Culture Shock

"Of course," said Gary, pointing into the darkness. "It's through there."

Sticking to her plan, Elaine found the bathroom and headed for the first cubicle. It wasn't easy, but she managed to clean up. While washing her hands, she checked herself in the mirror provided.

Kendra came flying through the bathroom door like it had been wedged closed. "Is everything all right? Chelsea said you'd hardly talked to him at all!"

"Yeah. Everything's fine. I'm just, you know, freaking out..." Elaine checked her appearance again and dabbed cold water on her neck. It felt better than anything.

"Is there anything I can get you?" asked Kendra.

"No. I'll be okay," Elaine answered.

"As long as you're sure..."

"I'll be fine. Honestly." Shewas feeling better. Smiling at her reflection, she dried her hands and said, "I just needed a minute."

"All right," said Kendra, still sounding unconvinced. "Let me know if you are in trouble."

"Really, Kendra. You can stop worrying."

"Okay."

Behind her departing roommate, Elaine watched as the door swung slowly closed. Taking another deep breath, she leaned on the sink.

Okay, take two.

**************************

Gary stood and stepped out from behind the table. He greeted Elaine again and offering his hand, palm up. Elaine slipped her own into it and thanked him. Naturally he drew her closer and this time she stepped forward. Without raising her eyes, she asked, "M... May I say something?" She glanced around and made sure no one was within earshot. Lowering her voice, she added, "Please, Sir?"

"Of course," said Gary softly. "But look at me when you are speaking."

She gulped. "Yes, Sir."

For the first time that night, Elaine looked right at Gary. In an instant she was gone. Everything melted. Inside and out. Melted away to nothing. Gone was her concern over the presence of her roommates. Gone were the booth and the table and candles. All that existed was Gary.

Somehow simultaneously there was a hardness and a softness in his eyes that was riveting. Almost hypnotising. It took her breath away. And when he spoke, his words became her world.

"What troubles you, little one?"

"I... I'll probably stain this beautiful dress as soon as I sit down," she confessed. He smiled down on her and she couldn't help but smile back.

"You are dazzling."

Elaine's breath caught in her throat, and she emitted the barest peep. "Oh..."

"I'd like to hug you."

"P... Please," she managed.

His strong arms enveloped her and she sighed, resting her cheek against his chest and closing her eyes. She could hear his beating heart. It sounded almost as fast as hers. He leaned down a little, and his cheek brushed against her forehead lightly. His cologne was intoxicating. Elaine's arms held him tightly and she could feel his muscles right through his suit. She swooned.

He whispered, "Better?"

Elaine nodded. "Yes. Th... Thank you."

Lifting Elaine's chin with his fingertip, their eyes met as Gary spoke deliberately. "My pleasure."

Elaine held on as her heart fluttered. It was all she could do. Her body flushed hotly and her legs felt weak. Five minutes ago she wanted to be somewhere else, and now she just wanted to be alone with him!

"What am I going to do?" she pleaded.

He smiled gently. "About what?"

She couldn't help smiling too. "About, you know...messing my dress."

"Your dress?" he asked with a cheeky smile. "I'm sorry. I don't know what you mean. You'll have to bemuch more explicit."

Elaine looked around. Her roommates were standing by the entrance to the kitchen about twenty-five feet away. They both had huge grins on their faces. For a minute she'd completely forgotten about them. She smiled back, then thought she'd better inform Gary of their presence.

"My roommates..." she began.

"Yeah, I remembered them from the coffee shop. And they introduced themselves. They seemed... like college girls."

Kendra and Chelsea abruptly headed into the kitchen as though called away. Elaine leaned back and looked up at Gary. "ButI'm a college girl."

"You're not the average, garden-variety college girl, Elaine."

With a sheepish grin, she responded, "You say the sweetest things, Sir." Suddenly remembering she hadn't answered his question, Elaine broke his gaze. "And um," she whispered. "About my dress... I just meant when I sit, I'm going to leave a wet spot at the back of it." She blushed crimson.

"Much better," said Gary. "Good girl." Elaine slid her arms from around him as he took her shoulders in his hands. "Look at me."

She did. He was smiling warmly.

Gently he took her hand. "Come and sit with me."

It wasn't a question. She nodded breathlessly. "Yes, Sir."

Gary guided Elaine into the booth before sliding in beside her. The booth itself was designed to hold four, but only two settings had been placed and the lighting was intimate. A single, tall slim candle lit their faces in a soft, flickering glow. Candles and dim sconces high on the walls were all that lit the cosy restaurant, and in the background traditional French music played.

In moments Kendra arrived offering water nervously. Elaine nodded appreciatively when Kendra glanced at her, pouring the glasses. Chelsea glided to the table and asked Gary if he'd like his wine opened, anaperitif before dinner, or to wait. He asked for the wine and Chelsea disappeared with Kendra close behind. She soon returned with the bottle and bucket of ice and proceeded to professionally uncork and pour a taste of the sparkling liquid into Gary's goblet.

Elaine smiled. She always thought it was a funny ritual if you brought the wine with you. But she also thought Gary was sexy doing it. He caught her eye and winked. Realising she was staring, she blushed a little and thanked Chelsea as she filled her glass and left menus. Chelsea said she'd return to take their orders shortly.

And they were alone again.

Gary picked up his wine and nodded to Elaine, encouraging her to do likewise. Proposing a toast, he said, "To journeys... May they never end."

Elaine softly repeated, "To journeys." She took a small sip of the wine and was surprised by how good it tasted. She nursed the glass in her slender fingers and looked up at Gary. They were so close their shoulders were almost touching.

He put his glass down and turned toward her. Tilting his head a little, he smiled knowingly.

Elaine blushed more strongly. Her skin was tingling. When Gary grinned openly, she couldn't help but ask, "Do I have parsley in my teeth?" She stifled a giggle.

Gary chuckled and shook his head. Elaine took another sip of the smooth dry wine before he asked, "In your dreams and fantasies, was it ever like this?"

"Y... Yes."

Gary reached up, his fingertips barely brushing Elaine's cheek. "This is real."

Elaine nodded.

"Letting go is the hardest part. It's not a light switch. It's a process. And it starts here. Tonight. Now."

Elaine swallowed. "I... I understand."

"I'm going to make your dreams and fantasies seem insignificant." Elaine shuddered. Her pussy clenched and she almost dropped her wine. Gary took it from her hand and put it on the table in front of her. "Are you okay?" he whispered, taking her hands in his.

"Y... Yes," said Elaine. "I think I just ruined my dress."

Gary chuckled again and said, "That's all right. I'll cover you when we leave."

To Elaine, his reference to leaving 'together' was unnerving.Surely he'll give me another chance to back out...

"That is," he said. "Together or apart."

The almost invisible hairs on Elaine's arms stood up, as though a cool draught had braced her skin. She drew a calming breath, once more amazed at Gary's ability to read her mind. She opened her mouth to say something but was halted in her tracks by Gary's intent stare. She watched as he examined her silently, his gaze roaming over her cheeks and nose and eyes, then down to her lips. He lingered there.

He was going to kiss her.

She just knew it!

But he didn't! He drew back and sat up, reaching for his wine. He took a sip and Elaine couldn't take her eyes off him. Somehow she knew Gary was forming words. She waited as he put down his glass.

"I'm going to take out the contract and have you sign it then put it back in my pocket." He turned to her. "It's not a good idea to have something like that loose on the table for very long. So I don't want you hesitating to sign. I want you to do your hesitatingnow, not when I put it on the table in front of you. Understand?"

Elaine gulped. "Yes, Sir." Her mouth was dry again and she reached for her wine, taking a quick sip.

"I'm going to outline what you are doing, so you can make a clear decision. Okay?"

"O... Okay."

"All right then." He held her hands and whispered in intimate tones. "You are being very brave. You are accepting that you are different, and that's not easy. You are allowing yourself to tread a path many before you have taken. This path leads to a door. Not everyone goes through the door.

"Many turn back. It is no disgrace. You are entitled to choosenot to follow the path. And you are entitled to be unsure, or unready or unprepared to go through the door. This is not a make or break moment, Elaine. I have faith in you, and I'll give you a few chances. If you flee tonight, I won't hold it against you. Your courage has led you all the way here. I'll always admire and respect that."

One of his hands released hers. He reached up to touch her face again. "There is much I want to show you, to tell you, and tobe for you. And there is much I wantyou to be forme. We haven't talked much about 'being mine'. It's been at the back of our conversations. It's an assumption we've both made. We always knew that in order for this to go forward, you had to be mine. The whirlwind of emotions that have brought us to this moment must now be addressed, for once and for all.

"By signing, youwill be mine. And I will be yours. From that moment and until Sunday night, I will accept the responsibilities I've outlined in the contract, as if our relationship were to continue..." He took a deep breath. "As that is my wish."

Elaine was battling to hold off the tears. Gary's hands were so warm.

"I would be honoured to take you as my submissive, Elaine. For the weekend. Who knows how we may feel at the end of it. Every hour,every minute will help us decide. But without taking this step, without taking this risk, we can't know.

"But if we do,we will.

"We'll begin to learn everything there is to know about each other... how we tick... how we react, and why. We'll use our time well and explore all aspects of our relationship. And we'll know if the promise it has shown is real. By the end of the weekend, we'll know whether or not we want to continue, togetheror apart.

"Also you will learn about yourself. Your capabilities... What you want, and need, and desire, and like... and love." He glanced at her.

God, does he love me?

He continued and Elaine listened.

"The way we've done this has been virtually ideal. There is only one question that remains. And you should realise that the answer is an important one. More important than any you have ever contemplated in your life. You are giving your gift, Elaine. The gift of your submission. You are placing it in my hands. Is that what you want?" he asked, staring into Elaine's eyes. "Do you wish to be mine?"

To Elaine, there was no question. This man, in his smart suit and tie, freshly shaven and cologned... His thoughtfulness, his patience and his nature, at the same time gentle and strong... His face, his eyes, his hands hard from work... His passion...

It all added up.

Here was a man she could serve with pleasure.

Elaine took a deep breath. "I... I want that... To be yours... More than anything."

"Are you ready to order?"

Gary and Elaine both gawked at Chelsea as if she had two heads. She'd arrived so silently that neither of them had heard her approach.

What did she hear?Elaine wondered.

Thankfully, Chelsea gave no indication of having overheardany of their conversation. The two diners looked at each other and almost laughed. Gary turned to Chelsea and said, "Give us ten more minutes, please."

"Yes, Sir," Chelsea said, and was gone.

"Good manners, your roommate," Gary quipped, with a grin.

"She's nicer than I thought," said Elaine honestly.

"Always a pleasant discovery," replied Gary. "Now... Where were we?"

Elaine took another sip of her wine and placed it back on the table, a little to the side. "I was about to sign the contract."

The conviction in her words surprised them both. Elaine's heart started beating wildly as Gary reached inside his suit jacket and took out the contract. He looked around. Their privacy was assured. "Okay?" he asked softly, unfolding it and producing a pen.

Elaine nodded. So did Gary.

He signed.

Holding out the pen for Elaine, he turned the contract toward her and said, "This is it."

"I... I know."

And she took the pen.

Chapter 23

Elaine watched as Gary refolded the contract and slipped it into his jacket pocket. She shivered. The ink was barely dry. She hadn't had time to say a prayer before it was gone.

Gary turned to her and slowly smiled. "I should say something profound, shouldn't I?"

Elaine nodded. "Y... Yes."

"In a minute." Reaching behind her head, he slid his fingers into her silky hair and said, "I want to kiss you first."

Elaine's scalp prickled. Her eyes closed, a shudder running through her body. Gary's grip tightened, but Elaine was shocked that it wasn't painful. It made her dizzy.

Maybe it's the adrenaline... Ohhh...

Her neck was gently but insistently bent backward and Elaine could hardly breathe! Her lips parted and she couldn't think. His demanding mouth took her and her heart stopped beating!

Like a rag doll she surrendered, tightly clinging to his warm body. His mouth was her chocolate, and his hot, swirling tongue heated her from within. Around her ribs his free hand held her, his thumb on the bodice, his fingers pressed into her bare skin.

Pulsating anxiety mixed with devastating pleasure.

Elaine's resolve was crushed as his lips crushed hers. She yielded. With a single heady kiss, Elaine's self-control was washed away in a flood of passion. The contract she had signed seemed a distant memory.

She wasHIS.

When at last the kiss ended, Elaine was breathing hard, her head spinning, her body shaking. Opening her eyes, she realised their faces were just inches apart. Time stood still. Elaine saw the corners of his mouth slowly turn into a smile. Nervously she smiled back.

"I enjoyed that," he whispered.

She blushed hotly. "M... Me too."

"I could tell," he said quietly, his fingers sliding from her hair.

Elaine wished she could run around the block screaming her head off, just to release the tension! She felt like a wound up spring, about to explode at a moment's notice. Her chest was heaving and she wondered if the shaking she felt on the inside was noticeable in her hands. She didn't want to look! She blinked and tried to concentrate. Gary was looking at her curiously.

Should I say something?

She had to swallow before forming words. "I... I don't know what to say."

"Then say nothing. Enjoy the moment, Elaine. Breathe. Submit."

'Doing as she was told' never felt so good. Such power in so few words. Like a talisman she was drawn to them, breathing deeply.

Submit.

"I didn't bring you flowers," Gary said, reaching into his other breast pocket.

"I... I wasn't expecting-" Her words died as he produced a slim faux-gold box about as long as a pen and twice as wide. She hoped he didn't spend too much, then wondered what she was thinking.

Handing it to Elaine, he said, "Perhaps a gift will make you feel less nervous." He chuckled. "But I doubt it."

Inside the metal box Elaine found a simple strip of soft, black kid leather. It was folded over on itself and she took it out, discovering it to be a very basic choker for her neck. Holding it in her shaking hands, she looked up at Gary questioningly.

"While wearing it, you may consider yourself 'mine'."

She looked down at it. "A... A collar?"

"Of course."

She tried putting it on immediately and fumbled with the clasp. Her fingers felt numb.

"Here," said Gary, beckoning for it. "Let me."

She thought she'd get it in another second and tried again and missed. She was about to try again.

"Elaine."

Looking up at Gary's stern face, she wondered what thehell she was doing.

"It would be my pleasure to fix it for you. Understand?My pleasure." His face softened. "Surely it is not your wish to deny me my pleasure."

"No!" Elaine gasped, dropping the choker into his hands. Trying to redeem herself, she looked up at him and said, "I mean... I'm sorry. No,Sir."

She spun in place, swallowing as wet silk bunched under her ass, tugging against her most sensitive skin. Her breath came thick and fast. She put a hand behind her head, suddenly wishing her hair were longer.

Gary held the choker against her neck, taking his time and leaning into her ear. "You may call me, 'Sir', anywhere but in public."

With an audible 'click' the clasp locked and Elaine shivered. She had to get a hold of herself.

I can't believe I'm fucking this up!

She turned back to him, unable to meet his eyes. "Th... Thank you for reminding me." Elaine touched the choker with her fingertips. It was so soft. "And... And thank you for believing in me."

She looked up at him, hoping her words met with his approval. He nodded before glancing toward a movement away from their table. Elaine followed his eyes and saw Chelsea approaching. Gary leaned down, whispering as Chelsea got closer and closer, "I bet you're sopping fucking wet,aren't you?"

Chelsea asked if they were ready to place their orders. Gary closed his menu and raised his eyebrow at Elaine.

God, he already knows what he wants!

Holding the leather-bound 'Carte du Jour' in her hands, the words swam and she saw French everywhere. She hadn't had a chance to look at it yet, had she? She couldn't even remember! She didn't think she'd be able to make a decision anytime soon. If ever!

Sensing her predicament, or perhaps even fostering it, Gary offered, "If it meets with your approval, it would bemy pleasure to order for you."

If nothing else, Elaine was a quick learner. She instantly relented.

It would be his pleasure...

"Please... I... I can't decide..."

And I wish my fucking thighs would stop twitching!

How could she explain what was happening to her? She couldn't understand it herself.Something had changed. Something had been tweaked. Gary was harder. Moredriven. Sitting next to him, bearing the full force of him, was an awe-inspiring experience. Elaine needed to pay attention. She watched him in profile as he read from the menu and Chelsea scribbled. His French was very good.

I have to let go.

I... I'm going to let him do anything he wants...

Chelsea disappeared and Gary turned back to Elaine, their thighs barely touching. He picked up his glass and urged her to do likewise. He proposed another toast. "To opening the door." They clinked glasses and Elaine took a large, fortifying sip. The wine was superb. She wondered if it somehow tasted better because of what was happening. Putting down his glass, Gary looked at Elaine and asked, "What's on your mind?"