Page 36 of The High Price Of Loneliness

“I would do anything for you, Edward,” she replied without a moment’s hesitation. “Anything you ask.”

“Let’s get some brunch now. But afterward, we will be putting that to the test, Angelica.” As he spoke those last words, she could see the gears of his mind still working.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The Training Begins

Brunch on the veranda at the Ritz Carlton Sarasota was beautiful. The view over the water was spectacular. But most of all, Angelica felt an overwhelming feeling of renewed hope. She loved how Edward had finally listened to her side of the story from last evening. From total sadness and despair to now being back at his side caused a bit of lingering heartache inside. The feeling of having your entire world whipsawed can drain anyone, especially when layered with a few rounds of mimosas.

Edward looked at her intently and said, “I have something to pick up from the front desk. Wait for me here, and I will be right back.” As he rose from his chair, he momentarily placed his hand on hers. His fingers lightly traced her forearm as he stepped away from their table.

Angelica nodded and murmured, “Yes, sir,” as he passed by her, and then she was left alone on the veranda.

She thought about their conversation at brunch and how she felt heard but most of all, how safe she felt when she was with him and liked being at the center of his very powerful and laser-focused attention. She daydreamed about his eyes gazing into hers and how he wanted to be her protector. But seeds of worry crept into her mind as she sat there basking in the Florida morning sunshine.What did he mean by ‘we will put that to the test after brunch?’

Gray returned shortly, carrying what would become the answers in his hands. “I signed the brunch check to our room, Ms. Hart. Follow me, please,” he requested.

“We have a room?”

“We do now,” he said, holding up the Ritz Carlton card key folio. In his other hand, he carried a large gym bag, the kind with two loop handles with black leather trim. He pressed the lobby button to call the elevator from the gold and bronze-colored marble wall. The elevators were very shiny stainless steel which acted like a mirror reflecting Angelica’s radiant face and long cascading blonde hair. Gray’s eyes traveled down her tanned sexy body, looking into the imperfect reflection in the shiny elevator door until it opened.

Gray gestured for Angelica to step inside first, and then he turned to swipe a black card that read “Club Level” as they started up to the 8thfloor alone in the elevator car. Gray momentarily dropped the gym bag to turn and face her. She breathed hard as she felt his power pressing into her. Her back was pinned against the elevator wall as he crushed his mouth angrily into hers, then once more but softly as he said, “Just remember, Angelica. You never have to do anything you do not choose.”

She breathed heavily as the elevator doors opened and whispered, “Yes, sir.” Angelica could see behind Edward that an older, conservatively dressed couple was waiting for them to exit so they could enter the elevator car. Angelica cleared her throat politely and smiled at Edward, “hinting” that they might have an audience.

Gray smiled back at her but lingered just another moment, gazing intently into her eyes as she was still pressed against the elevator wall. Then, slowly he turned and scooped up the black gym bag in one hand and Angelica’s hand in the other.

Angelica heard Gray’s booming and friendly voice greet them as he said, “Top of the morning to you.” The somewhat uncomfortable couple looked away in silence watching this unfold. The wife of the older couple seemed to smile just a bit, either finding some humor or simply remembering their younger days when passion overruled everything else around them.

Edward led Angelica as they turned to their right out of the elevator into the hotel’s Private Club. There were couches and tables all along the 100-foot-wide expanse of floor-to-ceiling glass and sliding doors that opened to a grand water-view balcony. On display were delicious foods of all types, including an assortment of irresistible small desserts. The private bar was in the back, but the staff would bring you anything you desired. Gray picked up two champagne flutes and poured them each another glass to take to their room.

“Which way to suite 814?” Gray asked the uniformed concierge at her desk by the entrance. “Right this way,” the concierge said as she rose to her feet with a smile and guided Edward and Angelica to a private, almost secret entrance at the back of the Club Level. When she opened the door for them, it revealed the Club Level hallway and suite 814 immediately connected to the club. Their suite was somewhat separated from all the other rooms on the Club Level.

“How convenient!” Angelica said, smiling broadly at their private access to the club.

“I asked for the best suite for privacy,” Gray confessed, “and it looks like they gave us the perfect one. Thank you for showing us the way.”

“My absolute pleasure,” said the concierge, who discreetly bowed out of the conversation.

Gray’s card key opened 814, and as they entered Angelica could see the beautifully appointed room and light marble bath with its glass walk-in shower. Their view and balcony were completely private and separated from the rest of the 8thfloor. A giant king-size bed awaited them with a padded upholstered headboard. Angelica smiled as she looked around her, surrounded by elegance, and said, “I just love our room!” then added softly out of curiosity, “But why didn’t we just go to the Red Playroom at your home?” Not that she minded him taking her up the elevator to a romantic suite at the Ritz.

Edward placed his hands firmly but gently on both of her shoulders to fully capture her gaze with his, as he spoke to her deeply, “The last time you were at my home, late last night, was not a great memory for either of us,” he said thoughtfully, “and that energy would still be a bit of a cloud over us if we were pulling in my driveway right now. I believe this might be the best place for us to start a fresh new beginning.”

Angelica thought about the wisdom of his words and envisioned the twinge of awkwardness that would likely loom over them both if they were pulling into his home just now. She nodded and said, “I can see that. Of course, you are right Edward, and thank you for all of this.” Then she gushed, “And it is so beautiful!” She walked across the suite and looked out the window at the spectacular bay view.

Gray laid the large black gym bag on the bed, and she heard zippers opening it wide. From inside, he produced a black Japanese silk robe. He held up the hanger and gave it one light shake so the robe unfurled softly. Then, turning to her, he made his first request. “Ms. Hart, I would like you to step into the bathroom and change into this for me.”

Angelica looked back into his powerful gaze, now focused intently on her as she stood framed by the huge bay view window. She cleared her throat slightly and looked downward demurely and replied in her softest voice, “Yes, sir.” She took the robe from his hand with only the slightest of glances upward into his firm gaze and smiled softly at her Dominant, before vanishing momentarily into the bathroom. As the door closed behind her, she felt her heart racing with anticipation of what might lie just ahead with Edward. She remembered his rage and pent-up anger from the night before. Would he vent all that fury on her? After all, she had been innocent and hoped he believed that. She took a deep breath and began slipping out of her shoes.

The bathroom was elegant, with a clean, minimalist design. It made you feel like an elevated experience just walking into this world. Her heart was pumping with excitement. She loved that Gray had thought to bring her robe with him—just in case he wanted her again.

She opened the bathroom doors to return to him wearing nothing but her black silk robe and her wide-eyed look of innocence at her discovery. On the bed was an assortment of whips, paddles, floggers, and restraints of various types. Gray had “raided” his Playroom and packed an away bag for the day for them. So apparently, he had planned ahead that morning, before hearing her explanation of how the events had unfolded at the ill-fated black-tie affair. She hoped that his faith in her was restored, but swallowed hard, unsure of what was in store for her.

Gray was putting on a pair of padded leather gloves, the kind that weight lifters use that have the fingers left completely open but the palm and back of the hand wrapped in black leather with a sturdy wrist strap. He spoke to her without eye contact as he tightened the wrist straps on his black leather weight-lifting gloves. “Today, we will begin your more advanced training, Angelica.”

She could feel something tightening in the pit of her stomach. She swallowed hard and asked, “What does that mean exactly?”

Gray paused, smiled slightly, and replied, “Bondage and impact play. Remember your two safe words, ‘yellow’ and ‘red.’ You are in control at all times. However, if you say ‘red,’ then your training is over and you are free to leave and go home,” Gray said with a direct and final tone that could mean many things.

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