Page 93 of The Saint
Others were gagged.
All were utterly motionless.
The time and talent necessary to tie each knot… the surrender and submission to be tied… Amelia couldn’t fathom but couldn’t look away.
Esme appeared at her side. “Welcome.”
Amelia shouldn’t have been surprised at how easily Camden greeted Esme. Their easy conversation flowed before she managed to say hello. Esme’s attire reminded Amelia ofher usual event clothes, though they weren’t the same. With diamonds and a black bodice dress, Esme dripped sensuality. But she was also not on display like her guests. “Esme, thank you for inviting us.”
“In this setting, you’ll call me Mistress Esme.”
“Of course.” There was so much to absorb. Camden had said Mistress. Amelia would have to do better on picking up details for tonight to go smoothly.
“Gorgeous, isn’t it?” Esme asked her of the pedestalled display.
“More than I could have imagined,” Amelia breathed.
“Shibari. A form of Japanese rope bondage. It takes a very intimate, trusting partnership to create such beauty. Some subs will pose for a few minutes. Others much, much longer. The ones joining us tonight have been chosen for their experience and abilities.” Esme gestured to the people standing to the side of each pillar, just out of the spotlights’ focus. “Those are the riggers responsible for their care and well-being. They watch for distress and have tools ready to release them if there’s a problem.”
“They’re artists.”
“With ropes and knots in place of plaster and paint.” Esme grinned devilishly. “You two should try it sometime. There are lessons.”
Camden’s eyebrow arched with interest.
Amelia balked. “I’m not the sit-naked-on-a-pillar type.”
Esme laughed. “No one jumps into calculus without first learning how to add.” She pointed a finger at Camden. “Don’t let her say no without learning all the possibilities.”
Amelia opened her mouth to protest but didn’t have a reason other than fear of the unknown. She turned toward Camden and let him handle Esme. Before he could, another woman joined their conversation.
“Mistress, what a wonderful gathering,” the other woman said. A naked man followed on her heels.
Esme’s face lit up and warmly greeted only the woman. No one acknowledged the naked man. Er—almostnaked. Something leather and metal was wrapped around his cock, and Amelia wasn’t sure where to look.
“Mistress Marissa,” Esme said, “let me introduce you to Michael and Briana, who I’ve recently become acquainted with.”
“Lovely to meet you.” Marissa didn’t mention the man with his chin tucked by her side.
Amelia wondered if Marissa was her real name. Briana didn’t seem to fit Amelia. The name Michael didn’t work for Camden, either, but she supposed that wasn’t the point. Why hadn’t anyone told her they’d have secret code names?
“Marissa is an art importer.”
Amelia’s focus fell entirely on Marissa. Elephants could’ve been dancing around a naked orgy, and she wouldn’t have noticed. “An art importer?” Her voice might have sounded too eager. “Do you have a specialty?” Hailey had once told Amelia that was the easiest question to rely on when socializing with her professor friends. That probably worked for her bondage-party friends too.Why not?
The other woman beamed. “Yes. Venetian glass. I helped Esme source her chandeliers.” Marissa caught Amelia’s gaze drifting toward the ceilings. “No, not these. Too southern Gothic for my taste.”
“Every room can’t be adorned in crystal flowers and gold leaves.”
Amelia laughed because Esme did. Camden cracked a smile.Oh, the small talk of the rich and powerful.Amelia wished the conversation would shift to anything that would help find Hailey.
Esme gestured to Camden. “Michael recently purchased the rights to the Vidalario collection, making him the very lucky owner of a Bouvant that I would very much like access to.”
“Oh, a Bouvant.” Marissa pressed her jewel-encrusted hand over her heart. “I wasn’t even aware there was one out the wild.”
Again, someone could’ve told Amelia what stories Esme would use ahead of time. If she’d had time to memorize the details, she would be less likely to screw up. But Camden fell into the back-and-forth schmoozing with little effort, as if he brokered Vidalarios and Bouvants in his sleep.
Esme pivoted the conversation. “Briana orchestrates events that make my little shows look like shindigs at the county fair.”
