1
Ki made his way through the door and across the hall. He stopped at the foot of the stairs, to gaze up the flight, and wondered what would happen to him before the night was through. He knew where he had to go. The instructions had been sent to his phone:
"Address 9 Elwood drive.,
Room key under the fern pot,
Go up the stairs,
Turn at the first right,
Second room on the left,
Further instructions taped on the door. "
He made his way as directed and read the attached note.
"Ki, Glad you decided to join me, let's see if tonight will leave you disappointed; as I assure you, once we're done, I WON'T be. Enter, strip to your underwear, and leave your clothes on the desk by the window. Lie in the center of the bed, put on the blindfold that's on the pillow, place your hands by your sides, and wait."
He took a deep breath and entered. The room was dimly lit. The main source of light was a lamp sitting on a desk placed at the far end of the room. The other was a lava lamp set on top of some small drawers to his left, near the head of the bed. After closing the door behind him, he did as he was told, following her commands.
He undressed quickly, or tried to. He was nervous, and his fingers twittered about as he grappled with each item of clothing. But he managed to strip to his underwear with a minimal of mistakes. He put all his clothing on the desk, and went over to the bed. After blindfolding himself as ordered, he lie down in the center, and began to wait.
As he lay on the soft duvet in complete blinded darkness, his senses started to heighten with the sound of atmospheric silence buzzing in his ears, and he became aware of the subtle smell of lavender and spice in the air. Although the room was warm, his skin tingled as if a slight breeze had floated across his body. Just then, he heard faint footsteps coming up the stairs. The door handle creaked, and then... nothing. For what seemed like an age, Ki's mind raced,
Is that Alice...what's going on.. Why isn't she saying anything? Is she even here,.. Or did I imagine that sound.
He tried to concentrate on staying calm and controlling his nerves. Finally, a familiar voice spoke.
"Well, hello gorgeous", said Alice with a hint of a smile in her voice. "I'm just taking in the moment. It's not every day I get a semi naked man lying on the bed at my whim." She started to laugh. "I was sitting in my car when you got here, and it was so tempting to follow you in. But I had to resist and wait to start the game right. It was a turn on and a half knowing you were in here...now what to do first." She walked up to the side of the bed, taking in the view of Ki's still body, and leaned in close to whisper in his ear, "I'm going to tie your arms and legs down. So I want you to spread your legs and raise your hands above your head". He did so without a word, and Alice went to each corner of the bed producing from underneath buckled leather straps, and secured each of his limbs until he was spread-eagled and unable to move.
Alice found herself stood by his outstretched left arm and leaning forward slowly, softly dragged her nails down from wrist to bicep, down the side of his torso. He began to twitch slightly, sharply inhaling as her nails drifted to the inside of his thigh and down the inside of his leg. "Excellent" she breathed, whispering to herself. With that, she took away her hand. Ki could hear her footsteps moving away from the bed. "I'm just going to change into something more a little more...nakedly comfortable", she said from the doorway. And then she was gone, the door closed. Silence once again filled the room, leaving Ki with his mind swimming.
2
"Well, I think you know most of the folks here mate", Kerry said to Ki as they entered the bar. It'd been four months since he'd been out, especially on a social level, and cabin fever had set in. The place was fairly busy, so he followed Kerry to the bar in a daze as the noise of cheerful banter filled his ears. They got their beers and moved to the back of the room, to a big round table surrounded by familiar faces, all except for two. They sat close to the couple, and Kerry made introductions. "Howdy peeps, Ki this is Alice. And who is this you have with you?" she said with a cheeky smile, looking at the stranger.
"Kerry, this is Steve, the bloke I was telling you about last week". Steve looked as nervous as I had when I first walked in as he nodded and said hi. For the next hour, Alice and Kerry steered the conversation to past humorous drunken exploits, getting Ki and Steve involved in the "Have you ever..." and "What's the worst... " type of chat that breaks the ice of any social night.
For the next few Fridays, the four met up with the "usual crew" for drinks at the bar, with Kerry not so subtly taking Steve "to play pool or something", leaving Ki and Alice with each other for company.
"So Ki...that's an odd name. Are your folks foreign?"
Ki laughed a little, as this was not the first time someone had asked him that, "My parents are hippy types, and like to travel a lot. I was conceived in Korea, and they liked the name Ki. Apparently it means 'Vigor'!"
"That's cool" Alice replied looking thoughtful, and then burst out laughing "Alice means 'eat me, drink me'!"
"Well, your mate and Kez seem to be getting on well, eh?"Ki said, taking a sip of his pint.
Alice looked at him with a sly grin. "That was the point, though, wasn't it. I find her someone nice to play with, and she finds a way for me to meet you. She's told me all about your past with her, how you two were good friends with... How do I put it... benefits. And, as well as being a good laugh and all, she let me in on your little games. I wanted to find out if it was all just exaggerated banter!" Alice laughed as Ki choked on his lager.
"She what! Well, now, I don't know WHAT to say to that!" he replied through a coughing chortle "You're cool, and definitely hot looking, but I hardly know you". His reply met with a long chug on her drink and a flirtatiously wicked glance.
When she lowered her drink, she asked, "But is it true, though. That under that well-mannered, handsome exterior there's a filthy mind? And if so, are we acquainted enough to explore it? Because I reckon that I'd give you a run for your money." The spark in her eyes was intoxicating.
"Well, if nothing else you're not backward in coming forward." He sarcastically replied, giving Kerry a sideways glance, who responded in turn with the huge beaming grin of someone who was fully aware that the scheme she set up for her friend and Ki had gathered momentum.
