An Invitation: Alayna's Training

by Jennifer Cole

  She hadn't seen him in over a week, since the day she'd run into him in the hall. Perhaps he was disappointed in her and uninterested because her training wasn't going well. Despite seeing the glimmer of interest in his eyes when he looked at her, his tone of voice and avoidance of her proved the contrary. She knew there was more to the Dominant/submissive lifestyle than she'd learned through her research, but if she couldn't get herself past her inability to climax, she would never have the opportunity to experience the rest. She'd been so certain that she had what it took to be a submissive worthy of Logan's attentions. But with each passing day, the possibility that she didn't was looking more and more like the case.

  A rumbling in her belly reminded Alayna she'd missed lunch. Setting her book aside, she walked across the suite toward the door. Lunch at the mansion was usually something light, like soup or salad and sandwiches, and she knew she'd find something in the refrigerator.

  On her way down the hallway, she ran into Rick.

  “Hey, there's a movie on pay-per-view I've wanted to see. Wanna watch it with me?” he asked.

  “Hmm, is it some dumb guy movie? The kind where shit gets blown up and people get shot?”

  Rick nodded. “Well yeah. Is there any other kind?”

  Alayna rubbed her hands together. “Perfect. I'm up for a little violence.”

  They collected the lunch leftovers and drinks from the kitchen and made their way to a large room in the back of the mansion set up as a home theatre. Besides the kitchen, it was the only room not adorned with antiques. A fifty-two-inch plasma television hung on one wall, and several recliners were placed around the room for optimum viewing.

  Alayna welcomed the distraction. She'd been spending too much time thinking about Logan. Maybe that was the reason she had so much difficulty with her training. The ass was wreaking havoc on her mental state, as well as her libido. She needed to find a happy medium before he pushed her over the edge.

  The movie Rick chose finished just before dinner. As usual, Shendah prepared a wonderful meal. Alayna enjoyed the reprieve from life and her worries watching a movie with Rick provided, so she suggested they take in another following dinner.

  When the second movie ended, she stretched. “That was great. And I think I'm ready to call it a night.” Alayna stood and collected their glasses and dessert dishes. “I think I'm going to take a hot bath and go to bed.”

  It was still early, but she was tired. Tired of her own failure, frustrated with Logan's indifference, and fed up with the day. The constant disappointment in herself had given her a headache.

  “I'll walk you to your room,” Rick offered.

  “Okay, but you don't need to.”

  “There's something I'd like to discuss,” Rick added.

  Back in the kitchen they cleaned their dishes and put them away before Rick escorted her to her room.

  “I'd like to start a trust-building exercise, Alayna,” he said as they walked down the hall.

  “All right. How so?”

  “This morning Dane and I were speaking, and I think it would be beneficial to your training to try sensory deprivation.”

  The prospect of being deprived of her senses sent alarm racing through her. She didn't understand how that would make things better.

  “For instance, if I took away your sight, you would be dependent on me to ensure your safety. Hence, you would be placing your trust in me.”

  His explanation made sense.

  “One of our obstacles is trust. There isn't any between us.”

  “That's not true,” she argued. “I trust you.”

  “As a friend, yes. But as a master, you don't. In order for us to break through the barrier where you keep your trust so carefully guarded, I think this would be an excellent exercise for us to start with.”

  In silence she mulled it over as they continued through the house. When she failed to offer a comment either way, Rick went on.

  “We'll start off slow, a short period of time. We'll do it in your suite where you are comfortable so you get a feel for what I'm talking about. How's that sound?”

  Alayna nodded. “Okay. I'm willing to give it a try.”

  Arriving at her room, Rick opened the door and urged her inside. As they crossed the room, she spied a blindfold on the edge of the bed, and she grew nervous.

  “I agree with Dane that you put too much pressure on yourself and therefore have trouble reaching orgasm. The blindfold serves two purposes. The first is by my placing it on you, you are putting trust in me to see to your safety and comforts. Trust between us is important; we aren't going to be able to accomplish anything if we don't have trust.”

  “All right, I get that part.”

  “The second is by depriving you of sight, you will need to tune into your other senses. Smell, sound, touch, and taste. By focusing on those senses, I believe your arousal will heighten and you will reach climax easier.”

  In theory it sounded logical, but she wasn't so sure it would work in practical purposes. The truth was she didn't think it would work for her.

  “Trust me?” he asked with a grin.

  “We've established that, more or less,” she admitted, returning his smile.

  “I'll take it. I want you to remove your shirt and jeans.”

  As she reached for the hem of her T-shirt, her belly fluttered with nervous energy. Her reaction was ridiculous. She was here to study about the lifestyle that Logan Abram found fulfilling. This was part of it. Besides, Rick had seen her naked. He'd been between her legs. He'd used sex toys on her. Any modesty she'd had when she arrived at the mansion was long gone.

  Alayna wasn't convinced this approach would help, but she swallowed her pride, pulled her T-shirt over her head, and dropped it on the bed. She blew out a breath and reached for the button and zipper of her jeans and undid them. Over her hips and down her legs, she pushed her pants to the floor and stepped out. She knelt to pick them up, then added them to the discarded shirt.

  Warmth hit her cheeks as she pulled herself upright in front of Rick.

  “You are a beautiful woman, Alayna.” His smile brought a smile to her lips too.

  He collected the black fabric blindfold from the bed and held it up for her to see. It was thick and plush, covered in soft silk. A wide elastic band attached at each side would hold it in place around her head. He gripped the band with one hand and the front of the blindfold with the other. He slid it over her head, plunging her into a world of darkness. For several moments she was disoriented. Once he was satisfied with its placement, his hands vanished.

  “Now,” he said in a soft voice. “I want you to sit on the edge of the bed. I'm going to go and run that bath you were looking for.”

  She half expected him to help her to the mattress, but when he didn't, she bent and reached around for the bed. It took a moment for her to recall it was to her right. When her hand made contact, she turned and sat down.

  “While I'm gone, I want you to listen to the sounds around you. Try to identify them. Think about how they make you feel. But whatever you do, the blindfold stays in place. Understand?”

  The last was said in an authoritative tone that she wasn't expecting from him. She nodded.

  “I need to hear you say it, Alayna.”

  “Yes. Yes, I understand.”

  “Good. Don't move. I'll be back for you when the bath is ready.”

  Alayna tuned into Rick's footsteps as he walked away. A moment later, the gush of running water carried to her ears. A breeze drifted through the open window, causing her to shiver as it caressed along her bare skin. The music of crickets in the garden outside her window competed with the rushing water from the bath. When Rick's hand slipped into hers, she jumped. She'd been so focused on the sounds around her that she hadn't heard his approach.

  “I'm sorry to startle you,” he said.

  She stood and allowed Rick to lead her to the bathroom. Inside he instructed her to remove her bra and panties. She did. Then he piled her ha
ir atop her head and pinned it in place. Whatever inhibitions she had possessed earlier dissipated. Taking her hand again, he led her to the tub and encouraged her to step over the side. A purr rumbled in her throat as her foot slipped below the water. It was hot—just the way she liked it.

  The blindfold threw her equilibrium off, and Alayna feared falling as she lowered herself into the deep tub. The hot water swirling around her felt like heaven. The tickle of bubbles danced on her skin as she settled against the back of the tub.

  “This is incredible,” she murmured. “I don't remember a bath ever feeling this good.”

  Rick allowed her several minutes to bask in the soothing water. Then he began to instruct her through her bath, directing her to soap the cloth and where to wash. She found his instruction very annoying; she wanted to lay back and enjoy until the water turned cold. But it was his exercise, so she decided to indulge him a little longer.

  The tension headache she'd developed earlier when contemplating Logan's actions began to ebb, yet he remained in the forefront of her mind. Why in the hell was she continuing to put herself through this? She was doing nothing more than setting herself up for disappointment. And it was pissing her off that she was permitting Logan to get under her skin. She was beginning to think he didn't deserve the efforts she was making to gain his attentions.

  After rinsing the bubbles from her body, Rick helped her from the tub and allowed her to dry herself. Still blind to her surroundings, she allowed him to lead her back into the bedroom and put her to bed. Her ire gained momentum as his actions made her feel as though she were a child. But as she settled against the pillow and he drew the blankets up and over her body, she snuggled in and silently forgave him.

  “The blindfold stays on, Alayna, all night. In the morning you may remove it and get ready for breakfast. Understand?”

  She stifled a yawn. Suddenly she was wiped. “Yes, I understand.”

  “Good night.”

  “Good night, Rick.”

  The click of the door signaled its closure.

  Physically she was exhausted, but it was more the emotional and mental overload that had sent her seeking bed early. Their last session had been by far the most exhausting on her emotionally. He'd pushed her hard to reach orgasm, wanting her to succeed as badly as she did. But she let them both down. Again. She still had yet to figure out where his hesitation stemmed from, but he appeared to be making an effort to strengthen the trust between them. Why couldn't she meet him halfway and climax? Though he displayed no outward signs of being frustrated with her abilities, or lack thereof, she suspected his patience was wearing thin.

  Feeling the tug of sleep, Alayna decided she'd figure out whether or not she belonged at the mansion in the morning.

  * * *

  As he had every night since her arrival in his home, Logan sat in his suite and watched Alayna sleep. Nights of doing nothing more than watching her. Between his sheets, she tossed and turned restlessly. The past few days had been especially hard on her. Rick had been giving an incredible effort, despite the restrictions Logan had posed on him, but Alayna still failed to reach climax.

  Rising to his feet, Logan crossed the room to stand beside the bed. His regret at his interference in her training had continued to grow over the last several days. He knew he could bring her a peaceful night's sleep. He was confident his nearly twenty years of hands-on practice in the lifestyle provided him the patience and mental tools to succeed where Rick had failed. In the relaxed state of slumber, Alayna's mind would be open and accepting to allow her body the release she struggled toward. For his responsibility in the difficulty she experienced during her training sessions, he owed her that much. She'd never need to know he'd helped her.

  The windows were open, allowing the cool night air to drift in. The temperature in the room would be comfortable for sleeping naked, covered with just a sheet. The moonlight shining through the window illuminated her bare shoulders, telling him Alayna had done just that. He smiled.

  Logan dropped to one knee beside the bed.

  Alayna lay on her back, her face turned away from him, with one arm bent above her head on the pillow, the other outstretched across the mattress. The satin top sheet lay between her parted legs and barely covered her breasts.

  “I'll help you with what you need, Alayna,” he whispered. “But just this once.”

  Logan tensed when she turned her head toward him. The evenness of her breathing indicated she was still asleep; his voice hadn't disturbed her. He gave a silent thanks to Rick for implementing the blindfold. Every night when Logan watched her sleep, he feared Alayna might wake and find him lurking in the shadows. Tonight he'd let what would happen, happen. If she stirred, he'd do his best to convince her he was Rick attempting a new strategy in her training.

  “Now nice and slow, bring your left arm down and slide it under the silky sheet,” he continued in a quiet voice. Patiently he waited, simply enjoying watching her sleep. After a few minutes her arm moved.

  “Good girl,” he said. “Now, stroke your hand over your soft belly down to that sweet spot needing relief.” Moonlight bathed the room in a mellow glow, and through the dimness he watched the sheet move as her hand settled between her legs.

  “Concentrate on the sound of my voice, Alayna.”

  A sound mimicking a purr rumbled from her chest.

  “Slip your long, slender middle finger between the plump lips of your pussy. You're wet, Alayna, very wet. For me.”

  Logan closed his eyes and imagined the sheet no longer hid her from his view and he could watch the length of her finger disappear. Against the now snug confines of his jeans, his cock strained. Opening his eyes, he exhaled a breath and brought himself back to a semblance of control.

  “I want you to slide your finger inside your body, Alayna. I want it slick with your sweet cream.” The sheet moved as her hand worked against her mound. A wisp of a gasp slipped past her lips. “Stroke in and out, baby. Make yourself even wetter for me.”

  Alayna's breathing picked up slightly in tempo. The sheet between her legs continued to dance before his eyes.

  “Now I want you to withdraw your finger and caress that swollen clit of yours. And it is swollen, Alayna, and aching to be touched. Gentle pressure, soft circles—it doesn't need to be complicated. Just feel. Rub that sensitive kernel for me.”

  Silent moments passed; the only sound in the room was her labored breathing.

  “I want you to caress a little bit harder, and faster, baby…but only a bit.”

  The sheet between her legs moved as her strokes gained momentum, sliding lower to expose the pale globes of her breasts. Their darker-colored tips stood erect. Logan ached to lean over and drag his tongue across the stiffened peak, to taste her. Though he'd already crossed the line by coming to his suite each night to watch her sleep, he knew that actually touching her, tasting her flesh, would push him past the point of no return. Once her flavor touched his tongue, there would be no stopping him from claiming her.

  “Feel the fire in your belly, baby. Climax is within reach.”

  Her breasts heaved as she drew ragged breath after ragged breath into her lungs. The perspiration coating her flesh glistened in the moonlight. Wet sounds of her fingers rubbing against the dampness of her pussy sent a pulse through Logan's body. Not once since Rick had begun training her had she been moist, no matter how intensely he worked to help her orgasm.

  Yet in a matter of moments, if not seconds, she was drenched for Logan.

  “You're so close, Alayna.”

  A soft mewl slipped past her lips as her hips undulated against her hand. From side to side her head turned as her arousal escalated. Her feminine scent wafted from under the sheet to taunt his senses. Logan inhaled deeply, savoring her unique fragrance.

  “You can feel it, baby,” he encouraged. “There's no holding back. I want you to come for me.”

  For the first time in close to twenty years, he fought for control of his body as he w
atched the woman in his bed climb toward release. He rubbed his hand along the hard length of his cock where it pressed painfully against the front of his jeans.

  “Logan,” she whimpered in a sleep-laden voice.

  Logan went rigid at the sound of his name from her lips.

  A moan rumbled from deep in her chest. Alayna's back arched off the bed, and she stiffened. Her body trembled. With the aid of the moonlight shining through the window, Logan could see the whites of her teeth biting into her lower lip. The harsh panting of her breath kept time with his. The erect tips of her nipples stood proud, beckoning the rasp of his tongue.

  Several tense moments passed. Frozen in place, Logan watched for signs that Alayna's climax had awakened her. Only when her back once again settled against the mattress and the rough breaths she had expelled while climaxing turned into the deep breathing of slumber did Logan allow himself to exhale the breath he'd been holding.

  A contented sigh slipped past her lips as she turned onto her side, facing away from him.

  The fragrance of her spent passion scented the air around them. He inhaled and savored it. Soft sounds as her breathing grew shallow and even assured him she'd fallen deeper into sleep.

  The sight of her lying in his bed, sated, made his body yearn to be buried deep inside her. He needed to be close to her, to touch her. Needed to inhale the intoxicating scent of her skin after climax.

  After pulling the silk sheet and comforter up over her sexy, sleeping body, he gently settled himself atop the down comforter and draped his arm over her. With caution, so as not to disturb her, he buried his nose in her hair and inhaled deeply.

  Heaven.

  Christ, he groaned in silence. For months he'd ached to have this woman in his arms, and now here she was.

  A soft feminine whimper escaped her lips as she pressed her back more firmly against his chest. Instinct made him tighten his grip around her midriff. The thickness of his comforter did little to keep the heat of her sensual curves from seeping through and singeing his skin.

  Holding her and not acting on it any more than he already had would be a testament to his willpower. Once he allowed himself this one night, he could assure himself his control was intact.