The Stir of Echo

by Susan Gabriel

  "Look, Echo, I am not playing that buggery game, so don't even try. What is going on with you this morning?"

  Echo sighed and played with her food, pushing it around her plate, making annoying scraping noises with her fork. Several times she looked up at him and opened her mouth as if she were going to speak, but then would drop her head again. Now, turning a sugar packet over and over in her hand, she stammered.

  "It's just ... I thought ... I thought that last night you were going to ... oh, never mind. Forget about it."

  "Forget about it?” Flynn was at his wit's end. “I don't even bloody know what it is I am supposed to forget about! Spit it out, Echo. Last night I was going to ... what?"

  Echo flicked the sugar packet with her finger, punting it across the room. “Okay! Last night I thought you were finally going to make love to me."

  The spark had returned to her eyes and they now flared with indignant intensity. She crossed her arms over her chest, settling against the back of the chair with finality.

  "There I said it. But you didn't and I don't know why."

  Flynn inwardly cringed. So, that was it. He was afraid this would come up sooner or later. Of course she wanted him to make love to her, it only made sense. Hadn't he set the expectation for it to happen last night ... the dinner, the room?

  "I am beginning to think that you don't desire me. Don't you want me like I want you?” Her voice had taken on a childlike whine. Her eyes implored for an answer.

  "My God, of course I do.” Flynn reached across the table, reaching for her hand. She kept her arms folded resolutely over her chest and stared down at the eggs that were growing cold on her plate.

  She must think I am some sort of a freak or something, or worse—that I can't perform.

  Flynn lowered his voice to a soothing tone, “I have my reasons. It has nothing to do with how beautiful you are, or my desire for you. You have no idea how bloody hard it has been for me to hold back. My balls are turning blue. Last night, when you climaxed, I shot my wad all over my knickers."

  Echo chewed on her lower lip. “You did?"

  "Yes, and thank God that I did, otherwise my nuts would be swollen to the size of soccer balls."

  Echo turned her face to the side, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. “So exactly why didn't you make love to me?"

  How was he going to gracefully extricate himself from this interrogation? He could confess the whole truth, but she was already beside herself. He had made so many blunders since the start of this, he couldn't risk blurting, “Oh, hey, by the way, I'm not like you. In fact, I'm nearly another species entirely and I have this big dark secret that I've hidden from you, but go ahead now and enjoy your breakfast!” In the emotional state they were both in, it could easily escalate into a very ugly scene.

  Flynn pushed his chair out and patted his knee. “Come here. Sit."

  Reluctantly, she scooted her chair away from the table. Her face softened ever so slightly as she approached. Flynn stretched his arms out in invitation. Finally, she acquiesced, curling into his lap, her arms encircling his shoulders. He kissed her neck, and ran his hand over the silky skin of her breast. His cock tingled and grew turgid. Flynn placed Echo's hand over his burgeoning bulge. “See how much I want you?"

  Echo's hand gripped his penis through his clothing, stroking its length. “As much as I want you?” she murmured.

  "More.” He taunted. This woman is a handful. She has the sexual appetite of a mink. No matter what I give her, it isn't enough.

  "Please, Master,” she coaxed. “May I please suck your big, thick cock? Just one taste and I promise I will stop—if you want me to."

  Flynn considered the possibility. He considered pushing his prick between her moist, plump lips. He imagined her teasing tongue lapping at his swollen, aching head. He envisioned bending her over the large, springy bed and pounding his battering ram into her wet, willing pussy.

  Flynn entrapped Echo's hand, removing it from his crotch, and raised it to his lips. Kissing the back of her hand, he declined. “Not this time, lass. The thing is ... I'm a bit embarrassed to admit ... I thought I had everything planned out so well, but in my haste I forgot to bring condoms.” At least that was partially true. “I tried to do the best with the equipment I had at my disposal."

  Finally, her face brightened and she beamed a smile in his direction. The tension drained from her shoulders and she hugged her arms tightly around him. “I thought we covered that way back on the night we discussed jumping into this. Remember, after dinner I told you that I was on birth control and we both attested to having clean bills of health?"

  Damnation, she had a good memory. “I must have forgotten ... force of habit, I suppose.” In truth, he wasn't in the habit of using a condom at all. How fortunate his world was, where mating occurred without the threat of disease and death.

  Echo was smiling again and all was right with the world ... almost. Flynn's stomach balled into a tight fist when he thought about his necessary deception. She deserved to know the whole truth, and Flynn resolved to tell her at the next opportunity.

  A germ of a plan began to take root in his mind. What if the next time they were together, he provided her with an inkling of things to come? A drop or two on her tongue and certainly she would become aware that something was decidedly different about him. Not enough to effect any permanent changes in her physiology, but enough for her to begin to question him. With that small bit of proof, he might be able to convince her that he truly was what he said he was.

  "Flynn, are you still with me?” Echo's fingers were snapping in front of his nose, rousing him from his rumination.

  "I'm with you, baby ... always.” Flynn patted her bottom. “Now finish your breakfast like a good girl. Get washed and dressed and then I am taking you home."

  * * * *

  Flynn saw Echo safely into the house. The boxes, they had abandoned days before still sat in the foyer.

  "May I check my phone messages?” Echo petitioned.

  "Of course,” Flynn replied offhandedly. “I'm going to take a few of these boxes upstairs for you. I feel like a right git leaving them for you to lift."

  Echo excused herself and walked towards the kitchen. Flynn hoisted the box marked “Bedroom” onto his shoulder and trudged up the stairs to Echo's room. When he dropped the box to the floor, his leg bumped the computer desk. The screensaver dissolved and an Instant Message conversation, left over from the day before, appeared.

  Flynn spied his name repeated in the lines of the message. She had been talking about him to someone!

  Flynn quickly scanned the conversation: Blah, blah, blah, Flynn ... blah, blah, blah, Master ... blah, blah, blah...

  He'd seen enough to know that he had to know more. Quickly hitting the print button, he peeled off the pages as they came from the printer one by one and stuffed them into his pants.

  "Echo,” he called dashing down the stairs, “I have something I just remembered that I have to do. I'll call you."

  From the kitchen he heard her sing out a cheery, “Okay, see you later."

  The door rattled behind him as he left.

  * * * *

  Ensconced in the turret room, Flynn pulled the crumpled pages from his pants and sat down to examine them, his hands shaking as he read.

  Chi-town Cutie: Hey, you're back on-line! Howya doing girlfriend?

  BravoEchoTango: Couldn't be better. How's my best girl?

  Chi-town Cutie: Missing you and our ladies night out. How's the new town? Meet anyone interesting?

  BravoEchoTango: As a matter of fact, I have ... a scrumptious neighbor named Flynn.

  Chi-town Cutie: Details! Details!

  BravoEchoTango: Number one, he's single, Number two, he's a gorgeous hunk of Irish masculinity. Number three, he's interested in me and I am interested in him in a big way.

  Chi-town Cutie: Well that was super fast! So have you....?

  BravoEchoTango: Sort of. It's very, very scandalously sexual between
us ... but no actual “doing it” yet. It's a “different” sort of relationship.

  Chi-town Cutie: Different? How different?

  BravoEchoTango: Don't freak out when I tell you this, but Flynn and I are in what is called a Dominant/Submissive relationship.

  Chi-town Cutie: He wants you to dominate him?

  BravoEchoTango: The other way around. He dominates me ... he's my master, and I love it.

  Chi-Town Cutie: You're kidding me, right? You let this guy boss you around and tell you what to do? I can hardly believe that, Echo. How can you stand for it?

  BravoEchoTango: It's not like that. Yeah, he tells me what to do, as a matter of fact, I am not entirely sure I am supposed to be talking to you right now, but he does it because he knows it turns me on.

  Flynn looked up from the pages, narrowing his eyes. His hand absentmindedly rubbed the hint of whiskers on his chin. Not entirely sure? Hadn't he had made it clear in his instructions that she wasn't to talk to anyone about their relationship? He was certain he had mentioned that. So was she picking and choosing what instructions she would follow?

  The last thing he needed right now was one of her girlfriends snooping into his life, asking Echo questions about him that she hadn't yet thought of herself. What's his background ... what's his family like ... all the little details he'd been able to steer clear of so far.

  Flynn paced tight, worried circles as he read.

  Chi-town Cutie: So you get off on it?

  BravoEchoTango: Oh yeah! I know it sounds strange, but it has always been a turn-on for me ... just never found anyone for the job. LOL.

  Chi-town Cutie: So what kind of stuff does he make you do?

  BravoEchoTango: Flynn doesn't “make” me do anything. Everything he tells me to do, I want to do. It only looks like he is in control. I have all the power, really.

  Flynn paused for a moment in consideration. Is that how she sees me ... as a puppet who is fooled into thinking that I am acting on my own, while the whole time she is secretly pulling my strings? She did hold a great deal of the power, and they both knew it ... but all of the power? Now he felt like the one that was submissive ... playacting just for her benefit. The thought was emasculating. He could almost feel his penis shrink in shame.

  Chi-town Cutie: If you say so. But my mom used to tell me every time I thought I had a man whipped, “Delores,” (she used to call me Delores when she was scolding me, don't ask me why), “Someday you are going to run into a man that you can't wrap around your finger!” BravoEchoTango: Wait! She did NOT say that! Didi, just the other day I heard a woman's voice saying, “This is not a man you can wrap around your finger, Delores.” OMG I can't believe what you just told me. Do you think it was your mother talking to me? Chi-town Cutie: It sure sounds like it could have been. BTW, have you told your handsome hunk about your special “gift"? BravoEchoTango: Not yet. I'm afraid to run him off, I guess. Believe me, this one I don't want to run off! Didi, I am really falling for him ... hard.

  This part Flynn could identify with. He kept strange secrets of his own. Besides, he was already acquainted with her “gift” ... intimately.

  Chi-town Cutie: Oh, Echo, please, please promise me you'll be careful!

  BravoEchoTango: I will. I should get going. Flynn wants me to shower precisely at six ... sounds like he has a big night planned.

  Chi-town Cutie: Whatever you're into, I guess. Please be careful. I'll talk to you soon. Luv ya!

  BravoEchoTango: Luv ya back! And don't worry, I have things under control.

  Flynn re-read the last line. I have things under control. It felt like a direct hit to his male ego ... these two women chitchatting about him and Echo bragging that she basically had him pussy whipped. Well maybe she did and maybe she didn't. Perhaps it was time to put his balls into this and find out who the real Master was in their relationship!

  Unleashing the Animal Within

  The sharp jangle of the telephone jolted Echo from her reverie. She placed her hand to her heart with a gasp.

  "Oh, shit, that scared me!” she panted out loud.

  Echo placed the phone to her ear. “Hel..."

  "I'm dying to see you, sweetie,” Flynn's familiar voice purred from the receiver. Echo's face brightened. He had left so abruptly, without as much as a kiss goodbye. “You are?” “I have a little gift for you.” “You do? What is it?” Echo greedily fantasized about what type of gift he had bought for her.

  "Don't ask or you won't get your present,” interrupted Flynn. “Now be a good girl, and come to my place tonight at nine sharp. Don't be late, lass."

  She had never been invited to Flynn's house before. She had assumed that he was a bachelor and that his house was probably in a constant state of disarray. For all she knew, he slept on a futon under a moth-eaten army blanket. Echo didn't know if she was looking forward to seeing him as much as she was looking forward to getting a glimpse of his house.

  "Nine? That's good. I can be there.” She confirmed.

  "I'll be waiting. Don't be late. Oh, be sure and take a nice hot shower and a nap. I want you rested and fresh."

  Before she could reply, the sound of a dial tone buzzed in her ear. Flynn was perhaps the most spontaneous person she had ever encountered. Everything happened on the spur of the moment with him, or so it seemed. Could it all just be a calculated effort to keep her off guard? Whatever it was, he was clearly in the driver's seat and she was along for the ride.

  * * * *

  Echo groggily lifted her head from the couch cushion. Darkness surrounded her. What time is it? She wondered lazily. She knew it was past eight because she could see the moon suspended high in the night sky. Then she remembered that she was supposed to be at Flynn's house at nine. She turned on the lamp to look at her watch.

  "Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!” She cried, jumping off the couch and scurrying up the stairs to her bedroom. “Oh, damn it I'm late! He said nine, freaking nine, and now I've slept until nine twenty!"

  Echo slipped on her shoes, brushed her teeth, tamed her wild hair and dashed down the street.

  Standing nervously on the open porch, trying to catch her breath, she pressed her finger to the doorbell. The door flew open; Flynn appeared larger than life, filling the space of the doorframe. He reminded her of her father who used to wait up for the sound of her car crunching up the driveway when she was a teenager.

  "You're late,” he said plainly.

  Echo slid past him into the foyer. The tone of his voice caused her stomach to bottom out with guilt. She secretly wished that she could shrink herself to size of a mouse, so that she could scuttle past him unnoticed.

  Echo tried to act nonchalant. She surveyed his house for the first time. The rooms that she could view from the foyer were brimming with fine antiques and luxurious furnishings. Not a single item appeared out of place. Very nice digs for a bachelor, she thought.

  She felt his stare shooting daggers into her back. She had better offer an explanation for her tardiness.

  "I'm sorry I'm late. I overslept and I rushed right over as soon as I realized what time it was."

  "Liar” Flynn retorted. “You took time to put on your shoes and brush your teeth and check your hair before you came over. I don't like a liar and I am not fond of being kept waiting."

  Echo's mouth dropped open in astonishment. She couldn't believe her ears. “What did you just say? I know you didn't just call me a liar.” Flynn raised his eyebrows in a challenging expression, as if to indicate “if the shoe fits..."

  Why was he calling her names and why was he so pissed off? And how did he know...

  "How did you ... never mind. I said I was sorry.” She reached a finger to stroke his cheek, but then thought better of it. His expression remained unflinchingly stern. She had been so excited to see him again ... had thought about him every minute of the day. His displeasure stung and as much as her knee-jerk reaction was to tell him to go fuck himself, she knew that she really didn't mean it. How would she h
ave felt if the shoe was on the other foot? If he had kept her waiting, without so much as a phone call, she would have probably called him a selfish inconsiderate cocksucker. She dropped her eyes in thought and as she did, she spied the distinct bulge of an erection beneath his trousers.

  Then it dawned on her—he was playing a game. Alright, she thought, I'll submit.

  "I'm afraid that your tardiness has earned you a stern punishment.” Flynn's thick brogue rolled from his mouth like honey.

  "A punishment?” Echo wasn't certain that she liked the sound of that.

  "Now, lass,” his voice softer now, “what should the appropriate chastisement be for a naughty girl such as yourself?"

  The first thought to enter Echo's head was, I can think of a few things that might be fun. Like why don't you force me go

  down on you? But she bit her tongue and held back the sharp comment. Instead she just batted her eyes and shrugged her shoulders.

  Flynn began to slowly circle Echo as he had done the night before, stalking her. He paced menacingly round her, his hand gliding along her waist.

  "I had been thinking on that exact subject when the doorbell rang. In fact, I had been thinking on that exact subject for twenty-seven full minutes. And here's how I decided that we shall proceed."

  Echo didn't want to be reprimanded for looking at him, so she lowered her gaze to the floor, watching his shoes stop directly in front of her.

  "Since,” he paused, “this is not your first infraction, I think a brisk.... “Cupping her chin, Flynn leered at her with a look of conviction. “...spanking will do."

  Flynn observed the startled expression on Echo's face. Ah-ha! Gotcha! He rejoiced. We'll see what your friend in Chicago thinks of that!

  "A ... what ... a spanking?” Echo sputtered. “Even my parents never spanked me!"

  "Perhaps they should have.” He replied coolly. “You continue to defy me at every turn, Echo. You signed on for this, and it's a system of reward and punishment."

  "But a spanking? Can't you just sit me in the corner or something?” Echo gestured wildly and stomped her feet. “Or how about detention? Have me write ‘I will not be tardy’ a hundred times."