by Anna Parsons
“Nonsense.” He shoved a piece of the tender filet into his mouth. “It will be my honor.”
“What will you play?” Ming asked from next to her husband.
“My wife asks an excellent question. Piano and violin duets?” He pondered the question. “Contemporary or not?”
“My repertoire is not as extensive as yours, I’m sure.” Evie nervously sipped the delicious wine.
“Beethoven Sonata I would say, except that we don’t have a cello. Without that, it will lack depth.” He tapped his finger against his chin, considering their options.
“Unless it’s his Adagio,” Evie interjected.
“From someone who plays ‘a little,’” he said to Kate.
“How about Rimsky?” Kate offered.
“Song of India?” Evie asked.
“Perfect.” Armand slapped the table, causing several glasses to jump. “What about for our encore?”
“Encore?” Evie asked. “I’m not sure if I can get through the Rimsky piece without embarrassing myself, so planning an encore might be premature.”
“Nonsense.” He flipped his hands in the air. “We’ll be fabulous.”
“Maybe something contemporary,” Kate said. “There was a piece I heard at a flapper concert that was spectacular. I could try to find the music online. I wish I could remember the artist.”
“Son.” Owen leaned toward Dylan. “You do realize that Evie is no longer yours, right?” he said, smiling. “Now that the general has her in her sights, it’ll be impossible for you to get her away. You better hope that she’s the type that plays with two fingers, and is tone deaf.”
“Dad,” Dylan said, leaning back in her chair. “I can guarantee you that neither are the case.” Dylan watched his Hope at the other end of the table, in a negotiation with two music aficionados, holding her own like a champ. Without being close to her, he could tell that she was rubbing her thighs, her nervous “tell,” under the table. He could also tell when Ben reached over and touched her. Evie looked over at him, and he leaned in to whisper something in her ear, causing her to smile and nod, looking at Ben with affection. He’s encouraging her. Good friend. Now get your fucking hands off my lady!
After the last course, the group retired to the music room, where Armand had set up his instruments. Dylan and Evie found their way to each other and entered the room holding hands.
“I love you,” he whispered into her ear. She looked up at him and opened her mouth to speak, but his mother interrupted.
“Come on you two.” Kate ushered them into the room and toward two chairs together.
As Armand began to play, Evie placed her hand under Dylan’s atop his knee, his ankle resting on his other knee. He could feel her tense and release as the music swelled. He turned to look at her when he felt her emotions almost flowing through her directly into him. She was captivated, paying rapt attention to every note, every melody. Dylan turned to see his mother, with the same expression. Automatically, he made eye contact with his father, who had his “I told you so” look. Dylan smiled and returned his attention to Evie, noticing a tear falling down her cheek. He reached to wipe it away. She took his hand, holding it to her cheek. She’s happy. This woman needs to play.
After playing several violin mini-concertos, including Vivaldi, Sibelius, and Bach, he motioned to Evie. Sitting at Kate’s piano, Evie opened the fall, and cracked her knuckles. She breathed deeply, trying to quell the anxiety that was about to overtake her. Thoughts of her past public performances flooded her mind, and she could feel her heart speeding up, her breathing become labored, and her palms begin to sweat. Reaching down, she rubbed her thighs, just as she heard Dylan clear his throat. Turning her head slightly, she watched him lean forward, placing his elbows on his knees, drawing himself closer to her. Their eyes met. The connection calmed her instantly. Her thoughts cleared, and her breathing steadied. I can do this. He’s here with me, so I can do this.
“Yes, mi hermana, you can do this.” Her faerie godmother added her encouragement. “Show them who you’ve become.”
“We’ll start with Rimsky’s ‘Song of India,’” Armand said to the group. He took his spot near the lid prop and began to play the slow, mournful tune. Evie joined in. What started as a slow and brooding piece had highs and lows, happy and sad, fast and slow points throughout. Both played with a joie de vivre Dylan recalled from sitting at his mother’s feet as she played daily. Although Armand was a skilled musician, Dylan could not tear his eyes from Evie. She skillfully moved along the keys, her breathing steady, and her body straight. She’s a professional. This is what she should do every day.
Evie concentrated on playing. She watched her fingers float across the keys, almost with tunnel vision, completely isolating herself from the people in the room. The violin served as the lead instrument in the composition, and she took her cues flawlessly. Only Dylan, the piano and the violin are here with me. No one else is here. It’s just us, the piano, and the violin.
The piece ended on a high note, with everyone in the room on their feet. Evie was so engrossed in playing that she was stunned by the applause. She turned to see Dylan, and his parents, clapping enthusiastically. The intense apprehension she felt when she first sat before the keys had quieted. Though she was not entirely comfortable, she no longer felt the urge to run from the room. I think I’m okay. I did it!
“Outstanding, Evangeline! Simply outstanding!” Armand pulled her to her feet, kissing both cheeks. “You play with such skill and passion. Ming, call Pablo, he must manage this woman.”
“Armand, please.” Evie removed herself from his grasp. “Thank you so much. All of you.” She moved to stand near Dylan, who watched her with love.
“You must play, young woman. I will brook no opposition.” Armand slapped his fist into his open palm. “You’ve been trained by masters, no?”
“Yes, sir, that is true,” she confirmed.
“You have a rare talent.” He was almost pleading.
“Thank you, sir. But I do not play for others, I play for me. For my own pleasure,” she said plainly. “I appreciate your compliments and offering me your manager, but I prefer to play for my family and friends only.” She smiled at him, noting the disappointment in his eyes.
“Will you at least play one more with me, Lady Evangeline?” He conceded defeat, but did not want the moment to end.
“Certainly,” Evie said, returning to her seat at the baby grand piano. She was calmer this time, and smiled at Dylan as she poised to play.
“Bolcom’s ‘Graceful Ghost,’” Armand announced. This time Evie started the old ragtime composition. It was a fun piece that they both enjoyed playing. By the end, the group was laughing and dancing, enjoying their time together. Armand gave Evie his number and strongly encouraged her to call him when, not if, she changed her mind about her career. Dylan’s parents invited Evie to Sunday Brunch, Wednesday cards, Thursday dinner, and Saturday golf. Dylan had to stop them before they asked her to move in with them.
Evie and Dylan said their good-byes to his parents, walking out with Ben and Allison. Ben placed Allison into his Escalade before turning to wait at the bottom of the steps for Evie to descend. When she arrived, he folded her into his arms. He kissed her on her lips, tenderly exploring her with his tongue, pulling her closer to him. “That was beautiful, Evie. Thank you.” He released her and walked toward his car. “See y’all at the club?” He turned to see Dylan’s gaze boring into him.
“You’re lucky she is holding me back from whipping your ass!” he yelled.
“See you there,” Evie answered for them both, holding Dylan’s pinky finger, hoping to keep him from punching his friend.
Chapter 29:
I’m Ready!
After the dinner party, she entered the upper floor of the club on Dylan’s arm. They separated shortly after arrival, as one crisis after another had his attention for the early part of the night, including a busted pipe, a shorted-out speaker, a Domme who went too far
during a scene, and a fainting sub. Evie spent the early part of the evening with Allison.
“You play beautifully,” Allison said. The two ladies walked, holding hands, into the main club area. “You look so happy when you play. Almost as happy as you look when you’re with Dylan.”
“Do you really see a difference?” Evie asked, a bit surprised that she wore her feelings so close to the surface.
“Oh, yeah.” Allison led them to the bar, finding two empty seats. “In both of you. I watched him while you played. He was proud, and turned on, all at the same time.” Allison laughed, still holding her hand. The bartender, one of the many Monitors on duty, brought them both drinks without being asked.
“Thank you,” Evie said to him as he placed her scotch in front of her. He smiled before turning to his next customer.
“You can’t deny it, Evie. You have an effect on people. And you are different, too, since coming here,” Allison said.
“I agree with that,” Evie said, nodding. “I feel more confident. I’m not as concerned about how I look, or what people think of me. Not so much anyway. I feel free. I’ve never felt that before.”
“It’s a beautiful feeling, isn’t it?” Allison was starting to tear up.
“Oh, I didn’t mean to make you cry,” Evie said and leaned over to hug her friend.
“No, don’t feel bad. I just get emotional when people I care about figure out who they are.” She wiped a tear away. “I’m really happy for you, and for Dylan. You deserve each other.”
“I’m starting to feel that, too.” Evie and Allison sat giggling and talking, perfectly content to watch the evening go by.
“There you are.” Dylan walked up after the most recent crisis abated, and he found his Hope sipping a cocktail at the bar with Allison. Jumping from the stool, she stood before him in a nearly sheer lace and mesh pale-pink baby-doll dress. Dylan paused before speaking, taking a moment to get an eyeful of his Hope. They separated shortly after arrival because he was needed elsewhere, so he didn’t get a chance to see what treasure Hope had hidden in the small bag she carried inside. He took his time savoring every inch of her.
“Is everything okay?” she asked. He looked down into her eyes, losing himself in the green pools before him.
“Yes, everything is fine,” he said finally. “But I have to go to the dungeon, so you can wait for me upstairs.” He bent to kiss her and started to turn away.
“Okay.” She looked up at him. “Let’s go.” She was prepared to follow. Evie was feeling empowered after the dinner party, the reception she received for her playing, and the confidence she gained by being in his presence.
He smiled and shook his head before taking her hand and leading her to a sitting area. He sat on an empty sofa, pulling her down to him. “I don’t think you’re ready for the dungeon. It’s for serious players and can be intense.”
“Master,” she said, touching his chest as she shifted in his lap. “You have taken me places I never thought possible. I would never have allowed myself to be tied for others to view, but I knew I was safe with you. Quitting my job wasn’t in the cards, but you made me feel like my place was elsewhere. Tonight, I wouldn’t have played at your parents’, except I knew you were there watching me. I could feel you with me every time my fingers touched the keys.”
“Hope, you’re giving me too much credit,” he said, stroking her cheek with his thumb. “You’re still the same person you’ve always been. You just needed for your true self to shine.”
“But you showed me who I could become. Without you, I—” He put his finger over her lips, silencing her. She turned away. “I’m sorry. That’s a lot of pressure, isn’t it?”
“For some.” He smiled. “But we have something that most people never experience. I’ve told you before, you’re giving me some of your power. My challenge is to show you how much you actually have. There’s so much that’s untapped or hidden because of the things that happened in your past.”
“This is why I want to go to the dungeon with you. I’ve learned so much, and I want to learn more, to explore, and to feel.” She kissed the side of his mouth, but he remained silent.
“Tonight, a scene was scheduled with a sub and several Doms,” Dylan started. “A flogging and sex scene.”
“Whoa,” Evie said, taking a deep breath. “I didn’t expect that.”
“The sub became ill. So, I need to find another sub and at least one other Dom,” he said, looking into her wide eyes.
“You will be one of the Doms?” She was almost afraid to hear the answer.
“Yes, but remember, it is about domination, not sex.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Evie responded, “I want to be the sub.”
“Whoa,” he echoed her. “Hope, this is going to be extreme, painful—”
“Exciting, thrilling…” She stared into his dark eyes.
“Hope, you are full of surprises.” He kissed her before continuing. “This will be very hard for me. I would have to temper my actions, knowing you’re not ready.”
“You didn’t think I was ready to take all of you the other night. You said you entered topspace for the first time in a while. You lost yourself, and it was magical.” She leaned against the arm of the sofa and reached up to cup his cheek. “I’m not fragile anymore. Your strength strengthens me.” He turned to kiss the palm of her hand. “Please, I want to try.”
“I love you, Hope,” he said, looking deeply into her green eyes, trying to read her thoughts. “Okay.”
She took a deep breath before responding. “I’m ready.” She was unsure if she believed it herself. She stood in her bare feet, her hand still in his. He stood to his full height, towering over her. In long, powerful strides, he walked toward the back of the main area, to the hall leading to the dungeon with his Hope scampering behind.
Chapter 30:
The Dungeon!
As this was the first time Evie had entered this part of the club, she looked anxiously around at all of the sights to be seen. The main floor overlooked the dungeon, which was reached by wide, winding stone stairs. The circular chamber was divided into different rooms. The first was set up like a surgical suite, complete with an operating table, lights, and mock machines. Evie caught a glimpse of a man dressed in scrubs about to insert a metal rod into the patient’s urethra. She gasped, but Dylan’s stride did not pause. The second room was a barnyard stable with bales of hay, wooden horses, a water trough, women dressed as ponies, and men in what looked to Evie to be a petting zoo. The third room was the largest and had a medieval theme, with a variety of instruments that Evie found unfamiliar, yet exciting. At the bottom of the steps, Chris stood, speaking with Ben and Allison. Allison ran ahead to inform her Master of Dylan’s discussion with Evie.
“Chris, would you do the honor of preparing Hope?” Dylan passed her hand to his friend and turned to walk away. Evie watched his back as he left, Ben fast on his heels.
“Brother, this is a huge step,” Ben said once he reached Dylan’s side.
“I know,” he said, smiling. “She asked. Actually, she insisted. My blood is almost boiling.” Dylan slapped his friend on his back. “You’re joining, right?”
“Are you fucking serious?” Ben stopped, allowing Dylan to take several steps before realizing that he and his friend were no longer in step. Dylan turned and waited for his friend to start walking again. “Does she know what the plan is for the scene?”
“She does,” Dylan said plainly.
“Aw fuck.” Ben stood with his hands on hips, shaking his head
* * * *
“Where did he go?” Evie turned to Chris once Dylan was out of sight.
“He went to get himself ready,” Chris said as he led her into the room. “I’ll help you prepare for the scene, and he needs to get his mind right.”
“I’m not sure what that means,” Evie said.
“Which?” Chris asked.
“Both, actually.” Evie started tugging at the hem of
her sheer dress.
“For him,” Chris started, “he needs time to meditate and plan the scene. This is not a joke or a game. It takes planning and experience. A new Dom would not be allowed to lead a scene like this. Normally, a new sub would be excluded, as well.” He paused to look at her. “But there is something special about you. You’re precious and deserve to be treasured.”
“So I get flogged?” Evie smiled.
“Like I said, this is not a joke,” he said sternly.
“Sorry.” She looked at the floor, blushing slightly.
“He wants to take you to the next level of experience. He wants to lead you and to show you how much you mean to him. This is not about the flogging. If you didn’t want this, it wouldn’t be happening.” He brushed some of her unruly hair from her face. “Just feel the love he is sending through his hands and his body.”
“And how do I prepare?” she asked.
“I’ll take care of that. But first, I want to show you the room and the equipment.” He took her by the hand and led her further into the large room. Against the far wall was a leather-covered throne, upon which a Dom would rest and watch a scene unfold. The huge chair had a footstool in front, for the Dom’s feet to rest or for his sub to kneel. On either side of the throne were leather-covered bondage chairs. A table took up a corner of the room. With large, stable legs, the table was covered in leather, with eyebolts all around, and large enough for two. Evie almost hyperventilated when Chris described the spanking horse. It was very similar to the one Peter tied her to not so very long ago. Chris, recognizing her torment, hugged her close, whispering positive affirmations in her ear. Much to his surprise, she recovered quickly and moved away. The stockade was next. A beautiful cherry wood shone a high gloss, the locks and bolts shined as well. There were spaces for the head and hands, and a beam over which the sub would lean. According to Chris, the beam helped keep the pressure off the neck. Evie found it interesting that each piece of equipment had safety and comfort mechanisms built in.