Ashley's Bend (11 page)

“For your hand,” I said as I gestured to his injured hand.

“Thanks,” he replied, taking the towel from me and putting it on his knuckles.

“I’m fucking serious, Ashley. Get a restraining order. That is not a request,” he ordered.

He’s mad.

“I, I will. Thank you, by the way,” I said as I looked down at the floor in embarrassment.

“I wasn’t going to let him hurt you like that. The only kind of pain you should have to endure is the kind that is involved with pleasure in the bedroom, Ashley.” I blushed crimson. He was talking about pleasure and pain right here within earshot of all my customers.

“Do not be embarrassed by my words, Ashley. That is why I stopped by. There will be a package delivered to your apartment tomorrow afternoon with instructions. Follow them. A car will be by to pick you up at five-thirty. Do you have to work this weekend?”

What? A package? Instructions? He was firing off information to me and my head was spinning.

“Um, no. I took this weekend off.”

“Good. No distractions for your first few sessions every weekend for the next six weeks. If money is an issue, you can be given assignments at the club for pay.”

Was he serious? Take off every weekend for the next six weeks? And assignments? What kind of assignments?

“I...I…” I stuttered. I was at a loss for words. He saw my discomfort and realization kicked in. He chuckled

“Not,
those
kinds of assignments, Ashley. Jobs like you are doing now, serving, bartending, and etcetera.”

I relaxed at his elaboration on assignments. I was not a whore, and I would not do things to become one. I had more self-respect for myself than to do that.

Dominic stood up from the bar stool and leaned across the bar towards me. He lifted his non injured hand and tucked a wayward strand of hair behind my ear before he caressed my cheek. I nearly melted into his touch as an electric charge sang through my body. I felt it all the way down to my core.

“Be ready, Ashley. Follow the directions in the package tomorrow. I will know if you don’t,” he said and he turned around to leave. I watched his backside as he walked away. What a backside it was! His dark wash jeans hung low on his hips and hugged his ass in all the right ways. I could see the muscles in his back ripple beneath his tight grey shirt. How in the world was I going to survive?

Later that evening, I lay in bed staring at the ceiling. What the hell was I doing? Submissive training? I’m not submissive am I? Was this the world that I wanted to acquaint myself with? The last few months with Jared had been some of the darkest of my life. His constant rejections and absence from our marriage left me feeling vulnerable and squandered. Was I permitting myself to the same dark emotions by joining the club?

All I knew was I wanted to be closer to Dominic. If it weren’t for him and the feelings that I underwent every time he was close to me, I would never have consented. I did say I wanted to live, to experience new things. I had been lost in someone else’s identity for so long, I was ready to break out and find out who I was. The only way I was going to be able to do that was by experiencing new things and going outside my comfort zone.

I remembered Dominic’s orders to follow instructions for the package I was to receive. I couldn’t help but feel a little nervous apprehension for his plans. At the same time, though I was excited to not know what was to become of all of it. My eyes started to grow heavy and I rolled over to my side and hugged my pillow. Tomorrow, I would start my new life. Tomorrow, I would subject myself to the world that was more than I had ever had the opportunity to experience. My eyes fluttered closed and I was lost to sleep. I couldn’t help but dream about dark hair and eyes like chocolate.

I woke up Friday morning feeling like I didn’t get a wink of sleep. I tossed and turned all night long, alternating from dreams about Dominic to nervous anticipation for what would happen. At least I would have Kelly with me at the club. I feared that I would get there and chicken out before I even set foot in the door.

I rose out of bed and went about my morning routine of brushing my teeth and showering before sitting down at the table eating breakfast. Kelly went to work super early this morning so that she would be able to attend the club with me
.
I started reading through the newspaper that Kelly had left when I noticed that there was a big red circle around one of the advertisements. Reading it more closely, I noticed that it was an ad for art classes at the local community college. Kelly must have seen the ad and circled it for me to read. I just loved her. I loved how she knew me and got me. I had wanted to be an art teacher for as long as I could remember. I made a mental note to give the school a call to follow up on some information.

I spent most of the morning scrubbing the apartment. Each hour that passed by, I become more high-strung, edgy and...excited. I needed to keep my hands and mind busy so I wouldn’t sit there in the apartment stewing over what could occur at the club. I was furiously scrubbing the tile in the bathroom shower when I heard the doorbell ring. Peeling the yellow rubber gloves from my hands, I made my way toward the door. When I opened it, I came face to face with a delivery man holding several shopping bags and one large garment bag.

“Ashley Carter?” he asked cocking his brow.

“Yes, that is me.” I replied. He handed me a clipboard and then asked for my signature.

“Where would you like your packages, Miss?”

I instructed him over to the kitchen table and told him to place the items there. Reaching into my purse, I dug around for some cash to give him a tip, but he just waved me off saying that it was already taken care of and to have a good day.

After he left, I stood staring at the packages. There was a garment bag and two smaller ones. Sticking out of one of the smallest bag was an envelope. Tentatively, I reached for it and noticed a small tremble in my hands. The man wasn’t even in my presence, and I could feel the sensations flowing through my body. I opened the envelope to find a note from the club.

I was a little disappointed that the note wasn’t from Dominic. Kelly did say that he would probably not be doing my training anyway. That still terrified me. Dominic was the only man who had touched me other than Jared. Even then, it was only the briefest of touches. It was those small, intimate touches when he tied the ropes on me that had my body on fire more than I ever had with Jared. Why was that? Was it because of the sour feelings now harbored for my ex-husband that had my senses heightened with Dominic? Or was it the man himself? Was it his dark, sexy brooding, or the way he made my body come to attention when he spoke with command and authority? He had ways of making me want to do whatever it was he wanted and all he had to do was say it. Does that make me submissive?

I glanced at the clock to see that it was already twelve thirty. I needed to get cleaned up before I went to the spa. I was a little giddy and surprised by the spa certificate. I had never been to one before. Our finances were always so tight with Jared’s school tuition, that I never had the opportunities for any luxuries. It felt a little like Christmas.

The spa was top of the line. I was waxed, buffed, and polished to within an inch of my life. My skin had never felt so smooth and beautiful. After the body spa and one very relaxing massage later, I headed to the salon. A tall skinny man with white hair and blue tips approached me. He was sporting black framed glasses, bright red skinny jeans and a white shirt under a black vest.

“Hello, gorgeous! I am Nigel and I am going to be doing your hair and makeup today. Oh. My. Gosh, you are such a pretty thing!”

I couldn’t help but giggle at his animation. I wished that I could bottle his energy because I would make millions.

“Mr. Michaels has given us specific instructions for how he would like for you to look for this evening. I hope that is alright with you, honey,” Nigel said to me as he spun me around in the chair before placing a cape around me.

Dominic gave specific instructions?

“I guess if
Mr. Michaels
gave specific instructions, we better follow them shouldn’t we?” I replied with a chuckle.

“Oh, honey pie, I would lick the tires of that man’s car if he asked me to. Have you seen him? All hunky beefed up muscle. Don’t even get me started on his gorgeous eyes and hair. Oh, and his ass could crack walnuts!”

I was laughing so hard at Nigel, my side hurt. At least I knew I was not the only one affected by Dominic. Even if the other person was an obviously gay man. I had a feeling that I could get along well with Nigel.

He ran his fingers through my long blonde hair. He then steepled his fingers under his chin and proceeded to pace in circles around where I was sitting in the chair.

“Ah Ha!” he exclaimed and I nearly fell out of the seat from jumping out of my skin, “Layers, lots of layers and some lowlights to frame this gorgeous face of yours. Mr. Michaels’ wants sexy? I’ll give him a tiger instead of a kitten!”

An hour and a half later I was in a cab on my way back to my apartment. My hair was flowing in gorgeous waves down my back and shoulders. My eyes were smoky and dark and in contrast to my soft pink lips. I tipped the driver when we arrived before making my way into the apartment. Kelly was sitting on the couch enjoying a glass of wine and laughing at some chick on a reality show. Her head snapped up as soon as I opened the door and her jaw dropped opened.

“Holy shit, Ashley! Damn girl, you look gorgeous!” I flushed slightly from her comment. I was not used to getting compliments or receiving attention from anybody.

“Thank you. I had a spa day courtesy of the club.”

“I know! I read the card on the table. So...are you ready for tonight?”

I paused to think about her question as I nervously tried not to pick at my freshly manicured nails. Was I ready for what was to come? Hell no, I wasn’t ready. It was so far outside of my comfort zone, I might as well have been in a new galaxy.

“I’m definitely nervous,” I offered her as an answer.

“You will be fine Ashley. Just trust your trainer, he will show you so much, and take you to wonderful, pleasurable places but you have to trust him.”

I nodded as if I understood her. Trust? How do I trust a man to do things to me and my body that I had never done before? I mean yes, I loved it when Dominic did the rope lesson on me, but how much further would I be able to go?

I walked over to the table where the garment bag that was delivered still sat. Reaching for it, I unzipped the bag and my mouth fell opened when I saw what was inside. Staring back at me was a black corset with pink satin ribbon that crossed around the ribcage before tying off into a bow at the center of the bust. Also inside was a black garter belt with black silk stockings. I reached out and fingered the stockings. They were real satin, not those cheap ones you could get at any department store, but real, soft satin. I peeked into the shopping bag next to the garment bag. Inside was a shoebox. Reaching in, I pulled the box from the bag and peeled the lid from the top to reveal a gorgeous pair of black patent leather stilettos.

Manolo Blahniks? Holy Shit!

Kelly rose up from where she was perched on the couch and sauntered her way over to me. I saw the moment her eyes dilated and I feared she would faint.