“Whatever you want, Mistress.”
The most frightening thing was that Alicia was on the verge oftrulygiving her anything she wanted. She had already given her so much, virginity not considered. It wasn’t about her body and her comfort zones anymore. It was about her heart, like it was about Danica’s.
“I want you, Alicia.” The other end of the leash wound tight around Danica’s jacket sleeve. “I want you every night. I want you every morning. I want you to be mine tonight, tomorrow, forever. I don’t care if there’s anyone against us. It doesn’t matter to me. It’s our lives to do what we will and what feels good.” Danica kissed her. “Are you ready?”
“I was born ready to serve you, ma’am.”
“Why, Ms. Colbert…” The leash tugged against her throat. “I dare say you know how to speak to a woman like me.”
Danica led the way into the main room, a world that felt so different now that Alicia didn’t have anyone to concern herself with but her girlfriend.No, she’s more than my girlfriend.She’s my everything. Alicia didn’t believe it was healthy to have her entire life revolve around one thing – let alone a woman – but for one night every so often? There was no harm in that, right?
To say they were the center of attention as they made their way to Danica’s favorite VIP area was an understatement. No matter what path they took, who they stopped to say hello to, or how fast they traveled, everyone who even had an inklingof who they were halted whatever they were doing to look, sometimes covertly, sometimes with an open gawk. Alicia let their judgmental looks wash off her skin – and she had a lot of skin exposed. All it took was one glance, and some stranger saw her ass, her stomach, her breasts bulging from the pushup bra. Danica had put her on display. If she was proud of Alicia? Proud enough to show her off like this? Then Alicia would embrace it as well.
No, the other guests were easy. She was a novelty. The ones who made her feel uneasy were the staff.
“Ms. Moreau.” Susan appeared the moment they were seated on a long leather sofa. She and Alicia exchanged tentative looks.Yeah, I never thought we would meet again like this, either.Alicia, with a collar around her throat, a leash attached to Danica’s hand, and barely any clothes on her figure. “I trust that you are doing well this evening, ma’am.”
“Very well, thank you, Susan.” Danica leaned against her knees as she reached for a remote control that allowed her to adjust the temperature and lighting in their corner. Things warmed up… and became dimmer. “I trust you remember my girlfriend, Alicia?”
Another awkward exchange.Don’t make this worse. Please. “I remember Alicia quite fondly,” Susan said with a plain smile. “What would you and Alicia like to drink tonight?”
Danica ordered them a round of drinks before Susan hurried away from the VIP area. She didn’t offer to send over any of the dancing girls.Thank God. It wasn’t the idea of her Mistress watching other women dance that upset her. It was the idea that she used to work with these women that made Alicia uncomfortable. The last thing she wanted was one of them taking off a top and jiggling breasts for the owner’s entertainment.
“Look at that frivolity.” Danica pointed to the throng of people sitting, laughing, drinking, and playing in the club. All of them were dressed up for a night out. All of them were half intoxicated on either alcohol or lust – or perhaps both. The only reason Alicia stopped staring was because Ms. Clayborn appeared, the frumpiest of them all. “Ah, Ms. Clayborn. Did your reconnaissance prove fruitful?”
She didn’t sit down. “Yes, Ms. Moreau. She is here this evening.”
“Invite her over. If her wife protests, tell her it’s a business matter.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Ms. Clayborn disappeared into the group of people nearby.
“Who?” Alicia was trapped between distancing herself from her girlfriend, assumedly freeing herself from the awkwardness of being caught in the place she was fired from… or from curling up next to Danica, seeking her warmth.
She didn’t get an answer. A server appeared, and Alicia thanked her stars that she didn’t recognize the woman placing the drinks on the table. Danica thanked her. The woman glanced at Alicia, snorted, and wandered off with her tray tucked beneath her arm.
“What is it?” Danica rubbed Alicia’s knee. “You’re tense. You should relax. Here.” She handed her a glass of liquor. “If you don’t like it, we’ll get you something else.”
“It’s not that.” Alicia wanted nothing more than to dote on the woman she claimed to love. Yet that was hard to do when half of the employees in the club murmured to each other, trading snickers and even a few sighs.
“Then what?”
Alicia proved her right about being tense. She felt like a rubber band about to snap. “It’s a bit awkward being here… ma’am.”
The leash twirled around Danica’s fingers. “Because you know the people working here,” she said matter-of-factly.
“Not well, no, but enough. I only worked here for a night. I got fired because I had sex with you. Now I show up a month later dressed like this.”
Danica considered her words while she drank, ice rattling in her glass. “There is nothing to fear, my pet. Some of them may judge you, but you need to get used to being judged. There will always be someone judging you. As long as they do not outright offend you – and if they do, don’t hesitate to inform me – you can take their criticisms and their jealousy and use them to empower you. That’s the first thing you learn when you grow up in my world.”
Not that your own father is a shitbag?No, tonight was not the night for those thoughts. “You’re right. I don’t even know the woman who served us our drinks.”
“You know Susan.”
“She was very nice to me when I worked here. She was training me.”
“Now I am the one training you.” Alicia walked right into that one. “If and when we have children, my pet, you will need to understand that kind of thinking.”
What startled Alicia more? The fact that she coolly commented on them having children, or her feeling so unfazed about it?Of course we’re having… no, no, stop. Alicia wanted to take things one step at a time. It had been only a few weeks, for fuck’s sake! How could they be talking about marriage and children so soon? How could a woman who was so logical and methodical throw her heart into the ring like that? Did she really believe in fate that badly?
