"I can't wait!" Anne said as Louis parked in front of his humble abode. He only grinned as he opened his car door.
Anne entered the small house to find candles and vases with flowers placed in strategic places around the living room. The aroma of gardenia permeated the room.
Anne breathed in deeply. "Mm, it smells so nice!"
"After you, my lady." As Louis motioned her into the dining room, she felt as if she were entering a sultan's lair. With all the blinds drawn, the only light came from the group of candles in the middle of the table. Louis pulled a chair out for her, and she sat down. Then he walked into the living room and inserted an Enrique Iglesias CD into the CD player.
"Dinner's coming right up," he told her as he strode to the kitchen, returning with a crock pot. He sat it down on a trivet and lifted its lid, and Anne inhaled the delicious aroma of the sirloin tip roast and vegetables inside.
"Mm!" she exulted.
Louis served her, then himself. Anne took a bite, letting the flavor linger on her tongue for as long as possible.
"It's delicious! I didn't know you could cook!"
Louis grinned. "It's one of my best kept secrets."
"I can't remember the last time I experienced such luxury!" Anne remarked.
"Wait till you see what's for dessert," Louis replied.
It turned out to be Bourbon bread pudding.
"Did you make this too?" asked Anne.
"No, it's from a deli," Louis told her. "Would you like some cream to go with it?"
"Yes, please." She dreaded taking the last bite, as she wanted the sensation to never end. But at last it did, and when Louis asked if she wanted seconds, she shook her head, not wanting to look greedy.
Louis collected the dirty dishes and took them to the sink, put the leftovers away, then reached for her hand. She gave it to him, and he led her to the bathroom, where she saw a sight that made her squeal with delight.
As in the dining room, the lights were turned out, and by the glow of candlelight, she saw rose petals floating on top of the water in the bathtub.
"How romantic!" she sighed.
Louis gave her an uncertain smile, and when she began to remove his shirt, he beamed. Slowly they undressed each other, removing clothing piece by piece, until they were both naked. Anne glanced at Louis and was proud to see he was already fully aroused. She quickly averted her eyes, as she didn't want to embarrass him by staring.
He took her hand, and they stepped into the tub together. Right away, he picked up a soft cloth and began to wash her all over, and she did the same for him. When they were finished, he grabbed a big fluffy towel and dried her off. Then he handed it to her, and she did the same for him. Then he took her by the hand and led her into the bedroom.
"Wait just a sec." He opened a top drawer and retrieved an object. He fastened it around her neck, then switched on the light so she could look into the mirror. When she did so, she gasped.
The necklace was made of white gold and held a large, multi-faceted blue diamond. "Oh, I couldn't!" said Anne, thinking Louis meant for her to keep it.
"I just wanted to see how it looked on you," he explained. "It was my grandfather's, passed down to him from his great grandfather. It's been in the family for over a century."
"Wow!" Anne admired the necklace in the mirror, observing how well it complimented her long, slender neck. I have but a little neck. She winced as the nightmare returned to her in its hideous glory.
"It looks even better on you than it did on Marie," Louis remarked. His words stung a bit, but knowing by now his tendency for saying awkward things at inappropriate times, Anne overlooked the comment.
"Well, I'm not Marie," she stated. "I'm Anne."
He giggled. "I know!"
He removed the necklace and returned it to its storage place. Then she took his hand and pulled him down onto the bed with her and, as they made love, she imagined they were in the master bedroom at the Palace in Versailles, ensconced within the soft sheets of the large canopied bed.
The next morning, Louis awakened to find Anne lying beside him, her eyes closed, long eyelashes soft against her cheeks, her red lips slightly parted. Unlike the first time they'd made love, last night's ministrations had been slow, relaxed, both of them taking the time to learn what most pleased the other.
He'd wanted it to go on forever.
As badly as he wanted to just continue gazing at her, his stomach rumbled in impatience, and he crept from beneath the sheets and went into the kitchen, where he was soon busily cooking.
Anne awoke to the aroma of coffee brewing. She felt the empty sheets beside her and knew Louis was already up, so she got out of bed and padded into the kitchen, where she saw him standing at the stove, flipping homemade pancakes onto plates.
"Good morning!" she said as she walked up behind him and hugged him from behind.
"Good morning." He turned to her and kissed her lips. "I get to treat you this time instead of the other way around."
"Mm. Everything looks and smells very nice."
"You're in for a real treat," he told her.
"Ah, I already had that last night." She laughed as she watched him blush.
He nodded toward the dining room. "Have a seat. Breakfast is coming right up."
She did as he asked, and a few minutes later, he brought in steaming cups of coffee followed by plates piled high with mouth-watering food.
"You're really spoiling me!" Anne enthused as she dug in.
"Nothing in the world could give me more pleasure," he told her, enjoying the way her black eyes sparkled.
They chattered and giggled as they ate, playfully feeding each other morsels of food, and Louis soon felt as if he'd known her his entire life. When they were finished eating, they cleaned up together. Louis was washing dishes when Anne's hand brushed suggestively across the front of his shorts. Just that slight touch made him quiver.
"Care for another round?" Anne tittered as s he took his hand and led him back to the bedroom.