"But you're not... Look, I can't eat that stuff. It will make me sick. You don't want me to be sick, do you?" I tried to pout like I'd seen Vanessa doing at Diamond Rocks. Seemed to get her whatever she wanted, so it was worth a shot.
Jesse chuckled. "Nice try, baby. But I told you I'd be taking care of you, and sometimes what you need isn't what you want. Anyway, trust me, I'm a good cook. I didn’t spend all my time as a soldier fighting, you know. I can makethat stuff," he pointed a thumb at the fridge, "taste better than any pizza or quarter pounder."
I screwed up my face. "I doubt it."
“Go back to your room. I’ll be right there.” His calm, stern voice made it clear it was going to be a fight I would lose.
“Fine, but if I'm sick it will be your fault.”
I made my way back down the long window-lined hallway toward the bedroom, my little soft nightgown flowing around me as I walked. I wondered what the surprise was going to be, and whether I mightactuallybe sick when I tasted whatever he was about to cook for us.
But as I waited more patiently than I'd ever waited in my life, sitting cross-legged on the bed with the little nightgown pooling around my legs, my nose started to twitch.
Then my mouth started to water.
And by the time he came though the door with a serving tray in his hands, I was just about drooling at the smell drifting through the hallways.
"What is it?" I demanded, snatching the tray out of his hands and pulling the lid off the top of the dish.
It didn't look like any sort of normal food, but it smelled amazing. Like, better than pizza.
"Just a little breakfast for hungry girls. You made Daddy very happy last night, but I know it must have drained your strength. Also, you're still getting over your... past. This is strength boosting and easy to digest."
He laughed as I lost patience and dug the fork into the offered food. As I put it in my mouth, I closed my eyes.
"You've got scrambled eggs," he said. "Smoked salmon. Spinach."
"Spinach?" My eyes snapped open again and I shook my head. "No, I'm not eating that. I hate spinach."
Jesse chuckled. "Baby girl, you're already eating it. And having a mouthgasm from the looks of it."
I narrowed my eyes, then glanced down at the food. Really? That green stuff was spinach? Who knew it could actually taste good? "And this all over the top?"
"Just a few chives for extra flavor. And a sprinkle of salt and pepper."
I couldn't believe it. He wasn't kidding when he said he was a good cook. Had he really learned to do this as a soldier? I thought they ate rations from tins or something.
The food didn't take me long to get through, and then I was eating a bowl of yogurt with blueberries scattered on top. And washing it down with fresh squeezed orange juice.
I'd never eaten anything so nutritious in my life. Or anything so tasty.
"That was..." I pulled my mouth to the side, considering my words. "Not so bad."
Jesse stood, nodding. "I'm glad you liked it."
"I didn't say I liked it--"
"You didn't have to. Now for something I will like."
"I already know what you like," I said with a grin, remembering how it felt to be loved by him. How it felt to be used by him. "I'm game if you are."
"No, not that. There will be time for that, but I want to see how pretty you look with your surprise." He wandered around to the side cupboard, pulling open the drawer at the top and taking out a small black box. Not small enough to be a wedding ring... So what? More teddy bears? He held it out to me. "Take it, baby. I bought it for you. A long time ago, actually, but I never thought I'd have this chance."
I watched his face as I took the box from his hands, wondering what on earth could be inside. And when I pulled it open, I was none the wiser.
"A... torpedo?" I suggested, pulling the little object from its silk-lined container. It was about the length of my thumb, and tapered in shape, with a wide, circular end set with what looked like a diamond.
Jesse took it from my hands and held it up for me to see. "It's to make you ready, baby girl. To make your body able to take someone of my size."
