(I had a set of stories rattling around in my brain for the longest time; people of Good Taste will likely recognise my Literotican inspirations, which are on my mind kind of constantly. I never got round to doing anything about it until I saw the 750 Word Project, and I thought that that might be a great way to put something down on e-paper without too much stress.
I'm a real dummy sometimes.
Anyway. First of a series, theoretically, so let's get in there and ESTABLISH SOME THEMES!)
*****
Candles burned on the tables surrounding the ballroom floor, illuminating the dancers in soft and shadowy light. To one side, a small group of women were charming us with their rendition of Satumaa, the firelight making their skin glow like embers. Waitresses in silvery moretta* passed gracefully between the dancing couples, bearing platters of fine brandy and delectable sweets.
(*Moretta are Venetian servants' masks, held to the face not by strings but by a ball gag. The Venetians were geniuses. Pity they make you look like the Flatwoods monster.)
As the tango came to its end, I shivered* as my partner pulled me close and pressed himself into my back to whisper lovely temptations into my ear. Lovelier still, I found, was the sensation of tweed pressing against my bare skin - for like all the men present, he was dressed in a full suit, and like all the women present, I wore nothing besides stilettos and a collar. I nodded my assent to the temptations, and felt cold metal around my wrists, and heard the clicks of handcuff locks. He stepped around me, licking his lips as he looked me over; and hooking a finger into the leash-ring of my collar, he led me to one of the niches surrounding the ballroom.