The object that Carol accidentally brushed against was a stout rope with a metal link tied to the end. It was just above her head. The rope was hanging from a box that was attached to the floor beam above. It had wires running from the enclosure so she guessed that it must have an electric motor inside to pull on the rope. Looking around the room, she could see other straps and leather restraints lying on the bench of a universal gym. Several lengths of thick rope lay draped over the bars of the large piece of exercise equipment. She spotted a leather object threaded with many laces lying on the bench. Picking it up she could see that it was a hood with only a hole in the middle where the person's nose would be. There were a series of leather laces running up the back where the hood was tightened in place she surmised. A shiver ran up her spine as she stared at the expressionless mask. Was this being used on the woman from last night? Nearly lost in the shadow of the bars, a cluster of leather strands with a handle could be seen beside the weight-lifting bench. She bent over to investigate and picked it up. The leather straps fell limply from the woven leather handle.
"This must be what made the whipping sounds that she heard last night." She thought to herself.
The smell of fresh leather was pungent as she picked it up, running her fingers through the multitude of soft leather tendrils. The leather felt surprisingly supple as she repeatedly stroked it across her hand and forearm.
"Would you like to feel it against your body?" a deep voice came from the darkness behind her.
She was so startled that she dropped the flogger as both of her arms lifted in surprise. Two firm hands held her firmly by the shoulders, preventing her from turning around. She could feel her face blush with embarrassment.
"My dear Carol, what were we going to do with you?" he asked rhetorically.
She remained quiet, doubting that the question was open to suggestions.
"I see that you find this interesting, my dear," he said in a calm yet commanding voice. "Would you like a lesson?"
"Um, lesson? I'm so sorry that I came down here uninvited ..."
He cut her off, "You may find it exciting to be bound and dominated. Have you ever been tied? Given up control and let a man have his way with you?"
"Um...No."
"Good! You need to feel the exhilaration of having the ropes wrapped around your limbs, holding you still. Then I'm going to give you a little taste of domination since you've been caught snooping and should be punished. Don't worry, I'll be gentle with you, neighbor. Now, hold out your hands," he demanded.
Carol wasn't sure whether to obey or run. The guilt of being caught nosing around in his basement made her feel as though she deserved whatever he had in mind yet he did use the word "punishment." She stood frozen, her eyes fixed on the floor. He slowly turned her until she was facing him. He placed his fingers under her chin and lifted her head so their eyes would meet.
"Trust me," he said gently.
She could see that he was wearing a bathrobe. As a distraction she wondered what he was wearing beneath it. She slowly lifted her arms and held her hands out with her fingers clasped. He opened her clenched fists and placed her palms together. She watched with trepidation and he placed the thick, soft rope around her wrists just below her thumbs. John placed one end lengthwise along her forearms so it would lie under the wraps of rope. He lined up her hands and continued to wrap the rope again and again around her wrists and forearms. He was careful to keep the rope neatly wound without letting it cross over anywhere.
"I like to use a lot of wraps to minimize the bruising from the rope," he explained as he completed the wrapping and pulled the two ends to tighten the bundle of rope around her wrists. "We can't send you back to work with visible marks on your body."
Pulling the ends together he tied them first to bind her hands then made another loop that projected past her fingers.
"This loop will hook into that hook from the ceiling that you were playing with," he described to her so she would know what was coming next.
Carol could feel herself shaking as she watched things gain momentum. She felt like she was already under his control and she couldn't stop the wheels from turning.
He took her arms by the loop and led her over to the hook. Lifting her arms up he clicked the rope into the clasp on the hook. John picked up something that resembled a remote control and pressed a button. The sound of a motor whirring could be heard as the rope began to lift the hook. Her arms were brought up over her head. Since she wasn't centered directly below the box the tension dragged her until her feet rose off the floor. Carol was swaying back and forth as she hung from the ceiling. John lowered the hook to set her feet back on the cold cement floor as she stopped swinging on the suspended rope.
"You're doing fine, Carol," he whispered in her ear as he approached her.
He stepped up to her from behind until he was in contact with her back. His warm breath could be felt on the back of her neck. She remained motionless. His hands stroked her sides as they reached down and pulled the jersey up to her shoulders, exposing her bare body. He pulled the garment completely over her head and somehow hung it on the ropes from which she was suspended. The basement air felt cool on her exposed skin. His touch felt remarkably warm as his fingers caressed her breasts, slowly circling her nipples. Carol shivered. She could feel the warm glow of blushing sweep across her face. She felt embarrassed and ashamed for snooping, but worse yet, terrified at what he was about to do. She took a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself. Her knees seemed to buckle involuntarily as her body slowly descended toward the floor. He raised the hook a few inches as he felt her sinking. Carol was now standing on her toes. She wanted to explain, but could not find the words. She wondered why he held this power over her.
He produced a soft black cloth that she recognized as a blindfold. He lifted it toward her eyes and wrapped it securely around her head, threading the cloth between her taut arms. The blindfold pulled on her hair when he drew the knot tight. She wondered whether the woman from last night had also stumbled upon his secret place in the basement. At least she was able to leave the next morning. She felt numb, as if in shock, yet strangely excited and aroused. A hundred thoughts raced through her mind.
"If you want to play the part of a curious intruder my pet, you must learn how to accept discipline and of course...punishment," he whispered into her ear.
His fingers felt the form of her smooth skin as he traced his fingertips over her quivering lips and cheeks. Shivers of delight radiated from his touch. His hands descended down her torso, stroking both breasts as he fondled her. Bringing his hands down to her groin, he ran his fingers over her thighs and briefly checked her slit.
"Are you getting wet already my pet!" he commented. "You must find this to be sexually arousing. Hmm, we'll see what we can do about that. By the way, was that you at my window last night?" he asked, sending another shiver of embarrassment up her spine for being caught for that act of indiscretion as well.
She wondered how much he knew and debated in her own mind whether to confess. His fingers held her nipples firmly in both hands.
