The pain is excruciating. Anne takes a shallow breath, her eyes roving over the wide imperial staircase twenty feet ahead. Martin stands at the first landing with the Donaldson family, laughing against the tapestried backdrop. He glances at her and nods tightly.
She makes her way carefully, stepping between huddled couples and groups of young men drinking too quickly. The bannister is thick, curved and oiled, and she likes how it feels under her hand. She grasps it and trains her eyes to Martin.
“Here she comes,” he says, smiling. The group stops talking and looks at her, nodding hellos.
Her toes ache, crumpled in black heels a half a size too small. She teeters, and prays it was unnoticeable.
Martin descends a few steps and takes her arm.
“Remember, darling, as charming as ever,” he says. “Smile.”
Anne knows there’s something too stiff, too careful in her walk. She swallows against the pain and grips his arm. Two more steps. They exchange pleasantries with the Donaldsons and she fights disassociation. There, a guéridon table. There, a mission chandelier. There, French Rococo armchairs.
“Anne?” Mrs. Donaldson waves her mauve-tipped fingers in front of her face. “Are you ok, dear?”
“Yes,” Anne says. “I’m sorry. Just getting a blister.”
Mrs. Donaldson nods and gestures to her feet. “These are killing me. Let’s find our table and send the men for a drink.”
The group moves along the brightly lit hallway to a high-ceilinged room. The orchestra plays on a raised platform. The bar is crowded. Almost every table is full. The sheer noise startles her. Competing voices and too-loud laughter and lively music. Martin stops and mingles with various groups, talking about the weather, the markets, the opera they’ve just left. The Donaldsons are already at the table, and Anne is sure Mrs. Donaldson has slipped off her shoes under the table and has sent her little husband off for a glass of something.
They’re hailed by a short, dark haired man at the end of the bar. Anne strains to see him better. Christian Hensely. Oh, and his wife. Stephanie or Jennifer or –
“Martin! It’s been too long,” Christian says. The men shake hands.
“It’s good to see you,” Martin says and he turns to the woman. “Heather, hello.” He kisses her cheek and she smiles, squeezing his shoulders.
“Hello, Anne,” Christian turns to her. “It’s nice to see you. How are you feeling?”
“Good, thank you, Mr. Hensely,” Anne replies. “Hello, Mrs. Hensely.”
The older woman smiles at her. “You look wonderful tonight, Anne. Doesn’t she, Christian?”
He watches her closely. “She does.”
“Should we find our seats?” Martin leads the way through the maze of chairs and bodies.
Mrs. Hensely takes Anne’s hand and they follow the men.
“Is she wearing it?” Christian asks Martin quietly.
Martin nods. The two couples take seats around the large round table and Martin introduces everyone to the Donaldsons. He motions to the server.
“Who’s wearing what?” Mrs. Donaldson asks.
Anne stares at the tablecloth. Martin takes her hand and squeezes.
“Anne wears a special bra that I designed for her, hm, maybe a year ago,” Martin says and glances at his wife. “It’s fitted just for her, very snug, and the interior is studded with steel spikes.”
Mrs. Donaldson takes a sharp breath. “Oh, my.”
“Isn’t it marvelous?” Mr. Hensely’s eyes shine. He turns to Anne. “It must be torture. Anne, are you suffering terribly?”
Anne looks up at him. “Yes, I am.”
Mr. Hensely glances around the table and settles back on Martin. “And then this one, absolute devil, he brings her to the opera and to the parties and has her socialize…”
“That’s delightful,” Mr. Donaldson says. “What a thing, Martin.”
“Doesn’t she bleed?” Mrs. Donaldson asks.
“Not much,” Martin says. He pauses while the table orders drinks. He kisses Anne on her cheek and takes care to press against her breasts. “In any case, the bra is thick. What she really hates are the clamps on her nipples. Don’t you, dear?”
“We have to find a quiet corner every forty-five minutes or so,” Martin goes on, “to remove the clamps for a bit, let the blood flow. I think taking them off is the most painful.”
“My God,” Mrs. Donaldson says, shivering. “I just love it. But how can she stand it?”
The woman leans forward in her chair. She lowers her voice. “Do you like it? Even a little bit?”
“No, I don’t,” says Anne.
“What would be the point if she did?” Martin says. He takes a long drink. “Christian, why don’t you take her for a dance. Careful, her shoes are a little small and she keeps tripping–hold her tightly.”
Mr. Hensely stands, eager. “Anne?” He extends his hand.
“Alright,” she says. She rises to meet him and he leads her to the floor.
“You do look beautiful,” he says. He pulls her tightly against him. Anne tries, gently, to maintain a space between their bodies but he keeps a strong arm around her waist.
“Good,” he says. “It's good to see you suffer. Oh – no, keep your eyes on me, please.”
A few more slow steps and Christian slides his arm a couple inches higher, pulling her harder against him, her breasts pressed into the front of his tuxedo jacket. Sweat breaks out on her forehead.
“Easy, please,” she says. “People will see…”
“No, it’s fine, Anne. They’ll see a couple dancing. They’d never think of anything else.”
He pulls her tight, eases up, pulls her tight again. She makes a high whining sound and he smiles into her hair.
“That really hurts doesn’t it? Of course it does, poor thing. You’re trembling. Careful, your husband is watching and you’re squirming. Let’s move over here to the side…”
He dances her to an open spot in the corner. Anne’s face stays impassive but she whimpers softly and writhes against him.
“Please let me go,” she says.
“No, Anne. Keep dancing. Keep hurting. Do you remember last month at the lake house and Martin had you try on your new bra for us?”
Christian laughs. “He had you lie on your stomach almost all day, just hurting and being fucked and rubbing against the floor. God – wasn’t that a perfect weekend? Anne?”
“Yes, Mr. Hensley,” she whispers.
“I’ll bet Mr. Donaldson will want to dance next. Or maybe take a walk in the garden.” He slides a hand between their bodies to finger the clamps on her nipples. She shakes.
“It’s agony, isn’t it? I could come right here. Do you want that?”
“I want to hold you a little tighter but I’m afraid you’ll scream,” he whispers.
The song fades away and a new one begins. Couples pull apart, adjust to the new tempo.
“Ah,” he sounds disappointed. “Maybe we’ll have time for another dance in a bit. Come on, Martin looks impatient.”