Chapter 2: One Dangerous Night
Three weeks of transformation, a Versace ball gown, a mansion full of strangers and a crash course in a world I never knew existed had brought me to this exact moment. Standing in a marble bathroom at three in the morning trying to convince my own reflection that I was ready for whatever came next. I splashed cold water on my wrists, smoothed my dress and walked back out toward the grand ballroom.
Most of the guests had thinned out by then. The only familiar face left was Marci, who spotted me from across the room and waved me over. She was talking to a tall distinguished looking man who did not seem like he belonged in a place like this at all.
"Cadence," she said, pulling me in by the arm. "I heard you were the belle of the ball tonight."
"Thank you. I was actually just on my way home."
"Nonsense. Come meet my husband." She turned to the man beside her. "Frank, this is Cadence. Cadence, my husband Franklin Ashford."
"A pleasure," he said, wrapping an arm around his wife’s waist.
"Likewise."
"Perfect timing," Frank said, glancing past me. "Here comes my brother and his best friend."
Now let me tell you what happened next.
I turned around and felt my stomach drop straight through the floor.
It was Jacob. The same Jacob I had seen earlier that night during my dungeon tour. You know, as part of my sex education. Standing beside him, equally polished and equally unfair to look at, was his best friend Garrett. The audacity of this night.
"Garrett, this is Cadence," Frank said. "And this is Jacob Moore."
Jacob took my hand and kissed it gently. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you properly Ms. Cadence. You look like an absolute angel."
I pulled my hand back before the goosebumps could climb any further up my arm.
Garrett had dirty blond hair, sharp hazel eyes and the kind of presence that filled a room without trying. He stood close enough that I had to remind myself to breathe normally.
"The pleasure is mine," I managed.
"Aren’t you going to introduce us properly?" Jacob asked, throwing an arm around Garrett’s shoulder with the easy familiarity of two men who had known each other their entire lives.
I laughed despite myself. "I am Cadence. It is a pleasure to meet you both."
"I should get going," I said after a moment, before my nerve gave out completely. "It was lovely meeting everyone. Marci I will see you soon."
I hugged Marci goodbye and walked away feeling two sets of eyes follow me the entire length of the room. The clock on the wall read just after three. I was nearly at the front door when I heard Ms. Lilly call my name.
I turned to find her descending the staircase in a fresh black dress, her makeup somehow flawless considering the hour. How she does it I will never know.
"Where are you going?"
"It is after three. I was heading home."
"That is not how this works sweetheart. I decide when you leave. Or the client does. You have not had a client tonight and I have not released you. You are technically still working."
I swallowed hard.
"There is one more thing I need from you before you go," she said, stopping directly in front of me. "I need you to let go of the fear. You will never enjoy any of this holding yourself back. I had you watched all night Cadence. That armor you are carrying will not serve you here."
"I am only twenty one years old," I said, feeling my eyes sting. "Nobody has ever taught me how to do any of this. I cannot afford to fail at this too."
"That is exactly why you have me," she said softly. "Tonight I am going to show you what your body is capable of when you stop being afraid of it."
She took my hand and led me upstairs before I could think of a reason to argue. I followed her into a dimly lit room scattered with candles and that was when Evan walked in.
Loose black pajama pants. No shirt. No shoes.
I had only seen him briefly before tonight but he had been sitting at the edge of my mind ever since. The kind of presence you cannot shake no matter how hard you try.
"I thought I was supposed to be choosing," I whispered, unable to look away from his bare chest.
"This is different Cadence," Ms. Lilly said. "He is here to show you how your body responds to different kinds of attention. He will not take your virginity tonight. He will only give you pleasure and only as far as your mind and body are willing to go."
She gave Evan a look that needed no translation. He bowed his head once in understanding.
"Once you two are finished you are welcome to leave. Ben will be waiting for your call. Good night." And then she was gone.
I need you to understand I was shaking.
"Sit," he said. His voice was deep and settled directly under my skin.
I sat on the edge of the bed. He knelt in front of me, lifted my leg and slid his hands beneath my gown to unbuckle my shoe. He eased it off and slowly kissed up my leg. I watched his head disappear under my dress and reappear to repeat the same process on the other side. Nobody warned me that a man removing my shoes could undo me so completely.
He removed my garter and stocking and stood up.
"Stand up," he said in a voice that was barely holding itself together.
I stood. He moved behind me and slowly unzipped my dress while watching me through the mirror. His amber eyes shifted from warm to something darker right before me. The dress fell to the floor.
I stood before him in a black strapless bra with matching black v-string panties. He towered over me by five inches and I could feel his erection against my back. He reached for my arms, spread them gently and stroked from my wrists downward, light enough to send chills across my whole body. He kissed my neck, my shoulder and then turned me and kissed my lips.
Warm. Soft. Patient.
And I knew right then I was in trouble.
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