Thread: The Manor (Mr. Quixotic & Malicious Lullaby)

Izabel was the persona she aspired to be, but mostly in the confidence sense. She didnt want to be some constant vixen who knew how to seduce on a whim just by saying a certain word or by the sway of her hips, a single glance and or a small touch. No, her goal in life was never to just constantly seduce and do anything in the hopes of hooking a man and keeping him hooked, line and sinker. No, she didnt live her life to please men and she didnt have a purpose just to be surrounded by a man all the time. She just wanted that confidence that she imagined Izabel to have. It would be a hell of a goal but she knew who she was at least as a person and as far as her persona went. Izabel was desirable, yes, but Harper was Harper and she would always be this awkward and sort of shy person with a dark closet of true kinks and needs just wanting to be freed. It would take time. She didnt need a man to make that happen. She just neededsexreally good, hard, delicious, mind-boggling and Earth-shattering sex that would leave her incoherent for hours and sore and tender for days. Even after she left, she couldnt stop thinking about that. Harper kept walking away from that more and more it seemed, the opportunity to have exactly what she wanted but the circumstances seemed so incorrect. She could have easily been fucked hard by Steve the way she wanted but he would be ashamed of her in the end and it would go badly. Considering the current status of their non-existent relationship, it probably really didnt matter right now but she knew that in the morning, she wouldnt have felt like someone who was safe in the arms of her boyfriend who let go into a night of wild and passionate abandon. No, she would have woken up alone and probably dumped for making him have to do that to her when clearly he was so against it. If he had really wanted to, Steve would have taken her without hesitation like that. But no, he didnt. It wasnt immediate. She had to practically coax it out of him. Things were the way they were and they went the way they did. Yet she still felt nowhere near satisfied the way she wanted to. The funny thing was since the way things had gone with Steve, her libido had been so shot, she had felt humiliated, hurt, ashamed and just down right dejected. Meeting Hawthorne and learning who Robert truly was, that fire ignited deep inside of her belly and it took all she had not to pity-call Steve, tell him all was right and have some pretty moderately vanilla make-up sex. Ugh, just the thought of it seemed like she went as dry as sand paper all over again. Goodness, perhaps they really werent a good fit anymore. Wellshe wasnt quite privy to anyone who would make her feel ashamed for something she wanted just because they were beyond that phase. Yeah well she hardly ever had that phase she was too much of an invisible loner freak in high school. And while she was still that loner freak, she wasnt invisible anymore and she actually wanted companionship now. It was just difficult to find someone with like tastes. Until Hawthorne Tisch happened. Oh, she could fantasize about him tonight and not feel guilty one bit. The man was more than she had expected he was handsome and in all honesty, he didnt look like his age. He looked to be in his thirties but she was guessing he was a bit older because of the wisps of silver hair in his beautiful dark hair. He had chiseled features and from what she had been able to see from him sitting behind his desk, he was very well fit and lean. But his most defining feature that made her feel that indescribable and irresistible pull was his emerald green eyes. They were so enticing and she was so susceptible to falling into their deep emerald abyss that it was really dangerous. She could say yes to anything he wanted and be in big danger for the repercussions and consequences. Maybe it was pride. Perhaps, even more, it was wanting to make it as good for him as he could make it for her. For her, the end result would be the most redeeming part that would make it so worth it. For him and so many others, the actual chase was probably the worthwhile part of the entire game. Upon returning home, Harper found Stephanie home as well and the two enjoyed some ice cream and a couple of movies before Harper succumbed to tiredness. Stephanie left for a late night call and Harper slept well into Saturday. She spent the day doing some cleaning, grocery shopping and cooking so that there was food for the week and food prepped to be cooked during the week. It was early afternoon when she heard her phone go off and she wiped her hands on her apron as she approached it. It was a message from Steve. Hey baby, Ive missed you. Thinking we could meet for lunch on Sunday. Let me know if youre free. A heavy sigh came from her and she actually felt herself dreading having to answer. Its not like she had anything else planned and it would be the mature thing to set Steve straight on the future of their relationship. It was dead. He needed to accept that. Harper sure did. Now if she could figure out a way to put that in a nicer way. She wasnt born to be rude and she didnt have a mean bone in her body but a part of her was a little bitter in regards to Steve. She didnt take well to someone when they yelled at her and she hadnt appreciated it when he raised his voice at her. She wasnt a child and she didnt need to be talked to like one. Just as she was about to write a text in response, a knock sounded at her door. After opening it, she saw roses in the hand of a messenger. A dozen roses for Miss Harper Collins. Im Harper. For you. He handed them to her and then nodded his head. Good day, Miss. He bowed his head and then left. Shutting the door, Harper was actually worried that these were from Steve. He would be smart enough but upon opening the card, she knew immediately it wasnt Steve before even reading it. She smiled and her cheeks colored as she read the invitation from Hawthorne Tisch. It shocked her that he would want her input for ideas and themes for his next event but if this was bait to see him again and go to the Manor, she would be quick to go. Besides, he wasnt asking. He was stating that there would be a limousine to pick her up and she better be ready. Now how to break the news to Steve? After smelling the roses which were so fresh and lovely, also putting them in a vase with water and its flower food, she picked her phone up again and shot a quick text out to Steve. Hey. If we can make it perhaps a brunch as opposed to a lunch that would be better. 11. Ill meet you at Dashs. After getting a text back from him confirming the date, she went back to cooking and preparing food. That night, when Stephanie came home, she bombarded Harper about the roses. Harper decided not to tell her they were from Hawthorne Tisch, the enigmatic owner of the Manor and its racy dealings. She just said they were from the guy she met at the ball and Stephanie gave her a suggestive eye brow wag. Harper brushed her off and she went to bed eager for tomorrow with Hawthorne, less eager about her brunch with Steve. At 9 AM on Sunday morning, Harper woke and she showered. She dressed in a white blouse with different colors polka dots and a crme mini skirt that was pleated. It came a few inches above her knees and she put on sandals. She fixed her hair into a low side ponytail and since she still didnt get new contacts yet, she wore her glasses. She drove to Dashs to meet Steve there. It was a sweet little diner that had a rather dashing twist on diner food. It was a bit more upscale in preparation and ingredients but it was still very affordable and delicious. They had a phenomenal brunch and her favorite item was the Eggs Benedict. It was a on a fresh baked croissant instead of an English muffin and it was like an edible orgasm. That and their rocky road ice cream was the best thing she ever had there and she was still in the works of enticing the chef to sell it to her by the gallon. Ordering a glass of peach iced tea, Harper sipped it thoughtfully. It was nectar. Goodness, she loved this place so much. She looked toward the door keeping an eye out for Steve. For some reason, she was nervous. She didnt want to get back together but she knewall it took was a moment of weakness.