‘For a second I thought you will even kiss my hand…such manners I only read in Jane’s Austen books’ I broke the ice, as I felt the few seconds of silence are embarrassing and time relativity might kick in.
He didn’t reply, but instead, he reached for my hand over the table and kissed it, and naturally enough I started to feel a heat through my spine and feel my face turning red. He didn’t hold the moment long and asked:
‘So, how was your day Sheila?’
‘Disaster, but I hope the sunset will turn the table. I have some faith, after all I missed the classes, first bus, bumped into a sociopath that followed me, almost got kicked out of this place, it can’t get worst, isn’t?’
‘I don’t make promises, but this time I promise I will make your day better than it started. Wine?’
‘For start, please don’t promise anything. I killed all guys that failed to keep their promises! And no thanks, wine might reveal too much, too soon!’ I could see Hector’s pupils growing in icy-glowing moons, staring at me, and I couldn’t read if I just freaked him out or he was sort of amused, so I continued: ‘Sure, I’m only messing, I didn’t kill anyone!’
‘I almost believed you!’ he calmly smiled.
‘Yet!’ I completed.
‘You can’t refuse a glass of ‘Screaming Eagle – this wine is your age’ he insisted pouring this rich purple Merlot in 2 glasses.
‘It is actually younger, this wine is a cult, but Merlot variety was only planted in 1995 in Napa Valley – I am not that young!’ I showed off with my knowledge, without mentioning that my beloved partner liked to buy collection wines, which would end up in my glass, while I was googling the price to see how annoyed will that make him.
‘Impressive!’
Hector raised the glass for toast, and I didn’t think too much, answered his invitation and tasted from this wine accepting a lure into a world that was far from my dreams. I shortly thought that he is managing to manipulate my will, a feeling that wasn’t strange for me, yet, I couldn’t stop. I was fully conscious that this is where my relationship with Ecio was wrong – I let him think that he knew what I wanted, that he could run his fingers through my brain and let them pick up my thoughts. He was a thousand per cent sure he knew me and that he had me forever, but a man doesn’t know his woman, until he knows what she’s hiding from him. Ecio was far from that!
‘What are you thinking at? Hector interrupted my imaginary monologue. I lied saying that the wine is as expected and I would love another glass, but I need to go home, as I might end up missing all buses.
‘Let’s have dinner first, you must be hungry after this long day!’
‘I need to go, maybe with another occasion?’ I insisted to keep my idea (even if it wasn’t what I necessarily wanted), and grabbed my jacket.
‘Ok, but promise I will see you again? Maybe a proper dinner in a Saturday – you choose a place where, perhaps a place in your comfort zone?’
‘Yes!’ I stuttered looking for the exit, but Hector got closed, I could feel his skin odor, I closed my eyes and he pulled me close.
‘Let me kiss you for goodbye!’
And I didn’t react, didn’t gesticulate any gesture of rejection, I lived that second with my voice fainted, I let this stranger man to touch my lips, I answered his kiss without remorse and left without saying goodbye.
Ecio was waiting with dinner, almost cold, almost angry, but as soon as I got the door I asked him if he has any bottles of Californian Screaming Eagle. He didn’t answer, but I went into his little winery place, grabbed that bottle and poured two full glasses. We drank that bottle and we had sex for good few hours. In my mind, I was in Hector’s bed, of course, and after so long time, I had emotions.
The following day Ecio got home with few bottles of that wine.
‘Poor bastard! I told myself… he wants more!
Deviant Fiction 