The archives
Ok, so this is totally cheating, and I don't expect anyone to give me credit now for stuff I did a long time ago, but some of these tales have not been seen in present company and, I think, are read-worthy. While looking through the hard-drive for a particular story for a friend, I found lots of little treasures. If I broke the big things into bite-sized pieces, I think I could go a year without skipping a day or writing anything new--just posting piece after piece of the drivel of storied past. But I won't do that. I do plan to write more, indeed.
Still, I found the erotic tale in question for my dear friend, sent it on, and thought, "Why is this for him only? I like it, I shall post it."
So, here it is. Penn, you got 1st look, but if we're going to roll this ball in a fun direction, I think posting this is a good place to start. Dan, you may notice that you were inspirational in this tale, although the main character was completely fictional. Hey, I like to surround myself with friends, especially in my writing, but I can't do some things to friends. That's just a bit too weird. Just know that I was grafting you into my stories way back when, and that I love you too much to torture you, even on paper.
But I will torture you all with my rantings. That I can do.
Here we are. It's called Altering Edwin.
“You doing anything special this weekend?” Edwin asked, obviously steering the conversation.
“Of course, Ed. I plan to write a hit single, have it produced, and perform it at the Grammy’s like I do every weekend,” Dan answered sarcastically. “Why? Are you doing something special this weekend?”
“I’m taking Julie out.”
“So you’re not doing anything special either, then.”
“Shut up!” Edwin laughed, grabbing his worn Reebok from its pile on the floor and tossing it at Dan.
“Hey, what are you trying to do, kill me?” Dan laughed, dodging.
“It wouldn’t have hurt you that much. My feet aren’t as big as yours”
“Yeah, but that smell could be the leading cause of extinction in the modern world.”
“Well, at least Julie doesn’t seem to mind.” Edwin sat back, lacing his fingers behind his head.
“She touched your feet?” Dan asked, disgusted. “Either that girl is a masochist, or she’s setting you up for something.”
“She gave me a foot rub like nobody’s business last weekend,” Edwin continued, ignoring Dan’s comments. “And that was just the appetizer for the evening.”
“Are you now going to grace me with detailed descriptions of you in bed with your flavor-of-the-month? I’d really rather not hear about it.”
“Ah, you’re no fun,” Edwin whined. “You’re just jealous.”
“Let’s get something straight right now,” Dan answered quickly, all humor leaving his voice. “I am not jealous that you have someone to make up stories about. You know you’re full of shit, and I know you’re full of shit, so I don’t even know why we have these conversations. For all your innuendos, you and Julie have never slept together, have you?” Dan waited for an answer, but none came. “That’s what I thought.” Dan picked up his guitar and began to strum familiar chord progressions to break the silence.
“We haven’t been together that long. Just give me time,” Edwin said, trying to salvage his cool.
“No,” Dan answered, not looking up. “I don’t have to give you anything. You don’t have real relationships, Ed. If you ever had a girl you really loved, you wouldn’t drag her through the locker room by telling all your loser friends everything you two do. That’s why I don’t want to hear it. If you’re willing to tell it,” Dan looked up, locking Ed’s eyes, “then it wasn’t real anyway.”
Edwin sat silently for several minutes before picking up his guitar and strumming along. As in many good friendships, a few minutes later it was as if there had never been a disagreement, and Dan and Edwin played guitar until the small hours of the morning like always. This wasn’t the first time Dan had accused Edwin of having shallow relationships. Edwin never let it bother him much. He didn’t really care.
* * *
“Ooh. You’re naughtier than you let on,” Edwin said, allowing Julie to synch the handcuffs around his wrists. “You’ll have to be punished for this later on.”
“Are they too tight?” Julie asked, coyly. “I don’t want you to be able to pull out of them too easily, but I don’t want to hurt you, either.”
“I can take it.”
“So they hurt?” Julie asked, concerned.
“No, they’re fine,” Edwin answered quickly, struggling to lean in and kiss her before their conversation shattered the mood.
“Well, I wanted them to be a little tight,” Julie laughed, turning her head to remain maddeningly just out of his reach. “It’s no fun if they’re ‘fine.’ Pull on them for me. I want to see you try to get away.”
Edwin stood back and sighed, jiggling his wrists loosely to demonstrate the effectiveness of the ceiling bolts.
“Don’t just humor me, try to get out,” Julie laughed.
“I can’t get out, OK?” Edwin answered, irritation slipping into his voice.
Julie pouted dramatically. “You’re no fun. Maybe I should just leave you here to cool off.” She turned and walked a few steps towards the door, looking over her shoulder at Edwin’s reaction.
“No. Don’t leave me,” he answered quickly, trying to soften his tone. “I’m sorry I was ruining your fun. I’m just impatient to get back to what we started. God, I want you, you know that?”
“I know,” Julie answered, walking over to run her fingernails lightly over his bare chest. “So you really can’t get out?”
“I really can’t get out.”
“And this is really driving you nuts?”
“Absolutely.”
Julie suddenly stepped back, her smile and her girlish charm lost. “Good.” She walked briskly to the door and opened it, revealing a beautiful woman standing in the hallway.
The woman walked in gracefully, examining all aspects of the scene and stopping before the captive Edwin. “He’s not bad. You think he’s teachable?”
“Isn’t everyone?” Julie asked.
The woman smiled coldly and stared at Edwin. “Eventually.”
Edwin had only known Julie for about a month, and with his wrists firmly chained to the ceiling, he was willing to bet that he didn’t know Julie at all. All he really knew was that he wanted her. Sure she was beautiful, with her soft brown hair bouncing around her blue eyes and dancing across her white shoulders without ever touching them. She had a great figure, which all but fell out of the corset she had donned for the occasion. Although she was in her mid twenties, there was a certain child-like cuteness she never managed to grow out of, accenting her petite frame nicely. She was the type of woman a man could protect without being too frail to enjoy, but Edwin had known beauty before. There was something about Julie that he couldn’t resist, no matter what she asked of him, and despite the crisp turn in her demeanor, that something was still there.
The woman sauntered over to a wardrobe in the corner of the room. When she opened the doors, Edwin could see various harnesses, straps, paddles, and other as yet unidentified items that were usually exiled to the darkest corners of pornography and adult toy stores. For the first time in his adult life, Edwin felt a twinge of real fear, and he pulled at the handcuffs with more vigor than before.
Julie laughed. “Why couldn’t you do that when I asked you to?”
“Julie, let me go. This isn’t any fun for me,” Edwin said strongly.
“Tisk Tisk,” Julie answered playfully. “No interest in broadening your horizons? Not even a little curious? You know this is the scariest part-the not-knowing. If you hang in there you’ll find you love it.”
Edwin faltered. “No, I . . . I don’t think so. I think I’d like to get out.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that. You didn’t sound so sure to me.” Julie kissed and nibbled Edwin’s ear, dragging her tongue lightly down his neck where she kissed him deeply before whispering against his skin, “You wanted to get back to what we started, didn’t you?”
Edwin moaned as Julie let her fingers walk down his chest and over his rather plain underwear, which seemed to be shrinking all too suddenly. Remembering himself, he looked over towards the woman in the corner. “Who’s she?”
Julie looked lovingly at the woman, who was still busy organizing the tools at her disposal. “That’s my mother.”
The woman appeared to be younger than Julie by at least five years, and was dressed in a light blue sundress that revealed every curve of her unspoiled body when backlit. She had never born children, much less a child Julie’s age. The woman’s blonde hair was loosely curled and pulled back into a ponytail. Although she should have carried with her an air of youth, she seemed somehow far more powerful than her frame would suggest, and there was a certainty in her actions that came only with years of experience. The woman looked up from her work, a smile flashing across her amber eyes, and walked over to join the conversation.
“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Dianine. Most people call me Diane. You may call me Goddess. As a matter of fact, you may call us both Goddess. I want to clarify your role in our anniversary for you. First off, what’s your name?”
“Edwin,” he answered, tentatively.
“Wrong.” Dianine wielded a riding crop with a speed that seemed inhuman, and she delivered three rapid lashes to Edwin’s exposed thighs. “To begin with, the untrained answer should have been ‘Edwin, Goddess.’ With training, the answer would have been, ‘Whatever you wish it to be, Goddess.’ For our anniversary, you have no name. That is what I want to discuss with you, and I don’t want to be interrupted. I find gags incredibly tedious and I don’t want to bother with one if I can avoid it. From this point forward, I expect to hear nothing from your lips other than the unintelligible noises of pain and pleasure. You are a plaything, and if you cooperate, you will enjoy the game immensely. If not, you will not be allowed to spoil our celebration.”
Dianine turned towards Julie and gently squeezed her hand. Julie melted into her arms, kissing her passionately before Dianine pulled away. “In time, Juliet,” she whispered, then turned her attention to her captive. “I make you these promises, Plaything. If you cooperate, you will feel as you have never felt in your life. At the end of this week, you will be weak and exhausted, but the sheer memory of the time we shared will be enough to soil your trousers in pleasure. You will not be killed, and although there will be pain, you will not be hurt in a lasting way. A week or two after we have gone, you will bare no physical evidence of our games, but you will be fundamentally changed in a way that will fill your dreams until the day you die. Look to us with anticipation, yes, but not fear.” She smiled warmly. “We will make a man out of you this week.”
“A week? But I-”
Three more lashes were delivered with lightening speed and sharpshooter accuracy, landing exactly where the others had been given. Edwin jerked forward and yelped at the sting. “Need I remind you of the rules already?” Dianine asked.
“You have nothing better to do, Edwin. I’ve known you for a month now and other than hanging out with friends and writing songs no one else ever hears, you don’t do anything. In a week, tell the guys you were busy and all will be forgiven.” Julie leaned forward and toyed with Edwin’s shorts again. “Besides, it’s not like you have a choice.” She tore hard and fast, leaving Edwin completely naked and his underwear in several pieces before he knew what was happening.
Dianine and Julie began kissing again, their hands wandering over each other’s bodies. “Shall we start with pleasure or pain?” Julie asked her partner.
Dianine smiled revealing small white teeth that slowly enlarged to become animalistic pointed fangs. “Actually, I thought we’d start with a snack.”
* * *
Edwin felt unbelievably strong. For all the exertion, he should have been exhausted. He hadn’t been given more than fifteen minutes at a time to rest, and he’d had only four breaks total since they began two days before. Well, three-and-a-half breaks, anyway. Julie had come back early that last time.
Edwin had noticed almost immediately that the room seemed to sparkle with energy. The dim lighting hadn’t changed, but his eyes must have adjusted quickly, because every subtle shadow and color were more distinct and detailed than any room he could remember being in, day or night. Speaking of night, Edwin wasn’t sure what time it was. Even if he could see a clock, he would have no idea if the time it showed was AM or PM. It didn’t matter. Julie had been right-he definitely didn’t have anything more interesting than this in his life.
Just as time had faded into a blurry, unnecessary concept, the details of his week-so-far were impossible to recall. He vaguely remembered the girls spending time together, embracing and kissing in front of him. They were chewing on a red scarf? He couldn’t quite remember why. He knew they had been biting one another playfully, but he couldn’t bring the images into focus. It didn’t matter. There were more pressing issues at hand.
At the moment, he was wearing a sensory deprivation mask. It was well-padded and dreadfully hot, eliminating all light and sound so the wearer could turn his attention to the sense of touch without distraction. He was standing on his platform with his arms still in chains above his head, but the pain in his shoulders had long-since been forgotten. All he could think or feel was the incredible sting and joy of his present circumstance. Julie and Dianine were dragging something cold and sharp against his skin, then licking the scratch in a wonderful contrast of hot against cold. With both of them playing at once, Edwin was never certain where the next touch would be, whether it would sting, actually hurt, or just seem to pinch. Always it was followed with their warm breath and moist tongues.
Suddenly, he was alone. He strained to hear or see anything through the mask, but it was no use. His meager struggles to locate his two lovers must have caused them displeasure. In an instant he was turned around, his arms now crossed and his masked eyes turned towards the brick wall usually behind him. The paddle fell hard and fast, and although his lovers could not hear him, Edwin knew they could see him writhe. For what seemed like an eternity, the paddle continued to fall, leaving a searing sting on his bare skin and a child-like submission in his demeanor. After the one-hundredth swat, Edwin spun around on his chains and stood before his lovers, who quickly removed his mask.
“Just so you know, Plaything, you did not displease us,” Dianine said calmly.
“Quite the contrary. We enjoyed spanking you very much,” Julie laughed.
Dianine remained professional. “Juliet is correct, Plaything. We spanked you not as discipline, but simply because we wanted to.” She removed her leather gloves-when had she put those on?-and continued, “but you have paid your penance, and now you shall be Rewarded.”
While Julie sank to her knees with a devilish grin to give Edwin his Reward, Dianine turned her back and grabbed a goblet off of the table behind them. In a moment, she was pouring warm red wine into Edwin’s slack mouth. No, not wine exactly, but something like it. Edwin lapped at the liquid hungrily, briefly amazed that he was actually distracted by the delicious drink. Not that his Reward wasn’t amazing-it was as if his skin had a life of its own, and every lick and nibble sent chills down the spine of a thousand tiny men all clamoring to be heard in their cries of ecstasy. His Reward was more than he could have hoped for, but this delicious drink managed to satiate his hunger while giving him a need like he had never known. Since they began, all he had been given to eat or drink was the warm red wine, and yet he didn’t feel hungry or thirsty. The delicious drink made him feel like he had eaten a three-course dinner, slept for eight hours and run a marathon, all in the same ten seconds. The sex was wonderful, but that wine. . . by the end of the week, he fully intended to be an alcoholic.
Edwin began to tremble uncontrollably as his pleasure brought with it the inevitable end that he formerly considered the goal of such activity. Juliet bit down, causing him to scream before Dianine could cover his lips with hers. The agony lasted only a few seconds, and was replaced by a warm relaxation-a draining sensation that carried with it a slight tingle. Edwin couldn’t help but smile. Girlfriends with sharp teeth were the stuff of nightmares and bad movies. Julie had managed to turn the unthinkable into something beautiful. As he let his head roll back on his shoulders, the girls gently caressed every inch of his flesh. His eyes fluttered closed, and in the combination of pain and pleasure, he lost consciousness.
* * *
Edwin awoke in his apartment. The clock on the VCR read 7:12, and judging by the dimness in the room, he supposed it was evening. He blinked several times, and then reached for the remote control on the coffee table. As he tried to move, he couldn’t help but scream. He didn’t know how long he had been asleep on his couch, but it had been long enough for his overworked muscles to tighten into a rock-hard sculpture of what had been a rather sedentary musician. There was only one muscle that had not hardened, and Edwin guessed it would be some time before he could get that particular muscle to harden again. Like the rest of him, however, his one soft muscle throbbed and ached.
With effort, Edwin managed to turn on the evening news. They seemed to think it was Thursday, but that didn’t seem possible. He had gone to see Julie on Saturday night. Although he didn’t remember leaving, he couldn’t have stayed with her for five days.
He slowly stood up, whimpering, and shuffled toward the kitchen. For a one-bedroom apartment, it seemed rather spacious, especially since Julie redecorated it for him the week before. Two weeks before? It didn’t really matter. It didn’t even look like his place anymore. At the moment, the refrigerator seemed at least three miles away, and the Asian folding screen Julie had insisted on using as a room divider didn’t help matters. If he could at least see the kitchen table, his goal might appear achievable.
His mind kept flashing to his lost time. The color red? There was another person there, he thought. A riding crop? Split-second images of Julie’s nude body coupled with the sound of rattling chains made his head hurt, and he tried to banish the thoughts until they promised to come back in a more cohesive order.
After several pained minutes of struggling, Edwin managed to round the corner, bringing the kitchen table into view. There, neatly piled on top, were twelve newspapers and at least a week-and-a-half worth of mail, separated into the two usual piles-bills and junk mail. In the center of the table, a Thank You card sat perched over a wine glass. Juliet’s near-perfect calligraphy greeted him:
Plaything-
We had such a lovely time with you that one week was simply not enough. We won’t be seeing you again, although we’re certain you will be seeing us each time you close your eyes for quite a while. Enjoy your life. We hope your time with us has left you with more than just bruises.
-J. and D.
P.S. Here’s “One for the Road.” We hope it’s still warm.
For a moment, Edwin was angry. He wasn’t sure what was going on, but it sounded as though his girlfriend had come into his life, redecorated, joined a cult, kidnapped him, beat him and ran away. Somehow, that didn’t seem like acceptable behavior in a relationship. Then his eyes fell on the glass of red wine. Immediately, all rage was forgotten, and he fell onto the glass with agility he never would have expected. He rushed the glass to his lips, careful not to spill any of the delicious drink, and hungrily guzzled.
His eyes fluttered, and in an instant, he was back in the dimly lit room, his arms chained over his head. He drank wine poured over Julie’s breasts, he licked wine from her neck and arms, he drank from a goblet, although he couldn’t clearly see who was holding it. As the last few drops fell from the upturned glass onto his reaching tongue, vivid details of his ordeal explained every sore muscle, welt and bruise. Back in his kitchen, he put the glass down on the counter and nearly sprinted to the bathroom with the wine’s vitality, his clothes shed before the door was closed behind him. The steamy shower brought life to every muscle, and all but one of them relaxed. As the memories flooded his mind, Edwin reached for the new life in his body and let his hand continue what Julie’s image had started.
He wasn’t angry. He couldn’t be angry. He had been changed. Like his apartment, he was the same, but he no longer belonged to himself. Her touch had left a lasting impression. He loved Julie, and if ever she wanted to use him again, he would be there, volunteering to whimper, moan, and scream at her instruction, gladly shedding his name to worship the object of his new religion.
His Secret. His Goddess.
* * *
Juliet lay in her Queen-sized satin pillow, letting the pink fabric fluff around her face. She was still flushed, and after days without sleep, the cresting sunrise weighted heavily on her eyelids. She couldn’t see it through the thick walls of her basement suite, but its presence could be felt at dawn each day, wherever she happened to be.
Dianine turned down the flame in the hurricane lamp and joined her lover, sliding between the sheets with an otherworldly grace. She kissed Juliet briefly, then fell into the pillow beside her, moaning gently.
“Do you really have to leave tonight?” Juliet asked, pouting sleepily.
“Yes, I do,” Dianine answered, smiling. “We’ve taken longer than planned already and I have to get back to London. The Society doesn’t govern itself. You know that.”
“I know,” Juliet sighed. “Every year, our time together seems to fly by, and every year you have to leave me. Can’t you just stay here? Couldn’t they elect another representative?”
“Yes they could, and they would. But you don’t really want me to do that, do you.”
Juliet closed her eyes. “No.”
“You could come with me,” Dianine offered, shifting to her side to look at Juliet’s peaceful face. “I could make you my assistant. Ever consider a career in politics?”
Juliet opened her eyes and smiled. “I could no more leave my position here to become a political assistant than you could leave London to stay here and study fashion design.”
Dianine rolled to her back and they both stared toward the stone ceiling for a moment. “We have this conversation every year.”
“I know,” Juliet mused. “But it will be just as fun next year if we go our separate ways between.”
“That was fun, wasn’t it,” Dianine said, shivering slightly. “Where did you find him?”
“The guitar store. You’d be amazed how many young men spend most of their evenings playing instruments they don’t have the money to buy, hoping to meet other musicians without jobs doing the same thing.”
“He was delicious. You made an excellent choice.” Dianine smiled, “but not as good as mine.”
Juliet pouted. “You can chose our Toy next year, then.”
Dianine covered Juliet’s pout with a passionate kiss. “No, my darling childe. I made the better choice because I chose you.”
“Thank you,” Juliet answered, tears collecting in the corners of her eyes. “Thank you for giving me the Gift.”
“You were most deserving, and are still most welcome.” Dianine gave her lover one final kiss before rolling off and settling down for a good day’s sleep. “Happy Anniversary, Juliet.”
“Happy Anniversary, Mother. Dream of our Plaything from the Guitar store.”
“No, my dear,” Dianine mused. “I will dream of our week next year.”
Still, I found the erotic tale in question for my dear friend, sent it on, and thought, "Why is this for him only? I like it, I shall post it."
So, here it is. Penn, you got 1st look, but if we're going to roll this ball in a fun direction, I think posting this is a good place to start. Dan, you may notice that you were inspirational in this tale, although the main character was completely fictional. Hey, I like to surround myself with friends, especially in my writing, but I can't do some things to friends. That's just a bit too weird. Just know that I was grafting you into my stories way back when, and that I love you too much to torture you, even on paper.
But I will torture you all with my rantings. That I can do.
Here we are. It's called Altering Edwin.
“You doing anything special this weekend?” Edwin asked, obviously steering the conversation.
“Of course, Ed. I plan to write a hit single, have it produced, and perform it at the Grammy’s like I do every weekend,” Dan answered sarcastically. “Why? Are you doing something special this weekend?”
“I’m taking Julie out.”
“So you’re not doing anything special either, then.”
“Shut up!” Edwin laughed, grabbing his worn Reebok from its pile on the floor and tossing it at Dan.
“Hey, what are you trying to do, kill me?” Dan laughed, dodging.
“It wouldn’t have hurt you that much. My feet aren’t as big as yours”
“Yeah, but that smell could be the leading cause of extinction in the modern world.”
“Well, at least Julie doesn’t seem to mind.” Edwin sat back, lacing his fingers behind his head.
“She touched your feet?” Dan asked, disgusted. “Either that girl is a masochist, or she’s setting you up for something.”
“She gave me a foot rub like nobody’s business last weekend,” Edwin continued, ignoring Dan’s comments. “And that was just the appetizer for the evening.”
“Are you now going to grace me with detailed descriptions of you in bed with your flavor-of-the-month? I’d really rather not hear about it.”
“Ah, you’re no fun,” Edwin whined. “You’re just jealous.”
“Let’s get something straight right now,” Dan answered quickly, all humor leaving his voice. “I am not jealous that you have someone to make up stories about. You know you’re full of shit, and I know you’re full of shit, so I don’t even know why we have these conversations. For all your innuendos, you and Julie have never slept together, have you?” Dan waited for an answer, but none came. “That’s what I thought.” Dan picked up his guitar and began to strum familiar chord progressions to break the silence.
“We haven’t been together that long. Just give me time,” Edwin said, trying to salvage his cool.
“No,” Dan answered, not looking up. “I don’t have to give you anything. You don’t have real relationships, Ed. If you ever had a girl you really loved, you wouldn’t drag her through the locker room by telling all your loser friends everything you two do. That’s why I don’t want to hear it. If you’re willing to tell it,” Dan looked up, locking Ed’s eyes, “then it wasn’t real anyway.”
Edwin sat silently for several minutes before picking up his guitar and strumming along. As in many good friendships, a few minutes later it was as if there had never been a disagreement, and Dan and Edwin played guitar until the small hours of the morning like always. This wasn’t the first time Dan had accused Edwin of having shallow relationships. Edwin never let it bother him much. He didn’t really care.
* * *
“Ooh. You’re naughtier than you let on,” Edwin said, allowing Julie to synch the handcuffs around his wrists. “You’ll have to be punished for this later on.”
“Are they too tight?” Julie asked, coyly. “I don’t want you to be able to pull out of them too easily, but I don’t want to hurt you, either.”
“I can take it.”
“So they hurt?” Julie asked, concerned.
“No, they’re fine,” Edwin answered quickly, struggling to lean in and kiss her before their conversation shattered the mood.
“Well, I wanted them to be a little tight,” Julie laughed, turning her head to remain maddeningly just out of his reach. “It’s no fun if they’re ‘fine.’ Pull on them for me. I want to see you try to get away.”
Edwin stood back and sighed, jiggling his wrists loosely to demonstrate the effectiveness of the ceiling bolts.
“Don’t just humor me, try to get out,” Julie laughed.
“I can’t get out, OK?” Edwin answered, irritation slipping into his voice.
Julie pouted dramatically. “You’re no fun. Maybe I should just leave you here to cool off.” She turned and walked a few steps towards the door, looking over her shoulder at Edwin’s reaction.
“No. Don’t leave me,” he answered quickly, trying to soften his tone. “I’m sorry I was ruining your fun. I’m just impatient to get back to what we started. God, I want you, you know that?”
“I know,” Julie answered, walking over to run her fingernails lightly over his bare chest. “So you really can’t get out?”
“I really can’t get out.”
“And this is really driving you nuts?”
“Absolutely.”
Julie suddenly stepped back, her smile and her girlish charm lost. “Good.” She walked briskly to the door and opened it, revealing a beautiful woman standing in the hallway.
The woman walked in gracefully, examining all aspects of the scene and stopping before the captive Edwin. “He’s not bad. You think he’s teachable?”
“Isn’t everyone?” Julie asked.
The woman smiled coldly and stared at Edwin. “Eventually.”
Edwin had only known Julie for about a month, and with his wrists firmly chained to the ceiling, he was willing to bet that he didn’t know Julie at all. All he really knew was that he wanted her. Sure she was beautiful, with her soft brown hair bouncing around her blue eyes and dancing across her white shoulders without ever touching them. She had a great figure, which all but fell out of the corset she had donned for the occasion. Although she was in her mid twenties, there was a certain child-like cuteness she never managed to grow out of, accenting her petite frame nicely. She was the type of woman a man could protect without being too frail to enjoy, but Edwin had known beauty before. There was something about Julie that he couldn’t resist, no matter what she asked of him, and despite the crisp turn in her demeanor, that something was still there.
The woman sauntered over to a wardrobe in the corner of the room. When she opened the doors, Edwin could see various harnesses, straps, paddles, and other as yet unidentified items that were usually exiled to the darkest corners of pornography and adult toy stores. For the first time in his adult life, Edwin felt a twinge of real fear, and he pulled at the handcuffs with more vigor than before.
Julie laughed. “Why couldn’t you do that when I asked you to?”
“Julie, let me go. This isn’t any fun for me,” Edwin said strongly.
“Tisk Tisk,” Julie answered playfully. “No interest in broadening your horizons? Not even a little curious? You know this is the scariest part-the not-knowing. If you hang in there you’ll find you love it.”
Edwin faltered. “No, I . . . I don’t think so. I think I’d like to get out.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that. You didn’t sound so sure to me.” Julie kissed and nibbled Edwin’s ear, dragging her tongue lightly down his neck where she kissed him deeply before whispering against his skin, “You wanted to get back to what we started, didn’t you?”
Edwin moaned as Julie let her fingers walk down his chest and over his rather plain underwear, which seemed to be shrinking all too suddenly. Remembering himself, he looked over towards the woman in the corner. “Who’s she?”
Julie looked lovingly at the woman, who was still busy organizing the tools at her disposal. “That’s my mother.”
The woman appeared to be younger than Julie by at least five years, and was dressed in a light blue sundress that revealed every curve of her unspoiled body when backlit. She had never born children, much less a child Julie’s age. The woman’s blonde hair was loosely curled and pulled back into a ponytail. Although she should have carried with her an air of youth, she seemed somehow far more powerful than her frame would suggest, and there was a certainty in her actions that came only with years of experience. The woman looked up from her work, a smile flashing across her amber eyes, and walked over to join the conversation.
“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Dianine. Most people call me Diane. You may call me Goddess. As a matter of fact, you may call us both Goddess. I want to clarify your role in our anniversary for you. First off, what’s your name?”
“Edwin,” he answered, tentatively.
“Wrong.” Dianine wielded a riding crop with a speed that seemed inhuman, and she delivered three rapid lashes to Edwin’s exposed thighs. “To begin with, the untrained answer should have been ‘Edwin, Goddess.’ With training, the answer would have been, ‘Whatever you wish it to be, Goddess.’ For our anniversary, you have no name. That is what I want to discuss with you, and I don’t want to be interrupted. I find gags incredibly tedious and I don’t want to bother with one if I can avoid it. From this point forward, I expect to hear nothing from your lips other than the unintelligible noises of pain and pleasure. You are a plaything, and if you cooperate, you will enjoy the game immensely. If not, you will not be allowed to spoil our celebration.”
Dianine turned towards Julie and gently squeezed her hand. Julie melted into her arms, kissing her passionately before Dianine pulled away. “In time, Juliet,” she whispered, then turned her attention to her captive. “I make you these promises, Plaything. If you cooperate, you will feel as you have never felt in your life. At the end of this week, you will be weak and exhausted, but the sheer memory of the time we shared will be enough to soil your trousers in pleasure. You will not be killed, and although there will be pain, you will not be hurt in a lasting way. A week or two after we have gone, you will bare no physical evidence of our games, but you will be fundamentally changed in a way that will fill your dreams until the day you die. Look to us with anticipation, yes, but not fear.” She smiled warmly. “We will make a man out of you this week.”
“A week? But I-”
Three more lashes were delivered with lightening speed and sharpshooter accuracy, landing exactly where the others had been given. Edwin jerked forward and yelped at the sting. “Need I remind you of the rules already?” Dianine asked.
“You have nothing better to do, Edwin. I’ve known you for a month now and other than hanging out with friends and writing songs no one else ever hears, you don’t do anything. In a week, tell the guys you were busy and all will be forgiven.” Julie leaned forward and toyed with Edwin’s shorts again. “Besides, it’s not like you have a choice.” She tore hard and fast, leaving Edwin completely naked and his underwear in several pieces before he knew what was happening.
Dianine and Julie began kissing again, their hands wandering over each other’s bodies. “Shall we start with pleasure or pain?” Julie asked her partner.
Dianine smiled revealing small white teeth that slowly enlarged to become animalistic pointed fangs. “Actually, I thought we’d start with a snack.”
* * *
Edwin felt unbelievably strong. For all the exertion, he should have been exhausted. He hadn’t been given more than fifteen minutes at a time to rest, and he’d had only four breaks total since they began two days before. Well, three-and-a-half breaks, anyway. Julie had come back early that last time.
Edwin had noticed almost immediately that the room seemed to sparkle with energy. The dim lighting hadn’t changed, but his eyes must have adjusted quickly, because every subtle shadow and color were more distinct and detailed than any room he could remember being in, day or night. Speaking of night, Edwin wasn’t sure what time it was. Even if he could see a clock, he would have no idea if the time it showed was AM or PM. It didn’t matter. Julie had been right-he definitely didn’t have anything more interesting than this in his life.
Just as time had faded into a blurry, unnecessary concept, the details of his week-so-far were impossible to recall. He vaguely remembered the girls spending time together, embracing and kissing in front of him. They were chewing on a red scarf? He couldn’t quite remember why. He knew they had been biting one another playfully, but he couldn’t bring the images into focus. It didn’t matter. There were more pressing issues at hand.
At the moment, he was wearing a sensory deprivation mask. It was well-padded and dreadfully hot, eliminating all light and sound so the wearer could turn his attention to the sense of touch without distraction. He was standing on his platform with his arms still in chains above his head, but the pain in his shoulders had long-since been forgotten. All he could think or feel was the incredible sting and joy of his present circumstance. Julie and Dianine were dragging something cold and sharp against his skin, then licking the scratch in a wonderful contrast of hot against cold. With both of them playing at once, Edwin was never certain where the next touch would be, whether it would sting, actually hurt, or just seem to pinch. Always it was followed with their warm breath and moist tongues.
Suddenly, he was alone. He strained to hear or see anything through the mask, but it was no use. His meager struggles to locate his two lovers must have caused them displeasure. In an instant he was turned around, his arms now crossed and his masked eyes turned towards the brick wall usually behind him. The paddle fell hard and fast, and although his lovers could not hear him, Edwin knew they could see him writhe. For what seemed like an eternity, the paddle continued to fall, leaving a searing sting on his bare skin and a child-like submission in his demeanor. After the one-hundredth swat, Edwin spun around on his chains and stood before his lovers, who quickly removed his mask.
“Just so you know, Plaything, you did not displease us,” Dianine said calmly.
“Quite the contrary. We enjoyed spanking you very much,” Julie laughed.
Dianine remained professional. “Juliet is correct, Plaything. We spanked you not as discipline, but simply because we wanted to.” She removed her leather gloves-when had she put those on?-and continued, “but you have paid your penance, and now you shall be Rewarded.”
While Julie sank to her knees with a devilish grin to give Edwin his Reward, Dianine turned her back and grabbed a goblet off of the table behind them. In a moment, she was pouring warm red wine into Edwin’s slack mouth. No, not wine exactly, but something like it. Edwin lapped at the liquid hungrily, briefly amazed that he was actually distracted by the delicious drink. Not that his Reward wasn’t amazing-it was as if his skin had a life of its own, and every lick and nibble sent chills down the spine of a thousand tiny men all clamoring to be heard in their cries of ecstasy. His Reward was more than he could have hoped for, but this delicious drink managed to satiate his hunger while giving him a need like he had never known. Since they began, all he had been given to eat or drink was the warm red wine, and yet he didn’t feel hungry or thirsty. The delicious drink made him feel like he had eaten a three-course dinner, slept for eight hours and run a marathon, all in the same ten seconds. The sex was wonderful, but that wine. . . by the end of the week, he fully intended to be an alcoholic.
Edwin began to tremble uncontrollably as his pleasure brought with it the inevitable end that he formerly considered the goal of such activity. Juliet bit down, causing him to scream before Dianine could cover his lips with hers. The agony lasted only a few seconds, and was replaced by a warm relaxation-a draining sensation that carried with it a slight tingle. Edwin couldn’t help but smile. Girlfriends with sharp teeth were the stuff of nightmares and bad movies. Julie had managed to turn the unthinkable into something beautiful. As he let his head roll back on his shoulders, the girls gently caressed every inch of his flesh. His eyes fluttered closed, and in the combination of pain and pleasure, he lost consciousness.
* * *
Edwin awoke in his apartment. The clock on the VCR read 7:12, and judging by the dimness in the room, he supposed it was evening. He blinked several times, and then reached for the remote control on the coffee table. As he tried to move, he couldn’t help but scream. He didn’t know how long he had been asleep on his couch, but it had been long enough for his overworked muscles to tighten into a rock-hard sculpture of what had been a rather sedentary musician. There was only one muscle that had not hardened, and Edwin guessed it would be some time before he could get that particular muscle to harden again. Like the rest of him, however, his one soft muscle throbbed and ached.
With effort, Edwin managed to turn on the evening news. They seemed to think it was Thursday, but that didn’t seem possible. He had gone to see Julie on Saturday night. Although he didn’t remember leaving, he couldn’t have stayed with her for five days.
He slowly stood up, whimpering, and shuffled toward the kitchen. For a one-bedroom apartment, it seemed rather spacious, especially since Julie redecorated it for him the week before. Two weeks before? It didn’t really matter. It didn’t even look like his place anymore. At the moment, the refrigerator seemed at least three miles away, and the Asian folding screen Julie had insisted on using as a room divider didn’t help matters. If he could at least see the kitchen table, his goal might appear achievable.
His mind kept flashing to his lost time. The color red? There was another person there, he thought. A riding crop? Split-second images of Julie’s nude body coupled with the sound of rattling chains made his head hurt, and he tried to banish the thoughts until they promised to come back in a more cohesive order.
After several pained minutes of struggling, Edwin managed to round the corner, bringing the kitchen table into view. There, neatly piled on top, were twelve newspapers and at least a week-and-a-half worth of mail, separated into the two usual piles-bills and junk mail. In the center of the table, a Thank You card sat perched over a wine glass. Juliet’s near-perfect calligraphy greeted him:
Plaything-
We had such a lovely time with you that one week was simply not enough. We won’t be seeing you again, although we’re certain you will be seeing us each time you close your eyes for quite a while. Enjoy your life. We hope your time with us has left you with more than just bruises.
-J. and D.
P.S. Here’s “One for the Road.” We hope it’s still warm.
For a moment, Edwin was angry. He wasn’t sure what was going on, but it sounded as though his girlfriend had come into his life, redecorated, joined a cult, kidnapped him, beat him and ran away. Somehow, that didn’t seem like acceptable behavior in a relationship. Then his eyes fell on the glass of red wine. Immediately, all rage was forgotten, and he fell onto the glass with agility he never would have expected. He rushed the glass to his lips, careful not to spill any of the delicious drink, and hungrily guzzled.
His eyes fluttered, and in an instant, he was back in the dimly lit room, his arms chained over his head. He drank wine poured over Julie’s breasts, he licked wine from her neck and arms, he drank from a goblet, although he couldn’t clearly see who was holding it. As the last few drops fell from the upturned glass onto his reaching tongue, vivid details of his ordeal explained every sore muscle, welt and bruise. Back in his kitchen, he put the glass down on the counter and nearly sprinted to the bathroom with the wine’s vitality, his clothes shed before the door was closed behind him. The steamy shower brought life to every muscle, and all but one of them relaxed. As the memories flooded his mind, Edwin reached for the new life in his body and let his hand continue what Julie’s image had started.
He wasn’t angry. He couldn’t be angry. He had been changed. Like his apartment, he was the same, but he no longer belonged to himself. Her touch had left a lasting impression. He loved Julie, and if ever she wanted to use him again, he would be there, volunteering to whimper, moan, and scream at her instruction, gladly shedding his name to worship the object of his new religion.
His Secret. His Goddess.
* * *
Juliet lay in her Queen-sized satin pillow, letting the pink fabric fluff around her face. She was still flushed, and after days without sleep, the cresting sunrise weighted heavily on her eyelids. She couldn’t see it through the thick walls of her basement suite, but its presence could be felt at dawn each day, wherever she happened to be.
Dianine turned down the flame in the hurricane lamp and joined her lover, sliding between the sheets with an otherworldly grace. She kissed Juliet briefly, then fell into the pillow beside her, moaning gently.
“Do you really have to leave tonight?” Juliet asked, pouting sleepily.
“Yes, I do,” Dianine answered, smiling. “We’ve taken longer than planned already and I have to get back to London. The Society doesn’t govern itself. You know that.”
“I know,” Juliet sighed. “Every year, our time together seems to fly by, and every year you have to leave me. Can’t you just stay here? Couldn’t they elect another representative?”
“Yes they could, and they would. But you don’t really want me to do that, do you.”
Juliet closed her eyes. “No.”
“You could come with me,” Dianine offered, shifting to her side to look at Juliet’s peaceful face. “I could make you my assistant. Ever consider a career in politics?”
Juliet opened her eyes and smiled. “I could no more leave my position here to become a political assistant than you could leave London to stay here and study fashion design.”
Dianine rolled to her back and they both stared toward the stone ceiling for a moment. “We have this conversation every year.”
“I know,” Juliet mused. “But it will be just as fun next year if we go our separate ways between.”
“That was fun, wasn’t it,” Dianine said, shivering slightly. “Where did you find him?”
“The guitar store. You’d be amazed how many young men spend most of their evenings playing instruments they don’t have the money to buy, hoping to meet other musicians without jobs doing the same thing.”
“He was delicious. You made an excellent choice.” Dianine smiled, “but not as good as mine.”
Juliet pouted. “You can chose our Toy next year, then.”
Dianine covered Juliet’s pout with a passionate kiss. “No, my darling childe. I made the better choice because I chose you.”
“Thank you,” Juliet answered, tears collecting in the corners of her eyes. “Thank you for giving me the Gift.”
“You were most deserving, and are still most welcome.” Dianine gave her lover one final kiss before rolling off and settling down for a good day’s sleep. “Happy Anniversary, Juliet.”
“Happy Anniversary, Mother. Dream of our Plaything from the Guitar store.”
“No, my dear,” Dianine mused. “I will dream of our week next year.”