Chapter 5
Felix
As soon as Severin left the kitchen, I slumped against the counter, breathing hard as I felt my body hum with need.
I had never had this reaction to someone else before.
Never. The way he smelled. I was in so much trouble here.
I had wanted him to bite me, almost groaned when he sniffed my neck, because how fucking hot was that?
Shaking myself out of it, I reminded myself that I was under contract.
I wasn’t allowed to do anything fun with my master.
It was one of the biggest no-no’s at the company, and if they fired me, Astrea would be doomed.
I began looking through the kitchen as my pizza cooked, knowing I needed the distraction before my boner would deflate.
With my pizza made and ready to eat, I grabbed some water and sat at the rounded dinner table in the corner. Pulling out my phone, I texted Claire.
Me: Arrived safely. Sorry for not texting before now. Boss man is hotter than hot. Might need to make a libido killer potion. Not even kidding
I sat my phone down, satisfied my best friend knew I was alive and well, then began eating. Her response came two minutes later.
Claire: OMG. For real? Like better than the pictures? Because then I might need that potion too. You think you can remain professional?
That was the million-dollar question.
Me: Not sure. Hence the potion. But I have to. For Astrea
Claire: Let me know if you need anything. We should just stick to texting so your new master doesn’t overhear us
Me: Good idea. I would die of embarrassment. It’s hard enough knowing he can smell if I get aroused
Claire: This is gold
Me: This is my life
Claire: And I’m eating it up like it’s reality TV
I sighed and decided not to answer. Focusing on my pizza, I finished the last of it and went to stand.
I knew Severin had cleaners, but I was raised better than to leave a mess.
I had just added my plate to the dishwasher when I felt another presence.
I spun in place, then saw my next master smirking from the doorway.
Peter. He was taller than I imagined, his long blonde hair was pulled into a bun.
The pictures I’d seen of him showed a modern-day Viking, a strong man with long hair and some stubble.
“Oh,” I said, clutching my heart. “You scared the shit out of me.” Then I recalled this was my future master and not one I should speak so casually to. Fuck, Severin had made me lose all my manners.
To my surprise and relief, Peter laughed. “Sorry for startling you. I came for the contract.”
“Oh. I still haven’t signed it.”
“I know.” He lifted his right hand and I realized he held it. “Once you have signed it, I will send it in.”
“Sure. Do you have a pen I can use?”
He lifted his left hand, grinning as he offered me both the pen and the contract. I had already read my own, but I knew better than to sign a paper I hadn’t read, so I sat down on my vacated chair and skimmed it through before signing it.
“Thank you,” Peter said, taking the signed contract from my offered hand. “Anything I can help you with before I leave?”
“You don’t live here?” I asked, before thinking.
He laughed again, softer this time. “No, but I do live close. Severin and I prefer our own space.”
“I get that.” It was the same with me and Astrea; she had inherited the house where I got the store and small apartment.
“You have siblings?” he asked, seeming genuinely interested in getting to know me. I figured with him being my master in a year, it was mostly because of that.
“A sister,” I replied, keeping it at that. I didn’t want to tell him about the curse and everything. It didn’t concern him, or Severin.
His response surprised me. “I did, too.” I didn’t miss the past tense of that, meaning he and Severin had lost a sibling. Then he placed the contract into his messenger bag. “I know my brother has already turned in for the night, so I promised to help you out with anything you needed before bed.”
“Oh,” was all I could say to that.
“The cook is still over an hour away. Do you want dinner or?”
“No, thank you. I just ate a pizza and it was rather filling. No need to cause the cook trouble so late.” It was around seven pm so not really late at all, but I felt like too much of a burden if he cooked for me so late in the night.
“He lives in town but was finishing another job further away, which is why he still has not returned,” Peter explained.
“But why does Severin even need a cook?” I questioned, still confused about that part.
Peter just gave me a quizzical look. “Because of you.”
“Me?” I asked, my tone a bit high pitched.
He smirked. “Why, yes. You need food, do you not?”
I nodded. “I do, yes. But my other masters just allowed me to use their kitchen. I normally make my own food.”
“They allowed you to? What kind of masters have you had?”
I just shrugged. “Different ones.” He could take that answer as he pleased. I hadn’t felt badly treated. Not even from the one master that forgot I needed food. Also, it wasn’t seen as good manners to bad mouth previous masters in front of a future one.
The look he gave me told me he knew what I meant. “Well, you have a cook now. And you might as well get used to him, because I will hire him for myself when I become your master.”
I blinked, not expecting that. It was one thing that Severin wanted to pamper me, but his brother, too? “Um, thank you.”
Peter only smiled at that. “Here,” he said, handing me a card. “This is the cook, Joel’s, information. I suggest you add it to your contacts and text him yours. He wants to know your preferences, and I believe it would be best if he got it before breakfast tomorrow.”
I took the card. “I can ask for anything I like?” This was some fancy shit, but I was so okay with it. Beauty and the beast was my favorite childhood movie, and if Severin was my beast, then I would gladly eat the food and read all the books. Wait, did he have a library? Now I needed to know.
“Yes. Joel prefers to make you happy with his food.”
“I like him already,” I said, still kind of confused by everything. “I have one last question, though.”
“Ask away.”
“Does Severin have a library?”
He nodded.
“Can I use it?”
“Did he not allow you full access to the castle?” he asked, frowning like he couldn’t believe that.
“Oh, he did,” I quickly answered. “But I still felt it would be best to ask.”
He smiled, showing off a dimple as he did so. “I like you, Felix.”
I was so taken a back that I replied with, “Thank you.”
Peter laughed and left the kitchen, leaving me embarrassed and alone.
I texted Joel my number and then told him not to bother coming in tonight, adding a smiley face since I feared I would sound too harsh without it.
I wanted Joel to like me; besides, I had no experience having a cook before.
I then added what I enjoyed for breakfast, casually mentioning it was Peter who had told me to tell him so I didn’t come off as too demanding.
It was hard having a cook.
Deciding a bath would be the perfect way to end the day, I let myself soak in the big tub with my kindle while waiting for Joel’s reply.
The tub had one of those table things over one corner, it was made of wood and I could place my phone and kindle, and maybe even a glass of wine on it I would definitely need to try that one day.
I snapped a pic of the tub before getting in. Then I sent it to Claire so she could enjoy this with me. Who was I kidding? I wanted to make her jealous. And it worked.
Claire: How dare you send me that? Our showerhead just broke on me. Like seriously. It’s like you knew
I laughed to myself before replying.
Me: Buy a new one. We needed a better one anyway
It was really only a matter of time before it broke, the head kept getting loose and it was hard fixing it with tape when it got wet all the time.
Her reply was just the middle finger. I grinned, already loving my first day as Severin’s feeder. I had a surprise for Claire that I’d yet to tell her about, so I decided now would be best.
Me: Check my room
Claire: ???
Claire: OMG
Claire: Seriously?!
Claire: You’re forgiven
Chuckling, I placed my phone on the small table and rested my eyes for a bit as I got comfortable in the water.
After each contract ended, I always baked something for Claire as a thank you.
She made sure things were running smoothly at the shop and then took care of Astrea in my absence.
I owed so much to her, but we also both knew I couldn’t spend money on anything other than getting Astrea un-cursed.
So, she got a cake each year, and this year I made her brownies. My way of showing her I cared.
My phone dinged, and I expected to see Claire’s name again, but was pleased to see Joel had texted me back. It was around eight pm now, and I figured he must have just gotten home.
Joel: Hi, Felix. I look forward to cooking for you.
Do you mind answering a few questions while you eat breakfast tomorrow?
I just need to know about allergies and such for other meals.
I will cook every meal for you each day, and some days I will make some you can heat up yourself.
I have Sunday and Mondays off, so on those days I will leave meals ready in the fridge and freezer.
Me: That sounds fantastic. And sure, I’m looking forward to it.
With the water now too cold for my liking, I decided bathtime was over.
I got up and found a fluffy looking towel and, to no surprise at all, a bathrobe that was so soft I never wanted to take it off.
I did my skincare routine and decided to read in bed before going to sleep.
Tomorrow, Severin would bite me, so I let that thought warm me as I snuggled under the soft covers and booted up my kindle.
I couldn’t wait.