Without Strings

Now, for my rather long preface, I usually shy away from longer stories, at least longer chapters, but I had an idea and just ran with it. I wouldn't say this one is out of my normal genre choices, but it does expand on what I usually write. This is only the first part, as I am hoping to add a lot more to the story and evolve the characters more. I am also going to use this story to make a visual novel out of it. Anyway, enjoy the ride and please, understand this is fiction and I write the world, so not everything in "real life" applies. All characters are obviously over 18 and any similarities in any characters or places are not intentional.

Without Strings

Chapter One

After work one night, Kyle wanders into an odd shop he had never seen before. A gruffy, long haired man wearing a tunic stood at the counter. Kyle randomly browsed the quite ancient looking objects and devices littered throughout the store, eventually returning to the front to leave. The shopkeeper stops him and asks personal questions with details the strange man could not have known. "Are you happy with your life, sir?" The man asked Kyle.

"Well... sure. I mean, yeah. Why wouldn't I be?" Kyle replied.

Shrugging his shoulders the shopkeeper continued. "Perhaps you never had a chance to do what you wanted to do... or have her do something for you."

Right then, Kyle began to get nervous. Was this man talking about Gwen? Kyle thought to himself. "I, uh, I don't know. Maybe I've thought about it, but..." The gruffy man smiled, showing yellowed teeth.

"Yes, yes! Exactly what I thought. You've seen the pictures, the videos. You've dreamed of her being with other men, haven't you?"

Kyle felt a shiver of both fear and anticipation run down his spine. "Well, I mean, yeah. Sometimes I've... but I never thought I could..."

"Of course not. But now you can," the gruffy man said, motioning to a small, velvet-lined box on the counter. "This little device, when used correctly, can grant your deepest desires. You can insert dreams, fantasies, even memories into another person's mind. But be warned, it can have... unintended consequences. If used too often, or with too much force, it can cause permanent damage. And the more intense the desire, the greater the risk."

The man handed the box to Kyle, who quickly flipped the hinged lid open revealing two devices. The man gently removed one device from Kyle's hands and held it to his head. "Each device must be attached to perspective host while they sleep." The man then reached into the box and pulled out a control device. "This device will communicate with the head gear. You simply need to adjust the settings to your liking... and enjoy."

The gruffy man then disappeared from the counter, leaving Kyle on his own. Kyle carefully examined the box then looked around the darkened room. He hurriedly piled all three devices back into the box and shut the lid. Grabbing the box with both hands, he gave the room a onceover before quickly running out of the door.

The rest of the night, he couldn't sleep. His mind was racing with possibilities. He pictured Gwen with other men, submitting to their desires. He imagined her being used and abused in ways he had only dreamed of. He thought about how satisfying it would be to see her like that, to know that he was the one who made her that way.

The alarm went off at 6 AM like usual and a groggy Kyle arose from his bed. He glanced over to the other side and saw his beautiful, blonde wife sleeping peacefully. Staring at her, he had flashes of the previous night and devices he'd collected from the gruffy old man. Turning around and placing his feet on the floor he rested his head on his palms. "What was I thinking?" He thought to himself. "Would I really use those things?"

He decided to put them out of his mind for now. Today was Sunday, and he had planned on spending some quality time with Gwen. They would go for a walk, have breakfast at their favorite cafe, and then spend the rest of the day relaxing at home. As the morning progressed, Kyle found himself growing more and more nervous about what he'd seen in the shop. He couldn't shake the feeling that the devices were calling to him, urging him to use them.

"Are you ready, dear?" He heard Gwen yell from the front room.

"Almost." He yelled back to her as he finished shaving. He quickly rinsed the razor and wiped his face with a towel.

As he walked into the front room, he noticed her wearing very short cut off jean shorts and a tight-fitting tank top that revealed her ample cleavage. His heart skipped a beat as he took in her beauty. She was the most gorgeous woman he had ever seen. "You look lovely today," he said as he walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

Gwen turned around in his arms and smiled up at him. "Thank you, dear. You look quite handsome yourself." She placed her hands on his chest and looked deep into his eyes. "Are you sure you're feeling, okay? You seem a bit... distracted today."

A million thoughts raced through Kyle's mind. He quickly shook his head then flashed Gwen a smile. "Nah... Just work."

"Oh, are you nervous about starting in that new department tomorrow?" Gwen asked as she turned to face him placing her hand in his.

"A little, I suppose. I just hope I can keep up with everyone else," Kyle confessed, trying to sound more confident than he felt. He had been dreading this move for weeks, worried that he wouldn't be able to handle the increased workload and the new, younger coworkers.

Gwen squeezed his hand reassuringly. "You'll do great, I just know it. And remember, if anything gets to be too much, you can always talk to me about it. I'm here for you, always." Her eyes sparkled with affection, and he felt a wave of relief wash over him.

"Thanks, babe." Kyle replied as he leaned in for a kiss.

"Well, let's head out then, mister." Gwen said with a bit of a laugh.

As they walked down the street, the sun shining down on them, Kyle couldn't help but feel a sense of peace and contentment. Gwen was the perfect companion, always there to support him and make him feel loved. He knew that he was incredibly fortunate to have her in his life. They arrived at their favorite cafe and were seated outside at a small table in the corner. The waiter came by to take their orders, and Kyle couldn't resist ordering Gwen her favorite meal, knowing how much she would enjoy it.

As they waited for their food, they continued to chat about their weekends. Gwen had spent time with her friends, and Kyle had caught up on some much-needed rest. The conversation flowed easily between them, and Kyle found himself completely lost in her eyes. There was something about Gwen that made him feel like he could talk to her about anything, and she would always understand.

The food arrived, and Kyle couldn't help but watch as Gwen dug into her meal. She closed her eyes and took a bite, savoring the flavors before opening them and looking up at him with a satisfied smile. "This is delicious, thank you."

"You're welcome, my love." He smiled back, taking a sip of his coffee. "So, what did you and the girls get up to this weekend?"

"Oh, not much. The usual, I guess." She said digging her fork into her meal again. With a mouthful of food, she continued "Karen has been trying to get me to go out with her lately." Her head never looked up from her food as she spoke.

"Oh really?" Kyle said, knowing full well what Karen was trying. Karen was Gwen's oldest friend. They'd known each other since college. Of course, Kyle met her back then too, but it always seemed like she never really liked Kyle. He didn't really care though; the feeling had always been mutual.

"Yeah," Gwen continued, "she's been trying to get me to be her wingman. Ever since she and Lamar broke up, she's been really acting out."

Kyle gave a slight chuckle. "Oh really?"

Gwen looked up at Kyle, "did you just laugh?" She asked with a grin on her face. Kyle nodded. "Look I know you two have never gotten along, but she is my best friend and she's hurting. I mean she really loved Lamar." Kyle extended his hand and placed it on Gwen's.

"I know babe. It's just that... she's such a..." his words drifted off as he spoke.

"Bitch?" Gwen said with a laugh. Again, Kyle nodded, joining Gwen's laughter. "I know that babe, but I do feel obligated to at least try and make her feel better. Sort of get her a pallet cleanser, ya know?"

"I guess I can understand that." Kyle said, his hand still on Gwen's. "But, I mean, if you're not comfortable with it..."

Gwen looked up at him, her eyes filled with love. "I know, and I appreciate that. But I want to be there for her. She's been through a lot, and she's always been there for me. So, I just want to return the favor, even if it means going out with her to some raunchy clubs."

Their conversation continued, they discussed their plans for the next few weekends, and Gwen mentioned that she had already agreed to go out with Karen on one of those nights.

"I understand that you want to be there for her," Kyle said, "but if you ever feel uncomfortable or like you need to get away, just let me know, okay?" He squeezed her hand gently.

Gwen smiled at him. "Are you offering to be my out call?"

Kyle nodded. "You know it, babe. I'll just call and say I need you home, like now. A meteor is about to hit our flat." They both laughed.

"I don't know... I don't think Karen would buy that." Gwen said, trying not to spit her coffee out.

"Well, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. I'm sure you'll have a great time with her next week." He flashed her a smile and she reciprocated.

Their meal came to an end, and they both leaned back in their chairs, enjoying the afterglow of a lovely brunch. Gwen glanced around the patio, taking in the other couples enjoying their own evenings. She sighed contentedly and turned her attention back to Kyle.

"You know, I'm really looking forward to our trip to Jamaica. It's been so long since we've had a real vacation together," she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

That sparked all sorts of things in Kyle's head. He too had been dreaming of that trip as well. Probably in very different ways than his wife, but still. Jamaica would be the perfect place. He had masturbated to Gwen doing all sorts of things with large, muscular, hung black men.

"Yeah, me too." he replied, snapping out of his fantasy.

"I can't wait to just relax, soak up some sun, and have a few drinks with you. No pressure, just us and the ocean." Gwen continued, smiling warmly at him.

As they collected their things and paid the bill, they headed out. Next step was Central Park. A lovely walk along the path near the zoo.

The sun was shining brightly, casting a warm glow over the city. They found a nice, secluded spot under a large tree, sat down on a park bench, and watched the people go by. Kids were laughing and playing, adults were strolling arm in arm, and dogs were sniffing each other's butts. It was a quintessential New York moment, and they both felt grateful to be sharing it together.

"You know, I've always loved this spot in the park," Gwen said, her eyes scanning the scenery. "It's so peaceful, even with all the noise and activity around us."

"Yeah," Kyle replied, nodding in agreement. "It's funny how that works." He glanced over at her, taking in her profile. There was something about her today that was different. Not necessarily bad, just... different.

The wind picked up, sending a chill through the air. Gwen shivered slightly and pulled her cardigan closer around her. She glanced over at him, a small smile playing on her lips. "So, you ready for our walk in the park?"

Kyle nodded and rose up with Gwen grabbing his arm. "Of course I am, my love."

They began walking, hand in hand, down the path. The sounds of the city fading away as they immersed themselves in the serenity of the park. As they walked, they talked about their day, their jobs, their friends, and their dreams. Gwen shared her excitement about the upcoming trip to Jamaica, and Kyle couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy when she mentioned how much she was looking forward to the beach and the sun. He had been hoping for a more... adventurous vacation.

The couple already had the trip planned. Gwen had to fight a little to get the three weeks off Kyle had suggested. He just felt... the island needed to be enjoyed for a lengthy amount of time. With Gwen being a nurse at Mount Sinai it was quite difficult for her to get unexpected vacation time off, but she did. Everything was set.

Even with Kyle switching departments, he was still the boss... so taking a few weeks at the drop of a dime was not so hard to accommodate. After all, it was just advertising.

Kyle began to think to himself again. "Yeah...everything is set. Except for what I want Gwen to participate in." Even though his mind was churning ideas he stayed focused on Gwen's story she was telling. Well, at least in appearance, anyhow.

"Kyle, do you know what I mean?"

Gwen's question shook Kyle out of his fantasy and back into life. "Shit... what the hell was she talking about?" He thought to himself as he saw his wife growing curious as to why this was so hard for him.

"Um, sorry, what do you mean?" he asked, feigning confusion. "You just seemed really into that story." He hoped that would be enough to distract her, but it didn't.

"Well, you know how you can get kind of quiet sometimes, like you're lost in thought?" Gwen pressed. "That's what I mean. You seem preoccupied with something else lately." She gave him a knowing look, and he could feel himself blushing.

"Oh, um, you know," he stammered, "just... work stuff, I guess." It wasn't the best lie, but it would have to do for now. "Anyway, you were saying about the resort?" he changed the subject, hoping to steer the conversation back to a safer topic.

They continued walking and talking, but the air between them felt a little more tense now. Kyle knew he needed to find a way to get his thoughts together and decide what he wanted to do about his feelings. He couldn't just ignore them, especially since he was starting to think that maybe he wanted to actually give those devices a try. Maybe just a little bit. Just to push the vacation the way he wanted.

Their walk took them to a quiet spot near a small pond where they sat down on a bench. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow over the water. Birds chirped in the trees, and the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze provided a soothing background to their conversation.

"I'm sorry if I've been distracted," Kyle apologized again. "It's just... work has been crazy lately, and I've been feeling a little overwhelmed. I promise to give you my full attention on our trip, okay?"

Gwen smiled at him; her blue eyes filled with understanding. "I know you've been working hard, and I appreciate that. I'm just worried about you, you know? You seem a little... off lately." She paused, considering her words carefully. "Maybe we should talk about it when we get back from the trip? If you still feel this way, we can see what we can do to help."

"I know dear, and I appreciate that." he told her as the cooler wind began to pick. The sun was fully setting about now, the lights on the walkway had turned on. "We should get going, babe. Central Park isn't a nice place after dark." He said, helping Gwen up as he stood.

"Yeah..." Gwen said with a laugh. "I've seen SVU." This made Kyle laugh as well. The two turned and began their walk out of the park, just as they entered... hand in hand.

Their walk back to the apartment was much more light-hearted than their previous stroll through the park. They joked and laughed about various things, and Kyle felt a weight lift off his shoulders. He knew that Gwen was understanding and supportive, and that she would be there for him no matter what happened.

The rest of the evening wound down rather quickly. Kyle perched on the couch watching Sportscenter, while Gwen jumped in the shower and within an hour the two of them were lying in bed.

Kyle waited for Gwen to doze off, faking his reading of the same page he had not turned since he lay down. His mind was racing about using those devices on Gwen. What settings did he have to choose from? What would he choose? How did he want her to be? How much control would he actually have over her?

His frantic thoughts paused as he glanced over to Gwen and began to faintly hear her snores.

He slid out of bed as quietly as he could, careful not to disturb her. He padded out of the room and scaled the steps. He finally made it to his office and pulled out the box he had gotten from the gruffy old man in the little shop. Opening it, he saw all three devices there in the velvet lined box.

He picked up the two head devices and put them in his pocket as he grabbed the control device. He looked over the device, noticing several buttons and a rather large round spinning control in the middle. The markings around the control went from extremely weak to extremely strong. With even numbers of settings in between.

He jumped up from his chair, set the control device where he had sat and rushed back to the bedroom to put the head devices on Gwen.

As he crept back into the bedroom, he carefully slipped the head devices over her ears, making sure they were snug against her temples. He turned them on and waited for a few seconds. He could feel the power building up in the control device in his hand. His heart raced with anticipation.

There were a number of settings. Inhibition. Lust. Confidence. Charm. Submission. Dominance. Wow... He began to feel like he was making a character in a Dungeons and Dragons game, or something.

He decided to start with the lowest setting and see how that went. He turned the control dial slowly, watching the markings as they moved past the lowest setting. There were a lot of settings between lowest and highest, and he wondered how many of them he would need to try before he found the perfect one.

He turned on Lust and Inhibition. "There. I don't want to go too fast, too soon." He thought. The gruffy man did warn about side effects from too much use. "I'll just see how these go... for a while."

He looked over at Gwen and saw the devices on the side of her head illuminate a faint blue light. He brushed his hands over her forehead before returning the control device to his office.

The alarm rang loud as every morning before and Kyle groggily rose, wiping his eyes. He looked over at Gwen, who was still fast asleep. He quietly and carefully removed the devices from her head and tucked them in his pocket. Leaning down he kissed his wife on her temple where the device had been.

She moaned quietly and smiled before turning her head and drifting back to sleep.

As Kyle arrived at work he was greeted by his new boss. "Hello, Kyle. I'm Randy. I'm supervisor of the media entertainment division of McQuade Advertising." Kyle shook Randy's outstretched hand as he entered his new office.

"I want to thank you for coming on board so quickly. We've had a lot of interest in this project, but I think you're just the right person for it. I'm here to support you in any way I can, so please don't hesitate to ask." Randy explained.

"Thank you, sir." Kyle replied.

"Please, just call me Randy. We're very informal here. Now, the rest of your team will drop in throughout the day. He began walking toward the door, apparently eager to leave Kyle to get settled. "We have a great team here, so everyone should be to your liking. Just remember, you're the boss, my number two." With that and a nod, Randy left the office.

Kyle sat at his new desk and turned on his computer. Just then there was knock at the open door and a hefty, overweight, young man entered. Kyle turned and watched the kid walk in. He had to be in his early twenties and looked like he lived in his parents' basement.