I sat sipping my wine, letting the warmth travel through me even as the fire behind me warmed my flesh. I felt conspicuous in the sheer gown, the corset and garters showed seductively through the soft fabric, but I knew there was no turning back. Once invited to become the Honored Flower, it opened a whole new world to the recipient. I would have been a fool to refuse the invitation.
I looked up as a door opened. A gentleman in his early 30’s stepped through into the room. He was incredibly handsome in his white dinner jacket. He introduced himself to me as James. He said that last names were of no importance here and so were never used. He told me it was because of him that I was here tonight. He had seen me at the local bakery one morning as he was getting a cup of latte and a bagel. He asked the shop owner my name, and the owner, a match-maker at heart, had told him everything about me that she knew. From that, James had made some discreet inquiries as to where I lived, worked and even the university from where I had graduated. He had also found out from another former Flower that I was dimly aware of the Tulip Society and had mentioned to her unwittingly that it would be adventurous to be a part of it. I blushed at his words, and he reassured me that if he had had any misgivings about me, he would never have recommended me to become a part of the Society.
James sat down in a chair opposite from me and rang a small silver bell that was on the table beside him. The door opened and six men came into the room, all in dinner jackets and carrying assorted drinks. James introduced each one of the men. Davis, a rugged-looking man who looked like he would be more at home on the side of a mountain; Patrick, a tall red-haired man with a slight Irish accent; Will, who looked as if he stepped right off the cover of GQ; Robert, smiling at me with a conspiratorial air; Jamal, a huge man with arms and legs the size of my waist; and Tao Chi’en, a Chinese descendant who was most handsome to gaze upon.
I greeted each of these gorgeous men warmly, offering each my hand, which they in turn took and bowing over it, kissed gently. Each sat down in a chair facing me. I noticed there was a definite ‘order’ that they sat in. James was very center with Jamal to his right and Will on his left. The others sat beside these three. James asked if I had any doubts as to what would happen. I looked at him, then the others. I felt my heart begin to race as I thought about what little I really knew about the Tulip Society. I knew that this was an exclusive club for very wealthy young professional men seeking to honor the beauty of young women. I also was aware that this “honoring” involved the women being ritualistically “de-flowered” by these men. Beyond that, I really had no concept what or how this would take place. Taking a deep breath, the corset tightening around my body, I told James and the others that I was most honored to be invited to join their Society and was willing to do all that I was capable of to ensure the success of my term. At this, Jamal gave a short, deep laugh. He turned to James saying, “Well done my man, you have exceeded our expectations!”
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