by Savannah May
“Damn right you're gonna take care of it because here's what's going to happen. I'm setting up the pay off in a suitable location and you are going to take this guy out.”
“I'm sorry Sir, I'm afraid I don't understand.”
Of course I understood. Guys like this I'd been dealing with all my life, ordering me around, their extensive knowledge and influence put them in control of the whole fucking world.
“Don't fuck with me pretty boy. I know what you did before- you didn't think I'd put my pinky through the door here without thoroughly vetting you first. Now you broke my trust and I'm not happy. So now you're going to help me trust you all over again.”
“I'm no longer in that profession,” I told him, not leaning back from his intimidation tactics one inch. “It's been years since I left that behind.”
“So you're going to come out of retirement for one more starring role,” he said, his eyes bland and dead. I'd never noticed that before, unless that stone stare was another tactic.
“That won't be possible, but I guarantee I'll drill down on this and fix it.”
“No, that won't be possible, because there is only one way to fix this” he snarled as though I'd attempted to set up camp in his territory. “This character will be terminated by you at the drop on Wednesday. And if you refuse to regain my trust, I will take down this club and every new establishment you have planned. You're gonna see how fast your licenses and permits disappear as fast as they appear.”
He walked to the door and yanked it open on the scrimmage of bodyguards crowding the passage.
“Have your people call mine,” the Senator said, a smile of pure politics, as though we'd negotiated on any normal business deal.
Strike appeared at the door, waiting for my indication. The man could read my mind, every twitch of my finger.
“Problem. Solution.” I told him.
He'd know what that meant.
“But first bring me this one.”
My more pressing concern was to get Harlow out of the club where she was in way over her depth and I saw her fending off offers from interested patrons while she stood her ground trying to keep guard over her friend.
Harlow
“Lily no. That woman is not fooling around, believe me,” I told my friend who'd tossed back a couple of mezcal cocktails too fast and in her insecure state of feeling abandoned by the man she was falling for – well you know how that goes – It can throw you right off your game for weeks, even months. She had no idea what she was volunteering for.
“Put your hand down now, before she sees you,” I hissed.
“I know what I'm doing Harl, Aren't you the one always saying you're going to try absolutely everything, not just a thousand things before you die. I want to try this.”
“Oh jeezuz, Lil. This isn't like skydiving.”
“Feel free to stop acting like you're the mom and I'm the dumb kid anytime.”
“Zipping it right now. I'm totally here, got your back, no mom stuff,” I said.
Lily was so cool about the auction and what happened after, I absolutely adored her. She followed the steps required of her without fear and without going all celebrity-crush dopy about being stripped and trussed into a corset that covered only her stomach, leaving her breasts and um, lower half, bare.
You don't expect to ever see your best friend naked. Yeah, in a change room situation, coming out of the bathroom, whatever, a brief glimpse. But not ferociously strapped into what basically amounts to a wide belt with her, you know, erogenous parts all exposed.
My face lit up like Las Vegas every time I looked her way, making sure I kept my eyes lifted and not trailing down to her completely waxed pink slit that was glistening with her excitement for the unknown.
I wondered whether she planned to tell Ram about this and hoped she wasn't doing it just to get back at him for going to India to meet his future bride.
Chapter SEVEN
I followed discreetly, at a distance as Lily was led to an underground chamber by the usual pair of naked slaves.
These were two males with the bodies of a Michelangelo sculpture, smooth hairless skin, hard round butt cheeks and perfect slender cocks, not massively hung, not shriveled away. Just perfect all over, not surprising their pleasure was to proudly expose themselves to public view.
They entered an underground space, dimly lit with the spotlights directed at hanging objects making me think we'd entered some erotic secret art gallery.
Then my eyes almost bulged out on stalks. Lily simply smiled and breathed a single word.
“Beautiful.”
Beautiful? On closer inspection, the pods hanging from the ceiling were animate, men and women tied into elaborate rope knots like the macrame pot holders people sometimes sell on craft stalls at a county fair. Proof of exactly how unsophisticated I was, as there are obviously no macrame pot holders in New York. These were naked humans bound and tied into intricate webs of rope and dangling from the ceiling like bats in a cave.
Lily was presented to her winner, a man at least in his forties but not bad looking and with a well-developed body for his age. I could not believe how she handled herself, eyes cast down to the floor in a meek stance, ready to be of service with her body. Man, she must have read a book or seen the film because I was seriously impressed with how she was behaving like the perfect submissive pet.
I probably should not have been lurking around watching so intently, but this was my best friend and I was the one responsible for her being here. Stress pumped at my heart at the thought of Lil being thrashed with a multi-tailed whip.
There were recesses built into the walls, furnished with opulent day beds for lounging and watching the action. No one but me was puce with embarrassment at the spread of sexuality before us and I clambered awkwardly onto one of the couches and shifted around, trying to recline in the natural manner of everyone else but looking like a fidgety kid at a function.
The man who now possessed her for the night, smoothed his hands across her body, caressingly analytical as though measuring up and visualizing his creation. His naked assistant held swags of hemp rope and he carefully, with the intent calm focus of a monk, began to coil it around her body.
Lily shivered all the way down her legs but her face was suffused with arousal. She stood patiently, breathless from the rapid risings of her breasts, as he took all the time in the world looping the knot.
I shifted over to the edge of the bed to make room for the man that approached. It wasn't acceptable to act all bitchy at Illicit where all things were communal and available to anyone who asked. The other had the perfect right to refuse without rancor on either side, but there was none of the exclusion of the normal bar scene. Thinking about it, this was a much more relaxed way to meet people than that high-stress dating arena.
Aside from that affable ambiance, my companion was absolutely gorgeous, with hair so blonde it was almost white and glowing sea-blue eyes. He was probably in his early thirties at most and totally out of place in New York, so achingly sun-kissed golden he had no business leaving the beach.
His body was lithe, slender but obviously ripped to shreds from some sport – he should have been on the Olympic podium with a gold medal just for being so utterly heart-rending. I was dying to ask him outright what the hell he was doing there but that was not permitted, privacy all the way.
About the tenth time he caught me sneaking a peak, it was impossible to keep my eyes off him, they were dragged back no matter how much I forced them not to turn, he smiled a scandalous little grin. Oh my god, if I hadn't been so hacked up by Cole, my entire set of over-priced underwear would have melted in a puddle. Still- a girl can look.
“Do you know what they're doing?” I whispered and his smile grew wider.
“Yes. Do you?”
“Not a clue. Is it art, sculpture or-” my face colored like a traitor in a crowd. I could not utter the word sex to this demi god.
“It's shibari, bondage for pleasure. The J
apanese used it instead of cells centuries ago, but yeah, it's considered art by some, especially the niwashi.”
“Niwashi?”
“The one tying the knots. I studied for a while in Tokyo. It's incredibly difficult but oh so stimulating.”
The man should not be permitted to use words like stimulating that made my pussy start to throb.
“I love it when people have passions,” I said, flushing slightly, my cheeks hot.
What was wrong with me that I'd become so gawky around men since I'd discovered Cole and I were related? I seemed to have lost whatever poise and confidence I had and gone all geeky girly.
“Don't you have one?” the ravishing idol asked. “Passion?” His lips had the power to tantalize simply by saying a word.
“I don't know, not a real passion where you delve into it to the exclusion of all else although I love reading.” Cole had been the only thing I could really call a passion the last six years and that had gone as flat as a balloon after the party.
“Reading is great but for some things only actual experience elevates the senses.”
“Is that what this is about?”
He was prevented from answering by another beautiful perfect creature throwing herself into his lap.
“I thought you'd be down here.” She looked at me with interest and not a hint of envy. I'd noticed that underlying competitiveness between women was absent at Illicit.
“How was it?” he asked, stroking her cheek with a tenderness that said they were acquainted and she wasn't thrown at him by his outrageous beauty.
“Amazing. It sent orgasmic bolts to every pore. I just submitted to orgasm control by electronic insert,” she told me. “What's next? Are you in the mood for tying?”
“I'm always up for some kinbaku,” her consort replied.
They both looked at me, the third wheel on the love seat and I realized I'd been staring, probably with my mouth hanging open.
He was so totally gorgeous, his entire being was mesmerizing and now he had a twin. The girl was lithe and blonde and just as sublime, although somehow in a woman it was a little less spell-binding but together they were like shiny children of the gods and now they were staring at me with inquiry all over their stunningly faultless faces, waiting for a response to the unspoken invitation.
Me? I spoke the word but I'd been struck dumb in the presence of such perfection and my lips mouthed the word but no sound came out.
“I've been toying with the concept of immobilizing two women at the same time,” the captivating mouth said. “So they're forever bound together as well as fettered. It's been dominating every thought 'til I can think of nothing else. You two would fit together perfectly, like twins in the uterus.”
“Say you want to,” his perfect partner said.
“Oh no, I couldn't. I'm not-” My brain kicked in before my mouth made another blooper like when I'd antagonized Rowan. I didn't want to insult these two for inviting me to play, or have them think I had a stick up my ass, specially when it felt so damn good to be wanted. “- very adventurous.”
“Then this would be perfect to bring out your wanton spirit,” the girl cajoled perfectly, no pressure.
Was it fear welling up inside me? I hadn't made any connection between the subjugation of numerous women down here to my own imprisonment in the basement of my childhood home but there was a definite churn going on inside me.
“I-oh I don't know.” And I really didn't. It wasn't that I was being my usual please everyone self and couldn't stand up to her gentle persuasion.
The truth was I was mega turned on in the shibari cave. Watching Lil being transported to a blissful state like she'd been in fifteen consecutive yoga classes made me first curious, then incited to take my turn.
All the women held prisoner by the rope bondage had the same look of euphoria and observing the delight derived from capture mixed with blatant nakedness was thrilling. I couldn't ignore how my body was responding with pulses of need emanating rhythmically from the aching chasm between my thighs.
All my desire had been repressed since that vile night with Michael, as though all sexual activity was disgusting after his filthy touch. I'd pushed Cole away although I wanted him more than life itself because I could not separate that one event from every sensual longing.
Now I had a deep urge to play with these two otherworldly creatures. I wanted to join with the beautiful passion and be part of his creation. For some reason, not that I liked women in that way, at least I hoped not, but I found the idea of being bound up with the other girl enticing.
Wasn't Illicit all about exploring these kinds of impulses? Being exposed to new sides of your passion, trying out inclinations with others in a luxurious warm environment? I wanted to test my limits. Finally I was ready to let go and open myself up, not be so shut down my my prejudice. I would surrender to the rousing spark and give up my resistance to the extraordinary.
“Would you come with me Harlow, you're needed in the office.”
I was blasted out of my conviction by Strike, standing beside me like a sentry with a face that said this was not a request.
“Can it wait?” I said. “I'd like to finish watching this performance.”
Strike said nothing, merely looked at me with the look of unbendable steel.
“It was nice to meet you.” I reached out to shake hands with my companions, genuinely sorry that the offer was interrupted by my intrusive big brother.
“And you, Harlow. I'm Cruz and this is Kennedy. See you around,” the beguiling blonde said and turned back to the niwashi working with total attention on my best friend.
Both Lil's legs were now strapped with rope around her folded knees and were being attached to an intricate weave in progress around her bare breasts. As I walked away, livid at being ordered around by Cole, her master expertly tugged his web of knots and her naked breasts bulged between the tightened rope.
She refused to meet my eye, or maybe she was no longer remotely aware of anything outside their play. Was it play or was it art? I had no idea but I followed Strike with irritation building. What was so important that I had to be dragged up to see Cole right now when later at home would surely do?
“What the fuck do you think you're doing?” Cole let rip on me as soon as I entered his office.
“I'm playing at my brother's club. You gave me an entry card remember?”
“Yeah I do and I think I'll take it back if you're going to act like such a fool.”
“I'm a fool because I'm curious about where my stepbrother works all night?”
“That isn’t it and you know it. You want to eyeball all the weird sex scenes, get some vicarious kink and still pretend you're a good girl, admit it.
“So what if I do? There are plenty of people out there being voyeurs why not me?”
“Those voyeurs are participants, they aren't here for a show.”
“Neither am I.”
“This is serious business Harlow, it's not a game where you bring your little friends along to drink pink cocktails and play at being tied up for the evening. These are serious players in more ways than one.”
“So I can't bring a friend as my guest at my brother's club?”
Cole cringed every time I used the familial term.
“Someone who'll give me moral support? You'd rather I was here alone so anyone could have their way with me?”
His face collapsed at that, the anger crumbling away and I felt bad that I dealt him another low blow.
“Yeah. You can bring anyone you want,” he said, calmer now. “Just choose your 'friends' carefully. People can be beautiful on the outside with a less than wholesome core.”
“You really think I'm still a teenager don't you? Is that what this is about? Are you all freaked out because I was being propositioned by another man and was thinking about accepting the chance to experience this lifestyle you guys are always harping on about?”
Cole's jaw flexed iron then, his fingers started to curl i
nto tight fists as the anger exploded inside him again.
“I'm a man not a savior. If you're gonna fuck around with this prissy stepsister shit, acting the little girl and playing the push and pull chase me chase me game, you're gonna be playing it with someone else because this world is fucked up and those living in it need to develop some fucking honesty.
“And you don’t care who you hurt with your honesty?
“Of course I fucking care. I just think it hurts more when people don't tell the truth and aren't honest about their feelings. Because you can't hide the truth. Try too hard and it comes out sideways”
“I was only trying to understand your world.”
If only he could see how much I longed for him to pull me to him and crush me against him. It was only him I'd ever want, anyone else was a substitute that would never ease the real hunger that ground my lower body relentlessly.
“If you're curious I'll be the one to show you how the sub dom world works. You can try it out at home then at least I'll know you're safe.”
“Yeah, don't you think that's kinda creepy- for a brother to show his little sister around his bondage equipment?” I couldn't help it, the need to deflect the excitement soaring through my chest at his suggestion made me snarky.
“No because I think it's a little late for us to be wondering about what's creepy. And I'll tell you again, if you want to know about punishment, just let me know.”
“You've already taken over management of my entire life perhaps I wanted to discover some things for myself.
“If you're so fascinated by Illicit why did you refuse Rowan's offer of a job?”
So she'd already told him everything, no doubt it had been embellished to make her look good for him.
“I- because I-
“Yeah?”
“I don't think I've got the brazen personality.”
“You wouldn't be required to come to work in dominatrix rubber. It's just clerical office management same as any of the fortune 500s you think you wanna work for.”
