Dana heard her key in the lock and opened the door, fully expecting Jade to be alone, so she could chide her. Instead, she was surprised to see a handsome stranger with her friend.
"There you are! I've been worried sick! I β " Dana looked up, and saw Steven with his hand lightly touching the small of Jade's back. "Hello, who are you?" she asked Steven curiously, looking at him, then Jade, and then back at him again.
"Jade," Steven gently prompted, his lips near her ear, his voice calm but amused. "Would you like to introduce us?"
"Yes of course! Sorry, Steven," she apologized, laughing at her momentary lapse of courtesy. "Steven, this is Dana, my roommate and occasional housemother," she giggled. "Dana, this is Steven."
Steven reached out and warmly shook Dana's hand, a friendly grin on his face. 'Acting on auto-response, Dana reciprocated, as she wasn't quite sure what to make of him. Jade then took Steven's hand and led him into the apartment.
"I'm sorry I made you worry, Dana," Jade smiled apologetically, hugging her. "I would have called you last night but I was uh... occupied."
Dana raised an eyebrow and glanced at Steven. "Uh-huh, I bet you were."
"I would like to apologize too, Dana. I'm afraid I was partly responsible for Jade not calling you last night," Steven said, noticing the look Dana gave him. Turning to Jade, he suggested calmly, "Maybe you should go change now, precious?"
Jade nodded, squeezed her roommate's hand reassuringly, and then made her way to her room, leaving Steven and Dana alone.
"You guys are leaving again? Where are you taking her?" Dana asked, looking at Jade's retreating figure, then back at Steven.
"I'm taking her out to brunch, Dana. We... " and he placed quiet emphasis on the word 'we'. "We haven't eaten anything since last night and quite frankly, I'm famished," Steven explained with a grin.
"I see," Dana replied. "Huh. Well excuse me if I seem rude, Steven, but I feel as if everything is speeding by me and I'm left standing here in the dust. It's just that my roomie left home last night to go to a party, and she seems to have gained a boyfriend overnight, which is so unlike her, to put it mildly."
"Rest assured I can understand your confusion, Dana," Steven nodded understandingly. "I guess we hit it off right off the bat. Jade is a lovely woman, and I wouldn't let anything happen to her, not if I can help it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go see if I can help her."
Dana shrugged. "Go ahead." She stared after him in wonder, partly understanding why her friend was drawn to him. He had a certain magnetic charm and quiet self-assurance that was very attractive, and he was so unlike the other men that Jade dated in the past. As a matter of fact, she had never seen Jade defer to a man like she did to Steven. It was very curious indeed.
Steven walked into Jade's bedroom and closed the door. He saw her standing in front of her wardrobe, trying to decide what to wear. He came up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and kissed her neck. Then, moving around her, he casually flipped through her outfits.
"Sir," she gently protested, laughing softly.
"What, precious?" Steven asked, turning around to look at her. "I've been inside you... and now you object to me being inside your wardrobe?" He chuckled when he saw her blush a gorgeous shade of pink at his direct remark.
"No, of course not, Sir," she replied. "I just wasn't sure what to pick for the day, that's all."
Steven's keen eye caught sight of an outfit he liked. It was a creamy peach colored dress made of soft, cotton-like material. He pulled it out and held it against her, and smiled when he saw that it was the perfect length for what he had in mind for her. "Wear this, little one," he said, handing her the dress, then added, "Without underwear."
"Sir?" Jade asked, not quite sure she heard him correctly. "Without underwear?"
"Yes," he smiled, kissing her lips. "Now change." He sat on the edge of her bed and looked at her expectantly.
Jade slipped out of her red dress and underwear, then put on the peach dress. Steven noted that it fell down to the area around her mid-thigh, and she looked ravishing in it. She nervously smoothed down the dress, feeling a little vulnerable. She heard Steven chuckle. "May I ask why I'm not allowed underwear, Sir?"
"You'll find out in a bit," he smiled as he stood up. Taking her hand in his, he led her out of her room. "Time for brunch, pet!"
Walking out to the living room, Jade went over and gave Dana another hug before she left. "I'll catch you later, Dana."
"All right, sweetie. Take care and... " Dana whispered, squeezing Jade's hand. "Call me if you need me."
"I will," Jade smiled. "Thanks."