“I guess I’ll see you Saturday,” I said in a subdued voice.
A tender half-smile curved his lips. I could tell that his mind was already on his beautiful sculptress who awaited him. Minutes later, he was gone.
My first thought was to go to Hamilton. My body craved his, but I had commitments that would keep me on the home front for the next few days. I stoked the embers in the fireplace in my bedroom. Then I snuggled into the down comforter and fantasized about my own lover across town.
Days later, I called Hamilton. He answered after two rings.
“May I come to you?” I asked.
“Come,” Hamilton said.
My heart raced with anticipation as I smoothed down my little black dress. I tied a black-and-white silk scarf around my neck, then I checked my appearance. My body was slender, with breasts that were a bit large for my frame. My waist was narrow. My hips and butt were firm and gently curved. I kept myself in peak condition with a Justin-restricted diet and daily vigorous exercise.
My makeup was light against my pale honey-brown skin. I added a little mascara to emphasize my chestnut brown eyes, with a hint of lip gloss and blush to complete my look. My straight black hair was parted down the middle and flowed over my shoulders and halfway down my back. Now I was ready to see my baby.
When Hamilton opened the door for me, my heart beat quadruple time. He looked gorgeous in black slacks and a charcoal gray cable-knit turtleneck. He smiled at me, and like magic I felt happy and free. We kissed with slow sensuousness, until Hamilton tugged me inside his home.
“I wanted to cook with you tonight,” I said. “I stopped by the store. They had some beautiful prawns.” I kept talking because I saw the question in his eyes, but I didn’t want to hear him ask it.
“I thought we could make Szechwan shrimp with noodles.” I walked into the kitchen and Hamilton followed. I unpacked the groceries and avoided looking in his direction. “I could even make a Caesar salad.”
Silence.
“Baby?” I asked as I gripped the head of romaine lettuce tight.
Hamilton turned me around to face him. His hands moved stealthily up my neck and cupped my head in his hands.
“Have you left him?”
“No, I didn’t.”
Hamilton left me standing alone in the kitchen.
“Hamilton?” I called out.
Nothing.
I started to shake all over as I walked into the living room. “Please, baby. Let me explain.”
I watched his retreating back until he left my line of vision. Then I heard the quiet close of a door.
I let out a shaky breath and plopped down on the toffee-colored leather sofa. Hamilton had left his black leather jacket nearby. I tugged it on and inhaled his cologne and the fragrance of his body. I felt so weary. I curled up into a ball and rocked myself on the sofa, until I fell asleep.
When I opened my eyes, I saw Hamilton standing over me. His shirt hung loose and unbuttoned. He held a bottle of imported beer by the neck, while his eyes raked over me.
“Come into the bedroom,” he said, then walked away.
I lay stunned for a few minutes, unsure of what to do. Then I decided to follow him. Only the light from the roaring fire and a few pale green pillar candles lit the bedroom. In the shadows, Hamilton leaned against the massive carved headboard of his mahogany bed. He was naked and sporting the most superb erection.
“Take off your clothes,” he ordered.
“Hamilton, please. Don’t be like this with me tonight.”
He closed his bulging arms over his sculpted chest. “Now, Anais.”
His coldness chilled me, even as I stood in front of the fireplace. Hamilton had never been this dispassionate with me. I felt so insecure.
“Do as I say or leave my home.”