by Mimi Tulane
Rasheed truly appreciated Jason’s patience and efforts. With their demonstration at an end, Jason untied Donna, thanking her for her help, and both took a bow to a rousing round of applause.
Rasheed left the dais to shake Jason’s hand and hug Donna affectionately. Jocelyn motioned for Donna to join them upon the dais. Donna knelt at Jocelyn’s feet in front of the throne. Jocelyn petted her and both she and Ahmad praised her for her hard work. The pure joy on Donna’s face was more than enough reward for all of them. Jason bowed toward the dais to the Mistress of the house before taking his leave. There was no doubt in Rasheed’s mind, as he took the mic to introduce the final performance of the evening, that Jason had earned Jocelyn’s and his respect.
* * * *
Rasheed waited for the din to die down before addressing the crowd. “We’ve enjoyed three days of demonstrations, shopped until we dropped at the many vendor booths, attended classes on various BDSM subjects, and let’s not forget the swag bags!” The crowd responded enthusiastically. The Velvet Fantasy had spared no expense on goodies and door prizes given away—all appropriately themed and brandishing the Velvet Fantasy and their various sponsors’ logos. Jocelyn had placed him in charge of the event, giving him free reign. She left it up to him to plan, organize, and coordinate with their sponsors, the vendors, and presenters. Rasheed wanted to leave a lasting impression upon the conferences attendees and as Master of Ceremonies he hoped he’d done a good job. “You clamored and we listened! Our final dynamic presenter for the night is a crowd pleaser. Without further ado, Erotique Fest is pleased to introduce to you Master Jaguar Cervantes!”
As the lights dimmed he took his place once again upon the dais. The curtain rolled back on the stage, revealing the setting. Inside a dark gothic dungeon was an intricate rope design suspended between two vertical poles. Talia ran out onto the stage in frantic fashion, wearing an innocent-looking white lace frock, in her bare feet, her wild mane of hair disheveled—in character—as she appeared to be running from someone. The “dastardly villain” soon appeared, in a black cape, bare-chested, wearing leather pants, a masquerade mask, and carrying ropes. The music, appropriately dark and sinister, played with intermitted flashes of lightning that could be seen through the set window, creating an eerie scene, much to the crowd’s delight. Jag was a consummate showman, and he played up the crowd for a laugh when he turned dramatically toward the crowd just as loud rumble of thunder sounded. Talia backed away from him, a helpless frightened girl, backing innocently into the villain’s snare—the web-work of rope. The elaborate entrance was all in preparation, setting up for Jag’s flogging exhibition. He crept slowly toward, her drawing out the anticipation. Talia’s furtive struggles were “entangling” her deeper into the villain’s snare. Once he was directly in front of her he seemingly mesmerized her until she became a docile, willing captive. It was then that Jag began to tie her to the pre-rigged snare, binding her wrist with the ropes, securing her to the web. He created a rope shackle for each of her wrists, doing the same for each of her ankles, making sure she was tied securely but not so tight as to cut off circulation. Turning once more to play up the crowd, he then whipped off his cape, tossing it aside, exposing his well-defined torso and receiving a few appreciative whistles and cat calls. Rasheed exchanged glances with Carmen when she reached behind her to tug at his pant leg. She mouthed the word “ham” to him, pursing her lips. Grinning, he gently nudged her with his knee in admonishment and she faced front with a saucy grin upon her face.
Rasheed knew better. Carmen was definitely in “like” with Jag and, no surprise to him, during private conversations, Jag had expressed more than a passing interest in her as well. Talia was Jag’s performance assistant but to his knowledge Jag didn’t have a personal submissive, nor was he in any serious relationship. For that matter neither was he, but Rasheed had hopes of changing that. Jag cupped the helpless Carmen’s cheek and appeared to whisper magical words, using his free hand to motion his sorcery, bringing her around. Upon discovering her fate she struggled in vain but alas, she was caught!
“Damn.” Now that was Ahmad, and Rasheed didn’t bother to look at him, he could imagine the expression on Big Man’s face, reacting to the spectacle on stage. “Giving you some ideas, Big Man?” He couldn’t help himself. Teasing Ahmad while he was supposed to be in form was his way of showing the brother love—especially if it got him into trouble with Jocelyn.
“Uh uh, Sir, I don’t see it playing out quite that way. I’d end up the one shackled to something,” he quipped back. Jocelyn chuckled and Donna tittered. Rasheed turned then and grinned. Jocelyn was smiling and stroking Ahmad’s head, running her hands over his close, Caesar-styled haircut. She turned his head toward her, leaning over him to whisper a warning in his ear, one he answered by stealing a quick kiss. Rasheed turned back. Big Man liked living dangerously, but it was all good. That was what it was all about. Having that special connection with someone who accepted you flaws and all, who had your six—no matter what. He wanted that.
Upon the stage, Jag ripped the lacey frock from Talia’s body, tossing it aside dramatically, revealing a very sexy mesh chemise. An audible gasp was heard throughout the crowd and the entire place was charged with anticipation. With another length of rope he began securing her torso to the web, using various knots designed to be both decorative and supportive. Backing away from her, he turned toward a free-standing rack that held various floggers, ball gags, and blindfolds suspended from its pegs. Selecting a silky white blindfold he returned to her to tease her with her impending doom. After placing the blindfold upon her, he gently smacked her cheeks while she thrashed her head from side to side. Another resounding clap of thunder was heard above the music and once again lightning flashed through the dungeon window.
He stalked toward the peg rack once more and chose a short flogger, then returned to his captive. He rubbed the falls of it upon her exposed skin, up and down the length of her arms, then over the tops of her thighs as she trembled and quaked with “fear.” Poised to strike, he gave one more dastardly glare toward the audience before leering at his prey. He began slowly—softly landing well-placed strikes upon her thighs, before picking up momentum. His wrist began to rotate with each rapid flick, causing Talia to undulate and tug against her bindings. He traveled up, including her midsection and breast, showing the control he had over his flogger as his strikes landed exactly where he wanted them. Abruptly he halted and leaned down to whisper in her ear, adding to his captive’s torture.
In truth Rasheed knew he was making sure Talia was not in any undue discomfort or distress. Despite this being a “performance,” Talia’s wellbeing was always the priority. Jag turned to the rack once more to exchange the short flogger for two longer ones. Remaining a few paces away, he now demonstrated a two-hand technique, crossing his arms as his wrist rotated, landing well placed rapid succession strikes upon his captive, all to the oohs and ahs of the crowd.
Rasheed took a moment to trade a glance with Jocelyn, who nodded her head. Jaguar was once again wowing the crowd with his demonstration of control, his technique, and his showmanship. Jaguar and Talia’s practice sessions had been a sight to behold but now during the actual performance, Rasheed truly appreciated his friend’s artistry. And the finale still had one more surprise.
Talia was a trained athletic suspension bottom. She and Jag performed highly choreographed and rehearsed routines. Their scenes were practiced until perfected and not for beginners. Jag turned toward the crowd and motioned with a finger in a “no-no”, receiving nervous and curious chuckles from the audience. The webbing which had been set up and checked beforehand back stage was anchored between two rotating poles. The poles, at the moment, were locked in place but at Jag’s subtle motion, Jason, who had performed earlier, and another house Dom, assisted in releasing the anchors so that the suspension web with Talia bound securely to it began to pivot vertically. The entire pre-rigged suspension had become a moving gyroscope. The crowd w
ent wild as Jag began to land flogger blows on Talia with each return revolution, landing them precisely upon her legs and thighs. The pivoting mechanisms were calibrated to continue the momentum he created with his flogger strikes.
No one else had this special rigging because Jag had created it himself.
With the help of the Doms, the suspension gyroscope was gently halted. Jag gripped the webbing above her wrist with his hands and pressed his body into hers, overwhelming her. That bit of theatrics also gave Talia a moment to reorient. It was then his last dastardly deed was revealed, as the overhead projector was playing out what was happening on stage, upon a large suspended big screen. A close up of Jag’s profile revealed he was no mere mortal but a Master Vampire, closing in upon his tasty morsel—to feed. With dramatic flair he barred his fangs and “sunk” them into the exposed flesh of his captive. Her scream rent the air over the last thunder clap and lightning flashed before the curtain fell and the stage went completely black. When the house lights came back up the Vampire and his captive had mysteriously…vanished!
Pandemonium broke out as the crowd whooped, whistled, and cheered. The cameras then followed Jag and Talia back stage where the crowd saw Jag releasing his partner from the suspension, kissing her forehead tenderly, and administering aftercare before they both returned to the stage amid the thunderous applause. Rasheed joined them, giving Talia a warm hug before locking wrist with Jag, each man pounding the other on the back. “Give it up again, for Miss Talia Rehnquist and Master Jaguar Cervantes!” They took their bows, waving to the crowd before humbly exiting the stage. “And that, ladies and gentlemen, concludes this year’s Erotique Fest! Thank you all for attending, on behalf of the Mistress Lady J and the Velvet Fantasy, we wish you all a safe good night!”
Jocelyn, Ahmad, Donna, and Carmen were all standing to applaud. He watched Jocelyn nod to Ahmad, who left the dais to handle the security measures. He and his team would escort the performers to their vehicles and oversee the exit of the attendees. Rasheed couldn’t help but notice just how big Ahmad was as he threaded his way through the crowd, standing head and shoulders over most. He wondered if Ahmad would one day try his hand at being Dominant, as he certainly had the makings of being a very good one. Having Big Man around was going to be very interesting.
“Cub, you pulled it off and I am extremely proud of you!” Jocelyn hugged him tightly. Carmen and Donna both hugged and congratulated him as well.
“This year’s Erotique Fest raised the bar, Master Rasheed, I don’t think there will be another quite like it,” said Donna.
“This was definitely one for the record books.” agreed Carmen.
“Hey, I had help, remember? I couldn’t have done this without all the family pulling together. Speaking of proud, Donna, you did exceptionally well tonight, baby girl. I’m glad to see you back where you belong.” Donna blushed from his praise but he meant every word.
The Velvet Fantasy was more than a job or a place of business. Rasheed often remarked that the staff was an extension of the Mackenzie family, to which his cousin Jocelyn readily agreed. “Okay who’s ready to celebrate?” he asked, grinning widely. The praise and admiration he received from those he thought highly of told him that he had accomplished what he set out to do. Jocelyn gave last minute instructions to the floor staff who were handling the closing, before the small group made their way to the staging area where a buffet was set up for the staff and those performers invited to stay.
Overall, Rasheed was very pleased at how everything had turned out. There had been some trying moments during the organization. Jorge was let go, which led to Jason standing in. That turned out to be a much better move. A few vendors had dropped out at the last minute but thankfully, Reese Jackson had filled the void both as a vendor for his fetish company Leather and Silk and as a sponsor. Then there was the whole worry of any backlash from the Comfry camp but as it stood everything had worked out for the best. Rasheed chatted with coworkers, caught up with Jag, and after his friend twisted his arm he agreed to have a few drinks out with him before he and Talia left town.
For the most part Rasheed was content. Working alongside Jocelyn at the club with the people he considered family kept him busy and fulfilled—up to a point. However, ever since he’d met a certain brown-eyed female his mind had been entertaining thoughts, of the settling down variety. Mac had found his true love and Jocelyn finally found her “one.” It only underscored his desire to have that special connection. If fortune favored the foolish, he’d get his chance. As if on cue, his phone buzzed in the pocket of his leather pants. Pulling it out, he read the text and couldn’t help himself from smiling. Wednesday night dinner at our place, Ebony will be there. Damn, fortune was right on time! Now his night was complete.
Chapter Two
Ebony Stuart was in a conundrum. She paced back and forth, thinking of excuse after excuse. She adored her sister Imani and her future brother-in-law Mac and had agreed to do this to humor them. Her sister was trying to hook her up with her fiancé’s cousin, the one that worked at that sexy club—Velvet Fantasy.
Lordy, what is she trying to do to me?
Granted, she had a blast at Imani’s bachelorette party. The Doms and subs there put on quite a show and made sure that each guest participated in something. But the party games at Mani’s party were tamed down, especially given that their mother, a few aunts from both the bride and groom’s sides, as well as good friends who had no idea what BDSM was, were in attendance.
Then there was the private admission made by Imani and Mac to her, that they also subscribed to that lifestyle themselves at home. Talk about a jaw-dropper! However she wasn’t going to judge her sister’s choice to lead a submissive life. After really observing Mac at one of the family barbeques this past summer, it really didn’t surprise her at all he was a Dominant. Mac had already given her the impression that he was a strong confident man—if not a bit on the Alpha male side—so the revelation they privately disclosed to her seemed par for the course. Even so, she never got the sense that Imani was some browbeaten female, being bossed around and made to do anything she didn’t want to do. Add to that fact Mac adored the ground her sister walked on, it almost made her envious—almost.
Ebony and her sister were too close for jealousy and practically shared everything with each other, especially when it came to their love lives—which brought her back to tonight. When her sister had casually inquired if she was seeing anyone she’d been honest and said her love life existed only between the pages of her books, and why had she done that? Her sister had promptly invited her to have dinner with them and Rasheed Mackenzie and she reminded herself again that she had agreed to this. Sadly, dating was on her secret wish list and even if she wasn’t so damn messed up, finding a special someone that could appreciate her was next to impossible—hence why she’d given up putting forth much effort.
Rasheed Mackenzie was extremely handsome, the type that could date anyone he wanted. With caramel skin, wavy black hair, and green eyes, he was definitely pretty boy material. Ebony avoided men like him almost as much as she avoided carbs! She berated herself for judging a book by its cover, something that, having been on the receiving end of, she really was ashamed of herself for doing. Even if she put his looks aside, she still couldn’t forget that he, like his cousin Mac, was a Dominant. He was handsome and spanked asses for a living! What the hell was her sister thinking? Besides, he was going to take one good look at her then probably excuse himself from the table.
Ebony checked the time and realized she’d been brooding almost two hours. She was past the call and cancel stage so she wondered if she could manage a flat tire and conveniently not have a spare? Even as she imagined the scenario, she knew her sister’s tenacity. Knowing Imani she’d have Mac get one of his tow trucks to haul her in! Why did she agree to this? Maybe they wouldn’t hit it off because of lack of chemistry. In fact she was almost certain they wouldn’t because she was vanilla as they came and wasn’t interested
in the BDSM lifestyle at all. Then again, there was no law that said all Dominants wanted their girlfriends to be their subs. Okay now where did that come from?
Sighing with exasperation, she headed to her closet. Imani had suggested she wear the knit-wrap dress she’d given her for Christmas with the new black boots they’d just bought during their latest shopping spree. That dress hugged her curves and that was at the crux of her worrying. Ebony was full figured. She was in perfect health, ate well, and exercised, but she wasn’t a size 5 and would never be. At one point in her life she felt very comfortable in the skin she was in. For the most part she was getting herself back on track with the self-love, despite her involvement with her ex-boyfriend.
Although it was officially spring, Mother Nature still hadn’t gotten with the program. Ebony eyed the dress. Technically it was a winter dress, but the bite that was still in the air made it an appropriate choice. The boots however were just plain hot, and Imani had bought a pair for herself as well. They were more about fashion and less about the season. Imani, bless her, saw no fault in Ebony’s curves. Therefore, when they went shopping, her sister found immense pleasure in helping Ebony choose flattering fashions that accented her full figure. However, Ebony had a love-hate relationship with her appearance—in fact she didn’t find herself all that attractive. Her past relationship with her ex-boyfriend hadn’t helped matters either.
Ebony figured from her experiences the pretty ones didn’t look at women like herself. So she stayed away from the pretty boy type. Sighing, she continued to pull out her wardrobe to prepare for tonight’s evening with her sister and her fiancé.
And Rasheed Mackenzie…
Rolling her eyes at her thoughts, she made sure the lining was zipped inside her leather jacket. She hated to admit that her confidence in herself, at times, was lacking, despite her success as a bestselling author. Yet deep inside, despite her past failed relationship, she still thought love was worth holding out hope for. She wasn’t that insecure to think that love couldn’t find her, too, if she just gave it a chance. Her sister found the love of her life after all and Imani’s past relationships weren’t all that great either. Ebony was very happy that Mac had come along for her sister.