Chapter 2: A Steep Learning Curve

The rain was a never-ending downpour for the ninth day in a row. The old decorator sat in the back of his old Bedford van listening to the news on the radio. The back doors were propped open with various tools and buckets, and an old tarpaulin formed a sheltering roof over the passage between the van and the back door to the almost-but-not-really finished premises.

Niamh was not even remotely amused with how things were going, but she had decided not to push on too hard. Not now, when everything was almost set and done, and the whole country seemed to be taken hostage by what the newly crowned weather-gurus called “effects of climate change.”

On the news were reports from Suffolk about rising water levels once again, and the old man shook his head while stuffing his pipe full of cheap tobacco that smelled like turpentine.

Niamh watched him from the doorway, impatiently tapping her mobile on the doorpost. Right in that moment she could have killed for a smoke. What was it that she was waiting for anyway? If Alex called, which she had promised, she was only going to be able to tell that the bloody work wasn’t done once more. Perhaps she would try to find out if she wanted to meet her anytime soon. Or not.

They had met in her apartment the week before, and Niamh had just taken on Sandra’s sister as a presumptive flatmate if things were going to change- well, she had practically moved her stuff in already- and she had felt that Alex had wanted her for herself that evening. Nichola was all over the place; cooking, serving and God knows what. Trying to be kind, but getting in the way all the time.

Then, everything got in the way. The only chance they had had to talk was over the phone, and that was not proper talking, anyway. She kicked the blunt end of the doorstop. How stupid the whole thing was. Was there really any future in having this sort of strange relationship with a woman twenty years older than her? She couldn’t get her head around it. Was this really her?

But then again, how stupid it might seem, it was something she wouldn’t have liked to miss.

‘Shit.’

Niamh cursed the weather and squeezed the mobile like a sponge.

* * *

A trail of diesel exhausts followed the old van down the lane. A day’s hard anything-but-work had come to an end, and Niamh decided to leave things where they were, lock up and head for home.

The sad face of the battered Metro, which Tim in a chivalrous fit had borrowed her indefinitely, met her out in the rainy street. It made her even more depressed to see it, knowing it was a long way home. By now, she had learned to drive it without having to fear for her safety- both mental and physical- which involved duct tape and a steady pace around 50, but it was simply no fun at all.

As she closed the door, she noticed the headlights in the mirror. Someone was coming rather fast up the alley with water cascading from the wheels, flashing the lights.

‘What the fuck now?’ Niamh squeaked to herself. She tried to turn the key, but it had jammed in the ignition. The car, a gun metal grey Mercedes, came to a halt to her right, blocking the door.

Niamh exhaled as she recognized the driver, urging her to roll down the window.

‘Hello! I’m not too late to tell you that you really shouldn’t try to drive all the way to Manchester in this weather, am I?’

‘Fucking hell! You scared me there. Why didn’t you ring or leave a message or something? I wasn’t expecting you here.’

‘No service on the mobile, sweetie. I think yours is down as well.’

‘So you drove all the way here to...’

‘No, I was on my way home. I nearly didn’t make it here. It’s bloody mayhem in some places. Now look, we can stay here and chat or you can move your bottom over here. I want to leave before it gets even worse.’

Niamh grabbed her bag, got out of the Metro in a single rush and left in unlocked, running for cover in the passenger seat of the grey missile. The snug, posh-looking leather upholstery felt a bit chilly but dry to her backside, and it was a great difference to the one she had just left. Alex seemed cheerful, in a sunny mood despite the weather, and Niamh noticed how dressed up she was. She was about to ask where she had been and where the car came from, but Alex beat her to it as she turned the car round swerving dangerously close to the scaffolding outside the shop.

‘Do you like the car?’

‘Yeah. Is it yours?’

‘I guess it is now, but I don’t know if I’ll keep it or not. Some days things go better than planned, sweetie, and this is part of today’s dividend.’

Niamh decided it was best not to dig deeper into the matter. It didn’t make any sense at all, anyway.

There was a short moment of silence. The single wiper worked away, but barely managed to keep the windscreen clear. Alex carefully put her hand on Niamh’s thigh, squeezing it gently.

‘It seems like we have to stay indoors for quite a while.’

Niamh felt a strange warmth rise through her. She clasped her bag tighter and swallowed.  

‘I guess I won’t be back here tomorrow, then?’

‘No.’ Alex drew her breath though clenched teeth. A slight twitch in the corner of her mouth revealed how uptight she was. ‘Not for a while you won’t. Not for a while.’

* * *

The wine had gone straight to her head. She had only had a couple of glasses, but still she felt warm and fluffy. They sat closely together on the sofa, occasionally listening to the rain falling on the window sills. A flickering light from the open fire made the room seem vaguely outlined, and the sound of Alex’ voice was almost lulling. 

‘Still in doubt about us?’

The question came from nowhere, but Niamh wasn’t at a loss.

‘It gets me how...’ She shook her head. ‘How much I needed this, you know what I mean. Should someone find out without me telling them, they wouldn’t understand how I really feel...’

‘Isn’t it just curiosity, then?’

‘Come on...’ Niamh swilled down the lump in her throat with the rest of the wine. ‘You, if anybody, should be able to tell, don’t you think?’

‘I think you’re dying to find out things about yourself you didn’t even know about. Not to mention...Well, me.’

‘P’rhaps.’

‘But I also feel that’s not all of it.’

Alex came closer and let her hands start to wander, kissing Niamh on the neck. The fuzziness was superseded by a familiar electric tingle, and she relaxed. The mere scent of Alex was enough to set her off really good.

‘How about you, then?’ she ventured to ask. ‘Have I caused any trouble while I was gone?’

‘Oh yes.’ Alex’ breathed in between kisses. ‘And I’ll tell you all about it if you just let go of your uncertainty, and ask me...’ She gently locked Niamh’s wrists together with her right hand. ‘...to do the things you fantasized about the last time we met.’

‘That’s blackmail.’

‘To our mutual satisfaction, I assure you.’

* * *

The plastic covering the bottom of the old wooden armchair stuck to her skin and felt a bit uncomfortable. She tried to shift in her seat, but it wasn’t easy. Alex had improvised a little set in a matter of minutes, and Niamh was secured in the chair with white plastic strap cuffs around her wrists and ankles. They resembled the ones she had seen the police use on TV.

Alex wanted her naked, and there was simply no point in arguing. She thought for herself that it would have been fun to wear rubber- at least it would have been warmer- but that had to wait. One thing that disturbed her, though, was that she couldn’t recall having said anything to Alex about what she wanted to try. She tried to shun that thought. It was probably her own mind playing tricks on her again, anyway.

‘Now, how does it feel?’ Alex asked, contentedly grinning.

‘Sticky.’

‘Sorry about the plastic, darling. Now...’ She produced a thing Niamh had only seen in pictures. ‘I wonder if you’re ready to try this.’

Niamh’s mind started to race as she recognized the ball gag. This was happening for real.

‘I found this. It’s a fairly small one, and I don’t think it will be too much for you unless you are really sensitive about having things...’ Alex paused, trying not to show too much malicious pleasure. ‘...shoved in your mouth.’

Niamh eyed Alex, slowly shaking her head.

‘All rightie, then. Head forward, please.’

Before the leather straps were fastened around her head, with the little red ball still dangling close to her lower lip, Niamh shirked.

‘Wait.’

‘Yes, sweetie? Do you want to have it off?’

‘No.’ She tried to swallow. ‘No. Alex?’

‘Mhm?’

‘Are you going to...You know...’

Alex stood perfectly still, as if she was expecting something.

‘You may ask nicely for a small favour before we start. What would you like me to do? Spell it out, please.’

‘I want...’

‘Do you want to be masturbated?’

Niamh felt a sudden hot flash rolling through her. She nodded silently. The gag slipped in between her lips, and was strapped tight to her head.

‘All right. My pleasure.’ Alex’ voice pitched slightly lower. ‘But you must understand that it’ll be done my way, and you have to trust me. I’ll ask you once again: Are you ready?’

A quick nod, hardly more than a slight dip of the head.

Niamh felt a light pat on the cheek and looked up. Alex was heading for the door. She grunted and tried to rock the chair.

‘I’ll be back in just a minute. I don’t think you’ll need me to hold your hand...yet.’ Alex pinched her left earlobe. ‘Patience. Be a nice girl, and please try not to tip the chair over.’

Being left alone in this predicament was less exciting, she thought. The straps around her ankles chafed already, and she could swear that a window was left open somewhere. Niamh shivered.

She examined the gag with her tongue, and discovered what felt like tiny dents on the ball. Bite marks. Other teeth had bitten down quite hard on it, and she began to wonder who those teeth belonged to. That someone had been in pain, judging from the cavities. It felt really strange. Was this going out of hand?

Niamh tried to guess what Alex was up to by listening to the sounds from the other side of the door she could barely catch, but her imagination began to interfere heavily with her actual perception. She tested her bonds instinctively, but they didn’t seem to give that easily. Parts of her wanted out of there, but there was also a slight tingling sensation in her belly.

Alex stalked into the room, quite nonchalant, carrying a few items in a plastic bag. She was wearing a petite, sheer nightgown with matching briefs made of what seemed to be very fine, smoke-coloured transparent latex with black trim. Everything was clearly visible.

‘Unfhr!’ Niamh huffed.

‘Oh, I couldn’t keep myself from donning a little something out of the ordinary. You’ll have plenty of time to play tomorrow, if you still feel up to it then.’

She started circling Niamh, who tried to keep eyes on her to see what she was going to do, lightly caressing her shoulders, neck and breasts. Suddenly, she pinched her left nipple pretty hard. Niamh snorted and gave a start. Alex leaned forward, resting her sheathed bosom on Niamh’s shoulders.

‘I will try to keep in mind that this is your first time.’ she hummed. ‘Even if these moments tend to get me in the vein.’

‘Aw..’

Niamh felt sharp fingernails scratching her skin. She thought of icicles.

‘Let me talk you through it. Don’t hesitate to say stop.’

Alex emptied the contents of the bag on the carpet, and picked up two familiar-looking gadgets. One big white, innocent-looking plastic device, and a bronze rod with ribs that made Niamh fear the worst.

‘This..’ she said in an educational voice, ‘is a quite powerful little bugger. It’s a vibrator wand. No need for batteries, just plug it in and go.’ She wiggled the smaller toy, equipped with a strange teaspoon-like tip. ‘This is what they call an eroscillator. It’s...Well, let’s say it does its share. Not for...’ And there was that smile again, Niamh thought. ‘...absolute beginners. Now...’

  With a few cursory movements Alex fixed the wand to Niamh’s thigh with a pair of flexible Velcro straps so that the soft knob touched her sex. Then she plugged both toys in the wall socket behind the chair, drew up a stool and placed herself right in front of Niamh.

‘Ready or not, here we go.’

Niamh grunted, rubbing off a drop of saliva from her cheek on her chest. This, she thought, was probably going to hurt. She stared at Alex’ fingers giving the control switch on the wand a light push. The sudden sensation of having a bumblebee stuck between the legs made her cringe.

‘Are you listening?’ Alex voice cut through the buzz.

‘Nnhh.’

‘I don’t think you’ve really deserved to hear any details about my doings while you weren’t here, but I feel obliged to you for making... things... more interesting than they have been for quite a while.’

Slipping from stern to naughty, she moved closer to Niamh, sliding her warm hand up her left thigh. A quick flick with her thumb sent the bumblebee into a frenzy. Niamh pulled her bonds, biting the gag viciously.

‘To be honest, I haven’t been at it like this for ages. Toys, the shower...’

‘Aaf.’

‘In the car, yesterday, leaving the meeting. I was this close to giving myself a hand.’ Alex giggled. ‘And last week, you know, I got really inspired. Nostalgic. I wiggled into one of my old catsuits- I figured it would be too snug now and split on me or something- but it fit. God, I was in a haze for hours afterwards.’

Niamh felt that she couldn’t hold back for long. The constant vibration seemed to melt through her like a hot flame through sorbet.

‘I can’t recall the last time I got orgasmic simply by fussing about in rubber, but it happened... just like that.’

The eroscillator came to life in her hand. She slowly moved it in between her own legs, letting it graze the front panel of the briefs. Niamh watched her face soften as the tip reached a sensitive spot.

‘And I suppose you haven’t deprived yourself, have you?’

Niamh wasn’t really sure what Alex really wanted to hear, but she tentatively shook her head. Alex gave her a look of approval and smacked her tongue. Then, very slowly, she moved the eroscillator to Niamh’s already throbbing sex.

The effect was immediate and violent. A thousand needles hit Niamh where it felt the most, and she shrieked, bucking and jerking in the chair.

‘It’s getting tough, isn’t it? Do you want me to stop?’

‘Na!’

There was a crackling noise and Niamh noticed that Alex had picked up the bag from the floor. She held it up in front of her face.

‘Would you like to try something really interesting?’

Niamh stared at her in disbelief. She baulked at the plastic touching her cheek.

‘No? I’d love to watch you struggle just a little...’

Alex moved behind her back and kept the eroscillator in place, rustling the plastic with her free hand. Niamh threw herself from side to side, snorting like a cornered boxer.

The sudden, violent climax almost knocked her over. It took her a few moments to settle, but there was still a distinct throbbing feeling that wouldn’t go away. The adrenaline boost made her hypersensitive, and every loving stroke Alex gave her felt electric. The gag was unstrapped and plopped down on her heaving chest followed by glistening strings of saliva.

‘I’m afraid I got a little carried away there.’ Alex whispered.

Niamh couldn’t trace any remorse in her voice. She tried to get her jaw straight to be able to speak properly.

‘I knew you’d pull something like that. Christ.’

‘Sorry. Shall we get rid of the straps, then?’

The motherly hint didn’t fool her, either. In a split second she tried to decide which route to take from there. She could continue acting offended and probably get a good pampering out of it, or she could simply give way to the part of her that desired a little more action right there.

She probably knew more about certain games than Alex had guessed by now- knowing Sandra entailed quite a few interesting experiences along the way- which gave her the upper hand in a bizarre way, even if she had not tried this thing before. Not for real. But...

‘No. Leave it.’

‘Sweetie?’

Oh, how she loved that blend of surprise and anticipation.

‘Switch it on again. I want more.’ Niamh grunted, giving Alex her best impression of a girl totally off her head, staring wildly. She grinned with pent-up excitement when she felt the buzz travelling through her again.

‘Gimme the bag...’

It was Alex turn to look at least a bit astounded, but she didn’t waste any time on questions. Niamh took a big gulp of air before the bag was pulled over her head, and sealed tight around her neck with a few twists.

After a few tentative breaths at first, she started to enjoy the thrill of not really knowing how she would react. Alex had left enough air in the bag to keep her from panicking all too soon, so Niamh retorted by breathing really deeply. The rustling noise as the bag inflated and deflated was nearly deafening, and the vibe started to hit back really good.

Seconds passed, and Niamh savoured the wee twitches that she knew was the prelude to something much bigger already waiting to happen. It was getting harder to breathe, and the bag clasped her face every time she struggled to get as much air as possible. The feeling wasn’t altogether unpleasant, but she was beginning to feel sweaty and muzzy. By now, all she could see was a moist blur.

Niamh felt semi-consciously relieved when the twitches grew into an electric surge. She spasmed violently as she lost control, overcome by a much smoother second orgasm.

The bag was lifted off, and the vibrations stopped. She still wallowed in the surging waves when Alex lips met hers. Her heart was racing uncontrollably, and there was a taste of metal in her mouth.

* * *

There was something slightly unnerving in the way Alex looked at her, Niamh thought when they were lying flat on the floor after a ravishment lasting longer than she really could stand. Her limbs were all pins and needles, and her lower back hurt from being slammed repeatedly against the carpet. Alex had came up with some new tricks with the vibes in the very thick of it all, which included buzzing them both to simultaneous insanity.

‘What are you thinking about now, then?’ Niamh croaked.

‘Nothing, really.’ Alex sighed, pushing her hair behind her ears as a pause for effect. ‘It’s just that you work in mysterious ways.’

‘Says you.’

But somehow Niamh sensed that there was that someone deep inside her who opened the door slightly to the outside world. This strange world. She wasn’t at all sure that she wanted to let that person swing it open, but that was a question for later. Much later.

Alex’ weight was upon her again, rolling over her like nightfall.

30.04.10