The Seller

Lucas put out his hand and the silversmith shook it firmly and then ushered them inside.

He smiled at Naomi in welcome. "Go through to the back," he said, while he locked the door behind them.

As she passed him by, she realized she knew the guy from somewhere, but couldn't immediately place it.

The shop was even smaller than hers and crammed with display cases. The overhead lights bounced back off polished metal souvenirs, numerous silver trinkets and jewelry. And bondage out the back, how intriguing. Naomi wondered how on earth Lucas had found the place. She was beginning to get used his style though – if Lucas wanted bespoke bondage, he'd find it. He seemed able to click his fingers and have anything happen.

The question vanished from her mind rapidly when she entered the room at the back. Part workshop and part display area, the room was lined with display cabinets filled with intriguing items that stimulated both mind and body. The cases were mounted on the walls and stood atop high benches around the room. Her attention flitted from one to the other, landing on stainless steel dildos, manacles and collars, her pulse rate increasing as she took in the sight of bondage and sex toys galore. It was a feast for the curious lover and she was ready to explore.

"Take a good look around. I'm just tidying up." The silversmith headed to a workbench at the far end of the space. It stood up against a wall heavily hung with tools, chains, padlocks and intriguing bits of metalwork.

Lucas stood back, as if allowing her to lead. His eyes were hooded, his attention fully on her. Naomi smiled. He intended to observe her every move and reaction while she looked at the kinky items, she knew it, and he'd sense when she was getting turned on. The thought excited her immensely. He looked so gorgeous. His fitted suit and nonchalant pose in the unusual surroundings made him look like a still from a film noir. His black hair had fallen forward, casting his face in shadow. Is he really my lover? She could scarcely drag her attention of him, despite the room full of goodies.

"Take your time," he encouraged. "Find something you like."

Tentatively she walked along the benches, resting her fingertips against the solid wood of the display cases to ground her. The display cabinets mounted on the walls housed nipple clamps and collars. Some of the collars were metal, others leather and metal combined. Every piece was beautifully designed and made. In the table top displays she saw all manner of things, some of which she couldn't even discern the function of. The specialty appeared to be cuffs.

From the simple to the exotic, the cuffs ranged from simple chain to ornate fretwork set with gemstones. Others were punky black leather studded with metal. Each item she looked at triggered a deep sexual response, fuelling a series of erotic images in her mind – images of herself in bondage while Lucas took charge of her.

She glanced back at him. His watchful stare heated her from the inside out. It was obvious he knew what she was thinking about. That made it worse. Between her thighs, an anxious pulse was steadily gaining speed. Her clothes felt tight and restrictive, her nipples chaffing inside her bra. Her panties were clinging to her groove, the damp heat that was building there drawing the sheer lace garment close against her sensitive, aroused skin. If she was already this horny, how was she going to get through dinner without begging him to fuck her first?

Then she noticed the silversmith was leaning up against his workbench, watching the interaction between them. It amused her. He probably saw this sort of thing all the time, couples getting hot imagining what they'd get up to later on. Forcing her attention back to the display cabinets, she took a deep breath and tried to concentrate. When she looked at the item in the next case she drew to a sudden halt.

There in the cabinet, a pair of cuffs captured her attention completely – polished metal casings for the forearms. It made her think of Joan of Arc, armor, strength and resilience.

"The Willing Slave," the silversmith commented when he saw the item she was looking at. "Polished stainless steel lined with velvet."

The willing slave. How appropriate that was. She was Lucas's willing slave, no matter how much she tried to hang onto the real world. It was too tempting to slip under his spell and into the lure of the unknown, the only guarantee being immense pleasure at his command.

She stared at the forearm cuffs, imagining what it would be like to wear them. They would run from elbow to wrist. If they were latched together, as they were in the display case, she would be powerless, unable even to rattle the chain on a set of handcuffs. She imagined drawing her encased forearms up to her naked breasts, feeling the cool stainless steel against her bare skin, while other parts of her were inflamed and hot from Lucas's attentions.

"Do you like them?" Lucas was there at her side.

She felt the touch of his hand on her back. Instinctively, she pressed back against him, acknowledging the contact. Turning to look up at him, she saw the fire in his eyes. "Do you?"

He smiled knowingly then looked over at the silversmith. "May we try these?"

The jeweler strolled over, unlatched a long key chain from his belt and unlocked the cabinet. He lifted out the steel cuffs and pressed a release button to flip them open. Each arm was made of two pieces of metal hinged on the outside. The two panels latched together when closed. They were lined with black velvet.

Naomi rested her forearms into the velvet lining and Lucas closed the panels, clicking them together to lock them. With effort, Naomi dragged her attention away from the look of Lucas's large m

ale hands over her encased forearms, and met his gaze. He nodded. It was almost imperceptible, but the agreement was there.

He lifted her entrapped hands to his lips and kissed her fingertips, first on one hand then the other. Naomi trembled. It was all there in his eyes – the heat, the promise, the desire, and the admiration.

"Are you the willing slave?" he asked.

Naomi knew what this was. This was the next level.

"Yes," she whispered. "Yes, I am."

Lucas stared into her eyes, his lips curling. It lasted a moment, but the look he gave her would stay with her forever. Deeply pleasured, subtly victorious.

"Could you select some accessories?" he requested. "Nipple clamps, a matching collar if you have it."

"Of course." The silversmith moved from case to case, lifting out various items.

Naomi could scarcely breathe. She'd thought the cuffs were enough shopping for one day. Obviously she was wrong.