I took my time with my makeup and left my hair down in soft waves. As the minutes ticked toward 9:30 p.m., I went to the master suite to find her, but she was nowhere to be seen. I decided to finish getting ready and wait in the living room, heart racing, until Kelsey gave me the signal that it was time to begin.
It wasn’t long before I heard the heavy click of the door. I watched as Kelsey entered the room, looking sharp in a navy blue suit, carrying two large packages.
Following the instructions she’d given me earlier, I immediately knelt on the floor and bowed my head in submission. I tracked the movement of her loafers as she approached. She reached down, tilting my chin up to capture my lips in a long, lingering kiss.
I remained perfectly still, the silence stretching as I listened to her preparing the space behind me. I didn't dare turn my head. Only when she finally reached out her hand did I allow myself to stand, using her for support.
"You look beautiful, Kitty," she murmured.
"Thank you," I replied softly. She gestured toward a lounge chair and asked me to fetch the sparkling wine and two glasses. I returned with the bottle, feeling a flush of embarrassment. "I’m sorry... I actually don’t know how to open this."
Without a word, Kelsey took the bottle. With practiced ease, she stripped the seal, popped the cork with a muted thud, and poured us each a glass. She patted her thigh, signaling for me to sit.
"You're anxious," she noted after we toasted and took our first sip. I nodded, unable to deny it. Her hand came to rest heavily on my thigh. "I want to show you something out on the balcony."
I stood when she signaled, momentarily worried about the biting cold outside. But before we stepped out, Kelsey draped a thick, heavy coat over my shoulders.
To my surprise, the air outside was pleasant. She had arranged for portable heaters to be scattered throughout the terrace—I hadn't heard a single sound of their installation. I leaned against the marble railing and noticed the steam rising from a heated pool.
"Was this pool always here?" I asked, mesmerized.
"It's always been here. It’s just been too cold to use," she explained. "I had the heaters brought in today so we could enjoy the view. Apparently, the pool has a cover, but Dimitri only bothered to tell me that this morning."
"What was in the boxes?" I questioned. She stepped closer, her arm sliding around my waist with possessive intent.
"Everything I need to bring you to the very edge," she whispered. She refilled my glass, and I felt the warmth of the alcohol beginning to haze my senses. "May I?" she asked, reaching for my coat. I nodded, and the heavy fabric slid down my arms and pooled at my feet.
I turned to face her, resting my hands on her shoulders as she pulled me into a feverish kiss. She squeezed my waist, crushing me against her. When we finally broke apart, she took me by the fingertips and led me toward two marble pillars. Iron rings were anchored deep into the stone.
She took a length of cotton rope, winding it around her fist before looping it through the rings above my head. She did the same on the other side. My throat went dry; the mere sight of the preparation sent a jolt of electricity through me before she even touched my skin. Kelsey then secured my ankles to the rings bolted into the floor, spreading my stance.
"That dress is stunning, Kitty. It’s a shame I’ll have to tear it," she said, her eyes dark with mischief. "Since I forgot to have you undress earlier... well, let’s just pretend this wasn't on purpose."
I couldn't help but smile. I knew by now that she had a penchant for destruction. She ran a pair of shears along each strap, made a small notch at the neckline, and then, with both hands, ripped the fabric clean down the middle. It fell away in a heap.
The shiver that raced through me had nothing to do with the cold. The heaters were perfectly placed, making the marble terrace feel like a cozy, private sanctuary for the ritual about to begin.
Before touching me again, Kelsey refilled her glass. She took a slow sip, letting the sparkling wine chill her mouth before trailing her lips over my shoulder, my collarbone, and the lace edge of my bra. Finally, she claimed my mouth. The rush of excitement was every bit as intoxicating as the crisp alcohol on her breath.
She pulled away, circling me like a predator. Her eyes never left my body, and she bit her lower lip in a way that made my heart hammer against my ribs.
"Did you know I’ve been dreaming about you in this lingerie for days?" she asked, her voice a low, dangerous velvet.
I shook my head, unable to find my voice under the weight of her gaze. She moved back into my space, her tongue tracing the line of my neck while her fingers ghosted along the waistband of my panties. When she reached my ear, she whispered in a tone that sent a violent shiver through me, stealing a jagged moan from my throat. "I’ve spent nights masturbating to the thought of taking these off and devouring you."
With a deft movement of both hands, she unhooked my bra and let it drop to the marble floor. I took a sharp breath, meeting her eyes with my most wicked smile.
"I lost count of how many times I touched myself thinking of you," I countered, my voice regaining its edge.
I watched her return to the table and pick up what looked like a set of weighted clamps. I’d seen them in BDSM tutorials, but the reality was far more daunting. She swiped her tongue over one of my nipples while her other hand ran the cold iron of the clamp over my stomach, forcing my muscles to tense in anticipation.
"Let me know if the pressure is too much," she murmured. She secured the first clamp, slowly adjusting the tension. When it reached that exquisite, blurred line between pain and pleasure, I gave her a sharp nod. She mirrored the sensation on the other side. Once finished, she stepped back to admire her handiwork, a dark look of pride crossing her face.
Kelsey shed her jacket and tie, unbuttoning her sleeves with clinical precision. She took another sip of wine and checked her watch. My apprehension was massive—the "not knowing" was a torture all its own, and I knew the anxiety was written all over my face. I was fighting a superhuman battle just to stay silent and composed.
Then, I saw her reach into the box and pull out a long rattan cane. As she began her slow walk back toward me, I felt a rush of warmth run down my legs before a helpless moan escaped my lips.
The leather straps of her harness ghosted over my breasts, arms, and legs, leaving a trail of goosebumps that made Kelsey’s smile widen. She was savoring every second of my anticipation.
