“Pain in the Core of Pleasure”
“Listener, wake up,” Alan says gently next to my ear. He leans in and kisses the top of my head.
“What time is it?” I wipe the blurry vision from my back eyes. The kind of sight that plagues you when you're still half asleep. His smile is something nice to wake up to. He lets out a small laugh as I stretch my whole body in my bed.
“Don’t worry about that. I want to show you something.” He leaves a trail of kisses down my neck. I turn my head and watch his green eyes light up. I don’t think I could ever say no to him.
“Let me get dressed,” I say as I sit up against my headboard.
He laughs and throws my gray shorts and my black tank top next to me on the bed.
I nod my head at his gesture and slide my shirt over my shoulders.
Alan studies me closely as I swing both of my legs down from my bed and slide my cotton shorts up my thighs.
“What do you want to show me?” It’s a little pathetic how excited I am.
“It’ s a surprise. You'll find out when we get there.” He makes that smirk that he knows weakens my knees, and it’s as if my insides instantly melt.
“Where are we going?” Curiosity fills my mind as I make my way over to my closet and slide on my slip-on Vans.
“Don’t you know anything about surprises?” His smirk widens to his charming smile. My hair is a tangled mess of after sex curls, and my makeup must be smeared all over my face, but Alan stands with his arms across his chest, looking at me with approval.
“You ready?” His tone is eager, still grinning with his mouth stretching across his face.
“Yeah, let me just grab my phone…” I watch how his whole aura changes. The color leaves his cheeks, and his face goes pale. Alan grabs my waist and pulls me into his chest before I can get to my nightstand.
“No need. We won’t be gone that long.” He whispers in my ear. I never go anywhere without my phone. Anyone who knows me knows that.
“Alan, I need my phone.” My smiling facade isn’t fooling him. He has to know that I’ll be a nervous wreck without it.
“Thalia, it’s late. No one is going to send you any messages, and you won’t have any notifications at this hour.” He turns my body to face his. His body is pressed up against my chest, and I can feel my heart racing. He looks down at the expensive-looking watch on his wrist.
"If anything happens, I’ll have mine, and we can use it. I promise, you’re safe with me. You won’t need it.” He grabs my hand and holds it against his chest. “Have I ever given you a reason not to trust me?”
I shake my head. I try to hide the uncertainty on my face, but he can see through my mask. Deep breaths, Thalia. It’s only a phone, and he said we won’t be gone long. It's Alan. I know him.
He waits for my ambivalence to subside, and his whole persona goes back to how I know him. My Alan. With one unsure leer, I turn on a switch, and he is back to the way I know him best.
He takes my hand in his and leads me quickly out the front door, through the long hallway, and down the stairs. He moves in such long strides that we almost run through the cold drizzle of raindrops outside towards his car.
Like the gentleman he is, he eagerly opens my door, and I climb in.
His eyes never leave me as I settle into my seat, and he politely shuts my door behind me.
My eyes follow his shadowed figure, walking around to the driver's seat. His eyes meet mine as soon as he sits down. I’ve never seen this side of him before.
His grin is infectious and he acts like an excited kid on Christmas morning.
“Put this on.” He playfully hands me a black, silk sleeping mask.
“What’s this?” I probe while trying to be equally as playful.
“What’s it look like?” His tone stays the same.
“What would a surprise be without a blind fold?” Touché.
“Don’t take it off. That’s for me to do later.
” He winks before I slide it over my eyes.
Alan waits to start the car until the mask is comfortably covering my eyes.
My perception goes dark, and that’s when I hear the ignition start.
It’s almost funny how trusting Thalia is right now. The car slightly shakes while she sits in the passenger seat with her knee bouncing in anticipation. I can’t wait to witness the look on your face when you see what I have in store for you.
“Are you excited?” I ask with humor in my voice. I keep my eyes focused on the road in front of me. I know I am.
“A little bit and a little nervous,” she admits. Like a natural habit, she turns her head to face me when she talks.
“Nervous?” She reluctantly nods her head.
“You’re with me, remember. Nothing to be worried about.
” You should be nervous, Listener. You should be running away from me, but you’ve fallen for my act.
Stupid girl, you should have ran away from me that night after we went to the diner.
You should have looked the other way when I caught your gaze at The Neon Rose.
I thought I was a measly insect caught in your web, but it is you who has fallen into mine.
My hands grip the steering wheel until I can see my knuckles whiten.
Her lips turn up into a smile and she does her best to keep her attention ahead.
“Not one for surprises, are you?” She shakes her head while still trying to maintain the act that she isn’t full of unknowing anxiety. I can see right through you.
“Where are you taking me?” She slides her clammy palms up and down her naked thighs.
“What would a surprise be if I told you?” Out of the corner of my eye, I notice the wide beam that forms on her lips while she continues to face the uncertain path in front of her .
I study her frail body becoming tense when she hears the soft sound of gravel under the wheels.
She stops moving her palms down her exposed skin and fidgets with the loose cotton of her shorts.
Without any words, she questions my next move.
She turns her head to face me again when she feels the engine turn off.
“We’re here,” I announce playfully as I remove the keys from the ignition. Her hands grip the door handle as if she’s trying to keep herself inside. I move my warm hand on the smooth skin of her upper thigh, now covered in goosebumps.
“Don’t worry, Thalia. You’re safe with me. I’ll hold your hand and guide you inside.” Her tight grip loosens, and I watch as the muscles in her arms relax. “Good girl.”
She releases her tight shoulders and automatically rests against the back of the chair. It’s amazing how one phrase makes her practically melt. She becomes putty at my words.
Slowly, I get out of my seat and gently shut the car door. I love knowing how the anticipation of tonight eats away at her. She startles when I slowly pull on her handle, but willingly reaches for my hand, and I bring her into my chest. If you were smart, you would start running.
“You’re alright. Just a few more steps.” My voice is an escort towards the small storage unit that will soon be her hell on earth.
“I hope you didn’t go through a lot of trouble in setting up this… whatever this is.” Her laughter is loud in the small concrete space. You have no fucking idea.
“For you, it was worth it.” Her sneer is like red paint spread across her face, and I can’t wait to see how she looks when it dramatically changes shape. “Stay right here. I just need to unlock the door.” Thalia agrees and does her best to keep balance after I let go of her hand.
I slide the small key in the space in the padlock, and I push up the large, red roll-up door to the storage unit.
The body in the middle of the room is still strapped to the metal chair like the perfect gift I've prepared for my guest. Jace sits in the same position I left him in earlier. His body has slumped down a little, but he’s still secured to the chair. Perfect.
“Okay, ready?” Thalia’s head turns like a confused dog while she listens for my footsteps on the concrete floor. I move towards her and guide her by grabbing her shoulders, leading her further inside.
“As I’ll ever be, I guess. Where the hell did you take me that has a door that you have to slide up?” So many fucking questions.
“It’s just a space I rented for this occasion. I thought we could do a bit of role-playing.” I bend down so my lips just barely touch the tip of her ear. My mouth widens at the redness forming in her cheeks. You have no fucking idea what awaits you.
“Are you going to take off my mask?” You keep trying to act so innocent with that sweet voice of yours, but I know who you really are .
“Not yet.” I kiss the top of her head and lead her to the empty seat next to our guest. Reluctantly, she sits down once her skin touches the cold, metal chair. Immediately, she comments on his smell. Fuck.
“Oh, shit. What the hell is that?!” Her nose turns up in disgust. Nothing, just the rotting corpse of your dead best friend .
“Oh, I’m sure it’s nothing. Probably just a dead animal outside or something.” Or something. “Have you ever been tied up before?” I ask with my lips still next to her ear.
“Once or twice.” She smirks flirtatiously, and my body fills with rage and jealousy. I bite my lip until I can taste copper to help contain my anger. At this point, it’s the only thing that urges me to keep playing this part in our uncomfortable foreplay. Hold it back, play the part.
“Really, Listener?” I pause. “This time, it might be a little different.”
I peer down at her breasts, and I survey how they move up and down. Her rapid heartbeat is almost noticeable as it vibrates in her chest under her skin.