Get Stuffed

"I would actually really love that,” she says. "And maybe you can show me some of them yourself...if we're going to do this."

I lean closer to her. “You seem scared."

"I am."

"Why?"

"Because this doesn't happen. This kind of thing has 'cautionary tale' written all over it."

I grab both of her hands and twine my fingers through hers. "If people made decisions based on that, no one would ever do anything."

She doesn't say anything, instead she's staring at our hands.

"Alyssa, I like you. Why not do this?"

"And if it doesn't work?"

I pull her hands towards me until her body follows and our faces are close together. "Then it doesn't work. But I think that you're calling that play a little early."

I wait for her answer, and I can see her thinking. "Okay."

I smile. "Good."

"Do we need rules?"

I pause, running my thumbs across the back of her hand. "For what."

"For..." She lowers her voice, and a blush appears on her face. "For when you're telling me what to do. I've read these books, and whenever those people play they have rules in case one of them has to stop, or there's an emergency. I just thought it might be a good idea--"

"Alyssa." She stops. "It's okay. It is a good idea. You don't have to be embarrassed."

"Sorry."

"And you don't have to apologize. You want to know the truth? When I said I hadn't had any long term relationships, it's true. But I had short ones, and they all fell apart because they didn't want that. I had given up finding someone that I was attracted to who wanted to..."

"Obey you?"

I make a face. "I'm not sure I like the way that sounds, but I love the way it feels."

"Me too. Like I said, I wasn't actually expecting that." She laughs. "So I'm nervous. We can both be nervous."

I start taking even breaths, because there's a situation brewing in my pants, and I don't want to take her across the table. Well, I do, but I don't think the diner management would appreciate it. "Rules are good. Especially starting when we don't know each other so well. How about this. Rule 1: We can always revisit the rules."

She smiles. ”I like that."

"Rule 2: Within the context of sex, you will follow all of my commands."

"Rule 2a: Provided that those commands don't compromise me personally or professionally."

I nod. "Rule 2b: If you choose not to follow a command, appropriate punishment will be given."

Her eyes darken, and I see the possibilities spinning around in her eyes. "You would punish me?"

"I would love to punish you."

She shivers, and she moves her hands up to my forearms, gripping them like she needs an anchor. "Rule 3: If either person needs to stop, they will say the word--"

"Milkshake?" I can't help myself.

She grins. "Milkshake it is."

A man approaches our table, "I'm sorry. We're about to close, can I get you your check?"

I glance up, and notice that the diner is entirely empty except for us. The older man standing in front of us must be the manager. "I'm so sorry. Of course."

He winks at me as he lays down our receipt, and I have to smile. He knows we were so wrapped up in each other that we didn't notice the diner empty. I leave a big tip. I think I have a new place to eat, if only because whenever I eat here I'm going to think about sex with a delicious brunette.

On the sidewalk, I hail a cab for Alyssa.

"I can take the subway."

"It's late, and I'd rather you took a cab all the way across town. Besides, taking a cab is much easier."

"True."

A yellow cab stops by the curb, but before Alyssa can step into it I pull her to me. I wrap my arms around her so we're touching from head to toe, and I kiss her. Her lips are soft and warm, and still have the faint taste of ice cream. I don't fight the reaction of my body--I want her to know exactly how hard she makes me. I feel her hands curl around my neck and I love every second of her surrender.

It's another minute before I force myself to pull away. I press my lips against her ear so the words are only for her. "If you don't leave now I'm taking you to my apartment and I'm going to taste every inch of you."

Her mouth opens like she's going to say something but nothing comes out, and I'm staring at her lips which are red from my kiss. Another second and I'm going to kiss her again. She's like a magnet. I pull out her underwear and hand them to her. "As promised, your incentive."

The cab driver honks his horn, and we both jump. She opens the door and gets inside, her eyes never leaving my face. "I'll see you in the morning,” I say.

And then she's gone.

I let out a long, slow breath. I've never felt like this before.

I may be in serious trouble.

9

Alyssa

I'm exhausted, and it's all Charles' fault. You don't just say something like that to someone and then send them on their way. I was awake half the night reliving what happened in his office, the other half thinking about all the possibilities.

Charles walks in from the elevator, and I immediately turn bright red. He grins like he knows exactly what I was thinking, and I resist the urge to make a face. I also resist the urge to go kiss him. "Good morning, Sir."

He raises an eyebrow. "Sir?"

"You were right. Calling you Mr. Saxon now feels weird, and I think people might notice if I started calling you by your first name."

"If you're comfortable with it, it's fine with me." He leans over the desk. "I have plans for you today, Miss Harrington. I would like it if you would report to my office at exactly five o'clock. Be prepared to stay late."

"Yes, Sir." My whole body is tingling, and there's a nervous anticipation in my stomach, and this is going to be the longest day of my life.

The rest of the day moves by in fits and starts, one moment everything seems normal and the next I remember that what's happening at the end of the day. I have the urge to open Tantalize and write the fantasies that are forming in my head, but there's no point. I'm going to be living them in just a few hours. My body is a constant state of awareness and arousal. It's maddening and I only hope that Charles is feeling it too.

Our rules run through my head over and over, and I have to stop and breathe through the knowledge and desire that comes with them, and also the shame of wanting it. I shouldn't want to let someone tell me what to do, right?

But it feels so good to let go.

Another minute ticks by. This is going way too slowly.

I go to the kitchen to get a cup of water, and find Jennifer there doing the same. Perfect. "Alyssa, hi." She says, too enthusiastically. "How's the job treating you?"

"Uh...good. It's been great so far actually." Fantastic. Mind-blowing. Toe-curling.

She nods. "Awesome. How is Charles? Did you setting boundaries with him work?"

"Definitely. He hasn't done anything to make me feel uncomfortable." I say the last bit with a bit of a smile, covering my annoyance at her, now that I know she regularly tries to seduce Charles.

"I'm really glad that worked out for you,” she says. "Girl power!" She throws her fist in the air like a cheerleader.

Wow.