A Betty's Pledge: Volume One (5 page)

The queen gave him a stern look and he backed away quickly, giving her a kiss on the
cheek as he left. Once outside the tent, he unlatched the sides of it so it fell closed,
leaving the pair of us trapped beneath the small space.

“I’m sorry, I may have seemed a little harsh,” the queen said in a softer tone, turning
her body to face me more fully. “It’s just you’re my responsibility for the next six
weeks and I don’t want you leaving on account of a stupid mistake or something I didn’t
tell you.”

“I understand,” I told her meekly.

“Good,” she said, her formal tone making a reappearance. “I’ve reviewed your file
very carefully, and I must say that from the outside, you seem squeaky clean. I read
your interests and hobbies’ profile, and adding in your background, I didn’t really
think you’d fit in here.”

I pursed my lips, trying to think back to what I’d put on that application that would
make her come to that conclusion.

“Then I started looking at your sexual experience.” She paused to let out a deep sigh.
“Is it true you’ve only had a handful of mediocre orgasms by someone else?”

I nodded, feeling my cheeks burn with the admission.

“Well, that is going to change very quickly,” she added with a quirked eyebrow and
a devilish smile, and my insides tingled at her implication. “And honestly when I
read that, I was almost certain you didn’t belong here. I began wondering why they
had let you pass the trials in the first place.

“And then I saw the video . . .” She gave me an approving grin as my blush deepened
at her revelation. I’d assumed that my trial was being recorded, but at the time,
I’d tried to block that thought out of my head altogether. I’d focused on the task
at hand, leaving everything out besides my own pleasure. I guess I did the right thing.

“I must say, I was impressed by your performance.”

“How so?” I balked at her choice of words. I wasn’t performing for anyone but myself,
and for her to insinuate otherwise left me boiling inside. I made a point to keep
in the forefront of my mind that this whole experience was for me and me alone. I
wasn’t doing it for anyone else’s benefit, and if the program jeopardized who I was
inside, I’d be done with it all. I was nothing if not genuine, and I was proud of
that fact.

She seemed to recognize my change in tone, and pulled back slightly, a wicked smile
on her lips.

“You didn’t use anything.” She crossed her legs and leaned in to me more. “There was
no other stimulation besides what resides in that pretty little head of yours. You
were in your own world, not really caring about anything but the deed at hand.”

“It’s not any different from what I do at home,” I admitted, which made her let out
a laugh.

“I guess not.” She chuckled. “My name is Diane.” She stuck out her hand in introduction
and I took it timidly. She was smiling at me with a curious expression, like she knew
something about me she felt was interesting or highly entertaining, and I found myself
being just as interested in her as she seemed to be about me.

“There was something else in your profile that changed my opinion of you,” she said
softly, so much so that I had to lean in to listen to her more carefully.

“What was that?”

At my words, she reached her hand over and placed it on my exposed knee. With her
thumb, she began tracing small figure eights on my skin, and the sensations fueled
something deep inside me that I never thought a woman could produce: passion, lust,
and a carnal need to seek release.

“Your sexual interests completely conflict with your outward personality, my sweet
Betty,” she said in a seductive tone. “I think I’m going to have fun fulfilling some
of them to the best of my ability.”

I smiled tentatively while biting my bottom lip. Her gaze darted down to my mouth,
and for one brief moment, I wanted her to kiss me. She pulled away abruptly, her reserved
manner returning.

“I’ve been assigned to be your Dame for those reasons alone,” she said brusquely.
“I am to bring you out of your superficial shell, brutally if I must. Any questions
you have are to be addressed to me. Understood?”

I nodded, and she continued.

“There are four unmatched Consorts here at the party. They will have black stones
in their drinks and will most likely make their formal introductions to you at some
point in the evening.”

I hadn’t noticed any stones in the drinks before, but I wasn’t looking for them as
I took in the scene.

“You can play with any of them, if you wish, and they can request an evening with
you at any time. This is not about dating; it’s about learning how to find pleasure
in your body. It will be up to the Consort what that meeting will entail, but I have
to say that the mansion is filled with hopeless romantics so you might get some wooing
out of them in the long run. Of course, anything you don’t feel comfortable with,
use your safewords and the scene stops immediately. Do you remember what those are?”

“Red for stop, Yellow for take it slow,” I said in a soft voice.

“That’s right. Anytime you use those words, the Consort will stop playing immediately.”

“I thought safewords were only used for Dominant-submissive lifestyles?”

“They are popular for that, yes. But they come in handy when you’re dealing with sexual
exploration. Sometimes, ideas on paper seem more interesting than in real life, you
know what I’m saying? Plus, you did put that you were interested in both aspects of
the BDSM world, so it shouldn’t be that big of a stretch for you, right?”

I just nodded, trying to tamp down my excitement.

“The alumni of the Grants all have purple stones in their goblets, and we do value
anonymity, Mady—be mindful of that. Some of these people are married to partners who
have no idea of what the Grants entail. Others are prominent businessmen, celebrities,
and politicians. If you see someone you recognize, please be discreet. Understand?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Those of us who’ve already gone through the program but still live here have
white stones in our goblets.” She held up her own and at the bottom, I saw a small,
smooth stone that illuminated her entire glass. “And I must say this up front. All
of us are matched—meaning we are seeing another Consort here at the Grants’ facility.
Some of us are up for play with others, some are not. Be mindful of that distinction
because it will serve you better in the long run. If there is a question, ask. We
will all be up front about it so as to avoid uncomfortable circumstances.”

“For example, I’m matched to Nate—the sailor you met earlier. Although I like to invite
other Betties into our bedroom to play while they learn the ropes, I do not allow
them to have sex with my man. I think you’ll find that’s the case for a lot of the
Dames here, except Emily. She’s up for anything.” She rolled her eyes at the last
part. “Voyeurism plays a big part in the Grants’ program, but I gather you knew that
from your interview process.”

“Yes, I did,” I answered with a slanted smile. That was one thing that I was looking
forward to, actually. Diane grinned as she continued.

“The Betties are to have red stones in their goblets.” Diane pulled out a ruby from
her cleavage and plopped it into my wine with a small splash. “This will open the
floodgates, my dear. So be ready. From this moment on, you are to not have sexual
relations of any sort with anybody outside of the Grant program. We are tested and
practice safe sex, as was outlined in your application manual. Details of any Consort
or Dame’s latest testing can be provided upon written demand, as will yours to them.
Understand?”

I nodded once again. Diane stood for a moment, looking down on me with a dreamy expression
on her face.

“I remember being where you are now. It’s an exciting, scary time. It will also be
the best in your life, so learn quickly from everyone you meet.”

I took a small sip of my wine for courage.

“There is no play tonight,” she said in a tone of finality. “It is only about getting
to know your surroundings. I will meet with you tomorrow afternoon at the mansion
promptly at two. Don’t be late, my sweet.” She leaned in and placed a kiss on my cheek,
then turned and walked out of the cabana.

The Consorts

~ Madeline Cain ~

I left the cabana feeling a sense of great anticipation. It was the start of my new
journey and I couldn’t squelch the beaming smile on my face from shining for the entire
world to see. I was excited and nervous and anxious and thrilled. So many emotions
wrapped up into a tight little sailor suit—with my ass cheeks hanging out the back.

“Beautiful night,” a male voice said beside me, and I turned to find a big hunk of
a man standing next to me.

“Yes, it is,” I replied, taking in the ambiance of the evening with a large sigh.
I turned to look at the new stranger. He was tall, probably pushing at least six and
a half feet. He wore a black trench coat that hit just above his knees. It was archaic
in design, held together by two decorative buttons at the navel. The golden skin of
his bare chest was defined with ropes of muscle. He wore a black cross that laid perfectly
between his sculpted pecs and when he smiled, the barest hint of white fangs protruded
between his lips.

“Ah, vampire,” I said, noting his costume choice. “Classic rendition, I see.” I pointed
to his fangs with a nod.

“Yeah, I’m not into the whole glitter concept when it comes to the undead.” He nodded
in mock seriousness.

“And some canines, too.”

“Fangs are much more of a realistic characterization. How else would they suck the
blood? I tend to think that just using sharp teeth would be something of a messy project.”

I laughed. “But I see you neglected to don the pale white skin, my friend. Your complexion
looks too healthy to be truly one of the night children.”

“Well, I had to draw the line somewhere,” he deadpanned. I laughed again, taking a
moment to fully take in his appearance. He had a young looking face, one that seemed
too innocent for the naughty pleasures his rock hard body promised. His features were
chiseled and perfect, incredibly attractive.

“Carson Price,” he said, holding out his hand by way of introduction.

“Mady,” I replied, remembering to leave out my last name this time.

“Mady?”

“Mady . . . Pledge, I guess.” I knew he knew I was a Betty. He had a goblet of wine
in his hand, and at the bottom laid a black stone. I guessed he was just trying to
test my limits, see if I would mess up. I didn’t know why, but I thought perhaps this
was part of the whole anonymity thing. Either that or he was just trying to play coy.

“Ahhh, a Pledge. I should have known. Didn’t think I’d seen you here before.”

“And you didn’t?” I asked with a quirked eyebrow and sly smile, raising my goblet
of red illuminated wine to his eye level. “Know, I mean . . . what I am?”

“Well, I might have had a tiny inkling,” he answered flirtatiously. “I guess I might
have seen your trial.”

I blushed furiously.

“It was quite amazing, actually. Not what I expected from you.”

“Why?” I asked, exasperated. I had found out earlier that night from Diane that she
had the same opinion of me. Did I really seem like such a prude?

“Well, to be honest, you don’t appear to be the type that’s into this sort of thing,”
he said with a shrug, running his gaze over my entire body. “You do have the bod for
it, though. Jesus . . .”

I mumbled some sort of acknowledgment to his crass compliment, but my mind was still
reeling about his earlier comment.

“What do you mean, I don’t seem the type? For sex?”

“No,” he said with a little chuckle, his eyes finally returning to mine. “For experimentation.
For playing nicely with others, I guess.”

“Well, what’s the difference if I do it here in a safe environment, or if I do it
among the masses? It’s the same game, right?”

“I guess that’s one way to put it,” he said with a shrug.

“How would you put it?”

“Sex is just an act, Mady, a carnal means to satisfy innate animalistic needs. It’s
the sensuality that makes the difference, and until you lay down on the bed in that
room, I didn’t think you had an ounce of it.”

“Why? Because I didn’t pull out any toys to pleasure myself?” I was starting to get
slightly offended by his tone. He didn’t think I was sensuous?
Oh, I’d show him
 . . .

“No.” He chuckled. “But the fact that you didn’t and were still able to complete your
task was amazing to me. Very erotic . . .”

I blushed again but didn’t break away from his gaze. It was smoldering, intense with
lust and desire, and I could feel my body tingling with anticipation. He reached his
hand up to my face and trailed his fingers down my cheek. He paused by my mouth, slowly
rubbing the pad of his finger across the smooth skin of my bottom lip. I smiled as
he pulled his hand away.

“It was your general appearance,” he finally said. “I guess I wasn’t used to seeing
candidates dress so . . . modestly.”