by Jamie Knight
“I don’t give a fuck what people say. Get dressed. We’re leaving, and I’m taking you back to my apartment. You’re about to have sex in the back of a limo.”
Chapter Fourteen - James
I threw my pen on top of my desk and rubbed my hands over my face.
Pearl and I had stayed awake until four taking pleasure in one another. Where she was concerned, I couldn’t get enough. This morning, I’d already downed three cups of coffee, but my eyelids felt gritty and my bones heavy.
My body begged me to go home and get some sleep, but I had too much work to do. I’d just finished a three-hour zoom meeting with Michelle and Daniel. He’d requested mediation. If that didn’t work, we would have to go to trial.
I assured Michelle he was calling her bluff and that he didn’t want to go to trial. He didn’t want the truth about who he was to come out.
I didn’t want to go to trial either. Mainly because Michelle wasn’t strong enough emotionally or mentally to withstand the scrutiny.
My intercom buzzed. “Mr. Matthews, Ms. Fitzgibbon is here to see you.”
Fuck. Exactly what I didn’t need right now. “I explained you were busy, but she’s insisting.” Before I could say a word, the door opened, and Lyla strutted in.
“Can I help you with something urgent? I’m in the middle of work.”
She came over to my side of the desk and air-kissed my cheeks. I stiffened. The scent of her heavy perfume stuck in my throat and clogged my nose.
“No need to be like that, James. I’m here to remind you about next week’s fundraiser on Christmas Eve at The Lincoln Center. Since you’re still on the board, you have to go. You haven’t forgotten, have you?”
“I haven’t.”
“Wonderful. Maxwell Hart will be there. Daddy thinks he’s going to be the next president.”
“I’ll be there.”
“Since we RSVP’d together, you’re aware you’ll be my date?”
I glared at her. “Let’s get one thing clear, Lyla. I said I’ll be there, but it won’t be as your date. Once again, there’s nothing between us.”
She puffed out her lower lip and tilted her head. “That’s not true, James. There’s a spark between us. I’ll let you have your bit of fun with the office girl, but eventually, you’ll come running back to me.”
I sighed and shoved a hand through my hair. I had to get through to her somehow. “Lyla, please listen. I respect you, and, sometimes, I even like you. But you’re not what I want. You’ll never give me what I need. I’m sorry if that sounds harsh.”
The coldness in my words had zero effect on her. She lowered her eyes and did her best to appear submissive. “I can be everything you need and more, master.” The words sounded awkward and stilted coming from her lips.
“You’re not a submissive, Lyla. You can’t give yourself to me the way I need.”
She glared at me, her lips twisted. “And she can? She doesn’t belong in our circle. She’s not one of us.”
“If by one of us you mean the so-called New York elite, then you’re right, she’s not. She’s better.”
She harrumphed and rolled her eyes. “I expect you at my place on Christmas Eve at seven-thirty.” She then gave her head a small shake, and a smile replaced her frown. “I’m looking forward to it, master.”
When she left, I blew out an explosive breath. Dammit. I should’ve known better than to trust and believe her in the first place, but she had said all the right things and did all the right things until she thought she had me in the palm of her hand. I should have opened my eyes sooner. Even when we’d been together, she’d been halfhearted about obeying my commands.
How was I going to tell Pearl I had a fundraising event to attend next week with Lyla? I’d inadvertently hurt her last night, and I didn’t want to hurt her again. I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t told her Lyla was attending the ball. Maybe I thought she would have figured out my ex would be there, or maybe I was afraid she would back out.
The party had been a trial by fire, but Pearl handled herself well. The party on Saturday night would be a completely different ballgame. I smiled to myself.
I could already see her bound and blindfolded, not knowing what was coming next. Not knowing what I had in store for her.
This party wouldn’t involve fancy dresses or tuxedos. The dress code was the kinkier, the better. I intended to wear what I usually wore whenever I went to the club for a night out—dark jeans and a black T-shirt. Pearl wouldn’t.
She and I would visit Lady Melanie’s boutique on Friday, and afterward, she would stay at my apartment, but I wouldn’t lay a finger on her. I would make her wait. By the time Saturday night arrived, she would be panting.
Chapter Fifteen - Pearl
“Where are you taking me?”
“Like I told you and million times before, it’s a surprise. You have to learn some patience, pet.” He wiggled his eyebrows and grinned.
“I don’t like surprises. Like at all.”
“That’s a shame because this weekend may contain one or two.”
We stopped outside a brownstone in Greenwich Village. “We’re going to someone’s house?”
“In a way.”
I clenched my fists. Frustration ate me up inside. I’d been telling the truth when I said I didn’t like surprises. I hated not knowing things. James held my hand, and we walked up the steps.
The front door swung open, and a curvaceous fifty-something blonde smiled warmly then stepped back while gesturing for us to come in.
She kissed James’ cheeks then took my hands in hers. I could already tell I liked her. “It’s a chilly one, isn’t it?” she said in an aristocratic British accent. “Jack Frost is certainly nipping around the streets these days.”
James closed the door and shrugged off his coat. “Lady Melanie, this is Pearl. Pearl, this is Lady Melanie. New York’s best-kept secret.”
“Should I curtsey?”
“Not at all. I don’t go in for all that stuff and nonsense. You can call me Melanie. Come this way, my darlings. I’m all ready for you.”
“Ready for what?”
James squeezed my hand. “You’ll see.”
We followed Melanie through a grand foyer with ceilings at least thirty-foot high. We stopped outside a door, which I guessed led down to the basement.
Unsure, I glanced at James. “It’s okay, pet.”
“What’s down there?” I imagined a dungeon filled with torture apparatus, chains, whips, and handcuffs.
“Not what you think.”
Feeling apprehensive but trusting James, I walked down the stairs and into a breathtaking space filled with exquisite lingerie and an area specially dedicated to pleasure toys. In the center of the room stood a podium like the ones in bridal stores. Wide-eyed, I turned around in circles. “Wow.” I ran my fingers along the rails of silk and lace. “I’m in heaven.”
“Still don’t like surprises?”
“I could be convinced otherwise.”
“Melanie is going to help me pick out the perfect pieces for you. She and her girls design and handmake all the lingerie right here.”
“Only for the most special people, sweetie.” She studied me from head to toe. “Why don’t you undress, darling. I need to get a good look at you. There’s a dressing room right over there. Pop out when you’ve taken everything off.”
“What? No.” I didn’t want a woman I’d met less than five minutes ago to see me naked.
“Pet,” James said. I didn’t miss the warning in his voice. It was a warning that said, “if you don’t do what you’re told, you’re going to end up over my knee right here, right now.”
“Fine.” I stomped into the dressing room and quickly undressed. I gripped the curtain and waited for a few beats, but then thought, why not? It wasn’t like I had a disgusting body. Since she designed lingerie for a living, Melanie saw naked women of all shapes and sizes regularly. The hang-up w
as with me. Being naked in front of people I didn’t know freaked me out.
I yanked the curtain back, and with confidence I didn’t have, I walked to the center of the showroom.
“My, my, aren’t you simply Rubenesque and stunning.” Melanie took my hand and led me toward the podium. “Up you get. Don’t be shy.”
Feeling incredibly reluctant, I stood in the middle of the podium and watched my reflection in the three-way mirror.
Melanie walked around the podium while James sat in a wingback chair, watching every move I made.
“With your skin tone, I think purple would look excellent. And, of course, we’ll get you some regulation black.” She tapped a fingertip against her lips. “I’ll start putting a rail together.”
In a flurry of movement, she filled a rail with sexy goodies in every color. A few moments later, she was by my side. Admittedly, it was kinda nice having all the attention focused on me.
Melanie took a delicate purple lace corset from the rail. The corset had half bra cups and would push my breasts up to the sky. “Hold this to your front, and I’ll hook up the back.”
When she was done, she handed me and matching pair of crotchless panties. “Put these on.”
I shimmied them up my legs and then glanced at my reflection. I barely recognized my body. The bones of the corset accentuated my curves and cinched in my waist. My nipples puckered, and dampness coated my inner thighs. Who would have thought trying on lingerie could be so erotic and naughty?
James chuckled, and I caught his eye.
“What?” I shrugged. “They make me feel sexy.”
“They make you look sexy too.”
Melanie handed me a pair of purple patent heels. “Shove these on.”
“How did you guess my size?”
“Because I’ve been doing this for eons.”
I slipped on the shoes, put my hands on my hips, and twisted my waist this way and that.
Melanie eyed me up and down. “Yes, that’ll do nicely.”
“It certainly will.” James reached over and cupped my crotch. He slipped a finger through my folds, making me gasp.
Heat flamed my entire body. “Sir, not here.”
“Yes, here.” I swayed at his touch and tried to press his hand away, but he refused to stop pleasuring me.
“We’ll take this set in every color.” Slowly, he removed his finger, leaving me dizzy and aching.
“Excellent choice,” Melanie said. “Next up, I have a leather catsuit that would be divine.” She helped me take the purple lingerie off then assisted me into the one piece. The butter-soft leather molded into every inch of my skin. My reflection turned me on even more. “You can make millions by selling these.”
She laughed. “Oh, darling, I already have.”
James ran his hand down my heavy breasts, over my hips, and around my ass. “Perfection.”
“Next, we have this,” Melanie said as if seeing her customers being felt up wasn’t unusual. “It’ll be perfect for the party you’re going to. It’s a naughty, flirty, and festive teddy.” She picked out what looked like a long red ribbon held together with a ridiculously large bow.
I tilted my head to one side. “How does that work?”
“Let me help you in.”
I stepped my legs through thin straps that resembled a barely-there thong. Melanie pulled them up my legs and wrangled them into position around my hips.
A length of material cushioned my clit and ran from my crotch up the center of my body. And the bra was nothing more than the bow that scarcely held me in place.
She stood back and eyed me appreciatively.
James nodded. “Perfect for unwrapping tomorrow.”
“Are you two insane? I can’t wear this to the party. I’m practically naked.”
“That’s the whole idea, pet.”
“Do you think you have everything you need, James?” Melanie asked, adding more items to the rack. “Throw in a few vibrators and cuffs. You’ve outdone yourself.”
She bowed her head. “My job is to please. I’ll also include body stockings and some more crotchless panties, and a couple of leather corsets.”
My eyes widened at everything on the racks. “We’re taking all this?”
“Every single last piece.”
“But that’s hundreds of dollars,” I protested.
I couldn’t even add up the cost in my head, but I was sure the final total would be more than I’d earn in five years, even if I did get the promotion to associate.
“That’s not for you to worry about, pet.”
Melanie clicked her fingers, and two assistants came scurrying into the room with their eyes lowered. I tried to shield my body, but James shook his head. Without a glance at me, they rolled the rack out of the room.
“My girls will wrap everything and leave it at the front door when you’re ready.” Melanie gave a curt nod and left.
“Everything about the world you live in is bizarre to me. It’s like an alternate reality.”
“You haven’t seen anything yet.”
And that sort of worried me.
“Go get dressed, and let’s go home.”
I frowned, not sure I understood. “But we’re alone now. Isn’t that why Melanie left us? To, you know, have some fun.”
“No, pet. Not tonight. You’re getting dressed, and we’re leaving. We’ll go back to my apartment to sleep and nothing more.”
I pouted. “But I’m all turned on.” I ran my hands up the front of my body and untied the red bow. “The lingerie felt delicious against my skin. Having you watch left me horny and wet.”
In a flash of movement, he smacked my ass. Hard. “Get dressed now.”
Chapter Sixteen - James
Keeping my hands to myself had been an endurance test. One I deserved a gold medal for.
During the flight to Vermont, I’d also managed to keep my hands to myself. Now, I shook with desire, and my balls were high and tight.
Not fucking her on the podium at Melanie’s place resulted in me going home and jerking off twice, but it hadn’t sated me. If we’d slept in the same bed last night, I wouldn’t have been able to resist.
Tonight, I would fuck her into oblivion. Tonight, I would do what I wanted, when I wanted, and how I wanted. No one would judge or question anything. There was no one to network with and no one to avoid. It was all about us. Tonight, her training would begin in earnest.
Caleb, an old college friend, the owner of New England’s Bound club, had arranged what I needed.
Once the plane had landed and come to a standstill, I helped Pearl down the steps and into a waiting car.
“Are you going to touch me or talk to me now?” she asked.
I laughed. “Are you mad at me, pet?”
“Not mad. I don’t understand the silent treatment or why you won’t come near me. I feel like I’ve done something wrong, but I know I haven’t.”
I pulled her close and placed a kiss on her head. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I’ve been wrong to neglect you, but I want tonight to be something you’ll never forget. Something neither of us will ever forget.”
Her wide, sincere eyes met mine. “No matter what, sir, I think it’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.” She stroked her fingertips up and down my thigh, her movements not hiding what she wanted. “How long to the cabin?”
I sighed and swallowed down my impatience, the throb in my crotch becoming unbearable. “Less than thirty minutes. This airstrip belongs to my friend Caleb.”
“Of course it does.” The corners of her mouth twitched, and I felt the throb intensify. I wouldn’t be able to hold back much longer. “Tell me more about the party. What should I expect?”
“It’s exclusive and invite-only. Only about ten dominants and their submissives. You don’t have to worry about a thing. Everyone is respectful of everyone else. Some dominants may ask permission to play with you.”
<
br /> Pearl sat straight up and yanked her hand back. “No. I don’t want anyone else to touch me.”
“That’s fine, pet. I don’t want anyone touching you either. You’re mine and only mine.
I could see the tension leak out of her body. “What should I wear?”
“Wear the plaid corset and matching panties with red shoes and wear your hair down.”
“What will you wear? Something Christmassy too? An ugly sweater, perhaps?”
I grinned down at her teasing face. “A T-shirt and black jeans.”
“I get to wear next to nothing while you get to wear jeans and a T-shirt. That isn’t fair.”
I grabbed her chin and forced her to look at me. “Sassy today, aren’t you?”
“I’ve never met any of these people in my life, but you expect me to flounce around like a half-naked Christmas Elf in front of them.”
I leaned closer. “You’ve pushed me a lot this week, pet. There’s only so much I can let you get away with. It’s time for you to receive the punishment I’ve been holding off on.”
Chapter Seventeen - Pearl
James dragged me across his knees, but I struggled to getaway. He would not smack my butt in the back of the car.
“Pet, if you don’t stop, this will be worse than you can imagine. If you want to be able to sit the rest of the weekend, do as I ask. Stay still. Don’t move. And accept your punishment.”
“This isn’t fair, sir.”
“What’s not fair about it? You know the rules, but you push and push and push.”
He pulled down my leggings, and because I wore a thong, my ass cheeks were ready and waiting.
“Ten swats should do it.”
“Ten. No—”
Thwack.
I whimpered but didn’t cry out. I didn’t want another ten added. He smacked his hand against my other butt cheek, and surprisingly arousal gushed from me, and my nipples brushed against the cups of my bra. My whimpers of pain turned into moans of ecstasy, and I lifted my ass up, asking for more.