Rathal waited in the hall for me.
He was in a suit. Like a three piece suit you would see on a mob boss, a black ensemble with silver embroidery and a maroon vest, complete with a silver pocket watch.
He froze when he saw me, his eyes going wide.
“You are even more breathtaking than I imagined you would be,” he breathed, coming to stand in front of me.
I recognized the danger the second his eyes went all dark and intense. I held up my hands with a laugh. “Oh no you don’t! You promised me a date. You can peel me out of this dress afterwards.”
He sucked his teeth. “Fine. But the jewelry stays on.”
I laughed hard and took his offered arm. “Deal.”
He took me to the dining room where three lit candelabras sat on the table. Shimmering black flowers were gathered in elegant displays around each candelabra and our places were set with heavily embossed silver plates and silverware. Thick silver goblets were set to the side of each plate, filled with a liquid that was cold enough to frost the cups sides.
Rathal’s fangs shone white against his black fur as he grinned and tugged his suit jacket down slightly. Silver rings were on each of his fingers. “You truly look ravishing, darling. Like thegoddess you are. I knew that color was made for you. I have a mind to keep you dripping in gold for the rest of your life.” He did a little spin. “What do you think of this? It’s plain, I know, but I read a few novels from Earth and this is what all the male leads were wearing so I thought to give it a try. Not enough flare in my opinion, but judging by the dazed look on your face when you first saw it, it was a success.”
“You look sexy, as usual,” I told him, running my eyes all over his body. A suit was like lingerie for women and he nailed it.
He chuckled darkly and pulled out my chair, gesturing to it dramatically. “Your seat, my prize. Take it before you ooze into a puddle on my nice floor.”
I blinked and swallowed hard, noting the silver rings in his ears that had replaced the gold ones he usually wore as I took my seat and allowed him to push me in close to the table. He moved my goblet closer to my hand and leaned over me to straighten my silverware on their pretty silk cloth napkins. His scent washed over me and I shivered.
The way that suit hugged his shoulders should be illegal. I was going to find his tailor and kiss them full on the mouth.
Rathal stepped back from me and walked slowly to his chair, giving me ample time to admire his tight ass and thick legs in the suit pants. He looked at me over his shoulder and winked before taking his seat with a flourish.
“I think I’ll order one in every color if it makes this much of an impact on you.”
Please lord, I’ll do anything.
A slow grin graced Rathal’s handsome face and he leaned back, steeping his hands over his chest and watched me.
“I have something special on the menu tonight, something I thought you might enjoy above any of the elaborate dishes usually served here.” He clapped his hands twice and the door on the far side of the room opened and in marched three chefspushing black fabric covered carts with dome covered serving trays on them.
The first chef, one I recognized from my time in the kitchen, the many eyed and hand grump that had ordered me out of his section, stopped right beside me and lifted the lid of the tray. On it, with steam rising and the mouth watering aroma of familiarity filling my nose, was a hamburger.
thirty-three
Callie
Itwasperfect.
Sesame seeds on a golden brown bun that had that shiny quality all good hamburger buns had, with lettuce, tomato, cheese, pickles, onions, and—fuck me blind and move the furniture—was thatbacon?
Tears pricked my eyes when the chef placed the burger on my plate and I saw that yes, yes it was bacon, crisped to perfection. Oh sweet baby Jesus, it smelled fucking delicious.
I looked at Rathal in open mouthed shock. “What?”
He nodded his head at the chef—who then grunted and left—and gestured to the burger on his own plate. “The ingredients were hard to find and expensive, but of all the Earth media I’ve studied, the hamburger seems to be on the top of your country’s list of favorite foods. I know that you are partial to only meat now, but I figured I’d give it to you as a whole for the full effect and you could decide what you can eat or not.”
My hands shook as I reached for the burger and picked up the warm miracle and brought it to my mouth. I took a long sniff and nearly wept before taking my first bite.
Flavor kicked me in the teeth, all American flavor, full on normal Earth flavor. This burger could have been from any one of the restaurants back home and it made a thankful sob escape past the food in my mouth.
“It's good then?” Rathal asked, his voice quivering with barely suppressed laughter.
I nodded rapidly as I chewed and took another bite and sniffed a little against the tears that wanted to rain down my cheeks. A fucking burger. Thank you, God.
