Chapter 2

I had dinner with just Sherry and Mel in the cozy ‘small dining room’. The table only had seats for 12, unlike the huge great hall.

Both ranted and raved about how good the food was, and I agreed. “The enchiladas are amazing! I’ve never tasted anything like them! How did he possibly come up with the idea that shrimp and lobster burritos would go so well with radish flakes and whipped sriracha and cream? WOW!”

Sherry chimed in, “I’m a better than average chef, but Anistas is INCREDIBLE! Having him as a teacher would be great!”

Mel commented, “I liked it. What’s for dessert, Lysander?”

A few seconds later, a butler brought in a tray with tiny baked Alaskas next to chocolate mousse filled miniature beignets, topped with powdered sugar and shredded candied cherries. They were just large enough to leave us wanting more, while not feeling hungry.

Sherry said, “Amazing again! Making baked Alaska so small is incredibly hard! Slightly too much heat and it melts, not quite enough, and the egg whites don’t cook fully. Wow!”

I asked; “How much time do you have this evening? Is somebody waiting for you?”

Sherry replied, “We’re staying with my cousin, but he’s ... uh ... out of town awhile.”

Mel snarkily said, “Jail. It’s called jail, mom. He got in another bar fight and tried to punch a cop this time.”

Sherry growled at her. “Shut up! He doesn’t need to know everything! And we really, really need this!”

“Take it easy, ladies. Have a cigarette and relax, so our food can start digesting. I don’t mind if Mel has one too.”

“But she’s only...”

“Please? It’s really ok.”

“Fine!” She reluctantly handed Mel a cigarette. The two of them smoked and I saw the stress slowly leave their faces.

“I’d like to do the rest of our interview in a little while. Mel, can you go hang out with Tracy, while I talk to your mom?”

“Sure! Tracy is awesome!”

“And would you object to staying in a room here tonight, so your mom doesn’t have to drive home after dark?”

“Holy crap! REALLY! This place is like a palace! Better than a hotel, even!”

“Is that ok with you, Sherry?”

“Our own rooms? By ourselves?”

“Of course. I wouldn’t disrespect you by presuming anything.”

“Good. That sounds really nice!”

“I think Tracy is in her room, across the hall from the one that’ll be yours tonight. Third floor, on the left. I’ll come talk to you in an hour or so.”

“See you then!” She waved before running up the stairs.

I looked at Sherry and asked, “So how did you get along with Annalise and Irina?”

“Irina’s very shy, but I liked talking to her about what she used to cook and eat in Eastern Europe. I learned a lot about Ukraine and the Baltic states in only a couple of hours.”

“And Annalise?”

“Uh ... Annalise is really nice. We had a lot of fun feeding the ducks and fish. And she’s SO PRETTY!”

“You’re very pretty too, and you have a great body.”

She blushed and said, “Thanks. You’re very handsome, too.”

I kissed her lightly. “I’d like to finish our interview in the hot tub, if you don’t mind?”

“But ... I ... I didn’t bring a swimsuit.”

“We have spare suits for visitors, but they’re not required.”

“Um ... okay.”

I held her hand and led the way. As we got near the tub, I saw she was very nervous. “You can wear a suit, that’s fine. There should be several in the changing room over there.” As the door closed behind her, I stripped to my boxers, and got in the rapidly bubbling, nicely warm water.

Quite a while later, she bashfully walked out wearing an orange one-piece. I saw she was beginning to cry. “Please don’t be mad! Please?”

“It’ll be ok. Come here and tell me what’s wrong.”

“I ... ah ... just please don’t hate me!” Tears streamed down her face, as she turned around. On each of her butt cheeks I saw a tattoo, ‘Property of Jake’.”

“I’m not upset. Just talk to me about it.”

She walked over and leaned on the edge of the tub, as she continued to cry.

“He got me really drunk, and when I passed out he put those awful things on me! I’m so sorry!”

“Who? Who’s Jake?”

“Jake is my brother! He started raping me when I was only eleven! I started dating another guy when I was 14. Jake found out! He got me drunk and did this to me! Nobody will be with me more than once! They see the tattoos, get off in a hurry, then leave! I’m so sorry! Please don’t be mad!”

I put my hand on her shoulder to reassure her. “It’s all right. I’m not upset. Come relax in the water with me.”

I held her hand and helped her in. She sat across from me, making a point of keeping her distance.

“I ah ... have a tattoo you didn’t see yet. It’s the same as the others, but it’s um ... below my belly button. I’m so sorry!”

“Stop saying sorry for something that’s not your fault. You didn’t want him to do it.”

“And ah ... I have to be honest. I can’t do anal. I just can’t. Once Jake got me pregnant, he raped my butt every night, and it hurt so bad! I freak out if anybody even touches my butt at all. I’m so sorry! If you want to fire me, I’ll go.”

“Of course not! I like you. You’re a good cook, and could be a great one. You’re also very pretty. I’d like to do whatever romantic and sexy things you’re comfortable with.”

She smiled, “Really? You don’t hate me?”

“Of course not! Is it ok if I hug and kiss you?”

She nodded and I held her close to me. I licked her lips and French kissed with her. Annalise was right. With the lip gloss, Sherry did taste like smoked strawberries.

“Is it ok if I play with your chest?”

She kissed me and nodded again. I enjoyed feeling and kneading them, then moved the suit aside and licked her nipples.

“And is it ok if I lick your pussy, and make love to you sometime?”

“Oooh! Please, you sexy hunk!”

“But not anal? Ever?”

She began to cry again. “Please don’t make me.”

I patted the back of her head gently. “It’s ok. Really.”

After she calmed down I said, “You know that if you’re one of my girlfriends, you’ll be travelling around with me a lot.”

“Yeah.”

“And you probably know that Anistas hates having short-time workers in his kitchen. He won’t let you just work with him for a week or two when we’re in town.”

“That part stinks. Learning from him would be great.”

“I need to talk to somebody first, but I may have a solution. Will you be my sexy chef? Stay here and work for Anistas, but have fun in my bed when I’m here?”

“I’d love that!”

“Would you give your permission for me to be close with Melissa, like this, but no sex? I give you my word, I won’t do any more with her than you did with me tonight. At sixteen, I think she’s old enough, right?”

“Um ... Viceroy, she’s BARELY FOURTEEN. You might have lots of trouble with the law. If you’re willing to risk it and deal with her temper, I wish you luck.”

“I haven’t made my mind up about her yet, but if I chose her as one of my girlfriends, you’d be okay with it?”

“The other ladies say you treat them well, and I can barely stand being around her anymore! If Melissa wants you, I’ll give whatever permission you need. You can adopt her, marry her, spank her, whatever. Please spank her! But if you get her pregnant, take care of her?”

“You heard the part earlier about millions as a baby bonus? Of course, I’ll take care of her.”

She hugged me. “Thank you. And I was serious. She’s needed a spanking for months.”

I chuckled a little. “She probably has. Cheer up! From here on out, the worst that might happen to you is Anistas getting angry and making you wash dishes.”

“Nope! I heard that once a cook made risotto the wrong way. Anistas told him if he couldn’t do it right, he could wear it. He smeared some on the guy’s face, then dumped the rest down the front of his shirt!”

I joined her laugh. “That really does sound like him! But the dessert was exquisite! I just need to sort a few things out with a lawyer before I talk to Melissa again. I’ll meet you when I’m done.” She kissed me and we climbed out.