Remarkably, after the assault by the stranger, things began to look up for Helen.
On her way to work the next morning, she's stopped at the bookstore, and in their small DVD section, found a copy of
Y Tu Mama Tambien
as a gift for Gwen. She'd seen the film at a local art cinema; it was quite well done and terribly sexy. After her experience the previous night, she felt like being daring.
She had second thoughts when the time came for the Secret Santa exchange. But since she had nothing else to give Gwen, and the DVD had already been wrapped at the store, she sheepishly gave it to her. Helen's cheeks were burning as Gwen opened it, and let out a squeal of delight.
"Oh, I've been wanting to see this! I hear it's very naughty!" She gave Helen a hug and thanked her.
"That's the one with the two young guys and the older woman, isn't it?" added Mary. "Have you been holding out on us, Helen?"
There was a good deal of joking about getting together to watch the movie in the lunchroom, but thankfully nobody seemed to find it the gift inappropriate.
Helen's gift from her own "secret Santa," Don in accounting, was a jar of bath salts.
"My wife picked the gift," he announced sheepishly as Helen opened it. She thanked him, and meant it. She loved nice bath things, and it was a much better gift than many.
Later in the day, when the party was over and everyone had returned to their desks, she got a call from the auto shop. Her car was ready to pick up, and the final repair cost was less than the estimate!
After work she took the bus to the auto shop, and picked up her car. She arrived home late, and found a message from her boyfriend on the answering machine: "Helen, I've been thinking a lot about some of the thing you said when we were fighting. I'm afraid, if that's the way you feel, you're just not the right person for me. I don't think we should continue seeing one another."
That was just like him, she thought. What a cowardly way to break up - leaving a message on the machine! Oddly enough, she felt more relieved than upset.
She made herself a light meal of leftover Chinese food, topped of by a glass of wine.
Finally, she had to face the thoughts she'd been avoiding all day.
The previous night she had almost called the Police to report that she had been raped. But in thinking about it, she wasn't sure how she felt. The stranger had done nothing to really harm her... and several times, he had told her it was her choice if she wanted to continue. And it had been an incredible experience... frightening, but at the same time incredibly arousing.
Finally, she sat down at her computer and composed an e-mail message:
===
To the mystery man from San Francisco (I don't know your name!)
You told me I must write and thank you - which seemed a terribly arrogant thing to say, after forcing yourself on me. But I must confess that, despite my fear, I enjoyed everything you did. I loved being exposed, being controlled, and being fucked by you. And since last night, I actually feel better about myself than I have in a long time. So yes, I will thank you.
The orgasm you gave me - or rather, I gave myself while you watched - was the most explosive I've ever had. I really thought I would pass out. When you left, I didn't untie myself right away. I lay there, bound and gagged, and masturbated again, until I had another orgasm.
I was able to work out of the restraints without real difficulty. It would have been horrible to have to pound on the wall until someone heard and found me! But you were sure I could work free, weren't you?
You asked me what I wanted from our "relationship!" Well, last night was perhaps the first time in my life I have thought of myself in purely sexual terms. I want that feeling again, and I am willing to try a variety of things that will give me that feeling. But there are some rules! I do not enjoy extreme pain, and I don't want to be harmed in any way. I don't want to be exposed in a way that would jeopardize my job. I do not intend to be anyone's sexual slave... everything I do must be done of my own free will, and under my control.
If you can abide by those rules, then I suppose we have a relationship. Oh, and you might tell me your name!
===
She hit the Send button without giving herself time to think. She went on to read the rest of her e-mail... a short message from her sister, a couple of work-related messages, and about a dozen offerings for Viagra, penis enlargement, and home mortgages.
She was about to close her e-mail when another message arrived. Her heart was racing as she opened it:
===
