Chapter 3 Lap of Luxury
Lap of Luxury
Pinch Me
I feel a wave of gratefulness wash over me when I look into those blue eyes, and it causes me to completely forget about the cage for a moment. “I…I want to thank you for not sending me home tonight.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Why would we send you home?”
I stammer to respond, feeling embarrassed. “After what happened…at the practicum.”
Furrowing his brows, Headmaster Wallace seems genuinely puzzled. “Which practicum?”
I blush heavily when I answer. “The scene with Leōn.”
He looks at me with kindness. “Leōn was in charge of the scene. What transpired is on his shoulders, not yours.” When he places his hand on my shoulder, my body starts to quiver. “You did nothing wrong as a new submissive, Miss Lane.”
The overwhelming sense of relief, combined with the underlying current of attraction I feel for the Headmaster, leaves me weak in the knees and I nod shyly.
“We will be having a meeting shortly. You may choose a seat in the front cabin while I gather the rest.”
I’m unprepared for the tingling sensation that’s left on my skin the moment he lifts his hand from my shoulder. Watching him walk away, I worry that I might be falling for my handsome Headmaster.
I shake my head, feeling betrayed by my emotions as I walk to the front. After all, I can barely handle my feelings for Leōn. The last thing I need is the Headmaster thrown into the emotional mix!
Heading to the front, my nerves kick in big time when I see Lord Murray and Mistress Kim already seated. Bowing my head to them, I purposely choose the seat farthest away.
Being alone with the two trainers is more stressful than I anticipated, and I struggle with what to say.
So, rather than chance making a fool of myself, I pull out my phone and avoid talking altogether.
Acutely aware of the two trainers’ presence, I scroll blindly, not even registering what I’m staring at on the screen.
While all of the other students file in and take a seat, Headmaster Wallace sits in the chair directly across from me, and I watch him insert the buckle of his seatbelt.
I stare down at my phone even harder, struggling hard not to blush.
Once the plane is safely in flight, Lord Murray stands up.
The red-headed giant towers over us as he addresses the group.
“Once we arrive at our destination, you’ll be taken to a hotel where you may shower and dress.
We want you to become familiar with the city where the auction will take place, so you have four hours to explore it before we will be meeting back at the hotel lobby.
You will then don your uniform in preparation for the auction. ”
I squirm in my seat in anticipation, wondering how this auction is going to play out.
“Lord Murray, can you tell us where we’re going so I can make plans?” Michelle asks with an excited giggle, pulling out her phone.
“No.”
She stares at him in surprise.
“You will each be provided with a driver who knows the area extensively and can make recommendations if you wish.”
Over the murmurs of excitement, Pixie Girl pipes up, “Can we travel in groups?”
“That is up to you.”
When Nash jokes, “What if I just want to sleep?” several submissives chuckle.
But Lord Murray is unamused by the foolish question and responds tersely, “We expect you to familiarize yourself with the city, Mr. Nash.”
When the trainer turns his head, Nash glares at me as if it’s my fault he got reprimanded and mouths the word Lapdog.
“The auction begins at one o’clock,” Lord Murray continues. “Once concluded, you will leave with the winning Dominant to play out your scene. Afterward, all of you will return to the jet for a debriefing before retiring to your cabin for the trip home.”
I shake my head, daunted by the full itinerary. A homebody by nature, I’m seriously second-guessing this whole experience.
Mistress Kim picks up a tray and walks directly over to me. “Phones are not permitted on this flight.”
I look up at her sheepishly.
“Set it on the tray, Miss Lane,” she commands.
Although she may be small in stature, Mistress Kim’s countenance, along with her long black hair tied in a severe bun and model-perfect makeup, lets you know she expects to be obeyed without question.
Worried that I’ve offended her, I lower my gaze and meekly set my phone on the tray. But the moment I do, I feel naked without it and question how I’m going to survive this long flight.
I watch as everyone hesitantly places their phones alongside mine. Mistress Kim then hands the tray to a steward, who locks it in a safe.
As a group, we nervously glance at each other.
Headmaster Wallace stands up next, holding a briefcase.
He pulls out a stack of papers from it and explains, “You’ll find your fantasy journal in your suite.
Because you will be acting out that fantasy tomorrow, it’s imperative that you thoroughly examine what you have written.
We want you to look for any detail that you would not want played out. ”
The seriousness of his tone makes my heart skip a beat, and I become even more nervous when he adds, “Sometimes, what we enjoy fantasizing about is not something we would enjoy doing in real life.”
Handing out the papers to each of us, he stresses, “If you find anything that could cause an issue, write it down on this form and we will pass it on to the Dominants attending the auction. Remember, this experience is meant to be a stimulating adventure, not a difficult challenge.”
He looks at each of us before finishing with, “You are required to read through your entry multiple times and record any details—regardless of how small—that may cause you undue stress. Do you have any questions?”
When no one responds, he nods. “Very well. Once you’ve finished filling out the form, you are expected to rest. You will need to be mentally and physically prepared for the full day ahead.”
Amethyst raises her hand.
“Yes, Ms. Prescott.”
“But I don’t normally go to bed until two or three in the morning, Headmaster.”
“Then lie in bed with your eyes closed.” He glances at each of us, emphasizing, “That is an order.”
The moment we’re dismissed, I make a beeline to my cabin to avoid any further interaction with Nash today.
Like Amethyst, I don’t normally go to bed until late, and I worry that I’ll be spending the entire night wide awake.
Once in my suite, however, I feel as if I’ve entered a safe cocoon. I walk to the bed and smile when I run my fingers over the silk pajamas they’ve set out for me. Quick to shed my clothes, I slip into them and purr with contentment, loving the feel of the luxurious fabric on my skin.
Propping up my pillows, I snuggle into the bed and grab the journal from the nightstand. When I open the leather-bound book, I feel a tad embarrassed realizing that the Dominants attending the auction have probably read my personal fantasy. But my heart still races as I read through it again…
Being lost in the forest during a freak snowstorm, the mysterious forest spirit, a fire and warm drink, pressing my naked body against my rescuer and shivering with delight when he wraps me in his dark cloak—and then the forbidden kiss and all of the enthusiastic sex that comes after it.
I see zero issues with my fantasy, but I also have no clue how my winning Dom can pull this off. I desperately hope he doesn’t do something lame. Although I can fake an orgasm with the best of them, I doubt I’ll be able to hide it if I’m disappointed with the scene.
I set my journal down with concern. I really should have gone with a normal fantasy, like being rescued by a sexy fireman. It would have made things so much easier…
Too nervous and excited to sleep, I settle down under the covers, feeling uneasy without my phone or a TV to distract me. Not long after, the lights blink several times, and I hear the voices of several of my classmates in the hallway as they each hurry to the restroom.
Ten minutes later, the lights slowly dim until I’m left completely in the dark. It reminds me of being at the theater just before one of Gwen’s plays is about to begin. Thinking of her having to deal with that prima donna actress, I whisper out loud, “Sending you all of my protective vibes, G.”
Following Headmaster Wallace’s orders, I close my eyes and smile while soft music starts playing in my suite.
It’s a classical song I’ve never heard before, but the melody is wonderfully peaceful.
That, along with the lavender scent on my pillowcase, seems to have a magical effect.
Before I know it, I’m opening my eyes after a restful slumber while the lights in the cabin gently grow brighter.
I have to laugh at myself, remembering how much I complained to Gwen that I wasn’t going to get any sleep on the plane. Wait until she hears how pampered I’ve been!
I reach out for my phone intending to text her, but then remember it’s locked in a safe.
The music suddenly stops, and I hear Dono Marcelo’s voice over the intercom. “We will be leaving in fifteen minutes. Meet up front.”
Fifteen minutes!
I scramble out of bed and throw on my travel clothes, then make a quick pit stop at one of the communal bathrooms before the others get to them.
Glancing in the mirror while washing my hands, I see that my hair is a total rat’s nest. Worried my breath might be equally deadly, I cover my mouth when Russo enters the bathroom as I’m leaving.
I mutter a quick “Hey” when he says, “Good morning.”
Hurrying back to the suite, I quickly brush my teeth while dragging a brush through my unruly curls.
While stuffing my belongings into my overnight bag, the journal catches my eye. Unsure if I’m supposed to bring it or not, I go ahead and toss it in just to be safe.
Before heading out, I glance back at the room one last time. The suite is so elegant that I feel uncomfortable leaving it disheveled. Quickly setting down my bag, I make the bed and fold the pajamas, setting them on the pillow before heading out.
In my haste, I barely avoid crashing into Michelle in the hallway. We both laugh as we run to join the others.
“I’m not so sure I can get used to communal bathrooms,” she confesses to me.
I find her confession funny. “Why? We’ve all seen each other naked and in all kinds of compromising positions in class.”
She chuckles nervously. “I don’t know…must be getting old.”
I give her an encouraging nudge. “I bet it won’t be long before you don’t even notice.”
When we arrive up front, Dono Marcelo collects the forms we filled out the night before. I notice we’re one of the last three to arrive. Naturally, Miss Foster comes bouncing into the front cabin two minutes later in full makeup and looking as fresh as a flower.
It seems Dono Marcelo is not impressed by her appearance. “Miss Foster, I don’t like to be kept waiting.”
She flashes him a charming smile. “I wanted to look my best for you.”
“That is an inappropriate response for a submissive,” he asserts. “Try again.”
For a second she looks confused, then lowers her eyes and bows her head respectfully. “I’m sorry for making you wait, Dono Marcelo.”
“Don’t let it happen again,” he replies sternly.
I’m a bit shocked that Foster continues to test the limits of the trainers, especially after Ms. Howard’s recent dismissal. I can’t tell if it’s a strange power play on Pixie Girl’s part, or if she’s so vain that she doesn’t realize it’s a serious issue.
The steward presents Headmaster Wallace with the tray holding our phones.
While handing them back to us, he states, “There is a vehicle waiting for you on the tarmac. It will take you to the hotel, where you are free to freshen up before you set out to explore the city. Don’t forget, you are required to be in the lobby exactly five hours from now. ”
With a glint in his eyes, he adds, “Enjoy Paris.”
The cabin erupts in cheers as we exit the private jet. The group chatters incessantly as we all pile into an extended town car of some kind with seats facing each other. Even though it’s still 3:00 AM in New York for us, the morning sun is peaking out through the wispy winter clouds of Paris.
I gaze out the car window in stunned silence, struggling to believe I’m really in France. I’ve only ever seen movies about Paris!
Having never traveled abroad, I can’t quite believe I’m here.
Several people on the other side of the vehicle claim they can see the Eiffel Tower in the distance, but I’m unable to spot it from where I’m sitting. However, I do have the perfect seat when we pull up to the gorgeous hotel.
Staff members pour from the entrance to greet us, eagerly taking our luggage as they usher us inside. The building looks like it was built in the 1800s, and as soon as I walk through the entrance, I feel as if I’ve stepped back in time.
The furnishings and decorations look like luxurious antiques meant for a museum, not actual use.
We’re immediately led to the elevator without the need to check in. When we reach the top floor, a woman takes me down an impressive hallway decorated with gorgeous tapestries. She stops and curtsies before opening the door to my room.
I stand beside her in the doorway, gaping at the incredibly huge room. The place is as big as my whole apartment and has a bed with a canopy fit for a queen!
The woman sets my bag on a marble-topped dresser and turns to leave. She smiles at me before closing the door. I stand there silently, feeling a bit shell-shocked as I look around the room. The décor reflects such extravagant and historical elegance.
I can’t fathom why we were given such posh accommodations when we aren’t even staying the night, but I want to soak in this experience.
Moving around the room, I indulge myself by touching everything—from the fabric of the massive bed and the smooth marble that frames the fireplace, to the lush upholstery of the antique chairs. It’s all so luxurious!
I head to the tall windows framed by velvet curtains and let out a happy squeal when I see the beautiful public park down below.
Not wanting to waste a minute of my time in France, I quickly freshen up my face and put my hair up in a ponytail so I don’t have to waste time styling it.
Heading down to the lobby, I’m tickled to see a line of drivers with one holding a sign with my name on it.
Pinch me now…