She stood before him, hands clasped behind her back like an errant schoolgirl, eyes downcast, not speaking. Paul walked around her in the hotel suite, fitting her into the space around them in his mind. The room was tawny gold and red and blue, large with a gigantic bed in the center and couches, chairs, and tables arranged in lush groupings around the suite. The evening lights of the city shone through large windows and doors open to a large balcony thirty stories above street level.
And in the center of the floor space, she stood before him, waiting. Red curls past shoulders, now, as she was letting it grow ("I like it long", he'd said once.). She'd worn it up, tonight, as requested, with only a few curls escaping to slide down her neck and over collarbones. Pale skin without its summer tan but still with the lush curves that she alternately loved and hated. Deep hazel-green eyes, pouty red lips, a fringe of dark eyelashes as she looked at the floor. She wore a long black strapless dress, yards of taffeta.. and her pearls.
"You do please me, my darling," he spoke.
Her eyes lifted. He thought he saw a small spark of defiance in her jawline and in her eyes, just a silvery flash, quickly replaced by a small deferential nod and a wide-eyed, tender smile. "Thank you," she said softly, blushing with pleasure at his approval.
He pulled her to him for a kiss, and she melted against him, silky and sinuous and full of sexy promises, their lips playing over each other, tongues teasing, teeth nipping at lips and grazing jaws and collarbones and ohhhh.... and he gently pushed her away. Her heart stopped for a moment - was he angry? had she done something wrong? - but she covered her bewilderment quickly, smiling at him through slightly lowered lashes.
"My dearest one, I would love to kiss you forever, but I have a surprise for you tonight," he said, smiling. He was aware that she did not submit easily to anyone. He was also aware that she was perhaps overly sensitive to his moods, his actions, even his gestures. This combination of attunement and rebellion made her an interesting toy, one he delighted in playing with.
"A surprise?" Her chin lifted, her eyes met his straight on, and she grinned mischievously. "What is it, love?"
"No, I am not telling you now. You are my own Slut, my most delicious little whore, correct?" "Yes, my love, of course," she said steadily, without missing a beat, without lowering her eyes. "You know I love being yours." "Yes," he said seriously. "Tonight we see." Her head tossed slightly as her eyes appraised him. "Do you doubt my love, my obedience? Have I ever given you reason to think I am not completely yours?" "No, darlin'," he smiled, and her temper cooled instantly. "But tonight we will test your limits. How far will you go for me? What will you do?" "Whatever you want, love," she answered softly. "You know this. What would you have me do?"
"Do you trust me, my dearest?" he asked, bringing from his pocket a length of velvet ribbon. "Yes," she answered, and found that in fact, she did. Completely. "I will not have you hurt, you understand this, yes?" he asked, brushing his fingers over her neck, unclasping her pearls. She nodded, and did not question him. "Should you at any time need to stop, you need only signal me, call me by name." She nodded again as he dropped her pearls into his pocket and reached around her neck with the ribbon, fingers against skin... her breath caught as he tied the ribbon securely in a knot at the back and tucked the ends under the ribbon, forming a perfect circle around her neck.
He turned her to look in the mirror. "You are beautiful, and you are intelligent, and you are sexy, and you are mine," he smiled into their reflections. "You will be very popular this evening."
She smiled, and took his arm, and they left the suite. She did not see the small folded note on the dresser.
* * * * *
The party had been a success, and throughout the evening Paul had kept her close to him, which pleased her. She loved him utterly, and although she felt a bit silly about adoring him so completely, she found that she was unable to do anything else, and had learned over time to relax and enjoy the little time they had together. He had even danced with her, unusual for him, as he often didn't like dancing. But tonight, he had held her close and danced, and even waltzed on occasion, and smiled at her as other men asked to cut in. In truth, she would rather not have danced with so many others, but he told her it pleased him to watch her, and she loved to make him happy.
Once, while dancing with a rather distinguished gentleman, she had felt the man's arousal against her and grinned. "I do love a good slow dance, don't you?" she had smiled teasingly, running her hand a bit too near his fly as the old man blushed a bit, then grinned widely. "I'm sure your date for this evening will help me find other uses for that sassy mouth," he'd laughed. Her curiosity was piqued - perhaps she'd be fucking this one before the night was over. When returning her, the man had leaned in close and whispered something to him, and the men had laughed jovially as Paul's hand ran possessively over her shoulder and down to her waist. "We'll see you soon," he'd said as he led her over to the bar.
Now, with a little wine, she felt light and happy and more than a little aroused as her lover's hands moved over her. They stood next to a wall, her back against it as he kissed her insistently. "Are you ready?" he asked, looking deeply into her eyes.
"Yes," she answered, a bit breathlessly, and he smiled and pulled a blindfold from his coat pocket. She stood still and quiet, feeling her arousal build as he covered her eyes and checked to be sure that she could not see. His arm around her waist, he led her a short distance, through a door, and down a long hall, then stopped.