The Kissing Spell Pt. 01

"Ok, I'll take that under consideration too. Thanks."

"No problem Jon. It's nice to see even some of my most studious employees can get distracted."

"I'll try to make sure it doesn't happen again."

"As long as work is up, you won't see me complaining."

"I'll do my best with that."

"Good man, let me let you get back to it."

"Thanks, bye Mr. Bevy."

Jon hung up the phone and put his face in his hands, sighing deeply.

* * *

Jon arrived home late into the night, burying himself in work as much as he could, before giving up for the night and shuffling all the paperwork carelessly into his briefcase to head home. He was too tired to organize it all, and by the time he arrived home, he was too tired to do anything.

He would've gone for the Playstation, but he didn't have any interest in it after today. Hunger didn't set in like it usually did considering the turbulent day he had, so he settled for an easy cup of ramen and apple juice, and a small workout shortly after before thinking about heading to bed. It was less about being tired and more being mentally exhausted from the day he had and wanting it to go away soon instead of trying to counteract it with something he liked. After showering, he at least decided to prepare himself for the next day, and went to deal with what was thrown into his briefcase. Organizing the shuffle of papers, he'd come across the CD Sabrina gave him, or more accurately slapped to his chest.

Jon still believed something was odd about her being there, and maybe the things she was doing, but he couldn't prove anything. And he didn't exactly look back at his exchange with her earlier as something righteous; reactionary was more like it. And no matter what he thought about her, he'd make himself apologize to her soon. He thought about all this as he held the CD in his hands. There was no special markings or even anything written on it. It looked like a generic disc, and made him think she simply burned a quick CD, maybe with him in mind, or something she gave to some of the staff to help them along. As it looked as generic as any random CD-R in the office you'd find, there was no way to tell if she made recordings for others often. He decided to give it a listen, cautiously.

Getting ready for bed, he set his alarm clock, and used an old portable CD player he kept to play it. He rested his head against his arm, bed sheets covering up to his chest, listening to the audio start up. The first and only thing he heard was a soft surf of water coming onto the beach. He listened for about a minute into it before he fast forwarded past 5 minutes and it was the same sound, only louder. At that point, he thought she just left him one of those "sounds of nature" CDs. Jon had heard a few before, and while this one wasn't exceptional, it was nice. It let his imagination run to an imaginary beach where he was alone, lying in the shade on a warm day, listening to the water come and go. His arm shifted and let his head rest against the pillow. The beach sounds kept playing and the night went away before Jon knew it.

* * *

Jon woke the next morning, feeling pretty good. The headphones had fallen off his ears sometime during the night, and he felt more energy coming out of bed than he thought he'd have, beating the alarm noise by 5 minutes. After a set of push-ups, sit-ups and a quick jog, he'd gotten a shower and spontaneously decided to make a more filling breakfast than usual. He would've usually saved it for weekends, but Friday was close enough for him, and he did feel exceptionally good. After the meal, he dressed and gathered up everything he needed for work, making sure to bring the CD to thank Sabrina and apologize later that day.

Arriving at work seemed like business as usual. There were no emails from Sabrina, Bevy, or anyone about yesterday, but he decided to get caught up on the few he received before Thursday, coordinating with them. One of the emails was from someone on Jesse's team; he told him he would try to connect with him later that day, also hoping to get a few minutes with Jesse herself to talk. It was nearly lunchtime by the time he'd caught up on all the other emails, and he told Jesse's subordinate that he'd try to meet him just before lunch, thinking it wouldn't take long.

He took the stairs to the level below him, heading toward Jesse's part of the floor. He made his way straight in that direction, until something made him deviate. It was very much in-passing he heard from two guys who passed by Jon, and he could've let it go or mistakenly heard something other than what was said, but "Jesse and that guy last night" was what it sounded like, and it was enough to make Jon follow them as they headed to the bathroom. He kept his head down and headed for the stall while they stood in front of the sink, still talking.

Jon didn't like eavesdropping and felt a little hypocritical for chastising his friends and people who worked under him about it, but he couldn't help himself. The two described last night where several of Jesse's team, including Jesse, went out for drinks, and this handsome guy started hitting on her. He was pretty subtle about it, or just subtle enough to not be told off. After she accepted the drink he bought for her, they got to talking, and that seemed to be it. One of the men however theorized that the guy leaving and Jesse saying she was 'turning in' not 5 minutes after, that she probably took him up on whatever offer he'd thrown her way. The one who listened to it had trouble believing the story, no matter how much the other swore by it. Jon just sat still in the stall, replaying the details in his head, getting more upset the more he thought about it. Had Jesse been just another co-worker, he would've thought nothing of it all. But she was much more than that. And worse yet, through the last absent month of contact, his feelings allowed him to believe the guy's theory, clashing with the last conversation he had with Jesse about where they stood. He'd obviously translated her version of "we're still together" incorrectly, or just defined "together" very differently.

He left the bathroom stall and went back up to his office, walking with the distress of yesterday, just before he snapped at Sabrina. It didn't matter to him that he'd left someone waiting for him, he just needed to be left alone. He was fortunate that most people were starting to head out to get lunch by the time he was in his chair, shaking his head as he reclined back, he hoped he'd have enough time to cool off. The memory of a picture she'd taken of herself for him, that he kept in his wallet, prompted him to pull it out and look at it. Her smiling face was now like a cruel taunt; someone that he wanted slipped away from him for what seemed like no good reason. He didn't want to face the fact that what was between them was just a whim for her, especially as he thought about long-term plans. He wanted to throw her picture in the trash, but it ended up somewhere on his desk. Maybe he would return it to her to convince himself that it was over, maybe. He suddenly remembered the CD he'd listened to last night, and decided to let it help him start to feel better, or at least 'not-angry' sooner than he could.

He took his shoes off, took slow deep breaths to prepare to relax, put on the headphones and let the sound of the surf come into his ears again. Unexpectedly, the sound already started to work his stress out, and he settled into a comfortable position almost instantly. With the size of the breakfast he made himself, he didn't feel hungry enough to need to get food, and he knew the duration was about 40 minutes, so he just let it play, and pretended the salty waters would take his problems temporarily away from him.

What Jon didn't know was that he'd tossed and turned a little, accidentally letting the headphones come off his head as he slipped into natural sleep. They were more fixed while he sat in his chair, so he wouldn't miss anything this time. The first time he only heard the water flowing, and not the barely audible track of a whispering voice. All his mind picked up was whispered commands to relax, settle into wherever he was, and let himself go. Last night he let go to sleep; taking in all of the recording meant he was letting go to the voice. Whispers craftily became as audible as the water, almost woven into the rhythm of the waves. And then they became more identifiable, more feminine, seductive, and methodical, the beach expertly fading into a subliminal track. Jon didn't have time to recognize what was going on, as was the CD's intended purpose.

Sabrina knocked softly at his door, hoping to speak with him about the day before. Checking the handle to see if it was locked, she slowly opened the door to see Jon laying back and listening to something. She looked back to see if anyone else was around before closing the door gently behind her. Her heels treaded carefully, silently as she approached him. Tilting her head down to come close to listen to the recording, a wicked smile formed as she heard her own voice through his headphones. He looked so peaceful, calm, and actually happy as her words ran through his mind. She didn't know for sure if he would even listen to it after yesterday, but before meeting him, she thought it wouldn't hurt to try. At that point, there wasn't anything special planned with him; just having him under opened up numerous possibilities.

"Like I said Jonathan, you're not as hard as you think you are," she whispered to the mentally-tamed manager. Leaning in again to hear what her voice was telling him, keen ears noted he was past the deepening part that fixed him exactly where he was. Listless, receptive, almost totally reliant on her voice, and getting into deepening based on his desires, and maybe forming new ones. She did, in-fact, give him a generic relaxation CD, but one that was an introduction to her power. It was the most convenient way to reach some people whom she didn't have time to personally meet with, but it worked wonders for opening people up to her later on. Knowing the timing of her words, she waited for a particular pause between her induction to give Sabrina the window to personally take over where the CD left off. When that time came, his headphones were gently removed.

"Good, Jonathan. Yes, very good. It is good that you're hearing my words so clearly, as if they're coming from inside your mind. That's right, you're so open to them. It feels so natural to just be as you are now, and be totally attentive to my words. The sound of my voice is very alleviating and calming, even soothing if you listen long enough. And the longer you listen, the deeper you'll go into this state where it's just you and me, and my words. And the deeper you go, the more you will want to listen, to let those words come over you, to make you feel better, even help shape you into someone better. A happier shape, a nicer shape, a deeper shape. Any shape Sabrina sees fit. Doesn't this feel good, Jonathan? No need to question or analyze any of this; just let it happen. Thoughts wash away with the surf and leave you warm and peaceful. Or the warm waters of my voice carry you out to sea, away from your troubles and will bring you back much better than they left you. It feels good to let Sabrina in."

Jon showed no change after she removed his headphones, his smile only deepened as he heard her voice and personally addressed him. Sabrina's Irish intonation grew stronger in her voice, and she let her known hypnotist-prowess take over and guide him. Years of experience allowed her to completely, consciously remove the accent from her voice in normal conversation. But as a hypnotist, she treated it like an additive, something to enhance her control. She liked showing her true colors like this, speaking naturally from her Irish heritage, as naturally as bringing someone deep into her influence. She touched his temples and started rotating circles in his skin.

"Nothing feels as good as this does Jonathan. This is the escape you've been looking for. A vacation for your mind and body, that not even a conventional getaway can grant you. Not travel agent required for a hypnotic vacation, just the sound of my voice to carry you off. And while you're on this luxurious trip, don't be afraid to feel and act naturally. You could feel fatigued and drained enough to just sleep in your condition, and that's perfectly fine. In fact, Sabrina insists that you do so. Let your mind go as you listen to me as I help you feel better the next time you wake. Earlier I spoke of things that you desire, things that make you very happy, maybe things you don't even tell others about. You can let those thoughts come to you now; they will aid you in feeling better. Whatever makes you happy, picture that right now. Create it as specific or as vague as you like, but let it come to the forefront of your sleepy mind."

Sabrina watched his eyelids twitch and move, like REM sleep, all while taking a deep breath in his nose. The only thing Jon was aware of was Sabrina's words, the shape of his desire, and unconsciously the scent of Sabrina's perfume that helped shape his desire. Sabrina didn't know that it was making his breaths particularly deeper, and she wasn't keen on him describing his desires to her yet.

"Yes, Jonathan, that's right. Very good. Deep breaths and desirable thoughts all take you deeper. And it makes you want to experience these desires, to let them fill your head and fill you with joy. It's more than natural to feel that way, you should want to feel good. As you listen to my voice, interacting with these desires becomes more vivid in your imagination, in your dreams. It's like your dreams are coming true, and it's all thanks to Sabrina. I am quite happy to have led you here, the pleasure is almost as much mine as it is yours. But since you might feel the need to thank me, you can thank me by interacting with your desires right now. Yes, that's right. With each word I speak, interacting with these desires in your mind wi-"

Sabrina felt herself interrupted when Jon's lips made contact with hers. She thought it was an accidental, casual brushing at first, like she'd gotten too close. It was Jon that closed the distance, as his desires overtook him, shaped not only by Sabrina's words, but by her perfume, her feminine, confident tone, and how good she made him feel. Collectively she was embodying what he desired in a woman. A month or two ago, his desires may have taken on the image of Jesse, but it was more non-specific now. All he knew is that she was beautiful, whomever she was, engaging him on a very intimate level, and that they were close together and their lips connected. The casual brushing turned into a slow kiss. She was shocked more in how amorous it felt, even more than the notion of being kissed. Trying to pull back was fruitless, trapped by his hand that gently held the back of her neck. It didn't really pull her closer, just allowing him to close the distance and bring his desire to his dream woman.

The feel of each other's lips, the slow, calefacient contact kept them together. The red-headed hypnotist let her judgment lapse for a minute and let herself enjoy a spontaneous action from her subject that she thought would last no more than a few seconds. She told herself she would stop this and take back control, but stopping it was a thought vaulted to the back of her mind as she lost herself in how he kissed her. Jon's lips and intentions were patient; Sabrina's felt eagerness, yet a yielding. He held back only to invite her to contribute, to match him and intensify the act together. She learned more about him than she ever expected to as the kiss deepened, unsurprising to either of them. Jon's nose was filled with her perfume and the memory of her words set his actions into interacting with that desire, wanting to share it with the woman who more or less stood in-front of him and inspired it.

Sabrina caught herself, still in his gentle grip. A protest and command bidding him to stop failed against increased insistence on capturing her red lips. She leaned back to raise herself up, surprised that is hand at her neck came with her instead of pulling her down, and his head followed. She wondered at first if he was faking it, or if he really was in trance. Some of his expression suggested he was, but she'd taken him so deep into his desires that they now lead both of them. They both stood up, and the kiss continued, even slowing again before it would eventually increase. Jon was joyously trapped in a lucid dream, uninterested in anything that didn't have to do with the woman and her spell-binding lips. Hastily-muttered suggestions of lethargic limbs didn't feel as valid as the ones encouraging him to dive deep into his own desires from minutes earlier, so it didn't feel strange at all to find the energy to lift himself out of the chair he was unaware of to stay close to her. Both standing upright, his hands were at her sides, and hers laid against his arms. Her mind and body were in protest about trying to push him away. His lips veered away from hers after long minutes, but softly pressed against her cheek and downward, allowing her to breathe. It was an overdue, passionate-sounding breath from her that excited his sated mind, feeling that he pleased his dream woman somehow.

"Jonathan..." Sabrina breathed out weakly. "J-" she tried not to make a sound, because it would've been moaning the way he sensually assaulted her neck. It wasn't until their lips weren't interlocked that she realized how good a kiss he gave her, like the lingering taste of an exquisite wine. Not forgetting that she was supposed to be the one in-control, she tried turning amour in her favor.

"Listen to me Jonathan, carefully and deeply. With each kiss, your mind and body becomes more motionless, thoughtless, waiting only for my words to allow you to move. Especially when you kiss my lips."

Sabrina grasped his head and moved him back to her face, and gave him a latent kiss, as if paying him back. The kiss was shorter, and she made sure she was controlling it as she pulled his face away from her with her hands, smiling deeply as she watched his half-open eyelids and his mouth slowly moving, almost searching for the lips he was just denied.

"No, no Jonathan. Your body is supposed to not move for me. Once our kiss is over, a deep overwhelming hush comes over you and is only lifted at my command. Stop moving, no thinking, simply breathing normally, remain totally at rest for Sabrina."

She watched him slow to a crawl, and then becoming a breathing tranced statue, finally stilled and obedient. A lithe finger ran over her lips as she looked at his.

"Jesus," she whispered to herself, trying to get her breathing back in control. She would need to reapply her lipstick soon, as half of it looked smeared across his mouth. She regarded him cautiously as he was stilled, he didn't look completely under. Her deep breaths were quiet, almost afraid to give any indication she was close by. The fear of leaving him to wake and figure out what happened was stronger though. Sabrina hated to admit that Jon was a harder, or trickier subject than she gave him credit for. She would chastise herself later for the playing with the fire of his passion, using it against him, followed by reasoning how she had little choice as he took her breath away. "No, deprived me of oxygen," she told herself. She stepped up to his side and started whispering something into ear when the desk phone rang.

He drew breath unexpectedly as he tried and successfully blinked out of his tranced look. He came to himself just barely, but noticed a scent in the air, and his senses acted on instinct, his head reaching out and coming into contact with surprised lips again. The phone continued to ring, making him open his eyes wide. He saw Sabrina's blue eyes, almost as wide as his. He gasped as their lips parted, and he stepped back in complete shock.