I first saw her browsing the aisles in half price books. Actually, I DIDN'T see her. I was kneeling down, looking at Piers Anthony books, deciding if I wanted to re-read the Xanth series. My back was sore, so I stood up and backed up. When I did, I bumped Her.
"Please excuse me, I'm so..... sohh..sohhh" As I turned to apologize, when I saw Her I lost my ability to speak. Her beauty took my breath away.
She was a bit shorter than me, but her curves seemed to invite my eyes to follow their every twist and turn. Her legs were shapely, disappearing underneath a denim skirt. Further up, the curve of her hips were hugged by a t-shirt which barely held back her ample bosom and revealed her perfectly smooth ebony skin. As my eyes met Hers, however, I could see the fury in them, and the sneer on Her lips hit me like a punch in the stomach. Her cheeks were aflame, giving Her a fierce cast, and Her anger was palpable.
She just stared at me as I stammered, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bump you" I finally managed to get out of Her way. She continued to stare at me as I squirmed, not quite sure what to do. Finally I asked, "I am so sorry, is there something I can do to make it up to you?"
She stared into my eyes, and I felt Her gaze boring into my soul, weighing, judging, before I could meet Her gaze no longer, and I lowered my eyes.
"That is a good start." She said, as she handed me several books. "Carry these for me. You may follow me around and help me shop."
I smiled. Her voice was like a melody to my ears, caressing them with a gentle touch. I looked up into Her eyes, and the slight smile on Her face turned into a frown when She saw my eyes looking upon her. Instinctively, I looked down again. "Good. Now stand two steps behind me while I look at these books."
I stepped where She indicated, and a shiver went through my body. I stood patiently while She knelt, picking out books, running Her hands along the spines, stopping when She saw something that interested Her. Her nails were perfectly manicured, with a deep red polish that on other people I would call garish but on Her made Her appear more sophisticated, more elegant.
She was obviously younger than me, in Her mid 20's, and a healthy, curved woman. Every move She made was confident, and self assured. I felt like a gangle of loose limbs as I stood there. I saw Her pick up a favorite book of mine. "Oh, that's a good one, you'll like...." I trailed off as Her head slowly swiveled in my direction, and Her gaze made it apparent that my opinion, even my conversation was not desired. "You are here to hold books, not a conversation." With that She went back to Her browsing.
Instinctively, I stayed two steps behind Her as She maneuvered through the stacks, and the two books in my hands turned into ten. She was well read, she had chosen a couple of science fiction novels, but also grabbed a book on Impressionist Art, as well as a book on Freudian versus Jungian methodology, and a book of Odes by Yeats. I noticed a couple of people staring as we made our silent way through the bookstore, but my eyes and thoughts were primarily on Her.
We stopped by the restroom halfway through. "Stay here, and I want you to look at your shoes while you wait." I simply nodded, then put my head down. Even though I had the urge to go, the urge to do as She asked was simply too much for me to handle. My mind was astir, yet all I could see was Her lips in that sneer, and hear Her voice in my head.
Finally, She led me to the checkout line. When it was our turn, She simply said "Bring those outside when you are done," and walked towards the door. I pulled out my wallet and paid, I know the clerk said something to me, but all I could think about was Her, waiting for me outside.
I brought the books with me to the entrance, where She was waiting impatiently. I did not look Her in the eye when I saw Her, but I could see a slight smile curve on Her lips as I looked down in Her presence. "Follow me." We walked to Her car, She would turn back every few steps to see me following, eyes downcast, pacing Her perfectly. She unlocked the trunk of Her car, and I wordlessly put them in the trunk. I was afraid at this point - Afraid she would leave, and I would never see her again. She said "Wait here," closed the trunk, got in her car, rummaged around for a minute or two, then handed me a note. "You are very good at following orders. I want to give you pain. You will be there at 9pm sharp, ready to cry for me." She then turned around, got in her car, and left.
I looked down at the note. It had an address, the time 9pm, and the message "I will punish you and break you. You will feel true pain. Wear shorts and a t-shirt you don't mind losing, and bring another pair of shorts with you. Walk in the garage, kneel in the circle, and wait." A sudden wave of fear, desire, lust, and anticipation went through me.
----
I drove to the address, reaching it at 5 minutes to 9pm. It was a house in an average neighborhood. The front porch light was on and the garage door was open. I parked on the street in front, then walked into the garage. The lights inside were off, and there was a circle in the exact middle of the garage. I knelt inside it and waited. Suddenly, I heard the garage door start to close. It came down with an ominous final clunk, and the garage was dark. I heard a voice say "Put your forehead to the floor and close our eyes, then wait." I did so, and after a few moments I heard a door open, and the click of heels on the floor. "Stay still."