Chapter 6 #5
We got into the car and during the journey we told each other about our day while listening to music.
At that moment, “You and Me” by Lifehouse was playing.
Hermes seemed relaxed and asked a lot about my work.
When we arrived at the restaurant, I wasn’t surprised that it was one of the most elegant in the city, and I was even less surprised that they knew him and treated him specially, as if he were their best customer.
“We’ve reserved the best table for you, Mr. Darwich, from there you have a beautiful view. Please follow me,” said an elegantly dressed gentleman who I assumed was the restaurant’s host.
“Thank you,” he responded, but he leaned close to my ear and whispered, “the only view I’m interested in is right beside me, and it’s the most beautiful of all,” and he continued walking, holding my hand without being disturbed, while I was left completely dazed by him.
Upon reaching the table, I could see that we were in a privileged spot.
The restaurant had two floors and they seated us on the terrace, at a table decorated with elegant dinnerware and crystal, candles, and an ice bucket with champagne.
Hermes pulled out the chair for me to sit down and then took his place.
For dinner, we both ordered the night’s suggestion, “Grilled veal fillet accompanied by pureed spiced baby carrots and glazed onions.” The food was delicious, and the ambiance and music gave the place a romantic aura that, being accompanied by that man, was making my heart beat in a strange way.
At that moment, “Open the door” by Blues Cousins was playing softly.
“Do you like Blues?” he asked, looking at me intensely.
“Yes, of course. I think it’s a very intense and sensual musical genre, and often sad.”
“It has a lot of that, which is why its name means melancholy or sadness. It’s good that you like it because today we’re going to listen to that type of music. This restaurant is known for having days dedicated to certain types of music, today it’s Blues and Jazz.”
“Let’s enjoy it, then.”
For a few moments we remained in a comfortable silence enjoying the company, the music, and the exquisite food.
“On Friday we’re going to a business dinner,” he announced, with his characteristic authoritarian tone.
At that moment I was bringing my fork to my mouth, I left it in the air and my gaze fixed on him. I lowered the fork and observed that he followed each of my movements with a scrutinizing air.
“The correct thing would be for you to first ask me if I can or want to go to that place,” I stated, and I suppose my tone of reproach didn’t go unnoticed.
“I told you that I have unavoidable commitments and that, if the relationship was exclusive, you should accompany me,” he indicated, with great tranquility, although I don’t think he missed my look of censure.
“Hermes, you’re not the only one who has unavoidable commitments, I remind you that I also have responsibilities that I cannot avoid or postpone and, as it happens, that Friday I also have a business dinner that I committed to attend.
On the other hand, I don’t like you throwing the exclusivity in my face, if it bothers or complicates you so much, we can end this relationship.
Surely, one of your friends would be more than willing to accompany you,” I concluded, and I noticed that my cheeks were burning.
“Are you finished?” he asked, very calmly.
“It depends.”
“May I speak?” he asked, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the table.
I nodded.
“I’m not throwing the exclusivity in our relationship in your face, I myself told you that with you I wouldn’t accept it any other way, so you’ll understand that’s how I want it to be.
Regarding the dinner, it’s true, I forget that you’re also a woman with many commitments, for that you’ll have to excuse me because it’s the first time I’m dating someone who has as many or more than I do,” he stated, while I looked at him with narrowed eyes.
“I understand, but I ask you to try to control your dominant character because I don’t like you informing me of your plans as something I have no option about.”
“I’ll try.”
“I’m sorry I can’t accompany you,” I said, as I brought the wine glass to my lips.
“That’s another issue and I don’t know how we’ll solve it, but we have two problems. The first is that I need you to come with me, the second is that I don’t want you to go alone to the dinner you were invited to.”
I lowered the glass and stared at him, he didn’t take his eyes off mine either, it was like challenging each other with our gaze.
“Complicated. Your first problem is almost impossible to solve because we have invitations for the same day, regarding the second, I don’t agree with you.”
“Why do you have to contradict everything I say?” he asked, and I noticed that he was beginning to lose the calm with which, until that moment, he had been handling the situation.
“I’m not contradicting you, I simply think differently,” I clarified.
For a few minutes he just dedicated himself to observing me, but I noticed that his mind was racing.
“We’ll go together to both events, we’ll spend some time at each one.”
“That’s not the best solution.”
“But it’s the only one I can find. It’s out of the question for you to go alone to that meeting you were invited to.”
“You don’t trust me,” I stated, looking at him with disappointment.
“Delfina, don’t pressure me. This is new for me and I’m trying to handle it the best I can, but I’m not going to change overnight, I need time,” he stated, and I could notice the uneasiness in the tone of his voice.
“All right, I can understand that. But I want you to know that it’s not easy for me either.”
“For me it’s torture, I assure you. I spend all day thinking about you and what you might be doing. I’m going to go crazy...” he said, running his hands through his hair in a clear gesture of nervousness or anguish.
It seemed like he was living under the veil of fear, the fear of being hurt again.
Such was the anguish I saw reflected in his face and eyes, that I didn’t care that we were in an elegant restaurant, I got up and moved my chair next to his to sit beside him.
I took his face in my hands and looked at him with all that feeling that made my heart beat.
Hermes looked at me surprised, but immediately lowered his barriers and let himself be pampered.
“I know it can’t be easy for you and I promise I’ll show you that you can trust me.
I only care about you because I’m in love with you, Hermes Darwich.
And I’m going to make you a promise,” I said, while I continued holding his face in my hands and he looked at me attentively, “I will never lie to you or hide anything from you, if during the course of our relationship I ever become interested in someone else or feel that what we have is no longer working, before making any decision or taking any action, I will tell you what’s happening to me. ”
“I won’t let you become interested in anyone else,” he stated.
“We can’t know that for sure. It could happen to either of us, but I do expect the same behavior from you—no cheating.”
“I don’t cheat. When I’ve dated several women at once, it was because things were clear,” he stated.
“Besides, you know that if you ever cheat on me…”
“You’ll cut my balls off. I remember—that was a bad idea on my part,” he commented, and after a moment I could see a smile appearing on his handsome face.
I leaned toward his lips and gave him a gentle kiss, but as I was getting up to move the chair back to its place, he surprised me by pulling me in and giving me a scorching kiss that left my legs trembling and my heart racing.
“Behave yourself, Mr. Darwich,” I said, looking at him with a big smile.
“You started it,” he declared, with that beautiful smile that lit up his face.
“I’m going back to my seat because they’ll end up throwing us out, and I’d really like to come back here someday.”
“Nobody would dare, I assure you,” he stated with great confidence, and I had no doubt that was true.
I returned to my seat, but after that kiss, I was certain we both wanted to leave as soon as possible.
“You’re thinking the same thing I am,” he asserted with a mischievous smile, looking at me so intensely that it made me feel naked.
“I don’t think you have the power to read minds,” I said, though I was sure we both had the same thought.
“I don’t need to read your mind to realize you’re feeling the same thing I’m feeling right now. I’d undress you right here and fuck…”
“Hermes!” I interrupted him, because this man could make me have an orgasm just by talking about what he would do to me.
He started laughing, but I could also tell he was aroused—the gleam in his eyes didn’t lie.
“Let’s have dessert at my place. I feel like serving it directly off your body,” he declared, while raising his hand to call the waiter.
I stared at him, both surprised and flushed. Just imagining what he had proposed made my entire body shiver and my heart beat at a frantic pace.
◆◆◆
We arrived at the parking garage where his car was parked, and he opened the door for me, but before I could sit down, he whispered:
“I can’t wait to get home, darling.”