I awoke with a start and tried to stretch my limbs. I was only mildly surprised to find that Steve had strapped me to the next contraption while I was sleeping. I opened my eyes and it seemed I was looking through a gauze-like fabric. I turned my head, looking at the room, unable to spot Steve. I began examining my new platform as best I could. I was lying on my back on what seemed to be a gently curving semi-sphere, my back arched and my body in a backbend position. My legs were spread and my arms were pulled tightly above my head. My ankles and wrists were clamped to the sphere with soft padded cuffs. The scarf that he had removed from my throat earlier was once again snugly tied around my throat; a long trailing end of the scarf was pulled down toward my hands and held tight. I lifted my head to try to look at the other side of the room and felt the scarf tighten instantly, restricting my airway. I felt a jolt of panic rise in my chest. I laid my head back down, feeling immediate relief when the scarf loosened slightly again.
The silence was deafening and the wait was interminable. A swirling soup of emotions filled me: apprehension of what was to come, arousal at the thought of another orgasm at Steve's hand, frustration at the discomfort of being held in this arched position, shame over begging for him to allow me to cum, and guilt over my desperate need for him.
Lost in my thoughts, I didn't hear him in the room outside my range of vision. I was immediately dragged from my reverie when he struck a match and lit a cigarette. At least I THOUGHT it was him. I ventured a whispered question, "Steve?" And the seconds between my question and the answer were the longest of my life. My mind whirling, the thought filling my head: What if it isn't him? What will I do? What CAN I do?
His voice answered (thank God), "Yes, Alexis?" He sounded different. Not angry exactly, cold and impassive perhaps. It truly sent chills down my spine. I listened as his footsteps approached and he was looking down at my face. His intense gaze fell onto my face as he watched my eyes through the gauzy fabric.
"Did you enjoy the first leg of our exploration together?" Again, there was a distinct chill in his voice.
I nodded, "yes, Steve."
He cleared his throat, clearly annoyed, "And after I released you from your binds, what did you do?"
I looked up at him, confused at what he was asking me, "I ...I fell asleep?" I said, stating the obvious.
He nodded curtly, "That's right, Alexis." His face clouded, his eyes burned into mine.
Again, there was only deafening silence. He tugged the length of scarf, tightening it slightly on my throat causing me to gasp and he leaned in so that his lips were touching my ear, "You forgot something, beautiful."
I struggled to speak with the scarf tied so tightly around my throat. I swallowed hard and asked in a whisper, "What? What did I forget?"
He tugged the scarf even tighter, momentarily cutting off my air completely then releasing it, kissed my cheek and growled coldly, "Me."
He stood up and began walking in slow circles around me as he spoke, "I thought you wanted to please me, Alexis." His steps echoed through the enormous room. STEP. STEP. STEP.
"I, I do; desperately"
STEP. STEP. STEP.
"And yet you forgot to do just that."
STEP. STEP. STEP.
"In fact, if memory serves, you forgot to even thank me for arranging for what I can only imagine is the most powerful orgasm of your small, buttoned-up existence so far"
STEP. STEP. STEP.
"I, um, I am so sorry. I was overwhelmed and wasn't thinking. The experience was unlike any I've ever had before...ever." I ended in a mournful whisper, "EVER"
Silence filled the room again for just a beat. STEP. STEP. STEP.
"I can understand that, Alexis; however, it does not excuse your neglect of courtesy. As you will find out, I am extremely intolerant of rudeness and breach of etiquette." He laughed; it was a low and gravelly chuckle. STEP. STEP. STEP.
"And so I feel compelled to teach you a lesson. Because you denied me the gratification that I so generously arranged for you, you will now experience self-denial. My hope, Alexis, is that you will learn from this. I expect that you will grow from this and remember your breach of etiquette from now on as a result. Do you understand?"
The steps stopped abruptly.
"Yes, Steve. I am so very..."