“Thank you.” I sit back in the seat and Jess pulls up the small office chair beside me.
“So, what are you having done?”
“My anklet, or a drawing of my anklet.”
“I didn’t know you wore an anklet?” Jess looks a little puzzled, and I guess she would be.
“It’s something between me and Seb. Don’t worry. He’ll understand.”
“Hi, nice to see you again, Izzy.” Tanya is next to me now with a thin sheet of paper in her hand. “You ready? I just need to get this positioned. If you can take off your shoes.” I take off my shoes and rest my foot on the chair so Tanya can press the design around my foot and get the perfect position for the chain.
“I brought the actual anklet to help. Jess, it’s in my bag.” Jess rummages for a second and pulls out the little black box.
“Perfect. I’ll add some embellishments to the basic design.” A fuzzy purple ring appears on my ankle and I panic, thinking about how this could come out—a horrible black ring forever around my ankle. Stop it. It will be fine. I chide myself and take a breath. Tanya knows what she’s doing. She adds a few details with a pen before sitting back.
“Right, happy?” I glance down and look closely, seeing the small details and crystals she’s drawn on by hand.
“Yes, let’s go for it.” Jess claps her hands in excitement as Tanya busies herself with the final preparations.
I lean right back in the chair and look up at the ceiling, expecting the worst. I feel Jess’s hand close around mine and I squeeze it hard.
“Right, ladies. The sound is worse than the pain. Keep still and just say if you want me to stop at any time, okay?”
“Yep,” I force out.
“Right. Sound first, then you’ll feel a slight scratching sensation.”
A high-pitched, whiney buzzing fills my ears for a few seconds before stopping. Then, it’s back. Tiny, sharp pinpricks press into my bony ankle and send flashes of pain through me. I close my eyes and breathe through it, grasping Jess’s hand harder. I bear the uncomfortable pain for a few moments before I get a rest. Tanya starts again seconds later, and I go back to trying to block it out. Just as I think the pain is going to be too much, it eases somewhat as she moves round to a more fleshy part of my ankle.
“You’re doing really well, Izzy,” Tanya says, and I open my eyes to watch her. The metal contraption she holds looks clunky in comparison to the tiny black she’s marking on my skin. I watch for a few more moments, now used to the pinprick sensation.
“It’s looking great, Izzy.” Jess is more engrossed than me. I close my eyes again and hope that Seb will be as pleased as I am that I’m giving this to him. “So, when is the wedding?”
“Wedding? Oh, not for a while. I’ve not even told him I’ll marry him yet.”
“Ha, don’t make me laugh. He’s been wanting to put a ring on you for nearly a year. Get ready for a winter wedding.” Her comment doesn’t upset me. It makes me giggle, but I quickly stop, wary of moving about too much.
We sit quietly with just the buzzing for a few minutes before Jess starts up the conversation again.
“When’s Phil’s hearing?”
“In a few weeks.”
“Are you alright, you know, with being a witness?”
“Yes. Although I didn’t press the charges, I still get to stand up for myself, even if it’s a bit late.”
Phil assaulted Sophie, the girl he was cheating on me with, after she kicked him out. The police came to question me and I ended up telling them about my attack. I am now a witness for the prosecution against him.
“I’m proud of you. You didn’t have to do anything.”
“I know, but how could I not? Having Seb to support me and being able to talk it through with Dr. Cross has also helped. Hopefully, it will give me some closure as well.”
Our conversation trails off and I try to focus on something other than the buzzing sound of the gun. I zone out for a while, contemplating how my life has changed over the last few months. Six months ago I didn’t think I’d ever get out from under the overwhelming changes to my life. Now, I know that it was all worth it.
“Right, Izzy, I’m about done. I need to wash you off and get you wrapped up.” Tanya stops the pin-scratching and I relax my body, unaware of how much tension I was holding on to.
She cleans and then wraps my pretty anklet in cling film, and my excitement dies at the fact that it won’t be perfect and pretty to show Seb.
“Take off the film when you get home and then soak it and wash it with warm water and antibacterial soap. Let it air dry. You can show your guy then. You have to apply Bepanthen before wrapping it back up, okay? It’s all on our website.”
I thank Tanya as I pay my balance, and Jess drives us back to her place where I pick up my car and head for home.
Seb and I are still renting the same place, but I have started looking for something to buy. I’m in no rush, though, and neither is Seb. The last six months have meant change for Seb as well as me.
We have reached a point we’re both happy with when it comes to D/s. I always submit in the bedroom, when we are at home and when we go to Solace. It’s a good compromise and one that we both benefit from. Seb can still get the high from the TPE element, but without it causing me to worry or question myself to the point of confusion. We check in through the day, but the rules aren’t as rigid as they were. When Seb is away, the frequency increases.
I can trust that Seb, as my Dom, will stretch my submission, but he knows where my weak spots are, and when he needs to pull back. We are happy, but it’s within my power to put the cherry on the cake, and I intend to do just that.
I park and enter the house, a ball of excitement. Seb is in the kitchen and I call out as I rush upstairs to clean my new ink. I run a shallow bath and rest my foot in it for a few minutes before cleaning it with soap. I change into a black lace dress, which is short and has a revealing neck line. It is one of my Solace dresses—the ones I wear only when submitting to Seb—and I pad barefoot back to the kitchen.
My heartbeat echoes inside my ears as I walk over and sit at the kitchen table. Seb’s eyes watch me as I saunter across his line of sight and they fix on me as I sit.
“Good evening, Isabel.”
“Good evening, Sebastian.” His sexy smile is in full effect and I can’t keep my face straight.
“Do you have something you want to say? You look like you want to play, sweetheart.” He turns off whatever was cooking and stalks over to where I’ve sat.
“Maybe, Sir.” My voice drips with satisfaction. I know I’m being a tease, but right now, I don’t care.
“Don’t start something you can’t finish, Isabel.” He’s behind me in a second, his hand gripping my hair, tilting my head back to look at him. The adrenaline spike sends a warm rush of desire to my clit and I can feel the clench of my pussy already.
“I think dinner can wait tonight.” He plunders my lips with hot, aggressive kisses and I melt under his dominance. His hand keeps a tight hold of my hair, ensuring I can’t escape, while his other freely runs down the front of my dress, discovering my lack of underwear.
“Isabel,” he growls. “You need to tell me what’s going on right now, or I’ll take great pleasure in spanking you on the table until you do.” The warning in his voice sends erotic shivers through my body. I’d like nothing more than to bend over and feel the palm of Seb’s hand against my skin.
“I’d like that, Sir.”
“Fuck, yes, you would, wouldn’t you? Do you have your anklet on?”
“Yes, Sir. See?” I lift my leg and rest it against the edge of the table. Seb looks at it and I feel the grip on my hair loosen as he takes in what I’m showing him.
“Izzy, is that… a tattoo?” The emotion is clear in his voice, and my heart stills for my next words. I drop my foot and turn in my chair to face him.
“Yes, I wanted to give this to you. As a gift. It’s a little raw, though.”
&n
bsp; “A gift? Is it my birthday?” I can see his hunger warring with his confusion at my explanation.
“An engagement gift for you.”
“Engagement…” He repeats the word in a gravelly breath, catching on to my meaning.
“Yes, I want to marry you, Seb. I want to submit to you and be your wife. If you’ll still have me?” His beautiful aquamarine eyes dilate and his sexy smile is back. He bends to kiss my forehead.
“Of course I’ll have you. You’re it for me, Izzy. I love you and you’ve made me the happiest man by agreeing to marry me. Thank you, sweetheart.”
He bends to cradle me in his arms and lifts me.
“Hey, where are we going?”
“I want to make love to my wife in our bed. I’m suddenly only hungry for one thing. But don’t worry, I’ll spank your gorgeous arse over the table later.”
“Here they are.” Jess walks in, carrying a bouquet.
“Jess, you’ve got the wrong flowers. That isn’t my bouquet.” I freeze in the middle of her lounge, already dressed in my gown and just needing the flowers before we make our way to the ceremony.
“I know, but these are what you’re having. They are from Seb.”
“Seb? Why is he choosing my flowers? They aren’t anything like…”
“Stop! Calm down. Read this as well. It’s from him, and perhaps it will help to calm your nerves.” She passes me a thick envelope, the same as the previous notes he’s sent me. I perch on the edge of the sofa and gently peel it open.
Dearest Isabel,
It was once tradition for the husband to pick flowers for his wife and leave them on her doorstep. This is the closest I could come to that tradition, and I wanted to give you one final message.
So that we are clear, this is the meaning behind these flowers.
The red rose signifies our love. I love you with everything I am and that will never fade.
The lily is for majesty. You hold all of the splendour I could wish for. Our story is just that—it’s ours and I am going to cherish it.
Blue hyacinths are for constancy. I am your constant. You’ve come so far in believing that, and I need you to hold on to that forever. I’m not saying that everything will be smooth sailing, but we will remain constant.
The baby’s breath is for everlasting love.
I’ll look forward to seeing you walk towards me, ready to become my wife, holding the message I want to share with you.
I love you Isabel York.
Always yours,
Sebastian.
Part III
A Little Something More
Happy Christmas to my wonderful readers.
“Isabel, get down here, now! I swear you’re going to be late to your own wedding,” Jess barks up the stairs.
The cheval mirror reflects delicate patterns of pearls embroidered on ivory silk that traverses the curves of my body and flows effortlessly into a small train around my feet. The boning of the corseted bodice is subtle but will provide Seb a delicious treat when he gets to untie me later. The perfect dress for a perfect fairy tale day.
I inch up the hem to reveal my white lace, Louboutin wedding heels. The flash of red on the trademark sole and the delicate black and grey anklet tattooed onto my skin send a bolt of confidence to my erratic nerves. A few months ago I could never have imagined this future. Seb had turned my world around and brought me back to life. Today, I’ll perform the ultimate public act of submission and marry him.
I smile to myself and take a deep breath before navigating the stairs in my four-inch heels.
“We need to leave now, Izzy! What’s the hold…” Jess stops mid-yell as I glide into the front room.
“Okay. Now I’m ready, Jess.”
Jess smiles, and I see warmth and pride shine in her eyes. She teeters across the carpet in her own ‘death heels’ and wraps me up in a hug.
The nerves I fail to keep at bay swarm into a ball of emotion that lodges in my throat threatening to break my composure. “Stop it, Jess, or I’ll cry, and you’ll have to do my make-up again.” I sniff. “Have you got my bouquet?” I need to focus on something other than the happy tears.
“Just a minute.” She ducks out of the room. “Here it is.” Jess walks back in, carrying a bouquet.
“I freeze in the middle of her lounge. “Jess, you’ve got the wrong flowers. That isn’t my bouquet.”
“I know, but these are what you’re having. They’re from Seb.”
“Seb? Why is he choosing my flowers? They aren’t anything like…”
“Stop! Calm down. Read this.” She passes me a hand-addressed envelope, my name written in a scrawl of dark ink. Seb’s elegant, personal stationery is familiar to me. I perch on the edge of the sofa and gently peel the heavy paper open.
Dearest Isabel,
It was once tradition for the husband to pick flowers for his wife and leave them on her doorstep. These flowers are the closest I could come to that tradition, and I wanted to give you one final message.
So that we are clear, this is the meaning behind these flowers.
The red rose signifies our love. I love you with everything I am, and that will never fade.
The lily is for majesty. You hold all of the splendour I could wish for. Our story is just that—it’s ours, and I am going to cherish it.
Blue hyacinths are for constancy. I am your constant. You’ve come so far in believing that, and I need you to hold on to that forever. I’m not saying that everything will be smooth sailing, but we will remain constant.
The baby’s breath is for everlasting love.
I’ll look forward to seeing you walk towards me, ready to become my wife, holding the message I want to share with you.
I love you, Isabel York.
Always yours,
Sebastian.
The words swim in front of me as tears pool in my eyes. I grit my teeth, and my eyes tingle with the effort to stop them falling and smudging my face.
Seb has always made such romantic gestures. I haven’t always understood them, but he’s certainly topped them all with this. He’s so much more than I ever could have dreamed of. The friendship that had first blossomed between us had grown immeasurably. I’d always trusted Seb, but somehow that trust had strengthened with time. His care as my Dom and as my partner allowed me to grow in confidence and express myself. I was finally the woman that had been imprisoned within my insecurities. I was Seb’s partner—yes, I submitted to him, but I knew that he cherished that submission and the D/s element of our lives enriched the rest of our time together. He let me grow and didn’t want to hold me back. It was part of the reason why I finally agreed to marry him. With his gentle guidance and constant support, he let me find my own path. I felt like a new Izzy. One that could hold her head up and didn’t have to lock her fantasies away on the computer. With Seb, I live them every day.
I pick up the flowers and can’t help but love every single bloom. He’s banished the nerves and given me something to hold onto as I walk down the aisle.
Jess hovers beside me, exuding impatience. As she’s already pointed out, we’d better get moving. There was no way I wanted to be late for Seb.
Jess’ Dad drives us to the hotel in Seb’s Audi A5. I wanted him to be part of my day. He’s been a surrogate father figure to me as I’ve seen far more of Jess’ parents than my own over the years.
We’re quiet on the short drive into Bath. The Royal Crescent Hotel is our destination, and the weather couldn’t be better. A crisp, winter's day greets us. The sunshine lights up the day and banishes the usual grey. The bare branches of an oak tree are silhouetted against a bright blue sky as we drive up towards the Crescent.
I feel a shiver of excitement as we approach our final destination. The building’s soft sandstone gleams in the winter sun. Jess leans forward and takes my hand in support as the car slows down and pulls up outside the pillared entrance. I take a deep breath and clutch at the flowers resting in my lap.
The name of
the hotel was certainly appropriate. The stately venue was stunning, from the liveried doorman to the luxurious textured fabrics that swathed the windows and softened each grand room within. I even felt regal when Seb and I came to visit. Nothing was too much trouble, and I felt like the most important woman in the world. Of course, most of that was due to Seb.
The Georgian building was awe-worthy, and the suite that Seb and I would share tonight was the pinnacle of opulence. It held enough space to host a small party, although I know Seb had something more private in mind. The antique four-poster bed with its silk and velvet bed linens looked small in the spacious room. Down-cushioned armchairs and loveseats were arranged in front of the working fireplace. Hues of pale, egg-shell blue complimented lush olive green across the walls and furnishings. The marble bathroom was like stepping into your personal spa and came fully stocked with lotions and creams from Aromatherapy Associates. The small dressing table held an antique hand mirror and brush set, with a cut glass scent bottle to the side. Not a single detail was out of place.
At first, I didn’t want to get married at such a desirable address. But I fell in love with the romance of the place. Hundreds of years of visitors and guests through the doors. I found it hard not to get swept up in the thrill. The hotel would be a perfect backdrop to our day.
I see Natasha standing outside the front of the hotel. She’s her usual stunning self. Her burgundy lace dress fits her like a glove. I can’t help but smile as I think how intimidating she can be. Now, all I see is a strong, beautiful woman. Until we enter Solace.
Natasha opens the car door once we’re stationary and Jess offers me her hand to help me out of the car. She fluffs my train to ensure it’s neatly flared before I take Mr. Riley’s arm. He escorts me through the entrance where I see my parents. My Dad looks extremely handsome in his tailored suit, and Mum smiles warmly as she catches my eye.
“We’ll see you in there, Izzy. You look wonderful.” Mr. Riley gives me a brief squeeze before handing me over to my Dad.
The Izzy and Seb Collection: The Evermore Series Books 1, 2 and 2.5 Page 52