Release Me

Part 4

I pulled the long zipper up the inside of my thigh-high boots, then glanced in the mirror as I smooshed my lips together to settle my lipstick. With a final fluff of my wig, I turned to Samantha and smiled. Her slack jaw expression told me everything I needed to know, and I stepped into her personal space, closing her mouth with two firm fingers under her jaw.

"What seems to be the problem?" I asked, with a soft southern drawl I often used for my clients.

She shook her head, but continued to stare and took a step back.

"You're... so... different. How is that possible? You shouldn't... this isn't...."

I laughed and pulled a small suitcase styled bag from the end of my bed.

"Some days it is good to be someone else. You leave all the mundane things behind and be whoever you want, and in that vein. I call this look Alexandra, and she takes now prisoners or shit from her clients." Not breaking from my vocal character, I shifted into a perfect S pose, placing one hand on my hip.

"Let me get this straight. You go by Alexandra, not Atlas, when you go do your job stuff?" I nodded, giving her a reassuring smile.

A knock at the door grabbed our attention, and we both glanced toward the front door.

"Looks like it's showtime. Ready?"

Samantha shook her head, then paused and nodded.

"No. Yes. This is crazy," she forced out as I pulled the bag into the hallway, then crossed the apartment to open the door.

Kade gave me a low nod of respect.

"Good evening, Mistress." The words were barely a whisper, and he glanced over my shoulder.

"She has to get used to it because she'll soon be surrounded with more versions of kink and dynamics than she'll know what do to with." I pressed a soft kiss on his cheek, glad I'd worn lip stain so I didn't smudge my makeup. "Retrieve Samantha and my bag. They are both in your care this evening."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Kade stepped around me, and I watched a wide-eye Samantha take in his leather clad legs and the matching harness criss-crossing the black mesh shirt. With a movement born of practices, he grabbed the bag handle with one hand and offered his arm to Samantha in the same sweeping motion.

She hesitantly placed her hand in the crook of his elbow, and he led them across the room. When they stepped over the threshold, I glanced around the apartment. An unsettled feeling shivered down my spine, like the world was about to shift and I was unprepared for the consequences.

I shook off the odd feeling and followed them to the awaiting SUV.

"All set?" Kade asked, helping me into the back seat. When I settled, I gave him a nod.

Beside me, Samantha stared out the window. Reaching over, I patted her hand, and she glanced at me.

"It'll be fun. We don't bite, without consent."

"And right there is where I'm okay for a second until you pull the rug out from under me. People really bite?"

Kade chuckled from the front seat as he steered the vehicle into traffic.

"Don't let her get into your head, Samantha. She's far too good at it, and no one needs to stroke her ego more than they already do." He glanced in the rearview mirror and I met his gaze with a nod. "Besides, something tells me you'll take to this stuff like a duck to water."

Samantha gave us a tense smile, then turned to watch as we passed through the city in silence.