I Thirst for You — Chapter 16 - Control is the Key

A blush crept on Amanda’s cheeks.

The woman just played like a bloody fairy godmother to her! Not to mention, playing cupid! What the hell?

And why would she hook her up with their Master?

Their Master?

She must have her screws loose.

Cord Vitalis wasn’t a man up for the sweet and romantic. Amanda wasn’t up for it either. They simply weren’t the cereal and milk for it.

But then, she remembered a passing memory about Arissa mentioning the Master’s lack of female company and how the Head Majordomo and the governess believes she fits the bill to remedy it.

Surely, they weren’t serious?

“Are you ready to change, Miss Cait?” Dayana asked, still showing a cheerful smile.

“What?” Amanda blinked, lost for a moment.

“To change. I will fix your hair for you. We only got an hour left before Sir Jerome arrives to fetch you.”

Oh my God.

“Do I really have to change Dan? I mean it is just a simple dinner right?” Amanda looked anxious, but the maid just dismissed it with yet another bright smile.

“You have to Miss Cait. It is not always that we get to see the Master dine with someone. He prefers to be alone you know. You, dining with him, is a cause for celebration.”

Amanda swallowed. Truly, she was in a predicament where there was no chance of escape.

***

Partnered it with a skin-tone stiletto, Amanda descended to the dining room wearing the red cocktail dress. The length was above-the-knee, just enough to create an air of sexy sophistication. The fabric was silk-like and stretchy. The design was within her taste of clothes. But of course, whoever decided to set her up with their Master had to choose this.

An off-shoulder.

A freaking off-shoulder.

They couldn’t be more obvious.

At first, Amanda was wary of wearing it. How would the Master react? What would he say when he sees her like this all dolled up? How would she even act in front of him? But after remembering that she’d be dining basically with a blind man, she surrendered to her fate. He wouldn’t even see her appearance from her hair down.

The Head Majordomo silently guided her throughout the hallway and stairs but paused just before they entered the dining room.

“This is where I’ll leave you, Madame. Enjoy your dinner with the Master.” He bent his head and strode out after Amanda gave him a forced smile and a squeaky ‘thank you.’

Not knowing how to announce herself, she decided to sneak a peek in the dining room just to see, and there she found the Master already sitting like he had been the first time they dined. With his shoulders pressed comfortably onto the backrest and his right hand holding a wine flute, it almost looked like he was enjoying himself alone.

A thought crossed her mind then. What if she’ll retreat to her chamber and feign sickness?

Maybe that would be better.

But of course, cowardice wasn’t one of the proud traits of any Roand woman. So with a deep breath and a clench of her fists, she urged herself forward.

“Good evening Amanda, ” the Master’s voice breezed through her ears just as she was halfway to the same overly prepared table. Saliva instantly lodged in her throat.

“Go-od evening Mister Vitalis, ” she managed to greet back after swallowing hard. What sharp hearing he had.

The room was met with silence again. Amanda continued her way into her seat, expecting no one to pull the chair for her like before, but to her shock, Cord quickly placed the flute down and stood up.

She stiffened on the spot and held a breath.

Was he going to do the same thing he did in the throne room? Was he going to lock an arm around her waist and pull her close to smell her neck?

Those were her quick questions as she observed him.

The answers to them came unexpectedly when Cord walked past her and reached for the crest rail of her chair.

“My apologies for not doing this the first time we dined, ” he said, showing a regretful expression for a fraction of a second.

Amanda blinked fast, surprised still that he acted like a gentleman with normal set of eyes.

“You don’t need to apologize, Mister Vitalis. It is the past. But thank you for doing this despite your...uh...”

“My condition?” he supplied, tilting his head and grinning a little on her way.

“Yes, ” was Amanda’s embarrassed answer. The man had the gall to act amused by his disability.

With the chair already drawn back, she stepped forward and claimed her seat. She mumbled a ‘thanks’ to him with which the Master immediately answered with a clear, ‘You’re welcome.’

She straightened her spine and watched him return to the center chair with sure strides, narrowing her eyes to further study how he handled himself without tripping.

But really, it wasn’t because she was curious about his lack of sight.

To be honest, it was because she wanted to ogle him - the one thing that she didn’t get to do amidst their numerous engagements since she stayed in the castle.

Even in his signature trench coat, Amanda could outline his broad back. A traitorous thought crossed her mind of how manly he’d look like underneath, rippling torso and all. He probably has strong lean arms and thighs, eye-catching dimples on top his buttocks, a delicious looking V where it led to his better half as an excellent member of the male specie. He probably has one long, sturdy—

“You look stunning in red, ” Cord announced, effectively cutting Amanda out from her wayward thoughts.

She awarded him a small smile, acting as if she wasn’t embarrassed inside, and answered straight-to-the-point, “Under normal circumstances, I would have said thank you for the compliment, but you basically can’t see me. How accurate of you to say I look stunning in red.”

Cord traced the corner of his bottom lip and grinned. How accurate he was indeed. “I was told that my subjects ganged up to doll you up just for me.”

Huh, just as she suspected.

“They did say that you prefer to dine alone and me dining with you is a cause for celebration, ” Amanda answered. “Although I think this is unnecessary.”

Cord almost tempted to reach for her victimized finger and do what he did last night just so he could prove her wrong, but he controlled himself.

“Still, you look beautiful and I appreciate it, ” was his calculated answer.

This made Amanda smile, the growing tendrils of anxiety lessening. They were, at last, acting civilized with each other.

“You kept your word, ” she muttered.

Cord cocked a brow. “My word?”

“Of not being rude, ” Amanda followed. “You do however need to respect your family more. They are all you’ve got aside from this castle.”

By family, she meant the woman she met at the gym - Heather. She was a friendly gal, easy to get along with. She definitely didn’t deserve to be treated like a stranger.

“Hmmm, ” a low sound reverberated in Cord’s chest. He wasn’t offended with her words, but still, he stated, “You do realize you are in no position to tell me that right?”

Amanda was taken aback. Unconsciously, she clamped her hands together under the table and answered, “Ye-yes, I apologize. It is unsolicited advice.”

Her cheeks grew hot, almost the same as having a fever, and she immediately felt uncomfortable with it. His family matters were off-limits - she knew that. She was after all just a guest in his castle. But still, a bit of friendly advice wouldn’t hurt, right?

Not like she treated him as a friend.

But still. It wouldn’t be a stain in his reputation if he’d show a little bit of an open mind.

***

Cord tipped his head once. “Apology accepted, ” he said and waited for her to reply. Waited until he realized she wasn’t going to talk anymore.

This got him concerned.

“I’m sorry. It seemed I have unintentionally overlooked your good intentions.”

Amanda, from looking down at her empty plate, glanced up at him, her brows high above her forehead.

“Heather is just a family friend. She isn’t a Vitalis, ” he reasoned.

“But she calls you cousin, and you to her, ” Amanda pointed out.

“Correct, but that’s just an appellation we decided to use after centuri—” he abruptly paused and cleared his throat, realizing he almost mentioned his years of existence as an immortal. “After she became a resident of the castle, ” he amended.

“Oh.” Amanda dipped her head briefly, debating on whether she should continue her council.

Whether be it a friend or family or the employees, it still doesn’t mean he had the leave to be rude. More so that he was the Master of the House. He should set himself a good role model.

“Amanda, ” Cord broke off her train of thought.

She stared back at him.

He did the same but with the bothersome blindfold of course.

He shifted forward, his abdomen touching the table, and positioned his nose to capture her enticing scent.

He inhaled deeply, a wave of longing threatening to drown him.

“You turning silent like that make me wish I’m not blind, ” he started and to Amanda’s surprise, he pulled the black cloth out of his head.

Reddish green eyes immediately welcomed her.

What odd color of eyes, she thought as she blatantly inspected it with her mouth agape and her fingers itching to comb out a rogue lock of hair sticking in his forehead.

“I want to see you, Amanda, make no mistake in that, ” Cord continued. “I want to see how your forehead wrinkles when you cringe. I want to see your laugh lines. I want to see how that red dress shines in your skin. I want to see how you look like with your curls down. I want to—”

Shit.

He swallowed and quickly leaned back against his seat.

Control. Control. He chanted in his mind.

“Uh, forget about what I said. Let’s just eat, ” he urged, the table seemingly becoming smaller as he heard Amanda’s heartbeat increase its workload.

“Ye-yeah, I-I think we should, ” Amanda, after blinking many times, hurried to pick up her spoon and fork.