Diamond Anniversary
Meena liked what she saw in the mirror.
She wore a special dress she bought just for tonight, and she was certain Nav would like it. Meena had learned a lot about fashion in the last year, and she'd chosen a designer with a well-earned reputation for her skill blending edgy and sexy elements. This dress was extremely revealing. The designer explained the dress by pointing out that in art, there's a thin line dividing the erotic from the pornographic. This gown was an attempt to come as close to that line as possible without crossing it.
Meena remembered the first time Nav had taken her to a restaurant, and the way she'd felt naked in that gown. A lot had changed. Meena knew her outfit was fashionable and wouldn't cause a scene. She knew she'd attract plenty of looks in this dress, and that was just fine. Nav would love it. And she had become fond of being seen as an object of erotic desire. There was something about being provocative in front of strangers that provided a thrill that pleased her as much as Nav.
She hadn't seen him all day. He'd insisted that they have no contact until it was time to leave. He'd ordered her not to touch herself or use the love machine. Avoiding sex all day would make it more wonderful when they finally made love. As she waited for Nav to pick her up, Meena had an itch that needed scratching.
Nav felt the same. This would be a big night full of carefully prepared surprises. It was Meena's 19th birthday as well as the first anniversary of her enslavement, and Nav wanted the evening to be something she would never forget. Normally, a first anniversary is celebrated with a gift made from paper. Perhaps a drawing, photograph, or piece of origami. Nav did not plan to conform to this tradition. He was thinking of something very different. A Diamond Anniversary.
When he came to get her he arrived in a suit selected for him by a personal shopper with exquisite taste. He looked handsome.
"You look incredible," he said.
"So do you, Master."
They held hands and smiled at each other during the drive. They wanted to tear each other's clothes off and make love in the car, but they kept their appetites in check. Nav reached over and caressed Meena's neck in a way that made her feel like a kitten getting a belly rub.
When they finally arrived, they were both gratified by the way Meena turned heads when she walked into the club. The hostess expected them. "Good evening sir," she said to Nav. "We're ready for you." Meena followed as the hostess led them to their table, walking in a regal, sexy way that Nav loved watching as he followed. It was hard to believe she'd ever felt too self-conscious to wear clothes featuring butt cleavage and fabric that clung to her nipples. This dress had a back that plunged so low it exposed more of the top of Meena's cheeks than she'd ever shown in public before.
The front was just as sexy, with a dramatic neckline and wet-look fabric. Meena glided into her chair like a queen on her throne. Nav just stared for a long, long time.
"You get more beautiful every day," he said.
"You say the nicest things," Meena replied. She'd used that phrase many times over the last year. It was part of their love language.
Nav ordered everything days earlier, so their waiter began bringing drinks and appetizers without being told. Nav selected tiny portions of many foods, letting Meena enjoy just a few bites of each selection. She'd skipped lunch in preparation, so the wine gave her an especially warm, happy sensation.
Nav drew her into conversation about herself. It ran counter to her training on the plantation, where she was taught how to get people to talk about them. It was Nav's way of telling her how important she was to him, and she appreciated the gesture.
She also appreciated the entertainment Nav selected. The band was a well-known jazz ensemble Meena knew well.
Swingtime
was a group of excellent jazz players, led by an extraordinary pianist named Charlie Frederik. She'd spent a lot of time listening to Frederik's recordings, figuring out how to master his technique.
The waiter placed a gift-wrapped box in front of Meena. "What is it?"
Nav smiled. "Open it and find out."
It was a necklace, but not any ordinary necklace. It was magnificent, with large sparkling diamonds mounted in settings of heavy gold. The overall design was a match for her bracelet and earrings. Meena realized this was something else Grandma Olivia wore when she was a fighter in the Diamond War.
"My grandfather told the designer to do whatever was necessary to make the finest piece of jewelry since King Tut. He wanted lots of diamonds. Big ones. He wanted people to gasp when my grandmother arrived at an event wearing this around her neck."
"It's fabulous. Exquisite," Meena said.
"It's yours," he replied.
Nav put it around her neck, latched the clasp, and stood back to take a good, long look. "You look stunning," he said.
She felt stunning. The necklace was so laden with diamonds and gold it felt hefty on her shoulders. Nav took out his tablet and showed Meena a photograph of his grandmother wearing the necklace on a red carpet somewhere.
"She's beautiful," Meena said.
"That's what everyone thought. Especially my grandfather," Nav said.
A photographer arrived at the table. Nav arranged for a professional photograph showing the two of them celebrating their first anniversary, with Meena wearing her gift. The photographer sent a copy to Nav's tablet so they could see the memento that would always help them remember this special night.
"If you were trying to surprise me, you succeeded," Meena said. "You overwhelm me."
Nav squeezed her hand.
Just wait,
he thought.
The surprises aren't over.
"There's something I need to tell you," Nav said.
"I've been thinking about us a lot in the last few weeks. I'm pretty sure I've made my feelings clear. You have to know how much you mean to me.
"What I want to say is that I love you. I've wanted to say it for a long time, but I wanted to be absolutely sure. I've never loved anyone more than I love you."