The closet she showed me could have housed quadruple the clothes I owned. Then again, I’d never been much of a shopper. Before meeting Teresa, my money disappeared into alcohol. After meeting her, she spent all of my money on things for herself, beyond the bills we shared for basic living expenses and rent. My determination of believing myself indebted to her for sobering me up superseded my rationalization sometimes.
“You look lost in thought. Wishing it was bigger?” Delilah’s voice broke into my quiet musings.
“I was thinking about the past,” I responded as I began hanging the new outfits.
She placed a hand on my shoulder, and when I turned to face her, her eyes searched my face. There were no aggressive or accusatory emotions there. No fear or disdain. She simply looked at me as if judging whether I was okay. It reached into my heart so much that I decided just this once, I’d let someone in.
“I was thinking about how I felt so indebted to my ex-fiancée that I let her practically run my life. When I’d try to protest something, she’d throw my alcoholism in my face. ‘I don’t know why you’re so upset I spent the last of our money on a new ring for me. If I weren’t here, you’d have just drank it away anyway.’ Stuff like that. At the time, I rolled over and took it. Lately, I’ve started opening my eyes to how horrible of a person she really is, and it hurts to be honest. I truly loved her.”
Delilah offered me a smile, and there was no judgement in her expression. “I’m sorry I got snappy with you at the club that night. I thought you were in a swinger relationship with her. I had no idea she was... I caused you pain.” Her hand fell away and uncertainty flashed on her features.
“ You didn’t do anything except bring to light a horrible thing someone I trusted was doing to me. If anything, I have you to thank for the discovery.” In a brash moment, I pulled her into a hug.
Her body melted against mine and her arms wrapped around me, holding me close. The scent of her skin tantalized in a flourish of vanilla. The softness of her cheek pressed against mine and she emitted a quiet sigh.
“Let’s go out,” she whispered, then pulled away. “Put on the little red dress we bought you today.”
I blinked at her in surprise. “That thing is awfully short.”
A wicked smile lit up her face. “I know. I want to show you off. We’re going to Black Cuff...together. As a BDSM couple.” She leaned forward until our lips almost met. “One rule though. You must refer to me as Mistress from this point forward, unless I let you know it’s not necessary. Yes?”
I gulped and my heart began to race as I stared at her. After a moment or two I gave a hesitant nod.
“Good girl,” she praised, and those sexy tingles filled my body again.
Why do I like it so much instead of feeling patronized?
She left the walk in closet, and I busied myself with pulling the dress out of the bag and changing. When I was done, I smoothed out the wrinkles and frowned at the length of the skirt. It was too short for my comfort level, but I’d agreed to let her pick and buy whatever she wanted. I grabbed the matching red heels from another bag and walked to the bed to put them on.
“How do I look?” Delilah stepped out of the bathroom and twirled in front of me. A black tuxedo with a red silk blouse and kerchief adorned her body, and she wore heels that matched my own. We looked like a coordinated pair.
“You look stunning....Mistress.”
“So do you, pet.” She walked over and caressed my cheek. “I can’t wait to go with you. Are you ready?”
I finished strapping my heel on, then stood. “I’m ready.”
She clasped my hand in her own, and we walked downstairs and into the garage. As we approached her car, I lagged a little. “I’m driving.”
Delilah stopped in her tracks and turned to me. “No, you aren’t. I let you drive earlier since you were relinquishing control of the purchases, and to help transition you at a comfortable place, darling. But now, I’m driving. And unless there’s an emergency, or I send you out to get something, I will be the driver.”
The familiar niggles of panic twisted my insides and I shook my head. “I’m not sure I can do this. I already have enough trouble letting my sister drive, and I know, love, and trust her. I can’t do this.”
“You can,” Delilah said, her tone soothing. “I’m going to help get you through it. Consider this your first hard lesson in surrendering.”
“What? Being kidnapped doesn’t count,” I snapped.
One of her eyebrows arched at me as she regarded me. “No. That wasn’t a willing surrender. And the clothes shopping doesn’t count either as you weren’t surrendering your body, just control of minor things that affect you. This will be a good task for you. You’ll be entrusting yourself into my care.”
“I don’t want to,” I grumbled, pulling out of her grasp and crossing my arms.
“I know. And that’s exactly why you’re going to.” She pulled the keys off the hanger and pressed the unlock button on her black SUV.”
A thought occurred to me and I eyed the vehicle for a moment. “That’s not what I was brought here in. It sits too high.”
“No, it wasn’t. My...accomplices used their car,” she admitted.
“Not going to tell me who?” Curiosity rose in me, but I refused to let it show. I wasn’t going to beg for something that trivial. If Brandi knew about the whole thing, and I had a feeling she did, I’d be able to get the names out of her in due time.
“Sworn to secrecy.” Delilah smiled and turned away, then walked into the SUV and got in.
She slammed the SUV door and it reverberated through the garage like a gun shot. My stomach pitched instantly as I realized there was no getting out of this. When she’d allowed me to drive earlier, I’d celebrated inside. I’d thought I’d won the issue forever and this wouldn’t come up again. Being her chauffeur would easily go on my list of accepted duties if it meant I drove.
The vehicle started up and I inwardly damned her passive aggression. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think she’d taken pointers from my sister. God only knew active aggression simply inspired me to be more stubborn. But passive aggressive combat made me cave. Usually because the only way to get what I wanted would involve a public scene, and that scared me more than caving.
I closed the distance to the passenger door at a snail’s pace, cursing every step of the way under my breath. When I pulled the door open, the same techno instrumental music from earlier encompassed me, and somehow the sound quieted the storm raging inside. Maybe I can do this.
Feeling a little calmer, I climbed into the seat and buckled up. Delilah clicked the garage door opener and I watched as the metal door slid up the frame to allow us out. As each second passed, I grew more relaxed.
She shifted into reverse and began to ease out.
Nope! I can’t do this.
I clutched the arm rest on the interior of the door and sucked in a breath. The vehicle immediately stopped. Delilah rested a hand on my thigh, and I managed to turn my head to look at her.
“It’s going to be okay. I’m not going to hurt you. And I swear, as your Domme, I will never let anyone else hurt you. Do you understand me?”
I nodded but maintained a grip on the handle.
“Do you understand me, little tigress?”
“Y-yes,” I mumbled.
“Yes...” Her expression turned expectant.
I mentally flailed, uncertain what she wanted. When it finally clicked, I said, “Yes, Mistress.”
My body began to relax and I lessened my grip. Her hand remained on my thigh, and she began brushing her thumb back and forth. The sensation pleased and soothed me. When she eased off the brake and backed up again, I stiffened only slightly, but no where near to the degree I had earlier.
She drove under the speed limit the entire way to the club. I knew it was for my benefit. Delilah seemed so full of life that it was easy to imagine her behind the wheel of something sportier than the lumbering SUV she drove.
Certainly something faster. But nothing like that existed in her garage. I wondered if perhaps she had another vehicle stashed somewhere else. Like in vacation home somewhere. A person like her would certainly vacation somewhere vibrant and exotic. Like Mexico, or the Bahamas.
“Paige, we’re here.” Her voice broke my reverie and I realized with a start that I’d zoned out thinking about her. I’d become so lost in my thoughts, in fact, that I’d released my grip on the door. Her thumb continued to brush the top of my thigh, though.
“Are you ready to go in?” she asked. “I can’t promise that Bryce and your ex won’t be in there. But I can promise I’ll stay by your side all night, and I won’t let them trouble you. Can you be brave and come in with me?”
The amount of attention she showed when considering my emotions caused unexpected tears to well in my eyes. Only my parents and my sister had ever expressed this much interest in my emotional well-being.
“As long as I am with you, I will be okay,” I said. To my surprise, I believed it.
Chapter twelve
A DJ played music on the stage and couples danced to the music. Except for their state of dress, the patrons at The Black Cuff looked like any other dance club tonight. Most of them wore normal clubbing style clothing, but some were dressed in BDSM wear like tight leather and lots of chains. It almost seemed goth. I felt really out of place in my bright red dress.
“Paige!” Brandi appeared beside me and caught me up in a tight hug. “You look lovely. Did Mistress Delilah make that for you?”
“No.” As she stepped back I smoothed a hand down my skirt. “She bought it for me earlier today.”
Brandi shot Delilah a big smile. “You have excellent tastes, Mistress. I’ve been trying to get her to wear red for years. How you got a dress on her is beyond me, though.”
My Mistress gave her a conspiratorial wink. “I have my ways.”
“I’d better get back to the bar. Amy is about to go on break.” She gave us a little wave, then headed that way.
“So, what are we doing, Mistress? I’m used to only being here because I’m working. I don’t have the slightest as to what I’m supposed to do as a patron.” I smoothed my hands over my thighs to check my dress was still in place again and realized it was fast becoming a nervous habit.
Delilah glanced around before responding. “For now, would you please get us something to drink? Something non -alcoholic,” she stressed. “I’ll take a water with lemon.”
“Why did you ask politely?” I frowned at her. “If I’m your sub, isn’t it all, ‘your wish is my command’?”
The laugh she issued caused my face to heat in embarrassment. “That’s such a common mistake. You aren’t inferior. Unless that’s the scene we’re in by mutual consent, there is no reason to treat you like an inferior. Think of it as a pet. Have you ever had a pet?”
At my silent nod she continued. “You didn’t treat your pet like an object that had no emotions and was meant to be bullied, did you? You treated it with love and respect and command. And your pet served you out of love and respect. It was your job to protect and care for them. It was theirs to do as you asked. The Dom and sub bond are similar.”
“Oh...” I mulled it over for a moment as more of the lifestyle clicked in to place.
“There are some who will abuse it, like any other relationship. Just like animal abusers, there are some who will use the relationship to degrade, beat, and belittle. Those are not true practitioners, and you’ll soon find we don’t have any tolerance for those in the lifestyle.”
“I see.” I did and yet I didn’t. It would still take some time to wrap my head around everything I was learning about this world. “I’ll go get our drinks, Mistress.”
As I made my way to the bar, a familiar laugh sounded nearby. I cringed on the inside and glanced to my left. Sure enough, there stood Teresa, hanging all over another woman. She cupped the unknown woman’s breast, and I wanted to throw up on the spot.
When I returned my attention to the bar, Brandi leaned against the counter from the inside. Her attention seemed fixated upon them as well.
“So much for belonging to Bryce,” I said, keeping my voice low enough for only her to hear. “I guess Teresa isn’t able to last with anyone. Glad to know it wasn’t just me.”
My sister frowned. “I wouldn’t be so sure. Watch.”
Within moments, the man himself emerged from the crowd and his body language screamed barely-controlled aggression. I couldn’t hear his words over the music, but they were clearly angry ones. Teresa faced him for a moment, her face a mask of distaste. He reached for her then, but instead of grabbing her as I expected, he began unclasping the collar around her neck. Her features changed instantly, and she jerked back. Her eyes were pleading, and she laid a hand on his chest as she spoke.
Bryce froze, glaring down at her, his lips pursed. The woman Teresa flirted with backed off, her own eyes wide as she warily regarded them. Likely she was waiting for the fight to be turned on her. Bryce finally grabbed Teresa by the arm and, with a forceful tug, led her straight out the door of the club.
I released my breath in a slow, long exhale. “What the hell just happened?”
“Looks to me like he threatened to uncollar her ass, and she realized that meant no more free ride. She’s been gloating to anyone who’ll listen how she has free rein on his accounts and he’s rich. Like I told her, though...nothing comes without some kind of price. In this case, it looks like her Master expects total obedience and fidelity.” Brandi shrugged. “Can I get you anything?”
I attempted to center my thoughts back on my task and tried not to feel sorry for Teresa. She’d gotten herself into the mess. It wasn’t my job to pull her out of it, no matter how much I owed her for giving me my life back. I don’t owe her anymore. I’ve repaid that debt tenfold . No matter how many times I’d told myself that lately, a small part of me insisted I remained in her debt.
“Could I get a water with lemon and...” I chewed my lip as I debated ordering a doctored soda. Delilah didn’t have to know. If I told her it was soda, it wouldn’t be a complete lie. Then I realized my sister was the one taking an order, and if I dared even look at the alcohol with interest, she’d rip me a new one and make a scene. “A soda for me, please.”
“My pleasure!” She grabbed a bottle of water from the mini-fridge and a can of soda, then set them on the bar. “Do you want glasses for both? Or do you want to drink straight from the can.”
“I don’t mind drinking from the can.”
She nodded and scooped some ice into a cup, then opened the water and poured it in. Once finished, Brandi added a lemon into the water, and another one on the edge with a little flourish. “For kicks, sometimes I put a tiny umbrella on it. She always orders water with lemon.”
I went to grab my wallet and realized I wasn’t wearing pants. “Shit!”
My sister waved it off with a laugh. “Mistress Delilah has a running tab here that she pays monthly. No worries.”
“Speaking of...” I leaned in closer so I could talk without any risk of being overheard. “Can I ask you a couple of things?”
She arched an eyebrow at me. “Depends on what they are. But shoot.”
I nodded. That was the response I expected from her. “Delilah says she repaid the money she owed Kyle already. And helped by investing some money into another club and this one? Why would she do that?”
“Master asked her to become business partners with him. She’s super smart with money and knows the stock markets like the back of her hand.”
“I see. Next question. Who helped kidna—”
“Uh uh!” My sister held up a hand, effectively cutting me off. “I’ve been sworn to secrecy under threat of no sex for a week if I tell. I love you, Paige, but your curiosity is not worth a week of torture for me.”
Laughter bubbled from me at her statement. “Okay fine,” I grumbled good naturedly. “I guess I better get back to Delil—Mistress.”
I picked up the drinks and made my way back to her. She stood talking to Heath. Their conversation must have been something she cared about. Her hands motioned as she talked animatedly and punctuated things with a broad smile. As I stopped beside her, she spared me a glance and her eyes sparkled.
“Ah, Paige. Welcome back. I’m sure you’ve met Master Heath.”
“Hello again, sir,” I mumbled, suddenly shy as I remembered the scene I’d watched him in with his sub the other night. My hand shook slightly as I offered Delilah her drink. She took it with a subtle wink. Probably her way of trying to set me at ease.
“Good evening, Paige.” He offered me a slight bow that looked straight from a Victorian movie.
“As I was saying, I think Kyle would whole-heartedly endorse the idea of doing a themed party to open the doors to the new club. That’s quite a brilliant idea, Heath. Did you have any thoughts on a potential theme yet?” she asked.
He frowned and shook his head. “I’d like a costumed party, but I think doing another masquerade so soon after the big Christmas party will just be overdoing it. It’ll be boring. I was hoping you would have an idea.”
For the first time ever since meeting her, I watched as Delilah tripped over herself. “Well...I...” she sputtered. “I’m not quite sure. I’m ashamed to admit that while I might be a skilled designer and seamstress, inventing things that draw public interest aren’t my forte. Once you tell me the theme, I can roll out a whole line of custom costumes for it, though.”
My mind whirled as I processed the whole situation. I hated seeing her in distress like this. Even though she was laughing explaining it off, something in me knew it made her uncomfortable to admit a short-coming like that. I let my gaze wander across the club as I worked overtime in public relations mode.
“Excuse me, Mistress. If I may? I think I have a possible idea to offer.”
They both turned to me and I faltered. I hated being in the limelight. I looked at Delilah and she gave me a gentle smile, urging me on.
The Abduction Agreement (Mistress May I Book 1) Page 10