nerve. Mali squealed loudly.
He gripped her hips and slammed her back against him and he breathed out, leaning over her he nipped at her ear and said, “since we are stuck together you should at least try to enjoy yourself. No matter what you’ve said to me, I know there was a time that you enjoyed it when I fucked you even if that was all it was for you.” Aureo had suspicions of another man in her life, he would make sure she understood that they were in this life together and needed make the best of it.
Mali grunted against the slapping of their bodies together echoing in the bathroom. She was not really enjoying this like she used to. She hated having to use her body as a distraction but she had to do what was necessary and she was good at faking her pleasure for him, she had been doing that for so long already. He was her husband and at least she could give him the belief that she still desired him.
Yes, yes, she would keep him distracted. It was the least Mali could do for him. How much longer would she be able to resist her affections for Pearson? Her life was unraveling all around her and there was little she could do to stop it. She dreaded the day her husband found out about him. Aureo did not deserve what she was doing to him, but she couldn’t stop herself from doing it. Her desires were completely beyond her control.
****
“Pure elegance was all that was needed to describe Pearl Cove to guests that might be interested in visiting this unique dinning establishment. Written about already in several four star restaurant magazines this writer had to see for herself just what the hype was all about. She found the approach to fine dining and entertainment struck the Midwest with a new found immersion into a whole new world. One actually felt like they were lounging comfortably under the sea as guests feasted on fine seafood and the best quality steaks from grass fed beef. As you step through the frosted glass front doors you are greeted by the most beautiful hosts and hostesses, they could probably cover as models in their days off. Once you were granted a table you were led down softly glowing steps. The view as you descended down to the dining area was something out of a dream as you entered fantasy, a colossal room with columns and a bandstand with a stage where a singer was delighting your ears with soft and catchy tunes from all eras. Behind the bandstand was a giant shell statue that glittered from multicolored show lights. There were two massive dining rooms that you could be seated in. They all had a remarkable view of all the entertainment, in fact there was nowhere you could sit where you couldn’t see everything perfectly.”
Fredrick Gold, the current General Manager, held one of the most read restaurant magazines in his hand as he was reading the latest review by top Restaurant Reviewer Brenda Coleson, who was pretty hard to impress most of the time. He glanced over at the ten servers, four seating hosts, and the fourteen of the entertainment department as he continued reading the news.
“Couples and friends were dancing upon the dance floor that was literally made of an unbreakable plastic, a plastic that was so clear that it resembled glass where ocean life swam beneath your feet. It made you actually feel like you were dancing on water. As if the atmosphere was not enough of an experience, my server was even more fantastic. He really made my dining experience something I will never forget. Not only was he very easy on the eyes, he anticipated absolutely everything I could possibly want and need before I even asked it tells me that perhaps he can read minds. If that is the case then I say bravo to the hiring department for granting Aureo Cheng a position here at Pearl Cove.”
All those that worked at Pearl Cove looked over at Aureo who was trying not to grin with glee as he looked sharply down avoiding everyone’s stares and wooing, he focused a little too hard on the rolling his polished silverware in the pale pink cloth napkin.
“Hey, Cheng, way to go in making the rest of us look like chopped liver.” spat Hikaru Kibe who is Aureo’s competition in all things. Jealousy swam though his veins like water in a wild stream. He was a little bit of a lazy fellow when it came to taking care of his guests but he should have been mentioned in the review, he did bring drink refills when he was asked by the reviewer.
“That is not what is going on here, Hikaru, and you know it. It was just lucky that the reviewer got Aureo as her server, I know most of us are good at our jobs.” Ellie Hanson added as she flipped her silky shoulder length blonde hair over her shoulder in Aureo’s defense.
“Yeah, he probably worked hard in flirting with Brenda Coleson to get that good of a review.” Hikaru spat out, the corner of his mouth lifted in a smirk.
“Aww, you know I don’t have to work hard at that. It just comes natural that women just find me so charming that they can’t help themselves. It’s such a shame that I clearly don’t think of you, Kibe, when I’m doing my job to provide for my family.” Sarcasm dripped from Aureo’s tone. “Maybe if you wanted your name mentioned in a world renowned magazine like this one, you’d actually do your job the way you’re supposed to.”
It was time to interrupt this oh so manly display, Fredrick really did not want to play parent to these grown men, “May I continue, gentlemen, that is if it’s okay with you two? You can fight over who gets the toy after I’m done.”
Aureo grunted in amusement while Hikaru just looked away to continue rolling his silverware.
Fredrick continued reading, “The only part of the evening that this writer was disappointed in was she did not get the pleasure of meeting Pearl Cove’s owners Ashford and Melanie Baldric. They were unable to give comment as the private, illusive pair decided to remain hidden from public view and rightly so. This reviewer, Brenda Coleson, gives Pearl Cove four stars and if it were possible a fifth one.” Fredrick’s smile was from ear to ear as he couldn’t wait to relay this message to the Baldrics. “Reviews like this are why the Baldrics are opening another extremely fine dining themed restaurant in their home state of Washington. If you are interested in being part of the opening please sign up you have till Friday to add your name to the list.”
He slapped the forms down on the table. “Remember this is a huge undertaking, it won’t just be a six week open it’s more like a six month open. The Baldrics have spared no expense for this new location.”
“Six months? We can’t put our lives on hold for six months.” Lily Hammonds, another one of the servers as she was rolling her polished silverware. She glanced around at her fellow servers. The seating hosts and the entertainment department were all seated on at the large table behind them. “We all have bills and rent to pay here, it would cost a fortune to just uproot our lives for a simple restaurant opening.”
Fredrick hid the smile that was threatening to emerge. When are the openings of any Baldric restaurant simple? They were always huge events, not to mention that the Baldrics usually made it worth his employees’ wiles when it came to being part of a new location, even if they didn’t want to stay employed at the new location and returned to the former. That information would come out to those who only wanted to help open the new location. “They know not everyone is going to be able to help and that’s okay, just please let us know in a timely manner if you want to participate.”
Lily looked over at the entertainment department as they were huddled talking amongst themselves “How many of you are going to go along with this?”
“I am.” Kisa spoke up.
“Same here,” answered Amina who is one of the violinists and a close friend of Kisa. “A few of us from the orchestra are also going to help open the new location.”
“I was one of the first to sign up when Fredrick told us about it,” Kisa said with a hopeful smile. “It sounds like it will be a lot of fun and I wouldn’t mind exploring the state of Washington, it would be quite an adventure for sure. I’m always open to new experiences.” That state was definitely one that she could find herself connecting with the gods a little bit more. It was harder to that here in Chicago. The city was such a distraction and a sorcerer like herself needed to commune with nature from time to time. The only reason she stayed in this crowded city was she was hiding out from those that would wish her ill and there were quite a lot of them.
With an amused snort, Lily feigned a smile. She couldn’t stand that woman Kisa Anders and would do everything in her power to make her feel like dirt. “Oh, I bet you are very open.”
Arching a dark amused brow, Kisa snorted. This girl wanted to battle with her? It wouldn’t be a fair fight in the slightest way. Lily had nowhere near the abilities mentally or physically to fight with her. It was so interesting walking around This World with the knowledge that she had been trained while as a young teenager in many forms of weaponry and hand to hand combat not to mention all the schooling she had to go through during her extensive and brutal training. She simply smiled at the pure ignorance of her co-worker. It was relief that no one here really knew her at all, if they did they would all run in fear.
Another person Kisa had to watch out for was Gloria Gale. She turned her head and glanced over her shoulder to stare at the woman behind her who was sitting there glancing at her polished fingernails in thought. Yep, that woman definitely had it out for her.
When Kisa got hired here at Pearl Cove as one of the few lead singers almost five years ago in their entertainment department, Gloria had been the previous Top Dog around here. There were two others who worked as lead singers only it was their day off, but now the competition was harsh as Kisa definitely got just as much solo parts as Gloria does, sometimes even more.
Kisa wouldn’t put it past Gloria to resort to sinister methods to prevent her from performing. If she wasn’t careful, Kisa knew she could end up in the hospital or worse. Magic couldn’t solve everything considering if she resorted to curses and hexes it could weaken her Mystical-Mental block, allowing for her darker side to emerge. Kisa couldn’t let that happen so she tried her best to just stay clear and watch her back.
Kisa’s eyes narrowed slightly at Gloria for other reasons that regarded Oskari, sometimes she felt she couldn’t compare to the woman’s perfect form, slender and lovely, with copper spun hair and sweet pouty lips that held some of the worse insults imaginable especially when she learned that she and Oskari were getting closer as friends.
She had a feeling that Gloria still had feelings for Oskari, as she had witnessed them talking quietly together every once in awhile, but then it could just be performer stuff since Oskari was one of the male lead singers and also one of the piano players. From what Kisa had heard it did not end well between Oskari and Gloria. Kisa watched the woman get up from the table and head over to the bandstand where the orchestra was starting to set up and warm up their instruments.
The moment Kisa looked up her bonded Fae walked in from the kitchen. They were late! She wondered what kept them as they could only be away from each other for about ten hours before the pain in the Fae started as their soul bond is meant to keep them close. They had gotten plenty of sleep it’s not like they were out till three in the morning like she had been.
In order for the three of them to be near each other most of the time, they had been hired here along with her as backup singers and extra instrument players if her co-workers called out sick. It also didn’t hurt that Piper and Hawke got paid so it helped considering the Fae don’t really need any human necessities so it gave Kisa a hefty savings to live and not worry about money. She definitely admired Hawke in his human garb; he certainly blended in more with humanity. Kisa knew Hawke hated to partake in all these human activities that didn’t involve all naked bodies. Piper on the other hand was excited about living amongst the humans and being part of everything that she literally had excitement coming out her ears the ways she bounced around with pure glee. Piper and Hawke were definitely like night and day.
Kisa, after a few moments, walked down to the bandstand area with the rest of the entertainment department as they began their sets while the servers and seating hosts took to preparing their stations, ready for opening the restaurant at noon.
Hearing thundering footsteps, someone was quickly rushing across the floor. Kisa looked up as Oskari Alaric rushed in, he looked frantic. His thick russet hair was a mess as he hurried down to the floor while trying to comb it down with his fingers. His jade eyes immediately connected with Kisa’s honey and he smiled. He gestured for her to walk down to the dance floor with him. She smiled and followed after him.
He took the three steps up to the band’s seats where the most beautiful grand piano rested. “Kisa,” Oskari said with a smile as he removed the grand piano’s cover and sat down at the bench. Oskari gestured for her to sit down next to him by patting the spot next to him. He was pleased the moment she sat beside him. “I wanted to be first to tell you that I filed for my divorce this morning which is why I was running late.” He placed his slender fingers on the ivory keys and began warming up with a series of musical scales.
Kisa felt a small blush rising to her cheeks at the way he was looking at her, “For real?”
“Yes,” He turned a little bit more to face her and he dropped his left hand from the keys to wrap them around her back, “So if you wanted to finally get physically closer to me, we could start making plans.”
She couldn’t help it, Kisa started laughing at the way he was trying to tell her that he finally wanted to have sex. “Oskari, are you talking about us finally fucking?” She continued to laugh. Oskari looked shocked at her choice of words which only made her laugh harder.
“We’ve really gotta do something about your potty mouth,” He said with smile and a laugh, but he was truly serious. She often spoke without thinking and that was one of her flaws, one that he didn’t really care for. Hopefully, it was something he could help break her of. Surely, everyone wanted to change for the better. He could help her to see that she didn’t need such words to express herself. Ladies shouldn’t be so vulgar. They should be sweet and demure, kind and gentle. Kisa was definitely a little more rough than he was used to, but she had a dangerous beauty that called out to him. He just had to have her as his.
Her laughter suddenly died and a bitter anger replaced her amusement, “Hold it, pretty boy. No one tells me how I should or shouldn’t talk. I do and say what I want regardless what anyone says or thinks,” Kisa stood from her spot next to him feeling the thick heat of anger coursing through her veins at the very idea of someone trying to control her.
Oskari instantly reached out and gripped her hand, causing her to look back at him. He did not like the fire in her usually soft honey eyes. For some reason that very look caused fear to erupt in his chest. It was such a dangerous look that Oskari almost couldn’t believe that she was capable of such an expression. “Kisa, I didn’t mean for it to come out like that. I just don’t want to refer to us finally being together as fucking.” He saw her eyeing him suspiciously, “Please forgive my choice of words?” He started playing his scales again. “I would never even suggest you be less than you are.” When he saw the fierceness in her eyes soften he felt a huge wave of relief wash over him.
He wanted to break the tension between the two of them. It wasn’t healthy to start their new adventure together on a hard note. It was bad luck. “Here, let me help you warm up your vocal cords. We all need to be ready to go at noon.”
Taking a deep settling breath, Kisa nodded as he played the piano and she opened her mouth to warm up her vocal cords, the rest of the entertainment department started their warm ups. She glanced up at the server sections and caught a glimpse of Aureo who was setting up his section while talking with Ellie Hanson and Paula Ricardo. They were already dressed for work in white pearlescent shirts, black bowties and black dress pants.
She supposed they caught the feeling of her looking in their direction since the three servers turned around and all waved and nodded a greeting in her direction. She smiled and gazed back down at Oskari who was smiling up at her. “Oskari, after we are together intimately… would you even want something more serious with me. You know I have a really hard time with trusting someone in something like a…a relationship?” It was such a struggle for her to even get out the word relationship. Just the idea of it made sweat appear at the back of her neck, her stomach jumped unpleasantly at even mentioning it that she felt like she was going to throw up.
“Let’s take this one step at a time.” He stood, glanced over Kisa’s shoulder at Gloria who’s silver eyes also connected with his, their gazes held for what felt like an eternity before his jade eyes moved back to Kisa who was staring down at the music sheets in her hand. “I know you have a hard time with being with one person only and we’ve talked about this on many of our nights out together that I will be extremely patient and not rush you into anything that you are not ready for. You can trust me.”
“I want to talk to you about your wife.” Kisa said, staring hard at him.
He glared down at the piano keys, “You know I don’t like talking to you about her, I don’t want to jinx our affections with my past failures.”
“But you talked to Gloria about her, other than the fact that you and your wife are always fighting and hate each other. I only hear you say the bad things about her. I just don’t want to make the same mistakes she did as I am a completely different person.”
Oskari started laughing hard, “You can definitely say that again.” He then smiled, “You are such an open minded, non judgmental person who’s sexual experience is sometimes even hard to believe, I know you’re way different than her who only liked having sex a certain way, and that was her always beneath me, she never wanted to experiment with other positions and things that might heighten our experiences. You definitely seem like you’re more into a less traditional version of sex.”
‘Only cause I have to be in control’ She smiled through her thought that Oskari need not know of her overwhelming need for being the one on top. “I guess you’ll find out soon.”
It was time to focus on work so looking to the orchestra who were all just chatting with each other Oskari decided to make a suggestion about their warm up number, “Hey, guys, let’s all get our blood pumping with a song that Gloria back there can sing.”
A smirk lifted the right corner of Gloria’s mouth and she nodded.
“What do you want to play, Oskari?” Amina El-EhSan asked with a smile, she looked over at Kisa, and mouthed to her, “We have to talk.”
Kisa nodded and gave a truly foolish thumbs up, which Amina just shook her head in amusement.
The most perfect song to play popped into his head and it was definitely one that they’ve all played together before so he knew that they knew it “How about good ole Stevie Wonder’s Sir Duke?”
“Oooh, I like that idea,” Amina said and she looked to the rest of the orchestra who all agreed and immediately the instruments erupted into the familiar tune originally sung by the legendary entertainer Stevie Wonder.
Kisa’s eye hurt and she felt like someone was squeezing the breath from her body, something was glittering from near the top of the steps where the entrance was. She lifted her gaze up top and saw a man that she had never seen before standing up there looking down on them. He was tall slightly pale and wearing a nice dark suit, he had a neatly sculpted beard with a head full of thick short hair. His hands were gripping the bronze safety railing. The object that caught her eye was a large ruby ring on his right pinky finger which he was tapping against the bronze railing, had it somehow caught the light and that’s why it shone down in her face? She was confused at how that was possible; there wasn’t much sunlight also the stage lights were not on yet. She wondered what really caught her attention, it couldn’t have been just that ring.
His eyes, she could see were a vivid ocean and he stared down at her, not breaking the eye contact. Kisa took a few steps towards him, the music somehow became muffled and she could no longer hear it the closer she got to where he was standing. A mere hint of a smile curved the corners of his mouth as he continued to watch her curiously.
The moment between the two of them broke as Fredrick Gold came up behind the man, who instantly turned giving his attention to him. The trance she seemed to have been under was broken and she dropped her gaze to stare at the floor. All noise resumed, the music from her co-workers was still playing. It was an odd feeling as she stood there now. She shivered as if she had been cold. She hadn’t realized that she had held her breath. She witnessed Fredrick lean in so the man could speak quietly in his ear. The exchange felt tense.
“That’s Ashford Baldric.” Aureo voice said from behind her making her shriek openly as she spun around.
Kisa came face to face with Aureo whose brow was arched in question, as well as the soft smile he was expressing. She started laughing and lightly gripped his forearm “You scared the shit out of me. I guess I was really focused on that man up there.” After her nerves settled, two other servers Ellie and Paula were also standing beside them.
Aureo’s shrug held amusement, “Sorry about scaring you. I could see that you were curious so I have some information about that man up there.” He gestured upwards where Fredrick was standing, “as I was saying… that is Ashford Baldric the owner of the restaurant among many other things, especially for Fred.”
She squeezed his hand tenderly before dropping it, “how do you know who he is?” She said, her gaze connecting with his.
“I met him once about eight years ago when I first got hired here. The man shook my hand and he had quite the grip. It’s a grip you don’t forget as he was also staring intently into my eyes. I tell you all the way he looked at me sent shivers down my spine. It was like he was searching my soul for something or at least that’s what it felt like. ” Aureo also stared up. “I hadn’t seen him since that first moment, but I do hear that Mr. Baldric does come here from time to time to check on things but we here rarely see him. He’s a completely private person.”
“I had never met him before.” Paula scooped her strawberry tinted hair into a pony tail with the pearl-like white hair clip. “I’ve always wanted, too, though; I’ve heard so little about him that he remains the biggest mystery.”
Ellie Hanson grinned up at him, “Where do you think he spends most of his time?”
“Does it really matter where he spends his time?” Paula said, “You just want to find out where he lives so you can stalk him.” She grinned at her friend.
“Well can you blame me?” Ellie said with a grin, “He’s a very good looking man and it doesn’t hurt that he’s one of the wealthiest in the world. I just have no idea how he got to where he is today without any kind of reporters catching whim and writing any exposes about him.”
“Also married…”Aureo added looking between the two women with a grin, “I know for a fact that a wedding ring doesn’t stop you, Ellie, as Marc likes to talk about your very distinct birthmarks on the inside of your right thigh that makes the shape of a little horny butterfly.” He snorted in mirth.
Ellie’s mouth gaped open at him in amused shock. She smacked him playfully in the shoulder, “Aureo!” Her tone was scolding but also fun. It’s not like she didn’t expect something like that to come out of that fine dirty mouth of his, she should have known something was coming, especially with the way Aureo likes to shock everyone around him. For at least seeming to have some sort of moral fiber which was pretty low as it was she still she had to pretend she was offended. “We should ask Fredrick how well he knows Mr. Baldric.” She smirked, knowing that Fredrick and Mr. Baldric were occasionally intimate.
She wondered if that was how Fredrick actually got the job here; it made some amount of sense after all as the man wasn’t even that old and already was put in place as General Manager over John Gray. John Gray now there was a piece of work, it was true that he had been one of the managers of Pearl Cove for at least six years and was actually trying for the General Manager position. When Fredrick was promoted over him, John never failed to speak openly about how Fredrick got the job by being on his knees in front of the boss. Ellie hated John, a lot of people they worked with did. He was disgusting and the worst human being that Ellie had ever met.
Kisa looked stunned at Ellie, “What Fredrick does is really none of our business, Ellie and you shouldn’t be spreading stuff around work. I don’t think he’d appreciate it.” She rolled her eyes in annoyance as the work place gossip definitely liked to spread rumors. “There’s nothing wrong with being private. I know if I had as much as Mr. Baldric does, I wouldn’t want people sniffing around me like that.”
“I just like the gossip, I like knowing what’s going on in this drama filled place. Everyone here is having sex with someone they shouldn’t be.” She wiggled her brows at Kisa knowing that she and Oskari had a secret love affair. She was not going to say it, but she could see Kisa look away from her, trying to hide a small hint of guilt at being caught and others knowing what she’s up to. They didn’t know the whole truth nor did she want to explain it, she would keep that bit of information to herself.
Ellie shrugged innocently, “Its John that you gotta worry about spreading stuff. He’s really cruel about it, too.”
“He’s awful,” Kisa was glad that today was one of John’s off days, with how little patience she had today she really did not want to deal with that awful pig.
“Kisa?” Hawke came to stand next to her with Piper at his side as he, too, was staring up at Fredrick and Ashford Baldric. “Don’t you think we should get ready for the restaurant opening?” His eyes black as midnight did not drop from the sight of the two men up there. His eyes widened in surprise at first before returning to his normal docile expression which changed in an instant. He took a menacing step forward but Piper gripped his arm and leaned in close.
“No,” She whispered, not being able to really look up at Baldric. “Hawke, leave him be, now is not the time.”
“He’s standing right there in the open. I could do it now,” Hawke whispered to his sister. “I’ve been waiting for so long already. What are the odds of us being in the same place he is at this point in time? This is the Fates finally working in my favor for once! You of all Fae know I need my revenge.” He growled, his eyes actually flickering with fire from his demon half.
“Ahhh,” Piper felt a sharp slash in her head when she saw Baldric slightly flick his wrist in their direction. Trying not to alert Kisa to her pain, she lightly lifted her hand to where the pain in her head was to provide some pressure to see if it would relieve it. Unfortunately, the pain only increased “Hawke…” She breathed hard in and out through her nose, “please don’t. Remember that man, he… he’s just as powerful as Lysander. Please, not now, we haven’t even had a chance to talk to Baldric since the days of long ago.”
Hawke growled, gesturing with a jerk of his chin upward, “do you still feel for that human piece of garbage up there?” He stared hard waiting for her to lie.
“Not anymore than you did for Lysander.” Piper groaned in pain, it felt like her head was splitting open. She dare not bring attention to it while Kisa was in view or earshot.
“What are you two talking about so secretly?” Kisa said loud enough for all to hear, her eyes narrowed suspiciously as the two Fae glanced at each other before looking right at her knowing that the eyes of those surrounding them were on her and her brother.
“Nothing,” Both Piper and Hawke said in unison. They both dropped their gaze from Baldric upstairs and turned around to face Kisa. Piper knew she was lucky that Kisa interrupted when she did so that she didn’t have to answer Hawke’s burning question.
“The restaurant is going to open in thirty minutes and we need to get ready for it.” Piper said as she gripped Kisa by the arm and pulled her away from her co-workers and through the kitchen where everyone was preparing to open the restaurant for lunch. The further away from Baldric she moved the pain lessoned until it was no more than a distant memory.
Kisa was truly surprised at the way Piper and Hawke were acting, they had never behaved so secretive in all the years she has known them which was for more than half her life. If the two of them were distressed about Mr. Baldric she wondered just what was so terrible about him. Why was the man so secretive and private? Her co-workers had very little to go on, the only person who seemed to have direct contact was Fredrick. Hmm…Fredrick, yes she would certainly talk to him when she had a free minute.
She was pulled into the dressing room as Hawke went to the tall locker that had Kisa’s name on it. He opened it and inside the locker were three long, white slender gowns all similar made of satin but only a few differences to make each one stand out. He chose a white form fitting gown that was practically strapless except for the one black strip of sequined and satin material that ran from the left breast over the right shoulder at an angle and connected to the back of the gown.
Sitting down at the vanity, Piper immediately took to rolling all of Kisa’s long dark hair into a bun against the right side of her neck where she pinned a large pearl surrounded by feathers in the middle of her bun. “Kisa?” She saw her human glancing at her reflection in the mirror. “I don’t have time to explain what Hawke and I were talking about but I promise you we will discuss this, ok?”
“I don’t like there to be secrets between the three of us,” Kisa lifted her red lipstick to put against her lips. She hated wearing all this useless makeup stuff, but it was a necessity as the lights that lit up the stage tended to drown out the features of anyone on there if they weren’t properly made up. “We won’t talk about this now, I’ve got too much to worry about but you two are going to tell me. If you don’t, I will reach into your minds and pull out the truth myself.”
“Lysander’s way of pulling out truths?” Piper asked, fear lacing her voice.
Kisa’s eyes narrowed in promise, “If I have to I will use any method necessary.”
Hawke growled and came to stand beside his human, glancing at both Kisa’s reflection and his sister’s in the mirror, “You wouldn’t dare do that to us.” His tone was threatening which he couldn’t help it. He had never really used a threatening tone towards Kisa since their bond was formed eleven years ago, but he didn’t like fearing a human’s promises.
This time Kisa turned in her chair and slowly got to her feet all the while staring at him as hard as she possibly could. She got right up in his face as he was only an inch or two taller than her, “You know I am capable of doing what is necessary, Hawke. I know you’re half demon but it doesn’t scare me one bit. I’ve dealt with far worse than half demons and I know how and what to do to control them. You of all Fae know this.”
He barred his right fang in his bitter anger, “I know.” Hawke grumbled and relented, breaking the eye contact and submitting by lowering his gaze downward at the red carpeted floor. “It won’t come to that. You know we only keep certain things from you for your own protection and one day we will explain about Baldric. Just please, at this time do not make us tell you. You will not be able to handle any of the information.”
Piper was surprised and it was visible on her pretty ivory face at the fact of Hawke actually was asking her instead of trying to order Kisa to do anything. She almost forgot to say her own piece, she was that stunned at Hawke’s submitting. “Please, Kisa, we’ve never asked anything of you, but give us this. I for one am not ready to talk about Baldric as he is also part of my past.”
Letting out her anger in a puff of air, Kisa gave a single nod. “Alright, I won’t press the matter further.” Hawke thrust the dress in her direction where Kisa grabbed it from him in a tight grip.
“Let’s get into our show clothes,” Piper suggested as she pulled on Hawke’s arm and pulled him to the other side of the dressing room, “Other people are also going to come in to get into their clothes and we need to be out of here before then.” They had often seen Kisa unclothed, it wasn’t something she was shy about dressing or undressing in front of them, especially in front of Hawke since he on occasion saw her way more naked than anything as he did sparingly share his immortal Life Force with her if she desperately needed it.
While Piper and Hawke started pulling on the satin pink pearlescent dress shirts, Kisa got undressed and began slipping the satin gown over her head as the material glided down over her curves perfectly like water shimmering in the sun. She seemed to glitter in the dressing room light. She stared at her reflection as the dressing room door opened and Gloria Gale, and a few more of the backup singers came into dress
It was going to be a long day, Kisa could already feel it. She would hopefully be able to get through it without having to resort to any spell work to keep her motivated. She still had to talk to Oskari about their potential plans for later. She smiled to herself; he was finally ready to be with her intimately.
This was a huge step for her. Trusting him was still going to be a challenge but she was sure she could do it. He was nothing like Lysander and the other men of her past that she gave her heart to. The ones that actually caused her trust issues as they had either destroyed her heart or tried to kill her while destroying her heart… She had taught herself to be hard hearted so these things never happened again. She was only thirty three years old and already had such a fear of love that sometimes it physically made her ill as she over-thought absolutely everything about it.
Kisa had never wanted to fall in love again; love opened you up to being completely vulnerable and at the mercy of the one you had feelings for and that was something she could not handle. Every time she gave her heart it felt like she lost the control of herself that she desperately needed to have. That simply would not do. The moment she felt herself starting to feel something for someone she would run for the hills, run away from that person and the feelings that she was feeling. Sometimes she resorted to even moving away if the feelings were intense enough. She would just pick up and leave without a word to anyone. If they didn’t know where she ran off to they wouldn’t be able to come after her. It was better that way for everyone. It was the only way she could regain control of her own heart, her own feelings and Kisa had to be in control of them. She could never allow her feelings to have control over her.
This was a new step in her life that was actually going to try and she put her entire self forward with Oskari and he was definitely worth it. He was a fine man, an honorable man as he had wanted to wait till he was close to the end of his marriage or completely divorced as to not really hurt anyone before turning to her physically. So she knew could trust Oskari with her past and her fragile heart. Perhaps he was the one she could tell her entire past to? That was a risk she was going to try and take. She honestly could and she was ready to move forward in this emotional adventure with him.
She was so ready.