GRACE

Nestled into my sheets, naked underneath, I stared at the ceiling and waited for the feeling of regret to rush in.

A minute passed, five minutes, nothing came. I felt no different.
Well, that is if you ignore the tingling in my body.

For some strange reason, I wanted to feel like I was being a betrayer, but then, I wasn’t.

So, no such feeling could make its way into my conscience.

Instead, I instantly felt nervous. I had just allowed my gorgeous employer to do things to me. Things that I enjoyed, no doubt.
In fact, it seemed like it was all about me last night and I was taken to places I would have never thought I would reach sexually just with the little that happened.

But what will happen now? Will anything more happen? If something more happens, what will it mean? That we are intimate? What if he acts like nothing happened?

My mind frowned at the last question. 

More questions rushed in my mind and I sighed deeply. I guess there is only one way to find out.

I am going to put on my big girl pants, go downstairs, be my normal self, do my job and see how things go.

But first I need to bathe.

                 *********

On getting downstairs, the familiar silence of the house embracing me, my eyes scanned the area in search of the man in my mind.

But he was nowhere to be seen. Instead, his daughter was sprawled on the white tile, her legs in the air as she played by herself.

“And what exactly is Ruby up to?”

Ruby dashed me a large smile as she angled her head in my direction.
“Nothing.” She sat up and after a few steps towards her, I was sitting next to her, the coldness of the tile hitting my feet as I placed them down.
I hugged my knees to my chest and used my kneecaps as a pillow, my hair falling to the side.

“How are you feeling now, Ruby?”

“I feel okay. My ankle doesn’t hurt like before.”

“I am glad.” My smile reached my eyes and since not many things make me smile genuinely in life, I could not help but acknowledge that Ruby was gradually having an impact on my life. Just like her father.

“I have to go do my homework. Jeremy will give me more if I don’t do it.” She got up. “And I don’t want more homework.” Her eyes fluttered dramatically as she talked, her hands fully gesticulating. “Jeremy gives a lot of homework, I get tired sometimes.”

She sighed, dramatically. And I suspected that she was trying to communicate something.

“I am sure Jeremy gives you homework to help you.”

She pouted, a sobbing look on her face. “But there are too many!” She reached for my arm, her little hand sending warmth into my skin straight up. What is it with the Powers and their touch? “Please Grace, I need you to do something for your favourite girl.”

I chuckled at the title she gave herself. “What is that Ruby?” Now that I think of it, she is one of my favourite girls.

“Help me talk to Jeremy to reduce the homework.” I tilted my head and gave her a knowing look. “Please.” She was doing the puppy eyes.

“Stop that Ruby.” She intensified those cute, pretty eyes. “Stop doing that, I am not falling for that.”

“I promise I won’t eat chocolates for the next one week.”

“I already said you won’t be eating any in the next one week.”

“But now, I am promising.” She jumped quite excitedly. “Please. Please, Grace.”

“Oh God.” She was so persistent. “Alright Ruby, I will talk to Jeremy.” I exhaled loudly as I shook my head. “Go and do your homework now.” She frowned. “What is it?” I asked unbelievably. “Didn’t you just say you were going to do your homework?”

“I don’t feel like it anymore. I think I want to rest.” She fell onto my knees and I wrapped my hands around her to support her.

“Ruby…” She made a pop sound with her mouth, her head facing the ceiling. “Ruby, how do you expect me to talk to Jeremy about your homework if you don’t do the one he gave you on time? “ She shrugged. What on earth is going on with this child? “Ruby…” My voice leaned to the warning tone.

“There you guys are.” Mr .Powers' voice got Ruby off my hold and into her father’s chest within a few seconds.

After a quick lick of my lips, I maintained my position and stared at the man who was having a hushed conversation with his daughter.
As I watched and waited for his attention, my heart pounded against my chest to my slight annoyance.

“Grace, I am going to do my homework now,” Ruby announced.

Is this cute girl kidding me?

I stared in awe as the little girl dashed up the stairs. It suddenly felt like she was playing a game of some sort with me.

Speaking of games…

“Good morning, Miss Sands.” Mr.Powers did not even glance my way as he walked past me into the living room.

I ignored the pang of disappointment and the anger my egoistic side was about to display. I returned his greeting, my eyes refusing to meet his.

“Good morning Mr…” His familiar, warm lips landed on my forehead. As that action sent tranquillity down my spine, I could not help but be surprised. “…Powers.” I completed, my voice low as I became further confused.

Thanks to the smoothness of the tile, I was able to turn in my position.

“How did you sleep?” He asked once he was seated majestically, his arm slung over the couch. He sported a cocky, sort of victorious expression which amused me because the look made him look as though he were smiling.

“Um…” As I got up, I eyed him suspiciously. I watched as one of his full, almost perfectly arched brow cocked, as though he were waiting for my response.  “Good?”

His eyes narrowed and he slung a leg over the other as he leaned into the couch properly. From where I stood, he looked like one of those men that seduce women from the insides of a magazine.

“I need a precise answer, Miss Sands.” The fact that he was calling me Miss Sands made it more confusing. Was I supposed to answer in reference to the heated situation we were in yesterday? Or should I just answer using the most used response?
“Is there a reason for your prolonged silence, Miss Sands?”

A little frown found a way to my forehead as I tried to read the atmosphere. But I just couldn’t. He was making it difficult to. If I knew any better, I would say he was doing it on purpose.

“Uh… I slept…” He was up on his feet now. His eyes were locked into mine and as he walked closer towards me, they appeared to be studying me in and out, perhaps he was attempting to fish out the right answer to his question.
“I slept…” His scent filled my nose, I had to close my eyes for a second to take control of my system before a mere smell could disrupt its function.  “I slept okay.”

He stopped his steps and gave a curt nod. “Good to know.” His suit strained as he made for the seat he had just gotten up from. Seeing him officially dressed on a Sunday was no longer a surprise to me. “I saw this bag with you yesterday.” I moved my line of sight to the blue, glistening bag in his hold.

“Oh.” I rushed towards him, my chest almost hitting his back as I snatched the bag out of his hand. “It is the birthday gift I got for you.”

He played with his jaws after he had sat down, his dark eyes raking me slowly, his fingers on his left hand rubbing each other's length.

Feeling undressed again, I bit my lips to hide my eagerness to be literally undressed by the man. If there is anything I want to maintain, it would be to give in to the man only when he makes a move. Especially since whatever was going on at that moment was so freaking confusing even if subtly delightful.

“Well, are you going to give me the gift?”

Amusement paraded his face when I jumped out my thoughts.

I gave a short smile and sat down. But I made sure to maintain a distance between us. Then I pulled out the present and handed it to him. I watched him as he stared at the framed picture with indifference. “It is a picture of your daughter.”

“I can see that.” He responded sharply. His reaction was not one I was expecting. Even though I knew he had issues showing some emotions, I expected to see some gratitude in his eyes. 

“Is something wrong with my gift?”I asked.

He raised his head. “Why do you ask that?”

“I am expecting a response from you. Like a thank you?”

He looked down at the frame in his hand, dropped it next to him and held my gaze after. His silence was starting to get on my nerves in a way.

“Grace, apart from my daughter, no other person gave me a present for my so-called birthday.” My lips parted as I waited in anticipation of the words yet to roll out of his tongue. His already intense eyes fell onto mine. “I certainly don’t regret making you mine.”

I choked on some non-existent substance and coughed out the surprise his words brought to my system. When I was done, I looked back at him. “Y…Yours?”

He smirked and shifted a bit from his position, his eyes delving deeper into mine. “Don’t you remember? I told you I wasn’t going to rest until I made you mine.” He moved closer. “And yesterday…”
He was so close to me, the only thing that prevented our bodies from touching was the picture. He reached for my face and he stroked my right cheek with the back of his hand.
I closed my eyes to relish the effect of his touch. “Yesterday, I made you mine.” When I opened my eyes, I saw victory in his eyes.  “And I don’t regret it. You are not giving me a reason to regret it either.”

I certainly did not see this happening. The air around us was so tense as he claimed me with his smooth yet ferocious voice.

“Um…” I gulped as my spell bound self tried to break out of his enchantment. He cupped my cheeks and leaned in a bit closer, his eyes watching mine as though to read my reactions. “Mr Powers?”

With darting eyes, I gulped again when he leaned even closer and made our lips only a few inches apart.

“Say my name, Grace.” His words came out as light as air and they brushed against my lips to my delight. “Say my name.” He pierced my eyes with the blueness of his own and shifted closer that in a second, we would be kissing.

“D…Do…” I stuttered.

“Say my name, Grace. I want to hear you say my name.” Air from his nostrils brushed my lips as he talked. My eyes darted to his lips and I recalled how they made me feel last night and I felt my little body shiver.

“Dominic.” His name came out of my tongue without force.

He smirked against my face and asked, “How about we continue from where we stopped yesterday?”

I felt my whole being respond too happily to his words. While I was already wishing that he would kiss me already, I recalled that Ruby was awake upstairs.

“But…?” My phone’s ringtone filled the air and disrupted the distance between our lips. “Sorry.” I threw him a smile as I got up to search for it. I left it downstairs last night and forgot about its existence. When I finally found it on the couch that was opposite where Mr Powers was seated, I picked it up and saw Sam’s name boldly etched on its screen.

I glanced at Mr. Powers whose eyes remained intently glued on me and he gestured for me to pick the call.

“Sam?”

‘Hey girl! You are popular!’

“Uh? What on earth are you talking about?” I walked to the French doors and stared at the view.

‘You are all over the entertainment news. Everyone wants to know who the pretty woman that Mr Dominic Powers sat with at his dinner party is. You have got the whole of New York asking questions, girl!’ 

Samantha's excitement was extraordinary, even if I decided that what she was telling me was something to be glad about, I could never be as excited as she is.

“But I don’t want anyone asking questions about me. I don’t want to be popular in that sense.” As I played on the tile with my bare foot, I wondered if Mr Powers was paying attention to my words. “I really don’t.”

‘Oh come on girl! You were already on fire with that dress on. And then you sat with the gorgeous Dominic Powers? You can’t escape being popular.’

“Sam, you know things like that don’t appeal to me. I appreciate my privacy.”

‘Well,’ she sounded like she was fed up, ‘you can’t run away from this as long as you are working for him, in his house.’

“Sam, I really can’t be excited about this. You know that.”

She sighed. ‘Well, you are right. I just felt like I should let you know. Anyway, is anything new happening?’

“No, not really. I have to go help Ruby with her work. Thanks for calling. Bye.”

She bid me goodbye and I cut the call immediately. I was not ready to tell her what happened last night, she has a way of making a great deal out of things to my discomfort.

When I swiftly turned,  I swiftly Mr. Powers was no longer in the living room.

After sighing for a reason unclear to me, I placed my buttocks on the nearest couch and rested until I felt comfortable. My gaze fell on the couch Mr. Powers was seated a few minutes ago. I saw that the framed picture was gone and all that was left was his scent.

The more I stared, the more I recalled the words he uttered earlier. And those words made me smile. 

Mr. Powers had said he did not regret making me his. That could mean that there is something between us after all. Something strong I am yet to be able to give a definition to.

And the mere thought of it makes my head fly, it makes my heart swell. It makes me yearn for his touch.

A glance at my phone and I wondered whether to check whatever Samantha was blabbering about. As I figured out it wouldn’t hurt to check, I unlocked my phone and clicked on the Google icon.