Inversion

All characters are fictional and over 18 years old.

Margot stretched her stiff neck and looked at the clock on her desktop. It was 2 p.m. and the caffeine from her morning coffee had left her system an hour ago. She put her elbows on her desk and shut her eyes for a second, holding her head in her hands. Her mind floated away from the grant she was editing to other, warmer things.

Double espresso latte. Sweatshirt fresh from the dryer. Soft lips on her collarbone and firm hands on her...

"Hey Margot, you ok?" Linda, her boss, materialized at her desk. Margot snapped out of her daydream and shot up, rubbing her eyes.

"Yes, of course. Sorry, I was trying to remember something..." Margot shuffled around some papers on her desk with pink cheeks. Linda watched her struggle for a moment before sliding a folder next to her keyboard.

"I know you're still working on the Maynard Foundation grant, but I'm going to need a proofread on this before tomorrow morning," Linda said.

"What is it?" Margot asked and opened the folder. There was a typed and printed document at least 50 pages long with various pages of notes and citations.

"It's an application for additional funding to our computer vision team. Can you mark it up for style and grammar?" Linda asked in a tone that implied Margot didn't have a choice.

"Yeah... yeah. Tomorrow morning?" Margot asked, flipping through pages.

"9 a.m. Thanks for this," Linda smiled and returned to her office. Margot felt her dull headache return. She wasn't going to leave anytime soon, especially not with the Maynard grant. She sighed, put her headphones on, and got back to work. Margot's fingers flew across her keyboard for a couple hours, but eventually slowed as wonderful, distracting thoughts leaked back in.

Oven-fresh sourdough. Peach iced tea on a hot day. Empty roads on a commute. Red wine and laughter. Fingertips tracing hips and thighs. The scent of sweat and arousal and candle smoke. Fire-illuminated curves. Wrists bound with soft rope. Anticipation...

"Fuck," Margot whispered to herself. She leaned back in her chair and blinked a few times to snap herself back to her writing. The office was starting to empty, but Margot still had work to do. She looked down at the funding grant her boss gave her, but the words were spiraling into each other. Margot reached to her wrist and snapped her hair tie against her wrist to startle her back into focus.

"Good girl. That wasn't too bad, was it?"

Margot looked around her cubicle. She was alone, but a voice from her past echoed across her imagination. Why could she not clear her mind? Margot squeezed her legs together and grit her teeth. Her brain was scrambled with stress and exhaustion. Margot knew she needed a day off and a full night's sleep, but neither were likely to come soon. Worse still, she couldn't stop the flashbacks.

Margot got up from her desk and went to the bathroom, where she saw Linda on her way out.

"Margot! Did you finish those edits?" Linda asked with a too-sweet smile.

"I'm getting there," Margot smiled weakly.

"Alright, well don't take too long!" Linda said and left the office. Margot looked back over her shoulder to see that the office was completely empty. Just Margot, her writing, and her quickly deteriorating focus. She walked into the bathroom and stared at herself in the mirror. Margot could see it in her eyes: she was about to explode. Stress, exhaustion, and for some reason, arousal, all shaken together in a dangerously strong cocktail.

"Look at you, all wound up. Stretched out so tight. I could loosen you up, you know."

Margot closed her eyes and gripped the bathroom counter. The memory pulsed in her core. She wasn't even trying to fight the distraction at this point. The flashbacks felt so tangible. Margot was floating, but not like a leaf in the wind or a duck in a pond. She was suspended in a dark place lit only by flame. She could not move or speak or see. Whispers of temptation echoed around her. It was heaven.

"I hope you'll come back sometime. I needed this too."

Margot opened her eyes, her breath heavy. She called a number on her phone and felt her stomach knot with anxiety as the phone rang. After what felt like an eternity, she heard the voice in her memory speak to her.

"Hey, Margot. Been a minute," Ellie said. It had been two years to be exact. Margot felt a chill run down her spine.

"Can I come over?" Margot spoke without thinking. Her heart pounded, filling her chest with anticipation.

"To do what, exactly?"

"What we used to do. Before everything," Margot said. She winced at her own bad answer.

"To do what?" Ellie repeated.

"What do you mean, what? Isn't it obvious?" Margot asked. She felt herself start to sweat and get flustered.

"We used to do a lot, Margot," Ellie spoke with a bit of an edge. "You're going to have to be a bit more specific for me."

"You're toying with me," Margot said. Even in her state of delirium, she knew when she was being played with.

"Maybe. But you called me and if you remember how we left things..."

"Alright, ok," Margot conceded. She gathered her courage and swallowed her anxiety.

"I want no control. None. Less than before, if possible," Margot spoke quickly as if to get her vulnerability over with.

"What about what I want?"

"This is what you want," Margot said. That was a gamble, and the silence on the other end confirmed it.

"6 p.m. Same door code as before... and Margot?"

"Yes?"

"You know I'm not good with second chances. You're definitely not getting a third. We clear?"

"Crystal."

***

Three years ago, Margot wandered aimlessly through a packed dance floor looking for the friends she came with. She pushed through sweaty packs of dancers, lifting her drink over her head so it wouldn't get knocked over. Bassy music thumped in her ears and purple light flickered across the floor. She ignored annoyed looks from a group of girls she pushed past and made her way to the center of the floor. All around her, bodies pressed against each other, grinding and dancing and feeling to the music. Margot stopped for a moment and heard a voice in her ear.

"Do you need help?"

Margot turned to face a curly-haired woman with embroidered jeans and a top that could have easily been mistaken for a bra. She was nodding her head to the beat, but looked at Margot with an intensity that made her feel like she was alone with her.

"I was looking for my friends," Margot said. She stepped closer to the woman and the space behind her filled in with more drunken dancers.

"In the middle of the dance floor?" The woman leaned close to Margot's ear to shout over the blasting music. Margot felt her hand rest comfortably on her upper back.

"I guess I got a little lost," Margot said into her ear. They were practically embracing now, pressed close to each other as a new song started playing. Margot felt the woman start to move to the beat, one hand on her back and the other on her hip. Her touch felt intentional, like she was putting her hands on something she treasured. Margot felt herself move her hips against the woman, her lips still next to her ear. She felt the woman move her hands down to her hips, her fingertips pressed into her butt. This felt different than dancing with her friends. It felt natural and sensual, not like she was performing or trying to look pretty. Margot put her hands on the back of the woman's neck, her arms draped over her shoulders. The woman raised her eyebrows in amusement, as if she didn't expect Margot to reciprocate. Margot saw her gaze shift down to her lips, then back up to her eyes. She pulled Margot a little closer and moved a hand to her lower back.

"I've never kissed a girl before," Margot said, her lips almost touching the side of the woman's cheek.

"I think you'll like it," she said and pressed her lips against Margot's. Margot kissed her back, lips interlocking and fingers dug into skin. She felt hands on her sides, thighs, and hips as the woman's soft lips kissed hers.

"Do you want to do a few more things for the first time?" the woman pulled away and asked Margot. She put a few kisses on her neck and one on her ear as Margot realized what she was being asked.

"Here?" Margot asked, looking to the side to see another couple making out in the middle of the dance floor. The woman smiled and rolled her eyes.

"I'm inviting you back to my apartment to have sex. That sound fun?"

"Yes," Margot said. She felt her heart rate accelerate and her mind melt into mush of arousal, excitement, and pure attraction. The woman took her hand and guided her out of the bar to the street, where the cool air washed over her sweaty skin.

"Going home with someone - I'll catch up tmw," Margot texted her friends and quickly put her phone away to look at the woman.

"I'm Margot, by the way."

"Ellie. I'm just down the block, you coming?" Ellie offered Margot her hand and led her back to her apartment.

Inside, Ellie's apartment looked like a rainforest compared to the busy city outside. Hanging plants, bamboo in pots, and candles covered the main living area. The lights had a dim, orange glow and the walls were covered in art. Landscapes, portraits, and abstract paintings popped with color against the lush greenery inside the apartment. Margot smelled sage, lavender, and vanilla as she walked carefully through the front door. She felt like she was in some kind of sanctuary.

"This is incredible," Margot said, looking back at Ellie. She smiled and closed the door behind her.

"Thanks. I don't really like negative space, as you can see," Ellie gestured to the living area, where art was hung on almost every inch of the wall. Margot stepped closer to one of the paintings. It was a nude woman in a lush forest with branches and foliage conveniently covering her vagina. She had light, curly hair and thick curves and... Margot squinted at the picture, then turned to look at Ellie, who was pouring two glasses of wine.

"You're... the painting..." Margot said. Her eyes flickered to Ellie's top, which left very little to the imagination.

"I am the painting, yes," Ellie laughed. She handed Margot a glass and leaned against her kitchen counter, her ankles crossed and her elbows back.

"Do you think it's accurate? I had a... friend do it for me," Ellie asked. Margot looked at the painting, then back at Ellie.

"It's very good, I really like it," Margot said. She felt like she was caught in some kind of trance.

"Is it accurate though?" Ellie asked. She reached under her top and pulled it overhead, slowly revealing herself to Margot. Ellie folded the top neatly on the counter and hooked her thumbs in the waist of her jeans. She kept eye contact with Margot as she slid them down her thighs, calves, and finally ankles. The jeans were neatly folded and placed next to the top, leaving Ellie completely naked.

"Oh," Margot said. She couldn't look back at the painting, not with Ellie in front of her. Margot felt something switch in her head, as if finally understanding her sexuality after years of unanswered questions. Margot was frozen in place as Ellie walked over to her. Ellie stood next to the painting and sipped her wine.

"I think your tits are bigger in person," Margot said. "Maybe it's a perspective thing." Ellie laughed and set down her glass.

"It helps to be able to compare, doesn't it? Now, I don't want to impose more than I already have, but I do have a rule about clothes. Especially in my bedroom," Ellie said. She ran her finger across the waist of Margot's skirt.

"A rule about clothes?"

"Yes. They're strictly forbidden," Ellie said with a seductive smile. "I can help enforce it if you'd like."

Margot felt Ellie's hands on her hips again. God, her hands were so soft. She looked into Ellie's eyes and saw... hunger. She looked like she wanted Margot, every inch of her. Just in her eyes and in her tone, Margot felt Ellie's magnetic attraction. She stepped closer to Ellie and put her hand on Ellie's hand, which was resting on her hip.

"I've never done this before," Margot whispered. "I want you but I don't know how..."

Ellie took a step forward, pressing Margot against the wall. She pressed her thigh between Margot's legs and wrapped a hand around the back of her head, pulling Margot close.

"I want to make you orgasm until you see stars. That is my one and only intention tonight," Ellie whispered into her ear. "Tell me, have you ever had a tongue right... here?"

Margot felt fingertips trace a line up her thigh under her skirt. She parted her thighs and felt Ellie draw a firm line from her opening to her clit above, pressing her underwear into her.

"Never," Margot gasped. "Does it feel nice?"

"Oh, yes it does," Ellie laughed softly. Her hand was still under Margot's skirt with her fingertips pressed firmly against her clit.

Ellie withdrew her hand, licking the tip of her finger in front of Margot, which made her eyes widen in shock. She grabbed her glass of wine and disappeared into her bedroom, where she left the door open a crack. Margot breathed heavily, her back still against the wall. She didn't even feel drunk anymore, this was something entirely different.

Slowly, Margot removed her top and bra and put them next to Ellie's clothes, neatly folded. It should have felt strange to be stripping in a complete stranger's kitchen, but Ellie made it look so effortless. Margot took off her shoes and socks, feeling the cool wooden floor on her soles. Her skirt was next, pooling at her ankles and leaving only her underwear. Margot looked down and saw a large patch of darkened fabric. She was soaking wet, more so than she could ever remember being. When she pushed her underwear off her hips, she could see her sticky arousal glisten on her skin. Margot picked up her glass of wine, downed the entire thing, then walked over to the bedroom.

Margot opened the door to find Ellie waiting in bed lit only by a few candles. She looked like a forest dryad, nude and surrounded by nature. More flowers, plants, and vines decorated the room. It smelled like trees and rainwater. Margot walked up to the side of the bed and Ellie stood to meet her. She traced Margot's sides from her shoulders to her hips with her fingertips, her eyes lingering on her breasts and thighs. Margot felt her heart race and nerves swell up in her throat. What should she do? What did she even know how to do? Ellie seemed so experienced, so confident...

"Don't be nervous," Ellie said as if reading her mind. "I'm going to give you pleasure until you can't possibly have any more, at which point you just let me know."

"And what about your pleasure?" Margot swallowed nervously.

"This is my pleasure," Ellie said, pushing Margot lightly to make her fall on the bed.

Ellie straddled Margot, pressing her ass against her hips. Margot reached up to touch Ellie's breasts, but she deflected her hands and pinned them over her head. Margot felt a strong pulse in her core as Ellie took control of her. Her legs parted instinctually and she thrust her hips up to meet Ellie's.

"You like this? Not having control?" Ellie asked. She reached behind her and slid a hand down Margot's inner thighs. Margot nodded. It was all she could do in her overcharged state.

"Give me your wrists," Ellie said. She reached into a nightstand drawer and produced a length of soft rope. Margot paused, but obeyed after a second, offering her wrists up to the woman. She felt Ellie slowly loop the rope around her flesh before cinching it tight and tying it to a ring on the headboard. Margot tested the bonds by rotating her wrists and flexing her shoulders. Ellie left a lot of give in the rope. If she wanted to get out, she probably could.

"Good. I needed my hands back," Ellie said, cradling her face gently. She leaned forward and kissed Margot's neck and collarbone. Margot moaned as she felt Ellie's warm, soft body press into hers. It was agonizing how slow and languid Ellie was with her lips and fingers. She kissed her breasts and neck, slid her hands along her sides and between her legs. Margot moaned and gasped and pulled against the rope. She was melting into Ellie's touch.

"Ellie. Please," Margot whispered. Ellie's lips were on her inner thigh, two inches from her clit.

"What's wrong?" Ellie asked, her voice soft. "Did I bind you too tightly?" Another kiss, this one above her clit.

"Your tongue."

"There's a problem with my tongue? I'll stop at once, as promised."

Margot felt the weight shift in the bed as Ellie moved away from her. She felt like she was going to explode from the teasing. Breathing hard, Margot extended her legs and hooked them around Ellie's back. She pulled her back in between her legs, trying to stop her from getting up. Ellie let out a delighted laugh and extended her tongue, licking a long, slow line up to Margot's clit.

"Oh my god," Margot breathed. Ellie's tongue was warm and slippery, wet by Margot's arousal. She pulled hard against her loose bindings as Ellie licked and kissed every part of her pussy. She ran her tongue along her labia, created suction with her lips on her clit, and slid two fingers inside her, which easily slipped inside. It was unlike anything she had felt before. The pressure from the fingers inside her, lightly curled, and the steady strokes of the tongue were driving Margot into a fervor. She gasped and curled her toes, swore and pushed her thighs against the side of Ellie's head. All of the anticipation, all of the teasing, all of the control she gave to Ellie was reaching a single point, circling closer and closer to the point of ultimate pleasure.

"Oh," Margot whispered, as if she discovered a secret about herself. All of Margot's carefully spun tension released in one perfect moment. Her legs shook, her eyes rolled, and her hips thrust up to Margot's lips. With steady, careful strokes, Ellie delivered a powerful climax that pulsed through Margot's clit and resonated throughout her being. Her mind was blank for an entire minute, like it was switched off by Ellie's tongue. Slowly, Margot's legs settled and Ellie slowed her tongue. She waited until Margot relaxed into the bed before giving her a soft kiss on the clit and sliding up next to her.

"You taste incredible," Ellie said and kissed her neck just under her ear.

"Thank you," Margot said, her eyes still closed.

"Would you like another?" Ellie asked. She put a hand on Margot's pussy, which was twitching lightly.

"That's possible?" Margot opened an eye to find Ellie already settling in back between her thighs.

***

Margot practically sprinted out of the bathroom to her desk. She shut off her computer and grabbed the folder with the funding grant. Somehow, she was going to find the time to finish it before tomorrow morning. It was always like this with Ellie. Sex was never just sex. There was always some kind of tease or game. One session could be hours of raw, direct pleasure, another might be hours of slow, agonizing teasing. Sometimes, they wouldn't even touch each other. There were dozens of hours of wild sexual activity between them, but there were twice as many hours spent talking late into the night.

Margot got in her car and drove to Ellie's apartment, not even bothering to put music on. Her brain was focused now after a day of complete chaos. She was thinking only of Ellie, and soon, Ellie would make it so she didn't have to think at all. Would she tease her again? Grab her and fuck her as soon as she walked through the door? What else had she learned over the past two years? Margot exhaled softly, calming herself. She should know better than to go over to Ellie's with any kind of expectations.

Nervously, Margot parked her car and climbed the steps to a large apartment complex. She entered the door code, same as it had always been, and took the elevator up to Ellie's. Her heart drumming up a storm, Margot stood in front of her door and knocked. Agonizing seconds passed until Margot heard soft footsteps in the apartment and finally, the door opened.