Bess waved to the woman seated at the table. "Auntie!" she said.
The two women kissed. "It has been a long time, dear," Deidre said. "We missed you over the holidays."
"Yes, but Bonnie and I decided we needed to escape from Minnesota so we went to the islands, St. Martin's."
Over a light lunch, the two caught up. "I see you are moving up in the news world. The noon news and all the games," Deidre said.
"Yes, I am. Next week I start with the AM report," Bess replied. "Not looking forward to getting up that early. The Vikes are not going anywhere, but there is spring training just around the corner."
"Carly said she doesn't see you very much anymore."
"Not with my schedule," Bess said, sipping her wine. "Besides Carly is pretty busy herself, teaching, coaching, and with her boyfriend. That seems pretty serious."
"I know," Deidre said, "I hope she is thinking it though. She didn't have that many serious relationships in school."
"Carly will be fine," Bess said, patting her aunt's hand. "She is a lot like her dad."
"In what way?" Deidre asked.
"She knows what she wants and when she finds that special person, she going to do everything to keep him. A lot like Scott."
Deidre smiled. Bess was right. Deidre was never happier in her life than now and it was all because of her marriage to Scott. She knew how much he loved her and it made her feel good. Still she had some worries.
"Bess, I have something that concerns me," her aunt said, turning serious. "Perhaps you can clear it up."
"What is it?"
Deidre reached inside her pocketbook and pulled out a small business card. She slid it across the table to Bess. On it, it said 'Black Leather, let your fantasies come true'- discrete & private.
Bess picked up the card as the color drained from her face. She turned it over in her hands. "Where did you get this?' she asked quietly.
"Scott was given it at a conference last month. The men who had it were discussing where they could find, let's say, a friend for the evening. The description of the woman made him uneasy so he took the card and brought it home. We talked about it together. So?"
"Here is not the place to discuss this, Auntie," Bess said abruptly. "I have a place we can talk. It's not far."
Bess was right. It was a short ride but it seemed longer as no words were spoken between the two.
"Make yourself at home." Bess said, pointing to the living room. "I'll just be a moment." Bess returned quickly with a bottle of wine, 2 glasses, and her album tucked under her.
Deidre was admiring the décor. "Quite a place you have here. Must be expensive?"
"Please, have a seat," Bess said.
Pouring the wine, she began to talk. "Bonnie asked me to join her in her business about a year ago. She's 'Black Satin' and I'm 'Black Leather'. Together we provide a discrete service to a select group of friends."
"You're whores!" Deidre said.
"You may call us that," Bess continued, "We tend to look at it differently. Here take a look at this and then decide." She opened the album and placed it on Deidre's lap. She explained each picture in detail, actually telling her aunt how she acted on each one.
Deidre took a gulp of her wine. "You mean to tell me, men called you for a date. They look at these pictures, pick one, and pay you to act it out, right?"
"Yes. Look, everyone has fantasies. I just give them a chance to act on them. I make sex fun and what goes on between two adults..."
"Even this one?"
"That's Cathy. She was asleep when the burglar broke in. You know what happen? He held her down, forced himself on her."
"You're talking about rape."
"Yes, but it is fantasy rape, not intended to actually hurt or do anything that anyone is not willing to do. It is all under control."
Deidre just shook her head. Turning the page she gasped. It was the dungeon pictures and it showed Bess tied down, open and exposed. "Is that you?" she said quietly.
"Yes, it is. All these pictures are fantasies, a release. Everything you see here is just that. I bet Scott has fantasies."
"I suppose you know them," Deidre snapped.
Bess put her hand on her aunt's knee. Calmly she said, "No, I don't but sadly I bet you don't know them either. Many of the men that come to me are married and say that their wives won't do these things. Maybe if they were open to each other, they wouldn't need me."
Deidre finished her wine, "This is all too much for me," she said. "Do you really know what you are doing? Don't look to me for approval and I wish you would reconsider what you're doing but for God's sake be careful!"
When Deidre got home, she went straight to the bedroom and shut the door. Sitting on the bed, she began to cry. "My beautiful niece is a whore," she thought. "Well, this isn't over, by a long shot."
It was a comfortable spring night with a hint of rain in the air as a stretch limo arrived in front of the condo at exactly 8:00. Richard helped Bess inside. "Hello," he said. "Nice to see you again." He wore a magnificently tailored midnight blue tuxedo with matching tie and cummerbund.
Richard smiled as he reached forward and slid the partition window closed to prevent the limo driver from overhearing. He poured two glasses of champagne. Handing one to Bess, he said, "It is a short drive to where we're going, so let me get right to the point, do you understand what I want?"
"Yes, but please explain it again. I want to be sure I understand everything."
"I belong to an unofficial sex club. There are about thirty of us, all men, some married, some not. Once a month we get together and indulge in our shared passions. Some men bring women, and some don't. The women must be a particular type."
"I know. Submissive."
"Exactly. After that night with you, I knew you would perfect for it. I would like to thank Bonnie for telling me about you."
Bess smiled and nodded. She couldn't picture Bonnie bowing her head and submitting meekly while men used her body. To Bess, however it sounded irresistible. All week she had been consumed by the anticipation of tonight.
"Anyway," Richard continued, "I've never brought a woman to one of our parties...until night. You will be my first."
"I will, as long as condoms and the safe words are agreed to in advance." There was no mention of money but Bess understood it would be substantial, if everything went as planned.
"They are," Richard said. "No whips or things like that, except with your permission. The word 'Red' means absolutely stop. Is that alright with you?" In the darkness of the back seat, Richard gave her a smile but she didn't or chose not to notice a glint in his eye.
Bess took a deep breath and nodded. It was hard for her to reconcile Richard's handsome, open expression with the dark nature of what he was describing, but as she thought about the sex party and what was going to occur, she shivered.
"Good. From now on you follow my and the other men's directions without question. You will keep your eyes downcast and speak only when spoken to. Do you understand?"
Bess started to answer, then decided to begin her part immediately. She looked at the floor of the limo and nodded.
"Good girl," he said. "Are you wearing the clothes I sent you?" When she nodded, he continued, "Then take off your dress."
Quickly, Bess pulled off her navy knit dress. Beneath it she wore a tight, crotch less, dark blue satin teddy with openings at the front of each breast so her nipples were exposed. Old-fashioned dark blue and white lace garters held up her blue net stockings and she wore very high-heeled blue satin pumps. She placed her dress on the seat beside her, folded her hands in her lap, and stared at Richard's shoes.
"Very nice," Richard said staring at her scantily dressed body. "Your clothes will be returned to you at the evening's end." He looked her over carefully then continued, "You really are a gorgeous woman, Bess, and you have the proper attitude." He pinched one of her nipples hard and, although she winced slightly, she didn't make a sound or look up. "Yes, indeed," Richard smiled, "I will be proud to present you tonight."
She knew it was silly but Bess found she was pleased that he felt her worthy of the night's entertainment. "Now," he said, "a few additions." He buckled a leather cuff with a large metal ring attached around each of Bess's wrists and ankles. A slightly narrower cuff went around her neck and he turned it so the ring was in the back. He attached a short chain to the ring and let it fall, cold and heavy, down her back between her shoulder blades to her waist. "Now, remember 'Red' is the safe word," he said. He took a small padlock from his pocket, drew her arms behind her back, and locked the rings on her wrists to the end of the chain. Bess wasn't in any physical discomfort, but with her arms secured behind her, she felt awkward and off balance.
"Very good," Richard said, as the limo pulled to a stop. He buttoned a long, full-length, royal blue evening cape around Bess's shoulders and, as the chauffeur held the door, they got out. Bess quickly realized that despite her immobilization, to any bystander she looked like any woman might, going to a formal function.
Her head lowered, she moved her eyes from side to side and realized they were entering the lobby of a very exclusive hotel, although she wasn't sure which one. Passing people standing in the lobby, they entered the "Penthouses Only" elevator. Richard said, "Only members and their ladies will be permitted up here. We've taken the entire floor for the evening."
The elevator doors swept open onto a small vestibule. Her eyes still on the carpet, Bess followed Richard through the only open doors into a large room.
"Ah, Richard," a man said. "I see that you've brought a young lady for us. Wonderful."
