And I did.

But I could feel my whole body shaking as he slipped my mask off… over my hair, and let it fall to the floor.

We’ll never see each other again, I told myself, feeling the shivering sensation move deeper into my core. He doesn’t know my name… he only knows me… My body, my needs, how it excites me when he binds my wrists….

“So beautiful…,” he breathed, taking my face between his huge hands. “So delicate… so strong…” He lifted the satin binding, pulling my arms up over my head, and backed me to the wall with his body. Chest to breasts, belly to belly, hips to hips… his cock pushed into my belly as he moved forward. When my back hit the wall, he smiled and slipped the end of the satin sash through an iron ring above my head. His cock, still tied off at its base, was now threateningly huge… But he took his time, as if his own release was the last thing that concerned him, as if the pleasure could last for hours.

He tied thin, soft ribbons around my nipples until they were swollen and hard, prominent and achingly sensitive. He worked me with his tongue, his teeth, his fingers… and a long slim vibrator he selected from a dozen choices. By the time he told me to let my arms carry my weight, I couldn’t stand any longer anyway. I was shaking with need. He picked up one of my legs by the ankle and pushed it high, alongside my body, until my whole sex was exposed. I could feel the satin tie on his cock, dangling between us as he thrust himself deep inside me…

Positioned like that, I was beyond tight. As tight as my first time, only wet and willing now. Just like the way it was with…

He hilted himself inside and groaned heavily into my neck. The ribbon he wore touched my clit when he moved, creating a silky friction that fast left the memories behind.

There’s only this man… this man…. This… I thought as his rhythm built. Faster and faster until I forgot he’d seen my face, no longer cared that he hadn’t even removed his own mask. It was enough that I knew his essence and he knew mine. By the time we both exploded in release, there was nothing but us…

He’d untied my wrists and finally taken me to bed. I remembered waking in the night… our need for each other pushing us to make the most of the little time we’d still had. My whole body was tender, thrumming inside… still aching and hungry for more… But by the time I woke up in the early morning hours, I was alone again. His clothes were gone… and the door to our private room firmly shut. I could hear faint stirrings from other guests downstairs…

I’d never know who he was, I’d never see him again. He’d gone back to his own life as suddenly as he’d come into mine. And I had my own life waiting, and a daughter to provide for.

I sighed and turned, feeling a deep, stinging loneliness inside.

“Are you sure that’s everything?” Jane asked, as I wiped my damp forehead.

“Everything but Vi,” I said, smiling wanly. The whole morning had been a numbing blur of activity, made worse by my getting home so late. Or so early, actually…

But we’d managed with Donna’s help, and because Mattie had started packing ahead of time. Such an organizer, that girl…

Violet was seated at the piano, playing for one last time, and I was pretty sure she understood we were saying goodbye to the only home she’d ever had. She was playing something by Brahms. It was slow, with a hint of sadness. But there were notes of brightness, too, almost like she knew that moving forward was a good thing. I listened, wishing more than anything that we didn’t have to leave the piano behind. But it belonged to the apartment, not to us. There wasn’t a choice.

“She gets it, doesn’t she?” Mattie asked, coming up behind me to listen, too.

“I think so. I just wish there was some way to know for sure.”

Mattie leaned the side of her head against mine. “It’s gonna be fine, Angie. You’ll see. Kids can adjust to anything, somehow. Maybe better than we can.

You’re doing the right thing. You’re the best mother I’ve ever seen. And we can always ride the ferry back to the city. Donna will let her use the piano at her school.”

“I know…,” I said, wishing I could feel as certain as she sounded. But change is harder for an autistic child, I thought. Even one with a talent as brilliant as Vi’s…

“So you’re ready?” Jane pushed her expensive sleeves up over her forearms. Great sportswear, designer clothes, but this girl was no slouch. She’d carried boxes, too… I nodded and smiled over at her.

“Just leave it all to me,” she said kindly. Her smile showed an endearing overbite and her brown eyes shined. “I’ll take care of the stuff. You just take care of Violet. We’re ahead of schedule and the boss already has the boat waiting at the dock. The guys and I will take care of all the unpacking, and you can get your daughter settled in with Mattie. I know you’d probably rather have the evening all to yourselves, but he’s already planned to meet you tonight.

Dining room in the main house… Seven sharp.”