Easing her way onto the sofa cushion, Sara struggled to concentrate on the woman who was going to help her and not linger over the man who, in less than a minute, had made her wet with just one look. She’d be seeing him soon enough.
Sitting across from her, Ms. Black crossed one slender leg over the other, and straightened her short skirt. “Ms. Kingston. You’re here because you’re unhappy with your sex life. Is that correct?”
Heat filled her face and Sara nodded, diverting her attention to the
carpet.
A hand landed on her knee and she looked up to see Ms. Black’s
empathetic smile. “It’s nothing to be ashamed of, dear. Lots of people need a little boost in the bedroom.”
“I-” Sara gnawed on her lip as she struggled to share her innermost thoughts. “I have self-esteem issues. I’m a big girl, Ms. Black and the thought of having my fleshy parts exposed to light makes my stomach turn.”
“What does Adam say about your ‘fleshy parts’?” Ms. Black air quoted the words.
Sara let her gaze traveled to the alcove where he’d disappeared earlier. Her mind churned with replays of their last argument. “He says he loves me just the way I am and I shouldn’t be ashamed.”
“But you don’t believe him?” Ms. Black questioned.
Tears burned Sara’s eyes as she shook her head. “How can a man, as gorgeous and built as Adam, possibly desire a woman like me?”
“He desires you because he has the ability to see past your flaws to the woman beneath. Part of a woman’s beauty is what’s within the woman. That’s why some stick thin women who are visibly perfect have trouble finding and keeping a man. They have no inner beauty to compliment the outer beauty.”
Sara considered Ms. Black’s words. “What she said made sense and reaffirmed what Adam already told her. She sniffled. “I want to change.”
Ms. Black smiled. “And I can help you change, but in order to accomplish your goal, you must adhere to my rules.”
“I understand.”
“Good. For the next three days, you will do as told. You cannot refuse to perform an act; however, if at any point what you are doing causes you pain, you may use your safe word to stop.”
Sara shot her a humiliated glance. “What if I do refuse?”
“You will be asked to leave the premises immediately. I will not waste my time or my people’s time on those who do not wish to help themselves. Be assured, no harm will come to you and the acts you will engage in are meant to stimulate, excite, and further your sexual desire. On Sunday night, there will be a going away dinner to celebrate your completion of the program. If all goes right, you and your trainer will be closer than you’ve ever been. Do you agree to those terms?”
There was still time. She could say no, turn around, walk out, and forget the whole thing. Yet something deep inside her psyche screamed at her to go for it. She swallowed hard. “I agree.”
“Good.” Ms. Black rose to her feet and reached for Sara’s hand. “It’s now time for you to begin anew.”
Sara stood and followed Ms. Black through a door on the far side of the room. It slammed shut with a loud thud, signifying her entrance into another world. A long dark hallway lay before her. Doors peppered each side almost all the way to the end, opening toward the back into what Sara could only assume was a large room of some sort.
Ms. Black’s voice echoed in the empty space as she stepped forward and walked slowly down the corridor. “For the duration of your stay, you are not to venture past the door we just came through; however you may walk freely into any of the rooms back here. There are no windows. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about anyone seeing you. Frosted skylights illuminate each room. The door at the end of the hallway is an emergency exit only and should not be used unless there is one.” She pushed open the door to Sara’s right and walked inside. “This will be your room.”
Sara surveyed the area, drinking it all in. The cavernous space reminded her of an overly large studio apartment. Blue-gray walls surrounded her, while paintings hung strategically on the far wall. The subject matter helped to create false windows and give the feel of a normal room. A four-post, queen size bed set between the paintings, while matching nightstands flanked it on either side. She shifted from one foot the other as she continued to study the space. “Um…it’s a very nice room.”
Ms. Black smiled. “Thank you. My goal is to make the rooms as comforting and inviting as I can. It helps to ease my clients’ nerves when the rooms they’re staying in seem more like a vacation resort or spa.”
Sara directed her attention from the bed to a huge brick fireplace taking up a large portion of the interior wall. An armoire and a bookcase sat on either side. She followed Ms. Black across the room to where a small dining table with two chairs sat nestled near another door.
“That doorway leads into a private bathroom, stocked with everything you may need for the weekend. If there is something you desire that’s not there, please let me know.”
“Okay.” Sara glanced at the door, making a mental note to look through the cabinets and see if there was anything she needed which wasn’t already there, then turned her attention back to the petite woman.
Miss Black continued. “You have been assigned one trainer, whom you already know and one assistant, whom you don’t. The assistant will bring you your meals, clean your room, and help you with all your personal needs. While you already know Adam is your trainer, you need to remember he has a job to fulfill. You will do exactly what he says. Your safe word is ‘red’. If at any time you feel you cannot continue, use the word and your experience here will end.”
Sara drew in a deep breath and held it. Better to start before she lost all nerve and backed out. “Okay. I’m ready.”
“Fine. Your weekend of learning will now start. Marissa will be in shortly to help you prepare.”
Sara extended a hand to stop her. “Wait! Who is Marissa?”
“Your assistant.” With that, the door closed and Sara was alone.
She wandered over to the bed, dropped her purse on the mattress, and turned to sit. Her stomach churned and she feared she might vomit on the spot. Finding a trashcan close by, she dove for the metal receptacle. When her breakfast finally cleared her system, she headed for the bathroom to brush her teeth.
Hunter-green walls contrasted against the white fixtures. A large, seductive claw foot tub set perched on an angle in the corner of the room.
An overly long vanity stretched along the wall next to the tub. She padded over to it, searched the medicine cabinet, discovering a toothbrush and toothpaste. She brushed, pulled a cup from the holder, filled it with water, and rinsed. Once finished, she paused to study the room a bit closer. Rows of drawers lined the cabinet beneath the counter and she couldn’t resist checking to see what was inside. Most of the drawers were empty and she was about to abandon her search until she opened the last one. What she saw had her pausing in both horror and curiosity.
After their fight, she had decided to try to expand her sexual horizons on her own and ventured into an erotic gift shop. She still remembered the words ‘Anal plug’ written in big letters above what looked to be a funny shaped penis. The embarrassment alone had caused her to make a quick exit. Now, in front of her sat an entire tray full of them, in various sizes. Surely they wouldn’t expect her to put one of those things… She shook away the thought and quickly closed the drawer. Maybe this was a bad idea after all.
The sound of the door opening caused her heart to skip a beat. “Hello, Ms. Kingston. I’m Marissa. I’m here to assist you.”
The light cheerful voice carried through to the rooms and before she could stop herself, Sara answered. “I’m in the bathroom.”
A pretty redhead appeared in the doorway. “Are you finding everything to your liking?”
Sara wanted to say no as she shot a cautious glance at the cabinet drawer. “Yes, everything’s fine.”
Marissa smiled and walked over to the tub, her auburn ponytail bouncing off her back as she went. “Good, then let’s get you prepped,” she said, and started the taps.
“Prepped?” Sara asked, nearly choking on the word.
“Yes, Ma’am. Miss Black requires all of her clientele prepare for their trainers. Don’t worry, it’s nothing bad.”
Sara gulped down the bile building in her throat and walked to the tub. Why she was being so compliant she’d never understand. The possibility she’d lost her mind penetrated her thoughts. Something had to be going on inside her brain for her to go along with what was about to happen. Of course, it occurred to her, she didn’t know what was going to happen. As much as she didn’t want to admit it, she found the unknown a little exciting.
Feeling more than a bit self-conscious, Sara slowly stripped and stepped into the warm water. The scent of lavender floated up her nostrils and filled her senses, relaxing her more than she could have imagined, considering the circumstances.
Marissa moved to one end of the tub. “If you’ll lean back, I’ll wash your hair.”
Sara did, and before long was beginning to think the weekend wasn’t going to be so bad after all.
“Time to get out, Ms. Kingston.”
Sara opened her eyes and glanced up at the girl. Marissa already stood, holding a towel open for her. She stepped out of the still warm water and allowed Marissa to wrap the terrycloth around her.
“Ahem.” The deep sound of a male voice reverberated through the room and sent a shiver of fear racing up Sara’s spine. Slowly, she turned to see Adam standing in the doorway. “That will be all, Marissa.”
“Begging your pardon, Master, but I haven’t finished preparing Ms.
Kingston.”
He shot Sara an intense stare that made her nether regions clench with anticipation. “I said that will be all, Marissa.”