“Kneel,” she whispers in my ear, and a bolt of tingling desire rushes through my core.
A part of me shouts to resist, but I do what I am told to do.
So, I sink onto my knees. She guides me down with her hand.
I keep my eyes closed out of embarrassment. It is so silent in here that the walls transport the echo of her heightened breathing into my ears.
Her fingers grasp my chin.
“Look at me,” she says and pulls my head back up.
“I am not going to do anything other than kiss and you unless you explicitly tell me so.”
My mind doesn’t work. I nod, but I don’t quite comprehend what I am confirming. My core tingles in desirous waves.
“Eyes on the ground,” she says and releases my chin. “You will not move until I tell you to. Hands on your thighs, palms up.”
I do as told.
She walks around me, and her hands caress my shoulder, my neck, until the touch is lost. Her heels resound through the room with every step she takes. I am not allowed to look, so I listen to her every move, trying to figure out what she is up to.
“Tell me,” she says from further away. “What is your favourite book?”
“Nightwood,” I say without hesitation.
Steps.
A book taken from the shelf.
More steps, coming closer to me.
A heavy stool pulled screechingly over the floor.
My body is so tense.
I have no idea what will happen.
To my utmost astonishment, she starts reading to me. I can’t understand. Why would she have me sit here and read? My body is still awaiting something else, but it is simply her words that trail into my ears.
A beautiful reading voice.
But I can’t quite focus. My knees hurt, and it’s also cold; my body shivers slightly. It takes all my willpower not to shift, and it feels like I am breaking inside.
I need to move.
She keeps on reading.
Turned page after turned page.
It is when I am sure I can’t sit here for another second that I give up.
It feels like I am surrendering, and the moment I do, my body finally relaxes. The coldness is gone. The pain vanishes. I stop thinking about what might be and simply listen to her beautiful voice.
Word.
By word.
By word.
