Stoned (The Stone Series) (19 page)

Alex treats Monica, Scott and I to lunch at a deli close by S&S. Monica and I order veggie wraps and the men get turkey clubs. We all seem to get along well and our conversations flow easily. I am younger than the others with Monica being the closest to my age. When we return to S&S Monica and Scott walk me through some of the projects they’ve just completed. They are both very good at what they do. Scott enjoys doing commercial designs more than residential and Monica feels the opposite. They show me some resourceful websites and take me on an outing all over the city. They show me where they find the best buys when designing on a budget and where the most exclusive shops are. They introduce me to the shop owners as their new colleague and clue me in on who is naughty and who is nice. By the time we get back to S&S it’s almost six, we all get our belongings together, say our good-byes and head our separate ways. I go straight to the gym.

The gym is spectacular. The street level houses the welcome desk and locker rooms. The first floor has the spaces used for classes; the second floor is where all of the weight machines and free weights are located with a loft space running above for the cardio equipment so when people are on their treadmill they can watch the classes below. The basement level has the juice bar, sauna and showers with additional locker rooms.  All of the people are welcoming and friendly. I am given a tour and my membership card before I begin my workout.

I spend about an hour on cardio, I normally wouldn’t spend that much time on the treadmill, bike and elliptical machine but I’m feeling stressed and frustrated and it seems to be helping. I then head up to do a circuit of weights before jumping in the shower and grabbing my bag for Hard as Stone. Once there I get changed into Cinnamon Stick’s costume and head on stage.

I do my first two sets without incident but during my third set I notice a familiar face in the crowd moving closer to the stage. He has clearly recognized me as well and a chill runs over my body. I stop dancing and run from the stage as fast as I can, that was my mistake. I should have gone backstage to safety. Mark grabs me and in the second he has before two body guards take him to the floor he whispers the two words that are my undoing, “Sleep tight.”

I am so shaken I can’t move. Clark is by my side covering me with a robe within minutes. He ushers me to the bar and hands me a drink. I’m thankful for the smooth warm liquid that burns on its way down my throat.

“It happens to all the girls baby, don’t sweat it. You saw how fast they had him out of here and now he’ll never get back in. We keep a list on the computer. When the guys come to the door their IDs are swiped and if he tries to get in again it’ll pop up on the computer.”  

“Thanks for the drink but I think I’d better just head home for the night. I’m going to get changed.”

I am escorted out of the building and one of the body guards rides with me to my apartment to make sure Mark has not followed me home. I thank him at the door to my building and head inside. The first thing I do is check my phone but I have heard nothing from Damian since this afternoon. I decide to get ready for bed and before I have the chance to call him he calls me. We FaceTime and I’m glad to see his face. I wish he were here with me especially after seeing Mark.

“Hey, Syd. You are a sight for sore eyes, baby. I feel like I haven’t seen you in weeks and it’s only been the day. How was your first day at S&S?”

I tell him about my new account and Monica and Scott. We talk about his flight and he tells me he’s leaving for Aspen in a few hours to see a hotel there. He says the guy who owns the hotels is jerking him around and he’s ready to snap his neck and back out. I tell him to hang in there and hurry home. Before we hang up he questions me, “Did you read the paperwork yet Sydney? Do any research? Do you have any questions?”

“No, I worked late then went to the gym and had to stop for something to eat so I’m just now getting settled in” I lie unable to tell him about my night job. “I promise I’ll read it. But I told you Damian, for you I’ll try. I just don’t know that I’m going to be very good at it.”

“I can’t imagine you not being good at anything you set your mind to. We’ll learn some things together. I told you some of it’s very new to me as well.”

“I do want to talk to you about the other ones, the twenty before me and the older woman who taught you” I say.

“And we will I promise. Read the contract, do some research and write down all your questions. I have to run now; I have to make this flight. We’ll talk tomorrow. Now kiss me through the phone, baby” Damian requests and I make a pout and blow him a kiss.

“Sleep tight” I hear for the second time tonight as his face disappears from sight.

And then it hits me and I start to wonder why Mark would say that to me. Could he know about Ryan, and who I am? And then I see his face again and I start to remember that I’ve seen him before,
standing at the foot of my bed saying, “Give it to her man. Fuck her good” and then “Get her ready for this.” I had tried so hard not to look at the faces of the other two boys, unable to endure the horror of being watched while Ryan forced himself on me but I remember Mark now. He was the one with his erection in his hand pumping it while Ryan raped me. He waited for Ryan to finish then he said, “Get out of my way”. When he was about to climb on top of me we heard a car pull into the driveway and he ran out of my room. Ryan had threatened another time with his friends but thankfully it never happened.

I am so shaken over the ordeal I can’t bring myself to go to sleep, instead I reach for my brief case and pull out the manila envelope and climb into bed hoping for a distraction from my terror, knowing I will not find sleep tonight and maybe not again until Damian returns and I can feel safe in his arms. 

Chapter 1
0

Before I pull the paperwork from the envelope I take a deep breath and try to calm my nerves. I can’t understand how I have gotten to this place. What is it about Damian that is making me respond to him like I am? There is something in him, in what we can be together that is making it possible for me to consider his proposition. I should be running away from him as fast as I can but instead I am considering being his sexual submissive and I don’t honestly even know what that means yet.

If I’m being honest with myself, I have to admit that I don’t know if I truly have it in me to follow through on what he’s asking for. A shiver passes through my body from deep in my toes all the way to the hairs on my head. All I keep thinking of is the feeling of his hands on my body, his kisses on my lips. I can’t lose those feelings. My desire for him to touch me, to be close to him and yes, to have him inside of me is greater than my desire for the self preservation I know I should be protecting.

I finally find the courage to pull the document from the envelope and begin to read. I read until my mind feels like it’s going to explode, when I can’t read any further I decide to just glance over the rest of the document but put it down before I read the sections on the Terms and Conditions, Punishment, Safe words, Obedience and Compliance, Limits, and the Termination of the Contract. I start my list of questions, comments, likes and concerns then send Damian a text asking him to check his email. I send my list to him in an email from my personal account.

Just started 2 read contract check your emai
l

From: Sydney Cooper

Subject:
Contract

Date: May 2
9, 2012 2:07am

To:
Damian Stone

Hey Day,

I know it’s late but I couldn’t wait to send this…I just finished reading the contract, well, the sections I’m going to read, I only read the first few. It’s not that I’m not willing to discuss what’s in the other sections it’s just that I would rather discuss them then read about them. Can we talk about this before I read any further? Here are my thoughts…

You sa
y “Use me” in the document. How exactly?

You mentioned having
your sub submit completely to you in all ways and at all times…submit how, can you explain? Why all things all time?

Like your top priority being health, safety and mental well being. It makes me feel safe.

Punishment scares me…we need to really talk about this one

T
ime and place of the training, guidance and punishment…again, we need to talk this through before I agree to anything.

M
y body will belong to you? How is that?

I still want my answer to be yes but again I don’t think I can do the things you will want me to
, I don’t think I can make you happy. And that is after only reading the first page.

Me

I must have fallen asleep after I sent Damian the email because I don’t wake up until my alarm starts blaring at eight in the morning. I jump from my bed, I wasn’t even under the covers, and my bed is still made, my laptop asleep like I was but still open. I rush through a shower and get dressed
, barely splashing some color over my face. I skip breakfast and head out not wanting to be late for my second day. As I exit my apartment building I see the familiar Escalade at the curb and Jonesie steps out. “Standing order Ms. Cooper” he says as way of explanation. I smile and nod my greeting to him.

As I am driven to work I open my email on my phone and read Damian’s email from the middle of the night.

From: Damian Stone

Subject: You are killing me

Date: May 2
9, 2012 2:49am

To: Sydney Cooper

Sydney,

I am going to speak to you openly and honestly in this correspondence about what I wish for our relationship and I hope that my words will not offend you, I hope some will excite you.

Communication is of ultimate importance in BDSM relationships as I expect it is in a vanilla one. You must always be open and honest with me, talk to me,
and ask me questions. I will always listen to your concerns and help you work through them. Don’t mistake me Sydney, there will be things that you will think you don’t want to do but after I help you accept them you will thank me and maybe even beg me for more! That would bring me such pleasure. I need you to trust me and feel safe or this will not work. To achieve the ultimate in pleasure that I have to offer you, you must first trust me completely.

Our power dynamic will always be clear, I will guide you and our activities but know that I will always remain extremely aware of your desires and limits. I will pay very close attention to the signals from your body
and in time I will be able to read them as well as my own.

I want to first apologize for asking you to read through the contract. You’re
right; this is something we should discuss not handle like a business transaction but in the past that is what it was to me, a transaction. Please forgive me; I am new to the type of arrangement we are embarking on. In the past I have dealt with women who were familiar with my expectations and I was signing into a business arrangement of sorts with them, I don’t want that for us. I want us to be together, open and honest with each other and I think we can accomplish that in a better way then I originally presented to you.

That being
said let me try to answer the questions who have brought up thus far then we can discuss the rest of the contents together so you understand what this lifestyle entails.

I will use you in any way I see fit for your pleasure and my own.
I will never use you in the negative sense of the word. You are too special to me and you never have nor ever will deserve that kind of treatment. I will expect you to participate in sexual activities with me when I ask and bring me pleasure when I ask. I will do the same for you, not any different than in a standard relationship I expect. There may be times when your pleasure is withheld for various reasons but you will never withhold mine, however I may choose to do that to myself from time to time. In which case you will obey me and not allow me any further pleasures until instructed to do so. I will be in control, that’s not up for discussion. You’ll have many lessons in delayed gratification; it’s a favorite of mine.

Now for your submission…You will
give up control for long periods of time to me during sex, however you will have your opinions and your choices heard before we begin and in our everyday relationship. That does not mean you will get your way. Although you will give up control understand that the power is really still equal. Sex will mostly be where your submission occurs. I want to do “normal” in our everyday lives but I will still need some power there too, Sydney. So when I say you will answer my calls or tell me where you are going to be I mean it, at all times. I will never belittle or embarrass you in public but I will always be your Dominant and I will expect you to act accordingly or I will have to punish you.

I
understand your concerns and we can discuss them over the phone or when I get home, however you’d prefer. But let me make this clear I must have your trust and you have mine. I know punishment scares you but you need to experience it first to understand. It will bring you to a world of pleasure you cannot at this time comprehend. As for the time and place of your training, guidance and punishment, they will all occur in our privacy or in the appropriate places at The Society. Again, Sydney, you must trust me completely. Yes, baby, your body is mine and I can’t wait to claim it for the first time. We’ll discuss this further when we speak.

I desperately need your answer to be yes. I
know you can do the things I will ask of you, we’ll do them together. I hope my blunt words have not scared you away or offended you in any way.

I miss you and can’t wait to see you on Friday. We will attend
The Society and you will understand a little better. I will send you something to wear for the evening.

I will call you later baby
so we can talk about all of this but now I need to get some much needed sleep then deal with this son of a bitch in Aspen. Later tonight I will be flying to Atlanta and then on Thursday I will head to South Beach and finally home to you. That reminds me, I couldn’t think of what to use as a ringtone for you so I called my cousin and he suggested
Home
. I listened to it and I think it’s perfect. So now every time you call me I’ll hear it.

Have a great second day at work
.

Talk later today…

D- 

Damian Stone

CEO, Stone Empire, Inc.

I almost forgot,
Andrea called me and told me you will be taking a client to Stone’s for lunch. You will have the privacy of my private room and the meal will be on the house so please order whatever you and your client like. I just hope this is not a male client who will become infatuated with you as I have. I am a very jealous man, Sydney. Please know that and don’t ever test my limits on it.

***********

I find myself tantalized by his words
and I can’t wait to speak to him about everything. After reading his email I feel a little better about where this is heading.

When I get into S&S I am faced with craziness. Monica looks ready to rip someone’s head off and Scott is trying to talk the delivery man into something. I learn that the order Monica was waiting for is incorrect and she’s trying to take it out on the poor delivery man’s hid.

Alex walks over to me and smiles, asks me how my night was. I don’t tell him about reading the contract or my email to Damian. I smile politely back at him and tell him it was fine. I admit to missing Damian and wanting to talk to him. Alex offers to take me to dinner tonight but I tell him I’m going to the gym again then maybe meeting up with some girlfriends. I head to my desk to start my work for the day.

The office commotion is still going strong and it’s because of this commotion that no one notices when I approach my desk and find two items again. One is a box wrapped in the most beautiful paper and another is a strange bouquet of some sort of flower. I open the box first to find a ring from Cartier inside with a note from Damian. The ring is an entwined thread of white gold, and I instantly put it on my ring finger on my right hand, he can’t possibly mean for it to go on my left. The note from Damian inside reads…

S-

This ring is designed to represent promise and hope.
Your saying yes has given me that. I can’t wait to show you my world. I will teach you things you can’t begin to imagine and I hope to learn things from you as well. I hope you will wear this ring always to represent our bond of promise and hope to each other.

D-

I smile and wish he were here so I could kiss him. I almost pick up the phone to call him when I notice that the flowers are actually rhododendrons which again, I think is odd, it being more of a plant and not Damian’s style. I do a quick search on the internet and find out their meaning is “beware”. It’s then that I get a sick feeling in my stomach. The flowers are arranged with leaves and a note, the note inside says …

Sydney,

I know who you are and what you’ve done. Does your boyfriend know? He will soon. Beware and sleep tight until we meet again.

I drop the note and look frantically from side to side. I don’t know what to do. I want to run to Damian but he’s not here. I think about calling him but then decide not to. I haven’t told him the whole story yet. I want to wait until we’re face to face, then it will be time for it all to be revealed. No more secrets. I want to tell Alex but then he’ll feel obligated to call Damian and in truth I don’t want to worry him. He’s miles away, what can he do? I decide to pull myself together and carry on with my day. I know Jonesie will be back for noontime to take me to Stone’s for lunch with my new client so it’s not like Ryan or Mark can just grab me off the street. I’m beginning to worry that maybe it was Ryan and not Mark who sent this to me. The last I heard Ryan lives in California but if Mark recognized me and they’re still friends, he could have called Ryan and told him where I am.

To distract myself from the note and horrible flowers I call my doctor and she faxes over my medical records. I figure if Damian and I are going to enter into a sexual relationship it’s the responsible thing to do., he’s promised to do the same.

***********

Ryan calls Mark and tells him he’s with Stone in Aspen and asks if he’s gotten any closer to finding Sydney. Mark tells him about the flowers and that he knows where she works, both her day and night jobs. “Get this man, you’ll never believe this. She’s an interior designer by day at Stone’s design firm then by night she’s a stripper at Stone’s strip club.”