Chapter Thirty-Four

Braden’s and my celebratory dinner is put on hold when Eugenie texts me, inviting us both to join her and her team at one of Braden’s favorite restaurants. We arrive, and the maître d’ leads us to their table, where they’re already seated.

“Mr. Black,” Eugenie says, standing, “Eugenie Blake. So nice to finally meet you.”

“And you. Please call me Braden.”

“Of course, Braden.” She introduces Shaylie, Brian, and Louisa. “We’re so excited to bring Skye on board.”

“Nice to see all of you again,” I say. “I’ve been reviewing the contract.”

“Oh, no business tonight,” she says. “This is a dinner for all of us to get to know one another better.”

I smile. Sounds good to me. I’ve already signed anyway, but she doesn’t need to know that yet. Let her try to woo me, if that’s indeed what she’s trying to do. I’m not sure of anything at the moment.

Eugenie fires question after question at Braden, which irks me a little but doesn’t surprise me. We all know why I’m here.

Because of Braden.

You’re a fraud.

Stop it!

I peruse the menu and settle on grilled tilapia. Braden explained earlier that I need to be comfortable and not overly full for this evening.

Eugenie and Braden dominate the conversation while I sip water and nibble on a salad.

They dominate the conversation while I pick at my fish, leaving more than half.

They dominate the conversation during after-dinner coffee and cognac as well.

I’ve become invisible.

…

Back at the penthouse, Braden hands me a garment bag. “Put these on.”

I take the bag from him. “Okay.” I lay it on the bed and unzip the vinyl. Inside is a corset, garter belt, lace thong, and fishnet stockings. My eyes widen.

“I’ll help you with the corset,” he says. “I want it nice and tight.”

“O…kay.” I peel my designer business clothes from my body as I throb all over.

Braden removed the anal plug before dinner, and I feel oddly naked without it. Perhaps I’d have felt less invisible at dinner if I were still wearing it. Will he put it back in after I’m dressed in these gorgeously sexy things?

He watches, his eyes heavy-lidded, as I don the thong, the stockings, and I fasten them to the garter belt. He stands, heads to his closet, brings out a shoebox, and hands it to me.

I’m topless, and I open the shoebox. I gasp. Inside, against black tissue paper, lies a pair of platform stiletto sandals.

“Braden, I’ll trip and—”

“Put them on,” he commands.

I sit down on the bed and slide the shoes onto my feet, buckling them into place.

He groans low in his throat. “Stand. I’ll help you with the corset.”

I obey and adjust the corset over my breasts and abdomen.

“Turn,” he says.

I comply, my back now to him.

“A corset is an amazing piece of clothing,” he says as he laces it up the back. “It’s sexy as hell, of course, but it’s also a method of control. I can control how you look, the size of your waist.” He tightens it, and I inhale sharply. “It’s a type of bondage.”

His words turn me on more than they should. “Braden…”

“Don’t worry. You’ll be able to breathe fine. Trust me. Besides, you won’t wear this all night.”

“Are you going to tie me up tonight?” I ask, anxious but excited. “Like in the book?”

“Maybe,” he says, his breath a hot whisper against my neck. “You’ll have to wait and see.”

I look around the room. “It’s different here. So bare. Do you have another room? Like in Fifty Shades of Grey?”

He chuckles. “Never read it.”

“Oh.”

“I think what you’re asking me is whether I have a dungeon in this penthouse. The answer is no.”

“Oh. Then where—”

“Quiet,” he says harshly. “Your questions will be answered, but they’ll be answered on my time.”

He moves to his briefcase sitting on one of the chairs in the bedroom. He opens it and pulls something out. Then he turns back to me, holding a black velvet case. He opens it.

I gasp.

It’s a diamond choker. At least I assume they’re diamonds.

“Kneel before me, Skye.”

My eyes pop open into circles.

“Kneel before me,” he says again. “I’m going to collar you.”

“But I—”

“This is for your own protection.”

“Braden, I—”

“I said kneel!”

I drop to my knees in front of him. “May I speak?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t understand,” I say. “I don’t know a lot about this lifestyle, but doesn’t a collar mean that…?”

“That you’re my property? Yes, it does.”

“But we haven’t discussed this.”

“I know that. It’s for tonight only. As I said, it’s for your protection.” He places the choker around my neck.

It’s cool against my skin. Heavy, as well. I inhale sharply.

“This is temporary, Skye,” he says. “You may rise.”

I stand and meet his gaze. “Temporary?”

“You begged me to introduce you to my lifestyle, and I will, but I cannot do so without adequately protecting you. By wearing my collar, you are off-limits to anyone else. You belong to me, and no one else will touch you.”

“No one else? What do you mean? Why would anyone else be in our bedroom?”

“Because we’re not staying here, Skye. We’re going to a club.”

Fear surges through me. Or is it excitement? Since I met Braden, the two feelings are difficult for me to separate.

“I can’t go out in public wearing this,” I say.

He walks to the closet and pulls out a black trench coat. “This will adequately cover you. And don’t worry. We aren’t going far.”

“What will you wear?”

He’s still dressed in his suit.

“You’ll see.” He walks back into the closet, closing the door behind him this time.

I wait.

And I wait.

Finally Braden emerges, wearing another black trench coat that covers him from shoulders to knees. From his knees down, he’s dressed in simple black pants and leather shoes.

What the…?

“Are you ready, Skye?” he asks, his voice low and dark.

I swallow. Then I nod.

“I need to hear you answer affirmatively.”

“Yes, Braden,” I say. “I’m ready.”

I force myself not to stumble in the stilettos as we walk out of Braden’s living quarters and through his makeshift office, which is now eerily empty—a massive change from the night we got here.

“Where is everyone?” I ask.

“I sent them all home,” he says.

“Does that mean your business is concluded?”

“My business is never concluded. It simply means they’re working elsewhere.”

“But why—”

“Enough questions, Skye. I don’t think anything I tell you can adequately prepare you for what you’ll experience tonight, so I’ve made the decision to take you in blind.”

“Blind?”

“Not literally. I won’t blindfold you. In fact, I want all your senses on alert tonight. I want you to take in everything. Only then will you be able to tell me truthfully what you think afterward.” He slides a card through the device to call the elevator.

When the doors open, he gestures for me to step inside. He follows. Then he takes a second card out of his wallet and slides it through the device inside the elevator.

“Why do you need a card?” I ask. “Aren’t we going to the lobby?”

“No.”

“Then where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

The elevator descends, and when the doors open, I gasp.

“Welcome,” Braden says, “to Black Rose Underground.”