by Graham, Jan
Angel remembered thinking to herself at the time. He treated her like an idiot. He didn’t seem to realize that Angel valued her life more than to go to the police with anything. Although, she did have to somehow drop a duffle bag full of weapons off to them without getting asked too many questions. Angel stared at the money she had collected while cleaning up the bedroom. She had found nearly five thousand dollars in assorted parts of the room, and unlike the thirty thousand, she believed that this money had to be Samuel’s personal cash. Angel justified keeping it by telling herself the amount she had found barely covered the funeral costs. It would be enough to buy herself a car, albeit a cheap one, and still have money to live on until the cheque arrived for the latest article she had sold.
She would still continue to fight with the insurance company in regard to her own car. They were sticking to the view that it hadn’t been stolen. The insurance company had taken great pains to explain to Angel that she had not insured the car against her partner taking it and losing it. The fact that he was now dead and couldn’t tell anyone where the car was didn’t seem to bother them at all. So her car was not stolen. It was merely missing. She got a similar response from the police, who also refused to believe the car had been stolen.
Angel decided to see if she could increase her funds by selling the watch and jewellery Samuel had left on his dresser. She still had enough time to get a train into the city before some of the pawn joints closed, especially one in particular that she hoped would help her out. She decided to buy herself dinner as well. It had been over three years since Angel had been into the city. She used to love wandering around and watching all the different people who congregated in there. Night time was especially exotic in the red-light district, which had been her favourite part of town. She knew a lot of the shop owners and often ran into friends from the BDSM scene due to the number of fetish clubs and shops tucked away in some of the district’s dark laneways.
Angel looked into her wardrobe. She had no idea what evening clothes still fitted her. She had lost weight during her time with Samuel. Even though she was still curvy, she was smaller than the last time she had gone to the city. Angel picked out a black dress that had always been a little tight on her and put it on. It was now a perfect fit. The dress had thin shoulder straps made of delicate, silver chains that crossed over each other at the back. The bodice was fitted and just low enough to show her ample cleavage. The dress rested loosely on her hips, and the skirt flared out with the hemline sitting just below midthigh. Angel added a black belt with silver studs and a red tulle petticoat that peeked out about an inch below the hem of the dress. She managed to find a pair of sheer stockings which didn’t have a hole in them, and she wore her platform, knee-high boots just for added fun.
Cute. Angel was happy with the reflection she saw in the mirror.
Conscious of the time, Angel ran her fingers through her long curls, grabbed her bag and the jewellery from the table, and headed to the train station. Angel intended to have some fun, and if she was lucky, she may even manage to reacquaint herself with some old friends or make some new ones. Arriving in the city about half past six, she made her way from the station, along the familiar and unchanged back streets until she reached the main drag of the “naughty district,” as she liked to call it. Not much had changed from what she could see. The main clubs and strip joints were still in play, although it was too early for any of them to appear tempting to enter. She made her way up the street to the shopping area, passing both new and familiar eateries along the way. Wandering through the eclectic range of fashion and sex shops, Angel bumped into a few people she had known from three years ago. The general consensus appeared to be an acceptance that she had moved interstate and just not said good-bye. Angel found their assumptions strange, but it was easier to agree that was what had happened, rather than having to explain the truth.
As she walked down the side street leading to Bundy’s Pawn Brokers, Angel walked straight into Jig. He flung his arms around her so hard she thought for a second that she might snap in half. Jig had been the life of her party days because he was funny and always made her laugh. But, more than that, he tried his best to look out for her. Jig was a tall, youthful-looking man, and like Angel, he was in his thirties, although Angel wasn’t sure whether he was in the mid or late portion of the decade. He still had the spiked, black hair she remembered, but he now had it tipped purple. He was dressed totally in black and still maintained the striking physique he always had. Angel always said she would be more than happy to sleep with him, if females had been his preference. Unfortunately for her, men were Jig’s thing. He was the epitome of the saying that all the good men were either married or gay.
Jig was on his way to work, so Angel agreed to come and eat at the local café he managed. Nuts was a semivegetarian café that served the most amazing food, and it wasn’t far from The Dungeon, a club that Angel used to hang out at. If she decided to drop into the club for old time’s sake, then she would be nice and close to do so. Jig promised he would reserve a table for her and she could arrive whenever she was finished shopping. After a quick hug and kiss good-bye, Angel continued down to the pawn shop she hoped would take the jewellery off her hands.
Bundy’s was owned by an eccentric, old transvestite. Chocolate, as the owner like to be called, had once been one of the main attractions at the street’s les girls club. Now he owned the fanciest pawn shop Angel had ever seen. Chocolate was tall and wearing heels that made him tower over most people. He was slender and liked to dress in the glamour style of the fifties era movies with Jayne Mansfield and Elizabeth Taylor being his two favourite movie goddesses to emulate.
“Oh, my Lord.” Chocolate’s shrill voice echoed through the store as Angel walked through the door. “It’s a ghost. No wait it’s my little Angel.”
“Hi, Chocolate.” Angel felt herself blush as everyone in the store turned to look at her.
Chocolate gushed over Angel, planting kisses on each cheek before spinning her around a smacking her firmly on the arse.
“Ouch.” Angel rubbed the sting on her behind.
“Where the hell have you been, you bad girl?” Chocolate’s chastising was not making people stare any less. “I have been so worried. I asked everyone what had happened to you. All anyone knew was that you had gone away. No forwarding address, no phone number, no good-bye.”
Angel felt two more slaps on her arse before Chocolate dragged her across the store to the main counter.
“I just moved interstate for work. It was all a bit of a rush. I’m so sorry for not letting you know. It really has been hectic these last three years,” Angel lied.
Chocolate was simply lovely and would do anything for a friend, but he was probably the most indiscreet person Angel had ever met. A person did not share their deepest and darkest with Chocolate, not unless they were prepared for it to be public knowledge.
“Am I forgiven?” Angel batted her eyelashes and smiled.
“Of course you are. I’m just glad you’re back. Now are you here to buy, sell, or simply to bask in my glorious presence?” Chocolate asked.
“Sell.” Angel took the items from her bag and placed them on the counter. “Just a few things, they are only sterling silver I think. Anything you can give me for them is fine.”
Chocolate examined the items carefully while making all sorts of umming noises.
“Very nice men’s pieces. I assume they are from an ex.” Chocolate began fishing. “Did he break your heart? Is it a revenge sale?”
“No, he passed away.” Angel put on her best I’m so sad, please don’t ask me anything else face.
“Oh, you poor thing. You came back because the pain of living where you had a happy life with him was just too much. Oh, you did the right thing to come home, my sweet. Grief is so horrendous you need to be where you have friends who love you.” As Chocolate spoke, Angel nodded. Chocolate was such a drama queen sometimes. “Well, the good news is your dearly departed had w
onderful taste in jewellery. They are platinum, not sterling silver at all. And the watch is Cartier. I’ll have to give you a cheque, twenty-five hundred.” Chocolate grabbed his cheque book from under the counter and began to write.
“Oh, excellent,” was all Angel could manage to say through her surprise. All this time she thought the watch was a knockoff. Well that explains where some of Samuel’s money went.
“Now, for you I have a lovely little set. You need some sparkle with that dress. Consider it a welcome home present.” Chocolate walked to a cabinet at the end of the counter, returning with a large, ruby necklace with matching bracelet and earrings.
“Oh, Chocolate,” Angel began.
“No arguments please, child. You deserve something nice after your loss.” Chocolate’s voice was stern, and Angel knew not to argue. “Beautiful,” Chocolate said as he placed the pieces on her.
Chocolate insisted on Angel staying, having a drink, and catching up. Catching up meant Chocolate was going to do all the talking about himself and Angel just had to listen. The champagne that Chocolate poured for Angel actually made her a little dizzy. She hadn’t eaten anything at all today, and alcohol on an empty stomach was never a good idea. An hour and three glasses of bubbly later, Angel left the store and made her way to the café. Smiling as she wandered down the street, Angel decided she had needed someone to have missed her like Chocolate and Jig had. She could think of nothing worse than to come back into town only to find she had been forgotten. Her meeting with Chocolate had lifted her spirits, and the champagne had lightened her head. Chocolate was right. She did deserve something nice, especially after her all she had been through.
Bring on the next nice thing. Angel felt a renewed sense of joy as she arrived at the café.
She was, however, a little embarrassed at what she found when she arrived. Only one table was vacant, and it was on the outdoor walkway. She walked over to the table and looked at the sign Jig had placed on it.
Reserved for the most beautiful woman in the world.
A flush of colour filled Angel’s cheeks as Jig came barrelling over.
“You like?” Jig asked as he placed his arm around her shoulder.
“I like.” Angel smiled. “You have made my night.”
Angel had a short chat with Jig before ordering her meal. Jig promised he would be back to chat more throughout the evening when things were a little less hectic. Angel glanced at her watch, which revealed it was only half past eight. She had plenty of time to eat, catch up with Jig, and visit The Dungeon all before the last train left just after midnight. If The Dungeon wasn’t the same as she remembered, then she would just get an earlier train.
Steve Jax lived near the beach with his wife Kathy. The two-story, newly renovated townhouse situated on the crest of a hill had views of the surf from nearly every window. It was a great location, not only because of the view but because it was a short ten minute car ride into the city. This made him close to both work and all the social activities that he and Kathy enjoyed.
Steve and Kathy had been involved in the BDSM scene for many years. Most of their friends were part of the scene, and Steve considered himself the luckiest man in the world to have found a submissive as accomplished as his wife. Not many of the Dominant men he knew had a relationship that came anywhere near the one he shared with Kathy. Steve had met Kathy through a mutual friend and three months later, after an incredibly hot and heavy courtship, he had married her at The Dungeon, an infamous BDSM club in the city. The civil ceremony, in actual fact, had been a formality compared to the accompanying collaring ceremony. Kathy had insisted upon both ceremonies being shared with their friends and family. Their D/s contract was signed after the collaring ceremony, and as part of that agreement, it stipulated monogamy on behalf of both parties, something Steve had no problem agreeing to. He knew as soon as he met Kathy, there was no other sub for him as she fitted him perfectly, just as he did for her.
Tonight they were returning to The Dungeon, but this time it was for a very different kind of celebration. His friend, Daniel Shore, had returned from the US, and along with Kathy and Daniel’s brother, Christian, they were going out to party with friends. The three men first met attending a private college when they were in their teens and had gelled immediately. Steve quickly became known as the third Shore brother, and their families had been entwined ever since. Christian and Daniel’s father was a wealthy businessman who made sure his sons had the very best education possible. With Steve surviving on a scholarship, Mr. Shore had helped Steve’s single mum by paying his tuition just to keep the three young men together.
Nowadays, Steve and Daniel were both in their early forties, forty-two to be precise, and Christian wasn’t far behind them at the tender age of thirty-nine. They could in fact have been brothers, given the closeness in ages. The family resemblance was something else. Steve had no features that even resembled the Shore family and often joked he was in actual fact the milkman’s son.
Daniel was the first to arrive at the Jaxes’ home that evening. He had always been the strong, silent type, more serious than his brother but still a man who could have some fun if he chose to let his hair down. Daniel was the older of the two bothers. He was fiercely protective of those he loved and loyal to a fault. He had a caring but firm nature, never lost his head in a crisis, and would help anyone he felt needed it. Needless to say, no one was surprised when he chose medicine as a profession. Daniel had studied hard and was now one of the most respected surgeons in the city. He had moved to the United States for a period of five years, where he studied, learned, and developed new techniques in surgery.
“Evening, Doctor Shore,” Steve greeted his friend warmly. “I see you’ve decided not to bring that Casanova brother of yours with you tonight?”
“Don’t get to excited my friend, Casanova will be here soon enough. He’s being driven over here by one of his team.”
“Arh, the perks of being a Detective superintendent,” Steve noted. “He can have members of his squad act as chauffer when he needs it.”
As Steve ushered Daniel inside, he noticed the unmarked police car pull up out the front of his home. Christian had arrived.
Like Steve, Christian had joined the police force after leaving school. He had excelled in the force and now far outranked Steve, who had been happier to stay part of a team, rather than managing them. Christian was more outgoing than Daniel. He had a wicked sense of humour and a boyish charm that attracted women wherever he went, hence the term Casanova.
“Come on, hurry up and get in here, I won’t play doorman all night.” Steve’s voice boomed across the distance to the car.
“I have a good feeling about tonight, man.” Christian jogged up to the open door. “I think Daniel and I might find our Miss Right tonight.”
Both Daniel and Christian were Doms. They had always shared the women they dated, and both men believed that they would find a submissive that was happy to be in a relationship with both of them.
“Well then, the pressure is on Kathy’s single friends tonight isn’t it? Not that any of them give me the impression they are looking for two Doms, but you never know,” Steve stated as Christian strode past him into the living room.
“Daniel and I know the perfect woman’s out there. We just have to find her.”
“Exactly.” Daniel’s voice echoed in from the veranda where Steve noticed Kathy setting up drinks and nibbles for them to enjoy. “If Dad could find two women to live with him and make it work, then Christian and I can find a woman to share the rest of our lives with.”
“And after our disastrous relationship with Katie, we know what kind of woman to avoid.” Christian’s comment about what to avoid struck a chord with Steve.
The last submissive the men had chosen had really made both men doubt themselves and the lifestyle they believed they were destined to live. And Steve knew Daniel was correct in his assessment of his father’s relationship with two sisters. If the two women hadn’t d
ied in a tragic car accident, then Steve was sure both of Christian and Daniel’s mothers would have still been living happily with the brothers’ dad to this day.
As his friends took their leave, heading off to dress for the party, Steve noticed how relaxed they looked and was certain both were looking forward to the night ahead.
It didn’t take long for Daniel to return to the outdoor area. He was dressed in basic black dress jeans and a collared shirt, sleeves rolled to just below his elbow.
“Well, this is the life! How do you put up with these ocean views?” he said as he walked out onto the veranda.
“It’s rough, Dan, but we cope.” Steve handed him a cold beer, and the chat continued. Daniel filled the couple in on what had been happening since his return and some of his adventures in the American BDSM scene. Their banter was interrupted with Christian’s appearance.
Christian was dressed in snug leather pants that laced up at the front. His chest rippled under the tight, black muscle shirt he wore. His hair appeared to be even curlier than normal, which Steve put down to the use of some kind of product. He looked more like a rock star than a Dom. Steve laughed as Kathy fanned herself with her hand and pretended to swoon.
“Going for the Jim Morrison look tonight, bro?” Daniel quipped.
“Yes, someone wants to be noticed this evening. I bet he thinks he’ll get lucky dressed like that tonight,” Kathy added with a laugh.
“Bite me,” was Christian’s defiant reply as he sat down and picked up his drink.
“Someone might bite you tonight, Chris,” Steve spoke into his beer. “I just hope for your sake it’s a woman. We are in a city with a large gay population, you know?”
The banter continued over a few drinks with Christian giving as good as he got, until the group finally decided it was time to head into the city.
Dinner had been booked for eight o’clock at a restaurant around the corner from The Dungeon. Kathy had requested they have a proper meal before going to the party at the club. The Dungeon’s private function room had been booked for ten, with drinks and light snacks organised by the club. Two hours would give the four of them plenty of time to catch up before Daniel got swamped by their other friends during the party. They took a cab into the city and were seated for dinner right on time.