Shannon's boyfriend, Michael, was a couple of months older than her. Tomorrow he was turning nineteen and she was considering what to give him for a present. She knew what he wanted but she wasn't quite sure that she wanted to go that far at this stage of their relationship. Would going to bed with him be a big step forward or a big mistake? Right now she was leaning towards the big mistake side of the argument.
It was a decision that she could put off for a while. She would buy him a nice gift and, as for the other, she'd see how things worked out when they were alone. Right now she was heading around to see Cheryl. Cheryl had asked her to come over as she had something she wanted to show her. For some reason she'd also been warned to wear old clothes as they might get a bit messed up.
When Shannon arrived at Cheryl's place she was greeted by Cheryl and Marie, another friend. Fellow cheerleaders more than friends, really. Cheryl promptly started dragging her through the house to the master bedroom.
"What do you think of this bed?" she asked, and Shannon had to admit it was impressive.
The bed had a king size mattress and the sheets and covers looked as if they were black silk with gold designs worked around the edges. The head and base were brass, polished until they shone like gold.
"That's really a magnificent bed," Shannon agreed. "There's no way that that is your bed."
"What makes you think it's not my bed?" demanded Cheryl.
"Black and gold? So totally not you, and we both know it. You'd have chosen something in spring, soft greens and yellows, with maybe a touch of blue."
"She's got you there, Cheryl," giggled Marie. "I've seen your room and she nailed it spot on."
"Yes, well, it's my father's bed. But we brought you here for a specific reason."
Cheryl and Marie climbed up onto the bed, insisting that Shannon join them. Curious, she did so, whereupon the two girls jumped her. Cheryl seized her wrist and slapped a padded handcuff on it while Marie fastened the other end to the brass bedhead. With that handicap there wasn't much Shannon could do to prevent her other wrist being similarly fastened.
"What are you two playing at?" she demanded, half laughing, half irritated.
"We'll explain in a minute," Cheryl assured her reaching for her ankle.
Shannon found that the girls were able to fasten her ankles to the foot of the bed just as easily as they had her wrists. The only difference being that instead of padded handcuffs they had padded manacles with a length of chain that made up the distance to the end of the bed.
"What are you doing and where did you get these stupid things," Shannon asked, shaking one leg and rattling the chain.
"All will be explained shortly," Marie said, laughing at her. Her laughter increased when Cheryl reached over and picked up a pair of scissors from the dressing table.
"What the hell are the scissors for?" demanded Shannon, starting to feel distinctly nervous.
"They're to help us undress you," Cheryl explained. "We can't undress you normally because of the handcuffs. That's why we said wear old clothes. We can just cut them off you."
"Are you crazy? Do you expect me to walk home naked?"
"Oh, don't worry. We're about the same size. I'm sure I can find something that will fit you."
Cheryl then proceeded to demonstrate how the scissors worked, calmly cutting in half, first her skirt, and then her top. Shannon was furious, although admitting that she was pleased that they'd had the decency to specify old clothes. She was rather more upset when a few deft snips removed her bra and panties, leaving her chained naked to the bed.
"OK, Marie, go and get Michael," said Cheryl with a laugh.
Marie departed while Shannon was trying to work out what this meant. What had Michael got to do with this?
"Michael's here?" she asked. "You can't bring him up here with me like this."
"Of course we can," replied Cheryl. "It was his idea. He provided the handcuffs and stuff. Got them from a sex shop. He said it will be your birthday present to him as he knows you want to but are a bit reluctant."
Shannon almost exploded. Unfortunately, naked and tied does not facilitate the showing of a temper tantrum. She was still yelling at Cheryl when Cheryl's father walked into the room.
"What the hell is going on?" he demanded. "I walk into the house and Marie and Michael are there. They looked at me as though I was an ogre that had dropped out of the sky in front of them. Then Michael shouted 'oh shit' and bolted out the door with Marie right behind him. They're probably still running.
Would this have anything to do with this young lady chained to my bed?"
"They tricked me," shouted Shannon. "This is something Michael set up, the swine. I came around and they jumped me and tied me to the bed. Let me loose."
Cheryl's father looked at Shannon thoughtfully and appreciatively. She really did have a nice figure he noticed. Quite a pretty girl and she was currently looking somewhat flushed and excited. It definitely enhanced her appeal.
"I suggest that you go to your room, Cheryl," her father told her. "I will speak with you about this later."
Red-faced, Cheryl turned to go when her father stopped her for a moment.
"You might like to leave the keys before you go," he said dryly and Cheryl hastily fished them out of a pocket, gave them to him, and fled.
Shannon stared at Cheryl's father, waiting for him to release her and wishing he wouldn't keep looking at her.
"If you've quite finished looking," she finally said, letting a tinge of sarcasm creep into her voice.
"Oh, sorry," he said. "Force of habit where a beautiful young woman is concerned, I guess. Ah, your clothes?"
"In the bin next to the dresser. Cheryl used scissors to remove them."
"I see. Do you suppose she intended you to walk home naked?"
"No. She did mention that she would lend me something."
"Kind of her. Ah, you were saying Michael set this up."
"So I understand. It's his birthday tomorrow. I think he suspected that I was going to say no to his preferred birthday present and this was his way of getting around the problem. Ah, the handcuffs, the keys."
"Funny. I'd have thought unwrapping the present would have been part of the fun. Still, if he thought he wasn't getting the present then I guess he wouldn't worry about the wrapping, or lack thereof."
"Right. The keys."
"Don't worry," he said, holding them up and jingling them. "I have them right here."
"I know," Shannon growled. "I'd rather they were right here." She banged a wrist handcuff against the brass railing to emphasise where the keys should be.
"No problems," he murmured, sitting on the bed and reaching towards her handcuff. Shannon's sigh of relief died away when he casually dropped the keys into her hand.
"What are you doing? I can't unlock them. I can't reach them."
"You didn't ask me to unlock them. You asked me for the keys."
"I find you as funny as a crutch. Can you please unlock the handcuffs?"
"Wait a moment while I consider your request. Hmm. To unlock or not? Request considered and rejected. We'll leave them on for the time being."
"WHAT? Why?"
A hand reached out and closed over one pearly white breast, the thumb finding the nipple and teasing it.
"It's like this. My name also happens to be Michael, although most people call me Mick. By another odd coincidence my birthday is today. So it seems to me that if you were left here as a birthday present for Michael then I fit the bill. Especially when you consider the fact that this is my bed."
"You're joking?"