They weren’t bashful. Two of them laughed and told jokes with all their business hanging out. Some of them were watching as if judging me. I hurried to catch up, pulling the silver dress over my head. I couldn’t wear a bra since the dress was backless, so that one move told them I came to play.
I stepped out of my underwear and heels so I was as naked as a jaybird, and shrugged into the soft robe. Payton slid an arm into her own robe and cinched it shut as she gave me a wink. In spite of everything, I cracked a smile.
My bare feet were cold on the stairs as I descended in a single-file line, and then marched determinedly down the long hall to my room.
“Enjoy yourself, Evie,” Payton whispered as she passed by. “If you like it, he’ll fucking love it.”
I stared at the brass number four attached there, wondering what the hell was going to happen to me behind that door.
I turned the knob and pushed the door open.
chapter
FOUR
There wasn’t a bed in the room softly lit by a crystal chandelier. Taking the center of the space was a long table with a leather cushion top, similar to a doctor’s office, but . . . decidedly less clinical. It was, for lack of a better word, sexy. Every inch of the walls and ceiling were covered in alternating textures of black fabric in an intriguing sequence. A clever disguise for soundproofing. In the corner sat a white wingback chair I knew wasn’t for me. There was an easel with a dry-erase board on it. My willing list in big, easy to read print.
The door latched behind Tara, and I was gripped with full-body terror.
“Can I take your robe for you?”
Her voice was like honey. My clumsy hands undid the knot at my waist and let it slide off my shoulders, catching it in my hands. It felt like real silk. I handed it over and watched her hang it on a hook behind the door.
“Is it warm enough in here?” she asked. “I can adjust the thermostat.”
She must have asked because I was trembling. “I’m fine.”
Tara’s hand was warm when she set it on my arm in a friendly way. “You’ve got a beautiful body, and I’m not going to have a hard time finding a buyer for you. But it’s your first time here, so don’t worry. I’ll find the right buyer. One who deserves you.”
It was a simple gesture, but it calmed me.
“Do you mind?” Tara gestured to the table. I took a deep breath and sat down, and was surprised to discover the table was soft. “Scoot back and lie down, please.”
As I did so, I steadied my breathing. This was happening, deal with it. Tara bent down and opened a cabinet beneath the table, and when she stood, she had two pieces of black fabric in her hands. The first I recognized – a blindfold. The second was a long swath of black ribbon that disappeared over the side of the table.
“I’ll show you how this works.” She dropped the blindfold beside me and held up the ribbon. “Can I have your wrist?”
I held up my hand, and she wrapped the end of the ribbon around it, pressing it closed.
“Velcro?” I asked.
“It’s strong. You won’t be able to undo it with one hand, but if your client wants to, it’s easy.” She undid it and handed me the blindfold. “It’s time.”
Oh, god. I slipped the elastic over the back of my head and then lowered it over my eyes so everything was black.
“Make sure it’s where you want it. You won’t be able to adjust it in a minute.”
I did as she suggested, putting the elastic behind my ears. My breathing increased when her hand closed around my right wrist and strapped it down to the table.
“Can you test that for me?”
I tried to lift my arm but could only move it a few inches. Her high heels clicked softly on the floor as she rounded the table to stand on the other side. It took no time for her to do this one.
The modest part of me cringed inside. Yet there was a darker part that was turned on. It’s better to have regret of what you’ve done, than what you failed to do, it whispered.
“How are you?” she asked. “Does your nose itch? My nose always itched as soon as I was bound.”
“Well, now it does,” I replied. She laughed and ran her fingers over my nose, and then they were gone.