In the weeks after the game night with Sophie's friends, things were more or less normal. Or it was until I got a text from my brother inviting me and Sophie out to dinner with him and his fiancée. My biggest fear was that Sophie would play games and ruin my brother's relationship. His fiancée seemed like she was really good to him. All I had to do was ask Sophie not to interfere in a way that didn't get me in trouble.
I waited until Sophie got back from a shopping trip. That was usually when she was in the best mood. She had dozens of shopping bags spread out on the bed and she was taking out everything she bought and showing it off to me. She had to have spent over ten grand on this one trip alone, but it was nothing for Sophie. She could have walked out with all of these items for free without even trying, but she liked to buy them. I think it was more fun for her to spend real money. She easily could because she made a seven figure salary at a job that never required her to do any work or even come in to the office.
"Sophie?" I started tentatively.
"Hmm?" She said, while hanging a new top in her closet.
"Kurtis and his fiancée, Julie, invited us out to dinner tonight."
"Oh, nice," she answered from the closet. "Where are we going?"
"The new Italian place that opened downtown. Classico Ristorante, I think. And uh..."
There was a pause as I tried to figure out how to word my request.
"What's up, Matt?"
"It's just that...uh..." I stammered.
"Spit it out," Sophie ordered.
The words leapt out of my mouth. "I don't want you to ruin their relationship!"
Sophie laughed. "Oh is that all? Why would I do that, Matty?"
I didn't answer.
Sophie prodded, "What are you afraid I'll do?"
I foolishly tried to backtrack, "I don't think you'll do anything necessarily..."
Sophie cut me off. "Be honest, Matt."
"I'm afraid you'll use your mind control on them and have your way with one or both of them." The words were pulled from my lips despite my effort to keep them unspoken.
Sophie crossed her arms. She definitely looked angry. Oh fuck, I thought. I was regretting even bringing it up to her.
"Ok," she said.
"Ok?" I asked, cautiously.
"I won't ruin your brother's relationship with his fiancée. I would never want to stand in the way of love." She smiled at me and went back to hanging up her new clothes. I was stunned that had gone as well as it did.
By the time we got to the restaurant that night, I wasn't so sure it had gone well, but I couldn't put my finger on why I felt that way. Kurtis and Julie were waiting for us at a table on the Classico Ristorante's outdoor patio. Julie greeted Sophie warmly when we joined them. I gave Kurtis a pat on the back and congratulated them on the engagement. Then I pulled Julie in for a congratulatory hug as well. They were both beaming. I was so happy for them. I just hoped Sophie would keep her word.
The server came around and took our drink orders. I noticed him take an extended glance at Sophie's chest. She was wearing an attention-grabbing top that was typical for her. It showed off her cleavage exactly the way she liked. Mostly because she loved catching wandering eyes. I had a lump in my throat. I worried what she would do, but Sophie just ordered like normal. It wondered if she didn't notice, but that was unlikely. Sophie always noticed when men stared at her.
Sophie asked Julie if she'd go to the ladies' room with her. They both left the table, already laughing together like old friends. I felt a pang of fear seeing Sophie get time alone with Julie. I tried to put that fear away. Sophie had said she wouldn't interfere with their relationship. Maybe she meant it.
While they were gone, Kurtis and I caught up. He told me all about how happy he was with Julie and how lucky he felt to have her. I was so happy for him. He deserved to be with someone who treated him well.
After a couple minutes, Julie and Sophie joined us back at the table. As far as I could tell, Julie was acting perfectly normal. That was a good sign. Still, there was a knot in my chest. The server came back with our drinks expertly balanced on a tray. He was a younger guy, tall and lean. He seemed totally at ease with himself. I paid close attention to his wandering eyes and, sure enough, his gaze lingered on Sophie's cleavage. She didn't seem to mind or even notice. Then as he handed Julie her drink he peered down her shirt. Sophie did notice that. Julie had obviously noticed his leering too because she adjusted her top. She looked extremely uncomfortable. I noticed Sophie tense in her chair. The server passed me and Kurtis our drinks and then taking stock of the table asked us if we were ready to order. He turned to Sophie first. She looked up at him with a smile that might have looked innocent, but I recognized as dangerous.
Sophie made a show of reading his nametag. "Greg, is it?"
"Uh, yes, Ma'am," Greg nodded.
"Greg, I noticed you look down my friend's shirt a moment ago."
Greg sputtered, "Ma'am I would never-"
Sophie cut him off, "Greg, you should be on your knees when you talk to me." Greg collapsed on the patio. Kurtis and Julie audibly gasped. I sat there without making a sound. I knew Sophie would do what she felt like doing.
Sophie flashed an apologetic smile at Kurtis and Julie. "Oh, don't worry guys. I just want to teach Greg some manners." To everyone within ear shot she announced, "No one sees anything unusual about Greg's behavior."
The people at nearby tables who had turned to look when Greg fell to his knees went back to their meals. Kurtis and Julie relaxed back into their chairs. Greg was staring at the ground by Sophie's feet. He didn't seem able to meet her eyes. I didn't blame him.
"Greg, look at me," Sophie whispered to him.
His head lifted to look up at her. "Greg, you feel something stirring in your pants, don't you?"
Greg looked confused, but nodded.
"There's a hand cupping your balls, isn't there?"
"Oh God, there is," Greg sounded like he was panicking.
Sophie just smiled. "That hand is going to stay there, keeping a gentle, but firm grip on you, ok?"
Greg shook his head, "Please take it away. I'm sorry. It won't happen again."
"You're right, it won't. Because all I have to do is say the word and that hand will give you a little squeeze." As she said that, she mimed a little squeeze in the air with her hand. Greg yelped. Sophie smiled pityingly down at him. "Greg, that was only a very light squeeze. Imagine what that magic hand could do if I were displeased."
Greg's eyes went wide. "Now, keeping in mind that I have you by the balls, is there anything you'd like to say to Julie? Maybe beg her forgiveness?"
Greg needed no more encouragement. He fell at Julie's feet, blubbering through as many apologies as he could get out.
"Ok, Greg, that's enough," Sophie silenced him. "Now you're going to finish taking our orders. I expect excellent service and if I notice any wandering eyes, I have a stress ball in my purse, understand?"
Greg got to his feet and shakily took our dinner orders, careful to keep his eyes on the table at all times. After he left, Sophie looked at Kurtis and Julie and told them to forget all of that had just happened. I watched as the confusion melted out of their faces and we went back to having a pleasant conversation. Sophie didn't wipe that from my memory, but mostly because I had plenty of experience on the receiving end of Sophie's powers. Thankfully, she had never seen fit to use that little punishment on me. I shuddered at the thought.
Sophie asked Kurtis how he met Julie. He was all too happy to tell the story of how he had met her while cross-training in her department. They had been placed at neighboring desks and started talking by passing notes to each other. Kurtis really seemed to be head over heels for her and Julie seemed just as enamored with him. I was so happy for them. Sophie reached out a put a hand on my knee. I looked over at her and we shared a smile. They reminded me of how me and Sophie had been at the beginning, both completely infatuated with each other. Of course, now things between me and Sophie were more one-sided. I worshipped her and she accepted it because she deserved it. She took care of me and I let her because she was more capable. It was different, but there was also a balance to it.
Greg came back with our food. His eyes never left the ground in front of his feet. He seemed tense. No doubt he expected a squeeze at any moment that would drop him to the ground in pain. He asked if there was anything he could do and Sophie dismissed him with a smile. I noticed that he let out a breath as he left our table.
Sophie turned her attention on Kurtis and that made me tense up. "Kurtis, you got very lucky to snag this one."
Kurtis laughed, "Yeah, luck must run in the family. We're both playing out of our league, right Matt?"
He had no idea how right he was.
"Make sure you treat her right, ok?" Sophie continued.
Kurtis put his arm around Julie, who beamed up at him. "Of course, I'll do my best."
"Kurtis," Sophie called his attention with a commanding tone, "I want you to spoil this woman. Show her how much you love her every day. Give her everything she wants."
Kurtis looked like he was in a daze, taking in Sophie's command. My heart sunk. This wasn't what I expected her to do, but I was still worried about Sophie using her powers on them.
"Sophie, you don't have to," I interjected.
Sophie didn't look my way or even say a word. She just gestured with one finger down at the table and I fell face first into the pasta dish I had ordered.
"Don't mind him," she said to Kurtis and Julie, "Matt forgets his place sometimes."
"Now, Kurtis, that drink in front of you isn't an Old Fashioned, it's actually a love potion and with every sip you take you'll fall deeper and deeper in love with your soon-to-be bride. Go ahead take a sip."
