Tags: Fsub, Fdom, Mdom, Reluctant, Edging, Denial
Dinner that evening was a glazed, roasted pork belly, coated in a reduced hoisin sauce, and garnished with spring onions and sesame seeds. Served on a bed of pilau rice, and with a lime juice dressed leafy salad on the side. Cristina has a knack for Asian-inspired dishes.
These dinner exchanges had started as a simple, one-off invitation - a way of us thanking Cristina for her support while I've been renovating our apartment. Raul's been working and staying overnight in Barcelona several days each week, so recently it's mostly been me doing it. She's been invaluable company and distraction for me.
That first dinner evolved into a friendly culinary competition between Raul and Cristina. They're very similar people - good cooks, obviously, but also more than a little competitive. Both are around the same age, a decade older than me. Both professionally successful. They're both quite bossy, and used to being in charge.
I can't cook, at least not to their standard, and I was not about to embarrass myself by competing with them, so I played my part by serving and clearing the food and drinks. After a couple of dinners together, and initially as a joke, I'd worn my "waitress outfit" (that's Raul's name for it now). A plain black, knee-length skirt; a short black apron; a plain white blouse and a narrow black tie.
Cristina gave me and my outfit a curious smile and very slowly and deliberately looked me up and down. She didn't comment, but I saw her smile and raise an eyebrow to Raul, who returned the same look to her.
We sat together and we ate, and we drank, and we chatted the evening away. The only lull in the conversation was as I took the plates away to the kitchen. I returned with the coffee pot, and went around the table to pour for everyone.
"Elena, you've spilled sauce on your skirt!". Cristina, being always immaculate, was bound to be the one who noticed.
"Has she always been a little clumsy?"
Raul gave a half-laugh and a "Yes" before he could stop himself.
Mildly annoyed at my own mistake I twisted around to find the offending stain.
"Turn around, conejito, let me see."
I turned on the spot, with my back to him.
"Wow. You're covered in it, Elena! How did you do that? Don't you get that on Cristina's furniture!"
The thought of staining her chairs or couch had me wide-eyed immediately. I doubt either Christina or I would ever get over that.
"Oh, it'll be fine. Just slip your skirt off before you mark my chair, girl." That wasn't a question or an invitation, it was an instruction.
Raul sat impassively as I looked to him for salvation. He gave the smallest of shrugs, and looked back at me. The atmosphere had changed. They were both now silently watching me, waiting to see what I'd do. I felt guilty, and awkward, and under scrutiny from the two of them. I searched for any sign of them about to burst into laughter at a prank well played, but after several seconds they both simply sat motionless. Watching me.
This wasn't our apartment. I had no change of clothes, and Cristina made no move to offer any. I should go back to ours and change.
I turned towards the doorway and Raul stopped me.
"Where are you going, conejito?"
"To change...? At ours."
Cristina laughed, "Oh no. Don't be so foolish. It's only us here, and you have your apron anyway."
"Don't be silly. Just take it off and sit with us."