Part 4: Now What?
After their lovemaking Alice had fallen asleep. Dan lay awake, his mind filled with guilt and recrimination. He had just cheated on his girlfriend. Not only that; he’d done it unprotected. He cursed himself for his stupidity. But what was he going to do about it? How could he keep his crazy, kinky neighbor from pulling her next bizarre and potentially dangerous stunt?
Dan’s bladder called him back to the bathroom. The wet clothes on the shower floor were yet another reminder of the bizarre situation he found himself in. With a frustrated sigh he grabbed the terrycloth robe that hung on the back of the door. He needed to figure this mess out. And he thought he knew where to start.
Alice snoozed quietly in Dan’s bed. He eased himself into the chair at his little home workstation. Booting up his laptop he went to the fountain of knowledge and misinformation that was the internet.
He had researched self bondage before. It had been helpful with its depictions of various techniques (some of which he had seen in action, thanks to Alice.) It had also been rather explicit in the results of failure of escape mechanisms. But now he needed something more. He needed to find out what made Alice tick.
Searching the net is a bit like panning for gold. There’s a whole lot of gravel you have to wash out before you find a nugget. A search of the word “submissive” brought about 84 million results, everything from the dictionary definition to links to “live submissive girl cams.”
Following the thread of “How to deal with bratty subs” started to yield slightly better results. He was able to skip past the “beat the fuck out of the bitch” entries. They fell into the “four hundred pound guy sitting in his parent’s basement” category. But there were other, more thoughtful responses.
Some suggested that the brat was seeking punishment because they enjoyed it. Dan ruled that approach out. He wasn’t about to beat any woman, not even one who desired it. But there were other threads that suggested that the brat simply wanted to be dominated and misbehaved to get that attention.
Feeling the approach of an information overload headache Dan closed the laptop and headed for the kitchen. He brewed a pot of coffee. It helped calm his nerves and let him think. He sipped the hot brew, staring out the slider at the apartments across the common.
Dan felt a sense of responsibility for his neighbor. That old saw about being responsible for a life you save seemed to be true. Ever since he’d gone into her apartment he’d felt an obligation to keep Alice safe. And yet he was in a relationship with Jordan. How to help one without betraying the other? ‘You mean more than you already have,’ asked his sarcastic inner voice?
The yapping of a dog down on the common area yielded the answer. Dan looked to see an elderly woman leading a teacup yorkie on a leash. The little mop was barking and straining at a much bigger dog, trying to get at them. The woman, quite sensibly hauled back on the leash, protecting her pet from becoming a snack in the jaws of the larger animal.
Dan padded back into the bedroom. He quietly dressed himself in shorts and a tee shirt. He pulled the belt from his bathrobe, running it through his fingers speculatively. It was crude, but would do the trick. With a determined sigh he moved to the bed.
Holding the sash in one hand he caught the corner of the blankets with the other. With a snap of his wrist he flipped the covers from his sleeping houseguest. Alice let out a groggy whine of protest as she curled into the fetal position.
Dan would have none of it. Telling himself that it was for her own good he climbed on the bed. Catching the naked girl’s wrists he pulled them behind her back, forcing Alice onto her stomach.
“Huh, wha?” Alice mumbled as she tried to free her arms.
“Hold still,” Dan commanded. He reinforced his order by placing one knee on her crossed wrists. He looped the terrycloth around her wrists, pulling it tight. He made several quick knots as Alice squirmed beneath him. When he was done he hopped from the bed.
Alice was surprised and delighted to find herself bound. She rolled to her side, raising herself on one elbow. Canting her legs just enough to let Dan have a peek at her bush she said archly, “So now what?”
Her smugness lit a fire in Dan. Any normal woman would be pleading to be released. But this woman thought it was an invitation to play. ‘Alright,’ he thought, ‘game on.’ He folded his arms across his chest in what he hoped was an authoritative manner.
“This bondage stuff is supposed to be safe, sane and consensual,” he chided her. “So far you haven’t been safe. I’m not sure you’re sane. And my half of consensual has been walked over.” Dan saw Alice look away, chagrined by his words.
“So that changes right now,” he told her. “And it starts with safe words.” Dan had read about them ad nauseam in his research and felt they would be a help in the current situation. “If you need me to ease up you say ‘yellow’. And if you need out, you say ‘red’. If you’re not okay with that, and with being tied by me then say ‘red’ right now and I’ll untie you. But if you do I’m done bailing you out. You can’t have it both ways.”
Alice’s mouth hung open. Was her neighbor really asking her to be his submissive? Did the ridiculously vanilla man even know what he was saying? Dark memories rose up from the past- memories of a man who thought bondage was equal to sadism. But Dan didn’t seem the type. Perhaps she could trust him? He’d already given her an escape clause, and seemed to have done some homework.
“Why Clark, this is a side of you I’ve never seen before,” Alice said with a smile. “You might turn out to be a villain after all.”
Dan felt his heart rate spike. Was it the sultry pose or the sarcastic tone in Alice’s voice? Either way, it was time for him to exert some control over the situation. “Very cute, now get up,” he ordered curtly.
Alice shifted gears quickly. No sense pushing all his buttons too soon, she told herself. Rising to her knees she crawled to the edge of the bed. She cast her eyes downward and gave a demure, “Yes Sir.”
Dan caught her by the elbow and helped her from the bed. He took a moment to admire her curves before taking up his bathrobe. He draped it over her shoulders. It bulged conspicuously as he covered her chest. Holding the front of the robe closed he gave it a tug. “Okay, let’s go,” he said.
Alice was somewhat disappointed at the turn of events. She was hoping that Dan would be interested enough in her to take full advantage. Instead he had covered her up and was leading her away from the bedroom.
It was only when they turned towards the front door that Alice felt uneasy. “Uh, where are we going?” she asked.
The note of doubt in her voice was like a tonic to Dan. He finally had taken some of Alice’s self assurance away. He decided to play it for all it was worth. “Someplace where we won’t be disturbed,” he said darkly.
“Oh, wait a minute,” Alice stammered as Dan opened the apartment door. But her protest was ignored. Still holding the robe, Dan dragged her out into the hall.
Alice felt a rising panic. She was bound and mostly naked in public. Anyone who came out of their apartment would see the strange sight. And how could they not immediately see what was going on?
Dan glanced back. The distressed look on Alice’s face stirred something deep inside of him. He felt a rush of power as he pulled the captive girl down the hall. He was a bit nervous himself with the situation. Any of this would be hard to explain to a casual passerby. Fortunately his destination was only a few feet away.
Alice felt a wave of relief as Dan stopped before her apartment door. He slipped the key in the lock and opened it. Releasing his grip on the bathrobe he stepped behind her. She felt a pressure on her shoulders propelling her forward. It was followed by the curt command, “Inside.”
Dan followed Alice into the apartment, kicking the door closed with his foot. He reached up and caught the back of the robe, pulling it from Alice’s shoulders. Her little gasp of surprise set his hormones into overdrive. With a question that was more of a demand Dan said, “Why don’t you show me where you keep your toys?”
Alice turned to face her captor. If her stomach had butterflies, they were large ones wearing heavy boots. ‘Oh my God, this is really happening,’ she said to herself. This wasn’t just a self bondage romp where someone helped her out at the end. This was her giving up control, letting him write the script. Doubting her own decision, Alice turned and walked towards the bedroom. “They’re in here.”
Dan followed Alice down the hallway. Her hips swayed invitingly as she walked. She held her hands easily at her back. He wondered how securely his knotted sash was actually restraining her. In a way he hoped it wasn’t. That would mean she was fine with what he was doing.
Alice stepped into her bedroom. She thought back to the night Dan had found her there, naked and struggling. She was naked again but not struggling-not yet anyhow. Nodding to the closet she said, “The small suitcase on the floor.”
Dan opened the closet. A rack of elegant and sexy shoes hung from the back of the door. A mix of fancy dresses and plain outfits hung from the rack. On the floor were two suitcases, a large one that he had tripped over in the past, he remembered with embarrassment, and a smaller one.
Dan retrieved the smaller bag. He turned to see Alice sitting on the bed, her legs crossed. It was as if being naked and bound were the most casual of events for her. He would have to change that mindset. “I didn’t tell you to sit down,” he barked. “Get on your feet.”
Alice reeled as if slapped. She had expected a little more bondage on the bed, perhaps followed by some delicious lovemaking. She jumped to her feet, again realizing that this story was not hers to tell. And if she wanted to play, she had best play along. “Sorry Sir,” she said demurely.
“Come with me,” he said as he left the bedroom. Alice followed. She felt the terrycloth sash slipping around her wrists. She pressed her hands together, trying to keep from slipping completely off.
The small living room/dining room had a sofa with a coffee table in the center. A small dining table stood off to one side. Dan set the bag on the coffee table before finding a seat on the couch. He indicated a spot on the opposite side of the coffee table. He told Alice, “Stand there and face me.”
Alice moved opposite him. She glanced uneasily at the balcony slider. The blinds were wide open. “Uh, excuse me Sir,” she said hesitantly. “But the blinds are open.”
Dan glanced over his shoulder. “Yeah, they are, really brightens up the place don’t you think?” he replied with a smug smile.
“But I…” Alice started.
Dan interrupted with, “Spread your legs, I want a good look at you.” Alice looked decidedly uncomfortable. But with a crimson blush she spread her legs. It seemed she would baulk when he instructed her to spread them wider. In the end she did as she was told.
Dan felt a rush of excitement that he couldn’t explain. This woman was doing everything he told her! He suddenly felt powerful, as if he could do anything. He turned his attention to the overnight bag to hide the beaming smile on his face.
Alice divided her attention between Dan and the balcony slider. She told herself that no one could see into the midday apartment. But she knew there were plenty of retired tenants who loved to “bird watch” the complex.
Dan was carefully removing all her bondage toys from the case. She watched as he examined the styles of gags she had accumulated. The “penis panel gag” seemed to be of particular interest to him. “This looks interesting,” he said quietly. Alice looked quickly away.
She wondered at the awkward, embarrassed feeling that filled her. She had bound herself for him to find before this. He had seen her with a crotch rope pulled tight between her legs. So why did she feel like a bug under a microscope now? The voice in the back of her head said, ‘Cause this ain’t just bondage anymore, Honey. This is submission. He’s telling and you’re doing.’ The thought chilled her. Was she ready for that?
Alice was close to slipping her hands free and telling Dan to forget the whole thing when his exclamation derailed her train of thought. In his hands were several leather straps, each with a roller buckle. “Now these look very useful,” he said as he rose from the couch.
Dan had seen enough bondage images in his research to know that the straps were an easy method of restraint. He didn’t have to worry about fumbling a knot and looking foolish. At the moment he wanted to look calm and in control.
So it was with more confidence than he felt that he stepped behind Alice. He had chosen the shortest of the straps from the pile. Looping the leather about her wrists Dan cinched it down, pulling her wrists firmly together. It was only then that he pulled away the anemic restraint of the sash.
Alice twisted her hands slightly, testing the new restraint. It was tight enough to be inescapable without cutting off her circulation. She felt a rising excitement. But then Dan was reaching for another strap. This one he placed about her elbows. Alice had always been intrigued with elbow ties, but had never managed a decent one in self bondage. Now she felt her elbows being drawn slowly together.
Dan pulled steadily on the strap. The images he had seen showed women with their elbows welded together with ropes and straps. He wondered how much was fabrication and how much was reality. ‘Let’s find out,’ chortled the dark voice in his mind.
Alice felt the stress building in her shoulders. She was wishing she’d had time to stretch beforehand. But being chained and half frozen in the shower didn’t leave her much opportunity. “Oh, ow!” she complained as Dan pulled the strap tighter. “Ah stop! Oh, I mean yellow, yellow!”
Dan immediately eased off the tension. He almost stopped when Alice said stop. But he knew he had to get her to play by a set of consistent rules. And getting her to communicate clearly was definitely one of them. Her elbows were still about four inches apart when Dan fastened the buckle. He turned Alice around to admire the result.
Even without her elbows touching the effect was striking. Alice’s shoulders were thrown back, making her stand straighter. Her breasts, which were ample on a good day, now thrust boldly forward. Dan was impressed but did his best to hide it. “Not bad,” he said noncommittally. “Now walk down the hall and back.”
Alice was actually glad to walk away from her captor. The way he looked at her was both exciting-and frightening. She felt as if she were being examined like some thoroughbred. ‘Or like a slave at auction?’ queried her inner voice.
Pushing aside the unwelcome thought, Alice strode down the hallway. She concentrated on putting one foot directly before the other, giving her hips an erotic sway. Stopping at the door she turned. Tossing her head to one side she smiled. “You like what you see?” she asked provocatively.
“We should probably put you on a pedestal,” was the appreciative response. “Now come back over here.”
Alice strutted back to the living room. She was pleased with Dan’s compliment and with the sight of additional leather straps in his hand. She could almost forget the open blinds behind him.
Dan took Alice by the arm, guiding her towards the dinette. He pulled out a chair and held it with one hand. Alice turned, prepared to sit for a chair tie but Dan stopped her. “Oh no, Princess. Step up,” he said as he pushed the chair in front of her.
“You want me to stand on the chair?”
“No, I want you on the table. But the chair saves me the trouble of lifting you. Now step!”
Alice was guided up onto the chair. Dan had her kneel in the center of the table. When he determined it was stable he pressed her back until she was sitting on her heels. The straps wrapped around each leg, across the thigh and under the ankle.
Dan finished tightening the straps. He tried to ignore the throbbing sensation in his groin, well aware that if he rolled Alice on her back she would be wide open to him. He reminded himself that he wasn’t there for sexual gratification. He was there to get control. Besides, he had no doubt that Alice would love it if he took her then and there.
Alice watched as Dan seemed to have a sudden idea. “I’ll be right back,” he told her. She sighed as she watched him disappear into her bedroom. She was already getting excited with the tight straps. Why did he need to add anything?
Dan opened the bedroom closet. He had seen something that gave him an idea. There, in the back corner was a box of holiday wrapping paper. He fished in the box until he found what he wanted. “Perfect,” he said as he headed back to his captive.
Alice looked puzzled as Dan returned. In his hand was a sheet of white tissue paper. Alice had a bunch of it for stuffing gift bags at the holidays. But of what possible use could it be here, she wondered. It would disintegrate as a gag. And it was far too flimsy to be a blindfold. She watched as he spread it flat on the table next to her.
“Okay, back on your toes,” Dan told Alice. He emphasized the instructions by taking her shoulders and tilting her back. Alice let out a little yelp as her balance shifted. “Now turn to the right,” Dan commanded. And spread your legs nice and wide.” He assisted her in the turn before easing her back onto her knees.
Alice didn’t understand what was going on. All she knew was that she was now fully facing the balcony slider with her legs spread wide. She started to ease her legs together. Tissue paper crinkled beneath her knees.
Dan caught her chin, bringing his face close to hers. “Don’t move,” he said darkly. Alice froze. There was danger in that look. She swallowed a lump in her throat. “I said you belonged on a pedestal, and now you are,” he said as he released his grip. He lifted her left knee, smoothing the tissue paper before pushing her leg farther open. “And this is where you’re going to stay, until I get a few things done.” He paused to let the words sink in. “I’m sure you’re wondering about the paper? Well, when I come back and it’s wrinkled or torn I’ll know you moved. And that would be very bad.”
“How bad?” Alice asked anxiously.
“Oh, I might keep you up there all afternoon and into the evening. And if I did that I couldn’t leave you in the dark now could I?” He smiled to see the dawning comprehension drain the color from her face. “Yes, I’ll bet the view’s a lot better in this apartment when a few lights are on. Someone across the way would have no trouble seeing in. But, we both know you’re going to do just as you’re told, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
“I’ll be back to check on you,” Dan said cheerily as he headed for the apartment door. Alice listened to his retreating steps, heard the apartment door open and close. Her perch on the table didn’t permit her to turn far enough to see the door. He could just be standing there, pretending to leave her alone. But after several minutes of intense listening she decided he had actually left her.
Knowing the answer but asking the question anyway, Alice twisted her wrists against the leather strap. Dan’s knowledge of rope work might be limited. But he had definitely mastered the roller buckle. In fact, he was almost too good. Alice’s shoulders were just at the point of mild discomfort from the elbow strap. She knew that the longer she stayed there the worse it would get.
Alice leaned forward to examine the straps that bound her legs. The straps pulled tightly against her thighs. She frowned at the way they dug into her flesh. ‘Ugh, I’m getting flabby,’ she chided herself. Her knees were farther apart than she would have liked. It put a strain on her hips. But if she tried to move them the fragile tissue paper would tear. And then-would he carry through on his threat?
Dan seemed like your average “nice guy”. He was certainly no one Alice would have tried to get involved with. Actually she didn’t have any intentions of getting involved with anyone after her last bad relationship. But random chance had thrust the two of them together. And now there was suddenly another Dan peeking out from behind the nice guy façade, one that seemed ready and willing to thrust Alice into some very challenging situations.
And that situation was now unfolding before her very eyes. As the sun peaked overhead residents took to their little balconies to enjoy the air. And any one of them had the opportunity to glance across the quad to see the woman kneeling on her dining table, bound naked with her legs spread wide. The thought was terrifying-so why did Alice have the irresistible urge to stroke herself?
Dan returned to his own apartment feeling smug. He’d taken control of his kinky neighbor, giving her a bit of what she wanted while setting up the situation to control her desires. Now it was time for some crime scene cleanup.
Dragging the overfull hamper out of his closet, Dan stripped the bed. The wet spot the two had created had faded but Dan wasn’t taking any chances. He gathered up the wet clothes from the shower and added them to the pile. After making sure he had his laundry card Dan lugged the whole mess down to the basement laundry room.
It took two machines to get everything in. There were only four washers in the room. The middle aged woman who came in after Dan gave him a dirty look. One machine was in use and he had taken two. That left only one for all her wash. On any other day Dan would have been apologetic. Today he just gave an insincere smile and said, “Have a nice day!”
Back at his apartment Dan continued his cleanup. He found Alice’s Velma wig, glasses and shoes. Dropping them into a grocery bag, he set it on the counter to return to Alice when he freed her. The thought of his neighbor naked and helpless-waiting for him caused his cock to harden once again.
Dan gathered up the trash in the kitchen. Incriminating lipstick stained Styrofoam cup and donut box were bagged up for the dumpster. He glanced at the calendar on his refrigerator. Jordan had her spin class every Tuesday. It was a night she went to class after work and then directly home for a shower. A good night for Dan to have some “me” time. He grinned. Alice would get to play her kinky games. But she would do it on his terms.
The back of Alice’s apartment faced west. It made the place hot on summer afternoons and deliciously warm with golden sunlight on chill winter days. But now Alice watched the moving shadows with growing trepidation.
The sunlight crept across the balcony, illuminating the few plants Alice kept there. She tried to turn her head enough to see the clock on the stove. But the tissue paper crinkled warningly as she twisted. “How long is he going to leave me here,” she muttered.
The minutes ticked by. Afternoon sunlight touched the base of the dinette. Alice knew in another half hour the entire room would be bathed in light. And that light would plainly reveal the naked woman perched on that table like some art piece in a museum of kink.
Again Alice tried her bonds. Careful not to tear the delicate paper beneath her knees, she worked at the arm straps. She achieved a measure of success. By thrusting her chest forward Alice was able to bring her elbows together slightly. It was enough to let the strap slip past her elbows. She panted at the exertion. Unfortunately it did little to free the rest of her bound form.
Alice scanned the opposing balconies. It was hard to see against the afternoon glare. She could see that there was the nice old man who bird watched from his balcony. ‘If he turns those binoculars this way he’s going to see the double breasted naked chick,’ was Alice’s rueful thought.
Panic began to set in as the line of sunlight crested the table edge. Alice struggled harder. She would have given anything to be able to slip a hand down between her legs, or even to close them. Alice was getting close to trying to move back from the all revealing sun and simply accepting Dan’s punishment.
The click of the opening door was like a sudden reprieve. Alice sagged in her bonds. “Oh thank God,” she muttered.
Dan sauntered casually into the room. “Enjoying your afternoon?” he asked.
“Please, the sun, they’ll see,” Alice blurted. “The blinds, please!”
Dan looked at the brightening room. “Oh yeah, it is getting kinda bright in here,” he said in mock concern. “I can fix that for you.” He stepped to the open overnight bag, fishing out a red sleep mask. He slipped it over Alice’s eyes. “There, is that better?”
“No, please. I don’t want people to see,” she begged.
Dan picked up the case of bondage gear and dropped it by the table. The panel gag he had seen earlier was easy to find. “You know, sometimes you talk too much,” he said as he pressed the gag against her lips.
“Arrgh,” Alice cried as the rubber phallus passed between her teeth. She tossed her head, trying to dislodge it. But Dan had the advantage. He fumbled with the buckle one handed but managed to get it tight. Alice’s garbled pleas lit a fire inside him.
Her cries screened the act of Dan quietly closing the blinds. He had seen the risk of discovery from some neighbor. He truly didn’t want to compromise Alice or himself for that matter. But he delighted in the fact that she thought she was fully exposed to the neighbors. ‘Let her sweat a little bit,’ he thought. ‘Payback for the shower mess.’
Observing the elbow strap down around Alice’s wrists Dan frowned. “Looks like that elbow strap wasn’t tight enough,” he observed. “I think I can fix that.”
Alice shook her head in a vigorous “no” as the strap was moved back above her elbows. Dan observed where he had cinched it before and moved it one notch tighter. Alice groaned at the strain.
Stepping back, Dan took a moment to admire his helpless neighbor. None of this kink stuff had interested him before. He’d never gone searching for bondage on the web before Alice had revealed her secret. But he had to admit that seeing her with her legs spread wide and her chest thrust forward had given him a raging hard on.
Still, having sex with Alice had been a mistake he didn’t intend to repeat. It was hard enough keeping this bizarre arrangement from Jordan without becoming romantically involved. Of course that didn’t mean that Alice couldn’t derive some pleasure from the situation. Dan pulled an electric wand vibrator from the box of toys.
Alice was contemplating the disaster of being seen when she heard the unmistakable hum of her magic wand. It was not loud, but a low powerful throbbing that belied its power to drive her to climax. And her neighbor was going to use it on her, possibly in front of nosy neighbors. The mix of fear and anticipation was almost too much to bear.
Dan started high, letting the vibrating orb caress Alice’s jawline. It was just a taste, something to let her know more was coming. His unfamiliarity with sex toys seemed not to matter. The device was simple and some inner sense guided him to the places it would be most effective.
He ran the oscillating head around and across Alice’s nipples, delighting in how they hardened and puckered. The little whimpers that escaped her gag caused him to press his hips hard against the table edge.
When he tired of her breasts Dan dragged the vibrator down across Alice’s stomach until it rested between her thighs. He saw that her sex was glistening wetly. He suspected it would take very little to push her over the edge.
Instead of pushing right in, Dan moved the orb in stroking patterns along Alice’s inner thighs. He would move toward her sex, then slide away. Moans of excitement gave way to whines of protest as he worked to frustrate her.
“Now it’s time for a little chat,” he told Alice as he moved the vibrator away. Her gagged yelp of protest brought a smile to his lips. “Well, I’m going to do all the talking. All you have to do is agree. You might even get a little reward at the end,” he said. He slid the vibrator closer, just to emphasize what that reward might be.
“You like this bondage stuff and I don’t mind helping keep you safe. But you can’t go fucking up my life in the process.” He paused to let the words sink in. “So here’s what we’re gonna do; every Tuesday night will be your bondage night. I’ll come over, we’ll have dinner and then you’ll be tightly bound for the evening. Does that sound reasonable?”
Alice listened through a haze of arousal and frustration. Dan would tie her up? He had proven himself capable and trustworthy. Despite her trust issues she found herself nodding an enthusiastic yes. But there was more to what Dan had to say.
“In return you won’t engage in any bondage activities on any other days. No self bondage! And you’re also not to masturbate during the week either.” Dan wasn’t sure why he’d added that. But it seemed like the sort of condition a dominant might set, so he threw it in.
Alice whined in objection. But one good bondage session a week was better than her little self bondage trials. Besides, if the bug bit her bad she could always slip one in without Dan being the wiser. She nodded her assent and was immediately rewarded with the vibrator landing on her sweet spot.
In that moment Alice didn’t care about neighbors or open windows. She didn’t care about tissue paper under her knees. She cared about nothing but helplessly riding the wave of ecstasy that carried her away.
Dan watched the captive woman in amazement. Her orgasm seemed to wrack her body. Dan was reminded of his lovemaking with Jordan. It paled by comparison. Guilt and envy flashed across his brain.
It was only when Alice began to collapse forward that Dan realized the performance was over. He dropped the vibe and caught her by the shoulders. Supporting her with one hand he released the leg straps with the other. Holding her sweat soaked body close to his, Dan eased Alice off the table.
Alice, still gagged and blindfolded, felt herself guided to the sofa. She sat there as a blanket was thrown over her shoulders. The gag was pulled from her mouth. Dan wiped the drool from her lips before pressing a glass of cool water to her mouth.
Slipping his hand beneath the blanket Dan freed Alice’s elbows. She heaved a sigh of relief at the strain on her shoulders eased. They sat there together, her still wrist-bound and blindfolded, cradled in his arms.
“So do you have any more toys stashed about the place?” Dan asked as he removed the blanket.
Alice hesitated. Dan hadn’t released her hands or taken off her blindfold. Did he have another session in mind for her so soon? “Well, there’s some stuff in my night table,” she replied with a blush. She heard him say, “Guess I’d better have a look” before leaving her on the couch.
He was back in a moment, tossing the found items into the overnight bag. “Another vibrator, handcuffs and scarves, how much of this stuff do you have?” he asked as he pulled off her blindfold.
Alice blinked at the sudden brightness. She glanced to the balcony. Seeing the blinds closed gave her a feeling of relief. She realized Dan must have closed them after she was blindfolded. It was just a head game, and a good one too. Alice appreciated that Dan had given her the sensation of danger without actually putting her in harm’s way.
“Let me get your hands free,” Dan said as he turned Alice on the couch. He eased off the strap, tossing it onto the pile of gear in the bag.
Alice rubbed feeling back into her wrists. “You can leave those out,” she gestured to the straps. “I usually clean all my stuff before I put it away.”
“Why don’t you go ahead and do it now,” Dan suggested.
Alice paused, it seemed like an odd way to end the evening but she didn’t want to spoil it by arguing. Perhaps Dan was interested in the cleaning process? “Okay, let me just slip into something and I’ll take care of it.”
“You’re fine as you are. Just get to it.”
Alice blinked in surprise. Did he just tell her to not get dressed? “But,” she started.
“You’re not wearing clothes for the rest of the day,” Dan stated simply. “Clothes are a privilege you earn. Now get to work.”
It wasn’t said harshly. In fact Dan’s tone was very matter of fact. But it told Alice in very clear terms where the power in their relationship was. Unsure that she liked where things were headed Alice picked up the discarded bondage gear and headed to the kitchen.
Dan got up and stood in the doorway to the little kitchen. He folded his arms, leaning casually on the doorframe as he watched Alice work. He admired the way her breasts jiggled as she wiped down the leather gear. Definitely a few pounds heavier than his girlfriend, he thought. But she carried it in all the right places.
When all the gear was clean Dan took it from Alice’s hands. He walked to the overnight bag, laid the gear neatly inside and zipped it up. He extended the handle on the bag. “Thanks for an interesting day,” he said. “Dinner at six on Tuesday?”
“Wait-what? You’re leaving?” Alice stammered in confusion.
Dan stepped closer to her. “I think you’ve had enough fun for one day. Besides, I have some things to take care of.” He saw the look of disappointment on her face. He really wanted to tell Alice that if he stayed they’d probably end up back in bed together. And he wasn’t ready to be a full time cheating boyfriend.
“Oh, okay.” Alice gave him a crestfallen look. She looked at the bag. “I can put that back in the bedroom,” she suggested as she reached for it.
Dan pulled it back out of her reach. “I’ll just keep it at my place. You won’t be needing anything in there before Tuesday. He looked her up and down. “And remember, no clothing till tomorrow when you go to work. That means not so much as a bath towel.”
Alice scowled. “Can I at least get under the covers in my bed?” she asked sarcastically.
“What time do you usually go to bed?”
Alice’s eyes widened. He was seriously telling her what time she could get into bed. “Uh, ten o’clock usually. I wasn’t serious, you know?”
Dan took her chin between his finger and thumb. He leaned in close. Inches away from her face he whispered, “It’s all serious now, Princess.” If she was going to give a response he stifled it with his lips on hers.