Author's note: There is very little actual sex in this story, plus, the story ends on a bit of a cusp. There are a couple of reasons for this. Some of this I detail in my profile, but this was also an 'artistic' decision with this story. Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy, and I encourage all polite comments, as I want to continue to improve.
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As Danielle walked toward the bus stop, everything became crystal clear. Even though she had received the piercings quite a while ago, and despite the package she was carrying, she was feeling no real discomfort. Nonetheless, she felt like she was walking bowlegged, like a cowboy after a hard day working. This, more than anything else, made her intensely aware of every pair of eyes that turned her way, and probably made her imagine many, many more. She groaned inwardly as she saw the full bus approach, knowing that she would have to stand, and that every fidget she would imagine as a sign that every other person on the bus could see, and that somehow they would be able to see through her clothing at the little surprise underneath. The rational part of her brain told her that no one really knew, but this voice was drowned out by the rest of her shouting "They know! They know!" She no longer wondered why Jamie had asked her to take the bus to make this delivery.
For the last few miles she had been unable to look anywhere but out the window, willing with her entire being for the bus to reach it's destination. But God and the motorists in this metropolis seemed to be conspiring against her. The bus could do little more than inch along. By the time she reached her stop, she was almost shaking with self-consciousness.
And yet, now that she had reached the relative safety of the street, the old cliche ran through her mind. And while the frying pan had certainly been painful, the fire awaited. She had never met this 'Erin' to whom she must deliver her package. Never before had she been in a situation where she did not choose her own, well... it wouldn't necessarily be that, would it? Maybe she would simply take possession of the present, and then send her on her way. For a moment she clung to this possibility like a life preserver in the sea, until a tiny voice inside her asked her if this wouldn't actually be worse. What would this say about her if a so blatant message was ignored? Perhaps worse, would this be a disappointment to Jamie? How could she go back and face her Mistress if she had failed her like that. Would Jamie even look at her the same way?
She almost screamed out loud to get this voice in her head to stop. She groaned as she realized that she no longer knew what she wanted to happen, except that a piano falling on her didn't really sound all that bad. She never even considered not going through with her task, however. Failing Jamie that way seemed like a fate worse than death.
Taking a deep breath, and chanting softly in her head to quiet all other thoughts, she stepped slowly into the building and made her way up to the office as she had been instructed.
A very young and very pretty woman smiled at her from the receptionist's desk as she approached, "May I help you?"
"Well, um," after she had started, Danielle thought to look around the desk to see if there was a nameplate. Perhaps this was Erin. She felt the heat of blood rushing to her face in a blush as a part of her opined that this wouldn't be so bad. However, there was no nameplate. "I-I am supposed to make a delivery to E-erin." Dani's head nodded along with the stuttering, two things she had never done before.
The girl behind the desk was obviously very aware of her nervousness, because she answered very slowly and gently, "Erin Roth?"
Of course, seeing how transparent her feelings were to this woman only made Danielle all the more self-conscious, and she was unable to keep looking her in the eye as she responded. Instead, Danielle had a good view of the carpeting. "I-I don't really know, I was just told Erin at this office."
"Well, there's only one Erin in this office, so if you're sure you're in the right place, then it must be our Erin. Would you like to give the delivery to me?"
"No, I was asked to give it to Erin in person."
"All right, one moment." The receptionist picked up the phone, and tried to smile kindly as Danielle was finally able to raise her gaze again. "Hi, Erin? There's a delivery up front for you, can you come up and get it? Great, thanks." Turning back to Danielle, she said brightly, "It should just be a moment."
Nodding dumbly, Danielle backed up and over to the side of the waiting room. Shortly, a man and a woman walked out, and Danielle's eyes locked on the woman. Very professional-looking, and very confident. Short, very stylish blonde hair over an impeccably tailored jacket and pants set, an elegant silk blouse underneath. A fine-lined beautiful face with a master's touch of makeup. Danielle almost felt herself shrinking in the presence of this awesome woman. Certainly there was desire, but there was also the renewed dread that she would not be found acceptable.
The woman finished her business with the man she had exited with, and headed toward the outer door.
"Hi, you have a package for me?"
It took a while for Danielle to realize she was being spoken to. But finally she turned towards the man who had addressed her, the same man who had been speaking with the woman who was leaving.
Danielle's head swivelled back and forth between the woman and this man, her face betraying her confusion. She started to raise her hand to gesture at the woman, "E-erin?"
"Yes, that's right, I'm Aaron."
For a few seconds, all Danielle could do was look into this man's face, her mind trying somehow to find a different interpretation. She turned to look one more time at the woman, but she was gone.
"Whoa, are you all right? You look like you're about to fall down." Aaron's hand lifted as though to steady her, but refrained from actually touching her as long as she seemed capable of holding herself up. "Maybe," ducking his head, trying to catch her eye again, "you'd like to sit down, get a drink of water, compose yourself somewhere quiet? My office is right around the corner."
Danielle wanted nothing more than to run out of this place, but somehow getting control of herself seemed like the lesser of all evils. She nodded quietly and followed the man into his office, sitting primly in the chair offered. Aaron poured a glass of water out of a carafe sitting on a side table and offered the glass to her.
"Would you like to be left alone for a moment or two?" Danielle took the glass, and looked up into the kind eyes of the man, and nodded gratefully.
The man smiled, "Sure, no problem. Tell you what," He turned the phone on his desk towards her, "just push this button when you're okay. Take all the time you need."
Once he had closed the door behind him, Danielle raised the glass to her lips and took a few oblivious sips. As the full realization of her situation hit her, she was barely able to put the glass down before burying her face in her hands, sobbing. Would Jamie really do this to her? True, the things she had been requesting of Danielle had been more and more demanding, but this would be extreme. Danielle's Mistress had been a wonderful, loving introduction to the world of BDSM, and every moment with her had been one of pure joy. That is, at least until she had told her about this particular request. No, there must be some mistake.
Pulling herself together, she fixed herself up as well as she could, standing and straightening out her skirt, and then pushing the button, and turning toward the door. She assayed a bright, friendly countenance as the man re-entered his office, looking at her expectantly.
"I'm sorry," Danielle began, "I'm thinking there must have been some mistake, my instructions were somewhat vague."
