She realized she had made a mistake as soon as she looked up into those dark knowing eyes that seemed to burn their way into her soul. It was the exact opposite of what it was her nature to do, but to be fair the three drinks she had on an empty stomach had more than a little to do with how she reacted. But she also knew he would never allow her to use that as an excuse.
Not usually one to feel the stab of jealousy, every look at the strikingly tall brunette he worked with, made her see red. The "Glamazon", as Catherine had taken to calling her in her head, seemed to be a larger than life, vivacious woman who grated continually on Catherine's nerves. She saw the way the woman called him "Simon" in that sickeningly sweet way, and how she casually laid her hand on his arm as they laughed at a friend's joke. It just seemed so very intimate, and it pushed her over the edge.
She knew he wasn't actively encouraging it by out and out flirting back, but he hadn't discouraged it either. The last straw for Catherine was when she went and fetched him a drink from the crowded bar, and he barely murmured a "thanks", before turning back to the woman's funny story. No matter how attentive and helpful she tried to be, when he didn't need her to get him anything, she seemed to just be forgotten and ignored like a piece of furniture.
Being only five feet and two inches tall, and a sweet "girl next door" looking blonde, she felt very outclassed by the stunning statuesque beauty. Even her own very full B cups, which she normally considered one of her best features, paled in comparison to the huge breasts on display in the woman's low cut blouse. After basically being dismissed, she found her jealousy quickly got the better of her. In her mind it looked like the woman was pawing him right there in front of all their coworkers. "Enough is enough!", she told herself, and made her way to the bar to drink away her feelings.
She finally worked her way up the crowded bar and tried to put in an order for her third drink of the night, completely disregarding his usual prohibition of too much alcohol. "Fuck You Sy!", she said savagely under her breath, sparing a glance back where he seemed to be engrossed in his new "favorite".
A handsome young blond man heard her and looked a little startled, then smiled and introduced himself to the now blushing girl, who was embarrassed by being caught with such a foul mouth.
"Hello." he smiled and showed off perfectly even, white teeth. She couldn't help but notice he wasn't as big as she liked, and he definitely didn't give off the same kind of intense vibe. He was handsome though, and seemed sweet. Normally she never would have dreamed of playing along in the flirtation game, but when she glanced back over and saw the tall dark haired beauty leaning against him familiarly, she couldn't help the little needle of pain it caused her. Blinking back tears, she turned to begin purposely paying all her attention to the new man.
She put on her sweetest smile, and learned his name was Daniel. It was no time before he was plying her with more drinks and all the attention she could handle. He found her beautiful and sweet just as she was, not seeming to want to change or "improve" her in any way. Even what she considered her too round ass, he seemed content to give not entirely covert glances at and pay it gentle little compliments, boosting her confidence.
Before she knew it, she was on her fifth drink, and giggling every bit like a flirtatious school girl, leaning in when he laughed and playing with her long blonde hair. The new man was handsome and witty and ... non-threatening. There was no deep and fast animal attraction like she was used to, and it felt a little... well, boring and safe, but it was pleasant enough to just laugh and try to forget her jealousy. Little did she know that a pair of intensely dark eyes were keeping careful tabs on her from across the room, from the moment she stepped away. Just about the time her new beau was leaning in to whisper his funny jokes and trail his hand over hers as they stood talking, a large shadow appeared almost as if out of nowhere beside her.
She turned and stared up into those dark eyes. Even though she still had traces of anger within her, that one quick look into those dark depths and she felt his hold over her stronger than ever. The flippant remark she was about to make about him leaving his date, died on her lips as a wave of guilt at her own conduct washed over her, quickly mixing with fear.
Her new "friend", looking miffed at the interruption, tried to step forward and reached out a hand in introduction, trying to politely stake his claim at having met her first. The taller confident man, just smiled down at the younger one like one would indulgently to a whiny child. Then he turned, ignoring the boy, and held out his hand to Catherine, with the simplest of commands, "Come."
Much to Daniel's consternation , she looked nervous, but just sat her drink on the bar, put her tiny hand in his and stared at the floor as he lead her from the bar like a well trained puppy, never saying a word. Morris caught the eye of the young man as he walked by, and couldn't help chuckling, his dark eyes sparkling with merriment at the shocked look on the young man's face, as he led her outside, supremely confident in her obedience.
Neither of them said a word as he gently led her out in the night and opened her door for her like a gentleman, passing her inside and closing the door securely. Once she was seated in the car, her seatbelt securely fastened, her nerves got the better of her and she started fidgeting with the bracelets he had given her, twisting one around and around her wrist, as she tried to calm down. She couldn't help her mind wandering back to the night he encircled her wrists with the jewelry. He told her then she was now his most prized possession and she cried in happiness as he fastened the little locks on the bracelets and showed her the tiny key that was the only way they would ever come off.
