InvitingTheDevil (7 page)

“Girls, stop chatting. Odette, hurry up. You’re first. Danea, you’re last each round because you’re wearing Kalem’s exclusive designs, but hurry and get ready in case there’s a last minute glitch, girl.”

I’d almost forgotten I was still naked. I pulled the blue G-string out of the bag and put it on, followed by the shoes. The dress was next. I carefully let it slide over my head trying not to muss my hair. Hans was already by my side with a brush.

The wait seemed long before it was my turn. Sheldon had me standing by the door. I waited for the narrator to finish and Sheldon gave me a little nudge. I walked onto the stage. The music was loud, deafening. At first, I was blinded by the spotlight aimed at me, then I noticed a sea of faces waiting expectantly. I almost froze, then remembered Sheldon’s instructions. Phaze out. Pretend you’re there alone and modeling for the love of your life. I imagined Kalem among the faces. He was probably there, somewhere. I concentrated on him and stepped forward. I paused when I got back to the stage and swiveled several times, loud clapping overshadowed the music. Still doing the model walk, I swayed to the door and slipped through as another model slipped past me onto the stage.

I let out a deep breath. Sheldon was beside me instantly.

“You did well. Matter of fact, if I didn’t know better, I’d swear you’d done this before. You’re a natural, darling. Now go and change. The black is next.”

I dug in the bag. No G-string to wear with the black dress. I slipped into it and waited for Sheldon to fasten the collar for me. “There’s no G-string,” I said.

“Nope. Or for the silver dress. Kalem ordered you’re to wear nothing under those two.”

“Better get used to it, babe,” Odette told me and winked.

I put on the high heels. Sheldon adjusted the dress here and there. When I stood before the mirror and Hans touched up my hair, the makeup girl dabbed at my face applying a more vivid color lipstick on my lips, I gazed at my reflection. I saw the shimmering of my new clit ring through the gauzy material. I had no choice, it was too late to back out now. Odette took off, dressed in a stunning red gown. Parts of it were see-through, and a low back showed part of her crack, the bodice barely covering her breasts and clung to her Amazon body. Not only was the gown stunning, so was she. I waited for her to finish and Sheldon pushed me through the door. Like before, I pretended my only audience was Kalem. How would I parade this dress for him? I smiled. Something I’d been told not to do. Loud clapping ensued. My heart hammered against my ribs as I made my way back, swiveled several times on the stage and walked gracefully to the door.

“Oh, my God, girl. You brought the building down,” Sheldon said.

“I didn’t notice.”

“Good. You’ll freeze if you start taking notice of the audience. Now go. Last dress and the highlight of the evening. I’ll be with you shortly.”

It was all so fast paced—I hardly had time to breathe. No G-string for that dress either, Sheldon had said. Damn, and this one was completely sheer from top to bottom. I stepped into the gossamer dress first and carefully pulled it up. I was scared stiff I’d tear the fragile fabric. Sheldon joined me and helped me into the silver harness. After I slipped the matching high heels on, he fastened a silver slave bracelet around both my wrists with a large ring dangling from each. He spun me to face the mirror.

“Oh, my God. I can’t go out there like this, Sheldon! You can see almost everything.”

“Darling, you think you can because you know you’re not wearing anything underneath. It’s not that bad.”

I knew he was lying to make me feel better. The lights were bright inside the change room and I could clearly make out my clit, my little tuft of dark pubic hair, and the gold clit ring. My nipples, so much darker because of the tan, were clearly visible and hard as a rock. The adrenaline coursed through me, my clit throbbing and swollen, my pussy lips were hot and engorging by the minute. I gazed at my back. Half my crack was visible above the material. Had the seamstress made it lower? And what was covered, might as well not have been.

“I might as well walk out there stark naked.”

“Get a grip, darling. You brought the house down with the black dress, just wait for the reaction to this one. Do what I told you. Pretend you’re modeling it for your lover.”

“I don’t have one.”

“Dammit, girl, pretend you have one. Don’t you drool over some movie star like most women?”

I wanted to revolt, and yet I felt excitement. I conjured Kalem’s face up in my mind and bolts of lightning shot through my body as if he was there, touching me. I could hardly breathe. My throat felt constricted as I waited. I froze when I had to go onto the stage. Sheldon pushed me hard and I almost stumbled through the door. The narrator’s voice was a droning sound. I barely heard what she said over the loud music and wondered vaguely if the audience could understand her. There were probably speakers throughout the ballroom.

“Go, darling, go. Think about that gorgeous lover waiting for you,” Sheldon urged from somewhere behind me.

I walked ahead, ignoring the spotlight, as it switched colors and followed me along the catwalk. I walked back, heard the whistles, the applause, the stomping of feet. Vaguely, I saw people standing up as they clapped and I made my way back to the stage. If I thought I was finished, I was mistaken. Who did I find waiting for me on the stage in his tight leather breeches, leather boots and wearing a white poet shirt slit to the waist? None other than Kalem. He had a whip in one hand and some sort of leather strap in the other. Joining me, he smiled down at me and clipped the leather strap to the ring on my collar. “Walk with me,” he said softly, but loud enough for me to hear.

He tugged slightly, holding the strap and swishing the whip. I followed him. I was absolutely dumbfounded by this unexpected turn of events. He walked slow, swishing the whip every few seconds. It seemed to take forever before we reached the end of the catwalk then turned and headed back to the stage. When we got there, he pulled at the collar forcing me down to my knees. Sheldon hadn’t been kidding when he said I’d bring the house down with this dress. I felt sick suddenly and utterly humiliated. Yet I was horny as blazes. Had he ever performed like that with his other models?

Kalem bowed. He tugged slightly at my collar and made me stand up. I inclined my head slightly as the applause continued. A full, bright white spotlight was trained on us. I was sure the audience could see right through my dress.

Walking backward to the door, Kalem ushered me through. Sheldon was waiting.

“My God, Kalem, you brought the house down with this gown,” he said.

“I think who was in it brought the house down. You’ll wear this dress during the reception, Danea.”

He expected me to walk among those people on full display? I shook my head and saw his eyes darken. I recalled his words, and the warnings I’d heard. Obey at all times. Okay. Who did I know here anyway? This was high society, they were people I’d never ever meet again. My face burned with shame. Kalem returned to the stage, but not until he told me, “I’ll see you later. Don’t leave with the other girls.”

I noticed all the models wore the last dress they’d shown. Some were risqué, but none as revealing as mine.

“You were great, girlfriend,” Odette said. “I don’t know if I would have dared.”

“I’ve been told by Kalem and quite a few others that to disobey Kalem is to get fired in a hurry.”

“Yes. Our contracts states it and we signed to that effect. I still don’t know if I would have dared.”

“I made up my mind when I realized I don’t know any of those people and they don’t know me. I’ll never see any of them again.”

“Your pictures will be all over the internet.”

I hadn’t thought of that. “The only one I’d be concerned about is my mother and she doesn’t have a computer. Has Kalem ever performed like that with any of his models?”

“Not as far as I know. He usually speaks after the show, but he’s never joined anyone on the catwalk. It’s quite unusual.”

“I felt like a goddamn slave.”

“Well, darling, you’ve heard of bondage, I presume?” Sheldon joined us.

“Yes, but—”

“That was the whole concept behind the black dress and this one.”

“I got that picture when he led me down the catwalk as if I were a pet.”

“You’d be surprised how many of the elite are into BDSM. There are dozens private clubs and they more than likely practice it in the privacy of their bedrooms. I bet orders tonight will hit an all-time high and each will want a dress exclusively designed for their woman, or in some cases, women. But come, they’ll be serving dinner soon.”

Dinner? I doubted I could get a bite down my throat. I followed Odette and Sheldon to the ballroom. Sheldon led the way and stopped at Kalem’s table. “You’ll sit with Kalem, darling.” He pulled the chair out for me and I sat stiffly next to my supposed master.

The people at Kalem’s table were all men, no women. They ogled me, gazes glued to my breasts. I felt terribly exposed, but managed to nod in acknowledgement as Kalem introduced me. “Gentlemen, my newest protégé, Danea Fitzgerald. A toast to her first show and a marvelous performance.”

“I hate you,” I whispered tight-lipped from behind my glass of wine.

“You loved every minute of it,” he retorted as he sipped his wine.

I drank mine fast—too fast. A waiter hovered nearby and quickly refilled my glass. I downed the second glass, too. A languor entered me, almost an acceptance of what had occurred. It was over and the show had been a raging success. All due to me, according to Kalem, although I’m sure it would have been a success without me. I listened as he told the men how he’d discovered me and designed the three dresses especially for me. I should feel flattered. From what Odette had told me, he’d never lavished that kind of attention on any new model.

Dinner was prime rib roast with garlic-mashed potatoes and a medley of fancy vegetables. When the delectable aroma of the meat and gravy entered my nostrils, I actually felt the first pangs of hunger. The wine had settled my nerves and stomach. While I ate, I wished Odette could have sat at our table. I felt a little lost among so many men. I counted six besides Kalem. Three of them were older men, the other three in their late thirties or early forties.

I declined dessert and had another glass of wine. By then, I felt slightly giddy and I couldn’t help but get turned on by the lust I read in the other men’s eyes. I absorbed their admiration of my body like I was drinking the sweetest nectar. Shame no longer bothered me. Instead I felt something I’d never had, pride at my appearance, pride at my body.

Kalem leaned toward me. “You need to slow down with the wine or I’ll have to carry you out of here.”

I set my glass on the table and drank water instead. He was right. It was hard enough walking on the very high heels without being tipsy. The evening progressed much too slow. Now the show was over, I just wanted to go home and get out of the much-too-revealing dress.

Kalem finally excused us from the table. “Gentlemen, it’s been wonderful, as always. It’s time for us to leave. Danea’s had a long grueling day and so have I. Goodnight.”

That time he pulled the chair out for me as I stood and, taking me by the arm, he guided me out of the ballroom. The men rose as we walked away and I swayed my hips seductively reveling in the thought I’d probably made them all horny as hell. I giggled. Their wives or lady friends would have a good time that night.

“What’s funny?” Kalem asked.

“Nothing.”

“Are you in the habit of giggling for no reason?”

I didn’t answer him. I was grateful he hadn’t hooked me to the leather leash, though I wouldn’t have put it past him.

His personal limo was white. Supporting me as we walked down the steps, he helped me into it, then slid in beside me. I thought he’d drop me at home. Instead, we pulled up before another mansion.

“Home, sweet home,” he said.

“This is yours?”

“Every square inch of it.”

“I wanted to go home. I’m really tired and my feet are killing me.”

“I’d like your company for a while. Do you mind?”

Do I mind?
I was still angry with him over the dress and the performance.
Tell him you want to go home
, a little voice nagged at me. No. I wanted to know why he desired my company. My curiosity and deep down desire to be with him, won.

Chapter Five

The exterior of his house was beautiful. House? It was a mansion. The interior was out of this world. His indoor pool was overly inviting, but if I wanted to keep the tan, I couldn’t swim. He must have noticed my longing expression.

“There won’t be another show for some weeks now. We can go swimming later if you like. If you like the tan, you can go to the salon any time to get another treatment. Would you like something to drink? I’ll order margaritas. Do you like them?”

“Strawberry margaritas. Yum.”

He’d led me into a large room. Exquisitely decorated, classy, yet comfortable and cozy at the same time. A wall of windows and sliding doors opened onto a large patio and an outdoor pool. He picked up a phone and I heard him give some orders.

“You have staff on duty at night?”

“Yes. Until three in the morning. Sometimes later, if I throw a party for some of my close friends. What do you think of my humble abode?”

“Far from humble. It’s lavish, reeking of the rich and famous. I like it. It’s very tastefully decorated and still feels like a home.”

“Make yourself comfortable. Actually, no, not yet. Now that I have you all to myself, I want to admire my creation. Walk for me.”

“I’m still furious at you.”

“Are you now?”

His lazy drawl infuriated me. “Yes, how dare you display me like that then treat me as if I’m your slave.”

“Whoa! Watch it. Remember the contract you signed.”

“Oh, I haven’t forgotten.”

“I expect full obedience.”

“Why single me out?”

“Because you’re perfection. You’ve shown qualities none of my other models have ever displayed.”

“Right. Mousy Danea suddenly turned into a white swan. Wash off all the makeup and glamour, and it’s back to mousy me.”