Worth The Wait: A Nature Of Desire Series Novel (31 page)

She thought of the day in the orchid garden, when Des had held her wrist in that peculiar grip. The light in his eyes, the energy gathering around them both as she found the edge of pleasure and pain.

“You are evil and will be destroyed. I’ll see you soon.”

She heard more chuckling as she cut the line. But it made her think. She guessed she was a newbie sub. She’d been doing a lot of follow-the-leader—or follow-the-Dom—on this. While that was instinctive to both sides of the relationship, she hadn’t, until now, had her feet under her enough to start exploring the boundaries of that world as it meshed with her own way of doing things.

Uncoding her phone once more, she decided not to think too much about what she was about to do. She didn’t want to worry that he might misinterpret it, or worse, consider it a foolish lead in. Des had said he didn’t really care about the more formal Dom/sub rituals, while at the same time proving he could answer those desires for her in a different, entirely satisfying way. Was that because they were so unexpectedly compatible as Dom and sub, or had he recognized that a sub’s fantasies could look different in reality?

She typed her text quickly.
Thanks for arranging for Logan to escort me. Second best Master I know to take a girl to a party. Hope the first best won’t be too late. What would you like me to wear?
She almost typed “No wrong answer”, but that was a way to protect herself, something he’d warned her about. Pocketing the phone, she went back to what she was doing. If he was on a job, it might be an hour before he saw it.

Sure enough, forty-five minutes later, when her meet with the house manager was over and the woman was on her way back to her secretarial day job, the phone chirped.

Something that makes you as hot and bothered when you’re wearing it as when I have my mouth between your legs. Something that tells me you want me to do whatever I want to do to you that night.

And people thought
driving
while texting was dangerous. Hell, she shouldn’t be standing when reading his. She refused to be worried by his meaning. He wouldn’t do anything with her in front of a bunch of people that she wouldn’t feel comfortable doing. Of course, if he did certain things to her, she’d forget they were even there. She wasn’t sure if that was a bad thing.

She punched in the autodial for Naughty Bits. Could she afford to end her work day a couple hours earlier tomorrow? Yes, she could. She worked 24/7. She’d attend one of her internal workaholic support meetings and make it happen without too much guilt.

Madison was ringing up a customer. She bid them good-bye and “have a wonderful day” before she greeted Julie. They’d talked so much these past few weeks, Julie anticipated it, waiting with a lightly tapping foot. As she looked up, she noted one of the lights on stage appeared to be sagging and made a note to bring it to Harris’s attention for the techs.

“Hey, girlfriend.” Madison came on the line. “Excited about tomorrow?”

“Your husband was picking on me. You need to keep that man’s pheromones in check. Or bottle them to make yourself a millionaire.”

“Believe me, I know. But he’s been invaluable at increasing our ticket sales. I think he’s persuaded every female patron in his hardware store to invite their garden clubs to
Consent
.”

“He told them Troy would be out front, handing out programs in a really tiny Speedo, didn’t he?”

“No, he didn’t. But maybe we should talk to Shale about that.” Madison snickered. “Okay, I have a couple more customers coming in. Tell me what you need.”

“I need a personal shopper. I’m going to be like Cinderella today and tomorrow, running up to the wire, but here’s what I’m looking for. I’m hoping you might have it.” She rattled off the specs and grinned at Madison’s squeal.

“I have
just
the thing. You are going to look so fabulous. Oh my God, I’ll give you the best customer discount. Or you could wear it for free and return it next day.” She paused. “No, nix that. We’ll call it a bonus to your already exorbitant salary.”

“I can give it back to you. That’s not a problem.”

“Nope. If he reacts to it the way I bet he will, it will be in tatters. I promise.”

The image expanded the ball of lust in her stomach. “You’re so demented.”

“Which is why you love me. Come over as early as you can manage tomorrow and we’ll get you gorgeous. I haven’t played dress up with another girl since Alice died.” Madison’s voice softened as she recalled her sister, the former proprietress of Naughty Bits.

“I’ll probably look like Cinderella coming straight from the ashbin, since I’m going to clean out that last classroom so we can start storing things there for Lila’s show. You’ll have your work cut out for you.”

“Isn’t a managing director supposed to delegate, direct, represent and stay pristine and professional?”

“Yes, that’s what a Broadway theater manager does. The manager of a community theater being built from scratch with a volunteer staff is a whole different ball of wax. I seem to recall the owner down here more than once these past few weeks getting herself covered in paint and sawdust.”

“It’s more fun that way, isn’t it? When it succeeds, it will mean all the more.”

“From your mouth to God’s ear.” And Julie meant it. Succeeding was a matter of professional pride, but with a good friend involved, she wanted to see this theater thrive as much for Madison as for her own sense of satisfaction. “See you soon.”

* * *

S
he’d escaped
the theater and arrived at Madison’s all of ninety minutes before they had to leave for the party, but Madison was a miracle worker. She put Julie into a hot, soaking shower, to relax her muscles and do a “paradigm shift”, as Madison called it. Sitting her down at the vanity afterward, Madison dried her long hair with a soft towel and did her makeup, chatting with her as if they had all the time in the world. Madison wore a thin robe and had already done her hair and makeup, assuring Julie that all she had left to do was slip on her dress and shoes.

After she did a light blow-dry of Julie’s hair and had the curling iron plugged in, Madison showed Julie the outfit and accessories she’d found for her.

“You are the best of personal shoppers,” Julie said fervently.

“You made it easy. You chose perfectly for your body type. I can’t wait for Des to see you.” Madison winked. “It’s fun to knock them off balance.”

Ninety-two minutes later, they were ready to go. At the sight of both women, Logan put a hand over his heart and staggered, a gratifying response, and then he whisked them into the car and they were on their way.

The dance hall rented for the party had been an old 1920s theater, restored to keep that look for event bookings. Whoever tonight’s host was in the BDSM community had deep pockets. Though the party was invitation-only, a nominal cover charge was all that was required from each participant.

Madison had loaned Julie a pair of teetering heels with provocative ankle straps studded with silver eyelets. Fortunately, she knew how to walk in them. The skill had come from her short stint on stage and teaching plenty of other actresses to do it, plus one actor who had to do a transvestite hooker scene.

As they crossed the parking lot and ascended the short set of steps to the entrance, Logan was drawing a lot of attention, and not merely because the man looked devastating.

With her and Madison displayed on his arms, Julie thought the three of them looked like a Bond film. Madison’s short red satin dress clung to her slim frame. She wore a black pearl choker and a pair of matching wrap bracelets. Julie had noticed they had a discreet pair of hooks she suspected could be latched to one another if her Master wanted her hands bound behind her back, or at her nape, since the same hook was at the back latch of the choker. Her red high heels had ribbon ties that went up her long legs to just below the knee.

“You look stunning,” Julie told her. “You both do.”

Logan wore a black suit with a crisp white shirt that made the most of his powerful upper body. A red silk tie coordinated him with his wife’s outfit. Julie could imagine Madison untying it at his command before her Master took it from her and used it to blindfold her.

Logan was taking them to the door, but Julie put a hand on his arm and drew the couple’s attention to her.

“If you two don’t mind, I’d like to wait for Des out here,” she said, pointing to a column that flanked the entrance. “By myself.”

Logan glanced toward the door. It was monitored by two classy-looking, Secret Service style bouncers, definitely security muscle.

“I’ll be fine,” Julie further assured him. “You said the party was by invitation, so everyone’s been vetted. I won’t be getting any rude overtures. And I live in New York, remember? I ride the subway and deal with cabbies.” She shot him an impish look. “I want my first impression of this shindig to be with him.”

She also wanted him to see she’d waited for him, another of those subtle cues, right?

Logan pulled out his phone and looked at the screen. “He’ll be here in about ten minutes.”

“So good. See? It all works out.” Julie kept her tone casual, though the news sent a little frisson of nerves through her. Both in anticipation of his arrival and from the psychological impact of his continuing direct communication with Logan. Dom to Dom, man to man, watching over the women. Terribly sexist, yes, but she didn’t deny in the current circumstances it had a not-unpleasant effect.

Logan pursed his lips and slid his arm around Madison, hand intimately molded over her hip. “We don’t mind staying with you until he gets here.”

“I know you don’t. I just…I’d really like him to see me, and me to see him, on my own. If that’s okay.”

She hoped they’d understand without her having to embarrass herself with more explanation. She liked dramatic entrances and exits, portentous meetings with the setting framed the right way. For this, she wanted only two people on the stage, so she could drink in everything about him without embarrassment. All this prep made her feel like Cinderella at the ball in truth.

At Madison’s weighted look, Logan relented. “All right. Just promise you’ll stay here, where the guys at the door can see you. It’s a nice place, but not the nicest area. Sometimes you New York types think you’re the only one with violent crime.”

“Hey, our muggers can kick your muggers’ asses. But since either one could kick my ass, this is where my ass will be staying.” She scooched up to the pillar and gave said booty a little shake, eliciting a chuckle from her companions.

“Do that little move when Des first sees you and we won’t see you again tonight.” Madison winked at Logan. “Don’t pretend you didn’t notice.”

“On the contrary. I’m going to take you inside and see if you’ll do the same move for me. Only I’m going to be that lucky column. Double entendre fully intended.”

Madison laughed and the two of them went inside, though Julie was amused to notice Logan stop by one of the doormen and point her out. Protective men could be so offensive and sexy at the same time.

Now that her escorts had gone inside, she could put her hand on her stomach and try to hold in the swirl of nerves happening in every area of her body. She was no stranger to embracing drama, but putting on this outfit wasn’t about her asserting her flamboyant personality. As such, when she’d looked at herself in the mirror, she’d almost retreated to her little black dress. Then she’d looked at his text again about what she should wear. She thought about it now, and what might happen when he arrived. Would he like what she’d chosen?

Adrenaline was keeping her toasty. She sent one of the bouncers a little wave as he looked in her direction and made eye contact. Madison had said everyone involved in events like this was usually part of the lifestyle, so Julie wondered if he was Dom, sub or switch. His formidable appearance made no difference; she’d learned that much.

The other couples, singles and groups she saw going into the building supported that. Bless a world where racy, barely disguised fetish fashion could pass as club wear. She kept herself occupied by guessing the Dom or sub orientation of the people approaching the door with their invitations. When she went inside, she’d find out if she was wrong or right.

Would the large male with a woman half his size be a sub who liked to kneel and kiss her stiletto clad feet? Would the threesome of two men and one woman tie her up in so many ways she’d be unable to move as they feasted on every part of her body? Protected sex was allowed at this party. Everyone would be what they most desired to be with one another. At least that was how she was picturing it. Maybe the reality would be even more fantastic than that.

She’d chosen her own part for tonight, embraced it for her own pleasure as much as the pleasure of her Dom. Remembering their first meet and the temporary tattoos on Des’s arms, as well as his fascination with her curves, she’d catered to those tastes and dressed accordingly.

She was a starlet. A lush, Hollywood starlet, unattainable except by one man. The man who made her knees weak. The one coming across the parking lot toward her.