I stare at the door in front of me, hand clenched into a fist at my side as I debate turning around and leaving. I could pretend I'd never caved like this, pretend I'd never stood staring at the wooden grains and brass knocker. Who am I kidding? I couldn't do that. Not again. I knock, ignoring the hoop of metal affixed to the door, and step back. Lip caught between my teeth I hold my hands together in front of me, trying to keep them from shaking. Maybe he's not home, I hope. That would be a blessing. A sign that there is indeed some benevolent spirit watching out for me. No such luck, the door opens and he's there, looking at me with some mix of shock and amusement registering in his face. That charming smile and he steps aside, no questions asked "Come on in." and I do.
I walk past him, eyes on the ground as I pull my shoes off in his front hall and leave them neatly next to his. It takes a moment but I muster up the courage to look at him and open my mouth to speak -- then close it, open it again. The words aren't coming, I had expected them to be there but they're not. He covers for me though
"Tea?" he asks, walking around me and towards the kitchen. I follow
"Coffee, if you have..." I almost stutter, but manage to keep some form of composure. A grand accomplishment in my eyes. I catch the ghost like reflection of myself in the dark windows of his kitchen and just stare for a moment. I'm pale, I can practically see myself shaking, my hair's a mess and my eyes... darting nervously about now, taking in familiar surroundings and picking up on subtle changes.
"Sugar and cream still?" his voice snaps me out of my daze and I look at him, taking a second to register the question.
"Yes, less sugar though." I murmur, trying in vain to make my hair look presentable. I take the soon offered mug in hand and hold it tightly, staring into the steaming liquid. "I- I don't know what I'm doing here." Yes I do. "I just..." my eyes raise to meet his "I don't know." He knows too. He doesn't have to say anything and I know it. I watch him standing across from me, on the other side of the kitchen. When was the last time we gave each other so much space while in the same room? Never. Not even when we met. This was a mistake. "This was a mistake. I'm sorry. I should go." I put the mug down on the counter and turn to leave. I only get two steps before his hand's on my shoulder and I know I'm not going anywhere. Not tonight.
The touch of his palm on my bare shoulder transports me back, when's the last time I'd felt his touch? Not that last time when we'd realized what we'd become to one another. What he did to me was my drug, what I let him do to me was his. And I was the junkie who had just broken down first. Shown up at his doorstep looking for a fix; the doorstep of the only dealer who knew exactly what I needed and wanted.
"Stay." One word. One word and I know I'm stuck here. One word and I'm calm again. One word and I'm his again, at least for tonight.
"We both know why you're here," he whispers in my ear, still standing behind me with that paralyzing hand on my shoulder "and it's ok. This time" Sometimes change is palpable, the change that took place when he moved away from me for example. The change of mood within the room was as tangible as the chair on my left. I know the rules as well as if I were taught them yesterday. I'll always know these rules. He leaves the room and I stay standing there, staring at the cream coloured tiles of his kitchen floor and waiting.
I lose track of how long I'm standing there before he returns to his position behind me. Leather and metal wrap around my throat and with a click they rest. It's heavier than I remember it being but it still feels right. Another clip and there's a tug at the collar. "Come." Do I have any other choice? I follow him down the stairs to his basement and when he tells me to stop, I stop. When he tells me to strip, I strip down to nothing, until I'm standing there with only the collar around my neck, the leash hanging between my breasts and the glint of silver through my nipples. Gaze ever on the ground by my feet I see his hand reach over to flick at one of the hoops
"These are new." Am I to answer? "When did you get them?" Yes.
"Three months ago, Master." is the reply. I can practically hear the smirk in his voice in his next word.
"Kneel." And I do. Because tonight, just for tonight, I'm his again.
The floor beneath my knees is cold, smooth, hard and comforting. The chain hanging heavily from my collar is the same. Hands together behind my back, shoulders high and straight, head bowed, eyes on the ground and ears open, trying to catch some hint of what's in store for me. A shadow falls over me and I know it's almost time, my heart had been pounding in anticipation and now I'm shocked to find it can beat even faster.
"Look at me." So I do, looking up at the masked face of a giant; a man who towers head and shoulders above me when I'm standing my tallest. "Do you trust me?" Could I be here if I didn't?