Christmas Pet

She glared at me, her lips twisted. “And she can? She doesn’t belong in our circle. She’s not one of us.”

“If by one of us you mean the so-called New York elite, then you’re right, she’s not. She’s better.”

She harrumphed and rolled her eyes. “I expect you at my place on Christmas Eve at seven-thirty.” She then gave her head a small shake, and a smile replaced her frown. “I’m looking forward to it, master.”

When she left, I blew out an explosive breath. Dammit. I should’ve known better than to trust and believe her in the first place, but she had said all the right things and did all the right things until she thought she had me in the palm of her hand. I should have opened my eyes sooner. Even when we’d been together, she’d been halfhearted about obeying my commands.

How was I going to tell Pearl I had a fundraising event to attend next week with Lyla? I’d inadvertently hurt her last night, and I didn’t want to hurt her again. I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t told her Lyla was attending the ball. Maybe I thought she would have figured out my ex would be there, or maybe I was afraid she would back out.

The party had been a trial by fire, but Pearl handled herself well. The party on Saturday night would be a completely different ballgame. I smiled to myself.

I could already see her bound and blindfolded, not knowing what was coming next. Not knowing what I had in store for her.

This party wouldn’t involve fancy dresses or tuxedos. The dress code was the kinkier, the better. I intended to wear what I usually wore whenever I went to the club for a night out—dark jeans and a black T-shirt. Pearl wouldn’t.

She and I would visit Lady Melanie’s boutique on Friday, and afterward, she would stay at my apartment, but I wouldn’t lay a finger on her. I would make her wait. By the time Saturday night arrived, she would be panting.Chapter Fifteen - Pearl“Where are you taking me?”

“Like I told you and million times before, it’s a surprise. You have to learn some patience, pet.” He wiggled his eyebrows and grinned.

“I don’t like surprises. Like at all.”

“That’s a shame because this weekend may contain one or two.”

We stopped outside a brownstone in Greenwich Village. “We’re going to someone’s house?”

“In a way.”

I clenched my fists. Frustration ate me up inside. I’d been telling the truth when I said I didn’t like surprises. I hated not knowing things. James held my hand, and we walked up the steps.

The front door swung open, and a curvaceous fifty-something blonde smiled warmly then stepped back while gesturing for us to come in.

She kissed James’ cheeks then took my hands in hers. I could already tell I liked her. “It’s a chilly one, isn’t it?” she said in an aristocratic British accent. “Jack Frost is certainly nipping around the streets these days.”

James closed the door and shrugged off his coat. “Lady Melanie, this is Pearl. Pearl, this is Lady Melanie. New York’s best-kept secret.”

“Should I curtsey?”

“Not at all. I don’t go in for all that stuff and nonsense. You can call me Melanie. Come this way, my darlings. I’m all ready for you.”

“Ready for what?”

James squeezed my hand. “You’ll see.”

We followed Melanie through a grand foyer with ceilings at least thirty-foot high. We stopped outside a door, which I guessed led down to the basement.

Unsure, I glanced at James. “It’s okay, pet.”

“What’s down there?” I imagined a dungeon filled with torture apparatus, chains, whips, and handcuffs.

“Not what you think.”

Feeling apprehensive but trusting James, I walked down the stairs and into a breathtaking space filled with exquisite lingerie and an area specially dedicated to pleasure toys. In the center of the room stood a podium like the ones in bridal stores. Wide-eyed, I turned around in circles. “Wow.” I ran my fingers along the rails of silk and lace. “I’m in heaven.”

“Still don’t like surprises?”

“I could be convinced otherwise.”

“Melanie is going to help me pick out the perfect pieces for you. She and her girls design and handmake all the lingerie right here.”

“Only for the most special people, sweetie.” She studied me from head to toe. “Why don’t you undress, darling. I need to get a good look at you. There’s a dressing room right over there. Pop out when you’ve taken everything off.”

“What? No.” I didn’t want a woman I’d met less than five minutes ago to see me naked.

“Pet,” James said. I didn’t miss the warning in his voice. It was a warning that said, “if you don’t do what you’re told, you’re going to end up over my knee right here, right now.”

“Fine.” I stomped into the dressing room and quickly undressed. I gripped the curtain and waited for a few beats, but then thought, why not? It wasn’t like I had a disgusting body. Since she designed lingerie for a living, Melanie saw naked women of all shapes and sizes regularly. The hang-up was with me. Being naked in front of people I didn’t know freaked me out.