Page 5 of The Apples Hung Like Stars
I’m more than okay with that.
“I’m okay with hands, as well.”
“Good to know.” She smiles at me, a wicked smile that makes me shiver internally, and I try not to show it too much on the outside. I want to at leastattemptto hold it together. “And where would you like such activities to take place?”
“Where?”
She points to a section on the form where a list of kink furniture lies. My eyes catch on the words ‘St Andrews’ Cross’ and I can’t look away. She follows my gaze and chuckles. “Shall I tick that for you?”
I nod silently.
“And the aftercare section?”
I don’t know what I want for that, what I’ll need to process such new experiences. “Do I need it?”
Clíodhna’s face is suddenly serious. “Do you—yesyou’ll need aftercare!” She takes the list from me and ticks almost every box on it and shows me. Anything on there you don’t like?”
I scan what she’s ticked, and hide a smile. Cuddles, blankets, snacks, water, praise… These all seem like things that I would enjoy, with or without impact play. “That all looks great.”
“Good.” She takes the list and reads over everything else I’ve marked. “You haven’t said whether or not you’d like a private room or to play in a public space.”
“I don’t mind.” She looks doubtful, so I explain further. “I’ve never done public play, so I don’t know whether it will add an extra layer of frisson for me, but the idea of it doesn’t freak me out. I just don’t know whether it’ll heighten whatever’s happening.”
“I’m sure I can help with that.” Her words threaten an experience I’ve never undergone before, and all of a sudden I’m so excited I can barely contain it. My fingers tip-tap across my lap, and when she glances down at them, I find myself explaining.
“I have ADHD, so I fidget a lot.”
“ADHD?”
How to explain ADHD to someone who’s immortal. I ponder the conundrum, before saying, “My brain works differently to most people. It’s difficult for me to pause and slow down either my thoughts or my actions, so I fidget a lot, and take on too much at work, and sometimes don’t realise that I need a break when I really really do.”
“I see. And so you think that this might bring you some relief?”
Nodding, I venture, “I don’t know that it will, exactly, but from what I’ve read, and what I’ve hoped…”
Clíodhna looks determined. “We shall bring you some relief tonight,” she states, her husky tone warming me, and I believe her.
I truly believe her.
Chapter Four
Clíodhna
When we finally set foot inside the club itself, I can’t help but drink in each and every one of Janet’s reactions.
She’s chosen a quieter day to visit, a Tuesday, and so the club is not as busy as it might be at the weekend, but there are a good number of regulars here, and my sister stalks the upper dais. When Janet catches a glimpse of Aoibheall, she pauses and I find myself strangely beset by an envious feeling I’ve not felt much, but her face displays curiosity and not much else. Certainly not the waves of desire she’s felt at my laugh. That soothes my ego somewhat, and I lead her further into the room.
There’s a bar in one corner, which serves only non-alcoholic drinks, and I take her here first, demanding two glasses of water with a wave of my hand.
“Drink,” I tell her, and she does, glancing curiously at me. “What?”
“Am I supposed to call you something else? Madam? Or Your Highness?”
Many in the club call me Mistress, but I find myself loathe to hear it from her lips. “I think I should like to hear you beg using my name,” I tell her, and am rewarded with the slightest hitch of an inbreath.
“Clíodhna?” My name on her lips sounds like a prayer, and I’ve never wanted to be worshipped more.
“Exactly.” I take a step closer and her mouth parts slightly. Pink lips beckon and I want to kiss, by all the Gods do I want to kiss her, but I won’t take that first step. That first step, the beginning of the scene, needs to come from her. This time.
