Sela, freezing and rain soaked, nearly skidded into the SF skyrise, but managed to balance and save the tray of Starbucks coffee orders she'd just retrieved. Wisps of her long dark hair escaped the hair clip, falling sloppily over her large round eye glasses. With no free hands to push her hair back, she attempted to shake the hair from her glasses and used a tray to nudge her glasses up as she waited for the elevator to open.
When the doors opened, a couple held each other closely, hips together, their mouths lingering as if they were unaware the elevator doors and opened. The woman was young, maybe Sela's age 25 or 26. She had dark red hair in a sloppy bun and wore all black. Sela figured she worked in one of the many offices, much like her. The young man was obviously a bike messenger in khaki cargo pants and plaid shirt, carrying a messenger bag. Gazing at each other, the couple finally exited the elevator oblivious to anyone around them, allowing Sela and a gentleman to enter. She glanced at the gentleman, unable to hold back her smirk and they shared a silent laugh at the couple.
"Something about elevators," the man said, his voice low and soft.
"Elevators," Sela returned shrugging her shoulders. She looked down, not embarrassed but because she felt that sexual pulling in her gut as soon as she realized how attractive he was. He was clearly over 6ft and his strong, straight stance added more immensity to his presence. She noticed a brightness and intensity in his shimmering green eyes that contrasted with his dark hair and olive skin.
"Which floor," he inquired.
"Oh, 8th. Thanks," she blurted, realizing the elevator was still. She saw him push the top floor as well. The doors closed, leaving them the only two in the elevator. They rode in silence, Sela straining to hold the two trays of coffees and the gentleman leaning casually against the back wall his hands in the pockets of his expensive light gray suit, finely tailored and hinting at his firm physique.
Sela breathed a sigh of relief as the elevators opened on the 8th floor and she quickly walked to the offices on the right. She backed in, using her rear to push open the door and finally landed the drinks on the receptionist's counter.
"Gosh, you're soaked," Rebecca, the receptionist observed. Obviously, Sela thought, restraining the need to roll her eyes. Sela knew why she was the one always sent to the afternoon Starbucks run, even though she never drank coffee. Rebecca was stylishly coiffed and beautiful, as were the paralegals and secretaries. Asking them to go on a coffee run would be like asking Giselle Bunchen to shine your shoes. Sela had given herself this dowdy look, so she couldn't very well complain. Besides, she didn't mind going as unnoticed as possible.
After delivering the coffees and receiving more obvious remarks on her soaked state, she closed the door to her tiny office and sat at her desk with a large sigh. She took off her glasses and straightened her hair. Her clothes weren't worth worrying about and could dry on their own. She had to concentrate for two more hours and then she could focus on the evening ahead of her.
Emery Landers entered his suite of offices that took up the entire top floor. He nodded a half smile to the receptionist and disappeared into his office. He opened a folder atop his desk, glancing over the financial reports. Images of the young woman in the elevator flitted into his mind. At first glance, she was dowdy and awkward. Yet, her large green eyes conveyed a different person. They possessed, self-confidence and intelligence. Something about them was alluring, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He shook his head to clear the thoughts and went back to his reports.
Sela blew out her dark hair using a straightening brush and dryer diffuser. The oily product followed by a flat iron achieved flat hair that reminded her of Morticia Addams. She applied a heavy matte foundation to her pale nearly flawless skin, gray eye shadow over her eyelids and liner and mascara. Her green eyes blazed as she took another drink of her vodka tonic, loosening her up and making it easier for her to do what she needed. After applying a burnt red lipstick she pulled on her tall dark boots with the 4 inch stiletto heels, making her easily over 6ft.
Sela had no issue with her 5' 9" height and actually enjoyed towering over others in her heels. Despite her height, her slender but strong physique gave away the fact that she was a distant runner. Her much shorter competition sized up her soaring legs and c cup breasts and quickly dismissed her until her gazelle like gait passed them by. That was college. Now she ran to pound away her angst and her destructive desires.
Gulping down the rest of her drink, Sela shrugged into her long overcoat, threw the hood over her hair and walked out to her car for the short ride over to the club. She knew herself well enough. If she didn't get her fix, she'd be a huge bitch by tomorrow and probably murder someone by next week. Running out her strong sexual needs worked for only so long.
The members only club was in an industrial district that was half way to gentrification. The building itself was owned by the couple who ran the club and lived in the top floor designer loft that was probably worth a fortune due to the art pieces alone. Sela pressed the club code on the box outside the door and waved into the camera. The door buzzed and she navigated the stairs in her ridiculous boots. At the door on the second floor she showed her ID to the guard Trevon who had seen her now on precisely 8 occasions. She made a point of keeping track of the number of times she visited since landing in the East Bay. Sela believed keeping track was a way of keeping control of what she felt was an addiction and an affliction.
Once inside the door, she glanced around the room which looked like any other kind of waiting area only she could hear the music coming from the back room and there was a stuffed bunny on the front desk wearing a collar, handcuffs and a ball-gag. Bettina, a tiny blond with double D's that only porn money can buy, came from the back room and smiled at Sela.
"Hi Bunny," she said, which is what Sela had asked everyone to call her on her first visit. She didn't need anyone other than the owners knowing her real name and she certainly didn't want anyone recognizing her on the street. She'd had enough scandal in her short life to have the good sense to protect herself. Sela signed the waiver and entered the door to the back room.
Couples and singles lounged on the couches and they all appraised her as she entered. She wasn't ready to look for anyone. She needed another drink and a chance to change her mind about indulging in her addiction. Instead, Sela sat at the corner of the small bar and ordered a vodka tonic from Edward who was sporting his own collar, nipple clamps and a thong. She hated coming to this club, but it was the only way she knew to get her fix and keep her anonymity.
"Long time no see, Bunny," Edward said, putting down a napkin and her drink that he gussied up with an umbrella.
"Did Yvonne make you her bitch tonight?" Sela asked.
"How'd you know?" he asked, dramatically leaning on his elbows and batting his eyelashes at her.
"She's partial to nipple clamps," Sela says and couldn't help to smile at Edward who could chat it up with anyone, making them feel like his best friend.
"Here, honey," he said, offering a pack of Camel's to her. Sela took one and inhaled as Edward lit her cigarette. At least half the room was smoking and enjoying the only place in the East Bay they could get away with smoking. Hell, they were about to do a whole lot worse so why worry about some smoke.
"Is Eric here?" Sela asked, hoping to be with someone she knew and not someone she had to have a long conversation with about soft limits and hard limits. Sela wasn't hard core enough for a lot of them. A couple tried to go beyond her limits and she had to end the whole scene and leave more frustrated than before she had arrived.
"Mmmm. He hasn't been around in a while, but t heard he was having dinner with Evan and Brynn. Do you want me to ring them and see if he's coming down tonight?" Edward offered.
Sela thought for a moment. "I don't want to seem desperate. I could probably find someone else."
"Bunny, you only come here when you're desperate for a good spanking and hard fuck. Let me call them up," he said, walking away in heels and a leather corset.
"Fine," Sela mumbled, her gut clenching with anticipation and the need for release. She leaned back and glanced around the room. She didn't have to be casual about checking people out here. They were all sizing each other up, especially fresh relative newbies like her. Not that she was a newbie, she just didn't come around often.
A skinny guy about 4 inches shorter than she, wearing a t-shirt and boyfriend jeans sat next to her at the bar. She knew what he was looking for when he gave her a coquettish smile that screamed submissiveness.
"I'm not a dom," she said dismissively turning away from him and wondering where the hell Edward went to.
"You don't have to be a bitch about it," he sneered. Sela rolled her eyes. This was probably a bad idea. She should leave before she regretted her decision.
"No, you shouldn't be a bitch," she heard Eric's low voice behind her and felt his hands on her shoulders, sending a shiver down her spine. She turned around to see him mouth "leave" to the skinny guy and sitting down at his empty seat. His right hand grazed down her arm on to her thigh, coaxing another shiver. His left hand took the cigarette from her hands and crushed it out in the ash tray.
"You know how I feel about these," he said in an admonishing voice, looking at her sternly. Sela melted from the assured gaze from his watery blue eyes. Eric was beyond handsome. His light brown hair was messily slicked back from his chiseled face that donned a knee melting 5 o'clock shadow. The man oozed sex and masculinity and she was certin Eric was already beginning the scene, making Sela's heart race and the anticipation in her gut twist and turn. She met his gaze, they locked momentarily so they both could recognize agreement. She then looked down, indicating her will to submit to him.
Eric raised her chin forcing her to look at him again. He moved her hair aside and kissed the nape of her neck. His heated breath made her shiver again.
"Breathe, Sela," he said. She let out a breath. "Good girl." he kissed her mouth. "Come, Sela."
Sela gasped, realizing it was the first time he used her name. How did he know?
