Evocation Read Online Free PDF Page A

said.
    They watched him set up. Eileen stayed by Anthony’s side, her hand squeezing his wordlessly. When he had finally finished and left, Anthony kissed Eileen’s cheek. “This will be a very nice evening, I think,” he said. “The company of friends is always good, don’t you agree? And I’ve worked hard to put it all together.” He kissed her again, very gently.

Chapter 2
     
    For the next couple of hours, Eileen stayed out of Anthony’s way while he puttered around, arranging the trays, straightening the living room and dining room. Everything seemed perfect to her, but he still fussed. A little kernel of uncertainty gnawed at her; she still didn’t really know many of Anthony’s friends, and she hadn’t even been aware that he was planning to host a party until they were on their way back from the honeymoon.
    The sun had set when the doorbell rang once more. Eileen vaguely recognized the couple from the reception, but couldn’t quite put names to the faces. A short while later, the doorbell rang again, and again after that; soon, the house was filled with chatting people.
    Anthony moved easily through the crowd, talking, making introductions. Eileen followed in his wake, nodding and smiling, taking it all in. As the evening went on, she relaxed slightly. After a time she found that she was actually enjoying herself. Anthony’s friends, many of whom he’d known since college, seemed like interesting people, open and friendly, and filled with all sorts of fascinating stories about his past.
    Hours passed. The food that had been set out disappeared. The crowd started, almost imperceptibly at first, to thin; people collected their things, hugs and handshakes were exchanged, and the guests departed. After a while, only a handful of people, all of them old friends of Anthony’s, remained.
    Anthony took Eileen’s hand. “Will you excuse us for a moment?” he said to nobody in particular and drew her into the bedroom. The door closed behind them.
    “Are you having fun, little whore?”
    Her cheeks colored. “I wish you wouldn’t call me that. Yes, I’m having fun. Your friends are nice.”
    “Mmm, they are,” he said. “I want you to get changed.”
    “What?”
    “It’s late. I want you to change into something more…appropriate as evening wear. I have something special in mind for you.” He unbuttoned her blouse and slipped it from her shoulders.
    “Anthony! What are you doing?”
    “Hush. Behave. You know what happens if you are disobedient.” He bent and removed her shoes, then unzipped her skirt and slid it down, leaving her naked. When she was stripped bare, he went into the closet and returned with something silky in his hands. “Put these on.”
    Eileen’s heart hammered. She accepted the things he handed her and looked at them uncomprehendingly. Sheer, fine silk, off-white, soft to the touch… She gulped nervously.
    “Let me help you.” He took the top part and slipped it over her head. It was loose-fitting and sleeveless, cut very low in the front, with thin straps that went over her shoulders and translucent mesh side panels that revealed the curves of her breasts. The matching shorts, barely more than underwear, slipped on easily.
    He stepped back to look at her. “You are a very beautiful woman, Eileen. You look incredible.” His lips touched hers, causing her to shrink away. She backed up away from him.
    “Anthony! This is…obscene! I can’t go out there dressed like this!”
    He kissed her lower lip softly. “Okay,” he said. “You don’t have to go out there if you don’t want to.” His body pressed up tight against hers. “What’s going to happen to you can happen right here.”
    She backed away again until she came up against the wall. “What—what do you mean?”
    “Tonight, one of your most deeply-held fantasies is going to come true.”
    “What fantasy? Oh!” Her eyes widened. “Anthony! No! You can’t!”
    “Shh.” His hands slid around her