“Yes Master.”
While Darien was discussing how to proceed with Sasha, she was dealing with a very excited roommate. “God, Sasha, are those ‘Jamie T’s’?” Liz was admiring Sasha’s new designer jeans.
“Yes, and yes, the sweater is cashmere. Heck Liz, the underwear he bought me costs more than my best dress. I am so out of my league.” Sasha put her head in her hands as they sat on the sofa while Liz debriefed her on the date.
“I can’t believe he took you to ‘Nighttime Wonders’. What was it like?” Liz was bouncing with excitement.
“It’s beautiful. Darien and his friends have a reserved table by the windows and you can see across the whole city to the water from up there.”
“What did you have? How much was it?” Liz pried.
“I had steak, new potatoes and roasted asparagus. Of course, there was soup, salad and wine, and afterwards we had some kind of little almond cake. I don’t know how much it was. Darien ordered for me and I never saw a menu.” Sasha’s mouth watered remembering the meal.
“So?” Liz encouraged.
“So…what?” Sasha asked.
“So what happened after dinner? Come on girl. You have to spill it. I know Darien’s the one who answered the text because I never showed you how to do that.”
“Yes, that was him,” Sasha admitted. “We were at his house and he spent a few minutes showing me the basics. He’s already programmed the phone numbers for you, him, Beth and Angie and some others. I guess he got the information from your memberships at the club. He put the phone on his business account and told me not to worry about it,” Sasha explained.
“You sure as hell didn’t spend all night fooling around with the phone.” Liz looked exasperated.
“No, we didn’t spend all night with the phone. He put it on ‘vibrate’ after you called and stuck it back in my purse.” Sasha was trying to decide how much to divulge. “In answer to your question, yes, we had sex.” Liz grinned and clapped her hands as Sasha continued, “Incredible, passionate, out of this world kind of sex.”
Liz whooped, grabbed Sasha’s hands, and pulled her around the small living room in a dance. “It’s about time. Is he going to see you again? I mean, of course he is. When?”
Sasha realized she had to tell Liz about ‘Finnegan’s’. She would rather it come from her now than for Liz to find out when she showed up at work. “Actually, he’s asked me to take the summer off so I can, um, vacation with him. I called Tommy this morning and he promised me my job would be waiting in the fall. Darien says he’s going to cover my share of the bills, because he’s the one who wants me to go with him.” Sasha was relieved that the explanation was beginning to make sense to her, and Liz seemed to take it in her stride.
“That is so cool. I’m so happy for you, Sasha. You deserve a break.” Liz hugged her warmly. They spent the evening watching an old black and white classic on television.
Liz had already left the apartment when Sasha woke up. She quickly showered and put on her best beige linen skirt and faux silk emerald green blouse. The ivory shoes were not quite a match but they would do, she decided. She wrapped her long hair up in a bun, applied light makeup and real gold hoop earrings. Sasha looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror on the back of her closet door. ‘Oh god, what am I doing?’
Promptly at nine there was a knock on the door, and Sasha felt her stomach flutter at the thought of seeing her handsome man again. She opened the door with a wide smile. “Good morning, Darien. Let me get my purse.”
“Sasha, you look beautiful.” He took her hands and kissed her cheek. “Don’t forget your phone. Did you remember to charge it?”
“Yes, Liz reminded me.” Sasha locked the apartment. As they drove to the club she asked, “Darien, are you sure this skirt is all right?”
Darien guessed she had picked out the best thing she owned. The skirt had a classic cut and color. “You look great, honey, and that blouse really complements your eyes. I prefer your hair down, but for lunch with the girls it’s perfect. I don’t want any man trying to jump my claim on you.”
Sasha giggled. “Darien, I am so nervous. Kate’s going to think I’m an unsophisticated twit, and she’s right.”
“Katie’s going to love you. If she says anything unflattering, remind her she was rescued from a career at her father’s pig farm,” Darien laughed.
Darien wrote out checks for inventory that had come in. He went through the weekend register receipts and checked his watch. “We better head out. I’m sorry about the boring morning. I only have one more weekend and then Edmond takes over for the summer.”
“I didn’t realize you took turns,” Sasha commented.
“Only for the first year, and then we pool our thoughts and hire a year round manager. We opened in March and I drew the first watch. Figures, that’s when all the problems crop up and the systems need to be put in place. Edmond has the summer, Eric will take the fall quarter and William gets the holidays,” he explained.
Sasha was impressed. At the end of the year, four independent minds would have devised the ultimate business plan. “When are you starting on the other club?”
“In the fall. We’ve already got the design and permits, and it will be run a lot like ‘The Penitentiary’, except open to the public. We plan on using the same manager for both places.” Darien opened the car door and held her hand as she climbed in.
As they drove to the restaurant he said, “After lunch, Kate’s taking you shopping, and I have already informed her what I expect. Don’t argue with her. Be a good little dress-up doll and accept whatever she decides on.” Darien glanced at her to make sure she understood.
“I’m not particularly comfortable with this,” she responded.
“I know, and that’s why I’ve told Kate to make the decisions. Now, give me a kiss and go enjoy your afternoon.” Darien reached over and held her face. Another mind-blowing kiss reached to her toes, and it was several seconds before she opened her eyes. Darien stared at her intently. “Don’t forget to call me when you’re done.”
The valet was opening her door. “I won’t. I’ll see you later.” Sasha strode into the posh restaurant. When asked, she told the hostess she was meeting Kate, and it belatedly occurred to her she did not know the woman’s last name.
The hostess surprised her. “Oh yes, you must be Sasha. Come right this way. Kate arrived a few minutes ago. She was right, you certainly are lovely. She told me to watch for the green eyes.” They wound their way through the crowded tables to the back of the restaurant and out onto to a patio surrounded by trellised flowers.
“Sasha.” Kate stood, took her hands and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. “I hope you like the terrace. I love it out here when the weather is nice.”
“It’s beautiful, Kate.” The young women sat down.
“I hope you don’t mind, we have a full afternoon so I ordered for us. Edmond’s buying and insisted we try the salmon,” Kate said.
Sasha noted Kate’s expensive designer dress, and she grew more uncomfortable as she looked at the other patrons, realizing exactly how poorly her substitute outfit measured up. “Salmon sounds perfect. Thank you, and thank Edmond for me.”
Kate noticed her discomfort. “I remember the first time Edmond took me to one of these hoity-toity places. Talk about uncomfortable!” she laughed. “I imagined everyone knew I spent eighteen years being raised on a pig farm, and I kept waiting for someone to point at me and say, ‘fraud’.
Sasha’s brows knit together. “You look so confident, so at ease here.”
“Oh, that took quite a while. I swear Edmond enjoyed seeing how much he could make this country girl squirm, and he’d take me to the most outrageous parties with honest to goodness Hollywood stars. I think Veronica had the easiest time. Ronnie had at least dated a couple of the wealthy men she had met on her flights. Melinda and I were totally lost. Mel came from a rather poor background. Her dad died when she was young and her mother raised fo
ur kids by herself.”
Sasha found herself relaxing as Kate described the identical concerns she was feeling. “Darien’s life is overwhelming. It seems everything is moving so fast.”
“Darien has had the benefit of watching Mel and me try to get used to things, and I’ll let you in on a little secret.” Kate was cutting into the delicious herbed salmon as she spoke. “He’s the one who suggested I meet with you.”
Sasha’s mouth formed an ‘O’. “He did?”
“I think he is quite taken with you, Sasha. He’s a good man, and extremely observant, and it didn’t take much for him to figure out you were completely off balance. It makes it hard to begin a relationship when you’re concentrating on using the right fork. Darien figured it might be easier if you knew you had someone who had already been through it.” Kate’s warm smile was filled with compassion.
“I didn’t think he understood how I felt. He kept telling to just kind of ‘go with the flow’, and then this whirlwind starts. I quit my job. I can’t believe it, but Darien made it seem logical that he would pay my bills, just so I can spend time with him.”.
“Our guys are a little…” Kate appeared to be searching for the right word, “Demanding. They really don’t think at all about the money. To them it’s a means to an end, and if money can get them what they want, and as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone, they have no qualms about it. I haven’t worked in the four years I’ve been with Edmond. He wouldn’t stand for it, and he won’t allow anything that could keep me from being at his beck and call. So, besides the money issue, which you really need to try to come to ‘their’ terms with, how is it going?” Kate inquired.
Sasha stirred the carrots on her plate. “What do you mean?” She already felt her cheeks begin to heat.
Kate noted her embarrassment and decided to dive in. “I mean sex, of course. Aren’t they incredible?”
Sasha nervously met her eyes, and her bottom lip slipped under her top teeth. She sat mute, voice gone on this subject.
“Talk to me.” Kate took her hand. “Darien would not have taken you this far if he didn’t think you could handle it. They’re all Doms, Sasha, and Melinda, Veronica and I need this kind of relationship. It’s like an addiction.”
Sasha squirmed. “You don’t understand.”
“You’re wrong, Sasha. I know exactly how you’re feeling. Do you know how confused I was when Edmond tied me up the first time? He spanked me so hard I couldn’t sit for two days, and I experienced the most intense orgasm I’d ever had. I was convinced there was something terribly wrong with me and I felt so ashamed.”
“I can’t talk about this, Kate. I’m sorry.”
“You have to, Sasha, or you’ll never understand yourself and your desires. There’s nothing wrong with our lifestyle and there’s no shame. It’s immensely fulfilling to both partners. The creativity, anticipation and trust makes our relationships stronger. It’s like we share a secret fantasy very few know about.” Kate changed tactics. “Do you think less of me because of Edmond? Do you think it’s wrong for me to let him control me, even if it’s what makes me happy?”
“Of course not,” Sasha stammered.
“Oh, I see. It’s just that you’re so ‘normal’ then, and not crazy perverts like we are, huh?” Kate pushed the envelope with that one.
“That’s not what I meant. Oh Kate, I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s going through my head,” Sasha moaned.
“Look at me.” Sasha raised her head at Kate’s order. “You like Darien?”
Sasha nodded.
“Then, take his advice and use this summer to explore. Push your limits, because you’ll never get the opportunity again. I want so badly for Darien to find the happiness the rest of us have. Sweetie, I know it’s confusing. There isn’t a whole lot more I can tell you to help you understand that there’s nothing wrong with you, or with us. You can always call me, or Mel and Ronnie. There isn’t anything your going through that one of us hasn’t experienced.”
“Thanks, Kate,” Sasha replied gratefully. “I guess you’re right. Maybe I do need to just let things move forward for now.”
“Good girl.” Kate squeezed her hand. “Mel and Ronnie are meeting us at ‘Berkstrands’. Let’s go spend some money,” she suggested.
Melinda and Veronica were already trying on evening gowns when Kate and Sasha arrived. Sasha looked around the exclusive store and inwardly shuddered, noticing even the saleswomen were dressed better than she was.
Veronica came out of the dressing room in an expensive backless black evening dress. Her blonde hair looked great with it. Melinda exited the cubicle a few seconds later with, Sasha noted, an equally ‘frontless’ red gown. Strips of gold edged material slashed across the top and it barely covered her nipples.
“I wanted the one Ronnie’s got,” Mel pouted. “Backless is a ‘no go’ this weekend, though.”
“Why?” Sasha queried.
Mel giggled, looked around to see if anyone was watching, and slipped the straps of her dress off her shoulders. She turned around and Sasha’s mouth dropped open at the faint pink welts crisscrossing Melinda’s back. Melinda re-dressed and flashed a grin. “I mean, it is so worth it though.” She took off in search of accessories.
“Sorry about that, Sasha. Mel doesn’t always think before she does a ‘show and tell’,” Veronica smiled. “What do you think?” The statuesque blonde pirouetted in the silky gown.
“You look beautiful as always, Ronnie,” Kate replied. Sasha nodded in agreement, still thinking about Melinda’s casual display.
“Katie, your rack’s over by dressing room five. Sasha, Darien told us you were a size six. Mel and I described you to Sherry and she put some suggestions on the rack by four. Try some of them on, and she’ll get a better idea of what will be best,” Veronica suggested.
Sasha followed Kate over to the two racks with three or four gowns on them standing outside each dressing room. Katie reached for one and saw Sasha fingering a gown, frowning and searching.
She smiled, knowingly. “There are no price tags, Sasha. In a store like this, if you have to look you can’t afford it. Try one on that you like, or I swear Mel, Ronnie and I will pick out the one that we think costs the most. Darien’s orders.” She disappeared into the cubicle.
Sasha stared at the expensive gowns for a few seconds more. Resolved, she picked one out and headed into her dressing room.
Kate called out from the room beside her, “Take your hair down. Darien likes it loose and it will give us a better idea of what will work. Oh, and with your waist length hair, backless is a little pointless.”
Sasha stared at herself in the mirror while her hands worked the clips out of her hair and she smoothed it with her fingers. The gown she had chosen was silver. She slipped it on, sucked in a breath, and exited the little room.
‘Sherry’ turned out to be the manager, and when Sasha came into view she gasped, “Oh my, you are a pretty little thing, aren’t you?”
Sasha could almost feel the imagined dollars the woman thought she would make from a fourth girlfriend for the wealthy men.
“That’s perfect. Any one of the other’s would detract from your eyes. What do you think, Kate?” Sherry fussed at the front of Sasha’s dress, pulling it open to reveal more cleavage.
“Definitely. Sasha, you look ravishing,” Kate decided.
“Your dress is beautiful, too. The royal blue is a great color on you.” Sasha was trying to get her bearings.
Melinda came running up with some strappy, silver heels. “God, Sasha, you look scrumptious. Here, size six and a half, right?”
“How did you know?” Sasha was mystified by the flurry of activity.
“Darien already called in your sizes. It saves time. Try them on and I bet they’ll be perfect.” Melinda sat down on the bench and changed into gold heels with ties that wrapped around her ankles. Her energy was infectious, and soon Sasha was becoming comfortable around the women and enjoying the shopping excursion
as much as they were.
An hour later, Katie confided, “Mel can be exhausting, sometimes. I’ve never seen her when she didn’t act like she’s had a caffeine IV.”
The dresses, shoes and purses were picked out to be delivered in the morning, and Veronica suggested the women have a glass of wine in the small lounge two doors down while they waited for their rides.
Sasha found she really liked their company, and she listened to the conversation while they drank Zinfandel spritzers and discussed the men. Melinda seemed to enjoy relating, in great detail, her escapades with Eric. The look of unmistakable desire was in her eyes as she talked about her latest marks.
“Melinda kind of thinks of her marks as ‘merit badges’,” Veronica explained.
“And you hide yours, Ronnie,” Melinda said defensively.
Veronica blushed and looked down at her glass. “That’s not true, Mel. I just didn’t notice any ‘bottomless’ gowns on display.”
The women laughed, and Sasha realized these women had come to terms with their sexuality. There seemed to be no taboo subjects. After a few more minutes, the conversation began to wind down.
“How are you adjusting?” Veronica asked sincerely.
“Very nervously. I am so out of my depth,” Sasha explained.
“I think I had it easiest, because I’ve known I was a submissive since high school,” Veronica stated. “I never questioned it, and always knew I had to find the right Dom. William is perfect for me. I love him so much, and the things that man can do with a cane…”
Sasha laughed softly. “This is without a doubt the most unusual discussion I’ve ever been involved in.”
“Ya’, well you’re only going to be let off the hook for a little while. We’ve had our talks for years, and none of us knows a thing about Darien, so be prepared to ‘fess up,” Melinda said. She caught Kate’s disapproving look and added, “I mean, not until you get to know us better, though.”
Eric pulled up and Melinda bounced to the door after giving each of them a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll see you guys Friday,” she waved.
Sasha's Game Page 5
