When the Night Falls

JASMINE

I took a deep breath, inhaling the many aromas wafting from the various pans and ovens around me. After Theodore asked me to cook for him, I pulled out all the stops.

I decided on a classic five-course meal inspired by my Canadian roots with a French twist, in honor of Theodore’s lineage. One perk of cooking in this kitchen meant there was a staff at my fingertips, all eager to find whatever obscure foreign ingredient I needed.

We would start with a crea m y soup made with escargot and lobster. My mom used to make a similar one when I was growing up, but the escargot was an inspired addition on my end.

We’d then move on to a fresh garden salad with a fig-and-blackberry dressing and topped with roasted chestnuts.

I’d sent Sherry out to get some fresh-baked French baguettes to accompany the main, which was a delicious grilled steak marinated in maple butter, a Toronto specialty.

After that, we’d move to the most classically Canadian dish of the night, my famous poutine. I made my own fries, which I cut in thick strips from fresh potatoes, then deep-fried in extra virgin olive oil. Of course, the crispy bacon bits came next, then the classic turkey gravy and, to top it all off, sh a v e d le beaufort chalet d’alpage cheese from eastern France.

Once we’d eaten our fill of poutine, I’d pull out my last surprise, a fresh tiramisu topped with Quebecois maple syrup.

Tre magnifique.

Staring around at my delicious concoctions, all bubbling away before me, my mind drifted again to Theodore. I was still painfully aware that he hadn’t told me he loved me yet.

And why had he asked me to cook for him now after refusing to eat my food the first night we spent together in the library?

Did this me

mean he was growing tired of me? Was he starting to see me once more as his employee and nothing more?

Feeling the panic starting to rise in my chest, I hurriedly stirred my fries to give me something to do with my hands.

This all started with me trying to serve Theodore a meal in a restaurant. It was only fitting that it might end the same way.

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f’s met going his end. I told myself for the tenth time since I started cooking.

“Ahem. Ms. Gibson?” I turned around to see a sour-looking maid standing in the kitchen doorway I’d seen her around, but I couldn’t remember her name.

“Yes?” I asked, reaching for a spoon to stir the happily-bubbling soup.

“Mr. Jefferson has asked you to go to your room and prepare for your evening together.”

I felt my stomach do a little backfl*p inside me. He told her we’d be spending the evening together?

“I’m not quite done cooking.” I said, fl*pping one of the steaks. It sizzled deliciously.

“I can take it from here. You go prepare for tonight.” she said forcefully, bustling in and taking over my post

After hurriedly explaining to her how to tell when each dish was finished. I left the kitchen and made my way slowly back to my room.

My heart was really pounding now. What the hell was about to happen with Theodore?

He was openly telling people we were spending the evening together. That was either a great sign or a terrible one.

When I opened the door to my room. a soft gasp escaped my l*ps despite myself.

Laying on the bed in front of me was the most beautiful dress I’d ever seen. It was bright red. with glittering gold sequins on the hips and a thin, tasteful line of flowers around the hem.

Laying next to it was a thin gold n*ecklace that complimented the dress perfectly. Running it through my fingers. I let out a small gasp.

It wasn’t actually a n*ecklace at all, but a collar. It only looked like a n*ecklace from a distance, the sort of thing you could wear in public without arousing suspicion. A little note was resting next to it on top of the sheets. I picked it up and read it.

Remember the rules of the last collar… They apply to this one too.

Decide whether or not to put it on, and then meet me in the garden for dinner.

As soon as I was dressed, there was a light knock on my door. I opened it up, expecting to see Theodore. But instead, I found the sour-faced maid again.

“Come with me.” she said dryly, then took off down the hallway.

As I followed her, I was reminded strongly of Iris. It seemed when one bossy staff member was fired, another one rose to fill her place.

I chuckled to myself at the thought, and the sour-faced maid turned back to glower at me. I

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which were locked. I was soon lou

I’d never been to this part of the mansion before. The walls were even more ornate and grande

here.

After how long we’d been walking and how grand the walls were. I wouldn’t be surprised of somehow walked under the English Channel and we were in Versailles itself.

Finally, the sour-faced muid slowed and opened a stained-glass door for me. She then stood aside and bowed as I stepped through it and out into a glorious garden.

Flowers bloomed on all sides, and a thin brick path led through them down to.

I gasped as I saw him standing there in the setting sun. He looked more handsome that eve crisp grey tuxedo with his hair slicked back with just the right amount of product.

He stood before a table ladened with all the dishes I’d made him.

Their aromas wafted across the garden, infusing the air with a delicious mixture of scents Flowers and maple syrup. Sugar and spices.

“Good evening, Jasmine.” Theodore said as I stepped towards him. “You may go, M AldermanTMTM

The sour-faced maid curtsied and left, closing the stained-glass door behind her.

“Wow.” I said, surveying the garden. “This is beautiful. But… This meal was meant to be served

in courses.

“I know.” Theodore said, holding out his hand and helping me into one of the two chairs. “But I didn’t want us to be disturbed. You’ll just have to tell me what to eat first.”

He leaned in for a k*ss, and I parted my l*ps just slightly. He seemed to sense I was a little stiff Bowever, because he quickly pulled away.

“What is wrong?” he asked, his face full of worry.

“Nothing’s wrong,” I said, smiling sweetly at him and caressing his face. “Let’s eat”

Jasmine,” he said warningly. “Tell me. Please.”

I chewed my l*p slightly as he knelt in front of me. The look on his face was genuine. I could be really wanted to know what was upsetting me.

Why didn’t you eat my food the first few times I cooked for you?” I finally blurted out only now? Are you done with me, and this is some kind of last hurrah?”

There it was. My fears were all out there, hanging in the air. Gently, Theodore raised his hand to caress my cheek softly.

“Done with you?” he asked, his voice full of passion. 1 could never be done with you, Jasmine.”

And then, without another word, he stood and crossed to the other seat. I blinked, confused.

Theodore pulled the maple steak closest to him and cut off a tender slice in one quick motion. And then, slowly and deliberately, he brought it to his l*ps. And took a bite.

He chewed thoughtfully for a moment before swallowing and dabbing at the edges of his mouth with a napkin.

“Delicious,” he said. I had to laugh, even through the tears still dripping down

Wiping my eyes, I said, “You’re supposed to start with the soup.” He laughed.

From then on, it was like the seal was broken. We talked, we laughed, we ate.

my face.

Over the course of the next hour, we somehow managed to finish all five courses. By the time we had eaten the last bites of the tiramisu, I was feeling more full and content than ever.

“Come over here,” Theodore said. I stood with him and walked across the garden to a swing hanging from the edge of the house. It looked out over the rolling pastures of Theodore’s estate.

I sat down next to him, then snuggled into his arm.

We both looked out over the rippling grass, watching the sunset over the distant treeline.

After a moment, I felt Theodore’s hand softly caress my throat, just under my chin. Applying a bit of pressure, he turned me up to look at him.

And then he brought our l*ps together for the second time tonight.

At first, it was sweet and innocent. But the longer our l*ps touched, the more passionate we

became.

His tongue pressed into my mouth and I opened up to allow him inside, moaning as I felt his hands snaking under my dress to touch the bare skin of my a s s.

My hands slid down to his hardening manhood, which was straining against the tight fabric of his pants.

But before I could touch it, his hand wrapped around my own, stilling me.

I opened my eyes as he broke the k*ss.

“What is it?” I asked breathlessly.

“I love you,” he said swiftly.

It took me a moment to realize what he’d just said. The thing I’d been waiting for him to say since last night. The thing that had been tearing me apart from the inside for twenty-four hours.

Only now that it was gone did I realize the weight that had been pressing against my heart since I

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told him last night.

“Really?” I asked, not sure if I believed him. He nodded.

“I love you too,” I said, then leaned in to k*ss him again. Then I pulled away. “Still”

E

He laughed, then pulled me onto his lap. I straddled him as our mouths crashed together again, grinding against the hardness in his pants that was somehow still growing.

Our hands were all over each other, feeling every inch of each other’s bodies.

We’d k*ssed before, of course. We’d done a hell of a lot more than k*ss, in fact. But never like this. Never this full of passion, full of desire and longing. We were two people in love.

After a moment, his fingers sl*pped under the golden collar at my throat and pulled me towards him. He broke away from the k*ss and stared at me, a twin k l e in his eye.

“Did you read my note?” I nodded. “And you remember what the rules are if you put it on?”

I nodded again. He pulled me closer, so my ear was next to his mouth. And then he whispered softly in my ear.

“Good girl. Now, let’s go back to my room.”

Next Chapter

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When the Night Falls