Dark Rapture by Michele Hauf Read Free Book Online Page B

and another of buttered carrots pulled her closer. It smelled better than anything she’d ever prepared for herself.
    She smiled, noticing the crystal bowl whose contents shimmered in the candlelight. Red Jello for dessert.
    “Oh, Sebastian, you shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble, it looks wonderful.”
    “It was no trouble. It’s a pleasure to cook for such a lovely woman.” He pulled her chair from the table and seated her, then sat across from her. “As a child it was the norm to sit down to a daily feast. Through the years I guess I’ve relived my childhood with large meals and old recipes cooked for friends.”
    “I’m sure your mother must be proud that her son cooks so well.”
    Sebastian’s face looked strangely sad as his eyes gazed upon the succulent meal before him. “Yes, I’m sure she would be,” he said sullenly.
    Scarlet looked down quickly and fiddled with the silver rose engraved into the bottom of her fork. She hoped she hadn’t said something wrong. Maybe his mother is dead. The butterflies in her stomach started fluttering again.
    Raising his glass, Sebastian washed away her worries with a smile. “To good food, good conversation, and a beautiful companion.”
    Relieved that his mood was still cheerful, Scarlet clinked her glass against his.
    All through dinner they talked quietly, sharing long intimate gazes as a melody—Mozart, she thought— played in the background. Through the flicker of the candle flame, she watched as Sebastian’s eyes followed her every move. He scrutinized her, taking in every inch of her face and body. Strangely, his gaze didn’t make her feel the least bit uncomfortable. It was a good feeling. In fact, her nervousness had fled. He made her feel as if she was the only woman in the world who had ever received such amorous attentions.
    She, in turn, analyzed him. It was strange, but it seemed as though he hardly ate, merely picking at his food, his attention almost totally on her. A pity, she thought; the food was exquisite. And he had taken to calling her, ma cherie, during the meal, which made her feel special.
    His manners and movements were so elegant. It seemed to her that he was out of place in his chosen profession. A rock musician? Certainly not this elegant man.
    Brushing her fingers across the white linen napkin, Scarlet savored the last taste of tender beef before speaking. “So, what made you choose rock n’ roll as a profession?”
    “It was a natural progression from what I had been doing. I’ve always played guitar, not always rock n’ roll, but similar things. Although my heart remains true to the classical and flamenco styles of music, I’ve progressed over the years to the style that I’m playing now. But if you listen carefully you can hear the influence of the classics in the music that I play. I imagine that eventually my style will again change to whatever kind of music the future holds in store for us.”
    “Why not become a classical musician?”
    He sipped the wine, savoring the bouquet of the ancient vintage. “Let’s just say that the lifestyle of the popular musician is… seduisant. I don’t care for pageantry or the arrogant and disciplined lifestyle of the concert guitarist. I enjoy my freedom and the fact that this style of music lets me do anything I wish. There are no boundaries in rock n’ roll, Scarlet. And you would be amazed at how much of the classical form I weave into my compositions. You might say I still play the classical style, except now it’s a bit…” He smiled, searching for the right word to describe his heavy metal classics. “…harder.”
    “Oh, I love your album, though I don’t own a copy yet.” Scarlet bit her lip. Should she have admitted to that one?
    His laughter relieved her worries. “I have a few I copies of the CD lying around. I’d love to give you one.”
    She smiled at him. The night was going very well. And as each second ticked by she felt herself becoming more and more