Locked (13 page)

I wasn't sure whether to be afraid or excited about the coming evening. He'd given me almost no clues about what to expect.

Almost.

That morning, I'd received a text message.

I want you to bring something with you tonight. A length of red ribbon, about three feet long.

I didn't know why he couldn't simply bring it himself, but at least I had some vague idea of what lay in store. As far as I could see, a ribbon could only be to bind me, so I knew I'd likely be restrained, but beyond that I was still in the dark. I suspected that was part of the experience. On the plus side, I now had his number.

I finished my breakfast, stubbornly forcing my way through a few chapters, before throwing in the towel. It was time to go shopping.

There was a fabric store just a few blocks from my place. It was a little strange to be hunting for something so kinky in such a mundane location. Sebastian had turned a simple act of shopping into something decidedly more sordid. As I walked the aisles, I found myself staring at the ground, trying my best not to meet the eyes of the other customers. It didn't help that the store seemed to be entirely populated by little old ladies. There was no way they could know why I was really there, but nonetheless, after I paid, I hustled out of the store as quickly as possible, burying the ribbon in the bottom of my bag.

The rest of the day passed at a snail's pace. I tried to enjoy my time off by catching up on some television I'd DVR'd, but I found it difficult to concentrate. I was nervous and buzzing with energy.

Seven thirty rolled around, and after finding nothing that screamed 'kinky hotel rendezvous' in my wardrobe, I threw on the closest thing I had — a bright red cocktail dress that flared at the bottom — and headed for Circular Quay once more. I was probably going to be early, but I got the impression that tardiness would not go down well tonight.

The hotel was only a minute's walk from the restaurant we'd been at a few weeks back.
A girl could get used to this kind of living
, I thought, as I walked along the wharf.

There was a storm rolling in from the south. The sky looked angry, bruised purple and swollen with rain; sea spray rode on the whipping wind. People seemed to have wisely taken the hint and stayed inside. Aside from a few gallant restaurant patrons, the area was largely empty.

The Royal Bay was a deceptively simple looking building. Unlike most city hotels, it was only a few stories tall, and the warm glow that trickled from the windows lent it a homely feel. But sitting on the docks, just meters from the water, it was definitely a step up from the Holiday Inn.

"Hi," I said to the elegant middle aged woman behind the reception desk, "I'm here to meet a friend of mine. He said to come to room 400."

Her smile wavered for the briefest instant before returning to full strength.
Shit
. It hadn't occurred to me before, but sexed up like I was and visiting an unnamed male guest in his room alone, I realised what I looked like.
Yep, lawyer by day, high class hooker by night. That's me.
I could have laughed if I wasn't so mortified.

"Of course, just take the lift over there up to the fourth floor. It's the first door on your right."

"Great, thanks," I said, doing my best to keep my expression neutral. Trying to correct her seemed like more trouble than it was worth.

As the lift gradually ticked its way upwards, my nerves continued to build. In the past, my sexual encounters had always been vaguely predictable. Even when the relationship was new, I had some idea what to expect. It was still exciting, but there was a comfort in that familiarity. With Sebastian, however, I was going in blind. The whole thing was a mystery.

With my heart thumping, I made my way slowly down the corridor until I found the room. Taking a deep breath, I knocked twice. There was no response. I tried again with the same result. Had I gotten mixed up somehow? I was fairly sure I had the details right, but Sebastian didn't strike me as the flaky sort. Not knowing what else to do, I reached out tentatively and tugged on the heavy brass handle. The door fell open without a sound.

At first I thought I was in the wrong place. The lights were dim and the room appeared to be empty. I made my way inside, glancing around nervously like a girl in a horror film, but Sebastian was nowhere in sight.

The room was stunning. Decked in soft creams and whites, it offered the kind of open space most hotel guests could only dream of. In front of the giant king sized bed was a rolling window that opened directly on to a balcony, offering me a perfect panoramic view of the harbour. I gazed out for several seconds, watching a lightning bolt sear the sky a blinding white. The storm was drawing closer.

It wasn't until I spotted the envelope that I realised I hadn't messed up. It was resting on a chair in the middle of the room.
Oh so that's how we're playing is it?
A thrill surged through me as I approached.

There was something else sitting beside it; a strip of dark silk about as long as my arm. I picked it up, running its softness through my fingers and trying to imagine what it was for. More restraints? Or something more sensual?

The whole situation had a clandestine flavour to it. The dark room, the mysterious props, the secret instructions, they all made me feel incredibly naughty; like I was doing something much more illicit than simply having sex.

Written on the front of the envelope was a single word. 'Sophia'. There was something about the way he said my name that carried more weight than normal. I found myself hearing the word in his voice as I read it.

Inside was a simple set of instructions:

Sophia.

I'm happy you could join me. I think you will find tonight's activities most enlightening. To prepare, I want you to strip down to your panties. I trust you've discovered the blindfold I left for you. Once you're undressed, stand in the middle of the room. Place the ribbon I asked for on the bed next to you and then cover your eyes with the scarf. Wait like that until I come for you.

-S

I picked up the silk gingerly and held it up to the light. It was completely opaque. Once it was secured in place, I'd be utterly blind. He'd be able to do whatever he wanted and I wouldn't even see it coming. The thought made me tremble.

For the hundredth time I considered calling it off. He'd promised to leave me alone if that was what I wanted. All I had to do was turn around and walk out of the door and everything would return to normal.

Except I knew that wasn't really true.

The fire that had been lit inside me wouldn't just disappear. As frightening as the thought of presenting myself for him - exposed, blind and helpless - was, the alternative was even more so. For better or for worse, I had to know.

I began to strip off, folding my clothes neatly on the bed, before pulling the ribbon from my purse. Just looking at it again made me blush. Mindful of my skin, I'd bought the softest, lightest weave I could find. I played with it for a few seconds, winding it around my wrists, trying to imagine what it would feel like to be bound with it, before placing it on the bed too.

I fidgeted for a few more moments, ensuring everything was in order, but eventually I knew I was just making excuses.
Christ, here goes nothing.
Picking up the blindfold, I gazed at the room one final time, before slipping it over my head and knotting it at the back. Everything went black.

My pulse instantly quickened. Stripping off my clothes was something I did every day. It hadn't felt unusual. But the second I covered my eyes, I'd crossed a line into the unknown. Anything could happen now.

We'd begun.

I wasn't sure how long I stood there. Unable to see, time seemed to slow down. Every tiny hotel noise made me jump, and my mind was racing at a million miles a minute. Was he even coming at all? Maybe this was a test of some sort, to see how long I'd stay put. And if he did show, could I ask him to remove the blindfold? It really was terrifying, but that might be against the rules. I didn't even know what the rules were. Was I allowed to object? Oh Christ, what the hell was I doing?

"Hello Sophia," said a voice from behind me.

I squealed in surprise. He'd made no noise, nothing to give himself away. He must have been hiding in the bathroom the whole time, simply watching and letting me stew.

"Hello," I managed.

"I'm very happy you didn't have a change of heart. I think we're both going to have a lot of fun."

"That's easy for you to say, you're not naked and blind."

He laughed. "Believe me, that's just the beginning."

Being unable to see made me incredibly tense. I had no idea what was going on around me. He could have filled the room with a live studio audience and I wouldn't have known. My muscles were tight with anticipation, my body primed, although for what I wasn't certain.

His voice moved around me in a slow orbit. "I didn't really get to look at you the other night. Things were a little... rushed." I flinched as a hand trailed across my stomach, moving tantalisingly close to my breasts. "God, you're gorgeous. You look every bit as ravishing as I expected."

There was something vaguely dirty about being ogled so openly by a virtual stranger, but part of me was enjoying the attention.

"Are you afraid?"

I hesitated, before nodding slowly.

"That's okay. But don't worry; I'll take care of you." His voice was soft now, and it hovered just inches from my ear, the heat of his breath tickling my neck. "We both know you want this as much as I do. You need this."

And despite all of my apprehensions, I knew he was right. I couldn't help but think back to the previous night when he'd pinned me down. The surge of adrenaline, the primal need that had seized me in that moment, was unlike anything I'd experienced before. I had to have that again.

"I know," I said, my voice barely more than a whisper.

His hands continued to traverse my body, gently teasing my back, my arms, the slope of my neck. He never stayed in one spot for very long, pulling away before surprising me from another angle. Every stroke left my skin tingling. In the darkness, the tension inside me grew. On some level I knew this was part of the game, drawing things out until I was at breaking point, but it was hard to be rational in such a position.

Eventually I felt him slide in behind me. "Are you ready to begin?"

I swallowed loudly.
Last chance, Sophia.
But there was no going back now.

"Yes."

"Good. Then put your hands behind your back, arms together."

Shaking, I did as I was told. I stood there, waiting to feel the soft touch of the ribbon, but instead something slick and fibrous wrapped around my wrists.

"What about the ribbon?" I blurted out.

"What about it?" he replied, looping and tying off the rope. "I never told you what it was for. Don't worry; we'll make good use of it later."

I took a deep breath and tried to rein in my pounding heartbeat. "This just isn't what I expected."

He gave a little laugh. "The game's no fun if it's predictable Sophia. And on that note..."

Before I knew what had happened, another length of rope was passed around my ankles. I cried out in alarm.

He worked quickly, and in a matter of seconds my legs were pinned as tightly as my arms. "Perfect," he said.

Instinctively I tried to wriggle free and nearly fell over in the process. A wave of panic washed over me. Trying to remain calm, I tested my bonds more carefully, but it quickly became obvious that there was no way out. The knots were firm, the pressure high enough to restrict mobility while not being painful or dangerous. He was clearly a master of his craft. I was held as thoroughly as any prisoner.

I came incredibly close to just ending it there. My safe word sat on the tip of my tongue. But I managed to subdue my fear.
Harden up, Sophia. This is what you signed up for, remember?

I'd been expecting him to bind me. That was BDSM 101. I just hadn't realised how thorough he'd be. I'd had this image in my mind of being playfully tied down, able to escape but choosing not to. The reality was far more intense. I couldn't move. I might have been able to hop to the door given time, but I wasn't even sure what direction it was in, anymore. He could now do anything he wanted to me. I was totally at his mercy. It was as exhilarating as it was terrifying. Like the helplessness of the previous night, but a hundred times stronger.

The rope also surprised me. If the ribbon wasn't to hold me, then what was it for? What other surprises did he have planned? The only certainty I had left was that I was completely in his hands.

A low rumble resonated from his throat. "I haven't been able to stop thinking about this all day. Our night together was amazing, but it wasn't enough. I need to have you all. For tonight, Sophia, you're mine."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.

Hands encircled my body. "I want to hear you say it."

"I'm yours," I said, my voice quaking. There was a sense of finality about that statement that echoed within me long after the words were gone.