I turned away from their conversation, hoping Stanley would disappear, but he stuck around to discuss training with Norman. I tried to think of a way to get away, hoping perhaps Courtney would want to drag us out for a drink and dancing. Bettie pulled me into a hug.
“Thank you,” she whispered into my ear.
I smiled.
“Of course, dear,” I replied. “Anything for you.”
“I think it’s time for a drink,” Norman said while opening his arms for us to cuddle in.
“Yes, sir,” we responded.
We headed for the door and I could feel Stanley’s eyes watching us walk away. I lifted my dress to show off a little of my bare bottom, hoping he would notice. Maybe he’ll follow. At the bar, Norman ordered us a round of martinis and we sipped them while watching the people dance. I could hardly finish my drink before Courtney pulled Bettie and I out into the middle of the dance floor, smoothing her hands over our hips and shaking her bottom to the beat. It was beautiful to flow with my sisters. We were moving fluidly under the wash of color, bouncing between the sea of bodies as they moved in tandem to the music.
A hand slipped over my stomach and pulled me away from my sisters who didn’t seem to notice I was gone. I looked up to find Stanley. His grin spoke of mischief and I pressed my bottom into the bulge of his jeans, resting my head on his shoulder as we swayed to the music. Time slowed in this moment. The lights appeared fixed over the crowd and the music became a slow rumble, our bodies flowing seamlessly between the crowd until we were next to the stage.
As I moved my hips, I looked around to see if anyone was watching. My sisters had melted into the rest of the crowd and I was left alone in the dim world of Stanley and me. He was slipping his hand up my dress. I didn’t stop him. While his fingers caressed my quivering petals, I felt the vibration of the speaker behind us blare a new bass line. It woke me from my fantasy and I was struck with fear to find that Norman was looking straight at me from the bar. His mouth was turned down in a frown.
I pulled away from Stanley who immediately tried to grab me back, my thin body slipping between people moving to get back to my sisters who I couldn’t find. As I looked around, a hand grabbed my arm and pulled me to the other side of the crowd. I turned to face Norman who was fuming.
“Who was that?” he asked over the loud rhythm.
I shook my head.
“Samantha,” he said firmly. “You better tell me who that was.”
“I don’t know!” I lied, trying to twist out of his grip.
His eyes were burning. I could feel the anger flowing through his fingers that were wrapped around my tiny wrist, skin burning from the jealousy that was beaming from his face. Guilt returned. I had dishonored him heavily by dancing with someone else. He pulled me into the back hallway where the sound was muffled by the walls and sat me on a bench near the back door.
“How do you think it makes me feel to be complimented about your obedience one moment and to see you dancing with a stranger the next?” he asked while cupping my face between his hands.
Tears welled in my eyes. What was wrong with me? Was I not satisfied? Surely I had not become bored of my own family when I had just returned to them. It rattled my ch
est to be so dishonorable and then I realized I was sobbing. Norman knelt down in front of me.
“Your fidelity means everything to me,” he said. “And to see you doing that…”
He trailed off, looking away while licking his lips.
“To see that disrespects me,” he finished.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered weakly.
“What is it? Are you bored? Do you need something new?” he asked.
I shook my head. I wasn’t sure what I needed other than a firm hand to put me in place. Perhaps part of me knew he was going to be angry about us going out, so I instinctively cheated to make us even.
That isn’t right, I thought quickly. You’re just being bad for the sake of being bad.
Did I just want to be naughty?
Norman pulled my face in close to his, wrapping his other hand around my throat and gently applying pressure.
“You better not leave me,” he said firmly. “Not after all I went through to get you back.”
I shuddered against his grip. He could certainly take my breath away, in more ways than one. There was no reason for me to run off and find adventure with someone else when I owed him my life. He saved me from the most deviant of creatures and had coddled me to health, treating me with everything my heart desired: my old job, my family, new clothes, and anything else I could think of. He is my savior.
What is wrong with me?