Chapter 7

The pattern went on for two full weeks. They ate lunch together and would go to each other's houses to cuddle and have sex. Marie had to admit that a vanilla relationship was fun, but she found herself fantasizing about submitting when she masturbated. She found herself in self-bondage more often than she'd like to admit.

"I think it's time we had a talk," she said one night over dinner at her place.

"About what?" Leo instantly looked nervous.

"BDSM. Scenes. I know you said we could wait on it, but I think I'd like to try. And I don't want to go into it blind."

Leo heaved a sigh. "Oh, thank goodness. I thought we were going to talk about something really serious!"

"It is serious! I want to be safe." He took her hand across the table.

"Of course, but you made it sound like you were going to break up with me or something. What do you want to discuss?"

"Well, you've looked over my list, right?" He nodded. "Is there anything on there that you want to do? Any kinks I should know about?"

"I'm interested in your covert exhibitionism. I'm also a fan of impact and sensory play. I mentioned that I've had a couple rope bunnies in the past, too, so shibari is always fun." He paused. "Did you have a particular kind of scene in mind for our first?"

"Nothing too… intense. So probably no gags or major bondage."

"Oh, god, no. I wouldn't dream of that for a first scene. And I don't know if I'll ever gag you – I like hearing you too much."

Marie wondered if he would ever stop making her blush. "What about safewords? I've used a color system in the past. Green is good, yellow to slow down, red for a full stop."

"If that's what comes most easily to you, then that's probably best. I don't want to give you something you might forget."

"So when do you want to do this?"

"Would it be weird if I said I keep my toy box in my car?" Her hand flew to her mouth in a slightly embarrassed giggle.

"Tonight?"

"If you're in the mood."

One thorough shower and several checks on the locks and curtains later, Marie found herself holding out her wrists for Leo to tie. The rope he used was a standard black cotton, but it was soft from regular usage. His hands were soft, too, as they smoothed over her skin. Shibari had always had a meditative quality for her. There was something about the rhythm of knot-tying, the tugging and adjusting, the pressure. She realized that her eyes had slid shut when he stroked her cheek.

"Okay?"

She nodded. He smiled and pulled the harness a little tighter. She bit her lip as the rope snaked across her nakedness.

When he was done, he used the end of the rope to lead her to her bed. Pressing her onto her stomach, she folded easily in half, ass in the air. She knew what was coming – he had already laid out all of his toys on the bed and let her choose. The soft leather flogger, she had decided. If he didn't know what he was doing, it wouldn't do much damage. But if he did… oh, if he did, it would be exquisite.

She felt the leather tendrils glide over her ass, teasing. Back and forth, barely kissing the skin, hypnotizing. The first strike was testing - more a quick touch than a hit - before going back to its meandering. When next he struck, he set into a pace of light taps in a windmill over her, careful to move around to new areas.

Then, the first real crack. It was a surprise more than pain but Marie gasped, reflexively counting "one". The sensation radiated like tiny fissures of lightning. He smoothed a hand over the area tenderly.

"You don't have to count," Leo said sweetly. "I'll let you know when I want to hear numbers."

"Yes, Sir," Marie replied.

The lighter, warm-up licks were punctuated by harder ones that never ceased to surprise her. After each big one, he would run his hand or the tails of the flogger over her soothingly. Marie was well into subspace by the time Leo bent over to kiss the reddened flesh.

"Color?" he asked.

"Green," she said, blissful.

She could feel his smile, confirming it when he rolled her over and helped her scoot up onto the mattress. Her abused bottom throbbed pleasantly at the new pressure. He pressed her down slightly, doing a quick check of her arms to ensure good circulation, before undressing. She couldn't call it stripping as such – there wasn't any seduction attempt included – but he never broke eye contact. When he was at last nude, he paused. His eyes raked over her as if assessing, smiling at what he saw.

Marie had forgotten about the small pile of items entirely until he picked up the feather. The touch of it was firm enough that it didn't tickle, but the sensation was delightful. Leo trailed the tip of the feather up her leg, circling her navel before continuing up to tease at her nipples. She moaned and writhed helplessly, unsure if she was trying to escape or bring the feeling closer.

Her eyes had closed again when his lips replaced the feather. The sound that escaped her would have been embarrassingly loud were she not so far gone. The feather now tickled around her pussy, quickly wet with her excitement. Leo must have noticed it too, looking down and grinning. Dipping between the folds again, he trailed the slick liquid over her stomach, playing with the vague shapes it made.

Suddenly impatient, he discarded the feather in the small trashcan by the bed. He picked up the final item on the bed beside them; a condom he had already opened. He traced his cock around her pussy.

"Do you want it?" he asked.

"Yes, please, Sir. Please-" She stopped herself before she devolved to begging. He kissed her bitten-red lips.

They groaned together at the first breach. After a second's hesitation, Leo started a punishing pace. Marie wouldn't have had it any other way. She could tell her mouth was running, but was no longer sure if it was English or French or any language other than passion and lust. But all the while, Leo watched her face, right up until he came.

He panted above her for a moment. She could feel his aftershocks inside her, twitching against her.

"You didn't come, did you?" he asked breathlessly. She shook her head, though she hardly cared. "We'll have to fix that."

He pulled out of her and threw the tied-off condom away. Then, he settled back between her legs.

"I don't have a dental dam – are you alright with me going down on you without it?"

She blinked at him, confused. He was asking her? None of her boyfriends had ever offered and her girlfriends only did it when they were going to withhold orgasm.

"Won't it taste bad? The latex…" was all she could manage to say.

Leo chuckled. "I don't mind. You consent, then?"

Again, she nodded, strangely shy about the whole thing. He grinned like a schoolboy tucking in to a second dessert. And he certainly did just that; deft tongue and nimble fingers working in tandem. They had Marie's entire body convulsing with orgasm in minutes.

Before she had even finished trembling, Leo had her completely unbound. He massaged her wrists and checked for chafing, kissing her gently. She wrapped her arms around him.

He spoke softly into her hair. "Do you want to shower or stay here?"

"Shower," she said after a moment.

"Alone or together?"

"Hmm… bath together?"

He agreed with a warm smile. Marie walked to the bathroom on jelly legs with him behind her. She had the fleeting thought of him spotting her in case she fell and giggled. She was also glad he gave her two options at a time. Her brain couldn't handle much more than that.

Once the tub was full, Marie realized that there was barely enough room for the two of them. It didn't seem to bother Leo as he helped her in. He slid in behind her.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, pouring handfuls of hot water over her arms.

"Good," she replied. "What about you?"

"Glad that you trust me."

Marie slowly regained her faculties. She couldn't help but think that he sounded like he was surprised that she was trusting. She couldn't tamp down the thought that maybe he didn't deserve that trust. But she said nothing. After all, why ruin the afterglow?