Jade

Chapter 30

Ethan headed to his room to change while we went to the kitchen.  Aris opened the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of wine.  I searched cabinets for wine glasses.  “Right here,” he opened a cabinet door.  I got out three glasses and we went to the living room.  We set the bottle of wine and the glasses on the coffee table.  He stoked the fire and added a log, then came to sit with me on the sofa.

“I am going to teach you how to appreciate good wine,” he stated, pouring a little wine into two glasses.  He handed a glass to me and took the other for himself.  “First you smell it,” he put the glass up to his nose and breathed in deeply.  I did the same, but with my eyes closed.  It smelled fruity.  “Then you take a sip, swish it around in your mouth for a moment, then swallow.”  He demonstrated it for me then watched while I tried.  I sipped a little and, with my eyes closed, I swirled it around in my mouth, then swallowed.  It tasted fruity, but not as strong as the other wine that we had drunk at the main cabin.  “What do you think?” he asked.  “I think that it's wine,” I joked.  He smiled, “the taste?” “I like it better than the other wine.  It doesn't taste as strong,” I answered.  “I thought that you would like it better,” he agreed, “I know I do.”

Just then, Ethan entered the room wearing pajamas.  Aris poured him some wine and handed him the glass.  He sat in the recliner, “I think that I am going to turn in after this.”  “We will too,” Aris agreed.  “You two are not going to go at it like jackrabbits, are you?” Ethan asked.  “Excuse me?” Aris asked.  “Have sex,” Ethan explained, “I hope you are not loud, because I am really tired.”

I forgot myself and dropped my glass.  It spilled a little on the sofa.  I know my face was the deepest shade of red ever.  “Oh no!” I exclaimed, “I messed up your sofa.  I'm so sorry.”  “It is okay Jade.  It is our sofa and it can be cleaned,” Aris consoled me.  “I will get a towel and some cleaner,” Ethan hopped up and went to the kitchen.  “I'm so sorry,” me, on the verge of tears now.  “Jade,” Aris put his hand on my chin and directed my face to look at him, “It is okay.  If it does not come out, the house will look lived in.  I do not see anything wrong with that.”

“I am really sorry that I upset you Jade,” Ethan came back with a towel and a bottle of cleaner, “I should not have been so nosey.  Move and I will work on that stain.”  I hopped up and Aris pulled me over to sit on his lap.  He took my hand and started rubbing circles on my palm.  I relaxed against him.  He brought his wine glass to my lips, “here, drink.”  I took a sip.  Ethan finished with the cleaner and wiped up the little bit that had made it to the floor.  “Yaris, is she going to be alright?”  “Yes,” Aris answered, “she just needs time to calm down.”

Ethan sat back down in the recliner.  I watched as he brought the wine up to his nose and sniffed.  He then took a drink and rolled it around in his mouth before swallowing.  “Are you okay Jade?” he must've noticed me watching him.  “I was just thinking about how you and Aris must've taken the same wine tasting class,” I answered.  “No.  Yaris taught me how to judge and enjoy it.  I did not like wine until he taught me.” He replied.  “Here, have some more,” Aris brought his glass to my lips again.  I took another drink.  It is really good wine.  I’m starting to feel buzzed and I haven't had very much of it.  I giggled for no reason.  Ethan smiled at me, “What is so funny?”  “I don't know,” I answered.  He finished the wine in his glass, “That is why I am not having anymore.”  I didn't understand.  “This wine will make you drunk faster,” he explained, “I am already feeling it.”  He stood up, “I am off to bed.  Would you like for me to put another log in the fireplace?”  “No,” Aris answered, “We are just waiting for it to burn down.”  “Goodnight then.”  “Goodnight,” I smiled.  He left the room with his empty glass and mine that had fallen on the floor.

“Would you like another drink?” Aris asked.  “Shouldn't I slow down?” I asked.  “You are in good hands with me,” he answered.  I took another drink.  We stayed there like that drinking until the fire burned down to coals.  “I don't know if I can walk now,” I giggled when he asked if I was ready to go to bed.  “I will carry you,” he smiled.  “Are you going to be able to walk?” I asked him.  “I will be fine,” he answered.  We stood up.  “I’m going to try,” I whispered.  I got up and walked.  It must've been a sorry sight.  “Wait for me,” he took a hold of one arm and picked up the wine with the other.  We left the room and went to the stairs.  “Here, let me carry you.” He didn't wait for an answer, he just started to pick me up.  “Hold this,” he handed me the bottle then picked me up the rest of the way.

“How are you still sober?” I asked him.  “It just takes a lot to get me drunk,” he answered.  “Even with this wine?”  “That is why we are drinking this wine.  It will happen faster.”  We made it to the top of the stairs.  “So you want to get drunk?” I asked as he set me down.  “With you I do,” he answered.  I reached up on the tips of my toes and pecked him on the lips, “ I’m honored.”  He took my hand, “Let me show you our room.”  We turned left and walked along an elaborately carved balustrade that overlooked the living room downstairs.  We came to a small sitting room that contained a matching brown loveseat and armchair.  At the far side of the room was a large set of intricately carved French doors.

We entered and a moment later the lights came on.  I slowly turned to take in my surroundings.  I was in awe.  “How did you know?” I asked.  “What?  That you like lavender?  I just do.” He answered.  The room was painted in creamy white with lavender trim and accents.  Polished hardwood graced the floor.  The largest bed I have ever seen, covered in a solid violet velvet blanket and violet and lavender pillows.  An armchair sat in the corner upholstered in the same violet color.  A large dresser, in mahogany that matched the bed and the nightstands sat on the wall to the left of the bed.

Aris pushed a button next to the light switch.  Large lavender curtains on the wall to the right of the bed opened to reveal a wall of large windows overlooking the lake.  In the middle were sliding glass doors that opened out to a terrace.  I turned to look at him, “it's beautiful.”  Then I noticed the painting that adorned the wall that we entered from.  It was to the right of the door and it was large.  It was me, laying down naked, except for a sheet draped over and around me.  Somehow he captured my face looking seductive.  I am pretty sure that I have never looked seductive a day in my life.  “You look seductive all of the time to me,” he whispered, “What do you think of it?”  “Your attention to detail is amazing,” I answered, “I can see why you don't want Ethan in here now.”  “Right,” he confirmed.  “It's beautiful, but I am not sure how I feel about having a life size painting of me naked on display,” I answered honestly.  “That is why I do not let anyone else in here,” he promised, “it is just for us.”  “How did you know about my birthmark?” I indicated the red mark, the size of my thumb, in the shape of a crown, on my hip.  “You were born with it,” he answered, “I changed a few of your diapers.”  That answer left me wondering about his age again.

“Would you like a cigarette?” he asked, changing the subject.  “Yes,” I answered, letting it go for now.  We changed for the cold and went out onto the terrace.  He lit me a cigarette and then one for himself.  “What would you like to change about the room?” he asked.  “Nothing,” I answered, “I love it.”  He smiled, proud of himself, “I still need to show you the bathroom.”  “If it's anything like what I've seen so far, I will love it.”  “I hope you do.”  “Are we still going to take a bath?” I asked.  “If you want to.”  I know there is a bathtub large enough for the both of us.  “I see what you are doing,” he commented, catching on, “no more questions.”  I smiled, caught.  We finished our cigarettes and went in.

He shut the sliding door and led me to the only remaining door in the room.  He opened the door and ushered me inside.  The light came on and I was clearly impressed.  Lavender walls, this time, with creamy white trim.  The floor was creamy white marble tiles.  There was a large walk in shower lined with marble that matched the floor and had clear glass doors.  Upon closer inspection, it had jets in all three walls and in the ceiling.  I'm going to have to try that sometime.  Within view of the shower was a bathtub the size of a small swimming pool set down into the floor.  It was in the shape of a rectangle, with steps descending down into it, and also was made of the creamy white marble.  Two toilets in separate stalls again.  I figured out that is because one toilet is taller than the other.  Also so that we can go at the same time if we need to.  It's not like that will ever happen.  I will hold it.  And finally, it had a vanity with two sinks.  Everything in this room is either lavender or that creamy white.  He opened another door, “the closet.”  It had every toiletry that I could think of plus towels, robes and slippers.

He stepped inside the closet, “one final thing.”  He motioned for me to get in and I did.  On the back wall of the closet was a control panel.  “Place your palm on the panel.”  I did so.  The wall slid open like a door.  I stepped in first.  “This is a safe room.  Only you and I can access it.  Do not tell anyone else about it.”  I looked around.  It was big enough for maybe six people.  The walls were lined with several monitors.  “You can get a view of every room in the house and views of the surrounding grounds in here.  No one can get in unless you let them.  Hopefully we never have to use it, but it is here just in case.”  “How do you shut the door?” I asked.  He pushed a green button on the wall to the right of the door.  It slid shut.  The same panel for my palm was on the inside.  He put his palm on it this time and it slid open.  We went back into the closet.  It slid shut on it's own.

We went back into the bathroom.  He knelt down beside the bathtub and turned the water on.  I dumped in some bubble bath, then got out the shampoo and conditioner, and a bar of soap.  I set them down beside the tub.  I changed into a black bikini and he changed into black swim shorts.  We sat down on the edge of the tub and dangled our feet in while it filled.  He took a long drink of wine then handed it to me.  I took a gulp and handed it back.  We continued drinking until it was full.  He turned off the water.  “You go ahead and get in.  I will go get some more wine,” he suggested.  He took my hand and held it while I hopped down off of the side.  He let go and I sat down.  The bubbles came up to the top off my shoulders.  “I will be right back,” he hopped up with the empty bottle and left the room.  I removed the bikini and took the time to wash up with the bar of soap.