I stood there, phone in hand, fully aware of the steps to follow. Yet, an inexplicable quiver coursed through my fingers as I retrieved my phone to enter the code that would unlock this door. Standing in front of the grand entrance of this opulent mansion felt like standing at the door to a whole new life.
Maybe that was exactly what I was doing, if it all worked out.
The electronic beeps gave way to the unlocking of the tumbler and I leaned my weight into the door as the knob turned to push inside. My heartbeat was thunderous in the vast and silent space.
My mind raced as I set down my bag on the marble floor of the foyer. The door clicked shut behind me, arming once more. It wasn't something I expected and the turning of the tumbler as the door locked itself made my breath catch in surprise.
My feet felt rooted to the ground as I tried to calm down as anxiety made way for trepidation. Memories of us clinking wine glasses over dinner as we discussed the arrangement for tonight made butterflies erupt in my belly. Heat bloomed over my skin as I recalled agreeing to the terms and conditions.
I knew you had a job that paid you well, even if it had never explicitly come up in our conversations. It was obvious in the way you dressed and the way you conducted yourself, but I was unprepared for the revelation of the extent of that lifestyle. My eyes scanned the sunkissed space, roaming over the shift in textures of the floor as the marble gave way to wide plank, rich dark wood. Everything seemed to have been done with intention.
The space felt decorated with precision and I recognized the black pea coat you wore to our first date hanging on the hook above where the shoes were neatly stored. My vision drifted in and out of focus as those memories came crashing back in, my body heating up in response.
The way you looked shrugging out of it to elegantly drape it over the extra seat at the table.
The way your buttons strained on your dress shirt when you pulled your scarf off.
The way your sharp eyes noticed everything I did.
I clapped my hands to my cheeks with a squeak, momentarily forgetting why I was here.
I had made an offhand joke about being a puppy, leading you to level me a question. "How puppy-like are we talking?"
The nervousness of the direct, pointed question made me pause that night. I never intended to show that side of myself to you that early, mostly due to fear about how some people understood it, but you always had a way of getting straight to the heart of the matter when you wanted to know. There was an eagerness in you that struck a chord, a desire for connection that resonated.
I remembered the rules.
My heartbeat kicked back up as I hung my jacket up next to yours on the empty hook. I stripped off my socks, folding them and tucking them into my shoes. My pants came next before I lost my nerve, folding them to place on the small empty table underneath my jacket. As I placed my pants down, a thought occurred to me. This table was here on purpose. This hook was empty on purpose. It was as if you were giving me a place next to you here and the level of emotion I felt about it threatened to overwhelm me. I had only been here for five minutes and the urge to please you was unlike anything I'd ever felt before.
I cleared my throat as I bounced on my toes, barely noticing the frigid marble beneath me. Excitement blurred the next few minutes as I stripped off my clothes in record time, folding it all carefully before catching my breath again.
Stepping onto the wood from the marble felt like the first step into something new. Realistically, it was. As more dates unfolded, the realization dawned that we were both seeking something specific, a connection that had eluded us before.
My barefoot steps were all but nonexistent as I slowly made my way through the foyer, peeking into the rooms that also felt barren. Rooms that existed but hadn't been used. The house felt cold against my skin, goosebumps racing across my exposed body.
My footsteps took me to the kitchen first, at the end of the hallway. The kitchen was shiny and sleek, the masculine design not lost on me in all of the sharp angles and minimalist design.
On the vacant, black marble counter was a note.
I went over to inspect and was surprised to find it with my name inscribed on the front. Elegant cursive penmanship decorated the front of it and I picked it up quickly, bringing the paper to my nose to see if it smelled like you before quickly becoming embarrassed by my actions.
Flipping the note over, a smile pulled across my face. Underneath this well manicured facade, you were enjoying this as much as I was. The extra mile you'd already gone showed me that.
I slid my fingernail under the wax seal, eager to delve further into this carefully curated experience.
Welcome home, pup.
Please get comfortable.
Familiarize yourself with my house in any way you see fit.
If you are hungry, please eat.
If you are cold, please use any of the blankets provided and message me if you need help getting the fire started.
I have left your next step in the living room.
Remember the rules.
Good puppies get rewarded.
Talk soon,
Master.
My nipples hardened and heat pooled in between my thighs at the nickname. I shifted my weight back and forth on my feet as the heat built and I felt my lower lips get sticky and slick while I read. I rolled your title around in my head like a rich bottle of wine, savoring it. I couldn't wait to use it. The power dynamics at play were palpable, and I was acutely aware of my role in this carefully choreographed dance.
It seems you'd thought of everything as I padded across the kitchen to pull open the fridge door. The blinding white light made me wince as I noticed next to the half and half container was a container of almond milk creamer. Next to the container of raw ground beef was tofu. As with the coat rack when I entered, it was obvious you were taking time and care to carve out a space next to you for me.
All of the unintentional tidbits of information about me you'd already ascertained. You remembered that I never ordered meat when I was out, and got almond milk ice cream on our second date. The realization that you had paid such close attention to my choices made my heart swell in my chest. I took measured breaths in and out of my nose, closing the door as I scrunched my toes up on the floor, eager to do something with the energy coursing through me.
Turning with renewed invigoration, I immediately made my way to the living room. Knowing something was there for me and not investigating immediately felt like a crime.