The Braille Club (The Braille Club #1) (8 page)

Chapter 11

THE BRAILLE CLUB

Braille Club, London, Present Day: The members’ roles are decided on the night of attendance. Assignee: Sits in the Braille seat, their goal is not to ring the bell that is attached to their cuffs. They have fifteen minutes of grace, thereafter the longer they stay still, the longer the experience lasts. The sensory suit they wear makes that difficult; used in conjunction with the sensory devices, it’s almost impossible.

Gabriella

Gabriella arrived at the club early, leaving her pride and joy in the complimentary underground car park available only to Elysian members, a perk she very much approved of and one of the many reasons for choosing that membership. As she had been told when booking into the sensory class, she was to use her card to activate the elevator, which would take her to the reception area. Checking her reflection again in the mirror, her stomach tightened. She knew she was being silly, but she couldn’t help being nervous. She was out of her depth, not knowing what to expect.

The doors slid open and she stepped out into the dimly lit corridor, filled by divinely-scented candles, giving it a cosy feel. Her heels tapped on the cool marble floor before sinking down into the plush carpet as she approached a small desk. The door opened and a slender, elegant woman emerged.

“Gabriella, so lovely to meet you. My name is Grace,” said the woman, smiling warmly, her hand outstretched. She immediately put Gabriella at ease.

“Please consider today a journey of both body and mind.”

“Yes,” said Gabriella. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“Good,” said Grace, opening a door and leading them inside a large airy room, decorated in shades of cream with high ceilings and ornate moulding. The walls had heavy cream brocade wallpaper with two large windows draped in expensive swags and tails with a fine lace over the glass. A large soft rug covered most of the wooden floor and several chairs with narrow backs were dotted around, along with two large cream loveseats. A small matching sofa with cabinets at each side and an expensive looking coffee table in the middle completed the room. In the corner was a large vintage screen in cream and gold tones. Along one wall were built-in high gloss cupboards, the overall effect elegant and modern.

“Before we begin, can I offer you some refreshments: tea, coffee, something from our bar, or perhaps water?”

“Water would be lovely,” said Gabriella gratefully.

Grace crossed the room, opened one of the cabinets to reveal a fully stocked fridge, and removed a bottle of water. Opening another cupboard, she located a glass and beckoned Gabriella over.

“Please have a seat here.” She indicated the loveseat, pouring the water into a glass and placing it on the table.

Gabriella sank into the deep comfortable chair and let herself relax a little.

“These are the garments I told you about; we have them in the sizes you specified. Please put them on whenever you are ready.” Grace indicated the screen. “We need only the upper garment today.”

Gabriella lifted the glass and sipped the water, her mouth suddenly dry, then crossed the room to the screen and slipped behind it. She removed her loose red shirt and pulled on the garment. It fit like a glove but felt strange and weighted, while Grace went to another cabinet and removed a locked case.

“Okay, there are three main rules we observe in The Braille Club, and they are called the Braille Commandments.” She handed Gabriella a printed card. She took it and started to read.

1. Thou shall not see.

2. Thou shall not speak.

3. Thou shall not tell.

She then took items from the case and placed them next to Gabriella, explaining what they were. She started with the cuffs, showing them to Gabriella before gently snapping them around her wrists. The cuffs had bells attached, and they tinkled.

“This is your control; simply shake your wrists to stop. Please try it out.” Gabriella dutifully shook her wrists and the bells tinkled again. Gabriella was trying not to show her alarm; what had she signed up for?

“These can be linked together, but it is not necessary for today,” Grace said, showing Gabriella how to join the cuffs. “Remember you must keep your hands from moving; ring those bells and everything stops. Be careful; many people forget, ending their session prematurely. Can you put these sensors around your neck and waist?”

The first sensor—The Lapel, reminded Gabriella of the device used by her hairdresser to keep her gown in place. It was weighted, and fitted snugly around her neck and shoulders, with long panels sitting over her chest. The second—The Belt, was a weighted sensor like a belt with a v-shaped front. She put them on, adjusting them until comfortable.

“The first rule is blindfolds must be worn; they are compulsory. Can I place this blindfold over your eyes?”

Gabriella nodded but looked uncertain as the heavy silk hood slipped over her head. Also weighted, it sank against her eye sockets, hugging her ears and skimming across her nose, the fabric soft and luxurious against her face as it plunged her into darkness. She was suddenly glad of the seat beneath her, touching it with her hands to reassure herself.

“Now relax, Gabriella, you are in control.”

Gabriella sank lower, cocooned in the seat.

“The second rule of the club is silence must be observed. Although there may be music in the room, you cannot speak, so as of now I will be the only voice in the room. Please nod your head that you understand and are happy to continue.”

Gabriella nodded her head, her imagination running wild as to what was to come next.

“Gabriella, the object of the game is not to ring the bells attached to the cuffs. This can be difficult. Are you ready to play?”

She nodded as her pulse and heartbeat accelerated, then the music started, soothing, sensuous, and the door closed softly.

“Excellent,” replied Grace.

Gabriella jumped as her voice came through the hood and into her ears.

“Now,” said Grace, “I want you to concentrate on my voice.”

Gabriella experienced a tightening around her upper body and waist as Grace flipped a switch. There were magnets in the sensors which were connected to her upper garment.

“Gabriella, I am no longer in the room, as you must enjoy this experience alone.”

Gabriella started to feel a pleasant heat from the sensors around her neck, upper body, and waist.

“Please take your hands and rest them in your lap or by your side, whichever is more comfortable.” Gabriella rested them in her lap. “Now imagine your husband, his fingertips tracing slowly around your lips…”

The sensor around her neck and chest was starting to vibrate slowly, making her skin tingle. The sensor around her waist and across her thighs was also vibrating, as the heavy v-shape resting against her pubic bone began a slow pulse. As Grace took Gabriella through the sequence, her body was quick to respond, and she began to understand that not moving her hands would become difficult. As the belt sensor’s vibrations increased, Gabriella began to sweat, the sensations stronger now, radiating through her body to her very centre. When the sensor across her chest began to tighten gently, pressing against her breasts, she gasped, her breathing becoming shorter. When the v-shape centre of the belt started to pulse faster, Gabriella could sense her climax building.

With the voice in her ears painting a picture in her mind and the sensors supplying the sensations, she lost herself in the delicious fantasy. Aroused and filled with desire, she gasped when the sensor increased the magnetic pull around her nipples, the sensation exquisite and erotic as the belt pulsed even harder against her sensitised core. She could stand it no more and came undone, the bells ringing as her hands gripped the chair, the sensory devices falling still. Gabriella remained in the seat, trying to get her breathing under control. Disoriented and hot, she also felt wonderful. She heard the door opening and struggled to sit up.

“Please relax, your eyes will need to adjust, so take your time removing your blindfold and remember to drink your water,” said Grace kindly. “You will find a clean robe and slippers behind the screen. Please knock when you are ready, and I will take you to the spa.” Grace then left the room through the same door.

Gabriella felt like she was walking on air. She should be embarrassed, but instead experienced a rush of exhilaration as she stripped off the unique garment and placed it carefully back inside the fabric sack. Removing the rest of her clothes, she put them into the complimentary spa bag before slipping on the wonderfully fresh-smelling robe and sighed deeply.

She picked up the bags and knocked on the door, her mind elsewhere. She was still trembling with excitement. This was the best guilty pleasure ever.

Chapter 12

THE BRAILLE CLUB

Braille Club, London, Present Day: Patron Roles: To take control, securing the Assignee’s cuffs before selecting their favourite sensory devices. Some Patrons are better than others, because evoking intense pleasure is a coveted skill. Assignees have their grace period to settle in and enjoy. Should they move within this time, the cuffs vibrate violently, making the Assignee freeze and the Patron smile. Movement is what the Patron strives for, the rubber stamp they are doing a good job. But after the grace period ends, bells soon begin to ring.

Marbella, 2012

Siena

Siena was the only child of Carl and Adriana Green. Her father was extremely rich, and possessed everything in life except the son he longed for. Her Italian mother was desperate for another child to build the brood she had always wanted. It had taken them over ten years and thousands of dollars to conceive Siena. Although cherished by her mother and father, she felt her childhood was overshadowed by their desire for another child. She spent a lot of her early life in Tuscany with her mother, in the town she’d been named after, mainly for holidays, sometimes when her mother needed time to recuperate after another failed round of IVF. This continued on and off until Siena started grade school. At home in America, they lived in a large renaissance style Italian mansion right on Malibu beach; it was idyllic. Her mother had natural grace and beauty, with a warm caring personality. She was popular amongst her friends and had a full life, her only sadness her need for a second child.

Siena rolled away from Benedict, dreaming again.

She was back on the boat; the sun out in a cloudless sky, the ocean blue and calm. The boat was moving beneath her feet as she walked across the deck. Checking the instruments, she smiled at her father, but his face was blurred. She thanked God for the sweater she was wearing, her dad’s, warm and much too big. The breeze was refreshing because she wasn’t feeling great; her stomach had been upset since breakfast. She moved to sit inside the cabin. Her mum had her back to her, and she didn’t turn round as she painted her nails. The aroma was unpleasant and a cold sweat formed on her forehead. Leaving the upper cabin, she stumbled below deck and made her way to her mother’s room. The pain was much worse, and she could barely move her shaking legs before she dragged herself onto the bed. She was crying now and terrified as she lay curled in a ball, clutching her stomach.

Her mother was shaking her; she stared at the blood on the bed, why was it there? Her father was shouting and Siena wondered if they’d arrived. She was looking forward to seeing her friends. She felt herself being lifted but couldn’t open her eyes. A strange odour was all around her; she didn’t like that smell. There were flashing lights and noise, everything was strangely muffled.

With a cry she started awake, the terror of the dream still with her. Awakened now, Benedict heard her distress and turned to her.

“Siena, what is it? Are you okay?”

“No,” she whispered. She moved from the bed to the bathroom in a rush, barely making it in time to vomit, crying and choking as her body heaved. She felt his hands pulling her hair back, his warm body next to hers. She was surprised but grateful. Then came the familiar dizziness, the light started to fade and then…the darkness.

Chapter 13

THE BRAILLE CLUB

Braille Commandments

1. Thou Shall Not See

2. Thou Shall Not Speak

3. Thou Shall Not Tell

Braille Club, London, Present Day: All Braille members must wear only the Caligo fragrance with their sensory suits. Perfume and aftershave is distinctive, so to protect identities, everyone must smell the same. The scent is available within the club to both Harrison’s and Braille members alike, and they can’t get enough of it. Silence within zones is also for protection, as regional accents belonging to members might be instantly recognisable. Thou Shall Not See and Thou Shall Not Tell is self-explanatory and the cornerstone of The Braille’s Club’s foundations.

Abbey

No one noticed the comings and goings within the club. It was busy three hundred and sixty-five days of the year, and anonymity was never guaranteed, as some members did recognise each other. They wondered who the Key Holders were, but since they never spoke or saw each other, it was hard to tell. The only exception to this was a joint Braille Membership.

Impressed by the interior of the club, Abbey was now on her way to meet Grace for her first partnered sensory lesson, in her bag lay the unique key that Grace would explain. The pressure of keeping it safe and hidden was making her anxious, and she kept checking her bag, terrified it wouldn’t be there. She let out a sigh of relief when she found it nestled with her phone, the Swarovski crystals on the locket sparkling as they caught the light, the key concealed within. She removed the locket from her bag and placed it over her head; it felt safer around her neck. Abbey had decided to go for a partnered lesson, surprised she didn’t feel guiltier; instead all she felt was excitement.

Abbey also meant to take advantage of the spa, her swimsuit and sarong packed securely in her bag as she approached the lift. She inserted her membership card into the elevator slot as instructed and stepped inside, saying goodbye to the polite girl who had showed her around the club facilities.

As the doors slid open, the first thing to strike Abbey was the scent. It was fabulous, exotic, and the candles were warm and inviting. She hurried to a small desk after checking her watch, dismayed to discover it was after eleven-thirty.

“Shit, shit.” She felt the panic rise again. But then she saw the elegant lady smiling at her.

“Abbey…?”

“Yes, sorry to be late,” she said in a rush.

“Please don’t worry; we have time. Your partner for today has already arrived, so it’s best if we start immediately,” soothed Grace. “Have a seat and I’ll take your bag to the spa, but you can hold onto your handbag if you wish.”

Abbey’s stomach flipped as she handed Grace her things and sat down to wait. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. God, she needed a ciggie, but of course, Steve didn’t allow her to smoke. He liked to do spot checks, searching her bags and pockets for cigarettes.

But when he was away…she remembered her secret stash of Marlboro Lights and smiled. It was in the one place he’d never look, right in front of his rather big nose in the bathroom cabinet inside her box of Tampax. She giggled; Steve hated anything to do with her bodily functions. He expected her to look perfect at all times, didn’t want to know about waxing her legs, although he certainly enjoyed her Brazilian, had in fact, demanded she got it done. He’d probably seen it on one of his tarts; she thought bitterly, her mood darkening.

In fact, now that she thought about it, Steve was a complete control freak, criticizing her hair, her nails, and even her clothes. He often resorted to belittling her in front of their friends or putting her down when her agent called about a new project. Knocking her confidence and making her doubt herself was part of his daily routine.

When Grace returned, Abbey stood, squaring her shoulders. She would do this; clutching her bag to her chest, she followed Grace into the small room, a dove grey plush carpet beneath her feet complementing slate grey walls. An elegant chaise longue and a strange padded chair stood in the centre of the room. In the corner rested a large screen with a long sideboard along one wall. Grace offered refreshments that Abbey refused, too nervous to even have a drink.

“These are your sensory garments, made to your specifications,” said Grace. “You can change behind the screen.”

“Yes, of course,” said Abbey, taking the clothes, which looked totally unsexy, like the thermals she sometimes wore on their ski holidays. She pulled on the turtleneck top, a bit embarrassed at its snug fit; the same for the tights. The whole outfit didn’t leave a lot to the imagination as it clung to her every curve, and she squirmed self-consciously as she went back to Grace. However, Grace barely glanced at her, merely indicated she sit in the strange padded chair with the narrow back. She noticed the open case on Grace’s lap, and they spent some ten minutes going over instructions and rules that had to be observed by Braille members.

Her head swimming with all the information, Abbey was relieved when Grace at last finished. She was nervous when the velvet cuffs were slipped onto her wrists with their bells tinkling, but was reassured by Grace’s encouraging manner. The moment Grace slipped on the hood her stomach flipped again, her nerves on edge. She was tense and uncomfortable. Plunged into darkness, she felt trapped and afraid, the need to jump up and run out of the room overwhelmed her until she heard Grace’s voice in her ear, coming through the hood, calming her.

Abbey nodded her head in answer to Grace’s questions, and then music replaced her voice. It seemed to fill her head with its low, sensuous beat, but still she felt tense, then a wonderful smell pervaded the room, and she became still. She could sense a presence. The touch on her neck was so light, like nothing she had experienced before. It felt like it was against her skin, but with the garment already on, how could it be? The next touch was a little stronger and lasted longer. It was tracing up and down her neck and shoulders. A breath near her ear gave her the sense that someone was behind her.

The thought excited her, and Luke’s face popped into her mind, as she felt a strange pressure continue up her arms and neck. Luke was Steve’s teammate, and Abbey had no idea why she was thinking about him and not her husband. The music enhanced the experience as the touch continued; her skin tingled, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

She felt the breath on her skin, then the touch started to travel up and down her sides, back and forth, slowly playing with her body, and Abbey let out a little sigh as the pressure intensified and she responded. When the pressure skimmed over the outward swell of her breasts, she gasped, wanting more.

The chair below her started to move, and she jumped in surprise, but was soon enjoying the gentle pulses, as the pressure continued to travel down her hips and thighs. Desire rippled through her body in waves as a familiar ache resonated deep within her. Abbey struggled to keep herself still. She could feel the pressure climbing up the inside of her thighs, achingly slowly, as the chair pulse increased. Her body tense, heart racing, she felt heat behind her, and moaned as a breath caressed her lips. The pressure was moving over her entire sensitised body, and she was panting, her hardened nipples sending shock waves of pleasure through her as the pressure skimmed over them again and again. She was alight as fingertips pushed her lips apart and slipped inside her mouth. Shocked and thrilled by the intimacy, her hands jerked involuntarily and everything stopped.

She waited a few more seconds but nothing happened. Damn! She must have moved her hands but she couldn’t remember doing it. She had been breathing so hard she hadn’t heard the bells. She heard Grace in her ear.

“Take your time, Abbey; your eyes will need to adjust to the light. When you’re ready, please remove your blindfold. You will find a robe and slippers behind the screen.”

Abbey’s mind was a jumble of guilt, confusion, pleasure, and need. Not wanting an affair to get even with Steve, this was her compromise. Her body was still tingling as she slipped the blindfold off. Measured for her own hood, it would be available for her next lesson. She had promised herself she would check the club out first, and then both of them could enjoy it together, but now she wasn’t sure. She wasn’t sure she wanted to share. Pulling off the top and leggings, she noticed they were drenched in sweat. She bundled them into the silk sack provided and slipped into the luxurious robe. Her heart still racing; she had never felt so revitalised. Steve was home later today and normally he was tired, but inevitably horny.

Abbey smiled as she made her way to the spa. Steve was in for a shock because she had a game with a new set of rules and God help him if he broke them.