Free Rosethorn by Ava Zavora Page A

shiny black hair and sharp teeth, had picked them up off the floor and ate them with a flash of sharp, white teeth. He gave her a conspiratorial wink as he swallowed.
    And later, when she had set out more rosemary polenta at the dinner table, he had leaned over to her and whispered, “You’ll pose for me."
    Sera had looked around. Everyone was busy talking and eating. No one had heard this strange command. She had shaken her head and backed away. There was something predatory about the way his eyes followed her in a room full of people.
    He walked towards her now, sipping his glass as did so, and Sera could feel his intense scrutiny of her as she hurriedly tried to clear away the last of the dishes. “Why don’t you want to pose for me?"
    Sera concentrated on stacking the dishes.
    “Do you know who I am?"
    Sera looked at him mutely and shook her head. He was now standing next to her. She could smell something exotic wafting from his clothes, could see the glitter of his dark eyes even when she was turned away.
    No one had ever examined her as this man was now doing. She felt as if a bright, bright light was shining on her and he was searching for something in her features.
    From the corner of her eyes, she saw him set his wine glass down and pluck a gardenia from a nearby bowl. He placed it in her hair.
    “I’ve been watching you. You’re a natural.”
    Sera felt like giggling. No one really talked like this did they?
    He placed a hand on her chin and turned it so that she was looking straight at his dark eyes. “Amazing. Right at the cusp. You’ll be breathtaking someday, but you don’t know it, do you?  No one’s noticed yet except for me."
    She was mesmerized, unable to turn away. He spoke as if he knew about her, knew her future. She had never been called breathtaking.
    “But it’s all there, in your eyes, your lips-the woman you’ll become." He turned her face slightly, again examining her. She wanted to pull away. “I can capture you right at this moment before it’s gone.”
    He drew in his breath. “You’ve never even been kissed have you?"
    Sera’s mouth opened, alarmed that he could tell so much from her face. Was she so easily read? 
    Sera could smell the wine on his breath. She felt repulsed but couldn’t move. Her body had betrayed her.
    “Imagine that...” he murmured as he leaned closer.
    “Sera."
    They both turned towards the door to the kitchen where Andrew stood, a peculiar look on his face. “The dishes."
    His voice sounded as if it had been wrung from him.
    The man let go of her and grinned at Andrew, who was staring straight at him. Sera picked up the last stack of plates and walked them over to the door. Andrew did not look at her, his jaw tight, his face red. Sera pushed herself against him, trying to get him in the kitchen, but he was immoveable.
    She heard the man laugh behind her and Andrew quickly move. She hurriedly set the dishes on the counter then forcefully took Andrew by the arm and dragged him away from the door with all her strength.
    Inside the kitchen, Andrew glared at her. He was breathing hard, as if he had just run a mile. Sera couldn’t look at him. She started washing the dishes.
    “Fucking dirty old man!" She heard him kick the door.
    “Andrew." Sera reached out with a hand but he flung it away as if her touch was repulsive to him.
    “And you just stood there. I kept waiting for you to stop him, slap him, anything, but you just stood there." Andrew was pacing back and forth, his fury white hot. “Tell me what would have happened if I wasn't there, Sera?”
    Sera shook her head.
    “Would you have let him kiss you, put his hands all over you?”
    “He just wanted me to pose for him. That’s all.”
    “No!" He exploded. "No way are you going to pose for him!"
    “You can’t tell me what to do!  I’ll pose for him if I want to!" Sera yelled back, who up until then had no intention of doing so.
    “He wants you to pose for him alright.”
    “What