Page 107 of Heart of Stone

Naked.

“No, you can stay in the bedroom. Do you remember the submissive position that I told you about?”

“Yes.”

“That’s how I want to find you, Krystina. On your knees.”

Collecting my courage, I swallowed the lump in my throat and I stood from the table.

“I’ll go get ready. Give me a few minutes, okay?”

“Take all the time you need, angel.”

I made my way to the bedroom and into the bathroom. The walk seemed torturously long, as my feet felt like they had lead weights attached to them.

When I entered the dark master bath, the only thing that I could see at first was the marble countertop that gleamed under the moonlight that flooded in through the skylights.

I flipped on the light switch. It was no shock to see how impeccable the space was. There was not a thing out of place. No toothpaste smudges in the sink, not a speck of dust on the mirror. With its massive walk in shower and whirlpool tub large enough to fit a small army, it was like I had walked into a modern day Roman bath. I half expected a servant to come scurrying from some hidden corner and offer me grapes and a robe.

If only I could be afforded the luxury of a robe right now…

I unfastened the button of my pants and began to undress. I folded my clothes at a painstakingly slow pace, trying to buy more time. Once they were folded, I laid the pile carefully on the counter, and then turned to face the large oval vanity mirror.

I took in my reflection. Like all girls do, I began to critique the imperfections of my body. When my gaze eventually traveled up to my face, I froze. I looked terrified.

Naked and kneeling. That how he wants me.

I struggled to erase the fear in my eyes, as I smoothed out my unruly hair back into a ponytail. I was afraid for so many reasons. It wasn’t sex that scared me – after all, it’s not like this would be our first time together. I already conquered that challenge. I was petrified of putting myself on display for Alexander.

What if I did it wrong? What if he pushed me too far?

I worried that I’d have to use my safe word. The fear of disappointing him consumed me.

Digging around in one of the vanity draws, I located a tube of toothpaste. Using my finger, I brushed my teeth the best that I could. I took extra care to wipe out the sink, leaving it just as spotless as I had found it.

Then I looked in the mirror again. I didn’t look quite as terrified as I did a few moments earlier. I couldn’t stall any longer.

Committed to getting the first wave of awkwardness out of the way, I exited the bathroom. There was no sign of Alexander. However, he must have been in the bedroom while I had been undressing. The lighting had been adjusted to cast a muted glow about the room. Music filled the space, a dark vibe filled with raw emotion that was hauntingly beautiful. An assortment of objects had been placed on the edge of the bed, as well. One of them I recognized as the flogger. My breath hitched upon laying eyes on it, and my heart attempted to beat a hole through my chest.

The angel that had been conspicuously absent came to the forefront of my mind once again, reminding me that it was not too late to back out of this. I dismissed her warnings with surprising ease, and gave myself a pep talk.

I can do this! Don’t be such a scaredy-cat!

I inhaled a lungful of air to steady my racing pulse. Walking to the center of the room, I kneeled down into the instructed position. Thighs spread, palms to the ceiling.

I stayed like that for what seemed like ages, but was realistically only a few minutes, before Alexander finally entered the room. My skin instantly flushed, threatening to break out in a cold sweat at any moment.

He paused in the doorway, eyes filled with appreciation when he saw me. His approval made me relax a bit, and I gradually exhaled the air that I’d been holding.

He moved towards me, making a slow circle around where I was kneeling, sizing me up.

“You look beautiful like this. You’re like an angel. My angel,” he said, stopping in front of where I was kneeling. Using his foot, he nudged my thighs further apart. “Tell me your safeword.”

“Sapphire,” I blurted out automatically.

Like I would forget it.

That word was my only protection in this little adventure into kink.

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