When Claire entered this time, something seemed off. Not chilly, but heavy in a way. The air felt thick, pressing against her skin like a breath held in. Rey was by the window. Motionless. Quiet. One arm wrapped around her waist while the other held a glass of water. No smile to welcome her. No kiss. Just that intense gaze--sharp and inscrutable--that pierced through Claire, reaching down to the coat she had yet to take off.
"Lock the door," Rey said. Her voice was low. Controlled.
Claire turned, struggling with the latch. Her fingers faltered--nerves always made their presence felt in her hands first.
When she turned back, Rey hadn't moved an inch.
"Starting now," she said, her tone even softer yet clear, "you will no longer wait for instructions."
She took a single, deliberate step forward.
"You come in, strip completely, fold your clothes, and place them on the chair."
Claire's heart fluttered. Her breath faltered.
"And then," Rey continued, calm and composed, "you kneel beside them. Spine straight. Hands resting on your thighs. Eyes lowered."
A moment passed. Time stood still.
"Well?" she said. "Let's see if you remember."
Every muscle in Claire's body tensed; her skin prickled. But she obeyed. First, the coat. Then her top. Her bra. Skirt. Panties. One by one, each piece was removed carefully. Folded neatly. Laid out as if they were sacred.
Then she lowered herself to her knees. The rug was rough beneath her. Palms rested on her thighs. Back tall. Gaze cast downward. Her heartbeat thundered in her chest.
"Good girl," Rey murmured from behind--soft and smooth, like velvet drawn tight over steel. "That's what I like."
She circled, slow and barefoot, steps light. When she stopped, a hand came to rest gently on Claire's shoulder. And just like that, Claire felt grounded.
"Today," Rey said, her voice rich with intent, "we're going to push things further. I believe you're ready. Don't you?"
Claire nodded quickly. "Yes, Mistress."
A ghost of a smile touched Rey's lips.
"First," she said, "you'll wear a blindfold. I want you to know what it means to truly give up control--to let go of sight. Every sound, every sensation... will belong to me."
She leaned in. Claire felt the warm brush of her breath near her ear.
"Do you trust me?"
Another nod. Slower this time. The answer caught in Claire's throat. The blindfold came down over her eyes, and Rey's fingers tied it firmly behind her head. Darkness fell fast, and with it came an unexpected clarity. Her ears sharpened. Every shift in the air felt amplified.
She wasn't just naked anymore. She was vulnerable.
Rey's hands cupped her face, gentle but firm. "No speaking unless I ask you something. Or I'll gag you."
Claire barely breathed. She didn't dare speak.
"Stand."
Rey's hand guided her up, steady at her back. Claire moved slowly, trusting the touch. Blind. Open.
They stopped.
"Hands on the bench. Knees on the pads. Arch for me."
Claire reached out, felt the bench, and settled her chest down onto it. Her hips lifted, her back arched, and her knees parted.
Laid bare.
"This isn't punishment," Rey said, one hand skimming over the swell of Claire's ass. "You haven't done anything wrong."
The touch lingered. Possessive. Reverent.
"This is pleasure," she whispered. "Learning to want what once scared you."
Claire moaned--soft, involuntary--just as Rey's palm struck. A sharp slap. Open-handed. Measured. It cracked through the air and bloomed heat low in her belly. Another. Then another.
