20. Hazelle
Chapter twenty
Hazelle
The week flew by, and I loved having Mistress Belle around more. The weight on her shoulders lessened, and she even slept in a few days this week. Having more time to herself and her pets had worked wonders. Maybe that’s all Oros needed, but deep inside, I knew that wasn’t true.
I snuck out of bed, leaving Elera and Mistress Belle so I could have a little time alone. I wasn’t scared of it anymore, knowing this was encouraged. It wasn’t independence like the Alphas had, being able to fully make their own decisions, but it was a sliver that I would gladly take at times.
Most days, most mornings, I wanted to spend time with Elera and Mistress Belle, but on days like today, with the sun shining and the sky clear, I decided to take the time for myself with a little tea and a small breakfast out in the yard.
I lay back on the blanket Edith had given me, and the clouds rolled through the sky, never enough to cover the full strength of the sun. Enjoying the warmth on my skin with a soft breeze blowing, I closed my eyes and stretched out, my loose linen dress with puff sleeves and a buttoned top flowing around me. It nearly matched the color of the sky, but the buttons… those were a lovely green and brown, reminding me of both my Alpha and Beta.
I wiggled my toes, gripping the grass between them, the feel adding to the knowledge that I was free from my past.
Sleep must have taken me because I didn’t hear Elera walk up or lay down beside me. When I opened my eyes again, she was there, spending a moment in peace with me.
“You picked a perfect day to spend outside.”
“It’s supposed to rain later. I didn’t want this morning to go to waste.” My skin tanned more each time I spent a few hours out here, adding a healthy glow to my complexion. That mixed with the weight I had put on turned me into a whole new person. I still had a ways to go before I would be considered physically and mentally healthy, but I loved the progress I had already made.
Mistress Belle even made an appointment with a therapist for me. We start next week, and although I was worried about talking to someone else and spilling the details about my past and even my present, I would do it for them. They deserved the best me, but I knew they’d love me even when I wasn’t.
I smiled and turned toward Elera.
“Do we have any plans for tonight?”
She rolled onto her side, propping her head on her elbow as she looked down at me. “We didn’t, but My Mistress got an invite this morning to attend a party later on. It’s at Bram’s.”
I raised a brow, curious about this new Alpha I hadn’t heard of before. Although, I had only been with them for two weeks, so I didn’t know why I was so surprised by the mention.
“It should be a lot like last time, but less… flowery. He’s nothing like Catalina. He prefers darker natural colors, but everything is decadent and plush even if it doesn’t look like it. Bram strives for luxurious comfort that looks posh. He’s also fairly kind. I wouldn’t say he’s as welcoming as Catalina or Perrin, but he’s not like the harsh Alphas either.”
She bit her lip, and I knew there was something else she wasn’t telling me.
“What is it, Elera?” I sat up with my back to the sun, blanketing her face in shadows.
“Bram enjoys firsts. He rarely shares an evening with someone who isn’t new to him or doing a new position or combination of people.” She reached out and held my hand. “And you’re very new and, well, very pretty. I would be surprised if he didn’t request you tonight.”
“Oh, and…hm, Mistress Belle already said yes, didn’t she?”
Elera shook her head. “Not to that. She did accept the invitation, but Bram hasn’t requested you yet, but I’d assume he will immediately. It’s his party, and we haven’t gone in awhile, so I don’t see My Mistress saying no. I wanted you to be prepared.”
I picked at my fingernails and bit my lip, trying to push away the anxiety. I knew this was coming, but it didn’t make it any less nauseating. Mistress Belle wouldn’t let anything happen to me. I’d be fine. It would all be fine.
“You’ll be safe, Hazelle. You trust My Mistress to keep you safe.” She wasn’t asking a question.
Elera knew I believed in our mistress. “Let’s go have a snack and start getting ready. My Mistress already picked out her outfit, so we have our theme for the evening.” Elera winked at me, and I squinted my eyes at her. What theme could we possibly be sharing tonight?”
“Should I be worried?” I stood up, pulling Elera with me.
“About tonight?”
Shaking my head, I said, “No, well, yes, but we both know I’m going to be jittery until we get through it.” We entered the house and started up the stairs. “About the theme. Should I be worried?”
“Oh, maybe.” Elera chuckled but gave me nothing else to go on. “We have eight hours to pamper ourselves before we leave, and I have plans for you.”
My eyes were wide as I stared at the back of Elera’s head as we made our way to my room.
On the bed was Mistress Belle’s outfit, a floor length blood red velvet dress with a corset top, off the shoulder sleeves, two tall slits, and what looked like a cape attachment.
“Oh,” left my lips as I walked up to it, feeling the soft fabric. “How are we going to match this?”
“Velvet. Decadent velvet.” Elera placed her hand on my shoulder and moved her face close to mine. “And we don’t. We enhance her beauty. We don’t match, and we never beat My Mistress. But you know that.” She kissed me on the cheek, then went into my closet.
Construction had begun on a different suite, making it a dual one with a bedroom on each side and a massive closet and bathroom between them. It would take time, but it would be amazing to completely share with Elera while also keeping my own space.
“I know I got you a few things in velvet… I just have to find them.” I walked in, and Elera was scouring the space, trying to find the pieces that would go with tonight’s theme. “Here!” She started pulling them out and placed them on the chair.
First was a blue dress, similar in color to the one I had on, then a matching skirt and top in a deep purple, and the last was a mismatched blush pink tulle skirt with a black velvet top that was fashioned like a corset but not structured like one. The back was laced up, the sleeves were silk ties, and the front had a sweetheart neckline and pointed bottom.
I tried them all on before deciding. First was the mismatched set. It would do, but it screamed for Catalina’s parties. The purple set felt too close to a lesser version of Mistress Belle’s dress. Too matchy for this evening. The green dress, though, was perfect.
It was a sage green with a square neckline that had a small dip in the middle forming a v. The sleeves were flowy and would work on or off my shoulders. The waist was low and dipped into a V as well with the hips poofing out enough to give the illusion that I had more going on than I did. It hit my upper thighs, and I wore white frilled lace bloomers underneath with knee high white stockings and dark green flats.
I twirled and watched the skirt in the mirror. It was adorable, sexy, and so unbelievably comfortable.
“This is it. My Mistress is going to be so pleased!” Elera clapped her hands and instructed me to take it all off for later. A servant would make sure everything was wrinkle free and perfect. “My turn. Let’s go!” Once I had on my original linen dress, we ran over to her room and closet, but finding options was much harder given the amount of clothes she had.
“How about this?” I asked, pulling out a purple dress that reminded me of what she wore to the last party.
“Too similar, don’t you think? I want something fresh and new.”
We kept digging, and after an hour of pulling things out, deciding they were a yes or no and sometimes for me or donations, we had a small stack to go through.
First was a black velvet pencil skirt with matching bandeau top which we vetoed. It didn’t have a wow factor. Second was blue velvet shorts that poofed out around her and a black velvet halter top that had silk ties around her neck and lower back which we kept loose.
“The shirt is perfect, but these shorts aren’t working.” Elera threw them off and dug through the pile, searching for the perfect bottom to go with the look and feel of the top. “Ooh, this one.”
Elera put the skirt on, and my jaw dropped open. It was a patterned velvet skirt with filigree swirling throughout in a light blue design, pulling my lighter shade and Mistress Belle’s darker one together. It was a high cinched waist that flared out similar to the skirt on my dress but was longer, nearly touching her knees, and once again being the middle ground between our outfits.
“Oh, wow, Elera. You look amazing in that.”
She paired it with black velvet flats, and I couldn’t wait to see us all together tonight.
“How are my pets doing?” Mistress Belle stepped into the doorway, eyeing us and the outfit Elera had on. “That’s perfect for tonight, my pet. You look absolutely ravishing.” Their eyes lingered on each other for a moment longer before Mistress Belle turned to me. “And how about you?”
“We picked out a sage green velvet dress. I think you’ll like it!”
“I’ll love it, my pet. Have both of you picked your collars?” Elera and I gasped, and I hopped to my feet, ready to go find one so we were ready for this evening. “Good. I wanted to do that myself. You too continue on pampering yourself, and I’ll handle that. My nails will be black tonight and my hair pulled back into a high pony. I’d like our nails to match, but I want your hair to be natural. Both of you.”
We both nodded as she petted us on our heads and kissed us goodbye for now.
“I know you showered this morning already, but how about another one with me?” Elera smiled at me, and lust filled her eyes. “Then we can have lunch with My Mistress before doing our nails and everything else to make us soft and gorgeous for this evening?”
My mouth watered, and slick formed between my legs. “Yes, please.”
Elera stripped down, and I tossed my dress onto the floor before we made our way to the bathroom, showering each other and enjoying our time together. Elera knew how to keep my mind off of the anxiety inducing parts of the day. It made it all worth it, and I hoped it was always like this. Her caring for me, and me showing every bit of appreciation that I could.