by M. A. Ellis
“Are you really keeping track?”
“You’re damn right I am. What’s the damage going to be this time?”
“A key to that suite you rented for the night. And the particulars of when everyone is going to be out of there.”
“Dude, you can’t be my date anymore, I’m taking Alexandra.”
“She leaving the latex cat suit at home?”
“She cleans up nicely, I’ll have you know.”
“You planning on using the room later tonight?” Chris heard the anticipation in his voice and made an effort to temper his tone.
“Not the whole night. I was thinking about a possible after-party hot-tubathon, what are you thinking?”
“I had a text from Isabel.”
“And?”
“And she wants to talk.”
“Oookay. She wants to talk. And how does this affect me?”
“She’s going to be there tonight. I was thinking there’s got to be a way for you to get her back to the room. I’ll take care of everything from there.”
“You don’t think it might be wise to just return her call. The whole ‘get her back to the room’ screams of a possible disaster waiting to happen since you two have absolutely no firm understanding of what she wants.”
“I know what she wants. And I can give it to her.”
“Really, Chris? You think you’re that intuitive after a little light bondage and a get-yourself-off moment? Last time I looked, that minor in psychology didn’t make you an authority.”
“Are you going to help me or not, Larry? That’s all I need to know.”
“Okay, okay. Take it easy. I told the hotel to give out four keys and leave a fifth one at the desk for me. I can forgo a trip back to the room after the party, if that’s what you need. I don’t know how you think you’re going to get her back to the room, though.”
“I was hoping you might help me with that. Now that I know Alex will be with you, I’m feeling a lot more confident. She’s a consummate player and a great actress.”
“You’re not planning anything crazy, are you? Because I have to draw the line at the maids finding Isabel naked and tied to the bed tomorrow morning, especially with my name on the room reservation and I’m making a donation in my Mom’s memory.”
“I give you my word. If they find her naked the next morning, I’ll be with her.”
“So you two have decided on a sex-included relationship?”
Chris didn’t answer and the silence stretched to the point of discomfort. He heard Larry’s heavy sigh.
“Dude, this is not going to end well.”
“Yes, it is. I know what she wants.”
“Bullshit. You know what you want and when the hell did that include throwing a fuck into your sub du jour?”
“Let it go, Larry. Are you going to help me or not?”
“Of course I am. And I think we can start the repayment with free Jameson for a month and the promise of a beginner’s bondage workshop at the club.”
“Done,” Chris readily replied. “Want to throw out a suggestion or two on what time I should be there? And how I’ll get in the room. And how we’ll get Isabel up there?”
“Not asking for much are you?” Larry replied, but the excitement was evident in his voice. The man enjoyed a challenge more than Chris. “Let me brainstorm with the lovely Mistress Alex. We’ll come up with something and I’ll call you back. It’ll be stealthy for sure. We’ll get her up there. The rest will be all you.”
* * * * *
“Isabel? A moment, please?”
Isabel spun around, a polite smile curving her lips as she faced Mrs. Wolcroft. The older woman was a bastion of the arts and a person who Isabel genuinely liked.
“Allow me to introduce Lawrence Polino and his guest, Alexandra Helton. He’s the one who generously provided the suite for our volunteers.”
Socially adept person that she was, Isabel mentally gave herself credit for the unwavering grin she offered to the man who had seen her bound to the beer tap only a few nights prior.
“Mr. Polino. A pleasure,” she said, extending her hand.
“Larry. I believe we’ve met before. I think it was at On The Left. I’m a frequent customer when I’m able to get away from work. It’s nice to see you again. Alex, darling, this is the woman I was telling you about.”
Isabel’s smile faltered as she looked upward into the woman’s dark-brown eyes and accepted her hand, surprised by the strong grip that enveloped her fingers.
“Isabel. Lovely.” The woman’s gaze drifted from the top of Isabel’s head to her feet, lingering there until Isabel was compelled to shift her weight. “I adore those shoes. Ferragamo?”
“They are,” Isabel said, feeling as if the woman had somehow seen straight through the simple, black-knit dress that covered her body.
“Mmmmm. They are delightful.”
“Mr. Polino is one of our newest patrons. I thought perhaps you might escort him and Ms. Helton around, show them the items that are available for the silent auction and such.”
Isabel reconsidered her opinion of the older woman. The last thing she wanted to do was be alone with Larry or the Amazonian date he’d shared info with.
“Oh, Eleanor, I’m so sorry. I promised Lucy that I’d relieve her from her duties at the silent auction table. She hasn’t had a break all evening.”
“I’ll be more than happy to spell her for a bit. I think perhaps it would be best if you start with the Tiffany area. Perhaps the Maui chocolate pearls?” She turned and looked at Larry’s date. “They would so match your eyes.”
“Eleanor, really—” Isabel began but the older woman put a quick end to any further comment.
“Mr. Polino,” Eleanor said, “why don’t you two meander toward that end of the table and one of us will be right with you.” She gestured to her left and took Isabel’s arm in a grasp that was surprisingly strong.
“We’re fine, really,” Larry said. “We don’t need—”
“No, no. We insist. Excuse us for just a moment.” Eleanor’s words, while delivered in a sweet tone, left no room for argument.
Isabel found herself expertly guided away from the couple, unprepared for the Hyde-like change in Eleanor’s personality.
“Lawrence Polino just wrote us a check for fifteen thousand dollars, so discussion over. Stick with him and that lady, and I use the term quite loosely. Show them the auction items and urge them to bid. We want him as more than a one-time patron, so act accordingly.” Without another word she turned and glided across the room, offering a beatific smile to everyone she passed.
“Holy crap,” Isabel whispered, admitting defeat. She squared her shoulders and adopted a calm façade. She’d dealt with everyone from pompous, corporate bigwigs to creative artists with diva complexes. The couple she was closing in on couldn’t be that difficult to entertain. As long as no one brought up that evening at the bar.
“Ah…the Mistress has spoken and you obeyed?” Larry offered her a huge grin and motioned for her to precede them in line.
“Eleanor is a force to be reckoned with,” Isabel offered, ignoring his smirk as she walked in front of them. “It seems I’m all yours.”
“Oh, doll,” Alexandra purred, grabbing her arm and lacing it through hers. “If only.”
* * * * *
Chris stood near the double doors of the ballroom and watched Larry and Mistress Alexandra vie for positions of prominence next to Isabel. If given more time to plan, he’d have absolutely avoided involving either of them, especially since Larry’s idea left much to be desired on a multitude of levels.
“May I get you a beverage, sir?”
A waiter appeared at his side and Chris shook his head. He wanted to be in full control of his faculties tonight. The last thing he needed was not to be one-hundred percent attuned to the situation and how to make it as authentic as possible, without scaring the bejesus out of Isabel. According to their conversations on the blog, that’s exactly what I
sabel desired. He’d implement one of her top-three fantasies and, before the sun came up tomorrow, she’d see just how talented he was and give him a chance to make her happy for more than a few hours.
Or she’d nail him in the gonads and tell him to go fuck himself.
Good chance that’ll happen either way.
He really did wish that voice of reason would shut up. It’d nearly killed him, waiting for her get in touch. It wasn’t the I’m-sorry-please-forgive-me messages he usually got, but she had made the initial contact. Now she was waiting for him to respond and he was going to. Just not the way she expected.
There wouldn’t be a return note. There wouldn’t be a series of events she could compare with the advice in the latest Cosmo dating column. He slid his hand into the front pocket of his suit pants and smiled when his fingers brushed the hard plastic of the room’s keycard. As soon as the silent auction closed, he’d head back upstairs. He knew he could count on Larry. And his sexy Dominatrix of a date. He couldn’t imagine what they would say to get Isabel to the suite but he had no doubt they’d be successful.
He should be up there waiting right now, but he wanted to see her in her element. A man could glean a lot of knowledge from simply watching and not the way her late husband had. That was a whole other ball of wax, one that Chris doubted he could have handled. The thought of another man ordering her to spread her legs or get on her knees sent a rush of anger through him. He recalled the soft, sexy little noises she had made as she was grinding her hips against his fingers and he slowly unclenched his fists. She wouldn’t have done that with just any man, he knew that long before he’d been on the chat with her. Long before they’d taken their few public missives private.
Her confidence shone in the way she held her body, the smooth, steady pattern of her motions. She wasn’t nervous or uncomfortable. Not here. But later, when her hands and feet were bound…
He ran his fingers through his hair and focused. Her dress might be an issue since he couldn’t tell what it was made of. It hugged her body well enough that there had to be some stretch to it. Ripping the fabric would be more in line with what should be done, but the damn thing had probably cost more than his mortgage payment, so that aspect of the scenario would have to fall by the wayside. With any luck, the scooped neckline could be pulled down and the hem pushed up until both were in a tight band that would encircle her waist. That would be fucking hot. At least his cock thought so as it gave a tiny leap, letting him know he was on the right track.
The announcement that the silent auction would be closing in three minutes sparked a flurry of activity. To Chris’ surprise, Larry strolled away from the women and bent over the table, taking out his cell phone and dialing before he picked up a pen, ready to bid on something. Isabel rushed toward another item, Alexandra following at a more reserved pace.
His phone vibrated in his pocket and Chris looked at the caller ID and answered in a low voice.
“What’s up?”
“You need to get back to the room soon. My uncanny senses kicked in as soon as you walked through the door.”
“Really? You the only one who noticed?”
“Definitely,” Larry replied. He stood up but didn’t turn in Chris’ direction. “You want to go in half on tickets to the Super Bowl? High-level seats but they’re a steal at three thousand for the pair. I figure we can resell if something better comes along.”
“Sure.” Chris laughed. “You’re the king of multitasking. What’s Alexandra bidding on? With your money, I take it?”
“A necklace and don’t try to fish for insight into the dynamic that is our relationship. You know that phrase ‘it’s complicated’? Well, that doesn’t even begin to describe it.”
An air horn sounded and more than a few squeals echoed through the room.
“Okay, dude. Hightail it,” Larry said. “Your target should be within arm’s reach soon enough.”
“What? We’re back to playing soldiers and bad guys?” Chris grinned, walking toward the exit doors.
“No pretending at all, dude, because the offensive you’re about to launch is scary real. I’ll consider it a successful night if I don’t get a call from in-house security that a maniac was found in my room. And just so you know, once Alex gets back down here, I’m telling the front desk we’ve lost our keys and having them reprogram the door. That way, if any of the auction workers still have a card, they aren’t getting in. And you two won’t be able to leave and reenter unless one of you stays inside and lets the other in. So, if she tosses you out the door naked, you’ll be totally fucked.”
“Thanks for the head’s up…and for everything else.”
“Stop it. You’d do the same for me. Hell, you’ve already done more for me so not a problem, dude. But if you totally fuck things up, I think my darling Alex would love a crack at your lady’s fine ass, no pun intended.”
“She’s not into Fem Domme, that much I know.”
Larry snorted. “That much you think.”
“Goodnight,” Chris said with finality as he walked to the elevator.
“That’ll be up to you, now won’t it?” Larry responded and clicked his phone shut.
“Yes it will,” Chris said under his breath, happy he’d have enough time to double-check his preparations. A trickle of sweat rolled down one side of his face and he wiped it away. A great deal depended on his skill but the anxiousness that rolled through him proved there was a whole lot more at stake. It would be a test and he wouldn’t fail her. Not now…not ever.
Chapter Six
Isabel kept a congratulatory smile plastered on her face while her mind was screaming, Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit.
“Larry, darling! I won the pearls.”
“Won” really didn’t begin to describe the reality of what had just happened but Isabel wasn’t about to point that out. “Outbidding with the finesse of a drunken sailor” might have been a more apt way to put it. Alexandra had increased the previous bid by two thousand dollars and, even if the other bidder had wanted to up the amount in the final seconds, the Amazonian’s demeanor would have put a stop to that. She’d stood with her hands on her hips, glaring, making the people around her take a few steps backward.
“That’s my girl,” Larry said, walking to their side. “What are the chances I have enough in my wallet to cover it?”
“Extremely thin,” Alexandra said, bending to offer him a quick kiss on the lips.
“Then I’ll have to go back to the suite and get my checkbook since I just won tickets to the Super Bowl. Alex, why don’t you get in line to pay? I’ve done these events before and it turns into a free-for-all.”
“You know I can’t stand still. Plus, no one will talk to me.” She pushed her lower lip out in an exaggerated pout.
“I wonder why,” Larry laughed. “Isabel, would you mind walking to the room with her? It shouldn’t take long. And can you grab my reading glasses, darling?”
“But of course, my pet. Then I can touch up my makeup,” Alexandra said. “Isabel?”
Isabel looked up and saw Mrs. Wolcroft headed their way. Let Larry deal with the old turd. “I’d be more than happy to, Alexandra. Shall we go now?”
She took the woman’s arm and they walked with determined strides toward the door. Within minutes they made it into an elevator and arrived at the suite.
“Make yourself at home, I’m going to quickly freshen up,” Alexandra said over her shoulder as she walked into the master bedroom.
Isabel milled around the living room, which was no longer in the pristine state it had been in when she and Lucy had left hours before. Decorative pillows had been tossed onto the floor in a pile. The newspaper had been dissected, the business section draped over the arm of the loveseat and the sports section spread out on the coffee table. The latest issue of Vogue rested on one of the couch cushions. The couple was definitely opposites. Which was probably why they seemed as if they were the perfect pair.
“I think Larry had a fru
it tray delivered.” Alexandra’s voice came from far away and Isabel smiled. The bathroom would make anyone sound like they were in a canyon.
“I’m fine,” Isabel replied in a loud voice, eyeing one of the plush chairs. If she sat down now, she might never get up.
Alexandra reappeared, tapping her rhinestone handbag. “All set and ready to go, although these shoes are killing me for some reason.”
Isabel opened the door, surprised that Alexandra hobbled around the room and shut off all the lights except a small lamp in the living room. She met Alexandra’s eyes and the woman shrugged.
“I wasn’t always this fortunate. Once upon a time I couldn’t even pay the electric bill, so old habits die hard.”
Isabel nodded and waited for her to pass before pulling the door tightly closed. She’d love to hear the story the woman had to tell. She sensed there wouldn’t be anything conventional about it at all. The elevator sounded with a little bing and, as the doors opened, Alexandra swore.
“I forgot Larry’s freakin’ reading glasses. Oh my god. Isabel, would you mind being a darling and run back and get them?” She had already opened her purse and pulled out the key. “They’re probably on the coffee table. He was reading the paper right before we left. I’d go but my feet are dying.”
“Not a problem,” Isabel said, taking the key.
“Do you mind if I head down now? I need to find a seat.”
Isabel was going to tell her she didn’t mind at all, but the elevator doors were already closing. She walked back to the suite and swiped the keycard, the light from the hallway helping to illuminate the path to the living room before the door slowly closed. The single light that Alexandra had left burning should have made the room feel cozy but the tiny hairs at the base of her neck suddenly rose and she spun back around and glanced at the door, her heartbeat accelerating.
Nothing. She stared at the dimness for what seemed like minutes, but she knew was actually only a handful of seconds. Good lord, when had her imagination become so vivid? She gave herself a mental shake and took a step toward the coffee table when a viselike arm circled her waist and captured her against a hard, masculine body as a huge hand covered her mouth. One knuckle pressed against her nostrils, nearly blocking her air and survival instinct kicked in and she struggled.