"I'll pick you up at school."
* * *
That night I called my parents and gave them the good news. I told them I'd been introduced to a business woman, a friend of a friend, that we'd become friends, and that she had offered me this job. I explained the job. They grilled me for a while, but Dad admitted this was a pretty amazing opportunity. They weren't thrilled about the hours and told me they expected me for Sunday brunch both weekends. "And invite your friend slash boss," Mom added.
* * *
I aced my papers and the exam. Veronica picked me up Wednesday afternoon and took me home. She took me into the second bedroom and told me, "Hang your things up in here. Get settled in."
"You're making me sleep in here?" I asked.
"Who said anything about sleeping in here? While I don't expect drop ins this week, I fully expect your parents are going to check up on you this summer, and it may as well look like you're really using the guest room. Best to establish the habits now."
"Does it bother you I won't tell them about us?"
"Yes, it does," she said. "But I understand and I do not blame you."
She left me to unpack, but when I stepped out of the guest room, she ambushed me. She was waiting beside the door, and I didn't see her when she stepped out. She threw a blanket over my head, then wrapped it tightly around me and secured it somehow with my arms pressed to my sides.
I was shrieking with laughter and wasn't able to offer anything but token resistance. She spun me around several times so I had no idea which way I was facing, then hauled me around the apartment so I also didn't know where I was. At every turn, she spun me around and around. I was completely lost.
Eventually she shoved me against a wall and told me if I struggled, she'd punish me.
I held very still while she unzipped my jeans and slid them off my hips. I stepped out of them, and she threw them to the side.
"New rule," she said. "I'm tired of these jeans you wear."
"I look good in jeans!" I protested through the blanket.
"You look good in everything," she agreed. "But they're a pain to get off of you."
I laughed.
"You may wear skirts or dresses or go naked. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Roni."
Her hand slipped into my panties and it was just moments before I was squirming madly.
"Good girl," she said quietly. I was disappointed when her hand withdrew, but I was pretty sure it would be back.
She pulled me away from the wall, spun me around several times, then I screeched as she pushed me backwards abruptly and I fell onto her bed. She grabbed my ankles and lifted my feet, which kept me off balance. I didn't kick.
"You have a choice. You can promise to behave, or I'll finish securing you and then tickle you instead of what I'm planning instead."
"I'll behave," I said quietly.
She kissed each of my feet then set my ankles on her shoulders, leaned forward slightly, and hooked her fingers into the waistband of my panties. I helped by squirming around as she slipped my panties off me.
Then she rolled me onto my tummy and made me tuck my legs underneath me, kneeling a little with my legs spread.
"Can you breathe okay?" she asked.
"Yes, Roni," I said. I squirmed a little to try to tease her.
"Stay just like that," she said, drawing away. I heard her at her dresser, then she came back.
"Shane," she said gently. "I'm aiming for a seven on our scale. If it pushes to eight, you must tell me."
"Yes, Roni," I said. "Will it hurt?"
"No."
She began to massage my exposed bottom, then teased my clitoris and slipped her fingers inside of me. She withdrew, teasing some more, then massaged my bottom again.
She paused. I could hear her doing something as she knelt on the bed next to me, but I wasn't sure what it was.
She touched me again, one hand on my bottom, and then I felt something cold and hard being to press at my anus.
"Roni?"
"Relax, Love," she said. "Accept it."
I gasped as whatever she was holding slipped into me. It didn't hurt, but it was a strange sensation. She slid it in just a little, then paused.
"Does it hurt?"
"No, Roni," I gasped.
She slid it in further and further and I felt myself filling up. And then she stopped and kissed my bottom right at the crease before it turns into my waist. We'd discovered some time ago that was a very erogenous spot for me.
"Is it okay?" she asked me tenderly.
"Yes."
She set her hand on my bottom over whatever it was that was filling me and then began applying rhythmic pressure to it. I started to squirm again. She withdrew her hands for a moment, then I felt something else begin to press at my vulva. It began to buzz and I almost flew out of my skin.
"Roni!" I screamed.
She was alternating now, pressing against one filled opening with one hand while she inserted and withdrew the vibrator in the other opening.
"Mine," she said.
"Yours!" I screamed.
She slipped the vibrator in and out, using her fingers to tease my clitoris. She found my G-spot and I exploded in a flurry of squirms.
I was panting and crying her name when the shudders started. They went on and on before I collapsed, spent.
Then, gasping and unable to move, I suddenly felt the blanket closing in on me, stealing all my air. I was panting and couldn't get enough air.
"Can't breathe", I said, beginning to panic. "Roni, can't breathe!"
She immediately released my arms and yanked the blanket from over my head. I rolled over into her and threw my arms around her, squeezing, my heart pounding out of my chest as I gasped for air.
Once I calmed down, she said, "I'm sorry. Too much?"
"Only the blanket, and not until I was panting so hard. I started to panic." I thought about it. "I won't next time."
"You're sure?" I nodded and she kissed me.
"Did you like?"
"Don't be daft," I replied. Then I realized whatever had been inside of me was still inside of me, and sitting on it meant it was pressed further into me.
"Um. Is that going to get stuck?"
She laughed. "No. It's okay."
I wriggled. "It feels weird."
"Uncomfortable?"
"No. Just... I dunno."
She held me for a while, the two of us sitting on her bed. My heart eventually slowed. "Time to go shopping," she said. "Roll over again so I can remove it."
I rolled over. She adjusted me so my butt was in the air and my legs spread, much like I'd been last time, then slowly pulled it out of me. "Close your eyes and no peeking," she said. "If you move from this position before I give you permission, I'll..."
"Punish me?"
"Yes."
She disappeared for several minutes. I heard her in the bathroom washing up, then she came back and put some things away. She returned to me and kissed my exposed bottom on both cheeks. Then she swatted me once.
"Good girl. Go take a quick shower then get dressed. In a skirt."
"Yes, Roni."
* * *
She took me clothes shopping. I complained.
"Stop it," she told me. She pulled me to the side and held me by the shoulders. "I'm tired of this game. Listen to me and listen very carefully." She shook me a little. She was actually angry with me. I didn't like it.
"I know you're a student. I know you can't buy me things. I. Don't. Care."
"I do," I said in a small voice.
She shook me again. She'd never done that before. I felt a tear start to slide down my cheek.
She stared at it for a moment, then wiped the tear away and pulled me to her. Then she pushed me away and shook me again.
"I'm not angry at you," she said.
"You seem angry."
"I am. I'm not angry AT YOU. I'm deeply frustrated that this is so obvious to me and you don't understand it. You're a brilli
ant woman, and if you can't understand it, then it's because I'm not explaining it right."
"You think I'm brilliant?"
She shook me again, but I deserved it that time.
"Are you putting 100% of yourself into this relationship?"
"Yes."
"Do you have any reason to believe I am not tickled pink over that 100% you're giving me?"
"No."
She shook me again. "Then what the hell is the problem?"
"I owe you too much already, and if you keep buying me things, I'll never catch up."
"You did not just tell me you're keeping score. Do you count the orgasms, too? Maybe the hugs. Maybe the playful words. Are you counting those, too? Or just the money."
"The money," I said quietly. "And the orgasms. I'm behind giving those to you, too."
"God damn it, Shane!"
She let go of me and turned around, furious. I stood there, not sure what to do. Then she turned around. I started to open my mouth.
"Shut up," she ordered.
"Have you ever, even just once, received an orgasm from me that didn't involve you screaming my name at the top of your lungs?"
I thought about it. "No."
"Have you ever received an orgasm from me that didn't involve you declaring that you belonged to me, that you were mine?"
"No."
"Have you ever considered what that does to my ego, to have you screaming my name and declaring yourself to belong to me, begging me to make you feel that way even deeper?"
"Sort of, I guess. I dunno." I'd tried to understand. I had fun pleasing her, but mostly I felt inadequate when I tried, even if she said I'd made her happy.
"Let me clue you in. I've had earth-shaking orgasms, the kind that make poets weep and angels sing. You've given me a few and I've had others. And they never, ever are as pleasing to me as when you scream my name because of something I'm doing to you. Orgasms are one form of endorphin rush, but they wear off. Every time I look at you, I get an endorphin rush. In effect, you are giving me orgasms just by being around me."
I thought about it. "I don't understand."
She sighed. "I know. But can you at least understand that if my choice is to receive an earth-shaking orgasm or deliver one, I'd rather deliver one? That I gain greater pleasure from it than receiving one, at least when it's with you?"
"I'll try."
"I like the current ratio. It's perfect, as far as I'm concerned. So can we stop keeping orgasm score?"
I nodded.
"So, now. Money. I've managed to become successful. It's something I'm very proud of. I have every right to be. I've worked damned hard at it. I'd like to think you're proud of me, too."
"I am," I said. I looked away. "When I think about it, it makes me tingly."
She smiled for the first time in a while.
"When I buy you things, I'm not trying to remind you that you can't buy them for yourself or that you can't buy me things."
"I know," I said.
"Sometimes I'm doing it because it's something you need, and because I can. Sometimes I buy something for you because I really want to see you wearing it, that it'll make you look sexy and make me turned on. In that case, I'm being selfish and really buying myself something, I'm just making you wear it. Understand?"
I nodded.
"Sometimes I buy you things because I think it's something you'll find delightful. I like watching your eyes light up when I give you something you especially like. When it's something really small, you're like a kid in a candy shop, and I just love watching you. But as soon as it's something even remotely expensive, you get all shitty about it and ruin my fun. And your own."
"I'm sorry."
"You should be. And sometimes I spend money on you to show off."
She let that sink in.
"Shane, I grew up poor. I had a single mother. My dad ditched when she got pregnant. My mom tried hard, but we didn't have anything. We barely kept a roof over our heads and food on the table. It got better later, but I will always remember being poor. Well, I'm not poor anymore. The business being what it is, I can't throw money away, but I can darned well spend it when I want to. I'm not flamboyant about it, I don't throw my money around, but every now and then, I like to remind myself that I could if I wanted to." She looked at me. "And it's important to me that I show it to you, too. I know you can't really understand, but it's important to me that you know I'm not poor, that I can buy you things if I want to." She poked me in the head. "It's not enough for me that you know up here." She poked my chest. "I need to know you know it here, too."
She looked away. She was still angry. "You will now listen to me very carefully. You will either learn to accept this part of our relationship gracefully, maybe even gleefully. Or. We. Are. Over."
"What?" She was breaking up with me?
"You heard me."
She looked away. I looked away. I was crying softly, tears running down both cheeks. At least I wasn't blubbering. If she walked away, I knew I'd start.
I dried my tears on the sleeves of my blouse.
"Roni?" I wasn't supposed to use that name in public, but I was making a point. She looked at me, but I could tell she wasn't happy.
I pointed across the aisle, not even looking where I was pointing. "I think I might like that one."
She looked where I was pointing. Then she looked back at me.
"Shane, honey," she said, the corner of her lips starting to quiver. "I know that you would look good in almost anything, but I'm not sure I'm ready to dress you in a men's undies just yet."
I guess I should have looked before I pointed.
She curled her arm in mine. "Let's go find the ladies and clean up."
* * *
Eventually she bought me two business suits. I didn't look at the prices and she didn't ask my opinion except "Is it comfortable?" She also bought me two pair of flat shoes, telling me, "We run around too much, I refuse to be hindered in heels or have sore feet all the time." We picked up several more blouses, undies and stockings. It was a real power shopping trip.
Once we got in the car, I made a point to bubble about my new clothes. She smiled and looked pleased.
"You need to know, Shane. These were inexpensive suits, suitable for a young woman in her first professional job. We didn't even get them fitted, just took them off the rack. We didn't go near the stores where I shop. You would have been out of place in those suits. Jeremy is going to give me shit when he sees them, but Wendy and Vic will set him straight later."
"You need to know that I love them. They could be just threads and I'd love them because you bought them for me."
I put my hand on her arm. "I love everything you buy me. I'm just afraid."
"Afraid of what?"
"That I'll start to expect it. That I'll turn into a demanding, manipulating bitch. If I never let you buy me anything, then there's no risk. It's the same about everything else we don't share evenly."
"Like the orgasms?"
"Yeah. I've already caught myself trying to manipulate you to tie me up more often."
She laughed.
I pouted. "I'm serious," I said quietly.
"I know you are, honey. The thing is, I was worried I did that too often."
I paused. "Veronica, I've already been trying to manipulate you. And a few times recently there were things I wanted, and I knew if I asked you, you'd get them for me. If I grow complacent about letting you buy me things, it's a really small step before asking. Or asking you to take me places." I paused, not sure if I should continue, then said in a very small voice. "I was hoping you'd take me somewhere over spring break."
"Honey, I was going to, but an old client is demanding some work from me, and she's been a really good client over the years, and I can't say no."
"You don't understand. I was so close to asking you to take me to Key West."
"I would have loved to take you to Key West."
"You still don't understand," I said. "If I ask you
to spend money for me, then it's like placing an obligation on you. You can either do it or say No and disappoint me."
She started laughing. "Don't laugh at me!"
"Then don't be daft. Hello? Have you met me? Do you think I'm incapable of saying No?"
"I'd quiver my lip at you."
"I'd spank you."
"I'd like it. Maybe that would be my plan all along."
"Shane, do you have any doubts over my willingness or ability to punish you? The punishments so far have all been in fun, but if you start to damage our relationship, you don't think I can reign you in?"
"You shouldn't have to."
"No," she agreed. "I shouldn't. And I'll be mad if you make me. But I'm perfectly able to handle it if it happens, so please stop overcorrecting."
"Okay."
"And if there's something you want, I would be delighted if you asked me."
"Okay."
I waited a minute or two.
"Veronica?"
"Yes, Shane?"
"I'd like you to start taking me dancing."
"I suppose you need dance shoes."
"I don't have any."
"I love buying dance shoes. You realize everyone is going to know about our relationship if we go dancing. I have no intention of hiding it."
"Good."
"Veronica," I said after a minute. "I've only worn my green corset once. Would you start taking me places I can wear it?"
She laughed. "You can count on it."
"Of course," I said wistfully. "If we keep going, and I keep wearing the same outfit, they'll wonder why I never wear anything else."
"Cheeky girl." She was smiling.
We pulled into the driveway and parked.
"Veronica," I said.
"Yes, cheeky girl."
"I'm sorry I was such a bitch."
I leaned against her during the elevator ride up to her floor. She wrapped her arm around me and kissed the top of my head.
* * *
She made us go to bed early that night, and no play time either. I thought I wouldn't sleep, but she scratched my back for a while and talked quietly too me. Then she snuggled in. It felt so good to be with her.
When the alarm sounded, I rolled out of bed immediately. Not quickly, but immediately, while Veronica was still fighting to turn the alarm off. I raced her first into the bathroom, which earned me a squeal of displeasure, but I just wanted to use the bathroom and brush my teeth, and I was done before she'd finished putting on the coffee.
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