CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

BIRTHDAY SURPRISES

PART 2

Steph's heart dropped to her feet as Ranger pulled the Cayman into the parking lot of Club Dominion. An exclusive and very private establishment, Dominion has been rumored to be everything from a swing-your-partner sex club to a fully equipped BDSM dungeon. Sitting on two acres of perfectly manicured landscape, the three-story Victorian mansion could very easily be the setting for either Steven King's latest blood curdler or any Harlequin romance. The high wall and formidable key-card accessed iron gate indicated clearly to the curious that visitors were not welcomed. Except for the occasional passing jogger, this part of north Trenton, with its massive estates and mega-buck residents, had little vehicle and even less foot traffic. From the outside, Dominion was the perfect place to indulge in murder, mayhem or consensual kink.

This was the place that Steph's journey into the alternate life style had begun. The thought was not lost in either of their minds and expressed silently by the intense stare shared as Ranger helped her from the car. He had opted not to use the valet and had parked close to the building in a reserved spot labeled only "No.8."

"Now we will meet with some of my associates. There are certain rules and behaviors that you are expected to obey." Ranger could see her tensing as her breathing became more rapid. "Don't worry. The rules are simple and easy to follow. I will be right at your side and will help you. I am eager to show you off."

"I trust you," was all that Stephanie could whisper.

"I know, and I love you for giving me such a precious gift. Now, turn around and face the car." Ranger's voice went from intimate and soothing to authoritative and domineering in one breath.

Steph immediately did as she was told and felt Ranger's hands gently remove her wrap. As he placed it on the car's roof he ordered, "Clasp your hands behind your back." Ranger slowly took the sashes that had been trailing down her spine and tenderly and precisely tied her hands in a large bow. "My present, tied in beautiful bows… how lovely and enticing." He kissed her on her cheek as he replaced the wrap over her shoulders but high enough on her body to expose her bound hands and very revealing waistline.

He placed his hand in the center of her back and spoke quietly as they neared the main entrance and waiting doorman. "Walk beside me or stay slightly behind me if we pause. Keep your head down and make no eye contact with anyone but me. If you must look at someone, look at their lower face and never directly in the eye. Speak only when spoken to. You will not address anyone as 'Sir,' that is my title only. Look at me if you have questions on what to do or say."

Steph could feel her whole insides shaking. This is it. This is where I will find out if I can or want to live like this. OMG! I'm not ready. It's too soon. I'll screw up, I know I will. I'll embarrass myself and more importantly I'll embarrass Carlos. I'll just safeword now and end it before it becomes a disaster. SHIT! I have to pee! I'm going to start crying. I'm a mess. "I'm scared." The words left her mouth without ever checking in with her brain. Steph froze in place and looked for help in Ranger's eyes.

"We're going to go in and have a wonderful dinner and quiet conversation. We've been out to dinner before. The only thing that has changed is the venue, and trust me the food isn't scary at all." Ranger hoped his smile would alleviate the growing panic he could sense in Steph.

"I'm afraid I'll embarrass you," she pleaded.

"Nonsense, if I wasn't embarrassed at picking soggy garbage out of your hair in the middle of Hamilton Street while you marched a totally naked man to the SUV, I don't think anything you could do here would. You will be fine."

In desperation, Steph used her last excuse. "I have to pee!" Surely he will understand and end this now.

Completely out of character and shocking Steph into complete stillness, Ranger threw his head back and laughed. It was a genuine from the heart laugh not mocking in any way. Then his eyes met hers tenderly and compassionately. "That, my sweet, will be the easiest fix of the night."

He walked her off onto a side path and into a dark secluded area behind tall manicured shrubs. He backed her closer to the shrubs and lifted her skirt to her waist. "Just spread those pretty little legs and do your thing." There was actual joy in his voice.

"This is just too embarrassing. I don't want you to watch me pee!" She protested, all the while dancing back and forth in an attempt to distract her bladder.

"Babe, I've seen every part of your body. I've kissed every part of your body. I know every function and timetable of your body. And I am delighted that you have both functioning kidneys and a healthy bladder. Please hurry up so that we can go inside. I'm starving and I'll bet you are, too."

Out of ammunition and excuses, Steph spread her legs, squatted slightly and allowed nature to take its course. When she was finished, Ranger reached between her legs and cleaned her with his handkerchief. "See there are advantages to not wearing panties." He took her arm and proceeded to the entrance, disposing of the hankie in the trash barrel as they approached the stairs.

Before reaching the doorman, Ranger whispered in her ear. "We're going to do this, Babe. And it will be good. I promise."

The doorman smiled in recognition at Ranger. Steph suddenly remembered Ranger's last instructions and forced her inquiring eyes from exploring the lobby to examining the intricate pattern on the carpet. Removing her last vestige of modesty, Ranger handed her wrap to the coatroom attendant. With a reassuring hand on her butt, he guided her to the dining room.

"Master Carlos it is so good to see you again, Sir. Your table is ready." Turning to an impeccably dressed young man, the maître d' ordered crisply, "boi, show the Master to his table." At the same time he pointed to a reservation list that noted which tables were assigned to whom.

The young man complied immediately and with eyes downcast addressed Ranger. "This way please, Master Sir." He led them to a secluded table in an alcove with a private balcony. Steph assumed that during warmer seasons the balcony and the garden it overlooked would be replete with amazing flowers and delicate scents. In the cool October air all that was visible were countless stars and a half moon that hung precisely in the center of the sky. This is so perfect…except for the hands-tied-behind-my-back thing and the no-panties thing. Wait a minute. It is perfect! I am with the man I love at a place where he wants to show me off with pride to his friends. I am loved. I am cared for and protected. Live in the moment, Steph. Right here, right now…it is perfect. Enjoy it. Have fun.

Ranger noticed the expression change on her face. She suddenly seemed relaxed and happy. Her smile when she looked up at him was genuine. The joy and surprise made him momentarily forget to breathe. MINE. "You will let me know if your arms or hands start to tingle." This was not a request it was an obvious order. He needed to vocalize the dominance that he was trying to re-group in his soul. "Relax as best as you can. You may look around and enjoy the ambiance. Your beauty fits right in here."

"And you look right at home here. Everyone seems to know you." It was a statement, but Steph presented it as an open-ended question. There was no time for his reply as the waiter picked that exact time to come to their table.

"Good evening, Master Carlos. Would you care for drinks before ordering your meal?"

Ranger turned his gaze to Steph. She smiled and simply shrugged her shoulders. She had given up all decision making to him for the evening. She made him proud.

"We will each have a glass of Chardonnay. And I will order our food now… Coq Au Vin with wild rice and white asparagus in Béarnaise."

"I'll bring you wine immediately, Sir. The chef will be notified of your request. Thank you, Sir." The waiter left as quickly and as quietly as he had arrived, leaving Stephanie and Ranger blissfully alone, albeit for a few minutes.

"Thank you for today. It has been the best birthday I can remember." Steph's voice was filled with emotion.

"The delight has been mine, Babe. You deserve to be pampered and fussed over, especially on your birthday. Please, tell me about your trip to le Mizz. I hear they use specially prepared bee's wax in their treatments." The twinkle in his eyes was not missed by Steph.

"That part was the most surprising and painful. You should try it some time." Sarcasm practically oozed from her sweetly spoken words.

"I imagine I would find it quite liberating. Didn't you?" was Ranger's cool and also sarcastic reply.

The conversation was rescued before it could go from sweetly sarcastic to bitterly snarky by the arrival of their wine. There was a slight snag…Steph did not have the use of her hands and the wine did not come with a straw.

Ranger moved his chair from opposite her at the table to next to her right side. From there he picked up her glass and carefully allowed her to sip her wine.

"Do you plan on feeding me too?" Steph laughed in between sips.

"Why yes, yes I do. Tonight, I want to show you that you can depend on me for everything. Tonight, I rejoice in being your everything." Before any more romantic phrases could leave his lips or fill her head…the food arrived.

The waiter adjusted to the new seating arrangement without a bat of his eyelids. Where to place the silverware, on the other hand, had him in a quandary. Eventually he decided to place it all in front of Ranger and allow the Dom at the table to decide who would get what. After all, at Club Dominion one always defers to the Dom…even the wait staff.

He fed her bite-sized pieces of food while alternately eating his own. He gave her sips of wine or water, whichever she preferred. He used a napkin-wrapped finger to remove the occasional bit of food that strayed to the corner of her mouth. They laughed and talked about life in general and Steph's spa adventure in particular.

Ranger enjoyed watching her face brighten and her eyes widen as she described her experience. She mentioned that sitting in the hot steam room had made her horny. He made a mental note to price installing a steam room in the gym at Haywood. She got very serious for a moment and asked him, "Why did you want me shaved down there? At the time, it seemed so perverted…like you wanted me pre-pubescent. Is that a kink thing? Or didn't you like me the way I was?"

"Whoa, Babe! I like my women all grown up. I guess you might call it kinky, but really it's all about sensation. Hair acts as a buffer. Removing the hair allows the skin to feel the slightest touch. I wanted you to experience the total awareness of your body to sensual stimulation. Keeping your vaginal area 'defoliated,' as you call it, is strictly your choice. By the way, how does this cool autumn air feel on said body part?" His half-smile half-smirk made her laugh.

"Well, the first couple of wind gusts got my attention right away. Not wearing panties is actually more disturbing." Steph started to fidget thinking about that fact. Disturbing in more ways than one.

Ranger noticed her discomfort and immediately asked, "Are your arms or hands becoming numb or sore? Or is it some other body part I should be concerned about?"

"I am getting a little stiff in the shoulders, now that you mention it."

He got up from his chair and stood behind her and began to expertly massage her neck, shoulders and upper arms. "Can you hold on for just a little while longer? We're almost done here."

Steph nodded as the blood began to flow back to her fingertips. But his words made her a little sad. They were almost done with one of the most exciting and romantic nights of her life.

The waiter was at their table the moment Ranger had stood. "Sir, do you still want dessert?"

Dessert? Ranger never orders dessert! I guess I should just expect the unexpected tonight. Please say 'yes,' Ranger. I hope it's chocolate.

"I am going to take my sub for a walk around the grounds. Have the dessert waiting in room #8." Ranger took Stephanie by her elbows and helped her to stand.

Ranger guided her through the French doors and on to the balcony. The sudden exposure to the crisp night air caused Steph to shiver. He took of his dinner jacket and placed it around her shoulders as he kissed her on the side of her neck. "Mmm, you smell delicious. Perhaps I should have you for dessert."

The sudden disappointment that flashed in her eyes made him laugh again. I don't remember laughing this much in years. What are you doing to me, Babe? He reached under his jacket and untied the bow that was binding her hands. Taking her hand in his, he started down the steps. "Let's take that walk."

They strolled silently on the path that meandered through the English garden. Steph tried to imagine what the grounds must look like in daylight, resplendent in glowing autumn colors. At night the garden took on the appearance of a magical fairy playground. The moonlight reflecting off patches of dew reminded her of scattered diamonds in the grass. Spider webs covered in moisture looked like intricate lace woven through the branches of the holly bushes. She was in her own romantic fantasy land with her White Knight in black armor.

In that quiet corner of the garden, with the grass shimmering with dew-diamonds and the sky sparkling with stars, her knight enfolded her in his arms and kissed her heart.

Without a word, he unzipped his pants and released his swollen member. Placing her arms around his neck, Ranger lifted her ass. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he hiked her skirt. In a single thrust they became one. Their motion was as slow and rhythmic as waves lapping the shore. Their beating hearts synchronized. Their simultaneous climax was indicated only by their soft and rapid breathing. This was a sharing of more than their bodies. They exchanged souls.

They stood, arms locked around each other, attempting to continue their stroll only when both were sure that their legs could still function. Hand in hand, and still in silence they returned to the club.

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Reentering through the same French doors, Steph got her first full look at the old European-style dining room. The crisp linens were in stark contrast to the dark wainscoating and deep burgundy walls. Delicate crystal and gold chandeliers dotted the ceiling. And there were people! Since entering Dominion, Steph's eyes had been only on Ranger. For the past hour and a half, he had been her only world. She found herself resenting the intrusion.

Ranger put his dinner jacket back on and gently pulled Steph's arms behind her back. He retied the bow and, placing his hand in the center of her back, escorted her across the vast room.

A group of Doms, sitting together at one table, acknowledged Ranger as he passed by. One of the Doms smiled and called, "Master Carlos, so good to see you this evening." With her eyes downcast, Steph could not see the obvious look of approval on the older man's face as he scanned her head to foot. "I see that your taste in fine food and beautiful subs has not changed."

"Good evening to you, Lord Kane. I have you, Sir, to thank for my propensity towards the finer things in life." There was joviality and a trace of respect in Ranger's voice.

"Could this be the treasure that you rescued last year?" Steph could feel Lord Kane's eyes and the eyes of every Dom at the table taking full stock of her. She kept her eyes down and a humble smile on her face. She would make Ranger proud. She was proud to be seen as his by his peers. Her heart had skipped a beat at the sound of the other Dom's name. Lord Kane! Could this be the same Dom that Ranger had impersonated at the Hermitage? He sounded so normal. How could this man be the one so feared by so many? Perhaps there was another Lord Kane with a different spelling.

"This is indeed that very treasure." Ranger spoke proudly. "This is Stephanie, my beloved sub."

Steph could not hear the other Dom's reply. Her heart had just exploded, sending remnant shards to her brain. Her legs by some miracle kept her upright. Only the screaming of her lungs reminded her to breathe. "My beloved sub." Ranger had used those words to describe her! It was official. The role-playing, the posturing, and even the locked bracelet had been a private thing not shared or acknowledged to the outside world. Technically, Ranger had broken their three-month agreement. He had made public their arrangement. Technically, Stephanie didn't give a damn. "My beloved sub." His words played in a continual loop in her mind and heart.

She came to her senses as Ranger spoke to the Doms in general. "If you Sirs will excuse us, we have some unfinished business to attend to."

He continued to guide her to the dining room entrance. As they turned the corner and headed to the elevator in the lobby, they physically ran into someone just exiting that elevator…Jeanne Ellen.