s*x Chained

Love Always

Chapter 20

As he sat back down on the cot, Chris observed Nat's movements. She seemed to enjoy her role as hostess as she began to fill a china plate for him. Yet instead of trying to relax and enjoy the moment, Chris felt a little shiver ran up his back. Why had she gone to all the trouble to wine and dine him like this? Obviously, Nat Blanchard had plans for both of them this evening.

Once she filled the plate, Nat brought it to him with a cloth napkin and real silverware. "Go ahead and start. I'll join you in a moment. I want to set the mood."

"I'll wait for you," Chris promised and watched as she went to place a CD in the boom box. A few seconds later orchestral music from the '40s big-band era filled the air. Chris recognized the classic tune "Sentimental Journey." When Nat resumed her post at the cart she scooped a small amount of the food on a plate and joined him at the tray table.

She flashed him a warm smile. "Well then, shall we eat?"

Chris raised his glass of wine. "Allow me to make a toast. Here's to us, Natalie. You and me and the hope for better times ahead."

To us and love always. "I'll drink to that!" After she clinked his glass, Chris quickly took her wrist, then hooked his arm around hers. His new bracelet glittered in the muted glow of the lamp as did Nat's jewelry.

"Now we'll drink to us," he said and strained to bring his glass to his lips as Nat did the same. When they finally managed a sip, they both laughed and unhooked their arms.

"Now let's eat!" Chris didn't realize how hungry he was until he dug into the meal. The meat had been cooked to perfection and included an au jus sauce. Neither one spoke until they had made a dent in their meals.

As he sipped his wine, Chris glanced at his assistant with a subdued but sated expression. She ate so daintily, a little bit of this, a little of that. He felt like a pig compared to her restrained nibbling. "I truly appreciate this," he began. "I thought prisoners deserved nothing but bread and water."

Nat's eyes hardened like dark amber. "You're not a prisoner, Chris, not in the usual sense."

He frowned. "Well then, what am I? I wake up and find myself chained again. Obviously you don't trust me still, despite the intimacy we shared."

"Intimacy or not, I can't run the risk of allowing you to escape, not until we come to some sort of agreement."

"What kind of agreement?" He expected some obtuse answer, and Chris' eyes searched her face for the real, non-verbal response. Nat remained a woman of contradictions. When he thought he had her figured out, she hit him with another double whammy. Perhaps, if they were on equal playing fields, Chris could accept these idiosyncrasies, even revel in them; but he had the disadvantage of limited resources while she remained free to draw what she wanted from him.

"An agreement of the minds," she rejoined. "An agreement of the heart. A vow of everlasting love for one another."

At first Chris thought she made a little jest to keep the romantic mood going; but her quiet demeanor told him otherwise. Natalie Blanchard was serious about avowing love eternal between them. Could she be that desperate for affirmation of her worth? Chris pushed back from the table. After that, he felt no words on his part could adequately describe what he felt at the moment. Certainly surprise and even shock could be added to the mix.

"Well now, Nat," he started after he cleared his throat. "Such an agreement has to be condoned by both parties. I don't know you well enough to give you that kind of affection."

"Not yet?" She looked perplexed. "Well, I see my work is cut out for me."

"Nat... there is nothing you can do to force love between two people. It has to come naturally and with time."

She stood abruptly and threw down her napkin. The tray tottered dangerously and Chris reached out to steady the lighted candles. He certainly didn't want to make her angry; or hurt her in a way that caused deeper wounds than he wanted to make, wounds that took time to heal, if at all.

"Perhaps, we should dance off some of this delicious dinner," he suggested with a thin smile. "Then we can save dessert for later if you like."

Rising, Chris blew out the candles, then set aside the tray and her stool. When he faced her again, he saw that Nat had softened considerably and seemed ready and willing to follow his suggestion. She had removed her glittery bracelet; and when he took her right hand in his, she placed her other on his shoulder. He drew her closer. The song "Time After Time" caressed their ears and their senses, and Nat easily placed her cheek next to his as she fell into the rhythm of the music and his expert steps.

Chris murmured near her ear, "Natalie, you are very beautiful tonight."

"Thank you, darling, I dressed for you," she answered. "I wanted to bring you a tuxedo or even white tails, but I wasn't sure on the size, and the rental is so expensive. It doesn't matter anyway what we wear. The idea is that we're together, and I thought you'd enjoy something different. I don't want your stay here to be a waste of time."

What could he call it then, an unexpected vacation? He certainly lacked a room with a view and the usual amenities, not that he could complain too much. His captor had tried to make him comfortable, but how long would she keep him like this?

When the song ended, Chris broke their embrace, but placed his hands on her shoulders. Dipping his chin, he donned a somber expression. "Nat, we need to have a serious talk. I can't pretend emotions I don't feel, and you need to let go of this fantasy you have about us."

"It's no fantasy, Chris," Nat whispered, then surged back into his arms. He tried to shake his head in rebuttal but she began to plant small, tender kisses along the curve of his neck. Chris had no ready argument, and if he dared to try and talk things out calmly and rationally, he had no idea how she would react. His eyes flicked to the carving knife that accompanied the roast. He didn't want to think of what she could do with such a weapon. Perhaps, a quick stab to his heart if he said or did the wrong thing. Worse, if his delusional partner decided to go for his balls, Chris knew he was a goner.