Hard Limits

by Anna Parsons

  “Until I take it off.” I guess that sums it up, doesn’t it? Sighing, she pushed herself from the bed.

  Chapter 23:

  No Fear…Not Much, Anyway.

  Evie pulled the sports car into the garage at Exxcess. Dylan exited and walked around to open the driver’s door for her. Evie touched the lapel of his tailored black suit as she exited. He was dashing and handsome, and Evie couldn’t keep her hands off of him. For now, he is mine. And I am his. The shiny new bangle caught her eye. She pretended to straighten his collar just to keep the connection for another moment. He took her hand in his, placing a kiss into her palm. “You can touch me anytime, my Hope.” Damn, he’s reading my mind again. He placed her hand into the crook of his elbow, and they entered his club. Over her sheer cream shirt dress, Evie wore a light-weight gold trench coat. She successfully convinced Dylan to allow her to wear a pearl-trimmed thong by telling him how much he would enjoy removing it. That tidbit came from her faerie godmother. A pair of nude patent leather Louboutin stilettos and light makeup finished the look. Evie was determined not to let her nerves get the best of her.

  As they maneuvered through the mansion, Dylan pointed out works of art that adorned the common areas. Much to his surprise, she recognized Cezanne, Monet, and Degas, even though they were not the most famous of their works. “Of course, Degas’s Kneeling Woman makes sense here, but I don’t understand this Monet.” Evie stood in front of the piece, which looked like a French ticker tape parade with hundreds of French flags. “Plus, it seems a bit unpatriotic, don’t you think?”

  Holding her hand in his, he asked, “What would you put in its place?” He frowned at the painting.

  “Well.” She pondered. “If you want to stick with French impressionists, Frederic Bazille has some that may work well with your collection.” He pulled her hand to his lips and kissed gently. She knows French impressionism. And she looks damned good in a thong! I am officially in heaven.

  “Where did you learn about French impressionists?” Dylan asked as he continued to ponder the colorful painting.

  “When I was younger, my mom took me to Paris to train. The flat where we lived was near the Musée d’Orsay,” she said with perfect pronunciation. “We spent every extra moment there.” Dylan noticed the sadness in her voice each time she spoke of playing. We’ll need to explore that further. He squeezed her hand, drawing her attention.

  “I’ll look to you to help find a replacement for this,” he said, pointing at the painting. “Let’s go.” They walked past the restaurant, Taboo at Club Exxcess, which Evie knew had a three-month wait for a table. The maître d’ nodded as Dylan passed, and Evie got a glimpse of the entering diners. She was unsure if they were in the BDSM scene, but she was sure that the jewels on even one woman would pay her salary for the next year. As they strolled through the club, Dylan was stopped a few times by patrons who wanted an audience with the owner. Evie recognized a talk show host, a community activist, and several other local celebrities.

  Dylan nodded at several Exxcess employees as they walked through the hallway to the front of the club. After a few twists and turns, they ended up at the front entrance. “I want to show you off, so we must go up the grand staircase,” Dylan said as he handed Evie’s coat to one of his Observers, whom he instructed to take it and her clutch to his office. “Stay by my side, Hope. You will speak when I give you permission. Do you understand?” Recalling the process with Antonio and Allison earlier in the day, Evie nodded and gave Dylan a slight smile to let him know that she was okay. He gripped her chin between his thumb and forefinger, reaching down to place a kiss on her lips, which she parted slightly and pulled away. There are the dimples again. Have mercy! He turned her toward the staircase and they ascended. She fidgeted, thinking of how she must look in the sheer dress. Dylan noticed and squeezed her hand, less to comfort and more to get her attention. Her fidgeting stopped.

  Evie stared at the huge double doors that led to the main club area. A huge man sat in a chair to the left of the entrance, dressed in a dark suit with a handheld computer. The couple in front touched a finger to the computer. Once identity was verified, they were allowed to enter. Evie had entered as Peter’s guest, so was sure that the man recognized her. “Evangeline Hope, this is Ramon, he keeps out the riffraff.” The man stood and shook Dylan’s hand. Evie thought he looked like a wrestler, nearly bursting the seams on his suit jacket. “Ramon, Miss Hope will be joining me from now on. Please make sure that the security staff is aware of her presence.”

  “Will do, sir. Ma’am.” He returned to his task. Evie noticed the deference that the employees paid to Dylan. No nonsense. I defer to him too, so I understand.

  Dylan reached for the doorknob, allowing Evie to enter before him. She held her breath as she recalled the last time that she entered the club. It was a nightmare that she didn’t wish to relive. She paused just inside the entrance, allowing her vision to adjust to the change in lighting. Dylan stepped close to her, grasping her right hand, putting her into step with him as they ventured further into the room. He moved a step ahead of her, his left foot directly in front of her right, placing her just behind his left shoulder. Evie felt as though he was protecting her from whatever lay ahead. The room was much as she remembered it, dark walls with muted lighting, dance floor with mingling bodies, large bar with hulking bartenders, sitting areas with large couches and chairs, and elevated stages with confusing contraptions. Evie took in her surroundings as they moved through the room. Somehow, it seemed less intimidating and not quite as scary as when she entered with Peter.

  “Dylan.” Dylan turned to see his friend walking toward him in his trademark Exxcess vest, dark pants and boots.

  “Chris.” The men shook hands before Chris bent down to kiss Evie’s cheek. “Hope, don’t let this confuse you. No one touches you without my permission. This jackass somehow thinks he’s exempt from that rule.”

  “Hello, Evangeline,” Chris said, ignoring his friend. Evie looked up at Dylan. “Ah, you must ask permission to speak? Not to me, surely,” he said, looking over at Dylan. “I’m exempt from that rule, too, right?” Dylan lifted Evie’s hand and placed it into Chris’s open palm. Looking down, Chris noticed the bangle. “I see that you’ve staked your claim. Smart man.” He placed a kiss on her knuckles. “People are already talking about her.” Evie’s eyes widened as she looked up at Dylan. “Since the moment you entered the club on the arm of the owner, several have asked about you.”

  “Of course they’re interested,” Dylan said as he retrieved her hand from his friend. “She is beautiful, and—”

  “Deliciously submissive,” Chris interrupted.

  “That and much more.” Dylan pulled her closer just before abruptly changing the subject. “What’s on the agenda for tonight?”

  “We have one interviewee finishing up with Allison as we speak,” Chris said as he looked at his Smartphone. “And you’ve been asked to demonstrate Shibari.”

  “Do you have a model selected?”

  “Antonio has volunteered. So has Meredith.” Chris placed his phone into his pocket.

  “Not Meredith,” Dylan said. “Antonio will be fine.” He felt a tug on his pinkie finger and turned to look at Evie. “Yes, Hope.”

  “I need to use the restroom…Sir.” Listening to the conversation that was clearly important, she really didn’t want to interrupt. The tug on his little finger worked like a charm.

  “You remember where the lounge is?” She nodded. “Go. And come right back. No dawdling.” He turned her in the right direction and pushed her forward with a tap on her bottom. Evie moved quickly away.

  “She’s something else,” Chris said as he watched her move through the crowd. “Are you sure she’s okay to walk around alone?”

  “I’m watching,” Dylan said and looked at his friend. “And so are you.”

  “True,” Chris said as he threw his arm over his friend’s shoulder. “I won’t let anything happen to her on my watch, man.”
Chris and Ben took Anne’s accident and subsequent death hard, primarily because of the impact on Dylan. They watched as he became a shell of the happy and successful man they had come to know over nearly two decades of friendship. Slowly, with the help of family and friends, he began to come out of it, even returning to taking subs and training at the club. Evie was bringing Dylan out further as they watched their friend fall in love with her. “She’s my responsibility now, too.”

  “I know, brother.” Dylan grabbed his friend’s shoulder. “My life is changing, and I owe it to her. I plan to take care of her. Knowing that you and Ben are looking out for us is important to me. Thank you.”

  “No thanks needed, but I do have some advice.” Chris turned to him and looked him in the eye. “You better ask Ben to be your best man this time. He will shit a brick if you ask me again.”

  Dylan laughed. “I didn’t ask you last time! Coin flip, remember?”

  “Oh, yeah.” He reached into his pocket and produced an old, worn coin. “My trusty double-sided quarter. I guess we won’t be using it this time.”

  “I doubt it,” he said. The two nonchalantly talked about the gathering crowd and plans for upcoming events. Dylan turned to watch Evie exit the lounge, as somehow he felt her enter the room. Chris walked away to handle something at the bar and Dylan leaned against a stool, folding his arms across his broad chest, as he watched her move through the room. Her movements kept him engrossed.

  Evie walked through the club, heading back to Dylan. Some of the scenes taking place around her drew her attention, and she couldn’t help but pause. In one area, a sub was tied to a bench and was being flogged by two Doms who took turns lashing at her, placing each blow of the leather fingers across her, creating an intricate pattern on her body, like lattice. One paused when he saw Evie watching and motioned as if to ask her if she would like to be next. Her eyes widened in surprise and she turned to scamper away, eliciting a loud barking laugh from the Dom, clad only in leather pants and boots. Trying to get away, Evie almost ran into a young man being tied with a long rope. He looked up at her and smiled, causing his Domme to react by forcefully turning his face to focus on her, rather than Evie. Evie stepped away but looked back, wondering how the ropes would feel against her skin, touching her own arms at the thought. I know he’s wondering what’s taking so long. There’s just so much to see! She arrived in the bar area to find Dylan watching her approach, his arms folded across his chest. Out of nowhere, a beautiful woman, wearing only tiny leather shorts and a scarf that covered her breasts knelt before Dylan. He looked down at her and smiled, causing Evie to stop in her tracks. The volume of the music prevented Evie from hearing what was being said, but there was definitely conversation happening, and she sensed some familiarity between them. I’ll be damned. Her feet finally moved, and she drew closer to the couple.

  Dylan watched as Evie made her way to him after spending some time watching Masters Joseph and Kyle flog a willing sub, and turning from the sub pleasuring two men. Hmm…she doesn’t mind two men flogging her, but wants no part of sex with two men. Interesting. He noted that the rope play also caught her attention. Dylan was just about to have some risqué fantasy when Meredith stood between him and his Hope before kneeling in front of him.

  “Meredith,” Dylan said with a nod.

  “Master, I’m at your service.” She looked up to him with a sly smile.

  “I have no need of your services this evening, Meredith. And it’s ‘Master Dylan,’” he said with a harrumph.

  “Of course, Sir. I volunteered to be your slave for the demonstration,” she said hopefully.

  “I don’t think so.” He looked up, searching for the connection with his Hope.

  “Please, Master, I love when you tie me,” she said just as Evie arrived. Dylan lifted his palm to take his Hope’s hand.

  “Thank you for the offer, Meredith, but I’ve selected another model,” he said as he looked into her brown eyes, as she flung her long blonde hair over her shoulder, revealing one breast. “And, Meredith, it’s ‘Master Dylan,’” he drew Evie closer to him. “You know that it’s inappropriate to call a Dom ‘Master’ without his name if you do not belong to him, right?”

  “Yes,” she said, looking at Evie. “Forgive me, Master Dylan.”

  “You may go, Meredith,” Dylan said with a wave of his hand. The tall gorgeous woman stood and stalked away, giving Evie one last look. “You’ve been gone awhile,” he said, turning to Evie. “I thought you got lost.”

  “No, I just…saw some things,” she said. Like a woman offering herself to you and looking at me like I’m the help.

  “I know what you saw.” He stroked her cheek. “Come, we have an interview.” He took her hand and led her to the office.

  “May I ask you some questions?” Evie asked as they walked, Dylan again holding her right hand, fondling her bangle.

  “You may,” he said as they entered the sitting room outside of his office. The large room was decorated in Baroque-era furnishings with a Chesterfield sofa and gilded wingback chairs creating a conversation area. Shelves with vases, framed pictures, and antique books lined the walls. Nothing was out of place, and not a speck of dust was visible on any surface. “You were saying.” Dylan brought Evie’s attention back to the present. He opened the door to his office, which, like the anteroom, was filled with antique pieces, including a large desk. The dichotomy was the wall of video screens, showing images from areas within the club.

  “The woman who was asking you to tie her up,” she said as he took his seat behind the large carved desk. “You have…used her before?” Evie stopped in front of the desk, watching him.

  “Come around here, Hope.” He motioned for her to stand near him. She started to kneel when he stopped her. “No. I want you here.” He patted a square blotter on the edge of his desk. Dylan easily lifted her and opened a bottom drawer so she could place her feet on the edge, taking a moment to admire her stilettos. Once she was settled, he leaned back in his chair. “Yes, she and I have had sex, and we scened on the main floor a few times.” He studied her. “Does that bother you?”

  “I’d like to be able to say no,” Evie said plainly. “Both of us have had lovers in the past. I doubt that mine will ever kneel in front of me.” She sighed and noticed that he did, too. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to seem insecure, but…” Her voice trailed off.

  “Listen, my Hope, they were a way to blow off steam. That’s why they were few and far between. Now…” He paused and Evie cocked her head slightly. “Now, things are very different.” Evie turned and looked over her left shoulder when she heard a knock at the door. Allison entered, her long dark hair draped over her shoulder, wearing a black negligee that left little to the imagination. “Eyes on me, Hope.” Uh oh. The Dom voice. Evie turned instantly.

  “Mr. Stark is here, Master Dylan.” Allison stood back and allowed the gentleman to enter. Dylan stood and extended his hand.

  “Mr. Stark, Dylan Rankin, pleased to meet you,” he said as he motioned toward one of the chairs in front of the desk.

  “Please, call me Harrison,” he said as he took his seat, crossing his legs, holding the head of a cane. Harrison Stark was a man in his fifties with silvering temples and goatee against dark hair and olive skin. He was impeccably dressed in a dark suit, starched white shirt, and an ebony cane with a marble top. “I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me, Mr. Rankin, particularly given the inducement before you.” He motioned toward Evie.

  “It is my policy to meet personally with all prospective members.” Dylan sat back in his chair, a bit put out that the man acknowledged his Hope. “Particularly those referred by one of my mentors. You are new to the area, correct?”

  “You are correct. I moved to Houston two years ago, so that my wife could undergo cancer treatment. It was easier for us to move rather than fly back and forth to Denver.” He straightened the crease of his pant leg, still holding the head of the cane. “She passed away about a year ago,
and as you can imagine, it has been a difficult transition. She was my wife and my sub.”

  “I am sorry to hear that, Harrison. I also lost my wife and needed time to recover somewhat. I guess we never really recover, do we?” Dylan sat up in his chair and scrolled through the file on his laptop.

  “No, we don’t. Ruby will not be easy to replace, but I can look for someone new, and I understand that this is the place to do it.” Harrison smiled.

  “You were a member of Josh Mackenzie’s club in Denver. He gives you a very good reference. Says you were very well respected as a teacher and mentor to budding Doms and subs alike.” Harrison nodded, continuing to worry the cane. “Any thoughts to going back?”

  “No. I’ve fallen in love with Houston and can’t imagine leaving. I’m looking to make a name for myself here. I made my money in oil and gas, and have no need to work. Now, my focus is golf and sailing, and training a sub, as I see you are doing.” Harrison nodded toward Evie.

  Deflecting again, Dylan told him about some of the club rules. As he did, he stroked Evie’s thigh, causing her to open her legs slightly. “As a member of Exxcess, you are welcome to bring a guest, after they have been fully evaluated. We take your safety and security very seriously, Harrison, so there are no exceptions to this rule.” Dylan slowly stroked her inner thigh, causing her to lean back, palms against the desk, draping her knees open to feel more of his touch. “The entire second floor is devoted to play. There is the main room, which I believe you have seen, and several private and semi-private suites. In addition, in the back of the club is a dungeon, for serious scenes only. Those new to the lifestyle are discouraged from entering that area but are encouraged to watch from the gallery above.” Evie let out a soft moan, which caused Dylan to look into her eyes, willing her to be quiet. She pursed her lips, determined not to make another sound. “As you can see from the displays, the entire club is under constant video surveillance. None of this is new to you, as Josh consulted with me when Exxcess was still on the drawing board, and some of our basic elements were modeled after Josh’s club.” When Dylan’s fingers snaked under the thong into her drenched pussy, she almost jumped off of the desk.