The lights are dim. Sandalwood candle-scent hangs in the air. Chet Baker plays quietly. Two highball glasses await the contents of a pitcher of Sazerac.
The table is set.
You knock gently and I open. You stand glorious and radiant in a black and white print silk wrap dress, black patent slingback pumps, and pearls. Your eyes light up as they meet mine.
"Hello," I say. And stroke your back gently as you walk in.
The glasses receive their drinks. You settle on the couch, ankles crossed properly. You sip, smile, beguile. We talk. Our eyes dance flirtatiously. Your smile warms me like the drink, and I soak in the joy of being close to you.
At the bottom of my glass, I look into your eyes and ask, "Have you followed my instructions?" Your cheeks flush, eyes glancing downward, and you smile self-consciously. No words are necessary. I smile back and take you hand.
We walk to the table, where rests a silver tray covered in white linen. I step into your body and wrap my arms around you, pressing my lips deeply against yours. Eyes close and now tongues dance as I taste the rye and bitters on your breath.
Entwined with you, I lean my head to your ear and whisper, "Sur la table, s'il vous plait."
I step back and you lean against the table's edge. With both hands I boost you up until you are seated on the highly polished mahogany. Your silk dress slides across its glossy surface as you get comfortable.
"Please lay down," I ask looking into your eyes. And you comply, slowly lowering your body. I step around and lean down to look at your face. Stroking your cheek gently I ask, "Do you trust me?" You nod in the affirmative.
"Good," I say and grab from beneath the table leather straps with padded cuffs to keep you in place. They're attached to the table legs for stability. I'm about to embark on a delicate operation, and you must remain still.
Your eyes flare with curiosity and a bit of panic as I lift the linen from the tray to reveal a stainless steel bowl filled with warm water, a large thick-walled porcelain mug, a bar of hard green soap that smells of eucalyptus, a brush with beige badger-hair bristles, more linen napkins, a tortoise comb, stainless steel scissors, and an ebony handled straight razor. I flick it open with a flourish, observe your widening stare, then grab the linen that had been covering the tray and tie it around your eyes.
Your breathing gets ragged, so I lean into your ear again and whisper, "Just breathe ... just breathe, girl." On your abdomen I place my hand to feel your respiration, which slows and regulates. "That's it ... very good, girl." I loosen the tie on your dress and slide the fabric across your waist.
Your body is revealed to me, warm and delicious. As requested, you wear a lacy black bra and no panties. For the last six week you have not shaved your mound, which is covered in a thicket of hair.
"Lift," I say and you arch your hips upward. From the tray I take two large linen cloths and place them under you. With gentle pressure to your abdomen I direct you to lay back down. With the comb I stroke the unruly strands to stand them up, and with the scissors snip off tufts that fall gently to the cloth underneath your hips. What had been a tangle of wiry hairs melts into a haze of stubble on your soft skin.