—-

They arrived at Laras apartment and walked heavy footed up the stairs. They had fallen easily into their early roles. Lara circled her pet as Alice stood nervously under her gaze. As the door came open – they both knew there was no turning back. The beads in the doorway parted in Laras hand and she motioned Alice through the frame. Alice uttered a thank you only to receive a firm, direct look from Lara – not unless you have permission to speak. Alice nodded. Very good, Alice, very good, Lara stroked her cheek gently as she administered the praise.

Kneel. I am going to blindfold you for a few moments. Well remove it after I set up a few things. Alice knelt at Laras feet in the living room, wondering what she had gotten herself in to, but now was not the time to question – only to feel and let herself be absorbed into this fantasy. She felt the cloth as it grazed her cheek and then her world went dark. Her other senses heightened immediately and she felt fear fester in her stomach. She listened intently as Lara moved about the small apartment.

Lara went from room to room collecting a few things and then settled into the living room to set the stage. She placed candles strategically around the room – not for romance, but to allow her to turn the lights down low. As she lit the matches, she knew that Alice could smell the acidic smell as each was struck. How she remembered the times when she was blindfolded and her senses raised to unbelievable proportions.

She filled the room with a soft jazz music – to cover her footsteps as she prepared the other room. As she finished, she walked softly to Alice – still kneeling in the living room, and placed her hand on her shoulder. Alice flinched at her touch, not because it was unexpected (she had felt the air part on her approach) but because she longed for some human contact. The 15 minutes it took Lara to set the room had seemed like an eternity.