Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 86510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
The server returns with glasses of water for both of us along with our turtle soup.
“Okay,” Mary says when the server excuses himself. “Tell me what I’m about to eat. And be very specific.”
“Do you want all the history?”
“Sure.” She leans toward the soup and inhales. “Like I said, the total immersive experience.”
“I’ve heard the story since I was a kid. My grandmother told us stories about all of her food. Turtle soup has its roots here in New Orleans. It was inspired by the turtle soup that was popular in France, where turtle meat was considered a delicacy. The original recipe here called for snapping turtle meat, which was readily available in nearby swamps and bayous.”
She nods. “What kind of turtle is in this soup?”
“My grandmother still uses snapping turtle, but it’s ethically sourced. Some restaurants that don’t want to go to the expense use other meats.”
Mary wrinkles her forehead. “Then it’s not really turtle soup, is it?”
“No.”
“I’ve heard of mock turtle soup,” she says. “Is that what it is, then?”
“If you don’t use actual turtle, then it’s always mock turtle soup. But they still call it turtle soup, and with the same spices, they can mimic the flavor pretty well.”
She stares at her bowl but doesn’t reach for her spoon. “What else is in the soup?”
“Mémé uses a traditional tomato-based broth and seasons it with bay leaf, thyme, garlic, cloves, and black pepper. It’s delicious. Rich and flavorful. She adds a touch of cayenne for a little bit of heat. Then the sherry adds a certain je ne sais quoi.”
“What does that mean?”
“Je ne sais quoi? It means ‘I don’t know what.’” And I thought that was a common phrase in America, even for people who don’t know a word of French.
“What do you mean you don’t know?” she presses. “You just said it was a touch of sherry.”
“True.”
“So why would you say you don’t know when you know what it is?”
I give her my stern and dominating look. “I don’t think you’re asking me that because you don’t know the answer. I think you’re asking because you’re trying to put off actually tasting the soup.”
Her eyes widen slightly, and her whole body responds by tensing. My cock throbs in my jeans.
Yes, Mary Sandusky is still a submissive.
She’s still Blossom.
And I’m going to make her blossom. Effloresce.
Under my touch. Under my dominant hand.
Mary Sandusky will blossom into something she never even imagined she could be.
Chapter Sixteen
Mary
I take another sip of my Sazerac. This drink isn’t for the faint of heart. While I enjoy a cocktail, I’m not a huge drinker. I never have been. When you’re in the lifestyle, you must keep your faculties alert at all times. Whether you’re a Dominant or a submissive or a switch, you need to always be in full control of your body. For a submissive, it’s doubly important so that you can let your Dominant know if anything is going wrong.
So I don’t drink a lot, and this drink is damned strong.
The problem is with every sip, it tastes a little bit better. It’s growing on me in a way I never thought possible.
I’m also beginning to feel it. Only slightly, but that little tingle in my head… There it is.
And Ronan is right…
I’m putting off tasting the soup. I mean…it’s turtle.
But I just told him I’m here for the immersive experience, so I’m going to immerse myself in this soup. I take a spoonful, bring it to my lips, blow on it, and…
I widen my eyes as the soup glides over my tongue. It’s delicious, especially with the dollop of sherry. I take another drink of the Sazerac. It complements the turtle soup as if the two were made to go together, which they probably were.
When the server comes by and asks if we want another drink, Ronan raises his eyebrows at me.
“It’s delicious,” I say, “but I’d better stop.”
“You sure?” Ronan asks. “Sazerac is excellent with all of the food that’s coming. Or we could switch to a full-bodied, lusty red wine.”
I think for a moment. I don’t want to get even slightly tipsy tonight. “Tell you what. A small glass of wine with the main course sounds delectable. But as much as I like the Sazerac, I’m going to have to say no to further drinks.”
“You heard the lady.” Ronan hands his empty glass to the server. “But I’ll take another.”
Ronan is probably barely buzzed. The man is used to drinking top-shelf scotch, so one Sazerac probably does nothing for him. Plus, he’s huge.
If he’s a good Dominant, then he knows the unwritten rules as well as I do. You don’t overindulge in alcohol or any other kind of mind-numbing substance if play is on the table.
Of course, I’m putting that cart way before the horse.
I haven’t consented to a scene, and he hasn’t asked for one.