“Never let your opponent know you bluffed him. Next time I take him on, I’ll have a great hand then he’ll never know whether I am bluffing or not. Have to keep them off guard.”
“You just keep increasing your sexy value.” The waiter handed her a drink. “Thank you.”
“Did you do anything interesting?”
“Well I found some interesting things. I wasn’t drunk enough or brave enough to…participate.” Arianne sipped her drink. “The basement was the most fascinating.”
Derek smiled over his drink.
“It was like a dungeon, very dark with big solid doors. I sat there for a while and saw no one. But the sounds coming out of the rooms. Whoa!”
“If the door is unlocked then you can go in. If the people want privacy, they lock the door.”
“Have you ever played in those rooms?”
Derek shook his head. “A couple of times. But, I usually go up to a poker game or the fourth floor.”
“Yes, I bet the fourth floor is your favorite. It was rather busy when I went by.” Arianne looked for a place to put her drink then gave up and held onto it. “This whole thing is very awkward. Why did you invite me down if we aren’t…?”
Derek rubbed his face then threw back the last of his scotch. “You’ve been like a little kid since you got off the plane. Running around with your eyes wide open wanting to do everything right now. I feel as awkward about this as you do. I figured we could both use a little time.”
“Always the gentleman.”
“Always. I like the relationship we had. I know it was rather one-sided. We hit a rough spot and neither of us knows how to get by it. There are several points I hadn’t counted on.”
“Like you fell in love with me.” Arianne held her breath. Had she crossed a line?
Derek looked down at his empty glass. It didn’t magically refill. “You confuse me, Arianne. I want you and yet I don’t. I don’t know what to do.”
“So, I am down here on probation? Thirty day trial. Money back guarantee.”
“No guarantees.”
Arianne glanced about the room. She spotted a lone male sitting with a drink. “If I were to walk over to that guy, strip off my top and let him suck on my nipples, you wouldn’t get angry?”
Derek shook his head.
“Not even a little bit jealous?”
A small grin passed over his mouth. “Envious maybe. They are delicious breasts. I think I’ll—”
“Go play on the fourth floor?”
His gaze rested on her breasts. His hand began to move toward them but stopped. “Yea, the fourth floor sounds good.”
“Why not play with me?”
“If I understood it, I’d explain it to you.” Derek started to leave then paused. He had followed Arianne’s glance across the room and saw who she had glanced at. “Be careful. It is possible to get in over your head here.” He turned and walked into the crowd.
“So he has left you?” a deep voice whispered in her ear. Arianne turned. Dark eyes, a dark brow and a friendly smile were standing in front of her. “I wouldn’t leave you alone. Would you like another drink? I believe he asked for something with rum and an umbrella. You should have champagne. A woman of your beauty should only drink champagne.” He snapped his fingers. A waiter appeared at his side. “A bottle of champagne.” His smile was wide as he reached for Arianne’s hand. “My name is Randolph Hill. And you are Arianne.”
Her forehead crinkled. “How did you know?”
He brushed his lips across her hand. “I admit I listened to your conversation.”
To Arianne, his presence felt like an electric current had been turned on inside her. She tingled. Her breathing quickened. The room began to spin.
“Why would you listen to Derek and me?” Their conversation was interrupted by the swift arrival of their champagne. The waiter filled her glass. Sipping cautiously, Arianne’s eyebrows rose in delight.
“I was entranced with you when you entered. Then when he left you, I followed. One such as you should not be here alone. Have you been on the island long?”
She giggled. It may have been because of the champagne bubbles tickling the inside of her mouth. “No, I arrived this afternoon. This is my first visit here.”
“Your first night here and he leaves you.” He refilled her glass.
“We aren’t dating. We’re just friends.”
A grin crossed his face. “Ah, then you are free to join me. Would you care to dance?” He held out his hand. Arianne’s hand felt small as his fingers wrapped around hers. They stepped into the crowd.
The champagne mixed with the rum and both swirled in her head as Arianne swayed to the beat. Repeatedly, Randolph filled her glass. When the bottle had been emptied, he ordered another.
As they danced, his hands roamed her body. They stroked her buttocks and slid down her thighs. His lips nibbled a trail up her neck until his mouth reached her ears. “Remove your top.” Arianne stepped back and stared at him. He did not repeat his request. Arianne’s hands moved toward the clasp and released it. She slipped the straps down her arms, and dropped her top to the floor.
“Let your hair down.” His words sounded like commands. There was an underlying power that mesmerized her. Or was it the champagne? Whichever, she had to obey. Her fingers found the clips and released her hair. She shook her head and let it fall to her shoulders. “As you dance for me, I want you to move your hands through your hair. Keep your arms up. Display your breasts for me.”
Arianne stood in one place and ground her hips side to side. With her eyes closed she felt the music’s bass pound through her. She knew he watched her as she teased him with her body. His hand stroked her left breast. He rolled her nipple between his thumb and finger. Gripping it, he squeezed and pulled her nipple. Surprised, Arianne opened her eyes.
“Beautiful breasts. Firm nipples. Much attention should be paid to them. Follow me.” It wasn’t a request or a statement. It was a command.
Arianne did not go of her own free will. She felt helpless to ignore his command. The champagne and rum had caused her to become his puppet. He led her to the stairs and then escorted her down into the darkness and opened a door. The room was dimly lit. Shadows lurked, but Arianne could not identify anything. “Strip.” His voice had changed.
“And if I refuse?”
His hand reached out, grabbed her breast and squeezed it until she yelped. “If you obey my simple commands I will not be forced to punish you. Disobey me and you will learn the extent of my wrath. Now, I have given you an order. Will I be forced to repeat myself?”
“I want to leave.”
His laughter filled the darkness. “Upstairs you were willing to obey me. Strut your naked breasts before me. Let me fondle you. But now you refuse.” She felt him step behind her. He placed his hands on her belly, and his mouth near her ear. His breath was hot on the back of her neck. “You will not refuse me. You will not leave me. You need to be here. Don’t think about him. He’s upstairs screwing his brains out with several of the professionals employed here. Do you think you could have competed with them and their skills? You are a child. A child who needs to learn and I will be your teacher.”
“I’m afraid.”
“I know. I can smell your fear. It arouses me. I want to taste it.” His hand grabbed her chin and turned her head to his. His mouth found hers. His tongue forced her mouth open as his hands explored her breasts and nipples. “Mmm, you taste sweet like champagne. And your nipples obey my touch. I can feel their firmness against my hand. You may be scared of me but your body desires to submit. For the last time, obey.”
Arianne’s fingers fumbled with the drawstring, finally loosening the tie and dropping her wrap around skirt to the floor. Placing her fingers in the waistband she slipped her lace panties to the floor and stepped out of them.
“Excellent. You begin to understand. Your will is mine. You must obey me. You cannot refuse.” Again he stepped close. His clothes brushed her bar
e flesh. He picked up a pair of leather gloves on which the fingers had been cut off. After pulling on his gloves, his leather covered palm cupped her buttocks as his fingers squeezed. “Yes, there will be pain. There will be tears. Sweet champagne tears. You will cry for me. And it will be good. Walk forward until you feel a small carpet. Then stand with your feet apart, just on the edge of the carpet.”
When the carpet muted the click of her sandals, Arianne stopped. She felt for the edge and stood as instructed. She bit her lip trying to hold back the tears. Her body trembled with fear. She could feel sweat trickling down the inside of her arm. Her eyes had adjusted to the darkness, but she could still not identify anything in the room.
“Now reach your arms up and out. You will find some handholds. Grip them tightly and do not let go until I instruct you to.” Her arms waved helplessly in space until her fingers touched something. She felt a cold steel loop. She grabbed it then reached for the other.
“You obey well, and rather quickly. That is good.” His voice came from behind her. “Shall I blindfold you or shall I let you watch? Which would cause you more fear? Blindness would heighten your awareness. ” A black bag was thrust over her head and tightened at the bottom. Although difficult, she could still breathe. She heard the click of a light switch. “You are beautiful.” His gloved hands slid down her body, forcing their way between her legs. “And wet. A wonderful slave who is wet for her master. But before pleasure there must be pain. Before fun there must be instruction.”
With no warning an excruciating crack of a paddle was heard and felt as wood met flesh. The scream escaped Arianne’s lips. “No!” he roared. “You will accept the pain as good.” He squeezed both nipples. Arianne squirmed trying to get away from his touch. He released her and swung again.
“That hurts. Please stop!”
“Begging will only cause more pain.”
“She asked you to stop,” Derek’s voice broke into the room.
“You may not enter!” Randolph’s voice made Arianne’s knees weak with fear.
“You didn’t lock the door,” Derek continued, “She doesn’t want to play. She doesn’t understand what you want. Release her.”
“Release her? Look at this ass, so round and firm. Look at these breasts.”
“Look at this face Randolph. Does it look like you should disobey me?”
“Try and take her from me.”
Arianne’s ears strained to hear what happened. There was a strange sound then fingers reached touching the strings on the bag covering her head. “No! No!” She squirmed.
“Quiet. It’s Derek. There.” He tossed the bag aside.
Blinking from the brightness in the room, Arianne fell into his arms and sobbed.
“Are you alright?”
Wiping her eyes, she glanced down at Randolph who was sitting on the floor. A trickle of blood dribbled from his lip. “Y…yes. How did…did you know where to—“A sob stopped her sentence.
Derek held the bikini-top to her outfit. “I found this and when I couldn’t find you—or Randolph—I went searching. Get dressed and let’s get out of here.” He offered her the top. She wiped her eyes and reached out a trembling hand. It took him a moment to organize the top, but he got it positioned so she could slip it on. After tying the bow, he picked up her panties and skirt. Trembling, Arianne dropped her skirt, twice. Derek picked it up and held it for her. She motioned to him how to wrap it around her and then with only a pleading look, asked him to tie it.
Kneeling down, she slipped her sandals on. When she straightened up the room spun. Grabbing Derek’s arms, she held on and waited until her head and stomach settled. He opened the door and led her into the hall. Two steps down the hallway and Arianne stopped as her hand went to her mouth.
Her problem being obvious, Derek pushed her toward the ladies room and held the door open for her. Arianne raced inside.
When the nausea passed, Arianne splashed her face with cool water and leaned on the sink waiting for the trembling in her legs to stop.
She heard a soft knock on the door and it swung open a little. “You okay?”
Taking a big breath and letting it out slowly, Arianne pushed the door aside, and managed a weak smile and a nod. With Derek’s arm around her waist, she leaned on him as he escorted her out of the club, into the car and after driving home then into the house.
Arianne did not speak until they reached her room. “Thank you.” It was almost a mousy squeak, but it was all she could manage.
“No need to. I figured you’d get drunk and dance all night. I didn’t know Randolph was there. He’s known for preying on unsuspecting newbies in the club.”
“He…seems evil.”
“Not in his world. He takes things a bit too seriously. He would have hurt you. You should never have gone with him.”
“I had too.” She lowered her eyes. “Something made me.”
“Too much rum.”
“And champagne.”
“Crawl in to bed and try and sleep. I have a feeling tomorrow may be a long day for you.”
As Derek turned to leave, Arianne grabbed his hand. “Stay with me until I fall asleep. I’m still scared.”
His hand reached to undo the ties on her outfit. She let them fall to the floor. Unsteadily, she walked to the dresser, pulled out a nightgown and padded to her bathroom. After cleaning her teeth, twice, she looked at her reflection. “Idiot!” Her reflection blearily blinked.
She slipped on her black lace teddy and stepped into her room. Sprawled across the bed, Derek stared out the ceiling to floor windows, where the moonlight reflected on the surf.
Rolling over, his eyes cast an appraising glance over her body. He pulled down her silk sheet. Arianne slipped inside. A gentle kiss on the forehead and whispered, “Sweet dreams” was all Arianne heard as she fell asleep in the protective warmth of his arms.
Chapter Eleven
Derek was right. The next day was the worst twenty-four hours Arianne’s life. Somewhere in the days’ painful darkness, she remembered Derek saying, “A champagne hangover is rough, but a rum and champagne…you are going to feel like dying.”
She wished her life would end, but with each second of the ticking clock she remained alive. Derek brought her stomach medication and headache remedies. In the afternoon he stripped her, bathed her with cool cloths then rubbed sweet-smelling oils over her body. His fingers worked out tension and fear. She allowed herself to melt into the sensations of his hands. The sleep and dreams were peaceful.
But now today was another day. Today she had to atone.
She waited outside his bedroom. The door handle turned. Arianne dropped to her knees and lowered her eyes. Derek finished pulling his shirt over his head and stopped walking a moment before he tripped over a kneeling and naked Arianne. “Uh…good morning?”
“Good morning, Derek. Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, I guess so.”
She lifted a spanking paddle up to him.
“What’s this?”
“I must do penitence for my behavior.”
He took the paddle from her. “Are you sure? You had a bad scare.”
“What happened was my error. I have been punished by Randolph for my silliness, but now I must submit to you.”
“This is stupid.” Derek walked past her into his kitchen, put the paddle on the counter and poured a cup of coffee.
Arianne followed, knelt nearby and waited. “I am sorry that the other night occurred. I wish it hadn’t so that you would feel more comfortable with this. Before I came down, I thought about what I had done wrong in our relationship and what I needed to do to make things right.”
“I did not bring you down here as my employee. You are not on duty.”
Arianne locked her glare onto him. “Then why am I here? I am nothing. I am not your employee brought here to work for you. I am not your girlfriend hoping to please you. You are uncomfortable around me because we don’t know where we stand.”
After
another swallow of coffee he said, “Okay, tell me what’s going on.”
“I am now the master and you are the slave.”
Derek’s eyebrows popped up. “Pardon? Then why are you the one kneeling?”
“You will do as I desire, but the twist is I am the one to be punished. I will tell you what to do to me. How to punish me for being bad or to satisfy me for being good.”
“And if I don’t?”
Arianne shifted her weight off her knees to her hands for a moment. “Then that swollen member of yours will never get to satisfy itself in me again. Do we understand?”
He nodded.
“We are going to begin a voyage of discovery. We will border on my pain tolerances, your submission tolerance and we will discover some truths about ourselves. Neither of us is allowed to think unless it is about what we’re talking about or what we’re doing? There is no one here to judge us so everything we do, we do freely and without hesitation.”
“What did you do with my domestics?”
“I gave everyone a couple of days off. With full pay.”
“Very generous of you.”
“If I may continue, the word stop is our protection. If one of us begins to go too far, then the other simply says stop and everything stops. Agreed?”
Derek nodded.
“I was bad. I had planned out how to catch the rich, eligible and very sexy Derek Davenport and that was a bad thing. Do we agree?”
“That I agree with.”
“Pissed you off, didn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“Then I must be punished.” She stood, shook her legs for a moment to get the blood flowing then walked over to the pick the paddle up off the counter. Swinging it, the paddle made a solid thunk as it hit her palm. “You will spank me to teach me to accept my position as your employee and not attempt to be your equal.”
“How do I know this is not still some trick to try trap me?”
“That is why I must be punished. You don’t trust me. To prove myself, I offer the pink glow on my bare ass, my cries of pain and your sighs of delight. Please accept this paddle. Use it on me. See that I am willing to accept your punishment without tears and without begging. It will be an honor.”
A Kept Woman Page 10