“Very funny,” Eve said, she hummed along with Edith.
“Just putting a little of your humor into the proposal, but with a bit of seriousness too.”
“’Because my life, because my joys, today that beings with you,’” she paused in translating the last of Piaf’s lyrics, “I feel that way…maybe.”
“I’m glad I’ve found you. You’re the total package, and that isn’t easy to find. Beautiful. Intelligent. Lustful.” He gave a little laugh and tugged her chin. “You’re my rare little bird.” He stroked her hair, but she could see he was distracted with the larger issue. “Well, what do you think?”
She felt a gnawing sense of embarrassment and the first twinges of professional responsibility since she’d begun this affair. This was her job, and she had become enmeshed in deep sex games with a client. “This is….different. I’m not sure.” Eve twisted the belt this way and that, sorting out how to be a woman on a daily basis in the device. “It looks doable at least.”
“Well, you need to be sure. This is your choice besides just the belt...it’s the choice of this type of life. Once you start down this road, opening yourself like this to everything life can possibly offer a woman like you, you probably won’t want to go back. Try it for a week if you want.” Matt held the key up to his lips, “Only I hold the key. One week. But if you don’t like it, we stop immediately, okay? It’s off when you come home to me from work, but on whenever you leave my studio. Same goes for the rest. It’s just you and me this week.”
Eve took a deep breath. Her life so far had been anti-climactic at best. Loser boyfriends with pathetic excuses as to their faithlessness and their obsession with women they were never going to have. Her love life had been lacking for years. Her trysts while she was single were the only things that had given her any pleasure, but they were never going to become more than hook-ups. Not exactly a lot to write home about, not that she could write home about this exactly.
“What are you thinking?” Matt interjected. Eve tapped her fingers on her lips, trying to process a million possibilities, a million future possible courses to take. She had to be honest with herself. She’d struggle into middle management at best only to be replaced in another ten years maximum by a younger, cheaper version of herself fresh out of school. Eve decided she should definitely try new things with new people and change the course of her life for good if possible.
“Why not? I’ll try it.” She fit the belt back into the box. It was only a week; it wasn’t a lifetime. She was always so grandiose, she analyzed. This certainly wasn’t for forever. “We’ll start tomorrow, when I go to work.”
“Okay, whatever you say. But I want you here tonight.” He ran his fingers from her shoulders, down over her breasts, and squeezed her waist. “Very exciting, don’t you think?”
She smiled slyly as she ran her hands down over his hard cock. “You dress left, I see. Excited already...what are we going to do with you?”
“I have an idea.” He hiked up her skirt and laid her down on the stairs to the second floor. He quickly unzipped his jeans, “Waiting for this?” He spread her legs apart and entered her roughly. She responded to him, grinding against him, as he looked deep into her eyes. “Get ready for a new life, Eve.”
“Mmmmmore,” she whispered. She felt herself drift away and her eyes roll back in her head. Her fingernails dug into his shoulders, as she wrapped her legs around his waist. He cradled her head in his hands, and ran his thumb over her lips. He pumped her faster and the stairway trembled with his weight pressing against her. Eve moaned loudly as he roughly pushed up her shirt and sucked on her nipples.
He laughed gently before he grabbed her hips and rammed his cock into her faster and faster, “You can take it all now, can’t you?” he whispered.
She cried out tired of trying to keep herself under control. He came inside of her, and she felt the rest of the world melt away.
* * * *
It had been a record Sunday in her book. She usually spent them in sweats and a ponytail, showering if forced. Feeling the straps around her waist Monday morning, she couldn’t believe she had agreed, and so easily. Back at work, she flushed pink when she walked through the automated glass doors into the office. She felt like everyone could see it, but no one said anything. She calmly walked to the lunchroom and deposited her lunch, somehow managed to make small talk with the receptionist, and snuck back to her desk afraid of being found out.
“So, good weekend?” Jen peeked over the cubicle wall. They’d been keeping a distance from each other, but Eve was growing tired of it. She decided to ditch the judgment and just go with it; she suddenly had way bigger things on her plate to think about.
“Umm, yeah, yeah, good how about you?”
“You know,” Jen leaned down and whispered, “I stopped. I know it was wrong. It was just stupid.”
“It’s okay. Whatever you do is okay. It’s your life, alright. You just have to make decisions eventually about what you want, but really, we don’t need to talk about it. It’s private, and that’s okay. It’s good to have at least one ally in this office, don’t you think?”
“Yes, yes, definitely.” Jen breathed a little sigh and relaxed her shoulders.
“Really it’s all fine. So, I’m really swamped. Could you take some of these invoices off my plate today?”
“Sure no problem.” Jen staggered away with more invoices than she bargained for, and Eve had her first moment of relief since Jen’s office affair had begun. As she talked to Jen, she completely forgot that she even had the belt on. She ran her fingers over the leather around her waist, hugging her comfortably, and the steel strong between her thighs like Matt was last night.
“Daydreaming again?” Geoff popped into her cubicle unannounced as usual.
“Just going over what I need to do this week and wrap up after the show on Friday.”
“It went well. I just received a call from Mr. Chapman. He was very pleased, and very pleased with you. He asked that you accompany him on a trip in a few months to Europe. I assured him we would get our New York branch to send someone with him, but he was very insistent. Any idea why?”
“No, no idea. We sold every piece, maybe that’s it?” Eve offered, but she knew that wasn’t the reason.
“Hmm. Well, no idea what he sees in you, but he sees something. You’re going.” Geoff walked off before Eve could reply.
“Thanks a lot,” Eve returned under her breath. Another “Smyth attack” had been dumped all over her. His withering stares and nasty verbal assaults were growing very, very old. He felt he could abuse anyone, and had no idea how to really lead an office let alone a company. Anyone that could get out of the firm did and did it quickly. She was wondering if a change was in store for her, but to where? It wasn’t a friendly job market out there, but she didn’t feel she had to take anymore abuse from him now. What had changed in her? Was it Matt? The belt? Simply moving on from Brad the ‘already-married’ idiot? Whatever it was, she liked it.
* * * *
“A Mr. Chapman is on the line for you,” the receptionist smoothly delivered.
“Please send him through.” Eve pressed her lips together and attempted to suppress a smile.
“Vasectomy,” Matt said.
“What?” Eve’s mind whirled. “I, uh, what?”
“I’ve had one. In case you were having any regrets.”
“Oh, I hadn’t even thought of that.” Eve’s hand found its way to her forehead. “I mean, usually—”
“You don’t need to say anymore. How are you?”
“Well, fine, aside from the usual bullshit,” Eve said.
“That’s good. How is your... new item doing?”
“It’s okay... your second reason for calling. I’m catching on.” Eve turned the color of her crimson blouse. “We’re doing fine. Interesting though.”
“Do tell.”
“Yeah, not here.”
“Later?”
“Okay, I can do that.”
/>
“I’m having friends over for dinner. They’d like to meet you.”
“Wow, alright. Yeah, that would be nice.”
“Drinks are around 7:30. Can you make it by then?”
“Definitely.”
“The afternoon courier will bring you something I just picked up for you. I’d love if you’d wear it tonight.”
“Well, we’ll see what it is first.” Eve’s mind began racing with possibilities. Anything see-through was getting a veto. She hadn’t completely changed overnight at least.
“You’ll be pleased...at least that’s what they told me at Saks anyway. See you at 7:30.”
As usual, he hung up first. She was growing used to it, and it was nice in a way. No dithering ‘good bye’s’ or ‘bye bye’... very assured and rather honest.
* * * *
“You must be Evelyn,” said the chestnut-haired gentleman answering Matt’s door.
“Yes, I am, and you are…?”
“I’m Matt’s friend for many years. Come in. We’re all just starting.”
Eve was surprised a man in his early forties answered the door, but she supposed with artists’ that their circles were wider than hers made of assorted old college friends, young colleagues, neighbors, and bartenders. Matt had hired a chef who looked to be mid-way through something that smelled amazing and exotic.
“Lemongrass?”
“Maybe,” he teased, “come upstairs for a second.” They passed over the stairs where they had passionately clung to each other last night. Seeing the steps sent a chill up her body. “I want you to be comfortable during dinner.” He motioned for her to lift her dress, as he produced a gold key. He knelt in front of her and released her from the belt. He playfully nipped at her stomach, and she batted him away.
“I like the dress,” she said.
“It’s azure like the gulf of Mexico. I need to take you there, so you can see the water. There’s no color like it, really. Sometimes it’s a blue-green too. Have you been?”
“No, I’d love to go though.”
“Maybe this weekend? Do you have to work?”
“No. I’ll have to go back to my apartment to pack though.”
“Of course, whatever you need. Let’s rejoin our guests... after you.” He led her back down the stairs to the rest of the party. Three men were there as guests. One introduced himself as Gabriel and the other as Henri. The chestnut-haired man remained silent.
“So, Henri, Evelyn, or Eve as she likes to be called, yes?” Matt looked at her for approval.
“Yes, of course.” Eve squeezed his hand and returned to her drink.
“Eve likes Edith Piaf, so I thought you might like to serenade her.” Eve shot a panicked look over to Matt. Serenade? She wasn’t one to like being the center of attention. “I insist. Let’s all sit on the couches together that will put Henri on stage so to speak.” Matt guided her over to a luxurious ivory couch upholstered in fine linen. Henri launched into ‘Ma vie en rose,” and the group burst into applause when he finished.
“Henri is actually an opera star, but he loves the French torch singers,” Matt added as he stood to applaud and shake Henri’s hand. “Thank you for that.”
“That was absolutely incredible!” Eve stood up to applaud, but was flustered with the attention.
“Okay, so to continue with the entertainment this evening, Gabriel plays flamenco guitar, even though he’s a very mild mannered hotel owner by day. Come on up, Gabriel.” Matt smiled and shook Gabriel’s hand. Gabriel grabbed his guitar, and Eve settled into Matt’s arms. His serenade moved the group, and everyone’s eyes shone with memories of past affairs and current loves as the guitar surged through its chords. Eve’s heart beat faster. She wondered how she could have happened upon this secret paradise. Gabriel finished with a flourish, and Matt was the first up applauding and refilling drinks.
“Dinner is served everyone.” Matt’s chef motioned for everyone to move to the dining table. The chef laid out an exquisite Thai meal in several courses, but it was available to all the guests in whatever portions they chose and whenever they wanted them, which Eve thought was a good approach.
“I’m absolutely stuffed; I didn’t have lunch today, and I think I had a little too much wine...” she leaned over to Matt, “thank you.”
“It’s nothing. Having a good time?”
“Yes, a wonderful time.”
Matt picked up his knife and brought it delicately to his wine glass to bring the guests to attention. “Everyone, Eve has been a huge part of my success here in D.C. I’m so glad I’ve come to the nation’s capital that I’ve decided to keep my studio here permanently.” Everyone applauded and the chestnut-haired man giving him a wolf whistle. “Eve, join me over in my workspace in the studio please. Everyone else too.” Matt guided them towards a large sculpture that Eve hadn’t noticed yet.
“This is for you Eve. I’d like to bring it down to my house in Florida on the gulf. Would you like to unveil it?”
“Of course, someone… drumroll please?” Eve gave a tug to the sheet covering the piece and revealed a striking bronze sun. “How did I never see this? When did you do this?”
“Oh, it’s a piece just for me and now for you. We’ve only known each other a short time, but you’ve brought me great pleasure. So, I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I do.”
Eve instinctively wanted to hide from such a statement, but she was surprised to find her holding Matt’s hands and looking straight into his eyes.
“To the happy couple,” the chestnut-haired man said. Everyone joined in as Matt and Eve picked up their glasses and clinked them thanking each other for a lovely evening.
Matt walked the man to the door. The man positioned his back to the group and leaned in to Matt, “You have to tell her soon, you know. You shouldn’t lead her on this intensely without disclosing. Henri and Gabriel agree. We all like her. Go on, invite her. Make yourself happy.”
“I’m not sure she’ll say yes. She doesn’t have a background like that,” Matt said. He rubbed his hand up and down the back of his neck. “I wanted to talk to you about the group. I think I may want to take a break, or maybe resign my membership.”
“You can’t turn back now. End of the week. I think Gabriel and Henri would be good. They are gentle, as is she.” The man clapped Matt on the shoulder. “I know it’s your first time bringing in someone new yourself. Don’t worry; you’ve done well. I think she will be very pleased. Give her a bit of time afterwards, but it has to be this week. No longer. Say good night to everyone for me. Oh, and remember, there’s only one way out of our group. So I would reconsider.”
The handsome chestnut-haired man left, as Eve walked over to Matt, “Everything okay?”
“Of course. How about I give you a few days on your own?”
“You’re not trying to get rid of me already are you?” Eve laughed, but felt concerned.
“No, no, nothing like that just the opposite. Spend a few days, wearing this,” he hooked his thumb through the front of the belt hidden beneath her dress. “See how you really like it. Someone controlling your body, your will like this.”
“Okay. You sound different. Are you sure?”
“Couldn’t be better. Glad you’re here,” he kissed Eve’s hand and guided her back towards the couches.
“Poker is starting Matt, bring me your wallet !” Henri chided.
“Oh I love poker, mind if I join you?” Eve shimmied over to the table Henri had installed himself at. Her confidence was renewed with Matt’s assertion that he felt things were going well.
“We insist on it. Come here. You can sit by me,” Gabriel pulled out a chair for her and she sat down next to him. She glanced over at Matt, but he appeared very pleased, so she settled down into a wild night of poker with three of the most interesting people she’d met in a year at least. They played for a few hours, but Eve held her own.
“I can’t believe you cleaned me out and Gabriel too,” Matt beamed.
; “I have a few surprises up my sleeve for you yet, Matt. I’m not always such a good girl.”
“Tell me about it.” Matt prematurely winced, as Eve swatted him good-naturedly on the arm.
“Okay, I’m done for the night. See you upstairs.” Eve left the group feeling carefree and alive. She made her way up the stairs and began to draw a warm bath.
“I’ll be up in a bit,” Matt said. He invited his two friends out into the garden he created behind his studio. “He said this weekend. Can you make it down to the gulf with me?”
“Yeah, I can get a company jet for us up and back,” Gabriel said.
“Yeah, I’ll be there. She’s lovely.” Henri took the rest of his scotch in one swig leaving the ice to clink against the glass.
“To our secret society, I’m honored to be a part of it with you both. But, I have to tell you I might be leaving soon.” Matt raised his glass. His friends raised theirs and they toasted each other. Gabriel and Henri exchanged looks as Matt turned around to head back inside. They looked out on a gentle snow starting to fall from the black sky.
“He’ll never go for that. It’s not allowed,” Henri said. He ran his fingers along his five o’clock shadow. “You know what happened last time.”
“There’s nothing we can do. He should know better. It’s him or us,” Gabriel said.
“Then I choose us.” Henri walked outside leaving Gabriel to stare out on the empty garden.
Chapter 6
By Friday morning Eve was back in Matt’s arms. A week of his gentle dominance had opened up new possibilities and new curiosities.
“I can’t wait to get down to Florida.” She nuzzled into Matt’s chest after turning off her alarm.
“I can’t wait to stop hearing that alarm at the crack of dawn every day.” Matt pulled her closer and gave her a tight squeeze. “It will be great. You deserve a vacation. A lot has changed lately.”
“It’s the first weekend I won’t be working since I’ve been at Art Marketing.”
“Well, first of many then. Shower up, breakfast. I have lots to do today.” Matt had been noticeably more tense since she returned after her break of two days. She came back to him with a ‘yes,’ but a yes to what was a bit confusing at the moment. She felt she was falling for Matt and falling hard. However confusing this break of a few days was, something had changed when she returned. He was still Matt, but he seemed worried and pensive.
Eve's Evolution (Erotic Secrets No. 1) Page 4
