Eve's Evolution (Erotic Secrets No. 1) (6 page)

“I’m absolutely stuffed; I didn’t have lunch today, and I think I had a little too much wine...” she leaned over to Matt, “thank you.”

“It’s nothing. Having a good time?”

“Yes, a wonderful time.”

Matt picked up his knife and brought it delicately to his wine glass to bring the guests to attention. “Everyone, Eve has been a huge part of my success here in D.C. I’m so glad I’ve come to the nation’s capital that I’ve decided to keep my studio here permanently.” Everyone applauded and the chestnut-haired man giving him a wolf whistle. “Eve, join me over in my workspace in the studio please. Everyone else too.” Matt guided them towards a large sculpture that Eve hadn’t noticed yet.

“This is for you Eve. I’d like to bring it down to my house in Florida on the gulf. Would you like to unveil it?”

“Of course, someone… drumroll please?” Eve gave a tug to the sheet covering the piece and revealed a striking bronze sun. “How did I never see this? When did you do this?”

“Oh, it’s a piece just for me and now for you. We’ve only known each other a short time, but you’ve brought me great pleasure. So, I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I do.”

Eve instinctively wanted to hide from such a statement, but she was surprised to find her holding Matt’s hands and looking straight into his eyes.

“To the happy couple,” the chestnut-haired man said. Everyone joined in as Matt and Eve picked up their glasses and clinked them thanking each other for a lovely evening.

Matt walked the man to the door. The man positioned his back to the group and leaned in to Matt, “You have to tell her soon, you know. You shouldn’t lead her on this intensely without disclosing. Henri and Gabriel agree. We all like her. Go on, invite her. Make yourself happy.”

“I’m not sure she’ll say yes. She doesn’t have a background like that,” Matt said. He rubbed his hand up and down the back of his neck. “I wanted to talk to you about the group. I think I may want to take a break, or maybe resign my membership.”

“You can’t turn back now. End of the week. I think Gabriel and Henri would be good. They are gentle, as is she.” The man clapped Matt on the shoulder. “I know it’s your first time bringing in someone new yourself. Don’t worry; you’ve done well. I think she will be very pleased. Give her a bit of time afterwards, but it has to be this week. No longer. Say good night to everyone for me. Oh, and remember, there’s only one way out of our group. So I would reconsider.”

The handsome chestnut-haired man left, as Eve walked over to Matt, “Everything okay?”

“Of course. How about I give you a few days on your own?”

“You’re not trying to get rid of me already are you?” Eve laughed, but felt concerned.

“No, no, nothing like that just the opposite. Spend a few days, wearing this,” he hooked his thumb through the front of the belt hidden beneath her dress. “See how you really like it. Someone controlling your body, your will like this.”

“Okay. You sound different. Are you sure?”

“Couldn’t be better. Glad you’re here,” he kissed Eve’s hand and guided her back towards the couches.

“Poker is starting Matt, bring me your wallet
              !” Henri chided.

“Oh I love poker, mind if I join you?” Eve shimmied over to the table Henri had installed himself at. Her confidence was renewed with Matt’s assertion that he felt things were going well.

“We insist on it. Come here. You can sit by me,” Gabriel pulled out a chair for her and she sat down next to him. She glanced over at Matt, but he appeared very pleased, so she settled down into a wild night of poker with three of the most interesting people she’d met in a year at least. They played for a few hours, but Eve held her own.

“I can’t believe you cleaned me out and Gabriel too,” Matt beamed.

“I have a few surprises up my sleeve for you yet, Matt. I’m not always such a good girl.”

“Tell me about it.” Matt prematurely winced, as Eve swatted him good-naturedly on the arm.

“Okay, I’m done for the night. See you upstairs.” Eve left the group feeling carefree and alive. She made her way up the stairs and began to draw a warm bath.

“I’ll be up in a bit,” Matt said. He invited his two friends out into the garden he created behind his studio. “He said this weekend. Can you make it down to the gulf with me?”

“Yeah, I can get a company jet for us up and back,” Gabriel said.

“Yeah, I’ll be there. She’s lovely.” Henri took the rest of his scotch in one swig leaving the ice to clink against the glass.

“To our secret society, I’m honored to be a part of it with you both. But, I have to tell you I might be leaving soon.” Matt raised his glass. His friends raised theirs and they toasted each other. Gabriel and Henri exchanged looks as Matt turned around to head back inside. They looked out on a gentle snow starting to fall from the black sky.

“He’ll never go for that. It’s not allowed,” Henri said. He ran his fingers along his five o’clock shadow. “You know what happened last time.”

“There’s nothing we can do. He should know better. It’s him or us,” Gabriel said.

“Then I choose us.” Henri walked outside leaving Gabriel to stare out on the empty garden.

By Friday morning Eve was back in Matt’s arms. A week of his gentle dominance had opened up new possibilities and new curiosities.

“I can’t wait to get down to Florida.” She nuzzled into Matt’s chest after turning off her alarm.

“I can’t wait to stop hearing that alarm at the crack of dawn every day.” Matt pulled her closer and gave her a tight squeeze. “It will be great. You deserve a vacation. A lot has changed lately.”

“It’s the first weekend I won’t be working since I’ve been at Art Marketing.”

“Well, first of many then. Shower up, breakfast. I have lots to do today.”  Matt had been noticeably more tense since she returned after her break of two days. She came back to him with a ‘yes,’ but a yes to what was a bit confusing at the moment. She felt she was falling for Matt and falling hard. However confusing this break of a few days was, something had changed when she returned. He was still Matt, but he seemed worried and pensive.

‘Did you want me to come back?” Eve ran her fingers over his shoulders, down his back, and looked up into his eyes.

“What? Of course. What makes you say that?”

“You seem different. Maybe upset about something?”

“Nothing at all,” Matt said. “Worried I’m going to have to punch Geoff Smyth in the balls eventually, but apart from that—”

“My dream come true!”

“I’ll probably be taking my business elsewhere soon anyway.”

“Oh no, no, that’ll be really bad for me at work—
”

“You won’t be there much longer anyway, so it won’t matter. Will it?”

“And where will I be exactly?”

“Somewhere much better and much more lucrative. You’ll get a glimpse this weekend. Anyway, you’re going to be late. I’ll toast a bagel for you. I’ve got to get to work on my new piece.” Matt slipped into some pajamas and trotted down the stairs. Eve watched him go and slipped back under the covers. Something was going on. They hadn’t had sex since she came
back, but before that he had seemed insatiable. Perhaps he was just tired. This had been a big week for her; perhaps it was for him as well.

Showered and fresh, Eve nearly ran down the stairs yelling out, “I didn’t realize what time it was. Got to go,” she grabbed her bagel, work bag, and purse, “see you tonight.”

“Yeah, see you tonight. Last day with your little friend by the way.”

“I’ve almost forgotten it was on.”

“That’s because you have such incredible discipline. You’re an amazing woman, and your sacrifice makes you even more beautiful,” he cupped her face with his hands. “See you soon.” A goodbye kiss and Eve was out the door feeling on top of her game.

*  *  *  *

Eve sunk into her buttery leather seat on the jet. Its contrast stitching and various controls signaled that you far from coach. Eve had another poor day at work, but she finally had somewhere and someone very exciting to look forward to. Matt opened an account for her at Nordstrom’s, and she had shopped quickly for the trip before jumping into a taxi for Reagan Airport. As she had walked out to the plane escorted by a private security team, Eve felt wowed by what a dramatic shift her life had taken.

“Matt, you’re here already,” Eve gave him a hug and sat down next to him.

“How are you? Good day?”

“Good now anyway, and that’s all that matters.” Eve looked up to see Henri directing his baggage into some locked compartments.

“I see my poker buddy has made it,” Henri smiled at her, as she crossed her legs and tucked them under her. “Gabriel is coming too, so you’ll have plenty of money to steal from us. Matt, is everything prepared down south?”

“Of course,” Matt shifted in his seat and turned away from Henri. Eve noticed this small disconnect. Something was bothering Matt and like any woman she was now determined to find out, but in due time once they’d arrived. There were too many people around.

“Lady and gentlemen,” their stewardess paused for her lame joke to take effect, “please be advised…”

Eve tuned the stewardess out and looked out the window down onto the ground crews lifting blocks and heaving the last of the luggage into the cargo hold. The pilot appeared and took the jet’s stairs by twos. He introduced himself and shook everyone’s hand. Eve noticed a small, black pin under his pilot’s wings on his starched, white shirt.

“What is that, may I ask?” Eve gave him her best smile and bit her nail slightly attempting to appear coy.

“Oh this, just a pilot’s club, ya know. Ex-military stuff.” He abruptly turned around and reentered the cockpit locking the door behind him.

“You’re a curious one lately,” Matt said. He patted her hand and sighed to himself, as he stared out the window.

“That little pin, it looked, I dunno. I can’t put my finger on it,” Eve paused trying to reference where she had seen that pin before. “It was just a plain black bar. Not the most creative pin ever. Not like a military medal. I wonder what it means.”

“You see it around D.C. a lot,” Matt said, and continued to stare out the window avoiding eye contact. The take-off was smooth, and Eve popped a piece of gum wondering why a pilot would wear that pin on a daily basis. And ex-military, what was that about?

Henri suddenly appeared beside them as the no-smoking sign popped on. “So you want to know about the pin, hmmm?”

“Yes, I was just asking Matt about it.”

“Matt is correct. It’s a club in D.C. Nothing to be concerned about,” Henri said.

“That’s fascinating. So why is that associated with the military?”

“You have a lot of questions today, Eve.”

Eve raised her eyebrow, “Is that a problem?”

“They’ll be answered tonight. Don’t worry. You’ll be pleased.” Henri walked smoothly away and reseated himself a few rows back. Gabriel was in the very back of the plane canoodling with the stewardess.

Eve rubbed Matt’s arm to get his attention, “Hey, is there something I need to know about?”

“Not right now. Don’t worry. Everything is fine.”

“Doesn’t seem fine.” She dug out a
Vogue
out of her flight bag and settled into her chair. Matt didn’t seem to be the secretive type. It drove Eve wild that he was acting like he just couldn't be bothered to have a conversation about this. She didn’t like where this trend was going. It was so typical male and a hallmark of all of her past relationships.

“Are you enjoying the jet?” Matt said.. He turned to face her; worry had etched itself into his usually placid face.

“Oh, absolutely. Thank you, really. I’m sorry it just seemed odd, the way he said that.”

“He’s just being French.” He grabbed his Kindle and bought a book off of Amazon, which he quickly lost himself in. Eve looked over after a few minutes to see him in deep concentration, or avoidance.

*  *  *  *

The stewardess blocked anyone from exiting, as she took her stage to pose in front of the group. “Welcome to St. Petersburg—Clearwater International Airport. The ground crew will be here shortly to retrieve your baggage and deliver it to the two limos awaiting your group at arrivals. Your security team will lead you there. Thank you for flying with our crew and have a pleasant day.”

As the stewardess primped in front of a tiny hide-away mirror, Eve noticed the stewardess’ blouse was on inside out. Then she spied something even more interesting. The underside of the stewardess’ blouse revealed a black pin that had been tacked on underneath her small winged pin. Eve strained her eyes to see, but it looked to be the same pin worn by the pilot.

As they deplaned, Eve quickly bumped her aside, “Where did you get that lovely pin?”

Matt was already off the plane, but Henri who had just passed her quickly turned around, “Come on Eve, enough of the fifth degree, look at where you are, look at that sunshine. A perfect 75 degrees today,” his melodious voice proclaimed rather loudly. Gabriel was suddenly right behind her and gently pushing her off the plane with the jet door closing swiftly behind her. The stewardess never answered her question.