Donna had taken more notes and photos than she would end up using, but she had no idea what Eric's reaction would be. So far, he'd struck her as a bit uptight. At that point in their relationship, the subject of sex had yet to be broached.
Eric's eyes were wide as he leafed through the photos she'd printed out for quick reference. He picked up a steno pad and started reading silently.
As he read, Donna sat beside him on the couch. "That's…research," she said.
Eric turned to her with a quizzical look. "For business or pleasure?"
Donna shrugged, hoping he wasn't as shockable as he appeared. "Both." When Eric gulped and laid the folder down on the coffee table, she continued, laying a hand gently on his arm. "I'm not going to lie to you, Eric. I always had…thoughts…about sex that didn't seem exactly the 'norm', at least in my family or dorm or job. I mean, it was okay, what I heard and saw, and experienced, even! Something just seemed to be missing. I always thought 'is this all?'" She took a deep breath, committed now.
"When I went to the club for the story, I discovered what it was that I'd missed. Not as the whole deal, not as a replacement for anything, but…supplemental. I think I would enjoy being restrained? Spanked? Teased in a variety of ways. And I think I would enjoy being on the other end of things, too. Dominating." Donna searched Eric's eyes for judgment or shock but found none. "So far, I've just been reading and talking and researching, visiting the club in an official capacity, but it is definitely something I'd like to explore personally. I know that much. And now you do, too."
Eric nodded. "I don't like talking about Jessica, you know, but there always seemed to be something lacking in our relationship. I couldn't put my finger on it, but it bothered me. I always felt that she wanted something I couldn't give her. And," Eric turned red, "I'm wondering now if she couldn't give me what I needed too. This…" He squirmed a little, obviously uncomfortable. "…I'm a little embarrassed at my reaction to a folder of notes and photos." He pulled a throw pillow into his lap to hide a sudden erection.
Donna leaned her head against his shoulder and pulled the pillow away. "No need to be embarrassed at all," she said softly. "May I show you something in the bedroom?"
As Eric walked through the bedroom door—he'd seen Donna exit the room several times—there was nothing to suggest anything other than a typical young working woman's bedroom—uncluttered, pastel coverlet and curtains, a photo of her family by the bed, perfume bottles on the dresser, and some plants to make it homey.
Behind him, Donna giggled. "Not this bedroom. The other one." She pulled his arm and led him to the second bedroom of the apartment. Eric had assumed she used it for guests or storage. As soon as the door swung open, however, he could tell it looked to have a much different purpose, and he said as much.
Donna hugged him tightly. "I've been shopping, preparing, practicing a bit at the club. But I've never used this room until tonight. I was waiting a long time for the right person, Eric. And this room has been waiting until the right time."
Eric's heart was pounding. "I don't know what to do, Donna," he said, his voice thick with a newly discovered hunger. "Will you teach me?"
The room was painted a deep red, with sound-absorbing, red velvet-covered squares of insulation. There were no windows. In the middle of the room, was a bed, higher than usual, covered only with a black sheet. A metal framework provided, Eric surmised, various angles at which to connect…ropes? Chains? Handcuffs? He had so many questions running through his mind, echoes of ideas that he'd overheard in locker rooms or viewed briefly as he'd surfed through the channels.
"Clothes off," Donna ordered and began undressing. As Eric began to obey, Donna stopped him. "Tonight, I'll be the sub. Submissive. You can get used to things."
Eric stood there, mouth open in amazement with his trousers unzipped as Donna slowly finished removing her clothes, stepped out of her panties, and unhooked her bra. She stood looking up at him, just beyond his reach. When he made to move forward, she held up a hand. "Not yet, Master."
Opening a small closet, she pulled out a satin-covered restraint, handcuffs and a riding crop. "You'll use the crop first, then the handcuffs." She walked to one end of the bed and bent down, her hands holding on to a horizontal bar. "Tie me with the restraint."
"You want me to enter you from behind?" He'd wanted to try that, but Jessica hadn't been enthusiastic.
"Not yet. Maybe later. I want you to whip me."
Eric was trembling as he stood there a moment, looking at the beautiful nude woman bent over before him. In a daze, he took the restraints from where Donna had hung them over the rail and tied her hands securely.
"Tighter," she whispered, moaning a little as he increased the tension.
It was all he could do not to "drop his drawers" as his mother would have said. Do not want to think about my mother right now! He wanted to take Donna so badly, he thought he would burst
