Susan’s Return

Chapter 1 – Lost and Found
It had happened nearly a year ago, but Ross remembered it like it was yesterday.  Ross had just completed his junior year at State when Susan decided to end their five years together.  In hindsight, it all seemed rather petty.  They had been out to a fraternity party.  He had probably had a few too many, and she started tickling him.  Instinctively, he grabbed her wrists and flipped her underneath him.  With an extra 50 pounds and 10 inches to his advantage, it was almost too easy.  Even though she begged him to stop, he thought she was just playing, and it wasn’t until he used his necktie to tie her wrists behind her back that he knew he had gone too far.
Susan cried.  He apologized.  But the damage was done.  Within a week Susan told him that it wouldn’t work out, and she hadn’t talked to him since.  He called her periodically for months, but his messages went unanswered.  He had seen her around campus, but every time he would go over to talk to her, her new girl friends would intervene and ask him to leave before he even got close to her.  He wasn’t certain, but he thought Susan might have joined a sorority.  Her friends stuck together like glue.  That’s why the Thursday evening phone call was such a surprise.  It was Susan.  She was a little apprehensive, but she started the conversation with “Ross, I miss you.”  He reciprocated.  She explained that she had often hoped to ask him out for coffee, but every time she tried, she lost her nerve.  She was embarrassed at how abruptly she had broken off their relationship.
“I’d be honored to have coffee with you any time you’d like.”  Ross offered.   Susan explained that she was in the middle of finals, and couldn’t spare the time, but that there was a party she was required to attend for her sorority.
“Would you mind accompanying me?”  She asked.  “I know it’s a bit much all at once, but there will be coffee there, and I’d love to talk.”
“I’d love to.” Ross blurted out even before she had finished her sentence.  It was funny how studying for his Advanced Physiology final suddenly seemed insignificant.
Susan offered an escape, asking  “Are you sure?  It’s in Northbrook.  I know how you hate to wear a tie.” But there was no way this opportunity was going to slip away from Ross, and he agreed to dress appropriately.
Northbrook was an affluent community north of campus.
“There’s no money like old money” Ross thought.  Susan must have fallen in with some wealthy sorority sisters to attend parties in Northbrook.  He agreed to pick up Susan at 6:00 pm Friday evening and return her home by midnight.  When he hung up the phone, he hung his head in disbelief – almost as though he was thanking God for divine intervention.

Chapter 2 – The Bait
Ross didn’t sleep much Thursday night.  What little rest he managed to get was intermittent.  The anticipation of Friday night’s date kept him up most of the night, and the one time he did settle into a deep sleep, his roommate Scott stumbled into his room by mistake after a serious mid-week party.  Despite his lack of sleep, Ross woke up Friday feeling more alive than ever.  The schedule was tight, but it would be worth it.  His plan was to gas up the car, wash his clothes for his date with Susan and study for Monday’s Advanced Physiology final until he had to get ready for their date.
Ross quickly showered and dressed.  On his way out of the house, he glanced into his roommate’s bedroom.  Scott, still dressed in his shorts and Hawaiian shirt, was lying face-down in his bed.
“He must have had fun last night.” Thought Ross as he headed out to his car.
Ross opened the garage door to a wall of heat.  It was 11:00 am, and the temperature was pushing 90 degrees and quickly climbing.  Ross was smart to wear cut-offs and a T-shirt.  He threw his laundry in the back of his 1984 Volkswagen Diesel, and he was off to the gas station.
The closest gas station to campus that sold diesel fuel was in a nearly abandoned industrial section on the far east side.  Not surprisingly, he was the only customer that morning.  As he watched the meter tick away his money, a bright yellow Chevy truck pulled into the station parking lot.  He couldn’t help but notice the beautiful blond as she stepped down from the cab.  Her entrance was particularly noticeable because of the anticipation caused by the fully tinted windows.  In addition to her striking appearance and theatrical entrance, she parked on the far side of the convenience store and walked the entire length of the empty parking lot to get inside.  At this desolate station, he would have parked as close as possible to the door if he looked like her.  Before going inside to pay, he made it a point to park beside her truck in hopes of getting a closer look.
As luck would have it, he didn’t need to move his car to get a better view.  He ended up directly behind her in line.  He couldn’t quite place it, but she looked strangely familiar.  For a moment, he wondered if she was some kind of celebrity.  She paid for her coffee and turned back to the self-service counter to add some cream.  Ross paid for his gas and an iced cappuccino, and they ended up meeting at the front door.  Ross, being the gentleman, opened the door for her, and they silently walked to their cars together.  Of course, he wasn’t so gentlemanly that he didn’t sneak a peek at her ample, glistening bosom stretching the seams of her silk blouse as she passed in front of him.
At his car, Ross inserted his ignition key and looked through his passenger window at the woman and her truck.  “Another day, and I’d have asked her out.” he thought.  He turned his attention forward, and a flash of light caught his eye from the right.  As the woman had opened her door, a reflection from a pair of handcuffs attached to her rear view mirror reflected the sun in his direction.  Ross’ Dad used to have a pair in his truck to show support for his fellow police officers.  Ross even had a pair for a while in high school.  Hoping to get a clue as to where he knew her from, Ross rolled down his passenger side window and said “I couldn’t help noticing your mirror decoration.  Are you in law enforcement?” “Not directly, their my Dad’s old cuffs.  He used to work for the city, but now he runs a private security company.  The lock on lower cuff is broken, so I just keep them around to remind me of him and to start conversations like this.”
“Look, I know this sounds like a line, but I could swear I’ve seen you somewhere before.  I’m kind of on the clock, but If you don’t mind taking a few minutes, maybe we could talk while we finish our drinks, and I could figure out where I know you from.” “Why not.  Come on over.  We can sit in my truck since it’s air conditioned.”
As he walked over to her passenger side door, he felt a bit put off that she had just automatically presumed that his car wasn’t air conditioned.  He would have protested, but of course, it wasn’t.
He climbed up into the passenger seat, and the polar breeze from the dashboard hit his face, instantly drying the sweat that had started to form on his brow.  Of course, a part of him wished they were sitting in his car.  It would be hot, but the heat would keep her glistening.
“My name’s Jennie, by the way.” She started.  “Do you really think we’ve met before, or was that just a ploy to meet me… or maybe it was a ploy to see my handcuffs?”
“Yes, I really think we’ve met before.  Besides, I don’t need a ploy to see handcuffs.  My Dad’s a cop.  That’s why I noticed them hanging from your mirror.” Ross replied.  “Actually, I used to have a pair hanging from my mirror, but they attracted way too much attention.”
Jennie nodded in agreement.  “That’s one reason for the tinted windows.”
“I’ll bet you get hit on all the time because of these… and of course, your other assets.”  Ross said glancing downward.
“Yeah, but all of the guys who hit on me because of the cuffs want me to wear them.”  Jennie said smiling back.  “Of course, they’re always disappointed when I tell them the lock on the lower cuff is broken.” “Well, I must admit, you would look great in them, but you’d look great in just about anything.”  Ross said.
“Gee, now that you put it that way, I’d be tempted to model them if they worked.” Jennie said blushing.  “What’s wrong with them?  Are they permanently locked?” Ross asked.
“No, actually they are permanently unlocked.  Watch.” Jennie said, and she swung the hinged lower arm through the locking mechanism until it swung through and hung loose, again.  The ratcheting sound was just like in the movies.
“That doesn’t prove anything.  They’re supposed to work like that.  The locking mechanism is designed to prevent the arm from loosening, not tightening.  Loosening would be in the other direction.” “Well, trust me.  It’s broken.”  Jennie replied shortly, and with that, she took his left hand in hers and held his wrist up to the dangling cuff.  Looking up from the handcuffs, their eyes met.  “Oh, I trust you.”   Ross said slowly.  “I can’t say why, but I trust you.”
Before he could say or do anything else, Jennie had swung the free arm of the cuff around his wrist, and the telltale ratchet sound announced that the cuffs were indeed in perfect working order.

Chapter 3 – The Trap
“It’s amazing how many boys get into this truck expecting to see me in those cuffs and end up wearing them themselves.” Jennie said smiling.  “In fact on a couple of occasions, I’ve had my dates in some very difficult predicaments.”
“It’s not really that amazing.”  Ross responded.  “It’s quite likely that it’s your eyes that draw them in more than the cuffs.”
Even though she had tricked him, he tried to shrug it off.  They talked about his class schedule.  They talked about her job as a legal assistant.  He was certain that he’d seen her somewhere before, but she insisted that she didn’t attend State.  They briefly compared their life histories when Ross decided that it was fruitless.  It must have been déjà vu or something.
Looking at his watch dangling under her mirror, he reluctantly announced that he had to go study.  He fleetingly thought of Susan, but still asked Jennie if she’d be interested in going out some time.  “That would be nice.  I’d like to get to know you better.”  She said.  “How about tonight?” “Tonight doesn’t work for me… studying and all… how about Saturday?”  Ross offered.
“Saturday it is.”
After an awkward pause, Jennie apparently remembered that Ross couldn’t leave, and she laughed.  “Oh, I’m sorry.  The key is under the passenger seat.” She said apologetically.
Ross set his cappuccino bottle between his legs, and reached down with his free hand.  After a few seconds of fumbling and looking, he said “Are you sure it’s down here?  I can’t see it.”
“Of course I’m sure it’s down there.”  She said as she slid over to help in the search.  “Allow me.”  she said, rubbing up next to him.
As he continued to look, Jennie offered that it had probably slid under the floor mat, and leaned over him bringing her left hand around to lift up the mat.  He didn’t know whether he did it was because she smelled so nice, or whether it was his straining reach coupled with the pressure of Jennie’s body leaning on the bottle between his legs, but he decided to help her look for the key.  As he glanced toward Jennie noticing her ample sweating cleavage, he found his previously free right wrist had been handcuffed to the lower frame of the truck’s passenger seat.  Jennie sat up and smiled a devilish smile.  “Remember how I told you that I’ve had some of my dates in rather interesting predicaments…” Ross feeling more than a bit foolish smiled nervously and said “You got me again, but this time it wasn’t your eyes.”
“My eyes only make the introduction.  Other attributes close the deal.” Jennie said almost to suggest that Ross’ situation was a foregone conclusion.
“Other attributes, huh?  Like your hands locking a hidden cuff around my only free wrist, maybe?” Without responding, Jennie tapped her foot on the brake, held down the clutch and shifted into reverse.  “Wait a second, I’ve got to study!  My final is on Monday!”  Ross said with a touch of panic in his voice.
“You’ll have plenty of time to study this afternoon.” Jennie said reassuringly.  “Would you like me to get your books?”
“No.  I want you to let me go.”
“Oh, I’m going to let you go… in fact you’re going right now… back to my place.”
Ross didn’t know whether he was the luckiest guy he knew or whether he was in real trouble.  He began to silently assess the situation, and he realized that if he was in trouble, he was in it deep.  Here he was in a truck with heavily tinted glass.  No one could readily see that he was handcuffed to the mirror.  At the gas station, the clerk saw him leave with a beautiful woman, so he surely wouldn’t think there was any trouble brewing.  In fact, the guy was probably envious.  His roommate was passed out, and his car was parked inconspicuously at the far end of a virtually abandoned filling station.
It wouldn’t be until that Saturday evening that anybody would even think to report that he was missing.  Everyone would probably figure that he was at the library studying for Monday’s final.  To top it all off, Susan would likely think that he intentionally stood her up.  She probably wouldn’t tell anybody, let alone the authorities.  Somehow he had to convince her to let him go by this evening.  He had to keep his date with Susan.  “Really, I’d be happy to swing past your dorm room to get your books.” Jennie said interrupting his thoughts.
“Look, I’m flattered.  Honest.  But you really have to let me go.”  Ross said trying to sound reasonable.  “No, I really don’t.”  Jennie replied confidently.
Ross fruitlessly attempted to pull the mirror off.  “Ram tough – inside and out.  Now, do you want your books, or not?”
Ross resigned that his only chance of escape was if he could be spotted or heard by someone.  So, he gave her directions to the house he rented with Scott.  He figured that if they were close enough to the house when she got out of the truck, he could yell to Scott or one of his neighbors.
When they were a couple of blocks away from Ross’ house, Jennie pulled up along the curb and parked.  “It’s just up ahead one block to Forrest.  Take a right and it’s the sixth house on the left.”  Ross offered.
“I know.  You already told me where your place is, but I have to be prepared.  I’m stopping here to make certain that you won’t cause me any trouble.” Jennie responded.
“Yeah, like I pose any kind of a threat… one hand cuffed to your ceiling and the other to your floor.” Ross said sarcastically.
“Actually, you do.  This is your neighborhood, not mine.  As soon as I leave the car, you could start kicking the floorboard hard enough for someone walking by to hear.” She explained.
“Let me guess, you’re going to leave me here, in a hot truck while you walk the two blocks to my house and back.  In this heat, I could sweat to death before you return.” Ross said.
She looked outside and thought for a moment.  After a long pause, she resigned “You’re right.  I’ve carried the joke on too long.  I’m sorry.  I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“Look, no hard feelings.” Ross said in relief.  “Just drop me at my house, and I’ll have Scott drive me back for my car later.”
Jennie slid over and took his face gently in her hands.  Looking deep into his eyes, she said “I know I don’t deserve it, but I hope we’re still on for Saturday night.”
“After all I’ve been through, you can be sure that we’re still on for Saturday.  I didn’t go through all of this for nothing.”  Ross said, gesturing with his hands.
Jennie leaned over and gave him the sweetest kiss with her full pert lips.  Without realizing how incredibly ironic his comment would prove to be, he said “With any luck, you can lure me into these cuffs again when we can both enjoy them.”

Chapter 4 – About Those Books…
With the air conditioning blowing her hair lightly toward his face, Jennie leaned over Ross’s lap and used both hands to get the key to the cuffs.  He could feel her rummaging around down there, and then he felt her soft hands push his socks down and caress his ankles.
“You have great muscle tone.”she admired as she angled her head back to catch Ross’s eye.  “Muscle tone is actually what I should be studying right now.”  He joked as he motioned his head to get Jennie back to work.
Although his view was blocked by Jennie’s body leaning across his lap, it felt as though she was using more than just her hands to caress his ankles.  By the time he realized that she had encircled his ankles with broad leather cuffs, it was too late.  The cuffs she used were permanently riveted together, and she clipped each ankle cuff tightly to the frame of the seat, preventing any movement of his feet.  Even though they were only clipped with the kind of simple spring-loaded mechanism used on a dog leash, he was helpless to disconnect them.  His fingers could stretch to within an inch of the clips, but no closer.  Ross was infuriated.
“This shit has to stop!  I’ve got a final to study for!” he exploded.
“Oh, right… the books...” Jennie said nodding her head feigning a memory lapse.
“Screw the books!  Let me go, now.” Jennie quickly grabbed his chin with her left hand and twisted his head hard until their eyes met.  After a brief stare-down, she quietly growled “Now look here.  If you haven’t figured this out yet, I’ll let you go when I’m damned good and ready.  You’re in no position to demand anything.  The nicer you are, the nicer I’ll be, but no matter what I’ll have my way.” With that, she turned to the rear of the cab to retrieve a small black leather satchel.  Reaching inside, she said “Now we can do this the easy way or the hard way.  What’ll it be?”  Ross thought for a moment and figured he still had a chance.  The sooner she opened the door to get his books, the sooner he could yell for help.
“Look, you’re right.  I’m obviously in no position to demand anything, but I’d really appreciate it if you’d do me two favors.  First, go get my books, and second leave the engine running so I can have the air conditioning on.”
Jennie smiled.  “It’s a deal, but you have to do me two favors in return.”
Ross laughed.  “I’m not really in a position to do much of anything, but if I can do them, I will.” Jennie removed a leather blindfold from the black bag and said “First, let me put this on you, and second give me the most focused kiss of your life before I leave to get your books.”
Ross knew he didn’t have a chance of avoiding the blindfold, and he certainly wouldn’t have minded kissing her.  He also figured that he’d have his chance to scream once she opened the driver-side door to leave the truck.  Even with the blindfold on, he would be able to tell when she left the truck by the alarm indicating that the driver door was ajar.  So, he resigned himself to having to close his eyes and passionately kiss this beautiful woman, whom he had met only thirty short minutes ago, just before screaming as loudly as he could for help.  When Jennie slipped the blindfold over Ross’ eyes, he was surprised at how completely effective it was.  The leather formed a kind of seal with the perspiration soaked skin around his eyes.  Without the use of his hands, there was no removing it.  Softly, he could feel what he thought was Jennie’s finger tracing the outline of his lips.  She slowly ran her finger around his lips until they were nearly dry.  The anticipation was maddening.  He was about to moisten his lips with his tongue when she touched it gently with her finger and softly whispered “No, let me.”
Her finger returned to his lips.  This time her finger was moistened.  Again, he held his lips slightly apart as she traced their outline.  He started wondering why he had ever refused to play these types of games with Susan when she had asked.  His focus returned to Jennie when she moaned “kiss me.”
As he brought his lips together, he felt Jennie brace his head firmly with both hands.  Her fingers tightly squeezed his puckered lips together, and when he tried to protest, she only squeezed harder.  When she finally released her grip, Ross’ lips were tightly sealed by the quick drying epoxy that he had unknowingly let Jennie so liberally apply.  Even as Ross flailed violently against his now complete submission, Jennie laughed almost uncontrollably as she wound half a roll of duct tape around the lower half of his face.  Not only did the tape further seal his lips, but it also effectively muffled any screams he had planned to release.  Still laughing, Jennie said “Now about those books…” With that, the truck was on the move again – still headed for Ross and Scott’s house.

Chapter 5 – The Next Victim
Scott was understandably surprised to see the beautiful blonde Jennie standing over him when he awoke.  Even though his vision was still blurry from the previous evening’s activities, her feminine attributes caught his eyes and sent a tingle down below. Scott barely noticed the look of pity that graced her face.  From his vantage point on the floor, Scott could almost see Jennie’s unrestrained breasts under her tight silk blouse.  When he instinctively tried to get a better perspective, though, he was surprised again.  He was unable to use his arms, which were pinned together in parallel fashion across the middle of his back.  Each wrist had been bound to the opposing forearm just below the elbow.  While he couldn’t be certain, the empty cardboard spool suggested tape, probably duct tape based on its strength.
With his lower legs similarly bound parallel to each other, each ankle being bound just below the opposing knee, Scott found himself feeling extremely exposed and completely powerless to change the situation.  The best he could manage was a pathetic wiggle, moving his shoulders and legs from side to side in unison.  Whether out of disbelief or panic, Scott reflexively tensed his muscles and ardently tried to free himself.  Like a fish, he flopped back and forth on the floor, pulling at his mummified limbs.  Even though he only struggled for a few seconds, Scott had ample time to think and wonder.  “What happened last night?  How did I get home?  Who is this woman?  Is she the reason I can’t move, or is it just a lucky coincidence that she is here when I need help?  And where the hell is Ross when you need him?”
After unsuccessfully testing Jennie’s handiwork, he gave up and decided that his best chance at escape was to set aside any masculine pride and ask the attractive blonde for help.  After all, he figured she had two free hands and he had none, but when a muffled little gurgle replaced his plea for help, Scott was once again surprised.
Bound and gagged, Scott was laid out helpless on his bedroom floor.  Wearing only his loose fitting underwear, his private parts strained to catch the light of the morning.  “That Bastard.”  He thought.  “So he’s finally getting me back for the initiation.” It wouldn’t have been a bad idea, really.  For what Scott put Ross through, he probably deserved to be tied up and teased by a beautiful blonde who would most likely remain just out of reach.  Then he saw it, and if his jaw hadn’t been restrained it would have dropped off its hinges.  Across the room, the full-length mirror on the inside of the bathroom door revealed the frightening truth about Scott’s predicament.  The reflection sent shivers throughout his body.  The mirror told more of a story than Scott’s eyes could have otherwise seen from the floor.
As he had suspected, Scott’s lower legs and arms had been completely wrapped in heavy-duty duct tape.  What he was only now realizing was that the entire lower half of his face was wound with the same tape.  There would be absolutely no way for him to effectively call for help or communicate, and he now realized that the fuzzy feeling in his mouth wasn’t just the result of binge drinking the night before.  His mouth contained an oversized sponge that would swallow the majority of sound before it could ever reach his lips.  In addition to keeping the sponge in place, the duct tape around his face absorbed still more sound, effectively rendering him silent.
In addition to confirming what he already knew, the reflection disclosed additional information that Scott wasn’t yet ready to accept.  Around his neck he wore a broad black leather collar.  The collar appeared to be a single thick strip with slots at one end and a small metal plate at the other.  After firmly encircling his neck, a D-ring welded to the plate had been passed through one of the slots, fastening the collar in place.  The padlock dangling from the D-ring made sure the collar couldn’t be removed without his captor’s consent.
The prospect of being the helpless property of some abductress, however beautiful, was enough to strike sheer terror into Scott’s heart.  His long forgotten claustrophobia was rearing its ugly head, and Scott was panic-stricken at the prospect of being helplessly trapped.  His worst fears, though, were far exceeded when he saw the device in Jennie’s hand.  She had politely tried to hide it behind her back.  She didn’t want to unnecessarily frighten her prey, but Scott’s wide eyes fixed on the bathroom mirror made her realize that her attempt to conceal it had backfired.  Stepping toward him, she knelt beside Scott.  She lifted his head using an O-ring attached to the front of his collar, and brought the device into plain sight a few inches from Scott’s face.  It was a small plastic device, about the size of an electric razor.  Instead of having a shaving screen, however, it had two small metal contacts protruding from the front.
“You think you know what this is, don’t you?”  Jennie asked sweetly.
Trembling, Scott nodded his head.  It was a stun gun designed to deliver a jolt of electricity so powerful that it could instantly incapacitate a man for up to five minutes.
“I was hoping I wouldn’t have to use it…” Jennie explained as Scott silently tried to assure her that she was right.
“… but now that you’ve woken up, I don’t know what I should do.”  She continued.
“They said if I had any doubts at all that I should use it.  They insisted that it didn’t really hurt and that no permanent damage would be done.” Scott was so shaken that tears welled up in his trembling eyes.
“It’s pretty clear to me that you’re in no position to resist, though…” Jennie justified.  “… and you’re so cute there in your boxers that I’d hate to do anything uncomfortable.”
A sigh of relief escaped through Scott’s nose as Jennie let his head drop gently to the floor.  “Of course, you’d be easier to transport if you didn’t squirm around.”  Jennie concluded.  Scott’s eyes grew wide with realization just before Jennie softly pressed the device against his chest.  Once Jennie had Scott safely tied down in the bed of her pickup, she found Ross’ books and brought her reluctant cargo with her to her Northbrook Estate.
 
 

23.10.05

story continues in Susan’s Return

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