miserable it was to be in
love and lust with man who wanted to remain an enigma to her.
She wondered if the doorman was a
shifter, but it didn’t seem appropriate to ask. She stepped inside, and he did
not follow.
“He’s not in?” she said.
“I don’t know, Miss. I only do as
I’m told.” He gave her an envelope. “He told me to give you this. Good night,
Miss.”
He bowed and went back the way he
came.
She closed the door after him, and
then glanced at the envelope. It was tiger embossed – the same with the
rest. She was torn between wanting to rip it open and exploring the penthouse
ahead. Everything was lighted up with a soft golden glow, and the hallway was
richly decorated with lamps and collected curios on half-moon tables. At the
end of the passageway was the glimpse of an inviting lounge.
But what if he had a task for
her, and he was watching her from somewhere to see what she would do?
It was ridiculous to be on
tenterhooks for a man – to be so in thrall with him that she was afraid
that one false step would lead to the end of their so-called relationship. And
yet here she was – mired in the murk of her own making.
She tore the envelope open and
read the note:
‘DARLING KATE’.
( He called me darling! she
thought.)
YOU HAVE BEEN A VERY GOOD GIRL SO
FAR. NOW GO TO THE THIRD ROOM ON YOUR LEFT. FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS THERE.
RUST.’
Third room on her left.
She walked and counted three
closed doors before pausing at the third. It was a door like any other, and she
didn’t think his bedroom would be downstairs. This was a penthouse, wasn’t it?
Penthouses tended to have two floors.
She tested the doorknob. It was
in the shape of a club. She wondered if that had any significance. Still, it
turned and allowed the door to open noiselessly.
Kate’s mouth dried when she saw
what was in the room.
6
The room was nothing like any she
had ever seen.
The walls were completely covered
with mirrors, and so was the ceiling. Chains dangled from the ceiling, along
with cuffs and straps and hooks. It was a bondage chamber – one where she
could see herself reflected many times over.
A single stool stood in the
middle of the room upon a white tiled floor. Upon it was a large silver
vibrator.
A message was written in red on
one of the mirrors:
YOU HAVE MADE IT SO FAR, DARLING
KATE!
NOW TAKE OFF ALL YOUR CLOTHES. I
WANT TO SEE YOU PLEASURE YOURSELF WITH THE VIBRATOR.
RUST.’
Pleasure herself with the
vibrator? Was he watching from behind the mirrors then? She envisioned him
behind the two-way mirror, like the ones in a police interrogation room,
watching her. Or else, he wasn’t there, but a camera recorded her every move
and transmitted them to his covetous eyes.
The thought of that was
salacious. She would be the performer for his private viewing.
She began to shed her little
black dress, and then her black brassiere – the one she had worn to tempt
him – and her shoes and stockings. Since she knew he would be watching
– either live or in recorded time – she made her movements slow and
deliberate. Teaser. Temptress . Two words she would not have used to
describe herself a month ago.
Once she was completely naked,
she went to the stool and took the vibrator. Where would he be seated? She
instinctively faced the mirror panel with the red message. He used red ink. She
narrowed her eyes. No, on second glance, he used lipstick. Lipstick on a
mirror. Was that a psychological message? Where did he get that lipstick? Whose
was it?
Her demons were threatening to
overwhelm her again, and she suppressed them. Put a lid on them and clammed it
up. This was a special day for both of them. Her first viewing of his
apartment. She shouldn’t muck it up with imaginary fears and petty jealousies.
After all, he never promised her a rose garden.
She seated herself on the stool,
facing the lipstick mirror.
Are you watching me, Rust? Do
you desire me, even