Authors: Johanna Bock
Stepping into the gift shop, Annie headed for the food area. Walking down the aisles, she randomly picked up items which looked agreeable to her. Her selection of items would require a knife or something like it. Moving to the display of novelties to find a pocketknife, she figured it would serve her purpose and make a nice gift for Jeff as a reminder of their time in Vegas. She found one with the words ’Viva Las Vegas’ on the side and added it to her items. Her eyes caught the fuzzy dice, hanging off the display case, and eagerly added a pair to her growing pile. They would look great dangling from Jeff’s rearview mirror.
Drinks
, she thought,
are next
. Scanning the shop, she spotted the coolers on the far side. Moving towards them and down the tight aisle, she found her path blocked by a guy in a pink shirt. “Excuse me,” she said. To her surprise, she found herself looking into Ron’s eyes. “Hey, where is Leah?”
“Waiting for me,” he replied, looking at the items in her arms. “Supplies?”
“Yes. It could be a long night,” she replied, blushing. Annie looked at the item which Ron had in his hand. She recognized the brand name of condoms. “Supplies?”
“Just stocking up,” he replied, tossing the box up in the air. “It could be a long night.”
“You are . . .” Annie started, then stopped, trying to search for the right word.
“What?” he said, seeing her discomfort. “Got to run. Leah is waiting.”
Annie watched Ron walk away. “Yeah, treat her good, Ron,” she called.
“Yes, ma’am. I will,” Ron laughed.
Shaking her head, Annie glanced at the Personal Items display. “Don’t need you,” she whispered to the hanging boxes of condoms. She had been on the pill for years to ’regulate’ her cycle. Her eyes caught the area of the display for lotions and oils. Without hesitating, she reached out and grabbed the cherry-flavored oil.
Might be fun
, she reasoned.
With the addition of the soda, Annie stepped up to the register and placed the items in her arms down on the counter to be rung up. She laughed to herself as she looked at her selection. She definitely had sex on the mind for before her was a beef stick, a log of hard cheese, a sleeve of crackers, bottles of soda, a tube of cherry-flavored oil, a pocketknife and the fuzzy dice.
All that is missing is the chocolate-covered strawberries, Cool Whip, fur-covered handcuffs and a whip
, she mused.
Still giggling at her thoughts, she entered the elevator.
I am a sick puppy,
she said to herself.
***
As she softly knocked on their door, she could hear soft music, coming from the other side. “Jeff,” she called.
“Close your eyes, Annie,” he called to her through the door.
“What?”
“Close your eyes, please,” he directed again.
“Okay. They are closed.”
She heard the door open and felt his hand on her arm. “Please leave them closed until I tell you to open them,” he purred, taking the bag out of her hand. Annie felt herself being guided into the room. “Trust me,” he whispered, feeling her resistance.
“I do,” she said softly. Since her eyes were close, her other senses took over. She heard Kenny’s voice, playing softly in the background. She smelled the aroma of flowers and burning wax.
He had prepped the room,
she thought. “What have you done?” she asked.
“You didn’t give me much notice. You will have to use your imagination.”
“Can I open my eyes?”
“Not yet,” he directed, taking her purse from her shoulder. “Don’t talk; just feel.”
“I surrender,” she giggled. Annie felt the texture of silk glide over her face and her giggle was replaced with a moan. She had the strong urge to open her eyes, but held back. This was his scene; she would follow his plan.
“I don’t want you to cheat,” he whispered as she felt him use the silk material and covered her eyes. “Now, I am sure,” he said, knotting the material behind her head.
“Oh, Jeff. You are wicked,” she sighed.
“You are way too overdressed for this occasion,” he said, moving around her. “Allow me to do something about it.”
Annie immediately raised her arms over her head. She heard him chuckle. “A little eager?” he asked. She only nodded in response. “Easy, Annie. Relax; we have all night,” he said, pulling her arms down to her side.
“Open your mouth,” he requested. Annie dropped her chin and visualized herself as a baby bird who was waiting to be fed. She felt him insert something into her mouth and involuntary inhaled through her nose. She immediately recognized it, a chocolate-covered strawberry. A knowing, deep laugh bubbled up and escaped before she could stop it. Taking a bite of the strawberry, she was pleasantly surprised at the creaminess of the chocolate. It was not the hard-coated, chocolate ones she had tasted in the past.
“What are you thinking?” he asked, surprised at her laugh.
“I was just wondering when the fur-covered handcuffs come out,” she said in mirth.
“Oh, sorry, honey,” he laughed softly. “I left them at home.”
“Shucks, I was hoping,” she purred.
“I don’t want you to be disappointed. I could use the scarf,” he offered in a low voice, reaching around her.
“No, I was kidding,” she reported loudly. “I am not in to that, really.”
“I know,” he said softly, laughing. “Now, where was I?”
Relaxing again, she laughed. “Feeding me chocolate-covered strawberries,” she reminded him. “Jeff, I have never had soft chocolate on my strawberries before. Where did you find them?”
“I told you to use your imagination. I had to improvise. You did not allow me much time,” he replied. “It is one of the reasons for your blindfold.”
“Improvise?”
“I was unable to find any at the store last night on my way home. So, I used the next best thing, canned frosting,” he explained.
“Clever,” she laughed. “It works. Could I have another?”
“Yes, my lady,” he said, placing another strawberry into her mouth. “Savor that while I do something about you being overdressed.”
Fully undressed by him, Annie did not feel one bit shy. “Now what?” she asked softly. “Another strawberry?”
“Yes and more,” he said, moving away from her.
“More?”
“Imagine a long-stem champagne flute filled with bubbly, gold liquid,” he said, coming to stand beside her.
“Okay, I got it.”
“Now, sip,” he directed, placing a cup to her lower lip.
Tilting her head back, she took a sip. The ice in the plastic cup hit her upper lip as the bubbles escaped the rim, causing her nose to twitch. “Apple cider?” she guessed.
“Yes,” he replied, laughing.
“More.”
“A little demanding,” he chuckled.
“This is your party. I am here for the fun.”
“Spoiled brat,” he teased.
“You bet,” she confirmed.
“Okay, brat. We are moving,” he said playfully.
“Which way?”
“Just follow my lead and shut up,” he informed her.
On her bare feet, Annie felt his arm guide her to the left. As her foot touched the cold bathroom floor, she smiled. “Stand here a second,” he said, releasing her.
She heard him turn on the water in the tub.
A blindfolded bath. This is a new one
, she thought.
“I am back,” he said, pulling her into his arms and kissing her deeply. Annie reached her arms around him. To her surprise, he was fully clothed. It dawned on her that it was their first body-to-body contact since she entered the room.
“I am a spoiled brat,” she informed him as he pulled back.
“What?”
“I just learned you are still dressed. I have been so consumed by my own needs, I have not thought of yours,” she admitted.
“No worries, Annie. You are fulfilling my needs quite nicely,” he answered softly, pulling her close to him. “This is a real turn-on for me. Don’t you realize it?”
“Oh, I do now that you
pointed
it out to me,” she said, feeling his growing need against her. “May I now remove the blindfold?”
“No,” he said, releasing her. She heard him turn off the water as the scent of bubble gum enveloped her.
“Bubble gum?”
“It was all I could find,” he replied, splashing the water in the tub. “Use your imagination. You are in a field of wildflowers. It just happens to be a field of bubble-gum-scented wildflowers, but you get the idea,” he chuckled.
“A bubble bath?”
“Yes,” he said, stepping beside her. “Your bath is waiting, my lady.”
Shaking her head, she let him lead her to the edge of the tub.
“Share,” he directed.
“What?”
“Your thoughts. I saw you shake your head.”
“My thoughts?” she said softly. “They are many, but the one I was just thinking is how you are changing my world.”
“Your world?” he said quietly.
“Yes. I will never be able to smell the scent of bubble gum again without thinking about this moment,” she shared.
“Your mind is amazing,” he said, kissing the tip of her nose. “Now, lift your leg.”
As she descended into the hot water, Annie sighed, “This is the life.”
“Relax,” he whispered. “I will be right back.”
“Mmm,” she moaned in response.
Annie heard the sound of the music increase as she reclined in the tub.
He is bringing in the player
, she mused. “Nice touch,” she purred as she heard him reenter the bathroom.
“Legs up,” he whispered. Without hesitation, she did as directed. As her legs came out of the water, he stepped into the tub in front of her. She giggled as she felt the water level rise to the top of the tub and splash onto the floor.
“Lower them,” he said, pulling them around him as she did. This action brought her forward and placed her soundly on his lap. Laughing at the mental image of the wave of water from her forward thrust, she cried, wrapping her arms around him, “You animal.”
“Yes, I am,” he confirmed, reaching out and removing her blindfold. “I require the view of your bedroom eyes.”
“I love you for this,” she said, gazing into his eyes. “I don’t know how to ever thank you for making this so very special.”
“I have an idea,” he said, pulling her to him.
Annie looked around the room as he buried his head against her breast. She spotted the candles on the counter and laughed lightly. ’
Use your imagination
,’ she heard his words in her head and closed her eyes.
They are long taper candles, not the number-shaped ones usually displayed on kids’ birthday cakes.
***
The next morning, Annie and Jeff were taking a shower when the phone rang in the room. “Be right back,” Annie said, hopping out of the shower and running into the room.
“Hello,” she said breathlessly.
“Busy?” Leah asked.
“Taking a shower,” Annie said, looking down at the puddle of water which was growing at her feet. “What’s up?”
“I might ask the same question,” Leah laughed.
“Cute,” Annie sighed.
“Want to meet at Denny’s on the Strip for breakfast?” Leah offered. “We should be there in about an hour.”
“Sure,” Annie said. “See ya there.”
Dashing quickly back to the shower, she hopped back into the space she had vacated. “Breakfast in one hour,” she reported.
“One hour,” Jeff purred, lathering up the washcloth again for her. “We should make it.”
“Jeff, please. I need to eat,” she said as the soapy washcloth began to move across her body.
***
They arrived at the restaurant on time. Annie immediately spotted Leah and Ron. Moving to the table, she caught the grin on their faces as they watched them cross to join them. “Much sleep?” Ron asked.
“Nope,” Jeff responded, laughing. “You?”
“I am famished,” Annie cried as she scooted into the booth, giving the guys an evil look. “I need coffee.”
“Oh, she has horns this morning,” Ron cried.
“Stop it, Ron,” Leah laughed, turning to him and ruffling his hair. “Ron doesn’t work today. He has offered to show us the non-tourist side of town.”
“Can it wait until after we eat?” Annie cried.
“Sure,” Leah said, laughing. “Just wanted to share. Need to recharge your battery?”
“You could say that,” Annie said, joining her laughter.
After they placed their orders, the two guys began what Annie classified as a ’one up’ conversation. She knew that what was being said was crap, but held her thoughts. When Jeff squeezed her thigh under the table, she knew he felt her thoughts. Shaking her head, she eyed Leah.
You okay
, she mouthed to her best friend. At Leah’s affirmative nod, she smiled. She was glad that her friend was happy for it showed in her face.
Wow
, she thought suddenly. It was the first time in their friendship where both were involved with someone at the same time. Neither of them felt left out.