It was a dry darkness. The air was neither cool nor warm, and only dry in that it was not humid. It was simply the air of the room.
But to her, it felt like hands stroking her in the dark.
There was no real light to see by, and only the quiet hum of an air conditioner buried somewhere beyond the room. Nothing to see, nothing to hear. The simple room smelled of linen and that offered her no comfort. If she dared open her mouth she might taste the air but she did not. He would know if she did.
That left her only the sense of touch, and left in that sensory deprivation her skin racing with activity. The simple current of air making rounds through the room felt like a teasing lover - touching enough to tantalize but not enough to satisfy.
She lay on the bed, the bed not her own, in a Y-shape: head at the top, arms at her sides, and legs spread wide. There was no hiding: she was completely, utterly exposed. Open to the seductive touch of every passing shift of air.
It would have been easier if she'd be clothed. Even something small: panties or a pair of socks. Some small touch of social dignity that she could cling to as the damnable teasing air stroked her against her will. But as she was, completely exposed, each leg toeing a bedpost, hands clasped under the small of her back, she could do nothing. Every breath of tiny wind sent electric current over her, but she dared not move.
He would know if she did.
She could not see him, instructed as she was to "Keep your eyes on the ceiling at all times" - it was worse that way, and he knew it. Better to have your eyes shut and not know, than to have them open, know that he was close - so close she could feel him inside her, phantom fingers dancing - to have her eyes open and not be allowed to look. To have to deny herself the pleasure of looking, so he would give her the pleasure of feeling.
Still, she could vaguely feel his presence, the way the doe feels the wolf. Vulnerable things are so closely attuned when the predator is near. He was somewhere in the room.
At least, she thought he was.
She could leave when she wanted, but there again, was the worst part. He demanded supreme obedience without demanding: she knew if she did not obey, he would stop. Lock eyes, hold her gaze while she begged him for another chance, nod, and leave her there.
He'd only stopped it once, when she'd let her eyes slide down to watch his lovely fingers explore her.
She wouldn't let it happen again.
Her hands, locked behind the small of her back, were cramping a little. Never moving her eyes, only blinking, working to keep her breath even, she slowly flexed her fingers to restore the blood flow. And then she stopped.
She listened. Was he there?
She heard quiet breathing but in the darkness couldn't be sure if it wasn't her own. In fact, she was almost sure it was: he never gave himself away until he was there.
She tried to slowly work her hands a bit more, but then she felt it.
Not a kiss, not a touch, not lips or hands.
Heat.