Page 34 of For Love & Torture
Chapter 16
Isabel
It’s hard not to smile as Grant sits on one side of me and Bart strategically takes the other side. The lounge is small, intimate, and lit up by candles alone. Soft music filters out of the speaker system, telling me we’ll be watching a rather demure scene rather than one that’s racy or brutish.
My glass is still in Grant’s hand, and he sips at the Tom Collins Bart ordered for me. I’m not complaining though. It is good to be out of my office and enjoying some of the things that go on all around me instead of being stuck in the four walls that keep me from all the fun.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see a man dressed in a dark suit get up and walk around the small round table, taking a woman with long golden curls by the hand. As he speaks, I realize this is the show as he’s wearing a hidden microphone. “Come with me, baby,” he tells his companion.
Dutifully, the woman goes along with her Dom, head only slightly bent as she allows him to lead her to the front of the room. The room’s small enough that there’s no need for a stage for us to see the people who are at the front, ready to give us a little show.
A soft blue spotlight gives their skin a subtle hue, making it seem as if they’re underwater. With one gesture to the floor, the sub goes into position, waiting with her head down as the man walks in a circle around her. “My sub has been with me for nearly a year now. Tomorrow marks our one year anniversary. Thanks to The Dungeon of Decorum we’ve been able to live out our fantasies without fear of being judged by society.”
Bart leans in to whisper, “That’s exactly why I’m here too.”
I catch Grant looking at us out of the corner of his eye as he takes a drink before putting the glass down. Underneath the table, he takes my hand, placing it on his thigh and holding it there, where no one else can see what it is we’re doing.
The thrill I get from this little bit of contact is almost sad, as I’ve felt deprived of his touch for some time now. Grant and I have fallen into bed or had quick office sex only a handful of times in the last year. Only when he’s feeling weak, desperate for my touch. A thing he chastises himself for after the deed has been done.
Turning my attention back to the man up front, I hear him say, “Tonight, we want to play out a scene that actually happened to us while we were out in town one night after enjoying a meal together. We hope you understand what you see.”
With a snap of his fingers, his sub stands up, and he takes her in his arms, holding her in a loose grip and softly kissing her lips. “I had a wonderful time tonight,” she tells him.
“Me too.” He lets her go and takes her hand, managing to take only a couple of steps before she seems to twist her ankle and nearly falls to her knees before he catches her.
A woman suddenly walks past them out of the side of the room. She stops and looks back at the couple as the Dom stoops to fix the strap on his sub’s high-heeled sandal. “Oh, Master I can do that,” the sub says.
The look on the passing woman’s face tells the audience she’s highly incensed. Marching up to the couple, she shouts at the man who is still on his knees, dealing with his sub’s shoe. “What did you say?”
The sub looks down, unsure of what she should say. She looks frantic. “Oh, I’m so sorry, I had no idea anyone was around. I would’ve never…”
“Do not apologize to him, sweetheart.” The woman reaches out to the sub as the Dom stands back up. “Come to me. I’ll take you to safety.”
“She’s quite safe with me,” the Dom says with a smile.
The woman’s face is filled with disgust. “You? Her master?” She looks the Dom up and down. “Does belittling women turn you on? Does beating poor innocent girls do it for you, you piece of dog shit?”
The Dom takes his sub’s hand and tries to walk away. The sub looks at him with sorrowful eyes. “She’s wrong. Don’t listen to her.”
Unfortunately for the couple, the woman follows behind them, taunting the Dom. “Why don’t you try to hit me and see what happens to you, Master? Why don’t you come back here and deal with a real woman? A woman who won’t cower to you, you son of a bitch.” She changes her ugly tone to one of concern as she addresses the girl. “Sweetheart, do you have a family that should know what’s happened to you? I can help you. Just say the word, and I’ll have this asshole on the ground in no time, and I’ll get you to your family. I’m sure they love you, sweetheart. I can help you. Just tell me you want help, and I’ll take this guy out.”
The Dom stops, stopping his sub as well. They turn to face the woman. “Madam, I’m sure you mean well. This woman is free to leave me if she wants to. She’s always had that freedom and then some. I assure you that nothing happens to her that she does not want.” He turns to face the sub. “Delores, you do know you’re free to leave me and will receive no repercussions for doing so, right?”
“I do,” come the sub’s fast words. “I do not wish to leave you.” She looks at the woman. “I’m sure you mean well, just like Jack said, but I don’t want to leave him, and he doesn’t do a thing to me I don’t want to be done. Thank you for your concern.”
“Brainwashed!” the woman shouts. “You’ve brainwashed her! No woman wants to be tied up and beaten. No woman wants to be lorded over by some man. And no man in his right mind wants to do those things to a woman. Poor girl, you’ve been brainwashed. Please, come with me and leave this life behind you.”
A few more people come out of the dark corners of the room, forming a semi-circle around the couple. They all begin to taunt the Dom, calling him every name in the book.
My heart is pounding at the sight, and the thought that this actually happened to the poor couple nearly has me crying. Grant’s hand is squeezing mine, and I know he must feel anger at the people who’re being so mean to the Dom.
As if the Dom was a vicious murderer, the small mob pelts him with harsh words. When a man threatens to beat his ass the way he beats women’s asses, the sub has had enough. “Shut up!” Her chest is heaving as she’s fed up with the people speaking to her Dom that way. “Enough! Leave us, or I’m calling the police, and you all will be charged with harassment. I’m a lawyer, and I can make the charges stick. Now, leave us alone!”
The crowd falls silent. “A lawyer?” the woman who started it all asks in disbelief.
“Yes, I’m a lawyer and am quite capable of taking care of myself with this man. And you all are hateful people. Now, do as I said and go away. Leave us alone.”
The little mob does as they’re told and her Dom looks at her with adoration in his eyes. Then he takes her hand and they walk into the shadows. Everyone stands and applauds their heartbreaking scene.
