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Reggie showed us to our seats as we entered the dining room where a massive table was set with heavy china, goblets and silver, almost threatening in its appearance. There was something ominous in entering that space, as if it were the bearer of dark secrets. Here was the entrance to my darker side and what lay beyond this room, and this meal, and these people. I could not escape what the thought of such things was doing to my arousal.
“Alexandra, sit at my left,” Reggie said. He directed Will to sit at the other end of the table. Michael, whom I’d met at the pool sat next to me, Heidi across the table at Reggie’s right, Elliot, to Heidi’s right, and then Ann across from Will. At the opposite end of the table was Gus, the foreman of the stables. He was a dark surly man, heavily bearded with deep set eyes that cast furtive glances around the room. He seemed suspicious of the gathering. I concluded he’d rather not be present at such a fancy table. He’d be more comfortable sharing beer in the stables with his boss. His close ties with Reggie were apparent to me when I watched them together earlier. His eyes darted about observing, but saying nothing.
The banter around the table was intriguing, from politics to philosophy to ethics. Lacking confidence, I didn’t speak until Reggie turned to me deliberately.
“Alexandra, what do you think: is there an absolute good and evil?”
All eyes around the table stared at me. I must have blushed. “I…” I stumbled over my words.
Reggie waited patiently.
“I don’t see any use for absolutes,” I finally gathered myself enough to open my mouth. “They don’t work, there are always circumstances that defy the rules.”
Reggie looked briefly impressed with my reply, and the conversation went on without me. I felt as if I was bridging the gap between me and the rest of the table, though my triumph was short lived.
The drink I swallowed so quickly had begun to go to my head. I was glad for the meal that followed, but it was light vegetarian, not nearly as filling as I hoped. Midway through the meal, Reggie plopped another drink in front of me. Again his instructions, “Drink it quickly.”
“But the other already has me so lightheaded,” I protested. He stared at me coldly in reply. I took a deep breath and nearly threw the drink down my throat. The meal was over.
Chapter Thirteen
After dinner, we adjourned to the living room, the same room where Reggie had first received me, where I chronicled my fantasies to him in explicit detail. The remembrance of that meeting delighted me as I gazed at the chairs where we’d sat. Heidi and Elliot sat there now, locked in conversation, their heads together like lovers.
My mind was swimming, the liquor in me rushing to my head. I sidled close to Will, taking his arm in mine and the warmth of his body soothed me. “I’m so glad you’re here,” I whispered.
He looked down at me with his passionate eyes. I could tell they were warm with desire. “You’ve chosen Reggie as your lover, not me, my dear.” His words coolly defied his lust for me, and seemed to ignore the fact that I was doing this as much for him as I was for me.
“But Will?” I started to protest.
“Dive into your choice, Alex, this is your world now.” He stared toward the others. “Make the most of it.” He gently removed my arm from his and strolled away.
I stood alone, watching Will join Reggie and Gus in an animated conversation. Ann sat comfortably by herself, smoking.
“Dinner was wonderful, wasn’t it?” I said, approaching her.
“Frankly, hon, I prefer steak and ribs and all those deliciously fatty things, but yes, for light and healthy, the cook does pretty good.”
“You don’t mind my asking, but is this your permanent home?”
“Oh, God forbid!” she replied. “I’m here because of Heidi.” There was a finality in her voice that closed the door on further conversation about her living arrangements.
“I understand you play tennis?” I asked.
“As often as I can. Do you play?”
“Not well.”
“I’m not choosy about partners, we’ll have to try a game sometime.” She quickly snuffed her cigarette and pushed herself from the couch. “Excuse me, but I need to rescue poor Elliot,” she explained.
Alone again, I couldn’t find a way to join the others. Will didn’t want me near him. Ann, Elliot and Heidi seemed deeply involved with each other. I’d never approach Reggie and Gus just plain frightened me. Besides, beneath all my fears, I was quaking inside waiting for the night’s drama to begin – if it would begin at all. Trying to make small talk seemed pretty ridiculous at this point.
I watched Reggie move among the others. Richly alive, his confident demeanor fascinated me. With Ann he touched her affectionately, and her face lit up in response to his witty comments, which I was unable to hear. For Heidi there was the infectious smile and his deliciously warm laugh. She just snarled at him like a petulant child, and then smoothed it over with aloof detachment.
To Gus, Elliot and Will, he was a pleasant companion, moving deftly to each of them, putting on a face that befit the essence of each man. With Gus, he appeared coarse. With Elliot he was almost fatherly. And with Will, to my surprise, he was most natural, relaxed as if Will was his only true friend in the group. But then Will was just Will, he was always easy to be near.
My body trembled with anticipation when Reggie finally caught my eye. The energy that had passed between us had grown progressively stronger as the night wore on. With his attention on me now, my anxiety leapt to my throat. He had a power about him that made me shudder as he fixed himself on me. Yet when he moved across the room and placed his hand on my arm, he didn’t woo me with casual talk or lively banter. He was simpl
e and discreet.
