“ARE YOU SURE you don’t want to come out with me and the girls tonight?” Laurina repeated, gazing at me with such intensity that I could also feel her attempting to compel me to go. But I was impervious to her spell casting.
I felt a bit dejected and drained and the last thing I wanted was to go out dancing and get drunk, especially with my terrible track record.
“Once again, thank you, but I wouldn’t make good company tonight. I need a bit of downtime,” I shared from where I was perched on her bed. An hour ago she’d forced me from my room into hers to assist her with dress choices, which was pretty bizarre considering she hated my fashion sense, which really meant she wanted something else. I had cautiously been on tenterhooks waiting for that reason to make itself known.
“That’s exactly why you should get out . . .” Laurina began then stopped with frustration, I winced waiting for her to blow. “Wait!” she threw out. Yep, here it comes.
“Okay, fine, I knew there was no way I’d be able to convince you to come along in the mood you’re in,” Laurina admitted while crossing her arms. I wasn’t sure if that was her attempt to intimidate me but it was sort of working. “And, yes, I did have an ulterior motive. I know you’re hiding something from me and I want to know what it is,” Laurina burst out with hungry anticipation almost frothing at the mouth for juicy tidbits.
“I’m not hiding anything,” I lied. “Do you really think I’m going to go and visit a frat boy as soon as you leave? The only date I have tonight is with my bed,” I joked, trying to distract her.
“I knew it!! You’re seeing someone,” Laurina squealed.
“Um, that isn’t what I just said,” I replied with confusion.
“I read between the lines. That was woman speak for I’m not in a committed relationship; I’m seeing a man and it’s hot and heavy. Who is he? Do I know him? Does he go to Thorne?” Laurina interrogated.
I groaned internally. “Alright, so there might be a man but it’s complicated. There’s no love, no affection, nothing like you and Lukas,” I confessed.
“So, that just leaves sex in the equation,” Laurina interpreted with wide eyes and a massive grin on her face.
“We haven’t progressed anywhere near as far as that,” I laughed, rolling my eyes.
“Sounds like you’re frustrated with that. If he’s playing with you, play him right back, girl,” Laurina advised. “That’s how I got Lukas, I made him work for me, hell, I still do.”
“I don’t think that will work. He’s not a womanizer, he’s a man . . . everything he does is carefully thought out and planned. He’s devastating, so raw yet checked. If I do that, if I throw down the gauntlet and taunt him he’ll retaliate and I don’t think I’m ready for the form that will take. He scares me, but in the best way possible, do you know what I mean?” I asked in a confounded voice.
“No, not at all, but it sounds like he’s got you wrapped around his finger. All I’m saying is that you have to find a way to even out that power. No one person in a relationship should ever hold all the power and you’re letting him walk all over you. So work out a way to get yourself some power, comprende?” Laurina posed while putting on some mascara.
“Kind of. I don’t know. Maybe I’m playing with fire. He’s dangerous, maybe I should give him up before he hurts me,” I retorted with panic.
“Pfft, it sounds like to me you’re running scared and it’s not so much because you’re scared that he’ll hurt you but because you’re scared of the way he’s making you feel,” Laurina shook her head in mock admonishment. “I think it’s good, I think he’s good for you. Enjoy the fire and excitement. If he’s sticking around it’s because he wants you, so it’s not all one-sided,” Laurina said somewhat reassuringly.
It was two-sided but not in the way she thought. He was going to receive a future favor and I had no idea what he would ask from me.
“Now you seem to be the one making sense, and I’m the one who sounds insane. When did that happen?” I laughed, shaking off the seriousness of the conversation.
“Alright, I get the message, I’ll lay off, but I want updates, comprende?” Laurina said with her hand on her hip.
“Yes, I understand,” I responded with a smile, “Now, enough of the girl talk,” I said, swiping her purse from her bedside table and handing it to her as I pushed her outside her dorm room.
“Stop,” Laurina yelled out. I proceeded to push her, thinking she was prevaricating, but I realized her hesitancy had been for another reason as she collided with another person. I winced at the sound of two bodies crashing and landing ass down on the floor.
“Crap, sorry!” I yelled, immediately trying to fix the mess. I lent Laurina a hand up which she reluctantly took with a huff. I groaned as I saw the other victim, it was none other than Tomas. He was clutching a box for dear life.
“Sorry, Tomas, that was all my fault,” I cried in dismay, putting my hand out to help him up.
“You didn’t have to bowl me over. I’m already a victim to your charm, Miss Monsoon,” Tomas laughed, his twinkly eyes filled with amusement as he took my hand.
“How do you two know each other?” Laurina asked, quick to catch on while fixing up her dress.
I shot Tomas a let me handle this look. He bowed his head with a grin on his face.
“He’s the . . . the courier,” I burst out.
“Since when does a courier deliver a box at eleven at night?” Laurina asked with derision.
I looked at Tomas, sending him a say something signal.
“It’s a very exclusive service reserved only for those willing to pay an exorbitant price,” Tomas responded quickly.
“Someone like your mystery guy?” Laurina asked with a smug look on her face. “You didn’t say he was wealthy! And he’s sent you a large black box tied with a red ribbon, and there’s a massive red bow. He definitely likes you, he really, really likes you!” Laurina gushed embarrassingly.
Tomas’s face was composed but I bet deep down he wanted to laugh. He was just too much of a gentleman to do it in front of me, most likely he wanted save me from undying mortification.
“It’s probably just a box of chocolates,” I threw in, secretly wishing she wasn’t here so I could untie the bow and see for myself what it was. Hendrik’s whole keep-me-waiting routine was driving me crazy. I closed my hands to stop the compulsion to snatch the box unladylike—and very desperate-like.
“Oh, let me see!” Laurina cried, trying to grab the box from Tomas’s hands but he somehow evaded her attempts to seize it.
“I’m sorry, Miss but I have strict orders to deliver this to Miss Monsoon only,” Tomas urged as he dodged Laurina’s sideswipe.
“You wouldn’t want to cost him his job, would you?” I asked Laurina trying to lay the guilt on thickly.
“Like he would tell!” Laurina rebuffed in disbelief.
“I’m honest to a fault, Miss,” Tomas replied sadly.
“Okay, fine, put those puppy eyes away…they are seriously lethal,” Laurina muttered unhappily. “Besides, Emerson will tell me what’s inside later anyway.”
When I didn’t reply, Laurina sent me a killer look, eyes flashing dangerously. ‘Won’t you, Emerson?” She bit out through gritted teeth.
“Of course, definitely,” I lied. Hopefully she would get so drunk tonight that she wouldn’t remember anything about a box tomorrow morning.
“Good, I expect nothing less,” Laurina responded as if she hadn’t forced my confirmation from me, on threat of possible death. “And, Tomas, a little bit of advice…some corruption is good for the soul, embrace your dark side and you’ll have the ladies swooning at your feet,” Laurina winked.
Tomas’s mouth opened and closed in shock. I stepped in before she gave him a heart attack. “I’m sure Tomas will take that under advisement. Now shoo, you corrupter,” I chided gently.
Laurina blew him a kiss then strutted down the hall like she was walking the runway, leaving me and Tomas in the proverbial dust.
“Um, she’s very spirited, harmless really,” I said reassuringly to Tomas who was still at a loss for words. “Is that for me?” I prompted trying to stem the awkwardness.
“Yes, I apologize, Miss Monsoon,” Tomas uttered, handing the box to me.
“No apologies needed, Laurina is kinda mind blowing. What’s inside?” I asked with barely contained excitement.
“I never look at the contents of my delivery, Miss Monsoon,” Tomas replied defensively.
“Of course, sorry, I wasn’t calling your integrity into question,” I shot back not wanting to offend him.
“I’m just joking around with you, maybe your friend is right, being bad can be good,” Tomas teased. “I should be on my way. Until the next time, Miss Monsoon,” Tomas whispered.
“A bit presumptuous, don’t you think?” I asked.
“Leave an old man to his hopes,” Tomas quipped unabashedly, with a huge grin on his face.
I smiled chummily in return, choosing to leave him to his delusions. What would be the harm anyway?
I waited till he was out of sight then forced myself to slowly enter my room and place the box on my bed. My heart was racing, and with trembling hands I dislodged the bow and the ribbon, then lifted the lid. There was a swath of red silk, hiding what it contained, but there was a small, golden embossed note written in black ink on top.
Read this first:
Dear delectable staid Miss Monsoon,
Please Follow these instructions. You will find two things in this box. I took the liberty of charging both ahead of time for your unreserved pleasure. I have a single recording for you on the iPhone I have gifted you. Listen to it. It will provide you with the required coaching on how to use your other gift wisely.
—Your personal self-appointed instructor, Hendrik Mr. Vasgård
I swallowed nervously, disturbed by his cryptic words. He knew just what buttons to push to use my inquiring mind against me. The delirious thirst to see what other gift he was referring to would only be quenched through the unveiling. I quickly pushed aside the silk and my heart skipped a beat. Thank God Tomas hadn’t opened the box!
As promised, a black iPhone with the required accessories including earbuds and a charger was laid to one side, while on the opposite side the other gift was encased in a glass box with a small card that read Jimmy Jane Form 2 Vibrator. I knew what it did and what is was for but I’d never used one before. I hadn’t felt the urge to . . . until now.
I bit down on my lip, butterflies in my stomach. I decided to start off with the easier of the two, the iPhone and his recording. I slipped on the earbuds and found the recording. Taking a deep breath, I pressed play.
“If you are listening to this, then that means you do know how to follow instructions,” Hendrik taunted, all the while his masculine voice sent shivers racing down my spine. Even at my own expense I was unable to prevent the self-deprecating smile from blooming on my face.
“You’ll also have seen the vibrator. It’s not there for display it’s there for you to use. I know you’re scared of being touched but under that fear is the notion that touch is associated with pain. You need to remember, to know what it’s like to feel pleasure from being touched. I want you to use the vibrator and imagine that it’s me touching you . . . teasing you . . . making you quiver and tremble explosively from sensory overload.”
I took a deep breath in and out, all of a sudden feeling really hot.
“I want you to follow my every instruction, don’t think, just comply. No faltering, no self-doubts, just listen to my voice. I’m going to guide you on how to use it, how hard to press, how to bring pleasure to yourself. No one will be watching, you’ll be the one in control and you can stop whenever you want. All I’m asking is for you to give this a chance. Can you be brave enough to do that?” he asked hypnotically.
I found myself nodding as if he were in front of me.
“Now take the vibrator out of the case, and lie back against your bed. Place a pillow at your back and relax. Don’t worry, we’ll take this very slow and easy,” he soothed.
On edge I got the vibrator out and did as he instructed.
“Let’s start off very lightly. Press the plus button to turn it on.” I turned it on and jumped a bit at the vibration. “Don’t be scared. Place the vibrator near the most vulnerable part of you, close but not close enough for it to touch you, just close enough to almost feel the vibrations,” he ordered compellingly.
My hands shaking I slowly eased off my panties, making the decision to be adventurous. I leaned back then drew the vibrator close feeling panicked, but intrigued at the same time. I didn’t feel unsafe…just unsure. I hissed as the vibrations teased me in a way that felt invitingly and dangerously seductive. Evocative. Enticing.
“Can you feel yourself respond? Do you want to draw it closer, to feel the vibrations touch your core?” He fired out taking the heat up a thousand notches.
“Yes,” I breathed, honesty coursing through me, curiosity urging me to go farther.
“Having sex is about being teased, being played with, finding your pleasure points, and seeing what makes you unravel,” he mentored invitingly. “Bring it closer, so you can actually feel the vibrations against you.”
I brought it closer and jerked at the unexpected delight of the contact. “Slide it up and down slowly, get a feel for it,” he whispered. I could almost see him in my mind, gazing at me with those midnight green eyes, watching me as I complied.
“Are you getting slicker? Do you feel yourself wanting more?” he rasped out. If you are ready, amp up the intensity then slide it in a tiny bit, get a feel for the sensation,” he suggested.
I amped it up then breathed out as the added intensity sent sparks that lit me up.
“Does it feel good?” Yes, it did and I wanted more!
“I bet it does,” he chuckled dirtily. “If you’re ready, slide it even deeper, until your clit is in between the two heads of the vibrator. Once you find it you’ll know.”
Once I did, I moaned as the sparks ignited into a slow burning fire, making me ache, leaving me unfulfilled, needing more.
“Now move it slowly, swirl it from side to side, in and out, whatever feels good. Can you feel the burn? Do you feel yourself slowly but steadily climbing higher?”
I writhed, my hips moving as I swirled the vibrator. I was beginning to spiral out of control. I closed my eyes caught up in the climb, my breath coming in and out faster.
“Pleasure is also pain because there’s a point you reach that’s so damn good, but also so damn fucking torturous at the same time because the intensity of the impending orgasm becomes so rich, so powerful that it blows your mind. Don’t be scared because that’s what’s going to happen to you in the next thirty seconds,” he lectured. “Now, amp up the intensity to the highest, to the max,” he commanded.
I put it up all the way and moaned wantonly. I didn’t know what was happening to me, where he was taking me but I wanted to go all the way. The ache was becoming unbearable, making me frustrated as I climbed higher at a lightning speed rate.
“Can you feel yourself getting closer and closer to the point of no return? Is your clit throbbing, begging for mercy?” he interrogated, his forceful tone making me clench down hard on the vibrator.
God, it was too much, my back arched, my breathing was uncontrolled, my heartbeat rising to insane heights, and my cheeks were becoming flushed. I couldn’t stand the torture . . . I was so close to falling apart. I didn’t know if I could hold on, it was too much. The pleasure was painfully sweet coated in fire and ice. I drew the vibrator away not sure if I would survive the onslaught. Now I understood what Hendrik was talking about. I throbbed like a demon aching to get past the gates of Heaven, and like a demon my torment was of my own making.
“No, don’t stop,” Hendrik ordered as if reading my thoughts. “Even though it’s intense and you don’t know if you can withstand the pleasure, you can. Your body is made to endure this kind of torture, trust me, it’s worth it. You’re almost there, Älskling, let yourself go, don’t be scared, just let go,” his voice whispered reassuringly in my ear.
I brought it back, and as the pleasure reached its climax I exploded. I could feel myself jerking against the vibrator, the shocks of vibration against my sensitive clit so powerful I found myself crying out. Each throb was more intense than the one before it, making me shudder. The powerful vibration unleashed a wave of desire so great I almost blacked out as it washed over me from head to toe.
And with his voice in my ear I fell completely and utterly apart. Destroyed yet sated. So depleted yet resplendent with the aftershocks of pleasure.
“Now, slowly let yourself down from the high,” he instructed. “Ease down the intensity; just breathe in and out until the shocks stop.”
I sighed and breathed in and out until my body stopped shaking. I felt the vibrator fall from my grasp somewhere but right now I didn’t care. I was languid, boneless, still soaring higher than the sky, the moon, and the sun, higher up in the heavens.
A massive smile grew on my face. If I had the energy I would do it again.
“Now that’s how it should feel,” Hendrik teased. “Now that you’re familiar with your own body, how to give it what it needs, the next time I see you, I’ll soon allow you to become acquainted with mine. And eventually I’ll become acquainted with yours. Sweet dreams, Älskling. Sleep if you can,” he signed off.
Impulsively I looked for him in contacts and saw he’d put himself as number one on my speed dial under Mystery Guy. I laughed, drunk on my high and shot him a text.
I look forward to becoming acquainted with your body, Mr. Vasgård.
Take that Mystery Guy! Almost immediately my phone pinged as if he’d been waiting for me to message him.
Just as long as you keep away from my heart. You’re using one of my gifts…I assume you’ve used the other?
I blushed. Again. And if he could see it he would tease me relentlessly for it. I decided to go for bold and brash.
Warning me off again? And I’ve never fallen apart so deliciously…does that answer your question?
Be very, very careful, Emerson, you’re playing with fire. I can be at your dorm room in fifteen minutes. But trust me when I say that you aren’t ready for me to show you just what I can do to you. Getting off by a vibrator is nothing like being worshipped, caressed, and tasted by another person.
I shivered, tempted almost beyond reason to dare him to come here. To have him do those things to me and more, but he was right, I wasn’t ready.
Such sweet, but empty promises, my deluded Leverager. As much as it pains me to admit it, you’re right. I’m not ready.
But you will be and soon. Now get some sleep, Miss Monsoon, it’s late and you have a busy day tomorrow meeting your patient.
How did he know about that?
How did you find out? Are you having me watched? I’d say the same but there’s no rest for the wicked.
Quit prevaricating—go to sleep!
So bossy! By the way, I’m giving you this phone back when our arrangement has ended.
Emerson, I’m getting in my car now. I can help with tiring you out since you’re clearly still wide-awake.
No, I’m going to sleep NOW! Goodnight!
I put my alarm clock on, taking his lack of response to mean he had aborted his mission. My mind yelled thank God, while my greedy libido cursed me.