“So what would you like to do tonight, honey?” Janie asked, walking into the kitchen. “Do you fancy hitting a club? Or perhaps a movie? We can always rent a couple of movies and watch them with some wine if you’d like.”
“Why don’t you go on over to David’s, he must have finished his work by now. I need to work on my résumé; I’ll just spend some time doing that and working out a plan for job hunting tomorrow.”
“It’s alright; I’ve spent the whole day with David, besides, I don’t really want to leave you alone right now.” The thought of going back to David’s was tempting, and she knew he wouldn’t object if she went over, but her friend needed her more.
“I’ll be fine, Janie, I promise. I really want to get the résumé done and research some companies, not to mention work on some cover letters.” She appreciated what her friend was doing, but she felt as though she needed some time alone.
“If you’re absolutely sure you don’t need me.” Janie was reluctant to leave her friend but realized there was no point in her being there if her presence was going to be intrusive. That aside, David had told her about a new club that had opened, a discreet place that was dedicated to the lifestyle, and she couldn’t wait to see it, she just hoped he was in the mood to take her there.
Leah nodded as she began dishing up the salad, filling both their plates while Janie opened a bottle of the wine they’d bought and poured out a glass for each of them. They ate in comfortable silence, finishing the food quickly and then washing up, Leah doing the washing while Janie did the drying, as was their usual division of labor.
With the dishes put away Janie disappeared into her bedroom, where she shucked off the casual outfit she’d picked out after her bath and dressed again in an outfit more suited to a night out with her boyfriend. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stick around?” she asked, returning to the living room.
“Go, have fun with your man; we can hang out tomorrow.” Smiling at her friend’s worrying Leah ushered her toward the door. “I’ll be fine here. I have my computer, wine, and ice cream, what more could I want.”
Janie laughed quickly. “Okay, well you have my cell number so if anything changes, or you just get freaked out, you call me immediately!” Reaching over impulsively she hugged her tightly. “I mean it; call me if you so much as break a fingernail.”
“You’re starting to freak me out, mom,” Leah said with a giggle. “Please, go and have fun with David before you drive me nuts!” She was exhausted by the time she finally got Janie out of the door and got it closed behind her. Knowing her friend was worried about her was sweet, but it was also driving her nuts. It was not the norm for her friend to be hovering over her and what she needed most just then was normalcy.
After a nice long, steaming hot bath she settled herself on the couch in her pajamas, a carton of her favorite rocky road ice-cream at her side and her laptop in front of her. With the television turned to a music channel for background she got to work on her résumé, going over and over it until she felt it was perfect, by which time she had gone through half the carton of ice-cream.
Having completed the résumé Leah Googled internships for business majors in the Chicago area. There were a few decent companies listed, companies whose names she recognized, and she searched each of their websites for details on how they preferred to receive submissions. She bookmarked each of the sites so she could get back to them easily in the morning.
The next step Leah took was to find employment agencies that dealt with business graduates, bookmarking those sites and adding them to her mental to do list for the morning. All in all she felt pretty productive as she turned off her laptop and set it aside, it was getting late and she couldn’t think of anything else she could do to aide in her job search just then. She wasn’t tired however, sleeping in so late had really messed her body clock up, so she decided to settle down and watch some television until she got tired.
Flipping channels Leah groaned when she saw a commercial for Rhett’s law firm. It seemed as if everything was conspiring to make her think about him, she thought as his beautiful face stared at her from the screen. Turning the channel quickly she demanded that her heart stop racing; it didn’t listen.
As her mind dwelled on the previous night she realized she couldn’t avoid the situation any longer. No matter how hard she tried not to think about him, Rhett was on her mind. Turning off the television she replayed the scene in her mind; did some submissives enjoy rape scenarios, she wondered.
It didn’t seem possible to her that someone could actually derive pleasure from the thought of being attacked and raped. Then again, she realized, it was no surprise she couldn’t imagine people enjoying such activities, until she had met Rhett she hadn’t even considered the possibility of enjoying straight sex. Maybe women really did like that kind of thing, and she was just too naïve to consider it; after all, hadn’t she found herself enjoying things in the past week that she would never have even thought of before then.
Though she had only just turned it off Leah took up the laptop and switched it back on. As soon as it had powered up she Googled rape fantasies.
It didn’t surprise her all that much to discover that men often fantasized about rape, though they generally wanted the victim to become turned on so that it was no longer rape. What did flabbergast her was the discovery that many women enjoyed the fantasy; she discovered numerous mentions of it on websites that dealt with sexual and psychological matters, and even more mentions on forums about the lifestyle.
Leah couldn’t believe that women would fantasize about something that was so degrading. Even more unbelievable than them fantasizing about such a scenario were the stories of them going through with it.
After a moment she found herself laughing at her thoughts. She imagined a lot of women would find it degrading to have a guy spank them but she had enjoyed the experience; more than just enjoy it, she had been turned on by it.
While she was looking around she came across a list of the top ten fantasies by women. Curious she read through the list, wondering just what it was that women fantasized about. To her amazement, everything on the list was something she had done during the course of the previous week and more. One by one Rhett had taken her through every scenario that women fantasized about, but lacked the courage, or the opportunity, to experience.
Sitting back, the list on the screen before her, Leah found her mind wandering, wondering if she had simply overreacted massively the night before. What Rhett had done had freaked her out, that was for sure, it had been way beyond what she was ready to experience, a part of her wasn’t sure she would ever be ready for it, but how would Rhett have known that, given her reactions to the other scenarios he had introduced her to.
If she had been asked before the start of each new scenario she would almost certainly have expressed some level of horror at the thought of what Rhett had wanted her to do. Even when the scenarios began she was uncomfortable and unhappy with them, but each time she had found herself being turned on, and ultimately enjoying what she had done with Rhett, on some level.
How was Rhett to have known that she wouldn’t have enjoyed the rape scenario when she had enjoyed everything else?
He wasn’t an angel, by any means, she remembered clearly the occasions when he had gone into full Dominant mode, on those occasions he had actually scared her, but he wasn’t an unfeeling bastard either. The truth was, she thought, he had tried to expand her horizons, to awaken her sexuality and show her her true nature, and he had done that, at least in part.
How could she hate him when she had felt more alive since meeting him than she ever had before? She couldn’t, at least not completely.
Making up her mind she pushed the laptop aside and got to her feet. Nibbling her lip nervously she walked into her bedroom and picked up the iPhone.
“Leah.” Relief filled Rhett’s voice as he answered the phone, “I’m so glad you called me.” Seeing her number on the caller ID of his phone wa
s unexpected, but deeply pleasing. He’d been worried that she would never speak to him again, and the thought had destroyed him.
“I think we need to talk.” She spoke the words softly, her heart aching just from the sound of his voice as he uttered her name.
For the first time in the past day, since Leah had run out on him and he’d heard how she was reacting to his stupidity, he felt as if he could breathe. “I would like that very much,” he said, trying to keep a tight rein on the happiness he felt. “Where would you like to meet?” If it meant he could see her again, and have a chance to make amends for what he had done, he was prepared to do anything.
“Could we do it at your house, tomorrow night?” She wanted to see him right then; she wanted to get in her car and drive straight over there, but knew she had to get herself together and think about what she needed to say before she saw him.
“Would nine o’clock work for you?” He held his breath anxiously while he waited for her answer, terrified that she would change her mind now she was speaking to him. He also worried that if he said anything more than was absolutely necessary he would say something wrong and scare her away.
“That would be fine,” Leah told him, not sure what else to say. She hated the stiffness in her voice and her uncertainty, and wished things could go back to how they had been during the first few nights, before he had begun pushing her further than she was prepared to go. The trip, that was where it had all begun to go wrong, she thought; the trip had been wonderful, and terrible.
“I’m really sorry about last night,” Rhett apologized, desperate to keep the conversation going, to stop her hanging up, as he sensed she was about to do. He was terrified that he would say something wrong, but he was even more terrified that if she hung up the phone she would have the time to rethink her decision and not come. “I wish I could take back last night, take back everything I did to hurt you.”
“I’m sorry too.” What are you apologizing for? You did nothing wrong. A part of her mind, which she quickly shoved aside, said. “I should get some sleep,” she told him, feeling as though she was going to break down, or do or say something stupid, if she didn’t get off the phone.
“I don’t want to keep you up if you’re tired.” Despite his words Rhett didn’t want to end the call, he wanted to demand that she get in her car and drive straight over. He knew he couldn’t do that though, if he did he would lose her forever.
“Goodnight, Rhett,” she whispered softly.
“Goodnight, Leah.” He refused to hang up and waited until the line went dead on him before replacing the receiver. She’d agreed to meet with him, he thought, a smile stretching his lips, that was a start. Now he just needed to make sure when she came over she would never want to leave again.
It took hours after their conversation for Leah to finally fall asleep. She had no idea what would happen tomorrow night and wondered if she was crazy for wanting to meet with him.
Was she risking putting herself in danger? It was a possibility, and one she had to consider very seriously, despite the sincerity she’d heard in his voice when he said he was sorry. She was not ignorant of the chance she had agreed to take but she was desperate to see Rhett again, her heart beat fast just thinking that she was less than twenty four hours away from possibly being in his arms once more.
He had pushed her beyond everything she was comfortable with, and in the process he had changed her from an almost shy virginal young woman to a sexually adventurous lady. Everything about him confused, excited and terrified her; he pushed all her buttons, both the right ones, and the wrong ones.
It was insane for her to need someone as much as she needed Rhett, but at least when she was with him she felt something. Though she could barely remember the person she had been before meeting him, there was one thing she was sure of, she didn’t want to go back to being that person.
As sleep finally pulled her into its embrace Leah found her dreams consumed by Rhett.
He stood on a sandy white beach, waiting for her, his arms outstretched as rain lashed down and lightning split the sky. Ignoring the rain, which soaked her in just a few moments, she crossed the beach to where he waited. She hesitated just outside of his reach, uncertain, and then took the final step, allowing him to enfold her in his arms and pull her into an embrace.
Their relationship was like a summer storm, she thought in her dream, volatile and unpredictable. Anything could happen, but that was what made it so exciting.
24
TENTH NIGHT
“You know this is insanity, right?” Janie was furious with her friend; she couldn’t believe Leah was willing to put herself back in a situation that might well lead to her being hurt again, either physically or emotionally. Sitting at the kitchen island she looked over at her best friend as though she needed mental help.
“I know it seems that way to you, but I’m going to drive myself nuts if I don’t talk to him.” Her nerves were strung tight enough as it was, without Janie’s feelings on the subject piled on top of what was already a monumental decision for her.
“Dammit, Leah, it will get easier if you just give it time. There’s no need to throw yourself back on the fire when you barely escaped it last time!” Exasperated Janie threw her hands up and walked away. They had been talking in circles for the last twenty minutes, and nothing she had said had made a dent in her friend’s resolve. The expression on Leah’s face made it clear that her mind wasn’t going to be changed. “Do you really expect me to stand by and watch you destroy yourself over him?”
“I expect you to be my friend and accept that I can make my own choices and deal with the consequences!” She was getting pissed off. She’d told Janie what she planned, and had expected some kind of reaction, but she’d also expected her friend to support her.
“I’ll always be your friend, even when you’re being about as stupid as a person can be. I love you, Leah. But when he hurts you again, please remember that I did warn you.” Grabbing her purse Janie headed for the door; she had no desire to stand by and watch her friend fuck up her life, if she was going to through with it she would have to do so on her own.
Leah cringed as the front door slammed shut and she forced herself to take a few deep breaths to calm her nerves. The last thing she’d wanted was to make her best friend unhappy with her, but she had to make the decision for herself, and despite the valid points from Janie she was the one who had to live with the consequences.
The chime of the doorbell distracted her from her thoughts, to her intense relief; she didn’t have a clue how she was going to fix things with Janie, though she knew she would have to sooner or later.
Signing for the package she thanked the delivery guy and kicked the door closed behind him with her foot. The package was just over a foot square, and a reasonable weight, and she studied it curiously as she carried it into the kitchen. She tore the wrapping off the moment she was in the kitchen and then set the box on the island while she grabbed a knife.
With the sealing tape slit she opened the box, and found herself looking at a quantity of bubble wrap. Her curiosity increasing Leah lifted the item from the box and proceeded to remove the bubble wrap, which took her a while since there seemed to be a lot of it.
Finally she managed to uncover what Rhett had sent her. To her surprise she found herself looking at a marble chessboard. It was beautiful, she couldn’t deny that, but to say it was an unusual gift for her to receive was putting it mildly. She had never played the game in her life, and had never even spoken of the game with Rhett, which made her wonder why he had sent her the board.
Studying the board, which was about ten inches square and two inches deep, Leah noticed that a crack ran around the side of the board, just below the top. When she saw the pieces that should go with the board weren’t in the box she realized they must be within the chessboard.
Carefully she lifted the top of the board off to reveal a velvet lined interior, in which sat the thirty-two pieces of the set. Hal
f were carved from ivory, but she wasn’t sure what the black half of the set were made from. Running her fingers over the delicate objects she admired their beauty, she loved them, even though she had no idea what the pieces were called.
Almost afraid to actually touch the pieces Leah lifted an ivory horse from its recessed slot in the velvet cushion. Examining it closely she marveled at the level of detail in the carving. It didn’t seem possible that anyone could have made such a small figure so lifelike.
Replacing the horse she read the card that had come with the gift.
This game should have been where we started, sweet girl. In chess, when there is no move left to either escape or win the game it is called a checkmate. The person who is checked loses. I concede, Princess, checkmate. Truly, RH.
Leah wasn’t quite sure what Rhett meant by the message, it was cryptic and left her confused. She thought about calling him to find out the meaning but quickly stopped herself. What if checkmate meant he was surrendering, that he was going to let her go? She wasn’t sure she could deal with that, not when she’d found the courage to give him another chance.
In an effort to put such dismal thoughts from her mind Leah fetched her laptop and set it on the counter next to the chess set. Turning it on she settled on a stool and googled chess, figuring that she should at least find out the name of the various pieces, and where they went on the board, even if she didn’t have the slightest clue how to play.
Following the instructions on the site she found she set the board up, placing the thirty-two pieces so they matched the image on the laptop. Along the way she discovered their names. In the corners of the board sat the rooks, which looked like castles, while next to them went the horses, or knights as they were known. In the middle of the board’s back row went the King and Queen, who sat facing one another, while outside of them, next to the knights were the bishops. The last pieces that Leah set up, and the most numerous, were the pawns.
Erotica- 10 Nights Page 29
