Page 13 of Omega Island
My nerves had me in a whirl again. We were served our entrees quite quickly and I was grateful for the distraction. I was no longer hungry, but I dug into the pasta to give myself something to do. It tasted amazing. Immediately, the food became a pleasant experience and my stomach responded by growling again and demanding more bites.
I cleaned the plate in record time, not realizing how hungry all my travels had made me. I hadn’t eaten much at all while staying with Bam and Luca. And Straten had strictly controlled my meals and exercise, wanting me sculpted and lean-muscled the way he preferred his lovers. He gave me underhanded compliments on my tall, feline structure, saying it was beautiful but that he had created that for me and I should be thankful to him for it always.
Now, as I piled more garlic bread onto my empty plate, I realized how starved I was in more ways than hunger. My body had not been my own for far too long. Now I was able to listen to it again, let it respond and not be afraid I’d be punished for my own wants as weaknesses.
Senta smiled at my plate. “Would you like second helpings?”
“I’m fine. It was probably the most delicious meal I’ve had in—in—well, a long time.”
“Glad to hear it.”
I felt more than content, the food settling inside me. Here in this space, this moment, I was safe. Filled up. Almost like the sensation I’d had seeing the dolphins leaping. Which brought up another question I wanted to ask.
“Do the dolphins in the lagoon live there?”
“Ah, you saw some, then?” Senta asked.
“Before coming inside here. Two were playing, leaping out of the water.”
“The staff here feed them. There’s a pod that comes and goes. They’ve named them all. Names like Aphrodite and Athena and Neptune. A few of the cooks say they can tell them all apart.”
“How many?”
“The pod here is about a dozen. They are bottlenose dolphins and very intelligent and friendly. But they’re not always around. Mostly they come at sunrise or sunset.”
“For food, right?” I felt a smile form on my lips that had been tight and tense for too long.
“I do believe my kitchen staff has spoiled them. So yes, they probably do come for the food. But we all like to think they enjoy us, too.”
Jen piped up to my right. “I’ve seen the dolphins, too! Aren’t they amazing?”
I nodded.
“They make you feel light inside, like you can do anything. Part of the healing landscape of this place.” Jen pressed his hand to the center of his chest and rubbed.
I wondered why he was here, but I would never ask. In all my time with Straten’s rude and crass behavior, I had not forgotten how to behave in public, and especially around people who were possibly more troubled than I was.
Dessert came on trays to be picked over. There were slices of vanilla cake with strawberry filling, apple pie, sundaes dripping with hot fudge, fruit cocktails swimming in syrupy goodness.
I took one of the sundaes and forced myself not to feel one ounce of guilt for the sugar I was spooning down my throat. I craved it as soon as it hit my tastebuds.
I looked up at Senta who had helped himself to a bowl of strawberry shortcake with whipped cream, his lips damp, his eyes sparkling. He was so handsome as he ate the confection.
“The strawberries are good?” I asked.
“My favorite,” he replied, licking his lips.
“I’ll have that next time,” I said.
Straten had made my world so small. Now it was expanding.
7
Senta
Careful,I thought to myself as I watched Raimi scrape his hot fudge sundae dish for any leftover ice cream at the bottom, then delicately lick his spoon.Raimi is your guest but he’s not here for you.
I squirmed a little as I felt a trickle of slick leak onto my pads. It was the coming heat only, nothing to do with the company, I told myself.
