Getting spoiled in a woman dominating world

The midday sun poured through the tall glass windows of the Bleaufort estate’s grand dining hall, filling the room with a warm, golden brilliance.

Brandon sat at the head of the table with two beautiful women on both sides.

On his left, Florence and on his right, Eira was sitting.

A quiet knock signaled the arrival of lunch.

A line of uniformed servants entered, bearing platters and silver domes.

One by one, they unveiled the dishes filling the air with the rich aromas.

There was roasted duck lacquered with a glistening glaze of fruit and honey, its skin browned to a crisp perfection.

A saffron and almond rice dish accompanied it.

In another dish, slow-braised beef shank sat atop a bed of wild herbs and root vegetables, steam rising gently from the still-bubbling sauce.

Seafood was not forgotten—there was a chilled platter of lemon-garlic marinated prawns, and fish slices seared in a white wine reduction.

Grilled mushrooms stuffed with soft cheeses and roasted pepper filled a silver tray to the brim.

Fresh bread in a variety of shapes and textures arrived nestled in linen-lined baskets, accompanied by whipped herb butter, smoked salt, and crushed olive oil dip.

Decanters of chilled fruit nectar and Bleaufort vintage wine were placed within reach.

After laying out the spread, the head maid bowed respectfully. ”Enjoy your meal, Lady Bleaufort, Lady Eira, Lord Brandon.”

With that, the staff exited in seamless formation, leaving the three alone in the grand, sunlit chamber.

Brandon looked around at the lavish dishes and smiled faintly ”This is lunch?”

Florence smiled sweetly and leaned a little toward him ”You’re in the Bleaufort estate now, darling. This is how we treat honored guests. Or in your case...”

Her gaze flickered to his lips. ”Future family.”

Eira shot her mother a sharp side glance. ”Don’t flirt over food, Mother. It’s unbecoming.”

Florence ignored her completely and plucked a slice of fish with her fork, placing it neatly onto Brandon’s plate. ”Eat up. A man needs his strength—especially when he is beside such a strong woman.”

Brandon couldn’t help but chuckle and nodded his head ”Thanks. Everything smells amazing.”

Florence’s fork hovered in the air for a moment and took a thin slice of seared fish.

She turned slightly, angling it toward Brandon with a smile ”Open wide, dear... say ’aah’ ”

Brandon chuckled softly. ”Alright, alright...” he leaned slightly toward her and accepted the bite as the tender fish melted against his tongue with a delicate balance of herbs and white wine.

”Mm,” he gave a small nod of appreciation. ”That’s really good.”

Florence smiled happily as if she’d personally prepared it. ”Isn’t it? I always make sure the kitchen knows how to please the palate.”

Her hand lingered near his mouth just a second longer and her fingers brushed lightly against his chin as she drew back the fork with care ”You’re so well-mannered, Brandon.”

”Mother,” Eira said dryly, scooping a forkful of saffron rice and holding it out, ”You’re not the only one with hands and utensils, you know.”

Florence gave a soft laugh as Eira turned to Brandon with an expectant look. ”Here.”

Brandon glanced at her, then leaned toward the rice with a soft smile. ”Thanks.”

As Brandon chewed the rice, Florence leaned her chin onto her palm, elbow propped on the table, gazing at him with lazy satisfaction. ”What a lucky young man... two beautiful women feeding him like a prince.”

”You say that like he isn’t my boyfriend,” Eira muttered, reaching for another dish.

Florence just grinned and reached for a prawn. ”Details, details.”

Without breaking her rhythm, she plucked the shrimp, gently dipped it in a bowl of lemon-garlic sauce, and offered it once more to Brandon. ”Here, dear. Don’t let her jealousy get in the way of good food.”

Brandon paused, glancing between them with an amused smile, then leaned forward again and accepted the shrimp.

The moment his lips closed around it, Florence’s eyes sparkled ”You eat so obediently. That’s very attractive in a man,” she teased.

Eira rolled her eyes but copied the motion, this time offering him a small, perfectly sliced piece of duck. ”Ignore her.”

”Oh, sweetheart, jealousy ages you. You should be glowing like me.” Florence winked, then turned again to Brandon.

”Tell me, darling, what kind of clothes do you like? Casual, formal? Or maybe something tighter.. form-fitting, to show off that lovely waist of yours?”

Brandon smiled awkwardly as he reached for his glass. ”I, uh... haven’t thought about it much.”

”You should let me dress you sometime,” Florence murmured, pouring him a glass of chilled nectar.

Looking at Eira, she spoke ”Don’t you think Brandon would look lovely in white silk? Or maybe a fitted suit with blue trim... something that matches those eyes of yours.”

”Your wish..” Brandon smiled, brushing his fingers along his napkin before reaching for the carved serving spoon and a plate of braised root vegetables.

”Well, I can’t be the only one getting spoiled here.”

Florence raised an eyebrow curiously ”Oh?”

Eira looked at him with slight suspicion ”Hm?”

Brandon took a slice of glazed carrot and turned to Florence. ”Say ’ahh,’ Florence.”

Florence blinked in surprise then she grinned, clearly pleased.

She fluttered her lashes and leaned slightly toward him. ”Yes, dear...”

Florence opened her mouth and accepted the offering.

She bit down slowly, savoring it in the most exaggeratedly sensual way possible. ”Mmm. Tender, sweet, and just the right touch of salt. You’ve got a good hand, darling.”

”I didn’t cook it,” Brandon replied with a small laugh, but she waved the comment away.

”It’s the gesture that counts.”

Eira crossed her arms and her eyes narrowed slightly ”Fine. If we’re doing this, then come here too, Brandon.”

Brandon turned, only to see her holding a small cube of soft cheese, nestled on a sliver of roasted mushroom. ”You’d better be fair. I’m not letting my boyfriend flirt-feed my mom without some compensation.”

He smiled and nodded his head ”Understood.”

She leaned in closer, and he opened his mouth slightly to accept the bite.

As soon as the fork passed his lips, she pulled it back, brushing the edge of her fingers against his chin ”You’re mine, remember that.”

Florence made a dramatic sound and fanned herself with a napkin ”Good heavens, what have I walked in on? Young love and territorial claims at the dinner table.”

Eira stabbed a grape from the fruit platter and popped it into her own mouth. ”You’re lucky I haven’t dragged you out by your hair yet.”

”Oh, come now,” Florence said, feigning innocence.

”Why waste time fighting when we can share the joy of such fine company?”

Brandon, trying not to laugh with food still in his mouth, reached across the table again, this time plucking a bit of flaky white fish.

He glanced between the two before offering it.. first to Florence, who smiled, and then immediately to Eira.

With a slight cough, Brandon spoke ”You both get a turn. Equality.”

Florence leaned in and accepted her bite first, smiling at how close their faces briefly became.

Her lips lingered near his fingers, and she murmured, ”You’re making it very hard not to fall for you, dear.”

Eira groaned under her breath ”You are my boyfriend, but you are favoring my mom.”

He then turned to her, holding the fish again, and she took the bite.

Her eyes softened looking into his blue eyes ”Thanks, boyfriend.”

Florence sighed again and leaned her head against Brandon’s shoulder, just lightly enough to test if he would let her. ”You’re such a lovely young man. Good manners, a kind heart, an appetite...”

”...and taken.” Eira reminded pointedly, tapping the edge of her fork against her plate.

”Oh, hush,” Florence said, turning her eyes upward in thought.

”When you grow older, you learn that nothing in life is ever truly ’taken.’ Everything is negotiable.”

Brandon nearly choked on his sip of nectar. ”That’s...”

Florence patted his chest gently, ”Don’t worry, darling. I won’t steal you. I’ll just borrow you from time to time. Eira doesn’t need you all to herself.”

”I do, actually,” Eira replied instantly, grabbing the bread basket and ripping into a piece of flatbread like it personally offended her.

Brandon laughed, glancing between the two of them and decided to tease Eira a bit.

He turned to Florence and spoke ”Well, I don’t mind if it’s a beautiful lady like Florence.”

Eira stopped chewing mid-bite ”Huh?”

Florence placed a hand delicately over her chest ”Oh my, Brandon, you are going to make this old lady blush.”

Seeing this, Eira’s jaw dropped ”Brandon, why are you swaying towards her?”

Florence sighed dramatically and rested her hand against Brandon’s upper arm, fingers lingering as if she had every right to be there.

”Don’t be such a jealous little thing, Eira. You have him all the time. I’m only borrowing him for a lunch. One delightful, well-mannered lunch.”

”That’s not how this works!” Eira hissed. ”That’s not how anything works!”

Brandon, hiding his grin behind his wine glass, glanced toward Florence and added with mock regret, ”Honestly, if you keep being this charming, Florence, I might start thinking I’ve been dating the wrong Bleaufort.”

Florence blushed faintly and her eyelashes flutteres ”Heavens, boy! You do know how to flatter a woman.”

Eira made a strangled sound and pointed an accusing finger at Brandon. ”You’re not dating my mother.”

Florence leaned toward Eira and whispered ”You really should share him a little more.”

”I will not!” Eira snapped, standing halfway out of her seat.

”He’s mine! I’m not going to just let you co-parent my boyfriend!”

Brandon nearly coughed on his drink.

Florence blinked in amusement. ”Oh my. ’Co-parent’? Is that what we’re doing now?”

Eira sat back down with a flustered huff as her cheeks bloomed with the most vibrant red Brandon had seen on her ”I’m just saying—this is weird, alright? You two ganging up on me like I’m the third wheel at my own lunch!”

Florence gave her an amused glance and leaned ever so slightly closer to Brandon. ”To be fair, you did start by being stingy. Sharing is a virtue, Eira.”

”Then go find a virtue somewhere else,” Eira grumbled. ”Stop virtue-signaling over my boyfriend.”

Brandon chuckled, finally taking pity on her.

He reached over, gently squeezed her hand where it rested beside her plate, and gave her a warm smile ”I was just teasing you.”

Eira pouted her lips and looked away ”That was a bad tease...”

Florence laughed brightly, raising her wine glass as she declared ”To family meals, and to shared boyfriends. Cheers!”

”No!” Eira shot back instantly.