Object of Desire

Chapter Nine : Strained

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Clawing, biting, gnashing, screaming, the beast within overwhelmed with the scent that had surrounded me. A better expression would be bathing in his scent. Bergamot and powdery rose, an odd combination for sure, but enthralling non the less and putting my composition in a complete tail spin. Even the lingering aroma of his blood danced around my senses, finally being able to tell me every detail and node that laid in his DNA. It was sweet, a sugary sensation staying on my tongue as I sniffed for more, a subtle bitterness following behind.

Thankfully, Terzo was in the adjacent room for the time being as he printed out a few things for me to take home after this weekend, leaving me able to fight off any and all urges that plagued my being. Placing myself in one of the chairs he had fashioned in front of his desk, I took notice how old it might have been. The worn wood creaked as I sat down on the velvet cushion and trying to make myself comfortable. The thing about old furniture was if you had taken care of it, it was as hard as a rock.

Most of his office was styled in the same baroque manner; ornate and swirling details painted in black and gold brush, purple curtains with golden satin tassels cascading over the top, his desk a lacquered black with more wood carvings that had flashed against the dim overhead lighting, a large Persian rug taking up most of the room that ran long gold vines all across the black, and a rather unfitting monitor placed on his desk. The whole Ministry had screamed old fashioned gothic, yet he had a dusty beige monitor from the late nineties positioned at the very center of his desk. I felt just like the poor thing, regardless of how dark I dressed myself, I didn't feel quite at home yet.

Readjusting in my seat, Terzo had come back quickly as he burst through the door, a few papers in hand that were hiding something from beyond. He smiled, clutching the papers close before going towards his desk, his back facing me as he dropped the documents before turning. As he faced me once more, he extended his right arm out, a singular red rose kept between his fingers as he offered it to me. Glancing up from my glasses, he gazed back down with a lazy smile.

"Is for you, piccola." He moved the rose closer, urging me to take it.

"Thank you..?" Taking the green stem into my hand, I took notice of how the thorns had been removed and it seemed as though the petals have been fluffed. Each soft limb was flushed out, laying over one another and exposing the inner leaves that kept themselves in a tight bundle.

"Do you not like roses?" I titled his head to the side coyly, resting his back against the desk and letting his hands ease him onto the surface.

"No no, I do. I've just never been given any before." I looked up from the velveted petals, Terzo once again looking back to me in a state of confusion.

"Veramente?" He released a light gasp. "I figured a women like yourself would be getting them everyday." He sat on the edge of his desk now, crossing his arms over his torso and watching me twirl the stem around in my fingers.

"Yeah right, you're just saying that." I scoffed playfully, shaking my head slowly.

"You are too..." he thought for a moment, trying to find the right word, "Harsh, on yourself. You deserve bundles of roses for everyday if it were up to me." He confirmed with a nod, the sides of his mouth curling again as he was sure in himself.

"One will be enough for me, it is truly an act of kindness to give such a gift I've never received before. I'm sorry I don't have anything in return." I sighed, bending the stem ever so slightly and tying it around the ring of my bag.